Therapeutic DBS for OCD Suppresses the Default Mode Network.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) is a circuit-based treatment for severe, refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The therapeutic effects of DBS are hypothesized to be mediated by direct modulation of a distributed cortico-striato-thalmo-cortical network underlying OCD symptoms. However, the exact underlying mechanism by which DBS exerts its therapeutic effects still remains unclear.

Impact of Overall and Specific Dimensions of Schizotypy on Theory of Mind.

Background: Impairments in theory of mind (ToM) are highly prevalent among individuals with schizophrenia, resulting in substantial functional deficits. However, research on impairments in individuals with schizotypy has yielded inconsistent findings, with some studies finding ToM deficits in overall schizotypy, other studies finding ToM deficits in only specific schizotypy dimensions, and yet other studies finding no ToM deficits at all. One potential key factor that may account for this discrepancy is the use of schizotypy measures that do not adequately measure specific schizotypy dimensions.

Boundary Complexity of (Sub-) Cortical Areas Predict Deep Brain Stimulation Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease.

While deep brain stimulation (DBS) remains an effective therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD), sources of variance in patient outcomes are still not fully understood, underscoring a need for better prognostic criteria. Here we leveraged routinely collected T1-weighted (T1-w) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to derive patient-specific measures of brain structure and evaluate their usefulness in predicting changes in PD medications in response to DBS. Preoperative T1-w MRI data from 231 patients with PD were used to extract regional measures of fractal dimension (FD), sensitive to the structural complexities of cortical and subcortical areas.

Decentralizing and task sharing within the primary health system improved access and quality of ANC services in Amhara and Oromia regions: pre-post health facility data.

Background: Improved access to quality antenatal care (ANC) promotes healthy behaviors and early complication management, enhancing maternal and newborn outcomes. The Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment for Maternal and Child Health (ENAT) intervention in Ethiopia aimed to increase newborn birth weight by improving ANC utilization and quality. ENAT task shared and decentralized ANC services to facilitate early contact and point of care (POC) testing and management of maternal infections and anemia.