Brain health

Objective: Current therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) often have limited efficacy and side effects, necessitating alternative approaches. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS), such as transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), offers potential solutions. Among NIBS techniques, theta burst stimulation (TBS) is notable for its ability to modulate cortical activity. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the impact of TBS on MS symptoms. Data Sources: The study conducted rigorous systematic searches in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases up to June 2023, using specific Medical Subject Headings terms related to NIBS and MS, such as TMS and TBS, in conjunction with terms like MS or demyelinating disease...

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has gained attention as a reliable technique for investigating the intrinsic function patterns of the brain. It facilitates the extraction of functional connectivity networks (FCNs) that capture synchronized activity patterns among regions of interest (ROIs). Analyzing FCNs enables the identification of distinctive connectivity patterns associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). For MCI diagnosis, various sparse representation techniques have been introduced, including statistical- and deep learningbased methods...

INTRODUCTION: Chia and flax seeds are rich in alphalinolenic acid (ALA), which is bioconverted into the active derivatives eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) having multiple beneficial effects. However, there is limited knowledge about the antiinflammatory effects of chia and flax integral flours diets rich in ALA. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the antiinflammatory effect of dietary supplementation with integral chia and flax flours in a murine model of LPSinduced systemic inflammation...

Industrialized environments, despite benefits such as higher levels of formal education and lower rates of infections, can also have pernicious impacts upon brain atrophy. Partly for this reason, comparing age-related brain volume trajectories between industrialized and non-industrialized populations can help to suggest lifestyle correlates of brain health. The Tsimane, indigenous to the Bolivian Amazon, derive their subsistence from foraging and horticulture and are physically active. The Moseten, a mixed-ethnicity farming population, are physically active but less than the Tsimane...

The brain-computer interface (BCI) allows the human or animal brain to directly interact with the external environment through the neural interfaces, thus playing the role of monitoring, protecting, improving/restoring, enhancing, and replacing. Recording electrophysiological information such as brain neural signals is of great importance in health monitoring and disease diagnosis. According to the electrode position, it can be divided into non-implantable, semi-implantable, and implantable. Among them, implantable neural electrodes can obtain the highest-quality electrophysiological information, so they have the most promising application...

This Opinion piece discusses several key research questions in health neuroscience, a new interdisciplinary field that investigates how the brain and body interact to affect our health behavior such as health mindsets, decision-making, actions, and health outcomes across the lifespan. To achieve physical, mental, and cognitive health, and promote health behavior change, we propose that the prevention and treatment of diseases should target the root causes-the dysfunction and imbalance of brain-body biomarkers, through evidence-based body-mind interventions such as mindfulness meditation and Tai Chi, rather than dealing with each symptom or disorder in isolation through various treatment approaches...

BACKGROUND: Comorbid chronic neuropathic pain (NPP) and anxio-depressive disorders (ADD) have become a serious global public-health problem. The SLIT and NTRK-like 1 (SLITRK1) protein is important for synaptic remodeling and is highly expressed in the amygdala, an important brain region involved in various emotional behaviors. We examined whether SLITRK1 protein in the amygdala participates in NPP and comorbid ADD. METHODS: A chronic NPP mouse model was constructed by L5 spinal nerve ligation; changes in chronic pain and ADD-like behaviors were measured in behavioral tests...

Ischemic stroke (IS) remains a serious threat to human health. Neuroinflammatory response is an important pathophysiological process after IS. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a member of the non-coding RNA family, are highly expressed in the central nervous system and widely involved in regulating physiological and pathophysiological processes. This study reviews the current evidence on neuroinflammatory responses, the role of circRNAs in IS and their potential mechanisms in regulating inflammatory cells, and inflammatory factors affecting IS damage...

BACKGROUND: Gliomas are characterized by aggressive behavior, leading to severe disability and high mortality. Ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 2 (UBA2) is a subunit of the E1-activating enzyme involved in the SUMOylation (SUMO, small ubiquitin-related modifier) of numerous proteins. Although the abnormality of UBA2 is linked to the progression of various tumor types, the role of UBA2 in glioma is still unknown. METHODS: A bioinformatic analysis using several public databases was conducted to examine the expression level, clinicopathological correlations, and prognostic significance of UBA2 in glioma...

Acute ischemic stroke is a significant health concern worldwide, often leading to long-term disability and decreased quality of life. Rapid and appropriate treatment is crucial for achieving optimal outcomes in these patients. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are two commonly used interventions for acute ischemic stroke, but their effectiveness in improving neurological symptoms and functional outcomes in patients with hemiplegia remains uncertain. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of IVT and MT within a 4...

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) is a common yet poorly understood complication of surgery that can lead to long-term cognitive decline. The gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and the gut microbiota, plays a significant role in maintaining cognitive health. The potential for anesthetic agents and perioperative medications to modulate the gut microbiota and influence the trajectory of POCD suggests the need for a more integrated approach in perioperative care...

Schizophrenia affects 1% of the population, causing chronic debilitating symptoms with largely unknown causes. Structural brain changes and neurochemical alterations are believed to contribute to its etiology. Delayed treatment initiation is a major concern. This case involves a male patient with a decade-long history of psychosis, experiencing isolation, agoraphobia, and paranoid delusions. His situation deteriorated to the point where he lived in a self-imposed physically constraining environment for a year, leading to muscle atrophy and deteriorating health...

Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics play a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Any disruption in CSF flow can lead to various congenital and acquired conditions, impacting neurological function and overall health. This study aims to analyze the significance of phase-contrast MRI in evaluating abnormalities in CSF flow and its diagnostic utility in various CSF-related disorders. Phase contrast MRI has emerged as a valuable tool for evaluating CSF dynamics non-invasively by examining CSF flow characteristics such as pulsatile flow patterns, hyperdynamic or hypodynamic flow, and disruptions in CSF circulation...

Epilepsy is a disease caused by abnormal neural discharge, which severely harms the health of patients. Its pathogenesis is complex and variable with various forms of seizures, leading to significant differences in epilepsy manifestations among different patients. The changes of brain network are strongly correlated with related pathologies. Therefore, it is crucial to effectively and deeply explore the intrinsic features of epilepsy signals to reveal the rules of epilepsy occurrence and achieve accurate detection...

Cardiomyopathy is a rare but serious complication associated with neuroblastoma. The brain natriuretic peptide level led to a diagnosis of secondary dilated cardiomyopathy before the worsening of heart failure symptoms.

KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE: Scalp metastasis from atypical meningioma, though rare, underscores the importance of meticulous surgical techniques to prevent tumor cell implantation. Early detection and comprehensive management, including surgery and adjuvant therapy, are crucial for optimal outcomes. ABSTRACT: Meningiomas are tumors of the meninges that originate in the arachnoid layer from arachnoid cap cells. Atypical meningiomas, classified as WHO grade 2 tumors, tend to metastasize and recur if not surgically managed properly...

Here, we are presenting a young previous healthy child with seizures and right side hemiparesis for 6 months. After blood work and an MRI brain with IV contrast, it is confirmed that the child has large cerebral tuberculoma. The child is improved with TB treatment and surgery.

KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE: In young women presenting with atypical features of intracerebral hemorrhage, metastatic choriocarcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis. In resource-poor settings, a high index of suspicion and serum β-hCG are crucial for diagnosis. ABSTRACT: Intracerebral hemorrhage in the young is rarely caused by metastatic choriocarcinoma. Diagnosis of this condition may be particularly challenging in resource-poor settings where access to diagnostic technologies may be limited...

In humans experiencing substance use disorder (SUD), abstinence from drug use is often motivated by a desire to avoid some undesirable consequence of further use: health effects, legal ramifications, etc. This process can be experimentally modeled in rodents by training and subsequently punishing an operant response in a context-induced reinstatement procedure. Understanding the biobehavioral mechanisms underlying punishment learning is critical to understanding both abstinence and relapse in individuals with SUD...

The recent identification of skull bone marrow as a reactive hematopoietic niche that can contribute to and direct leukocyte trafficking into the meninges and brain has transformed our view of this bone structure from a solid, protective casing to a living, dynamic tissue poised to modulate brain homeostasis and neuroinflammation. This emerging concept may be highly relevant to injuries that directly impact the skull such as in traumatic brain injury (TBI). From mild concussion to severe contusion with skull fracturing, the bone marrow response of this local myeloid cell reservoir has the potential to impact not just the acute inflammatory response in the brain, but also the remodeling of the calvarium itself, influencing its response to future head impacts...