-
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience :... May 2021Eyelid closing or opening disorders have been only sporadically described in patients with focal brain lesions over the last decades. Furthermore, the restricted number...
Eyelid closing or opening disorders have been only sporadically described in patients with focal brain lesions over the last decades. Furthermore, the restricted number of reports and the lack of uniform clinical assessment of affected individuals did not allow to define more in depth the clinical features and the underlying neural correlates of these uncommon clinical disorders. Here we report an 89-years old woman with a right hemispheric lesion who showed a contralesional defect of eyelid closure. We also include a video neuroimage of this case and a review of eyelid closing and opening disorders in patients with focal unilateral lesions. In this review we found a correlation between right hemisphere and eyelid motor control, particularly for apraxia of eyelid closure affecting only the contralesional eye. The right parietal lobe was most frequently affected in this unilateral form of eyelid closing disorders, whereas putamen and other subcortical structures were more involved in eyelid opening than in eyelid closing disorders. The relations between unilateral eyelid closing disorders and other forms of motor-intentional defects are shortly discussed.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Apraxias; Brain Injuries; Eyelid Diseases; Eyelids; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Parietal Lobe
PubMed: 33863537
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2021.02.020 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2020Many studies have revealed the structural or functional brain changes induced by occupational factors. However, it remains largely unknown how occupation-related...
Many studies have revealed the structural or functional brain changes induced by occupational factors. However, it remains largely unknown how occupation-related connectivity shapes the brain. In this paper, we denote occupational neuroplasticity as the neuroplasticity that takes place to satisfy the occupational requirements by extensively professional training and to accommodate the long-term, professional work of daily life, and a critical review of occupational neuroplasticity related to the changes in brain structure and functional networks has been primarily presented. Furthermore, meta-analysis revealed a neurophysiological mechanism of occupational neuroplasticity caused by professional experience. This meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies showed that experts displayed stronger activation in the left precentral gyrus [Brodmann area (BA)6], left middle frontal gyrus (BA6), and right inferior frontal gyrus (BA9) than novices, while meta-analysis of structural studies suggested that experts had a greater gray matter volume in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus (BA22) and right putamen than novices. Together, these findings not only expand the current understanding of the common neurophysiological basis of occupational neuroplasticity across different occupations and highlight some possible targets for neural modulation of occupational neuroplasticity but also provide a new perspective for occupational science research.
PubMed: 32760257
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00215 -
European Psychiatry : the Journal of... Jun 2019Stimulant drugs can cause persistent changes in the brain. Imaging studies show that these changes are most apparent in dopamine transporter (DAT) or receptor... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Stimulant drugs can cause persistent changes in the brain. Imaging studies show that these changes are most apparent in dopamine transporter (DAT) or receptor availability within the striatum.
METHODS
This work focuses on influences of stimulant use on dopaminergic function assessed using nuclear-medicine imaging (PET/SPECT). Included are 39 studies on 655 cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine or nicotine users, as well as 690 healthy controls. Metaanalyses were conducted separately for D2/D3 receptors and dopamine transporters of the entire striatum, its subregions caudate and putamen respectively.
RESULTS
Meta-analyses results regarding nicotine did not show significant effects between smokers and nonsmokers. In cocaine users there was a significant decrease in dopamine receptor availability in all regions. The striatal DAT availability was significantly increased in cocaine users. Methamphetamine users showed a significantly decreased dopamine receptor and transporter density in all regions. Significant results also indicate a lower transporter availability in all regions. Amphetamine users showed reduced DAT availability in the striatum, as well as in the sub regions.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis provides evidence that there are ongoing changes in the dopaminergic system associated with the use of stimulants. Especially the results of cocaine, methamphetamine and amphetamine use mainly showed a downregulation. In addition, this meta-analysis is the first to include nicotine. This subset of studies showed evidence for a decreased receptor and DAT availability but no significant results were found in the metaanalyses.
Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Brain; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Dopamine; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methamphetamine; Neostriatum; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
PubMed: 30981746
DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2019.03.003 -
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology Jul 2021Neurologic events have been reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, a model-based evaluation of the spatial distribution of these events...
BACKGROUND
Neurologic events have been reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, a model-based evaluation of the spatial distribution of these events is lacking.
PURPOSE
Our aim was to quantitatively evaluate whether a network diffusion model can explain the spread of small neurologic events.
DATA SOURCES
The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and LitCovid data bases were searched from January 1, 2020, to July 19, 2020.
STUDY SELECTION
Thirty-five case series and case studies reported 317 small neurologic events in 123 unique patients with COVID-19.
DATA ANALYSIS
Neurologic events were localized to gray or white matter regions of the Illinois Institute of Technology (gray-matter and white matter) Human Brain Atlas using radiologic images and descriptions. The total proportion of events was calculated for each region. A network diffusion model was implemented, and any brain regions showing a significant association (< .05, family-wise error-corrected) between predicted and measured events were considered epicenters.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Within gray matter, neurologic events were widely distributed, with the largest number of events (∼10%) observed in the bilateral superior temporal, precentral, and lateral occipital cortices, respectively. Network diffusion modeling showed a significant association between predicted and measured gray matter events when the spread of pathology was seeded from the bilateral cerebellum (=0.51, < .001, corrected) and putamen (=0.4, = .02, corrected). In white matter, most events (∼26%) were observed within the bilateral corticospinal tracts.
LIMITATIONS
The risk of bias was not considered because all studies were either case series or case studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Transconnectome diffusion of pathology via the structural network of the brain may contribute to the spread of neurologic events in patients with COVID-19.
Topics: Brain; COVID-19; Cerebral Cortex; Gray Matter; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; White Matter
PubMed: 33888458
DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A7113 -
Neurology India 2020The incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's (PD) are increasing rapidly in developing countries. PD is difficult to diagnose based on clinical assessment. Presently,...
The incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's (PD) are increasing rapidly in developing countries. PD is difficult to diagnose based on clinical assessment. Presently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods such as R2* and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) were found to be useful in diagnosing the PD based on the iron deposition in different regions of the brain. The objective of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of QSM over R2* in assessment of PD. A comprehensive literature search was made on PubMed-Medline, CINAHL, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library databases for original research articles published between 2000 and 2018. Original articles that reported the efficacy of QSM and R2* in assessment of PD were included. A total of 327 studies were identified in the literature search. However, only ten studies were eligible for analysis. Of the ten studies, five studies compared the accuracy of QSM over R2* in measuring the iron deposition in different regions of brain in PD. Our review found that QSM has better accuracy in identifying iron deposition in PD patients compared to R2*. However, there is discrepancy in the results between MRI Imaging methods and Postmortem studies. Additional longitudinal research studies are needed to provide a strong evidence base for the use of MRI imaging methods such as R2*and QSM in accurately measuring iron deposition in different regions of brain and serve as biomarkers in PD.
Topics: Brain; Caudate Nucleus; Globus Pallidus; Humans; Iron; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Parkinson Disease; Putamen; Red Nucleus; Sensitivity and Specificity; Substantia Nigra; Thalamus
PubMed: 32415005
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.284377 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Although schizophrenia has traditionally been interpreted as a disorder of thought, contemporary perspectives suggest that it may be more appropriate to conceptualize it...
Although schizophrenia has traditionally been interpreted as a disorder of thought, contemporary perspectives suggest that it may be more appropriate to conceptualize it as a disorder of language connectivity. The linguistic anomalies present in schizophrenia possess distinctive characteristics that, despite certain connections, are not comparable to aphasic disorders. It is proposed that these anomalies are the result of dysfunctions in verbal self-monitoring mechanisms, which may influence other neuropsychological dimensions. This study set out to examine the neuropsychological dimensions associated with alterations in the neural networks of verbal self-monitoring in schizophrenic language, based on the scientific evidence published to date. Exhaustive searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify magnetic resonance studies that evaluated verbal self-monitoring mechanisms in schizophrenia. Of a total of 133 articles identified, 22 were selected for qualitative analysis. The general findings indicated alterations in frontotemporoparietal networks and in systems such as the insula, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, putamen, and hippocampus. Despite the heterogeneity of the data, it is concluded that language plays a fundamental role in schizophrenia and that its alterations are linked with other neuropsychological dimensions, particularly emotional and perceptual ones.
PubMed: 38501094
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1356726 -
Resuscitation Nov 2018This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic accuracy of the gray matter to white matter ratio (GWR) in predicting neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest patients... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Gray matter to white matter ratio for predicting neurological outcomes in patients treated with target temperature management after cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
AIMS
This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic accuracy of the gray matter to white matter ratio (GWR) in predicting neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest patients treated with target temperature management.
DATA SOURCES
We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (Search date: 09/13/2017). Included studies were those evaluating neurological outcomes using the cerebral performance categories scale. We performed a subgroup analysis based on the location of the measurement. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias.
RESULTS
In total, 1150 patients from 10 observational studies were included. GWR of the basal ganglia (BG) average showed the highest value (area under the curve [AUC] 0.96, SE 0.02, Q 0.90) compared with the putamen/posterior limb of internal capsule (AUC 0.93, SE 0.05, Q 0.87), overall average (AUC 0.91, SE 0.02, Q 0.85), and cerebrum (AUC 0.89, SE 0.05, Q 0.82) for prognostic accuracy. Furthermore, the highest pooled diagnostic odd ratio of GWR for predicting poor neurological outcomes was shown for the BG average (21.00, 95% CI 6.85-64.40) followed by the overall average (20.71, 95% CI 9.53-44.98), putamen/posterior limb of internal capsule (16.08, 95% CI 4.36-59.23), and cerebrum (13.96, 95% CI 4.26-45.76).
CONCLUSIONS
GWR in the early cranial computed tomography scan had high prognostic value in predicting poor neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest patients. The BG GWR had the highest prognostic accuracy when compared to other locations of the brain.
Topics: Female; Gray Matter; Humans; Hypothermia, Induced; Male; Observational Studies as Topic; Odds Ratio; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Predictive Value of Tests; ROC Curve; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; White Matter
PubMed: 30165096
DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.08.024