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Physiological Reviews Apr 2020Sleep spindles are burstlike signals in the electroencephalogram (EEG) of the sleeping mammalian brain and electrical surface correlates of neuronal oscillations in... (Review)
Review
Sleep spindles are burstlike signals in the electroencephalogram (EEG) of the sleeping mammalian brain and electrical surface correlates of neuronal oscillations in thalamus. As one of the most inheritable sleep EEG signatures, sleep spindles probably reflect the strength and malleability of thalamocortical circuits that underlie individual cognitive profiles. We review the characteristics, organization, regulation, and origins of sleep spindles and their implication in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) and its functions, focusing on human and rodent. Spatially, sleep spindle-related neuronal activity appears on scales ranging from small thalamic circuits to functional cortical areas, and generates a cortical state favoring intracortical plasticity while limiting cortical output. Temporally, sleep spindles are discrete events, part of a continuous power band, and elements grouped on an infraslow time scale over which NREMS alternates between continuity and fragility. We synthesize diverse and seemingly unlinked functions of sleep spindles for sleep architecture, sensory processing, synaptic plasticity, memory formation, and cognitive abilities into a unifying sleep spindle concept, according to which sleep spindles ) generate neural conditions of large-scale functional connectivity and plasticity that outlast their appearance as discrete EEG events, ) appear preferentially in thalamic circuits engaged in learning and attention-based experience during wakefulness, and ) enable a selective reactivation and routing of wake-instated neuronal traces between brain areas such as hippocampus and cortex. Their fine spatiotemporal organization reflects NREMS as a physiological state coordinated over brain and body and may indicate, if not anticipate and ultimately differentiate, pathologies in sleep and neurodevelopmental, -degenerative, and -psychiatric conditions.
Topics: Animals; Attention; Brain; Brain Waves; Cognition; Humans; Intelligence; Memory; Nervous System Diseases; Neuronal Plasticity; Periodicity; Sleep Stages; Sleep Wake Disorders; Time Factors
PubMed: 31804897
DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00042.2018 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2021Vector-borne emerging and re-emerging diseases pose considerable public health problem worldwide. Some of these diseases are emerging and/or re-emerging at increasing... (Review)
Review
Vector-borne emerging and re-emerging diseases pose considerable public health problem worldwide. Some of these diseases are emerging and/or re-emerging at increasing rates and appeared in new regions in the past two decades. Studies emphasized that the interactions among pathogens, hosts, and the environment play a key role for the emergence or re-emergence of these diseases. Furthermore, social and demographic factors such as human population growth, urbanization, globalization, trade exchange and travel and close interactions with livestock have significantly been linked with the emergence and/or re-emergence of vector-borne diseases. Other studies emphasize the ongoing evolution of pathogens, proliferation of reservoir populations, and antimicrobial drug use to be the principal exacerbating forces for emergence and re-emergence of vector-borne infectious diseases. Still other studies equivocally claim that climate change has been associated with appearance and resurgence of vector-borne infectious diseases. Despite the fact that many important emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infectious diseases are becoming better controlled, our success in stopping the many new appearing and resurging vector-borne infectious diseases that may happen in the future seems to be uncertain. Hence, this paper reviews and synthesizes the existing literature to explore global patterns of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infections and the challenges for their control. It also attempts to give insights to the epidemiological profile of major vector-borne diseases including Zika fever, dengue, West Nile fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Chikungunya, Yellow fever, and Rift Valley fever.
Topics: Animals; Chikungunya Fever; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Disease Vectors; Humans; Vector Borne Diseases; Yellow Fever; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 34676194
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.715759 -
Psychiatria Danubina Sep 2020Bullying is an aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or an individual repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend himself or herself.... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Bullying is an aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or an individual repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend himself or herself. However, with the advent of electronic communication via the internet and mobile phones has led to appearence of a new form of violence, i.e. cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is define as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through computer, cell phones and other electronic device". The aim of this paper is to point to the growing problem of cyberbullying.
METHODS
Review the research and theoretical literature.
RESULTS
Bullying through the Internet tends to occur at a later age, around 14 years, when children spend more time on their mobile phones and social networking sites. Estimates indicate that between 15% and 35% of young people have been victims of cyberbullying and between 10% and 20% of individuals admit to having cyberbullied others. Perpetrators of cyberbullying have a degree of anonymity not possible in traditional bullying, and the potential exposure and embarrassment of the victim is on a larger scale. It is possible to victimize a peer within their own home or elsewhere at any time of day or night, and should they remove themselves from the site, the messages often accumulate. Victims of bullying often have mental health problems, including depressive symptomatology, self-harm and suicidal behaviors.
CONCLUSIONS
This presents new challenges for individuals, families, schools, professionals, researchers, and policy makers.
Topics: Crime Victims; Cyberbullying; Humans; Internet; Suicidal Ideation
PubMed: 32970646
DOI: No ID Found -
Eye (London, England) Sep 2021Blepharoptosis (ptosis) is among the most common disorders of the upper eyelid encountered in both optometric and ophthalmic practice. The unilateral or bilateral... (Review)
Review
Blepharoptosis (ptosis) is among the most common disorders of the upper eyelid encountered in both optometric and ophthalmic practice. The unilateral or bilateral drooping of the upper eyelid that characterises ptosis can affect appearance and impair visual function, both of which can negatively impact quality of life. While there are several known forms of congenital ptosis, acquired ptosis (appearing later in life, due to a variety of causes) is the predominant form of the condition. This review summarises the prevalence, causes, identification, differential diagnosis, and treatment of acquired ptosis. Particular attention is paid to the differential diagnosis of acquired ptosis and emerging treatment options, including surgical and pharmacologic approaches.
Topics: Blepharoplasty; Blepharoptosis; Eyelids; Humans; Prevalence; Quality of Life
PubMed: 33927356
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-021-01547-5 -
Virchows Archiv : An International... Jan 2022Spindle cell lesions of the breast comprise a heterogeneous group of lesions, ranging from reactive and benign processes to aggressive malignant tumours. Despite their... (Review)
Review
Spindle cell lesions of the breast comprise a heterogeneous group of lesions, ranging from reactive and benign processes to aggressive malignant tumours. Despite their rarity, they attract the attention of breast pathologists due to their overlapping morphological features and diagnostic challenges, particularly on core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens. Pathologists should recognise the wide range of differential diagnoses and be familiar with the diverse morphological appearances of these lesions to make an accurate diagnosis and to suggest proper management of the patients. Clinical history, immunohistochemistry, and molecular assays are helpful in making a correct diagnosis in morphologically challenging cases. In this review, we present our approach for the diagnosis of breast spindle cell lesions, highlighting the main features of each entity and the potential pitfalls, particularly on CNB. Breast spindle cell lesions are generally classified into two main categories: bland-appearing and malignant-appearing lesions. Each category includes a distinct list of differential diagnoses and a panel of immunohistochemical markers. In bland-appearing lesions, it is important to distinguish fibromatosis-like spindle cell metaplastic breast carcinoma from other benign entities and to distinguish fibromatosis from scar tissue. The malignant-appearing category includes spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma, stroma rich malignant phyllodes tumour, other primary and metastatic malignant spindle cell tumours of the breast, including angiosarcoma and melanoma, and benign mimics such as florid granulation tissue and nodular fasciitis.
Topics: Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Phyllodes Tumor
PubMed: 34322734
DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03162-x -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2023Media representations play an important role in producing sociocultural pressures. Despite social and legal progress in civil rights, restrictive gender-based... (Review)
Review
Media representations play an important role in producing sociocultural pressures. Despite social and legal progress in civil rights, restrictive gender-based representations appear to be still very pervasive in some contexts. The article explores scientific research on the relationship between media representations and gender stereotypes, objectification and sexualization, focusing on their presence in the cultural context. Results show how stereotyping, objectifying and sexualizing representations appear to be still very common across a number of contexts. Exposure to stereotyping representations appears to strengthen beliefs in gender stereotypes and endorsement of gender role norms, as well as fostering sexism, harassment and violence in men and stifling career-related ambitions in women. Exposure to objectifying and sexualizing representations appears to be associated with the internalization of cultural ideals of appearance, endorsement of sexist attitudes and tolerance of abuse and body shame. In turn, factors associated with exposure to these representations have been linked to detrimental effects on physical and psychological well-being, such as eating disorder symptomatology, increased body surveillance and poorer body image quality of life. However, specificities in the pathways from exposure to detrimental effects on well-being are involved for certain populations that warrant further research.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Body Image; Quality of Life; Stereotyping; Sexism; Attitude; Gender Identity
PubMed: 37239498
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105770