-
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews May 2024Studying infants in the past is crucial for understanding the evolution of human life history and the evolution of cooperation, cognition, and communication. An infant's... (Review)
Review
Studying infants in the past is crucial for understanding the evolution of human life history and the evolution of cooperation, cognition, and communication. An infant's growth, health, and mortality can provide information about the dynamics and structure of a population, their cultural practices, and the adaptive capacity of a community. Skeletal remains provide one way of accessing this information for humans recovered prior to the historical periods. Teeth in particular, are retrospective archives of information that can be accessed through morphological, micromorphological, and biogeochemical methods. This review discusses how the microanatomy and formation of teeth, and particularly enamel, serve as archives of somatic growth, stress, and the environment. Examining their role in the broader context of human evolution, we discuss dental biogeochemistry and emphasize how the incremental growth of tooth microstructure facilitates the reconstruction of temporal data related to health, diet, mobility, and stress in past societies. The review concludes by considering tooth microstructure as a biomarker and the potential clinical applications.
PubMed: 38825260
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105745 -
Brain Research Bulletin May 2024Subiculum is a pivotal output component of the hippocampal formation, a structure often overlooked in neuroscientific research. Here, this review aims to explore the... (Review)
Review
Subiculum is a pivotal output component of the hippocampal formation, a structure often overlooked in neuroscientific research. Here, this review aims to explore the role of the subiculum in various brain disorders, shedding light on its significance within the functional-neuroanatomical perspective on neurological diseases. The subiculum's involvement in multiple brain disorders was thoroughly examined. In Alzheimer's disease, subiculum alterations precede cognitive decline, while in epilepsy, the subiculum plays a critical role in seizure initiation. Stress involves the subiculum's impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Moreover, the subiculum exhibits structural and functional changes in anxiety, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease, contributing to cognitive deficits. Bipolar disorder is linked to subiculum structural abnormalities, while autism spectrum disorder reveals an alteration of inward deformation in the subiculum. Lastly, frontotemporal dementia shows volumetric differences in the subiculum, emphasizing its contribution to the disorder's complexity. Taken together, this review consolidates existing knowledge on the subiculum's role in brain disorders, and may facilitate future research, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic interventions for various neurological conditions.
PubMed: 38825254
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.110993 -
Resuscitation May 2024To quantify the associations of foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) basic life support (BLS) interventions with FBAO relief and survival to discharge.
AIM
To quantify the associations of foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) basic life support (BLS) interventions with FBAO relief and survival to discharge.
METHODS
We identified prehospital FBAO patient encounters in Alberta, Canada between Jan 1,2018 and Dec 31,2021 using the provincial emergency medical services' medical records, deterministically linked to hospital data. Two physicians reviewed encounters to determine cases and extract data. Multivariable logistic regression determined the adjusted odds ratio of FBAO relief (primary outcome) and survival to discharge for the exposure of BLS interventions (abdominal thrusts [AT], chest compressions/thrusts [CC], or combinations) relative to back blows [BB]. Intervention-associated injuries were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes, followed by health records review.
RESULTS
We identified 3,677 patient encounters, including 709 FBAOs requiring intervention. Bystanders performed the initial BLS intervention in 488 cases (77.4%). Bystanders and paramedics did not relieve the FBAO in 151 (23.5%) and 11 (16.7%) cases, respectively. FBAOs not relieved before paramedic arrival had a higher proportion of deaths (n=4[0.4%] versus n=92[42.4%], p<0.001). AT and CC were associated with decreased odds of FBAO relief relative to BB (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.49 [95%CI 0.30-0.80] and 0.14 [95%CI 0.07-0.28], respectively). CC were associated with decreased odds of survival to discharge (aOR 0.04 [95%CI 0.01-0.32]). AT, CC, and BB were implicated in intervention-associated injuries in four, nine, and zero cases, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Back blows are associated with improved outcomes compared to abdominal thrusts and chest compressions. These data can inform prospective studies aimed at improving response to choking emergencies.
PubMed: 38825222
DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2024.110258 -
NeuroImage May 2024Executive functions are essential for adaptive behavior. One executive function is the so-called 'interference control' or conflict monitoring another is inhibitory...
Executive functions are essential for adaptive behavior. One executive function is the so-called 'interference control' or conflict monitoring another is inhibitory control (i.e., action restraint and action cancellation). Recent evidence suggests an interplay of these processes, which is conceptually relevant given that newer conceptual frameworks imply that nominally different action/response control processes are explainable by a small set of cognitive and neurophysiological processes. The existence of such overarching neural principles has as yet not directly been examined. In the current study, we therefore use EEG tensor decomposition methods, to look into possible common neurophysiological signatures underlying conflict-modulated action restraint and action cancellation as mechanism underlying response inhibition. We show how conflicts differentially modulate action restraint and action cancellation processes and delineate common and distinct neural processes underlying this interplay. Concerning the spatial information modulations are similar in terms of an importance of processes reflected by parieto-occipital electrodes, suggesting that attentional selection processes play a role. Especially theta and alpha activity seem to play important roles. The data also show that tensor decomposition is sensitive to the manner of task implementation, thereby suggesting that switch probability/transitional probabilities should be taken into consideration when choosing tensor decomposition as analysis method. The study provides a blueprint of how to use tensor decomposition methods to delineate common and distinct neural mechanisms underlying action control functions using EEG data.
PubMed: 38825216
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120667 -
The Journal of Hospital Infection May 2024Evidence were mixed regarding the effect of topical vancomycin (VCM) powder in reducing surgical site infection (SSI). (Review)
Review
Effect of topical vancomycin powder on surgical site infection prevention in major orthopaedic surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with trial sequential analysis.
BACKGROUND
Evidence were mixed regarding the effect of topical vancomycin (VCM) powder in reducing surgical site infection (SSI).
AIM
To clarify the effect of topical VCM powder for the prevention of in major orthopaedic surgeries.
METHODS
The MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from their inception to 25 September 2023. We included randomised controlled trials comparing topical VCM powder and controls for the prevention of SSI in major orthopaedic surgeries. Two reviewers independently screened the title and abstract and extracted relevant data, followed by the assessment of the risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence. Main outcome measure were Overall SSI, reoperation, and adverse events. Summary results were obtained using random-effects meta-analysis. We performed trial sequential analysis (TSA).
FINDINGS
Eight randomised controlled trials provided data on 4,307 participants. VCM powder showed no difference in reducing overall SSI. The cumulative number of patients did not exceed the required information size of 19,233 in our TSA, and the Z-curves did not cross the trial sequential monitoring or futility boundary, suggesting an inconclusive result of the meta-analysis. No difference was found for reoperation. Among SSI, VCM powder showed statistically significant difference in reducing gram-positive cocci SSI. However, the certainty of this evidence was very low.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests inconclusive results regarding the effect of VCM powder in reducing SSI in major orthopaedic surgeries. Further trials using rigorous methodologies are required to elucidate the effect of this intervention.
PubMed: 38825190
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2024.04.028 -
Molecules and Cells May 2024The actin-based cytoskeleton is considered a fundamental driving force for cell differentiation and development. Destrin (dstn), a member of the actin depolymerizing...
The actin-based cytoskeleton is considered a fundamental driving force for cell differentiation and development. Destrin (dstn), a member of the actin depolymerizing factor family, regulates actin dynamics by treadmilling actin filaments and increasing globular actin pools. However, the specific developmental roles of dstn have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the physiological functions of dstn during early embryonic development using Xenopus laevis as an experimental model organism. dstn is expressed in anterior neural tissue and neural plate during Xenopus embryogenesis. Depleting dstn promoted morphants with short body axes and small heads. Moreover, dstn inhibition extended the neural plate region, impairing cell migration and distribution during neurulation. In addition to the neural plate, dstn knockdown perturbed neural crest cell migration. Our data suggest new insights for understanding the roles of actin dynamics in embryonic neural development, simultaneously presenting a new challenge for studying the complex networks governing cell migration involving actin dynamics.
PubMed: 38825188
DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100076 -
The Canadian Journal of Cardiology May 2024Large language models (LLMs) have emerged as powerful tools in artificial intelligence, demonstrating remarkable capabilities in natural language processing and... (Review)
Review
Large language models (LLMs) have emerged as powerful tools in artificial intelligence, demonstrating remarkable capabilities in natural language processing and generation. In this article, we explore the potential applications of LLMs in enhancing cardiovascular care and research. We discuss how LLMs can be utilized to simplify complex medical information, improve patient-physician communication, and automate tasks such as summarizing medical articles and extracting key information. Additionally, we highlight the role of LLMs in categorizing and analyzing unstructured data, such as medical notes and test results, which could revolutionize data handling and interpretation in cardiovascular research. However, we also emphasize the limitations and challenges associated with LLMs, including potential biases, reasoning opacity, and the need for rigorous validation in medical contexts. This article provides a practical guide for cardiovascular professionals to understand and harness the power of LLMs while navigating their limitations. We conclude by discussing the future directions and implications of LLMs in transforming cardiovascular care and research.
PubMed: 38825181
DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2024.05.024 -
International Journal of Infectious... May 2024This study aimed to compare the humoral responses to mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in PWH and HIV-negative individuals.
Humoral response after mRNA COVID-19 primary vaccination and single booster dose in people living with HIV compared to controls: a French nationwide multicenter cohort study - ANRS0001s COV-POPART.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to compare the humoral responses to mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in PWH and HIV-negative individuals.
METHODS
We included PWH with an undetectable viral load under ART and HIV-negative participants from the French nationwide ANRS COV-POPART cohort who had received two doses of vaccine as a primary vaccination. We compared humoral response between controls and PWH, stratified by CD4 cell count (< 200/mm and ≥ 200/mm CD4 cell counts) at 1, 6 and 12 months after primary vaccination.
RESULTS
A total of 1776 participants were included in this analysis, 684 PWH (99% were on ART, median CD4 counts 673 cells/mm) and 1092 controls. At 1 month, after adjustment on age, sex and BMI, PWH had lower seroneutralization titers than controls and PWH with < 200 CD4 cell/mm3 had lower anti- Spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. Same results were found at 6 months. However, in participants who received a booster dose between 6 and 12 months post primary vaccination, we did not observe differences between PWH and controls at 12 months.
CONCLUSION
PWH had high responses to primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. In those who received a booster dose after six months, the humoral response at 12 months increased to similar levels to controls, even in those with low CD4 counts at baseline.
PubMed: 38825164
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107110 -
Journal of Dairy Science May 2024Probiotics are increasingly used as starter cultures to produce fermented dairy products; however, few studies have investigated the role of probiotics in milk...
Probiotics are increasingly used as starter cultures to produce fermented dairy products; however, few studies have investigated the role of probiotics in milk fermentation metabolism. The current study aimed to investigate whether adding Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Probio-M8 (Probio-M8) as a starter culture strain could improve milk fermentation by comparing the physico-chemical characteristics and metabolomes of fermented milks produced by a commercial starter culture with and without Probio-M8. Our results showed that adding Probio-M8 shortened the milk fermentation time and improved the fermented milk texture and stability. Metabolomics analyses revealed that adding Probio-M8 affected mostly organic acid, amino acid, and fatty acid metabolism in milk fermentation. Targeted quantitative analyses revealed significant increases in various metabolites related to the sensory quality, nutritive value, and health benefits of the probiotic fermented milk, including 5 organic acids (acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, and tartaric acid), 5 essential amino acids (valine, arginine, leucine, isoleucine, and lysine), glutamic acid, and 2 essential fatty acids (α-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). Thus, applying probiotics in milk fermentation is desirable. This study has generated useful information for developing novel functional dairy products.
PubMed: 38825144
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-24863 -
Journal of Dairy Science May 2024Accurate and ex-ante prediction of cows' likelihood of conception (LC) based on milk composition information could improve reproduction management on dairy farms. Milk...
Accurate and ex-ante prediction of cows' likelihood of conception (LC) based on milk composition information could improve reproduction management on dairy farms. Milk composition is already routinely measured by mid-infrared (MIR) spectra, which are known to change with advancing stages of pregnancy. For lactating cows, MIR spectra may also be used for predicting the LC. Our objectives were to classify the LC at first insemination using milk MIR spectra data collected from calving to first insemination and to identify the spectral regions that contribute the most to the prediction of LC at first insemination. After quality control, 4,866 MIR spectra, milk production, and reproduction records from 3,451 Holstein cows were used. The classification accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) of 6 models comprising different predictors and 3 machine learning methods were estimated and compared. The results showed that partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest had higher prediction accuracies than logistic regression. The classification accuracy of good and poor LC cows and AUC in herd-by-herd validation of the best model were 76.35 ± 10.60% and 0.77 ± 0.11, respectively. All wavenumbers with values of variable importance in the projection higher than 1.00 in PLS-DA belonged to 3 spectral regions, namely from 1,003 to 1,189, 1,794 to 2,260, and 2,300 to 2,660 cm. In conclusion, the model can predict LC in dairy cows from a high productive TMR system before insemination with a relatively good accuracy, allowing farmers to intervene in advance or adjust the insemination schedule for cows with a poor predicted LC.
PubMed: 38825141
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24621