Articles

Currently brain connectivity modelling, constructed from data acquired by non-invasive technique such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), is a well-received approach to illustrate brain function. However, not all connectivity models contains equal amount of information. There are two types of connectivity model that could be constructed from fMRI data, functional and effective connectivity. Effective connectivity includes information about the direction of the connection, while functional connectivity does not. This makes interpretation of effective connectivity more meaningful than functional connectivity. The objective of this study is to show the improvement in interpretability of effective connectivity model in comparison to functional connectivity model. In this study, we show how the difference in the information contained within these two model impacts the interpretation of the resulting connectivity model by analyzing resting-state fMRI data on episodic memory-related cognitive function using CONN Toolbox bivariate correlation measurement for functional connectivity analysis and Tigramite causal discovery framework for effective connectivity analysis on an episodic memory related resting-state fMRI dataset. The comparison between functional and effective connectivity results show that effective connectivity contains more information than the functional connectivity, and the difference in the information contained within these two types of model could significantly impact the intepretation of true brain function. In conclusion, we show that for the connectivity between specific pair of brain regions, effective connectivity analysis reveals more informative characteristic of the connectivity in comparison to functional connectivity where the depicted connectivity lack any additional characteristic information such as the direction of the connection or whether it is a unidirectional or bidirectional. These additional information improve interpretability of brain connectivity study. Thus, we would like to emphasis the important of brain function study using effective connectivity modelling to obtain valid interpretation of true brain function as currently a large body of research in this field focuses only on functional connectivity model.

Obesity has become a worldwide Epidemic affecting more than 300 million people. Overweight is defined as BMI (Body Mass Index) of 25-29.9 kg/m2. Obesity is defined as BMI greater than 30 kg/m2, and Morbid Obesity is a BMI of > than 35 kg/m2 [1]. 

Objective: Currently, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is becoming more common among younger people of ages from 30 – 40 years. The incidence is higher among patients with higher body mass index (BMI), and some reports had it that Obesity is a risk factor for PD while some reported that there is no relationship between obesity and PD. PD patient at the time of diagnosis has an above-normal BMI but which goes below normal as the disease progresses. Therefore, it is essential to explore the relationship between PD and Obesity. Methods: 349 outpatients and inpatients with PD were selected from Jiangsu University Affiliated People’s Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018, while 74 inpatients with non-cerebrovascular illness in the same period were selected as the control group. According to Hoehn-Yahr grade, Parkinson’s patients were divided into three groups. The height, weight, waist and hip circumference, total cholesterol (TC), Total Glycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured and recorded. The relationship between the severity of Parkinson’s disease and blood lipids was evaluated. Results: The BMI of patients with PD in the early stage was higher than that of the control group, but lower than that of the control group in the late stage, and the level of blood lipid in the patients with early PD was significantly higher than that in the control group and patients with advanced PD, especially in TG. The waist circumference and hip circumference of the patients with early PD were higher than those in the control group, but there was no statistical difference. Conclusion: i) Obesity may increase the prevalence of PD. ii) The BMI of patients with PD shows two-way changes in different periods. iii) The BMI is higher and cholesterol is more elevated in the early stage of patients with PD, while at the advanced stage of the disease, the BMI and lipid levels of the patients showed a downward trend, which may be associated with a metabolic syndrome associated with dopamine depletion.

Sleep is considered as a complex process in human beings and is least understood mechanism. Role of sleep in synaptic plasticity remains a debatable topic till date. Sleep is influenced by genetic background of the individual. EEG done in human sleep showed strong influence of genetic factors. A handful of familial analyses involving specific gene loci and twin studies has been done in this regard. In this review article focused discussion on genetic contribution to sleep phenotypes, twin and familial linkage studies and effect of genetic variation on sleep will be covered

Observing the epidemiology of some neurodegenerative disease is interesting to verify some similarity and also related advanced or non-advanced countries and related diet habits. There are relationship between this conditions and diet habits? Some neurological condition related neuro-degeneration can be related to a complex dynamic system like the glymphatic system and the brain vascular clearance. Failure in this system seem related to aggravates of some condition like PD or vascular or diabetic dementia. (Animal model). But what happen if this dynamic system is saturated? A deep investigation related the specific role in CNS make possible to search new innovative strategies. The social economic cost for the neurodegenerative disease is the right tool to new research.

Background: The acaricidal action of Ozonized sunflower oil (OSO) has demonstrated in different clinical cases of different animal species, such as psoroptic rabbits and pig sarcoptic scabies and recently in demodesic goat. Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of OSO as treatment for generalized demodicosis mange in dogs. Animals: Twenty dogs of different breeds, between six months and one year of age with generalized demodicosic mange that attended to Veterinary Clinic “José Luis Callejas” Havana, Cuba, during the year 2015, were included in the study. Methods: The demodicosis diagnostic was based on its clinical history, the mite’s presence by deep scraping and clinical signs. All cases had a history of receiving before conventional treatments without solution. OSO treatment was topically applied daily, every 12 hours, after shaving all affected areas. Monitoring of clinical signs, mite counting on scaling, pruritus and capillary regrowth (7, 14, 28, 56 and 84 days) were performed. Results: The results showed a significant reduction of mite counts, clinical signs and pruritus since the 7th day of application. The animals recovered the fur on more than 90% of the body surface. All the animals (100%) recovered from generalized demodesic mange in 84 days of treatment. Conclusion: The effectiveness and safety of OSO as election treatment of generalized demodicosis mange in dogs was demonstrated.

Background: Gliomas represent the most frequent primary tumors of central nervous system (CNS), contributing to more than half of the incidence of brain tumors. Cancer stem cell markers (CSC) identify a group of patients at high risk for progression. Nestin is an intermediate filament (IF) protein was first described as a neural stem cell/progenitor cell marker. Nestin-positive neuroepithelial stem cells are detected in the subventricular zone of the human adult brain and they remain mitotically active throughout adulthood. The expression of Nestin in gliomas has been suggested to be related to dedifferentiation, improved cell motility, invasive potential and increased malignancy. This study aims to investigate Nestin immunohistochemical expression in different types of glioma and its correlation with different clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: Nestin immunostaining was studied in 60 specimens of glioma using avidin-biotin peroxidase method. Results: Nestin was strongly expressed in 11/60 (18.33%), moderately expressed in 29/60 (48.33%) and weekly expressed in 15/60 (25%) of studied gliomas. A significant positive correlation was found between Nestin expression and histologic type (p < 0.001) and increasing grade of gliomas (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Increased Nestin expression is correlated with tumor progression, increasing grade and poor prognostic parameter of glioma. Nestin is a useful marker for detection of CSC in high-grade glioma which is responsible for resistance to chemo-radiotherapy and may serve as a predictor for patient outcomes.

The research was conducted in the Gross section of Veterinary Anatomy laboratory with the aim of preparation and comparing some skeleton bones of local domestic turkey and guinea fowl. Samples were purchased, sacrifice, feather and excess flesh were removed and boiled using water to produce the bones. The duration of process was recorded. Comparative biometry study was conducted on some selected bones (scapular, coracoid, furcular and tibiotarsus) and the bones were mounted using wooden stand, copper wire, and adhesive gum with the aim of enhancing avian teaching. Based on the processes of the research. It was recommended to use plastic materials in production of skeletal models to avoid deterioration of bones for proper teaching in veterinary anatomy.

The biological changes caused by oxidative stress (OS) are known to be involved in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The brain is particularly vulnerable to OS due to its high lipid content and extensive consumption of oxygen. OS processes, particularly the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), play a critical role in how neurodegenerative disorders develop. This is evidenced by in vivo studies investigating various biomolecules related to OS, such as products of lipid and DNA oxidation. Accordingly, ROS can also cause oxidative-related damage in neurodegenerative disorders, including dopamine auto-oxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, glial cell activation, α-synuclein aggregation, excessive free iron, and changes in calcium signaling. Furthermore, excessive levels of cellular oxidants reduce antioxidant defenses, which in turn propagate the cycle of OS. As such, it is increasingly important to determine the linkage between a high intake of antioxidants through dietary interventions and a lower risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, in addition to modulating the immune system, optimal nutritional status is capable of changing various processes of neuroinflammation known to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Accordingly, a better understanding of the role ROS plays in the etiology of neurodegeneration is needed, along with the identification of dietary interventions that may lead to improved therapeutic strategies for both the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, this review presents a comprehensive summary of the role of ROS in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, nutrients believed to be useful for mitigating and counteracting ROS are discussed. 

Tamsulosin is used to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), prescribed annually to about 12.6 million patients worldwide. It is an alpha-adrenergic antagonist that reduces the tone of the prostate smooth muscle involved in the pathophysiology of BPH. By acting on alpha 1A receptors, predominant in the prostate, tamsulosin also acts on receptors present in the brain. This study consisted of a literature review aimed at disseminating scientific knowledge about the relationship between the use of tamsulosin and the onset of dementia. PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, Embase, and Web of Science studies involving dementia in patients using tamsulosin in the last five years were selected. The review showed a risk correlation and a higher incidence of dementia in treated patients. The risk ratio, when compared to other medicines, approached 1.20. In conclusion, it was identified the need for clinical trials with higher sampling power to increase relational significance due to the high prevalence of BPH and the extensive use of tamsulosin in elderly patients with the disease.