Movement Disorders

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Hallett ◽  
Alfredo Berardelli
Keyword(s):  
Movement Disorders ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Intracortical Inhibition ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Clinical Role ◽  
Direct Electrical Current ◽  
Therapeutic Uses ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Brain

This article focuses on the potential therapeutic uses of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in movement disorders. The brain can be stimulated with low levels of direct electrical current, called direct current polarization (tDCS). High-frequency repetitive TMS might increase brain excitability and be used for therapy in Parkinson's disease. Single sessions with TMS, however, have not proven to be very effective. Treatment with tDCS has been performed in some open studies with some success, but these results need confirmation. Physiological findings in dystonia reveal a decrease in intracortical inhibition. There have been a few studies of patients with Tourette's syndrome with mixed results. To date, clinical results with TMS in movement disorders have been mixed, and more work will be needed to clarify the potential clinical role of TMS.

Glutamatergic pathways as a target for the treatment of dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 600-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Angela Cenci
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Dopamine Depletion ◽  
Pathophysiological Role ◽  
Striatal Dopamine Depletion ◽  
Glutamatergic Pathways ◽  
The Brain

PD (Parkinson's disease) is characterized by some typical motor features that are caused by striatal dopamine depletion and respond well to dopamine-replacement therapy with L-dopa. Unfortunately, the majority of PD patients treated with L-dopa develop abnormal involuntary movements (dyskinesias) within a few years. The mechanisms underlying the development of LIDs (L-dopa-induced dyskinesias) involve, on one hand, a presynaptic dysregulation of dopamine release and clearance and, on the other hand, an abnormal postsynaptic response to dopamine in the brain. There is a large amount of evidence that these dopamine-dependent mechanisms are modulated by glutamatergic pathways and glutamate receptors. The present article summarizes the pathophysiological role of glutamatergic pathways in LID and reviews pre-clinical and clinical results obtained using pharmacological modulators of different classes and subtypes of glutamate receptors to treat parkinsonian dyskinesias.

Clinical Sound Speed Measurement in Liver and Spleen in Vivo

1987 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.F. Chen ◽  
D.E. Robinson ◽  
L.S. Wilson ◽  
K.A. Griffiths ◽  
A. Manoharan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sound Speed ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Clinical Role ◽  
Speed Measurement ◽  
Clinical Confidence ◽  
Signal Processing Methods

The paper describes an implementation of clinical sound speed measurement using either a commercial water path scanner or a specially developed dual transducer real time scanner, each interfaced to a general purpose minicomputer for off-line analysis. It describes the examination technique to obtain suitable in vivo clinical data from the liver and the spleen. It develops signal processing methods to achieve clinical confidence in individual measurements. Forty-five liver patients and 46 spleen patients were examined. Sound speed was found to correlate closely with fibrosis content in both the liver and the spleen with an increase in fibrosis resulting in a decrease in sound speed. Sound speed in various pathological conditions are discussed. Clinical results of sequential examinations on patients under treatment are presented and successful monitoring of the disease status is demonstrated. The potential clinical role of sound speed measurement is suggested.

scholarly journals Fluid Candidate Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Precision Medicine Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonora Del Prete ◽  
Maria Francesca Beatino ◽  
Nicole Campese ◽  
Linda Giampietri ◽  
Gabriele Siciliano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Plasma Biomarker ◽  
Clinical Role ◽  
Neurofilament Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
The Brain

A plethora of dynamic pathophysiological mechanisms underpins highly heterogeneous phenotypes in the field of dementia, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In such a faceted scenario, a biomarker-guided approach, through the implementation of specific fluid biomarkers individually reflecting distinct molecular pathways in the brain, may help establish a proper clinical diagnosis, even in its preclinical stages. Recently, ultrasensitive assays may detect different neurodegenerative mechanisms in blood earlier. ß-amyloid (Aß) peptides, phosphorylated-tau (p-tau), and neurofilament light chain (NFL) measured in blood are gaining momentum as candidate biomarkers for AD. P-tau is currently the more convincing plasma biomarker for the diagnostic workup of AD. The clinical role of plasma Aβ peptides should be better elucidated with further studies that also compare the accuracy of the different ultrasensitive techniques. Blood NFL is promising as a proxy of neurodegeneration process tout court. Protein misfolding amplification assays can accurately detect α-synuclein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), thus representing advancement in the pathologic stratification of AD. In CSF, neurogranin and YKL-40 are further candidate biomarkers tracking synaptic disruption and neuroinflammation, which are additional key pathophysiological pathways related to AD genesis. Advanced statistical analysis using clinical scores and biomarker data to bring together individuals with AD from large heterogeneous cohorts into consistent clusters may promote the discovery of pathophysiological causes and detection of tailored treatments.

The Investigation of Personality in Patients Treated by Prefrontal Leucotomy

1942 ◽  
Vol 88 (371) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Hutton
Keyword(s):  
Mental States ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Empirical Methods ◽  
Early Results ◽  
Psychological Medicine ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Mere Addition

I have been fortunate in having the opportunity of studying several of the 15 patients treated by prefrontal leucotomy in connection with the Burden Neurological Institute. I do not propose to discuss the clinical results; it is much too early as yet for any authoritative opinion to be given, and a brief review of the literature and of the early results of the first 8 cases in this series was recently published in the Lancet. It may be mentioned, however, that the results are such as to justify the cautious adoption of this operation for therapeutic purposes. Although obviously any procedure of this kind is only justifiable on therapeutic grounds, its value for psychological medicine is far more than the mere addition of another effective therapeutic method, since for the first time in history an opportunity has been presented for the study of changes in personality produced by a relatively standardized local lesion of the brain, enabling us to investigate as never before the role of the frontal lobe in normal and abnormal mental states. This investigation involves the study and correlation of both neurological and psychological data, and encounters all the difficulties inherent in such correlation.I am only too well aware of the extremely hypothetical nature of much that follows, and of the crying need for experimental evidence to confirm or refute the view here propounded, but I believe that our knowledge of mental disorders would be immeasurably advanced could we but discover the rationale underlying our present empirical methods of therapy.

Analysis of monoamines, adenosine and GABA in tissues of the land snail Helix lucorum and lizard Agama stellio stellio during hibernation

2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (8) ◽  
pp. 1135-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basile Michaelidis ◽  
Nikolaos S. Loumbourdis ◽  
Elizabeth Kapaki
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Marked Decrease ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Main Metabolite ◽  
Helix Lucorum ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Brain

SUMMARY The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of monoamines,GABA and adenosine in the brain, heart and haemolymph of the land snail Helix lucorum and in the brain, heart and blood of lizard Agama stellio stellio during long-term hibernation. We measured levels of the monoamines serotonin (5-HT) and its main metabolite 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), dopamine (DA) and its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid(DOPAC) and homovanilic acid (HVA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E). The most abundant amines detected in the brain and heart of active H. lucorum were 5-HT and DA. Of the metabolites examined only 5-HIAA was found in the brain. NE was found at very low levels but only in the brain,while E was not detected in the brain and heart. The levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA increased in the brain and heart of H. lucorum within the first months of hibernation, showing a significant decrease thereafter. The levels of DA did not change during hibernation. The results indicated that 5-HT might be involved in preparing snails for entry into hibernation. GABA was only found in the brain of H. lucorum, and the levels were low; these levels remained during hibernation. Adenosine was present in brain and heart of H. lucorum, and during hibernation, the level of adenosine decreased significantly in the brain but remained steady in the heart. The monoamines 5-HT, DA and NE were present in the brain of active lizards A. stellio stellio, whereas E was found only at very low levels. Moreover,the metabolites 5-HIAA, DOPAC and HVA were detected in the brain of active lizards. The monoamines 5-HT, DA, NE and E were also detected in the heart and blood of active lizards. During hibernation the levels of these four monoamines were decreased significantly in the brain and heart of A. stellio stellio. In contrast, the levels of E increased in the heart and blood of hibernating lizards. Adenosine was detected in both heart and brain of active lizards, but hibernation caused a marked decrease in its levels at both tissues. GABA was found at higher levels than monoamines and adenosine in the brain of active lizards, and hibernation caused a significant increase in its levels, indicating an important role of GABA in inhibition of neuronal activity in hibernating lizards.

scholarly journals The Ferrier Lecture 2004 What can transcranial magnetic stimulation tell us about how the brain works?

2005 ◽  
Vol 360 (1458) ◽  
pp. 1185-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Cowey
Keyword(s):  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Conscious Awareness ◽  
Functional Images ◽  
The Brain ◽  
A Current

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a technique whereby parts of the cerebral cortex and underlying white matter can be excited by a brief electrical current induced by a similarly brief, rapidly fluctuating magnetic field which is itself produced by rapidly discharging a current through an insulated coil held against the scalp. When combined with magnetic resonance structural and functional images of the subject's brain, the stimulation can be directed at specific cortical areas. Over a period of only 15 years, TMS has revealed hitherto unsuspected aspects of brain function, such as the role of distant parts of the brain in recovery from stroke, and has helped to resolve several previously intractable disputes, such as the neuronal basis of conscious awareness. This article describes and discusses the origins and nature of TMS, its applications and limitations, and its especial usefulness in conjunction with other techniques of evaluating or imaging brain activity.

The Role of Mitochondria in the Genesis of Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in the Brains of Aging Mice

1975 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 372-373
Author(s):  
J.E. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Dorsal Column ◽  
Neuroaxonal Dystrophy ◽  
Nucleus Gracilis ◽  
Dystrophic Axons ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Nucleus Cuneatus

Although neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) has been examined by light and electron microscopy for years, the nature of the components in the dystrophic axons is not well understood. The present report examines nucleus gracilis and cuneatus (the dorsal column nuclei) in the brain stem of aging mice.Mice (C57BL/6J) were sacrificed by aldehyde perfusion at ages ranging from 3 months to 23 months. Several brain areas and parts of other organs were processed for electron microscopy.At 3 months of age, very little evidence of NAD can be discerned by light microscopy. At the EM level, a few axons are found to contain dystrophic material. By 23 months of age, the entire nucleus gracilis is filled with dystrophic axons. Much less NAD is seen in nucleus cuneatus by comparison. The most recurrent pattern of NAD is an enlarged profile, in the center of which is a mass of reticulated material (reticulated portion; or RP).

Social Motives Predict Loneliness During a Developmental Transition

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Nikitin ◽  
Alexandra M. Freund
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Avoidance ◽  
Social Approach ◽  
Social Motives ◽  
Developmental Transitions ◽  
Avoidance Motivation ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract. Establishing new social relationships is important for mastering developmental transitions in young adulthood. In a 2-year longitudinal study with four measurement occasions (T1: n = 245, T2: n = 96, T3: n = 103, T4: n = 85), we investigated the role of social motives in college students’ mastery of the transition of moving out of the parental home, using loneliness as an indicator of poor adjustment to the transition. Students with strong social approach motivation reported stable and low levels of loneliness. In contrast, students with strong social avoidance motivation reported high levels of loneliness. However, this effect dissipated relatively quickly as most of the young adults adapted to the transition over a period of several weeks. The present study also provides evidence for an interaction between social approach and social avoidance motives: Social approach motives buffered the negative effect on social well-being of social avoidance motives. These results illustrate the importance of social approach and social avoidance motives and their interplay during developmental transitions.

Social and Temporal Comparisons as Moderators of Psychological Resources Associations With Wellbeing

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasida Ben-Zur
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Age Range ◽  
General Wellbeing

Abstract. The current study investigated the associations of psychological resources, social comparisons, and temporal comparisons with general wellbeing. The sample included 142 community participants (47.9% men; age range 23–83 years), who compared themselves with others, and with their younger selves, on eight dimensions (e.g., physical health, resilience). They also completed questionnaires assessing psychological resources of mastery and self-esteem, and three components of subjective wellbeing: life satisfaction and negative and positive affect. The main results showed that high levels of psychological resources contributed to wellbeing, with self-enhancing social and temporal comparisons moderating the effects of resources on certain wellbeing components. Specifically, under low levels of mastery or self-esteem self-enhancing social or temporal comparisons were related to either higher life satisfaction or positive affect. The results highlight the role of resources and comparisons in promoting people’s wellbeing, and suggest that self-enhancing comparisons function as cognitive coping mechanisms when psychological resources are low.

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