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Studying tropical hydroclimate and productivity change in the past is critical for understanding global climate dynamics. Northwest Australia is an ideal location for investigating Australian monsoon dynamics, the variability of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF), and their impact on past productivity and Pacific warm pool evolution, which remain poorly understood during the 40 kyr world in the mid‐early Pleistocene. In this study, we present multi‐proxy records from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1483 in the Timor Sea spanning the last 2,000 ka, including orbitally‐resolved records from the 40 kyr world between 2,000 and 1,300 ka. Our results suggest that northwest Australia underwent a step of increased aridification and that productivity in the Timor Sea declined during the transition from ∼1,700 to ∼1,400 ka. We attribute this aridification to the reduced moisture supply to this region caused by the ITF restriction and warm pool contraction. We ascribe the declined productivity to a decrease in the nutrient supply of the Pacific source water associated with global nutrient redistribution. At orbital timescale, multiple mechanisms, including sea level changes, monsoon, and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) dynamics, and variations in the ITF and Walker circulation could have controlled variations of productivity and terrigenous input in the Timor Sea during the 40 kyr world. Our bulk nitrogen and benthic carbon isotope records suggest a strong coupling to biogeochemical changes in the Pacific during this period. This research contributes to a better understanding of tropical hydroclimate and productivity changes during the 40 kyr world. Plain Language Summary: The northwest Australian region is located at the southwestern edge of the Indo‐Pacific Warm Pool and experiences a seasonal monsoon climate. Oceanic and climate conditions in this region are also strongly influenced by the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF), which is the only tropical pathway in the modern ocean connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans and providing the main conduit for the exchange of water, salt, and heat between these oceans. These conditions make northwest Australia a strategic location to explore Australian monsoon dynamics, the variability of the ITF, and the interaction between tropical hydroclimate and productivity in the past. However, these processes are poorly documented during the 40 kyr world in the mid‐early Pleistocene, when glacial‐interglacial cycles mainly varied at the 41 kyr obliquity band. Here, we present multiple‐proxy marine records from a site directly impacted by the ITF and we examine terrigenous input and productivity changes in this region over the last 2,000 kyr. Our results suggest that northwest Australia underwent a step of increased aridification and that productivity in the Timor Sea declined during the transition from ∼1,700 to ∼1,400 ka, due to restriction of the ITF, warm pool contraction, and decreased nutrient supply from the Pacific source water. Key Points: Northwest Australia underwent aridification from ∼1,700 to 1,400 ka due to restricted Indonesian Throughflow and warm pool contractionDecreased productivity in the Timor Sea from ∼1,700 to 1,400 ka reflected decreased nutrient supply from Pacific source waterOrbital variation in productivity and terrigenous input in the Timor Sea during the 40 kyr world are driven by multiple mechanisms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: (1) To assess cognitive function and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involvement in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; (2) to monitor disease evolution, cognitive dysfunction, and cerebral lesion burden over time [...]

The article discusses the study of the circadian disruption promotes tumor-immune microenvironment remodeling favoring tumor cell proliferation. Topics discussed include the circadian disruption negatively affects physiology, posing a global health threat that manifests in proliferative, metabolic, and immune diseases, among others; and findings show that tumor growth rate increased and latency decreased under circadian disruption conditions compared to normal light-dark (LD) schedules.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the incremental value of tissue harmonic imaging vs conventional echocardiography for evaluating left ventricular ejection fraction by manual and automated quantitation as well as visual estimation in patients with distorted left ventricles.Methods and Results: In 25 patients unselected for image quality and with distorted left ventricles who underwent a nuclear study, digital cineloops of standard apical views were acquired by both tissue harmonic imaging and conventional echocardiography and sent to six observers for analysis of visual and quantitative left ventricular ejection fraction. Tissue harmonic imaging improved both the correlation and agreement of all echo techniques with nuclear measures, compared with conventional echocardiography echo, reducing standard errors (SE) to below 10%: for the visual estimate SE=7·5%, for manual tracing SE=6·3% and for automated tracing SE=8%. Tissue harmonic imaging decreased inter-observer variability compared with conventional echocardiography echo for both visual assessment (12·4% vs 18·4%, P<0·05) and quantitative measures (for manual tracing, 8·2% vs 11·8%, P<0·05; for automated tracing, 7·8% vs 16·8%, P<0·05).Conclusions: In patients with distorted left ventricles unselected for image quality, tissue harmonic imaging improves accuracy and reproducibility of both visual and quantitative echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction. In particular, it promotes automated quantitation by reducing its high standard error into a clinically reasonable range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN:&EMSP;:The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity of pSEP in patients affected by probable MS. OBJECTIVES:&EMSP;:Bladder dysfunction is the presenting symptom in 2% of patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) and may be present in up to 78% of them. Abnormalities of somatosensory evoked potentials of the pudendal nerve (pSEP) have been found by many authors in patients affected by clinically defined MS, but little is known of diagnostic reliability of pSEP in early stage of MS. METHODS:&EMSP;:Sixteen patients, eleven females and five males, aged between 18 and 45 years old (mean age 28.9), affected by clinically probable MS, were studied. Six of them reported retention or urge incontinence. pSEP with P1 (P40) scalp wave was analyzed. All patients also underwent visual evoked potentials (VEP), SEP of median and tibial nerves (mSEP, tSEP), brainstem acoustic evoked potentials (BAEPs), MRI of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) evaluation. Urodynamic study with simultaneous measurement of intravesical, intraurethral and abdominal pressures with external sphincter electromyography was performed. RESULTS:&EMSP;:Abnormalities of the evoked potentials were found in all patients. Abnormalities of the pSEP were observed in all the symptomatic cases and in eight of the remaining ten patients; ten showed no responses from the scalp and four showed P1 increased latency. Urodynamic abnormalities were found in 12 patients and MRI showed demyelinating lesions in 13 patients and oligoclonal bands were found in eight of them. CONCLUSION:&EMSP;:pSEP can be worthwhile as part of the initial diagnostic evaluation in patients affected by MS. It provides information of diagnostic relevance and plays a role in screening patients for urodynamic testing, which, however, is more specific for detecting urethrovesical dysfunctions and preventing urological complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A boy with a left-hemispheric cerebellar astrocytoma had upbeat nystagmus exhibiting increasing-velocity slow phases. The nystagmus improved after excision of the tumour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The H-index was studied in 42 healthy subjects and in 20 patients showing unilateral S1 root compression. When compared to the normal subjects, all patients showed a decreased H-index, or an increased difference in H-index between the sides or both. These results indicate that both parameters are valuable in the diagnosis of S1 root impairment due to intervertebral disc protrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]