Injury-Transplantation Interval-Dependent Amelioration of Axonal Degeneration and Motor Deficit in Rats with Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury.

Penetrating traumatic brain injury (pTBI) is increasingly survivable, but permanently disabling as adult mammalian nervous system does not regenerate. Recently, our group demonstrated transplant location-dependent neuroprotection and safety of clinical trial-grade human neural stem cell (hNSC) transplantation in a rodent model of acute pTBI. To evaluate whether longer injury-transplantation intervals marked by chronic inflammation impede engraftment, 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to three sets.

A hybrid biological neural network model for solving problems in cognitive planning.

A variety of behaviors, like spatial navigation or bodily motion, can be formulated as graph traversal problems through cognitive maps. We present a neural network model which can solve such tasks and is compatible with a broad range of empirical findings about the mammalian neocortex and hippocampus. The neurons and synaptic connections in the model represent structures that can result from self-organization into a cognitive map via Hebbian learning, i.

Feeling committed to a robot: why, what, when and how?

The paper spells out the rationale for developing means of manipulating and of measuring people's sense of commitment to robot interaction partners. A sense of commitment may lead people to be patient when a robot is not working smoothly, to remain vigilant when a robot is working so smoothly that a task becomes boring and to increase their willingness to invest effort in teaching a robot. We identify a range of contexts in which a sense of commitment to robot interaction partners may be particularly important.

Enduring Neuroprotective Effect of Subacute Neural Stem Cell Transplantation After Penetrating TBI.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the largest cause of death and disability of persons under 45 years old, worldwide. Independent of the distribution, outcomes such as disability are associated with huge societal costs. The heterogeneity of TBI and its complicated biological response have helped clarify the limitations of current pharmacological approaches to TBI management.

Mozart at play: the limitations of attributing the etiology of genius to tourette syndrome and mental illness.

There has been a persistent attempt to explain Mozart's talent as connected to physical and mental illness. While Mozart's musical compositions and performances were often acclaimed for their "taste," the composer's personal behavior sometimes astonished those who witnessed "blödeln" or wild horseplay, practical joking, and scatological humor. Most recently, Mozart's eccentric behavior has been attributed to Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.

Thyroid hormone receptor repression is linked to type I pneumocyte-associated respiratory distress syndrome.

Although the lung is a defining feature of air-breathing animals, the pathway controlling the formation of type I pneumocytes, the cells that mediate gas exchange, is poorly understood. In contrast, the glucocorticoid receptor and its cognate ligand have long been known to promote type II pneumocyte maturation; prenatal administration of glucocorticoids is commonly used to attenuate the severity of infant respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Here we show that knock-in mutations of the nuclear co-repressor SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors) in C57BL/6 mice (SMRTmRID) produces a previously unidentified respiratory distress syndrome caused by prematurity of the type I pneumocyte.

Peripheral Nerve Society Guideline on processing and evaluation of nerve biopsies.

Nerve biopsy is often the final step in the diagnostic work-up of neuropathies of unknown origin. The aim of this guideline was to prepare an evidence-based guideline on the methods for performing and evaluating nerve biopsy. The panel performed a search of MEDLINE, hand search of bibliographies of the references retrieved, review of the evidence, and reached agreement by consensus.

Targeted ablation of PINCH1 and PINCH2 from murine myocardium results in dilated cardiomyopathy and early postnatal lethality.

Background: PINCH proteins are 5 LIM domain-only adaptor proteins that function as key components of the integrin signaling pathway and play crucial roles in multiple cellular processes. Two PINCH proteins, PINCH1 and PINCH2, have been described in mammals and share high homology. Both PINCH1 and PINCH2 are ubiquitously expressed in most tissues and organs, including myocardium.

Novel expression of PINCH in the central nervous system and its potential as a biomarker for human immunodeficiency virus-associated neurodegeneration.

Particularly interesting cysteine histidine-rich (PINCH) protein functions as a shuttling protein in Schwann cells after peripheral nerve damage, during repair and remodeling, and in maintaining neuronal polarity. However, the presence of PINCH in the human CNS during disease has not been addressed. Because HIV-associated damage to cells of the CNS involves dysregulation of neuronal signaling and white matter damage, we hypothesized that PINCH may play a role in neuropathological processes during the course of HIV infection.

Streptococcus iniae phosphoglucomutase is a virulence factor and a target for vaccine development.

Streptococcus iniae represents a major health and economic problem in fish species worldwide. Random Tn917 mutagenesis and high-throughput screening in a hybrid striped bass (HSB) model of meningoencephalitis identified attenuated S. iniae mutants.

Prostaglandin E2 release evoked by intrathecal dynorphin is dependent on spinal p38 mitogen activated protein kinase.

Spinal dynorphin has been hypothesized to play a pivotal role in spinal sensitization. Although the mechanism of this action is not clear, several lines of evidence suggest that spinal dynorphin-induced hyperalgesia is mediated through an increase in spinal cyclooxygenase products via an enhanced N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor function. Spinal NMDA-evoked prostaglandin release and nociception has been linked to the activation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38).

Spinal blockade of TNF blocks spinal nerve ligation-induced increases in spinal P-p38.

Spinal nerve ligation (SNL) results in a profound long lasting allodynia and increases in phosphorylated p38 in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and spinal cord microglia. We have previously shown that systemic etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist, reduced allodynia by 42% and blocked SNL-induced increases in P-p38 levels in the L5 and L6 DRG, but not in the ipsilateral lumbar spinal cord. The present experiments demonstrated that intrathecal etanercept (100 microg) prevents SNL-induced increased levels of spinal P-p38.

Spinal p38beta isoform mediates tissue injury-induced hyperalgesia and spinal sensitization.

Antagonist studies show that spinal p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase plays a crucial role in spinal sensitization. However, there are two p38 isoforms found in spinal cord and the relative contribution of these two to hyperalgesia is not known. Here we demonstrate that the isoforms are distinctly expressed in spinal dorsal horn: p38alpha in neurons and p38beta in microglia.

Assessment of the neurologic effects of dietary deficiencies of phenylalanine and tyrosine in cats.

Objective: To determine the neurologic effects of reduced intake of phenylalanine and tyrosine in black-haired cats.

Animals: 53 specific pathogen-free black domestic shorthair cats.

Procedure: Cats were fed purified diets containing various concentrations of phenylalanine and tyrosine for < or = 9 months.

Mediation of spontaneous knee osteoarthritis by progressive chondrocyte ATP depletion in Hartley guinea pigs.

Objective: Because articular chondrocytes reside in a hypoxic milieu, anaerobic glycolysis is central in generating ATP to support chondrocyte matrix synthesis and viability, with mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation possibly providing physiologic reserve ATP generation. Nitric oxide (NO) potently suppresses mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Because enhanced cartilage NO generation occurs in osteoarthritis (OA), we systematically tested for mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of OA.

Spinal p38 MAP kinase is necessary for NMDA-induced spinal PGE(2) release and thermal hyperalgesia.

Based on previous work, we hypothesized that activation of spinal NMDA-receptor initiates activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathway, leading to spinal release of prostaglandins and hyperalgesia. Accordingly, we examined the effect of intrathecal SD-282, a selective p38 MAPK inhibitor, on NMDA-induced release of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and thermal hyperalgesia. Inhibition of spinal p38 MAPK attenuated both NMDA-evoked release of PGE(2) and thermal hyperalgesia.

Inherited polyneuropathy in Leonberger dogs: a mixed or intermediate form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?

A spontaneous distal, symmetrical polyneuropathy in related Leonberger dogs with onset between 1 to 9 years of age was characterized clinically, electrophysiologically, histologically, and morphometrically. Exercise intolerance and weakness was associated with a high-steppage pelvic-limb gait, a loss or change in the pitch of the bark, and dyspnea. Neurological examination revealed marked atrophy of the distal limb muscles, depressed spinal and cranial nerve reflexes, and weak or absent movement of the laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles.

Malignant rhabdoid meningioma arising in the setting of preexisting ganglioglioma: a diagnosis supported by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Case report.

A highly malignant brain neoplasm with rhabdoid morphological features emerged in the bed of a subtotally resected ganglioglioma in a 54-year-old retired nuclear submarine officer. A combined application of neuroimaging, immunohistochemical studies, electron microscopy, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to establish the morphological identity of the tumor. The rhabdoid appearance of the tumor cells indicated either an especially malignant variant of rhabdoid meningioma or an atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor with an unusually late onset.

Recurrent Kawasaki disease-like syndrome in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A review of Kawasaki disease (KD)-like syndromes (KDLS) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) raised the question whether vasculitis in children and KDLS in immunocompromised adults might be etiologically related. We describe a 42-year-old white man with AIDS and Kaposi sarcoma who presented with KDLS, which was diagnosed on the basis of clinical criteria for KD. Analysis of a conjunctival tissue sample revealed endothelial cell damage with fibrin deposition and infiltration of immunoglobulin A-secreting plasma cells.

Neurological complications associated with spontaneously occurring feline diabetes mellitus.

In this study, neurological complications associated with spontaneously occurring feline diabetes were comprehensively evaluated. Physical and neurological examinations, electrophysiological assessment, and biochemical and histological analysis of nerve and muscle biopsy specimens were performed in 19 diabetic cats and referenced to similar data from 28 nondiabetic cats without evidence of neuropathy. Compared to nondiabetic cats, diabetic cats exhibited a range of functional, structural, and biochemical defects that, depending on severity, manifested as striking neurological dysfunction.