Pub Date : 2023-11-20DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.261
Zakirah Zainal Abidin, Juwita Junit, Muhammad Danial Che Ramli, S. Seow, Poh Guat Cheng, Z. Eshak, M. Ahad, Hussin Muhammad
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and it is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. Almost 320 million individuals globally are left untreated with depression and it has the highest prevalence. Although there are multiple conventional antidepressant types available, patients are still left untreated due to inadequate pharmacological effectiveness as well as the high rate of remissions, side effects, and patients’ non-compliance. Therefore, this study aims to determine the therapeutic effects of NevGro® Forte. The NevGro® Forte that contains a combination of three types of mushrooms, Lignosus rhinocerotis, Ganoderma lucidum and Hericium erinaceus, has been reported to have the therapeutic potential for alleviating depressive symptoms. Sixty Sprague Dawley rats induced to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) protocol were orally treated with NevGro® Forte daily for 4 weeks. Histological analysis was performed to probe the role of neurogenesis in mediating the therapeutic effect of NevGro® Forte. Fluoxetine (FLX) was orally administered to validate the neurogenesis-dependent mechanism of NevGro® Forte. The present study exhibited that 4 weeks of NevGro® Forte treatment ameliorated the depressive symptoms in CUMS rat model. There is a significant improvement in body weight, brain’s weight, and increased thickness of the pyramidal layer in the hippocampus following the treatment of NevGro® Forte. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed decreased degeneration characterised by flattened with less dense surface composition in the hippocampus. This research shows a positive outcome of using NevGro® Forte in ameliorating depressive symptoms.
抑郁症是导致全球残疾的一个主要原因,也是造成全球疾病负担的一个主要因素。全球有近 3.2 亿抑郁症患者未得到治疗,其发病率最高。虽然目前有多种常规抗抑郁药物可供选择,但由于药效不足、缓解率高、副作用大、患者不依从等原因,患者仍未得到治疗。因此,本研究旨在确定 NevGro® Forte 的治疗效果。据报道,NevGro® Forte含有三种蘑菇(木犀草、灵芝和银耳)的组合,具有缓解抑郁症状的治疗潜力。60只Sprague Dawley大鼠接受了慢性不可预测轻度应激(CUMS)方案,每天口服NevGro® Forte,连续4周。对大鼠进行组织学分析,以探究神经发生在介导 NevGro® Forte 治疗效果中的作用。口服氟西汀(FLX)以验证NevGro® Forte的神经发生机制。本研究表明,NevGro® Forte治疗4周可改善CUMS大鼠模型的抑郁症状。服用NevGro® Forte后,大鼠的体重、脑重均有明显改善,海马锥体层的厚度也有所增加。扫描电子显微镜还显示,海马体变性减少,表面成分密度降低,变得扁平。这项研究表明,使用 NevGro® Forte 对改善抑郁症状有积极作用。
{"title":"The antidepressant-like effect of NevGro® Forte in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression in rats","authors":"Zakirah Zainal Abidin, Juwita Junit, Muhammad Danial Che Ramli, S. Seow, Poh Guat Cheng, Z. Eshak, M. Ahad, Hussin Muhammad","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.261","url":null,"abstract":"Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and it is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. Almost 320 million individuals globally are left untreated with depression and it has the highest prevalence. Although there are multiple conventional antidepressant types available, patients are still left untreated due to inadequate pharmacological effectiveness as well as the high rate of remissions, side effects, and patients’ non-compliance. Therefore, this study aims to determine the therapeutic effects of NevGro® Forte. The NevGro® Forte that contains a combination of three types of mushrooms, Lignosus rhinocerotis, Ganoderma lucidum and Hericium erinaceus, has been reported to have the therapeutic potential for alleviating depressive symptoms. Sixty Sprague Dawley rats induced to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) protocol were orally treated with NevGro® Forte daily for 4 weeks. Histological analysis was performed to probe the role of neurogenesis in mediating the therapeutic effect of NevGro® Forte. Fluoxetine (FLX) was orally administered to validate the neurogenesis-dependent mechanism of NevGro® Forte. The present study exhibited that 4 weeks of NevGro® Forte treatment ameliorated the depressive symptoms in CUMS rat model. There is a significant improvement in body weight, brain’s weight, and increased thickness of the pyramidal layer in the hippocampus following the treatment of NevGro® Forte. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed decreased degeneration characterised by flattened with less dense surface composition in the hippocampus. This research shows a positive outcome of using NevGro® Forte in ameliorating depressive symptoms.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":"17 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139259550","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}
Pub Date : 2023-10-11DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.237
Gabriel Frizon Greggianin, Marco Antônio Stefani, Taís Malysz, Laura Elena Sperling
Cellular therapies have been implicated in treating and rehabilitating ischemic stroke (IS), involving the basic experimental and preclinical areas. Using mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from human dental pulp has shown promising results in animal models, but still with mechanisms and consequences that are not entirely clear. The study aims to evaluate the effects of intravenous MSC on rats with IS regarding neurological function and histological areas of ischemia. Thirty-two male Wistar rats underwent temporary occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (TOMCA) for 60 minutes and were divided into two groups of 16 animals each. One group received dental pulp MSC intravenously, and another received saline 2 hours after TOMCA. The animals were then evaluated using the neurological functionality scales for 15 days, and at the end of the experiment period, the histological areas of cerebral ischemia were analysed. All animals presented ischemic areas and neurological deficits compatible with IS. There was partial recovery of the functionality scores over the evaluation period, and all animals presented focal cerebral ischemia measured by histological analysis; however, there was no statistical difference between the groups. The TOMCA model was effective in reproducing IS. Although we found no difference between treatment groups, our results were useful in showing the pattern of neurological recovery presented by animals treated with dental pulp MSC and the need to extend the evaluation time for a longer period and use more sensitive functional tests. The results add valuable data for improving research with dental pulp MSC in the murine model of IS.
{"title":"Intravenous human dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for ischemic stroke in rats: an analysis of functional and ischemic brain areas outcomes","authors":"Gabriel Frizon Greggianin, Marco Antônio Stefani, Taís Malysz, Laura Elena Sperling","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.237","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.237","url":null,"abstract":"Cellular therapies have been implicated in treating and rehabilitating ischemic stroke (IS), involving the basic experimental and preclinical areas. Using mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from human dental pulp has shown promising results in animal models, but still with mechanisms and consequences that are not entirely clear. The study aims to evaluate the effects of intravenous MSC on rats with IS regarding neurological function and histological areas of ischemia. Thirty-two male Wistar rats underwent temporary occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (TOMCA) for 60 minutes and were divided into two groups of 16 animals each. One group received dental pulp MSC intravenously, and another received saline 2 hours after TOMCA. The animals were then evaluated using the neurological functionality scales for 15 days, and at the end of the experiment period, the histological areas of cerebral ischemia were analysed. All animals presented ischemic areas and neurological deficits compatible with IS. There was partial recovery of the functionality scores over the evaluation period, and all animals presented focal cerebral ischemia measured by histological analysis; however, there was no statistical difference between the groups. The TOMCA model was effective in reproducing IS. Although we found no difference between treatment groups, our results were useful in showing the pattern of neurological recovery presented by animals treated with dental pulp MSC and the need to extend the evaluation time for a longer period and use more sensitive functional tests. The results add valuable data for improving research with dental pulp MSC in the murine model of IS.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":"240 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136059513","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}
Pub Date : 2023-10-11DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.255
Muskan Thakur, Ajay Kumar, Indranath Chatterjee
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurological disorder characterised by the progressive shrinkage of brain tissue and the death of cells. Understanding how genetic and environmental factors interact to cause AD is challenging but crucial for effectively managing and treating this disease. Many personal, social, and economic impacts can be attributed to AD, making it a crucial area for research. This paper proposes using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to assist people with Alzheimer's disease. IoT can potentially enhance people's quality of life and simplify daily activities. IoT applications in healthcare, smart homes, and patient tracking have been explored. Various sensors, devices, and software can be utilised to monitor patients' health status. By leveraging IoT, we can develop innovative solutions to address AD management challenges and improve the overall quality of patient care.
{"title":"IoT-enabled solutions for Alzheimer's disease management: innovations and opportunities","authors":"Muskan Thakur, Ajay Kumar, Indranath Chatterjee","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.255","url":null,"abstract":"Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurological disorder characterised by the progressive shrinkage of brain tissue and the death of cells. Understanding how genetic and environmental factors interact to cause AD is challenging but crucial for effectively managing and treating this disease. Many personal, social, and economic impacts can be attributed to AD, making it a crucial area for research. This paper proposes using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to assist people with Alzheimer's disease. IoT can potentially enhance people's quality of life and simplify daily activities. IoT applications in healthcare, smart homes, and patient tracking have been explored. Various sensors, devices, and software can be utilised to monitor patients' health status. By leveraging IoT, we can develop innovative solutions to address AD management challenges and improve the overall quality of patient care.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":"47 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136059826","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}
Pub Date : 2023-10-01DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.266
Andrew Sortwell, Gkintoni Evgenia, Samuel Zagarella, Urs Granacher, Pedro Forte, Ricardo Ferraz, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Bastian Carter-Thuillier, Ferman Konukman, Ali Nouri, Bernadette Bentley, Pegah Marandi, Monèm Jemni
Constant global advancements and expanding evidence in the neuroscience of learning have provided compelling support for the inclusion of neuroscience as a crucial content priority in initial teacher education. Existing research confirms the efficacy of neurocognitive interventions for atypical and typical school-aged learners in a variety of key subject areas. Despite advances in the neuroscience of learning, the adoption of contemporary approaches and strategies that support and enhance neurocognitive development by education practitioners is yet to be the norm. Incorporating neuroscience education content, research, and practical application into initial teacher education curricula will enhance teacher preparation, leading to evidence-based education.
{"title":"Making neuroscience a priority in Initial Teacher Education curricula: a call for bridging the gap between research and future practices in the classroom","authors":"Andrew Sortwell, Gkintoni Evgenia, Samuel Zagarella, Urs Granacher, Pedro Forte, Ricardo Ferraz, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Bastian Carter-Thuillier, Ferman Konukman, Ali Nouri, Bernadette Bentley, Pegah Marandi, Monèm Jemni","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.266","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i4.266","url":null,"abstract":"Constant global advancements and expanding evidence in the neuroscience of learning have provided compelling support for the inclusion of neuroscience as a crucial content priority in initial teacher education. Existing research confirms the efficacy of neurocognitive interventions for atypical and typical school-aged learners in a variety of key subject areas. Despite advances in the neuroscience of learning, the adoption of contemporary approaches and strategies that support and enhance neurocognitive development by education practitioners is yet to be the norm. Incorporating neuroscience education content, research, and practical application into initial teacher education curricula will enhance teacher preparation, leading to evidence-based education.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":"61 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135408178","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}
Pub Date : 2023-08-27DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.196
Z. Hassan, KKesevan Rajah Kumaran, Nelson Jeng Yeou Chear, Siti Najmi Syuhadaa Bakar, Thaarvena Retinasamy, Saatheeyavaane Bhuvanendran, Amin Malik Abdul Majeed, M. Shaikh, Iekhsan Othman
Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is one of the main causes of vascular dementia caused by the reduced blood flow to the brain. Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) is a medicinal herb exhibiting pronounced neuroprotective, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities due to its high rosmarinic acid content. This study investigated the nootropic effect of OS ethanolic extract on cognitive functions in CCH rats. CCH was developed by permanent bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery (PBOCCA). Passive avoidance task (PAT) and Morris water maze (MWM) test were conducted to evaluate cognitive functions followed by in vivo long-term potentiation (LTP) for assessing neuroplasticity. The rosmarinic acid content of OS ethanolic extract was quantified using a validated HPLC-PDA. Treatment with OS ethanolic extract significantly increased step-through latency in the PAT, decreased escape latency at a low dose of OS extract in the MWM and rescued the LTP impairment at the highest dose in CCH rats. These results strongly support the effectiveness of rosmarinic acid-rich OS extract (5.088 % w/w) in treating pathological vascular dementia caused by CCH.
{"title":"Rosmarinic acid-rich ethanolic extract of Orthosiphon stamineus ameliorates cognitive and hippocampal long-term potentiation in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model","authors":"Z. Hassan, KKesevan Rajah Kumaran, Nelson Jeng Yeou Chear, Siti Najmi Syuhadaa Bakar, Thaarvena Retinasamy, Saatheeyavaane Bhuvanendran, Amin Malik Abdul Majeed, M. Shaikh, Iekhsan Othman","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.196","url":null,"abstract":"Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is one of the main causes of vascular dementia caused by the reduced blood flow to the brain. Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) is a medicinal herb exhibiting pronounced neuroprotective, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities due to its high rosmarinic acid content. This study investigated the nootropic effect of OS ethanolic extract on cognitive functions in CCH rats. CCH was developed by permanent bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery (PBOCCA). Passive avoidance task (PAT) and Morris water maze (MWM) test were conducted to evaluate cognitive functions followed by in vivo long-term potentiation (LTP) for assessing neuroplasticity. The rosmarinic acid content of OS ethanolic extract was quantified using a validated HPLC-PDA. Treatment with OS ethanolic extract significantly increased step-through latency in the PAT, decreased escape latency at a low dose of OS extract in the MWM and rescued the LTP impairment at the highest dose in CCH rats. These results strongly support the effectiveness of rosmarinic acid-rich OS extract (5.088 % w/w) in treating pathological vascular dementia caused by CCH.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47983653","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}
Pub Date : 2023-08-26DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.251
Crystal Teoh, I. Looi, Yan Shen Kee, W. Law, W. A. Wan Zaidi, F. Hoo
The fourth Malaysian Stroke Conference was held in Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang from 12 to 13 August 2022. This conference attracted 254 physical delegates and 378 virtual delegates within Malaysia and internationally from Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, India and Japan. The theme of this conference was “FAST: BRAIN AND HEART ATTACK”, with the take-home message of acting as fast as possible in both acute cerebrovascular and acute coronary disease. The main organiser was the Malaysian Stroke Council, with support from other specialities, namely emergency physicians, geriatricians and advanced acute internal medicine physicians. The event was a great success in gathering various stakeholders in stroke care to share the latest updates on stroke. Issues pertaining to stroke care were discussed to take the stroke service delivery to greater heights. This conference has undoubtedly left a profound impact on all the participants that it is time to embrace the practice of hyperacute stroke treatment which saves lives, and that everyone is responsible for offering the best stroke care to our patients.
{"title":"Malaysian Stroke Conference (MSC) Report 2022","authors":"Crystal Teoh, I. Looi, Yan Shen Kee, W. Law, W. A. Wan Zaidi, F. Hoo","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.251","url":null,"abstract":"The fourth Malaysian Stroke Conference was held in Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang from 12 to 13 August 2022. This conference attracted 254 physical delegates and 378 virtual delegates within Malaysia and internationally from Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, India and Japan. The theme of this conference was “FAST: BRAIN AND HEART ATTACK”, with the take-home message of acting as fast as possible in both acute cerebrovascular and acute coronary disease. The main organiser was the Malaysian Stroke Council, with support from other specialities, namely emergency physicians, geriatricians and advanced acute internal medicine physicians. The event was a great success in gathering various stakeholders in stroke care to share the latest updates on stroke. Issues pertaining to stroke care were discussed to take the stroke service delivery to greater heights. This conference has undoubtedly left a profound impact on all the participants that it is time to embrace the practice of hyperacute stroke treatment which saves lives, and that everyone is responsible for offering the best stroke care to our patients.\u0000 \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45437735","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}
Pub Date : 2023-08-22DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.206
Norlyiana Samsuri, N. Yusoff, F. Reza
The application of the event-related potential (ERP) was almost 80 years ago and has assisted in answering many research questions. Today, ERP is considered one of the most popular techniques among other neuroscience methods. Cultural neuroscience is an emerging interdisciplinary field that applies neuroscience tools to answer research questions in culture. This paper highlights the importance of neuroscience tools, especially ERP, in advancing the new emerging interdisciplinary field of cultural neuroscience. This paper gives an overview of ERP followed by a short description and examples of the application of ERP in two recent research. Cultural study through the application of neuroscience methods such as ERP can discover and measure neural processes related to culture, which cannot be quantified by traditional pen and paper data collection. However, many more research questions need to be answered and explored in cultural neuroscience.
{"title":"Exploring the interaction between culture and neuroscience using event-related potential (ERP)","authors":"Norlyiana Samsuri, N. Yusoff, F. Reza","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.206","url":null,"abstract":"The application of the event-related potential (ERP) was almost 80 years ago and has assisted in answering many research questions. Today, ERP is considered one of the most popular techniques among other neuroscience methods. Cultural neuroscience is an emerging interdisciplinary field that applies neuroscience tools to answer research questions in culture. This paper highlights the importance of neuroscience tools, especially ERP, in advancing the new emerging interdisciplinary field of cultural neuroscience. This paper gives an overview of ERP followed by a short description and examples of the application of ERP in two recent research. Cultural study through the application of neuroscience methods such as ERP can discover and measure neural processes related to culture, which cannot be quantified by traditional pen and paper data collection. However, many more research questions need to be answered and explored in cultural neuroscience.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45565608","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}
Pub Date : 2023-08-22DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.234
Hussein M. Rashid, F. Mohammad
Statins used to treat dyslipidemia may differentially modulate cholinesterase (ChE) activity impacting neuronal function. This study examines the effects of three statins (atorvastatin, fluvastatin, and simvastatin) on plasma and brain ChE activities and cholesterol levels in a chick model of 7-14 days old. Chicks were dosed orally with single doses of each statin at 50, 100, and 200mg/kg or repeated doses at 100mg/kg/day for 14 consecutive days. Plasma and whole brain ChE activities were measured electrometrically, whereas cholesterol levels were measured using a commercial colourimetric kit. In vitro ChE inhibition by the statins was initiated at 37°C for 10 mins. Data were statistically analysed using analysis of variance followed by the least significant difference test. Atorvastatin and fluvastatin did not significantly affect plasma ChE activities 2 hours after the oral administration, whereas simvastatin at 100 and 200mg/kg significantly increased (28% and 16%, respectively) plasma ChE activity. Repeated oral doses of the statins did not significantly affect plasma ChE activity. However, only simvastatin significantly decreased whole brain ChE activity by 33%. Repeated treatments with the three statins significantly reduced cholesterol levels in the plasma but not in the whole brain. The three statins inhibited in vitro plasma and whole brain ChE activities by 10-33% and 8-43%, respectively. The results suggested that the statins differentially modulated ChE activity in vivo and in vitro in chicks. Additional in vivo studies are warranted on statin effects on ChE activity in different brain regions of animal models.
{"title":"Differential effects of statins on plasma and brain cholinesterase activities in chicks","authors":"Hussein M. Rashid, F. Mohammad","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.234","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.234","url":null,"abstract":"Statins used to treat dyslipidemia may differentially modulate cholinesterase (ChE) activity impacting neuronal function. This study examines the effects of three statins (atorvastatin, fluvastatin, and simvastatin) on plasma and brain ChE activities and cholesterol levels in a chick model of 7-14 days old. Chicks were dosed orally with single doses of each statin at 50, 100, and 200mg/kg or repeated doses at 100mg/kg/day for 14 consecutive days. Plasma and whole brain ChE activities were measured electrometrically, whereas cholesterol levels were measured using a commercial colourimetric kit. In vitro ChE inhibition by the statins was initiated at 37°C for 10 mins. Data were statistically analysed using analysis of variance followed by the least significant difference test. Atorvastatin and fluvastatin did not significantly affect plasma ChE activities 2 hours after the oral administration, whereas simvastatin at 100 and 200mg/kg significantly increased (28% and 16%, respectively) plasma ChE activity. Repeated oral doses of the statins did not significantly affect plasma ChE activity. However, only simvastatin significantly decreased whole brain ChE activity by 33%. Repeated treatments with the three statins significantly reduced cholesterol levels in the plasma but not in the whole brain. The three statins inhibited in vitro plasma and whole brain ChE activities by 10-33% and 8-43%, respectively. The results suggested that the statins differentially modulated ChE activity in vivo and in vitro in chicks. Additional in vivo studies are warranted on statin effects on ChE activity in different brain regions of animal models.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49241154","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}
Pub Date : 2023-07-22DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.239
A. Papadopoulos, A. Tsapara, P. Plotas, Ioannis Tzortzakis, D. Tafiadis, V. Siafaka
People with high-functioning autism (HFA) demonstrated significant social skill deficits compared to those typically developing. Relatively limited data is still known about the challenges faced (friendship, social networks) by adolescents with HFA and so far with a delayed diagnosis. The case study aimed to investigate social stories’ effectiveness by using an intensive intervention approach on a late-adolescent female with autism. A 17-year-old girl with a recent diagnosis of HFA was selected as a case study from a private Speech and Language Therapy Center to involve in an immediate intervention program. A single-case research design was used to monitor changes after an intervention. Specifically, observation and training lasted four weeks, plus two weeks of maintenance. The intervention was done exclusively with social stories personalised to her needs. The targeted behaviours were to enhance social interaction skills, especially her ability to make friends and improve communication. There was a positive response from the young female in the intensive intervention program. Moreover, she displayed more positive peer interaction throughout the intervention program (6 weeks). She managed to participate and ask peers to companies in High school, to start a conversation, and to call them into her house in a positive way 44 times in 6 weeks. In addition, after every intervention week, we recorded an increase in her positive interactions with peers. The results demonstrate that social story use enhances HFA adolescents' social engagement. This study provides insights into the relationship between intensive social story intervention, social communication and social interaction behaviours between adolescents with a recent diagnosis of HFA and peers. Moreover, the findings support the effectiveness of social stories in encouraging social interaction of a late adolescent with HFA.
{"title":"The effectiveness of social stories in an intervention program in late adolescence with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: A case study report","authors":"A. Papadopoulos, A. Tsapara, P. Plotas, Ioannis Tzortzakis, D. Tafiadis, V. Siafaka","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.239","url":null,"abstract":"People with high-functioning autism (HFA) demonstrated significant social skill deficits compared to those typically developing. Relatively limited data is still known about the challenges faced (friendship, social networks) by adolescents with HFA and so far with a delayed diagnosis. The case study aimed to investigate social stories’ effectiveness by using an intensive intervention approach on a late-adolescent female with autism. A 17-year-old girl with a recent diagnosis of HFA was selected as a case study from a private Speech and Language Therapy Center to involve in an immediate intervention program. A single-case research design was used to monitor changes after an intervention. Specifically, observation and training lasted four weeks, plus two weeks of maintenance. The intervention was done exclusively with social stories personalised to her needs. The targeted behaviours were to enhance social interaction skills, especially her ability to make friends and improve communication. There was a positive response from the young female in the intensive intervention program. Moreover, she displayed more positive peer interaction throughout the intervention program (6 weeks). She managed to participate and ask peers to companies in High school, to start a conversation, and to call them into her house in a positive way 44 times in 6 weeks. In addition, after every intervention week, we recorded an increase in her positive interactions with peers. The results demonstrate that social story use enhances HFA adolescents' social engagement. This study provides insights into the relationship between intensive social story intervention, social communication and social interaction behaviours between adolescents with a recent diagnosis of HFA and peers. Moreover, the findings support the effectiveness of social stories in encouraging social interaction of a late adolescent with HFA.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69505806","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}
Pub Date : 2023-07-04DOI: 10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.194
Faten Anis Syairah Seri, A. A. Abd Hamid, J. M. Abdullah, Z. Idris, H. Omar, M. R. Abdul Rahman
This study investigated the functional connectivity of the neural networks when vibrotactile stimulation is applied to the fingertips of young adults. Twenty healthy, right-handed subjects were stimulated with vibrotactile stimulation whilst being scanned with a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The subjects were stimulated at 30 Hz – 240 Hz using a piezoelectric vibrator attached to the subjects' bilateral index fingers. The scanned data were processed with independent component analysis (ICA), while the temporal configuration and spatial localisation of the component were investigated. The activation locations were tabulated and compared with regions of somatosensory in the brain. Using ICA, somatosensory regions and their neighbouring areas identified one or more of these components mapped to the common significant regions in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG), paracentral lobule (PaCL), precentral gyrus (PrG), postcentral gyrus (PoG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and cingulate gyrus (CgG). Using Neuromark as a reference, six significant networks with the highest correlation values, r>0.5, were identified: the visual network (VIN), sensorimotor network (SMN), cognitive-control network (CCN), subcortical network (SCN), default-mode network (DMN), and auditory network (AUN). It showed that VIN and SMN were the most activated during the vibrotactile stimulation. A comparison of the network volumes and peak activations during the conditions demonstrated changes in volume and corresponding peak activation during vibrotactile stimulation. This study contributes to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the somatosensory areas. Other than that, not only this study highlighted the underlying effect of vibrotactile stimulation towards the functional brain connectivity at network levels, but it also highlighted the impact of frequencies in somatosensory studies. In the future, we suggest that exploring the change in the range of frequencies and examining its differences will allow us to comprehend aspects of somatosensory networks and their connectivity.
{"title":"Investigating cortical networks from vibrotactile stimulation in young adults using independent component analysis: an fMRI study","authors":"Faten Anis Syairah Seri, A. A. Abd Hamid, J. M. Abdullah, Z. Idris, H. Omar, M. R. Abdul Rahman","doi":"10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.194","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.194","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the functional connectivity of the neural networks when vibrotactile stimulation is applied to the fingertips of young adults. Twenty healthy, right-handed subjects were stimulated with vibrotactile stimulation whilst being scanned with a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The subjects were stimulated at 30 Hz – 240 Hz using a piezoelectric vibrator attached to the subjects' bilateral index fingers. The scanned data were processed with independent component analysis (ICA), while the temporal configuration and spatial localisation of the component were investigated. The activation locations were tabulated and compared with regions of somatosensory in the brain. Using ICA, somatosensory regions and their neighbouring areas identified one or more of these components mapped to the common significant regions in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG), paracentral lobule (PaCL), precentral gyrus (PrG), postcentral gyrus (PoG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and cingulate gyrus (CgG). Using Neuromark as a reference, six significant networks with the highest correlation values, r>0.5, were identified: the visual network (VIN), sensorimotor network (SMN), cognitive-control network (CCN), subcortical network (SCN), default-mode network (DMN), and auditory network (AUN). It showed that VIN and SMN were the most activated during the vibrotactile stimulation. A comparison of the network volumes and peak activations during the conditions demonstrated changes in volume and corresponding peak activation during vibrotactile stimulation. This study contributes to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the somatosensory areas. Other than that, not only this study highlighted the underlying effect of vibrotactile stimulation towards the functional brain connectivity at network levels, but it also highlighted the impact of frequencies in somatosensory studies. In the future, we suggest that exploring the change in the range of frequencies and examining its differences will allow us to comprehend aspects of somatosensory networks and their connectivity.","PeriodicalId":36108,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Research Notes","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47106562","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}