This study examined whether variations in brain development between kindergarten and Grade 3 predicted individual differences in reading ability at Grade 3. Structural MRI measurements indicated that ...increases in the volume of two left temporo-parietal white matter clusters are unique predictors of reading outcomes above and beyond family history, socioeconomic status, and cognitive and preliteracy measures at baseline. Using diffusion MRI, we identified the left arcuate fasciculus and superior corona radiata as key fibers within the two clusters. Bias-free regression analyses using regions of interest from prior literature revealed that volume changes in temporo-parietal white matter, together with preliteracy measures, predicted 56% of the variance in reading outcomes. Our findings demonstrate the important contribution of developmental differences in areas of left dorsal white matter, often implicated in phonological processing, as a sensitive early biomarker for later reading abilities, and by extension, reading difficulties.
The current study utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine how two important non-cognitive skills, grit and growth mindset, are associated with cortico-striatal ...networks important for learning. Whole-brain seed-to-voxel connectivity was examined for dorsal and ventral striatal seeds. While both grit and growth mindset were associated with functional connectivity between ventral striatal and bilateral prefrontal networks thought to be important for cognitive-behavioral control. There were also clear dissociations between the neural correlates of the two constructs. Grit, the long-term perseverance towards a goal or set of goals, was associated with ventral striatal networks including connectivity to regions such as the medial prefrontal and rostral anterior cingulate cortices implicated in perseverance, delay and receipt of reward. Growth mindset, the belief that effort can improve talents, notably intelligence, was associated with both ventral and dorsal striatal connectivity with regions thought to be important for error-monitoring, such as dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. Our findings may help construct neurocognitive models of these non-cognitive skills and have critical implications for character education. Such education is a key component of social and emotional learning, ensuring that children can rise to challenges in the classroom and in life.
To describe the prevalence and interrelationships of epiretinal membranes (ERMs), vitreomacular traction (VMT), macular cysts, paravascular cysts (PVCs), lamellar macular holes (LMHs), full-thickness ...macular holes (FTMHs), and visual impairment in a population-based study of older adults.
Cross-sectional study.
There were 1913 participants aged 63 to 102 years at the 20-year Beaver Dam Eye Study follow-up examination in 2008-2010, of whom 1540 (2980 eyes) had gradable spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) scans of the macula in at least 1 eye.
The presence of ERMs and other retinal lesions was determined by standardized grading of macular SD OCT scans and photographs of 3 standard fields.
Epiretinal membranes, VMT, macular cysts, PVCs, LMHs, FTMHs, and visual impairment.
By using SD OCT, the prevalence of ERMs (34.1%), VMT (1.6%), macular cysts (5.6%), PVCs (20.0%), LMHs (3.6%), and FTMHs (0.4%) was estimated. The prevalence of macular cysts (P < 0.001), ERMs (P < 0.001), and VMT (P = 0.005) increased with age; the prevalence of PVCs (P = 0.05) decreased with age; and the prevalence of LMHs was not associated with age (P = 0.70). The prevalence of macular cysts, LMHs, and ERMs was higher in eyes with a history of cataract surgery. Macular cysts and ERMs were more common in eyes with retinal diseases, such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and retinal detachment, than in eyes without these conditions. Macular cysts, ERMs, and FTMHs were associated with visual impairment. While adjusting for age and sex, macular cysts (odds ratio OR, 3.96; P < 0.0001), PVCs (OR, 1.45, P = 0.007), LMHs (OR, 10.62; P < 0.001), VMT (OR, 2.72, P = 0.01), and visual impairment (OR, 3.23; P < 0.001) were more frequent in eyes with ERMs compared with eyes without ERMs.
Epiretinal membranes are associated with macular cysts, PVCs, LMHs, VMT, and visual impairment. Further follow-up will allow better understanding of the natural history of ERMs and VMT and their relationships to the development of macular cysts and LMHs in the aging population.
•RD children face significant risk for poor cognitive and socio-emotional outcome.•Such children can display remarkable resilience in these domains.•Cognitive resilience involves factors directly and ...indirectly related to reading.•Socio-emotional resilience relies heavily on interpersonal support.•Resilience in RD can lead to good functional outcome.
In recent times, research on resilience in children facing adversities has proliferated. In this review, the authors characterize resilience in children with reading disorders (RD). To organize our discussion and categorize the specific outcomes such children demonstrate, we adopt the terms cognitive resilience and socio-emotional resilience. By paralleling other resilience research, we seek to uncover protective factors in the hopes that they can be targeted in education and interventions to improve cognitive functioning, socio-emotional wellbeing, and academic success of children with RD. We conclude by considering current limitations and addressing the need for future resilience research in this specific population of children.
Prorocentrum texanum var. texanum and its morphologically distinct yet genetically identical (as based on the sequences of five genes) variety P. texanum var. cuspidatum represent a species of ...Prorocentrum recently isolated from the Gulf of Mexico. Together, these two varieties represent a sister species to Prorocentrum micans. P. micans has had its sterols, which are ringed lipids common to eukaryotic cell membranes, shown in some studies to be comprised of cholesterol (cholest‐5‐en‐3β‐ol), 23,24‐dimethyl‐cholesta‐5,22‐dien‐3β‐ol, 23,24‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholest‐22E‐en‐3β‐ol, dinosterol, and 4α,23,24‐trimethyl‐5α‐cholestan‐3β‐ol (dinostanol) as major sterols, thus placing it within a previously identified cluster of dinoflagellates characterized by the predominance of cholesterol and dinosterol. In this study we have determined the sterol compositions of these two varieties of P. texanum to be abundant in cholesterol, 23,24‐dimethyl‐cholesta‐5,22‐dien‐3β‐ol, 23,24‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholest‐22E‐en‐3β‐ol, dinosterol, and dinostanol such that the varieties are virtually indistinguishable from each other, making them both in general agreement with the sterols of P. micans, its closest species relative. This expands our knowledge of the sterols of this environmentally important dinoflagellate genus.
IMPORTANCE Modifying levels of factors associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may decrease the risk for visual impairment in older persons. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationships of ...markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction to the 20-year cumulative incidence of early AMD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This longitudinal population-based cohort study involved a random sample of 975 persons in the Beaver Dam Eye Study without signs of AMD who participated in the baseline examination in 1988-1990 and up to 4 follow-up examinations in 1993-1995, 1998-2000, 2003-2005, and 2008-2010. EXPOSURES Serum markers of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α receptor 2, interleukin-6, and white blood cell count), oxidative stress (8-isoprostane and total carbonyl content), and endothelial dysfunction (soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1) were measured. Interactions with complement factor H (rs1061170), age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (rs10490924), complement component 3 (rs2230199), and complement component 2/complement factor B (rs4151667) were examined using multiplicative models. Age-related macular degeneration was assessed from fundus photographs. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Early AMD defined by the presence of any size drusen and the presence of pigmentary abnormalities or by the presence of large-sized drusen (≥125-μm diameter) in the absence of late AMD. RESULTS The 20-year cumulative incidence of early AMD was 23.0%. Adjusting for age, sex, and other risk factors, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (odds ratio comparing fourth with first quartile, 2.18; P = .005), tumor necrosis factor-α receptor 2 (odds ratio, 1.78; P = .04), and interleukin-6 (odds ratio, 1.78; P = .03) were associated with the incidence of early AMD. Increased incidence of early AMD was associated with soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (odds ratio per SD on the logarithmic scale, 1.21; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE We found modest evidence of relationships of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α receptor 2, interleukin-6, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 to the 20-year cumulative incidence of early AMD independent of age, smoking status, and other factors. It is not known whether these associations represent a cause and effect relationship or whether other unknown confounders accounted for the findings. Even if inflammatory processes are a cause of early AMD, it is not known whether interventions that reduce systemic inflammatory processes will reduce the incidence of early AMD.
Total serum and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol have been considered risk factors for severe vascular outcomes in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
To examine the long-term relationships ...between these 2 serum lipids and the incidence and prevalence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
Nine-hundred three persons with younger-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus who participated in the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy.
Serum total and high-density cholesterol and history of statin use during the course of 5 visits spanning approximately 30 years (April 10, 1984, to February 13, 2014).
Prevalence and incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
A modest association was found for higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreased prevalence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (odds ratio per 10 mg/dL, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.82-0.93), adjusting for duration of diabetes mellitus, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, statin use, and end-stage renal disease. While adjusting for covariates, no associations of serum total or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and incident proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, nor of statin use with decreased incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, were identified.
In the course of long-duration diabetes mellitus during a time of changing medical care, there appeared to be little effect of serum lipids or statins on the incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
To describe how retinal venular diameter changes over time for an individual and to examine differences in these changes among people with different risk profiles.
Population-based cohort study.
A ...total of 4600 persons aged 43 to 86 years from the Beaver Dam Eye Study (BDES) who participated in at least 1 examination and had venular diameter measured in the right eye.
Data from 4 examinations during a 15-year period were analyzed. Retinal venular diameter was measured from photographs at each examination by computer-assisted methods and summarized as the central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE). Associations of risk factors with concurrent CRVE measurements and changes in CRVE over time were determined using multivariate analyses.
Central retinal venular equivalent.
The CRVE tended to narrow with age. Mean CRVE was approximately 5 μm smaller (225 vs. 230 μm) for the average 70-year-old compared with the average 50-year-old, and was approximately 13 μm smaller (217 vs. 230 μm) for the average 85-year-old compared with the average 50-year-old. Male sex (beta estimate β = 5.24; 95% confidence interval CI, 3.58-6.90), history of current cigarette smoking (β = 9.38; 95% CI, 8.26-10.49), and higher white blood cell (WBC) count (per 1000/μL: β = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.74-1.16) were independently associated with larger concurrent CRVE, whereas higher mean arterial blood pressure (per 5 mmHg: β = -0.36; 95% CI, -0.50 to -0.23) and higher serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (per 10 mg/dl: β = 0.89; 95% CI, -1.15 to -0.63) were independently associated with smaller concurrent CRVE. History of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (β = -0.16; 95% CI, -0.26 to -0.06) and presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (β = -0.20; 95% CI, -0.34 to -0.05) were associated with a greater decrease in CRVE over time.
These data show that retinal venular diameter tends to narrow with age; concurrent venular diameter is independently associated with sex, blood pressure, serum HDL cholesterol, WBC count, and history of current cigarette smoking; and change in CRVE is independently associated with a history of CVD and presence of CKD. The different independent effects of these interrelated factors on CRVE highlight the complex relationship between CRVE and systemic diseases and conditions and the difficulty in determining specific causes of change in CRVE over time.
The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Purpose To examine relationships of age, sex, and systemic and ocular conditions with retinal thickness measured by spectral-domain ocular coherence tomography (SD OCT) in participants without ...retinal disease. Design Longitudinal study. Methods setting : Population-based cohort. study population : Persons aged 43–86 years living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin in 1988–1990. observation procedures : Retinal thickness was measured via SD OCT at the Beaver Dam Eye Study examination in 2008–2010. Retinal disease was determined by ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, or SD OCT. main outcome measures : Retinal thickness from the inner limiting membrane to the Bruch membrane. Results The retina was thickest in the inner circle (mean 334.5 μm) and thinnest in the center subfield (285.4 μm). Mean retinal thickness decreased with age in the inner circle ( P < .0001) and outer circle ( P < .0001). Adjusting for age, eyes in men had thicker retinas than eyes in women in the center subfield ( P < .001) and inner circle ( P < .001). Sex, axial length/corneal curvature ratio, and peak expiratory flow rate were associated with center subfield thickness. Sex and peak expiratory flow rate were associated with retinal thickness in the inner circle. Alcohol consumption, age, axial length/corneal curvature ratio, cataract surgery, ocular perfusion pressure, and peak expiratory flow rate were associated with retinal thickness in the outer circle. Conclusions This study provides data for retinal thickness measures in eyes of individuals aged 63 years and older without retinal disease. This information may be useful for clinical trials involving the effects of interventions on retinal thickness and for comparisons with specific retinal diseases affecting the macula.
SUMMARY
Asterodinium gracile is a morphologically distinct, star‐shaped member of the Kareniaceae with, like canonical Kareniaceae, a tertiary plastid of haptophyte origin. However, A. gracile's ...complement of carotenoid photosynthetic pigments has been shown to be chemotaxonomically atypical in that it possesses much less fucoxanthin when compared to that of other, canonical Kareniaceae in the genera Karenia, Karlodinium, and Takayama, also with a tertiary plastid of haptophyte origin. To date, Karenia mikimotoi, Karenia papilionacea, and Karenia selliformis are the only canonical Kareniaceae that have been shown to have a chemotaxonomically atypical carotenoid pigment composition in that they possess a gyroxanthin diester‐like carotenoid not observed in other species of Karenia, Karlodinium, or Takayama (recognizing that Karenia, in general, produces fucoxanthin derivatives not observed in Karlodinium or Takayama). As a photosynthetic organism, K. mikimotoi has been shown to resemble Karenia brevis such that both species possess the chloroplast‐associated galactolipids mono‐ and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG and DGDG, respectively) enriched with octadecapentaenoic acid (18:5(n‐3)) in the sn‐1 position, and hexadecenoic acid (16:0) and tetradecanoic acid (14:0) at the sn‐2 position. However, K. mikimotoi is chemotaxonomically atypical beyond its carotenoid composition in that it possesses MGDG and DGDG with hexadecatetraenoic acid (16:4(n‐3)), which has not been observed in any other members of the Kareniaceae, in the sn‐2 position as major galactolipids. The goal of this study was to characterize the galactolipids of A. gracile with the hypothesis that they would also be atypical when compared to other canonical Kareniaceae because of A. gracile's atypical carotenoid pigment composition. To this end, we report that like K. brevis and K. mikimotoi, A. gracile produces MGDG and DGDG enriched in 18:5(n‐3) at the sn‐1 position and C14 fatty acids, such as 14:0, at the sn‐2 position, and like K. mikimotoi, it produces 18:5(n‐3)/16:4(n‐3) MGDG, yet here as its most abundant galactolipid.
PDF
