In vivo histopathology for detection of gastrointestinal neoplasia with a portable, confocal miniprobe: an examiner blinded analysis.

Background & Aims: Confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) has been mentioned to be a promising tool for in vivo histology. Recently, a portable confocal miniprobe has been developed. Our aim was to evaluate the potential benefit of CFM for detection of gastrointestinal neoplasia.

Motor cortex excitability after vagus nerve stimulation in major depression.

Recent data suggest that inhibitory pathways may be involved in the pathophysiology of depression and in the mode of action of some antidepressant interventions. The aim of the present study was to test whether vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can affect motor cortex excitability. Measures of motor cortical excitability were probed by using single-pulse and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation at baseline, after 10 weeks of left VNS, and additionally, in an on-off paradigm in 10 patients with treatment-resistant unipolar depression.

Gender-dependent association of the functional catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype with sensation seeking personality trait.

The gene encoding cathechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) contains a common functional missense polymorphism (Val158Met) that regulates dopamine in an allele-dependent manner. A pivotal role of dopamine neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex has been implicated in drug-seeking behavior and related personality traits, such as sensation seeking, with some evidence for a gender-specific association. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the COMT Val158Met polymorphism modulates the personality dimension, sensation seeking, in a gender-dependent manner.

The effect of sedation on the quality of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: an investigator-blinded, randomized study comparing propofol with midazolam.

Background And Study Aims: Sedation with propofol is associated with a high acceptance rate in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. So far, however, there are no valid data on whether the use of propofol can increase the general quality of the endoscopic examination.

Patients And Methods: A total of 60 patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomized to receive sedation with either midazolam (n = 30) or propofol (n = 30).

Abnormal hippocampal neurochemistry in smokers: evidence from proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T.

Objective: In animals, nicotine, the primary psychoactive constituent of tobacco smoke, reduces neurogenesis and increases cell loss in both hippocampus and cortex. Accordingly, tobacco smoking has been linked to reduced performance on cognitive paradigms requiring attention and working memory in humans. However, few prior studies have tested for evidence of structural brain alterations in human tobacco smokers.

Genetic variations of the NR3A subunit of the NMDA receptor modulate prefrontal cerebral activity in humans.

Introduction: Recently, a novel N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit, NR3A, has been discovered in the brain. This subunit decreases NMDA receptor activity by modulating the calcium permeability of the receptor channel and current density in cortical cells. Because the NR3A is expressed in the human prefrontal cortex, we hypothesized that genetic variations of the NR3A subunit modulate prefrontal activation.

Association of the met66 allele of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with smoking.

Rationale: It has been suggested that a susceptibility locus near the gene encoding the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) contributes to individual differences in human addiction vulnerability. BDNF modulates several behaviors that are associated with addictive drugs, and upregulation of BDNF was found to be associated with several drugs of abuse such as amphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine. In this study, we addressed the question if a common BDNF missense variation (Val66Met) influences the risk for smoking behavior in otherwise healthy human volunteers.

Association between cerebral glutamate and human behaviour: the sensation seeking personality trait.

Introduction: Brain imaging studies have linked the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to motivation, drive, and personality traits like novelty and sensation seeking. Animal studies have shown glutamatergic neurotransmission to be important in ACC function as well as motivated behaviour. However, the role of glutamate in related personality traits like sensation seeking has not been investigated in humans.

Cerebrovascular reactivity in depressed patients without vascular risk factors.

Introduction: Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) seems to be gaining importance as a prognostic factor for stroke risk. CVR reflects the compensatory dilatory capacity of cerebral arterioles to a dilatory stimulus; this mechanism plays an important role in maintaining a constant cerebral blood flow. Evaluating factors that influence CVR will help prevention or early detection of cerebrovascular disease (CVD).

P300 is enhanced in responders to vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of major depressive disorder.

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a new therapy option for treatment of otherwise therapy-refractory major depressive disorder. However, the mechanism of central nervous action is poorly understood. Electroencephalographic (EEG) studies may be of interest since chronic peripheral current application to the vagus nerve may exert lasting neurophysiologically detectable effects on central electrical activity.

Cerebrovascular reactivity over time course in healthy subjects.

Introduction: Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) reflects the compensatory dilatory capacity of cerebral arterioles to a dilatory stimulus and is an important mechanism for maintaining constant cerebral blood flow. Many pathological conditions are associated with an impaired CVR thus contributing to a higher risk of cerebrovascular disease. Since an impaired CVR might contribute to a cerebrovascular disease if it lasts for a longer period of time, it is of importance to know what the time-course of CVR might be under healthy conditions.

Argon plasma ablation of gastric inlet patches in the cervical esophagus may alleviate globus sensation: a pilot trial.

Background And Study Aims: Globus sensation and/or sore throat have been associated with both gastroesophageal reflux disease and the presence of a gastric inlet patch. There have been no reports, however, on whether ablation of heterotopic mucosa in the cervical esophagus leads to improvement of chronic globus sensation.

Patients And Methods: Ten patients with a histologically proved gastric inlet patch who complained of chronic globus sensation and/or sore throat were included in this prospective pilot study.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentrations in depressive patients during vagus nerve stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are brain stimulation techniques used as therapeutic interventions in major depression.

Methods: In this study, we report the impact of these stimulation techniques on serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in treatment-resistant patients with a diagnosis of major depression.

Results: We found no changes of BDNF serum concentrations and no association of neurotrophin concentrations in serum with clinical parameters in our sample.

Persistent dysfunctional frontal lobe activation in former smokers.

Objective: Chronic smoking and nicotine exposure are accompanied by impaired cognitive task performance, modulated cerebral activity in brain imaging studies, and neuritic damage in experimental animals. The profile of the described dysfunctions matches frontal lobe circuits which also play a role in reward processing and reinforcement behavior. However, it is largely unknown if cerebral dysfunctions are reversible or persist during long term abstinence.

Metabolic alterations in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex after treatment with high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with unipolar major depression.

Neuroimaging studies suggest a specific role of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in major depression. Stimulation of the latter by means of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as an antidepressant intervention has increasingly been investigated in the past. The objective of the present study was to examine in vivo neurochemical alterations in both brain regions in 17 patients with unipolar major depression before and after 10 days of high-frequency (20Hz) rTMS of the left DLPFC using 3-tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Positive predictors for antidepressive response to prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a brain stimulation technique which had recently been investigated as a putative antidepressant intervention. However, there is little agreement about clinically useful predictors of rTMS outcome. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine whether specific biographical, clinical, and psychopathological parameters are associated with the antidepressant response to rTMS in a large sample of 70 depressive patients.

Cumulative incidence rates of the mucopolysaccharidoses in Germany.

In order to estimate the cumulative incidence rates of the mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) in Germany, a retrospective epidemiological survey covering the period between 1980 and 1995 was implemented. Multiple ascertainment sources were used to identify affected patients. A prevalence of approximately 0.

A prospective multicenter clinical and endoscopic follow-up study of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Despite its high prevalence, data on the course of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are still sparse. There is also an ongoing debate on the natural history of its various manifestations, i.e.

Motor cortical excitability in depressive patients after electroconvulsive therapy and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are brain stimulation techniques that are used as therapeutic interventions in major depression. However, the exact therapeutic mode of action needs further clarification. In this case report, we describe the impact of these stimulation techniques on motor cortical excitability, as revealed by transcranial magnetic stimulation-elicited motor-evoked potentials in 2 patients who received consecutively both rTMS and ECT.