Electroencephalographic power ratio and peak frequency difference associate with central sensitization in chronic pain.

Central sensitization, or increased responsiveness of the central nervous system to sensory input, is present in many chronic pain patients. Clinically, it is detected through subjective, patient-reported measures. There is a need for reliable, direct measurements of neural response to controlled stimuli to quantify neuronal dysfunction in pain.

Selective ion transport through hydrated micropores in polymer membranes.

Ion-conducting polymer membranes are essential in many separation processes and electrochemical devices, including electrodialysis, redox flow batteries, fuel cells and electrolysers. Controlling ion transport and selectivity in these membranes largely hinges on the manipulation of pore size. Although membrane pore structures can be designed in the dry state, they are redefined upon hydration owing to swelling in electrolyte solutions.

An Unusual Case of Contralateral Hypoglossal and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsies Following Endotracheal Intubation.

We present an unusual case of a 62-year-old male presenting with contralateral hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsies following endotracheal intubation for emergency cardiac surgery. Postoperative, the patient was referred to Speech and Language Therapy due to concerns regarding the safety of his swallow. Oromotor assessment revealed left-sided tongue weakness and aphonia.

Perspectives on factors influencing quality of life in persons with long-term spinal cord injury: a qualitative study.

Study Design: Qualitative Cohort Study.

Objectives: Many people with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI) develop adaptation strategies to succeed. Understanding the factors that support their capacity to adapt and develop is important to enhance quality of life of others with SCI.

Lateral inhibition in V1 controls neural & perceptual contrast sensitivity.

Lateral inhibition is a central principle for sensory system function. It is thought to operate by the activation of inhibitory neurons that restrict the spatial spread of sensory excitation. Much work on the role of inhibition in sensory systems has focused on visual cortex; however, the neurons, computations, and mechanisms underlying cortical lateral inhibition remain debated, and its importance for visual perception remains unknown.

An exploration of burnout and resilience among emergency physicians at three teaching hospitals in the English-speaking Caribbean: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: Burnout is common among doctors working in emergency departments. It has significant consequences and is multifactorial. Self-care and resilience tendencies may contribute to being burnt out, or not.

Incidence, prevalence, and potential risk factors for diabetic foot ulceration: A retrospective review at a multidisciplinary centre in Barbados.

Objective: Diabetes and lower extremity amputation rates in Barbados are among some of the highest globally, with peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease found to be independent risk factors for this population. Despite this, there is currently a lack of research evidence on rates of diabetic foot ulceration, which has amputation as its sequela. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and prevalence rates of active ulceration in a population of people with diabetes in Barbados.

Narrative-focused Group Counseling Improves Intervention Outcomes in Women With Obesity.

Objective: To investigate the effects of narrative group counseling combined with diet modification and exercise plans on weight loss in Iranian women with obesity.

Design: Parallel 2-arm clinical trial.

Participants: Fifty-six Iranian women with obesity (aged 18-50 years).

Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 inhibition attenuates extracellular vesicle release and improves neurobehavioral deficits in murine HIV.

People living with HIV (PLH) have significantly higher rates of cognitive impairment (CI) and major depressive disorder (MDD) versus the general population. The enzyme neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) is involved in the biogenesis of ceramide and extracellular vesicles (EVs), both of which are dysregulated in PLH, CI, and MDD. Here we evaluated EcoHIV-infected mice for behavioral abnormalities relevant to depression and cognition deficits, and assessed the behavioral and biochemical effects of nSMase2 inhibition.

The Role of redo-Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients With Prior Ipsilateral Breast Cancer Surgery.

Background: Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) is used to stage the axilla, but there is limited data in patients with prior ipsilateral breast cancer. This study compares redo-SLNB (reSLNB) and Axillary node sample (ANS) in this sub-cohort of patients.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective study looking at patients with a new ipsilateral primary or recurrence with history of breast-conserving surgery.

Gait and Balance Outcome Measures Are Responsive in Severely Impaired Individuals Undergoing Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation.

Objective: To investigate whether gait and balance outcome measures in patients with severe gait and balance impairments at admission to inpatient rehabilitation provided additional and meaningful information beyond customary measures. Specifically, this study investigated whether individuals who obtained low scores at admission exhibited improvements that exceeded the established minimal detectable change during inpatient rehabilitation. We also investigated whether gait outcomes would capture changes in function not identified by customary measures.

Dendrimer-2PMPA selectively blocks upregulated microglial GCPII activity and improves cognition in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

Cognitive impairment is a common aspect of multiple sclerosis (MS) for which there are no treatments. Reduced brain -acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) levels are linked to impaired cognition in various neurological diseases, including MS. NAAG levels are regulated by glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), which hydrolyzes the neuropeptide to -acetyl-aspartate and glutamate.

Harnessing physicochemical properties of virus capsids for designing enzyme confined nanocompartments.

Viruses have drawn significant scientific interest from a wide variety of disciplines beyond virology because of their elegant architectures and delicately balanced activities. A virus-like particle (VLP), a noninfectious protein cage derived from viruses or other cage-forming proteins, has been exploited as a nano-scale platform for bioinspired engineering and synthetic manipulation with a range of applications. Encapsulation of functional proteins, especially enzymes, is an emerging use of VLPs that is promising not only for developing efficient and robust catalytic materials, but also for providing fundamental insights into the effects of enzyme compartmentalization commonly observed in cells.

Laryngeal Sarcoidosis and Swallowing: What Do We Know About Dysphagia Assessment and Management in this Population?

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology and laryngeal involvement is seen in a small percentage of cases. Dysphagia is a common but under-reported symptom. Little is known about how dysphagia typically presents or is managed in the context of this fluctuating disease.

A Prospective Study of Voice, Swallow, and Airway Outcomes Following Tracheostomy for COVID-19.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented demands on healthcare with many requiring intubation. Tracheostomy insertion has often been delayed and the enduring effects of this on voice, swallow, and airway outcomes in COVID-19 tracheostomy patients are unknown. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess these outcomes in this patient cohort following hospital discharge.

Applying the Knowledge-to-Action Framework to Implement Gait and Balance Assessments in Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation.

Objectives: The overall objectives of this project were to implement and sustain use of a gait assessment battery (GAB) that included the Berg Balance Scale, 10-meter walk test, and 6-minute walk test during inpatient stroke rehabilitation. The study objective was to assess the effect of the study intervention on clinician adherence to the recommendations and its effect on clinician perceptions and the organization.

Design: Pre- and post-training intervention study.

Stepwise Regression and Latent Profile Analyses of Locomotor Outcomes Poststroke.

Background And Purpose: Previous data suggest patient demographics and clinical presentation are primary predictors of motor recovery poststroke, with minimal contributions of physical interventions. Other studies indicate consistent associations between the amount and intensity of stepping practice with locomotor outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine the relative contributions of these combined variables to locomotor outcomes poststroke across a range of patient demographics and baseline function.

Planning and Analysis of Axon Degeneration Screening Experiments.

A network of intersecting molecular pathways interacts to initiate and execute axon destruction. Maximum protection against axon degeneration likely requires more than manipulation of a single target. Here, we describe the process of designing a high-throughput arrayed screening assay for the identification of key factors responsible for axon destruction and/or protection.

Novel Human Neutral Sphingomyelinase 2 Inhibitors as Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease.

Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) catalyzes the cleavage of sphingomyelin to phosphorylcholine and ceramide, an essential step in the formation and release of exosomes from cells that is critical for intracellular communication. Chronic increase of brain nSMase2 activity and related exosome release have been implicated in various pathological processes, including the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), making nSMase2 a viable therapeutic target. Recently, we identified phenyl ()-(1-(3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethylimidazo[1,2-]pyridazin-8-yl)pyrrolidin-3-yl)carbamate , the first nSMase2 inhibitor that possesses both favorable pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters, including substantial oral bioavailability, brain penetration, and significant inhibition of exosome release from the brain in vivo.

Glutamine Antagonist JHU083 Normalizes Aberrant Glutamate Production and Cognitive Deficits in the EcoHIV Murine Model of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) have been linked to dysregulation of glutamate metabolism in the central nervous system (CNS) culminating in elevated extracellular glutamate and disrupted glutamatergic neurotransmission. Increased glutamate synthesis via upregulation of glutaminase (GLS) activity in brain immune cells has been identified as one potential source of excess glutamate in HAND. However, direct evidence for this hypothesis in an animal model is lacking, and the viability of GLS as a drug target has not been explored.

Influence of skill and exercise training parameters on locomotor recovery during stroke rehabilitation.

Purpose Of Review: Research findings from the fields of motor learning and exercise physiology suggest specific training parameters that can be manipulated during physical rehabilitation profoundly influence skilled task performance. This review details the rationale for some of these training variables and their application in selected intervention studies focused on improving walking function in patients poststroke.

Recent Findings: Basic and applied studies have shown that the amount, intensity, and variability of specific task practice applied during rehabilitation interventions can affect recovery of walking poststroke.