Association between magnetic resonance imaging use and recovery time following concussion: a CARE consortium study.

Researchers may implement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate neurophysiological metrics (e.g. connectivity) in athletes with sports-related concussion (SRC).

Improving efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of Parkinson disease gait disorders.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor and cognitive deficits, presenting complex challenges for therapeutic interventions. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a type of neuromodulation that can produce plastic changes in neural activity. rTMS has been trialed as a therapy to treat motor and non-motor symptoms in persons with Parkinson disease (PwP), particularly treatment-refractory postural instability and gait difficulties such as Freezing of Gait (FoG), but clinical outcomes have been variable.

Age and visual cortex inhibition: a TMS-MRS study.

Paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation is a valuable tool for investigating inhibitory mechanisms in motor cortex. We recently demonstrated its use in measuring cortical inhibition in visual cortex, using an approach in which participants trace the size of phosphenes elicited by stimulation to occipital cortex. Here, we investigate age-related differences in primary visual cortical inhibition and the relationship between primary visual cortical inhibition and local GABA+ in the same region, estimated using magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Repeated spaced cortical paired associative stimulation promotes additive plasticity in the human parietal-motor circuit.

Objective: Repeated spaced sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the human primary motor cortex can lead to dose-dependent increases in motor cortical excitability. However, this has yet to be demonstrated in a defined cortical circuit. We aimed to examine the effects of repeated spaced cortical paired associative stimulation (cPAS) on excitability in the motor cortex.

The behavioral and neural effects of parietal theta burst stimulation on the grasp network are stronger during a grasping task than at rest.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely used in neuroscience and clinical settings to modulate human cortical activity. The effects of TMS on neural activity depend on the excitability of specific neural populations at the time of stimulation. Accordingly, the brain state at the time of stimulation may influence the persistent effects of repetitive TMS on distal brain activity and associated behaviors.

Lateral Prefrontal Stimulation of Active Cortex With Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Affects Subsequent Engagement of the Frontoparietal Network.

Background: A critical unanswered question about therapeutic transcranial magnetic stimulation is what patients should do during treatment to optimize its effectiveness. Here, we address this lack of knowledge in healthy participants, testing the hypotheses that stimulating the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) while participants perform a working memory task will provide stronger effects on subsequent activation, perfusion, connectivity, and performance than stimulating resting dlPFC.

Methods: After a baseline functional magnetic resonance imaging session to localize dlPFC activation and the associated frontoparietal network (FPN) engaged by an n-back task, healthy participants (N = 40, 67.

Tolerability and blinding of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation among older adults at intensities of up to 4 mA per electrode.

Background: Few studies have investigated tolerability, blinding, and double-blinding of High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) at amplitudes above 2 milliamps (mA).

Objective: We examined a) tolerability of HD-tDCS during stimulation sessions and b) blinding and double blinding of participants and study team members.

Methods: Data from a mixed neurologic sample of 292 older adults were pooled from 3046 HD-tDCS sessions (2329 active; 717 sham).

High Intensity Acute Aerobic Exercise Elicits Alterations in Circulating and Skeletal Muscle Tissue Expression of Neuroprotective Exerkines.

Background: Cathepsin B (CTSB) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are increased with aerobic exercise (AE) and skeletal muscle has been identified as a potential source of secretion. However, the intensity of AE and the potential for skeletal muscle contributions to circulating CTSB and BDNF have not been fully studied in humans.

Objective: Determine the effects of AE intensity on circulating and skeletal muscle CTSB and BDNF expression profiles.

Periurethral and Anterior Vaginal Wall Masses: Etiology, Presentation, and Treatment Outcomes.

Objective: To describe the etiology and presenting symptoms of periurethral and anterior vaginal wall masses in a large series of patients in an academic institution.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 126 patients presenting and undergoing treatment for periurethral and anterior vaginal wall masses between November 2001 and July 2021 was completed. Clinicopathologic data were extracted.

Measuring Hand Sensory Function and Force Control in Older Adults: Are Current Hand Assessment Tools Enough?

Background: The ability to grasp and manipulate objects is essential for performing activities of daily living. However, there is limited information regarding age-related behavioral differences in hand sensorimotor function due, in part, to the lack of assessment tools capable of measuring subtle but important differences in hand function. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate performance differences in submaximal force control and tactile pattern recognition in healthy older adults using 2 custom-designed sensorimotor assessment tools.

Impact of radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer on bladder function as demonstrated on urodynamics study: A systematic review.

Introduction: This study aimed to describe the effects of bladder function following radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer by performing a systematic review on studies reporting on urodynamic findings after radiotherapy.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The review protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42021229037).

Evaluation of surgical approaches for vesicovaginal fistulae repair: the case for transvaginal repair as the gold standard.

Introduction And Hypothesis: To highlight the success rates of two approaches of transvaginal vs. transabdominal closures for the vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repair and to investigate the patient, fistula, and surgical factors relevant to surgical characteristics and successful outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 66 consecutive patients who underwent VVF repair between 2005 and 2020.

Interhemispheric interactions between the right angular gyrus and the left motor cortex: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

The interconnection of the angular gyrus of right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and the left motor cortex (LM1) is essential for goal-directed hand movements. Previous work with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) showed that right PPC stimulation increases LM1 excitability, but right PPC followed by left PPC-LM1 stimulation (LPPC-LM1) inhibits LM1 corticospinal output compared with LPPC-LM1 alone. It is not clear if right PPC-mediated inhibition of LPPC-LM1 is due to inhibition of left PPC or to combined effects of right and left PPC stimulation on LM1 excitability.

Reduced Facilitation of Parietal-Motor Functional Connections in Older Adults.

Age-related changes in cortico-cortical connectivity in the human motor network in older adults are associated with declines in hand dexterity. Posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is strongly interconnected with motor areas and plays a critical role in many aspects of motor planning. Functional connectivity measures derived from dual-site transcranial magnetic stimulation (dsTMS) studies have found facilitatory inputs from PPC to ipsilateral primary motor cortex (M1) in younger adults.

Impact of radical prostatectomy on bladder function as demonstrated on urodynamics study-A systematic review.

Aims: This study aims to describe the effects of radical prostatectomy (RP) on bladder function by performing a systematic review of urodynamics study findings before and after RP.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guideline and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020206844). A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase.

Reversal of Visual Feedback Modulates Somatosensory Plasticity.

Reversed visual feedback during unimanual training increases transfer of skills to the opposite untrained hand and modulates plasticity in motor areas of the brain. However, it is unclear if unimanual training with reversed visual feedback also affects somatosensory areas. Here we manipulated visual input during unimanual training using left-right optical reversing spectacles and tested whether unimanual training with reversed vision modulates somatosensory cortical excitability to facilitate motor performance.

Baseline patient reported outcomes data shows high prevalence of overactive bladder, sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety in Canadian men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer.

Background: Research on prostate cancer survivorship patients has largely been on oncological outcome, incontinence and erectile dysfunction, with less data on the relationship between prostate cancer, bladder function and mental health. This study aims to elucidate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), overactive bladder (OAB), sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety in Canadian men with newly diagnosed localised prostate cancer.

Methods: This is a single-centre prospective cross-sectional study of men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer recruited from June 2017 to July 2018.

Incidence and predictors of early and late hospital readmission after transurethral resection of the prostate: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence and predictors of hospital readmission and emergency department (ED) visits in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia treated by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a linked administrative dataset from Calgary, Canada. Participants were men who underwent their first TURP procedure between 2015 and 2017.

Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Understanding interactions between brain areas is important for the study of goal-directed behavior. Functional neuroimaging of brain connectivity has provided important insights into fundamental processes of the brain like cognition, learning, and motor control. However, this approach cannot provide causal evidence for the involvement of brain areas of interest.

A Comparative Analysis of Physiotherapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence after Open or Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

We determined whether the patient-reported benefits of physiotherapy for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms differ significantly between men who have had open prostatectomy and those who have had robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data collected from the Rapid Access Clinic 4 offered by the Prostate Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta. Baseline characteristics were measured at the pre-surgery appointment, including demographics, health factors, and potential risk factors for SUI.

Evaluating the measurement properties of the 26-item Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC-26) with a multicenter cohort.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the 26-item Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC-26) for measuring the quality of life in patients treated for localized prostate cancer. The EPIC-26 is a patient-reported outcome instrument recommended for use with patients treated for localized prostate cancer.

Methods: This study is based on data collected prospectively between September 2014 and February 2017 in Alberta, Canada.