The authors review existing structural and functional neuroimaging studies of patients with bipolar disorder and discuss how these investigations enhance our understanding of the neurophysiology of ...this illness. Findings from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest that some abnormalities, such as those in prefrontal cortical areas (SGPFC), striatum and amygdala exist early in the course of illness and, therefore, potentially, predate illness onset. In contrast, other abnormalities, such as those found in the cerebellar vermis, lateral ventricles and other prefrontal regions (eg, left inferior), appear to develop with repeated affective episodes, and may represent the effects of illness progression and associated factors. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy investigations have revealed abnormalities of membrane and second messenger metabolism, as well as bioenergetics, in striatum and prefrontal cortex. Functional imaging studies report activation differences between bipolar and healthy controls in these same anterior limibic regions. Together, these studies support a model of bipolar disorder that involves dysfunction within subcortical (striatal-thalamic)-prefrontal networks and the associated limbic modulating regions (amygdala, midline cerebellum). These studies suggest that, in bipolar disorder, there may be diminished prefrontal modulation of subcortical and medial temporal structures within the anterior limbic network (eg, amygdala, anterior striatum and thalamus) that results in dysregulation of mood. Future prospective and longitudinal studies focusing on these specific relationships are necessary to clarify the functional neuroanatomy of bipolar disorder.
Summary
An analysis of United States (US) Medicare claims data from 2002 to 2015 for women aged ≥ 65 years found that age-adjusted hip fracture rates for 2013, 2014, and 2015 were higher than ...projected, resulting in an estimated increase of more than 11,000 hip fractures.
Introduction
Hip fractures are a major public health concern due to high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenses. Previous studies have reported a decrease in the annual incidence of hip fractures in the US beginning in 1995, coincident with the introduction of modern diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents for osteoporosis. In recent years, there has been less bone density testing and fewer prescriptions for osteoporosis treatments. The large osteoporosis treatment gap raises concern of possible adverse effects on hip fracture rates.
Methods
We assessed hip fracture incidence in the US to determine if the previous decline in hip fracture incidence continued. Using 2002 to 2015 Medicare Part A and Part B claims for women ≥ 65 years old, we calculated age-adjusted hip fracture rates, weighting to the 2014 population.
Results
We found that hip fracture rates declined each year from 2002 to 2012 and then plateaued at levels higher than projected for years 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Conclusions
The plateau in age-adjusted hip fracture incidence rate resulted in more than 11,000 additional estimated hip fractures over the time periods 2013, 2014, and 2015. We recommend further study to assess all factors contributing to this remarkable change in hip fracture rate and to develop strategies to reduce the osteoporosis treatment gap.
We examined sustained attention deficits in bipolar disorder and associated changes in brain activation assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We hypothesized that relative to ...healthy participants, those with mania or mixed mania would (1) exhibit incremental decrements in sustained attention over time, (2) overactivate brain regions required for emotional processing and (3) progressively underactivate attentional regions of prefrontal cortex. Fifty participants with manic/mixed bipolar disorder (BP group) and 34 healthy comparison subjects (HC group) received an fMRI scan while performing a 15-min continuous performance task (CPT). The data were divided into three consecutive 5-min vigilance periods to analyze sustained attention. Composite brain activation maps indicated that both groups activated dorsal and ventral regions of an anterior-limbic network, but the BP group exhibited less activation over time relative to baseline. Consistent with hypotheses 1 and 2, the BP group showed a marginally greater behavioral CPT sustained attention decrement and more bilateral amygdala activation than the HC group, respectively. Instead of differential activation in prefrontal cortex over time, as predicted in hypothesis 3, the BP group progressively decreased activation in subcortical regions of striatum and thalamus relative to the HC group. These results suggest that regional activation decrements in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex accompany sustained attention decrements in both bipolar and healthy individuals. Stable amygdala overactivation across prolonged vigils may interfere with sustained attention and exacerbate attentional deficits in bipolar disorder. Differential striatal and thalamic deactivation in bipolar disorder is interpreted as a loss of amygdala (emotional brain) modulation by the ventrolateral prefrontal-subcortical circuit, which interferes with attentional maintenance.
The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is applied to calculate the dimensionless dynamic permeability K′0(ω′c) of porous media for a dimensionless frequency ω′c. The real and imaginary parts of K′0(ω′c) ...are represented; the solid lines correspond to Poiseuille flows and the dots to various geometries. Display omitted
•Dynamic permeability of porous media.•Limitations of the LBM method: High Knudsen numbers or high frequencies.•Confirmation of a universal scaling.
The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is applied to calculate the dynamic permeability K(ω) of porous media; an oscillating macroscopic pressure gradient is imposed in order to generate oscillating flows. The LBM simulation yields the time dependent seepage velocity of amplitude A and phase shift B which are used to calculate K(ω). The procedure is validated for plane Poiseuille flows where excellent agreement with the analytical solution is obtained. The limitations of the method are discussed. When the ratio between the kinematic viscosity and the characteristic size of the pores is high, the corresponding Knudsen number Kn is high and the numerical values of K(ω) are incorrect with a positive imaginary part; it is only when Kn is small enough that correct values are obtained. The influence of the time discretization of the oscillating body force is studied; simulation results are influenced by an insufficient discretization, i.e., it is necessary to avoid using too high frequencies. The influence of absolute errors in the seepage velocity amplitude δA and the phase shift δB on K(ω) shows that for high ω even small errors in B can cause drastic errors in ReK(ω). The dynamic permeability of reconstructed and real (sandstone) porous media is calculated for a large range of frequencies and the universal scaling behavior is verified. Very good correspondences with the theoretical predictions are observed.
Summary
Twenty men with spinal cord injury (SCI) were randomized into two 16-week intervention groups receiving testosterone treatment (TT) or TT combined with resistance training (TT + RT). TT + RT ...appears to hold the potential to reverse or slow down bone loss following SCI if provided over a longer period.
Introduction
Persons with SCI experience bone loss below the level of injury. The combined effects of resistance training and TT on bone quality following SCI remain unknown.
Methods
Men with SCI were randomized into 16-week treatments receiving TT or TT + RT. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the right lower extremity before participation and post-intervention was used to visualize the proximal, middle, and distal femoral shaft, the quadriceps tendon, and the intermuscular fascia of the quadriceps. For the TT + RT group, MRI microarchitecture techniques were utilized to elucidate trabecular changes around the knee. Individual mixed models were used to estimate effect sizes.
Results
Twenty participants completed the pilot trial. A small effect for yellow marrow in the distal femur was indicated as increases following TT and decreases following TT + RT were observed. Another small effect was observed as the TT + RT group displayed greater increases in intermuscular fascia length than the TT arm. Distal femur trabecular changes for the TT + RT group were generally small in effect (decreased trabecular thickness variability, spacing, and spacing variability; increased network area). Medium effects were generally observed in the proximal tibia (increased plate width, trabecular thickness, and network area; decreased trabecular spacing and spacing variability).
Conclusions
This pilot suggests longer TT + RT interventions may be a viable rehabilitation technique to combat bone loss following SCI.
Clinical trial registration
Registered with
clinicaltrials.gov
: NCT01652040 (07/27/2012).
Recently, geopolymer (GP) cements have proven adequate to immobilize oil emulsions as GEOIL composites. When used for radioactive waste storage, the vicinity of GEOIL with Portland Cement (PC) ...concretes may induce leaching by the PC pore water. This research identifies the preferential water flow pathways, and quantifies the water permeability of hardened GEOIL mortars using a typical PC pore water. Two alkali-activated GP cements are used, either made of 100% metakaolin (MK) or of 80%MK-20% slag, for oil proportions of 0, 20, 40 or 60%vol.
For the identification of the preferential water flow pathways, two water flow scenarii are investigated numerically. Either water flows through the oil emulsion (Scenario 1) or water flows through the GP cement mortar pores (Scenario 2). The 3D structure of the oil emulsion is quantified by X Ray micro-computed tomography (X Ray micro-CT), and the pore structure of GP cement mortars is identified by image analysis. Fluid pathways are predicted for both scenarii by 3D numerical simulations. Secondly, water permeability experiments are conducted on GEOIL mortars. Water permeability Kwater of highly alkaline PC water is deduced over several weeks. The results validate Scenario 2; for 20 or 40%vol oil, water flows preferentially through the GP cement mortar pores (at a permeability below 10−18 m2), instead of through the percolating oil emulsion.
Finally, experiments show that Kwater for the GP cement mortar made of 80%MK-20%GGBFS does not remain stable over time when added with 20%vol oil. Comparatively, for the 100%MK GP cement mortar with 20%vol oil, a stable Kwater is recorded for 40 days. Whatever the oil percentage, the initial Kwater value is identical and smaller than without oil. A dedicated experiment shows that the oil additives (surfactants) are very probably responsible for this behaviour. At 60%vol oil, water and organic matter flow progressively out of the GEOIL composite.
Highlights • Disruption of Kiaa0319l function results in large nodular periventricular heterotopias. • Neurons in these heterotopias are generated in mid- to late-gestation. • Neurons in these ...heterotopias are destined to upper cortical laminae. • Transfected neurons in the cerebral cortex are located in their expected laminae. • KIAA0319L is another candidate dyslexia susceptibility gene that modulates neuronal migration.
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