International review of neurobiology最新文献

The rise in neurodevelopmental disorders linked to maternal viral infections, particularly during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, is concerning. Rubella, a contagious viral disease, primarily affects children and young adults, presenting as a rash and mild fever. It can also cause symptoms such as a swollen spleen, blueberry muffin skin spots, small head circumference, meningoencephalitis, developmental delays, and jaundice. When contracted in the first trimester, rubella can lead to severe birth defects or fetal death, with the risk declining after 20 weeks. Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) caused by rubella's teratogenic effects, remains a major public health challenge, with an estimated 100,000 CRS cases annually. Following the approval of the rubella vaccine in 1969, significant strides have been made to reduce CRS and rubella incidences. This chapter provides disease management, prevention strategies, treatment options, and immunological response, focusing on prognosis and insights from current research on rubella and CRS.

This chapter examines how human biology and microbial "secondary genomes" have co-evolved to shape neurodevelopment through the gut-brain axis. Microbial communities generate metabolites that cross blood-brain and placental barriers, influencing synaptogenesis, immune responses, and neural circuit formation. Simultaneously, Human Accelerated Regions (HARs) and Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs) modulate gene expression and immune pathways, determining which microbes thrive in the gut and impacting brain maturation. These factors converge to form a dynamic host-microbe dialogue with significant consequences for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia. Building on evolutionary perspectives, the chapter elucidates how genetic and immune mechanisms orchestrate beneficial and pathological host-microbe interactions in early brain development. It then explores therapeutic strategies, such as probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and CRISPR-driven microbial engineering, targeting gut dysbiosis to mitigate or prevent neurodevelopmental dysfunctions. Furthermore, innovative organ-on-chip models reveal mechanistic insights under physiologically relevant conditions, offering a translational bridge between in vitro experiments and clinical applications. As the field continues to evolve, this work underscores the translational potential of manipulating the microbiome to optimize neurological outcomes. It enriches our understanding of the intricate evolutionary interplay between host genomes and the microbial world.

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an autoimmune condition frequently caused by infections or immunisation activities and is characterised by inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). It primarily affects the brain and spinal cord, typically triggered by an immune response, and most often occurs in children but can also affect adults. The condition usually presents with a rapid onset of neurological symptoms and is considered a monophasic illness, meaning it generally occurs as a single episode. Its attack leads to inflammation and demyelination, impairing nerve signal transmission. Although the exact mechanism is not fully understood, molecular mimicry is thought to play a role, wherein an infection induces an immune response that mistakenly targets CNS antigens resembling the infectious agent. Despite improvements in knowledge and therapies, ADEM is still difficult to diagnose and treat. This chapter covers ADEM's diagnosis, etiology, prognosis, and clinical aspects. It emphasises the interactions between the immune system and the CNS, the individualised treatment plans, and the role of neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid investigations in diagnosis. Promising immunomodulatory medications and customised medicine strategies are being developed to enhance patient outcomes, even if corticosteroids are still the primary therapy.

This chapter reviews the effects of classic psychedelics on human oscillatory brain activity, as measured by resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). Across moderate to high doses of LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, and DMT, a consistent reduction in alpha power (8-13 Hz) emerges, particularly in occipital regions. Below 30 Hz, desynchronization is typical, although DMT can preserve or even increase delta/theta activity, possibly reflecting its immersive, immersive visual phenomenology. Complementing these spectral findings, measures of signal diversity (e.g., Lempel-Ziv complexity) reliably increase during psychedelic states, indicating a more variable and unpredictable pattern of neural firing. Retrospective subjective ratings of the psychedelic experience often fail to align consistently with M/EEG changes, possibly because fleeting, key experiences are obscured by data averaging or recording short segments of a long experience. In contrast, real-time evaluations of subjective intensity and plasma levels robustly covary with changes in spectral power and complexity, highlighting the potential for objective, real-time EEG biomarkers of drug activity. Limited research on functional connectivity and cortical travelling waves suggest that directed, top-down control may decrease while bottom-up signaling increases, indicating a transient reversal of typical hierarchical organization, though replications are warrented. Future work should implement more unified methodological approaches, alongside high-resolution behavioral sampling, to further our understanding of how these altered brain dynamics give rise to the distinctive qualities of the psychedelic experience. Notably, EEG has yet to be evaluated in clinical studies, and future work should aim to explore the relationship between acute EEG changes and clinical responses to psychedelic therapy.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric condition that develops after exposure to trauma such as combat, natural disasters, or assault. It is characterized by re-experiencing trauma, avoidance, hyperarousal, and negative alterations in cognition and mood. Since its formal inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-III in 1980, PTSD has been extensively researched. Current guideline-recommended treatments include trauma-focused psychotherapies and medications. However, a significant proportion of patients show limited response to these treatments. Psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy, offer an innovative approach for treating PTSD. Over the past two decades, MDMA-assisted therapy has emerged as one of the most promising psychedelic treatments, especially for patients resistant to conventional therapies. MDMA can enhance the processing of traumatic memories during psychotherapy and holds potential for other psychiatric disorders. Recent clinical trials highlight the effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy, demonstrating substantial and sustained reductions in PTSD symptoms. The FDA has designated MDMA-assisted therapy as a "breakthrough therapy" for PTSD in 2017. However, due to methodological concerns such as unblinding and potential expectancy effects, the FDA decided in 2024 not to approve MDMA- assisted therapy for clinical use, requiring additional research to address these issues. This chapter explores the clinical research on psychedelic-assisted therapies for PTSD, with a particular focus on MDMA-assisted therapy. It will examine the potential psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of action, as well as the methodological challenges and future directions in the field. The growing body of evidence supporting MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD is promising, especially for individuals who have not responded to traditional treatments.

The typical fluctuating skeletal muscle weakness in myasthenia gravis can make measuring disease severity challenging. Multiple measures have been developed to assess the signs and symptoms of myasthenia, from pure examination measures to fully patient-reported measures to combinations. There are also measures aimed at assessing quality of life and satisfaction. Electrophysiology and serology have also been used in some studies as surrogate outcomes. In this chapter, we review outcomes specifically developed to assess disease severity in myasthenia, as well as quality of life, and data on electrophysiology and serology as outcome measures.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness due to impaired neuromuscular transmission. Despite therapeutic advances, acute exacerbations and myasthenic crises remain significant challenges. This chapter offers an in-depth overview of rescue therapies for MG, detailing the mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of established treatments such as IVIG and PLEX, and discussing the potential of novel therapies like eculizumab and efgartigimod in acute MG management. We emphasize the importance of personalized treatment approaches tailored to factors such as antibody status, disease severity, and comorbidities. Strategies for monitoring treatment response and managing complications are also discussed. By synthesizing current evidence and expert recommendations, this chapter aims to equip clinicians with the knowledge needed to optimize rescue therapy in MG, ultimately improving outcomes during acute exacerbations and crises.

Hypnosis, a trance-like state marked by heightened suggestibility and focused attention, has shown substantial potential in affective neuroscience for influencing emotional processes and intuitive responses. Current research highlights hypnosis as an effective tool for stress reduction, with studies indicating that hypnotic interventions can reduce cortisol levels and autonomic stress responses, fostering relaxation and psychological resilience. Brain signals to monetary rewards indicate that hypnosis reduces impulsivity, which is important in substance abuse. A healthy lifestyle implies that we not only respond to immediate rewards but can also wait for delayed rewards. Hypnotic suggestions can make it easier to wait for delayed rewards. In dietary contexts, hypnosis has been used to alter food preferences, promoting healthier eating habits by modifying neural reward circuits associated with food choices, which could serve as a promising approach for weight management and nutrition improvement. Additionally, hypnosis has demonstrated efficacy in evoking feelings of safety and comfort, especially in high-stress environments like intensive care units (ICUs), where patients often experience anxiety and disorientation. By reinforcing perceived control and security, hypnosis can create a soothing, less intrusive ICU experience. The intersection of hypnosis and affective neuroscience offers valuable insights into the mind's capacity for self-regulation, with significant implications for therapeutic practices and mental health interventions. Future studies are encouraged to explore further the neurobiological mechanisms underlying hypnosis-induced affective changes to optimize and expand its applications.

Most empirical studies and theoretical models in research on suggestion and hypnosis presuppose that highly suggestible individuals comprise a uniform population. This assumption contrasts with consistent evidence for heterogeneity in this group, yet these findings have not been systematically integrated or evaluated against competing models of heterogeneity. In this article, I first outline the characteristics of heterogeneity among highly suggestible individuals, highlight methodological considerations, and review the assumptions of different models of heterogeneity. Next, I consider evidence for heterogeneity spanning responsiveness to hypnotic inductions and suggestions, strategy use during response to suggestion, developmental trajectories, cognitive-perceptual profiles, and symptomatology. I identify key limitations in this research area, highlight convergent findings within and across these domains, assess the explanatory scope of different models, and propose priorities for future research on heterogeneity. Elucidating the characteristics and latent structure of heterogeneity among highly suggestible individuals is essential for advancing our understanding of the neurocognitive substrates of suggestion.