The biopsychosocial model increasingly conceptualizes emotional processes as the outcome of dynamic interactions among psychological, relational, and physiological factors. Previous research has shown that physiological patterns, such as muscle tension, skin conductance, and peripheral temperature, can inform assessments of quality of life and overall health status of individuals exposed to different type of stressors or events. Psycho-neuro-endocrinology, which examines the interplay among the mind, brain, and endocrine system, offers a particularly promising integrative framework. In this context, the discovery and early investigations of irisin, a hormone produced by muscles during physical activity, have begun to highlight its positive effects on the health of physically active individuals, both in healthy populations and in those undergoing treatment or rehabilitation for various chronic diseases. Irisin has been shown to support metabolism, bone and muscle health, and holds potential therapeutic implications for the management of diabetes and obesity, as well as a protective role against carcinogenesis.(1) However, evidence remains limited regarding: A) the methodologies for collecting irisin and the associated challenges or concerns experienced by participants, and B) the potential relationship between irisin levels and psychological well-being across populations with diverse health conditions.(2,3) Investigating these correlations within multidisciplinary interventions requires careful reflection on ethical and methodological issues, particularly those arising from invasive or non-invasive procedures for sampling physiological biomarkers. We evaluated whether non-invasive salivary sampling (vs. invasive blood sampling) can effectively measure health-related irisin, potentially reducing participant burden while maintaining measurement validity. To our knowledge, no prior research has specifically explored this approach. This multidisciplinary cross-sectional study consisted of two phases. In the first phase, blood and saliva samples were collected from a convenience sample of ten participants, and irisin concentrations were quantified in both matrices to compare their measurement characteristics. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews explored participants’ lived experiences of both sampling procedures and their preferred method, focusing specifically on subjective accounts. A Thematic Analysis was conducted to identify recurrent themes within the interview data, a widely used qualitative approach that enables a rich understanding of participants’ experiences and captures subjective and relational dimensions.(4) Qualitative analysis identified three main themes: a) perceived cost-benefit of study participation, b) personal responsibility associated with the type of biological sampling, and c) engagement in scientific research, reflecting a sense of contribution to the broader social community, particularly during periods of personal challenge. In summary, the presence of a responsible professional overseeing the correct collection of biological samples was identified as the most important factor during the sampling procedure. Moreover, considering the quality of the biological data obtained, salivary sampling appears to be a valid alternative to serum-based measurements.(2,5) Finally, from a practical perspective, salivary sampling is less costly. Understanding the effectiveness and acceptability of different biological sampling methods can help researchers design less invasive and ethically sound procedures that maintain measurement validity while minimizing participants’ burden and sampling costs. Such approaches may improve both the collection of physiological data and participants’ psychological well-being in multidisciplinary interventions.
Mbalentle Madolo, Geney Gunston, Stuart More
et al.
Background: The anterior communicating artery complex (ACAC), which includes the A1 and A2 segments of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and the anterior communicating artery (ACoA), is a common site for anatomical variation and aneurysm formation. While cerebral arterial variations have been linked to aneurysm development, limited data exists on these variations in the South African population. Methods: This study assessed ACAC morphology through two components: dissection of 68 formalin-fixed adult brains (35 female, 33 male) and analysis of 200 adult magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) scans (145 female, 55 male). Anatomical variations in the ACAC were recorded and evaluated for their prevalence and potential association with cerebral aneurysms. Results: Variations in the ACAC were prevalent in 67.6 % of dissection specimens and 43.5 % of angiographic images. The most frequent variations of the ACoA observed in both dissection and angiographic samples were X-shaped formations and hypoplasia. In dissections, the A1 segment frequently displayed hypoplasia, duplication, and fenestration, while the A2 segment typically presented the 'anastomosed' variation. In angiographic scans, the A2 segment often exhibited a triple ACA configuration. A history of ACAC aneurysms was present in 23.9 % of MRA scans. However, no significant correlation was observed between ACAC variations and aneurysm presence. Conclusion: This study demonstrates significant morphological diversity within the ACAC, including newly described variations, and highlights inconsistencies with existing literature regarding aneurysm association. These findings underscore the need for region-specific anatomical data to inform surgical planning and risk assessment in cerebrovascular interventions.
Elif Yıldırım Ayaz, Berna Dincer, Gülser Cinbaz
et al.
ABSTRACT Background In adipose tissue–muscle crosstalk mechanisms, the interaction of adipokines and myokines is known to be critical for maintaining the body's metabolic balance in age‐related metabolic disorders. The aim of the study investigate the effects of 12 weeks of aerobic and resistance exercise training on spexin and follistatin and their relationship with each other. Methods This study was a multicentre, randomized controlled study conducted at two assisted living facilities with participants aged ≥ 65. Among the 66 subjects, 33 were allocated to the exercise group (E) and 33 to the control group (C). The exercise group was administered 50 min of exercise by expert physiotherapists 1 day a week for 12 weeks. Participants in the intervention groups performed exercise assignments two extra days a week, tailored to their specific circumstances and supervised by the institution's physiotherapists. Spexin, follistatin and measurements of metabolic syndrome parameters were performed at the beginning and after 12 weeks. Results The mean age of the 62 participants who completed the study (E n = 31, C n = 31) was 73.25 ± 6.44 years, and 62.9% were female. While spexin (E = 1090.94 ± 533.66, C = 1142.91 ± 550.68 pg/mL, p > 0.05) and follistatin (E = 50.52 ± 24.35, C = 50.00 ± 23.52 ng/mL, p > 0.05) values were similar in the two groups at baseline, the values of spexin (E = 1311.32 ± 513.66, C = 1033.27 ± 486.48, p < 0.0001; η2 = 0.387) and follistatin (E = 64.79 ± 32.35, C = 48.16 ± 26.27, p < 0.0001; η2 = 0.267) in the exercise group were higher than in the control group at week 12. At the 12th week, neck circumference (38.32 ± 3.41, 37.16 ± 3.15, p = 0.002), waist circumference (102.64 ± 13.38, 98.54 ± 14.47, p < 0.0001), hip circumference (105.70 ± 15.43, 102.93 ± 13.48, p < 0.0001), body fat mass (22.69 ± 7.39, 20.45 ± 6.22, p < 0.0001) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (137.19 ± 13.80, 124.9 ± 15.18, p = 0.0001, 77.38 ± 12.10, 72.61 ± 9.26, p = 0.043) decreased, and body muscle mass (46.32 ± 8.43, 49.03 ± 8.58, p < 0.0001) increased in the exercise group compared to baseline. A correlation was observed between the change in follistatin level and the change in spexin level (r = 0.438, p = 0.001). A negative correlation was found between the amount of decrease in body fat mass and the decrease in spexin level (r = −0.380, p = 0.005). A positive correlation was found between the increase in body muscle mass and the increase in spexin and follistatin (r = 0.431, p = 0.001; r = 0.490, p < 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions It was found that spexin, which provides metabolic homeostasis, and follistatin, which expresses the increase in muscle mass, increased with the implementation of a 12‐week aerobic and resistance exercise program in elderly individuals, and these increases were found to be associated with each other. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05251597
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, Human anatomy
Summary:. Effective management of complications from hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers is crucial in aesthetic medicine. This article examined the role of hyaluronidase in addressing adverse effects associated with HA fillers, such as nodules, vascular occlusions, and excessive volume. It highlights the enzyme’s ability to degrade HA, thereby resolving issues that may arise from filler treatments. The discussion includes practical aspects of using hyaluronidase, such as recommended dosing, injection techniques, and potential risks. The benefits of hyaluronidase, including its rapid action in dissolving problematic fillers and its role in improving patient outcomes, are explored. The article also addresses limitations and safety considerations to provide a comprehensive understanding of hyaluronidase in the context of filler complications. By offering insights into the application and effectiveness of hyaluronidase, this article aimed to enhance practitioners’ ability to manage HA filler–related issues effectively and ensure optimal results in aesthetic procedures.
Falek Paulina, Falek Artur, Adamczyk Tomasz
et al.
Signs, including pictograms, present in public space are intended to enforce a specific behavior. Due to their simplicity and unambiguity of the message, they can be an effective tool of public healthcare. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge referred to the meaning of the sign prohibiting alcohol consumption during pregnancy among first-year medical students who do not have vast knowledge at present level in this field. The study was conducted among academic youth in Poland, and assumed a 5% risk of error, hence, for p <0.05 the differences were considered statistically significant. Out of the total number, there were 1,123 questionnaire forms correctly completed and these were further selected for the final analysis, which comprised of 751 by women and 372 by men. Among the respondents, over 92% properly recognized the sign warning against the use of alcohol during pregnancy. Moreover, more than 45% declared previous contact with this sign and above 53% claimed that they already had knowledge of the sing’s meaning. The graphic form of the sign allows for its correct interpretation, thus products which may become harmful especially to pregnant women and fetus can be clearly and legibly marked.
Abstract Background Unhealthy body composition, including high fat mass, low muscle mass and low bone mass, is a critical health issue in adults. The weight‐adjusted waist index (WWI) estimates fat and muscle mass and may have implications for bone health. We examined its association with body composition outcomes in a large Korean adult cohort. Methods This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008–2011). WWI was calculated as waist circumference (cm) divided by the square root of body weight (kg). Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral density (BMD), appendicular lean mass (ALM) and total body fat percentage. Unhealthy body composition was defined as combined presence of high fat mass, low bone mass and low muscle mass. Results A total of 5983 individuals (3034 men [50.7%] and 2949 women [49.3%]; mean age: 63.5 ± 8.7 years) were included. WWI was positively correlated with total body fat percentage (r = 0.478, P < 0.001) and inversely with ALM/weight (r = −0.485, P < 0.001) and BMD at the lumbar spine (r = −0.187, P < 0.001), femoral neck (r = −0.269, P < 0.001) and total hip (r = −0.255, P < 0.001). Higher WWI quartiles correlated with lower BMD, T‐scores and ALM/weight, along with increased total body fat, evident in both genders and more pronounced in women, even after adjusting for confounders. This trend remained statistically significant across WWI quartiles for all analyses (P < 0.001). Higher WWI quartiles were also significantly associated with higher odds of unhealthy body composition, with adjusted odds ratio in the highest WWI group of 18.08 (95% CI, 4.32–75.61) in men and 6.36 (95% CI, 3.65–11.07) in women. The optimal cutoff values of WWI for unhealthy body composition were 10.4 cm/√kg in men and 10.5 cm/√kg in women. Conclusions In community‐dwelling adults, high WWI values are associated with unfavourable body composition outcomes, indicating high fat mass, low muscle mass and low bone mass. WWI can potentially serve as an integrated index of body composition, underscoring the need for further research to validate its use in clinical settings.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, Human anatomy
N. O. Blackwood, Ł. Olewnik, G. P. Georgiev
et al.
Knowledge of anatomical variations can be of use to clinicians and surgeons when, for example, viewing images of a patient or performing operations. Such knowledge can minimise the risk of iatrogenic complications. Herein, we present a case of a variant atlantomastoid muscle. The muscle was identified on the left side in an adult cadaver. The muscle’s measurements and anatomical relationships are presented as well as a review of salient literature. We hope that increased knowledge of anatomical variants in the suboccipital region can improve patient care.
Juan Reyes-Barrera, Aida X. Medina-Urrutia, Horacio Osorio-Alonso
et al.
Background Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and resistin are associated with dysfunctional adipose tissue (AT)-related metabolic complications. The role of dietary eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids in this relationship is unknown. Aim To investigate the association of EPA and DHA with PAI-1 and resistin, as well as the role of this association on the glucose metabolism of apparently healthy subjects. Subjects and methods Thirty-six healthy individuals were included. Validated food frequency questionnaires were used to analyse dietary habits. Inflammatory and glucose metabolism markers were quantified. Subcutaneous AT samples were obtained, and adipocyte number, area, and macrophage content were assessed. Results In 36 subjects aged 56 ± 8 years and with a body mass index of 26 ± 4 kg/m2, logEPA, and logDHA showed significant association with logresistin and a marginal association with PAI-1. Adipocyte number, area, and lognumber of macrophages per adipocyte significantly correlated with PAI-1 but not with logresistin. Although logEPA and logDHA were independently associated with loginsulin, loginsulin resistance, and C-Peptide, the addition of logresistin, but not of PAI-1, into the multivariable model, abolished the associations. Conclusions EPA and DHA could modulate glucose metabolism across AT functional states. Our data indicate that this association is independent of other metabolic risk factors.
Waheed Awotoye, Peter A. Mossey, Jacqueline B. Hetmanski
et al.
Abstract The majority (85%) of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (nsCL/P) cases occur sporadically, suggesting a role for de novo mutations (DNMs) in the etiology of nsCL/P. To identify high impact protein-altering DNMs that contribute to the risk of nsCL/P, we conducted whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analyses in 130 African case-parent trios (affected probands and unaffected parents). We identified 162 high confidence protein-altering DNMs some of which are based on available evidence, contribute to the risk of nsCL/P. These include novel protein-truncating DNMs in the ACTL6A, ARHGAP10, MINK1, TMEM5 and TTN genes; as well as missense variants in ACAN, DHRS3, DLX6, EPHB2, FKBP10, KMT2D, RECQL4, SEMA3C, SEMA4D, SHH, TP63, and TULP4. Many of these protein-altering DNMs were predicted to be pathogenic. Analysis using mouse transcriptomics data showed that some of these genes are expressed during the development of primary and secondary palate. Gene-set enrichment analysis of the protein-altering DNMs identified palatal development and neural crest migration among the few processes that were significantly enriched. These processes are directly involved in the etiopathogenesis of clefting. The analysis of the coding sequence in the WGS data provides more evidence of the opportunity for novel findings in the African genome.
Background: The pterygoid hamulus (PH) is a small protrusion on the base of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. PH is a site of insertion of many muscles and ligaments. Its topography can determine predilection for developing the pterygoid hamulus bursitis (PHB). Materials and methods: The study was conducted based on the morphometric analysis of 100 PHs on cone beam computed tomography scans. Results: Based on statistical analysis, we found numerous significant correlations between the morphometric parameters. Conclusions: Considering our results, it can be concluded that the main pathogenic factor in PHB is an extensive medial deviation of the pterygoid hamulus in the frontal plane.
Sinead English, India Wright, Verity Ashburn
et al.
Background: Stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy can have both immediate and long-term effects on child development, potentially mediated by breastfeeding. Aim: Using a UK birth cohort study, we asked how maternal stress relates to breastfeeding and consequences for growth and puberty onset. Subjects and methods: We analysed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, collected via questionnaires and clinic visits (N: 698–8,506). We used reports of prenatal anxiety, breastfeeding, early growth and age at menarche or first voice change. Confounding by maternal age, parity, smoking, education and body mass index (BMI) was considered. Results: Mothers with higher levels of reported anxiety were less likely to breastfeed (Odds ratio (OR): 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71, 0.97). Breastfed infants had slower growth before weaning, although growth differences were unclear thereafter. Being breastfed for more than six months was associated with later puberty onset in females (2.76 months later than non-breastfed; CI: 0.9, 4.63), although the association was attenuated by confounders and BMI (1.51 months, CI: −0.38, 3.40). No association between breastfeeding and puberty onset in males was found. Conclusion: Our studies fit results shown previously, and we consider these in light of evolutionary life history theory while discussing key challenges in such an approach.
The abstract book of the last European Conference on Eye Movements (Martinez-Conde, Martinez-Otero, Compte, & Groner, 2019) lists abstracts of 373 presentations, but less than five percent investigate vergence eye movements, i.e. the coordination of the right and left eye. Why then a special issue on this neglected issue? Human vision under natural conditions involves both eyes in coordination controlled by interacting processes subsumed under the concept of vergence.. Further, vergence is important for people in their daily lives since disorders of vergence can have serious consequences: ophthalmologists deal with squinting patients on the basis of heterophoria and heterotropia testing, eye strain or visual complaints can be related to impaired vergence dynamic or less accurate static vergence, remediation by optometrist includes vergence training or prism eye glasses, etc.
What are the reasons why processes of vergence are underestimated in our scientific community? The main reason seems to be the fact that the two eyes must be analysed separately with high precision. The differences between the measured two eye positions are typically relatively small and often at the limit of the recording systems. The question arises: Are the difference in the measurements due to noise, to error, or due to physiological processes? A further difficulty arises from the individual differences between observers. Thus, a vergence researcher has a rather difficult job in critically evaluating the eye tracker technology and taking into account different scientific areas like ophthalmology, optometry, psychology, and using adequate statistical analyses. This kind of research requires a multidisciplinary perspective.
In this special issue, three studies concentrated on the methodology of measuring vergence. An established clinical method is the prism cover test, which measures the heterophoria, i.e. the misalignment of the visual axes under monocular viewing conditions compared to binocular fixation. Paulus, Straube & Eggert (2019) developed an automated alternating cover test based on a combination of video-oculography and shutter glasses which minimizes stimulus noise and has a defined measurement noise. The total variance of the measurement is composed of components related to the observer, to the size of the heterophoria and to the availability of sensory vergence cues. Paulus et al. (2019) examined these factors and found that a major component of the within-subject variance of the manual prism cover test is due to the variability in the manifest heterophoria of the tested persons.
Wang, Holmqvist, & Alexa (2019) define a point of interest in binocular viewing, which is the intersection point of the two lines of sight in three-dimensional space, or – more precisely - the point closest to the two lines of sight. By means of theoretical simulations compared to empirical recordings they demonstrated a bias of the vergence distance depending on the noise of the tracked eye position. The authors propose mathematical models of calibration as part of the analysis of the experimental data.
Yaramothu, Jaswal & Alvarez (2019) measured vergence velocity and latency for step responses and found that eccentric circles with 6° eccentricity resulted in a faster response latency than a cross at central fixation. Their results have implications for the stimulus design in a variety of applications ranging from virtual reality to interventions in vision therapy.
Vergence operates well within a limited physiological range; but when the limit of fusion is reached, single vision is lost and double vision occurs. McGinnis, I., Tierney, R., Mansell, J., & Phillips, J. (2019) measured the clinically established convergence fusion break point (near point of convergence, NPC) by shifting a target towards the eyes in three different velocities and varied the verbal instruction (“double” versus “blurry”). The statistical analysis resulted in significant differences in NPC for the two variables target speed and verbal instruction. A consequence of this study will be that the experimental conditions for examinations and research on NPC must be standardized with respect to the experimental variables investigated in this study.
Dostalek, Hejda, Fliegel, Duchackova, Dusek, Hozman, Lukes & Autrata, R. (2019) investigated the fusion break point at a fixed test distance, but reduced the quality of the image in one eye by different modes (luminance contrast, higher-spatial frequency content, or luminance contrast plus higher-spatial frequency content). These modes had a certain influence, but the largest effect was the one of vergence demand, i.e. the absolute disparity of the two images. The authors argue that the image´s details (i.e. higher-spatial frequency content) protect binocular fusion from disruption under the lowest vergence demand.
The dynamics of vergence responses to step stimuli includes two components, a high velocity fusion initiating component followed by a slower component that may mediate sustained fusion. The slow fusion-sustaining component was analysed by Semmlow and Alvarez (2019). This component was modelled by the authors as a feedback control system consisting of a time delay and an integral/derivative controller. The fast fusion-initiating component was explored by Scheiman, Yaramothu, & Alvarez (2019) by means of analysing the ratio of the velocity divided by the response amplitude. For convergent step stimuli, this ratio was affected by a vergence/accommodation training therapy. The study of Poffa and Joos (2019) used a traditional clinical method referred to as vergence facility: the examiner induces vergence responses by applying prisms and counts the number vergence movements per minute. This clinical measure was found to be related to fixations disparity, i.e. the static vergence error measured with an eye tracker.
Comparing clinical test results with eye tracker recordings were included in the two studies which took also into account individual differences. Schroth, Joos, Alshuth & Jaschinski (2019) used a clinical nonius method for measuring the amount of the prism eye glass which is required to correct a fixation disparity (vergence error); this prism power was able to predict the prism-induced change in fixation disparity recorded with an eye tracker. Jainta and Joss (2019) tested the largest sample of subjects in this issue (n= 94) which allowed demonstrating the influence of the individual heterophoria on the binocular advantage, i.e. the extent to which during reading the fixation of a word is shorter in binocular than in monocular reading. The eye tracker measure of the heterophoria achieved superior results compared with subjective clinical measurements.
The academic background of the present authors illustrates that vergence research is covered by different scientific disciplines including computer engineering, physics, optometry, ophthalmology and psychology. This has the advantage that vergence research benefits from the different approaches of these disciplines, given that a common language and mutual understanding is achieved. A common basis for such a multidisciplinary research could be the seminal book of Ian Howard (2012).
This first special issue on vergence eye movements should give an overview of ongoing research in a relatively small scientific community and might motivate more relevant and multidisciplinary research, to be published in regular issues of the Journal of Eye Movement Research.
References
Dostalek, M., Hejda, J., Fliegel, K., Duchackova, M., Dusek, L., Hozman, J., Lukes, T., & Autrata, R. (2019). Influence of artificially generated interocular blur difference on fusion stability under vergence stress. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.4.
Howard, I. P. (2012). Perceiving in Depth, Volume 1: Basic Mechanisms. New York: Oxford University Press, USA.
Jainta, S., & Joss, J. (2019). Binocular advantages in reading revisited: attenuating effects of individual horizontal heterophoria. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.10.
Martinez-Conde, S., Martinez-Otero, L., Compte, A., & Groner, R. (2019). Abstracts of the 20th European Conference on Eye Movements, 18-22 August 2019, in Alicante (Spain). Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.7.1.
McGinnis, I., Tierney, R., Mansell, J., & Phillips, J. (2019). The Effect of target speed and verbal instruction on NPC measures in a young, healthy, and active population. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.5.
Paulus, M., Straube, A., & Eggert, T. (2019). Variance components affecting the repeatability of the alternating cover test. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.3.
Poffa, R., & Joos, R. (2019). The influence of vergence facility on binocular eye movements during reading. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.9.
Scheiman, M., Yaramothu, C., & Alvarez, T. (2019). Changes in the disparity vergence main sequence after treatment of symptomatic convergence insufficiency in children. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.6.
Schroth, V., Joos, R., Alshuth, E., & Jaschinski, W. (2019). Short-term effects of aligning prisms on the objective and subjective fixation disparity in far distance. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.8.
Semmlow, J.L., Yaramothu, C., & Alvarez, T.L. (2020). Dynamics of the disparity vergence slow (fusion sustaining) component. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.11.
Wang, X., Holmqvist, K., & Alexa, M. (2019). The mean point of vergence is biased under projection. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.2.
Yaramothu, C., Jaswal, R., & Alvarez, T. (2019). Target eccentricity and form influences disparity vergence eye movements responses: A temporal and dynamic analysis. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.4.7.
Chiara Maffei, Chiara Maffei, Silvio Sarubbo
et al.
The auditory system of mammals is dedicated to encoding, elaborating and transporting acoustic information from the auditory nerve to the auditory cortex. The acoustic radiation (AR) constitutes the thalamo-cortical projection of this system, conveying the auditory signals from the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) of the thalamus to the transverse temporal gyrus on the superior temporal lobe. While representing one of the major sensory pathways of the primate brain, the currently available anatomical information of this white matter bundle is quite limited in humans, thus constituting a notable omission in clinical and general studies on auditory processing and language perception. Tracing procedures in humans have restricted applications, and the in vivo reconstruction of this bundle using diffusion tractography techniques remains challenging. Hence, a more accurate and reliable reconstruction of the AR is necessary for understanding the neurobiological substrates supporting audition and language processing mechanisms in both health and disease. This review aims to unite available information on the macroscopic anatomy and topography of the AR in humans and non-human primates. Particular attention is brought to the anatomical characteristics that make this bundle difficult to reconstruct using non-invasive techniques, such as diffusion-based tractography. Open questions in the field and possible future research directions are discussed.
Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, Human anatomy
Muhammad Sani Usman, Mohd Zobir Hussein, Aminu Umar Kura
et al.
We have synthesized a graphene oxide (GO)-based theranostic nanodelivery system (GOTS) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using naturally occurring protocatechuic acid (PA) as an anticancer agent and gadolinium (III) nitrate hexahydrate (Gd) as the starting material for a contrast agent,. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were subsequently used as second diagnostic agent. The GO nanosheets were first prepared from graphite via the improved Hummer’s protocol. The conjugation of the GO and the PA was done via hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions, followed by surface adsorption of the AuNPs through electrostatic interactions. GAGPA is the name given to the nanocomposite obtained from Gd and PA conjugation. However, after coating with AuNPs, the name was modified to GAGPAu. The physicochemical properties of the GAGPA and GAGPAu nanohybrids were studied using various characterization techniques. The results from the analyses confirmed the formation of the GOTS. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) results showed the diffractive patterns for pure GO nanolayers, which changed after subsequent conjugation of the Gd and PA. The AuNPs patterns were also recorded after surface adsorption. Cytotoxicity and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast tests were also carried out on the developed GOTS. The GAGPAu was significantly cytotoxic to the human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) but nontoxic to the standard fibroblast cell line (3T3). The GAGPAu also appeared to possess higher T1 contrast compared to the pure Gd and water reference. The GOTS has good prospects of serving as future theranostic platform for cancer chemotherapy and diagnosis.