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Azarov D, Grigorev D, Utochkin I. A signal-detection account of item-based and ensemble-based visual change detection: A reply to Harrison, McMaster, and Bays. J Vis 2024; 24:10. [PMID: 38407901 PMCID: PMC10902873 DOI: 10.1167/jov.24.2.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing empirical evidence shows that ensemble information (e.g., the average feature or feature variance of a set of objects) affects visual working memory for individual items. Recently, Harrison, McMaster, and Bays (2021) used a change detection task to test whether observers explicitly rely on ensemble representations to improve their memory for individual objects. They found that sensitivity to simultaneous changes in all memorized items (which also globally changed set summary statistics) rarely exceeded a level predicted by the so-called optimal summation model within the signal-detection framework. This model implies simple integration of evidence for change from all individual items and no additional evidence coming from ensemble. Here, we argue that performance at the level of optimal summation does not rule out the use of ensemble information. First, in two experiments, we show that, even if evidence from only one item is available at test, the statistics of the whole memory set affect performance. Second, we argue that optimal summation itself can be conceptually interpreted as one of the strategies of holistic, ensemble-based decision. We also redefine the reference level for the item-based strategy as the so-called "minimum rule," which predicts performance far below the optimum. We found that that both our and Harrison et al. (2021)'s observers consistently outperformed this level. We conclude that observers can rely on ensemble information when performing visual change detection. Overall, our work clarifies and refines the use of signal-detection analysis in measuring and modeling working memory.
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Bubnova L, Pavlova I, Terentieva M, Glazanova T, Belyaeva E, Sidorkevich S, Bashketova N, Chkhingeria I, Kozhemyakina M, Azarov D, Kuznetsova R, Ramsay ES, Gladkikh A, Sharova A, Dedkov V, Totolian A. HLA Genotypes in Patients with Infection Caused by Different Strains of SARS-CoV-2. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:14024. [PMID: 36360904 PMCID: PMC9657774 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The aggressive infectious nature of SARS-CoV-2, its rapid spread, and the emergence of mutations necessitate investigation of factors contributing to differences in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and severity. The role of genetic variations in the human HLA continues to be studied in various populations in terms of both its effect on morbidity and clinical manifestation of illness. The study included 484 COVID-19 convalescents (northwest Russia residents of St. Petersburg). Cases in which the responsible strain was determined were divided in two subgroups: group 1 (n = 231) had illness caused by genovariants unrelated to variant of concern (VOC) strains; and group 2 (n = 80) had illness caused by the delta (B.1.617.2) VOC; and a control group (n = 1456). DNA typing (HLA-A, B, DRB1) was performed at the basic resolution level. HLA-A*02 was associated with protection against infection caused by non-VOC SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants only but not against infection caused by delta strains. HLA-A*03 was associated with protection against infection caused by delta strains; and allele groups associated with infection by delta strains were HLA-A*30, B*49, and B*57. Thus, in northwest Russia, HLA-A*02 was associated with protection against infection caused by non-VOC SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants but not against delta viral strains. HLA-A*03 was associated with a reduced risk of infection by delta SARS-CoV-2 strains. HLA-A*30, HLA-B*49, and HLA-B*57 allele groups were predisposing factors for infection by delta (B.1.617.2) strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludmila Bubnova
- Russian Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Science, FMBA, 191024 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Department of immunology, Faculty of medicine, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Russian Ministry of Health, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina Pavlova
- Russian Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Science, FMBA, 191024 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maria Terentieva
- Russian Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Science, FMBA, 191024 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Tatiana Glazanova
- Russian Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Science, FMBA, 191024 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena Belyaeva
- Russian Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Science, FMBA, 191024 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergei Sidorkevich
- Russian Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Science, FMBA, 191024 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Nataliya Bashketova
- Saint Petersburg Office, Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare, 191025 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina Chkhingeria
- Saint Petersburg Office, Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare, 191025 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Daniil Azarov
- Saint Petersburg Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology, 191023 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Raisa Kuznetsova
- Department of immunology, Faculty of medicine, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Russian Ministry of Health, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Edward S. Ramsay
- Saint Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna Gladkikh
- Saint Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alena Sharova
- Saint Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir Dedkov
- Saint Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Areg Totolian
- Department of immunology, Faculty of medicine, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Russian Ministry of Health, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia
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Ermolenko E, Kotyleva M, Kotrova A, Tichonov S, Lavrenova N, Voropaeva L, Topalova Y, Karaseva A, Azarov D, Ermolenko K, Druzhininskii D, Dmitriev A, Shishkin A, Suvorov A. Consortium of Indigenous Fecal Bacteria in the Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081574. [PMID: 36013992 PMCID: PMC9414820 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The features of gut microbiota in metabolic syndrome (MS) and ways to correct it using autoprobiotics, based on indigenous bacteria obtained from fecal samples of the host, remain unexplored. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of an indigenous consortium (IC) of fecal bacteria in treatment of patients with MS. The study was carried out on 36 patients with MS, manifested with abdominal obesity, eating disorders, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The control group was formed by 20 healthy volunteers. Samples of IC and gut microbiota content were examined by qPCR and metagenome (16S rRNA) analysis before and after therapy. The decrease in anthropometric parameters of obesity, liver enzyme level correction, reduction in C reactive protein and triglyceride concentrations were revealed after IC usage. The decrease in genera Bifidobacterium, Enterobacter, Paraprevotella, and Prevotella, as well as an increase in Bacteroides fragilis and Oscillospira spp. populations were shown after consumption of IC. A negative correlation between the quantity of B. fragilis and the anthropometric parameters of obesity (r = -0.48) and C reactive protein level (r = -0.36) in serum was established. Thus, IC can be considered as a potential functional personified product for the therapy of MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Ermolenko
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Marina Kotyleva
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna Kotrova
- Medical Faculty, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergey Tichonov
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Nephrology, North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, 195067 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Nadezhda Lavrenova
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Lyubov Voropaeva
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yulia Topalova
- Medical Faculty, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alena Karaseva
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Daniil Azarov
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Konstantin Ermolenko
- Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, 197022 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Alexander Dmitriev
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexander Shishkin
- Medical Faculty, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexander Suvorov
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
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Ludwig B, Zimerman B, Steffen A, Yavriants K, Azarov D, Reichel A, Vardi P, German T, Shabtay N, Rotem A, Evron Y, Neufeld T, Mimon S, Ludwig S, Brendel MD, Bornstein SR, Barkai U. A novel device for islet transplantation providing immune protection and oxygen supply. Horm Metab Res 2010; 42:918-22. [PMID: 21031332 DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1267916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Islet transplantation as a biological β-cell replacement therapy has emerged as a promising option for achieving restoration of metabolic control in type 1 diabetes patients. However, partial or complete loss of islet graft function occurs in relatively short time (months to few years) after implantation. The high rate of early transplant dysfunction has been attributed to poorly viable and/or functional islets and is mediated by innate inflammatory response at the intravascular (hepatic) transplant site and critical lack of initial nutrient/oxygen supply prior to islet engraftment. In addition, the diabetogenic effect of mandatory immunosuppressive agents, limited control of alloimmunity, and the recurrence of autoimmunity limit the long-term success of islet transplantation. In order to abrogate instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction and to provide oxygen supply for the islet graft, we have developed an extravascular (subcutaneous) transplant macrochamber (the 'βAir' device). This device contains islets immobilized in alginate, protected from the immune system by a thin hydrophilized teflon membrane impregnated with alginate and supplied with oxygen by daily refueling with oxygen-CO (2) mixture. We have demonstrated successful utilization of the oxygen-refueling macrochamber for sustained islet viability and function as well as immunoprotection after allogeneic subcutaneous transplantation in healthy minipigs. Considering the current limitations of intraportal islet engraftment and the restricted indication for islet transplantation mainly due to necessary immunosuppressive therapy, this work could very likely lead to remarkable improvements in the procedure and moreover opens up further strategies for porcine islet cell xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ludwig
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Medicine III, Dresden, Germany.
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Bloch K, Vorobeychik M, Yavrians K, Azarov D, Bloch O, Vardi P. Improved activity of streptozotocin-selected insulinoma cells following microencapsulation and transplantation into diabetic mice. Cell Biol Int 2006; 30:138-43. [PMID: 16448824 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellbi.2005.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2004] [Revised: 08/29/2005] [Accepted: 08/30/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We have recently shown that repeated streptozotocin (STZ) treatment induces the selection of insulinoma cells (RINmS) with both improved resistance to diabetogenic toxins and functional activity, compared to parental RINm cells. The aim of the present study was to estimate the potential of RINmS cells to maintain their engineered characteristics during in vivo hyperglycemic conditions. It was found that microencapsulation and transplantation into diabetic mice preserved a three-fold higher level of insulin content in selected RINmS cells when compared to the parental ones. Retrieval of transplanted encapsulated cells from the peritoneal cavity of diabetic mice had a significantly higher insulin content and a more intense insulin response to secretogogues in selected RINmS cells when compared to retrieved RINm cells. In conclusion, our results show that RINmS cells do not lose their improved functional characteristics after encapsulation and transplantation into diabetic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bloch
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel
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Ben-Ari Z, Mor E, Azarov D, Sulkes J, Tor R, Cheporko Y, Hochhauser E, Pappo O. Cathepsin B inactivation attenuates the apoptotic injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion of mouse liver. Apoptosis 2005; 10:1261-9. [PMID: 16215674 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-005-2358-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A major mechanism underlying warm ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury during liver transplantation is the activation of the caspase chain, which leads to apoptosis. Recently, it was demonstrated that the release of cathepsin B, a cysteine protease, from the cytosol in liver injury induces mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-3 and -9, thereby leading to apoptosis. The aim of this study was to ascertain if cathepsin B inactivation attenuates the apoptotic injury due to I/R in mouse liver. METHODS A model of segmental (70%) hepatic ischemia was used. Eighteen mice were anesthetized and randomly divided into three groups: (1) CONTROL GROUP: sham operation (laparotomy); (2) Ischemic group: midline laparotomy followed by occlusion of all structures in the portal triad to the left and median lobes for 60 min (ischemic period); (3) STUDY GROUP: like group 2, but with intraperitoneal administration of a pharmacological inhibitor of cathepsin B (4 mg/100 g) 30 min before induction of ischemia. Serum liver enzyme levels were measured by biochemical analysis, and intrahepatic caspase-3 activity was measured by fluorometric assay; apoptotic cells were identified by morphological criteria, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) fluorometric assay, and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3. RESULTS Showed that at 6 h of reperfusion, there was a statistically significant reduction in liver enzyme levels in the animals pretreated with cathepsin B inhibitor (p<0.05). On fluorometric assay, caspase-3 activity was significantly decreased in group 3 compared to group 2 (p<0.0001). The reduction in postischemic apoptotic hepatic injury in the cathepsin B inhibitor -treated group was confirmed morphologically, by the significantly fewer apoptotic hepatocyte cells detected (p<0.05); immunohistochemically, by the significantly weaker activation of caspase-3 compared to the ischemic group (p<0.05); and by the TUNEL assay (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The administration of cathepsin B inhibitor before induction of ischemia can attenuate postischemic hepatocyte apoptosis and thereby minimize liver damage. Apoptotic hepatic injury seems to be mediated through caspase-3 activity. These findings have important implications for the potential use of cathepsin B inhibitors in I/R injury during liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Ben-Ari
- Liver institute and Department of Medicine D, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
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Bloch K, Lozinsky VI, Galaev IY, Yavriyanz K, Vorobeychik M, Azarov D, Damshkaln LG, Mattiasson B, Vardi P. Functional activity of insulinoma cells (INS-1E) and pancreatic islets cultured in agarose cryogel sponges. J Biomed Mater Res A 2005; 75:802-9. [PMID: 16138321 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.30466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Here, we describe the preparation, structure, and properties of cryogel sponges, which represent a new type of macroporous biomaterial for tissue engineering. Cryogels were produced through freeze-thawing techniques, either from agarose alone or from agarose with grafted gelatin. The aim of this study was to evaluate agarose cryogel sponges as scaffolds for culturing both isolated pancreatic islets and insulinoma cells (INS-1E). In order to evaluate the effect of cell entrapment in artificial scaffolds, cell function reflected by insulin secretion and content was studied in cells cultivated for a 2-week period either in culture plastic plates or in cryogel sponge disks. Our results show that tumor-derived INS-1E cells grown either on plastic or on cryogels do not differ in their proliferation, morphology, insulin release, and intracellular insulin content. However, isolated pancreatic islets cultivated on cryogels sponge show 15-fold higher basal insulin secretion at 3.0 mM glucose than islets cultivated on plastic plates and fail to respond to stimulation with 16.7 mM glucose. In addition, these islets have about 2-fold lower insulin content compared to those grown in plastic plates. It is possible that the cell dysfunction noted in these in vitro experiments is due to the effect of the limited oxygen supply to the islets cultivated in cryogel sponge. Further in vivo studies are needed to clarify the nature of such an observation since according to previous reports, agarose and gelatin induce new vessel formation supporting enhanced oxygen supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bloch
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Petah Tikva, Israel.
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