55 research outputs found
Association between sleep disorders, hyperacusis and tinnitus: Evaluation with tinnitus questionnaires
No full textPatients with tinnitus are heterogeneous and several factors influence the impact of this symptom on the quality of life. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between age, gender, sleep disorders, hyperacusis and tinnitus annoyance and to demonstrate the utility of tinnitus questionnaires as screening tools for sleep disorders and hyperacusis in patients with tinnitus. 37 consecutive patients (18 males and 19 females) with subjective tinnitus lasting over 3 months were evaluated with a complete interview, otological examination, pure tone audiometry, Italian version of tinnitus sample case history (TSCH) and tinnitus handicap inventory (THI). Statistical analysis was performed with the Wilcoxon′s rank sum test, the Spearman′s rho non-parametric correlation and the logistic regression analysis. THI grades were slight (16%), mild (32%), moderate (30%), severe (19%) and catastrophic (3%). Based on the answers to TSCH 20 patients reported sleep disorders (54%) and 20 patients reported hyperacusis (54%). 11 patients (30%) reported sleep disorders and hyperacusis. No significant correlation was found between the severity of tinnitus and patients′ age and gender. Significant correlation was found between sleep disorders (P = 0.0009) and tinnitus annoyance and between hyperacusis (P = 0.03) and tinnitus annoyance. TSCH and THI may be considered as screening tools in the clinical practice to evidence sleep disorders and hyperacusis in patients with tinnitus
ERP Modulation during Observation of Abstract Paintings by Franz Kline
No full textThe aim of this study was to test the involvement of sensorimotor cortical circuits during the beholding of the static consequences of hand gestures devoid of any meaning.In order to verify this hypothesis we performed an EEG experiment presenting to participants images of abstract works of art with marked traces of brushstrokes. The EEG data were analyzed by using Event Related Potentials (ERPs). We aimed to demonstrate a direct involvement of sensorimotor cortical circuits during the beholding of these selected works of abstract art. The stimuli consisted of three different abstract black and white paintings by Franz Kline. Results verified our experimental hypothesis showing the activation of premotor and motor cortical areas during stimuli observation. In addition, abstract works of art observation elicited the activation of reward-related orbitofrontal areas, and cognitive categorization-related prefrontal areas. The cortical sensorimotor activation is a fundamental neurophysiological demonstration of the direct involvement of the cortical motor system in perception of static meaningless images belonging to abstract art. These results support the role of embodied simulation of artist's gestures in the perception of works of art. © 2013 Sbriscia-Fioretti et al
Bacteriological and parasitological monitoring on pheasant breeders faeces samples in two game farms in Campania region (Italy): preliminary results.
No full textIn the period from January 1996 (when pheasant breeders are housed for reproduction) to July 1996 (when the birds are released in aviaries) a bacteriological and parasitological monitoring has been carried out through sampling, every two weeks, of faeces of pheasant breeders in two farms of Campania region (Italy). The two game farms, during such period, reared the birds in two different ways: in the first farm (Farm A) the birds were bred in battery, in the second farm (Farm B) they were reared in pens. These different techniques determined different hygienic conditions. The faeces samples have undergone laboratory examinations in order to verify the incidence of pathogenic or potentially pathogenic bacteria, especially Enterobacteriaceae, and parasites. Results have made clear that the incidence of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, found in both farms could have unfavourable effects on reproductive performances, especially they could determine a high eggs’ contamination with a consequent decreasing hatchability. Furthermore, the most high percentage of parasitological positive tests has been obtained in that farm where breeders have been ground reared, in outside runs. This shows that such a breeding system, from a hygienic point of view can result in a greater amount of health problems
Psychometric properties of the Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences (QPE) in an Italian general population sample
No full textIntroduction: Psychotic experiences, such as hallucinations and delusions, are present in various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. They have also been reported in individuals in the general population, although typically in milder and less disabling forms. To enable a comprehensive understanding and transdiagnostic comparison of the wide range of these phenomena, a new measure, the Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences (QPE), was developed. The QPE assesses hallucinations and delusions from a qualitative and quantitative perspective. The aim of this study was to validate the Italian version of the QPE and to examine its psychometric properties.
Method: A total of 87 participants (mean age = 29.3 ± 7.4 years; 62.1% female) completed the Italian version of the QPE, which had been previously translated and cross-culturally adapted. Additionally, they completed three self-report instruments: a) CAPE, which measures psychotic experiences and related distress; b) STAY, which assesses current anxiety state and a general tendency to be anxious; and c) SCL-90-R, which measures a broad range of psychopathological symptoms. Cronbach’s alpha and Kendall’s tau correlation coefficients were used to assess the reliability and validity of the QPE.
Results: The QPE subscales demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from .70 to .85. They also showed positive and significant correlations with the conceptually related CAPE and its subscales, particularly the one measuring positive symptoms, providing evidence for convergent validity. Conversely, weak or null correlations with the conceptually unrelated STAY and its subscales support the QPE’s divergent validity.
Discussion: The QPE is a reliable and valid tool for assessing a wide range of psychotic experiences across diagnoses. Further research is needed to explore differences in psychotic experiences between clinical and nonclinical populations
Motor Inhibition during Overt and Covert Actions: An Electrical Neuroimaging Study.
No full textGiven ample evidence for shared cortical structures involved in encoding actions, whether or not subsequently executed, a still unsolved problem is the identification of neural mechanisms of motor inhibition, preventing "covert actions" as motor imagery from being performed, in spite of the activation of the motor system. The principal aims of the present study were the evaluation of: 1) the presence in covert actions as motor imagery of putative motor inhibitory mechanisms; 2) their underlying cerebral sources; 3) their differences or similarities with respect to cerebral networks underpinning the inhibition of overt actions during a Go/NoGo task. For these purposes, we performed a high density EEG study evaluating the cerebral microstates and their related sources elicited during two types of Go/NoGo tasks, requiring the execution or withholding of an overt or a covert imagined action, respectively. Our results show for the first time the engagement during motor imagery of key nodes of a putative inhibitory network (including pre-supplementary motor area and right inferior frontal gyrus) partially overlapping with those activated for the inhibition of an overt action during the overt NoGo condition. At the same time, different patterns of temporal recruitment in these shared neural inhibitory substrates are shown, in accord with the intended overt or covert modality of action performance. The evidence that apparently divergent mechanisms such as controlled inhibition of overt actions and contingent automatic inhibition of covert actions do indeed share partially overlapping neural substrates, further challenges the rigid dichotomy between conscious, explicit, flexible and unconscious, implicit, inflexible forms of motor behavioral control
Proactive Control Strategies for Overt and Covert Go/NoGo Tasks: An Electrical Neuroimaging Study
No full textProactive and reactive inhibition are generally intended as mechanisms allowing the withholding or suppression of overt movements. Nonetheless, inhibition could also play a pivotal role during covert actions (i.e., potential motor acts not overtly performed, despite the activation of the motor system), such as Motor Imagery (MI). In a previous EEG study, we analyzed cerebral activities reactively triggered during two cued Go/NoGo tasks, requiring execution or withholding of overt or covert imagined actions, respectively. This study revealed activation of pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), key nodes of the network underpinning reactive inhibition of overt responses in NoGo trials, also during MI enactment, enabling the covert nature of the imagined motor response. Taking into account possible proactive engagement of inhibitory mechanisms by cue signals, for an exhaustive interpretation of these previous findings in the present study we analyzed EEG activities elicited during the preparatory phase of our cued overt and covert Go/NoGo tasks. Our results demonstrate a substantial overlap of cerebral areas activated during proactive recruitment and subsequent reactive implementation of motor inhibition in both overt and covert actions; also, different involvement of pre-SMA and rIFG emerged, in accord with the intended type (covert or overt) of incoming motor responses. During preparation of the overt Go/NoGo task, the cue is encoded in a pragmatic mode, as it primes the possible overt motor response programs in motor and premotor cortex and, through preactivation of a pre-SMA-related decisional mechanism, it triggers a parallel preparation for successful response selection and/or inhibition during the response phase. Conversely, the preparatory strategy for the covert Go/NoGo task is centered on priming of an inhibitory mechanism in rIFG, tuned to the instructed covert modality of motor performance and instantiated during subsequent MI, which allows the imagined response to remain a potential motor act
A case of acquired transient bleeding diathesis associated with acquired platelet storage pool deficiency and defective thromboxane A2 production
No full textAcquired disorders of platelet function are an underdiagnosed cause of bleeding tendency. A 14-year-old girl developed moderate mucocutaneous bleeding two weeks after a Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection successfully treated with clarithromycin. The patient was referred to us 7 months later for laboratory investigation of the persisting bleeding diathesis. The patient's personal and family histories were negative for bleeding disorders. Complete blood count, von Willebrand Factor levels and coagulation tests were normal; platelet aggregation, ATP secretion, δ-granules content and serum thromboxane B2 levels were defective. At follow-up visits, laboratory parameters and the bleeding diathesis progressively normalized within 2 years. The patient's condition is compatible with a diagnosis of acquired Storage Pool Deficiency (SPD), associated with defective thromboxane A2 production. To our knowledge, this is the first case of acquired, transient SPD with spontaneous remission. The pathogenic role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection or clarithromycin is possible, albeit uncertain
Electrophysiological results over the 700 ms post-stimulus period (stimulus onset: 0 ms) of session B.
No full text<p><b>(A1</b> and <b>C1)</b> Group-averaged (n = 15) ERP waveforms for Motor Imagery (MI) (A1) and NoGo Motor Imagery (NoGoMI) (C1) conditions, superimposed across the 110 recording channels (e1–e110). <b>(A2</b> and <b>C2)</b> Microstate segmentation results for MI (A2) and NoGoMI (C2) conditions. <b>(B)</b> Mean topographic maps and related mean LAURA source estimations (in red panels) corresponding to each microstate for group-averaged ERP data. All other conventions as in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0126800#pone.0126800.g003" target="_blank">Fig 3</a>.</p
Statistical comparisons of LAURA source estimations between session A and B over significant TANOVA time intervals.
No full textAll significant voxels are colored (t (14) > 2.14 / p t values (red color) indicate higher current source densities in session A than in session B; negative t values (blue color) indicate higher current source densities in session B than in session A. LAURA solutions are rendered on MNI152 template brain (left hemisphere on the left side). (A) First significant TANOVA time interval (192–220 ms after cue onset). (B) Second significant TANOVA time interval (258–306 ms after cue onset). (C) Third significant TANOVA time interval (438–472 ms after cue onset).</p
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