161,524 research outputs found
Editorial: Infections and hepatic encephalopathy–does the chicken or the egg come FIRST? A novel perspective at the horizon
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Hepatic encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt Incidence and risk factors
No full textForty-seven consecutive patients were prospectively evaluated to study the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy as well as modifications in the PSE index after TIPS, Various clinical, laboratory, and angiographic parameters were also recorded to identify risk factors for the development of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy (HE), Mean follow-up was 17 +/- 7 months. During follow-up, six patients died and one underwent transplantation, All other patients were followed for at least a year, Fifteen patients (32%) experienced 20 acute episodes of precipitated HE (hospitalization was necessary in 10 instances), and five patients (11%) presented a continuous alteration in mental status with frequent spontaneous exacerbation during follow-up, Both precipitated and spontaneous HE occurred more frequently during the first three months of follow-up, Moreover the PSE index was significantly worse than basal values one month after TIPS, thereafter returning to near basal values, HE was successfully treated in all patients but one who required a reduction in the stent/shunt diameter. Increasing age (>65 years) and low portacaval gradient (10 mm Hg to avoid an unacceptable rate of HE after TIPS
The burden of minimal hepatic encephalopathy: from diagnosis to therapeutic strategies
No full textMinimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the mildest form of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). It affects the performance of psychometric tests focused on attention, working memory, psychomotor speed, and visuospatial ability, as well as electrophysiological and other functional brain measures. MHE is a frequent complication of liver disease, affecting up to 80% of tested patients. By being related to falls, an impairment in fitness to drive and the development of overt HE, MHE severely affects the lives of patients and caregivers by altering their quality of life and their socioeconomic status. MHE is detected in clinically asymptomatic patients using appropriate psychometric tests and neurophysiological methods that highlight neuropsychological alterations, such as video-spatial orientation deficits, attention disorders, memory, reaction times, electroencephalogram slowing, prolongation of latency-evoked cognitive potentials, and reduction in the critical flicker frequency. Several treatments have been proposed for MHE treatment, including non-absorbable disaccharides, poorly absorbable antibiotics such as rifaximin, probiotics and branched-chain amino acids. However, because of the multiple diagnosis methods, the various endpoints of treatment trials and the variety of agents used in trials, the treatment of MHE is not currently recommended as routine, but only on a case-by-case basis
Visual similarity modulates visual size contrast.
No full textPerception is relational: object properties are perceived in comparison to the spatiotemporal context rather than absolutely. This principle predicts well known contrast effects: For instance, the same sphere will feel smaller after feeling a larger sphere and larger after feeling a smaller sphere (the Uznadze effect). In a series of experiments, we used a visual version of the Uznadze effect to test whether such contrast effects can be modulated by organizational factors, such as the similarity between the contrasting inducer stimulus and the contrasted induced stimulus. We report that this is indeed the case: size contrast is attenuated for inducer-inducing pairs having different 3D shapes, orientations, and even - surprisingly - color and lightness, in comparison to equivalent conditions where these features are the same. These findings complement related work in revealing basic mechanisms for fine-tuning local interactions in space-time in accord to the global stimulus context
Visual similarity modulates visual size contrast
No full textPerception is relational: object properties are perceived in comparison with their spatiotemporal context rather than absolutely. This principle predicts well known contrast effects: For instance, the same sphere will feel smaller after feeling a larger sphere and larger after feeling a smaller sphere (the Uznadze effect). In a series of experiments, we used a visual version of the Uznadze effect to test whether constrast effects can be modulated by higher-level factors, such as the similarity between the contrasting inducer stimulus and the contrasted induced stimulus. Our results suggest that the answer is positive for some dimensions of similarity, but not all. In particular, we report that size contrast is weaker for inducer-inducing pairs having the same shape but different colors, in comparison to the same color; for pairs having the same color, but different shape in comparison to the same shape; but that size constrast is unaffected by dissimilarity in orientation of gratings embedded in similar shapes. These findings complement related work in haptics (Kappers & Tiest, 2014) in suggesting that relational determination in perception can recruit high-level factors
Roadrunner: O-RAN-based Cell Selection in Beyond 5G Networks
No full textO-RAN is currently emerging as the way to build a virtualized 5G and beyond Radio Access Network (RAN) that is based on open interfaces and off-the-shelf hardware. O-RAN consolidates the intelligence of several gNodeBs at the Near-realtime RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) making it more programmable and aware of the mobile users’ surroundings. In this paper we present Roadrunner, an O-RAN-based solution designed to improve cell selection in 5G and beyond networks. Our work has been motivated by the fact that the legacy cell selection procedure in both 4G and 5G networks tends to prefer radio quality and seamless connectivity to high data rates. The reason for this can be traced back to the older releases of the mobile network architecture that were optimized for the circuit-switched communication paradigm and for sparse network deployments. However, with an O-RAN-based approach we can leverage the global network view built and maintained by the Near-realtime RIC to jointly optimize mobility management for channel quality and bitrate. We have designed Roadrunner following the O-RAN Alliance design principles and without requiring any change to the existing 3GPP signaling. No changes to the mobile devices are required either. Performance measurements carried out on a small scale testbed show how Roadrunner can almost double the median throughput in some specific traffic scenarios while also achieving better network fairness
Preface
No full textThis book provides a concise overview of the possible clinical applications of standard EEG in clinical psychiatry. After a short history, the book describes the physiologic basis of the EEG signal, then reviews the principles of EEG in terms of technical backgrounds and requirements, EEG recording and signal analysis, with plentiful illustrations of the most frequent biological or technical artefacts. Normal EEG patterns and waveforms for easy reference are clearly presented, before the detailed description of abnormal patterns. With the basic information in hand, the reader progresses to an account of the role of EEG in the diagnostic work up in psychiatry, covering nonconvulsive status epilepticus, frontal lobe seizures and non-epileptic seizures. The clinical application of EEG in both childhood and adult disorders follows, including many case vignettes. The effects of psychotropic drugs on EEG are highlighted. The book closes with a discussion of currently available certification venues for Clinical Neurophysiology along with limitations of each venue. It calls for the development of training guidelines and certification processes specific to Psychiatric Electrophysiology. The material is clearly presented throughout, with plenty of figures, tables with summaries of relevant findings, flow diagrams for diagnostic work-up, boxes with learning points, and short lists of key references. We fully expect the book will become the standard teaching source for psychiatry residents and fellows, as well as a useful resource for practising psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. Praise for the book: "This distinguished group of editors has put together chapters that represent an excellent practical handbook on electroencephalography in clinical psychiatry, now a very important topic. I highly recommend it not only to psychiatrists, but also to anyone interested in neuroscience." John R. Hughes, DM (Oxon), MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, University of Illinois Medical Center, at Chicago, Illinois, USA
Genetic parameters for somatic cell score according to udder infection status in Valle del Belice dairy sheep and impact of imperfect diagnosis of infection
No full textAbstract Background Somatic cell score (SCS) has been promoted as a selection criterion to improve mastitis resistance. However, SCS from healthy and infected animals may be considered as separate traits. Moreover, imperfect sensitivity and specificity could influence animals' classification and impact on estimated variance components. This study was aimed at: (1) estimating the heritability of bacteria negative SCS, bacteria positive SCS, and infection status, (2) estimating phenotypic and genetic correlations between bacteria negative and bacteria positive SCS, and the genetic correlation between bacteria negative SCS and infection status, and (3) evaluating the impact of imperfect diagnosis of infection on variance component estimates. Methods Data on SCS and udder infection status for 1,120 ewes were collected from four Valle del Belice flocks. The pedigree file included 1,603 animals. The SCS dataset was split according to whether animals were infected or not at the time of sampling. A repeatability test-day animal model was used to estimate genetic parameters for SCS traits and the heritability of infection status. The genetic correlation between bacteria negative SCS and infection status was estimated using an MCMC threshold model, implemented by Gibbs Sampling. Results The heritability was 0.10 for bacteria negative SCS, 0.03 for bacteria positive SCS, and 0.09 for infection status, on the liability scale. The genetic correlation between bacteria negative and bacteria positive SCS was 0.62, suggesting that they may be genetically different traits. The genetic correlation between bacteria negative SCS and infection status was 0.51. We demonstrate that imperfect diagnosis of infection leads to underestimation of differences between bacteria negative and bacteria positive SCS, and we derive formulae to predict impacts on estimated genetic parameters. Conclusions The results suggest that bacteria negative and bacteria positive SCS are genetically different traits. A positive genetic correlation between bacteria negative SCS and liability to infection was found, suggesting that the approach of selecting animals for decreased SCS should help to reduce mastitis prevalence. However, the results show that imperfect diagnosis of infection has an impact on estimated genetic parameters, which may reduce the efficiency of selection strategies aiming at distinguishing between bacteria negative and bacteria positive SCS.</p
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