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Behavioural Processes Mar 2024"Pica" refers to the ingestion of non-nutritive substances by animals that would not typically consume them. The pica behavior can be utilized to investigate the...
"Pica" refers to the ingestion of non-nutritive substances by animals that would not typically consume them. The pica behavior can be utilized to investigate the internal conditions of animals' bodies. For example, rats, due to neuroanatomical reasons, cannot vomit; nevertheless, when nauseated, they ingest kaolin clay. This renders the ingestion of kaolin a practical proxy for measuring nausea in rats. The question of whether rats consume minerals other than kaolin during nauseous episodes remains unanswered. This study aims to identify a mineral better suited for detecting nausea in rats. In two experiments, nausea was induced in laboratory rats by a single dose of lithium chloride (0.15 M, 2% bw), and their mineral consumption over the 24-hour period was measured. Experiment 1 compared three minerals between rat groups: kaolin sold for nausea detection (kaolin A), kaolin for ceramics (kaolin B), and zeolite. Nauseated rats consumed all minerals, with the highest consumption occurring with kaolin B. In Experiment 2, three commercially available health soils were compared: edible kaolin, edible bentonite, and edible chalk. The most significant consumption was observed in the kaolin group, followed by the bentonite group, while nauseated rats did not consume edible chalk. These findings underscore the suitability of kaolin for nausea detection, although the extent of consumption may vary depending on the product.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Kaolin; Bentonite; Zeolites; Calcium Carbonate; Pica; Rats, Wistar; Nausea
PubMed: 38336238
DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2024.105001 -
Medicine Feb 2024Lateral medullary syndrome is caused by atherosclerosis or embolism of the vertebral artery and its branches or the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA).The...
RATIONALE
Lateral medullary syndrome is caused by atherosclerosis or embolism of the vertebral artery and its branches or the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA).The eight-and-a-half syndrome is a rare pontocerebellar nerve-ocular syndrome presenting as a one-and-a-half syndrome plus ipsilateral seventh cerebral nerve palsy. The dorsolateral medullary syndrome combined with the eight-and-a-half syndromes is even rarer, so it is important to recognize the features of the classical brainstem syndrome and the eight-and-a-half syndromes.
PATIENT CONCERNS
Most patients with dorsolateral medullary syndrome combined with eight-and-a-half syndromes have a good prognosis, with recovery occurring within a few weeks to a few months, although a few patients may take longer to recover.
DIAGNOSIS INTERVENTIONS
In the course of disease development, the patient developed dysarthria, dysphagia, hypothermia, ipsilateral Horner sign and ataxia. Computed tomography was performed which showed cerebral infarction in the left brainstem. Cranial diffusion-weighted imaging + magnetic resonance angiography showed acute infarction in the left cerebellar hemisphere, with a high probability of severe stenosis or occlusion in the intracranial and proximal segments of the basilar arteries. This supports the diagnosis of dorsolateral medullary syndrome. The patient's limited adduction and abduction of the left eye and limited adduction of the right eye, combined with peripheral paralysis of the affected lateral nerve, supported the diagnosis of eight-and-a-half syndromes. The administration of antiplatelet and anti-ester fixation treatment can effectively improve the symptoms and shorten the course of the disease.
OUTCOMES
After antiplatelet and anti-ester fixation treatment, the symptoms improved and the patient was discharged.
LESSONS
Dorsolateral medullary syndrome combined with eight-and-a-half syndromes is a rare clinical condition, and therefore more attention should be paid to the early diagnosis and treatment of such patients.
Topics: Humans; Lateral Medullary Syndrome; Cerebellum; Cerebral Infarction; Infarction; Vertebral Artery; Facial Paralysis
PubMed: 38335410
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034409 -
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior Apr 2024Obesity is a prevalent disease, but effective treatment options remain limited. Agonists of the alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) promote negative...
Obesity is a prevalent disease, but effective treatment options remain limited. Agonists of the alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) promote negative energy balance in mice, but these effects are not well-studied in rats. We tested the hypothesis that central administration of the α7nAChR agonist PHA-543613 (PHA) would decrease food intake and body weight in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) PHA administration in chow-fed rats produced a suppression of energy intake and weight gain over 24 h. Next, to evaluate effects of ICV PHA on palatable food intake, rats were maintained on a choice diet of rodent chow and 45 % high fat diet (HFD); under these conditions, ICV PHA produced no significant changes in energy intake from either food, or body weight gain, in the 24 h post-injection. However, when given a choice of chow or a higher-fat 60 % HFD, ICV PHA reduced intake of 60 % HFD, but not chow; body weight gain was also suppressed. Further experiments evaluating conditioned taste avoidance (CTA) and pica in response to ICV PHA suggested that the suppressive food intake and body weight effects after ICV injection of PHA were not due to nausea/malaise. Finally, an operant conditioning study showed that responding on a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement for high-fat food pellets decreased after ICV PHA. Collectively, these studies show that PHA reduces energy intake under some but not all dietary conditions. Importantly, central PHA decreases both food intake as well as motivation for highly palatable, energy dense foods in rats without inducing nausea/malaise, suggesting that the α7nAChR could be a viable target for developing treatments for obesity.
Topics: Rats; Mice; Male; Animals; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; Eating; Obesity; Weight Gain; Body Weight; Nausea; Quinuclidines; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
PubMed: 38331049
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173723 -
Journal of Helminthology Feb 2024Corvids are highly adaptive birds that respond well to anthropogenic changes in their environment. Trematode communities of corvids were studied mainly in the 1950s...
Corvids are highly adaptive birds that respond well to anthropogenic changes in their environment. Trematode communities of corvids were studied mainly in the 1950s through 1970s in regularly flooded parts of the Volga River delta in Russia; more recent studies and data from other regions where the corvids are in less contact with postflooding habitats are limited. Data for were lacking. Using our samples obtained from 1963 to 2023, we performed a large-scale analysis of trematode species composition and community structure in , , , , , and ; all originated from the Czech Republic. We identified corvids as hosts of mutually overlapping component communities of only a few species of trematodes (, , , , ), with the presence of many rare and incidental findings of other trematode species. Only a few species used corvids as their core hosts ( and ). Trematode component communities in first-year birds included , , , and due to an increased share of insects (intermediate hosts of and ) and snails (intermediate hosts of ) in the diet of juveniles. The trematode component communities of corvid species overlapped but were heterogeneous at the level of host individuals, likely reflecting differences in food sources related to the respective host ages and nesting sites.
Topics: Animals; Birds; Czech Republic; Dicrocoeliidae; Ecosystem; Trematoda
PubMed: 38325410
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X23001001 -
Neuro-Chirurgie May 2024Adhesive arachnoiditis is a rare yet serious complication that may occur following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In this circumstance, it is mainly due to ruptured... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Adhesive arachnoiditis is a rare yet serious complication that may occur following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In this circumstance, it is mainly due to ruptured vertebral artery (VA) or posterior inferior artery (PICA) aneurysms. It disrupts cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow leading to complications such as spinal arachnoiditis, syringomyelia, trapped 4th ventricle, or a combination of these conditions. Evidence for effective treatment strategies is currently limited. We aimed to review the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, treatment, complications, outcomes, and prognosis of cranio-vertebral junction and spinal adhesive arachnoiditis resulting from ruptured VA and PICA aneurysms.
METHODS
This study involved a comprehensive literature review and complemented by our own case. We focused on adult cases of arachnoiditis, syringomyelia, and trapped 4th ventricle with SAH caused by ruptured VA or PICA aneurysms, excluding cases unrelated to these aneurysms and those with insufficient data.
RESULTS
The study included 22 patients, with a mean age of 52.4 years. Symptoms commonly manifest within the first year after SAH and timely diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. Treatment approaches included lysis of adhesions and various shunt procedures. Most patients showed improvement post-treatment, though symptom recurrence is significant.
CONCLUSION
Adhesive arachnoiditis is a critical complication following SAH, most commonly from ruptured VA and PICA aneurysms. Early detection and individualized treatment based on the type of arachnoiditis and CSF flow impact are crucial for effective management. This study underscores the need for tailored treatment strategies and further research in this field.
Topics: Humans; Arachnoiditis; Aneurysm, Ruptured; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Middle Aged; Intracranial Aneurysm; Vertebral Artery; Female; Male; Adult; Aged
PubMed: 38324943
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2024.101535 -
Current Health Sciences Journal 2023Salvia officinalis is a perennial plant commonly used in culinary and medical preparations. Its large intake is usually related to psychiatric disorders (such as pica)...
Salvia officinalis is a perennial plant commonly used in culinary and medical preparations. Its large intake is usually related to psychiatric disorders (such as pica) and might induce different symptoms (e.g. vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, salivation, arterial hypertension, tachycardia, vertigo, flushes, cyanosis and convulsions) likely ascribable to pro-cholinergic effects of various constituents. The identification of this toxicity is challenging because of its rarity and possible underlying psychiatric comorbidities. Herein we describe the case of a schizophrenic 56-year-old male admitted to the Emergency Department for abdominal pain and diarrhea resulted in a rare case of acute toxicity by Salvia officinalis.
PubMed: 38314208
DOI: 10.12865/CHSJ.49.03.17 -
International Journal of Cardiology May 2024
Corrigendum to "Cardiac magnetic resonance predictors of left ventricular remodelling following acute ST elevation myocardial infarction: The VavirimS study, Pica, Silvia et al." [International Journal of Cardiology, Volume 370, 8-17].
PubMed: 38311510
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.131824 -
European Eating Disorders Review : the... May 2024The DSM-5 classification introduced new Feeding and Eating Disorders (FED) diagnostic categories, notably Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), which,...
OBJECTIVE
The DSM-5 classification introduced new Feeding and Eating Disorders (FED) diagnostic categories, notably Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), which, like other FED, can present psychiatric and gastrointestinal symptoms. However, paediatric clinical research that focuses on children below the age of 12 years remains scarce. The aim of this study was first to investigate the clinical features of FED in a cohort of children, second to compare them according to their recruitment (gastroenterology or psychiatry unit).
METHOD
This non-interventional retrospective cohort study analysed 191 patients in a French paediatric tertiary care centre (gastroenterology n = 100, psychiatry n = 91). The main outcome variables were clinical data (type of FED, BMI, nutritional support, chronic diseases, psychiatric comorbidities, sensory, sleep, language disorders, gastrointestinal complaints, adverse life events, family history). The outcome was defined by a Clinical Global Impression of Change-score.
RESULTS
FED diagnoses were ARFID (n = 100), Unspecified FED (UFED, n = 57), anorexia nervosa (AN, n = 33) and one pica/rumination. Mean follow-up was 3.28 years (SD 1.91). ARFID was associated with selective and sensory disorders (p < 0.001); they had more anxiety disorders than patients with UFED (p < 0.001). Patients with UFED had more chewing difficulties, language disorder (p < 0.001), and more FED related to chronic disease (p < 0.05) than patients with ARFID and AN. Patients with AN were female, underweight, referred exclusively to the psychiatrist, and had more depression than patients with ARFID and UFED (p < 0.001). The gastroenterology cohort included more UFED, while the psychiatry cohort included more psychiatric comorbidities (p < 0.001). A worse clinical outcome was associated with ARFID, a younger age at onset (p < 0.001), selective/sensory disorders and nutritional support (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
ARFID and UFED children were diagnosed either by gastroenterologists or psychiatrists. Due to frequently associated somatic and psychiatric comorbidities, children with FED should benefit from a multidisciplinary assessment and care.
Topics: Humans; Female; Child; Male; Retrospective Studies; Cohort Studies; Gastroenterology; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Sensation Disorders; Eating
PubMed: 38308450
DOI: 10.1002/erv.3063 -
Operative Neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) Jan 2024The incidence of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms is estimated to be between 0.5% and 3% of total aneurysm cases.1 Most patients with these...
The incidence of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms is estimated to be between 0.5% and 3% of total aneurysm cases.1 Most patients with these aneurysms typically present with subarachnoid hemorrhage, although there are instances in which patients may present with symptoms resulting from mass effect exerted on the brain stem or lower cranial nerves.1,2 Treatment options for PICA aneurysms include endovascular procedures, surgical clipping, or bypass techniques.2 Surgical treatment is considered more effective for partially thrombosed aneurysms compared with endovascular approaches.3 In addition, endovascular coiling of these aneurysms carries the potential risk of coil migration and subsequent reopening of the aneurysm lumen.4 In certain instances, thrombosed PICA aneurysms have the potential to simulate the radiological characteristics of alternative pathologies, such as cavernous malformations or brainstem tumors.5-7 This situation can result in misdiagnosis and inappropriate management. We present the case of a patient who exhibited symptoms of imbalance and dysfunction in the lower cranial nerves. Magnetic resonance imaging findings indicated a possible cavernous malformation in the medulla oblongata. However, further investigation revealed that the underlying cause was a thrombosed PICA aneurysm. The patient was successfully treated through surgical clipping. The patient consented to the procedure and to the publication of his/her image.
PubMed: 38295399
DOI: 10.1227/ons.0000000000001077 -
The Journal of Nervous and Mental... Feb 2024Pica indicates the persistent ingestion of inedible substances over a period of at least 1 month, being discordant to the individual's cognitive development level and... (Review)
Review
Pica indicates the persistent ingestion of inedible substances over a period of at least 1 month, being discordant to the individual's cognitive development level and not directly attributable to cultural or social normative practices. The literature suggests that the prevalence of pica varies significantly according to the social and clinical context. It can co-occur with psychiatric disorders, with its etiology being poorly understood and most likely multifactorial. In this article, we report the case of a patient in her 50s with a clinical setting compatible with soap ingestion variant of pica disorder. In addition to the variety of ingested substances, pica can be associated with heterogeneous behavior, mainly of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. Despite recent research, this condition is still a target of much speculation. This is a very rare and challenging presentation of a soap ingestion variant of pica with very few similar cases described to date.
Topics: Female; Humans; Eating; Pica; Prevalence; Soaps; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38290104
DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001716