Nevin Manimala

Hum Brain Mapp. 2023 Oct 24. doi: 10.1002/hbm.26520. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Attention selects behaviorally relevant inputs for in-depth processing. Beside the role of traditional signals related to goal-directed and stimulus-driven control, a debate exists regarding the mechanisms governing the effect of statistical regularities on attentional selection, and how these are integrated with other control signals. Using a visuo-spatial search task under fMRI, we tested the joint effects of statistical regularities and stimulus-driven salience. We found that both types of signals modulated occipital activity in a spatially specific manner. Salience acted primarily by reducing the attention bias towards the target location when associated with irrelevant distractors, while statistical regularities reduced this attention bias when the target was presented at a low probability location, particularly at the lower levels of the visual hierarchy. In addition, we found that both statistical regularities and salience activated the dorsal frontoparietal network. Additional exploratory analyses of functional connectivity revealed that only statistical regularities modulated the inter-regional coupling between the posterior parietal cortex and the occipital cortex. These results show that statistical regularities and salience signals are both spatially represented at the occipital level, but that their integration into attentional processing priorities relies on dissociable brain mechanisms.

PMID:37877138 | DOI:10.1002/hbm.26520

Front Physiol. 2023 Oct 9;14:1279170. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1279170. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

We examined how set-volume equated resistance training using either the back squat (SQ) or hip thrust (HT) affected hypertrophy and various strength outcomes. Untrained college-aged participants were randomized into HT (n = 18) or SQ (n = 16) groups. Surface electromyograms (sEMG) from the right gluteus maximus and medius muscles were obtained during the first training session. Participants completed 9 weeks of supervised training (15-17 sessions), before and after which gluteus and leg muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA) was assessed via magnetic resonance imaging. Strength was also assessed prior to and after the training intervention via three-repetition maximum (3RM) testing and an isometric wall push test. Gluteus mCSA increases were similar across both groups. Specifically, estimates [(-) favors HT (+) favors SQ] modestly favored the HT versus SQ for lower [effect ±SE, -1.6 ± 2.1 cm²; CI_95% (-6.1, 2.0)], mid [-0.5 ± 1.7 cm²; CI_95% (-4.0, 2.6)], and upper [-0.5 ± 2.6 cm²; CI_95% (-5.8, 4.1)] gluteal mCSAs but with appreciable variance. Gluteus medius + minimus [-1.8 ± 1.5 cm²; CI_95% (-4.6, 1.4)] and hamstrings [0.1 ± 0.6 cm²; CI_95% (-0.9, 1.4)] mCSA demonstrated little to no growth with small differences between groups. mCSA changes were greater in SQ for the quadriceps [3.6 ± 1.5 cm²; CI_95% (0.7, 6.4)] and adductors [2.5 ± 0.7 cm²; CI_95% (1.2, 3.9)]. Squat 3RM increases favored SQ [14 ± 2 kg; CI_95% (9, 18),] and hip thrust 3RM favored HT [-26 ± 5 kg; CI_95% (-34, -16)]. 3RM deadlift [0 ± 2 kg; CI_95% (-4, 3)] and wall push strength [-7 ± 12N; CI_95% (-32, 17)] similarly improved. All measured gluteal sites showed greater mean sEMG amplitudes during the first bout hip thrust versus squat set, but this did not consistently predict gluteal hypertrophy outcomes. Squat and hip thrust training elicited similar gluteal hypertrophy, greater thigh hypertrophy in SQ, strength increases that favored exercise allocation, and similar deadlift and wall push strength increases.

PMID:37877099 | PMC:PMC10593473 | DOI:10.3389/fphys.2023.1279170

Front Physiol. 2023 Oct 9;14:1253810. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1253810. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Background: Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life supporting therapy but may also cause lung damage. This phenomenon is known as ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). A potential pathomechanisms of ventilator-induced lung injury may be the stretch-induced production and release of cytokines and pro-inflammatory molecules from the alveolar epithelium. Yes-associated protein (YAP) might be regulated by mechanical forces and involved in the inflammation cascade. However, its role in stretch-induced damage of alveolar cells remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored the role of YAP in the response of alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEC II) to elevated cyclic stretch in vitro. We hypothesize that Yes-associated protein activates its downstream targets and regulates the interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in response to 30% cyclic stretch in AEC II. Methods: The rat lung L2 cell line was exposed to 30% cyclic equibiaxial stretch for 1 or 4 h. Non-stretched conditions served as controls. The cytoskeleton remodeling and cell junction integrity were evaluated by F-actin and Pan-cadherin immunofluorescence, respectively. The gene expression and protein levels of IL-6, Yes-associated protein, Cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61/CCN1), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) were studied by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot, respectively. Verteporfin (VP) was used to inhibit Yes-associated protein activation. The effects of 30% cyclic stretch were assessed by two-way ANOVA. Statistical significance as accepted at p < 0.05. Results: Cyclic stretch of 30% induced YAP nuclear accumulation, activated the transcription of Yes-associated protein downstream targets Cyr61/CCN1 and CTGF/CCN2 and elevated IL-6 expression in AEC II after 1 hour, compared to static control. VP (2 µM) inhibited Yes-associated protein activation in response to 30% cyclic stretch and reduced IL-6 protein levels. Conclusion: In rat lung L2 AEC II, 30% cyclic stretch activated YAP, and its downstream targets Cyr61/CCN1 and CTGF/CCN2 and proinflammatory IL-6 expression. Target activation was blocked by a Yes-associated protein inhibitor. This novel YAP-dependent pathway could be involved in stretch-induced damage of alveolar cells.

PMID:37877098 | PMC:PMC10591329 | DOI:10.3389/fphys.2023.1253810

BMC Res Notes. 2023 Oct 24;16(1):286. doi: 10.1186/s13104-023-06529-2.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: There was also a lack of data regarding the effect of follicle size, endometrial thickness, and ovarian stimulation as predictors of intrauterine insemination (IUI) success rate in Indonesia, especially in the Aster Clinic and Bandung Fertility Centre. This study was performed to explore the relationship between follicle size, endometrial thickness, and types of ovarian stimulation (Clomiphene citrate/CC vs Letrozole) with biochemical pregnancy rate in women undergone IUI. We performed a case-control study in 122 women aged 20-40 years with unexplained infertility who had completed the IUI program for a maximum of three cycles. Data were extracted from medical records. Independent T-test and multivariate analyses were used to analyse the difference between variables using IBM SPSS 24.0. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULT: Follicle sizes of 18-22 mm in both Clomiphene citrate (CC) and Letrozole groups were shown to increase biochemical pregnancy rate (P = 0.001). There is no relationship between endometrial thickness and pregnancy rate. Biochemical pregnancy rate in women using Letrozole was 1.513 times higher than women using CC. The follicle size of 18-22 mm and using Letrozole rather than CC as ovarian stimulators are predictive factors associated with a higher pregnancy rate in women undergone IUI.

PMID:37875998 | DOI:10.1186/s13104-023-06529-2

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2023 Aug 28;48(8):1234-1242. doi: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.220551.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Many studies have shown that the quality of life for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is significantly impaired, but the impact on family function is still unclear. This study aims to evaluate the family function and quality of life in patients with AF using scales, to analyze the correlation between family function and quality of life, and to predict the influencing factors of quality of life.

METHODS: A total of 223 patients with AF who were admitted to the Department of Cardiology and General Medicine of the Lanzhou University Second Hospital from January 1, 2021 to May 1, 2022, were selected as research subjects, the general information of patients with AF were collected via a questionnaire, the family function and quality of life were assessed by the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-Life (AFEQT) scale. The patients were divided into a non-family functional disorder group and a family functional disorder group on the basis of their FAD scores. The above data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software.

RESULTS: Among the 223 patients, 64 (28.70%) were in the non-family functional disorder group, and 159 (71.30%) were in the family functional disorder group. The total score of FAD and scores of all dimensions in the family functional disorder group were higher than those in the non-family functional disorder group (all P<0.01). AFEQT total score and symptoms, treatment concerns and daily activities in the non-family functional disorder group were significantly higher than those in the family functional disorder group (all P<0.01). The Pearson linear analysis showed that there was a linear negative correlation between the total score and each dimension of FAD with the total score and each dimension of AFEQT (all P<0.01). The variables with statistical significance in the univariate analysis were included in the multiple linear regression analysis, and the result showed that female, and the problem solving, role, affective involvement, and general functioning dimensions of family function had an impact on the quality of life (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with AF have different degrees of family dysfunction. The quality of life in patients with family functional disorder group is generally low. Female, and the problem solving, role, affective involvement, and general functioning of family function have a significant impact on the quality of life in patients with AF. In clinical treatment of AF, attention should be paid to the family function of patients, and family members can be involved in clinical intervention to improve family function and improve the quality of life.

PMID:37875364 | DOI:10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.220551

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2023 Aug 28;48(8):1217-1224. doi: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.220561.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Stroke has become the leading cause of death and disability among adults in China. This study aims to analyze the disease burden based on gender and age and the risk factors for stroke subtypes in China 2019, and to provide reference for targeted stroke prevention and control.

METHODS: Based on 2019 data of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), the gender and age in patients with different stroke subtypes (ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage) in China 2019 was described by using disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and attributable burden of related risk factors was analyzed.

RESULTS: In 2019, the burden of intracranial hemorrhage was the heaviest one in China, resulting in 22.210 6 million person years of DALY, following by ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage, resulting in 21.393 9 and 2.344 7 million person years of DALY, respectively. Among them, except the 0-14 age group, the disease burden of different subtypes of stroke in men was higher than that in women. The disease burden of ischemic stroke was increased with age in both men and women, with the heaviest disease burden in ≥70 years group. The disease burden of intracranial hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage was the heaviest in males aged 50-69 years old, and in females aged ≥70 years and 50-69 years, respectively. Metabolic factors were the main risk factors in all ages of different stroke subtypes, and the most important risk factor was high systolic blood pressure. Other risk factors were different between men and women. Smoking, high body mass index, high low-density lipoprotein, and outdoor particulate matter pollution were the main risk factors for stroke in men, while high body mass index, outdoor particulate matter pollution, and high fasting blood glucose were the main risk factors of stroke in women. The main risk were different among different age groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The burden and attributable risk factors for different stroke subtypes are discrepancy in different gender and age groups. Targeted interventions should be conducted in the future to reduce the burden of stroke.

PMID:37875362 | DOI:10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.220561

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2023 Aug 28;48(8):1176-1184. doi: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.230107.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has the highest mortality and disability rates among various subtypes of stroke. Previous studies have shown that the gut microbiome (GM) is closely related to the risk factors and pathological basis of ICH. This study aims to explore the causal effect of GM on ICH and the potential mechanisms.

METHODS: Genome wide association study (GWAS) data on GM and ICH were obtained from Microbiome Genome and International Stroke Genetics Consortium. Based on the GWAS data, we first performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal association between GM and ICH. Then, a conditional false discovery rate (cFDR) method was conducted to identify the pleiotropic variants.

RESULTS: MR analysis showed that Pasteurellales, Pasteurellaceae, and Haemophilus were negatively correlated with the risk of ICH, whileVerrucomicrobiae, Verrucomicrobiales, Verrucomicrobiaceae, Akkermansia, Holdemanella, and LachnospiraceaeUCG010 were positively correlated with ICH. By applying the cFDR method, 3 pleiotropic loci (rs331083, rs4315115, and rs12553325) were found to be associated with both GM and ICH.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a causal association and pleiotropic variants between GM and ICH.

PMID:37875357 | DOI:10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.230107

Aust Dent J. 2023 Oct 24. doi: 10.1111/adj.12991. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The use of systemic azithromycin (AZT) and amoxicillin/metronidazole (AMX/MTZ) as adjuncts provided additional clinical and microbiological benefits over subgingival instrumentation alone. However, the superiority of one antibiotic regimen over another has not been proven. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analyses was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of subgingival instrumentation (SI) in conjunction with the systemic use of AZT or AMX/MTZ for the treatment of periodontitis from current published literature.

METHODS: Electronic databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials, prospective and retrospective human studies that compared the adjunctive use of systemic AZT to AMX/MTZ with SI in the treatment of periodontitis. The eligibility criteria were defined based on the participant (who had periodontitis), intervention (SI with adjunctive use of systemic AZT), comparison (SI with adjunctive use of systemic AMX/MTZ), outcomes (primary outcome: changes in probing pocket). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias tool. Data were analysed using a statistical software program.

RESULTS: Five studies with 151 participants with periodontitis were included in the present review. Of these, 74 participants received adjunctive AZT, while the remaining participants received AMX/MTZ as an adjunct to SI. The adjunctive use of AZT and AMX/MTZ had comparable changes in probing pocket depths at 1-3 months with no statistically significant difference (mean difference (MD) 0.01; 95% CI -0.20 to 0.22; P = 0.94). The adjunctive use of AZT had significantly fewer number of residual sites with probing pocket depths of ≥5 mm at 1-3 months compared to the adjunctive use of AMX/MTZ (MD -3.41; 95% CI -4.73 to -2.10; P < 0.0001). The prevalence rates of adverse events among participants who received AZT and AMX/MTZ were 9.80% and 14.8%, respectively. The meta-analysis showed that the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (risk ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.28 to 1.72; P = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitation of this review, there was no superiority between AZT and AMX/MTZ in terms of mean changes in probing pocket depths, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing at 1-3 months. AZT seem to be associated with less sites with residual probing pocket depths of ≥5 mm at 1-3 months and fewer adverse events compared with AMX/MTZ. © 2023 Australian Dental Association.

PMID:37875345 | DOI:10.1111/adj.12991

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2023 Oct 24:jnnp-2022-330967. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330967. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tai Chi has shown beneficial effects on the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but no study has reported the effect of long-term Tai Chi training.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether long-term Tai Chi training can maintain improvement in patients with PD.

METHODS: Cohorts of patients with PD with Tai Chi training (n=143) and patients with PD without exercise as a control group (n=187) were built from January 2016. All subjects were assessed at baseline and in November 2019, October 2020 and June 2021. A logarithmic linear model was used to analyse rating scales for motor and non-motor symptoms. The need to increase antiparkinsonian therapies was presented as a Kaplan-Meier plot and as a box plot. The bootstrap method was used to resample for statistical estimation.

RESULTS: Tai Chi training reduced the annual changes in the deterioration of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and delayed the need for increasing antiparkinsonian therapies. The annual increase in the levodopa equivalent daily dosage was significantly lower in the Tai Chi group. Moreover, patients benefited from Tai Chi training in motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms and complications.

CONCLUSION: Tai Chi training has a long-term beneficial effect on PD, with an improvement in motor and non-motor symptoms and reduced complications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05447975.

PMID:37875337 | DOI:10.1136/jnnp-2022-330967

Inj Prev. 2023 Oct 24:ip-2023-044919. doi: 10.1136/ip-2023-044919. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to better understand firearm ownership among law enforcement officers (LEO), with the goal of informing future firearm injury and suicide prevention efforts. We describe the frequency and sociodemographic correlates of firearm ownership and storage practices among, and examine the association between suicidal ideation and current firearm storage practices.

METHODS: The present study used data from a large online study (n=6410) and included data from individuals who were currently or previously being employed as an LEO (n=369; M (SD) age=39.2 y (15.8 y), 75.2% male, 66.7% white). Self-report measures were used to assess for firearm ownership, storage habits and suicidal ideation. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the frequency of firearm ownership and logistic regressions were used to examine the extent to which demographic characteristics and suicidal ideation were associated with firearm ownership.

RESULTS: Overall, 70.5% (n=261) of the sample reported firearm ownership. LEO who were older had significantly lower odds of reporting firearm ownership. Those who were married and those who reported lifetime suicidal ideation had significantly greater odds of reporting firearm ownership. Whereas firearm-owning LEO who reporting storing a firearm locked had significantly lower odds of reporting lifetime suicidal ideation, those who reported storing a firearm unloaded had significantly greater odds of reporting lifetime suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSION: Findings have important public health implications and can be used to increase adherence with secure storage recommendations. Increasing secure storage may help reduce suicide risk among LEO, a sample at heightened risk for suicide.

PMID:37875335 | DOI:10.1136/ip-2023-044919