Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 24 July 2019

Diplomats’ brain scans show differences, add to Cuba mystery

By LINDSEY TANNER ed Press has reported that
AP Medical Writer an interim FBI report found
CHICAGO (AP) — Ad- no evidence that sound
vanced brain scans found waves could have caused
perplexing differences in the damage.
U.S. diplomats who say they Dozens of U.S. diplomats,
developed concussion-like family members and other
symptoms after working in workers sought exams. The
Cuba, a finding that only new study reports on 40 of
heightens the mystery of them tested at the Universi-
what may have happened ty of Pennsylvania. A group
to them, a new study says. analysis of results from ad-
Extensive imaging tests vanced MRI scans found
showed the workers had brain differences in the
less white matter than diplomat group compared
a comparison group of with 48 healthy people with
healthy people and other similar ages and ethnic
structural differences, re- background.
searchers said. Workers had MRI tests
While they had expected about six months after re-
the cerebellum, near the porting problems, but be-
brain stem, to be affected cause their brains were not
given the workers’ report- scanned before their Cuba
ed symptoms — balance stints they can’t know if
problems, sleep and think- anything changed in their
ing difficulties, headaches brains, a drawback of the
and other complaints — study that the researchers
they found unique patterns acknowledge.
in tissue connecting brain The University of Edin-
regions. burgh’s Stone said the new
Ragini Verma, a University study has several other
of Pennsylvania brain im- This image provided by the American Medical Association in July 2019 shows the amount of limitations that weaken the
aging specialist and the differences between brain scans of patients, U.S. diplomats who developed concussion-like results, including a com-
lead author, said the pat- symptoms after working in Cuba, and a control group. parison group that wasn’t
terns were unlike anything Associated Press evenly matched to the pa-
she’s seen from brain dis- United States. welcomes the medical problems from an unknown tients.
eases or injuries. “The article published to- community’s discussion on cause. One U.S. govern- “If you really want to sug-
“It is pretty strange. It’s a day doesn’t change the this incredibly complex is- ment count put the num- gest that something fun-
true medical mystery,” Ver- situation,” said Johana sue. The Department’s top ber of American personnel damentally different hap-
ma said. Tablada, Cuba’s deputy priority remains the safety, affected at 26. pened in Cuba ... then the
Co-author Dr. Randel head of U.S. affairs. “The security, and well-being of Some reported hearing best control group would
Swanson, a Penn special- article recognizes that the its staff.” high-pitched sounds similar be 40 individuals with
ist in brain injury rehabilita- changes detected are Between late 2016 and to crickets while at home the same symptoms who
tion, said “there’s no ques- minimal, that their conclu- May 2018, several U.S. and or staying in hotels, lead- hadn’t been to Cuba and
tion that something hap- sions are uncertain and Canadian diplomats in Ha- ing to an early theory of a had no history of head in-
pened,” but imaging tests that they can’t identify the vana complained of health sonic attack. The Associat- jury,” Stone said. q
can’t determine what it cause.”
was. The results were published
An outside expert, Universi- Tuesday in the Journal of Pocket-sized shark squirts glowing clouds
Jon Stone, said the study sociation. A journal edito- from pockets
ty of Edinburgh neurologist the American Medical As-
doesn’t confirm that any rial says the study may im-
brain injury occurred nor prove understanding of the By JANET McCONNAUGHEY
that the brain differences reported symptoms, but Associated Press
resulted from the strange that the relevance of the NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A
experiences the diplomats brain differences is uncer- pocket-sized pocket shark
said happened in Cuba. tain. found in the Gulf of Mexico
Cuba has denied any In a statement, the U.S. has turned out to be a new
kind of attack, which has State Department said it species.
strained relations with the “is aware of the study and And the mysterious pouch-
es that it’s named for, up
near its front fins? Scientists
say they squirt little glowing
clouds into the ocean. This undated image provided by National Oceanic Atmospheric
Researchers from around Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast
the Gulf and in New York Fisheries Science Center shows a 5.5-inch long rare pocket
have named the species shark.
the American pocket shark, Associated Press
or Mollisquama (mah-lihs- species that may squirt lu- said the other two are the
KWAH-muh) mississippiensis minous liquid, said R. Dean previously known pocket
(MISS-ih-sip-ee-EHN-sis). Grubbs, a Florida State Uni- shark and the taillight shark
It’s only the third out of versity scientist who was not , which has a similar gland
more than 500 known shark involved in the research. He near its tail. q