Dharma Thiruvaiyaru

Functional MRI study of semantic and phonological language processing in bilingual subjects: preliminary findings☆ ☆

The objective of the study was to explore differences in regional fMRI activation topography and lateralization between semantic and phonological tasks performed in English and Spanish in bilingual individuals. Eight bilingual (primary Spanish and secondary English-speaking) individuals performed fMRI noun-verb association and rhyming tasks in both Spanish and English. Functional dataset analysis within Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM99) with overlay on T1-weighted anatomic images was performed. Significantly higher laterality indices were noted in the semantic tasks as compared with the phonological tasks in the anterior regions of interest comprising the frontal and superior temporal lobes. A task subtraction analysis demonstrated right hemispheric (inferior frontal gyrus and supramarginal gyrus) foci of significantly increased activation in the combined language phonological tasks compared to the combined language semantic tasks; similarly prominent right hemispheric activation was seen in the English phonological-English semantic subtraction, but the analogous Spanish task subtraction revealed no task-related differences. This divergence in activation topography between semantic and phonological tasks performed in the nonnative language, but not in the primary language, suggests that neural networks utilized for phonological and semantic language processing in the nonnative language may not be as similar as those in the primary language.

A regional medical center's experience with burns of the elderly

For a 10-year period, the cases of 236 patients aged 60 years old or older were evaluated with regard to mortality and length of hospital stay. Multiple variables were evaluated. Total mortality for the entire group was 41.9%. Mortality was adversely affected by increased age and the development of complications after admission. Larger burn size increased mortality when it was considered in association with the presence of inhalation problems sufficiently severe to require a ventilator. Mean length of stay for survivors was 34.04 days. Length of stay (LOS) was increased in association with larger burn size, preexisting medical problems, and the development of complications after admission. The increase in the number of elderly patients as part of the in-hospital burn population mandates evaluation of this growing group.

A program to decrease hospital stay in acute burn patients

A program of early excision, increased outpatient care, and aggressive discharge planning was introduced gradually over a 5 yr period from 1991 to 1995 with the goal of decreasing the length of stay for burn patients. Results from 1 January 1991, to 30 June 1993, were compared with results from 1 July 1993 to 31 December 1995. Burns under and over 25 percent were considered separately. There was a significant reduction in LOS of 51.4 percent for burns under 25 percent. There was also a significant reduction in LOS of 23.7 percent for burns over 25% TSA. There was no significant difference in age, burn size or mortality between the early and late groups.

Intimal Thickness and Layering, and Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypes in Aorta of Youth

Proneness to the lesions of atherosclerosis varies along the length and circumferential topography of the aorta. Smooth muscle cells, in particular those of the ‘modulated’ synthetic phenotype which are able to proliferate and synthesize matrix proteins, are considered to play an important role in lesion progression. We report on a study of the aortic intima at a lesion-prone site from abdominal aorta and a lesion-resistant site from thoracic aorta in young humans to determine (1) whether the histologic structure and the smooth muscle cell composition show quantitative differences between lesion-prone and lesion-resistant aortic sites; (2) whether there are gender differences, and (3) whether any differences increase in degree with increasing age in this young population. Material for this study was obtained as part of the NIH-funded multicenter study on Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) from autopsies of male and female subjects between the ages of 15 and 34, victims of unexpected sudden death, usually from trauma. The samples consisted of strips of abdominal and thoracic aorta, all derived from the same anatomical sites standardized in the PDAY studies. The thickness of total intima (TI) and its elastic hyperplastic (EH) layer was measured. Smooth muscle cells of all types (SMC) and separately those of the synthetic phenotype (SynSMC) were quantified in each site using immunohistochemical procedures in replicate sections of uniform thickness. The intima of the atherosclerotic lesion-prone dorsal half of the abdominal aorta (AD) shows significant differences from the lesion-resistant ventral half of thoracic aorta (TV) in that (1) its EH layer is significantly thicker; (2) its EH layer has a comparatively higher number of both total SMC and SynSMC, even when adjusted for intimal thickness, and (3) the age-related increase in thickness of both TI and EH layer of AD is much greater than that of TV.

Molecular detection of canine parvovirus in flies (Diptera) at open and closed canine facilities in the eastern United States

Abstract More than thirty years have passed since canine parvovirus (CPV) emerged as a significant pathogen and it continues to pose a severe threat to world canine populations. Published information suggests that flies (Diptera) may play a role in spreading this virus; however, they have not been studied extensively and the degree of their involvement is not known. This investigation was directed toward evaluating the vector capacity of such flies and determining their potential role in the transmission and ecology of CPV. Molecular diagnostic methods were used in this cross-sectional study to detect the presence of CPV in flies trapped at thirty-eight canine facilities. The flies involved were identified as belonging to the house fly (Mucidae), flesh fly (Sarcophagidae) and blow/bottle fly (Calliphoridae) families. A primary surveillance location (PSL) was established at a canine facility in south-central South Carolina, USA, to identify fly–virus interaction within the canine facility environment. Flies trapped at this location were pooled monthly and assayed for CPV using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. These insects were found to be positive for CPV every month from February through the end of November 2011. Fly vector behavior and seasonality were documented and potential environmental risk factors were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the mean numbers of each of the three fly families captured, and after determining fly CPV status (positive or negative), it was determined whether there were significant relationships between numbers of flies captured, seasonal numbers of CPV cases, temperature and rainfall. Flies were also sampled at thirty-seven additional canine facility surveillance locations (ASL) and at four non-canine animal industry locations serving as negative field controls. Canine facility risk factors were identified and evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted on the number of CPV cases reported within the past year to determine the correlation of fly CPV status (positive or negative) for each facility, facility design (open or closed), mean number of dogs present monthly and number of flies captured. Significant differences occurred between fly CPV positive vs. negative sites with regard to their CPV case numbers, fly numbers captured, and number of dogs present. At the ASL, a statistically significant relationship was found between PCR-determined fly CPV status (positive or negative) and facility design (open vs. closed). Open-facility designs were likely to have more CPV outbreaks and more likely to have flies testing positive for CPV DNA.

Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding with Dabigatran: A Head-to-Head Comparative Study with Rivaroxaban

Introduction: The risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding of dabigatran and rivaroxaban is relatively unexplored. The aim of our study was to compare this risk in both drugs. Methods: We examined the medical records of patients on either dabigatran or rivaroxaban from October 2010 to April 2013 in two hospitals. Results: A total of 374 patients (147 rivaroxaban vs. 227 dabigatran) were identified. GI bleeding occurred in 5.3% in the dabigatran when compared to 4.8% in the rivaroxaban group (p = 0.8215). Multivariate analysis showed that the odds of GI bleeding while on dabigatran for ≤40 days when compared to ≥40 days was 8.3 (p < 0.0001). In the rivaroxaban group, patients who were on the drug for ≤40 days had a higher incidence of bleeding when compared to those >40 days (OR = 2.8, p = 0.023). Concomitant use of antiplatelets (single or dual) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was not associated with increased bleeding in the dabigatran group; however, the use of dual antiplatelet agents with rivaroxaban was associated with an increased risk of GI bleeding (OR = 7.4, p = 0.0378). Prior GI bleeding had a higher risk of bleeding in the rivaroxaban group (OR = 15.5, p = 0.0002). Conclusion: Dabigatran was not associated with a higher incidence of GI bleeding. Both drugs had a higher bleeding risk in the first 40 days.

Empowering Young Children in Poverty by Improving Their Home Literacy Environments

ABSTRACT An innovative DVD of classic nursery rhymes and stories empowered at-risk kindergarten children to control in the home when and how much they listen, promoting better listening, reading, and overall literacy comprehension skills. Coupled with modest teacher training, and limited use in the classroom, the DVD generated dramatic vocabulary growth in nine months and remarkably higher reading scores three years later. Funded by a Georgia Improving Teacher Quality grant, the study was conducted in 33 kindergarten classrooms in 31 Title I schools, each of which normally produced significantly below average test scores in reading. The study documents 459 kindergarten students’ mean improvement from the 27th to the 47th percentile on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III). The 303 students who remained in the system as 3rd graders and took Georgia’s statewide Criterion Referenced Competency Test in reading failed to meet standards less than half as often (7.6% vs. 16.13%) as their system peers, and scored in the highest range 35% more often (39.6% vs. 27.02%). Forty thousand DVDs have since been distributed and the DVD’s ten hours of audio, text, and pictures are now freely available online at hearatale.org.