Dopaminergic modulation of motor network dynamics in Parkinson's disease.

Although characteristic motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease such as bradykinesia typically improve under dopaminergic medication, deficits in higher motor control are less responsive. We here investigated the dopaminergic modulation of network dynamics underlying basic motor performance, i.e.

Cognitive training in Parkinson's disease reduces cognitive decline in the long term.

Background And Purpose: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are at high risk for cognitive dysfunction. Non-pharmacological interventions have attracted increasing interest for enhancing PD patients' cognitive functions.

Methods: One-year follow-up data (T2 ) of a randomized controlled trial evaluating two 6-week cognitive trainings - a structured (NEUROvitalis, NV) and an unstructured (mentally fit, MF) program - compared with a waiting list control group (CG) in non-demented PD patients (Hoehn and Yahr I-III) are presented.

Role of inflammation in the aging bones.

Chronic inflammation in aging is characterized by increased inflammatory cytokines, bone loss, decreased adaptation, and defective tissue repair in response to injury. Aging leads to inherent changes in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation, resulting in impaired osteoblastogenesis. Also, the pro-inflammatory cytokines increase with aging, leading to enhanced myelopoiesis and osteoclastogenesis.

Neuromuscular nicotinic receptors mediate bladder contractions following bladder reinnervation with somatic to autonomic nerve transfer after decentralization by spinal root transection.

Purpose: We investigated whether the reinnervated neuronal pathway mediates contraction via the same neurotransmitter and receptor mechanisms as the original pathway.

Materials And Methods: After decentralizing the bladder by transecting the sacral roots in dogs we performed peripheral nerve transfer, including bilateral genitofemoral to pelvic nerve transfer and unilateral left femoral nerve to bilateral pelvic nerve transfer. Reinnervation was assessed 7.

Alterations in nerve-evoked bladder contractions in a coronavirus-induced mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

Background: Patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's often present with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS, urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia and retention) resulting from damage to the peripheral and central nervous systems. These studies were designed to examine the changes in the function of the bladder that may underlie neurogenic bladder dysfunction using a mouse model of demyelination in the CNS.

Methods: Bladders from 12 week old male C57BL/6J mice with coronavirus-induced encephalomyelitis (CIE, a chronic, progressive demyelinating disease model of human MS), and age-matched controls, were cut into 5-7 strips and suspended in physiological muscle baths for tension measurement in response to agonists and electric field stimulation (EFS).

Utilization of predefined stimulation groups by essential tremor patients treated with VIM-DBS.

Objective: To identify the utilization and general acceptance of switching between predefined stimulation groups in essential tremor (ET) patients treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients treated with VIM-DBS completed a telephone survey. This was designed to identify the general utilization of patient controllers and the specific usage of stimulation groups.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of neovasculature in solid tumors and basement membrane matrix using ex vivo X-ray microcomputed tomography.

Objective: To create accurate, high-resolution 3D reconstructions of neovasculature structures in xenografted tumors and Matrigel plugs for quantitative analyses in angiogenesis studies in animal models.

Methods: The competent neovasculature within xenografted solid tumors or Matrigel plugs in mice was perfused with Microfil, a radioopaque, hydrophilic polymerizing contrast agent, by systemic perfusion of the blood circulation via the heart. The perfused tumors and plugs were resected and scanned by X-ray micro-CT to generate stacks of 2D images showing the radioopaque material.

Effects of cognitive training in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In Parkinson's Disease (PD), cognitive dysfunctions which can reduce patients' quality of life occur frequently. Data on non-pharmacological intervention effects on cognitive functions in patients with PD are rare. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of different cognitive group trainings (structured vs.

Underdevelopment of trabecular bone microarchitecture in the distal femur of nonambulatory children with cerebral palsy becomes more pronounced with distance from the growth plate.

Summary: We found that the underdeveloped trabecular bone microarchitecture in the distal femur of children with cerebral palsy (CP) who are unable to ambulate independently becomes more pronounced with increased distance from the growth plate. This suggests that the degree of underdevelopment in trabecular bone in children with CP is greater than previously understood.

Introduction: Children with CP who are unable to ambulate independently have severely underdeveloped trabecular bone microarchitecture in the distal femur.

Serum and MRI biomarkers in mobile device texting: a pilot study.

Objective: We aimed to determine if serum biochemical and MRI biomarkers differed between high volume (> or =230 texts sent/day; n = 5) and low volume (< or =25 texts sent/day; n = 5) texters. A secondary aim was to ascertain what correlations between the biochemical and imaging biomarkers could tell us about the pathophysiology of early onset tendinopathies.

Background: Text messaging has become widespread, particularly among college-aged young adults.

Physical performance measurement in persons with patellofemoral osteoarthritis: A pilot study.

Background: Patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) is associated with pain and decreased self-reported function. The impact of PFOA on actual physical performance is currently unknown.

Objective: To investigate the impact of PFOA on physical performance and pain.

Effect of isolated hyperglycemia on native mechanical and biologic shoulder joint properties in a rat model.

Recently, diabetes has been linked to rotator cuff disease and adhesive capsulitis, conditions with increased stiffness and inflammation. Unfortunately, limited research exists examining how hyperglycemia affects the native shoulder (tendon and capsule) properties. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to compare shoulder joint mechanics, tendon properties (mechanics and immunohistochemistry), and capsule of healthy control and hyperglycemic rats 8 weeks following induction of hyperglycemia with a submaximal dose of streptozotocin (STZ).

Bladder reinnervation using a primarily motor donor nerve (femoral nerve branches) is functionally superior to using a primarily sensory donor nerve (genitofemoral nerve).

Purpose: We determined whether transfer of a primarily motor nerve (femoral) to the anterior vesicle branch of the pelvic nerve would allow for more effective bladder reinnervation than transfer of a primarily sensory nerve (genitofemoral).

Materials And Methods: A total of 41 female mongrel dogs underwent bladder decentralization and then bilateral nerve transfer, or served as sham operated or unoperated controls. Decentralization was achieved by bilateral transection of all sacral roots that induced bladder contraction upon electrical stimulation.

Loss of Cbl-PI3K interaction in mice prevents significant bone loss following ovariectomy.

Cbl and Cbl-b are E3 ubiquitin ligases and adaptor proteins, which perform regulatory roles in bone remodeling. Cbl-/- mice have delayed bone development due to decreased osteoclast migration. Cbl-b-/- mice are osteopenic due to increased bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts.

Staphylococcus caprae bone and joint infections: a re-emerging infection?

Staphylococcus caprae has been recently classified as a human pathogen, but the incidence of S. caprae in human bone and joint infections (BJIs) is under-reported. In this study, we report 25 cases of S.

Micro-computed tomography assessment of vertebral column defects in retinoic acid-induced rat model of myelomeningocele.

Background: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a common congenital malformation and the most severe form of spina bifida characterized by the protrusion of spinal cord and meninges through the spinal defect. Our objective was to improve the assessment of congenital vertebral defects in animal models of MMC using three-dimensional high resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging and quantitative digital analyses methods.

Methods: Lumbosacral MMC was induced in fetal rats by exposure of pregnant mothers at embryonic day 10 (E10) to all-trans retinoic acid, and rats were examined at term (embryonic day 22).

Validation of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging-based apparent bone volume fraction in peri-articular tibial bone of cadaveric knees.

Background: In the knee, high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has demonstrated that increased apparent bone volume fraction (trabecular bone volume per total volume; BV/TV) in the peri-articular proximal medial tibia is associated with joint space narrowing and the presence of bone marrow lesions. However, despite evidence of construct validity, MR-based apparent BV/TV has not yet been cross-validated in the proximal medial tibia by comparison with a gold standard (e.g.

Gross anatomical study of the nerve supply of genitourinary structures in female mongrel hound dogs.

Anatomical variations in lumbosacral plexus or nerves to genitourinary structures in dogs are under described, despite their importance during surgery and potential contributions to neuromuscular syndromes. Gross dissection of 16 female mongrel hound dogs showed frequent variations in lumbosacral plexus classification, sympathetic ganglia, ventral rami input to nerves innervating genitourinary structures and pudendal nerve (PdN) branching. Lumbosacral plexus classification types were mixed, rather than pure, in 13 (82%) of dogs.

Sorafenib cardiotoxicity increases mortality after myocardial infarction.

Rationale: Sorafenib is an effective treatment for renal cell carcinoma, but recent clinical reports have documented its cardiotoxicity through an unknown mechanism.

Objective: Determining the mechanism of sorafenib-mediated cardiotoxicity.

Methods And Results: Mice treated with sorafenib or vehicle for 3 weeks underwent induced myocardial infarction (MI) after 1 week of treatment.

Bone loss from high repetitive high force loading is prevented by ibuprofen treatment.

We examined roles of loading and inflammation on forearm bones in a rat model of upper extremity overuse. Trabecular structure in distal radius and ulna was examined in three groups of young adult rats: 1) 5% food-restricted that underwent an initial training period of 10 min/day for 5 weeks to learn the repetitive task (TRHF); 2) rats that underwent the same training before performing a high repetition high force task, 2 hours/day for 12 weeks (HRHF); and 3) food-restricted only (FRC). Subsets were treated with oral ibuprofen (IBU).

Loss of Cbl-PI3K interaction enhances osteoclast survival due to p21-Ras mediated PI3K activation independent of Cbl-b.

Cbl family proteins, Cbl and Cbl-b, are E3 ubiquitin ligases and adaptor proteins, which play important roles in bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Loss of Cbl in mice decreases osteoclast migration, resulting in delayed bone development where as absence of Cbl-b decreases bone volume due to hyper-resorptive osteoclasts. A major structural difference between Cbl and Cbl-b is tyrosine 737 (in YEAM motif) only on Cbl, which upon phosphorylation interacts with the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase (PI3K).

Decision-making under risk is improved by both dopaminergic medication and subthalamic stimulation in Parkinson's disease.

Inconsistent findings regarding the effects of dopaminergic medication (MED) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) on decision making processes and impulsivity in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have been reported. This study investigated the influence of MED and STN-DBS on decision-making under risk. Eighteen non-demented PD patients, treated with both MED and STN-DBS (64.

Individualized current-shaping reduces DBS-induced dysarthria in patients with essential tremor.

Objective: To investigate in patients with essential tremor (ET) treated with thalamic/subthalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) whether stimulation-induced dysarthria (SID) can be diminished by individualized current-shaping with interleaving stimulation (cs-ILS) while maintaining tremor suppression (TS).

Methods: Of 26 patients screened, 10 reported SID and were invited for testing. TS was assessed by the Tremor Rating Scale and kinematic analysis of postural and action tremor.