Nine-year prospective efficacy and safety of brain-responsive #neurostimulation for focal #epilepsy
https://2medical.news/2020/08/02/nine-year-prospective-efficacy-and-safety-of-brain-responsive-neurostimulation-for-focal-epilepsy/
Prospectively evaluate safety and efficacy of brain-responsive neurostimulation in adults with medically intractable focal onset seizures (FOS) over 9 years.. Adults treated with brain-responsive neurostimulation within 2 year feasibility or randomized controlled trials enrolled into a long-term prospective open label trial (LTT) to assess safety, efficacy, and quality of life (QOL) over an additional 7 years. Safety was assessed as adverse events (AEs), efficacy as …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/02/nine-year-prospective-efficacy-and-safety-of-brain-responsive-neurostimulation-for-focal-epilepsy/
Prospectively evaluate safety and efficacy of brain-responsive neurostimulation in adults with medically intractable focal onset seizures (FOS) over 9 years.. Adults treated with brain-responsive neurostimulation within 2 year feasibility or randomized controlled trials enrolled into a long-term prospective open label trial (LTT) to assess safety, efficacy, and quality of life (QOL) over an additional 7 years. Safety was assessed as adverse events (AEs), efficacy as …
Complementary contributions of non-REM and #REM sleep to visual #learning
https://2medical.news/2020/08/03/complementary-contributions-of-non-rem-and-rem-sleep-to-visual-learning/
Sleep is beneficial for learning. However, it remains unclear whether learning is facilitated by non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep or by REM sleep, whether it results from plasticity increases or stabilization, and whether facilitation results from learning-specific processing. Here, we trained volunteers on a visual task and measured the excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) balance in early visual areas during subsequent sleep as an index of …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/03/complementary-contributions-of-non-rem-and-rem-sleep-to-visual-learning/
Sleep is beneficial for learning. However, it remains unclear whether learning is facilitated by non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep or by REM sleep, whether it results from plasticity increases or stabilization, and whether facilitation results from learning-specific processing. Here, we trained volunteers on a visual task and measured the excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) balance in early visual areas during subsequent sleep as an index of …
Conservation of #brain connectivity and wiring across the mammalian class
https://2medical.news/2020/08/03/conservation-of-brain-connectivity-and-wiring-across-the-mammalian-class/
Over 100 years ago, Ramon y Cajal hypothesized that two forces played a role in the evolution of mammalian brain connectivity: minimizing wiring costs and maximizing conductivity speed. Using diffusion MRI, we reconstructed the brain connectomes of 123 mammalian species. Network analysis revealed that both connectivity and the wiring cost are conserved across mammals. We describe a conservation principle that maintains the overall connectivity: species …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/03/conservation-of-brain-connectivity-and-wiring-across-the-mammalian-class/
Over 100 years ago, Ramon y Cajal hypothesized that two forces played a role in the evolution of mammalian brain connectivity: minimizing wiring costs and maximizing conductivity speed. Using diffusion MRI, we reconstructed the brain connectomes of 123 mammalian species. Network analysis revealed that both connectivity and the wiring cost are conserved across mammals. We describe a conservation principle that maintains the overall connectivity: species …
The human #cerebellum has almost 80% of the surface area of the #neocortex
https://2medical.news/2020/08/04/the-human-cerebellum-has-almost-80-of-the-surface-area-of-the-neocortex/
The surface of the human cerebellar cortex is much more tightly folded than the cerebral cortex. It was computationally reconstructed for the first time to the level of all individual folia from multicontrast high-resolution postmortem MRI scans. Its total shrinkage-corrected surface area (1,590 cm2) was larger than expected or previously reported, equal to 78% of the total surface area of the human neocortex. The unfolded …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/04/the-human-cerebellum-has-almost-80-of-the-surface-area-of-the-neocortex/
The surface of the human cerebellar cortex is much more tightly folded than the cerebral cortex. It was computationally reconstructed for the first time to the level of all individual folia from multicontrast high-resolution postmortem MRI scans. Its total shrinkage-corrected surface area (1,590 cm2) was larger than expected or previously reported, equal to 78% of the total surface area of the human neocortex. The unfolded …
Sex-specific associations between #erythrocyte measures and obstructive #sleep apnea
https://2medical.news/2020/08/04/sex-specific-associations-between-erythrocyte-measures-and-obstructive-sleep-apnea/
STUDY OBJECTIVES:Hypoxemic effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been implicated in changes in erythropoiesis and hence erythrocyte measures. Sex differences are evident in both OSA and erythropoiesis. Whether sex modulates the relationship between severity of OSA and erythrocyte measures has not previously been studied.. ..RESULTS:In multiple regression models, we found significant interactions between sex and oxygen desaturation index and apnea-hypopnea index on erythrocyte measures. …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/04/sex-specific-associations-between-erythrocyte-measures-and-obstructive-sleep-apnea/
STUDY OBJECTIVES:Hypoxemic effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been implicated in changes in erythropoiesis and hence erythrocyte measures. Sex differences are evident in both OSA and erythropoiesis. Whether sex modulates the relationship between severity of OSA and erythrocyte measures has not previously been studied.. ..RESULTS:In multiple regression models, we found significant interactions between sex and oxygen desaturation index and apnea-hypopnea index on erythrocyte measures. …
#Hyperglycaemia is associated with impaired muscle signalling and #aerobic adaptation to exercise
https://2medical.news/2020/08/05/hyperglycaemia-is-associated-with-impaired-muscle-signalling-and-aerobic-adaptation-to-exercise/
Increased aerobic exercise capacity, as a result of exercise training, has important health benefits. However, some individuals are resistant to improvements in exercise capacity, probably due to undetermined genetic and environmental factors. Here, we show that exercise-induced improvements in aerobic capacity are blunted and aerobic remodelling of skeletal muscle is impaired in several animal models associated with chronic hyperglycaemia. Our data point to chronic hyperglycaemia …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/05/hyperglycaemia-is-associated-with-impaired-muscle-signalling-and-aerobic-adaptation-to-exercise/
Increased aerobic exercise capacity, as a result of exercise training, has important health benefits. However, some individuals are resistant to improvements in exercise capacity, probably due to undetermined genetic and environmental factors. Here, we show that exercise-induced improvements in aerobic capacity are blunted and aerobic remodelling of skeletal muscle is impaired in several animal models associated with chronic hyperglycaemia. Our data point to chronic hyperglycaemia …
Google searches for #suicide and suicide risk factors in the early stages of the #COVID-19 pandemic
https://2medical.news/2020/08/06/google-searches-for-suicide-and-suicide-risk-factors-in-the-early-stages-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/
A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the COVID-19 respiratory illness, emerged in December of 2019 and has since spread globally. The dramatic lifestyle changes and stressors associated with this pandemic pose a threat to mental health and have the potential to exacerbate risk factors for suicide. We used autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models to assess Google Trends data representing searches in the United States …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/06/google-searches-for-suicide-and-suicide-risk-factors-in-the-early-stages-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/
A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the COVID-19 respiratory illness, emerged in December of 2019 and has since spread globally. The dramatic lifestyle changes and stressors associated with this pandemic pose a threat to mental health and have the potential to exacerbate risk factors for suicide. We used autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models to assess Google Trends data representing searches in the United States …
Factors associated with #sleep disturbance in patients with chronic #obstructive pulmonary disease
https://2medical.news/2020/08/07/factors-associated-with-sleep-disturbance-in-patients-with-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/
Poor sleep quality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (#COPD ) has been associated with poor health outcomes. However, there is a lack of research on factors associated with sleep disturbance in patients with COPD.. This was a prospective, multicenter cross‐sectional study enrolling a sample of 245 COPD subjects. All patients completed the patient‐reported measure, the COPD and Asthma Sleep Impact Scale (CASIS) to …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/07/factors-associated-with-sleep-disturbance-in-patients-with-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/
Poor sleep quality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (#COPD ) has been associated with poor health outcomes. However, there is a lack of research on factors associated with sleep disturbance in patients with COPD.. This was a prospective, multicenter cross‐sectional study enrolling a sample of 245 COPD subjects. All patients completed the patient‐reported measure, the COPD and Asthma Sleep Impact Scale (CASIS) to …
Mild to moderate partial #sleep deprivation is associated with increased #impulsivity and decreased positive affect in young adults
https://2medical.news/2020/08/08/mild-to-moderate-partial-sleep-deprivation-is-associated-with-increased-impulsivity-and-decreased-positive-affect-in-young-adults/
The effects of mild–moderate partial sleep deprivation on affective and cognitive functioning were evaluated in a naturalistic home environment, mimicking short sleep typically caused by demands from work or society. A total of 52 healthy individuals aged 18–35 was included in an 11-day study protocol. Participants slept at home, and sleep patterns were observed using actigraphs and sleep diaries. After maintaining habitual sleep for 7 …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/08/mild-to-moderate-partial-sleep-deprivation-is-associated-with-increased-impulsivity-and-decreased-positive-affect-in-young-adults/
The effects of mild–moderate partial sleep deprivation on affective and cognitive functioning were evaluated in a naturalistic home environment, mimicking short sleep typically caused by demands from work or society. A total of 52 healthy individuals aged 18–35 was included in an 11-day study protocol. Participants slept at home, and sleep patterns were observed using actigraphs and sleep diaries. After maintaining habitual sleep for 7 …
Associations between abdominal #obesity indices and #diabetic complications: Chinese visceral #adiposity index and neck circumference
https://2medical.news/2020/08/09/associations-between-abdominal-obesity-indices-and-diabetic-complications-chinese-visceral-adiposity-index-and-neck-circumference/
Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, has been considered a risk factor for diabetic complications. Many abdominal obesity indices have been established, including neck circumference (NC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI) and the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI). However, studies investigating the associations between these indices and diabetic complications are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/09/associations-between-abdominal-obesity-indices-and-diabetic-complications-chinese-visceral-adiposity-index-and-neck-circumference/
Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, has been considered a risk factor for diabetic complications. Many abdominal obesity indices have been established, including neck circumference (NC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI) and the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI). However, studies investigating the associations between these indices and diabetic complications are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations …
Effect of Long-term Vitamin #D3 Supplementation vs Placebo on Risk of Depression or Clinically Relevant #Depressive Symptoms and on Change in Mood Scores A Randomized Clinical Trial
https://2medical.news/2020/08/10/effect-of-long-term-vitamin-d3-supplementation-vs-placebo-on-risk-of-depression-or-clinically-relevant-depressive-symptoms-and-on-change-in-mood-scores-a-randomized-clinical-trial/
Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D have been associated with higher risk for depression later in life, but there have been few long-term, high-dose large-scale trials.. Randomized assignment in a 2 × 2 factorial design to vitamin D3 (2000 IU/d of cholecalciferol) and fish oil or placebo; 9181 were randomized to vitamin D3 and 9172 were randomized to matching placebo.. Among the 18 353 randomized participants (mean age, 67.5 …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/10/effect-of-long-term-vitamin-d3-supplementation-vs-placebo-on-risk-of-depression-or-clinically-relevant-depressive-symptoms-and-on-change-in-mood-scores-a-randomized-clinical-trial/
Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D have been associated with higher risk for depression later in life, but there have been few long-term, high-dose large-scale trials.. Randomized assignment in a 2 × 2 factorial design to vitamin D3 (2000 IU/d of cholecalciferol) and fish oil or placebo; 9181 were randomized to vitamin D3 and 9172 were randomized to matching placebo.. Among the 18 353 randomized participants (mean age, 67.5 …
Selective and cross-reactive #SARS-CoV-2 #T cell epitopes in unexposed humans
https://2medical.news/2020/08/11/selective-and-cross-reactive-sars-cov-2-t-cell-epitopes-in-unexposed-humans/
Many unknowns exist about human immune responses to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. SARS-CoV-2 reactive CD4+ T cells have been reported in unexposed individuals, suggesting pre-existing cross-reactive T cell memory in 20-50% of people. However, the source of those T cells has been speculative. Using human blood samples derived before the SARS-CoV-2 virus was discovered in 2019, we mapped 142 T cell epitopes across the SARS-CoV-2 genome …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/11/selective-and-cross-reactive-sars-cov-2-t-cell-epitopes-in-unexposed-humans/
Many unknowns exist about human immune responses to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. SARS-CoV-2 reactive CD4+ T cells have been reported in unexposed individuals, suggesting pre-existing cross-reactive T cell memory in 20-50% of people. However, the source of those T cells has been speculative. Using human blood samples derived before the SARS-CoV-2 virus was discovered in 2019, we mapped 142 T cell epitopes across the SARS-CoV-2 genome …
Mandated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (#BCG) vaccination predicts flattened curves for the spread of #COVID-19
https://2medical.news/2020/08/12/mandated-bacillus-calmette-guerin-bcg-vaccination-predicts-flattened-curves-for-the-spread-of-covid-19/
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination may reduce the risk of a range of infectious diseases, and if so, it could protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we compared countries that mandated BCG vaccination until at least 2000 with countries that did not. To minimize any systematic effects of reporting biases, we analyzed the rate of the day-by-day increase in both confirmed cases (134 countries) and …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/12/mandated-bacillus-calmette-guerin-bcg-vaccination-predicts-flattened-curves-for-the-spread-of-covid-19/
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination may reduce the risk of a range of infectious diseases, and if so, it could protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we compared countries that mandated BCG vaccination until at least 2000 with countries that did not. To minimize any systematic effects of reporting biases, we analyzed the rate of the day-by-day increase in both confirmed cases (134 countries) and …
Elevated serum #procalcitonin levels and their association with the prognosis of patients with liver #cirrhosis
https://2medical.news/2020/08/13/elevated-serum-procalcitonin-levels-and-their-association-with-the-prognosis-of-patients-with-liver-cirrhosis/
Bacterial infection is a major complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. Procalcitonin is an early diagnostic marker of bacterial infection. This study aimed to investigate the association between the serum procalcitonin levels and the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.. The serum procalcitonin level was higher (≥0.05 ng/mL) in 151 (64%) patients, and it was significantly higher in the patients with Child-Turcotte-Pugh class C than in …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/13/elevated-serum-procalcitonin-levels-and-their-association-with-the-prognosis-of-patients-with-liver-cirrhosis/
Bacterial infection is a major complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. Procalcitonin is an early diagnostic marker of bacterial infection. This study aimed to investigate the association between the serum procalcitonin levels and the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.. The serum procalcitonin level was higher (≥0.05 ng/mL) in 151 (64%) patients, and it was significantly higher in the patients with Child-Turcotte-Pugh class C than in …
The rich have one more thing you don’t: Better #sleep
https://2medical.news/2020/08/14/the-rich-have-one-more-thing-you-dont-better-sleep/
..Of the adults surveyed, only 55% of people living below the poverty threshold received seven to eight hours of sleep per night. For adults making 400% above the poverty threshold, that number rose to 66.6%. In 2014, the poverty threshold was $11,670 for a single-person household and $23,850 for a four-person household. ..Sleep affects many aspects of well-being and quality of life for people of …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/14/the-rich-have-one-more-thing-you-dont-better-sleep/
..Of the adults surveyed, only 55% of people living below the poverty threshold received seven to eight hours of sleep per night. For adults making 400% above the poverty threshold, that number rose to 66.6%. In 2014, the poverty threshold was $11,670 for a single-person household and $23,850 for a four-person household. ..Sleep affects many aspects of well-being and quality of life for people of …
Reducing #Antibiotic Prescribing in Primary Care for #Respiratory Illness
https://2medical.news/2020/08/15/reducing-antibiotic-prescribing-in-primary-care-for-respiratory-illness/
One-third of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions for pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are inappropriate. We evaluated a distance learning program’s effectiveness for reducing outpatient antibiotic prescribing for ARTI visits.. In this stepped-wedge clinical trial run from November 2015 to June 2018, we randomly assigned 19 pediatric practices belonging to the Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network or the NorthShore University HealthSystem to 4 wedges. Visits …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/15/reducing-antibiotic-prescribing-in-primary-care-for-respiratory-illness/
One-third of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions for pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are inappropriate. We evaluated a distance learning program’s effectiveness for reducing outpatient antibiotic prescribing for ARTI visits.. In this stepped-wedge clinical trial run from November 2015 to June 2018, we randomly assigned 19 pediatric practices belonging to the Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network or the NorthShore University HealthSystem to 4 wedges. Visits …
Association of acute myocardial #infarction with #influenza: A nationwide observational study
https://2medical.news/2020/08/16/association-of-acute-myocardial-infarction-with-influenza-a-nationwide-observational-study/
Influenza may precipitate cardiovascular disease, but influenza typically peaks in winter, coinciding with other triggers of myocardial infarction (MI) such as low air temperature, high wind velocity, low atmospheric pressure, and short sunshine duration.. Weekly laboratory-confirmed influenza case reports were obtained from the Public Health Agency of Sweden from 2009 to 2016 and merged with the nationwide SWEDEHEART MI registry. Weekly incidence of MI was …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/16/association-of-acute-myocardial-infarction-with-influenza-a-nationwide-observational-study/
Influenza may precipitate cardiovascular disease, but influenza typically peaks in winter, coinciding with other triggers of myocardial infarction (MI) such as low air temperature, high wind velocity, low atmospheric pressure, and short sunshine duration.. Weekly laboratory-confirmed influenza case reports were obtained from the Public Health Agency of Sweden from 2009 to 2016 and merged with the nationwide SWEDEHEART MI registry. Weekly incidence of MI was …
Association Between the Gut #Microbiota and Blood #Pressure in a Population Cohort of 6953 Individuals
https://2medical.news/2020/08/17/association-between-the-gut-microbiota-and-blood-pressure-in-a-population-cohort-of-6953-individuals/
Several small‐scale animal studies have suggested that gut microbiota and blood pressure (BP) are linked. However, results from human studies remain scarce and conflicting. We wanted to elucidate the multivariable‐adjusted association between gut metagenome and BP in a large, representative, well‐phenotyped population sample. We performed a focused analysis to examine the previously reported inverse associations between sodium intake and Lactobacillus abundance and between Lactobacillus abundance …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/17/association-between-the-gut-microbiota-and-blood-pressure-in-a-population-cohort-of-6953-individuals/
Several small‐scale animal studies have suggested that gut microbiota and blood pressure (BP) are linked. However, results from human studies remain scarce and conflicting. We wanted to elucidate the multivariable‐adjusted association between gut metagenome and BP in a large, representative, well‐phenotyped population sample. We performed a focused analysis to examine the previously reported inverse associations between sodium intake and Lactobacillus abundance and between Lactobacillus abundance …
Vitamin #D for treatment of non‐alcoholic #fatty liver disease detected by transient elastography: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
https://2medical.news/2020/08/18/vitamin-d-for-treatment-of-non%E2%80%90alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-detected-by-transient-elastography-a-randomized-double%E2%80%90blind-placebo%E2%80%90controlled-trial/
To evaluate the effects of vitamin D on transient elastography (TE, FibroScan) indices of liver steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter [CAP]) and fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement [LSM]) in adults with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).. ..Both CAP and LSM gradually decreased in vitamin D‐treated patients and slightly increased in the placebo arm. Vitamin D was superior to placebo for both primary outcomes (mean differences in CAP …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/18/vitamin-d-for-treatment-of-non%E2%80%90alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-detected-by-transient-elastography-a-randomized-double%E2%80%90blind-placebo%E2%80%90controlled-trial/
To evaluate the effects of vitamin D on transient elastography (TE, FibroScan) indices of liver steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter [CAP]) and fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement [LSM]) in adults with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).. ..Both CAP and LSM gradually decreased in vitamin D‐treated patients and slightly increased in the placebo arm. Vitamin D was superior to placebo for both primary outcomes (mean differences in CAP …
CMS121, a fatty acid synthase inhibitor, protects against excess lipid peroxidation and inflammation and alleviates cognitive loss in a transgenic mouse model of #Alzheimer’s disease
https://2medical.news/2020/08/19/cms121-a-fatty-acid-synthase-inhibitor-protects-against-excess-lipid-peroxidation-and-inflammation-and-alleviates-cognitive-loss-in-a-transgenic-mouse-model-of-alzheimers-disease/
The oxidative degradation of lipids has been shown to be implicated in the progression of several neurodegenerative diseases and modulating lipid peroxidation may be efficacious for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This hypothesis is strengthened by recent findings suggesting that oxytosis/ferroptosis, a cell death process characterized by increased lipid peroxidation, plays an important role in AD-related toxicities. CMS121 is a small molecule developed against these aspects …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/19/cms121-a-fatty-acid-synthase-inhibitor-protects-against-excess-lipid-peroxidation-and-inflammation-and-alleviates-cognitive-loss-in-a-transgenic-mouse-model-of-alzheimers-disease/
The oxidative degradation of lipids has been shown to be implicated in the progression of several neurodegenerative diseases and modulating lipid peroxidation may be efficacious for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This hypothesis is strengthened by recent findings suggesting that oxytosis/ferroptosis, a cell death process characterized by increased lipid peroxidation, plays an important role in AD-related toxicities. CMS121 is a small molecule developed against these aspects …
An electrophysiological marker of #arousal level in humans
https://2medical.news/2020/08/20/an-electrophysiological-marker-of-arousal-level-in-humans/
Deep non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) and general anesthesia with propofol are prominent states of reduced arousal linked to the occurrence of synchronized oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Although rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is also associated with diminished arousal levels, it is characterized by a desynchronized, ‘wake-like’ EEG. This observation implies that reduced arousal states are not necessarily only defined by synchronous oscillatory activity. …
https://2medical.news/2020/08/20/an-electrophysiological-marker-of-arousal-level-in-humans/
Deep non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) and general anesthesia with propofol are prominent states of reduced arousal linked to the occurrence of synchronized oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Although rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is also associated with diminished arousal levels, it is characterized by a desynchronized, ‘wake-like’ EEG. This observation implies that reduced arousal states are not necessarily only defined by synchronous oscillatory activity. …