Central theta amplitude as a negative correlate of performance proficiency in a dynamic visuospatial task

Publication date: Available online 28 October 2017
Source:Biological Psychology
Author(s): Fernando Cross-Villasana, Peter Gröpel, Felix Ehrlenspiel, Jürgen Beckmann
Dynamic visuospatial tasks, requiring continuous engagement of attention over long time periods, have been little studied with the electroencephalogram. Specifically, the role of the theta band in these tasks is unclear, with task-related theta enhancements improving performance in some studies, and hindering it in others. In this study, 30 participants performed the Pong videogame as a dynamic visuospatial task to analyze the influence of theta and alpha amplitude as well as alpha asymmetry on performance. The theta band increased significantly at central-parietal regions and correlated negatively with performance, especially at anterior regions. The alpha band showed a significant decrease, greater at right over left parietal regions, but neither the amplitude nor the asymmetry ratio correlated with performance. With theta being an indicator of top-down cognitive control, it may be concluded that proficient performance in dynamic visuospatial tasks depends on a bottom-up guidance of attention with little top-down intervention.



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Parent Emotion Socialization and Pre-Adolescent’s Social and Emotional Adjustment: Moderating Effects of Autonomic Nervous System Reactivity

Publication date: Available online 28 October 2017
Source:Biological Psychology
Author(s): Julia D. McQuade, Rosanna P. Breaux
This study examined whether measures of children's autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity to social stress moderated the effect of parent emotion socialization on children's social and emotional adjustment. Sixty-one children (9 to 13 years) completed a peer rejection task while their respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity (RSA-R) and skin conductance level reactivity (SCL-R) were assessed. Parents' report of supportive and non-supportive reactions to their child's negative emotions served as measures of emotion socialization. Measures of children's social and emotional adjustment included: teacher-rated peer rejection, aggression, and prosocial behavior and parent-rated aggressive/dysregulated behavior and emotion regulation skills. Measures of children's ANS reactivity moderated the effect of parent emotion socialization on children's adjustment. Supportive responses were more protective for children evidencing RSA augmentation whereas non-supportive responses were more detrimental for children evidencing low SCL-R. Thus children's ANS reactivity during social stress may represent a biological vulnerability that influences sensitivity to parent emotion socialization.



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Identification of nitroimidazole-oxime derivatives targeting the polo-box domain of polo-like kinase 1

Publication date: Available online 28 October 2017
Source:Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Author(s): Juan Sun, Han-Yu Liu, Ruo-Fei Xu, Hai-Liang Zhu
Recent progress in the development of small molecular skeleton-derived Polo-like kinase (PLK1) catalytic domain (KD) inhibitors has led to the synthesis of multiple ligands with high binding affinity. However, few systematic analyses have been conducted to identify key PLK1-PBD domain and characterize their interactions with potent PLK1 inhibitors. Therefore, we designed a series of PLK1-PBD inhibitors with an in silico scaffold modification strategy. A docking simulation combined with a primary screen in vitro were performed to filter for the lead compound, which was then substituted, synthesized and evaluated by a variety of bioassays. The biological profile of 4v suggests that this compound may be developed as a potential anticancer agent.

Graphical abstract

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Pediatric airway study: Endoscopic grading system for quantifying tonsillar size in comparison to standard adenotonsillar grading systems

Publication date: Available online 29 October 2017
Source:American Journal of Otolaryngology
Author(s): Neha A. Patel, Kristen Carlin, Joseph M. Bernstein
SignificanceCurrent grading systems may not allow clinicians to reliably document and communicate adenotonsillar size in the clinical setting. A validated endoscopic grading system may be useful for reporting tonsillar size in future clinical outcome studies. This is especially important as tonsillar enlargement is the cause of a substantial health care burden on children.ObjectiveTo propose and validate an easy-to-use flexible fiberoptic endoscopic grading system that provides physicians with a more accurate sense of the three-dimensional relationship of the tonsillar fossa to the upper-airway.Methods50 consecutive pediatric patients were prospectively recruited between February 2015 and February 2016 at a pediatric otolaryngology outpatient clinic. The patients had no major craniofacial abnormalities and were aged 1 to 16years. Each patient had data regarding BMI, Friedman palate position, OSA-18 survey results collected. For each child, digital video clips of fiberoptic nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and laryngeal exams were presented to 2 examiners. Examiners were asked to independently use the proposed Endoscopic tonsillar grading system, the Brodsky tonsillar grading scale, the Modified Brodsky tonsillar grading scale with a tongue depressor, and the Parikh adenoid grading system to rate adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Cohen's Kappa and weighted Kappa scores were used to assess interrater reliability for each of the four grading scales. The Spearman correlation was used to test the associations between each scale and OSA-18 scores, as well as Body Mass Index (BMI).Results50 pediatric patients were included in this study (mean age 6.1years, range of 1year to 16years). The average BMI was 20. The average OSA-18 score was 61.7. The average Friedman palate position score was 1.34. Twelve percent of the patients had a Friedman palate position score≥3, which made traditional Brodsky grading of their tonsils impossible without a tongue depressor. All four scales showed strong agreement between the two raters. The weighted Kappa was 0.83 for the Modified Brodsky scale, 0.89 for the Brodsky scale, 0.94 for the Parikh scale to 0.98 for the Endoscopic scale (almost perfect agreement). The Endoscopic scale showed the most consistent agreement between the raters during the study. There was a moderate association between the Parikh adenoid grading system with OSA-18 scores (Spearman's ρ=0.58, p<0.001) compared to a low association of the tonsillar grading systems with OSA- 18 scores. None of the scales correlated with patient BMI.ConclusionsThe proposed Endoscopic tonsillar grading system is as reliable of a method of grading tonsillar size as conventional grading systems. It offers the advantage of allowing for critical evaluation of the tonsils without any anatomic distortion which may occur with the use of a tongue blade. This new validated endoscopic grading system provides a tool for communicating the degree of airway obstruction at the level of the oropharynx regardless of Friedman palate position and may be used in future outcomes projects.



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Cat ownership, cat allergen exposure, and trajectories of sensitization and asthma throughout childhood

Publication date: Available online 28 October 2017
Source:Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Healson Ihuoma, Danielle C. Belgrave, Clare S. Murray, Philip Foden, Angela Simpson, Adnan Custovic
Exposure to cat and/or cat allergens can confer either an increase in risk, or protection, or will have no effect, depending on the age of the assessment, study design and the choice of study population.



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Monitoring inflammatory heterogeneity with multiple biomarkers for multidimensional endotyping of asthma

Publication date: Available online 5 October 2017
Source:Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Ioana Agache, Daniel S. Strasser, Gabin M. Pierlot, Hervé Farine, Kenji Izuhara, Cezmi A. Akdis




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Nitrogen dioxide exposure in school classrooms of inner-city children with asthma

Publication date: Available online 5 October 2017
Source:Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Jonathan M. Gaffin, Marissa Hauptman, Carter R. Petty, William J. Sheehan, Peggy S. Lai, Jack M. Wolfson, Diane R. Gold, Brent A. Coull, Petros Koutrakis, Wanda Phipatanakul
BackgroundAmbient and home exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) causes asthma symptoms and decreased lung function in children with asthma. Little is known about the health effects of school classroom pollution exposure.ObjectiveWe aimed to determine the effect of indoor classroom NO2 on lung function and symptoms in inner-city school children with asthma.MethodsChildren enrolled in the School Inner-City Asthma Study were followed for 1 academic year. Subjects performed spirometry and had fraction of exhaled nitric oxide values measured twice during the school year at school. Classroom NO2 was collected by means of passive sampling for 1-week periods twice per year, coinciding with lung function testing. Generalized estimating equation models assessed lung function and symptom relationships with the temporally nearest classroom NO2 level.ResultsThe mean NO2 value was 11.1 ppb (range, 4.3-29.7 ppb). In total, exposure data were available for 296 subjects, 188 of whom had complete spirometric data. At greater than a threshold of 8 ppb of NO2 and after adjusting for race and season (spirometry standardized by age, height, and sex), NO2 levels were associated highly with airflow obstruction, such that each 10-ppb increase in NO2 level was associated with a 5% decrease in FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio (β = −0.05; 95% CI, −0.08 to −0.02; P = .01). Percent predicted forced expiratory flow between the 25th and 75th percentile of forced vital capacity was also inversely associated with higher NO2 exposure (β = −22.8; 95% CI, −36.0 to −9.7; P = .01). There was no significant association of NO2 levels with percent predicted FEV1, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, or asthma symptoms. Additionally, there was no effect modification of atopy on lung function or symptom outcomes.ConclusionIn children with asthma, indoor classroom NO2 levels can be associated with increased airflow obstruction.



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