Cervical spine considerations in Goldenhar syndrome: a clinical perspective.

Background: Goldenhar syndrome is a clinically heterogeneous disorder defined by a rare combination of congenital anomalies-an eye abnormality, in addition to two of the following three: ear anomalies, mandibular malformations, and vertebral defects. Notably, children with Goldenhar syndrome present with a high incidence of cervical spine malformations.

Clinical Case: In this report, we present an unusual case of a 15-year-old child with Goldenhar syndrome, who additionally presents with some clinical features of VACTERL syndrome.

The early-onset Alzheimer's disease MRI signature: a replication and extension analysis in early-stage AD.

Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) is less investigated than the more common late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) despite its more aggressive course. A cortical signature of EOAD was recently proposed and may facilitate EOAD investigation. Here, we aimed to validate this proposed MRI biomarker of EOAD neurodegeneration in an Appalachian clinical cohort.

Differential learning kinetics govern the transition from memorization to generalization during in-context learning.

Transformers exhibit in-context learning (ICL): the ability to use novel information presented in the context without additional weight updates. Recent work shows that ICL emerges when models are trained on a sufficiently diverse set of tasks and the transition from memorization to generalization is sharp with increasing task diversity. One interpretation is that a network's limited capacity to memorize favors generalization.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category-selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection.

The topographic organization of category-selective responses in human ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOTC) and its relationship to regions subserving language functions is remarkably uniform across individuals. This arrangement is thought to result from the clustering of neurons responding to similar inputs, constrained by intrinsic architecture and tuned by experience. We examined the malleability of this organization in individuals with unilateral resection of VOTC during childhood for the management of drug-resistant epilepsy.

Space- and object-based attention in patients with a single hemisphere following childhood resection.

The neural processes underlying attentional processing are typically lateralized in adults, with spatial attention associated with the right hemisphere (RH) and object-based attention with the left hemisphere (LH). Using a modified two-rectangle attention paradigm, we compared the lateralization profiles of individuals with childhood hemispherectomy (either LH or RH) and age-matched, typically developing controls. Although patients exhibited slower reaction times (RTs) compared to controls, both groups benefited from valid attentional cueing.

In Search of Transcriptomic Correlates of Neuronal Firing-Rate Adaptation across Subtypes, Regions and Species: A Patch-seq Analysis.

Can the transcriptomic profile of a neuron predict its physiological properties? Using a Patch-seq dataset of the primary visual cortex, we addressed this question by focusing on spike rate adaptation (SRA), a well-known phenomenon that depends on small conductance calcium (Ca)-dependent potassium (SK) channels. We first show that in parvalbumin-expressing (PV) and somatostatin-expressing (SST) interneurons (INs), expression levels of genes encoding the ion channels underlying action potential generation are correlated with the half-width (HW) of spikes. Surprisingly, the SK encoding gene is not correlated with the degree of SRA (dAdap).

Phase II trial of blood-brain barrier permeable peptide-paclitaxel conjugate ANG1005 in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma.

Background: This study is a phase II clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeable peptide-paclitaxel conjugate ANG1005 in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG) (NCT01967810).

Methods: Seventy-three patients were enrolled in 3 separate arms-recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) (Arm 1), bevacizumab refractory GBM (Arm 2), and grade 3 anaplastic gliomas (AGs) (Arm 3). The study was started in October 2013, and the data were locked on September 29, 2017.

A novel method for quantitative analysis of subjective experience reports: application to psychedelic visual experiences.

Introduction: Psychedelic compounds such as LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and DMT can dramatically alter visual perception. However, the extent to which visual effects of psychedelics consistently vary for different substances is an open question. The visual effects of a given psychedelic compound can range widely both across and within individuals, so datasets with large numbers of participants and descriptions of qualitative effects are required to adequately address this question with the necessary sensitivity.

The "FitBrain" program: implementing exergaming & dual-task exercise programs in outpatient clinical settings.

Dual-task training and exergaming interventions are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance cognitive, physical, and mood outcomes among older adults and individuals with neurological conditions. Despite this, clinical and community programs that use these interventions are limited in availability. This paper presents the "FitBrain" program, an outpatient clinical model that combines dual-task and exergaming interventions to promote cognitive and physical health.

Overview of Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and future clinical trials.

The overall goal of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is to optimize and validate biomarkers for clinical trials while sharing all data and biofluid samples with the global scientific community. ADNI has been instrumental in standardizing and validating amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. ADNI data were used for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Fujirebio and Roche Elecsys cerebrospinal fluid diagnostic tests.

Perineuronal Nets in Syrian Hamsters: Anatomical Localization, Sex Differences, Diurnal Variation, and Response to Social Stress.

Purpose: Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular matrix proteoglycans surrounding neurons and glia. It has been suggested that PNNs are involved in the pathophysiology of multiple CNS illnesses, including stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders.

Method: Before examining the putative role of PNNs in stress-related responses, we described for the first time the anatomical distribution in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), an excellent model organism for studying social stress and circadian rhythms.

The Association of Bone Mineral Density with Distal Junctional Kyphosis and Distal Junctional Failure After Multilevel Spine Fusions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) and distal junctional failure (DJF) are known complications of adult multilevel spinal fusion surgery. Previous literature has extensively investigated proximal junctional kyphosis and proximal junctional failure, but DJK and DJF are relatively understudied. This study investigates the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and DJK/DJF via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Infant mice fed soy-based formulas exhibit alterations in anxiety-like behaviours and the 5-HT system.

Genistein (GEN) is a phytoestrogen with oestrogen-like activity found in many plants. Classified as an endocrine disruptor, GEN is potentially hazardous, particularly during developmental stages. It induces alterations in anxious behaviour, fertility, and energy metabolism, alongside modifications in specific brain circuits.

Cost-Effectiveness Analyses of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (rhBMP-2) in Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic Review Study.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of rhBMP-2 in spine surgeries.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, OVID and CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) databases were systematically searched for studies reporting the use of rhBMP-2 for spinal procedures in comparison to autograft and/or allograft and alternative graft materials under consideration of cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost minimization, and/or cost-utility analysis.

Genetic susceptibility of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a meta genome-wide association study in Asian population.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive malignancy and the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that occurs worldwide. To discover risk factors and pathogenesis of DLBCL, we performed the largest GWAS of DLBCL to date in samples of East Asian ancestry, consisting of 2,888 patients with DLBCL and 12,458 controls. The meta-analysis identified three novel loci, rs2233434 on 6p21.

Natural history of dolichoectatic vertebrobasilar aneurysms: a multinational study.

Objective: Dolichoectatic vertebrobasilar aneurysms (DVBAs) are expansions of arterial tissue leading to aneurysmal formations without an obvious neck. Their natural history is poorly understood; usually patients are admitted with thromboembolic complications and/or neurological symptoms from the mass effect. There have not been international collective data, and correct timing for highly risky treatments has been under discussion.

Neuronal Regulation of Feeding and Energy Metabolism: A Focus on the Hypothalamus and Brainstem.

In the face of constantly changing environments, the central nervous system (CNS) rapidly and accurately calculates the body's needs, regulates feeding behavior, and maintains energy homeostasis. The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) plays a key role in this process, serving as a critical brain region for detecting nutrition-related hormones and regulating appetite and energy homeostasis. Agouti-related protein (AgRP)/neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons in the ARC are core elements that interact with other brain regions through a complex appetite-regulating network to comprehensively control energy homeostasis.

Improving localization and measurements of M-waves using high-density surface electromyography.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is useful for studying muscle function and controlling prosthetics, but cross talk from nearby muscles often limits its effectiveness. High-density surface EMG (HD-sEMG) improves spatial resolution, allowing for the isolation of M-waves in the densely packed forearm muscles. This study assessed HD-sEMG for localizing M-waves and evaluated the impact of spatial filters on cross talk reduction.

Proximal median nerve neuropathy: electrodiagnostic and ultrasound findings in 62 patients.

Objectives: Proximal median nerve (PMN) neuropathies are caused by lesions proximal to the carpal tunnel, which include the forearm, elbow, upper arm, and brachial plexus. Differentiating between carpal tunnel syndrome and PMN neuropathies is important to guide management and is based on clinical, electrodiagnostic (EDX), and ultrasound (US) findings. This study describes the clinical, EDX, and US features in 62 patients with PMNs.