Brain cortex morphology abnormalities in schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia:A magnetic resonance imaging study / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To investigate the possible pathological mechanisms of tardive dyskinesia (TD) by analyzing brain cortex morphological changes and it's correlation to abnormal involuntary movement in schizophrenic patients with TD.Methods:Thirty-two schizophrenia patients with TD (TD group),31 schizophrenia patients without TD (non-TD group) and 21 healthy volunteers (control group) were recruited.Combined TD and non TD group into schizophrenia group.The psychopathological symptoms and abnormal involuntary movement were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS).The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and Freesurfer software were used to measure the gray matter volume,cortical thickness,cortical surface area and volume of sub-conical regions among the three groups.Results:Schizophrenia group had significantly smaller gray matter volume in right nucleus accumbens,bilateral hippocampus,left superior frontal gyrus,left precentral sulcus superior part,and cortical surface area in left precentral sulcus superior part than the controls.The TD group had significantly smaller gray matter volume in right nucleus accumbens,larger gyrus gray matter volume and conical surface area in left precentral sulcus superior part than non-TD group (Ps ＜ 0.05).To test the difference between TD and non-TD group further,the chlorpromazine equivalent dose and PANSS negative scores Was controlled,the TD group still had significantly larger gray matter volume and surface area in left precentral sulcus superior part than the non-TD group [(2.03 ±0.07) × 103mm3 vs.(1.68-± 0.07) × 103 mm3,(1.01 ± 0.03) × 103 mm2 vs.(0.84 ± 0.03) × 103 mm2;Ps ＜ 0.05].Correlation analyses showed in schizophrenia group the cortical thickness in right inferior frontal gyrus correlated negatively with PANSS positive and general scores,positively with total scores;cortical volume in left occipital temporal sulcus correlated negatively with PANSS general and total scores,right inferior frontal gyrus correlated positively with PANSS positive scores,right intraparietal sulcus correlated positively with PANSS positive scores.In TD group,the cortical volume in left precentral sulcus superior part correlated positively with AIMS scores (r =0.46,P ＜0.01).Conclusions:The schizophrenia patients with TD had significantly increased gray matter volume and cortical surface area in left precentral sulcus superior part,which suggested there were motion compensation in the left precentral sulcus superior part in the pathogenesis of TD.

Estudio de Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal en pacientes con depresión y trastornos del sueño / Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in patients suffering from depression and sleep disorders

Introducción: la Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal (EMT) es una técnica neurofsiológica, que permite la inducción de una corriente en el cerebro de forma segura y no invasiva. Está basada en los principios de inducción electromagnética descubiertos por el investigador Michael Faraday hace dos siglos. Recién en 1984, Anthony Barker y su equipo de trabajo desarrollaron un estimulador que permitía despolarizar neuronas en la corteza motora y provocar movimientos contralaterales al activar vías corticoespinales, a partir de lo cual se ha logrado su aplicación en clínica psiquiátrica para diferentes trastornos. La EMTr puede utilizarse como complemento de otros métodos neurocientífcos en el estudio de vías motoras centrales, para el estudio de la excitabilidad cortical y en el mapeo de funciones cerebrales corticales, pudiendo combinar la capacidad de resolución temporal y espacial y la potencialidad de activar o interferir en funciones cerebrales. Materiales y métodos: los pacientes fueron seleccionados de acuerdo al diagnóstico bajo la patología F 33 ­ F 51 por el personal del servicio y remitidos a la unidad de Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal. Se les realizó exámenes complementarios como: TAC de cráneo, electroencefalograma, valoración psicológica pre y post EMTr, dentro de un protocolo estrictamente aplicado, sin el cual no se decide proceder a este tratamiento. Resultados: en el presente estudio no se hizo diferenciaciones entre el tipo de depresión y tampoco en lo relacionado a los trastornos del ritmo del sueño. Se encontró satisfacción en la mayoría de pacientes, sometidos a este tratamiento y muchos mejoraron su depresión y calidad de sueño con la estimulación repetitiva, proponiéndose como una nueva opción de tratamiento no farmacológico ni psicoterapéutico; además es accesible a todo tipo de población, siempre y cuando se cuenta con la infraestructura tecnológica para este procedimiento.

ABSTRACT Introduction: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a neurophysiological technique that allows electric currents induction into the brain in a safe and noninvasive way. TMS is based on electromagnetic induction discovered by Faraday two centuries ago. Only in 1984, Anthony Barker and his team developed a stimulator that allowed depolarization of neurons in the motor cortex causing contralateral movements by activating corticospinal pathways, from which it has achieved its application on different conditions in psychiatric clinic. TMS can be used with other neuroscientifc methods to combine the ability of temporal and spatial resolution and the potentiality to activate or interfere brain functions when studying central motor pathways, cortical excitability and brain cortical function mapping. Materials and methods: for the study, patients were selected under pathology F33 and F51, diagnosed by medical service personnel and sent to the Magnetic Stimulation Unit. Additional tests such as head CT, EEG, psychological evaluation pre and post rTMS (repetitive TMS) were performed within a strict protocol. If some of the tests could not be carried out, the treatment did not proceed. Results: in this study, differences on type of depression or sleep rhythm disorders were not made. Our results showed that satisfaction was found in the majority of patients undergoing this treatment and many of them even improved with repetitive stimulation their depression and sleep quality, thus, proposing an alternate non-pharmacological or psychotherapeutic treatment. Besides, it is accessible to most people, as long as the technological infrastructure for this procedure is set up.

Fundamentals of Brain Tumor Surgery in Eloquent Areas / Fundamentos da cirurgia de tumor cerebral em áreas eloquentes

Central nervous system tumors are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Themain pathology involved is brainmetastases, followed by intrinsic gliomas. In nearly all cases, surgery is the initial and most important measure to change natural course of disease. In brain metastases and meningiomas, gross total resection is also precluded, and usually more achievable, because of biological behavior of tumor and extrinsic presentation. Generally these tumors push or compress eloquent areas, but spare them. In intrinsic tumors, complete resection is often difficult, once tumor is invasive and may even be within eloquent cortex.When tumors occur in eloquent areas such as sensorial, motor and language cortex, there is the need for taking several measures to avoid worsening of symptoms after surgery. Especially in lesions involving language cortex, an awake craniotomy may be performed to assess intraoperatively language functions.(AU)

Tumores no Sistema nervoso central são a maior causa de morbimortalidade. A principal patologia é metástase do cérebro, seguida de gliomas intrínsecos. Em quase todos os casos, cirurgia é a primeira e mais importante medida para impedir a evolução da doença. Em metástase do cérebro e meningiomas, ressecção brutal total é igualmente excluída e geralmente mais factível, devido ao comportamento biológico do tumor e apresentação extrínseca. Normalmente, estes tumores empurram ou comprimem áreas eloquentes, mas o separam. Em tumores intrínsecos, a ressecção completa é difícil, uma vez que o tumor é invasivo e pode até mesmo estar dentro córtex. Quando tumores ocorrem em áreas eloquentes, como a sensorial, a motora e o córtex de linguagem, há a necessidade de tomar diversas medidas para evitar piora dos sintomas pós-cirúrgicos. Particularmente em lesões envolvendo o córtex da linguagem, uma craniotomia desperta deve ser realizada para acesso funções linguísticas de forma intraoperativa.(AU)

Association between the increase in brain temperature and physical performance at different exercise intensities and protocols in a temperate environment

There is evidence that brain temperature (Tbrain) provides a more sensitive index than other core body temperatures in determining physical performance. However, no study has addressed whether the association between performance and increases in Tbrain in a temperate environment is dependent upon exercise intensity, and this was the primary aim of the present study. Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to constant exercise at three different speeds (18, 21, and 24 m/min) until the onset of volitional fatigue. Tbrain was continuously measured by a thermistor inserted through a brain guide cannula. Exercise induced a speed-dependent increase in Tbrain, with the fastest speed associated with a higher rate of Tbrain increase. Rats subjected to constant exercise had similar Tbrain values at the time of fatigue, although a pronounced individual variability was observed (38.7-41.7°C). There were negative correlations between the rate of Tbrain increase and performance for all speeds that were studied. These results indicate that performance during constant exercise is negatively associated with the increase in Tbrain, particularly with its rate of increase. We then investigated how an incremental-speed protocol affected the association between the increase in Tbrain and performance. At volitional fatigue, Tbrain was lower during incremental exercise compared with the Tbrain resulting from constant exercise (39.3±0.3 vs 40.3±0.1°C; P<0.05), and no association between the rate of Tbrain increase and performance was observed. These findings suggest that the influence of Tbrain on performance under temperate conditions is dependent on exercise protocol.

Effects of electric acupuncture on amount of cerebral cortex and spinal neuron in hypertensive rats after cerebral infarction / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To observe the effect of electric acupuncture on the infarct volume and amount of cerebral cortex and spinal neuron at different times of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R)in stroke prone renovascular hypertensive rats(RHRSP)with middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO),and investigate the possible mechanisms of electric acupuncture on remote damage in ischemic stroke. Methods 480 male SPF Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were duplicated to form the RHRSP models by clamping both kidneys. 370 successful ones were selected by taking the tail artery blood pressure,and divided into hypertension group and sham operation group(each n=60)by random number table method. The MCAO models were created by stringing middle cerebral artery in the remaining RHRSP. The nerve function defect score(NDS)was graded by Longa 5 point method after the rats waked up from anesthesia,then the ones scored 1-3 were enrolled. Totally,there were 190 rats with MCAO successfully created from which 10 were randomly selected to determine the infarct size by 2,3,5-triphenyl four azole nitrogen chloride(TTC)staining. The remaining 180 MCAO rats were randomly divided into model group,electric acupuncture group and fake acupuncture group(each n=60). The sham operated group only received surgical trauma;the electrical acupunctures atBaihuiandDazhuiacupoints on Du channel were performed on the day of model establishment in electric acupuncture group,once a day for 28 days;in fake acupuncture group,sticked the acupuncture needles at the skin ofBaihuiandDazhuipoints,then gived the same electrical acupuncture treatment. On 1,7,14 and 28 days after treatment,the rats of each group were respectively sacrificed,and the brains were collected,then the infarct volume and spinal neuron number were calculated by Nissl staining. Results ①Cerebral infarction volume:No infarcts were found in hypertension group and sham operated group. On 1 day and 7 days after MCAO,the infarct volumes were increased gradually in model group,electric acupuncture group and fake acupuncture group〔infarct volumes on 1 day were(12.36±0.11)%, (12.19±0.15)%,(12.24±0.16)%,and on 7 days were(20.01±0.24)%,(19.54±0.61)%and(19.77±0.25)%, respectively〕,and on 14 days and 28 days after MCAO,the infarct volumes were decreased gradually〔infarct volumes on 14 days were(17.18±0.23)%,(16.96±0.11)%,(17.08±0.62)%,and on 28 days were(14.38±0.21)%, (13.95±0.46)% and(14.29±0.37)%,respectively〕,but the differences among three groups had no statistical significance(all P>0.05). ② Cortex area:On 1 day after MCAO,the differences in the cortical neuron numbers among all groups were not statistically significant(all P>0.05). On 7,14,28 days after MCAO,the cortical neuron number of sham operated group was more than that of hypertension group,but the difference had no statistical significance(all P>0.05). Compared with sham operated group,the cortical neuron number in model group began to increase significantly after 7 days;compared with model group,the cortical neuron number in electric acupuncture group was increased obviously(cell/HP,7 days:75.48±2.41 vs. 68.78±1.42,14 days:61.32±2.60 vs. 48.78±1.41,28 days:53.65±1.46 vs. 28.78±1.21,all P0.05).③Spinal cord area:On 1,7,14 days after MCAO, the differences of the spinal cord neuron numbers among all groups were not statistically significant(all P>0.05). On 28 days,compared with hypertension group,the cord neuron number of sham operated group was increased,but the difference had no statistical significance(P>0.05). Compared with model group,the cord neuron number in electric acupuncture and fake acupuncture groups was inecreased(cell/HP:21.32±1.60,16.17±1.05 vs. 15.02±1.18),the difference being statistical significant in electric acupuncture group(P0.05). Conclusions Generally,the secondary spinal(cervical part)neuron death occurs after cerebral infarction in rats. The therapeutic action of electric acupuncture may reduce the secondary spinal neuron damage at remote site after cerebral infarction,that is possibly the mechanism of electric acupuncture for the protection of brain in hypertensive rats from I/R injury.

Comparação do número de corpos de neurônios em diferentes giros do córtex cerebral de cães desnutridos / Comparison of the neuron bodies number in different gyrus of brain cortex of malnourished dogs

Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar possíveis alterações quantitativas em corpos de neurônios do córtex cerebral de cães, causadas pela desnutrição. Foram utilizados sete encéfalos de cães machos sem raça definida, diagnosticados desnutridos, para a realização deste estudo. Foram definidos diferentes giros do córtex cerebral a serem estudados; estes foram amostrados, processados pelo procedimento histológico de rotina e corados pelo método de violeta cresil modificado, para visualização dos corpos de neurônios. As lâminas foram analisadas à ocular de 20 vezes. Os resultados obtidos revelaram uma diminuição expressiva na quantidade de corpos de neurônios nos cães desnutridos (10,8), quando comparados aos cães normonutridos (16,35), concluindo que possivelmente a desnutrição é um fator de diminuição do número de corpos de neurônios no córtex cerebral de cães desnutridos, quando comparados a normonutridos.

The aim of this study was to verify the quantitative alterations of the neurons bodies in the brain cortex of malnourished dogs. Seven brains of mongrel male dogs that were previously diagnosticated as malnourished were collected. The dogs had similar constitutionalist characteristics of cranium (mesaquicefalus). It was chosen different gyrus of the brain cortex to been study; those gyrus were sampled, prepared according to conventional histological technique and stained by modified cresil violet, for becoming evident the neurons bodies. The slides were analyzed with the 20x ocular. Our results indicate a expressive reduction in the number of neuron bodies in malnourished dogs (10,8), when compared with dogs in normal nutrition conditions (16,35). In conclusion, it’s possible that the malnutrition leads to an reduction of neurons bodies in brain cortex of dogs, when compared to those with normal condition of nutrition.

Change of Peripheral-type Benzodiazepine Receptors in Brain Mitochodria and Platelet Membrane in Aging Rat / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo evaluate the quantitative and qualitative changes of peripheral-type benzodiazepine recepors (PBRs) in brain mitochodria and in platelet membrane in aging rats. MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3- and 24-month groups. All animals were sacrificed by decapitation and the brains were immediately removed. Mitochondrial components from dissected cerebral cortex were isolated. The membrane of platelets from venous blood was prepared by the method of hypotonic hemolysis. The specific binding assay of the radioactive PBRs antagonist ［3H］PK11195 to membrane was performed. Scatchard analysis was performed to estimate the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) and the maximal binding site density (Bmax). ResultsA significant increase in ［3H］PK11195 binding activity in the mitochodria from cerebral cortex in 24-month rats was observed compared to that in 3-month rats(P<0-001). Meanwhile, the Scatchard analysis revealed that there was an increase in Bmax, with a significant increase in Kd in 24-month rats. The same change of ［3H］PK11195 binding activity was noted for platelet membrane in 24-month rats(P<0-001).ConclusionThe density of PBRs increases in cortex mitochondria in aging rats, but the binding affinity of PBRs decreases which may be attributable to the progressive pathogenesis of aging in rats. ［3H］ PK11195 binding activity of platelet membrane might reflect the change of PBRs in the brain tissue.

Análise comparativa da densidade de neurônios em áreas corticais de diferentes raças de cães / Comparative analisys of neuron densities in cortical areas of different dogs breed

Foram estudadas e comparadas as densidades neuronais do córtex cerebral de três raças de cães, com tipos constitucionais e aptidões funcionais característicos e distintos entre si. Dos encéfalos foram retirados fragmentos das diferentes áreas do córtex cerebral, correspondentes ao sistema límbico, visual, auditiva, motor, paladar, olfato e à área somestésica. Através de contagem visual-manual, foram buscados dados comparativos, entre áreas cerebrais versus raça associando tipos constitucionais versus aptidão funcional. Os fatores raças, áreas funcionais e hemisférios cerebrais podem ser variáveis dependentes entre si, pois foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas em valores correspondentes à média de densidade de neurônios das áreas estudadas nas diferentes raças, bem como entre os hemisférios cerebrais. Os resultados permitem concluir que a distribuição quantitativa de neurônios nas diferentes áreas corticais estudadas mostra diferenças significativas que estabelecem correlações com as aptidões funcionais e respectivos tipos constitucionais das raças enfocadas.

They were studied and compared the neuronal densities of the cerebral cortex of three dogs races, with constitutional types, characteristic and different functional aptitudes amongst themselves. Of the brain they were solitary fragments of the different areas of the cerebral cortex, corresponding to the system limbic, visual, hearing, motor, palate, sense of smell and to the area somestesic. Through counting appearance-manual, comparative data were looked for, among areas cerebral versus race associating types constitutional versus aptitude. The factors races, functional areas and cerebral hemispheres can be dependent variables amongst themselves, because they were found differences significant estimation in values corresponding to the average of density of neurons of the areas studied in the different races, as well as he/she enters the cerebral hemispheres. The results allow to end that the quantitative distribution of neurons in the different areas studied cortical display significant differences that establish correlations with the aptitudes functional.

Nav1.5 Na~+ Channels in Human Brain Are Encoded by New Variants of Nav1.5/SCN5A / 生物化学与生物物理进展

98% amino acid identity.There are 28 different amino acids between them,with 7 of which locating in the region encoded by exon6A or exon6.Alternative splicing of exon18 was not found in the gene cloning of human brain Nav1.5/SCN5A,which was different from human heart Nav1.5/SCN5A,but a novel alternative splicing lacking exon24 was first found.The two variants were detected in similar ratio in brain,but they were proved to relate to age development in heart tissue.The exon24 of human Nav1.5/SCN5A has 54 nucleotides,encoding 30 amino acid residues,and are located in human chromosome 3P21.This alternative splicing was also found in other tissues other than heart and brain.The expression pattern of the two variants in different tissues was different when detected by competitive PCR method and it was also changing with age development.Furthermore,Nav1.5/SCN5A mRNA was detected in 16 different tissue types of Wistar rats(P80) by reverse polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) .These results suggest that Nav1.5 Na+ channels in human brain are encoded by new variants of Nav1.5/SCN5A and its mRAN is more widely expressed than previously thought.The study is useful for making further investigation in the functional analysis of Nav1.5 Na+ channels in different tissues.