Sjogren-Larsson syndrome brain volumetric reductions demonstrated with an automated software / Reduções volumétricas cerebrais da síndrome de Sjogren-Larsson demonstradas com um software automatizado

Abstract Background Sjogren-Larsson syndrome (SLS) is a neurocutaneous disease with an autosomal recessive inheritance, caused by mutations in the gene that encodes fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH3A2), clinically characterized by ichthyosis, spastic diplegia, and cognitive impairment. Brain imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis, demonstrating a nonspecific leukoencephalopathy. Data regarding brain atrophy and grey matter involvement is scarce and discordant. Objective We performed a volumetric analysis of the brain of two siblings with SLS with the aim of detecting deep grey matter nuclei, cerebellar grey matter, and brainstem volume reduction in these patients. Methods Volume data obtained from the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the two patients using an automated segmentation software (Freesurfer) was compared with the volumes of a healthy control group. Results Statistically significant volume reduction was found in the cerebellum cortex, the brainstem, the thalamus, and the pallidum nuclei. Conclusion Volume reduction in grey matter leads to the hypothesis that SLS is not a pure leukoencephalopathy. Grey matter structures affected in the present study suggest a dysfunction more prominent in the thalamic motor pathways.

Resumo Antecedentes A Síndrome de Sjogren-Larsson (SSL) é uma doença neurocutânea de herança autossômica recessiva, causada por mutações no gene que codifica a aldeído graxo desidrogenase (ALDH3A2), caracterizada clinicamente por ictiose, diplegia espástica e comprometimento cognitivo. A imagiologia cerebral desempenha um papel essencial no diagnóstico, demonstrando uma leucoencefalopatia inespecífica. Dados sobre atrofia cerebral e envolvimento da substância cinzenta são escassos e discordantes. Objetivo Realizamos uma análise volumétrica do cérebro de dois irmãos com SLS com o objetivo de detectar núcleos profundos de substância cinzenta, substância cerebral cinzenta e redução do volume do tronco encefálico nestes pacientes. Métodos Os dados de volume obtidos da ressonância magnética (RM) cerebral dos dois pacientes usando um software de segmentação automática (Freesurfer) foram comparados com os volumes de um grupo controle saudável. Resultados Redução de volume estatisticamente significativa foi encontrada no córtex do cerebelo, no tronco cerebral, no tálamo e nos núcleos pálidos. Conclusão A redução do volume da substância cinzenta leva à hipótese de que a SSL não é uma leucoencefalopatia pura. As estruturas da substância cinzenta afetadas no presente estudo sugerem uma disfunção mais proeminente nas vias motoras talâmicas.

Neuroestimulación del nervio vago, hipocampal y de núcleos anteriores y centromedianos del tálamo en epilepsia temporal: revisión de la literatura / Neurostimulation of the vagus nerve, hippocampal and anterior and centromedian nuclei of the thalamus in temporal epilepsy: literature review

Introducción: En pacientes con epilepsia del lóbulo temporal refractarios que no son candidatos a cirugía, se debe considerar la estimulación eléctrica cerebral como una opción. Contenido: La estimulación eléctrica cerebral es la administración directa de pulsos eléctricos al tejido nervioso que permite modular un sustrato patológico, interrumpir la manifestación clínica de las crisis y reducir la gravedad de estas. Así, dada la importancia de estos tratamientos para los pacientes con epilepsia del lóbulo temporal refractaria, se hace una revisión de cuatro tipos de estimulación eléctrica. La primera, la del nervio vago, es una buena opción en crisis focales y crisis generalizadas o multifocales. La segunda, la del hipocampo, es más útil en pacientes no candidatos a lobectomía por riesgo de pérdida de memoria, con resonancia magnética normal o sin esclerosis mesial temporal. La tercera, la del núcleo anterior, es pertinente principalmente en pacientes con crisis focales, pero debe realizarse con precaución en pacientes con alto riesgo de cambios cognitivos, como los ancianos, o en los que presentan alteración del estado de ánimo basal, y, por último, la del núcleo centromediano se recomienda para el tratamiento crisis focales en el síndrome de Rasmussen y crisis tónico-clónicas en el síndrome de Lennox-Gastaut. Conclusiones: El interés por la estimulación eléctrica cerebral ha venido aumentando, al igual que las estructuras diana en las cuales se puede aplicar, debido a que es un tratamiento seguro y eficaz en pacientes con epilepsia del lóbulo temporal para controlar las crisis, pues disminuye la morbimortalidad y aumenta la calidad de vida.

Introduction: In patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy who are not candidates for surgery, electrical brain stimulation should be considered as another option. Contents: Electrical brain stimulation is the direct administration of electrical pulses to nerve tissue that modulates a pathological substrate, interrupts the clinical manifestation of seizures, and reduces their severity. Thus, given the importance of these treatments for patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy, four types of electrical stimulation are reviewed. The first, vagus nerve stimulation, is a good option in focal seizures and generalized or multifocal seizures. The second, hippocampal stimulation, is more useful in patients who are not candidates for lobectomy due to the risk of memory loss, with normal MRI or without mesial temporal sclerosis. The third, the anterior nucleus, is mainly in patients with focal seizures, but with caution in patients at high risk of cognitive changes such as the elderly, or in those with baseline mood disturbance and, finally, the centromedian nucleus is recommended for the treatment of focal seizures in Rasmussen's syndrome and tonic-clonic seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Conclusions: the interest in brain electrical stimulation has been increasing as well as the target structures in which it can be applied because it is a safe and effective treatment in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy to control seizures, decreasing morbidity and mortality and increasing quality of life

Arousal mechanism after sevoflurane anesthesia in rats: orexinergic modulation in dorsal raphe nucleus by optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To investigate the arousal mechanism after sevoflurane anesthesia using orexinergic modulation in dorsal raphe nucleus(DRN) by optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques in rats.Methods:Forty-five healthy male Hcrt-Cre rats, aged 10-12 weeks, weighing 220-250 g, were divided into 6 groups by the random number table method: optical-excitatory group (CHR2 group, n=5), optical-inhibitory group (eNpHR group, n=5), optical-control group (O-CON group, n=5); chemogenetic-excitatory group (hm3Dq group, n=10), chemogenetic-inhibitory group (hm4Di group, n=10) and chemogenetic-control group (C-CON group, n=10). The optogenetic or chemogenetic techniques were used in each group. Three weeks after injecting the rat virus, anesthesia was induced and maintained with 2.7% sevoflurane anesthesia in 1.5 L/min O 2, and the EEG data were continuously recorded throughout the process. The burst suppression ratio (%BSR) was recorded at 2 min before and of laser stimulation. Combining optogenetic and chemogenetic strategies, it was investigated that whether activation of orexinergic projection to DRN could modulate anesthetic behaviors during sevoflurane anesthesia. Results:Compared with C-CON group, the recovery of righting reflex (RORR) time was significantly shortened after sevoflurane anesthesia in hm3Dq group ( P<0.05), and the RORR time was significantly prolonged after sevoflurane anesthesia in hm4Di group and eNpHR group ( P<0.05). Compared with O-CON group or the baseline at 2 min before light stimulation, the %BSR was significantly decreased during 473nm laser stimulation in CHR2 group ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant change was found in the %BSR during 473nm laser stimulation in eNpHR group ( P>0.05). Compared with O-CON group, the RORR time was significantly shortened after sevoflurane anesthesia in CHR2 group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Lateral hypothalamic area orexin-DRN neural circuit plays a key role in promoting arousal from general anesthesia in rats.

Roles of HMGB1 in spread of pain sensitization of trigeminal neuropathic pain / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Trigeminal pain is mostly uni-lateral orofacial,but pain sensitization often spreads to contralateral orofacial or distal body regions.Widespread trigeminal pain has more severe intensity,longer dura-tion,and wider distribution,accompanied by more serious comorbid emotional syndrome.Unfortunately,the first-line analgesics for neuropathic pain has limited effect on widespread pain along with unavoidable side effects.In-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of wide-spread trigeminal pain is urgently needed.METHODS Trigeminal pain was induced by partial transection of the infraorbital nerve(p-IONX)and evaluated by measur-ing nociceptive thresholds to mechanical or heat stimula-tion.Neuronal activity was evaluated by single-unit and patch clamp recordings.HMGB1 expression was mea-sured by immunohistochemistry.Antagonism of HMGB1 was achieved by injecting anti-HMGB1 monoclonal anti-body(mAb)intracerebrally or intraperitoneally.RESULTS P-IONX model induced not only orofacial algesia but also somatic algesia in hind paw.Spontaneous firing frequency of glutamatergic neurons in the ventral posteromedial tha-lamic nucleus(VPMGlu)as well as the amplitude and fre-quency of sEPSCs significantly increased after p-IONX.Moreover,calcium signal recording showed that VPMGlu became to be activated by the noxious mechanical stimu-lation given on the hind paw,suggesting that VPMGlu recruited somatic afferents after p-IONX.We further explored the upstream brain regions of VPMGlu by virus retrograde tracing.We found the afferents from the grac-ile nucleus/cuneate nucleus(Gr/Cu),which are involved in the conduction of somatic sensation,markedly increased.And chemogenetical inhibiting Gr/Cu-VPM circuit alleviated the widespread neuropathic pain.In addition,the expression of HMGB1 in the VPM was sig-nificantly increased after p-IONX.Local administration of anti-HMGB1 mAb in the VPM relieved widespread neuro-pathic pain in mice receiving p-IONX.CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that the remodeling of affer-ent neurons in VPM underlie the spreading of wide-spread trigeminal neuropathic pain.Highly expressed HMGB1 in VPM plays an important role in these patho-logical changes after nerve injury and systemic adminis-tration of anti-HMGB1 mAb concurrently relieves wide-spread pain.

Paraventricular thalamic nucleus nerve pathways involved in general anesthesia wakefulness and sleep wakefulness / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is a key nucleus involved in wakefulness. PVT plays an important role in normal sleep-wake regulation, but its role may vary during anesthesia depending on the stage of anesthesia. This article will review the role of PVT in sleep and anesthesia based on its wakefulness function neural pathways.

Dorsal midbrain syndrome from thalamocapsuloganglionic hemorrhage: A case report

@#Dorsal midbrain syndrome (DMS) is a supranuclear palsy of vertical gaze characterized by conjugate upgaze palsy, light-near dissociation, convergence-retraction nystagmus, lid retraction, and skew deviation. Majority of cases are due to primary midbrain lesions such as strokes or neoplasms, or due to pineal gland tumors compressing the said area. Presented here is the case of a 57-year-old male who came in with a chief complaint of diplopia and the typical signs of DMS. Cranial tomography scan revealed a parenchymal hemorrhage at the left thalamocapsuloganglionic region, a rarely reported site of a primary lesion causing DMS. In this case, the syndrome may have been a consequence of the mass effects and perilesional edema associated with the thalamocapsuloganglionic hemorrhage, or may have been due to disruption of supranuclear inputs to the dorsal mibdrain. This case provides further evidence that DMS may arise from lesions without obvious involvement of the said region. This case also highlights the importance of a thorough physical examination to elicit the findings associated with DMS, and the need to correlate these with a keen analysis of diagnostic test results.

Oclusión de la arteria de Percherón: Presentación atípica de Ictus isquémico / Percheron's artery oclussion: An atypical stroke syndrome

El tálamo posee una irrigación vascular compleja, llena de variantes anatómicas de relevancia para los estudiantes de la medicina. La presencia y el infarto producido por la oclusión de la arteria de Percherón es caracterizado por un cuadro clínico raro, poco conocido por los médicos del Servicio de Urgencias. Generalmente está asociado a la triada de alteración de la consciencia, parálisis de la mirada vertical y alteraciones de la memoria. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 54 años que se presenta con alteración del sensorio, somnolencia y alteraciones de la memoria, en el que no se pudo realizar terapia adecuada debido al desconocimiento de dicha entidad.

The thalamus has a complex vascular supply, full of anatomical variants of relevance to medical students. The presence of the Percheron artery is one of these anatomical variants, and the infarction produced by its occlusion is characterized by a rare clinical picture, little known by doctors in the Emergency Department. It is generally associated with the triad of impaired consciousness, vertical gaze palsy, and memory disturbance. We present the case of a 54-year-old man who presented with altered sensorium, drowsiness and memory alterations, in whom adequate therapy could not be carried out due to ignorance of this entity.

Correlation between thalamic network abnormity and cognitive function in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To explore the correlation and mechanism between thalamic network abnormality and cognitive decline in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).Methods:A total of 53 patients with unilateral TLE were consecutively enrolled through the epilepsy clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from December 2018 to February 2020. During the same recruitment interval, 37 health controls(HC) with matching demographic characteristic were recruited. All subjects were received the Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA) test and multimodal MRI scanning. Voxel-based morphometry method was used to study the changes of thalamic gray matter volume in patients with unilateral TLE. The structural covariance network and functional connectivity network based on seed points were used to analyze the changes of thalamic network in TLE patients. In addition, the correlations among abnormal thalamic structure, thalamic network and cognitive function score were analyzed. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Independent sample t-test and Mann Whitney U test were used for inter group comparison. In order to explore the relationship between thalamus and thalamic network and cognitive performance in TLE patients, thalamic volume and gray matter volume and functional connection value of brain areas with abnormal synergistic changes were extracted and correlated with MoCA score. Results:The total score of MoCA in TLE patients (27.0(25.0, 29.0)) was significantly decreased compared with HC (29.0(28.0, 30.0))( Z=-4.601, P<0.001). Whole brain gray matter volume analysis showed that compared with HCTLE patients showed significant volume reduction in left cerebellum, right temporal pole, right fusiform gyrus, straight gyrus, bilateral middle temporal gyrus, thalamus, medial and paracingulate gyrus (GRF adjusted, voxel-level P<0.001 and cluster-level P<0.05). The thalamus-associated structural covariance network analysis revealed that compared with healthy controls, TLE patients exhibited decreased connectivity in right fusiform gyrus (MNI: x=28.5, y=-15.0, z=-34.5), left insula (MNI: x=-33.0, y=-18.0, z=-1.5), right middle temporal gyrus (MNI: x=55.5, y=-51.0, z=9.0), left complementary motor area (MNI: x=-10.5, y=1.5, z=57.0) and right posterior central gyrus (MNI: x=31.5, y=-33.0, z=51.0) ( P<0.001, cluster > 100). The thalamus-associated functional connectivity network analysis revealed that TLE patients exhibited decreased connectivity in left insula (MNI: x=-38, y=-7, z=-7), left lingual gyrus (MNI: x=-6, y=-81, z=-12), right lingual gyrus (MNI: x=15, y=-105, z=0) and left triangular inferior frontal gyrus (MNI: x=-39, y=36, z=-6) (GRF correction, voxel-level P<0.001 and cluster-level P<0.05). Volume of left insula which had decreased structural connectivity with thalamus were positively correlated with the MoCA score in TLE patients( r=0.279, P=0.043). Volume of left complementary motor area which had decreased structural connectivity with thalamus was positively correalated with the MoCA score and language score in TLE patients( r=0.323, P=0.018; r=0.334, P=0.015). Volume of left lingual gyrus which had decreased functional connectivity with thalamus was negatively correalated with the memory score in TLE patients ( r=-0.331, P=0.016). Conclusion:Thalamic volume, thalamic structural covariant network and functional connection network are changed in TLE patients. The abnormality of thalamic network is associated with cognitive performance in TLE patients, which may be the neural mechanism of thalamus participating in the cognitive impairment of TLE patients.

Advances in morphological and functional studies on the paraventricular thalamic nucleus / 解剖学报

Paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is an essential component of the midline thalamus, which has been regarded as a transmit relay nucleus and an integrated center in multiple behaviors including wakefulness, food intake, addiction, reward and fear memory. PVT is predominantly populated with glutaminergic excitatory neurons expressing vesicular glutamate transporter-2 (VGluT2) but without GABAergic inhibitory neurons. Therefore, based on the paradox of its multiplexed roles in different behaviors and its comparatively simplex excitatory nature, more specific subclassification of excitatory PVT neurons is required in studies in this field. In the present review, morphological and electrophysiological characteristics, efferent and afferent connections, and morphological and functional distinctions in anterior subregion and posterior subregion of PVT are summarized. In addition, neural connections and neurochemical properties are used as subclassification criteria in PVT neurons. This review might explain the integrated role of PVT in different behaviors, which would be helpful for further studies on the PVT.

Intervention Effect of Ruyi Zhenbao Pills on Mice with Central Pain After Thalamic Stroke / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the intervention effect of Ruyi Zhenbao pills （RYZBP） on central pain after thalamic stroke in mice and explore the underlying mechanism. MethodThe central post-stroke pain syndrome （CPSP） model was induced by stereotactic injection of type Ⅳ collagenase into the hypothalamus in mice. The mice were divided into a sham group， a model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose RYZBP groups （0.65， 1.3， 2.6 g·kg-1）， and a pregabalin group （0.075 g·kg-1）. Seven days after modeling， the mice in the groups with drug intervention were administered with corresponding drugs by gavage according to the body mass， once per day for 25 days， while those in the sham group and the model group received an equal volume of normal saline. During this period， mechanical pain and cold pain were detected at different time points， and the apoptotic state of brain tissue cells was detected by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling （TUNEL）. The 36 classical broad-spectrum inflammatory factors were quantitatively analyzed by liquid-phase chip technology， and differential molecules were screened out and verified by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultCompared with sham operation group, mechanical pain threshold and cold sensitive pain threshold in model group were significantly changed （P<0.01）. TUNEL results showed that apoptosis of brain cells was obvious. Western blot and ELISA results showed that the expressions of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) increased in hypothalamus tissue and serum， while the expressions of Ang-2, granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and IL-4 decreased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， RYZBW dose groups significantly increased mechanical pain threshold， decreased cold sensitivity pain threshold， decreased hypothalamus cell apoptosis ratio （P<0.01）， decreased the expression of IL-1α and CCL5 in hypothalamus tissue and serum， while the expression of ANG-2， G-CSF and IL-4 were significantly increased （P<0.05）. ConclusionRYZBP can relieve hyperalgesia in CPSP mice， and its mechanism is related to the regulation of the expression of pro-/anti-inflammatory factors IL-1α， CCL5， IL-4， G-CSF， and Ang-2.

Cross-Modal Interaction and Integration Through Stimulus-Specific Adaptation in the Thalamic Reticular Nucleus of Rats / 神经科学通报·英文版

Stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA), defined as a decrease in responses to a common stimulus that only partially generalizes to other rare stimuli, is a widespread phenomenon in the brain that is believed to be related to novelty detection. Although cross-modal sensory processing is also a widespread phenomenon, the interaction between the two phenomena is not well understood. In this study, the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), which is regarded as a hub of the attentional system that contains multi-modal neurons, was investigated. The results showed that SSA existed in an interactive oddball stimulation, which mimics stimulation changes from one modality to another. In the bimodal integration, SSA to bimodal stimulation was stronger than to visual stimulation alone but similar to auditory stimulation alone, which indicated a limited integrative effect. Collectively, the present results provide evidence for independent cross-modal processing in bimodal TRN neurons.

Thalamic infarction and cognitive impairment / 国际脑血管病杂志

Thalamus plays an important role in the connection of sensory, motor and cognitive functions between multiple subcortical regions and cerebral cortex. In recent years, the important role of thalamus in cognitive function has attracted more and more attention. This article reviews the related research progress of thalamic infarction and cognitive impairment.

Regulation of Cued Fear Expression via Corticotropin-Releasing-Factor Neurons in the Ventral Anteromedial Thalamic Nucleus / 神经科学通报·英文版

The ventral part of the anteromedial thalamic nucleus (AMv) is in a position to convey information to the cortico-hippocampal-amygdalar circuit involved in the processing of fear memory. Corticotropin-releasing-factor (CRF) neurons are closely associated with the regulation of stress and fear. However, few studies have focused on the role of thalamic CRF neurons in fear memory. In the present study, using a conditioned fear paradigm in CRF transgenic mice, we found that the c-Fos protein in the AMv CRF neurons was significantly increased after cued fear expression. Chemogenetic activation of AMv CRF neurons enhanced cued fear expression, whereas inhibition had the opposite effect on the cued fear response. Moreover, chemogenetic manipulation of AMv CRF neurons did not affect fear acquisition or contextual fear expression. In addition, anterograde tracing of projections revealed that AMv CRF neurons project to wide areas of the cerebral cortex and the limbic system. These results uncover a critical role of AMv CRF neurons in the regulation of conditioned fear memory.

Síntomas afectivos en pacientes con lesiones talámicas y su correlación con el patrón de conectividad talamocortical: revisión sistemática de la literatura / Affective symptoms in patients with thalamic lesions and their correlation with the thalamocortical connectivity pattern: a systematic review

RESUMEN Desde la década de 1970, la disponibilidad de neuroimágenes estructurales (tomografia computarizada y resonancia magnética) y funcionales como la tomografía computarizada por emisión de fotón único (SPECT), la tomografia por emisión de positrones (PET) o la resonancia magnética funcional (fMRI)), abrió una nueva via en el estudio de la relación bidireccional que existe entre los fenómenos comportamentales y la actividad neuronal. La introducción de estas técnicas condujo a una mejor comprensión del impacto de una lesión cerebral en la actividad cortical y en el desarrollo de síntomas psiquiátricos. Explicar la presencia de síntomas afectivos como una alteración en la función de una estructura cerebral es insuficiente, y se debe considerar siempre un compromiso de los circuitos cerebrales. Muchos trastornos del afecto se han asociado con lesiones en las conexiones talamolímbicas, incluyendo trastorno depresivo mayor, trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo, adicción a sustancias psicoactivas y trastorno de estrés postraumático, por lo que la identificación de los tractos de conectividad puede proporcionar nuevos medios para una intervención terapéutica eficaz.

SUMMARY Since the 1970s, the availability of structural neuroimaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) and functional neuroimaging (single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)), has opened a new way in the study of the bidirectional relationship between behavioral phenomena and neuronal activity. The introduction of these techniques led to a better understanding of the impact of a brain injury on cortical activity and on the development of psychiatric symptoms. It is difficult to explain affective symptoms as a consequence of a brain structure dysfunction and is important to consider a brain circuit impairment. Many affective disorders have been associated with lesions in thalamolymbic connections, including major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction to psychoactive substances and post-traumatic stress disorder, and the identification of the connectivity tracts can provide new means for effective therapeutic intervention.

The role of microglia in thalamic reticular nucleus in acupuncture regulating cognitive deficits in insomnia rats / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To explore the mechanism of acupuncture in regulating cognitive deficits in insomnia rats by observing the effect of acupuncture on microglia in thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). Methods: Thirty rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an acupuncture group, with 10 rats in each group. The insomnia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) once a day for 2 d. Rats in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of normal saline. Rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 5 consecutive days. The CLOCKLAB 2 data acquisition system was used to dynamically observe the sleep of the rats throughout the experiment. The cognition of rats was evaluated by event-related potentials (ERPs). After intervention, brain tissue was extracted. Immunofluorescence was used to test the fluorescence expression in TRN region. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: After intraperitoneal injection of PCPA suspension, the spontaneous activity in light period of rats in the model group and acupuncture group increased significantly compared with the control group (both P<0.01). After acupuncture treatment, the rats in the acupuncture group had much less spontaneous activity during the light period than those in the model group (P<0.01), and the results indicated that acupuncture could effectively improve the sleep quality of insomnia rats. Compared with the control group, rats in the model group showed that the P3 latency, the average optical density of microglia, and the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α increased significantly (all P<0.05), and the P3 amplitude decreased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, rats in the acupuncture group presented that the P3 latency, the average optical density of microglia, and the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased (all P<0.05), and the amplitude of P3 was significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture possesses an ability to improve the cognitive state in insomnia rats. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the microglial activation, diminishing the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators like IL-1β and TNF-α, and promoting the recovery of central nervous system function.

Altered thalamic neurotransmitters metabolism and functional connectivity during the development of chronic constriction injury induced neuropathic pain

BACKGROUND: To investigate the thalamic neurotransmitters and functional connections in the development of chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain. METHODS: The paw withdrawal threshold was measured by mechanical stimulation the right hind paw with the von frey hair in the rats of CCI-induced neuropathic pain. The N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and Glutamate (Glu) in thalamus were detected by magnetic resonance spectrum (MRS) process. The thalamic functional connectivity with other brain regions was scanned by functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI). RESULTS: The paw withdrawal threshold of the ipsilateral side showed a noticeable decline during the pathological process. Increased concentrations of Glu and decreased levels of NAA in the thalamus were significantly correlated with mechanical allodynia in the neuropathic pain states. The thalamic regional homogeneity (ReHo) decreased during the process of neuropathic pain. The functional connectivity among the thalamus with the insula and somatosensory cortex were significantly increased at different time points (7, 14, 21 days) after CCI surgery. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that dynamic changes in thalamic NAA and Glu levels contribute to the thalamic functional connection hyper-excitation during CCI-induced neuropathic pain. Enhanced thalamus-insula functional connection might have a significant effect on the occurrence of neuropathic pain.

Preserved repetition in thalamic afasia. A pathophysiological hypothesis / Preservação da repetição na afasia talâmica. Uma hipótese fisiopatológica

ABSTRACT. The ability to repeat words is almost always preserved in thalamic aphasia. The pathophysiology of both thalamic aphasia and preservation of repetition are not fully understood. In a case of severe aphasia with preserved repetition after a left thalamic hemorrhage, MRI disclosed left thalamic lesion and loss of fractional anisotropy in the left centrum semiovale. FDG-PET showed severe hypometabolism in the left cerebral hemisphere, except for superior and transverse temporal gyri, calcarine fissure and frontopolar regions. Primary sensory function may be less functionally dependent on thalamic connections than heteromodal and paralimbic areas, which have connections with several thalamic nuclei. The extensive cortical hypometabolism due to diaschisis may have been responsible for the severity of the aphasia, whereas the less severe reduction of metabolism in the superior and transverse temporal gyri, and also, albeit less evident, in Broca's area, might explain the preservation of repetition.

RESUMO. A capacidade de repetir palavras é quase sempre preservada na afasia talâmica. A fisiopatologia da afasia talâmica assim como a da preservação da repetição não são totalmente compreendidas. Em um caso de afasia grave com repetição preservada após hemorragia talâmica esquerda, a RM revelou lesão talâmica esquerda e perda de anisotropia fracionada no centro semioval. O FDG-PET revelou hipometabolismo grave no hemisfério cerebral esquerdo, exceto nos giros temporais superiores e transversos, fissura calcarina e regiões frontopares. A função sensorial primária pode ser menos funcionalmente dependente das conexões talâmicas do que as áreas heteromodais e paralímbicas, que têm conexões com vários núcleos talâmicos. O hipometabolismo cortical extenso devido à diasquise pode ter sido responsável pela gravidade da afasia, enquanto a redução menos severa do metabolismo nos giros temporal superior e transverso, e também, embora menos evidente, na área de Broca, poderia explicar a preservação da repetição.

Prudently applying the therapy of anterior thalamic stimulation for refractory epilepsy: present situation and thinking / 中华神经科杂志

Recently,the U.S.Food and Drug Administration has granted premarket approval for bilateral anterior thalamic nucleus stimulation as adjunctive treatment for reducing the frequency of partial-onset seizures in adults who are refractory to three or more antiepileptic medications.The anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) is a primary component of the limbic system (the Papez circuit),which represents a fundamental pathway for seizure propagation.Scholars speculated that ANT is an anatomic target that may halt or influence seizure propagation or epileptogenic foci originating within the limbic system.Some suggestions on the possible factors associated with the efficacy of ANT stimulation put forward by experts are helpful.However,given the limited clinical data,there is a lack of valid predictors of individual treatment response.Most importantly,rational patient selection relies on a detailed and careful anatomo-electro-clinical analysis for individualized treatment.

Memory and emotional disorders after thalamic stroke / 国际脑血管病杂志

The thalamus plays an important role in the process of production of memory and emotion. Patients with thalamic stroke have memory and emotional disorders. Memory disorders are mainly manifested in the generation of hallucinatory memory and amnesia, while emotional disorders are mainly manifested in the effect of negative emotions.

Thalamic paraventricular nucleus mediates orexinergic neurons-induced promotion of emergence from general anesthesia in mice: evaluation using optogenetics method / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To evaluate whether the thalamic paraventricular nucleus mediates orexiner-gic ( orexin ) neurons-induced promotion of emergence from general anesthesia by using the optogenetics method in mice. Methods Twenty healthy male Hcrt-cre mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=5 each) using a random number table method: retrograde labeled viruses channelrhodopsin group ( R group) , anterograde labeled viruses channelrhodopsin group ( A group) , retro-grade labeled viruses control group ( RC group ) , and anterograde labeled viruses control group ( AC group) . The optogenetics technique was used in each group. Anesthesia was induced and maintained through inhaling 1％ isoflurane and pure oxygen 1. 0 L∕min. Electroencephalogram was monitored througout the procedure with the PowerLab monitoring system. The burst suppression ratio ( BSR) was recorded at 1 min before light stimulation and during light stimulation. Results Compared with RC group or the baseline at 1 min before light stimulation, the BSR was significantly decreased during light stimulation in R group ( P<0. 05) . Compared with AC group or the baseline at 1 min before light stimulation, the BSR was signifi-cantly decreased during light stimulation in group A ( P<0. 05) . Conclusion Optogenetics technique ap-plication once again confirms that orexin neurons can promote emergence from general anesthesia through thalamic paraventricular nucleus in mice.