Age-related differences in bottom-up and top-down attention: Insights from EEG and MEG.

Attention operates through top-down and bottom-up processes, and a balance between these processes is crucial for daily tasks. Imperilling such balance could explain ageing-associated attentional problems such as exacerbated distractibility. In this study, we aimed to characterize this enhanced distractibility by investigating the impact of ageing upon event-related components associated with top-down and bottom-up attentional processes.

The Impact of Eye Closure on Anticipatory α Activity in a Tactile Discrimination Task.

One of the very first observations made regarding α oscillations (8-14 Hz), is that they increase in power over posterior areas when awake participants close their eyes. Recent work, especially in the context of (spatial) attention, suggests that α activity reflects a mechanism of functional inhibition. However, it remains unclear how eye closure impacts anticipatory α modulation observed in attention paradigms, and how this affects subsequent behavioral performance.

No behavioural evidence for rhythmic facilitation of perceptual discrimination.

It has been hypothesized that internal oscillations can synchronize (i.e., entrain) to external environmental rhythms, thereby facilitating perception and behaviour.

Auditory attention alterations in migraine: A behavioral and MEG/EEG study.

Objectives: To evaluate alterations of top-down and/or bottom-up attention in migraine and their cortical underpinnings.

Methods: 19 migraineurs between attacks and 19 matched control participants performed a task evaluating jointly top-down and bottom-up attention, using visually-cued target sounds and unexpected task-irrelevant distracting sounds. Behavioral responses and magneto- and electro-encephalography signals were recorded.

Age-related modulations of alpha and gamma brain activities underlying anticipation and distraction.

Attention operates through top-down (TD) and bottom-up (BU) mechanisms. Recently, it has been shown that slow (alpha) frequencies index facilitatory and suppressive mechanisms of TD attention and faster (gamma) frequencies signal BU attentional capture. Ageing is characterized by increased behavioral distractibility, resulting from either a reduced efficiency of TD attention or an enhanced triggering of BU attention.

What's in Your Gamma? Activation of the Ventral Fronto-Parietal Attentional Network in Response to Distracting Sounds.

Auditory attention operates through top-down (TD) and bottom-up (BU) mechanisms that are supported by dorsal and ventral brain networks, respectively, with the main overlap in the lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC). A good TD/BU balance is essential to be both task-efficient and aware of our environment, yet it is rarely investigated. Oscillatory activity is a novel method to probe the attentional dynamics with evidence that gamma activity (>30 Hz) could signal BU processing and thus would be a good candidate to support the activation of the ventral BU attention network.

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Distinct Sub-Bands in the α Rhythm Reflect Facilitation and Suppression Mechanisms during Auditory Anticipatory Attention.

Anticipatory attention results in enhanced response to task-relevant stimulus, and reduced processing of unattended input, suggesting the deployment of distinct facilitatory and suppressive mechanisms. α Oscillations are a suitable candidate for supporting these mechanisms. We aimed to examine the role of α oscillations, with a special focus on peak frequencies, in facilitatory and suppressive mechanisms during auditory anticipation, within the auditory and visual regions.

Comparison Between Retrograde and Antegrade Peripheral Venous Cannulation in Intensive Care Unit Patients: Assessment of Thrombus Formation.

Background: Antegrade cannulation of peripheral veins is the usual practice. Blood stasis between a catheter and the wall of the vein or at its tip in addition to catheter-induced phlebitis may initiate a thrombosis. The use of retrograde ventriculojugular shunts against the direction of the blood flow with resultant decrease in the incidence of venous thrombosis encouraged us to compare retrograde versus conventional antegrade peripheral venous cannulation.

IN VIVO AND IN VITRO EFFICACY OF NIGELLA SATIVA AQUEOUS EXTRACT ON BLASTOCYSTIS HOMINIS.

Metronidazole (MTZ) was the most widely accepted treatment for Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) with high treatment failure rate, resistance and potential mutagenic and carcinogenic effects so there is urgent need to find out new, effective and safe treatment against B. hominis.

Rectal impalement injury through the pelvis, abdomen and thorax.

Impalement rectal injuries with intraperitoneal organ injuries are rare. It is even rarer for such injuries to result in pelvic, abdominal and thoracic internal injuries. We present the case of a 39-year-old man who was admitted after an assault where a broken broomstick was inserted forcibly into his rectum.

Anterolateral mini fronto-orbito-zygomatic craniotomy via an eyebrow incision in pediatrics: technical notes and evaluation.

Background: Various approaches to lesions in the anterior cranial fossa and sellar region have been described by different authors under various names which describe the extent of craniotomies. The aims of this study were to describe and retrospectively analyze and evaluate the anterolateral mini fronto-orbito-zygomatic (MFOZ) approach via an eyebrow incision in treating pediatric pathologies, especially those related to the sellar region.

Method: Between January 2003 and December 2008, 18 patients with lesions in the sellar region or the anterior corridor leading to it were operated upon via the same approach.

Salvage use of activated recombinant factor VII in the management of refractory bleeding following cardiac surgery.

Background: Refractory post cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) bleeding continues to cause concern for cardiac surgeons and intensivists. Massive postoperative hemorrhage following CPB is multifactorial and not fully understood, and it is also associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Activated recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa) has emerged as possible salvage medication in refractory post cardiac surgical bleeding.

Assessment of liver function among nickel-plating workers in Egypt.

Currently no reports are available from Egypt regarding occupational exposure to nickel and its effects on the liver. The aim of this study was to assess the liver function of workers occupationally exposed to nickel. Standard liver function tests were applied to blood samples from 25 nickel-plating workers in Damietta, Egypt and 30 administrative workers as a reference group.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome) is an autosomal dominant condition which usually presents with recurrent epistaxis, due to the presence of mucocutaneous telangiectasia, and circulatory arteriovenous malformations (pulmonary, hepatic, cerebral and spinal). We present a patient with HHT and coronary artery disease, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with a successful outcome.

Perioperative and long-term outcomes following aortic valve replacement: a population cohort study of 4124 consecutive patients.

Objective: Because of increasing life expectancy, more patients require valve replacement for aortic stenosis. We aimed to determine perioperative and long-term outcomes, the factors associated with these and whether they have changed over time.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective cohort study of all 4124 patients, who underwent isolated, primary aortic valve replacement in Scotland between April 1996 and March 2009 inclusive.

The retrograde ventriculovenous shunts: the El-Shafei retrograde ventriculojugular and ventriculosinus shunts.

Retrograde ventriculovenous (RVV) shunts utilize the impact pressure of the venous bloodstream to maintain the intraventricular pressure more than the pressure in the draining venous channel and to maintain a continuous flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the venous circulation at a rate equal to and dependent upon the rate of its formation regardless of changes in posture or intrathoracic pressure, create impact zones which discourage stagnation and clotting of blood at the venous end of the connection and utilize collapse of the internal jugular vein in the erect posture to prevent siphonage. During the past 40 years, 229 RVV shunts were implanted; 219 of the patients (95.63%) benefited from the shunt, and only 2 of them needed a single shunt revision.

Usefulness of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as predictor of new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.

The neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio integrates information on the inflammatory milieu and physiologic stress. It is an emerging marker of prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease. We investigated the relation between the N/L ratio and postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels and early outcome after cardiac surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Background: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular outcome in many circumstances. There are, however, limited data regarding the utility of NT-proBNP or BNP levels in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The current study assesses the ability of NT-proBNP to predict early outcome in this setting.

Use of preoperative natriuretic peptides and echocardiographic parameters in predicting new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective comparative study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We prospectively compared the ability of echocardiographic parameters and the cardiac neurohormones, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to predict AF in this setting.

Methods: We recruited 275 patients undergoing nonemergency CABG.

Uric acid levels and outcome from coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Elevated uric acid levels have been associated with an adverse cardiovascular outcome in several settings. Their utility in patients undergoing surgical revascularization has not, however, been assessed. We hypothesized that serum uric acid levels would predict the outcome of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Successful laparoscopic treatment of hemorrhage from ileal duplication cyst in a 10-year-old Saudi boy.

Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage often produces diagnostic difficulty in children. Endoscopy, radionuclide scans, computed tomography/magnetic resonance angiography, and conventional angiography have been the usual armamentarium for locating the site of bleeding. In recent times, laparoscopy has offered an effective tool for diagnosing various intra-abdominal, especially extraluminal, pathologies elusive to other modalities of diagnosis.

Socio-economic status and early outcome from coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To determine the effects of socio-economic status (SES) on the outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Regional cardiac surgical unit.

The relationship between renal function and outcome from heart valve surgery.

Background: The prognostic importance of renal function in patients undergoing surgery for valvular heart disease is poorly defined. The current study addresses this issue.

Methods: Baseline demographic and clinical variables, including the European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE), were recorded prospectively from 514 consecutive patients undergoing heart valve surgery between April 2000 and March 2004.

Preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and outcome from coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: An elevated preoperative white blood cell count has been associated with a worse outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Leukocyte subtypes, and particularly the neutrophil-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, may however, convey superior prognostic information. We hypothesized that the N/L ratio would predict the outcome of patients undergoing surgical revascularization.