Neuroscience and Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Environmental Exposure to Lead, Vanadium, Copper and Selenium: Possible Implications in the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorders","authors":"A. O. Akinade, I. Omotosho, I. Lagunju, M. Yakubu","doi":"10.4236/nm.2019.103019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/nm.2019.103019","url":null,"abstract":"Human exposure to toxic metals is on the increase especially in the developing world; this is compounded by the almost unavoidable application of the metals domestically and industrially and their implication in several genetic defects, aging and some chronic illnesses including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study investigated the concentration of toxic metals (Pb and V) and micro-essential elements (Cu and Se) in children with ASD and controls in Nigeria towards establishing their possible associations with the aetiopathogenesis of ASD. Eight children clinically diagnosed by Paediatric Neurologist and Child Psychiatrist for ASD using DMS-IV and fifteen apparently healthy children (age range 2 - 12 years) were recruited as cases and controls respectively. Plasma levels of Pb, V, Cu and Se were analyzed using Induction ICP-MS. Results were analyzed using students t-test. The mean plasma lead and vanadium levels were (7.92 ± 1.30 μg/dl; 1.07 ± 0.22 μg/dl) and (6.83 ± 0.72 μg/dl; 2.59 ± 0.48 μg/dl) in children with ASD and in controls respectively. The result showed that blood lead level in ASD was slightly increased but not significant when compared with control (p < 0.433). On the other hand, plasma vanadium concentration in ASD was significantly reduced (1.07 ± 0.22 μg/dl) when compared with control (2.59 ± 0.48 μg/dl) (P < 0.038). Mean plasma copper was similar in all participants (1.98 ± 0.13, 2.23 ± 0.12) but selenium concentrations were significantly reduced (0.37 ± 0.05 mg/L; 0.57 ± 0.02 mg/L) in ASD relative to controls respectively. Given the physiological functions of vanadium and selenium, the observed reduced levels of the two elements in children with ASD may account for the speech and other neurological dysfunctions of the brain in ASD.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89316809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Infarction Patterns in Posterior Cerebral Circulation: Etiology and Prognosis","authors":"T. Alloush, R. Moustafa, M. Fouad, H. Ahmed, M. Hamdy","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.103012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.103012","url":null,"abstract":"Study Objectives: About a quarter of strokes and transient ischemic attacks occur in the vertebrobasilar distribution. Vertebrobasilar stroke is particularly prone to devastating consequences especially brain stem infarctions due to damage of the regional brain tissues that contain vital centers, and is associated with high rates of death and disability. Study Design: This was across sectional observational prospective hospital-based study conducted on 60 patients with first-ever acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke. The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between different risk factors and different infarction patterns in posterior circulation; single small lacunar lesion, single large lesion, or multiple scattered lesions. Diagnosis of ischemic stroke and stroke subtypes were defined using the Trial of ORG 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria as well as clinical and brain imaging features. Stroke severity using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was done on admission, after 24 hours from admission, and at 7 days from onset of symptoms. The patients functional status was assessed by modified Rankin scale (mRS) done on admission and on discharge from hospital and at 7-day follow up from onset of symptoms. Patients were classified according to infarction patterns into a single small lacunar lesion (group I), a single large lesion (group II), and multiple scattered lesions (group III) 20 patients in each group. Results: There was no significant difference between the three groups as regard the presence of vascular risk factors and the only significant difference as regard vascular risk factors was atrial fibrillation (AF). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard the occurrence of previous transient ischemic attacks (TIA). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard NIHSS score on admission, after 24 hours, and at 7 days from admission. There were significant differences between the three groups as regard mRS score at discharge and at 7-day follow up from the onset of symptoms and the degree of improvement from admission to discharge. There was significant difference between the three groups as regard volume of infarction in Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Group II and group III patients had larger volumes of infarction when compared to group I patients. There was no significant difference between the three groups as regard presence of significant intracranial stenosis in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard stroke etiology. It was found that largeartery atherosclerosis (LAA) was the most common stroke etiology in posterior circulation being present in (53.3%) of the patient group and was common in group II and III in contrast to group I patients. Conclusions: Different vascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and smoking are presen","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72610234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography to Prevent Cerebrovascular Accident in Children with Sickle-Cell Disease","authors":"Giuliana Carpentieri-Pipolo, Marcelo Lima DE Oliveira, Fernando Mendes Paschoal Júnior, E. Bor-Seng-Shu","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.102011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.102011","url":null,"abstract":"Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is the most common cause of ischemic stroke in children and it happens in about 11% of patients between the age of 2 and 20 years old. About 7% of the world population is affected by hemoglobin disorders, mostly sickle cell anemia. SCD has a high prevalence in the population of African offspring and it is a public health problem in Brazil that affects more than 30,000 million people. Prevention of primary stroke might be feasible with a way to identify children at greatest risk. Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography (TCD) to SCD patients can be a valuable service that results in a significant decrease of first stroke rates. In this work, we present a review about TCD as an effective strategy to detect children with SCD who are at risk for stroke.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"111 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76740943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Affective Behavior Dysregulation Was Induced by Chronic Administration of Copper in Wistar Rats","authors":"Mouloud Lamtai, Sihame Ouakki, Oussama Zghari, A. Mesfioui, A. Hessni, A. Ouichou","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.102009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.102009","url":null,"abstract":"As both deficiency and excess of copper (Cu) can be harmful, dysregulation in its homeostasis has been connected with various neurological disorders. The present study was undertaken to examine whether Cu chronic administration can induce alterations of affective behavior especially anxiety and depression levels in male and female rats. Twenty-four rats, for each gender, divided in control and three test groups (n = 6), were injected intraperitoneally with saline (0.9% NaCl) or CuCl2 (0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. After treatment period, animals were tested in the open-field, elevated plus maze tests for anxiety-like behavior, and forced swimming test for depression-like behavior. Results demonstrated that Cu administered chronically, exerts an anxiogenic effect in rats. In the OFT, Cu decreases the TCA and NRC parameters without modifying the locomotor activity represented by the NTS parameter. With regard to EPM, Cu decreases TOA and EOA parameters without modifying the TAE parameter. A significant increase in depression-like symptoms was also exhibited by Cu treated rats (p < 0.001). A dose of 1 mg/kg CuCl2 showed maximum anxiety-like and depression-like symptoms as compared to controls as well as from the other two doses indicating dose-dependent effects of chronic Cu administration. Overall, these results suggest that intoxication with Cu has potentially deleterious effects on brain as reflected in behavioral dysfunctions such as depression and anxiety.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"56 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84543756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sleep Related Eating Disorder as an Unexpected Effect of Zolpidem","authors":"Y. Furuhashi, Sumiko Satomura","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.102005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.102005","url":null,"abstract":"Zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic drug used to treat in sleep disorders, and it is the most commonly prescribed drug for insomnia. It reduces sleep latency and increases total sleep time. However, some studies have reported that zolpidem might induce sleep related eating disorder (SRED). SRED is characterized by recurrent episodes of compulsive and involuntary eating during night sleep, accompanied by partial consciousness and limited subsequent recall. The pathophysiology of SRED is unknown. Patients with SRED usually suffer from other sleep disorders such as sleepwalking, restless legs syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. In this article, we present an overview of case reports on SRED induced by zolpidem.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74328744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of the Stress Which Causes Optineurin Aggregation","authors":"Satoshi Inagaki, M. Funato, Junko Seki, Chizuru Kawase, Kazuki Ohuchi, Shiori Ando, Shinsuke Nakamura, M. Shimazawa, Hideo Kaneko, H. Hara","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.102010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.102010","url":null,"abstract":"Glaucoma is a common neurodegenerative disease that can cause blindness and occurs worldwide. Currently, lowering intraocular pressure is the only therapy available to protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). However, this therapy does not prevent RGC death in all patients. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches for glaucoma are urgently required, and neuroprotection of RGCs is a focus for many researchers. Optineurin (OPTN) is one of the normal tension glaucoma (NTG) relative genes, while mutant OPTN can form a characteristic aggregation, causing RGC death. Hence, elucidation of the mechanism of OPTN aggregation might provide a clue to help understand RGC death. To examine whether non-mutant OPTN could also aggregate, we pharmacologically induced some glaucoma-related stresses, such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, glutamate toxicity, activation of TNF-α signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and autophagic flux impairment. Our results showed that ER stress, TNF-α signaling, and autophagic flux are involved in OPTN aggregation. Furthermore, our data indicated that increased ER stress, activation of TNF-α signaling, and impaired autophagic flux induce OPTN aggregation, suggesting that OPTN aggregation might be an important therapeutic target not only for familial NTG with mutated OPTN but also for patients with glaucoma more generally.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82322316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Molecularly Fielding Psychophysical Nature of the Brain Mental Activity","authors":"E. Yumatov","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.102004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.102004","url":null,"abstract":"The brain is a unique organization in nature, having the psychic activity, which is expressed in subjective states: thoughts, feelings, emotions. Knowledge of the nature of mental activity of the brain is the most urgent and the most challenging task of physiology. Historically the neurophysiology developed on the basis of physical and chemical laws discovered in an inanimate nature. Our investigation is devoted towards the origin of a human subjective state, and presents a new methodology for studying of the nature psychic brain activity. We have established the existence of physical phenomena unique for the living brain so-called “psychogenic field”, which reflects the expressed psychic state of human brain. The subjective state of a human being was shown to affect remotely the physicochemical properties of the blood. An original schematic diagram is presented to describe the formation of the brain psychic activity. This approach is based on the feedback influence of a psychogenic field on neuronal molecular processes (self-induction in the brain). We propose a paradigm for the origin of psychic state and possible existence of the fields, which are unique for the brain. The presented scheme and paradigm of systemic organization of psychic activity of the brain are a prerequisite for the subsequent development of the theory consciousness.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80145699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Sleep Pattern in Egyptian Elderly with Vascular Dementia","authors":"A. Alloush, H. Sweed, A. Abdelnaser, R. E. Akkad, M. Tork, M. Mortada, M. Hamdy","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.102006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.102006","url":null,"abstract":"Study Objectives: Growing evidence suggests that sleep disturbances is common in vascular dementia (VaD). The goal of the current study is to assess the disturbance in sleep pattern in patients with VaD, and compare it to healthy normally cognitive elderly individuals. We next studied whether there are meaningful differences in the Subjective sleep assessment: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep measurements by polysomnography (PSG) in VaD patients. Study design: Case control study. Subject and methods: Overnight PSG recordings and self-reported sleep measures were obtained from 20 healthy elderly subjects and 20 VaD patients at the sleep laboratory. Results: This study showed abnormal subjective sleep quality in all patients and revealed that the most common sleep complaints among VaD patients were: excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), sleep disordered breathing (SDB), insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movements (PLMS) and REM behavioral disordered (RBD) respectively. Moreover, patients spent more time in stage I sleep, but less time in slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep compared to control populations, with delayed REML and less 1st REML. Also, increased sleep fragmentation; wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO) & sleep fragmentation index (SFI), increased arousal index (AI) & PLMS index were detected in VaD patients. Finally, VaD patients had significant high Apnea, Hypopnea and Respiratory Distress Index (RDI) score with high average SpO2 Desaturation. Conclusions: Sleep is significantly impaired in patients with VaD at both the objective and subjective level, which may be used as a diagnostic marker of VaD. SDB is a common feature of VaD and leads to fragmented sleep, increased nocturnal confusion, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Subjective sleep assessment questionnaire (ESS and PSQI) can be used in VaD patients when objective sleep assessment by PSG recordings is difficult to be done. The PSG study of sleep continuity, sleep architecture, and REM sleep may help in the prevention of progression of VaD.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"73 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83745674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modulation of Anxiolytic-Like and Antidepressant-Like Effects of Melatonin by Imipramine in Wistar Rats: Possible Interaction with Central Monoaminergic Systems","authors":"Sihame Ouakki, Oussama Zghari, A. Hessni, A. Mesfioui, A. Ouichou","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.102008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.102008","url":null,"abstract":"Our current study aims to explore the interaction of melatonin (MEL) with the monoaminergic system on the pathophysiology of affective disorders in Wistar rats. We mention here that, the role of monoaminergic transmission in the pathophysiology of affective disorders in humans is demonstrated in most recent reports. In this sense, our current work aims to explore the effect of melatonin (MEL) with or without imipramine (IMP) on levels of depression and anxiety in Wistar rats and would determine the role of MEL in modulating serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine neurotransmission. From this point, twenty-four female Wister rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals and received subcutaneously during 4 weeks different doses of MEL (4 mg/kg), IMP (2 mg/kg) or MEL (4 mg/kg) + IMP (2 mg/kg). Behavioral performance especially anxiety and depression is measured in the open field (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swim test (FST). The anxiety-like and antidepressant-like effects were observed with MEL at 4 mg/Kg and IMP at 2 mg/Kg but the potentiating effect was more observed with the two combined molecules (MEL and IMP), since locomotors activity assessed by the OFT and EPM was not affected. These effects suggest that psychopharmacological actions of MEL are due, at least in part, to its ability to potentiate the central monoaminergic transmitter effects.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81398113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Classification of Herbal Drug Effects by Discriminant Analysis of Quantitative Human EEG Data","authors":"W. Dimpfel","doi":"10.4236/NM.2019.102007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/NM.2019.102007","url":null,"abstract":"Clinical indications for herbal drugs very often only rely on traditional knowledge. Single plant-derived preparations are used for many purposes and cannot be classified to belong to a single category like calming or stimulating drugs. With respect to the brain a unique possibility exists to analyze drug effects by recording the EEG. It is common knowledge that many drugs change the frequency content of electric brain activity. Quantitative analysis of the EEG by Fast Fourier Transformation reveals parameters like spectral power, which can be processed further (CATEEM®). Source density was determined from 17 channels of the quantitative EEG from 10 clinical studies recorded in a relaxed state with open eyes. Linear discriminant analysis was used to differentiate the effects of Placebo (circadian rhythm) from CNS-active herbal drugs in comparison to Valium®. Calmvalera®, L-Theanine, Lasea®, Neurapas®, Neuravena®, Neurexan®, Nutrifin Relax®, Pascoflair® (herbal calming drugs) as well as memoLoges®, Zembrin® (herbal stimulating drugs) induced different changes of the frequency content of brain electric activity. Discriminant analysis revealed that Nutrifin Relax®, Pascoflair® and Suntheanine® could not be separated well from each other indicating a similar mechanism of action. The effect of Valium® was projected at a very isolated position far away from the herbal preparations indicating a totally different mechanism of action. Zembrin® and memoLoges® grouped together with respect to the first three discriminant functions, but were different with respect to the 4th to 6th discriminant function. Lasea® as anxiolytic drug and Neurapas® as antidepressive drug were projected at isolated positions indicating their different clinical indications. The results indicate that discriminant analysis of human quantitative EEG data allows for unique pharmacological description of individual effect profiles of herbal drugs.","PeriodicalId":19381,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Medicine","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80119525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}