Multi-session tDCS paired with passive mobilisation of the thumb modulates thalamo-cortical coupling during command following in the healthy brain.

Therapeutic options to restore responsiveness in patients with prolonged disorder of consciousness (PDOC) are limited. We have recently shown that a single session of tDCS over M1 delivered at rest can reduce thalamic self-inhibition during motor command following. Here, we build upon this by exploring whether pairing tDCS with a concurrent passive mobilisation protocol can further influence thalamo-M1 dynamics and whether these changes are enhanced after multiple stimulation sessions.

Characterising stationary and dynamic effective connectivity changes in the motor network during and after tDCS.

The exact mechanisms behind the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) at a network level are still poorly understood, with most studies to date focusing on local (cortical) effects and changes in motor-evoked potentials or BOLD signal. Here, we explored stationary and dynamic effective connectivity across the motor network at rest in two experiments where we applied tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1-tDCS) or the cerebellum (cb-tDCS) respectively. Two cohorts of healthy volunteers (n = 21 and n = 22) received anodal, cathodal, and sham tDCS sessions (counterbalanced) during 20 min of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Investigating the shift between externally and internally oriented cognition: a novel task-switching paradigm.

Despite our constant need to flexibly balance internal and external information, research on cognitive flexibility has focused solely on shifts between externally oriented tasks. In contrast, switches across internally oriented processes (and self-referential cognition specifically) and between internal and external domains have never been investigated. Here, we report a novel task-switching paradigm developed to explore the behavioural signatures associated with cognitive flexibility when self-referential processes, as well as more traditional external processes, are involved.

"Safe" Chitosan/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite Has Minimal Organ-Specific Toxicity in Early Stages of Zebrafish Development.

Marine biofouling is considered to be one of the most challenging issues affecting maritime industries worldwide. In this regard, traditional biocides, being used to combat biofouling, have high toxicity toward aquatic systems. Recently, a new chitosan/zinc oxide nanoparticle (CZNC) composite has been used as a promising "green" biocide.

Prevalence of Infertility Among Patients With Isthmocele and Fertility Outcome After Isthmocele Surgical Treatment: A Retrospective Study.

An isthmocele is a diverticulum on the anterior wall of the uterine isthmus at the site of a cesarean delivery scar. We evaluated the prevalence of infertility among patients with isthmocele, the resolution of symptoms, and infertility outcomes after hysteroscopic isthmoplasty. We conducted a retrospective study of 35 consecutive patients with symptomatic isthmocele between 2010 and 2015 at Hospital Piero Palagi in Florence, Italy.

Dissociable electrophysiological correlates of semantic access of motor and non-motor concepts.

The notion of semantic embodiment posits that concepts are represented in the same neural sensorimotor systems that were involved in their acquisition. However, evidence in support of embodied semantics - in particular the hypothesised contribution of motor and premotor cortex to the representation of action concepts - is varied. Here, we tested the hypothesis that, consistent with semantic embodiment, sensorimotor cortices will rapidly become active while healthy participants access the meaning of visually-presented motor and non-motor action verbs.

Yap/Taz-TEAD activity links mechanical cues to progenitor cell behavior during zebrafish hindbrain segmentation.

Cells perceive their microenvironment through chemical and physical cues. However, how the mechanical signals are interpreted during embryonic tissue deformation to result in specific cell behaviors is largely unknown. The Yap/Taz family of transcriptional co-activators has emerged as an important regulator of tissue growth and regeneration, responding to physical cues from the extracellular matrix, and to cell shape and actomyosin cytoskeletal changes.

Hysteroscopic Endometrial Polypectomy: Clinical and Economic Data in Decision Making.

Study Objective: To compare the costs of hysteroscopic polypectomy using mechanical and electrosurgical systems in the hospital operating room and an office-based setting.

Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Tertiary referral hospital and center for gynecologic care.

Hysteroscopic Management of Uterine Arteriovenous Malformation.

Background And Objectives: Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is characterized by shunts between the myometrial arteries and veins. Treatment is based on the severity of uterine bleeding and ranges from conservative medical approaches to embolization of affected arteries. The aim of study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of hysteroscopy for management of uterine AVM.

ZeGlobalTox: An Innovative Approach to Address Organ Drug Toxicity Using Zebrafish.

Toxicity is one of the major attrition causes during the drug development process. In that line, cardio-, neuro-, and hepatotoxicities are among the main reasons behind the retirement of drugs in clinical phases and post market withdrawal. Zebrafish exploitation in high-throughput drug screening is becoming an important tool to assess the toxicity and efficacy of novel drugs.

Essure Permanent Birth Control, Effectiveness and Safety: An Italian 11-Year Survey.

Study Objective: To describe safety, tolerability, and effectiveness results through a minimum 2-year follow-up of patients who underwent permanent sterilization with the Essure insert.

Design: A retrospective multicenter study (Canadian Task Force classification II2).

Setting: Seven general hospitals and 4 clinical teaching centers in Italy.

Lidocaine treatment in refractory status epilepticus resulting from febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome: a case report and follow-up.

We report the management of refractory status epilepticus (SE) by using continuous intravenous infusions of lidocaine in a previously healthy 15-year-old girl with a "catastrophic encephalopathy" in whom a diagnosis of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome was supposed. One week after a banal pharyngitis and fever, the patient presented confusion and intractable clusters of seizures. Although she underwent multiple examinations investigating all possible etiologies (intracranial infection, autoimmune disease, or toxic and metabolic illness), all results were negative except a feeble positivity to Mycoplasma pneumoniae serum antibodies.

Cell segregation in the vertebrate hindbrain relies on actomyosin cables located at the interhombomeric boundaries.

Segregating cells into compartments during embryonic development is essential for growth and pattern formation. Physical mechanisms shaping compartment boundaries were recently explored in Drosophila, where actomyosin-based barriers were revealed to be important for keeping cells apart. In vertebrates, interhombomeric boundaries are straight interfaces, which often serve as signaling centers that pattern the surrounding tissue.

EEG findings in cooled asphyxiated newborns and correlation with site and severity of brain damage.

Objective: EEG and MRI are useful tools to evaluate the severity of brain damage and to provide prognostic indications in asphyxiated neonates. Aim of our study is to analyze the relationship between serial neonatal EEGs and severity and sites of brain lesions on MRI in neonates undergoing hypothermia, following a hypoxic-ischemic injury.

Patients And Methods: Forty-eight term newborns underwent hypothermia.

The practicability and surgeons' subjective experiences with vaginal danazol before an operative hysteroscopy.

This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study compared the usefulness of danazol 400mg vaginally versus 600mg orally in women as a preoperative preparation for hysteroscopic surgery. Ninety-one fertile women were randomly allocated to Group A (46 patients received 400mg of danazol placed into the posterior vaginal fornix and three oral tablets of commercially available folic acid as a placebo), and Group B [45 women treated with 600mg of danazol orally (200mg three times daily) and two vaginal tablets of Lactobacillus rhamnosus as a placebo]. The patients underwent an operative hysteroscopy, transvaginal sonography, blood tests, and a histological assay.

Poor repertoire General Movements predict some aspects of development outcome at 2 years in very preterm infants.

Background: Observation of the quality of endogenously generated "General Movements" has been proved to be a reliable and sensitive tool in the assessment of fragile neonates. The absence of fidgety movements at 2-4 months post-term is highly predictive of Cerebral Palsy. On the contrary, the presence of a poor repertoire pattern during the writhing period is not reliable in predicting motor or neurobehavioral disorders at any stage of development.

Transient nonverbal learning disorder in a child suffering from Familial Hemiplegic Migraine.

Objective: To study the link between nonverbal learning disorder and right cerebral hemisphere dysfunction due to migraine attack in a case of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine.

Background: Familial Hemiplegic Migraine can cause neuropsychological deficits besides the motor ones. The nonverbal learning disorder is thought to be caused by a right hemisphere dysfunction.

A clinical and genetic study of 33 new cases with early-onset absence epilepsy.

Purpose: To investigate the electroclinical features and the outcome of patients with typical absences starting before the 3 years of life.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of patients with absences started before 3 years observed over a 15-year period. Mutation analysis of SLC2A1 (GLUT-1) gene was performed when possible.

Essure transcervical tubal sterilization: a 5-year x-ray follow up.

Objective: To evaluate the x-ray appearance of Essure microinserts 5 years after their insertion.

Design: Prospective controlled study.

Setting: Tertiary referral centers for gynecologic care.

Unusual segmental narrowing of spinal cord responsible for child paraparesis.

We describe a 7-year-old girl with spastic paraparesis. Her clinical condition was due to a unusual segmental thoracic narrowing of spinal cord. We show the imaging of her spinal cord, we compare her condition with the few similar cases from the literature and we try to suppose an aetiology.

The use of nomegestrol acetate in rapid preparation of endometrium before operative hysteroscopy in pre-menopausal women.

The presence of a thin endometrium has an important role in allowing the best conditions for hysteroscopic surgery. Here, we explored the efficacy of a 14-day administration of nomegestrol acetate, a progestogen with high progestogen potency effects, in rapid endometrial preparation to operative hysteroscopy. A total of 86 fertile women selected for operative hysteroscopy received for 14 days either 5mgday(-1) of nomegestrol acetate (n=43; group A) or 4mgday(-1) of folic acid (n=43; group B), starting on day 1 of the subsequent menstrual cycle.

Tubal sterilization by laparoscopy or hysteroscopy: which is the most cost-effective procedure?

By using the activity-based cost/management (ABC/M) system we computed and compared costs needed for laparoscopic tubal sterilization (LTS) and Essure hysteroscopic tubal occlusion (EHTO). We found that total health costs related to consultation and presurgery did not differ between LTS and EHTO; EHTO has low recovery unit costs but is more costly for the operating theater, mainly due to Essure microinserts.

Tactile evoked spikes in children.

Tactile evoked spikes (TES) are a well known EEG feature in children. We reviewed our previous studies concerning this phenomenon, with special reference to the influence of sleep and stimulation rate, the relation with middle-long latency somatosensory evoked potentials (MLSEP) and the relation between TES and spontaneous spikes in the same individual. New data were obtained by re-evaluating 566 children with TES, by assessing MLSEP from each finger, in 15 subjects with TES, and by studying MLSEP following posterior tibial nerve stimulation in 12 children with TES.