Executive function in schizophrenia and autism in adults shares common components separating high and low performance groups.

The profile of executive function (EF) in adults with Schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains unclear. This study aims to ascertain if distinct EF patterns can be identified between each clinical condition by comparing the neuropsychological profile of adults with SCZ and ASD, for whom the differential diagnosis is still highly challenging. Forty-five individuals (15 SCZ, 15 ASD, 15 controls) matched for age, sex, education level, and handedness underwent intelligence evaluation and neuropsychological testing for working memory, inhibition, planning and set-shifting, and verbal fluency subdomains. Principal component analysis (2D-PCA) using variables representing 4 domains was employed to identify patterns in neuropsychological profiles. The ASD group had lower scores on the Digits Forward subtest compared to the SCZ group (7.2 ± 2.1 vs. 9.3 ± 1.9, p = 0.003; Cohen's d: 1.05). ASD also performed significantly worse on the Stroop Word Test compared to the control group (77.7± 17.9 vs. 98.0 ± 12.7, p = 0.009; Cohen's d: 1.31). No significant differences were observed between ASD and SCZ on other EF measures. The larger contributors for the dimensions in 2D-PCA were the Digits Forward subtest and Stroop Word Test. Still, there was substantial overlap between the clinical groups. This study suggests a high degree of similarity of EF between SCZ and ASD. Through four EF measures, the discrimination of low and high-functioning EF groups spanning both diagnostic categories may help to identify the individuals who could better benefit from cognitive rehabilitation strategies.

Neurofeedback training of executive function in autism spectrum disorder: distinct effects on brain activity levels and compensatory connectivity changes.

BACKGROUND: Deficits in executive function (EF) are consistently reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Tailored cognitive training tools, such as neurofeedback, focused on executive function enhancement might have a significant impact on the daily life functioning of individuals with ASD. We report the first real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) study targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in ASD. METHODS: Thirteen individuals with autism without intellectual disability and seventeen neurotypical individuals completed a rt-fMRI working memory NF paradigm, consisting of subvocal backward recitation of self-generated numeric sequences. We performed a region-of-interest analysis of the DLPFC, whole-brain comparisons between groups and, DLPFC-based functional connectivity. RESULTS: The ASD and control groups were able to modulate DLPFC activity in 84% and 98% of the runs. Activity in the target region was persistently lower in the ASD group, particularly in runs without neurofeedback. Moreover, the ASD group showed lower activity in premotor/motor areas during pre-neurofeedback run than controls, but not in transfer runs, where it was seemingly balanced by higher connectivity between the DLPFC and the motor cortex. Group comparison in the transfer run also showed significant differences in DLPFC-based connectivity between groups, including higher connectivity with areas integrated into the multidemand network (MDN) and the visual cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Neurofeedback seems to induce a higher between-group similarity of the whole-brain activity levels (including the target ROI) which might be promoted by changes in connectivity between the DLPFC and both high and low-level areas, including motor, visual and MDN regions.

Proteogenomic Characterization of Pseudomonas veronii SM-20 Growing on Phenanthrene as Only Carbon and Energy Source.

In this study, we conducted an extensive investigation of the biodegradation capabilities and stress response of the newly isolated strain Pseudomonas veronii SM-20 in order, to assess its potential for bioremediation of sites contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Initially, phenotype microarray technology demonstrated the strain's proficiency in utilizing various carbon sources and its resistance to certain stressors. Genomic analysis has identified numerous genes involved in aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism. Biodegradation assay analyzed the depletion of phenanthrene (PHE) when it was added as a sole carbon and energy source. We found that P. veronii strain SM-20 degraded approximately 25% of PHE over a 30-day period, starting with an initial concentration of 600 µg/mL, while being utilized for growth. The degradation process involved PHE oxidation to an unstable arene oxide and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, followed by ring-cleavage. Comparative proteomics provided a comprehensive understanding of how the entire proteome responded to PHE exposure, revealing the strain's adaptation in terms of aromatic metabolism, surface properties, and defense mechanism. In conclusion, our findings shed light on the promising attributes of P. veronii SM-20 and offer valuable insights for the use of P. veronii species in environmental restoration efforts targeting PAH-impacted sites.

Antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming ability of α-toxin-positive Clostridium septicum isolates worsen patient prognosis.

A total of, 78 Clostridium septicum (CLSE) isolates were screened for genes encoding: α-toxin, flagellin, and resistance to vancomycin (VANg). The isolates were also tested for their ability to form biofilm and their antibiotic susceptibility. All isolates were positive for α-toxin and flagellin genes. However, only 19 isolates (24.3%) showed prevalence for VANg. We observed the strongest capacity to form a biofilm (100%) in isolates from patients with oncologic or septic and febrile diagnoses. This percentage was also very high in patients with colitis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (72.7%). No less than 43 isolates showed antibiotic resistance, and 21 were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Interestingly, our studies showed a correlation between antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. A statistically significant difference was observed between biofilm-forming MDR isolates and those with low/no biofilm-forming ability. However, the most impressive observation was the correlation with mortality rate. While the overall mortality rate for CLSE infections was 16.7% (13/78), the mortality rate for patients infected with MDR isolates forming biofilm moderately or strongly reached 38.1% (8/21). This number increased even further when only infections with the biofilm-forming VANg-positive isolates were considered (61.5%; 8/13). Therefore, the ability of a VANg-positive CLSE isolate to form a biofilm has been suggested as a biomarker of poor prognosis.

A global survey reveals a divergent extradiol dioxygenase clade as a widespread complementary contributor to the biodegradation of mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Extradiol dioxygenation is a key reaction in the microbial aerobic degradation of mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon catecholic derivatives. It has been reported that many bacterial enzymes exhibiting such converging functions act on a wide range of catecholic substrates. The present study reports a new subfamily of extradiol dioxygenases (EXDOs) with broad substrate specificity, the HrbC EXDOs. The new clade belongs to the XII cluster within family 2 of the vicinal oxygen chelate superfamily (EXDO-VC2), which is typically characterized by a preference for bicyclic substrates. Coding hrbC orthologs were isolated by activity-based screening of fosmid metagenomic libraries from large DNA fragments derived from heavily PAH-contaminated soils. They occurred as solitary genes within conserved sequences encoding enzymes for amino acid metabolism and were stably maintained in the chromosomes of the Betaproteobacteria lineages harboring them. Analysis of contaminated aquifers revealed coexpression of hrbC as a polycistronic mRNA component. The predicted open reading frames were verified by cloning and heterologous expression, confirming the expected molecular mass and meta-cleavage activity of the recombinant enzymes. Evolutionary analysis of the HrbC protein sequences grouped them into a discrete cluster of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenases represented by a cultured PAH degrader, Rugosibacter aromaticivorans strain Ca6. The ecological importance and relevance of the new EXDO genes were confirmed by PCR-based mapping in different biogeographical localities contaminated with a variety of mono- and polycyclic aromatic compounds. The cosmopolitan distribution of hrbC in PAH-contaminated aquifers supports our hypothesis about its auxiliary role in the degradation of toxic catecholic intermediates, contributing to the composite EXDO catabolic capacity of the world's microbiomes.

Salud y calidad de vida en adultos mayores de un área rural y urbana del Perú / Health related quality of life of the elderly population in a rural and urban area of Peru

RESUMEN Objetivos. Evaluar la calidad de vida relacionada a salud en una muestra de la población adulta mayor de un área rural y urbana del Perú. Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal en población adulta mayor de cuatro distritos rurales y uno urbano realizado entre octubre del año 2014 a enero de 2016. Se evaluó la asociación entre el área de residencia y cinco variables sociodemográficas mediante la prueba de chi cuadrado. Utilizando la prueba de suma de rangos de Wilcoxon y evaluando magnitud de efectos se midieron y compararon los puntajes por dimensiones obtenidos en los instrumentos WHOQOL-BREF y WHOQOL-OLD y el puntaje total de este último. Se realizó regresión lineal simple y múltiple para hallar los valores ajustados a las diferencias sociodemográficas. Resultados. Se encuestaron a 447 adultos mayores con una media de edad de 69 años (+ 6,46 años), 207 del área rural, los cuales, en su mayoría, trabajaban y tenían menos años de educación. La población adulta mayor del área rural tuvo mayor calidad de vida en las dimensiones "Física", "Psicológico" y "Medioambiente" del WHOQoL-BREF y en "Habilidades sensoriales", "Autonomía", "Actividades del pasado, presente y futuro", "Participación social" y en el puntaje total del WHOQoL-OLD; mientras que aquellos del área urbana sólo mostraron mayor calidad de vida en la dimensión "Intimidad". Conclusiones. El área de residencia ejerce un efecto diferencial en las distintas dimensiones de la calidad de vida relacionada a salud de la población adulta mayor estudiada.

ABSTRACT Objectives. To assess the health related quality of life in a sample of elderly population in a rural and urban Peruvian area. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in elderly population from four rural districts and one urban from the period October 2014 to January 2016. The association between the area of residence and five sociodemographic variables was assessed with the chi square test. Using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and assessing size effect, WHOQoL-OLD and WHOQoL-BREF domain scores and global score of the former obtained in the survey were measured and compared. Then, simple and multiple regressions were performed to adjust values to the sociodemographic differences. Results. A total of 447 elderly people were surveyed with a mean age of 69 (DE=6,46), 207 from the rural area, most of whom worked and had less years of education.. The elderly population from the rural area had a higher quality of life in the domains "Physical", "Psychological" and "Environment" from WHOQoL-BREF and in "Sensory abilities", "Autonomy", "Past, Present and Future Activities", "Social participation" and the total score from WHOQoL-OLD, while those from the urban area only had a higher quality of life in "Intimacy". Conclusions. The area of residency exerts a differential effect on the distinct domains of health related quality of life in the evaluated elderly population

[Health related quality of life of the elderly population in a rural and urban area of Peru]. / Salud y calidad de vida en adultos mayores de un área rural y urbana del Perú.

OBJECTIVES.: To assess the health related quality of life in a sample of elderly population in a rural and urban Peruvian area. MATERIALS AND METHODS.: A cross-sectional study was performed in elderly population from four rural districts and one urban from the period October 2014 to January 2016. The association between the area of residence and five sociodemographic variables was assessed with the chi square test. Using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and assessing size effect, WHOQoL-OLD and WHOQoL-BREF domain scores and global score of the former obtained in the survey were measured and compared. Then, simple and multiple regressions were performed to adjust values to the sociodemographic differences. RESULTS.: A total of 447 elderly people were surveyed with a mean age of 69 (DE=6,46), 207 from the rural area, most of whom worked and had less years of education.. The elderly population from the rural area had a higher quality of life in the domains "Physical", "Psychological" and "Environment" from WHOQoL-BREF and in "Sensory abilities", "Autonomy", "Past, Present and Future Activities", "Social participation" and the total score from WHOQoL-OLD, while those from the urban area only had a higher quality of life in "Intimacy". CONCLUSIONS.: The area of residency exerts a differential effect on the distinct domains of health related quality of life in the evaluated elderly population.