Efficient "pop-out" visual search elicits sustained broadband γ activity in the dorsal attention network.

An object that differs markedly from its surrounding-for example, a red cherry among green leaves-seems to pop out effortlessly in our visual experience. The rapid detection of salient targets, independently of the number of other items in the scene, is thought to be mediated by efficient search brain mechanisms. It is not clear, however, whether efficient search is actually an "effortless" bottom-up process or whether it also involves regions of the prefrontal cortex generally associated with top-down sustained attention.

Relation of mitral valve morphology and motion to mitral regurgitation severity in patients with mitral valve prolapse.

Background: Mitral valve thickness is used as a criterion to distinguish the classical from the non-classical form of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Classical form of MVP has been associated with higher risk of mitral regurgitation (MR) and concomitant complications. We sought to determine the relation of mitral valve morphology and motion to mitral regurgitation severity in patients with MVP.

One-step immunopurification and lectinochemical characterization of the Duffy atypical chemokine receptor from human erythrocytes.

Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC) is a glycosylated seven-transmembrane protein acting as a blood group antigen, a chemokine binding protein and a receptor for Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite. It is present on erythrocytes and endothelial cells of postcapillary venules. The N-terminal extracellular domain of the Duffy glycoprotein carries Fy(a)/Fy(b) blood group antigens and Fy6 linear epitope recognized by monoclonal antibodies.

Time-Frequency and ERP Analyses of EEG to Characterize Anticipatory Postural Adjustments in a Bimanual Load-Lifting Task.

Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) compensate in advance for the destabilizing effect of a movement. This study investigated the specific involvement of each primary motor cortex (M1) during a bimanual load-lifting task in which subjects were required to maintain a stable forearm position during voluntary unloading. Kinematics, electromyographic, and electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded in eight right-handed healthy subjects lifting a load placed on their left forearm.

Meta-analysis of ten trials on the effectiveness of the radial versus the femoral approach in primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

The radial approach in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been recently assessed in both randomized and observational studies. However, observational studies have several biases that favor the radial approach. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare the clinical outcomes of radial and femoral approach in primary PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

What characterizes changing-state speech in affecting short-term memory? An EEG study on the irrelevant sound effect.

The irrelevant sound effect (ISE) describes reduced verbal short-term memory during irrelevant changing-state sounds which consist of different and distinct auditory tokens. Steady-state sounds lack such changing-state features and do not impair performance. An EEG experiment (N=16) explored the distinguishing neurophysiological aspects of detrimental changing-state speech (3-token sequence) compared to ineffective steady-state speech (1-token sequence) on serial recall performance.

Towards source volume estimation of interictal spikes in focal epilepsy using magnetoencephalography.

Interictal spikes are a hallmark of cortical epileptogenicity; their spatial distribution in the cortex defines the so-called 'irritative' zone or spiking volume (SV). Delineating the SV precisely is a challenge during the presurgical evaluation of patients with epilepsy. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings enable determination of the brain sources of epileptic spikes using source localization procedures.

Smoking, occupational risk factors, and bronchial tumor location: a possible impact for lung cancer computed tomography scan screening.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe associations between lung tumor location and smoking as well as selected occupational exposures. In the context of lung cancer screening by computed tomography scan, tumor location may have an interest. Computed tomography scan is known to better detect more peripheral tumors.

Large-scale heterogeneous representation of sound attributes in rat primary auditory cortex: from unit activity to population dynamics.

Recent evidence indicates the existence of pyramidal cells (PCs) and interneurons with nontrivial tuning characteristics for sound attributes in the primary auditory cortex (A1) of mammals. These neurons are functionally distributed into layers and sparsely organized at a small scale. However, their topological locations at a large scale in A1 have not yet been investigated.

Transient suppression of broadband gamma power in the default-mode network is correlated with task complexity and subject performance.

Task performance is associated with increased brain metabolism but also with prominent deactivation in specific brain structures known as the default-mode network (DMN). The role of DMN deactivation remains enigmatic in part because its electrophysiological correlates, temporal dynamics, and link to behavior are poorly understood. Using extensive depth electrode recordings in humans, we provide first electrophysiological evidence for a direct correlation between the dynamics of power decreases in the DMN and individual subject behavior.

Giant left ventricular aneurysm mimicking myocardial bridge.

An 81-year-old woman was admitted due to acute pulmonary edema. The electrocardiogram showed new Q-waves in anterior leads with ST-elevation in anterolateral leads. Coronary angiogram showed a 100% occluded second diagonal branch with an image of systolic and diastolic compression of the mid-to-distal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) causing a long "bridgelike" effect.

Reading the mind's eye: online detection of visuo-spatial working memory and visual imagery in the inferior temporal lobe.

Several brain regions involved in visual perception have been shown to also participate in non-sensory cognitive processes of visual representations. Here we studied the role of ventral visual pathway areas in visual imagery and working memory. We analyzed intracerebral EEG recordings from the left inferior temporal lobe of an epileptic patient during working memory tasks and mental imagery.

Accurate prediction of wall shear stress in a stented artery: newtonian versus non-newtonian models.

A significant amount of evidence linking wall shear stress to neointimal hyperplasia has been reported in the literature. As a result, numerical and experimental models have been created to study the influence of stent design on wall shear stress. Traditionally, blood has been assumed to behave as a Newtonian fluid, but recently that assumption has been challenged.

A reliable ex vivo invasion assay of human reticulocytes by Plasmodium vivax.

Currently, there are no reliable RBC invasion assays to guide the discovery of vaccines against Plasmodium vivax, the most prevalent malaria parasite in Asia and South America. Here we describe a protocol for an ex vivo P vivax invasion assay that can be easily deployed in laboratories located in endemic countries. The assay is based on mixing enriched cord blood reticulocytes with matured, trypsin-treated P vivax schizonts concentrated from clinical isolates.

ELAN: a software package for analysis and visualization of MEG, EEG, and LFP signals.

The recent surge in computational power has led to extensive methodological developments and advanced signal processing techniques that play a pivotal role in neuroscience. In particular, the field of brain signal analysis has witnessed a strong trend towards multidimensional analysis of large data sets, for example, single-trial time-frequency analysis of high spatiotemporal resolution recordings. Here, we describe the freely available ELAN software package which provides a wide range of signal analysis tools for electrophysiological data including scalp electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), intracranial EEG, and local field potentials (LFPs).

Importance of diffuse atherosclerosis in the functional evaluation of coronary stenosis in the proximal-mid segment of a coronary artery by myocardial fractional flow reserve measurements.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of diffuse coronary atherosclerosis on the functional evaluation of moderate coronary lesions in the proximal-mid segment of a coronary artery and its clinical implications. This was a prospective study including 100 consecutive patients with a moderate lesion (45 ± 9% diameter stenosis) in the proximal-mid coronary segment who were evaluated with fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement. No patient had any other angiographic stenosis distal to the evaluated coronary stenosis.

Incidence, predictive factors, and prognostic value of myocardial injury following uncomplicated transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objectives: This study sought to: 1) determine the incidence, degree, and timing of the rise in serum cardiac markers of myocardial injury associated with uncomplicated transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI); and 2) evaluate the predictive factors and prognostic value of myocardial injury associated with TAVI.

Background: Very few data exist on the occurrence and clinical relevance of myocardial injury during TAVI procedures.

Methods: A total of 101 patients who underwent successful TAVI (transfemoral [TF] approach, n = 38; transapical [TA] approach, n = 63) were included.

Exercise capacity in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis before and six months after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Few data exist on the use of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) to measure the exercise capacity of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis considered at very high surgical risk. The objectives of the present prospective study were (1) to determine the feasibility and safety of the 6MWT as a measure of exercise capacity before and after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and (2) to determine the clinical and hemodynamic parameters associated with the exercise capacity changes in such patients. A total of 64 patients (age 80 ± 8 years, logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score 21 ± 15%, Society of Thoracic Surgeons' score 7.

Transradial arterial access for coronary and peripheral procedures: executive summary by the Transradial Committee of the SCAI.

In response to growing U.S. interest, the Society for Coronary Angiography and Interventions recently formed a Transradial Committee whose purpose is to examine the utility, utilization, and training considerations related to transradial access for percutaneous coronary and peripheral procedures.

The modulatory influence of a predictive cue on the auditory steady-state response.

Whether attention exerts its impact already on primary sensory levels is still a matter of debate. Particularly in the auditory domain the amount of empirical evidence is scarce. Recently noninvasive and invasive studies have shown attentional modulations of the auditory Steady-State Response (aSSR).

A LEOPARD mimicking ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

A 47-year-old man was referred because of an acute anterolateral ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed marked ectasia of the coronary arteries, with no obstructive lesions. Ventriculography strongly suggested severe left ventricular hypertrophy, later confirmed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.