No abstract

Attention modulates visual perception and is generally considered inextricably linked with conscious awareness: we become aware of stimuli as we attend to them, and we attend to stimuli as we become aware of them. Recent evidence suggests that attention can also modulate the effects of stimuli that remain invisible, and a natural explanation is that attention enhances weak perceptual representations, bringing them closer to conscious threshold even if they do not reach that threshold. However, there is also the possibility that attention may modulate neural processes that are entirely separate from those supporting conscious perception: sensorimotor mechanisms that do not create awareness however much they are enhanced. Here we provide evidence in support of this second hypothesis by showing that attentional cueing can modulate the behavioral response to invisible stimuli in a way that is distinct from enhancing their visibility. We used a masked-prime paradigm that produces a negative or positive compatibility effect depending on the perceptual strength (duration or brightness) of the prime. We found that attention enhanced the effect of both visible and invisible primes and also increased the likelihood of detecting the prime (i.e., boosted perceptual strength). Crucially, the pattern of attentional influence on priming could not be explained by attentional modulation of the prime's perceptual strength but was predicted by a direct attentional influence on the nonconscious priming process itself. Therefore, in addition to regulating what we perceive, attention seems to influence our behavior through sensorimotor processes that are not involved in conscious awareness.priming ͉ unconscious ͉ motor inhibition ͉ action

Chylomicron remnants bound to rabbit alveolar macrophages with high-affinity (Kd = 3.3 +/- 0.71 microgram of protein/mL). The binding of chylomicron remnants was competitively inhibited in the presence of unlabeled remnants and to a lesser extent by unlabeled low-density lipoproteins. Pretreatment of cells with either trypsin or pronase inhibited degradation in a dose and time dependent manner, suggesting involvement of a cell surface protein. Chylomicron remnants were degraded by alveolar macrophages from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits, which are devoid of LDL receptor activity. Moreover, colchicine and monensin which are endocytotic and lysozomal inhibitors, respectively, did not have any effect on the degradation of chylomicron remnants by macrophages from normal rabbits. The absence of divalent cations was found to enhance chylomicron remnant degradation by macrophages. Activated alpha 2-macroglobulin and lactoferrin had no effect on chylomicron remnant degradation, indicating that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein was not involved. In addition, the scavenger receptor inhibitors polyinosinic acid and fucoidan increased degradation of chylomicron remnant-ruling out uptake as a consequence of lipoprotein modification. Rather, the phagocytotic inhibitor cytochalasan D was found to significantly decrease chylomicron remnant degradation. Collectively, our data show that chylomicron remnants are metabolized by phagocytotic pathways initiated after binding to a cell surface protein which is distinct from the LDL receptor, LRP, or scavenger receptors.

BackgroundIdiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is associated with obesity and weight loss by any means is considered beneficial in this condition.ObjectivesThis study aims to appraise bariatric surgery vs. non-surgical weight-loss (medical, behavioural and lifestyle) interventions in IIH management.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analyses of surgical and non-surgical studies.ResultsBariatric surgery achieved 100% papilloedema resolution and a reduction in headache symptoms in 90.2%. Non-surgical methods offered improvement in papilloedema in 66.7%, visual field defects in 75.4% and headache symptoms in 23.2%. Surgical BMI decrease was 17.5 vs. 4.2 for non-surgical methods.ConclusionsWhilst both bariatric surgery and non-surgical weight loss offer significant beneficial effects on IIH symptomatology, future studies should address the lack of prospective and randomised trials to establish the optimal role for these interventions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11695-016-2467-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We surveyed a medical school's students' drinking habits and knowledge 12 years after a previous survey. In this current survey from two academic years, final year students drank less than second year students did. Women in their second year drank as much as men. Overall, 28% of students drank more than the safe limits; 27% of students were problem drinkers, as measured by the CAGE questionnaire, and 52%, as measured by the AUDIT questionnaire. The proportion of students not drinking any alcohol rose from 6% in the previous survey to 27% in the current survey, possibly due to context and demographic changes. In spite of this difference, there have been no statistically significant reductions in either unsafe drinking levels or CAGE scores over 12 years. A third of students overestimated the safe levels of drinking. All medical schools should write and implement an alcohol policy.