Samuelsenlang3822

The network architecture of the human brain contributes in shaping neural activity, influencing cognitive and behavioral processes. The availability of neuroimaging data across the lifespan allows us to monitor how this architecture reorganizes, influenced by processes like learning, adaptation, maturation, and senescence. Changing patterns in brain connectivity can be analyzed with the tools of network science, which can be used to reveal organizational principles such as modular network topology. The identification of network modules is fundamental, as they parse the brain into coherent sub-systems and allow for both functional integration and segregation among different brain areas. In this work we examined the brain's modular organization by developing an ensemble-based multilayer network approach, allowing us to link changes of structural connectivity patterns to development and aging. We show that modular structure exhibits both linear and nonlinear age-related trends. In the early and late lifespan, communities are more modular, and we track the origins of this high modularity to two different substrates in brain connectivity, linked to the number and the weights of the intra-clusters edges. We also demonstrate that aging leads to a progressive and increasing reconfiguration of modules and a redistribution across hemispheres. Finally, we identify those brain regions that most contribute to network reconfiguration and those that remain more stable across the lifespan.Neurobiology underlying inter-regional variations - across the human cerebral cortex - in measures derived with multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is poorly understood. Here, we characterize inter-regional variations in a large number of such measures, including T1 and T2 relaxation times, myelin water fraction (MWF), T1w/T2w ratio, mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and cortical thickness. We then employ a virtual-histology approach and relate these inter-regional profiles to those in cell-specific gene expression. Virtual histology revealed that most MRI-derived measures, including T1, T2 relaxation time, MWF, T1w/T2w ratio, MTR, FA and cortical thickness, are associated with expression profiles of genes specific to CA1 pyramidal cells; these genes are enriched in biological processes related to dendritic arborisation. In addition, T2 relaxation time, MWF and T1w/T2w ratio are associated with oligodendrocyte-specific gene-expression profiles, supporting their use as measures sensitive to intra-cortical myelin. MWF contributes more variance than T1w/T2w ratio to the mean oligodendrocyte expression profile, suggesting greater sensitivity to myelin. These cell-specific MRI associations may help provide a framework for determining which MRI sequences to acquire in studies with specific neurobiological hypotheses.Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Novel strategies to combat this pandemic include the discovery of cellular proteins targeting distinct steps of the HIV replication cycle. Here, we summarize our current knowledge on antiviral proteins interfering with the infectivity of released HIV particles.Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or COVID-2019 is a new global health challenge which causes severe respiratory complications. As of May 17th, 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has infected 4.6 million people and caused 310,000 deaths, worldwide. In order to study potential impact of infection, complete epidemiological information should be reported on regular basis however, data from Pakistan has not yet been published. This retrospective study is the first report of epidemiological trends of COVID-19 in Faisalabad, Pakistan. On April 4th, 2020, 128 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from city Faisalabad were transported to Postgraduate Research Institute, Lahore for further processing. RNA was extracted using QIAsymphony DSP Virus/Pathogen Midi Kit and real-time PCR was performed to quantify COVID-19. Our finding showed that overall prevalence of COVID-19 in Faisalabad on April 4th was 17.18% (22 of 128). LOXO-101 ic50 Prevalence was higher in males (n = 17; 77.2%) as compared to females (n = 5; 22.8%) but this gender-wise difference was not statistically significant. Patients belonging to age group 37-47 years were found to be most (45.5%) infected with COVID-19.In the past decade, a large number of studies have detected herpesvirus sequences from many bat species around the world. Nevertheless, the discovery of bat herpesviruses is geographically uneven. Of the various bat species tested to date, only a few were from the New World. Seeking to investigate the distribution and diversity of herpesviruses circulating in neotropical bats, we carried out molecular screening of 195 blood DNA samples from 11 species of three bat families (Phyllostomidae, Mormoopidae, and Molossidae). Using polymerase chain reaction amplification, with degenerate consensus primers targeting highly conserved amino acid motifs of the herpesvirus DNA polymerase and Glycoprotein B genes, we characterized novel viral sequences from all tested species. link2 BLAST searches, pairwise nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparisons, as well as phylogenetic analyses confirmed that they all belonged to the Herpesviridae family, of the Beta- and Gammaherpesvirinae subfamilies. Fourteen partial DNA polymerase gene sequences, of which three beta- and 11 gamma-herpesviruses, were detected. A total of 12 partial Glycoprotein B gene sequences, all gamma-herpesviruses, were characterized. Every sequence was specific to a bat species and in some species (Desmodus rotundus, Carollia perspicillata, and Pteronotus rubiginosus) multiple viruses were found. Phylogenetic analyses of beta- and gammaherpesvirus sequences led to the identification of bat-specific clades. Those composed of sequences obtained from different bat species belonging to distinct subfamilies follow the taxonomy of bats. This study confirms the astonishing diversity of bat herpesviruses and broadens our knowledge of their host range. Nevertheless, it also emphasizes the fact that, to better appreciate the evolutionary history of these viruses, much remains to be done at various taxonomic levels.Background Little is known about the concordance of atopy with asthma COPD overlap (ACO). Among individuals with COPD, a better understanding of the phenotypes characterized by asthma overlap and atopy is needed to better target therapies. Research question What is the overlap between atopy and asthma status among individuals with COPD, and how are categories defined by the presence of atopy and asthma status associated with clinical and radiologic phenotypes and outcomes in the SPIROMICS and COPDGene studies? Study design and methods 403 individuals with COPD from SPIROMICS and 696 individuals from COPDGene with data about specific IgEs to 10 common allergens and mixes (simultaneous assessment of combination of allergens in similar category) were included. Comparison groups were defined by atopic and asthma status (neither, atopy alone, atopic asthma, non-atopic asthma, with atopy defined as any positive specific IgE (>0.35 KU/L) to any of the 10 allergens or mixes and asthma defined as self-report of doctormpared to the group without atopy or asthma. Those with atopy and atopic asthma were not at increased risk for adverse outcomes. Interpretation Asthma and atopy had incomplete overlap among former and current smokers with COPD in COPDGene and SPIROMICS. Non-atopic asthma was associated with adverse outcomes and exacerbation risk in COPD, while groups having atopy alone and atopic asthma had less risk.Teaching clinical reasoning is challenging, particularly in the time-pressured and complicated environment of the Intensive Care Unit. Clinical reasoning is a complex process in which one identifies and prioritizes pertinent clinical data to develop a hypothesis and a plan to confirm or refute that hypothesis. Clinical reasoning is related to and dependent on critical thinking skills, which are defined as one's capacity to engage in higher cognitive skills such as analysis, synthesis, and self-reflection. The authors review how an understanding of the cognitive psychological principles that contribute to effective clinical reasoning have led to strategies for teaching clinical reasoning in the ICU. With familiarity with System 1 and System 2 thinking, which represent intuitive versus analytical cognitive processing pathways, respectively, the clinical teacher can use this framework to identify cognitive patterns in clinical reasoning. In addition, the authors describe how internal and external factors in the clinical environment can affect students' and trainees' clinical reasoning abilities, as well as their capacity to understand and incorporate strategies for effective critical thinking into their practice. Utilizing applicable cognitive psychological theory, the relevant literature on teaching clinical reasoning is reviewed and specific strategies to effectively teach clinical reasoning and critical thinking in the ICU and other clinical settings are provided. Definitions, operational descriptions, and justifications for a variety of teaching interventions are discussed, including the 'one minute preceptor' model, the use of concept or mechanism maps, and cognitive de-biasing strategies.Background A number of circulating plasma biomarkers have been shown to predict survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but most were identified prior to the use of anti-fibrotic therapy (AF) in this population. Because pirfenidone and nintedanib have been shown to slow IPF progression and may prolong survival, the role of such biomarkers in AF treated patients is unclear. Research question To determine whether plasma concentration of CA-125, CXCL13, MMP7, SP-D, YKL-40, VCAM-1 and OPN is associated with differential transplant-free survival (TFS) in AF exposed and non-exposed patients with IPF. Study design and methods A pooled, multi-center, propensity-matched analysis of IPF patients with and without AF exposure was performed. Optimal thresholds for biomarker dichotomization were identified in each group using iterative Cox regression. Longitudinal biomarker change was assessed in a subset of patients using linear mixed regression modeling. A clinical-molecular signature of IPF TFS wal research for optimization and validation.Background Bronchoscopy is a useful tool for the diagnosis of lesions near central airways; however, the diagnostic accuracy of these procedures for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL) is a matter of ongoing debate. In this setting, electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) is a technique utilized to navigate and obtain samples from these lesions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore the sensitivity of ENB in patients with PPL suspected of lung cancer. Methods A comprehensive search of several databases was performed. Extracted data included sensitivity of ENB for malignancy, adequacy of the tissue sample, and complications. link3 The study quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool, and the combined data was meta-analyzed using a bivariate method model. A summary receiving operating curve (sROC) was created. Finally, the quality of evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. Results Forty studies with a total of 3,342 participants were included in our analysis. ENB reported a pooled sensitivity of 77% (95% CI, 72 - 82%), I2= 80.