[Rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment using the P300-based brain-computer interface: results of a randomized controlled trial]. / Reabilitatsiya patsientov s postinsul'tnymi kognitivnymi narusheniyami s ispol'zovaniem interfeisa «mozg­komp'yuter¼ na volne P300: rezul'taty randomizirovannogo kontroliruemogo issledovaniya.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of a 10-day cognitive training using the brain-computer interface (BCI) technology at the P300 wavelength on the recovery of cognitive functions in poststroke patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients, aged 22-82 years, with ischemic stroke less than 3 months old and moderate cognitive impairment (<26 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA)). All patients underwent neuropsychological testing, assessment of the presence of depression, assessment of activity in daily life. Patients were randomized into two groups: patients of group 1 (main) underwent a 10-day course of cognitive rehabilitation in the form of daily exercises in the BCI environment at the P300 wave equipped with a headset for recording an electroencephalogram (EEG). Patients of group 2 (control) received a standard set of rehabilitation measures. RESULTS: There was an increase in the mean score of the MoCA «Attention¼ domain in the main group of patients (2.3±1.24 to 5.2±1.16 points) compared with the control group (5.9±1.00 to 4.2±0.94 points, p<0.05). The results of covariance analysis with repeated measures, taking into account the factors «Visit¼ and «Group¼, the covariate «Depression¼ and «Number of training sessions¼ revealed significant effects for the MoCA domains «Naming¼ (p<0.05), «Attention¼ (p<0.05), «Abstraction¼ (p<0.05). By the end of the 10-day cognitive training using BCI, patients of the main group showed a significant increase in the number of entered letters (20.8±2.01 to 25.9±1.7 characters (p=0.02) compared with the control group (21.9±1.9 to 23.1±1.8, p=0.06). When comparing the number of words entered by patients after 10 days, a significant difference was found between the main and control groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment using P300 BCI has a significant positive effect on the restoration of cognitive functions, primarily attention.

Review of effects of spinal manipulative therapy on neurological symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability in the world. Neurological symptoms significantly affect the well-being of the individual. Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is a complementary method often used for people with neurological disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review the existing literature on the effects of SMT on common clinical symptoms of neurologic disorders and the quality of life. METHODS: Narrative review was conducted through the literature published between January 2000 and April 2020 in English. The search was performed across four databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, PEDro, and Index to Chiropractic Literature. We used combinations of keywords related to SMT, neurological symptoms, and quality of life. Studies on both symptomatic and asymptomatic populations of different ages were included. RESULTS: 35 articles were selected. Evidence for the administration of SMT for neurological symptoms is insufficient and sparse. Most studies focused on the effects of SMT on pain, revealing its benefits for spinal pain. SMT may increase strength in asymptomatic people and populations with spinal pain and stroke. SMT was reported to affect spasticity, muscle stiffness, motor function, autonomic function, and balance problems, but these studies were limited in number to make conclusions. An important finding was the positive influence of SMT on the quality of life in people with spinal pain, balance impairments, and cerebral palsy. CONCLUSION: SMT may be beneficial for the symptomatic treatment of neurological disorders. SMT can positively affect the quality of life. However, limited evidence is available, and further high-quality research is required.

Intensive Neurophysiological Rehabilitation System for children with cerebral palsy: a quasi-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Recent research indicates that intensive rehabilitation tends to be effective for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Intensive Neurophysiological Rehabilitation System (INRS) is a multi-component approach that combines various interventions and addresses different functional goals.. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the INRS treatment in children with bilateral CP. METHODS: In this quasi-randomized controlled study, 48 children with spastic bilateral CP (age 5-12 years, GMFCS Levels I-IV, MACS Levels I-IV) were assigned to an experimental or control group in order they have been enrolled. The experimental group underwent INRS treatment in the tertiary care facility for about four hours daily for ten days and continued routine home treatment for four weeks. After the first evaluation, participants from the control group stayed on the waiting list for four weeks receiving home treatment and then starting the INRS treatment. Thereby, all participants were assessed three times. The primary outcome measure was a Gross Motor Function Measure 66 Item Set (GMFM). The secondary outcome measures included the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function test, Box and Blocks test, ABILHAND-Kids Questionnaire, Self-care and Mobility domain of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, and the ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the GMFM score after the INRS treatment in both the experimental group (mean difference (MD) 2.0, P < 0.01) and control group (MD 1.5, P < 0.05), with a large size effect (partial eta squared (η2) = 0.21 and η2 = 0.14). The mean difference between groups during the first study period was 2.89 points (p < 0.01) in the GMFM score with a medium effect size (η2 = 0.12). Statistically significant superiority of the INRS treatment over home treatment was also obtained by Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test and the Box and Blocks Test in both dominant and non-dominant hands. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that the INRS treatment can be beneficial for improving both gross motor functions and hand function in children with bilateral CP. Further longitudinal studies are required to evaluate the effects of the INRS treatment on the participation level of children with CP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier: NCT04093180 on 17/09/2019.

Intracortical Directed Connectivity for Information Retention in Visual-Spatial Working Memory.

A group of 27 healthy young adults solved a task involving the working memory (WM) activation, consisting of the comparison between the spatial orientations of two sequentially presented square-wave luminance gratings. We investigated the effective (directed) connectivity patterns between the frontal and postcentral cortical regions related to the visual system. The connectivity was assessed using vector autoregression modeling of EEG. It was shown that the strength of the top-down right-hemispheric connectivity patterns directed from the frontal cortex to the visual areas in θ frequency was significantly lower at the stage of stimulus retention in the WM than at the stage of stimulus anticipation. On the contrary, in the α band the descending influences were slightly more intense. The results of the study showed the frequency-dependent dynamics of the descending influences of the frontal cortex on visual areas and confirm that the frontal cortex plays the role of a controlling and modulating center in the brain system underlying WM.

Micro-premature infants in New Jersey show improved mortality and morbidity from 2000-2018.

BACKGROUND: Micro-premature newborns, gestational age (GA) ≤ 25 weeks, have high rates of mortality and morbidity. Literature has shown improving outcomes for extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs) GA ≤ 29 weeks, but few studies have addressed outcomes of ELGANs ≤ 25 weeks. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the trends in outcomes for ELGANs born in New Jersey, from 2000 to 2018 and to compare two subgroups: GA 23 to 25 weeks (E1) and GA 26 to 29 weeks (E2). METHODS: Thirteen NICUs in NJ submitted de-identified data. Outcomes for mortality and morbidity were calculated. RESULTS: Data from 12,707 infants represents the majority of ELGANs born in NJ from 2000 to 2018. There were 3,957 in the E1 group and 8,750 in the E2 group. Mortality decreased significantly in both groups; E1, 43.2% to 30.2% and E2, 7.6% to 4.5% over the 19 years. The decline in E1 was significantly greater than in E2. Most morbidities also showed significant improvement over time in both groups. Survival without morbidity increased from 14.5% to 30.7% in E1s and 47.2% to 69.9% in E2s. Similar findings held for 501-750 and 751-1000g birth weight strata. CONCLUSIONS: Significant declines in both mortality and morbidity have occurred in ELGANs over the last two decades. These rates of improvements for the more immature ELGANs of GA 230 to 256 weeks were greater than for the more mature group in several outcomes. While the rates of morbidity and mortality remain high, these results validate current efforts to support the micro-premature newborn.

Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula: prenatal sonographic manifestation from early to late pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) remains one of the most frequently missed congenital anomalies prenatally. The aim of our study was to elucidate the sonographic manifestation of EA/TEF throughout pregnancy. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of data obtained from a tertiary center over a 12-year period. The prenatal ultrasound scans of fetuses with EA/TEF were assessed to determine the presence and timing of detection of three principal signs: small/absent stomach and worsening polyhydramnios, both of which were considered as 'suspected' EA/TEF, and esophageal pouch, which was considered as 'detected' EA/TEF. We assessed the yield of the early (14-16 weeks' gestation), routine mid-trimester (19-26 weeks) and third-trimester (≥ 27 weeks) anomaly scans in the prenatal diagnosis of EA/TEF. RESULTS: Seventy-five cases of EA/TEF with available ultrasound images were included in the study. A small/absent stomach was detected on the early anomaly scan in 3.6% of fetuses scanned, without a definitive diagnosis. On the mid-trimester scan, 19.4% of scanned cases were suspected and 4.3% were detected. On the third-trimester anomaly scan, 43.9% of scanned cases were suspected and 33.9% were detected. An additional case with an esophageal pouch was detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the mid-trimester and a further two were detected on MRI in the third trimester. In total, 44.0% of cases of EA/TEF in our cohort were suspected, 33.3% were detected and 10.7% were suspected but, eventually, not detected prenatally. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal diagnosis of EA/TEF on ultrasound is not feasible before the late second trimester. A small/absent stomach may be visualized as early as 15 weeks' gestation. Polyhydramnios does not develop before the mid-trimester. An esophageal pouch can be detected as early as 22 weeks on a targeted scan in suspected cases. The detection rates of all three signs increase with advancing pregnancy, peaking in the third trimester. The early and mid-trimester anomaly scans perform poorly as a screening and diagnostic test for EA/TEF. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Clinical and genetic complexity of Mitchell-Riley/Martinez-Frias syndrome.

Mitchell-Riley syndrome/Martinez-Frias syndrome (MRS/MFS) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder with multisystem involvement and poor prognosis. Most reported cases have been associated with homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the RFX6 gene, a transcriptional regulatory factor for pancreatic morphogenesis. Given the limited number of reported cases, the syndrome may be under-recognized. When the particular phenotype of MFS includes a mutation on the RFX6 gene and neonatal diabetes, it has been called Mitchell-Riley syndrome. Because of this, we propose that MFS/MRS is a symptom continuum or an RFX6 malformation complex. We report an infant with all of the key clinical features of MRS/MFS without a definable mutation in RFX6 gene, supporting the consideration of these features as a symptom complex, and raising the question of genetic heterogeneity.

[Dinamics in virulence of highly pathogenic influenza A virus A/H5N1 genotype 2.2 strains isolated in Russia in 2005-2007].

In 2005 to 2007, there was a reduction in the virulence of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus A/H5N1 genotype 2.2 strains deposited in the State Collection of Viruses of the Russian Federation. Decreased virulence was most marked in the strains from domestic birds, the least in those from wild birds. Comparison of phenotypical and molecular genetic data revealed point amino acid replacements that might affect reduced virulence.

[Dynamics of neurodegenerative processes and lifespan under the action of Cerebral combined with other pharmaceuticals in Drosophila melanogaster mutants].

Effective influence of the drug Cerebral and its micro- and macrofractions on the mean lifespan and degenerative process dynamics of Drosophila melanogaster have been investigated. No dose--effect dependence was detected when different concentrations of Cerebral were used. The administration of Cerebral as a neuroactivating remedy combined with piracetam and verapamil was most effective, leading to an increase in the lifespan and a delay in the appearance of brain degenerative processes.

[The first break-through of the genotype 2.3.2 of high-virulence influenza A virus A/HSN1, which is new for Russia, in the Far East].

The epizootic etiologically associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 genotype 2.3.2 that is new for Russia among wild and domestic birds in the south of the Primorye Territory during spring migration in April 2008 has been decoded. About 25% of the wild birds of a water complex, which include European teals (Anas crecca), mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), great-crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus), are involved in viral circulation in the area of the Suifun-Khankai plain. Chicken embryos and the cell lines MDCK, SPEV, BHK-21, SW-13 were used to isolate 3 strains from recently deceased hens (A/chicken/Primorje/1/08, A/chicken/Primorje/11/08, and A/chicken/Primorje/12/08) and one strain from a European teal (A/Anas crecca/Primorje/8/08). The strains were deposited in the State Collection of Viruses of the Russian Federation, D. I. Ivanovsky Research Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. The nucleotide sequences of the full-sized genomes of A/chicken/Primorje/1/08 and A/Anas crecca/Primorje/8/08 were sent to the International databank GenBank. The strains from domestic and wild birds were shown to be identical. The isolated strains are most close to the strains Alchicken/Viet Nam/10/05, A/chicken/Guangdong/178/04, and A/duck/Viet Nam/12/05. Molecular genetic analysis has indicated that the strains isolated are susceptible to rimantadine and ozeltamivir and less adapted to mammalian cells (particularly, they contain E627 in RV2, which agrees with the biological properties of these strains in vitro). Penetration of the newly isolated virus into the Far East ecosystem provides in the foreseeable future a way for infecting the birds wintering in America and Australia in the nesting places, with further carriage of viral populations there in the period of autumn migrations.

L-thyroxine responsive cricopharyngeal achalasia associated with hypothyroidism in a dog.

An eight-year-old, male boxer dog was presented with a one-month history of hindlimb weakness followed by compulsive ineffective drinking, dysphagia, regurgitation and nasal reflux during drinking. A neurological examination revealed weakness and conscious proprioception deficits in both hindlimbs with normal spinal reflexes. The dog's swallowing function was examined by fluoroscopy. This showed normal prehension of the barium paste, bolus formation and contraction of the pharyngeal muscle, but no opening of the upper oesophageal sphincter was detected. A serum thyroid stimulating hormone level of 0.402 ng/dl and serum total T4 of 0-01 microg/dl were determined. The dog fully recovered one month after L-thyroxine therapy. The association found between cricopharyngeal achalasia and hypothyroidism suggests that hypothyroidism should be included in the list of differential diagnoses for dogs with cricopharyngeal achalasia.

Complete bony fusion of the mandible to the zygomatic complex and maxillary tuberosity: case report and review.

Congenital craniofacial disorders represent approximately 20% of all birth defects. One of these disorders is syngnathia, of which only 24 cases have been reported since 1936. Twenty cases involved fusion of the alveolar processes of the maxilla and mandible. Only four are similar to the presented case, which includes bony fusion of the ascending ramus of the mandible to the zygomatic complex and the posterior part of the maxilla. This case report will present details from the 23rd week of gestation to 8 months of age when the infant underwent the first attempt to free the syngnathia. The literature is discussed and a causative mechanism and new classification are proposed.

The transmembrane domain of influenza hemagglutinin exhibits a stringent length requirement to support the hemifusion to fusion transition.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored influenza hemagglutinin (GPI-HA) mediates hemifusion, whereas chimeras with foreign transmembrane (TM) domains mediate full fusion. A possible explanation for these observations is that the TM domain must be a critical length in order for HA to promote full fusion. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed biochemical properties and fusion phenotypes of HA with alterations in its 27-amino acid TM domain. Our mutants included sequential 2-amino acid (Delta2-Delta14) and an 11-amino acid deletion from the COOH-terminal end, deletions of 6 or 8 amino acids from the NH(2)-terminal and middle regions, and a deletion of 12 amino acids from the NH(2)-terminal end of the TM domain. We also made several point mutations in the TM domain. All of the mutants except Delta14 were expressed at the cell surface and displayed biochemical properties virtually identical to wild-type HA. All the mutants that were expressed at the cell surface promoted full fusion, with the notable exception of deletions of >10 amino acids. A mutant in which 11 amino acids were deleted was severely impaired in promoting full fusion. Mutants in which 12 amino acids were deleted (from either end) mediated only hemifusion. Hence, a TM domain of 17 amino acids is needed to efficiently promote full fusion. Addition of either the hydrophilic HA cytoplasmic tail sequence or a single arginine to Delta12 HA, the hemifusion mutant that terminates with 15 (hydrophobic) amino acids of the HA TM domain, restored full fusion activity. Our data support a model in which the TM domain must span the bilayer to promote full fusion.

[Participation of structural gene markers and anonymous DNA sequences in genetic differentiation in the species Ovis aries L. and Ovis nivicola borealis]. / Ychastie markerov strukturnykh genov i anonimnykh posledovatel'nosti DNK v geneticheskoi differentsiatsii u vidov Ovis aries L. i Ovis nivicola borealis]

Genetic variability and genetic differentiation in two Ovis species--domesticated (Askanian sheep, Sokilska and Kulunda sheep) and wild (bighorn sheep) were analyzed using different types of molecular-genetic markers--genetic-biochemical (30 loci) and DNA (ISSR-PCR) ones. High level of genetic variability was revealed. The average heterozygosity of biochemical markers loci was in range of 0.073-0.188. Markers involved into process of genofond divergence of two closely related species were revealed.

[The genetic structure of Kulunda sheep]. / Geneticheskaia struktura kulundinskoi ovtsy.

The analysis of the genetic structure of the Kulunda sheep in eight polymorphous genetic-biochemical systems was carried out. While comparing with the genetic structures of number of sheep breeds, differentiated by the origin history, productivity traits and the breeding regions, the locus-specificity particularities of the Kulunda sheep were described. The importance of creating of the "genetic portrait" for disappearing breeds was discussed.

[The intraspecific differentiation of Przhewalski's horse and the domestic horse by 5 molecular genetic markers]. / Vnutrividovaia differentsiatsiia loshadi Przheval'skogo i domashnei loshadi po piati molekuliarno-geneticheskim markeram.

Analysis of albumin, transferrin, receptor to vitamin D, esterase, alpha 1-beta glycoprotein polymorphisms in Przhewalski's horse, Orlov's and Russian trotters, Guzul and Yakutian domestic horse breeds was carried out. The data about similarity of intraspecies differentiation of Przewalski's horse's populations and interbreed distinctions were obtained. Locus-specific particularities of genetic structures of investigated animal groups were revealed.

AIDS analysis: experience from Savings Bank Life Insurance Company.

BACKGROUND: In the period 1988 to the current, 44 AIDS claims were reviewed in order to assess the policies regarding AIDS testing. RESULTS: The average age of the applicant at time of issue was 30.5 years. 41 percent of the claims were for less than $5000, but this represented less than 5% of the total claims losses. CONCLUSION: As many as 34% of the applicants are likely to have anti-selected based on policy duration and other factors.

[Effects of low-intensity electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequency on the animal body within the framework of total low-dose x-ray irradiation]. / Vozdeistvie nizkointensivnogo élektromagnitnogo izlucheniia v diapazone kraine vysokikh chastot na zhivotnyi organizm na fone obshchego rentgenovskogo oblucheniia v malykh dozakh.

Effect of low-intensive electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequency (EMR EHF) on the rats, subjected to the low-dose X-ray irradiation (6.192 mC/rg) was investigated. Content of glial fibrillary acidic protein as well as glucose content and activity of glutamate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase was studied. It was shown than EMR EHF modifies the X-ray irradiation effect: filament GFAP concentration in brain and glucose content in serum were restored. The authors suggest central nervous system participation in realization of EMR EHF effects on the organism.