Yilmazlehmann3197

Humans have a remarkable capacity to finely control the muscles of the larynx, via distinct patterns of cortical topography and innervation that may underpin our sophisticated vocal capabilities compared with non-human primates. Here, we investigated the behavioural and neural correlates of laryngeal control, and their relationship to vocal expertise, using an imitation task that required adjustments of larynx musculature during speech. Highly trained human singers and non-singer control participants modulated voice pitch and vocal tract length (VTL) to mimic auditory speech targets, while undergoing real-time anatomical scans of the vocal tract and functional scans of brain activity. Multivariate analyses of speech acoustics, larynx movements and brain activation data were used to quantify vocal modulation behaviour and to search for neural representations of the two modulated vocal parameters during the preparation and execution of speech. We found that singers showed more accurate task-relevant modulations of speech pitch and VTL (i.e. larynx height, as measured with vocal tract MRI) during speech imitation; this was accompanied by stronger representation of VTL within a region of the right somatosensory cortex. Our findings suggest a common neural basis for enhanced vocal control in speech and song. This article is part of the theme issue 'Voice modulation from origin and mechanism to social impact (Part I)'.

Gas in the renal excretory system is described as a consequence of recent procedures but it can be a sign of severe conditions such as fistulas or infections; however, gas-containing renal stones are only rarely encountered.

To describe the association of gas-containing renal stones and urinary tract infection.

We performed a retrospective evaluation of the clinical and imaging findings in a series of six patients with gas-containing renal stones and compared our findings with those of patients with gas-containing renal stones reported in the literature. Urine and stone cultures were used as a diagnostic standard for urinary tract infection.

Including the present series, there is a total of 21 patients with gas-containing renal stones in the literature. Based on clinical presentation, urinary tract infection could be suspected in 10 (57%) patients, while urine and/or stone cultures showed infection in 18 of 19 (95%) patients, with only one case with no bacterial growth in both (5%); in the remaining patient the information was not available.

Gas-containing renal stones are a rarely reported entity usually diagnosed with computed tomography. They are a radiological sign often associated with urinary tract infection that can also be encountered in patients with non-specific renal symptoms.

Gas-containing renal stones are a rarely reported entity usually diagnosed with computed tomography. They are a radiological sign often associated with urinary tract infection that can also be encountered in patients with non-specific renal symptoms.[Figure see text].Background Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes with and without heart failure (HF). However, their influence on sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on SNA and compare the responses of SNA to sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without HF. Methods and Results Eighteen patients with type 2 diabetes, 10 with HF (65.4±3.68 years) and 8 without HF (63.3±3.62 years), were included. Muscle SNA (MSNA), heart rate, and blood pressure were recorded before and 12 weeks after administration of dapagliflozin (5 mg/day). Sympathetic and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity were simultaneously calculated. Brain natriuretic peptide level increased significantly at baseline in patients with HF than those without HF, while MSNA, blood pressure, and hemoglobin A1c did not differ between the 2 groups. Fasting blood glucose and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance did not change in either group after administering dapagliflozin. MSNA decreased significantly in both groups. However, the reduction in MSNA was significantly higher in patients with HF than patients with non-HF (-20.2±3.46 versus -9.38±3.65 bursts/100 heartbeats; P=0.049), which was concordant with the decrease in brain natriuretic peptide. Conclusions Dapagliflozin significantly decreased MSNA in patients with type 2 diabetes regardless of its blood glucose-lowering effect. Moreover, the reduction in MSNA was more prominent in patients with HF than in patients with non-HF. These results indicate that the cardioprotective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors may, in part, be attributed to improved SNA.Sudden cardiac death (SCD), the unexpected death due to acquired or genetic cardiovascular disease, follows distinct 24-hour patterns in occurrence. These 24-hour patterns likely reflect daily changes in arrhythmogenic triggers and the myocardial substrate caused by day/night rhythms in behavior, the environment, and endogenous circadian mechanisms. To better address fundamental questions regarding the circadian mechanisms, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a workshop, Understanding Circadian Mechanisms of Sudden Cardiac Death. We present a 2-part report of findings from this workshop. Part 1 summarizes the workshop and serves to identify research gaps and opportunities in the areas of basic and translational research. Among the gaps noted a lack of standardization in animal studies for reporting environmental conditions (eg, timing of experiments relative to the light dark cycle or animal housing temperatures) that can impair rigor and reproducibility. Workshop participants also pointed to uncertainty regarding the importance of maintaining normal circadian rhythmic synchrony and the potential pathological impact of desynchrony in SCD risk. One related question raised was whether circadian mechanisms can be targeted to reduce SCD risk. Finally, the experts underscored the need for studies aimed at determining the physiological importance of circadian clocks in the many different cell types important to normal heart function and SCD. Addressing these gaps could lead to new therapeutic approaches/molecular targets that can mitigate the risk of SCD not only at certain times but over the entire 24-hour period.Background Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a common postoperative complication following cardiac surgery. Currently, there are no reliable methods for the early prediction of CSA-AKI in hospitalized patients. This study developed and evaluated the diagnostic use of metabolomics-based biomarkers in patients with CSA-AKI. Methods and Results A total of 214 individuals (122 patients with acute kidney injury [AKI], 92 patients without AKI as controls) were enrolled in this study. Plasma samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using untargeted and targeted metabolomic approaches. Time-dependent effects of selected metabolites were investigated in an AKI swine model. Multiple machine learning algorithms were used to identify plasma metabolites positively associated with CSA-AKI. Metabolomic analyses from plasma samples taken within 24 hours following cardiac surgery were useful for distinguishing patients with AKI from controls without AKI. Gluconic acid, fumaric acid, and pseudouridine were significantly upregulated in patients with AKI. A random forest model constructed with selected clinical parameters and metabolites exhibited excellent discriminative ability (area under curve, 0.939; 95% CI, 0.879-0.998). In the AKI swine model, plasma levels of the 3 discriminating metabolites increased in a time-dependent manner (R2, 0.480-0.945). Use of this AKI predictive model was then confirmed in the validation cohort (area under curve, 0.972; 95% CI, 0.947-0.996). The predictive model remained robust when tested in a subset of patients with early-stage AKI in the validation cohort (area under curve, 0.943; 95% CI, 0.883-1.000). Conclusions High-resolution metabolomics is sufficiently powerful for developing novel biomarkers. Plasma levels of 3 metabolites were useful for the early identification of CSA-AKI.

Pancreatic cyst fluid analysis plays an important role in distinguishing between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst lesions. We aimed to compare the diagnostic performances of cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, and glucose in differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous neoplastic pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) and determine the best cut-off levels.

Patients' data were evaluated retrospectively. 102 patients' PCLs were grouped as non-neoplastic (

= 25), non-mucinous neoplastic (

= 20), mucinous neoplastic (

= 47) and pancreatic adenocarcinomas with cystic degeneration (

= 10); and CEA, CA 19-9, and glucose levels were compared. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis was performed, and the ideal cut-off values were determined.

Cyst fluid CEA and CA 19-9, levels were significantly higher (

< 0.001,

< 0.001, respectively) and glucose levels were significantly lower (

= 0.001) in mucinous than in non-mucinous neoplastic PCLs. Area under curve with 95% confidence interva-analysis of cyst fluid CEA (cut-off = 135.1 ng/mL) and glucose (cut-off = 2.8 mmol/L) at novel cut-offs had the best testing performance to rule-in mucinous neoplastic PCLs. To rule-out mucinous PCLs co-analysis of CEA (cut-off = 6.12 ng/mL) and glucose (cut-off = 2.8 mmol/L) added value to prediction.[Figure see text].Background Dysglycemia at acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is common and is associated with mortality. Information on other outcomes is less well explored in patients without diabetes in a long-term perspective. We aimed to explore the relationship between admission glucose level and long-term outcomes in patients with AMI without diabetes in a nationwide setting. Methods and Results Patients without diabetes (n=45 468) with AMI registered in SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web-System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) and admission glucose ≤11 mmol/L (≤198 mg/dL) were followed for outcomes (AMI, heart failure, stroke, renal failure, and death) between 2012 and 2017 (mean follow-up time 3.3±1.7 years). The association between categorized glucose levels and outcomes was assessed in adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression analyses (glucose levels 4.0-6.0 mmol/L [72-109 mg/dL] as reference). Further nonfatal complications and their assoisk assessment after myocardial infarction.

When presenting for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, women, compared with men, tend to have more nonpulmonary vein triggers and advanced atrial disease. Whether this informs differences in AF ablation strategy is not well described. TRC051384 We aimed to characterize ablation strategy and complications by sex, using the Get With The Guidelines-AF registry.

From the Get With The Guidelines-AF registry ablation feature, we included patients who underwent initial AF ablation procedure between January 7, 2016, and December 27, 2019. Patients were stratified based on AF type (paroxysmal versus nonparoxysmal) and sex. We compared patient demographics, ablation strategy, and complications by sex.

Among 5356 patients from 31 sites who underwent AF ablation, 1969 were women (36.8%). Women, compared with men, were older (66.8±9.6 versus 63.4±10.6,

<0.0001) and were more likely to have paroxysmal AF (59.4% versus 49.5%,

<0.0001). In women with nonparoxysmal AF, left atrial linear ablation was more frequent (roof line 53.