Annals of Neurosciences最新文献

Background: Stress is a major problem in today's culture, especially for expectant mothers. Newer therapies that show promising avenues for the reduction of stress include sound therapy, yoga, mantra chanting, and meditation (M). Electroencephalography (EEG) electroencephalography plays an important role in understanding the relaxation effects caused by these practices.

Purpose: This study looks at the immediate neuro-physiological effects of brief auditory stimuli on pregnant participants, focusing on EEG responses during and after meditation (AM). Unlike the literature that has focused on AM, the significance of EEG readings during M is emphasised.

Methods: The new classification model, namely REA (R-score, EEG and Artificial Neural Network [ANN]) was employed for the analysis against the conventional approach of ANN.

Results: The statistical feature analysis showed in M EEG more significant than AM EEG. The results indicated that short audio interventions can be used to induce relaxation, and the identified EEG channels of CFz (frontal midline), F8 (right frontal lobe), and CP2 (parietal lobe) resulted in 100% accuracy in recognising meditative states during M. This accuracy underlines the importance of these regions for the differentiation of the relaxation states.

Conclusion: The present study offers novel insights into trimester-specific responses to brief M audio stimuli and highly underscores the crucial role of EEG monitoring in M. These results point out that short auditory interventions might serve as a useful tool in the realm of stress reduction in prenatal care and offer a future direction of research into the neuro-physiological effects of M.

Background: Alcohol abuse continues to be a major concern among young adults aged 18-25, contributing to a range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural impairments. One critical area of cognitive functioning affected by alcohol is prospective memory, the ability to remember and execute intended future actions. Individuals with a history of childhood trauma are at increased risk for alcohol misuse and associated cognitive challenges. Psychological inflexibility, defined as difficulty adapting to distressing internal experiences, may further exacerbate these effects but remains underexplored as a moderating variable.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the moderating role of psychological inflexibility in the relationship between alcohol abuse and prospective memory in young adults with and without childhood trauma.

Methods: A total of 250 young adults (125 with childhood trauma and 125 without), aged 18-25, were selected using purposive sampling from educational institutions and community centres in Delhi NCR. Participants completed standardised self-report instruments, including the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ), and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, independent samples t-tests, multiple regression, and moderation analysis using the PROCESS macro in SPSS.

Results: Analyses revealed significant associations among alcohol abuse, psychological inflexibility, and prospective memory difficulties. Notable group differences emerged between trauma and non-trauma participants. Psychological inflexibility moderated the relationship between alcohol abuse and prospective memory, with higher inflexibility linked to greater impairment.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that psychological inflexibility intensifies alcohol-related cognitive difficulties, highlighting its importance as a target for interventions aimed at the vulnerable youth population.

Background: Thyroid hormones tend to regulate the metabolic rate of the body. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions, and its dysfunction increases cardiovascular risk. About 65% of overt hypothyroid patients have autonomic dysfunction, which is due to sympathetic overactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal leading to a state of sympathovagal imbalance. Also, hypothyroidism is stated to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: Yoga practice helps in better modulation of the ANS and has been shown to improve autonomic function in diabetes and heart failure patients. Pranayama has been shown to improve cardiac autonomic function in hypothyroidism. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of three months of yoga therapy on autonomic functions in female hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine supplementation.

Methods: In this randomised open-label study, 99 hypothyroid women between the age groups of 18-50 years were recruited from the Endocrinology OPD in JIPMER and were randomly allocated to two groups. The study group subjects (n = 51) were administered three months of yoga therapy in addition to levothyroxine supplementation and a control group subjects (n = 48) received levothyroxine supplementation only. Autonomic function test parameters such as heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) were recorded at the baseline and after three months of study period in all the participants, and the parameters were compared between the groups and within the groups. HRV was measured from RR tachogram using Biopac MP150 and BRS was assessed using Finapres.

Results: After three months of yoga therapy in female hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine supplementation, HRV parameters showed a significant increase in parasympathetic tone (SDNN: p = .002, RMSSD: p = .021, NN50: p < .001, pNN50: p < .001, TP: p = .001, HF: p < .001, HFnu: p = .002) along with a decline in resting sympathetic activity (LF: p = .002, LFnu: p < .001, LF:HF ratio: p = .022) and a significant improvement in BRS (p < .001). Additionally, cardiovascular parameters also showed improvement in the yoga group (SBP: p < .001, DBP: p = .010, PP: p < .001, MAP: p < .001, RPP: p < .001) compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Three months of yoga practice in female hypothyroid patients in addition to routine levothyroxine therapy, it is effective in enhancing cardiac autonomic function with a shift towards parasympathetic predominance, and significant improvements in cardiovascular parameters. Yoga therapy may be suggested for hypothyroid patients to improve their cardiovascular health.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms significantly influence individual responses to antidepressant medications. Among these, variations in the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2C19, particularly the *2 allele, are known to affect drug metabolism, with implications for both efficacy and safety. South Indian populations exhibit a relatively high prevalence of this polymorphism, yet data specific to psychiatric cohorts remain limited.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the CYP2C19*2 polymorphism among South Indian psychiatric patients and to classify the corresponding metaboliser phenotypes to inform precision prescribing strategies for psychotropic medications.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 140 psychiatric patients of South Indian ancestry across two tertiary psychiatric centres. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and genotyped for the CYP2C19*2 (681G>A) variant using TaqMan-based real-time PCR. Participants were categorised into metaboliser phenotypes based on CPIC guidelines: normal (*1/*1), intermediate (*1/*2) and poor (*2/*2) metabolisers. Genotype frequencies were assessed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and descriptive statistics were used to summarise allele and phenotype distributions.

Results: The CYP2C19*2 allele frequency was 27.5%. Genotype distribution was as follows: *1/*1 in 55.7%, *1/*2 in 33.6% and *2/*2 in 10.7% of participants. Accordingly, 44.3% of patients were classified as non-normal metabolisers (NMs) (intermediate or poor). The genotype distribution did not deviate significantly from HWE (p = .0614), indicating population stability.

Conclusion: A substantial proportion of South Indian psychiatric patients exhibit reduced CYP2C19 enzyme activity due to the presence of the *2 allele. These findings highlight the clinical utility of pre-emptive pharmacogenetic testing to guide antidepressant selection and dosing in this population, supporting the implementation of precision psychiatry in routine mental health care.

Background: Acute heart rate variability (HRV) is used for assessment of functional autonomic profile in awake resting state in humans subjects. Evaluation of 24-h variations in the sympatho-vagal balance across sleep stages through HRV are valuable to understand the basis of various lifestyles diseases, however, such studies are uncommon.

Purpose: The present study modelled the sleep-wake associated cardiac autonomic changes in freely moving female Wistar rats across light and dark phase using HRV as a tool.

Methods: Sleep states (non-rapid eye movement [NREM] and rapid eye movement [REM] sleep) were estimated through electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG), while the ECG signal was acquired simultaneously for HRV analysis. To understand circadian dynamics, HRV was analysed for noise-free distinct and transitional state segments of sleep-wakefulness.

Results: In time domain parameters, RR intervals during NREM sleep were longer in comparison to wake and REM sleep. In the frequency domain, reductions in LF and an increase in HF power during NREM sleep were evident compared to other states. RR interval during wakefulness in the dark phase was significantly decreased compared to the light phase. The RR interval was the longest during the early phase of the light period (6-10 am) in all three states.

Conclusion: Parasympathetic predominance during NREM sleep was similar to a human having a monophasic pattern, while a higher sympathetic tone during the majority of transitional states in rats, which are polyphasic in nature, indicated risk of dysregulated sympatho-vagal balance with fragmented sleep. Further, the highest parasympathetic activity during the early light phase and the highest sympathetic drive during the dark phase may serve as an adaptive mechanism for survival in nocturnal life.

Background: Atherosclerosis, a precursor to macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes, has shown links to blood glucose fluctuations. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) serves as a non-invasive tool for early atherosclerosis assessment.

Purpose: This study explores associations between specific glycaemic variability markers and CIMT in young type 2 diabetes patients.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 52 patients aged ≤50, assessing mean blood glucose (MBG), standard deviation (SD), mean amplitude of glucose excursion (MAGE), largest amplitude of glucose excursion (LAGE) and CIMT. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation tests.

Results and discussion: Participants exhibited diverse characteristics and poor glycaemic control (mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): 8.7%). Nephropathy (52%), neuropathy (44.2%) and diabetic retinopathy (67.3%) were prevalent. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) revealed elevated glycaemic parameters. Significant correlations were found between MBG, SD, MAGE, LAGE and CIMT. Despite regional variations and elevated risk factors, findings align with prior studies, emphasising the multifactorial nature of atherosclerosis. The study highlights the importance of targeted interventions in diabetes management.

Conclusion: The study reveals suboptimal glycaemic control and a high prevalence of microvascular complications. Contrary to some studies, it establishes a significant correlation between glycaemic variability and CIMT, emphasising the importance of targeted interventions.

Background: Any risk behaviour may result in a negative outcome. This highly depends on the complex interplay of emotions and an individual's perception of risk. AI and ML can study the biological signature and speech of individuals, which can help clinicians intervene with individualised structured interventions.

Summary: This review investigates how AI and ML-based algorithms are used for detecting risk behaviours such as along with their diagnostic characteristics and treatment results. The review serves to collect all modern research about risk detection using existing ML techniques, along with their positive impact on clinical practice. The research explores how applying various DL models enhances the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the findings.

Key message: Though many ML models show a strong potential in detecting the risk behaviours, they do face limitations like a sub-optimal level of precision and sensitivity, Limited clinical value, external validity, high false positive rates, and less interpretability. Hence, HMM is recommended as a good alternative because of its excellence in uncovering the hidden states from overt behaviours, especially using language or speech analysis. The research currently in the field of risk prediction works on text or speech analysis and uses neuroimaging data. The implementation of DL practice is needed through validation, and at the same time, ethical considerations, data privacy issues should also be considered. There is strong evidence to suggest that DL and ML models and their adaptations show promising ways to predict and prevent risky behaviours.

Background: Shoulder subluxation and shoulder pain are frequent after a stroke. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been used widely in the sub-acute and chronic stages, but its use in the early stage is infrequent.

Aims and objectives: The study's objective is to see the effect of early neuromuscular electrical stimulation on hand function, shoulder subluxation, and shoulder pain after three months of stroke.

Methods: This study included 60 acute ischaemic stroke survivors. The intervention group received early NMES with standard rehabilitation, whereas the control group only received standard rehabilitation. The assessment was done at baseline and three months follow-up. The outcome measures were the presence of a sulcus sign, the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE, sub-scale A and A-D) and the Motor Activity Log (MAL) (sub-scale HOW WELL and AMOUNT).

Result: The intervention group had eight patients and the control group had nine patients with shoulder subluxation at follow-up. Hand functional outcomes were significantly better in the intervention group compared to the control group, with the FMA-UE-A scores of 27 (19-36) versus 18.5 (4.7-24.75), p = .007 and FMA-UE-A-D scores of 28.5 (4-48.25) versus 7.5 (4-23.75), p = .011. The HOW WELL and AMOUNT scores also showed significant differences, with 90 (30-150) versus 30 (0-90), p = .027. The intervention group did not experience any adverse events related to NMES.

Conclusion: The application of early NMES prevents shoulder subluxation and improves hand function. Randomised control trials with larger sample sizes and additional treatment sessions are needed to generalise the results.

Background: High altitude (HA) environments expose individuals to chronic hypoxia, which can affect cognitive function. While studies have explored cognitive deficits in lowlanders ascending to HAs, there is limited research on cognitive function among natives of HA.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate cognitive functions in the tribal population of Himachal Pradesh India using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool and assess the effect of high and very HAs along with age and gender variation in cognitive functions in these HA natives.

Methods: This study included 359 participants who lived at HAs. Cognitive function was assessed using MoCA. Participants were stratified by altitude (3,000-3,500 m and >3,500 m) and age group (20-40, 41-60 and >60 years). Appropriate statistical analyses were performed to determine the association of altitude, age, and sex with MoCA total and subscale scores.

Results: Significant associations were found between altitude and performance on the Naming, Attention, Delayed Recall, and Orientation subscales (p < .001, p < .001, p < .001 and p = .002, respectively). Specifically, a significant age-related decline was observed across the MoCA total score and most subscales (p < .001, Kendall's Tau = 0.48). Gender also had a significant association with the Visuospatial/Executive and Attention subscales (p < .001 for both), with males scoring higher than females.

Conclusion: Increasing altitude was associated with lower scores on specific cognitive domains. Age is a primary factor influencing cognitive performance in high-altitude natives and is associated with lower MoCA scores. Gender differences were also observed in specific cognitive functions. These findings suggest that altitude, age, and sex play important roles in shaping the cognitive profiles of individuals living at HAs.