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Journal of Vision Jan 2014How attention interacts with low-level visual representations to give rise to perception remains a central yet controversial question in neuroscience. While several...
How attention interacts with low-level visual representations to give rise to perception remains a central yet controversial question in neuroscience. While several previous studies suggest that the units of attentional selection are individual objects, other evidence points instead toward lower-level features, such as an attended color or direction of motion. We used both human fMRI and psychophysics to investigate the relationship between object-based and feature-based attention. Specifically, we focused on whether feature-based attention is modulated by object appearance, comparing three conditions: (a) features appearing as one object; (b) features appearing as two separate but identical objects; (c) features appearing as two different objects. Stimuli were two random-dot fields presented bilaterally to central fixation, and object appearance was induced by the presence of one or two boxes around the fields. In the fMRI experiment, participants performed a luminance discrimination task on one side, and ignored the other side, where we probed for enhanced activity when either it was perceived as belonging to a same object, or shared features with the task side. In the psychophysical experiments, participants performed luminance discrimination on both sides with overlapping red and green dots, now attending to either the same features (red/red or green/green) or different features (red/green or green/red) on both sides. Results show that feature-based attentional enhancement exists in all three conditions, i.e., regardless whether features appear as one object, two identical objects, or two different objects. Our findings indicate that feature-based attention differs from object-based attention in that it is not dependent upon object appearance. Thus feature-based attention may be mediated by earlier cortical processes independent of perceiving visual features into well-formed objects.
Topics: Adult; Attention; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Psychophysics; Visual Cortex; Visual Perception
PubMed: 24396046
DOI: 10.1167/14.1.3 -
Dermatology and Therapy Dec 2021Most severe-appearing keloids tend to occur around joints because of the increased extensional stimulation of the scar in those areas. However, erythema elevatum...
INTRODUCTION
Most severe-appearing keloids tend to occur around joints because of the increased extensional stimulation of the scar in those areas. However, erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) appears more commonly on friction sites including extensor surfaces of the extremities and dorsal surfaces of joints. EEDs also presents as red-brown and elevated lesions.
CASE PRESENTATION
In this report, we describe a 42-year-old female who presented with firm, sporadic, brown-colored raised nodules on her bilateral lower extremities. As the appearance of these nodules resembled keloids, resection of the affected area with subsequent radiation therapy was initiated. However, histopathologic examination performed after treatment revealed tuberous lesions in the dermis, increased wired collagen fibers, neutrophilic infiltrate with nuclear dust, and edematous endothelial cells in the small vessels. Consequently, the patient was later diagnosed with EED. Post-surgery, no recurrence or abnormal scars appeared.
DISCUSSION
Whereas clinical findings of EED are similar to that of keloids, the mechanisms of the two conditions differ considerably, leading to varying management strategies. EEDs can be misdiagnosed as keloids on several grounds; they can both appear morphologically similar, exhibit as stiff lesions, demonstrate chronic inflammation of the reticular dermis, and appear anywhere on the body. The only definitive method of differentiating between the two is through histopathologic examination.
CONCLUSION
EED should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses for any patients presenting with keloid-like lesions on friction sites and biopsy should be performed prior to resection and radiotherapy.
PubMed: 34778936
DOI: 10.1007/s13555-021-00639-0 -
Clinics in Dermatology 2023Annular skin lesions have a unique morphology, and the dramatic appearance of these skin eruptions in infants can cause concern for parents and clinicians. Annular...
Annular skin lesions have a unique morphology, and the dramatic appearance of these skin eruptions in infants can cause concern for parents and clinicians. Annular lesions appearing during infancy (defined here as birth to 1 year of age) lend to a broad differential, ranging from benign cutaneous disorders to severe systemic diseases. This review summarizes the pathogenesis, clinical and histopathologic findings, and management options of possible etiologies for annular skin lesions in infants, including annular erythema of infancy, neonatal lupus erythematosus, dermatophyte infections, hemorrhagic edema of infancy, and urticaria multiforme.
PubMed: 37467898
DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2023.07.009 -
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Feb 2014Coffee contains phenolic compounds, mainly chlorogenic acids (CGAs). Even though coffee intake has been associated with some health benefits in epidemiological studies,... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
SCOPE
Coffee contains phenolic compounds, mainly chlorogenic acids (CGAs). Even though coffee intake has been associated with some health benefits in epidemiological studies, the bioavailability of coffee phenolics is not fully understood.
OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN
We performed a dose-response study measuring plasma bioavailability of phenolics after drinking three increasing, but still nutritionally relevant doses of instant pure soluble coffee. The study design was a one treatment (coffee) three-dose randomized cross-over design, with a washout period of 2 wks between visits.
RESULTS
CGAs, phenolic acids, and late-appearing metabolites all increased with increasing ingested dose. Hence, the sum of area under the curve was significantly higher for the medium to low dose, and high to medium dose, by 2.23- and 2.38-fold, respectively. CGAs were not well absorbed in their intact form, regardless of the dose. CGA and phenolic acids appeared rapidly in plasma, indicating an early absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Late-appearing metabolites were the most abundant, regardless of the dose.
CONCLUSION
This study confirmed previous findings about coffee bioavailability but also showed that coffee phenolics appear in a positive dose-response manner in plasma when drank at nutritionally relevant doses.
Topics: Absorption; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological Availability; Body Mass Index; Chlorogenic Acid; Coffee; Cross-Over Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Male; Middle Aged; Young Adult
PubMed: 24039147
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300349 -
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology Mar 2001The purpose of this study is to report the sonographic appearance of focal thyroid nodules that prove to be lymphocytic thyroiditis on fine-needle aspiration.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to report the sonographic appearance of focal thyroid nodules that prove to be lymphocytic thyroiditis on fine-needle aspiration.
CONCLUSION
In a patient population undergoing sonography for palpable nodular disease without known thyroiditis, focal nodules of thyroiditis had a wide variety of appearances. They most commonly appeared as solid hyperechoic nodules with ill-defined margins. However, the echogenicity was variable, and calcification and cystic-appearing regions were also noted. The vascularity of these nodules as assessed with color Doppler and power Doppler sonography also varied widely. Biopsy of these lesions is still necessary because there are no sonographic features that can reliably diagnose these lesions as thyroiditis and differentiate them from other lesions.
Topics: Biopsy, Needle; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Thyroid Gland; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
PubMed: 11222219
DOI: 10.2214/ajr.176.3.1760751 -
Fertility and Sterility Mar 1988This retrospective study demonstrates an increased documentation of subtle appearances of endometriosis. This documentation was associated with an increased emphasis on...
This retrospective study demonstrates an increased documentation of subtle appearances of endometriosis. This documentation was associated with an increased emphasis on excising these lesions for histologic examination. Endometriosis was documented in pink, clear, red, white, and puckered black lesions in 106 (97%) of 109 patients. This included 22 (100%) of 22 patients undergoing laparotomy and 84 (97%) of 87 patients undergoing laparoscopy. Subtle lesions were documented at laparoscopy in 32% of patients in the first 5 months and in 72% of patients in the last 5 months of the study. The increased documentation of these subtle lesions appeared to be related to an increased awareness and anticipation of subtle lesions. The ability to detect such lesions increased with experience and was reinforced by histologic confirmation.
Topics: Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Pelvis; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 3342893
DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59767-2 -
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Jun 1999The objective of this study was to observe the changing appearance of human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts in their tibial bone tunnels by MRI using oblique...
The objective of this study was to observe the changing appearance of human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts in their tibial bone tunnels by MRI using oblique axial images. One-hundred and eight knees in 75 patients were studied by MRI at 1-33 months after arthroscopic ACL reconstructions using double-looped, autogenous semitendinosus and/or gracilis tendons. Knees with poor stability were excluded from this study. The examinations were performed at 0.2T with spin echo proton density and T2-weighted oblique axial images. Appearances of grafts were mainly described on spin echo proton density images based upon time after surgery. The grafts appeared as homogeneous, low signal intensity areas in the bone tunnels at 1 month after the surgery. Ring-shaped low signal intensity areas were observed along the wall of the bone tunnels in the 2- to 3-month group. In many grafts from this group, each tendinous bundle appeared as a low signal area separated by a high signal intensity area. In all cases in the 4- to 6-month group, the thickness of the ring-shaped low signal intensity area had increased, whereas the thickness of the high signal intensity area had decreased. In almost all of the cases, the interior of the bone tunnel gradually became a homologous low signal intensity region by 7 to 12 months after the surgery. According to these results, it is suggested that the maturation of the tendon-bone interface was completed from 6 to 12 months after the ACL reconstruction.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Arthroscopy; Bone Regeneration; Female; Humans; Joint Instability; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Tendons; Tibia; Transplantation, Autologous
PubMed: 10372521
DOI: 10.1016/s0730-725x(99)00007-7 -
Cureus Aug 2023Preoperative imaging diagnosis is critical to planning treatment strategies; however, it is occasionally challenging and sometimes misleading. The effects of molecularly...
OBJECTIVE
Preoperative imaging diagnosis is critical to planning treatment strategies; however, it is occasionally challenging and sometimes misleading. The effects of molecularly targeted therapies on imaging appearances remain uncharted. We investigated the imaging characteristics of brain metastasis during tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) administration.
METHODS
We analyzed the 12 cases of brain metastasis from lung cancer in our institute, including a case of a 49-year-old woman under gefitinib. Additionally, we reviewed the cases of brain metastasis from lung cancer with gefitinib treatment in the literature.
RESULTS
A woman during five-year gefitinib treatment for postoperative recurrence of lung adenocarcinoma was found to have a cerebellar tumoral lesion incidentally on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This lesion did not harbor any peritumoral edema, along with appearing hypometabolic on fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). This appearance was inconsistent with a typical metastatic appearance, and high-grade glioma was instead highly suspected, leading to a decision to proceed to gross total tumor resection. The pathological diagnosis, however, was brain metastasis from lung cancer. The other 11 cases without TKI treatment showed peritumoral edema on MRI and higher accumulation of FDG on PET. The two cases of brain metastasis with gefitinib in the literature showed no peritumoral edema on MRI.
CONCLUSION
TKIs like gefitinib can affect tumor biology, leading to a loss of typical imaging findings such as peritumoral brain edema and hyper-metabolism. As preoperative imaging diagnosis guides us in surgical planning, including biopsy or resection, ongoing treatment information should be fully integrated into imaging interpretation.
PubMed: 37719531
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43591 -
Acta Radiologica Open Feb 2017Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) is a feared condition of unknown cause, in its classic form appearing in the medial femoral condyle in middle-aged or...
Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) is a feared condition of unknown cause, in its classic form appearing in the medial femoral condyle in middle-aged or elderly subjects. Diagnosis with radiography is notoriously difficult with a long latency before typical changes appear. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is regarded as a diagnostic tool with the possibility to give an earlier diagnosis with improved chances for treatment. However, also with MRI there may be an initial diagnostic blind spot before typical changes appear. Little is known about the temporal evolution of the MRI changes. In the current case report, a case of SONK is reported where serial imaging with MRI was performed, from initial symptoms to eventual resolution after almost three years.
PubMed: 28203389
DOI: 10.1177/2058460116688719 -
Skeletal Radiology Nov 1994Intra-articular ganglion cysts arising from the cruciate ligaments are unusual lesions, there being only nine previously reported cases. We report 16 cases and describe...
Intra-articular ganglion cysts arising from the cruciate ligaments are unusual lesions, there being only nine previously reported cases. We report 16 cases and describe their MR appearance. Nine ganglia originated from the posterior cruciate ligament, most often appearing as well-defined multilocular lesions. The seven ganglia arising from the anterior cruciate ligament most often appeared as fusiform cystic lesions extending along and interspersed within the fibers of the ligament. Although uncommon, intra-articular ganglion cysts arising from the knee appear to have a distinctive MR appearance which should allow their correct diagnosis.
Topics: Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Female; Humans; Knee Joint; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Posterior Cruciate Ligament; Retrospective Studies; Synovial Cyst
PubMed: 7886467
DOI: 10.1007/BF02580380