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  1. Article ; Online: Explaining neural activity in human listeners with deep learning via natural language processing of narrative text

    Andrea G. Russo / Assunta Ciarlo / Sara Ponticorvo / Francesco Di Salle / Gioacchino Tedeschi / Fabrizio Esposito

    Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    2022  Volume 9

    Abstract: Abstract Deep learning (DL) approaches may also inform the analysis of human brain activity. Here, a state-of-art DL tool for natural language processing, the Generative Pre-trained Transformer version 2 (GPT-2), is shown to generate meaningful neural ... ...

    Abstract Abstract Deep learning (DL) approaches may also inform the analysis of human brain activity. Here, a state-of-art DL tool for natural language processing, the Generative Pre-trained Transformer version 2 (GPT-2), is shown to generate meaningful neural encodings in functional MRI during narrative listening. Linguistic features of word unpredictability (surprisal) and contextual importance (saliency) were derived from the GPT-2 applied to the text of a 12-min narrative. Segments of variable duration (from 15 to 90 s) defined the context for the next word, resulting in different sets of neural predictors for functional MRI signals recorded in 27 healthy listeners of the narrative. GPT-2 surprisal, estimating word prediction errors from the artificial network, significantly explained the neural data in superior and middle temporal gyri (bilaterally), in anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, and in the left prefrontal cortex. GPT-2 saliency, weighing the importance of context words, significantly explained the neural data for longer segments in left superior and middle temporal gyri. These results add novel support to the use of DL tools in the search for neural encodings in functional MRI. A DL language model like the GPT-2 may feature useful data about neural processes subserving language comprehension in humans, including next-word context-related prediction.
    Keywords Medicine ; R ; Science ; Q
    Subject code 401
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-10-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Nature Portfolio
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  2. Article ; Online: Neuropsychological profile of hearing-impaired patients and the effect of hearing aid on cognitive functions

    Sofia Cuoco / Arianna Cappiello / Alfonso Scarpa / Donato Troisi / Maria Autuori / Sara Ponticorvo / Claudia Cassandro / Renzo Manara / Fabrizio Esposito / Gabriella Santangelo / Paolo Barone / Ettore Cassandro / Maria Teresa Pellecchia

    Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    an exploratory study

    2021  Volume 9

    Abstract: Abstract Few studies have investigated the neuropsychological profile of Hearing Loss (HL) subjects and the effects of hearing-aid on cognitive decline. We investigated the neuropsychological profile of HL patients at baseline and compared the ... ...

    Abstract Abstract Few studies have investigated the neuropsychological profile of Hearing Loss (HL) subjects and the effects of hearing-aid on cognitive decline. We investigated the neuropsychological profile of HL patients at baseline and compared the neuropsychological profiles of patients with and without hearing-aid at 6 month. Fifty-six HL patients and 40 healthy subjects (HC) underwent neuropsychological and behavioral examination and were compared at baseline. Changes at follow-up were compared between HL patients with (N = 25) and without (N = 31) hearing-aids. At baseline, significant differences between HL and HC were found in MOCA test, Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) and SF-36. Among mild-HL patients, patients with hearing-aid significantly improved on the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) as compared to patients without hearing-aid. Our findings indicate that hearing loss is associated with both a reduced efficiency of the global cognitive state and a worse quality of life as compared to HC, supporting the association between HL and cognitive impairment. Moreover, only patients with mild-HL shows some cognitive improvement after using hearing-aid, suggesting that rehabilitative strategies may be more effective to delay cognitive decline in such patients. However, we cannot exclude that hearing-aids may affect cognitive decline in more severe-HL, but a longer follow-up is needed.
    Keywords Medicine ; R ; Science ; Q
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-04-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Nature Portfolio
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  3. Article ; Online: Asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms in beta-thalassemia

    Renzo Manara / Martina Caiazza / Rosanna Di Concilio / Angela Ciancio / Elisa De Michele / Caterina Maietta / Daniela Capalbo / Camilla Russo / Domenico Roberti / Maddalena Casale / Andrea Elefante / Fabrizio Esposito / Sara Ponticorvo / Andrea Gerardo Russo / Antonietta Canna / Mario Cirillo / Silverio Perrotta / Immacolata Tartaglione

    Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    a three-year follow-up report

    2020  Volume 4

    Abstract: Abstract Background No information is currently available regarding the natural history of asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms in beta-thalassemia, raising several concerns about their proper management. Methods We performed a prospective longitudinal ... ...

    Abstract Abstract Background No information is currently available regarding the natural history of asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms in beta-thalassemia, raising several concerns about their proper management. Methods We performed a prospective longitudinal three-year-long MR-angiography study on nine beta-thalassemia patients (mean-age 40.3 ± 7.5, six females, 8 transfusion dependent) harboring ten asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms. In addition, we analyzed the clinical files of all adult beta-thalassemia patients (160 patients including those followed with MR-angiography, 121 transfusion dependent) referring to our Centers between 2014 and 2019 searching for history of subarachnoid hemorrhage or history of symptomatic intracranial aneurysms. Results At the end of the three-year-long follow-up, no patient showed any change in the size and shape of the aneurysms, none presented new intracranial aneurysms or artery stenoses, none showed new brain vascular-like parenchymal lesions or enlargement of the preexisting ones. Besides, in our database of all adult beta-thalassemia patients, no one had history of subarachnoid hemorrhage or history of symptomatic intracranial aneurysms. Conclusions Incidental asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms do not seem to be associated, in beta-thalassemia, with an increased risk of complications (enlargement or rupture) at least in the short term period, helping to optimize human and economic resources and patient compliance during their complex long-lasting management.
    Keywords Aneurysm ; Beta-thalassemia ; Magnetic resonance angiography ; Subarachnoid hemorrhage ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher BMC
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  4. Article ; Online: Brain iron content in systemic iron overload

    Renzo Manara / Sara Ponticorvo / Immacolata Tartaglione / Gianluca Femina / Andrea Elefante / Camilla Russo / Pasquale Alessandro Carafa / Mario Cirillo / Maddalena Casale / Angela Ciancio / Rosanna Di Concilio / Elisa De Michele / Nikolaus Weiskopf / Francesco Di Salle / Silverio Perrotta / Fabrizio Esposito

    NeuroImage: Clinical, Vol 24, Iss , Pp - (2019)

    A beta-thalassemia quantitative MRI study

    2019  

    Abstract: Objective: Multisystem iron poisoning is a major concern for long-term beta-thalassemia management. Quantitative MRI-based techniques routinely show iron overload in heart, liver, endocrine glands and kidneys. However, data on the brain are conflicting ... ...

    Abstract Objective: Multisystem iron poisoning is a major concern for long-term beta-thalassemia management. Quantitative MRI-based techniques routinely show iron overload in heart, liver, endocrine glands and kidneys. However, data on the brain are conflicting and monitoring of brain iron content is still matter of debate. Methods: This 3T-MRI study applied a well validated high-resolution whole-brain quantitative MRI assessment of iron content on 47 transfusion-dependent (mean-age: 36.9 ± 10.3 years, 63% females), 23 non-transfusion dependent (mean-age: 29.2 ± 11.7 years, 56% females) and 57 healthy controls (mean-age: 33.9 ± 10.8 years, 65% females). Clinical data, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale scores and treatment regimens were recorded. Beside whole-brain R2* analyses, regional R2*-values were extracted in putamen, globus pallidum, caudate nucleus, thalamus and red nucleus; hippocampal volumes were also determined. Results: Regional analyses yielded no significant differences between patients and controls, except in those treated with deferiprone that showed lower R2*-values (p<0.05). Whole-brain analyses of R2*-maps revealed strong age-R2* correlations (r2=0.51) in both groups and clusters of significantly increased R2*-values in beta-thalassemia patients in the hippocampal formations and around the Luschka foramina; transfusion treatment was associated with additional R2* increase in dorsal thalami. Hippocampal formation R2*-values did not correlate with hippocampal volume; hippocampal volume did not differ between patients and controls. All regions with increased R2*-values shared a strict anatomical contiguity with choroid plexuses suggesting a blooming effect as the likely cause of R2* increase, in agreement with the available histopathologic literature evidence. Conclusion: According to our MRI findings and the available histopathologic literature evidence, concerns about neural tissue iron overload in beta-thalassemia appear to be unjustified. Keywords: Beta-thalassemia, Brain MRI, Multi-parametric ...
    Keywords Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics ; R858-859.7 ; Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ; RC346-429
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  5. Article ; Online: Auditory cortex hypoperfusion

    Renzo Manara / Sara Ponticorvo / Silverio Perrotta / Maria Rosaria Barillari / Giuseppe Costa / Davide Brotto / Rosanna Di Concilio / Angela Ciancio / Elisa De Michele / Pasquale Alessandro Carafa / Antonietta Canna / Andrea Gerardo Russo / Donato Troisi / Martina Caiazza / Federica Ammendola / Domenico Roberti / Claudia Santoro / Stefania Picariello / Maria Sole Valentino /
    Emanuela Inserra / Roberta Carfora / Mario Cirillo / Simona Raimo / Gabriella Santangelo / Francesco di Salle / Fabrizio Esposito / Immacolata Tartaglione

    Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, Vol 16, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    a metabolic hallmark in Beta Thalassemia

    2021  Volume 11

    Abstract: Abstract Background Sensorineural hearing loss in beta-thalassemia is common and it is generally associated with iron chelation therapy. However, data are scarce, especially on adult populations, and a possible involvement of the central auditory areas ... ...

    Abstract Abstract Background Sensorineural hearing loss in beta-thalassemia is common and it is generally associated with iron chelation therapy. However, data are scarce, especially on adult populations, and a possible involvement of the central auditory areas has not been investigated yet. We performed a multicenter cross-sectional audiological and single-center 3Tesla brain perfusion MRI study enrolling 77 transfusion-dependent/non transfusion-dependent adult patients and 56 healthy controls. Pure tone audiometry, demographics, clinical/laboratory and cognitive functioning data were recorded. Results Half of patients (52%) presented with high-frequency hearing deficit, with overt hypoacusia (Pure Tone Average (PTA) > 25 dB) in 35%, irrespective of iron chelation or clinical phenotype. Bilateral voxel clusters of significant relative hypoperfusion were found in the auditory cortex of beta-thalassemia patients, regardless of clinical phenotype. In controls and transfusion-dependent (but not in non-transfusion-dependent) patients, the relative auditory cortex perfusion values increased linearly with age (p < 0.04). Relative auditory cortex perfusion values showed a significant U-shaped correlation with PTA values among hearing loss patients, and a linear correlation with the full scale intelligence quotient (right side p = 0.01, left side p = 0.02) with its domain related to communication skills (right side p = 0.04, left side p = 0.07) in controls but not in beta-thalassemia patients. Audiometric test results did not correlate to cognitive test scores in any subgroup. Conclusions In conclusion, primary auditory cortex perfusion changes are a metabolic hallmark of adult beta-thalassemia, thus suggesting complex remodeling of the hearing function, that occurs regardless of chelation therapy and before clinically manifest hearing loss. The cognitive impact of perfusion changes is intriguing but requires further investigations.
    Keywords Thalassemia ; Hearing loss ; Brain ; Perfusion ; Transfusion medicine ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 610 ; 150
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-08-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher BMC
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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