{"title":"The Effect of Electrical Fields From High-voltage Transmission Line on Cognitive, Biological, and Anatomical Changes in Male Rhesus macaque Monkeys Using MRI: A Case Report Study.","authors":"Hamed Aliyari, Hedayat Sahraei, Sahar Golabi, Mohammad Bagher Menhaj, Masoomeh Kazemi, Seyed Hossein Hosseinian","doi":"10.32598/bcn.2021.1340.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.2021.1340.3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Living near high-voltage power lines and exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is a potentially serious hazard to animal and human health. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of high-frequency EMFs from simulated high-voltage electric towers on cognitive, anatomical, and biological changes in the male macaque.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, two Rhesus macaque were recruited, one experimental and one control. The experimental subject was exposed to EMFs from 3 kV/m simulated electric towers with a specific protocol and the control subject was tested without irradiation (4h per day, for 30 days). All required tests were performed before and after the intervention on experimental and control monkeys. The anatomical alternation of the prefrontal area (PFA) was measured by MRI images. All tests were performed on irradiated and control animals before and after the intervention and the results were compared between irradiated and control animals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results of the present study indicated increased white blood cell counts after high-frequency EMFs irradiation. Also, the red blood cell counts showed a decreasing trend after irradiation. The plasma adrenaline level increased after irradiation. Besides, the blood glucose levels increased after irradiation. The PFA was different before and after the irradiation. Moreover, some behavioral disorders, such as fatigue, drowsiness, anorexia, and insomnia were observed after irradiation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of biological tests and MRI showed an elevated risk of immunodeficiency disorders, weakness, and behavioral disorders. People who live or work near high-voltage electric towers with high-frequency EMFs are warned.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>Magnetic, and electric fields from high pressure towers caused negative effects in terms of biology and even anatomical changes in the prefrontal part of the brain.Disturbance in the prefrontal part of the brain caused the monkey's cognitive and behavioral disorder.An increase in white blood cells, a decrease in red blood cells, and an increase in the adrenaline and blood sugar were indicative of biological disorders after wave exposure in male rhesus monkeys.The effects of magnetic and electric fields resulting from high pressure towers on the nerves and psyche require health researchers to do more studies.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>Today, one of the factors that threaten the cognitive and behavioral health of humans and animals is living in the vicinity of magnetic and electric fields resulting from the power transmission of high-pressure towers. These fields cause cognitive and behavioral disorders in living beings. Therefore, because it threatens the cognitive health of creatures, it needs more research.</p>","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 4","pages":"433-442"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/5a/76/BCN-13-433.PMC9759772.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10788967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psychometric Evaluation of Self-assessment Persian Version of the Alzheimer Questionnaire (AQ).","authors":"Mahsa Roozrokh Arshadi Montazer, Roohollah Zahediannasab, Mohammad Nami, Mahshid Tahamtan, Roxana Sharifian, Mahdi Nasiri","doi":"10.32598/bcn.2021.2238.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.2021.2238.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a primary disorder intensified by aging. Rapid diagnosis of MCI can prevent its progression towards the development of dementia. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the psychometric features of the self-assessment Persian version of the Alzheimer questionnaire (AQ) in the elderly to detect MCI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>First, the AQ was translated into the Persian language; then, its content validity was evaluated by the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) method, and face validity was determined by two checklists for expert panel and the elderly. The convergent validity of the self-assessment AQ with the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) was assessed using the Pearson correlation. The test-retest and internal consistency reliability were evaluated using intra-class correlation (ICC) and Kuder-Richardson coefficients, respectively. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off point of self-assessment AQ. Among 148 older people who took part in this study, 93 met our inclusion criteria (aged 60 years old or older, had reading and writing skills, and were able to speak and communicate).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A translated version of the questionnaire was named \"M-check.\" The developed test showed good content and face validity. Statistically significant correlations were found between M-check and MoCA (r=-0.83, P<0.05). The Kuder-Richardson and ICC coefficients were obtained as 0.84 and 0.92, respectively. Area under the curve presented satisfactory values (Area under curve [AUC]=0.852, sensitivity=0.62, specificity=0.94).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The M-check can be used as a valid and reliable instrument for assessing cognitive state and screening MCI in older adults.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>All questions achieved desired face validity.The convergent validity of Alzheimer Questioner (AQ) was confirmed with high correlation.The AQ is statistically significant with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).The AQ had acceptable stability, repeatability, and reliability.All findings demonstrated that the M-Check had high values in predicting MCI in the early stages.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a subset of mental disorders that is an early condition that may lead to dementia. People with MCI are usually prone to forgetfulness in a short time. If MCI is not detected in the early stages, it can progress to dementia or Alzheimer's to higher degrees. On the other hand, cognitive decline and MCI can cause major problems for patients and their families. So it is essential to act out as soon as possible. It is considered that a tool for the early identification of MCI that is self-assessed by individuals, without the presence of an expert and trained person to interpret the results, was not observed in Iran. Thus,","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 4","pages":"477-488"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/4f/7a/BCN-13-477.PMC9759784.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10788972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Seyed Davood Mirtorabi, Sharif Saleki, Mohammad Sadegh Rahmanian, Hadi Hadizadeh, Reza Rostami, Ali Yoonessi
{"title":"Direct and Indirect Measures of Attention Indicating a Bias Toward Cues in Methamphetamine Users.","authors":"Seyed Davood Mirtorabi, Sharif Saleki, Mohammad Sadegh Rahmanian, Hadi Hadizadeh, Reza Rostami, Ali Yoonessi","doi":"10.32598/bcn.12.6.1589.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.12.6.1589.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aims to investigate the attentional bias toward drug-related stimuli along with subjective craving after encountering such stimuli in methamphetamine users. Studies of cue reactivity have confirmed a bias in attention and gaze toward drug-related stimuli for most substances; however, methamphetamine drugs are less studied through a direct measure, such as eye tracking.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 30 male subjects in the case group (methamphetamine users) and 36 subjects in the control group (no prior drug use) participated in this study. The participant's eye movement data were collected while they were viewing pairs of drug-related and non-drug images in a dot-probe paradigm. Craving was assessed via a self-report questionnaire on a scale of 0 to 10 before and after the psychophysical task.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis of eye-movement data showed a meaningful gaze bias toward cue images (drug-related) in the case group. Additionally, the gaze duration on cue images was significantly higher in the case group, in contrast to the control group. The same effect was observed in analyzing the dot-probe task; that is, the mean reaction time to a probe that replaced a cue image was significantly lower. The mean of the first-fixation measure in the control group was not significantly higher than chance; however, the percentage of the first-fixation on cue images in the drug users was meaningfully biased. Reported craving was significantly greater after performing the task compared to before.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results indicated an attentional bias toward drug-related cues in methamphetamine users as well as subjective craving after encountering such cues.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>The gaze duration on cue images was significantly higher in methamphetamine users.The mean reaction time to a probe that replaced a cue image was significantly lower in methamphetamine users compared to the control group.The mean of the first-fixation measure in the case group was significantly better than chance.Craving was reported to be significantly greater after performing the task.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>Substance users tend to focus on the stimuli associated with substances. This is known as attention bias. Attention bias leads to increased craving. Attention bias for various substances has been previously reported; however, methamphetamine attention bias has not been evaluated so far. In this study, we measured the attention bias toward stimuli related to methamphetamine in methamphetamine users and control subjects with direct (eye tracking) and indirect (dot probe paradigm) methods. In addition, we measured the number of cravings in the case group. Our results confirmed the bias in attention toward methamphetamine-related stimuli in the case group compared to the control group.</p>","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 4","pages":"455-463"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/4e/7a/BCN-13-455.PMC9759783.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10788966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elnaz Azizi, Fatemeh Ayoobi, Ali Shamsizadeh, Amir Moghadam-Ahmadi, Seyed Ali Shafiei, Alireza Khoshdel, Mohammad Reza Mirzaei
{"title":"Effect of Short-time Exposure of Local Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields on Sleepiness in Male Rats.","authors":"Elnaz Azizi, Fatemeh Ayoobi, Ali Shamsizadeh, Amir Moghadam-Ahmadi, Seyed Ali Shafiei, Alireza Khoshdel, Mohammad Reza Mirzaei","doi":"10.32598/bcn.2022.2610.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.2022.2610.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Lack of high-quality sleep causes severe side effects like anxiety and changes in plasma concentration of oxalate. The current study investigated the impact of local extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) on inducing sleep (sleepiness) and anxiety in male rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this experimental study, 40 male rats were divided into four groups (n=10 for each group). The ELF-MF exposure (0, 10, and 18 Hz) was applied with an intensity of 200μT for three days (10 min/d). The sham-treated animal did not receive ELF-MF. Serum levels of oxalic acid (OA) and sleepiness were measured before and after the last exposure to ELF-MF or sham. Anxiety, sleepiness, and OA were measured using the elevated plus maze, open-field test (OFT), and ELISA test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A comparison of oxalate levels before and after exposure to ELF-MF revealed that ELF-MF (10 Hz) decreased the serum level of oxalate (P<0.05). Comparing open/closed arm entry (in an elevated plus maze) between before and after exposure to ELFMF revealed significant differences. Also, frequency, velocity, and distance moved were decreased in the open-field test.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Results of the present study demonstrated that ELF-MF with short-time exposure may modulate the metabolism of OA and may modulate anxiety-like behavior or kind of induction of sleepiness in male rats.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>Oxalate acid concentration may reduce after short time ELF-MF exposure.Locomotor activity in male rats may decrease after the ELF-MF exposure.Short time ELF-MF exposure may induce sleepiness in male rats that may be used to treat sleep disorders.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>It is necessary for a person to have good sleep to feel happy during the day. The usual way to treat the patient's sleep disorders is drug therapy, but there are some non-pharmacological treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and proper diet. In this study we decided to evaluate the effect of ELF-MFs on sleep induction (sleepiness) in male rats by assessing behavioral tests and measuring oxalate acid density. The results showed that the activity of rats and oxalate acid concentration reduced after ELF-MF exposure. This was consistent with results of the plus maze test and the reduction of velocity, frequency and in the open-field test can be attributed to sleepiness. The results of this research showed that ELF-MF with short time exposure may modulate the anxiety-like behavior or kind of induction of sleepiness in male rats. This effect may be used to treat sleep disorders and requires further human studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 4","pages":"519-529"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/b8/fa/BCN-13-519.PMC9759774.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10788974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psychometric Properties of the Persian Word Pairs Task to Evaluate Declarative Memory.","authors":"Maryam Malekian, Yalda Kazemi, Talieh Zarifian","doi":"10.32598/bcn.2021.2585.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.2021.2585.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>According to the declarative/procedural (DP) model, the semantic aspect of language depends on the brain structures responsible for declarative memory. The word pairs task is a common tool to evaluate declarative memory. The current study aimed to design a valid and reliable task to evaluate declarative memory in Persian-speaking children at the learning and retention stages and investigate its relationship with the semantic aspect of language.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A panel of experts agreed on the content validity of the proposed task. The reliability of the task was determined using internal consistency and test-retest reliability. A total of 31 typically developing children aged 7-9 years participated in this study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The content validity of all the 42-word pairs was calculated as one. The test-retest reliability showed a correlation coefficient of 0.825 (P<0.001). The task showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.880). The results of correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between declarative memory and semantic aspect. However, the regression analysis showed that the retention stage can explain 24.2% of the variations in the semantic aspect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It seems that the word pairs task has good validity and reliability to evaluate declarative memory. The task applied to evaluate the semantic aspect can be one of the potential causes of the lack of a relationship between the semantic aspect and declarative memory. The participants' scores in the retention stage can be predicted concerning their performance at the semantic aspect.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>The proposed task has several advantages as follows:Good validity and reliability to evaluate different stages of declarative memory, including learning, immediate recall, delayed recall, delayed recognition, and retention.Children's performance improves with age at different stages of the task.Subjects' performance in the retention stage of declarative memory was the only component predicting the score of the semantic aspect.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>One of the components of long-term memory is declarative memory. This memory includes the semantic memory in which information about vocabulary is stored. In this research, the word pairs task was designed to evaluate declarative memory in children aged 7 to 9 years and its validity and reliability were investigated. The final task consists of 42 unrelated word pairs that are presented to children in several stages, and it examines the ability of children to communicate between pairs of unrelated words in terms of meaning (e.g., book-teeth). The better the children's performance in this task is, it indicates the better performance of these children's declarative memory. The task has good validity and reliability and can be used to evaluate children's declarative memory and to determin","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 4","pages":"511-518"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/6f/5b/BCN-13-511.PMC9759773.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10788970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Brain Structural Correlates of Intelligence in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Individuals.","authors":"Farnaz Faridi, Ashkan Alvand, Reza Khosrowabadi","doi":"10.32598/bcn.2021.2244.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.2021.2244.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Neuroimaging evidence has shown the relationship of intelligence with several structural brain properties in normal individuals. However, this relationship with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) needs to be investigated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We estimated grey matter (GM) density of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan on 56 ADHD individuals, including 30 combined individuals (Mean±SD age: 10.44±2.41, intelligence quotient: [IQ]=112.13±13.15, male, 24 right hands) and 26 inattentive individuals (mean age =11.39±2.1, IQ=107.44±13.98, male, 28 right hands) as well as 30 IQ matched healthy control group (mean age=11.08±2.15, IQ=115±13.56, male, 23 right hands).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, two statistical approaches were used. In the first approach, region-based as well as the whole association patterns between full-scale IQ and GM were computed and compared between groups. The second approach was to examine the differential pattern of GM density without considering IQ in three groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Results showed significant differences between the ADHD group and the control. This finding could indicate that intelligence is not purely based on the density of GM in certain brain regions; it is a dynamic phenomenon and drastically changes neurodevelopmental disorders.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>In ADHDs as compared to healthy controls the relation between GM and IQ was decreased at right hemisphere;In ADHDs as compared to healthy controls the relation between GM and IQ was increased at left hemisphere;Differenceses of the observed relation between control group and IQ matched ADHDs suggest a compensatory mechanism in ADHDs to maintaine an adequate cognitive performance;GM is not the only determiner of intelligence. IQ score may be affected by neural dynamic of the brain; therefore, the structural covariate could be a better alternative for GM density.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>In this study, we estimated the relation between GM density and IQ score in 2 subtypes of ADHD (combined and inattentive) and IQ matched healthy control group. We compared the association between groups and found that the pattern of association in ADHDs were different from controls. In the other words, the decreased association at right hemisphere, were compensated by increased association at left hemisphere in ADHDs to maintaine adequate performance. We conclude that, the brain structure is not the single determiner of intelligence, rather intelligence may underpine by neural dynamics of the brain. Therefore, the structural covariate may be a better alternative for GM density.</p>","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 4","pages":"551-571"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/d8/2a/BCN-13-551.PMC9759778.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10788975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of <i>Satureja Bachtiarica</i> Essential Oil in Preventing Seizure in Pentylenetetrazol-Kindled Mice.","authors":"Zahra Rabiei, Manouchehr Shirchi, Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei, Samira Asgharzade","doi":"10.32598/bcn.2021.1665.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.2021.1665.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Epilepsy is a group of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of <i>Satureja bachtiarica</i> essential oil in preventing epilepsy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this experimental study, 50 mice were randomly assigned to five groups of 10 each. The control group received normal saline plus tween-80 and after 30 min pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Groups 2 and 3 were treated first with <i>S. bachtiarica</i> essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively and then after 30 min received PTZ. Group 4 received diazepam and 30 min later PTZ. Group 5 received flumazenil and 30 min later PTZ. After the last injection of PTZ, the time of seizure onset, seizure severity and score, the completion time of each seizure (attack episode), and mortality rate in different groups were recorded and compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The administration of <i>S. bachtiarica</i> essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg to PTZ-treated mice caused a significant increase in latency to the first seizure and survival of mice, as well as a significant decrease in the frequency of the head and upper limbs seizure, total body seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping. <i>S. bachtiarica</i> essential oil at 100 mg/kg caused a significant decrease in the head tic frequency. The administration of flumazenil significantly inhibited <i>S. bachtiarica</i> essential oil-induced effects and increased the head and upper limbs seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study demonstrated that <i>S. bachtiarica</i> essential oil could prevent PTZ-induced seizure and these findings authenticate the traditional claims about the use of <i>S. bachtiarica</i> in treating epilepsy.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>The administration of <i>S. bachtiarica</i> essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg to pentylenetetrazol PTZ-treated mice caused a significant increase in latency to the first seizure.• The administration of <i>S. bachtiarica</i> essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg to PTZ-treated mice caused a significant decrease in the frequency of the head and upper limbs seizures, total body seizures, tonic seizures, and spin and jump.• The administration of flumazenil significantly inhibited <i>S. bachtiarica</i> essential oil-induced effects and increased the head and upper limbs seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>Epilepsy is one of the most common disorders of the central nervous system, so that one in every 100 people is suffering from epilepsy globally. Despite the development of antiepileptic drugs, novel strategies are sought out because of drug resistance and the side effects resulting from these drugs at high concentrations. Researchers have focused on plants for certain reasons such as availability, the history of long-term use, being nature-based, and relative safety. In the current study, the effect of","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 4","pages":"465-475"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/21/cd/BCN-13-465.PMC9759775.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10788971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Risk-taking Behavior Under the Effect of Emotional Stimuli Among Children and Adults.","authors":"Fatemeh Shahrabi Farahani, Reza Khosrowabadi, Gholamreza Jaafari","doi":"10.32598/bcn.2021.2508.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.2021.2508.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Risk-taking has an important role in human life, either positive or negative. Finding a method to control or drive this in a particular way can affect the health of individuals and communities by discouraging negative risks, such as reckless driving, or encouraging positive risks. It has been shown that emotion induction can enhance risk-taking behavior. Nonetheless, studies are mainly conducted on adults and a gap to focus on adolescents group as the peak age of risk-taking is required. Therefore, a new risk-taking task is introduced and development of risk-taking behavior in children is compared with a group male adults. In addition, influence of positive and negative emotional images on the risk-taking behavior is also evaluated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 21 children and 20 adults participated in this experiment. Their risk taking behavior is obtained using a new version of the dice game task with emotional stimuli. Subsequently, performances of two groups before and after emotional priming are statistically compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that children have a higher tendency to choose riskier options when they are affected by positive emotion, while adults are more risk-averse after being primed by negative emotion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings can be helpful for policymakers and tutoring planners to control risk-taking behavior at different ages using the priming effect of positive and negative emotions.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>Children perform riskier than adults in our new version of the game of dice task.Children are affected by choosing riskier options by positive priming.Adults are affected by choosing less risky options by negative priming.Results were proved by dual-process theory.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>Every second of our life is consistent with decision-making. When you decide you face conditions that you do not know the result when you choose them. Choosing these options is associated with risks. Choosing these options can have both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it will be very useful for communities, if they can find a way to control it. In this study, we aimed to test whether it is possible to control risk-taking by viewing emotional pictures before decision-making or not. Hence, we design gambling-like experiments and test adults and children using this experiment. These two age groups were used to test the existence of any difference or similarity between their behaviors. We used three main emotions to check their effect on people's choices. We wanted to check what happens to people's decisions if they are faced with positive, negative, or neutral images before their choice. Results showed that children were riskier than adults and affected more when facing positive images and selecting riskier options. On the other hand, adults are more affected by negative images and chose safer o","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 4","pages":"585-593"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/8a/83/BCN-13-585.PMC9759776.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10788973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kiana Karimifar, Hiva Alipanah, Ava Solatani Hekmat, Mohammad Reza Bigdeli
{"title":"Attenuating <i>NF-κB/VCAM-1</i> Expression in the Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model by Viola Odorata: Protection Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.","authors":"Kiana Karimifar, Hiva Alipanah, Ava Solatani Hekmat, Mohammad Reza Bigdeli","doi":"10.32598/bcn.12.6.2061.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.12.6.2061.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The death of neurons and cerebral edema are the main consequences of stroke. However, inflammatory processes play key roles in aggravating cerebral damage following a stroke. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Viola odorata extract (VOE) on the infarct volume (IV), neurologic deficits (ND), and the expression of <i>NF-κB</i> and <i>VCAM-1</i> in the Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The animals were randomly separated into 6 groups: (1) control group, (2) vehicle-treated group, (3) MCAO group, (4) VOE25 group, (5) VOE50 group, and (6) VOE75 group (n= 12). VOE (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg) and distilled water were administered daily for 30 days. Two hours after the last gavage, the rats were exposed to MCAO for 60 minutes. Twenty-four hours later, <i>IV, ND</i>, and <i>NF-κB/VCAM-1</i> expressions were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Viola odorata extract exhibited excellent neuroprotective effects by reducing IV (mainly in the core and subcortex areas), and induced downregulation of <i>NF-κB</i> and <i>VCAM-1</i> expression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Viola odorata could also activate intracellular pathways, reducing the expression of <i>NF-κB</i> and <i>VCAM-1</i>. It is useful for developing a novel medical herb for treating cerebral ischemia.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced.Viola odorata extract (VOE) reduced the infarct volumes (IV) in rats' brains 24 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).VOE may decrease <i>IV</i> in the <i>MCAO</i> model by downregulating the <i>NF-κB/VCAM-1</i> expression.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. After an interruption of blood flow, energy stores are rapidly depleted, and complex cellular cascades induce excitotoxic cell death. So far, no effective and specific treatment has been suggested for the stroke. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of the viola odorata extract (VOE) were screened. The V. odorata extract exhibited excellent neuroprotective effects by reducing infarct volume and inducing downregulation of <i>NF-κB/VCAM-1</i> expression. This finding suggests that <i>V. odorata</i> may be useful for developing a novel medical herb for treating cerebral ischemia.</p>","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 3","pages":"357-371"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/7b/04/BCN-13-357.PMC9706287.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40456500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hossein Ali Ebrahimi, Mandana Jafari, Narges Khanjani, Najmeh Moradi
{"title":"Evaluation of Date Extract on Nerve Conduction Velocity in Male Rats.","authors":"Hossein Ali Ebrahimi, Mandana Jafari, Narges Khanjani, Najmeh Moradi","doi":"10.32598/bcn.2021.878.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.2021.878.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Neuropathy is a condition in which the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is disordered. Studying the effects of antioxidants on the performance improvement of this system is vital. This study aimed to investigate the effects of date extract on Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), Distal Motor Latency (DML), and wave height of the sciatic nerve in male rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This laboratory study used 24 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g, divided into the test and control groups. The test group received 10% date extract daily, at 4 mL/kg of body weight, for three weeks. In the beginning, nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), Distal Motor Latency (DML), and wave height of the sciatic nerve were examined in all animals and reexamined for NCV three weeks later. P-values lower than 0.05 were considered significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sciatic NCV and wave height were significantly increased; however, compared to the control group, DML of the knee significantly declined in the test group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The compositions of date extract accelerate electrical signal transmission.</p><p><strong>Highlights: </strong>Irreparable damages to the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) are major problems in societies.Different therapeutic methods have been adopted for peripheral nerve repair.According to FAO, the production and use of dates are rising.Dates are used in traditional medicine for curing hoarseness, paralysis, backache, and rheumatic pains.</p><p><strong>Plain language summary: </strong>Dates are highly important in our nutrition. There have been studies on the positive antioxidative effects of date extract in preventing diabetic neuropathy. Dates are used in traditional medicine for curing hoarseness, paralysis, backache, and rheumatic pains, among others. The importance of dates is derived from their rich compositions of carbohydrates, salts and minerals, dietary fiber, vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids, and proteins. Different therapeutic methods have been adopted for PNS, still, 50% of these damages become permanent and cause disability. Date palms are in the palm family native to Iran, and found in relatively tropical regions.Dates are used in traditional medicine for curing hoarseness, paralysis, backache, and rheumatic pains, among others. In short, the compositions of date extract accelerate electrical signal transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":8701,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"13 3","pages":"385-391"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/dc/d8/BCN-13-385.PMC9706299.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40458027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}