Contributions of Cerebro-Cerebellar Default Mode Connectivity Patterns to Memory Performance in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: The cerebral default mode network (DMN) can be mapped onto specific regions in the cerebellum, which are specifically vulnerable to atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

Objective: We set out to determine whether there are specific differences in the interaction between the cerebral and cerebellar DMN in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients compared to healthy controls using resting-state functional MRI and whether these differences are relevant for memory performance.

Methods: Eighteen patients with aMCI were age and education-matched to eighteen older adults and underwent 3T MR-imaging.

Measuring resilience prospectively as the speed of affect recovery in daily life: a complex systems perspective on mental health.

Introduction: There is growing evidence that mental disorders behave like complex dynamic systems. Complex dynamic systems theory states that a slower recovery from small perturbations indicates a loss of resilience of a system. This study is the first to test whether the speed of recovery of affect states from small daily life perturbations predicts changes in psychopathological symptoms over 1 year in a group of adolescents at increased risk for mental disorders.

Differences Between Self-Reported Psychotic Experiences, Clinically Relevant Psychotic Experiences, and Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms in the General Population.

Psychotic experiences in childhood (such as hearing voices or being suspicious) represent an important phenotype for early intervention. However, these experiences can be defined in several ways: self-reported psychotic experiences (SRPE) rely exclusively on the child's report, clinically validated psychotic experiences (CRPE) are based on clinical assessment, and attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) represents a categorization to do with clinical relevance in relation to severity. Very few studies have investigated how these distinctions impact clinical and other domains.

Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation in Experimental Painful Diabetic Polyneuropathy: Delayed Wash-Out of Pain Relief After Low-Frequency (1Hz) Stimulation.

Objective: Up until now there is little data about the pain relieving effect of different frequency settings in DRGS. The aim of this study was to compare the pain relieving effect of DRGS at low-, mid-, and high-frequencies and Sham-DRGS in an animal model of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDPN).

Material And Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in 8-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24; glucose ≥15 mmol/L: n = 20; mechanical hypersensitivity: n = 15).

Mechanism of dorsal root ganglion stimulation for pain relief in painful diabetic polyneuropathy is not dependent on GABA release in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

Aims: It is hypothesized that dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS), sharing some of the mechanisms of traditional spinal cord stimulation (SCS) of the dorsal columns, induces γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release from interneurons in the spinal dorsal horn.

Methods: We used quantitative immunohistochemical analysis in order to investigate the effect of DRGS on intensity of intracellular GABA-staining levels in the L4-L6 spinal dorsal horn of painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDPN) animals. To establish the maximal pain relieving effect, we tested for mechanical hypersensitivity to von Frey filaments and animals received 30 minutes of DRGS at day 3 after implantation of the electrode.

Cognitive Reserve Capacity: Exploring and Validating a Theoretical Model in Healthy Ageing.

Objective: Cognitive reserve (CR) capacity can be viewed as the maximum processing potential of neural systems that support adaptive cognitive performance in age-related cognitive decline. CR is a complex construct that can only be measured indirectly. Proxy measures (e.

Systemic multipotent adult progenitor cells improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes after preterm hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

There is an urgent need for therapies that could reduce the disease burden of preterm hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Here, we evaluate the long-term effects of multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPC) on long-term behavioral outcomes in a preterm rat model of perinatal asphyxia. Rats of both sexes were treated with two doses of MAPCs within 24 h after the insult.

Low prevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in human epithelial thymic tumors.

Background: The etiology of thymic epithelial tumors is unknown. Murine polyomavirus strain PTA has been shown to induce thymomas in mice. Recently, using diverse molecular techniques, we reported the presence of human polyomavirus 7 (HPyV7) in thymic epithelial tumors.

The Value of Ambulatory Urodynamics in the Evaluation of Treatment Effect of Sacral Neuromodulation.

Objectives: To assess the improvement of symptoms by sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in an objective way by carrying out an ambulatory urodynamic study (ambulatory-UDS). Until now, successful treatment has been defined as a ≥50% improvement recorded on voiding diaries. Voiding diaries are a patient reported outcome tool.

Effectiveness of dorsal root ganglion stimulation and dorsal column spinal cord stimulation in a model of experimental painful diabetic polyneuropathy.

Aims: Conventional dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) is known to achieve better pain-paresthesia overlap of difficult-to-reach areas like the feet compared to dorsal column spinal cord stimulation (SCS). As in painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDPN) pain is mostly present in the feet, we hypothesized that DRGS is more effective in relieving pain in PDPN when compared to SCS.

Methods: Diabetes was induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats with an intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ; n = 48).

Perinatal insults and neurodevelopmental disorders may impact Huntington's disease age of diagnosis.

Introduction: The age of diagnosis of Huntington's disease (HD) varies among individuals with the same HTT CAG-repeat expansion size. We investigated whether early-life events, like perinatal insults or neurodevelopmental disorders, influence the diagnosis age.

Methods: We used data from 13,856 participants from REGISTRY and Enroll-HD, two large international multicenter observational studies.

Visual associations to retrieve episodic memory across healthy elderly, mild cognitive impairment, and patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Episodic memory tests need to determine the degree to which patients with moderate to severe memory deficits can still benefit from retrieval support. Especially in the case of Alzheimer's disease (AD), this may support health care to be more closely aligned with patients' memory capacities. We investigated whether the different measures of episodic memory of the Visual Association Test-Extended (VAT-E) can provide a more detailed and informative assessment on memory disturbances across a broad range of cognitive decline, from normal to severe impairment as seen in AD, by examining differences in floor effects.

Neuronal activity in the sagittalis nucleus of the hypothalamus after ovarian steroid hormone manipulation and sexual behavior in female rat.

During extended observation of estrogen receptor (ER) α-immunoreactive neurons in the hypothalamus, we previously identified a novel nucleus, the Sagittalis Nucleus of the Hypothalamus (SGN), in the interstitial area between the arcuate nucleus and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. The SGN exhibits sexual dimorphism in its volume and cell count, and estrous cycle related variations in ERα-immunoreactivity. These characteristics of the SGN implicate the nucleus in sex-biased brain functions and behaviors.

The association between psychotic experiences and traumatic life events: the role of the intention to harm.

Background: Previous work showed traumatic life events (TLE) with intention to harm, like bullying and abuse, to be more strongly associated with psychotic experiences (PE) than other types of trauma, like accidents. However, this association is subject to reporting bias and can be confounded by demographic characteristics and by differences in dose of exposure across different trauma categories. We studied the association between TLE with and without intention to harm and PE, taking into account potential confounders and biases.

Optimal Lead Positioning in Sacral Neuromodulation: Which Factors Are Related to Treatment Outcome?

Objectives: Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a well-established treatment for overactive bladder (OAB) and non-obstructive urinary retention (NOR). During test stimulation, the lead is positioned along the third sacral nerve, which ideally results in a response in all four contact points (active electrodes). However, it is unclear whether the position of the lead (depth, angle, deflection) and the number of active electrodes is related to the outcome of SNM.

Self-consciousness/awareness and bladder sensations: Comparative study of overactive bladder patients and healthy volunteers.

Objectives: To explore differences in bladder sensations between patients with overactive bladder (OAB) and healthy volunteers by evaluating self-consciousness, self-awareness and affective complaints.

Methods: A prospective, observational study was performed comparing patients with OAB symptoms and healthy volunteers. During 3 days subjects filled out sensation-related bladder diaries (SR-BD), Self-Consciousness Questionnaires (SCS), Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SSAS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Pain threshold, tolerance and intensity in adolescents born very preterm or with low birth weight.

Background: Data on long-term consequences of neonatal pain is limited.

Aim: To assess whether perinatal factors, later pain experience and pain coping strategies are associated with altered pain threshold, pain tolerance and pain intensity in adolescents born preterm.

Study Design: Observational, longitudinal study (Project on Preterm and SGA-infants, POPS-19).

The Visual Association Test-Extended: a cross-sectional study of the performance validity measures.

Objective: Given the hazards of knowledge about performance validity tests (PVTs) being proliferated among the general public, there is a continuous need to develop new PVTs. The purpose of these studies was to validate the newly developed Visual Association Test-Extended (VAT-E).

Method: The VAT-E consists of 24 pairs of line drawings; it is partly based on Green's Word Memory Test (WMT) paradigm.

Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protect the Immature Brain in Rats and Modulate Cell Fate.

The development of a mammalian brain is a complex and long-lasting process. Not surprisingly, preterm birth is the leading cause of death in newborns and children. Advances in perinatal care reduced mortality, but morbidity still represents a major burden.

Pain coping strategies: Neonatal intensive care unit survivors in adolescence.

Background: Data on long-term consequences of preterm birth on pain coping later in life are limited.

Aim: To assess whether gestational age, birth weight and neonatal disease severity have effect on pain coping style in adolescents born preterm or with low birth weight.

Study Design: Observational, longitudinal study (Project On Preterm and SGA-infants, POPS-19).

Update on Prevalence of Pain in Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Context: Cancer pain has a severe impact on quality of life and is associated with numerous psychosocial responses. Recent studies suggest that treatment of cancer pain has improved during the last decade.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to examine the present status of pain prevalence and pain severity in patients with cancer.

Fetal asphyctic preconditioning in rats results in a preserved placental inflammatory phenotype at birth.

Introduction: Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Research has shown that in rats fetal asphyxia (FA) can provoke neuroprotection against a subsequent more severe perinatal asphyctic insult. This is called fetal asphyctic preconditioning (PC).

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells-a key mediator for regeneration after perinatal morbidity?

Perinatal complications in both term- and preterm-born infants are a leading cause of neonatal morbidities and mortality. Infants face different challenges in the neonatal intensive care unit with long-term morbidities such as perinatal brain injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia being particularly devastating. While advances in perinatal medicine have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis, effective therapies to prevent and/or reduce the severity of these disorders are still lacking.

Multipotent adult progenitor cells for hypoxic-ischemic injury in the preterm brain.

Background: Preterm infants are at risk for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. No therapy exists to treat this brain injury and subsequent long-term sequelae. We have previously shown in a well-established pre-clinical model of global hypoxia-ischemia (HI) that mesenchymal stem cells are a promising candidate for the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Expression of pRb and p16INK4 in human thymic epithelial tumors in relation to the presence of human polyomavirus 7.

Background: We have recently reported the presence of the Human polyomavirus 7 (HPyV7) in human thymic epithelial tumors as assessed by diverse molecular techniques. Here we report on the co-expression of p16, retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (phospho-Rb) in human thymic epithelial tumors in relation to HPyV7.

Methods: PRB, phospho-RB and p16 expression was assessed by immuno-histochemistry in 37 thymomas and 2 thymic carcinomas.