Explore the vast range of titles available.

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) enable people with paralysis to communicate with their environment. Motor imagery can be used to generate distinct patterns of cortical activation in the electroencephalogram (EEG) and thus control a BCI. To elucidate the cortical correlates of BCI control, users of a sensory motor rhythm (SMR)-BCI were classified according to their BCI control performance. In a second session these participants performed a motor imagery, motor observation and motor execution task in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. Group difference analysis between high and low aptitude BCI users revealed significantly higher activation of the supplementary motor areas (SMA) for the motor imagery and the motor observation tasks in high aptitude users. Low aptitude users showed no activation when observing movement. The number of activated voxels during motor observation was significantly correlated with accuracy in the EEG-BCI task (r=0.53). Furthermore, the number of activated voxels in the right middle frontal gyrus, an area responsible for processing of movement observation, correlated (r=0.72) with BCI-performance. This strong correlation highlights the importance of these areas for task monitoring and working memory as task goals have to be activated throughout the BCI session. The ability to regulate behavior and the brain through learning mechanisms involving imagery such as required to control a BCI constitutes the consequence of ideo-motor co-activation of motor brain systems during observation of movements. The results demonstrate that acquisition of a sensorimotor program reflected in SMR-BCI-control is tightly related to the recall of such sensorimotor programs during observation of movements and unrelated to the actual execution of these movement sequences. ► Brain processes during observation of movement predict SMR-BCI aptitude. ► BCI aptitude is unrelated to brain processes during execution of movement. ► Higher activation in SMA of high aptitude users during imagery and observation tasks. ► Higher activation in middle frontal gyrus of high aptitude users during observation.

Background:Improvement in ultrasound technology in the last decade results in high resolution images. Therefore, previously undetected ultrasound lesions in joints of asymptomatic healthy individuals have now become apparent.At present, the cut-off between normal vs abnormal sonographic findings in small joints is unclear. Therefore, the threshold of normality in ultrasound that discriminates normal physiological vs minimal pathological changes at each joint level in different age groups needs to be defined.Objectives:The objective of this study was to define the threshold of normality in ultrasound according to joint type and age groups. In order to achieve this, we systematically graded ultrasound lesions (synovial hypertrophy, Doppler activity and synovial effusion) in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), wrist and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of healthy individuals aged 18 – 80 years old.Methods:This was an observational cross-sectional multi-centre study under the ‘Minimal Disease’ subgroup of the OMERACT Ultrasound Working Group. Healthy individuals aged 18- 80 years old were included. Exclusion criteria were current/previous history of inflammatory arthritis, joint trauma of hands/wrist in previous month; hand/wrist pain with VAS ≥10/100; hand osteoarthritis according to American College of Rheumatology criteria; history of infection in the last month; and recent/current use of medications that could affect ultrasound assessment.Clinical data including age, sex, body mass index and ethnicity were recorded. Bilateral MCP, PIP, wrist and MTP joints were clinically examined by an independent assessor in each centre, and subjects were excluded if synovitis or swelling was detected. Ultrasound assessment of bilateral MCP 1- 5, PIP 1 – 5, wrist radio-carpal, inter-carpal and ulnar-carpal and MTP 1 – 5 was conducted according to EULAR standardised procedures. Presence of synovial hypertrophy, synovial effusion and Doppler activity of each joint were recorded using the EULAR-OMERACT semi-quantitative grading system; grade 0-3.All images were acquired, recorded and graded by the same sonographer during the scanning assessment and sent to the central hub. Quality and grading of recorded images were confirmed by a review of all images for the first participant recruited in each centre by an experienced blinded independent assessor (IS) in the hub centre. Any disagreement was then fed back to the centre and consensus was achieved to ensure reliability in subsequent scans.Results:849 participants were recruited between Feb 2017 and July 2019 from 21 centres across 13 countries. 802 participants were included in final analysis (Figure 1). Median age was 42 years (IQR 30-56), and majority were female (72%) and white (81%). Other ethnic groups were Asian Japanese, Middle Eastern, Black, other Asian and mixed ethnicity.28,735 joints were scanned; of these 3728 (13%) had at least one abnormal ultrasound finding. Highest proportion of ultrasound abnormal findings was observed in MTP 1 (45%) followed by MTP 2 (39%). Lowest proportion of changes was observed in wrist ulnar-carpal and MTP 5 (2%).Next, we identified the threshold of abnormality for each joint type by age groups. The threshold of abnormality chosen was 5% in line with conventional biomedical cut-off levels. (i.e. 95% of the normal population would fall within this threshold). Presence of Doppler activity in MCP, PIP, wrist and MTP joints should be regarded as abnormal in any age range. Presence of synovial hypertrophy in PIP 1 – 5 should be regarded as abnormal in any age range. Presence of synovial hypertrophy in MCP 5 and MTP 5 at any age is abnormal (Table 1).Conclusion:This is the first study that describes ultrasound changes observed in the MCP, PIP, wrist and MTP joints of normal population across a wide age range and nationalities. This gives an indication on what could constitute background changes or ‘minimal disease changes’ and what should be regarded as normal. This has major implication in the interpretation of ultrasound findings in rheumatology.REFERENCES:NIL.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of Interests:Ilfita Sahbudin: None declared, Jeanette Trickey: None declared, Hélène GOUZE: None declared, Maria Simona Stoenoiu: None declared, Georgios Filippou: None declared, Garifallia Sakellariou: None declared, Mihaela Maruseac: None declared, Ruth Wittoek: None declared, Phillippe Carron: None declared, Ilaria Tinazzi: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco: None declared, Teodora Serban: None declared, Irene Azzolin: None declared, Lene Terslev Speakers fee from Janssen, Novartis and GE., Mads Ammitzbøll-Danielsen: None declared, Mads Nyhuus Bendix Rasch: None declared, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge: None declared, Hilde Berner Hammer Honoraria for lectures from AbbVie, Novartis, Lilly and UCB., Marcin Milchert: None declared, Jacek Fliciński: None declared, Peter Mandl: None declared, Carina Borst: None declared, Daniela Fodor: None declared, Florentin Ananu Vreju: None declared, Rositsa Karalilova: None declared, Esperanza Naredo: None declared, Cesar Sifuentes-Cantú: None declared, Giuliana M.C. La Paglia: None declared, Carlos Pineda: None declared, Marwin Gutierrez: None declared, Gustavo Leon: None declared, Cristina Reátegui-Sokolova: None declared, Mohammed A Mortada: None declared, Takeshi Suzuki: None declared, Kei Ikeda: None declared, Coziana Ciurtin: None declared, Marion Kortekaas: None declared, Sarah Ohrndorf Speakers’ honoraria or travel expense reimbursements by: AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Galapagos, Janssen, Mylan, Novartis, UCB, Helen Keen: None declared, George Bruyn: None declared, Andrew Filer: None declared, Maria Antonietta D’Agostino: None declared

Wild edible fruits hold great potential for improving human diets, especially in agricultural societies of the developing world. In Africa, a well-known supplier of such fruits is the baobab ( Adansonia digitata L., Malvaceae), one of the most remarkable trees of the world. Several studies in different African countries have highlighted this indigenous fruit tree as a priority species for domestication and expanded use. However, internationally available information on baobab in East Africa, particularly in Sudan and Kenya, remains scarce. This review aims to shed light on the ecology, diversity and current level of utilization of baobab in East Africa in order to facilitate domestication and conservation of the species. A list of priority research areas is provided at the end of the review to encourage further studies and investment in this unique plant taxon.

BackgroundPain is the symptom people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have prioritized highest for improvement [1]. Treating to target and aiming for remission in early RA may reduce pain, but there is limited knowledge about the impact of modern treatment strategies on pain in RA patients classified using the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to explore and describe changes in the levels of pain in early RA during the first two years after starting DMARD treatment.MethodsPatients with symptom duration of less than 2 years from first swollen joint who fulfilled the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for RA, and were DMARD naïve with indication for DMARD treatment were recruited from 11 rheumatology centres and followed for 2 years in the ARCTIC trial. The treatment target was remission, and DMARDs were prescribed using an algorithm developed according to international recommendations. Swollen joints and joints with ultrasound power Doppler synovitis were injected with intra-articular corticosteroids. Pain was recorded on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS 0–100 mm) at every visit, and categorised according to Jensen et al. with cut points for no pain set at 0–4 mm, mild 5–44 mm, moderate 45–74 mm and severe pain 75–100 mm [2]. Short Form-36 (SF-36) bodily pain was recorded, and transformed to a scale from 0–100, with high scores indicating low bodily pain.ResultsA total of 205 early RA patients were included: 61.5% female, 82.4% ACPA positive, and mean (SD) age 52.2 (13.4) years. At initiation of DMARD treatment the mean (SD) 44-swollen joint count was 10.2 (7.2), Ritchie Articular Index 8.14 (6.5), ESR 24 (19) mm/hr and Patient Global Assessment 49 (24) mm. The mean (SD) DAS value was 3.4 (1.1); 20.1% were in low disease activity, 47.1% in moderate disease activity and 32.8% in high disease activity according to DAS. VAS pain at baseline was median (IQR) 45 (27–68) mm, and decreased to 12 (4–27) mm after 1 month, after 1 year to 6 (2–20) mm and after 2 years VAS pain was 7 (2–23) mm; see figure for details. Mean (SD) SF-36 bodily pain at baseline was 40 (21), and increased after 12 months to 73 (23) and 24 months to 74 (24). At baseline less than 3% of the patients reported no pain, after 3/6/12/24 months this proportion increased to 27/32/41/41%, respectively. In the interval 12 to 24 months more than 87% of patients reported exclusively either no or mild pain.ConclusionsIn this cohort of early DMARD-naïve RA patients treated according to modern treatment strategies aiming for remission, there was a substantial and significant reduction of pain after 1 month. Pain levels decreased further during the first year, and this reduction was sustained during the first 2 years of follow-up. Early intervention and treating to target in this population fulfils the patients' prioritised goal of minimising pain, leading to a decreased burden of pain in RA.ReferencesHeiberg, T. et al. Arthritis Care Res 2002.Jensen, M.P. et al. The Journal of Pain, 2003.Disclosure of InterestE. Moholt: None declared, A.-B. Aga: None declared, I. Olsen: None declared, H. Hammer: None declared, T. Uhlig: None declared, A. Kongtorp: None declared, H. Lunøe: None declared, E. Styrmoe: None declared, S. Lillegraven: None declared, T. Kvien: None declared, E. Haavardsholm Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer Inc, MSD, Roche Pharmaceuticals, UCB

Abstract We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes for dogs with various digital tumors. Medical records and histology specimens of affected dogs from 9 veterinary institutions were reviewed. Risk factors examined included age, weight, sex, tumor site (hindlimb or forelimb), local tumor (T) stage, metastases, tumor type, and treatment modality. The Kaplan-Meier product limit method was used to determine the effect of postulated risk factors on local disease-free interval (LDFI), metastasis-free interval (MFI), and survival time (ST). Outcomes were thought to differ significantly between groups when P± .003. Sixty-four dogs were included. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounted for 33 (51.6%) of the tumors. Three dogs presented with or developed multiple digital SCC. Other diagnoses included malignant melanoma (MM) (n = 10; 15.6%), osteosarcoma (OSA) (n = 4; 6.3%), hemangiopericytoma (n = 3; 4.7%), benign soft tissue tumors (n = 5; 7.8%), and malignant soft tissue tumors (n = 9; 14%). Fourteen dogs with malignancies had black hair coats, including 5 of the 10 dogs with MM. Surgery was the most common treatment and, regardless of the procedure, had a positive impact on survival. None of the patient variables assessed, including age, sex, tumor type, site, and stage, had a significant impact on ST. Both LDFI and MFI were negatively affected by higher T stage, but not by type of malignancy. Although metastasis at diagnosis correlated with a shorter LDFI, it did not have a significant impact on ST On the basis of these findings, early surgical intervention is advised for the treatment of dogs with digital tumors, regardless of tumor type or the presence of metastatic disease.