Distractor filtering and task load in working memory training in healthy older adults.

Filtering efficiency (FE) has been suggested as a task-related process of working memory (WM) in older adults, but the interaction of distractors with WM when implemented as a training to improve WM capacity is unclear. To investigate the effect of manipulations of WM and/or FE load in a multicomponent model-based WM training in improving WM capacity. 205 healthy older adults (129 women; aged 64.

Production of resistant starches via citric acid modification: Effects of reaction conditions on chemical structure and final properties.

Aiming to contribute to the current knowledge on the impact of reaction conditions on the chemical structure and target properties of starch citrates, in the current contribution different corn starch citrates were prepared by manipulation of reaction time, temperature and citric acid concentration. Modified starches were characterized in terms of chemical structure, morphology, crystallinity, swelling power and resistant starch content. For the first time, total substitution, crosslinking and monosubstitution degrees were quantitatively determined; and the relationship among final chemical structure, reaction conditions and target starch citrates properties was comprehensively analyzed.

Initial clinical evidence on biperiden as antiepileptogenic after traumatic brain injury-a randomized clinical trial.

There is currently no efficacious intervention for preventing post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Preclinical studies support the potential use of anticholinergics for this condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of biperiden as an intervention for preventing PTE.

Posttraumatic epilepsy: Integrating clinical, inflammatory, and genetic profiles in traumatic brain injury patients.

Objective: This study aims to assess the clinical, inflammatory, and genetic profiles of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients over a 2-year follow-up period, focusing on the development of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE).

Methods: Fifty-nine patients with acute TBI were recruited in the emergency unit of a hospital in Brazil. Clinical data and blood samples were collected after 10 days of hospitalization for posterior genetic profile (Apolipoprotein E- ApoE and Glutamic Acid Descarboxylase-GAD sequencing) analyses.

miR-9-5p is Downregulated in Serum Extracellular Vesicles of Patients Treated with Biperiden After Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a prevalent and debilitating condition, which often leads to the development of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), a condition that yet lacks preventive strategies. Biperiden, an anticholinergic drug, is a promising candidate that has shown efficacy in murine models of PTE. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small regulatory RNAs, can help in understanding the biological basis of PTE and act as TBI- and PTE-relevant biomarkers that can be detected peripherally, as they are present in extracellular vesicles (EVs) that cross the blood-brain barrier.

Biobased Composites of Poly(Lactic Acid) Melt Compounded with Bacterial and Vegetal Nanocelluloses Incorporated through Different Strategies.

In the current contribution, bacterial nanocellulose obtained from a by-product of Kombucha tea production and vegetal nanocellulose isolated from milled rice husks were employed as fillers of PLA-based composites prepared by intensive mixing followed by compression molding. Given the challenges associated with the incorporation of nanocelluloses-initially obtained as aqueous suspensions-into melt compounding processes, and also with achieving a proper dispersion of the hydrophilic nanofillers within PLA, three different nanofibrils incorporation strategies were studied: i.e.

What we have learned from non-human primates as animal models of epilepsy.

Non-human primates (NHPs) have played a crucial role in our understanding of epilepsy, given their striking similarities with humans. Through their use, we have gained a deeper understanding of the neurophysiology and pathophysiology of epileptic seizures, and they have proven invaluable allies in developing anti-seizure therapies. This review explores the history of NHPs as natural models of epilepsy, discusses the findings obtained after exposure to various chemoconvulsant drugs and focal electrical stimulation protocols that helped uncover important mechanisms related to epilepsy, examines diverse treatments to prevent and manage epilepsy, and addresses essential ethical issues in research.

Antioxidant Edible Films Based on Pear Juice and Pregelatinized Cassava Starch: Effect of the Carbohydrate Profile at Different Degrees of Pear Ripeness.

Edible films based on fruit and vegetable purees combined with different food-grade biopolymeric binding agents (e.g., pectin, gelatin, starch, sodium alginate) are recognized as interesting packaging materials that benefit from the physical, mechanical, and barrier properties of biopolymers as well as the sensory and nutritional properties of purees.

Impact of cavotricuspid isthmus ablation for typical atrial flutter and heart failure in the elderly-results of a retrospective multi-center study.

Introduction: While in the CASTLE-AF trial, in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, interventional therapy using pulmonary vein isolation was associated with outcome improvement, data on cavotricuspid isthmus ablation (CTIA) in atrial flutter (AFL) in the elderly is rare.

Methods: We included 96 patients between 60 and 85 years with typical AFL and heart failure with reduced or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF/HFmrEF) treated in two medical centers. 48 patients underwent an electrophysiological study with CTIA, whereas 48 patients received rate or rhythm control and guideline-compliant heart failure therapy.

A worldwide survey on incidence, management, and prognosis of oesophageal fistula formation following atrial fibrillation catheter ablation: the POTTER-AF study.

Aims: Oesophageal fistula represents a rare but dreadful complication of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. Data on its incidence, management, and outcome are sparse.

Methods And Results: This international multicentre registry investigates the characteristics of oesophageal fistulae after treatment of atrial fibrillation by catheter ablation.

Anticholinergics: A potential option for preventing posttraumatic epilepsy.

Interest in the use of anticholinergics to prevent the development of epilepsy after traumatic brain injury (TBI) has grown since recent basic studies have shown their effectiveness in modifying the epileptogenic process. These studies demonstrated that treatment with anticholinergics, in the acute phase after brain injury, decreases seizure frequency, and severity, and the number of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). Therefore, anticholinergics may reduce the risk of developing posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE).

Biperiden for prevention of post-traumatic epilepsy: A protocol of a double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (BIPERIDEN trial).

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most important causes of acquired structural epilepsy, post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), however, efficient preventative measures and treatment are still not available to patients. Preclinical studies indicated biperiden, an anticholinergic drug, as a potential drug to modify the epileptogenic process. The main objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of biperiden as an antiepileptogenic agent in patients that suffered TBI.

Production of bacterial cellulose tubes for biomedical applications: Analysis of the effect of fermentation time on selected properties.

Biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose (BC) in cylindrical oxygen permeable molds allows the production of hollow tubular structures of increasing interest for biomedical applications (artificial blood vessels, ureters, urethra, trachea, esophagus, etc.). In the current contribution a simple set-up is used to obtain BC tubes of predefined dimensions; and the effects of fermentation time on the water holding capacity, nanofibrils network architecture, specific surface area, chemical purity, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and cell adhesion, proliferation and migration of BC tubes are systematically analysed for the first time.

Does neonatal manipulation on continuous or alternate days change maternal behavior?

Maternal separation and neonatal manipulation of pups produce changes in maternal behavior after the dam-pup reunion. Here, we examined whether continuous versus alternating days of neonatal manipulation during the first 8 postnatal days produces differential changes in maternal and non-maternal behaviors in rats. We found that both maternal separation protocols increased anogenital licking after dam-pup reunion, reflecting increased maternal care of pups.

Anxious Profile Influences Behavioral and Immunohistological Findings in the Pilocarpine Model of Epilepsy.

Anxiety and epilepsy have a complex bidirectional relationship, where a depressive/anxious condition is a factor that can trigger seizures which in turn can aggravate the depressive/anxious condition. In addition, brain structures such as the hippocampus and amygdala might have a critical relevance in both epilepsy and anxiety. The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of different anxious profiles to epileptogenesis.

Penile Mondor's disease: Imaging in two cases.

Penile Mondor's disease is a rare and under-recognized benign genital condition consisting of an isolated thrombosis of the dorsal superficial vein of the penis. Symptoms do not show distinctive features and there are asymptomatic cases. The patients usually present with a cord-like induration at dorsum of the penis.

Two decades of research towards a potential first anti-epileptic drug.

The basic mechanisms by which brain insults, such as trauma, stroke or status epilepticus produce epilepsy are not completely understood, and effective preventive measures and treatment are still not available in the clinical setting. Over the last 2 decades we have conducted several studies with animal models of epilepsy (rodents and non-human primates) and demonstrated that drugs that modify neuronal plastic processes, such as anticholinergic agents (e.g.

UV Protective, Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Compostable Polylactic Acid Composites Containing Pristine and Chemically Modified Lignin Nanoparticles.

Polylactic acid (PLA) films containing 1 wt % and 3 wt % of lignin nanoparticles (pristine (LNP), chemically modified with citric acid (caLNP) and acetylated (aLNP)) were prepared by extrusion and characterized in terms of their overall performance as food packaging materials. Morphological, mechanical, thermal, UV-Vis barrier, antioxidant and antibacterial properties were assayed; appropriate migration values in food simulants and disintegration in simulated composting conditions were also verified. The results obtained indicated that all lignin nanoparticles succeeded in conferring UV-blocking, antioxidant and antibacterial properties to the PLA films, especially at the higher filler loadings assayed.

Modeling of post-traumatic epilepsy and experimental research aimed at its prevention.

Research on the prevention of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) has seen remarkable advances regarding its physiopathology in recent years. From the search for biomarkers that might be used to indicate individual susceptibility to the development of new animal models and the investigation of new drugs, a great deal of knowledge has been amassed. Various groups have concentrated efforts in generating new animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an attempt to provide the means to further produce knowledge on the subject.

Marmosets have a greater diversity of c-Fos response after hyperstimulation in distinct cortical regions as compared to rats.

Previous evidence indicated a potential mechanism that might support the fact that primates exhibit greater neural integration capacity as a result of the activation of different structures of the central nervous system, as compared to rodents. The current study aimed to provide further evidence to confirm previous findings by analyzing the patterns of c-Fos expression in more neocortical structures of rats and marmosets using a more robust quantitative technique and evaluating a larger number of brain areas. Nineteen Wistar rats and 21 marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) were distributed among control groups (animals without injections) and animals injected with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and euthanized at different time points after stimulus.

Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Systemic Inflammation in the Neonatal Period Increases Microglial Density and Oxidative Stress in the Cerebellum of Adult Rats.

Inflammatory processes occurring in the perinatal period may affect different brain regions, resulting in neurologic sequelae. Injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at different neurodevelopmental stages produces long-term consequences in several brain structures, but there is scarce evidence regarding alterations in the cerebellum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term consequences on the cerebellum of a systemic inflammatory process induced by neonatal LPS injection.

Patents involving nanocellulose: Analysis of their evolution since 2010.

During the last two decades cellulosic nanomaterials have been the subject of much research around the world. Moreover, in the last few years, increasing industrial interest on the field enabled the setting-up of the first facilities producing commercial quantities of nanocelluloses; whereas a number of inventions involving cellulose nano-objects are claimed every year. In this context, the current article describes the recent evolution (from 2010 till 2017) of published patents which explicitly include in their title, abstract and/or claims references to cellulose nano-objects such as cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils and bacterial nanocellulose.

Superficial peroneal nerve compression due to peroneus brevis muscle herniation.

Muscle hernias of the extremities most commonly occur in the leg, between the knee and ankle. Symptomatic muscle hernias in the leg are rare cause of chronic leg pain and neuropathy, and not routinely encountered in surgical practice. Although this condition is especially an esthetic problem, with palpable subcutaneous soft tissue mass, it can lead to spontaneous pain, cramp, local tenderness or potentially neuropathic symptoms.

Treatment with CCR2 antagonist is neuroprotective but does not alter epileptogenesis in the pilocarpine rat model of epilepsy.

Neuroinflammation role on epileptogenesis has been the subject of increasing interest. Many studies showed elevation in cytokines and chemokines expression following seizures, such as, CCL2 protein (C-C motif ligand 2 chemokine) and its specific receptor, CCR2. In addition, recent studies manipulating the CCL2/CCR2 complex verified improved seizure outcome in different seizure models.

Defect production by pure phase twist injection as Aharonov-Bohm effect.

In this paper we demonstrate that new phase defects of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) can be produced as a Aharonov-Bohm effect resulting from pure phase twist injection on existing defects. This is a phenomenon that has physical justification in the hydrodynamic interpretation of GPE. Here we give an analytical proof of its effects by using Fermi-Walker transport and Biot-Savart induction law.