Pub Date : 2024-09-23eCollection Date: 2024-09-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5030028
Susan L Prescott, Kathleen F Holton, Christopher A Lowry, Jeffrey J Nicholson, Alan C Logan
Over the last decade there has been increasing interest in the links between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and various neuropsychiatric disorders, aggression, and antisocial behavior. Neurolaw is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to translate the rapid and voluminous advances in brain science into legal decisions and policy. An enhanced understanding of biophysiological mechanisms by which ultra-processed foods influence brain and behavior allows for a historical reexamination of one of forensic neuropsychiatry's most famous cases-The People v. White and its associated 'Twinkie Defense'. Here in this Viewpoint article, we pair original court transcripts with emergent research in neurolaw, including nutritional neuroscience, microbiome sciences (legalome), pre-clinical mechanistic research, and clinical intervention trials. Advances in neuroscience, and related fields such as the microbiome, are challenging basic assumptions in the criminal justice system, including notions of universal free will. Recent dismissals of criminal charges related to auto-brewery syndrome demonstrate that courts are open to advances at the intersection of neuromicrobiology and nutritional neuroscience, including those that relate to criminal intent and diminished capacity. As such, it is our contention that experts in the neurosciences will play an increasing role in shaping research that underpins 21st-century courtroom discourse, policy, and decision-making.
{"title":"The Intersection of Ultra-Processed Foods, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, and Neurolaw: Implications for Criminal Justice.","authors":"Susan L Prescott, Kathleen F Holton, Christopher A Lowry, Jeffrey J Nicholson, Alan C Logan","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030028","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the last decade there has been increasing interest in the links between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and various neuropsychiatric disorders, aggression, and antisocial behavior. Neurolaw is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to translate the rapid and voluminous advances in brain science into legal decisions and policy. An enhanced understanding of biophysiological mechanisms by which ultra-processed foods influence brain and behavior allows for a historical reexamination of one of forensic neuropsychiatry's most famous cases-<i>The People v. White</i> and its associated 'Twinkie Defense'. Here in this Viewpoint article, we pair original court transcripts with emergent research in neurolaw, including nutritional neuroscience, microbiome sciences (legalome), pre-clinical mechanistic research, and clinical intervention trials. Advances in neuroscience, and related fields such as the microbiome, are challenging basic assumptions in the criminal justice system, including notions of universal free will. Recent dismissals of criminal charges related to auto-brewery syndrome demonstrate that courts are open to advances at the intersection of neuromicrobiology and nutritional neuroscience, including those that relate to criminal intent and diminished capacity. As such, it is our contention that experts in the neurosciences will play an increasing role in shaping research that underpins 21st-century courtroom discourse, policy, and decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"354-377"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11477939/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559664","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}
Pub Date : 2024-09-12eCollection Date: 2024-09-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5030026
Christopher I Higginson, Morgan K Bifano, Kelly M Seymour, Rachel L Orr, Kurt M DeGoede, Jill S Higginson
Evidence supporting a link between gait and cognition is accumulating. However, the relation between executive functioning and spatiotemporal gait parameters has received little attention. This is surprising since these gait variables are related to falls. The goal of this preliminary study was to determine whether performance on measures of inhibition, reasoning, and fluency is related to variability in stride length and step width during dual-task treadmill walking in a sample of healthy adults. Nineteen healthy adults averaging 40 years of age were evaluated. Results indicated that processing speed was reduced, t(18) = 6.31, p = 0.0001, step width increased, t(18) = -8.00, p = 0.0001, and stride length decreased, t(18) = 3.06, p = 0.007, while dual tasking, but variability in gait parameters did not significantly change, consistent with a gait/posture-first approach. As hypothesized, better performance on a visual design fluency task which assesses cognitive flexibility was associated with less dual-task stride length variability, rs (17) = -0.43, p = 0.034, and step width variability, r = -0.56, p = 0.006. The results extend previous findings with older adults walking over ground and additionally suggest that cognitive flexibility may be important for gait maintenance while dual tasking.
{"title":"Preliminary Evidence That Design Fluency Is Related to Dual-Task Treadmill Gait Variability in Healthy Adults.","authors":"Christopher I Higginson, Morgan K Bifano, Kelly M Seymour, Rachel L Orr, Kurt M DeGoede, Jill S Higginson","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030026","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evidence supporting a link between gait and cognition is accumulating. However, the relation between executive functioning and spatiotemporal gait parameters has received little attention. This is surprising since these gait variables are related to falls. The goal of this preliminary study was to determine whether performance on measures of inhibition, reasoning, and fluency is related to variability in stride length and step width during dual-task treadmill walking in a sample of healthy adults. Nineteen healthy adults averaging 40 years of age were evaluated. Results indicated that processing speed was reduced, <i>t</i>(18) = 6.31, <i>p</i> = 0.0001, step width increased, <i>t</i>(18) = -8.00, <i>p</i> = 0.0001, and stride length decreased, <i>t</i>(18) = 3.06, <i>p</i> = 0.007, while dual tasking, but variability in gait parameters did not significantly change, consistent with a gait/posture-first approach. As hypothesized, better performance on a visual design fluency task which assesses cognitive flexibility was associated with less dual-task stride length variability, <i>r<sub>s</sub></i> (17) = -0.43, <i>p</i> = 0.034, and step width variability, <i>r</i> = -0.56, <i>p</i> = 0.006. The results extend previous findings with older adults walking over ground and additionally suggest that cognitive flexibility may be important for gait maintenance while dual tasking.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"328-338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11469740/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559660","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}
Pub Date : 2024-09-12eCollection Date: 2024-09-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5030027
Ekaine Rodríguez-Armendariz, María Vela-Romero, Adrián Galiana
Sensory processing challenges are crucial yet often neglected aspects in the care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic conditions. They represent a key area of interest in neuroscience, as they significantly impact children's daily functioning and quality of life. This observational study examines these challenges in a group of 614 children, aged 3 to 14 years and 11 months, divided into three groups: 183 with neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, developmental delays, and learning disorders), 89 with genetic conditions (22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Williams syndrome, and pseudohypoparathyroidism), and 342 controls. Sensory processing was assessed using Sensory Profile 2 (SP2). Results indicated that children with neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic conditions exhibited significant sensory processing difficulties compared to controls. SP2 identified distinct sensory challenges across different sensory systems, varying by diagnosis. Notably, genetic conditions appeared to have a more generalised impact across multiple sensory systems, while neurodevelopmental disorders tended to affect specific systems more narrowly. These findings highlight the importance of early identification and tailored evidence-based interventions to address these specific sensory processing issues. Further research should explore the long-term impact of these interventions in these different populations and their integration into broader therapeutic programmes.
{"title":"Sensory Processing Challenges in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Genetic Conditions: An Observational Study.","authors":"Ekaine Rodríguez-Armendariz, María Vela-Romero, Adrián Galiana","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030027","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sensory processing challenges are crucial yet often neglected aspects in the care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic conditions. They represent a key area of interest in neuroscience, as they significantly impact children's daily functioning and quality of life. This observational study examines these challenges in a group of 614 children, aged 3 to 14 years and 11 months, divided into three groups: 183 with neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, developmental delays, and learning disorders), 89 with genetic conditions (22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Williams syndrome, and pseudohypoparathyroidism), and 342 controls. Sensory processing was assessed using Sensory Profile 2 (SP2). Results indicated that children with neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic conditions exhibited significant sensory processing difficulties compared to controls. SP2 identified distinct sensory challenges across different sensory systems, varying by diagnosis. Notably, genetic conditions appeared to have a more generalised impact across multiple sensory systems, while neurodevelopmental disorders tended to affect specific systems more narrowly. These findings highlight the importance of early identification and tailored evidence-based interventions to address these specific sensory processing issues. Further research should explore the long-term impact of these interventions in these different populations and their integration into broader therapeutic programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"339-353"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11467969/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559663","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}
Pub Date : 2024-09-02eCollection Date: 2024-09-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5030025
Vicki Bitsika, Christopher F Sharpley, Kirstan A Vessey, Ian D Evans
Relatively little attention has been given to mixed anxiety and depression in autistic youth, particularly how this differs between males and females. This study investigated sex-based differences in the prevalence and correlates of mixed anxiety and depression in a sample of 51 autistic males (M age = 10.16 yr, SD = 2.81 yr, and range = 6 yr to 17 yr) and 51 autistic females (M age = - 10.07 yr, SD = 2.76 yr, and range = 6 yr to 17 yr), matched for age, IQ, and autism severity. Self-reports on generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, morning salivary cortisol, ADOS-2 scores, and WASI-II full-scale scores were collected from these autistic youth, and data on the ASD-related symptoms of these youth were collected from their parents. The data were analysed for total anxiety-depression score levels, for the underlying components of this scale, and for the individual items used in the scale. The results indicate no significant sex differences for the prevalence of mixed anxiety and depression total scores or the underlying components of anxiety and depression or for the individual items of the mixed anxiety-depression scale. There were sex differences in the significant correlates of mixed anxiety and depression: morning cortisol and ASD-related difficulties in social interaction for females, and ASD-related behaviour for males. Males' feelings of being restless or edgy were correlated with their social interaction and repetitive and restricted behaviour. Females' difficulties in social interaction were correlated with their concerns about their abilities and their sleeping problems. Females' sleeping problems, their tendency to talk about dying, and feeling worthless, were correlated with their morning cortisol. These findings suggest that, while mixed anxiety and depression is experienced similarly by autistic males and females at the global, component, and individual item levels, specific aspects of the symptomatology of mixed anxiety and depression are differently associated with aspects of their ASD-related symptomatology and their levels of chronic physiological stress for males and females.
{"title":"Prevalence, Symptom Profiles, and Correlates of Mixed Anxiety-Depression in Male and Female Autistic Youth.","authors":"Vicki Bitsika, Christopher F Sharpley, Kirstan A Vessey, Ian D Evans","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030025","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Relatively little attention has been given to mixed anxiety and depression in autistic youth, particularly how this differs between males and females. This study investigated sex-based differences in the prevalence and correlates of mixed anxiety and depression in a sample of 51 autistic males (<i>M</i> age = 10.16 yr, SD = 2.81 yr, and range = 6 yr to 17 yr) and 51 autistic females (M age = - 10.07 yr, SD = 2.76 yr, and range = 6 yr to 17 yr), matched for age, IQ, and autism severity. Self-reports on generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, morning salivary cortisol, ADOS-2 scores, and WASI-II full-scale scores were collected from these autistic youth, and data on the ASD-related symptoms of these youth were collected from their parents. The data were analysed for total anxiety-depression score levels, for the underlying components of this scale, and for the individual items used in the scale. The results indicate no significant sex differences for the prevalence of mixed anxiety and depression total scores or the underlying components of anxiety and depression or for the individual items of the mixed anxiety-depression scale. There were sex differences in the significant correlates of mixed anxiety and depression: morning cortisol and ASD-related difficulties in social interaction for females, and ASD-related behaviour for males. Males' feelings of being restless or edgy were correlated with their social interaction and repetitive and restricted behaviour. Females' difficulties in social interaction were correlated with their concerns about their abilities and their sleeping problems. Females' sleeping problems, their tendency to talk about dying, and feeling worthless, were correlated with their morning cortisol. These findings suggest that, while mixed anxiety and depression is experienced similarly by autistic males and females at the global, component, and individual item levels, specific aspects of the symptomatology of mixed anxiety and depression are differently associated with aspects of their ASD-related symptomatology and their levels of chronic physiological stress for males and females.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"315-327"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11477927/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559661","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}
Pub Date : 2024-08-30eCollection Date: 2024-09-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5030024
Dong Hwan Ho, Hyejung Kim, Daleum Nam, Mi Kyoung Seo, Sung Woo Park, Dong-Kyu Kim, Ilhong Son
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) and α-synuclein are involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The activity of LRRK2 in microglial cells is associated with neuroinflammation, and LRRK2 inhibitors are crucial for alleviating this neuroinflammatory response. α-synuclein contributes to oxidative stress in the dopaminergic neuron and neuroinflammation through Toll-like receptors in microglia. In this study, we investigated the effect of the marine alga Padina arborescens on neuroinflammation by examining LRRK2 activation and the aggregation of α-synuclein. P. arborescens extract inhibits LRRK2 activity in vitro and decreases lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced LRRK2 upregulation in BV2, a mouse microglial cell line. Treatment with P. arborescens extract decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression by LPS through LRRK2 inhibition in BV2. It also attenuated TNF-α gene expression, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the release of TNF-α and cellular nitric oxide in rat primary microglia. Furthermore, P. arborescens extract prevented rotenone (RTN)-induced oxidative stress in primary rat astrocytes and inhibited α-synuclein fibrilization in an in vitro assay using recombinant α-synuclein and in the differentiated human dopaminergic neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y (dSH). The extract increased lysosomal activity in dSH cells. In addition, P. arborescens extract slightly prolonged the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans, which was reduced by RTN treatment.
{"title":"Therapeutic Effect of <i>Padina arborescens</i> Extract on a Cell System Model for Parkinson's Disease.","authors":"Dong Hwan Ho, Hyejung Kim, Daleum Nam, Mi Kyoung Seo, Sung Woo Park, Dong-Kyu Kim, Ilhong Son","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030024","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) and α-synuclein are involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The activity of LRRK2 in microglial cells is associated with neuroinflammation, and LRRK2 inhibitors are crucial for alleviating this neuroinflammatory response. α-synuclein contributes to oxidative stress in the dopaminergic neuron and neuroinflammation through Toll-like receptors in microglia. In this study, we investigated the effect of the marine alga <i>Padina arborescens</i> on neuroinflammation by examining LRRK2 activation and the aggregation of α-synuclein. <i>P. arborescens</i> extract inhibits LRRK2 activity in vitro and decreases lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced LRRK2 upregulation in BV2, a mouse microglial cell line. Treatment with <i>P. arborescens</i> extract decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression by LPS through LRRK2 inhibition in BV2. It also attenuated TNF-α gene expression, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the release of TNF-α and cellular nitric oxide in rat primary microglia. Furthermore, <i>P. arborescens</i> extract prevented rotenone (RTN)-induced oxidative stress in primary rat astrocytes and inhibited α-synuclein fibrilization in an in vitro assay using recombinant α-synuclein and in the differentiated human dopaminergic neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y (dSH). The extract increased lysosomal activity in dSH cells. In addition, <i>P. arborescens</i> extract slightly prolonged the lifespan of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>, which was reduced by RTN treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"301-314"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11469749/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559665","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}
Pub Date : 2024-08-22eCollection Date: 2024-09-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5030023
Robert Joseph Sarmiento, Amanda Wagner, Asif Sheriff, Colleen Taralson, Nadine Moniz, Jason Opsahl, Thomas Jeerakathil, Brian Buck, William Sevcik, Ashfaq Shuaib, Mahesh Kate
The burden of simultaneous acute code stroke activation (ACSA) is not known. We aim to assess the effect of simultaneous ACSA on workflow metrics and home time at 90 days in patients undergoing reperfusion therapies in the emergency department. Simultaneous ACSA was defined as code activation within 60 min of the arrival of any patient receiving intravenous thrombolysis, within 150 min of the arrival of any patient receiving endovascular thrombectomy, within 45 min of the arrival of any patient receiving no reperfusion therapies (based on mean local door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times). Simultaneous ACSA was further graded as 1, 2 and 3. We assessed workflow metrics as door-to-CT (DTC) time, in minutes, and functional outcome as home time at 90 days. A total of 2605 patients were assessed as ACSA at a mean ± SD activations of 130.8 ± 17.1/month and 859 (33%) were simultaneous. Among all ACSA, 545 (20.9%) underwent acute reperfusion therapy with a mean age of 70.6 ± 14.2 years, 45.9% (n = 254) were female with a median (IQR) NIHSS of 13 (8-18). A total of 220 (40.4%) patients underwent simultaneous treatments. The median DTC time, in minutes, was prolonged in grade 3 simultaneous ACSA (18 (13, 28)) compared to non-simultaneous ACSA (15 (11, 21) β = 0.23, p < 0.0001). There was no difference in the median home time at 90 days between the simultaneous (58, 0-84.5 days) and non-simultaneous (54, 0-85 days) patients. Simultaneous ACSA is frequent in patients receiving acute reperfusion therapies. An optimal workflow in high-volume centers may help mitigate the clinical and system burden associated with simultaneity.
{"title":"Workflow and Short-Term Functional Outcomes in Simultaneous Acute Code Stroke Activation and Stroke Reperfusion Therapy.","authors":"Robert Joseph Sarmiento, Amanda Wagner, Asif Sheriff, Colleen Taralson, Nadine Moniz, Jason Opsahl, Thomas Jeerakathil, Brian Buck, William Sevcik, Ashfaq Shuaib, Mahesh Kate","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030023","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The burden of simultaneous acute code stroke activation (ACSA) is not known. We aim to assess the effect of simultaneous ACSA on workflow metrics and home time at 90 days in patients undergoing reperfusion therapies in the emergency department. Simultaneous ACSA was defined as code activation within 60 min of the arrival of any patient receiving intravenous thrombolysis, within 150 min of the arrival of any patient receiving endovascular thrombectomy, within 45 min of the arrival of any patient receiving no reperfusion therapies (based on mean local door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times). Simultaneous ACSA was further graded as 1, 2 and 3. We assessed workflow metrics as door-to-CT (DTC) time, in minutes, and functional outcome as home time at 90 days. A total of 2605 patients were assessed as ACSA at a mean ± SD activations of 130.8 ± 17.1/month and 859 (33%) were simultaneous. Among all ACSA, 545 (20.9%) underwent acute reperfusion therapy with a mean age of 70.6 ± 14.2 years, 45.9% (n = 254) were female with a median (IQR) NIHSS of 13 (8-18). A total of 220 (40.4%) patients underwent simultaneous treatments. The median DTC time, in minutes, was prolonged in grade 3 simultaneous ACSA (18 (13, 28)) compared to non-simultaneous ACSA (15 (11, 21) β = 0.23, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). There was no difference in the median home time at 90 days between the simultaneous (58, 0-84.5 days) and non-simultaneous (54, 0-85 days) patients. Simultaneous ACSA is frequent in patients receiving acute reperfusion therapies. An optimal workflow in high-volume centers may help mitigate the clinical and system burden associated with simultaneity.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"291-300"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11469737/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559666","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}
Pub Date : 2024-08-06eCollection Date: 2024-09-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5030022
Mark Cannon, Ryan Toma, Sri Ganeshan, Emmery de Jesus Alvarez Varela, Momchilo Vuyisich, Guruduth Banavar
Autism rates have been reported to be increasing rapidly in industrialized societies. The pathology most often combines neurological symptoms associated with language and social impairments with gastrointestinal symptoms. This study aimed to measure differences in oral metatranscriptome and mitochondrial health between ASD children and neurotypical USA and Colombia ("Blue Zone") children. In addition, this study aimed to determine whether using prebiotics and probiotics would change the oral microbiome and mitochondrial health of ASD children. Buccal swabs and saliva samples were obtained from 30 autistic individuals (USA) at three intervals: prior to intervention, post-prebiotic, and post-probiotic. In addition, a subject component who were neurotypical, which included individuals from the USA (30) and Colombia (30), had buccal swabbing and salivary sampling performed for metatranscriptomic and mitochondrial comparison. Significant differences were observed in the temporal data, demonstrating shifts that interventions with probiotics and polyols may have precipitated. Particular bacterial strains were significantly more prevalent in the autism group, including a strain that reduced neurotransmitter levels via enzymatic degradation. This supports the hypothesis that the microbiome may influence the occurrence and degree of autism. Verbal skills increased in six of the 30 ASD subjects following xylitol and three more after probiotic supplementation, according to both parental reports and the subjects' healthcare providers.
{"title":"Salivary Transcriptome and Mitochondrial Analysis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Children Compared to Healthy Controls.","authors":"Mark Cannon, Ryan Toma, Sri Ganeshan, Emmery de Jesus Alvarez Varela, Momchilo Vuyisich, Guruduth Banavar","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030022","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism rates have been reported to be increasing rapidly in industrialized societies. The pathology most often combines neurological symptoms associated with language and social impairments with gastrointestinal symptoms. This study aimed to measure differences in oral metatranscriptome and mitochondrial health between ASD children and neurotypical USA and Colombia (\"Blue Zone\") children. In addition, this study aimed to determine whether using prebiotics and probiotics would change the oral microbiome and mitochondrial health of ASD children. Buccal swabs and saliva samples were obtained from 30 autistic individuals (USA) at three intervals: prior to intervention, post-prebiotic, and post-probiotic. In addition, a subject component who were neurotypical, which included individuals from the USA (30) and Colombia (30), had buccal swabbing and salivary sampling performed for metatranscriptomic and mitochondrial comparison. Significant differences were observed in the temporal data, demonstrating shifts that interventions with probiotics and polyols may have precipitated. Particular bacterial strains were significantly more prevalent in the autism group, including a strain that reduced neurotransmitter levels via enzymatic degradation. This supports the hypothesis that the microbiome may influence the occurrence and degree of autism. Verbal skills increased in six of the 30 ASD subjects following xylitol and three more after probiotic supplementation, according to both parental reports and the subjects' healthcare providers.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"276-290"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11467968/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559662","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}
The purpose of the article is to provide a practical guide for manual and semi-automated image segmentation of common neurosurgical cranial lesions, namely meningioma, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), for neurosurgical trainees and researchers.
Materials and methods: The medical images used were sourced from the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Interventions Society (MICCAI) Multimodal Brain Tumour Segmentation Challenge (BRATS) image database and from the local Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS) record with consent. Image pre-processing was carried out using MRIcron software (v1.0.20190902). ITK-SNAP (v3.8.0) was used in this guideline due to its availability and powerful built-in segmentation tools, although others (Seg3D, Freesurfer and 3D Slicer) are available. Quality control was achieved by employing expert segmenters to review.
Results: A pipeline was developed to demonstrate the pre-processing and manual and semi-automated segmentation of patient images for each cranial lesion, accompanied by image guidance and video recordings. Three sample segmentations were generated to illustrate potential challenges. Advice and solutions were provided within both text and video.
Conclusions: Semi-automated segmentation methods enhance efficiency, increase reproducibility, and are suitable to be incorporated into future clinical practise. However, manual segmentation remains a highly effective technique in specific circumstances and provides initial training sets for the development of more advanced semi- and fully automated segmentation algorithms.
本文旨在为神经外科受训人员和研究人员提供常见神经外科颅脑病变(即脑膜瘤、多形性胶质母细胞瘤(GBM)和蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH))的手动和半自动图像分割实用指南:所使用的医学影像来自医学影像计算和计算机辅助介入学会(MICCAI)的多模态脑肿瘤分割挑战赛(BRATS)图像数据库,以及当地图片存档和通信系统(PACS)的记录。使用 MRIcron 软件(v1.0.20190902)进行图像预处理。本指南使用 ITK-SNAP(v3.8.0),因其可用性和强大的内置分割工具,当然也可使用其他工具(Seg3D、Freesurfer 和 3D Slicer)。质量控制是通过聘请专家分割师进行审查来实现的:结果:我们开发了一个流水线来演示病人图像的预处理、手动和半自动分割,以及每个颅骨病变的图像引导和视频记录。生成了三个分割样本,以说明潜在的挑战。在文本和视频中提供了建议和解决方案:半自动分割方法提高了效率,增加了可重复性,适合纳入未来的临床实践。不过,在特定情况下,手动分割仍然是一种非常有效的技术,并为开发更先进的半自动和全自动分割算法提供了初始训练集。
{"title":"A Practical Guide to Manual and Semi-Automated Neurosurgical Brain Lesion Segmentation.","authors":"Raunak Jain, Faith Lee, Nianhe Luo, Harpreet Hyare, Anand S Pandit","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030021","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of the article is to provide a practical guide for manual and semi-automated image segmentation of common neurosurgical cranial lesions, namely meningioma, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), for neurosurgical trainees and researchers.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The medical images used were sourced from the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Interventions Society (MICCAI) Multimodal Brain Tumour Segmentation Challenge (BRATS) image database and from the local Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS) record with consent. Image pre-processing was carried out using MRIcron software (v1.0.20190902). ITK-SNAP (v3.8.0) was used in this guideline due to its availability and powerful built-in segmentation tools, although others (Seg3D, Freesurfer and 3D Slicer) are available. Quality control was achieved by employing expert segmenters to review.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A pipeline was developed to demonstrate the pre-processing and manual and semi-automated segmentation of patient images for each cranial lesion, accompanied by image guidance and video recordings. Three sample segmentations were generated to illustrate potential challenges. Advice and solutions were provided within both text and video.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Semi-automated segmentation methods enhance efficiency, increase reproducibility, and are suitable to be incorporated into future clinical practise. However, manual segmentation remains a highly effective technique in specific circumstances and provides initial training sets for the development of more advanced semi- and fully automated segmentation algorithms.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"265-275"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11468002/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559658","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}
Pub Date : 2024-06-23eCollection Date: 2024-09-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5030017
Noboru Imai, Asami Moriya, Eiji Kitamura
Background: We have previously shown that static and dynamic resting-state functional connectivity differ between migraineurs with and without photophobia, phonophobia, or osmophobia. Furthermore, some patients with photophobia also experience phonophobia or osmophobia. To investigate the functional connectivity specific to migraineurs with photophobia, we examined the differences in static and dynamic resting-state functional connectivity between patients with and without photophobia, with no phonophobia or osmophobia.
Methods: Fifteen migraineurs with photophobia but without phonophobia or osmophobia, as well as 15 sex- and age-matched migraineurs without photophobia, phonophobia, or osmophobia, underwent 3-T functional magnetic resonance imaging during the interictal phase. Static and dynamic resting-state functional connectivity were compared using region-of-interest analyses of 91 cortical, 15 subcortical, and 26 cerebellar areas.
Results: Static resting-state functional connectivity analysis revealed ten significant connectivity pairs in patients with photophobia, while dynamic resting-state functional connectivity analysis revealed six significant connectivity pairs in patients with photophobia. Migraineurs with photophobia had significantly lower connectivity between the cerebellar hemisphere and the temporal region than those without photophobia in both static and dynamic studies.
Conclusions: Our results show that lower resting-state functional connectivity between the cerebellar hemisphere and the temporal region is specific to migraineurs with photophobia.
{"title":"Differences in Static and Dynamic Resting-State Functional Connectivity between Migraineurs with and without Photophobia, without Phonophobia or Osmophobia.","authors":"Noboru Imai, Asami Moriya, Eiji Kitamura","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5030017","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5030017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We have previously shown that static and dynamic resting-state functional connectivity differ between migraineurs with and without photophobia, phonophobia, or osmophobia. Furthermore, some patients with photophobia also experience phonophobia or osmophobia. To investigate the functional connectivity specific to migraineurs with photophobia, we examined the differences in static and dynamic resting-state functional connectivity between patients with and without photophobia, with no phonophobia or osmophobia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifteen migraineurs with photophobia but without phonophobia or osmophobia, as well as 15 sex- and age-matched migraineurs without photophobia, phonophobia, or osmophobia, underwent 3-T functional magnetic resonance imaging during the interictal phase. Static and dynamic resting-state functional connectivity were compared using region-of-interest analyses of 91 cortical, 15 subcortical, and 26 cerebellar areas.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Static resting-state functional connectivity analysis revealed ten significant connectivity pairs in patients with photophobia, while dynamic resting-state functional connectivity analysis revealed six significant connectivity pairs in patients with photophobia. Migraineurs with photophobia had significantly lower connectivity between the cerebellar hemisphere and the temporal region than those without photophobia in both static and dynamic studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results show that lower resting-state functional connectivity between the cerebellar hemisphere and the temporal region is specific to migraineurs with photophobia.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 3","pages":"222-229"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11469730/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559659","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}
Pub Date : 2024-06-19eCollection Date: 2024-06-01DOI: 10.3390/neurosci5020016
Bernardo C Antunes, Tomás Mateus, Vanessa A Morais
The maintenance of energetic homeostasis relies on a tight balance between glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The case of the brain is a peculiar one, as although entailing a constant demand for energy, it is believed to rely mostly on glucose, particularly at the level of neurons. Nonetheless, this has been challenged by studies that show that alternatives such as lactate, ketone bodies, and glutamate can be used as fuels to sustain neuronal activity. The importance of fatty acid (FA) metabolism to this extent is still unclear, albeit sustaining a significant energetic output when compared to glucose. While several authors postulate a possible role of FA for the energetic homeostasis of the brain, several others point out the intrinsic features of this pathway that make its contribution difficult to explain in the context of neuronal bioenergetics. Moreover, fueling preference at the synapse level is yet to be uncovered. In this review, we discuss in detail the arguments for and against the brain usage of FA. Furthermore, we postulate that the importance of this fuel may be greater at the synapse, where local mitochondria possess a set of features that enable a more effective usage of this fuel source.
维持能量平衡有赖于糖酵解和线粒体氧化磷酸化之间的紧密平衡。大脑的情况比较特殊,虽然对能量的需求持续不断,但人们认为它主要依赖葡萄糖,尤其是在神经元层面。然而,研究表明,乳酸、酮体和谷氨酸等替代品可用作维持神经元活动的燃料,这就对这一观点提出了挑战。尽管与葡萄糖相比,脂肪酸(FA)新陈代谢能维持大量能量输出,但其在这方面的重要性仍不明确。虽然有几位学者推测脂肪酸可能在大脑能量平衡中发挥作用,但也有几位学者指出了这一途径的固有特征,这使得其在神经元生物能量学中的贡献难以解释。此外,突触水平的燃料偏好也尚未被发现。在这篇综述中,我们详细讨论了支持和反对大脑使用 FA 的论点。此外,我们推测这种燃料在突触处的重要性可能更大,因为突触处的线粒体具有一系列特征,能够更有效地利用这种燃料来源。
{"title":"In the Brain, It Is Not All about Sugar.","authors":"Bernardo C Antunes, Tomás Mateus, Vanessa A Morais","doi":"10.3390/neurosci5020016","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci5020016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The maintenance of energetic homeostasis relies on a tight balance between glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The case of the brain is a peculiar one, as although entailing a constant demand for energy, it is believed to rely mostly on glucose, particularly at the level of neurons. Nonetheless, this has been challenged by studies that show that alternatives such as lactate, ketone bodies, and glutamate can be used as fuels to sustain neuronal activity. The importance of fatty acid (FA) metabolism to this extent is still unclear, albeit sustaining a significant energetic output when compared to glucose. While several authors postulate a possible role of FA for the energetic homeostasis of the brain, several others point out the intrinsic features of this pathway that make its contribution difficult to explain in the context of neuronal bioenergetics. Moreover, fueling preference at the synapse level is yet to be uncovered. In this review, we discuss in detail the arguments for and against the brain usage of FA. Furthermore, we postulate that the importance of this fuel may be greater at the synapse, where local mitochondria possess a set of features that enable a more effective usage of this fuel source.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"5 2","pages":"209-221"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11493208/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559657","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}