rudyvdbrink/CitationDatabase huggingface dataset:
Determining the Efficacy of Electronic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Compared to Pharmaceutical Interventions: Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study.
JMIR research protocols, 2021

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an extremely prevalent and debilitating mental health disorder. Currently, the gold standard treatment for GAD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or pharmacotherapy. The most common medications used to treat GAD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. While CBT is the gold standard treatment for GAD, it is costly, time-consuming, and often inaccessible. Fortunately, the electronic delivery of CBT (e-CBT) has emerged as a promising solution to address these barriers. e-CBT has shown to offer comparable results to in-person CBT while improving accessibility for patients and time efficiency for clinicians.
Promoting remyelination in multiple sclerosis.
Journal of neurology, 2021

The greatest unmet need in multiple sclerosis (MS) are treatments that delay, prevent or reverse progression. One of the most tractable strategies to achieve this is to therapeutically enhance endogenous remyelination; doing so restores nerve conduction and prevents neurodegeneration. The biology of remyelination-centred on the activation, migration, proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitors-has been increasingly clearly defined and druggable targets have now been identified in preclinical work leading to early phase clinical trials. With some phase 2 studies reporting efficacy, the prospect of licensed remyelinating treatments in MS looks increasingly likely. However, there remain many unanswered questions and recent research has revealed a further dimension of complexity to this process that has refined our view of the barriers to remyelination in humans. In this review, we describe the process of remyelination, why this fails in MS, and the latest research that has given new insights into this process. We also discuss the translation of this research into clinical trials, highlighting the treatments that have been tested to date, and the different methods of detecting remyelination in people.
Brain-computer interaction for online enhancement of visuospatial attention performance.
Journal of neural engineering, 2018

this study on real-time decoding of visuospatial attention has two objectives: first, to reliably decode self-directed shifts of attention from electroencephalography (EEG) data, and second, to analyze whether this information can be used to enhance visuospatial performance. Visuospatial performance was measured in a target orientation discrimination task, in terms of reaction time, and error rate.
Use of Functional MRI to Assess Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation Frequency Changes on Brain Activation in Parkinson Disease.
Neurosurgery, 2021

Models have been developed for predicting ideal contact and amplitude for subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson disease (PD). Pulse-width is generally varied to modulate the size of the energy field produced. Effects of varying frequency in humans have not been systematically evaluated.
Increased dynamic flexibility in the medial temporal lobe network following an exercise intervention mediates generalization of prior learning.
Neurobiology of learning and memory, 2021

Recent work has conceptualized the brain as a network comprised of groups of sub-networks or modules. "Flexibility" of brain network(s) indexes the dynamic reconfiguration of comprising modules. Using novel techniques from dynamic network neuroscience applied to high-resolution resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the present study investigated the effects of an aerobic exercise intervention on the dynamic rearrangement of modular community structure-a measure of neural flexibility-within the medial temporal lobe (MTL) network. The MTL is one of the earliest brain regions impacted by Alzheimer's disease. It is also a major site of neuroplasticity that is sensitive to the effects of exercise. In a two-group non-randomized, repeated measures and matched control design with 34 healthy older adults, we observed an exercise-related increase in flexibility within the MTL network. Furthermore, MTL network flexibility mediated the beneficial effect aerobic exercise had on mnemonic flexibility, as measured by the ability to generalize past learning to novel task demands. Our results suggest that exercise exerts a rehabilitative and protective effect on MTL function, resulting in dynamically evolving networks of regions that interact in complex communication patterns. These reconfigurations may underlie exercise-induced improvements on cognitive measures of generalization, which are sensitive to subtle changes in the MTL.
Antinociceptive modulation by the adhesion GPCR CIRL promotes mechanosensory signal discrimination.
eLife, 2020

Adhesion-type GPCRs (aGPCRs) participate in a vast range of physiological processes. Their frequent association with mechanosensitive functions suggests that processing of mechanical stimuli may be a common feature of this receptor family. Previously, we reported that the
Expanding Access to Perinatal Depression Treatment in Kenya Through Automated Psychological Support: Development and Usability Study.
JMIR formative research, 2020

Depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period is associated with poor outcomes for women and their children. Although effective interventions exist for common mental disorders that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period, most cases in low- and middle-income countries go untreated because of a lack of trained professionals. Task-sharing models such as the Thinking Healthy Program have shown potential in feasibility and efficacy trials as a strategy for expanding access to treatment in low-resource settings; however, there are significant barriers to scale-up. We address this gap by adapting Thinking Healthy for automated delivery via a mobile phone. This new intervention, Healthy Moms, uses an existing artificial intelligence system called Tess (Zuri in Kenya) to drive conversations with users.
Lateral Thoracic Osteoplastic Rib-Sparing Technique Used for Lateral Spine Surgery: Technical Note.
Cureus, 2016

Of patients who have undergone lateral approaches to the thoracic spine, surgical site postoperative pain appears to be greater among those who have undergone transection and removal of a rib segment than those who have not. Therefore, techniques that conserve anatomical position and minimize tissue disruption would theoretically result in less pain and a quicker recovery. Herein, we describe a rib-sparing osteoplastic technique used when rib segments need to be displaced in order to create an unobscured corridor to the operative target. Our approach minimizes soft tissue disruption and restores the anatomical function of the rib. Based on our experience, these patients report less pain, mobilize earlier, and are discharged sooner than those who have had rib segments sacrificed as part of a lateral approach to the spine.
Determination of anodal tDCS intensity threshold for reversal of corticospinal excitability: an investigation for induction of counter-regulatory mechanisms.
Scientific reports, 2020

Transcranial direct current stimulation is applied to modulate activity, and excitability of the brain. Basically, LTP-like plasticity is induced when anodal tDCS (a-tDCS) is applied over the primary motor cortex. However, it has been shown that specific parameters of a-tDCS can induce a plasticity reversal. We aimed to systematically assess the intensity threshold for reversal of the direction of plasticity induced by a-tDCS, monitored by corticospinal excitability (CSE), and explored mechanisms regulating this reversal. Fifteen healthy participants received a-tDCS in pseudo-random order for 26 min with four intensities of 0.3, 0.7, 1, and 1.5 mA. To measure CSE changes, single-pulse TMS was applied over the left M1, and motor evoked potentials of a contralateral hand muscle were recorded prior to a-tDCS, immediately and 30-min post-intervention. Paired-pulse TMS was used to evaluate intracortical excitation and inhibition. CSE increased significantly following a-tDCS with an intensity of 0.7 mA; however, the expected effect decreased and even reversed at intensities of 1 and 1.5 mA. ICF was significantly increased while SICI and LICI decreased at 0.7 mA. On the other hand, a significant decrease of ICF, but SICI and LICI enhancement was observed at intensities of 1, and 1.5 mA. The present findings show an intensity threshold of ≥ 1 mA for 26 min a-tDCS to reverse LTP- into LTD-like plasticity. It is suggested that increasing stimulation intensity, with constant stimulation duration, activates counter-regulatory mechanisms to prevent excessive brain excitation. Therefore, stimulation intensity and plasticity induced by a-tDCS might non-linearly correlate in scenarios with prolonged stimulation duration.
Possible association between photic sneeze syndrome and migraine and psychological distress.
Neuropsychopharmacology reports, 2019

Photic sneeze syndrome (PSS) is a condition that causes sneezing when the eye is exposed to sudden bright light. Because alterations in the parasympathetic and trigeminal nerve systems have been implicated in PSS, and such systems are involved in migraine and stress-related disorders, we examined the possible associations of PSS with migraine and psychological distress.
Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules inhibit the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl
American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 2020

The gasotransmitter carbon monoxide (CO) regulates fluid and electrolyte movements across epithelial tissues. However, its action on anion channels is incompletely understood. Here, we investigate the direct action of CO on the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) by applying CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) to the intracellular side of excised inside-out membrane patches from cells heterologously expressing wild-type human CFTR. Addition of increasing concentrations of tricarbonyldichlororuthenium(II) dimer (CORM-2) (1-300 μM) inhibited CFTR channel activity, whereas the control RuCl
Glucose-Regulated TET2 Activity Links Cancer to Diabetes.
Trends in cancer, 2019

Diabetes has long been associated with an increased risk of cancer. While many molecular connections likely exist between the diseases, a recent publication discovered a clear molecular link, demonstrating that a glucose-dependent destabilisation of the DNA demethylase TET2 can promote malignant transformation via an AMPK-dependent phosphoswitch.
Functional outcomes and patient satisfaction following inpatient treatment for childhood-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders vs non-psychotic disorders in children in the United Kingdom.
Early intervention in psychiatry, 2021

The aim of this study was to compare clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes between children with Childhood-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders (COSS) and children with other severe non-psychotic psychiatric conditions (non-COSS), all admitted to a national mental health inpatient children's unit.
Gut microbiota modulates expression of genes involved in the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle in the hippocampus.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2020

The gut microbiota modulates brain physiology, development, and behavior and has been implicated as a key regulator in several central nervous system disorders. Its effect on the metabolic coupling between neurons and astrocytes has not been studied to date, even though this is an important component of brain energy metabolism and physiology and it is perturbed in neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders. In this study, we have investigated the mRNA expression of 6 genes encoding proteins implicated in the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle (Atp1a2, Ldha, Ldhb, Mct1, Gys1, Pfkfb3), in relation to different gut microbiota manipulations, in the mouse brain hippocampus, a region with critical functions in cognition and behavior. We have discovered that Atp1a2 and Pfkfb3, encoding the ATPase, Na+/K+ transporting, alpha 2 sub-unit, respectively and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3, two genes predominantly expressed in astrocytes, were upregulated in the hippocampus after microbial colonization of germ-free mice for 24 h, compared with conventionally raised mice. Pfkfb3 was also upregulated in germ-free mice compared with conventionally raised mice, while an increase in Atp1a2 expression in germ-free mice was confirmed only at the protein level by Western blot. In a separate cohort of mice, Atp1a2 and Pfkfb3 mRNA expression was upregulated in the hippocampus following 6-week dietary supplementation with prebiotics (fructo- and galacto-oligosaccharides) in an animal model of chronic psychosocial stress. To our knowledge, these findings are the first to report an influence of the gut microbiota and prebiotics on mRNA expression of genes implicated in the metabolic coupling between neurons and astrocytes.
Joseph Warren: a discussion of his life and analysis of his death.
Neurosurgical focus, 2015

As his fellow soldiers ran past him, Joseph Warren stood bravely on Bunker Hill. It was June 17, 1775, and British troops were fighting the colonists in one of the early battles of the American Revolution. The British had already attempted two major assaults that day, and the third would end with Warren's death. He was a medical doctor, public figure, and general who spent his life and last living moments fighting for freedom for the American colonists. After the battle, there was much confusion about what had happened to Joseph Warren. Some thought he had survived the battle; other accounts differed on how exactly he had died. The details of the events on Bunker Hill remained a mystery until the following year, when Paul Revere helped identify Warren's body by the false teeth that had been implanted years earlier. Warren's remains showed that his head had been struck by a bullet. Analysis of the skull helped to sift through the differing tales of Warren's death and thus unveil the truth about what occurred that day. The smaller bullet wound in the left maxilla suggests that he was not shot while retreating with the rest of the soldiers. The larger exit wound in the right occiput illustrates that the bullet's trajectory crossed the midline of the brain and most likely injured the brainstem. Therefore, contrary to rumors that circulated at the time, Joseph Warren most likely was killed instantly at the Battle of Bunker Hill while heroically facing his enemy.
Charting brain growth in tandem with brain templates at school age.
Science bulletin, 2020

Brain growth charts and age-normed brain templates are essential resources for researchers to eventually contribute to the care of individuals with atypical developmental trajectories. The present work generates age-normed brain templates for children and adolescents at one-year intervals and the corresponding growth charts to investigate the influences of age and ethnicity using a common pediatric neuroimaging protocol. Two accelerated longitudinal cohorts with the identical experimental design were implemented in the United States and China. Anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of typically developing school-age children (TDC) was obtained up to three times at nominal intervals of 1.25 years. The protocol generated and compared population- and age-specific brain templates and growth charts, respectively. A total of 674 Chinese pediatric MRI scans were obtained from 457 Chinese TDC and 190 American pediatric MRI scans were obtained from 133 American TDC. Population- and age-specific brain templates were used to quantify warp cost, the differences between individual brains and brain templates. Volumetric growth charts for labeled brain network areas were generated. Shape analyses of cost functions supported the necessity of age-specific and ethnicity-matched brain templates, which was confirmed by growth chart analyses. These analyses revealed volumetric growth differences between the two ethnicities primarily in lateral frontal and parietal areas, regions which are most variable across individuals in regard to their structure and function. Age- and ethnicity-specific brain templates facilitate establishing unbiased pediatric brain growth charts, indicating the necessity of the brain charts and brain templates generated in tandem. These templates and growth charts as well as related codes have been made freely available to the public for open neuroscience (https://github.com/zuoxinian/CCS/tree/master/H3/GrowthCharts).
Anti-C5a antibody IFX-1 (vilobelimab) treatment versus best supportive care for patients with severe COVID-19 (PANAMO): an exploratory, open-label, phase 2 randomised controlled trial.
The Lancet. Rheumatology, 2020

Severe COVID-19 is characterised by inflammation and coagulation in the presence of complement system activation. We aimed to explore the potential benefit and safety of selectively blocking the anaphylatoxin and complement protein C5a with the monoclonal antibody IFX-1 (vilobelimab), in patients with severe COVID-19.
Prior fear conditioning does not impede enhanced active avoidance in serotonin transporter knockout rats.
Behavioural brain research, 2017

Stressors can be actively or passively coped with, and adequate adaption of the coping response to environmental conditions can reduce their potential deleterious effects. One major factor influencing stress coping behaviour is serotonin transporter (5-HTT) availability. Abolishment of 5-HTT is known to impair fear extinction but facilitates acquisition of signalled active avoidance (AA), a behavioural task in which an animal learns to avoid an aversive stimulus that is predicted by a cue. Flexibility in adapting coping behaviour to the nature of the stressor shapes resilience to stress-related disorders. Therefore, we investigated the relation between 5-HTT expression and ability to adapt a learned coping response to changing environmental conditions. To this end, we first established and consolidated a cue-conditioned passive fear response in 5-HTT
Expanding the etiologic spectrum of spastic ataxia syndrome: chronic infection with human T lymphotropic virus type 1.
Journal of neurovirology, 2021

Human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is a neglected infection most often associated with an indolent process. However, a subset of HTLV-1 seropositive patients face the risk to develop life-threatening T-cell lymphoma/leukemia, or the highly disabling and incurable HTLV1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Over the years, other complications to HTLV-1 have been proposed and debated intensely. One of these, although rare, associations include cerebellar ataxia occurring most often in Japanese patients with manifest HAM/TSP. Here we present a HTLV-1 seropositive patient from the Middle East featuring a slowly progressive cerebellar syndrome with cerebellar atrophy but not evidence of spastic paraparesis. In addition, this patient suffered from autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome and vitiligo which are putatively associated with HTLV-1.
The utility of Jerk-locked back averaging technique in diagnosis of generalized myoclonic epilepsy with normal scalp EEG: A case report.
Medicine, 2019

The diagnosis of myoclonic epilepsy and the classification of generalized or partial type may be challenging, especially when the scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) is normal. In such situation, how to apply another electrophysiological technique to begin the diagnosis and classification? The utility of Jerk-locked back averaging technique has been described in our case.
Neuroplasticity and the Biological Role of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Pathophysiology and Management of Depression.
Cureus, 2020

Depression is a mental illness that can have serious implications if left untreated. Studies involving a neurotrophic factor called brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its associated signaling pathways have solidified our understanding of the pathophysiology of depression. The objective of this literature review is to gain a better understanding of the mechanism by which reduced levels of BDNF are implicated in depression and how antidepressants facilitate the treatment of depression by increasing BDNF levels. The specific approach is to learn about the key involvements of BDNF and its receptor TrkB (tropomyosin receptor kinase B) and how their interactions and subsequent intracellular signaling cascades bring about enhanced neuroplastic changes. In this literature review, we searched for past review articles focusing on BDNF. We collected data using PubMed and created a summary of our findings. The results showed that stress and depression through the reduction of BDNF levels contribute to neuroplastic changes while antidepressants through enhanced BDNF levels are able to generate positive neuroplastic outcomes and thereby help resolve depressive symptoms. In this paper, we will delve into how a better understanding of the neural circuitry involving BDNF will enable us to both understand how current antidepressants work in the limbic regions of the brain as well as search for novel rapid-acting antidepressants to use in clinical practice.
Opportunities for Technology and Tool Development.
Neuron, 2016

Major resources are now available to develop tools and technologies aimed at dissecting the circuitry and computations underlying behavior, unraveling the underpinnings of brain disorders, and understanding the neural substrates of cognition. Scientists from around the world shared their views around new tools and technologies to drive advances in neuroscience.
Single-Nucleus RNA-Seq Is Not Suitable for Detection of Microglial Activation Genes in Humans.
Cell reports, 2020

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) is used as an alternative to single-cell RNA-seq, as it allows transcriptomic profiling of frozen tissue. However, it is unclear whether snRNA-seq is able to detect cellular state in human tissue. Indeed, snRNA-seq analyses of human brain samples have failed to detect a consistent microglial activation signature in Alzheimer's disease. Our comparison of microglia from single cells and single nuclei of four human subjects reveals that, although most genes show similar relative abundances in cells and nuclei, a small population of genes (∼1%) is depleted in nuclei compared to whole cells. This population is enriched for genes previously implicated in microglial activation, including APOE, CST3, SPP1, and CD74, comprising 18% of previously identified microglial-disease-associated genes. Given the low sensitivity of snRNA-seq to detect many activation genes, we conclude that snRNA-seq is not suited for detecting cellular activation in microglia in human disease.