Neuro-plasticity

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of SM on skeletal muscle and brain damage by regulation of BDNF/ PGC1α/irisin pathway via brain function related myokines in high-fat diet-induced OB mice. OB was induced by high-fat diet for 6 weeks. SM extract (SME) was administered with 200 mg/kg BW (LSM) and 500 mg/kg BW (HSM) by oral gavage every day for 12 weeks. Behavior tests such as grip strength, Y-maze, and passive avoidance test were conducted to analyze muscle and cognitive function. Histopathological changes in skeletal muscle and brain were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the protein levels of biomarkers related to oxidative stress, inflammation, protein degradation, neuro-plasticity, and cell cycling were measured by western blot...

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with task-oriented training (TOT) on upper limb function in stroke patients with hemiplegia. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using PRISMA guidelines. Computer searches of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of science, China Knowledge Network, Wanfang, and Wipu databases were conducted from the time of database creation to October 27, 2022...

AIM: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the relationship between prosthodontic treatment and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two clinical questions have been raised. Can prosthodontic treatment be used as a strategy to manage temporomandibular disorders? Is there any causal relationship between prosthodontic rehabilitation and the onset of TMD? A systematic search was performed in four medical databases to identify Clinical Trials (CT) and Randomized Clinical Trials (RCT) that could answer the two clinical questions...

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a global problem affecting 58 million people, expected to reach a prevalence of 88 million people by 2050. The disease affects the brain, memory, cognition, language, and motor movement. Many interventions have sought to improve memory and cognition. mHealth and virtual reality (VR) are two such interventions. OBJECTIVES: To analyze studies from the last 10 years with older adults with AD to ascertain the effectiveness of telehealth techniques such as mHealth and VR for memory care...

Objectives: Bladder pain syndrome (BPS)/interstitial cystitis (IC) is a debilitating condition characterised by bladder/pelvic pain and pressure as well as persistent or recurrent urinary symptoms in the absence of an identifiable cause. It is hypothesised that in addition to organ specific visceral hypersensitivity, contributions of the hypertonic pelvic floor, peripheral sensitisation, and central sensitisation exacerbate this condition. The aim of this paper is to investigate outcomes of treating underlying neuromuscular dysfunction and neuro-plastic mechanisms in BPS/IC patients...

Pain plays an important role in human survival [...].

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common mood disorder that can have severe consequences during later life, including suffering and impairment due to mood and cognitive symptoms, elevated risk for dementia and an especially high risk for suicide. Greater understanding of the brain circuitry differences involved in older adults with BD (OABD) in later life and their relationship to aging processes is required to improve outcomes of OABD. The current literature on gray and white matter findings, from high resolution structural and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, has shown that BD in younger age groups is associated with gray matter reductions within cortical and subcortical brain regions that subserve emotion processing and regulation, as well as reduced structural integrity of white matter tracts connecting these brain regions...

Neurological disorders such as stroke remain leading causes of disability worldwide. A current thrust in the neurorehabilitation of such disorders involves exogenous neuromodulation of cranial nerves in order to enhance neuro-plasticity and maximize recovery of function. Here we present preliminary results on the effects of kilohertz range electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerve (TNS) on motor learning, using an upper extremity visuomotor adaptation paradigm. Twenty-five (25) healthy adult subjects were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 3kHz stimulation ( n=13) and sham ( n=12)...

Neuro-plasticity describes the ability of the brain in achieving novel functions, either by transforming its internal connectivity, or by changing the elements of which it is made, meaning that, only those changes, that affect both structural and functional aspects of the system, can be defined as "plastic." The concept of plasticity can be applied to molecular as well as to environmental events that can be recognized as the basic mechanism by which our brain reacts to the internal and external stimuli. When considering brain plasticity within a clinical context-that is the process linked with changes of brain functions following a lesion- the term "reorganization" is somewhat synonymous, referring to the specific types of structural/functional modifications observed as axonal sprouting, long-term synaptic potentiation/inhibition or to the plasticity related genomic responses...

Background . An ischemic stroke is followed by the remapping of motor representation and extensive changes in cortical excitability involving both hemispheres. Although stimulation of the ipsilesional motor cortex, especially when paired with motor training, facilitates plasticity and functional restoration, the remapping of motor representation of the single and combined treatments is largely unexplored. Objective . We investigated if spatio-temporal features of motor-related cortical activity and the new motor representations are related to the rehabilitative treatment or if they can be specifically associated to functional recovery...

Although evidence for the superiority of continuous feeding over intermittent feeding is lacking, in most paediatric intensive care units (PICU) artificial feeding is administered continuously for 24 h per day. Until now, studies in PICU on intermittent feeding have primarily focused on surrogate endpoints such as nutritional intake and gastro-intestinal complaints and none have studied the effects of an extended fasting period. Intermittent fasting has been proven to have many health benefits in both animal and human studies...

Glucocorticoid hormones (GCs) - acting through hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) - are critical to physiological regulation and behavioural adaptation. We conducted genome-wide MR and GR ChIP-seq and Ribo-Zero RNA-seq studies on rat hippocampus to elucidate MR- and GR-regulated genes under circadian variation or acute stress. In a subset of genes, these physiological conditions resulted in enhanced MR and/or GR binding to DNA sequences and associated transcriptional changes...

INTRODUCTION: Game-based rehabilitation is an emerging therapeutic intervention that allows intensive, repetitive, task-based training to improve upper limb (UL) function following stroke, based on the principles of neuro-plasticity and motor (re)learning. Rehabilitation using commercial gaming system will be motivating, enjoyable, challenging and affordable. Therefore, the present study aims at assessing the effectiveness of an intensive, functional, gamified rehabilitation program using the ArmAble™ device in improving UL motor function in people with stroke...

The development of the human brain continues through to early adulthood. It has been suggested that cortical plasticity during this protracted period of development shapes circuits in associative transmodal regions of the brain. Here we considered how cortical plasticity during development might contribute to the coordinated brain activity required for speech motor learning. Specifically, we examined patterns of brain functional connectivity whose strength covaried with the capacity for speech audio-motor adaptation in children ages 5-12 and in young adults of both sexes...

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) can improve the control of assistance mobility devices making its use more intuitive and natural. In the case of an exoskeleton, they can also help rehabilitation therapies due to the reinforcement of neuro-plasticity through repetitive motor actions and cognitive engagement of the subject. Therefore, the cognitive implication of the user is a key aspect in BMI applications, and it is important to assure that the mental task correlates with the actual motor action. However, the process of walking is usually an autonomous mental task that requires a minimal conscious effort...

Accounts regarding the use of novel psychoactive substances continue to escalate annually. These include reports on substituted benzofurans (SBs), such as 1-(1-benzofuran-2-yl)-N-ethylpropan-2-amine (2-EAPB) and 1-(1-benzofuran-5-yl)-N-ethylpropan-2-amine (5-EAPB). Reports on the deaths and adverse consequences from the use of SBs warrant the investigation of their mechanism, possibly predicting the effects of similar compounds. Accordingly, we investigated the possible rewarding and reinforcing effects of 2-EAPB and 5-EAPB through conditioned place preference (CPP), self-administration, and locomotor sensitization tests...

Previous behavioural research has revealed that motor imagery (MI) can be an effective technique to generate and enhance motor learning and rehabilitation. This MI-enhanced motor performance may emerge because MI shares overlapping neural networks with movement execution and observation and leads to the activation and neuro-plasticity of the motor system. Neurophysiological studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have shown that physical and observational practice can elicit use-dependent, neuro-plastic changes in the cortical representation of movement...

Diverticulosis is the presence of small, bulging pouches in the lining of the intestinal colonic mucosal and submucosal layers. This condition is usually asymptomatic. The few patients (25%) that do develop abdominal symptoms are diagnosed with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD). Up to now it is not clear which pathophysiological events trigger the transition from asymptomatic diverticulosis to SUDD. However, data from Barbaro and colleagues published in the current issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility showed extensive axonal sprouting and increased macrophage infiltration in SUDD compared to asymptomatic diverticulosis patients...

Rehabilitative exercise for people suffering from upper limb impairments has the potential to improve their neuro-plasticity due to repetitive training. Our study investigates the usefulness of Electroencephalogram and Electromyogram (EMG) signals for incorporation in humanrobot interaction loop. Twenty healthy participants recruited who performed a series of physical and cognitive tasks, with an inherent fatiguing component in those tasks. Here we report observed effects on EMG signals. Participants performed a Biceps curl repetitions using a suitable dumbbell in three phases...

Damage to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) often occurs following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can lead to complex behavioral changes, including difficulty with attention and concentration. We investigated the effects of musical training on patients with behavioral and cognitive deficits following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and found significant functional neuro-plastic changes in the OFC's networks. The results from neuropsychological tests revealed an improved cognitive performance. Moreover, six out of seven participants in this group returned to work post intervention and reported improved well-being and social behavior...