rudyvdbrink/CitationDatabase huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological response sensitization in nerve cell networks exposed to the antibiotic gentamicin.
European journal of pharmacology, 2017

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that is used in clinical, organismic, and agricultural applications to combat gram-negative, aerobic bacteria. The clinical use of gentamicin is widely linked to various toxicities, but there is a void in our knowledge about the neuromodulatory or neurotoxicity effects of gentamicin. This investigation explored the electrophysiologic effects of gentamicin on GABAergic pharmacological profiles in spontaneously active neuronal networks in vitro derived from auditory cortices of E16 mouse embryos and grown on microelectrode arrays. Using the GABA
A summary of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Symposium on the Neurobiology and Neuroendocrinology of Aging, Bregenz, Austria July 17-22, 2016.
Experimental gerontology, 2017

A summary of the Thirteenth International Symposium on the Neurobiology and Neuroendocrinology of Aging that was held July 17-22, 2016 in Bregenz, Austria, is presented. Nineteen of the speakers that presented at the conference submitted review papers covering the topic of their presentation as well as an overview of their respective fields and are included in this special issue. The abstracts from each poster presentation as well as twenty-two of the speaker abstracts are also included at the end of the preface to the special issue.
[Paul Cézanne, the lonely precursor of modern painting].
Revista medica de Chile, 2017

Paul Cézanne is an acknowledged pioneer of modern painting. His work was poorly recognized during most of his solitary life. He progressively withdrew from people and society during his life, in part due to his introverted personality and a supreme effort to obtain a unique form of expression of his art, in which nature and its inner secrets played a pivotal role. In this review, we discuss aspects of his life and art, his pathological personal relationships and how they influenced his transcendental work.
Spike-phase coupling as an order parameter in a leaky integrate-and-fire model.
Physical review. E, 2020

It is known that the leaky integrate-and-fire neural model shows a transition from irregular to synchronous firing by increasing the coupling between the neurons. However, a quantitative characterization of this order-disorder transition, that is, the determination of the order of transition and also the critical exponents in the case of continuous transition, is not entirely known. In this work, we consider a network of N excitatory neurons with local connections, residing on a square lattice with periodic boundary conditions. The cooperation between neurons K plays the role of the control parameter that generates criticality when the critical cooperation strength K_{c} is adopted. We introduce the population-averaged voltage (PAV) as a representative value of the network's cooperative activity. Then, we show that the coupling between the timing of spikes and the phase of temporal fluctuations of PAV defined as m resorts to identify a Kuramoto order parameter. By increasing K, we find a continuous transition from irregular spiking to a phase-locked state at the critical point K_{c}. We deploy the finite-size scaling analysis to calculate the critical exponents of this transition. To explore the formal indicator of criticality, we study the neuronal avalanches profile at this critical point and find a scaling behavior with the exponents in a fair agreement with the experimental values both in vivo and in vitro.
Goltz against cerebral localization: Methodology and experimental practices.
Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences, 2020

In the late 19th century, physiologists such as David Ferrier, Eduard Hitzig, and Hermann Munk argued that cerebral brain functions are localized in discrete structures. By the early 20th century, this became the dominant position. However, another prominent physiologist, Friedrich Goltz, rejected theories of cerebral localization and argued against these physiologists until his death in 1902. I argue in this paper that previous historical accounts have failed to comprehend why Goltz rejected cerebral localization. I show that Goltz adhered to a falsificationist methodology, and I reconstruct how he designed his experiments and weighted different kinds of evidence. I then draw on the exploratory experimentation literature from recent philosophy of science to trace one root of the debate to differences in how the German localizers designed their experiments and reasoned about evidence. While Goltz designed his experiments to test hypotheses about the functions of predetermined cerebral structures, the localizers explored new functions and structures in the process of constructing new theories. I argue that the localizers relied on untested background conjectures to justify their inferences about functional organization. These background conjectures collapsed a distinction between phenomena they produced direct evidence for (localized symptoms) and what they reached conclusions about (localized functions). When citing this paper, please use the full journal title Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences.
Sharing expertise: when immunology meets psychiatry and neuroscience.
British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing), 2018

A radio programme investigating how a 'rogue' immune system could affect mental health led second-year nursing student at Kingston and St George's University Leo Honey to research the subject further, leohoney3@gmail.com.
Multiple sclerosis iPS-derived oligodendroglia conserve their properties to functionally interact with axons and glia in vivo.
Science advances, 2020

Remyelination failure in multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with a migration/differentiation block of oligodendroglia. The reason for this block is highly debated. It could result from disease-related extrinsic or intrinsic regulators in oligodendroglial biology. To avoid confounding immune-mediated extrinsic effect, we used an immune-deficient mouse model to compare induced pluripotent stem cell-derived oligodendroglia from MS and healthy donors following engraftment in the developing CNS. We show that the MS-progeny behaves and differentiates into oligodendrocytes to the same extent as controls. They generate equal amounts of myelin, with bona fide nodes of Ranvier, and promote equal restoration of their host slow conduction. MS-progeny expressed oligodendrocyte- and astrocyte-specific connexins and established functional connections with donor and host glia. Thus, MS oligodendroglia, regardless of major immune manipulators, are intrinsically capable of myelination and making functional axo-glia/glia-glia connections, reinforcing the view that the MS oligodendrocyte differentiation block is not from major intrinsic oligodendroglial deficits.
Effects of Perinatal Exposure to Phthalates and a High-Fat Diet on Maternal Behavior and Pup Development and Social Play.
Endocrinology, 2018

Humans are ubiquitously exposed to many phthalates, a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly used in many consumer goods, and diet, especially fatty food, is presumed to be a major source of exposure. Here, we use a rat model of human prenatal exposure to investigate the potential interactive effects of an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates and a maternal high-fat diet (HFD). From gestation through postnatal day (P)10, dams consumed the mixture of phthalates (0, 200, or 1000 μg/kg/d) and were fed a control diet or HFD. In males, perinatal exposure to the mixture of phthalates decreased prepubertal body weight and, in a dose-specific manner, periadolescent social play behavior. A dose-specific effect from phthalates with HFD was also seen in increased time alone in females during social play. HFD resulted in dams consuming more calories, having greater gestational weight gain, and licking and nursing their pups more, such that an early postnatal HFD generally increased pup body weight. There also was a tendency for increased oxidative stress markers at P10 within the medial prefrontal cortex of males exposed to the relatively high dose of phthalates and HFD. Effects on gene expression were inconsistent at P10 and P90 in both the medial prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus. Overall, this study demonstrates that phthalates and a maternal HFD only rarely interacted, except in oxidative stress markers in males. Additionally, perinatal exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates can have a modest, but lasting, impact on social behaviors in both males and females.
A method for recording miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in the central nervous system suitable for quantal analysis.
Brain research, 2008

Quantal analysis of transmitter release is useful in examining presynaptic mechanisms involved in synaptic transmission. However, in central neurons, the presence of multiple synapses makes it difficult to use the traditional quantal analysis, developed for the neuromuscular transmission. We developed a method to minimize these difficulties. Experiments were performed, using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique, on rat CA1 pyramidal neurons in a hippocampal slice preparation. When the stratum radiatum was stimulated, mixed current signals including, miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs), miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) and evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs), could be observed in CA1 pyramidal cells while slices were superfused with the normal, Na(+)-containing, medium. The mIPSCs could be blocked by bicuculline (10 microm). mEPSCs, eEPSCs and eIPSCs could not be observed when the Na(+)-containing perfusion medium was replaced by a Na(+)-free medium but reappeared when the Na(+)-containing medium was re-introduced. When a polarizing electrode was placed near the recorded neuron, while slices were superfused with the Na(+)-free medium, and depolarizing rectangular current pulses of different magnitudes were applied, the number of mIPSCs increased with increasing amount of the current. Amplitudes of the mIPSCs showed a Gaussian distribution and the coefficient of variation was small. These observations indicate that a combination of the Na(+)-free superfusing medium and local depolarizations with a polarizing electrode is useful for recording mIPSCs from a localized area of the recorded neuron and for quantal analysis.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2a with mutation in CAPN3: the first report in Taiwan.
Pediatrics and neonatology, 2015

The autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is caused by mutations in the calpain 3 (CAPN3) gene, and it is characterized by selective atrophy and weakness of proximal limb and girdle muscles. We report a 33-year-old woman with initial presentations of exercise intolerance and running difficulty at age 15 years. At presentation, waddling gait, positive Gowers' sign, and marked muscle atrophy in pelvic and leg muscles were noted. Muscle computed tomography (CT) imaging demonstrated symmetric involvement of the posterior thigh muscles with relative sparing of vastus lateralis, sartorius, and gracilis. Muscle biopsy revealed a dystrophic change and many lobulated fibers on NADH-tetrazolium reductase staining. Genetic analysis of the CAPN3 gene identified a novel homozygous mutation of c2047_2050 del4, p.Lys683fs mutation, confirming the first LGMD2A patient in Taiwan.
The iliac pillar - Definition of an osseous fixation pathway for internal and external fixation.
Orthopaedics & traumatology, surgery & research : OTSR, 2020

Increasing numbers of unstable pelvic ring fractures, due to the ongoing demographic change and improvements in the rescue of high-energy traumatic events, are challenging trauma and orthopedic surgeons. While initial installation of an external fixation device is often necessary, placement of iliac crest pins can be difficult due to the complex osteology of the ilium.
Disciplinary Crossings.
The Hastings Center report, 2016

Eighteen months ago, I left a permanent professorship in a generously interdisciplinary department of sociology and took an impermanent, lower-paying job at a university where I had to apply to something called the "Committee on Distinction" to retain the title of "Professor." Some people say, "That's what happens when Oxford calls." But it wasn't just that. It was the opportunity to engage in a groundbreaking experiment: to embed and integrate ethics within the Oxford Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. It's a dream job, for which I was willing to cross the disciplinary line into the medical sciences. In the United Kingdom, many bioethicists still work in departments outside science and medicine; similarly, those of us who work on neuroethics and psychiatric ethics tend to inhabit departments of philosophy, law, or sociology. I can report already that interdisciplinarity from this side feels and looks different.
[Brodmann Areas 27, 28, 36 and 37: The Parahippocampal and the Fusiform Gyri].
Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyu no shinpo, 2017

First, Brodmann areas 27, 28, 36 and 37, were anatomically defined in the beginning of this review. These areas exist in the parahippocampal or fusiform gyrus of the ventral temporal lobe in humans. Subsequently, the current understanding of their functions was summarized on the basis of recent findings mainly through human functional neuroimaging studies and animal studies. Rodent studies have shown the existence of neuronal activities for representing space, such as those involving head-direction cells or grid cells, in areas 27 (the parasubicular cortex) and 28 (the ventral entorhinal cortex). Recent human neuroimaging studies have provided support for the idea that grid cells may also exist in the human entorhinal cortex. Many previous animal studies have shown that area 36 (the lateral perirhinal cortex) is crucial for various types of associative learning. Earlier human neuroimaging studies have also indicated that faces, bodies and visual word forms are represented in different regions of area 37 in the posterior fusiform gyrus. Recent neuroimaging studies in humans have shown substantial functional differentiation between face-related regions in areas 37 and 36, which is similar to that seen in macaque monkeys, as shown through their face patches. This implies the crucial involvement of both areas in face processing.
STICH 2: does decompression have a role in superficial intracerebral hematoma?
International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society, 2013

The recently published second Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Haemorrhage (STICH-2) tested whether surgical evacuation of superficial spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage was effective at reducing death and disability at 6 months after onset. Participants were randomised to a policy of early surgical intervention or initial medical management alone within 48 hours of symptom onset. After enrolling 601 patients across 78 centres in 27 countries, intention to treat analysis showed no difference in outcome. Time to intervention was a median of 26 hours after symptom onset in the surgical arm, and craniotomy accounted for 98% of all surgical procedures. The interpretation of the overall neutral result is confounded by a high proportion of crossovers from the medical management arm of the study, predominantly of more severely affected patients. Further analysis may clarify whether decompressive surgery late after superficial intracerebral haemorrhage has any role in management.
Being a Gambler during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study with Italian Patients and the Effects of Reduced Exposition.
International journal of environmental research and public health, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic, with the consequent lockdown of about 3 months, can be viewed as an experimental model to observe the impact of the depletion of environmental factors that stimulate gambling, particularly electronic gambling machines (EGMs) that were set to zero. The effects of some structural characteristics of gambling activities that increase gambling behavior were studied among disordered gamblers in treatment in this unique scenario. In fact, studies investigating the effects of the lockdown on problem gamblers (PGs) under treatment are missing. The aims of this study were to analyze patients' gambling behavior and craving during the lockdown and to conduct a comparison between gambling disorder (GD) symptoms at the beginning of the treatment and during lockdown. The study was conducted in Italy, the European country with the largest gambling market and the first to be affected by the virus. Data were collected through a semi-structured telephone interview conducted by healthcare professionals. Participants were 135 PGs under treatment (109 males, mean age = 50.07). Results showed that most PGs achieved a significant improvement in their quality of life, with less gambling behavior, GD symptoms, and lower craving. No shift toward online gambling and very limited shift towards other potential addictive and excessive behaviors occurred. The longer the treatment, the more monitoring is present and the better the results in terms of symptoms reduction. Individual and environmental characteristics during the lockdown favored the reduction in symptoms. Consideration for prevention and treatment are discussed.
Comparing integrative cognitive-affective therapy and guided self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat binge-eating disorder using standard and naturalistic momentary outcome measures: A randomized controlled trial.
The International journal of eating disorders, 2020

Innovative treatments and outcome measures are needed for binge-eating disorder (BED). This randomized controlled trial compared Integrative Cognitive-Affective Therapy (ICAT-BED), an individual psychotherapy targeting momentary behavioral and emotional precipitants of binge eating, with an established cognitive-behavioral guided self-help (CBTgsh) treatment using standard and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) outcome measures.
Density-based clustering of static and dynamic functional MRI connectivity features obtained from subjects with cognitive impairment.
Brain informatics, 2020

Various machine-learning classification techniques have been employed previously to classify brain states in healthy and disease populations using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). These methods generally use supervised classifiers that are sensitive to outliers and require labeling of training data to generate a predictive model. Density-based clustering, which overcomes these issues, is a popular unsupervised learning approach whose utility for high-dimensional neuroimaging data has not been previously evaluated. Its advantages include insensitivity to outliers and ability to work with unlabeled data. Unlike the popular k-means clustering, the number of clusters need not be specified. In this study, we compare the performance of two popular density-based clustering methods, DBSCAN and OPTICS, in accurately identifying individuals with three stages of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's disease. We used static and dynamic functional connectivity features for clustering, which captures the strength and temporal variation of brain connectivity respectively. To assess the robustness of clustering to noise/outliers, we propose a novel method called recursive-clustering using additive-noise (R-CLAN). Results demonstrated that both clustering algorithms were effective, although OPTICS with dynamic connectivity features outperformed in terms of cluster purity (95.46%) and robustness to noise/outliers. This study demonstrates that density-based clustering can accurately and robustly identify diagnostic classes in an unsupervised way using brain connectivity.
Managing the Complex Patient with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: How to Handle the Aging Spine, the Obese Patient, and Individuals with Medical Comorbidities.
Neurosurgery clinics of North America, 2018

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of nontraumatic spinal cord injury worldwide. Even relatively mild impairment in functional scores can significantly impact daily activities. Surgery is an effective treatment for DCM, but outcomes are dependent on more than technique and preoperative neurologic deficits.
COVID-19: A pandemic that threatens physical and mental health by promoting physical inactivity.
Sports medicine and health science, 2020

Ever since the outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in late 2019, it has killed millions of people worldwide. Even people not stricken by this disease are not spared from its negative economic, social, and health-related drawbacks. This commentary provides insight into the potential mechanisms involved in the development of depression and emotional negativity escalating during the current pandemic. In particular, preventive measures of COVID-19, such as staying at home, are sedentarism measures that decrease physical activity. Physical inactivity alters gut microbiome structure in a fashion that promotes gut dysbiosis and flaring of systemic inflammation, leading to the buildup of body fat. Obesity, which contributes to a trail of health-depleting disorders, furthers gut microbial disintegration while fat tissue stimulates the release of cytokines, promotes metabolic resistance, and alters signaling involved in the production of antioxidants. As a result, the body gets flooded by toxic molecules such pro-inflammatory mediators, free radicals, and advanced glycation end products. These toxic molecules alter cellular function in all body tissues, including those of the brain. Neuroinflammation is associated with progressive declines in cognitive and motor functions along with dysregulation in emotions. Counteracting the sedentarism enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic through the participation in suitable indoors activities and the intake of healthy food is likely to protect against or revert physiological impairments that may affect people retreating to their homes during the current crisis, eventually restoring physical and mental health.
Estrogen modulation of two subpopulations of β-endorphin neurons in ovariectomized guinea pigs distinguished by peripherally injected fluorogold.
Endocrine, 1995

β-endorphin released by neurons in the arcuate nucleus affects the output of several neuroendocrine systems and estrogen levels modulate the production and secretion of β-endorphin. We used intraperitoneal injection of fluorogold to retrogradely label the cell bodies of neurons that project outside the blood-brain-barrier in conjunction with immunohistochemistry for β-endorphin to dual label the subpopulation of β-endorphin neurons that project to the median eminence or other sites of access to the peripheral circulation. We found that some identified β-endorphin neurons in the arcuate nucleus of ovariectomized guinea pigs sequestered fluorogold. Approximately 7% of β-endorphin-containing cells co-localized with fluorogold. The effect of estrogen on the number of identified β-endorphin cells was examined. A single estradiol benzoate injection to ovariectomized guinea pigs 24 h prior to sacrifice dramatically decreased the total number of β-endorphin cells identified in the rostral, medial and the caudal portions of the arcuate nucleus. Also, a significantly smaller percentage of fluorogold-filled cells was found to contain β-endorphin immunoreactivity in the estrogen-treated group. These data suggest that a subpopulation of β-endorphin neurons has access to the peripheral circulation and may alter the output of neurosecretory terminals at the level of the median eminence. Furthermore, estrogen affects this subpopulation and the general population of β-endorphin neurons in the arcuate nucleus in a similar manner.