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Virulence 2011Increasing attention has been focused on understanding bacterial biofilms and this growth modality's relation to human disease. In this review we explore the genetic... (Review)
Review
Increasing attention has been focused on understanding bacterial biofilms and this growth modality's relation to human disease. In this review we explore the genetic regulation and molecular components involved in biofilm formation and maturation in the context of the Gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, we discuss diseases and host immune responses, along with current therapies associated with S. aureus biofilm infections and prevention strategies.
Topics: Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biofilms; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Models, Biological; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 21921685
DOI: 10.4161/viru.2.5.17724 -
Psychological Medicine Dec 2019There is a growing recognition in psychosis research of the importance of hallucinations in modalities other than the auditory. This has focused attention on cognitive... (Review)
Review
There is a growing recognition in psychosis research of the importance of hallucinations in modalities other than the auditory. This has focused attention on cognitive and neural processes that might be shared by, and which might contribute distinctly to, hallucinations in different modalities. In this article, I address some issues around the modality-generality of cognitive and neural processes in hallucinations, including the role of perceptual and reality-monitoring systems, top-down and bottom-up processes in relation to the psychological and neural substrates of hallucinations, and the phenomenon of simultaneous multimodal hallucinations of the same entity. I suggest that a functional systems approach, inspired by some neglected aspects of the writings of A. R. Luria, can help us to understand patterns of hallucinatory experience across modalities and across clinical and non-clinical groups. Understanding the interplay between modality-general and modality-specific processes may bear fruit for improved diagnosis and therapeutic approaches to dealing with distressing hallucinations.
Topics: Attention; Auditory Perception; Brain; Cognition; Functional Laterality; Hallucinations; Humans; Nerve Net; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology
PubMed: 31530334
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291719002496 -
Indian Dermatology Online Journal 2022Bowen's disease (BD) is an in-situ squamous cell carcinoma of epidermis. The etiology of BD is multifactorial with high incidence among Caucasians. BD is common in... (Review)
Review
Bowen's disease (BD) is an in-situ squamous cell carcinoma of epidermis. The etiology of BD is multifactorial with high incidence among Caucasians. BD is common in photo-exposed areas of skin, but other sites can also be involved. Lesions are usually solitary. The morphology of BD differs based on age of the lesion, site of origin, and the degree of keratinization. BD is considered as the "lull before the storm," which precedes an overt squamous cell carcinoma. Histopathology is the gold standard diagnostic modality to confirm the diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry, dermoscopy, and reflectance confocal microscopy are the adjuvant modalities used in the diagnosis of BD. The treatment depends on various factors like site, size, immune status, patient's age, esthetic outcome, etc. The available therapeutic modalities include topical chemotherapy, surgical modalities, light-based modalities, and destructive therapies. It requires a combined effort of dermatologist, oncosurgeon, and plastic surgeon to plan and execute the management in various presentations of BD.
PubMed: 35287414
DOI: 10.4103/idoj.idoj_257_21 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2019This study investigates the aptitude-treatment interaction between text modality and learners' modality preference on learning outcomes and cognitive load, which is...
This study investigates the aptitude-treatment interaction between text modality and learners' modality preference on learning outcomes and cognitive load, which is currently a point of controversy. The Meshing Hypothesis postulates there are better learning outcomes when the modality of a learning environment matches the learner's preference. However, previous research supporting the Meshing Hypothesis shows methodological issues. Therefore, clear empirical support is needed. We tested 42 learners in a between-subject design: Their preferences were either auditive-ambiguous or visual, and half of each preference group randomly learned either with an auditive or a visual text. As expected, we did not find any main effects, but a significant interaction between the text modality and the learner's preference for comprehension outcomes, extraneous cognitive load, and germane cognitive load. Specifically, learners with a preference for visual texts benefit from learning with their preferred modality, they showed higher comprehension scores and less extraneous load when learning from a visual text. Auditive-ambiguous learners showed almost equal results with both text modalities. This might be explained by the fact that most texts in everyday life are presented visually, and therefore learners with an auditive preference needed to develop appropriate reading strategies. Thus, our results partly support the Meshing Hypothesis.
PubMed: 31998170
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02820 -
Photoacoustics Sep 2018Optoacoustic imaging is a medical imaging modality that uses optical excitation and acoustic detection to generate images of tissue structures based up optical... (Review)
Review
Optoacoustic imaging is a medical imaging modality that uses optical excitation and acoustic detection to generate images of tissue structures based up optical absorption within a tissue sample. This imaging modality has been widely explored as a tool for a number of clinical applications, including cancer diagnosis and wound healing tracking. Recently, the optoacoustic imaging community has published a number of reports of optoacoustic imaging devices and platforms; these hand-held configurations improve the modality's potential for commercial clinical implementation. Here, we review recent advancements in optoacoustic imaging platforms and methods, including recent pre-clinical applications, and we present an overview of the remaining limitations in optoacoustic imaging that must be addressed to increase the translation of the modality into commercial and clinical use.
PubMed: 30073147
DOI: 10.1016/j.pacs.2018.07.001 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2021Chronic pancreatitis (CP) describes long-standing inflammation of the pancreas, which leads to irreversible and progressive inflammation of the pancreas with fibrosis.... (Review)
Review
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) describes long-standing inflammation of the pancreas, which leads to irreversible and progressive inflammation of the pancreas with fibrosis. CP also leads to abdominal pain, malnutrition, and permanent impairment of exocrine/endocrine functions. However, it is difficult to assess CP pathologically, and imaging modalities therefore play an important role in the diagnosis and assessment of CP. There are four modalities typically used to assess CP. Pancreatic duct features are assessed with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, ERCP is a rather invasive diagnostic modality for CP, and can result in adverse events such as post-ERCP pancreatitis. Computed tomography (CT) is often the most appropriate initial imaging modality for patients with suspected CP, and has high diagnostic specificity. However, CT findings typically only appear in advanced stages of CP, and it is difficult to detect early CP. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) provides superior spatial resolution compared with other imaging modalities such as CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and is considered the most reliable and efficient diagnostic modality for pancreatic diseases. The EUS-based Rosemont classification plays an important role in diagnosing CP in clinical practice. Evaluation of tissue stiffness can be another option to assess the diagnosis and progression of CP, and MRI and EUS can be used to assess CP not only with imaging, but also with elasticity measurement. MR and EUS elastography are expected to provide new alternative diagnostic tools for assessment of fibrosis in CP, which is difficult to evaluate pathologically.
PubMed: 35082692
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.800516 -
Pain Physician Jul 2004Cryotherapy and thermotherapy are useful adjuncts for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. Clinicians treating these conditions should be aware of current research...
Cryotherapy and thermotherapy are useful adjuncts for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. Clinicians treating these conditions should be aware of current research findings regarding these modalities, because their choice of modality may affect the ultimate outcome of the patient being treated. Through a better understanding of these modalities, clinicians can optimize their present treatment strategies. Although cold and hot treatment modalities both decrease pain and muscle spasm, they have opposite effects on tissue metabolism, blood flow, inflammation, edema, and connective tissue extensibility. Cryotherapy decreases these effects while thermotherapy increases them. Continuous low-level cryotherapy and thermotherapy are newer concepts in therapeutic modalities. Both modalities provide significant pain relief with a low side-effect profile. Contrast therapy, which alternates between hot and cold treatment modalities, provides no additional therapeutic benefits compared with cryotherapy or thermotherapy alone. Complications of cryotherapy include nerve damage, frostbite, Raynaud's phenomenon, cold-induced urticaria, and slowed wound healing. With thermotherapy, skin burns may occur, especially in patients with diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, poor circulation, and spinal cord injuries. In individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, deep-heating modalities should be used with caution because increased inflammation may occur. Whirlpool and other types of hydrotherapy have caused infections of the skin, urogenital, and pulmonary systems. Additionally, ultrasound should not be used in patients with joint prostheses.
PubMed: 16858479
DOI: No ID Found