Search results for "STING"

Spontaneous brain activity and EEG microstates. A novel EEG/fMRI analysis approach to explore resting-state networks.

2009

The brain is active even in the absence of explicit input or output as demonstrated from electrophysiological as well as imaging studies. Using a combined approach we measured spontaneous fluctuations in the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal along with electroencephalography (EEG) in eleven healthy subjects during relaxed wakefulness (eyes closed). In contrast to other studies which used the EEG frequency information to guide the functional MRI (fMRI) analysis, we opted for transient EEG events, which identify and quantify brain electric microstates as time epochs with quasi-stable field topography. We then used this microstate information as regressors for the BOLD fluctuations. S…

Reliability of Magnetoencephalography and High-Density Electroencephalography Resting-State Functional Connectivity Metrics

2019

Resting-state connectivity, for example, based on magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography (EEG), is a widely used method for characterizing brain networks and a promising imaging biomarker. However, there is no established standard as to which method, modality, and analysis variant is preferable and there is only limited knowledge on the reproducibility, an important prerequisite for clinical application. We conducted an MEG-/ high-density (hd)-EEG-study on 22 young healthy adults, who were measured twice in a scan/rescan design after 7 – 2 days. Reliability of resting-state (15 min, eyes-closed) connectivity in source space was calculated via intraclass correlation coefficie…

Italian males recovering from mild COVID-19 show no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen despite prolonged nasopharyngeal swab positivity.

2020

Qualitative assessment of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody avidity by lateral flow immunochromatographic IgG/IgM antibody assay.

2020

Abstract Knowledge of the precise timing of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection may be of clinical and epidemiological relevance. The presence of low‐avidity IgGs has conventionally been considered an indicator of recent infection. Here, we carried out qualitative assessment of SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibody avidity using an urea (6M) dissociation test performed on a lateral flow immunochromatographic IgG/IgM device. We included a total of 76 serum specimens collected from 57 COVID‐19 patients, of which 39 tested positive for both IgG and IgM and 37 only for IgG. Sera losing IgG reactivity after urea treatment (n = 28) were drawn significantly earlier (P = .04) after onset of symptoms than those which prese…

The EGR2 gene is involved in axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

2015

Background and purpose A three-generation family affected by axonal Charcot−Marie−Tooth disease (CMT) was investigated with the aim of discovering genetic defects and to further characterize the phenotype. Methods The clinical, nerve conduction studies and muscle magnetic resonance images of the patients were reviewed. A whole exome sequencing was performed and the changes were investigated by genetic studies, in silico analysis and luciferase reporter assays. Results A novel c.1226G>A change (p.R409Q) in the EGR2 gene was identified. Patients presented with a typical, late-onset axonal CMT phenotype with variable severity that was confirmed in the ancillary tests. The in silico studies sho…

Echogenicity of the substantia nigra in relatives of patients with sporadic Parkinson’s disease

2003

Increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) on ultrasound is a typical sonographic finding in Parkinson's disease (PD). Sonographic signal intensity of the SN is related to tissue iron content with higher iron level being associated with increased echogenicity. Recent findings indicate that hyperechogenicity of the SN represents an important susceptibility factor for nigrostriatal degeneration. In this study we determined the prevalence of a characteristic ultrasound sign of Parkinson's disease in first-degree relatives of PD patients. Fourteen patients with sporadic PD and 58 of their relatives underwent neurological, neuropsychological, and ultrasound examination. In addition, fou…

Sensory-specific satiety for a food is unaffected by the ad libitum intake of other foods during a meal. Is SSS subject to dishabituation?

2012

Sensory-specific satiety (SSS) is defined as a decrease in the pleasantness of a specific food that has just been eaten to satiation, while other non-eaten foods remain pleasant. The objectives of this study were the following: (1) to investigate whether SSS for a food is affected by the ad libitum intake of other foods presented sequentially during a meal, (2) to compare the development of SSS when foods are presented simultaneously or sequentially during a meal, and (3) to examine whether SSS is modified when foods are presented in an unusual order within a meal. Twelve participants participated in three tasting sessions. In session A, SSS for protein-, fat- and carbohydrate-rich sandwich…

Cholinesterase variants: rapid characterisation by PCR/SSCP and evidence for molecular homogeneity.

1995

We have applied the technique of PCR-SSCP (polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformation polymorphism) to characterise the molecular basis of cholinesterase deficiency and variants in a Jordanian family. PCR-SSCP proved to be a quick and sensitive method of screening cholinesterase variants in a clinical setting. An AG insertion at position 351 was found to cause a silent allele, for which the parents were heterozygous and three children homozygous. In addition, the father and two sons were heterozygous for an A to G transition at position 209, known to cause the dibucaine resistant variant. No linkage to the K variant was found, which has been reported previously in white populati…

The association between night eating and body mass depends on age

2014

Night eating syndrome (NES) is marked by substantial evening or nocturnal food intake, insomnia, morning anorexia, and depressed mood. Originally, NES was described as an eating pattern among obese individuals.However, subsequent studies showed that NES also occurs among non-obese individuals, who appear to be younger than obese individuals with NES. Thus, it has been proposed that NES may lead to future weight gain,which may explain inconsistent findings about associations between NES and body mass. The current study investigated the relationships between age, body mass index (BMI), and night eating severity in a representative sample of German adults (n = 2317). It was found that age mode…

Organ Donation Related With Attitude Toward the Law of Presumed Consent: Spanish University Medical and Nursing Students Study.

2020

Information provided by health care professionals is crucial to create a climate of social opinion. This is important in organ donation and transplantation (ODT), where the participation of the general public is essential to obtain organs. Objective To determine the attitude toward the Law of Presumed Consent (LPC) among Spanish university students and to analyze their relation with attitude toward ODT. Methods and design. The type of study was a sociologic, multicenter, observational study. The population included medical and nursing students in Spanish universities. Database of Collaborative International Donor Project was used stratified by geographic area and academic course. A validate…