Ricardo Montoya Monsalve, Sara Isabel Castaño Ocampo
Introducción: la inteligencia artificial (IA) ha emergido como una herramienta relevante en neuropsicología, con potencial para optimizar procesos clínicos, investigativos y educativos en el estudio de las funciones cognitivas.
Materiales y métodos: se realizó una revisión teórica mediante búsqueda en bases de datos como PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Scielo y Redalyc, empleando términos MeSH y operadores booleanos. Se incluyeron artículos en inglés y español, principalmente desde 2014. De 98 registros, se seleccionaron 52 tras aplicar criterios de inclusión y exclusión.
Resultados: se identificaron tres áreas de aplicación: clínica, investigativa y educativa. En el ámbito clínico, la IA alcanzó precisiones de hasta el 91?% en la predicción de demencia y apoyó el análisis de neuroimágenes y el tratamiento. En investigación, facilitó el análisis de grandes volúmenes de datos, la identificación de biomarcadores y el desarrollo de modelos predictivos. en educación, mostró beneficios en el aprendizaje personalizado, aunque con menor nivel de evidencia.
Discusión: persisten limitaciones como la baja interpretabilidad, problemas de generalización y desafíos éticos relacionados con sesgos y privacidad de datos.
Conclusiones: la IA representa un avance significativo en neuropsicología, pero requiere marcos ético-legales y debe complementar, no sustituir, la experiencia clínica.
Abstract The persistence of drug memories accounts for the high risk of drug relapse, which is a major challenge in the treatment of substance use disorders. However, the neurobiological underpinnings, especially the dynamic changes of brain networks underlying long-term drug memories, remain unclear. Here we utilized cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats combined with c-Fos mapping in multiple brain regions and network analysis to assess dynamic patterns of neural activity and functional memory networks following the recall of short-term and long-term cocaine memory. Furthermore, we employed chemogenetic interventions to disrupt the core nodes within the long-term memory network. Our results showed that the recall of long-term cocaine memory is characterized by more extensive and stronger neuronal activation, greater interregional co-activation, and a more coordinated and stable brain network, compared to short-term cocaine memory. Within this reorganized network, the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) emerged as a key hub. Chronic inhibition of RSC disrupted the network and impaired the recall of the long-term memory. These findings demonstrate that the persistence of cocaine memory is encoded by a large-scale reorganization toward a more integrated and stable brain state, and identify the RSC as a critical cortical node orchestrating this process, offering a potential target for relapse prevention strategies.
Aims
Local protein synthesis at the synapse is a key determinant of learning and memory and is predicted to be severely disrupted in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Omics approaches have played a key role in deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathology. However, isolating the transcriptome may be biased due to inherent variations in transcript levels, or by transcription-on-demand models employed by several genes, whereas mass-spec based proteomics approaches fail to capture low abundance peptides. The translatome bypasses these inherent limitations of other omics methods by capturing actively translating mRNA species trapped inside ribosomes and subjecting them to unbiased RNA-seq analysis capturing even very low abundance transcripts.
Methods
Isolating the neuronal ribosomes from human post-mortem brains without interference from non-neuronal cells remains a challenge. We used frozen brain tissue from Alzheimer's patients and healthy controls obtained from the Cambridge Brain Biobank. Synaptoneurosomal fractions were prepared using sucrose gradients in non-denaturing buffers with RNAse inhibitors to preserve ribosomal composition and trapped mRNA. We isolated functional ribosomes on affinity columns following recombinant RNAse digestion. Finally, actively translating ribosome-trapped mRNAs were sequenced using RNA-seq, aligned to human genome using STAR alignment and analysed for differential expression using DeSeq2 followed by pathway analysis.
Results
We have successfully isolated ribosome-associated RNA transcripts in the dendritic spines from cortical neurons of postmortem Alzheimer's brains with little interference from glial and non-neuronal material. The novel AD translatome disruptions identified by isolating endogenous ribosome bound mRNA will help detect downstream molecular targets. We will also integrate targeted translatome data with published transcriptome and GWAS DNA variant data to identify novel biomarkers.
Conclusion
This is the first successful isolation of the dendritic translatome from human postmortem AD brains. Future studies will verify functional significance of key targets using gain- and loss-of-function studies in animal models of AD and human iPSCs.
La polineuropatia desmielinizante inflamatoria crónica (CIDP), por sus siglas en inglés, es una polineurorradicu-lopatía predominantemente motora de etiología autoinmune. Su comienzo es insidioso y el curso crónico, afecta tanto a hombres como a mujeres con un ligero predominio en los primeros. Puede aparecer en cualquier etapa de la vida, es más frecuente a partir de la segunda década. Es necesario diferenciarla de otras enfermedades, ya que es potencialmente tratable, con buena respuesta a los inmunosupresores.
Su diagnóstico se sustenta en cuatro pilares: la clínica, los estudios neurofisiológicos, el estudio del líquido cefalorraquideo y los análisis anatomopatológicos. Desde su descripción inicial se han planteado numerosos criterios diagnósticos, aspecto polémico y controversial, ya que en la práctica clínica existen numerosos pacientes que no cumplen estrictamente con estos criterios pues presentan casos atípicos.
Por la dificultad en el diagnóstico de esta patología se realizó una revisión del tema, exponiendo los principales aspectos clínicos, electrofisiológicos, fisiopatológicos y anatomopatológicos, junto con una breve exposición de lo hallado en doce años de experiencia con esta patología en la Habana, Cuba.
Introduction
Appropriate and adequate treatment of psychiatric conditions in the community or at first presentation to the hospital may prevent rehospitalization. Information about hospital readmission factors may help to reduce readmission rates.
Objectives
The scoping review sought to examine the readmission of patients to acute psychiatric hospitals to determine predictors and interventions to reduce psychiatric readmission rates.
Methods
A scoping review was conducted in eleven bibliographic databases to identify the relevant peer‐reviewed studies. Two reviewers independently assessed full‐text articles, and a screening process was undertaken to identify studies for inclusion in the review. PRISMA checklist was adopted, and with the Covidence software, 75 articles were eligible for review. Data extraction was conducted, collated, summarized, and findings were reported.
Results
The outcome of the review shows that learning disabilities, developmental delays, and alcohol, drug, and substance abuse, were crucial factors that increased the risk of readmission. It was also established through the review that greater access to mental health services in residential treatment and improved crisis intervention in congregate care settings were indicated as factors that reduce the risk of readmission.
Conclusions
High rates of readmission may adversely impact healthcare spending. This study suggests a need for focused health policies to address readmission factors and improve community‐based care.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared
Steve Chung, Jurriaan M. Peters, Kamil Detyniecki
et al.
Nasal administration of treatments for neurologic conditions, including rescue therapies to treat seizure clusters among people with epilepsy, represents a meaningful advance in patient care. Nasal anatomy and physiology underpin the multiple advantages of nasal administration but also present challenges that must be addressed in any successful nasal formulation. Nasal cavity anatomy is complex, with a modest surface area for absorption that limits the dose volume of an intranasal formulation. The mucociliary clearance mechanism and natural barriers of the nasal epithelia must be overcome for adequate absorption. An extensive vasculature and the presence of olfactory nerves in the nasal cavity enable both systemic and direct-to-brain delivery of drugs targeting the central nervous system. Two intranasal benzodiazepine rescue therapies have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for seizure-cluster treatment, in addition to the traditional rectal formulation. Nasal sprays are easy to use and offer the potential for quick and consistent bioavailability. This review aims to increase the clinician’s understanding of nasal anatomy and physiology and of the formulation of intranasal rescue therapies and to facilitate patient education and incorporate intranasal rescue therapies for seizure clusters (also known as acute repetitive seizures) into their seizure action plans.
Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system, Neurophysiology and neuropsychology
Yasemin Dinç, Aylin Bican Demir, Güven Özkaya
et al.
Background Seizures after stroke can negatively affect the prognosis of ischemic stroke and cause a decrease in quality of life. The efficacy of intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment in acute ischemic stroke has been demonstrated in many studies, and IV rt-PA treatment has been increasingly used around the world. The SeLECT score is a useful score for the prediction of late seizures after stroke and includes the severity of stroke (Se), large artery atherosclerosis (L), early seizure (E), cortical involvement (C), and the territory of the middle cerebral artery (T). However, the specificity and sensitivity of the SeLECT score have not been studied in acute ischemic stroke patients that received IV rt-PA treatment.
Blanca Rodríguez-Fernández, Natalia Vilor-Tejedor, Eider M. Arenaza-Urquijo
et al.
Abstract Telomere length (TL) is associated with biological aging, consequently influencing the risk of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We aimed to evaluate the potential causal role of TL in AD endophenotypes (i.e., cognitive performance, N = 2233; brain age and AD-related signatures, N = 1134; and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (CSF) of AD and neurodegeneration, N = 304) through a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Our analysis was conducted in the context of the ALFA (ALzheimer and FAmilies) study, a population of cognitively healthy individuals at risk of AD. A total of 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with TL were used to determine the effect of TL on AD endophenotypes. Analyses were adjusted by age, sex, and years of education. Stratified analyses by APOE-ɛ4 status and polygenic risk score of AD were conducted. MR analysis revealed significant associations between genetically predicted longer TL and lower levels of CSF Aβ and higher levels of CSF NfL only in APOE-ɛ4 non-carriers. Moreover, inheriting longer TL was associated with greater cortical thickness in age and AD-related brain signatures and lower levels of CSF p-tau among individuals at a high genetic predisposition to AD. Further observational analyses are warranted to better understand these associations. Graphical Abstract
Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system
Vinicius Lima, MD, Noel Schechtman, MD, David Araujo Junior, MD
et al.
Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is classically defined as a collection of blood in the space between the dura mater and arachnoid meninges. Endovascular treatment for selected cases of chronic subdural hematoma has been increasingly reported in the literature, being the embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) the most used technique, though the best embolization material is still subject to studies. Methods: we present the detailed description of the technique for MMA embolization with a 20% solution of NBCA for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma. Discussion: Endovascular treatment for selected cases of chronic subdural hematoma has been increasingly reported in the literature, being the embolization of the MMA the most used technique, though the best embolization material is still subject to studies. NBCA is a low-cost embolic agent that has been used for a long time in endovascular treatments. Conclusion: There is great potential for MMA embolization in the management of chronic subdural hematomas, either as a single or adjuvant treatment. NBCA represents an effective and low-cost material.
Surgery, Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system
1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Gomal University, D.I. Khan, 29050, Pakistan. 2Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development Lab (MiND), Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, ON, Canada. 3Gomal Centre of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Gomal University, D.I. Khan, Pakistan. 4Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada. Article Information Received 01 May 2020 Revised 30 July 2020 Accepted 17 October 2020 Available online 09 June 2021
José Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo, Marlene Alonso-Juarez, Robert Fekete
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairment. Freezing of gait, impaired mobility and falls are common problems in these patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a novel therapy for these patients. Methods: We studied patients with moderate to severe freezing of gait who underwent antigravity treadmill training twice a week for 4 consecutive weeks with 50% reduction of body weight. Results: We enrolled 26 consecutive patients with PD, 19 completed the study. There were 10 males; mean age at evaluation was 72.7 ± 10.1 years. Compared to baseline, patients showed improvement in the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (<i>p</i> = 0.001); and a mean reduction of 7 s in the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test (<i>p</i> = 0.004). Moderate or significant improvement in gait was reported by 84% of patients. Conclusions: Antigravity treadmill training improved freezing of gait and mobility in patients with PD.
Abstract. Quantitative phase microscopy (QPM) has recently emerged as a new powerful quantitative imaging technique well suited to noninvasively explore a transparent specimen with a nanometric axial sensitivity. In this review, we expose the recent developments of quantitative phase-digital holographic microscopy (QP-DHM). Quantitative phase-digital holographic microscopy (QP-DHM) represents an important and efficient quantitative phase method to explore cell structure and dynamics. In a second part, the most relevant QPM applications in the field of cell biology are summarized. A particular emphasis is placed on the original biological information, which can be derived from the quantitative phase signal. In a third part, recent applications obtained, with QP-DHM in the field of cellular neuroscience, namely the possibility to optically resolve neuronal network activity and spine dynamics, are presented. Furthermore, potential applications of QPM related to psychiatry through the identification of new and original cell biomarkers that, when combined with a range of other biomarkers, could significantly contribute to the determination of high risk developmental trajectories for psychiatric disorders, are discussed.
Wendy G. Lichtenthal, P. Maciejewski, Caraline Craig Demirjian
et al.
Dan J. Stein, Joël Billieux, Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Jon E. Grant, Naomi Fineberg, Susumu Higuchi,Wei Hao, Karl Mann, Hisato Matsunaga, Marc N. Potenza, Hans-Jürgen M. Rumpf, David Veale, Rajat Ray, John B. Saunders, Geoffrey M. Reed, Vladimir Poznyak Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, SA Medical Research Council Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Institute for Health and Behaviour, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Division of Brain Science, Imperial College London, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, and School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK; National Center for Addiction Services Administration, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan; Mental Health Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China; Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan; Yale University School of Medicine, and Connecticut Council on Problem Gaming, Clinton, CT, USA; Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, India; Disciplines of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Background.Given the range and reach of psychosocial support (PSS) interventions in humanitarian settings, within the continuum of mental health and psychosocial support services, evaluation of their impact is critical. Understanding stakeholders' perspectives on which PSS interventions of unknown effectiveness warrant rigorous evaluation is essential to identify research priorities. This project aimed to facilitate a process with stakeholders to reach consensus on PSS interventions that are of high priority for further research based on existing evidence and stakeholders' opinions.Methods.Interviews with 109 stakeholders working on PSS programming in humanitarian settings served as the foundation for two in-person regional meetings and four webinars. Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to develop a priority PSS program list. The top five priorities from each meeting were combined for a final online survey distributed globally.Results.Seventy participants across six meetings contributed to the prioritization process. Eighty-seven individuals completed the final online survey. ‘Community based PSS’ was the top-ranked research priority, followed by PSS integrated into basic services, providing PSS to caregivers to improve child wellbeing, PSS-focused gender-based violence programming, and classroom-based PSS interventions.Conclusions.NGT and online surveys were effective methods to engage stakeholders in a priority setting exercise to development a research agenda. Information from this stage of the project will be combined with findings from a concurrent systematic review to form the base of a second phase of work, which will include the development and implementation of a research strategy to strengthen the evidence base for those prioritized interventions.
The catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene has repeatedly been shown to change amygdala activity and amygdala-prefrontal connectivity during face processing. Although the COMT gene appears to induce a negativity bias during the neural processing of faces, it is currently unclear whether a similar negativity bias emerges during the behavioral processing of faces. To address this issue, we investigated differences in complex emotion recognition between participants (n = 181) that had been a priori genotyped for functional polymorphisms of the COMT (Val158Met) and serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) gene. We were, thus, able to analyze differences in face processing on basis of participants’ COMT genotype while controlling for participants’ 5-HTTLPR genotype. Variations of participants’ COMT but not 5-HTTLPR genotype accounted for differences in participants’ emotion recognition performance: Met/Met carriers and Met/Val carriers were more accurate in the recognition of negative, but not neutral or positive, expressions than Val/Val carriers. We, therefore, revealed a similar negativity bias during the behavioral processing of faces that has already been demonstrated during the neural processing of faces, indicating that genotype-dependent changes in catecholamine metabolism may affect face processing on the behavioral and neural level.