Neural information flow (NIF) provides a novel approach for system identification in neuroscience. It models the neural computations in multiple brain regions and can be trained end-to-end via stochastic gradient descent from noninvasive data. NIF models represent neural information processing via a network of coupled tensors, each encoding the representation of the sensory input contained in a brain region. The elements of these tensors can be interpreted as cortical columns whose activity encodes the presence of a specific feature in a spatiotemporal location. Each tensor is coupled to the measured data specific to a brain region via low-rank observation models that can be decomposed into the spatial, temporal and feature receptive fields of a localized neuronal population. Both these observation models and the convolutional weights defining the information processing within regions are learned end-to-end by predicting the neural signal during sensory stimulation. We trained a NIF model on the activity of early visual areas using a large-scale fMRI dataset recorded in a single participant. We show that we can recover plausible visual representations and population receptive fields that are consistent with empirical findings.

Although the flexible laryngeal mask airway (FLMA) provides considerable advantages in head and neck procedures, little is known about its safety and efficacy in functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the success rate of FLMA and relevant airway complications in FESS under general anaesthesia.

A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis was performed from 2015 to 2019. All patients scheduled for FLMA ventilation were identified. Patient characteristics, length of the surgery, FLMA size, failed FLMA cases requiring endotracheal intubation, immediate adverse airway events and delayed airway injuries were recorded. The primary outcomes included the FLMA success rate, which was defined as primary success after induction and final success after the whole surgical procedure. The secondary outcomes were specific clinical factors associated with FLMA failure and airway complications related to FLMA usage.

Of thes a high success rate for FLMA (97.8% in 6661 patients undergoing FESS). Adverse airway events and injuries associated with FLMA are rare, but clinicians should remain vigilant so that early diagnosis and prompt treatment can be provided.

Mean kurtosis (MK), one of the parameters derived from diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), has shown increased sensitivity to tissue microstructure damage in several neurological disorders.

Thirty-seven patients with relapsing-remitting MS and eleven healthy controls (HC) received brain imaging on a 3T MR scanner, including a fast DKI sequence. MK and mean diffusivity (MD) were measured in the white matter of HC, normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) of MS patients, contrast-enhancing lesions (CE-L), FLAIR lesions (FLAIR-L) and black holes (BH).

Overall 1529 lesions were analyzed, including 30 CE-L, 832 FLAIR-L and 667 BH. Highest MK values were obtained in the white matter of HC (0.814 ± 0.129), followed by NAWM (0.724 ± 0.137), CE-L (0.619 ± 0.096), FLAIR-L (0.565 ± 0.123) and BH (0.549 ± 0.12). Lowest MD values were obtained in the white matter of HC (0.747 ± 0.068 10-3mm2/sec), followed by NAWM (0.808 ± 0.163 10-3mm2/sec), CE-L (0.853 ± 0.211 10-3mm2/sec), BH (0.957 ± 0.304 10-3mm2/sec) and FLAIR-L (0.976 ± 0.35 10-3mm2/sec). While MK differed significantly between CE-L and non-enhancing lesions, MD did not.

MK adds predictive value to differentiate between MS lesions and might provide further information about diffuse white matter injury and lesion microstructure.

MK adds predictive value to differentiate between MS lesions and might provide further information about diffuse white matter injury and lesion microstructure.

Since the recent introduction of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), several studies have reported a decrease in the use of condoms and a rise in STIs among users. This rise in risk behavior associated with the advent of PrEP is known as “risk compensation.” The aim of this study is to measure clinical and behavioral changes associated with the introduction of PrEP by analyzing condom use for anal intercourse, number of sexual partners, sexualized drug use and STI incidence.

We performed a retrospective descriptive study of PrEP users followed every 3months over a 2-year period spanning 2017-2019 in a referral clinic specializing in STI/HIV in Madrid, Spain. One hundred ten men who have sex with men and transgender women underwent regular screening for STIs and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral data were gathered for all subjects studied.

The risk compensation observed in this study consisted primarily of a lower rate of condom use, while the number of sexual partners and recreational drug consumption remained stable. We observed a very high incidence of STIs in this sample, particularly rectal gonorrhea and chlamydia. The factors shown to be independently associated with the presence of an STI on multivariate analysis were age below 30 years and over 10 sexual partners/month.

The incidence of STI acquisition was higher than expected, indicating a need for strategies to minimize this impact, particularly among younger individuals with a higher number of sexual partners.

The incidence of STI acquisition was higher than expected, indicating a need for strategies to minimize this impact, particularly among younger individuals with a higher number of sexual partners.The rate of glucose uptake dramatically increases in cancer cells even in the presence of oxygen and fully functioning mitochondria. Cancer cells produce ATP by glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation under aerobic conditions, a process termed as the “Warburg effect.” In the present study, we treated canine melanoma cells with the glucose analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and investigated its effect on cell growth. 2-DG attenuated cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cell growth was also inhibited following treatment with the glucose transporter (GLUT) inhibitor WZB-117. The treatment of 2-DG and WZB-117 attenuated the glucose consumption, lactate secretion and glucose uptake of the cells. selleckchem The mRNA expression of the subtypes of GLUT was examined and GLUT1 and GLUT3 were found to be expressed in melanoma cells. The growth, glucose consumption and lactate secretion of melanoma cells transfected with siRNAs of specific for GLUT1 and GLUT3 was suppressed. These findings suggest that glucose uptake via GLUT1 and GLUT3 plays a crucial role for the growth of canine melanoma cells.