Síndrome orbitofrontal en un interno con infracciones por secuestro agravado, violación sexual y muerte de una menor de edad

El síndrome orbitofrontal se caracteriza por la ausencia de inhibición, escaso control de impulsos, transgresión de normas sociales y, en determinados casos, con la materialización de conductas delictivas. Se presenta el caso de un interno varón de 18 años con infracciones por secuestro, violación sexual y homicidio de una menor de edad, a quien se evaluó a través de entrevistas y uso del test de Eysenck (Forma B), test de matrices progresivas de Raven, test de la figura compleja de Rey (Forma A), test de percepción de diferencias (Caras-R), test de Stroop (colores y palabras), test Mini-Mental y Cuestionario de cólera, irritabilidad y agresión (CIA). El evaluado muestra un lenguaje y vocabulario de acuerdo con su edad, no presenta problemas orgánicos, ni alteraciones en atención, lenguaje, escritura, lectura, praxias, cálculo, percepción y memoria. Los resultados destacan un coeficiente intelectual superior al término medio con óptimas capacidades cognitivas, temperamento melancólico con pensamientos depresivos, personalidad introvertida con baja sensibilidad a los cambios en el ambiente, escasa sociabilidad, ensimismamiento y evasión. Asimismo, evidencia tendencias perfeccionistas, con cambios emocionales bruscos y dificultad para reorientar patrones conductuales, alta tendencia a la impulsividad y escaso control inhibitorio; elementos característicos de un síndrome orbitofrontal. Finalmente, se destaca el uso de pruebas psicométricas y evaluaciones neuropsicológicas para el diagnóstico del síndrome orbitofrontal, necesarias a incorporar incorporar para el adecuado manejo de internos en los centros penitenciarios y/o de rehabilitación que no tienen acceso a estudios de neuroimagen y a partir de los cuales pueden diseñarse programas de intervención estratégicos.

Orbitofrontal syndrome is characterized by disinhibition, impulsiveness, transgression of social norms and sometimes the development of criminal behavior. This is the case of an 18-year-old male offender incarcerated for kidnapping, rape and homicide of a minor. He was evaluated through interviews and the use of the Eysenck personality questionnaire (Form B), Raven's progressive matrices (RPM), Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (Form A), Differences perception test (FACES-R), Stroop color and word test (SCWT), Mini-Mental state examination (MMSE) and Aggression questionnaire (AGQ). The research subject showed age-appropriate speech, language and vocabulary, and had neither physical problems nor attention, language, writing, reading, praxis, calculation, perception and memory disorders. The results highlight a higher-than-average intelligence quotient, optimal cognitive skills, melancholic temperament with depressive thoughts, introverted personality with low environmental sensitivity, poor social skills, self-absorption and avoidance. Additionally, perfectionist tendencies, sudden emotional changes, difficulty changing behavioral patterns, impulsiveness and disinhibition, all of which are characteristics of orbitofrontal syndrome. Finally, the research highlights the use of psychometric tests and neuropsychological evaluations for the diagnosis of orbitofrontal syndrome. Said tests and evaluations are necessary for the proper management of offenders incarcerated in prisons and/or detention centers who do not have access to neuroimaging; moreover, they may be used to design strategic intervention programs.

Frontal ataxia: historical aspects and clinical definition / Ataxia frontal: aspectos históricos e definição clínica

Abstract Frontal ataxia, originally described by Bruns, is characterized by the presence of signs of frontal lobe dysfunction, such as perseveration, paratonia, frontal release signs, cognitive changes, and urinary difficulty, associated with imbalance, slow gait, broad-based, the presence of postural instability and falls, retropulsion, and bradykinesia in the lower limbs. The goal of the present study is to recall the historical aspects of this condition, to draw attention to the importance of this clinical finding for the differential diagnosis of ataxias and to review the main semiological differences between primary ataxias (frontal, cerebellar, and sensory ataxia).

Resumo A ataxia frontal, originalmente descrita por Bruns, caracteriza-se pela presença de sinais de disfunção do lobo frontal, como perseveração, paratonia, sinais de liberação frontal, alterações cognitivas e dificuldade urinária, associados a desequilíbrio, marcha lenta, base ampla, presença de instabilidade postural e quedas, retropulsão e bradicinesia em membros inferiores. O objetivo do presente trabalho é recordar os aspectos históricos desta condição, ressaltar a importância deste achado clínico para o diagnóstico diferencial das ataxias e revisar as principais diferenças semiológicas entre as ataxias primárias (ataxia frontal, cerebelar e sensitiva).

Habilitación de funciones frontales básicas en cardiópatas congénitos a través de LEGO® Education / Basic frontal functions qualification in congenital heart disease with LEGO® Education

Las cardiopatías congénitas se consideran una de las anomalías que alteran la irrigación y el intercambio de oxigenación adecuado a las principales venas y arterias. Esto puede generar consecuencias en el desarrollo neurológico que se puede traducir en retraso psicomotor, déficits de aprendizaje, dificultades académicas y problemas de integración social. Para mejorar los trastornos cognitivos, se propone la habilitación cognitiva basada en los principios de mecánica y robótica de LEGO® Education. El objetivo de este estudio fue medir el efecto de un programa de intervención, basado en el uso de ensamblado y programación robótica con LEGO® Education, sobre las funciones frontales básicas como primera aproximación a un modelo propuesto en pacientes cardiópatas congénitos que han sido sometidos a cirugía cardiovascular. Se trató de un estudio de serie de casos, en el que finalizaron el tratamiento una niña y dos niños con cardiopatías congénitas con RACHS 2 y 3. Se aplicaron sub-escalas BANFE-2 y el cuestionario neuropsicológico de daño frontal antes y después del tratamiento; así como una escala para medir el nivel de ejecución por intervención, durante las ocho sesiones. Los resultados muestran en la escala BANFE2, cambios en las medias de las funciones frontales básicas, de daño leve-moderado y normal a normal alto, principalmente en memoria de trabajo y fluidez verbal. En esta primera aproximación, el método LEGO® Education mostró ser una buena herramienta para la habilitación neuropsicológica de estos pacientes.

Congenital heart diseases are considered to be an anomaly which alter the irrigation and the adequate exchange of oxygenation to the main veins and arteries. They can have neurodevelopmental consequences that could translate into psychomotor retardation, learning deficits, academic difficulties, and social integration problems. Cognitive empowerment based on the mechanics and robotics principles of LEGO® Education is proposed to improve cognitive disorders. In this study, the objective was to measure the effect of an intervention program, based on the use of assembly and robotic programming with LEGO® Education, upon basic frontal functions as a first approach to a proposed model in congenital heart disease patients who have undergone cardiovascular surgery. This was a case-series study, in which a girl and two boys with congenital heart disease with RACHS 2 and 3, completed the treatment. BANFE-2 subscales and the neuropsychological questionnaire of frontal damage were applied before and after the treatment; as well as a scale to measure the level of performance per intervention, through all the eight sessions. The BANFE-2 scale showed changes in the means of frontal functions, from mild-moderate damage and normal to high normal, mainly in working memory and verbal fluency. In this first approach, LEGO® Education method proved to be a useful tool for the neuropsychological empowerment of these patients.

Clinical analysis of 37 patients with bilateral frontal lobe contusion / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the treatment methods and their efficacy for bilateral frontal lobe contusion.Methods:The clinical data of 37 patients with bilateral frontal lobe contusion who received treatment in Fujian Provincial Hospital between May 2017 and May 2018 were analyzed. The 37 patients were divided into surgical group ( n = 19) and non-surgical group ( n = 18) according to different treatment methods. Clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. All patients underwent intracranial pressure monitoring. Intracerebral pressure was divided into three stages: < 20 mmHg, 20-40 mmHg, > 40 mmHg. Clinical efficacy was compared among patients with different levels of intracranial pressure. Results:In the surgical group, one patient died, one patient was in a vegetative state, two patients had severe disability, eight patients had mild disability, and seven patients well recovered. In the non-surgical group, four patients died, three patients were in a vegetative state, six patients had severe disability, three patients had mild disability, and two patients well recovered. There was significant difference in good recovery rate between the two groups ( χ2 = 9.83, P < 0.05). The good recovery rate was statistically significant among patients with different levels of intracranial pressure ( χ2 = 7.97, P < 0.05). The vegetative state rate in patients with > 40 mmHg intracranial pressure was significantly higher than that in patients with < 20 mmHg intracranial pressure (50.0% vs. 0.0%, χ2 = 7.65, P < 0.05). The good recovery rate in patients with > 40 mmHg intracranial pressure was significantly lower than that in patients with < 20 mmHg intracranial pressure (0.0% vs. 61.5%, χ2 = 7.57, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The choice of treatment for bilateral frontal lobe contusion mainly depends on clinical symptoms, dynamic brain CT findings, and the changes in dynamic intracranial pressure monitoring. Active surgery can reduce the incidence of death and severe disability. Intracranial pressure monitoring has a positive role in guiding clinical treatment.

Effect of High-Fat Diet on SOD2, GPx, NeuN and BDNF Expression on Frontal Lobe of Obese Rats

@#Introduction: Obesity has been demonstrated to induce oxidative stress and inflammation processes that lead to senescence in brain cells. Obesity-induced cellular senescence in the brain is still widely investigated. This study aimed to investigate the expression of antioxidant and neuronal markers in the frontal lobes of obese rats. Methods: Eighteen adult rat Sprague Dawley divided into three groups: Control (SO), Obese-2 (DIO2), and Obese-4 (DIO4) were observed. Control rats were fed with a standard diet AIN 76A for two month. In contrast, DIO2 and DIO4 rats were fed with a high-fat diet daily for two and four months, respectively. After being sacrificed, the rats’ brains were dissected out then the frontal lobes were used for RNA extraction. Reverse transcriptase PCR of SOD2, GPx, BDNF, NeuN and beta-actin was performed to investigate the relative expression of the antioxidant and neuronal markers. Results: DIO2 and DIO4 groups had significantly increased body Weights, blood glucose level and triglyceride level after being fed with a high-fat diet for two and four months, respectively. The DIO4 group had the significantly lowest mRNA expressions of SOD2, GPx, BDNF and NeuN. Conclusion: Decreased antioxidant and neuronal markers in the rats frontal lobes were observed as the chronic effect of obesity.

Effect of D-dimer abnormality on the prognosis of patients with frontal lobe injury / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of abnormal D-dimer level on the prognosis of patients with frontal lobe injury, and to provide a new idea for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis evaluation of frontal lobe injury.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 71 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who were admitted to the Surgical Care Unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from November 1, 2020 to February 1, 2021. According to whether TBI involved in the frontal lobe, the patients were divided into the experimental group ( n = 44) and the control group ( n = 27). Clinical data including sex, age, body mass index (BMI), length of hospital stay, ISS trauma score, GCS coma score, qSOFA score, GOS prognostic score and coagulation index test results within 24 h of admission of the two groups were recorded, and the difference of each index between the two groups was compared. Results:① D-dimer levels were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group ( P<0.01); ② The incidence of complications in the experimental group was 40.9%, of which the incidence of lower limb vein thrombosis was 18.2%, and the incidence of complications in the control group was 18.5%, of which the incidence of lower limb vein thrombosis was 3.7%; there were statistical differences between the two groups ( P<0.05); ③ The average hospital stay of patients was 10.96 days in the control group, and 15.50 days in the experimental group with a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05); ④ The 28-day mortality rate of patients in the experimental group was 18.2% and 7.4% in the control group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups ( P>0.05); ⑤ The level of D-dimer was negatively correlated with GOS prognostic score in patients with frontal lobe injury ( r=-0.501, P<0.01). Conclusions:Patients with frontal lobe injury have increased D-dimer levels, increased incidence of complications, and longer hospital stay. There is a significant negative correlation between D-dimer level and prognosis in patients with frontal lobe injury. D-dimer can be used as a sensitive indicator to evaluate the prognosis of patients with frontal lobe injury. The higher the D-dimer level, the worse the prognosis of patients.

Rehabilitación neuropsicológica en un caso de trastorno límite de la personalidad / Neuropsychological rehabilitation in a case of borderline personality disorder

La rehabilitación neuropsicológica es una terapia que busca mejorar la independencia y autonomía en pacientes que presentan dificultades cognitivas. El objetivo de la investigación fue determinar la eficacia de un programa de rehabilitación neuropsicológica en una paciente con diagnóstico de trastorno neurocognitivo leve, tipo ejecutivo, asociado a trastorno límite de la personalidad, mediante el fortalecimiento de la atención y de los procesos ejecutivos implicados en la memoria, bajo los principios de sustitución y restitución. Los instrumentos para establecer línea base y para medir el efecto del tratamiento fueron la escala de trastornos de la memoria y la escala de criterios del trastorno límite de la personalidad (TLP) basados en el DSM-V; estos instrumentos se le aplicaron a la paciente y también a su informador para comparar los datos. Los resultados arrojaron una mejoría estadística en las puntuaciones de la escala de trastornos de la memoria y de la escala de criterios para el TLP-DSM-V; pasando de tener una puntuación en memoria de 36 en línea base a 16 después de la intervención, también pasó de tener 3 criterios para impulsividad a 1 criterio después de la intervención. Finalmente se establece la eficacia de la rehabilitación neuropsicológica en los pacientes con TLP, no solo se evidencia mejoría en los síntomas cognitivos asociados a las dificultades en la memoria, sino que también se muestra disminución en los síntomas psiquiátricos asociados con el control de los impulsos.

Neuropsychological rehabilitation is a therapy that seeks to improve independence and autonomy in patients with cognitive difficulties. The objective of the investigation was to determine the efficacy of a neuropsychological rehabilitation program in a patient diagnosed with a mild neurocognitive disorder, executive type, associated with borderline disorder personality, by strengthening attention and executive processes involved in memory, under the principles of substitution and restitution. The instruments to establish a baseline and to measure the effect of treatment were the memory disorders scale and the DSM-V-based borderline personality disorder (BPD) criteria scale; these instruments were applied to the patient and also to her informant to compare the data. The results showed a statistical improvement in the scores of the memory disorders scale and the criteria scale for the BPD-DSM-V; going from having a memory score of 36 at baseline to 16 after the intervention, it also went from having three criteria for impulsivity to one criterion after the intervention. Finally, the efficacy of neuropsychological rehabilitation in patients with BPD is established, not only is there an improvement in the cognitive symptoms associated with memory difficulties, but also a decrease in the psychiatric symptoms associated with impulse control.

Expression of Senescence Markers Increased in the Frontal Lobes of Obese Rats

@#Introduction: Obesity has been demonstrated to induce oxidative stress and inflammation processes that lead to senescence. Obesity-induced cellular senescence in the brain is still widely investigated. This study aimed to investigate the expression of senescence markers in the frontal lobes of obese rats. Methods: Three groups of rats: control, Obese-2 (Ob-2), and Obese-4 (Ob-4) were observed. Control rats were fed with a standard diet for one month. In contrast, Ob-2 and Ob-4 rats were fed with a high-fat diet daily for two and four months, respectively. After being sacrificed, the rats’ brains were dissected out then the frontal lobes were used for RNA extraction. Reverse transcriptase PCR of p-16, p-21, and beta-actin was performed to investigate the relative expression of the senescence markers. Results: Ob-2 and Ob-4 groups had significantly increased body weight after being fed with a high-fat diet for two and four months, respectively. The mRNA expressions of p-16 and p-21 in the frontal lobes of three groups showed similar patterns. The ob-4 group had the highest mRNA expressions of both p-16 and p-21. In comparison to control and Ob-2 groups, the mRNA expressions of p-16 and p-21 were markedly increased. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of p-16 and p-21 between control and Ob-2 groups were comparable. Conclusion: Increased senescence markers in the rats’ frontal lobes were observed as the chronic effect of obesity.

Advances in sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy / 浙江大学学报·医学版

Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE), formerly known as nocturnal frontal epilepsy, is characterized by asymmetrical tonic or complex hypermotor seizures during sleep, with transient, frequent and clustering attack. The accurate incidence is not known but somehow low, which is estimated about 1.8/100 000. The differential diagnosis between SHE and parasomnias may be challenging due to possible similarities between the two sleep-related manifestations. In a majority of patients, the etiology is unknown. Identified etiologies are heterogeneous and structural abnormalities,which are involved in the severity and prognosis of SHE. In terms of treatment, it mainly includes pharmacological therapy and surgery. Carbamazepine seems to be the drug of choice in SHE patients, and epilepsy surgery provides excellent results in selected drug-resistant SHE cases. This review will focus on diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis of SHE, aiming to promote its early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Rehabilitación de las funciones ejecutivas en un caso de oligoastrocitoma frontal derecho / Rehabilitation of executive functions in a case of right frontal oligoastrocytoma

El desarrollo tecnológico y científico en salud de los últimos años ha permitido mejoras en el diagnóstico y mayor eficacia en el tratamiento de pacientes con tumores cerebrales, generado un aumento no solo en la supervivencia, sino también una mayor demanda de los servicios de neuropsicología y rehabilitación, debido a las alteraciones cognitivas asociadas y dificultades en cuanto a la funcionalidad e independencia, disminuyendo significativamente la calidad de vida de estos pacientes. La presente investigación documenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 43 años, remitido al servicio de neuropsicología tras la resección de oligoastrocitoma frontal derecho, en la evaluación neuropsicológica se evidenció alteraciones en funciones ejecutivas, fluidez de lenguaje discursivo y dificultad en habilidades instrumentales. La investigación se realizó bajo el diseño cuasi experimental de caso único, donde se aplicó en repetidas ocasiones a lo largo del tratamiento el Inventario de Adaptabilidad Mayo-Portland (MPAI-4) para determinar las dificultades funcionales del paciente. El objetivo de la rehabilitación neuropsicológica se centró en implementar estrategias de autoinstrucciones y automonitoreo, que pudieran ser aplicadas en contextos cotidianos y en intereses específicos del paciente. Los resultados indican que el proceso de rehabilitación neuropsicológica demostró tener un efecto positivo en la funcionalidad del paciente y las estrategias aprendidas pueden ser trasladadas a su vida cotidiana

The technological and scientific development on health in recent years has allowed improvements in diagnosis and treatment on brain tumor patients, have increase not only their survivor rate but also their need of neuropsychology and rehabilitation services due to cognitive alterations associated and the subsequent struggling with independence and functionality that reduces significantly their life quality. The present research documents the case of a male patient, 43 years old, referred to the service after resection of right frontal oligoastrocytoma, in the neuropsychologic evaluation evidenced executive functions, discursive language fluency alterations and difficulties in instrumental skills. The research was carried out under the quasi experimental design of a single case where there will be applied repeatedly during the course of treatment the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4) to identify functional difficulties on the patient. The objective of the neuropsychological rehabilitation focuses on implementing self-instruction and self-observance strategies in order to apply them on an ordinary context and the patient's specific areas of interest. The results indicate that the neuropsychological rehabilitation treatment has shown a positive effect on the patient's functionality and an improvement on his ability to apply the learned strategies to his day to day life.

Síntomas disejecutivos y reflejos frontales en pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer / Dysexecutive symptoms and frontal reflexes in patients with Alzheimer disease

INTRODUCCIÓN. La enfermedad de Alzheimer, supone la primera causa de demencia y produce múltiples alteraciones cognitivas como la afectación de las funciones ejecutivas. Esos pacientes presentan síntomas disejecutivos y alteración en los reflejos de liberación frontal, aunque se desconoce si están afectados en función del grado de severidad de la demencia. OBJETIVO. Determinar si existe una relación entre los Síntomas Disejecutivos y los Reflejos de Liberación Frontal en pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo; se analizaron 23 pacientes con demencia tipo Alzheimer del Centro de Referencia Estatal de Atención a Personas con Enfermedad de Alzheimer, durante el periodo 2013-2014. Los datos fueron obtenidos mediante el cuestionario disejecutivo, y analizados mediante la prueba X2 y la U de Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS. Las edades de los participantes oscilaron entre 55 y 90 años. La media de puntuaciones según el cuestionario disejecutivo, arrojó un valor de 21,69. En la planificación se observó diferencias significativas entre los pacientes con Alzheimer leve y moderado (p=0,020); así como, entre la fase leve y la moderadamente grave (p=0,014). En la conciencia social resultó similar entre la etapa leve y la moderada (p=0,036). CONCLUSIÓN. Los reflejos de liberación frontal y los síntomas disejecutivos estuvieron afectados, pero no se evidenció relación entre estos y el grado de severidad de enfermedad de Alzheimer. Se refutó la hipótesis que, a mayor grado de severidad, mayor afectación disejecutiva y de los reflejos de liberación frontal.

INTRODUCTION. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia and produces multiple cognitive disorders such as the involvement of executive functions. These patients present with dysexecutive symptoms and impaired frontal release reflexes, although it is unknown whether they are affected depending on the severity of the dementia. OBJECTIVE. To determine if there is a relationship between the Dissecutive Symptoms and the Frontal Release Reflexes in patients with Alzheimer's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A descriptive, retrospective study was carried out; 23 patients with Alzheimer's dementia from the State Reference Center for Care for People with Alzheimer's Disease were analyzed during the 2013-2014 period. The data were obtained through the dissertation questionnaire, and analyzed using the X2 test and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS. The ages of the participants ranged from 55 to 90 years. The average of scores according to the executive questionnaire showed a value of 21,69. In the planning, significant differences were observed between patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease (p = 0.020); as well as between the mild and moderately severe phase (p = 0.014). In social consciousness it was similar between the mild and moderate stages (p = 0.036). CONCLUSION. Frontal release reflexes and dissecting symptoms were affected, but no relationship between them and the severity of Alzheimer's disease was evident. The hypothesis was refuted that, to a greater degree of severity, greater disejecutiva involvement and frontal release reflexes.

Relationship between pathomechanism of neuropathic pain-induced depression and autophagy in cortex of frontal lobe in rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the pathomechanism of neuropathic pain (NP)-inducced depression and autophagy in the cortex of the frontal lobe in rats.Methods Forty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats in which IT catheters were successfully placed,aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 200-220 g,were divided into 4 groups (n =10 each) using a random number table method:sham operation group (group S),group NP,NP plus dimethyl sulfoxide group (group ND) and NP plus autophagy inducer rapamycin group (group NR).The neuropathic pain model was established by ligation of the left fifth spinal nerve of anesthetized rats in NP,ND and NR groups.Rapamycin 0.1 μgwas intrathecally injected via the intrathecal catheter immediately after ligation of the spinal nerve and every day after ligation once a day for 21 consecutive days in group NR.The equal volume of dimethyl sulfoxide was intrathecally injected instead of rapamycin in group ND.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured before ligation and at 1,3,7,10,14 and 21 days after ligation.The forced swimming test was performed at 3 days before ligation and 14 and 21 days after ligation.The rats were sacrificed after the last measurement of the behaviour testing,and the prefrontal cortex was removed for determination of the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 Ⅰ (LC3 Ⅰ) and LC3 Ⅱ,Beclin-1 and p62 (by Western blot).The ratio of LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ was calculated.Results Compared with group S,the MWT was significantly decreased after ligation,the time of immobility was prolonged,the expression of LC3 Ⅰ was down-regulated,the expression of LC3 Ⅱ,Beclin-1 and p62 was up-regulated,and the LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ ratio was increased in NP and ND groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group NP,the MWT was significantly increased after ligation,the time of immobility was shortened,the expression of LC3 [and p62 was down-regulated,the expression of LC3 Ⅱ and Beclin-1 was up-regulated,and the LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ ratio was increased in group NR (P＜0.05).Conclusion Enhanced autophagy in the cortex of the frontal lobe is involved in the endogenous antidepressant mechanism in rats with NP.

Electroencephalograph network connectivity of working memory disorder in frontal lobe epilepsy pa-tients / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate the possible electroencephalograph network connectivity mech-anism of working memory disorder in patients with frontal lobe epilepsy ( FLE). Methods Seventeen adult FLE patients were enrolled as the case group and 22 normal adults were selected as the control group. The behavioral data and 34-channel electroencephalographs were recorded in the working memory behavioral par-adigm. The directed transfer function was used to construct the causal connectivity brain network of theta band of working memory delay period. Two-sample t-test or tˊ-test was used to analyze the differences in be-havioral and frontal causal connectivity between the two groups. Results (1) Compared with control group, working memory behavioral data of FLE group showed significantly lower correct rate ((92. 778±4. 399)%, (96. 258±2. 470)%,tˊ=-2. 925,P<0. 01),and significantly longer reaction time ((978. 586± 65. 161) ms,(798. 671±196. 207)ms,tˊ=4. 023,P<0. 001). (2) Compared with control group,causal connectivity of FLE group showed significantly reduced whole brain ( tˊ=-6. 008, P<0. 001), Fz channel ( tˊ=-7. 703,P<0. 001),frontal region (tˊ=-14. 667,P<0. 001),frontal-temporal interval ( t=-14. 467,P<0. 001),and frontal-central interval (t=-3. 501,P<0. 001). The causal connectivity of frontal-occipital in-terval had no significant difference( t=1. 056,P=0. 281). Conclusions Working memory disorders were found in FLE patients. The abnormal causal connectivity of frontal brain network in theta band may be one of its potential neurophysiological mechanisms.

El pensamiento moral después del daño cerebral adquirido / Moral thought after acquired cerebral damage

Resumen Introducción: El pensamiento moral es una habilidad mental que permite a los seres humanos respetar las normativas sociales implícitas y explícitas. Un factor que puede alterar su funcionamiento es el daño cerebral adquirido, como suele suceder en sujetos que han sufrido una injuria encefálica a nivel frontal. Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre el proceso del pensamiento moral y el funcionamiento cerebral, a través de la descripción de casos que han sufrido un daño cerebral adquirido, con la finalidad de explicitar la situación que vive un individuo luego de presentar un daño cerebral y volverse incapaz de respetar las normas sociales. Desarrollo: Se expone la clínica de pacientes que han sufrido un daño cerebral a nivel frontal, como es el caso de Phineas Gage, NN y Elliot, en los cuales se observó que su estado posterior al evento traumático, se caracterizó por retroceder a estadios previos del pensamiento moral, a diferencia de pacientes como el clásico HM, quien presentó un daño cerebral en una estructura diferente a la frontal. Conclusiones: Se discute el análisis realizado en torno al papel que desempeña el lóbulo frontal en el proceso de respeto de las normas sociales, su influencia en la interacción humana y cómo puede verse afectado el pensamiento moral cuando existe un daño cerebral a este nivel.

Introduction: Moral thinking is a mental skill that allows respecting implicit and explicit social norms. One factor that can alter its functioning is acquired brain damage, as is the case of subjects who have suffered a brain injury at the frontal lobe. Aim: To analyze the relationship between the process of moral thinking and brain functioning, through the description of cases that have suffered acquired brain damage, with the purpose of explaining the situation that an individual lives after presenting brain damage and becoming unable to respect social norms. Development: The clinic of patients who have suffered brain damage at the frontal level, such as Phineas Gage, NN and Elliot, is shown, in which it was observed that its state after the traumatic event was characterized by going back to previous stages of thinking moral, unlike a subject who may present brain damage in later structures. Conclusions: We discuss the analysis performed on the role of the frontal lobe in the process of respecting social norms that allow human interaction and how it can be affected by brain damage.

El Pensamiento Moral Después Del Daño Cerebral Adquirido / Moral Thought After Acquired Cerebral Damage

Resumen Introducción: El pensamiento moral es una habilidad mental que permite a los seres humanos respetar las normativas sociales implícitas y explícitas. Un factor que puede alterar su funcionamiento es el daño cerebral adquirido, como suele suceder en sujetos que han sufrido una injuria encefálica a nivel frontal. Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre el proceso del pensamiento moral y el funcionamiento cerebral, a través de la descripción de casos que han sufrido un daño cerebral adquirido, con la finalidad de explicitar la situación que vive un individuo luego de presentar un daño cerebral y volverse incapaz de respetar las normas sociales. Desarrollo: Se expone la clínica de pacientes que han sufrido un daño cerebral a nivel frontal, como es el caso de Phineas Gage, NN y Elliot, en los cuales se observó que su estado posterior al evento traumático, se caracterizó por retroceder a estadios ontogénicos previos del pensamiento moral, a diferencia de pacientes como el clásico HM, quien presentó un daño cerebral en una estructura diferente a la frontal. Conclusiones: Se discute el análisis realizado en torno al papel que desempeña el lóbulo frontal en el proceso de respeto de las normas sociales, su influencia en la interacción humana y como puede verse afectado el pensamiento moral cuando existe un daño cerebral a este nivel.

Abstract Introduction: Moral thinking is a mental skill that allows respecting implicit and explicit social norms. One factor that can alter its functioning is acquired brain damage, as is the case of subjects who have suffered a brain injury at the frontal lobe. Aim: To analyze the relationship between the process of moral thinking and brain functioning, through the description of cases that have suffered acquired brain damage, with the purpose of explaining the situation that an individual lives after presenting brain damage and becoming unable to respect social norms. Development: The clinic of patients who have suffered brain damage at the frontal level, such as Phineas Gage, NN and Elliot, is shown, in which it was observed that its state after the traumatic event was characterized by going back to previous stages of thinking moral, unlike a subject who may present brain damage in later structures. Conclusions: We discuss the analysis performed on the role of the frontal lobe in the process of respecting social norms that allow human interaction and how it can be affected by brain damage.

Recurrent neurocysticercosis of the frontal lobe. case report

RESUMEN Introducción. La neurocisticercosis (NCC) es causada por la ingesta de huevos de la tenia del cerdo (Taenia solium) provenientes de un individuo con teniosis (complejo tenia-siscisticercosis). Esta enfermedad produce la mayor morbimortalidad por sus efectos dañinos sobre el sistema nervioso central. El 80% de los casos pueden ser asintomáticos y el 20% restante presenta manifestaciones clínicas que son inespecíficas. Presentación del caso. Paciente con cefalea, tendencia dromomaníaca, síndrome de hipertensión intracraneal, deterioro cognitivo y alteración de la marcha. Se realizó una tomografía computarizada que reveló un quiste subcortical frontal derecho y calcificaciones frontoparietales bilaterales. Como diagnóstico principal se sospechó NCC del lóbulo frontal por su cuadro clínico, anamnesis y epidemiología regional. Discusión. Se sospecha que el paciente cursaba con reinfección por T. solium en el lóbulo frontal derecho por la presencia de edema perilesional, los nódulos calcificados distribuidos aleatoriamente en la imagen y la información suministrada por sus familiares durante la anamnesis. Los signos y síntomas de la NCC dependen de la ubicación, el número, las dimensiones, los estadios del cisticerco (vesicular, coloidal, granular-nodular y nódulo calcificado), el genotipo y el estado inmune del hospedero. El 60-90% de los cisticercos se ubican en el parénquima cerebral, siendo menos frecuentes las ubicaciones ventricular, subaracnoidea, ocular, meníngea y medular. Conclusiones. Es importante educar a la comunidad, por un lado, sobre el ciclo de vida del parásito T. solium y su epidemiología y, por el otro, acerca de las medidas de prevención y las manifestaciones clínicas de la NCC, esto con el fin de realizar un diagnóstico oportuno y un manejo efectivo.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the result of ingestion of pork tapeworm eggs (Taenia solium) from an individual with taeniasis (taeniasis/cysticercosis complex). This disease causes the highest helminthic-related morbidity and mortality rates due to its deleterious effects on the central nervous system. 80% of the cases can be asymptomatic and 20% show non-specific clinical manifestations. Case presentation: The following report presents the case of a patient with headache, dromomania, intracranial hypertension syndrome, and cognition and gait impairment. A brain CT showed a right frontal subcortical cyst and bilateral frontoparietal calcified nodules. Neurocysticercosis of the frontal lobe was suspected as the main diagnosis considering the clinical manifestations, anamnesis and local epidemiology. Discussion: T. solium reinfection in the right frontal lobe was suspected in this patient due to perilesional edema, calcified nodules randomly distributed on the imaging and the information supplied by his relatives during anamnesis. Symptoms and signs of NCC depend on localization, number, dimensions, cysticercus stage (vesicular, colloidal, granular-nodular and calcified nodule), genotype and immune status of the host. Between 60 and 90% of cysticerci are mainly observed in the brain parenchyma, but other less frequent localizations include ventricles, subarachnoid space, eyes, meninges and spinal cord. Conclusions: It is important to know and educate the community about the life cycle of parasites, epidemiology, prevention measures and clinical manifestations of neurocysticercosis in order to make a timely diagnosis and administer an effective treatment.

Extending the range of differential diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy of the boxer: Insights from a case report / Ampliando a gama de diagnósticos diferencias da encefalopatia traumática crônica do pugilista: um relato de caso ilustrativo

ABSTRACT Sports activities associated with repetitive cranial trauma have become a fad and are popular in gyms and even among children. It is important to consistently characterize the consequences of such sports activities in order to better advise society on the real risks to the central nervous system. We present the case of a former boxer reporting cognitive and behavioral symptoms that began six years after his retirement as a boxer, evolving progressively with parkinsonian and cerebellar features suggestive of probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Using our case as a paradigm, we extended the range of differential diagnosis of CTE, including corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy, vitamin B12 deficiency, neurosyphilis, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

RESUMO As atividades esportivas associadas ao trauma craniano repetitivo tornaram-se uma moda e são populares nas academias e entre as crianças. É importante fazer uma caracterização consistente das consequências de tais atividades esportivas, a fim de aconselhar melhor uma sociedade sobre os riscos reais para o sistema nervoso central. Apresentamos um antigo boxeador relatando sintomas cognitivos e comportamentais que começaram seis anos após sua aposentadoria como boxeador e evoluiu progressivamente com características parkinsonianas e cerebelares sugestivas de provável encefalopatia traumática crônica (ETC). Usando nosso caso como paradigma, ampliamos a gama de diagnóstico diferencial de ETC, incluindo degeneração corticobasal, atrofia de múltiplos sistemas, deficiência de vitamina B12, neurossífilis, demência frontotemporal e doença de Alzheimer.

Research on the Frontal lobe Activation Effect of Music Therapy －Effect of Listening Music on Frontal lobe Activation by Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy－ / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

This study used topographic near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to characterize frontal lobe activation while individuals actively or passively listened to exciting or calm music. Participants were 22 healthy female volunteers (mean age, 21± 4.1 years). Initial analysis showed that oxy-Hb significantly decreased in many channels when subjects listened to calm music. In contrast, oxy-Hb significantly increased when subjects listened to lively music. In addition, after listening to calm music, cortisol, α-amylase, and immunoglobulin A significantly decreased. A subsequent analysis showed that oxy-Hb signif-icantly increased when subjects listened to music while clapping to its rhythm compared with when subjects listened to music only. Our study suggests that calm music reduces levels of human stress and enables effective relaxation. In addition, our data suggests that clapping to the rhythm of music increases brain activation. Therefore, active music therapy may be more effective than passive music therapy with respect to brain activation. Such active therapy (i.e., playing rather than listening to music) may improve functional and psychological status, and cooperative abilities.

The study on the implicit memory in patients with Alzheimer disease / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To explore the characteristics of conceptual priming and perceptual priming in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods The implicit memory (conceptual repetition priming and perceptual repetition priming) and Neuropsychological (DS, VFT, CTT interference time) tests were conducted on 30 aMCI patients, 30 AD patients and 30 normal elderly people. Results Compared with the normal elderly group and the aMCI group, DS, VFT, CTT interference time and conceptual repetition priming of AD patients were lower than those in the normal elderly group (P<0.01). However, perceptual repetition priming was no statistically significant among the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion AD patients have impairments on the conceptual repetition priming , DS, VFT, CTT interference time and implicit memory and the decrease in the frontal lobe function may be an important neurological basis for AD.

Effect of sevoflurane on cognitive function and expression of GABA receptor 1 and NMDA receptor 2B in frontal cortex in aged rats / 临床麻醉学杂志

Objective To observe the change of learning and memory and the expression change of GABAR1 and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B (NMDAR2B)in right frontal lobe of the brain of the aged rats after the inhalation of sevoflurane.Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (group C,n=10)and experimental group (group T,n=40).The control group received air at room tempreture.Experimental groups were divided into two groups:group T1 (2 h)and group T2 (4 h)according to the time of inhalation of sevoflurane at 3% concentration.Ev-ery group was equally divided into two groups and Morris water maze was performed on day 1 and day 7 after sevoflurane inhalation.Then the right frontal lobe was gathered and the mRNA transcription and protein expression of GABAR1 and NMDAR2B were detected by Quantitative Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence technique.Results Compared with group C,the escape latency was prolonged in groups T1 and T2 after 1 day of inhalation of sevoflurane (P<0.05),and the times of space explora-tion reduced (P<0.05).mRNA transcriptional and protein content of GABAR1 were significantly upregulated in frontal lobes of groups T1 and T2,mRNA transcriptional and protein content of NMDAR2B were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05).After inhalation of sevoflurane for 7 days, the protein expression of NMDAR2B in the frontal lobe of group T1 was lower than that of group C (P<0.05).In group T2,the escape latency was prolonged (P<0.05),the number of space explo-ration traversals was decreased (P<0.05),the expression of GABAR1 protein in frontal lobe was up-regulated (P<0.05),and the expression of NMDAR2B protein was down-regulated (P<0.05), and the amplitude was higher than that in group T1 (P<0.05).Conclusion Continuous inhalation of sevoflurane can reduce the spatial memory ability of aged rats,and the effect of prolonged inhalation is greater and longer.This effect is related to the expression of neurotransmitter receptors such as GABAR1 and NMDAR2B in the frontal lobe.