rudyvdbrink/CitationDatabase huggingface dataset:
Non-negative data-driven mapping of structural connections with application to the neonatal brain.
NeuroImage, 2020

Mapping connections in the neonatal brain can provide insight into the crucial early stages of neurodevelopment that shape brain organisation and lay the foundations for cognition and behaviour. Diffusion MRI and tractography provide unique opportunities for such explorations, through estimation of white matter bundles and brain connectivity. Atlas-based tractography protocols, i.e. a priori defined sets of masks and logical operations in a template space, have been commonly used in the adult brain to drive such explorations. However, rapid growth and maturation of the brain during early development make it challenging to ensure correspondence and validity of such atlas-based tractography approaches in the developing brain. An alternative can be provided by data-driven methods, which do not depend on predefined regions of interest. Here, we develop a novel data-driven framework to extract white matter bundles and their associated grey matter networks from neonatal tractography data, based on non-negative matrix factorisation that is inherently suited to the non-negative nature of structural connectivity data. We also develop a non-negative dual regression framework to map group-level components to individual subjects. Using in-silico simulations, we evaluate the accuracy of our approach in extracting connectivity components and compare with an alternative data-driven method, independent component analysis. We apply non-negative matrix factorisation to whole-brain connectivity obtained from publicly available datasets from the Developing Human Connectome Project, yielding grey matter components and their corresponding white matter bundles. We assess the validity and interpretability of these components against traditional tractography results and grey matter networks obtained from resting-state fMRI in the same subjects. We subsequently use them to generate a parcellation of the neonatal cortex using data from 323 new-born babies and we assess the robustness and reproducibility of this connectivity-driven parcellation.
Molecular characterization of a 1p36 chromosomal duplication and in utero interference define ENO1 as a candidate gene for polymicrogyria.
European journal of human genetics : EJHG, 2020

While chromosome 1p36 deletion syndrome is one of the most common terminal subtelomeric microdeletion syndrome, 1p36 microduplications are rare events. Polymicrogyria (PMG) is a brain malformation phenotype frequently present in patients with 1p36 monosomy. The gene whose haploinsufficiency could cause this phenotype remains to be identified. We used high-resolution arrayCGH in patients with various forms of PMG in order to identify chromosomal variants associated to the malformation and characterized the genes included in these regions in vitro and in vivo. We identified the smallest case of 1p36 duplication reported to date in a patient presenting intellectual disability, microcephaly, epilepsy, and perisylvian polymicrogyria. The duplicated segment is intrachromosomal, duplicated in mirror and contains two genes: enolase 1 (ENO1) and RERE, both disrupted by the rearrangement. Gene expression analysis performed using the patient cells revealed a reduced expression, mimicking haploinsufficiency. We performed in situ hybridization to describe the developmental expression profile of the two genes in mouse development. In addition, we used in utero electroporation of shRNAs to show that Eno1 inactivation in the rat causes a brain development defect. These experiments allowed us to define the ENO1 gene as the most likely candidate to contribute to the brain malformation phenotype of the studied patient and consequently a candidate to contribute to the malformations of the cerebral cortex observed in patients with 1p36 monosomy.
Exosomes as new therapeutic vectors for pancreatic cancer treatment.
European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V, 2021

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest cancers with a very short rate of survival and commonly without symptoms in its early stage. This absence of symptoms can lead to a late diagnosis associated with an advanced metastasis process, for which therapy is not effective. Although with extensive research in this field, the 5-year survival rate has not increased significantly. Notwithstanding, novel insights on risk factors, genetic mutations and molecular mechanisms pave the way for novel therapeutics that urge with a significant part of PC patients presenting resistance to chemotherapy treatments. Exosomes are presented as a promising strategy, working as delivery systems, since they can transport and release their cargoes after fusing with the membrane of pancreatic cells. Exosomes present advantages over liposomes, being less toxic and reaching higher levels in the bloodstream, working as molecule carriers that can inhibit oncogenes, activating tumor suppressor genes and inducing immune responses as well as controlling cell growth. This review intends to provide an overview about the scientific and clinical studies regarding the entire process, from isolation and purification of exosomes, to their design and transformation into anti-oncogenic drug delivering systems, particularly to target PC cells.
Associations between brain activity and endogenous and exogenous cortisol - A systematic review.
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2020

To arrive at a coherent understanding of the relation between glucocorticoids and the human brain, we systematically reviewed the literature for studies examining the associations between endogenous or exogenous cortisol and human brain function. Higher levels of endogenous cortisol during psychological stress were related to increased activity in the middle temporal gyrus and perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), decreased activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and altered function (i.e., mixed findings, increased or decreased) in the amygdala, hippocampus and inferior frontal gyrus. Moreover, endogenous cortisol response to psychological stress was related to increased activity in the inferior temporal gyrus and altered function in the amygdala during emotional tasks that followed psychological stress. Exogenous cortisol administration was related to increased activity in the postcentral gyrus, superior frontal gyrus and ACC, and altered function in the amygdala and hippocampus during conditioning, emotional and reward-processing tasks after cortisol administration. These findings were in line with those from animal studies on amygdala activity during and after stress.
Cognitive function in toddlers with congenital heart disease: The impact of a stimulating home environment.
Infancy : the official journal of the International Society on Infant Studies, 2021

Infants born with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental difficulties in childhood. The extent to which perioperative factors, cardiac physiology, brain injury severity, socioeconomic status, and home environment influence early neurodevelopment is not clear. Sixty-nine newborns with CHD were recruited from St Thomas' Hospital. Infants underwent presurgical magnetic resonance imaging on a 3-Tesla scanner situated on the neonatal unit. At 22 months, children completed the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-3rd edition and parents completed the cognitively stimulating parenting scale to assess cognitive stimulation at home. Level of maternal education and total annual household income were also collected. Hospital records were reviewed to calculate days on the intensive care unit post-surgery, time on bypass during surgery, and days to corrective or definitive palliative surgical intervention. In the final analysis of 56 infants, higher scores on the cognitively stimulating parenting scale were associated with higher cognitive scores at age 22 months, correcting for gestational age at birth, sex, and maternal education. There were no relationships between outcome scores and clinical factors; socioeconomic status; or brain injury severity. Supporting parents to provide a stimulating home environment for children may promote cognitive development in this high-risk population.
The study of noninvasive brain stimulation using molecular brain imaging: A systematic review.
NeuroImage, 2020

Electromagnetic noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation, are widely used in research and represent emerging clinical treatment options for many brain disorders. The brain-wide neurobiological effects of electromagnetic NIBS, however, are not yet fully characterized. The combination of NIBS with molecular brain imaging is a powerful tool for the investigation of these effects. Here, we conducted a systematic review of all published studies investigating the effects of all forms of electromagnetic NIBS using molecular imaging (positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography). A meta-analysis was also conducted when sufficient studies employed similar methodologies. A total of 239 articles were identified, of which 71 were included in the review. Information was extracted about the study design, NIBS parameters, imaging parameters, and observed local and remote effects caused by the stimulation. Regional cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism were the most common outcome measures, followed by dopamine neurotransmission. While the vast majority of studies obtained remote effects of stimulation in interconnected regions, approximately half of the studies showed local effects at the stimulation site. Our meta-analysis on motor cortex stimulation also showed consistent remote effects. The literature review demonstrates that although the local effects of NIBS as captured by molecular imaging are sometimes modest, there are robust remote changes in brain activity and neurotransmitter function. Finally, we discuss the potential pitfalls and methodological issues and identify gaps in the current knowledge that could be addressed using these techniques.
Globus pallidus internus activity during simultaneous bilateral microelectrode recordings in status dystonicus.
Acta neurochirurgica, 2021

Limited data are available regarding the electrophysiology of status dystonicus (SD). We report simultaneous microelectrode recordings (MERs) from the globus pallidus internus (GPi) of a patient with SD who was treated with bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS). Mean neuronal discharge rate was of 30.1 ± 10.9 Hz and 38.5 Hz ± 11.1 Hz for the right and left GPi, respectively. On the right side, neuronal electrical activity was completely abolished at the target point, whereas the mean burst index values showed a predominance of bursting and irregular activity along trajectories on both sides. Our data are in line with previous findings of pallidal irregular hypoactivity as a potential electrophysiological marker of dystonia and thus SD, but further electrophysiological studies are needed to confirm our results.
Unique Interplay Between Molecular miR-181b/d Biomarkers and Health Related Quality of Life Score in the Predictive Glioma Models.
International journal of molecular sciences, 2020

In the last decade, an increasing amount of research has been conducted analyzing microRNA expression changes in glioma tissue and its expressed exosomes, but there is still sparse information on microRNAs or other biomarkers and their association with patients' functional/psychological outcomes. In this study, we performed a combinational analysis measuring
Preconditioning by ultra-low dose of tramadol reduces the severity of tramadol-induced seizure: Contribution of glutamate receptors.
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 2021

Tramadol, a weak agonist of mu-opioid receptors, causes seizure via several mechanisms. Preconditioning has been purposed to reduce the epileptic seizures in animal models of epilepsy. The preconditioning effect of tramadol on seizure is not studied yet. This study was designed to evaluate the preconditioning effect of ultra-low dose of tramadol on the seizures induced by tramadol at high dose. Furthermore, regarding the critical role of glutamate signaling in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, the effect of preconditioning on some glutamate signaling elements was also examined. Male Wistar rats received tramadol (2 mg/kg, i.p) or normal saline (1 mL/kg, i.p) in preconditioning and control groups, respectively. After 4 days, the challenging tramadol dose (150 mg/kg) was injected to all rats. Epileptic behaviors were recorded during 50 min. The expression of Norbin (as a regulator of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5), Calponin3 (as a regulator of excitatory synaptic markers), NR1 (NMDA receptor subunit 1) and GluR1 (AMPA receptor subunit 1) was measured in hippocampus, prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala. Preconditioning decreased the number and duration of tremors and tonic-clonic seizures. Norbin, Calponin3, NR1 and GluR1 expression were decreased in hippocampus, and preconditioning had no effect on them. In contrast, it increased Norbin expression in PFC and amygdala, and attenuated NR1 and GluR1 upregulation following tramadol at high dose. These findings indicated that preconditioning by ultra-low dose of tramadol protected the animals against seizures following high dose of tramadol mediated, at least in part, by Norbin up regulation, and NR1 and GluR1 down regulation.
Cyberknife radiosurgery on the brainstem metastases of non-small cell lung cancer.
The International journal of neuroscience, 2021

Management of brainstem metastatic tumor is challenging. This study aimed to evaluate overall survival and quality-of-life in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brainstem metastases who were treated with the Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgery.
Introduction: An overview of NIMH (Klecany, CZ) scientific activities.
Neuroscience letters, 2021

An overview of research activities of National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Klecany, Czech republic. The institute was funded by EU operational project Research and Development for Innovation and started working in 2015. NIMH activities are organized in eight research programs including the neurobiology of the serious mental disorders, social psychiatry, brain imaging and use of information technologies in psychiatric research, epidemiology of addictions, sleep laboratory and chronobiology, electrophysiology, clinical research, and transfer of technologies. The equipment and expertise ranks NIMH Klecany among top neuroscience research institutions in central and eastern Europe.
Interaction of human IAPP and Aβ
Experimental neurology, 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a common pathology. Both diseases are characterized by local deposition of amyloid proteins in the brain or islet organ, but their phenotypes and clinical manifestation vary widely. Although the sources of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and amyloid beta (Aβ) are independent, their fibrillar sequences are highly homologous. The prevalence of AD in T2DM populations is considerably higher than that in the normal population, but a mechanistic linkage remains elusive. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the effects of Aβ42 deposition in the brain on the persistently expression of human IAPP (hIAPP). Additionally, cognitive ability, synaptic plasticity, the state of neural stem cells and mitochondrial function were evaluated at 2 or 6 months after stereotaxically injected the oligomer Aβ
Clinically Relevant Interactions between Atypical Antipsychotics and Anti-Infective Agents.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 2020

This is a comprehensive review of the literature on drug interactions (DIs) between atypical antipsychotics and anti-infective agents that focuses on those DIs with the potential to be clinically relevant and classifies them as pharmacokinetic (PK) or pharmacodynamic (PD) DIs. PubMed searches were conducted for each of the atypical antipsychotics and most commonly used anti-infective agents (13 atypical antipsychotics by 61 anti-infective agents/classes leading to 793 individual searches). Additional relevant articles were obtained from citations and from prior review articles written by the authors. Based on prior DI articles and our current understanding of PK and PD mechanism, we developed tables with practical recommendations for clinicians for: antibiotic DIs, antitubercular DIs, antifungal DIs, antiviral DIs, and other anti-infective DIs. Another table reflects that in clinical practice, DIs between atypical antipsychotics and anti-infective agents occur in patients also suffering an infection that may also influence the PK and PD mechanisms of both drugs (the atypical antipsychotic and the anti-infective agent(s)). These tables reflect the currently available literature and our current knowledge of the field and will need to be updated as new DI information becomes available.
The effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy using yellow-green LED and rose bengal on Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy, 2020

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a new antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) system using yellow-green light-emitting diode (YGL) and rose bengal (RB) on Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) in vitro.
Commonwealth v. Carter and Legal Interpretations of Facilitated Suicide.
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2018

In June 2017, a media frenzy ensued after Michelle Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the state of Massachusetts for facilitating the suicide of Conrad Roy. The verdict stirred controversy and cast a spotlight on facilitation of suicide, i.e., a person's act(s) done with the purpose of helping another to die by suicide. One form of facilitation, physician-assisted suicide, has been extensively debated in the existing literature. In this article, we set out to explore the legal and forensic ramifications of non-physician-assisted suicide, which we refer to as facilitated suicide. We first conducted a review of all fifty states' legislation regarding facilitated suicide: forty-four states prohibit it by statute, and three states prohibit it through common law. Thirteen states specifically outlaw verbal facilitation of suicide. We then surveyed the case law to identify legal precedent to the Commonwealth v.
COVID-19 vaccine-readiness for anti-CD20-depleting therapy in autoimmune diseases.
Clinical and experimental immunology, 2020

Although most autoimmune diseases are considered to be CD4 T cell- or antibody-mediated, many respond to CD20-depleting antibodies that have limited influence on CD4 and plasma cells. This includes rituximab, oblinutuzumab and ofatumumab that are used in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and off-label in a large number of other autoimmunities and ocrelizumab in multiple sclerosis. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic created concerns about immunosuppression in autoimmunity, leading to cessation or a delay in immunotherapy treatments. However, based on the known and emerging biology of autoimmunity and COVID-19, it was hypothesised that while B cell depletion should not necessarily expose people to severe SARS-CoV-2-related issues, it may inhibit protective immunity following infection and vaccination. As such, drug-induced B cell subset inhibition, that controls at least some autoimmunities, would not influence innate and CD8 T cell responses, which are central to SARS-CoV-2 elimination, nor the hypercoagulation and innate inflammation causing severe morbidity. This is supported clinically, as the majority of SARS-CoV-2-infected, CD20-depleted people with autoimmunity have recovered. However, protective neutralizing antibody and vaccination responses are predicted to be blunted until naive B cells repopulate, based on B cell repopulation kinetics and vaccination responses, from published rituximab and unpublished ocrelizumab (NCT00676715, NCT02545868) trial data, shown here. This suggests that it may be possible to undertake dose interruption to maintain inflammatory disease control, while allowing effective vaccination against SARS-CoV-29, if and when an effective vaccine is available.
Efficient whole brain transduction by systemic infusion of minimally purified AAV-PHP.eB.
Journal of neuroscience methods, 2020

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have excellent properties as gene transfer vehicles. The recent development of AAV-PHP.eB, highly BBB-permeable capsid variant of AAV serotype 9, has opened up systemic application for whole brain transduction. To attain high transduction efficacy, much efforts have been paid to purify AAV vectors using gradient centrifugation or column chromatography. These methods are time-consuming, cost substantially and require expensive equipment.
Autologous versus prosthetic nasal and auricular reconstruction - patient, professional and layperson perceptions.
International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, 2020

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the perceptions of aesthetic outcome following the autologous and prosthetic reconstruction of nasal and auricular defects among patients, professionals (oral and maxillofacial surgeons and ear, nose and throat surgeons) and people unfamiliar with reconstructive surgery. The influence of anatomical subunits on the overall perception of nasal and auricular reconstructions was also determined. A total of 119 patients treated for nasal and auricular defects between 1997 and 2016, with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months, were selected, and photographs of 77 of these patients (65%) were presented in a digital survey and reviewed using a standardized questionnaire. No clinically relevant correlations were found between the age or gender of patients (as well as those of the respondents) and their scores. Prosthetic reconstructions of nasal and auricular defects were considered advantageous over autologous reconstructions in terms of the subjective aesthetic outcome in the view of the professionals, in particular oral and maxillofacial surgeons; however, the patients judged both techniques to be equally effective in terms of aesthetics. No anatomical subunits were found to have a significant impact on the overall match of a nasal or auricular reconstruction with the patient's face.
Opportunities and challenges for drug discovery in modulating Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) functions.
Expert opinion on drug discovery, 2020

The G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) superfamily is among the most widely exploited targets for therapeutics, with drugs mainly targeting the Rhodopsin, Glutamate and Secretin family receptors. The receptors of the Adhesion family, however, remain comparatively unexplored in this aspect. This review aims to discuss the druggability of Adhesion GPCRs (aGPCR), highlighting the relevant opportunities and challenges.
Multiple spectral channels in branchiopods. II. Role in light-dependent behavior and natural light environments.
The Journal of experimental biology, 2018

Light is a primary environmental factor used by aquatic invertebrates for depth selection behavior. Many branchiopod crustaceans live in ephemeral aquatic habitats. All branchiopod crustaceans studied to date express four or more visual opsins in their compound eyes. We asked whether two branchiopods,