Let's talk about faces: Identifying faces from verbal descriptions

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Let's talk about faces: Identifying faces from verbal descriptions via British Journal of Psychology Abstract Face descriptions inform real-world identification decisions, for example when eyewitnesses describe criminal perpetrators. However, it is unclear how effective face descriptions are for identification. Here, we examined the accuracy of face identification from verbal descriptions, and how individual differences in face perception relate to producing and using descriptions for identification. In Study 1, participants completed a face communication task in pairs. Each participant saw a single face, and via verbal communication only, the pair decided if they were viewing the same person or different people. Dyads achieved 72% accuracy, compared to 81% when participants completed the task individually by matching face pairs side-by-side. Performance on the face communication and perceptual matching tasks were uncorrelated, perhaps due to low measurement reliability of the face communication task. In subsequent studies, we examined the abilities of face 'describers' (Study 2) and 'identifiers' separately (Study 3). We found that 'super-recognizers' – people with extremely high perceptual face identification abilities – outperformed controls in both studies. Overall, these results show that people can successfully describe faces for identification. Preliminary evidence suggests that this ability – and the ability use facial descriptions for identification – has some association with perceptual face identification skill. View on Web

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Transcriptional analysis of the mfa‐cluster genes in Porphyromonas gingivalis strains with one and two mfa5 genes

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Transcriptional analysis of the mfa‐cluster genes in Porphyromonas gingivalis strains with one and two mfa5 genes via Molecular Oral Microbiology Abstract The Porphyromonas gingivalis Mfa1 fimbria is composed of the Mfa1 to Mfa5 proteins, encoded by the mfa1 to mfa5 genes, respectively, which are tandemly arranged on chromosomes. A recent study discovered that many P. gingivalis strains possess two mfa5 genes (called herein mfa5-1 and mfa5-2), which are also in tandem. This study examined the transcriptional unit and activity of mfa-cluster genes in strains with one (the ATCC 33277 and TDC60 strains) and two (the HG66 and A7436 strains) mfa5 genes. Complementary DNA was prepared from the total RNA extracted from the bacterial cells in the logarithmic growth phase using a random primer. PCR analysis for the intergenic regions from mfa1 to mfa5 or mfa5-2 showed that mfa1 to mfa5 or mfa5-2 formed a polycistronic gene cluster. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the mfa1 transcription was 5–10 times higher than tha t of mfa2 in all the strains. However, mfa2 to mfa5 mostly showed a comparable expression. Both mfa5 genes were comparably transcribed in HG66 and A7436 strains. The transcriptional levels were almost consistent with the respective protein expression levels. In silico analysis identified a transcriptional terminator structure in the intergenic region between mfa1 and mfa2 that was probably responsible for the decreased transcription rate of mfa2 and the downstream genes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved View on Web

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A Computational Model of a Single Auditory Nerve Fiber for Electric-Acoustic Stimulation

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader A Computational Model of a Single Auditory Nerve Fiber for Electric-Acoustic Stimulation via JARO - Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology via MedWorm.com AbstractCochlear implant (CI) recipients with preserved acoustic low-frequency hearing in the implanted ear are a growing group among traditional CI users who benefit from hybrid electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS). However, combined ipsilateral electric and acoustic stimulation also introduces interactions between the two modalities that can affect the performance of EAS users. A computational model of a single auditory nerve fiber that is excited by EAS was developed to study the interaction between electric and acoustic stimulation. Two existing models of sole electric or acoustic stimulation were coupled to simulate responses to combined EAS. Different methods of combining both models were implemented. In the coupled model variant, the refractoriness of the simulated fiber leads to sup... View on Web

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Randomized phase III study of high-dose methotrexate and whole-brain radiotherapy with/without temozolomide for newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma: JCOG1114C

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Randomized phase III study of high-dose methotrexate and whole-brain radiotherapy with/without temozolomide for newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma: JCOG1114C via Neuro-Oncology Advance Access Abstract Background The goal was to determine whether the addition of temozolomide (TMZ) to the standard treatment of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) and whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) improves survival. Methods An open-label, randomized, phase III trial was conducted in Japan, enrolling immunocompetent patients aged 20-70 years with histologically confirmed, newly diagnosed PCNSL. After administration of HD-MTX, patients were randomly assigned to receive WBRT (30 Gy) ± 10 Gy boost (arm A) or WBRT ± boost with concomitant and maintenance TMZ for two years (arm B). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results Between September 29, 2014 and October 15, 2018, 134 patients were enrolled, of whom 122 were randomly assigned and analyzed. At the planned interim analysis, two-year OS was 86.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72.5-94.0%) in arm A and 71.4% (56.0-82.2%) in arm B. The hazard ratio was 2.18 (95% CI: 0.95 to 4.98), with the predicted probability of showing the superiority of arm B at the final analysis estimated to be 1.3%. The study was terminated early due to futility. O 6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status was measured in 115 tumors, and it was neither prognostic nor predictive of TMZ response. Conclusions This study failed to demonstrate the benefit of concomitant and maintenance TMZ in newly diagnosed PCNSL. View on Web

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Endoscopic transoral approach to the lateral poststyloid space

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Endoscopic transoral approach to the lateral poststyloid space via Head & Neck Abstract The lateral poststyloid space (LPSS) located at the posterolateral aspect of the styloid process. This study aims to explore the anatomical relationships in LPSS via a transoral corridor, providing reference for addressing lesions extending to this region. An endoscopic transoral approach for exposure of the LPSS was performed on 6 cadaveric specimens (12 sides). Related landmarks were explored, and transoral extirpation of tumors extended into LPSS was employed in 12 patients. The deep lobe of the parotid gland, extratemporal facial nerve, and the accompanying artery in the LPSS were sufficiently exposed via the transoral corridor in all 12 cadaveric sides. The transoral corridor provided adequate exposure for tumors extending to the LPSS, and en bloc resection was achieved in these 12 patients. No facial nerve or vascular injury occurred, and no recurrence observed in this cohort with an average follow-up of 26 months. An endoscopic transoral approach provides a direct access to the LPSS. Appreciation of the anatomical relationships within the LPSS is valuable for employing a transoral extirpation of tumors extending to this specific region. View on Web

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Factors that influence the outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Factors that influence the outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth via International Endodontic Journal Abstract The promotion of minimally-invasive treatments focussed on the maintenance of pulp vitality has become a priority area in Endodontics. These vital-pulp-treatments (VPT) include, partial and full pulpotomy, during which diseased coronal pulp tissue is removed prior to placement of a capping biomaterial and restoration. Traditionally, pulpotomies were confined to the treatment of carious deciduous and traumatised teeth. However, these treatments have now been proposed as definitive solutions for cariously-exposed permanent teeth with mild symptoms or even symptoms indicative of irreversible disease. Until recently, it was recommended that carious-exposure of mature permanent teeth be managed by root canal treatment. The promotion of pulpotomy as an alternative treatment has opened up a wave of laboratory and clinical research aimed at improving therapies or evaluating clinical outcomes. In modern evidence-based endodontics it is imperative that the outcomes of both partial and full pulpotomy are considered and important prognostic factors identified, so that improvements can be made to aid clinical decision-making and to direct new research. In this narrative review, the outcomes of partial and full pulpotomy are discussed, before analysis of patient, intraoperative and postoperative factors that influence the outcome of the pulpotomy procedure. The review highlights that although partial and full pulpotomy for the treatment of even pulpal disease are highly successful procedures, this is based on low-quality evidence with a lack of prospective, comparative trials investigating potential prognostic factors. Based on current evidence, it appears that age, gender, tooth type, root development and intraoperative pulpal haemorrhage do not impact significantly on pulpotomy outcome, while others such as caries depth, inflammatory status of the pulp, capping material, level of inflammatory pulpal-biomarkers and the final restoration integrity do. Other factors, inclu ding the influence of exposure type, periodontal condition, pulpal lavage, magnification, operator experience, isolation of the operating field and type of pulpotomy require further experimental investigation before definitive conclusions can be made relating to the success of the pulpotomy procedure. Finally, there is not only a need for future well-designed prospective research addressing these issues, but also a widening of our understanding of outcome to include patient-reported as well as clinician-reported outcomes. View on Web

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Remimazolam versus propofol for deep sedation/anaesthesia in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in elderly patients: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Remimazolam versus propofol for deep sedation/anaesthesia in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in elderly patients: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial via Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics The rate of hypotension was 36.5% in the remimazolam group and 69.6% in the propofol group (p < 0.001). The remimazolam group also had a lower rate of bradycardia (1.5% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001) and respiratory depression (4.5% vs. 10.0%, p < 0.05). Abstract Background and Objective Propofol is the most commonly used sedative in gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures, but is associated with cardiorespiratory suppression, particularly in elderly patients. Remimazolam is a new short-acting GABA(A) receptor agonist with minimal impact on cardiorespiratory suppression, and may be a viable alternative in elderly patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. Methods This multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted between September 2020 and September 2021. Elderly patients (65–85 years of age) scheduled to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomized in 1:1 ratio to receive remimazolam tosilate (300 mg/h) or propofol (3 g/h) in addition to 50-μg fentanyl, until the Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale (MOAA/S) reached ≤1. MOAA/S was maintained at 0 or 1 throughout the procedure using 2.5 mg remimazolam or 0.5 mg/kg propofol boluses in the two groups, respectively. The primary outcome was the rate of hypotension (defined as systolic blood pressure at ≤90 mmHg or > 30% decline vs. the baseline). Bradycardia was defined as heart rate ≤50 per minute; respiratory depression was defined as respiratory rate <8 per minute and/or SpO2 < 90%. Results A total of 400 patients (161 men and 239 women; 70.4 ± 4.6 years of age) were enrolled (200 patients per group). Average body mass index was 22.2 ± 2.4 kg/m2. The rate of hypotension was 36.5% in the remimazolam group and 69.6% in the propofol group (p < 0.001). The remimazolam group also had a lower rate of bradycardia (1.5% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001), respiratory depression (4.5% vs. 10.0%, p < 0.05) and pain at the injection site (0% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.001). Conclusion Remimazolam was associated with a lower rate of hypotension in elderly patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy under deep sedation/anaesthesia than propofol. View on Web

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Gastrointestinal cancer occurs as extramuscular manifestation in FSHD1 patients

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Gastrointestinal cancer occurs as extramuscular manifestation in FSHD1 patients via Journal of Human Genetics - Issue - nature.com science feeds Journal of Human Genetics, Published online: 07 November 2022; doi:10.1038/s10038-022-01095-0 Gastrointestinal cancer occurs as extramuscular manifestation in FSHD1 patients View on Web

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The effect of changing to Bictegravir on lipids using real world data: A brief report

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader The effect of changing to Bictegravir on lipids using real world data: A brief report via Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics Analysis of variance for change in lipid subfractions in patients switching to bictegravir. Abstract What is known and objective Cardiovascular disease is of increasing concern in patients living with HIV. The significant advancement in antiretroviral treatment has ensured that patients are now succumbing to traditional diseases of ageing. First generation antiretroviral therapy caused multiple side effects including significant dyslipidaemia. Despite the advancement and improving safety profile of treatment concerns remain about antiretroviral induced dyslipidaemia. We sought to investigate the real-world effect on lipids in patients switching to a Bictegravir based regime. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis in patients switching therapy to Biktarvy at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Data was collected from the HIV database that is established for clinical use, as an electronic patient record, and audit purposes. Lipid data was cross checked with the Trust electronic reporting system. Participants were included if they were HIV-positive, >18 years and had switched to Biktarvy Patients were also required to have a lipid profile available 52 weeks prior to switching and 100 weeks post switching. Summary statistic were calculated and multiple regressions models were constructed to assess the independent predictors of lipid change. We also performed one way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to assess the impact of switching therapy on each quartile of the baseline lipid panel. Results and discussion There were 135 patients included in the analysis with a mean age of 47. The majority of the population were male (80%). At a mean follow up of 42 weeks post switch there was no significant difference in total cholesterol (p = 0.64), triglyceride (p = 0.64) or high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p = 0.08). In the regression analysis the highest quartile of baseline total cholesterol and triglyceride were independently associated with improvement in lipid markers. Switching from protease inhibitor therapy was also significantly associated with improvement in triglyceride. In addition, the ANCVOA demonstrated that the highest quartiles of total cholesterol, triglyceride and the lowest quartile of HDL were associated with significant improvement in lipid markers after switching to Bictegravir. What is new and conclusion We demonstrated that patients with the most adverse lipid profiles at baseline had significant improvements in lipid profiles. In addition, patient switching away from protease inhibitor therapy also had significant improvements in triglyceride. View on Web

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Impact of belatacept and tacrolimus on cytomegalovirus viral load control and relapse in moderate and high‐risk cytomegalovirus serostatus kidney transplant recipients

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Impact of belatacept and tacrolimus on cytomegalovirus viral load control and relapse in moderate and high‐risk cytomegalovirus serostatus kidney transplant recipients via Transplant Infectious Disease ABSTRACT Background : Belatacept improves long-term graft survival, but control of some primary viral infections may be impaired. We evaluated the impact of belatacept and tacrolimus on Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral control, remission and relapse in CMV high-risk and moderate-risk recipients. Methods : Using a multi-state Markov model, we evaluated viral load state transitions of 173 kidney transplant recipients with at least 1 episode of viremia within 1 year after transplant: state 1, undetectable/low viral load; state 2, moderate viremia; and state 3, severe viremia. Results : Among high-risk recipients, belatacept-treated recipients exhibited significantly higher probability of entering moderate viremia (0.36; 95% CI = 0.31, 0.41) than tacrolimus-treated recipients (0.20; 95% CI = 0.13, 0.29). The expected number of days in viremic states differed. High-risk belatacept-treated recipients persisted in moderate viremia for significantly longer (128 days, 95% CI = 110, 146) than did tacrolimus-treated recipients (70.0 days, 95% CI = 45.2, 100) and showed a trend of shorter duration in low/undetectable viral load state (172 days, 95% CI = 148, 195) than did tacrolimus-treated recipients (239 days, 95% CI = 195, 277). Moderate-risk recipients showed better viral load control and with no differences by immunosuppression. Conclusion : High-risk belatacept-treated recipients showed defects in sustaining viral control relative to tacrolimus-treated recipients. Avoidance of initial use belatacept in high-risk recipients or development of modified management protocols should be considered. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved View on Web

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