Griffinbjerregaard0317
Concerns about the environmental and human health implications of TiO2 nanoparticles (nTiO2) are growing with their increased use in consumer and industrial products. Investigations of the underlying molecular mechanisms of nTiO2 tolerance in organisms will assist in countering nTiO2 toxicity. In this study, the countermeasures exhibited by the slime mold Physarum polycephalum macroplasmodium against nTiO2 toxicity were investigated from a physiological, transcriptional, and metabolic perspective. The results suggested that the countermeasures against nTiO2 exposure include gene-associated metabolic rearrangements in cellular pathways involved in amino acid, carbohydrate, and nucleic acid metabolism. Gene-associated nonmetabolic rearrangements involve processes such as DNA repair, DNA replication, and the cell cycle, and occur mainly when macroplasmodia are exposed to inhibitory doses of nTiO2. Interestingly, the growth of macroplasmodia and mammal cells was significantly restored by supplementation with a combination of responsive metabolites identified by metabolome analysis. Taken together, we report a novel model organism for the study of nTiO2 tolerance and provide insights into countermeasures taken by macroplasmodia in response to nTiO2 toxicity. Furthermore, we also present an approach to mitigate the effects of nTiO2 toxicity in cells by metabolic intervention.
Indirect evaluation tests of somatosensory integrity, such as the left/right judgment task and two-point discrimination thresholds, are used to complement a clinical evaluation facilitating tailored rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic pain. This study aimed to compare performance on the left/right judgment task and two-point shoulder discrimination thresholds between people with chronic shoulder pain and asymptomatic controls. The study's secondary objective was to investigate whether there is a relationship between pain intensity and the painful area with TPDT and LRJT.
It is a cross-sectional study with a control group. click here Volunteers participated in the left/right judgment task using the Recognise Shoulder
app, and two-point discrimination thresholds were performed using a Mitutoyo® digital caliper. The extent of the painful area, affectivity, and functionality were also determined to characterize the sample.
We assessed 52 symptomatic and 50 asymptomatic individuals. A between-group difference was observed in time response for the left/right judgment task (p=0.025) and the two-point discrimination thresholds when tested over the shoulder's lateral region (p=0.012). There was a significant positive weak correlation between pain intensity and TPDT test performance over the anterior shoulder (rs=0.35; p=0.01) and a positive weak correlation between pain area and LRJT response time (rs=0.26; p=0.04).
This study demonstrates a difference of small magnitude in the response time of the LRJT for the shoulder segment and TPDT in the lateral shoulder region between individuals with chronic shoulder pain and asymptomatic controls.
This study demonstrates a difference of small magnitude in the response time of the LRJT for the shoulder segment and TPDT in the lateral shoulder region between individuals with chronic shoulder pain and asymptomatic controls.
We aimed to describe epilepsy and EEG patterns related to vigilance states and age, in chromosome15-long-arm-duplication-syndrome (dup15q) children with epilepsy, in both duplication types interstitial (intdup15) and isodicentric (idic15).
Clinical data and 70 EEGs of 12 patients (5 intdup15, 7 idic15), followed from 4.5m.o to 17y4m (median follow-up 8y3m), were retrospectively reviewed. EEGs were analyzed visually and using power spectrum analysis.
Seventy video-EEGs were analyzed (1-16 per patient, median 6), follow-up lasting up to 8y10m (median 4y2m) 25 EEGs in intdup15 (8m.o to 12y.o, median 4y6m) and 45 EEGs in idic15 (7m.o to 12 y.o, median 15m). Epilepsy 6 West syndrome (WS) (2intdup15, 4idic15); 4 Lennox-Gastaut syndromes (LGS) (1 intdup15, 3 idic15), 2 evolving from WS; focal epilepsy (3 intdup15). In idic15, WS displayed additional myoclonic seizures (3), atypical (4) or no hypsarrhythmia (2) and posterior predominant spike and polyspike bursts (4). Beta-band rapid-rhythms (RR) present in 11 of beta oscillations can be of significant help in directing towards dup15q diagnosis hypothesis.
Research suggests that the combination of different non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), could enhance the effects of stimulation. Studies investigating the combination of tDCS and iTBS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) are lacking. In this within-subjects study, we evaluated the additive effects of iTBS with tDCS on psychophysiological measures of stress.
Sixty-eight healthy individuals were submitted to a
tDCS+iTBS and
tDCS+iTBS protocol targeting the DLPFC with a one-week interval. The Maastricht Acute Stress Test was used to activate the stress system after stimulation. Stress reactivity and recovery were assessed using physiological and self-report measures.
The stressor evoked significant psychophysiological changes in both stimulation conditions. However, no evidence was found for differences between them in stress reactivity and recovery. Participants reported more pain and feelings of discomfort to the
tDCS+iTBS protocol.
In this study set-up, iTBS plus tDCS was not superior to iTBS in downregulating stress in healthy subjects.
There is no evidence for an effect of combined tDCS-iTBS of the DLPFC on stress according to the parameters employed in our study. Future studies should explore other stimulation parameters, additive approaches and/or neurobiological markers.
There is no evidence for an effect of combined tDCS-iTBS of the DLPFC on stress according to the parameters employed in our study. Future studies should explore other stimulation parameters, additive approaches and/or neurobiological markers.
Gain insight and improve our interpretation of measurements from intracerebral electrodes. Determine if interpretation of intracerebral EEG is dependent on electrode characteristics.
We use intracerebral EEG measurements differing only in the recording electrodes (Dixi or homemade electrodes), and numerical simulations to determine the spatial sensitivity of intracerebral electrodes and its dependence on several parameters.
There is a difference in the high frequency (>20Hz) power depending on the electrode type, which cannot be explained by the different contact sizes or distance between contacts. Simulations show that the width of the gap between electrode and brain and the extent of the generators have an effect on sensitivity, while other parameters are less important.
The sensitivity of intracerebral electrodes is not affected in an important way by the dimensions of the contacts, but depends on the extent of generators. The unusual insertion technique of homemade electrodes resulting in a large gap between functional brain and electrodes, explains the observed signal difference.