Inflammatory Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy: A Broad Clinical Spectrum

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy, which in some cases is associated with subacute encephalopathy, seizures, headaches, or strokes due to vascular inflammation directed against vascular amyloid accumulation. The pathological subtypes of inflammatory CAA include CAA-related inflammation (CAAri) with mostly perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, or amyloid-beta (Aβ)-related angiitis (ABRA) with transmural granulomatous inflammation. CAAri and ABRA probably represent part of the spectrum of CNS vasculopathies, intermediate between CAA and primary CNS vasculitis, and they are closely related to Aβ-related imaging abnormalities and other manifestations of an inflammatory response directed against Aβ in the leptomeninges and cerebral parenchyma. As treatment strategies in Alzheimer's disease shift toward potentially effective antiamyloid immunotherapy, the incidence rate of inflammatory CAA (which is probably an underrecognized condition) is likely to increase. Its clinical features are varied and include subacute encephalopathy, behavioral symptoms, headaches, seizures, and focal neurological deficits, which necessitate a high degree of suspicion for this disorder that often responds to treatment. The recent definition of the typical clinical and radiological syndrome has increased its recognition and may eliminate the need for invasive histological sampling in at least some affected patients. Here we review the pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, and approach to diagnosis, and discuss illustrative cases that highlight the wide range of clinical presentations.

Is symmetry a visual cue to attractiveness in the human female body?

Small deviations from bilateral symmetry (a phenomenon called fluctuating asymmetry [FA]) are believed to arise due to an organism's inability to implement a developmental program when challenged by developmental stress. FA thus provides an index of an organism's exposure to adverse environmental effects and its ability to resist these effects. If one wishes to choose an individual with good health and fertility, FA could be used as an index of a potential partner's suitability. To explore whether this theory can be applied to human female bodies (excluding heads), we used a specially developed software package to create images with perfect symmetry. We then compared the relative attractiveness of the normal (asymmetric image) with the symmetric image. When male and female observers rated the images for attractiveness on a scale of 1 to 10, there was no significant difference in attractiveness between the symmetric and asymmetric images. However, in a two-alternative forced-choice experiment, the symmetric image was significantly more popular. The evidence suggests a role for symmetry in the perception of the attractiveness of the human female body.