Bearded capuchin monkey as a model for Alzheimer's disease research.

The absence of a natural animal model is one of the main challenges in Alzheimer's disease research. Despite the challenges of using non-human primates in studies, they can bridge mouse models and humans, as non-human primates are phylogenetically close to humans and can spontaneously develop AD-type pathology. The capuchin monkey, a New World primate, has recently attracted attention due to its skill in creating and using instruments.

Lower Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Glutamate Levels in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Recent studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) indicate that patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) present abnormal levels of glutamate (Glu) and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the frontal and striatal regions of the brain. These abnormalities could be related to the hyperactivation observed in cortico-striatal circuits of patients with OCD. However, most of the previous H-MRS studies were not capable of differentiating the signal from metabolites that overlap in the spectrum, such as Glu and glutamine (Gln), and referred to the detected signal as the composite measure-Glx (sum of Glu and Gln).

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as a Non-invasive Method to Quantify Muscle Carnosine in Humans: a Comprehensive Validity Assessment.

Carnosine is a dipeptide abundantly found in human skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and neuronal cells having numerous properties that confers performance enhancing effects, as well as a wide-range of potential therapeutic applications. A reliable and valid method for tissue carnosine quantification is crucial for advancing the knowledge on biological processes involved with carnosine metabolism. In this regard, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has been used as a non-invasive alternative to quantify carnosine in human skeletal muscle.

Does brain creatine content rely on exogenous creatine in healthy youth? A proof-of-principle study.

It has been hypothesized that dietary creatine could influence cognitive performance by increasing brain creatine in developing individuals. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, proof-of-principle study aimed to investigate the effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function and brain creatine content in healthy youth. The sample comprised 67 healthy participants aged 10 to 12 years.

Increased Brain Lactate During Depressive Episodes and Reversal Effects by Lithium Monotherapy in Drug-Naive Bipolar Disorder: A 3-T 1H-MRS Study.

Objective: Mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism impairment are key components in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) and may involve a shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. Measurement of brain lactate in vivo using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) represents an important tool to evaluate mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction during mood episodes, as well as to monitor treatment response. To date, very few studies have quantified brain lactate in BD.

Extratemporal abnormalities in phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy of patients with mesial temporal sclerosis.

Objective: We evaluated extratemporal metabolic changes with phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) in patients with unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS).

Method: 31P-MRS of 33 patients with unilateral MTS was compared with 31 controls. The voxels were selected in the anterior, posterior insula-basal ganglia (AIBG, PIBG) and frontal lobes (FL).

Age-effects in white matter using associated diffusion tensor imaging and magnetization transfer ratio during late childhood and early adolescence.

In the last decade, several studies have described the typical brain white matter maturation in children and adolescents. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is the most frequent MRI technique used to investigate the structural changes across development. However, few previous studies have used the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), which gives a closer measure of myelin content.

Anterior cingulate Glutamate-Glutamine cycle metabolites are altered in euthymic bipolar I disorder.

Bipolar disorder (BD) has been consistently associated with abnormalities in the Glutamate/GABA-Glutamine cycle. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies have reported increased brain Glutamate (Glu) and Glx (Glu+Glutamine) in subjects with BD. However, data on separate measures of GABA and Glutamine (Gln) in BD are sparse due to overlapping resonant signals.

A Longitudinal (6-week) 3T (1)H-MRS Study on the Effects of Lithium Treatment on Anterior Cingulate Cortex Metabolites in Bipolar Depression.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a key area in mood regulation. To date, no longitudinal study has specifically evaluated lithium׳s effects on ACC metabolites using (1)H-MRS, as well as its association with clinical improvement in bipolar depression. This (1)H-MRS (TE=35ms) study evaluated 24 drug-free BD patients during depressive episodes and after lithium treatment at therapeutic levels.

Analysis of the posterior cingulate cortex with [18F]FDG-PET and Naa/mI in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: Correlations and differences between the two methods.

Unlabelled: Reduction of regional brain glucose metabolism (rBGM) measured by [18F]FDG-PET in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) has been associated with a higher conversion rate from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is a potential biomarker that has disclosed Naa/mI reductions within the PCC in both MCI and AD. Studies investigating the relationships between the two modalities are scarce.

DTI-based tractography of the arcuate fasciculus in patients with polymicrogyria and language disorders.

Objectives: To assess the integrity of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography in patients with congenital polymicrogyria (PMG) and language disorders.

Methods: Twelve patients with PMG and 12 matched controls were prospectively evaluated with DTI (32 gradient encoding directions, b-value=1000 s/mm(2)) at 3.0T.

Efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation in juvenile dermatomyositis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Introduction: It has been suggested that creatine supplementation is safe and effective for treating idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, but no pediatric study has been conducted to date. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) patients.

Methods: In this study, JDM patients received placebo or creatine supplementation (0.

Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on brain homocarnosine/carnosine signal and cognitive function: an exploratory study.

Objectives: Two independent studies were conducted to examine the effects of 28 d of beta-alanine supplementation at 6.4 g d(-1) on brain homocarnosine/carnosine signal in omnivores and vegetarians (Study 1) and on cognitive function before and after exercise in trained cyclists (Study 2).

Methods: In Study 1, seven healthy vegetarians (3 women and 4 men) and seven age- and sex-matched omnivores undertook a brain 1H-MRS exam at baseline and after beta-alanine supplementation.

Bimodal effect of lithium plasma levels on hippocampal glutamate concentrations in bipolar II depression: a pilot study.

Background: The hippocampus has been highly implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Nevertheless, no study has longitudinally evaluated hippocampal metabolite levels in bipolar depression under treatment with lithium.

Methods: Nineteen medication-free BD patients (78.

Diffusion abnormalities of the corpus callosum in patients with malformations of cortical development and epilepsy.

Purpose: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that can characterize white matter (WM) architecture and microstructure. DTI has demonstrated extensive WM changes in patients with several epileptic syndromes, but few studies have focused on patients with malformations of cortical development (MCD). Our aim was to investigate the quantitative diffusion properties of the corpus callosum (CC), a major commissural bundle critical in inter-hemispheric connectivity, in a large group of patients with MCD.

Assessment of irradiated brain metastases using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) on cerebral metastases using the transfer constant (K trans) assessed by dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the ability of K trans measurements to predict midterm tumor outcomes after SRS.

Methods: The study received institutional review board approval, and informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

Widespread pH abnormalities in patients with malformations of cortical development and epilepsy: a phosphorus-31 brain MR spectroscopy study.

Introduction: Neuroimaging studies demonstrate that not only the lesions of malformations of cortical development (MCD) but also the normal-appearing parenchyma (NAP) present metabolic impairments, as revealed with (1)H-MRS. We have previously detected biochemical disturbances in MCD lesions with phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS). Our hypothesis is that pH abnormalities extend beyond the visible lesions.

Proton magnetic spectroscopy agreed better with magnetic resonance image to lateralization of epileptogenic zone than with surface electroencephalography.

Objective: To analyze the agreement rate of proton magnetic spectroscopy with magnetic resonance image (MRI) and surface electroencephalography (EEG) in extratemporal neocortical epilepsies.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, type series of cases included 33 patients, age range 13-59 years old, of both gender, presenting structural alteration identified by MRI (75.8%) or by neurophysiologic techniques (72.

Segmented corpus callosum diffusivity correlates with the Expanded Disability Status Scale score in the early stages of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the microscopic damage to the corpus callosum in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with diffusion tensor imaging and to investigate the correlation of this damage with disability. The diffusion tensor imaging parameters of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity provide information about the integrity of cell membranes, offering two more specific indices, namely the axial and radial diffusivities, which are useful for discriminating axon loss from demyelination.

Method: Brain magnetic resonance imaging exams of 30 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were acquired in a 3T scanner.

Monitoring long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury with magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a pilot study.

This pilot study explores the metabolic changes associated with persistent postconcussion syndrome (PCS) after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI; >12 months after injury) using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We hypothesized that those mTBI participants with PCS will have larger metabolic differences than those without. Data were collected from mTBI participants with PCS, mTBI participants without PCS and non-head-injured participants (all groups: n=8).

The impact of limbic system morphology on facial emotion recognition in bipolar I disorder and healthy controls.

Introduction: Impairments in facial emotion recognition (FER) have been reported in bipolar disorder (BD) subjects during all mood states. This study aims to investigate the impact of limbic system morphology on FER scores in BD subjects and healthy controls.

Material And Methods: Thirty-nine euthymic BD I (type I) subjects and 40 healthy controls were subjected to a battery of FER tests and examined with 3D structural imaging of the amygdala and hippocampus.

Creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia patients.

Methods: A 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial was conducted. Fibromyalgia patients were randomly assigned to receive either creatine monohydrate or placebo in a double-blind manner.

Bcl-2 rs956572 polymorphism is associated with increased anterior cingulate cortical glutamate in euthymic bipolar I disorder.

B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) is an important regulator of cellular plasticity and resilience. In bipolar disorder (BD), studies have shown a key role for a Bcl-2 gene single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs956572 in the regulation of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) dynamics, Bcl-2 expression/levels, and vulnerability to cellular apoptosis. At the same time, Bcl-2 decreases glutamate (Glu) toxicity in neural cells.