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y of the risk assessment process in relation to infection. Existing guidelines for infection prevention and control do not adequately cover the home care environment and more research needs to determine which interventions (such as patient/caregiver education) would be most effective to prevent infections in the home care setting.Membrane proteins are an integral part of signal transduction. To signal, membrane proteins must interact with a variety of lipid species, effectors, and other proteins in the biological membrane leading to an immense number of possible interactions. Despite this inherent complexity, accurate control of signaling must take place. By allowing proteins to adopt a multiplicity of conformations in a process known as allostery, nature is able to transmit a signal from one protein site to another distal, functional site, allowing for modulation of protein properties and regulation of activity. In recent years, an increasing number of reports have pointed to common mechanisms governing the allosteric modulation of membrane proteins, including conformational selection, oligomerization, and the modulation of allosteric sites. In this report, we summarize recent advances in membrane protein allostery.Objective To investigate alterations in the choroid plexus in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods We prospectively recruited consecutive patients with MS or NMOSD from July 2018 to February 2019. The inclusion criterion was brain MRI within three months from onset of acute neurological symptoms. The thickness and enhancement ratio of the choroid plexus on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images of patients with MS (n = 51), patients with NMOSD (n = 32), and healthy controls (HCs, n = 28) were compared. Results MRI in patients with MS or NMOSD showed a comparably thick but more enhanced choroid plexus compared with that of HCs. In the axial view, enhancement ratios of the lateral ventricle of MS and NMOSD patients and HCs were 1.64 ± 0.34, 1.65 ± 0.25, and 1.39 ± 0.17, respectively (P > .999 for MS vs. NMOSD; P = .001 for MS vs. HCs; P = .001 for NMOSD vs. HCs). Conclusions The choroid plexus was significantly more enhanced on brain MRI of patients with MS or NMOSD than on that of HCs, suggesting the involvement of the choroid plexus in the autoimmune inflammatory processes in MS and NMOSD.Background and purpose Diabetes may be one of the risk factors of cognitive impairment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between diabetes status and cognitive impairment among the middle-aged and elderly population (≥40 years) in Chinese rural communities. Methods A sample of 3392 participants aged 40 years or older from the China National Stroke Prevention Project (CSPP) between 2015 and 2017 were enrolled in this study. Cognitive function was assessed by the Beijing edition of the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scale. Cognitive impairment was diagnosed as a MoCA score less then 26. Diabetes status was divided into three groups------Normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≤ 5.5 mmol/L, Prediabetes 5.6 ≤ FPG ≤ 6.9 mmol/L, Diabetes FPG ≥ 7.0 mmol/L or with a history of diabetes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between diabetes status and cognitive impairment. Results Out of the 3392 enrolled participants, 2023(59.6%) had cognitive impairment, 1586(46.8%) had abnormal fasting plasma glucose including 867(25.6%) prediabetes and 719(21.2%) diabetes. After adjusting for potential risk factors, we found prediabetes (OR 1.22, 95%CI 1.03-1.45) and diabetes (OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.06-1.55) are all associated with cognitive impairment, especially in the domains of language (prediabetes OR 1.14, 95%CI 1.05-1.25; diabetes OR1.13, 95%CI 1.03-1.24), visuospatial/executive functions (diabetes OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.22-1.84) and attention (diabetes OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.02-1.31). Conclusions In this large community-based study, we found diabetes status may be an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment, particularly in domains of language, visuospatial/executive functions, and attention.Sleep disturbance is one of the commonly reported non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) as well as in Parkinson plus disorders such as multiple system atrophy (MSA), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Although there is a wealth of literature on sleep disturbances in PD, the same is not robust on the Parkinson plus disorders. This article aims to comprehensively review the sleep disturbances in Parkinson plus disorders. The literature review was as per the guidelines of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). We searched PubMed and MEDLINE till December 2019 using a combination of words - "Sleep disturbance" with additional search terms such as "synucleinopathy", "tauopathy", "multiple system atrophy", "dementia with Lewy bodies", "progressive supranuclear palsy", and "corticobasal syndrome". A wide range of sleep disorders that include insomnia, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), periodic limb movement disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, and sleep apneas, may complicate the course of the Parkinson plus disorders. Pathophysiology of these sleep disorders remains elusive, thus making targeted pharmacotherapy challenging. We describe the cardinal features and the management options of these sleep disorders in the context of Parkinson plus disorders.Background The free radical scavenger edaravone is a proven neuroprotective drug for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our objective was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of edaravone for oxidative stress and anti-oxidative activity in ALS patients. Methods Twenty-two ALS patients with a disease duration of 2 years, treated by edaravone, and 25 control participants were evaluated according to their clinical scores, including ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R), and serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of oxidative stress dROM and anti-oxidative activity OXY. Results Serum and CSF markers of anti-oxidative activity OXY were significantly decreased in ALS patients at pre-treatment compared with controls (##p less then .01), which was improved in the course of edaravone treatment. Both serum and CSF OXY were significantly correlated with ALS clinical scores including ALSFRS-R (*p less then .05, **p less then .01, ***p less then .001). Furthermore, serum OXY at pre-treatment was significantly correlated with a change in the ALSFRS-R score in the sixth cycle of edaravone treatment (*p less then .05). Conclusions The present study suggests significant correlations between anti-oxidative activity and ALS clinical severity, and the therapeutic efficacy of edaravone for decreased anti-oxidative activity in ALS.Social cognition is a mediator between nonsocial cognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia. However, the relationship between specific nonsocial cognitive and social cognitive domains is less clear. The aim of this study was to investigate which specific nonsocial cognitive domains best predict theory of mind (ToM) performance in schizophrenia. selleck kinase inhibitor We indexed ToM by a composite score of the video-based Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition test (MASCtot) in a sample of 91 individuals with schizophrenia. Nonsocial cognition was measured with the nonsocial cognitive subtests of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI IQ). Bivariate and multiple regression analyses were applied. We found statistically significant bivariate associations between MASCtot and five nonsocial cognitive tests, measuring intelligence, speed of processing, verbal or visual memory, and non-verbal working memory. Together, they accounted for 17% of the variation in MASCtot, but none of the five tests made significant unique contributions to MASCtot in the regression analysis. Our results confirm that nonsocial cognition and ToM are associated, albeit distinct, constructs. The findings suggest that cognitive remediation must include social cognitive targets in order to achieve improved ToM and better functioning.Phenomenological studies involving hallucinations in non-clinical populations have been relatively neglected, especially within the non-auditory realm. Relevant knowledge would help further a more nuanced understanding of the psychosis continuum. Participants (N=33) were non-clinical voice-hearers, who have experienced auditory verbal hallucinations, but with no known mental health diagnosis and not taking any prescribed psychiatric medications. A comprehensive hallucinations phenomenology interview was conducted to assess physical, cognitive and emotional characteristics of hallucinatory experiences across sensory domains. Mixed methods analysis was employed. Characteristics of reported AVHs were mostly in agreement with existing knowledge, though some deviations did exist (e.g. controllability). In addition, 50%, 24% and 29% of our voice-hearing sample experienced hallucinations in the visual, tactile and olfactory domains at least once a week. In contrast, delusions and disordered thinking were rare. Qualitative thematic analysis yielded added phenomenological insights into contextual triggers as well as the content and perceived purpose(s) of multisensory hallucinations. Our findings highlight lesser-reported data that hallucinations in non-auditory domains are relatively frequent in non-clinical voice-hearers. However, other psychotic-like symptoms (i.e. delusions and thought disorder) seem less common. These insights should be considered in the context of the psychosis continuum argument.The present study examined whether or not there are differential rates of traumatic event exposure and presumed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) between individuals with OCD without comorbid presumed BDD (OCD-Non-BDD) and individuals with OCD with comorbid presumed BDD (OCD+BDD) within a large cohort of OCD participants (N = 605). Individuals in the OCD+BDD group had significantly higher rates of endorsing at least one lifetime traumatic event and presumed PTSD than individuals with OCD-Non-BDD. Additionally, individuals in the OCD+BDD group with comorbid presumed PTSD had significantly higher rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) and presumed panic disorder (PD). A logistic regression analysis revealed that presumed PTSD significantly predicted the presence of BDD symptoms among individuals who experienced at least one lifetime traumatic event in our sample. These findings suggest that individuals in the OCD+BDD group were more likely to have experienced a traumatic event in their lives, to experience presumed PTSD, and to have MDD and presumed PD than individuals in the OCD-Non-BDD group. Clinical implications and possible mechanistic pathways from trauma exposure to OCD and BDD symptomatology are discussed.Introduction Popliteal venous aneurysms are a rare vascular anomaly first reported in the 1980s. Degeneration of elastic fibers and smooth muscle cell reduction, possibly secondary to inflammation, are implicated to be integral steps in the development of these aneurysms. Given the rarity of this clinical entity, significant controversy exists regarding ideal treatment strategies, including the role of observation, medical management with anticoagulation or surgical intervention. Retrospective reviews have demonstrated a failure rate over 40% with anticoagulation alone, with patients often presenting with pulmonary embolism. This has prompted our institutional preference towards surgical management once the aneurysm is identified. Surgical management involves tangential repair with lateral venorrhaphy most commonly, followed in prevalence by aneurysm resection and end-to-end anastomosis either primarily or with vein interposition. Herein, we report our results with venous plications, through both closed and open techniques.