Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) has been proposed as biomarker of stem cells for certain human cancers. ALDH1 expression has been correlated with poor patient outcomes in a variety of malignancies but better patient outcomes in others, and its prognostic significance in malignant melanoma is unclear. Thus, 68 melanoma patients with comprehensive clinical and pathologic follow-up data were used to construct a tissue microarray. A modified histological score (H-score) with a maximum score of 300 was used to quantify immunohistochemical staining for ALDH1. Survival time was defined as the time between diagnosis and melanoma-specific death. Using univariate logistic regression, a low (<80 H-score) ALDH1 score showed 3.7-fold increase in risk for melanoma-specific death within 10 years when compared with high (>80) ALDH1 levels (P=0.017). Odds of MSD were lower by a factor of ~0.9 for each 10-point increase in H-Score. Median survival time was 44.1 months and 180.9 months for patients with low and high ALDH1 expression, respectively. Using multivariate analysis, ALDH1 H-score was found to be an independent prognostic factor. These findings suggest that ALDH1 expression in malignant melanoma has a favorable effect on patient survival. Further study is needed elucidate the function of this enzymatic protein in melanoma progression.

Motivated by applications in cancer genomics and following the work of Hajirasouliha and Raphael (WABI 2014), Hujdurović et al. (IEEE TCBB, 2018) introduced the minimum conflict-free row split (MCRS) problem: split each row of a given binary matrix into a bitwise OR of a set of rows so that the resulting matrix corresponds to a perfect phylogeny and has the minimum possible number of rows among all matrices with this property. Hajirasouliha and Raphael also proposed the study of a similar problem, in which the task is to minimize the number of distinct rows of the resulting matrix. Hujdurović et al. proved that both problems are NP-hard, gave a related characterization of transitively orientable graphs, and proposed a polynomial-time heuristic algorithm for the MCRS problem based on coloring cocomparability graphs. We give new, more transparent formulations of the two problems, showing that the problems are equivalent to two optimization problems on branchings in a derived directed acyclic graph. Building on these formulations, we obtain new results on the two problems, including (1) a strengthening of the heuristic by Hujdurović et al. via a new min-max result in digraphs generalizing Dilworth’s theorem, which may be of independent interest; (2) APX-hardness results for both problems; (3) approximation algorithms; and (4) exponential-time algorithms solving the two problems to optimality faster than the naïve brute-force approach. Our work relates to several well-studied notions in combinatorial optimization: chain partitions in partially ordered sets, laminar hypergraphs, and (classical and weighted) colorings of graphs.

Using a lifting and balancing task, we contrasted two alternative views of planning joint actions: one postulating that joint action involves distinct predictions for self and other, the other postulating that joint action involves coordinated plans between the coactors and reuse of bimanual models. We compared compensatory movements required to keep a tray balanced when 2 participants lifted glasses from each other’s trays at the same time (simultaneous joint action) and when they took turns lifting (sequential joint action). Compared with sequential joint action, simultaneous joint action made it easier to keep the tray balanced. Thus, in keeping with the view that bimanual models are reused for joint action, predicting the timing of their own lifting action helped participants compensate for another person’s lifting action. These results raise the possibility that simultaneous joint actions do not necessarily require distinguishing between one’s own and the coactor’s contributions to the action plan and may afford an agent-neutral stance.

Post-stroke dementia (PSD) or post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) may affect up to one third of stroke survivors. Various definitions of PSCI and PSD have been described. We propose PSD as a label for any dementia following stroke in temporal relation. Various tools are available to screen and assess cognition, with few PSD-specific instruments. Choice will depend on purpose of assessment, with differing instruments needed for brief screening (e.g., Montreal Cognitive Assessment) or diagnostic formulation (e.g., NINDS VCI battery). A comprehensive evaluation should include assessment of pre-stroke cognition (e.g., using Informant Questionnaire for Cognitive Decline in the Elderly), mood (e.g., using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and functional consequences of cognitive impairments (e.g., using modified Rankin Scale). A large number of biomarkers for PSD, including indicators for genetic polymorphisms, biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid and in the serum, inflammatory mediators, and peripheral microRNA profiles have been proposed. Currently, no specific biomarkers have been proven to robustly discriminate vulnerable patients (‘at risk brains’) from those with better prognosis or to discriminate Alzheimer’s disease dementia from PSD. Further, neuroimaging is an important diagnostic tool in PSD. The role of computerized tomography is limited to demonstrating type and location of the underlying primary lesion and indicating atrophy and severe white matter changes. Magnetic resonance imaging is the key neuroimaging modality and has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting pathological changes, including small vessel disease. Advanced multi-modal imaging includes diffusion tensor imaging for fiber tracking, by which changes in networks can be detected. Quantitative imaging of cerebral blood flow and metabolism by positron emission tomography can differentiate between vascular dementia and degenerative dementia and show the interaction between vascular and metabolic changes. Additionally, inflammatory changes after ischemia in the brain can be detected, which may play a role together with amyloid deposition in the development of PSD. Prevention of PSD can be achieved by prevention of stroke. As treatment strategies to inhibit the development and mitigate the course of PSD, lowering of blood pressure, statins, neuroprotective drugs, and anti-inflammatory agents have all been studied without convincing evidence of efficacy. Lifestyle interventions, physical activity, and cognitive training have been recently tested, but large controlled trials are still missing.

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is compressive neuropathy of median nerve at the point where the nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, and it is the most common compressive neuropathy. Classic symptoms include pain, paresthesia, numbness, swelling, weakness and clumsiness of fingers (typically in the first three fingers). CTS can occur in one or both hands. Case presentation: We report a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome in the presence of Martin-Gruber anastomosis (median to ulnar anastomosis in the forearm) with atypical clinical presentation of CTS in terms of numbness of the first three fingers of the right hand and unexpected electromyoneurography examination (absurdly high speed motor velocity through the median nerve). Conclusion: The presence of anomalous communications between median and ulnar nerves (MGA anastomosis) is not so rare condition and we have to keep in mind this fact in routine clinical and neuropysiological examination to avoid some diagnostic mistakes.

Background: Fatigue is usually defined as a subjective lack of physical and/or mental energy necessary for doing everyday activities. Fatigue is a subjective condition, and there is not a valid definition of fatigue after a stroke at the moment. Aim: The analysis of frequency of fatigue syndrome in 200 patients after an ischemic stroke and its effect on cognitive functioning and quality of life after an ischemic stroke was conducted. The measuring instruments for the assessment of fatigue used were the Chalder Fatigue Scale, for cognitive functioning the Mini-Mental State Examination, and for the quality of life SF-36, scale for measuring quality of life. Neurological and neuropsychological testings of the participants were conducted three months after an ischemic stroke – first testing, six months after an ischemic stroke – second testing, and twelve months after an ischemic stroke – third testing. Results: Fatigue syndrome was noted in 68% of the patients three months after an ischemic stroke, in 71% in testing after six months, and 70% after twelve months. The mean values of MMSE score in the patients with and without fatigue syndrome was between 28 and 29 in all testings, which indicates that they had normal cognitive functioning. The significance of differences in the MMSE score in the patients with and without fatigue syndrome in the first, second and third testing was tested using HI-squared test and the results showed that there were no statistically significant differences (p>0.005). In comparison of quality of life between the patients with and without fatigue the results showed that the patients without fatigue syndrome had significantly better quality of life in comparison with the patients with fatigue syndrome in the field of mental and physical health (p< 0.0001). Conclusion: Fatigue syndrome after an ischemic stroke has a significant frequency (68-71%) and duration. Fatigue syndrome does not affect cognitive functioning of patients after an ischemic stroke but it leads to impaired quality of life of patients in all areas.