The critical role of the inferior frontal cortex in establishing a prediction model for generating subsequent mismatch negativity (MMN): A TMS-EEG study

BackgroundThe prediction violation account of automatic or pre-attentive change detection assumed that the inferior frontal cortex (IFC) is involved in establishing a prediction model for detecting unexpected changes. Evidence supporting the IFC’s contribution to prediction model is mainly based on the Mismatch Negativity (MMN) to deviants violating predictions that are established based on the frequently presented standard events. However, deviant detection involves processes, such as events comparison, other than prediction model establishment.ObjectiveThe current study investigated the critical role of the IFC in establishing a prediction model during standards processing for subsequent deviant detection.MethodsTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) was applied at the IFC to disrupt the processing of the initial 2 or 5 standards of a 3-, 6-, or 9-standard train, while the MMN responses to pitch deviant presented after the standard trains were recorded and compared.ResultsAn abolishment of MMN was only observed when TMS was delivered to the IFC at the initial 2 standards of the 3-standard train, but not at the initial 5 standards, or when TMS at the vertex or TMS sound recording was applied. The MMNs were also preserved when IFC TMS, vertex TMS, or TMS sound recording was applied at the initial 2 or 5 standards of longer trains.ConclusionThe IFC plays a critical role in processing the initial standards of a short standard train for subsequent deviant detection. This result is consistent with the prediction violation account that the IFC is important for establishing the prediction model.     

Steep Decrease of Gender Difference in DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison of Two Nation-wide Surveys Conducted 10 Years Apart in Korea

While decreasing trend in gender differences in alcohol use disorders was reported in Western countries, the change in Asian countries is unknown. This study aims to explore the shifts in gender difference in alcohol abuse (AA) and dependence (AD) in Korea. We compared the data from two nation-wide community surveys to evaluate gender differences in lifetime AA and AD by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Face-to-face interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) were applied to all subjects in 2001 (n=6,220) and 2011 (n=6,022). Male-to-female ratio of odds was decreased from 6.41 (95% CI, 4.81-8.54) to 4.37 (95% CI, 3.35-5.71) for AA and from 3.75 (95% CI, 2.96-4.75) to 2.40 (95% CI, 1.80-3.19) for AD. Among those aged 18-29, gender gap even became statistically insignificant for AA (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.97-2.63) and AD (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.80-2.41) in 2011. Men generally showed decreased odds for AD (0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.67) and women aged 30-39 showed increased odds for AA (2.13; 95% CI 1.18-3.84) in 2011 compared to 2001. Decreased AD in men and increased AA in women seem to contribute to the decrease of gender gap. Increased risk for AA in young women suggests needs for interventions.     

敷料更换的不同次数对穿刺引流术后穿刺口感染的影响

目的 研究敷料更换的不同次数对穿刺引流术后穿刺口感染的影响.方法 随机将该院2013年6月—2014年7月收治的100位进行穿刺引流术的患者分为两组,50例为A组,50例为B组. 为A组患者1周更换1次敷料,B组患者1周更换2次敷料. 对两组患者穿刺口感染的情况进行分析比较. 结果 A组患者穿刺口感染的几率显著低于B组(P<0.05),A组患者的病原菌定植率显著低于B组(P<0.05),两组患者导管相关性血流感染率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05). 结论 穿刺引流术后的患者1周更换1次敷料比较合理,既能降低患者术后穿刺口感染的几率,又能降低医护人员的工作量,但要注意在敷料发生松动或者潮湿时也要及时进行更换.     

关于护理院校日语教学的探讨

在护理专业院校教学中以护理专业知识为重点，如何遵循教学宗旨，培养个性化人才，使日话教学从普通的公共学科中脱颖而出，是护理院校日语教师教学工作的重中之重。     

Influence of differences in tumor vascularity upon the effects of hyperthermia

Summary Utilizing two types of human renal carcinoma heterotransplanted in nude mice, we investigated the variations in hyperthermic effects (42.5°C for 30 min) caused by differences in tumor type with special reference to variations in tumor vascularity. In the hypovascular JRC1 strain, sporadic vascular dilation was observed throughout the tumors after heating. Destruction of tumor cells was observed mainly in the region of dilation. In the hypervascular JRC11 strain, homogenous vascular dilation was observed immediately after heating, mainly at the periphery of tumors. There was a decrease in the viability of cells in the center of the tumor. Therefore, the hypervascular tumors showed greater destruction mainly at the center where blood circulation was reduced. The range of necrosis was also greatly affected by the extent of vascular dilation caused by heating in hypovascular tumors.     

The composite N1 component to gaps in noise.

OBJECTIVE: To indicate whether the double peaked N(1) to gaps in continuous white noise is a composite of onset and offset responses to transients or whether it reflects higher processing such as change or mismatch detection and to assess the role of attention in this process. METHODS: Evoked potentials were recorded to two binaural stimulus types: (1) gaps of different durations randomly distributed in continuous white noise; and (2) click pairs at intervals identical to those between gap onsets and offsets in the continuous noise stimulus. Potentials to these stimuli were recorded while subjects read a text and while detecting gaps in noise or click pairs. RESULTS: Potentials were detected to all click pairs and to gaps of 5 ms or longer, corresponding to the subjects' psychoacoustic gap detection threshold. With long gap durations of 200-800 ms, distinct potentials to gap onset and gap offset were observed. The waveforms to all click pairs and to offsets of long gaps were similar and single-peaked, while potentials to gaps of 10 ms and longer, and potentials to onsets of long gaps were double-peaked, consisting of two N(1) negativities, 60 ms apart, irrespective of gap duration. The first (N(1a)), was more frontal in its distribution and similar to that of clicks. The second (N(1b)) peak's distribution was more central/temporal and its source locations and time course of activity were distinct. No effects of attention on any of the varieties and constituents of N(1) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing potentials to gap onsets, to click pairs and to gap offsets, suggests that potentials to gap onsets involve not only sound onset/offset responses (N(1), N(1a)) but also the subsequent pre-attentive perception of the cessation of an ongoing sound (N(1b)). We propose that N(1b) is distinct from change or mismatch detection and is associated with termination of an ongoing continuous stimulus. We propose to call it the N(egation)-process. SIGNIFICANCE: A constituent of the N(1) complex is shown to be associated with the pre-attentive perception of termination of an ongoing stimulus and to have distinct scalp distribution and intracranial sources.     

急性脑梗死后血浆NO、NOS、ET含量的动态变化及尼莫地平对其影响

目的　观察急性脑梗死 (ACI)后血浆一氧化氮 (NO)、一氧化氮合成酶 (NOS)、内皮素 (ET)含量的动态变化 ,以及尼莫地平治疗后对其影响。方法　ACI患者 110例 ,随机分成尼莫地平组 (5 0例 ) (在常规治疗基础上用尼莫地平 )和常规治疗组 (6 0例 )。在发病后不同时点动态观察血浆NO、NOS、ET含量 ,并设 5 0例脑动脉硬化患者为对照组。结果　脑梗死后血浆ET含量显著升高 ,直至恢复期 ;NO、NOS先增高后下降 ;尼莫地平组和常规组比较ET有显著差异 (P <0 .0 1) ,NO、NOS差别不显著 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　NO、NOS、ET参与并影响了ACI后复杂的病理生理过程 ;尼莫地平部分通过对ET含量的影响发挥其对脑梗死的治疗作用     

复方肾华治疗大鼠改良慢性血清病肾炎的实验研究

目的　观察复方肾华胶囊对改良大鼠慢性血清病肾炎模型的治疗作用。方法　采取传统大鼠慢性血清病肾炎模型制作方法加上切除大鼠一侧肾脏、隔日饮饲牛血清白蛋白 (BSA)酸化水、腹腔注射大肠杆菌内毒素 (LPS)等措施 ,制作肾炎模型 ,与西药蒙诺作对照 ,观察中药肾华对肾炎大鼠尿蛋白、血生化、凝血指标、肾功能、病理、免疫荧光以及增殖细胞核抗原 (PCNA)表达的作用。结果　肾华胶囊能够显著减轻肾炎大鼠肾脏重量及肾重指数、降低肾炎大鼠尿蛋白、升高血清蛋白、降低胆固醇、甘油三酯、改善肾功能、纠正凝血功能紊乱、减轻肾脏病理改变、减轻免疫荧光变化、减弱PCNA的表达。结论　中药肾华胶囊对大鼠慢性血清病肾炎模型有较好的治疗作用     

The relationship between histopathological findings in oral squamous cell carcinoma and FDG uptake on PET

Objectives It is known that, in fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG PET) for the diagnosis of oral cancer, FDG uptake may vary even among different cases of the same squamous cell carcinoma. However, the details of this phenomenon have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between histopathological findings in oral squamous cell cancer and PET findings on FDG uptake. Methods We examined 45 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who had undergone FDG PET before treatment. FDG uptake was assessed by a standardized uptake value (SUV) calculated according to the PET-measured tissue concentration of FDG, the administered dose of radionuclide, and the body weight of the patient. The relationship between the mean SUV and each of the following parameters was examined: histological grade of malignancy, degree of cell differentiation, size and/or local extent of the primary lesion, and cell density of the tumor. Results The mean SUV of FDG uptake did not depend on the histological grade of malignancy or on the degree of cell differentiation, but tended to be greater the larger the primary lesion. SUV also depended on cell density, increasing with the percentage of tumor parenchyma. Conclusions It is concluded that cancer cell density greatly influences the SUV of FDG, in that a tumor with fewer cellular elements in cancer tissue tends to become a false negative.     

Autologous implantation of chondrocytes on a solid collagen scaffold: clinical and histological outcomes after two years of follow-up

Abstract From our overall experience in 56 patients, we here report the treatment with matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) of 35 patients suffering from knee cartilage defects measuring about 4 cm², and followed for a minimum of 6 months. A total of 36 knees were treated (1 patient on both knees) and clinically observed for 22 months (in some cases for over 39 months), in accordance with a standardised protocol. Subjective parameters (pain, well-being, functional state, symptoms during specific activity) and objective outcomes (IKDC score and Lysholm and Tegner scores) were recorded. One or 2 years after implantation, some biopsies of the regenerated cartilage were histologically evaluated. The subjective parameters (VAS pain score, 2.80±1.49, p<0.0001; change vs. basal score, 2.72) promptly normalized after 1 month, as did the objective ones (IKDC score after 6 months, 1.53±0.59, p<0.0001; change vs. basal score, 1.78). Similar results were observed after the treatment of a femoropatellar kissing lesion. The three cartilage biopsies that were analysed from different patients showed a tissue positivity to immunohistochemical markers of hyaline cartilage. The conclusions of this preliminary analysis are that the clinical outcome and histological evaluation suggest that MACI is able to relieve pain and restore the functionality of the knee, and that the treatment appears capable of regenerating hyaline cartilage.