Activity

Inhibitory deficits are one of the predominant causes of cognitive aging. This study examined age-related changes in response inhibition. In this study, young and older participants performed a bimanual/bipedal response inhibition task while we measured their brain activity via functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Participants performed most trials bimanually (bipedally). However, they had to occasionally cancel both responses [Stop/Stop (SS) trials] or the response of one hand/foot while responding with the other [Go/Stop (GS) trials]. The participants produced more errors in the selective (GS) than in the nonselective canceling trials (SS), and in by-foot response more than in by-hand response trials, irrespective of their age. However, older participants made more errors in the selective cancelation (GS) trials and by-foot responses than young participants did. Older participants showed more frontal brain activity than young participants. The GS trials triggered more activity in the frontal brain areas than the SS trials irrespective of age at many channels, while older participants recruited more brain activation in the GS trials than in the SS trials compared to young participants. Overall, older participants exhibited higher activity in the right, middle, and inferior frontal gyrus than did young participants when performing selective and nonselective inhibition response. These results suggest that neural activation of the core inhibition network declines with age and that compensational recruitment of additional networks is used to yield an expanded inhibition circuit.Neural stem cells (NSCs) are self-renewing, multipotent cells, and remain in our brains throughout life. They could be activated by brain damage and involved in the central nervous system (CNS) repair and motor functional recovery. Previous research demonstrated that miR-221 could regulate proliferation, differentiation, and survival. However, the effect of miR-221 on NSCs remains unknown. In this study, we showed that overexpression of miR-221 inhibited the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein and increased the phosphorylation level of protein kinase B (AKT). More importantly, an AKT-specific inhibitor abolished the effect of miR-221 on the phosphorylation level of AKT. 5-Bromo-2-deoxyUridine (BrdU) incorporation assay and Cyclin D1 expression showed that miR-221 overexpression further promoted the NSCs proliferation. However, knocking down miR-221 inhibited cell proliferation. The AKT-specific inhibitor also blocked the proliferative efficiency of miR-221. These results demonstrated that miR-221 overexpression promoted the proliferation of cultured rat NSCs, for which the PTEN/AKT pathway activation was one possible mechanism. Our research may provide a novel investigating strategy to improve stem cell treatment for CNS diseases.

People with chronic vestibular diseases experience variable degrees of self-perceived disability. However, longitudinal data examining predictive validity of relevant clinical variables alongside psychological variables is limited. The present study examined whether these factors predict self-reported dizziness handicap three months following assessment and diagnosis.

Patients were recruited from a waiting list of a tertiary neuro-otology clinic and completed standardised mood, cognitive, behavioural and dizziness handicap questionnaires before and three months after their initial consultation and diagnosis. All patients were clinically assessed and underwent comprehensive audio-vestibular investigations.

Seventy three percent of participants responded at follow up (n=135, 73% female, M age 54.23 [SD 17.53]) of whom 88% were diagnosed with a neurotological condition. There were significant improvements in handicap, depression and anxiety at 3 months. 30/135 (22%) showed clinically meaningful improvementnts with chronic dizziness.

Tertiary patients with vertigo and dizziness report negative illness perceptions and cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms which are associated with self-reported handicap over time. Future studies are needed to investigate whether targeting these factors alongside traditional treatment approaches improves handicap in patients with chronic dizziness.

Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) has recently been approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in children and adolescents. However, the exact efficacy and safety remains to be confirmed.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of PEG-IFN for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in children and adolescents.

Databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, Ovid-EMbase, the Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Internet were searched to collect clinical trials examining the efficacy and safety of PEG-IFN in children and adolescents with confirmed hepatitis B virus infection. JNJ64619178 Data for treatment response, relapse, treatment discontinuations and adverse events were extracted and summarized.

A total of 10 clinical trials involving 658 patients were identified. Results indicate that 43% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25%-61%) of the subjects treated with PEG-IFN achieved HBeAg serologic response, 18% (95% CI 6%-35%) achieved HBsAg serologic response, 68% (95% CI 55%-79%) achieved virologic response after the end of treatment and 60% (95% CI 30%-87%) achieved sustained virologic response.

Current evidence indicates that PEG-IFN is effective in children and adolescents with hepatitis B virus and that treatment discontinuation due to serious adverse events is infrequent.

Current evidence indicates that PEG-IFN is effective in children and adolescents with hepatitis B virus and that treatment discontinuation due to serious adverse events is infrequent.

The Dutch fever without an apparent source (FWS) guidelines were published to timely recognize and treat serious infections. We determined the adherence to the Dutch FWS guidelines and the percentage of serious infections in infants younger than 3 months of age. Second, we identified which clinical criteria, diagnostic tests, and management were associated with nonadherence to the guidelines.

A retrospective cohort study was performed in 2 Dutch teaching hospitals. We assessed the charts of all infants with FWS who presented at the emergency departments from September 30, 2017, to October 1, 2019. Diagnostic and therapeutic decisions were compared with the recommendations, as published in the Dutch guidelines. Infants were categorized into the nonadherence group in case 1 or more recommendations were not adhered to.

Data on 231 infants were studied; 51.5% of the cases adhered to the Dutch guidelines and 16.0% suffered from a serious infection. The percentage of infants with a serious infection was higher in the adherence compared with the nonadherence group.