rudyvdbrink/CitationDatabase huggingface dataset:
Inferring the value of the world.
Trends in cognitive sciences, 2013

A prominent view of the function of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is that it is responsible for calculating the value of things in the environment. A recent study shows that this role is restricted to cases in which the value must be inferred from our knowledge of the world.
The L1 cell adhesion molecule affects protein kinase D1 activity in the cerebral cortex in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
Brain research bulletin, 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by deposition of β-amyloid protein (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangles and cognitive deficits resulting from neuronal cell death. In search for the molecular underpinnings of the disease, we were interested in the relationship between Aβ, L1 cell adhesion molecule and protein kinase D1 (PKD1), which are not only implicated in neural development and functional maintenance in the adult, but are also neuroprotective under pathological conditions. Based on our observations that L1 and phosphorylated, i.e. activated, protein kinase PKD1 (pPKD1) co-localize in cultured neurons, we investigated the functional relationship between L1 and pPKD1 in the frontal lobe of an AD human cortical tissue microarray, and found increased and positively correlating levels of both molecules when compared to a non-affected human brain. Also in the APP
Laparoscopic Versus Open Pyeloplasty for Primary Pelvic Ureteric Junction Obstruction: A Prospective Single Centre Study.
Cureus, 2020

Introduction The aim of the study was to compare the clinical and patient-reported outcomes among open pyeloplasty (OP) and laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) patients. Materials and methods This was a prospective single centre, case-cohort study conducted in a tertiary care hospital with 62 patients. In both techniques, dismembered Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty were undertaken. Post-operatively patients underwent visual analogue scale (VAS) assessment for pain, days to ambulation and comparison of the short- and long-term outcomes of the two procedures. Results There was no difference in the physical and functional outcomes between the two surgical approaches at 12 months period after surgery. However, patients in the laparoscopic group did report a higher rate of satisfaction at six weeks and six months' postoperatively. Likewise, patients in LP experienced less pain during the postoperative period (p-value <0.001), with decreased analgesic requirements. This translated into an early patient ambulation in the laparoscopic group (p-value <0.001), and a shorter hospital stay for the LP group (p-value <0.001). Moreover, follow-up ultrasound showed equal improvement of hydronephrosis among the two groups. Conclusion Laparoscopic and open pyeloplasty are equally effective in treating pelvic ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO), with comparable patient-reported outcomes at 12-month follow-up. However, the laparoscopic technique merits over open surgery with faster rehabilitation, a decreased postoperative pain experience and shorter hospital stay.
The contributions of emotion regulation difficulties and dissociative symptoms to functional impairment among civilian inpatients with posttraumatic stress symptoms.
Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy, 2020

Functional impairment among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) represents a significant factor in recovery. Critically, functional impairment appears to persist following remission of PTSD symptoms. To date, work investigating functional impairment among individuals with PTSD has focused on PTSD symptom clusters, excluding other relevant symptoms, including emotion regulation difficulties and dissociative symptoms. Emerging work suggests that these symptoms may serve as important predictors of functional impairment among individuals with PTSD.
Endocast structures are reliable proxies for the sizes of corresponding regions of the brain in extant birds.
Journal of anatomy, 2020

Endocasts are increasingly relied upon to examine avian brain evolution because they can be used across extant and extinct species. The endocasts of birds appear to be relatively faithful representatives of the external morphology of their brains, but it is unclear how well the size of a surface feature visible on endocasts reflects the volume of the underlying brain region. The optic lobe and the Wulst are two endocast structures that are clearly visible on the external surface of avian endocasts. As they overlie two major visual regions of the brain, the optic tectum and hyperpallium, the surface areas of the optic lobe and Wulst, respectively, are often used to infer visual abilities. To determine whether the surface area of these features reflects the volume of the underlying brain regions, we compared the surface areas of the optic lobes and Wulsts from digital endocasts with the volumes of the optic tecta and hyperpallia from the literature or measured from histological series of brains of the same species. Regression analyses revealed strong, statistically significant correlations between the volumes of the brain regions and the surface areas of the overlying endocast structures. In other words, the size of the hyperpallium and optic tectum can be reliably inferred from the surface areas of the Wulst and optic lobe, respectively. This validation opens the possibility of estimating brain-region volumes for extinct species in order to gain better insights in their visual ecology. It also emphasizes the importance of adopting a quantitative approach to the analysis of endocasts in the study of brain evolution.
Primary spinal oligoastrocytoma mimicking longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis.
Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 2015

Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) is most commonly associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). However, a wide range of etiologies may produce longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions (LESCLs) on imaging. We highlight the case of a patient with a spinal cord tumor whose imaging showed LESCL and was diagnosed with LETM. He did not respond to immunosuppression and subsequently developed a progressive and protracted clinical course. Thoracic cord biopsy performed 6 years after symptom onset showed primary spinal oligoastrocytoma. We discuss the features that should raise suspicion of a neoplasm in the context of LESCL and serve a reminder that not all LESCLs are inflammatory.
Cortical Volume Differences in Subjects at Risk for Psychosis Are Driven by Surface Area.
Schizophrenia bulletin, 2020

In subjects at risk for psychosis, the studies on gray matter volume (GMV) predominantly reported volume loss compared with healthy controls (CON). However, other important morphological measurements such as cortical surface area (CSA) and cortical thickness (CT) were not systematically compared. So far, samples mostly comprised subjects at genetic risk or at clinical risk fulfilling an ultra-high risk (UHR) criterion. No studies comparing UHR subjects with at-risk subjects showing only basic symptoms (BS) investigated the differences in CSA or CT. Therefore, we aimed to unravel the contribution of the 2 morphometrical measures constituting the cortical volume (CV) and to test whether these groups inhere different morphometric features. We conducted a surface-based morphometric analysis in 34 CON, 46 BS, and 39 UHR to examine between-group differences in CV, CSA, and CT vertex-wise across the whole cortex. Compared with BS and CON, UHR individuals presented increased CV in frontal and parietal regions, which was driven by larger CSA. These groups did not differ in CT. Yet, at-risk subjects who later developed schizophrenia showed thinning in the occipital cortex. Furthermore, BS presented increased CSA compared with CON. Our results suggest that volumetric differences in UHR subjects are driven by CSA while CV loss in converters seems to be based on cortical thinning. We attribute the larger CSA in UHR to aberrant pruning representing a vulnerability to develop psychotic symptoms reflected in different levels of vulnerability for BS and UHR, and cortical thinning to a presumably stress-related cortical decomposition.
Cellular interactions between social experience, alcohol sensitivity, and GABAergic inhibition in a crayfish neural circuit.
Journal of neurophysiology, 2021

We report here that prior social experience modified the behavioral responses of adult crayfish to acute alcohol exposure. Animals housed individually for 1 wk before alcohol exposure were less sensitive to the intoxicating effects of alcohol than animals housed in groups, and these differences are based on changes in the nervous system rather than differences in alcohol uptake. To elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms, we investigated the neurophysiological responses of the lateral giant (LG) interneurons after alcohol exposure. Specifically, we measured the interactions between alcohol and different GABA
Better understanding the neurobiology of primary lateral sclerosis.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration, 2020

Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of upper motor neurons (UMNs). Recent studies shed new light onto the cellular events that are particularly important for UMN maintenance including intracellular trafficking, mitochondrial energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism. This review summarizes these advances including the role of Alsin as a gene linked to atypical forms of juvenile PLS, and discusses wider aspects of cellular pathology that have been observed in adult forms of PLS. The review further discusses the prospects of new transgenic upper motor neuron reporter mice, human stem cell-derived UMN cultures, cerebral organoids and non-human primates as future model systems to better understand and ultimately treat PLS.
Intrinsic cholinergic innervation in the human sigmoid colon revealed using CLARITY, three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and a novel anti-human peripheral choline acetyltransferase (hpChAT) antiserum.
Neurogastroenterology and motility, 2021

We previously reported the specificity of a novel anti-human peripheral choline acetyltransferase (hpChAT) antiserum for immunostaining of cholinergic neuronal cell bodies and fibers in the human colon. In this study, we investigate 3D architecture of intrinsic cholinergic innervation in the human sigmoid colon and the relationship with nitrergic neurons in the enteric plexus.
Reversed Robin Hood syndrome visualized by CT perfusion.
Radiology case reports, 2021

Reversed Robin Hood Syndrome (RRHS) was first described in 2007 as a cause of worsening neurological deficit in the setting of an acute ischemic event. RRHS is the shunting of cerebral blood flow to nonstenotic vascular territories due to impaired vasodilation bought on by hypercapnia. A 77 year old lady presented with acute onset left hemiparesis and an exacerbation of her underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CT angiography and perfusion visualized RRHS and appropriate treatment was initiated. Treatment strategies for RRHS differ considerably to those for acute ischemic stroke. Choosing the correct treatment strategy is decisive for good clinical outcome.
Infectious endocarditis complicated by an ischemic stroke and revealing Marfan syndrome.
Journal of cardiovascular disease research, 2011

Marfan syndrome is a systematic genetic disease of the connective tissue. The cardiac affection would predict the prognosis and ischemic stroke might complicate it. The purpose of this work is to discuss the mechanisms of the ischemic stroke in Marfan syndrome which have to be considered in all young patients of ischemic strokes. We report the case of a 17-year-old male patient who presented with right hemiparesis with brachio-facial dominance, hemihypoesthesia and Broca's aphasia; these symptoms were followed by partial right somato-motor epileptic seizure. The cerebral computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated early signs of ischemic stroke in the left Sylvian artery. Cardiovascular examination revealed a systolic murmur in the mitral site. Marfan syndrome with infectious endocarditis complicated by ischemic stroke was diagnosed. However, the family pathological history was negative. The Marfan syndrome diagnosis was approved considering the following criteria: Ligamentous hyperlaxity, crystalline ectopia and mitral valve prolapsus with mitral insufficiency. The patient benefited of antibiotherapy for 4 weeks. The patient underwent sessions of motor physical therapy and orthophonic rehabilitation. Then, cardiac surgery was carried out and valvuloplasty was performed. The surgical treatment confirmed the presence of mitral insufficiency and prolapsus of the big mitral valve and multiple friable anterior-posterior vegetations with broken cordage of the small mitral valve. Replacement of the mitral valve was achieved, and the post-surgery follow-ups were simple. The diagnosis of Marfan syndrome was based on well-defined criteria. The evolution of the patient was marked by a complete improvement of the cardiac and motor deficits, and disappearance of the Broca's aphasia. A fibroelastic disease such Marfan syndrome has to be considered in unexplained ischemic stroke in all young patients. Hence, the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome involves an anticipation of the neurovascular complications by early cardiovascular care.
Neurophysiological features of primary lateral sclerosis.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration, 2020

Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a motor neuron disease characterized by spinobulbar spasticity, absence of progressive lower motor neuron (LMN) dysfunction and marked by a slow functional decline. Electromyography is essential to exclude significant LMN involvement, particularly in the context of distinguishing PLS from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), given that the prognosis is substantially better, and respiratory complications are unusual, in PLS. Nevertheless, minor neurogenic changes and occasional fasciculation potentials can be observed in PLS. The most useful technique for the objective assessment of upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which in PLS is characterized by a high cortical threshold and delayed central conduction times. TMS is sensitive to identify cortical dysfunction in PLS and might have potential for monitoring UMN function in longitudinal studies and in clinical trials. The findings of TMS need to be interpreted in the context of the clinical presentation and phenotype, particularly in the differentiation between PLS and ALS. While other neurophysiological techniques have been investigated, studies to date have tended to involve small patient cohorts and as such, their value in distinguishing PLS from ALS remains unclear.
Occasion setters determine responses of putative DA neurons to discriminative stimuli.
Neurobiology of learning and memory, 2020

Midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons are involved in the processing of rewards and reward-predicting stimuli, possibly analogous to reinforcement learning reward prediction errors. Here we studied the activity of putative DA neurons (n = 37) recorded in the ventral tegmental area of rats (n = 6) performing a behavioural task involving occasion setting. In this task an occasion setter (OS) indicated that the relationship between a discriminative stimulus (DS) and reinforcement is in effect, so that reinforcement of bar pressing occurred only after the OS (tone or houselight) was followed by the DS (houselight or tone). We found that responses of putative DA cells to the DS were enhanced when preceded by the OS, as were behavioural responses to obtain rewards. Surprisingly though, we did not find a homogeneous increase in the mean activity of the population of putative DA neurons to the OS, contrary to predictions of standard temporal-difference models of DA neurons. Instead, putative DA neurons exhibited a heterogeneous response on a single unit level, so that some units increased and others decreased their activity as a response to the OS. Similarly, putative non-DA cells did not show a homogeneous response to the DS on a population level, but also had heterogeneous responses on a single unit level. The heterogeneity in the responses of neurons in the ventral tegmental area may reflect how DA neurons encode context and point to local differences in DA signalling.
Brain exposure of the ATM inhibitor AZD1390 in humans-a positron emission tomography study.
Neuro-oncology, 2021

The protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) mediates cellular response to DNA damage induced by radiation. ATM inhibition decreases DNA damage repair in tumor cells and affects tumor growth. AZD1390 is a novel, highly potent, selective ATM inhibitor designed to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and currently evaluated with radiotherapy in a phase I study in patients with brain malignancies. In the present study, PET was used to measure brain exposure of 11C-labeled AZD1390 after intravenous (i.v.) bolus administration in healthy subjects with an intact BBB.
The acquisition and generalization of fear of touch.
Scandinavian journal of pain, 2020

Objectives Contemporary fear-avoidance models of chronic pain posit that fear of pain, and overgeneralization of fear to non-threatening stimuli is a potential pathway to chronic pain. While increasing experimental evidence supports this hypothesis, a comprehensive investigation requires testing in multiple modalities due to the diversity of symptomatology among individuals with chronic pain. In the present study we used an established tactile fear conditioning paradigm as an experimental model of allodynia and spontaneous pain fluctuations, to investigate whether stimulus generalization occurs resulting in fear of touch spreading to new locations. Methods In our paradigm, innocuous touch is presented either paired (predictable context) or unpaired (unpredictable context) with a painful electrocutaneous stimulus (pain-US). In the predictable context, vibrotactile stimulation to the index or little finger was paired with the pain-US (CS+), whilst stimulation of the other finger was never paired with pain (CS-). In the unpredictable context, vibrotactile stimulation to the index and little fingers of the opposite hand (CS1 and CS2) was unpaired with pain, but pain-USs occurred unpredictable during the intertrial interval. During the subsequent generalization phase, we tested the spreading of conditioned responses (self-reported fear of touch and pain expectancy) to the (middle and ring) fingers between the CS+ and CS-, and between the CS1 and CS2. Results Differential fear acquisition was evident in the predictable context from increased self-reported pain expectancy and self-reported fear for the CS + compared to the CS-. However, expectancy and fear ratings to the novel generalization stimuli (GS+ and GS-) were comparable to the responses elicited by the CS-. Participants reported equal levels of pain expectancy and fear to the CS1 and CS2 in the unpredictable context. However, the acquired fear did not spread in this context either: participants reported less pain expectancy and fear to the GS1 and GS2 than to the CS1 and CS2. As in our previous study, we did not observe differential acquisition in the startle responses. Conclusions Whilst our findings for the acquisition of fear of touch replicate the results from our previous study (Biggs et al., 2017), there was no evidence of fear generalization. We discuss the limitations of the present study, with a primary focus on procedural issues that were further investigated with post-hoc analyses, concluding that the present results do not show support for the hypothesis that stimulus generalization underlies spreading of fear of touch to new locations, and discuss how this may be the consequence of a context change that prevented transfer of acquisition.
Binocular integration of retinal motion information underlies optic flow processing by the cortex.
Current biology : CB, 2021

Locomotion creates various patterns of optic flow on the retina, which provide the observer with information about their movement relative to the environment. However, it is unclear how these optic flow patterns are encoded by the cortex. Here, we use two-photon calcium imaging in awake mice to systematically map monocular and binocular responses to horizontal motion in four areas of the visual cortex. We find that neurons selective to translational or rotational optic flow are abundant in higher visual areas, whereas neurons suppressed by binocular motion are more common in the primary visual cortex. Disruption of retinal direction selectivity in Frmd7 mutant mice reduces the number of translation-selective neurons in the primary visual cortex and translation- and rotation-selective neurons as well as binocular direction-selective neurons in the rostrolateral and anterior visual cortex, blurring the functional distinction between primary and higher visual areas. Thus, optic flow representations in specific areas of the visual cortex rely on binocular integration of motion information from the retina.
Genetic loss of AMPK-glycogen binding destabilises AMPK and disrupts metabolism.
Molecular metabolism, 2020

Glycogen is a major energy reserve in liver and skeletal muscle. The master metabolic regulator AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) associates with glycogen via its regulatory β subunit carbohydrate-binding module (CBM). However, the physiological role of AMPK-glycogen binding in energy homeostasis has not been investigated in vivo. This study aimed to determine the physiological consequences of disrupting AMPK-glycogen interactions.
High-Dose Spinal Cord Stimulation Reduces Long-Term Pain Medication Use in Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Who Obtained at Least 50% Pain Intensity and Medication Reduction During a Trial Period: A Registry-Based Cohort Study.
Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society, 2021

High-dose spinal cord stimulation (HD-SCS) revealed positive results for obtaining pain relief in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). However, it is less clear whether HD-SCS also is able to reduce pain medication use. The aim of this registry-based cohort study is to explore the impact of HD-SCS on pain medication use in FBSS patients.
Bilateral Ocular Ischemic Syndrome in the Setting of Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma.
Journal of glaucoma, 2021

We report novel case of a 57-year-old woman who developed bilateral ocular ischemic syndrome in the setting of chronic angle closure glaucoma without associated angle neovascularization. Detailed is a course in which markedly prolonged, elevated intraocular pressure led to significantly reduced arterial perfusion at the level of the central retinal artery, leading to the clinical picture of ocular ischemic syndrome.
Changes in stroke presentation in neo-Covid patients: A case study.
Interdisciplinary neurosurgery : Advanced techniques and case management, 2021

A 35 year old male had a generalized seizure a week after symptoms of daily fever, rigors, and throat discomfort. He was hospitalized. Magnetic resonance imaging brain showed multiple bilateral scattered infarcts. COVID-19 swab test came positive. An elaborate panel of tests for young strokes, cardiac work-up was normal. At home, he complained of some visual blurring, slowing in thought processing, occasional loss of words. His face became significantly pigmented. A young male, COVID-19 positive, showed multiple scattered infarcts. Exaggerated pro-thrombotic activity of the nature of a cytokine storm, is the probable cause.