Epigenetic regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor: implications in neurodevelopment and behavior.

Several recent research findings have implicated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a mediator of neuronal plasticity. The BDNF gene is under extensive epigenetic regulation, which modulates how much or how little environmental experiences become encoded within neurons and neural circuits. Future scientific progress within the postgenomic paradigm requires elucidation of the functional trajectory in neogenetic and environment interactions.

Effectiveness of the SLICE program for youth concussion education.

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of the Sports Legacy Institute Community Educators (SLICE) curriculum for student-athletes on recognition and appropriate responses to concussions.

Design: Prospective cohort study, level II.

Setting: The SLICE concussion workshop.

Familial Chiari malformation: case series.

Chiari malformations (Types I-IV) are abnormalities of the posterior fossa that affect the cerebellum, brainstem, and the spinal cord with prevalence rates of 0.1%-0.5%.

Time-resolved contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in the investigation of suspected intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula.

Cerebral angiography is widely regarded as the gold standard for the evaluation and diagnosis of neurovascular abnormalities. However, recent improvements in the spatial and temporal resolution of time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) offer clinicians a non-invasive alternative to cerebral angiography. We explored the utility of this technique in an elderly female patient with a suspected intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF).

Medicine on the fringe: stem cell-based interventions in advance of evidence.

Stem cell-based interventions (SCBIs) offer great promise; however, there is currently little internationally accepted, scientific evidence supporting the clinical use of SCBIs. The consensus within the scientific community is that a number of hurdles still need to be cleared. Despite this, SCBIs are currently being offered to patients.