NEURO

Animal study reveals the formation of amyloid plaques drives brain tissue loss and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. However, lithium, a drug commonly used to treat bipolar disorder, reduces the life-shortening effects of the loss. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2w8GawM

The day following the lockdown of the UK amid the COVID-19 outbreak, 38% of study participants reported significant symptoms of depression, and 36% reported increased levels of anxiety. The day before lockdown, 16% reported depression, and 17% reported feelings of anxiety. The rates of depression and anxiety remained high for a week after the announcement, but not as high as was reported immediately following the lockdown. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3aCK67S

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a group of pathologies affecting small arteries, arterioles, capillaries and small veins in the brain [1]. Neurological findings include cognitive impairment, dysfunction of gait and balance, mood disorders, increased risk of stroke and dementia. Cerebral SVD is driven by a complex mix of environmental and genetic risk factors; both familial and sporadic conditions have been reported [2]. Mutations in the NOTCH3, HTRA1, COL4A1, COL4A2 and TREX1A genes are known to cause the familial forms of SVD [2]. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/39yoKr5

To determine the predictors of unfavorable outcomes in acute minor ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/2xFqTDM

With interest we read the article by Sugimoto et al. about a retrospective study on the “initial deterioration” of 51 patients with myasthenia gravis receiving 750–3000 mg/cycle intravenous methyl-prednisolone (IVMP) [1]. “Initial deterioration” was qualitatively and quantitatively defined, quantitatively as increase of two or more points on the myasthenia gravis activities of daily living (MG-ADL) score [1]. It was concluded that IVMP can be repeated after “initial deterioration” during a first cycle and that IVMP may lead to clinical improvement [1]. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/340tR1T

Increased levels of PHGDH exRNA levels were found in the blood approximately two years before people were clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3bRHPWP

People who use glucocorticoids, a class of steroids used to treat asthma and arthritis, are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WUKcDT

Study reveals how a neuropeptide called Big Dynorphin binds to the acid-sensing ion channel receptor, causing pain signals to be sent around the body. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2QY8EAm

Implementing strong physical distancing measures across Europe to suppress the spread of COVID-19 has averted over 100,000 deaths, a new model finds. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2Rg1W9h

Using neuroimaging and EEG technology to analyze the brains of jazz musicians during improvisation, researchers shed light on which side of the brain controls creativity. Musicians relatively inexperienced at improvisation rely on the right hemisphere for creativity. More experienced improvisational jazz musicians show more activity in the left hemisphere when being creative. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3bHhkTO

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The world of neurodiagnostics got a rude awakening about infectious disease 30 years ago. That was when the largest outbreak of Hepatitis B in history was linked to 6 outpatient EEG clinics . Since then, EEG labs and clinics have adopted more stringent infection control measures. It hasn’t been enough, though. Researchers have continued to find contamination. The most recent example includes two papers by Albert et al., published in 2018 and 2019 , that found 25 percent of cleaned, reusable EEG cup electrodes and lead wires had bacterial growth. And no two labs followed the same cleaning process. “That was really alarming, because you would think that 30 years later we would be in a better position,” says Anna M. Bonner. Bonner is a neurodiagnostic technologist and author of “ Infection Prevention: 2020 Review and Update for Neurodiagnostic Technologists ,” published in the Neurodiagnostic Journal. This is the fifth iteration of infection control guidelines provided by ASET-The N

One of the key goals of marketing your neurology or PM&R practice is to become known as a likable expert in your community. One of the best ways to achieve this is by becoming a media expert that news outlets can turn to when they need subject-matter expertise for a story. It may seem as if Dr. Oz and that ilk have that role locked up, but it isn’t quite as difficult as you might think to carve out a media niche for yourself. Whether in print, online, or onscreen, journalists need medical professionals to provide accurate information and to lend an air of legitimacy to their reporting. Here are a few steps you can take to be top of mind for the reporters in your area. Make yourself available . There are several websites that connect reporters with experts for their stories. Sign up for services such as Help a Reporter Out, ProfNet, or Expert Engine to receive emails about, or to be found in searches for, your specific area of expertise. Pitch a story. You don’t have to wai

Palatal tremor (PT) (or myoclonus) is a rare movement disorder comprising 2 forms: essential PT (EPT) and symptomatic PT (SPT). from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2UKSImh

A 54-year-old woman presented for evaluation of binocular vertical diplopia worse in downgaze. She had limited infraduction of the right eye in adduction and a right hypertropia worse in left gaze and right head tilt, consistent with a right trochlear nerve palsy. MRI brain revealed enlargement and enhancement of the right trochlear nerve in the subarachnoid space (figure). Laboratory testing and CSF analysis were normal. The imaging findings were stable over several years, suggesting the diagnosis of a trochlear nerve schwannoma. from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/33X2BRS

A 54-year-old woman presented with a 30-year history of worsening left blepharoptosis. Neuro-ophthalmic examination was significant for blepharoptosis, limited levator function, and supraduction in the left eye with left hypotropia, and normal pupils without diplopia. MRI brain/orbits revealed subtle atrophy of the left superior rectus (figure 1, A and B), without any orbital pathology. Superior compression of the left oculomotor nerve by the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) was observed (figure 1, C–E). Given the microanatomy of oculomotor nerve in the cistern space, 1,2 this is a rare selective compression of the superolateral oculomotor nerve by the PCA vessel (figure 2), sparing the superomedial parasympathetic limb. from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2JnchMd

A single, stressful event causes rapid and long-lasting retraction of astrocyte branches. Stress induces this change by halting the production of GluA1. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2wGy3b4

AI model determined three key features that accurately predict subsequent, severe disease in COVID-19 patients. The three features were levels of the liver enzyme ALT, reported myalgia, and hemoglobin levels. Based on these three factors, the AI was able to determine ARDS risk with 80% accuracy. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3atnV3S

MIT researchers have developed a soft, flexible, 3D printed neural implants that can conform to the contours of the brain. The implant can monitor neural activity over long periods of time, without aggravating surrounding tissue. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39uVL7o

COVID-19 was found in sputum up to 39 days, and feces up to 13 days after pharyngeal swabs were negative in recovered patients. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2Uuoll2

Women who experience postpartum mental health problems such as depression and anxiety following the birth of their first child are 31% less likely to have more children. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39tL4BV

Researchers found no evidence NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, may result in worse outcomes for some COVID-19 patients or help control the virus. TNF blockers and JAK inhibitors, used to treat inflammation and arthritis, were also found to be safe to use. However, low amounts of prednisolone or tacrolimus therapy may be useful in treating coronavirus infection. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3aGszeQ

Long-term air pollution exposure was associated with a higher risk of dementia. Ischemic heart disease and heart failure appeared to enhance the link between air pollution and dementia. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2JmMOm5

This award comes due to the strengths of UF’s Neurofibromatosis Center, their commitment to NF patients of all ages, dedication to care of NF patients of the director and his extensive experience in genetics, neurology and neuro-oncology.  Congratulations Dr. Shuhaiber and team! from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2xCz1Vz

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Over 30 prenatal and postnatal environmental risk factors have been identified for the development of psychosis in offspring. The factors have been split into four categories, including parental and familial, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and fetal growth and development. Significant protective factors are lower maternal age, first-time mothers, and babies with higher birth weights. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/345txiF

Fellows’ Journal Club The authors implement and validate an MRI motion-artifact correction method using a multiscale fully convolutional neural network. Application of the network resulted in notably improved image quality without the loss of morphologic information. For synthetic test data, the average reduction in mean squared error was 41.84%. The blinded reader study on the real-world test data resulted in significant reduction in mean artifact scores across all cases. Abstract Architecture of the used Foveal fully convolutional neural network. The input image was split into different patches (indicated by red box ), and each patch was processed in conjunction with larger, down-sampled patches at the same location ( blue and green boxes ). The size of the patches was chosen to account for the loss of border pixels in every convolutional layer. Each feature-extraction path consisted of 2 layers, each comprising a convolutional layer (C), batch normalization (B), and a recti

Editor’s Choice Dedicated nasopharyngeal MR imaging before (plain scan system) and after intravenous contrast administration (current and modified systems) was reviewed in patients from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma-endemic region, comprising 383 patients with suspected disease without nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 383 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The modified and plain scan systems refined primary tumor criteria, added a nodal assessment, and expanded the system from 4 to 5 grades. The current, modified, and plain scan MR imaging systems yielded sensitivities of 99.74%, 97.91%, and 97.65%, respectively, and specificities of 63.45%, 89.56%, and 86.42%, respectively. The modified system yielded significantly better performance than the current and plain systems. In conclusion, the authors propose a modified MR imaging grading system that improves diagnostic performance for nasopharyngeal carcinoma detection. Contrast was not valuable for low MR imaging grades, and the plain sca

This review examines data from human and animal studies of the altered huntingtin protein associated with Huntington disease to assess the risk-benefit profile of huntingtin-lowering therapies for the treatment of people with Huntington disease. from journals https://ift.tt/39dLix0

Separated ventral and dorsal streams in auditory processes have been proposed to process sound identification and localization respectively. Despite the popularity of the dual-pathway model, it remains controversial how much independence two neural pathways enjoy and whether visual experiences can influence the distinct cortical organizational scheme. In this study, representational similarity analysis (RSA) was used to explore the functional roles of distinct cortical regions that lay within either the ventral or dorsal auditory streams of sighted and early blind (EB) participants. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/2UrCUWk

Intermittent social distancing may have to be employed to reduce the burden on the health care system as a result of COVID-19. If COVID-19 is a seasonal ailment, like the flu, a new model shows physical distancing occurring between 25 and 75% of the time would help build up herd immunity and prevent health system overload. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2wI1ZmU

The FDA has approved a new drug named Ozanimod for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Ozanimod binds to receptors in lymphocytes' surfaces, preventing them from reaching the brain. As the number of active lymphocytes decreases, the attack on the immune system diminishes. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2yhpHqH

While introverts may be more accustomed to spending time alone, extroverts may have a slight edge in coping with current COVID-19 distancing measures. Researchers say using the term physical distancing rather than social distancing may be more appropriate, as we all need social interactions for our general mental wellbeing. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/33RhHbH

Using robotics, researchers uncover mechanisms in the cerebellum and spinal cord that determine how the nervous system responds to induced changes in step length. The findings could have implications for physical rehabilitation programs for people with movement disorders. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WQxqGg

Despite all of the public health warnings, many people are still ignoring instructions to socially distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many influential people are downplaying the severity of the virus, and convincing others that coronavirus is not as serious as health professionals would have us believe. In light of this, researchers discuss why some people stick to their beliefs and act with skepticism, despite overwhelming contradictory evidence. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2QQbeIC

HIV infection leads to increased EIF2 signaling in microglia, astrocytes, and neurons. Study reveals how HIV infection and some antiretrovirals affect cognition and the central nervous system. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WM4Rd4

VirScan, a new antibody detection tool, can analyze blood samples collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19 to learn about how the virus affects the immune system and the epidemiology of the infection. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/33Rdvsl

Ninety percent of medical marijuana products offered at dispensaries are far stronger than recommended for chronic pain relief. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/33Okh2b

Fifty percent of patients treated for mild COVID-19 infections still had the virus up to eight days after symptoms disappeared. Findings suggest patients can remain infectious, even after symptomatic recovery. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2Uq5MhT

A new machine learning algorithm can predict which tumors were lower-grade gliomas or glioblastoma brain cancer with a high degree of accuracy. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3buSuX1

MIT researchers have identified a protein fragment that may inhibit COVID-19's ability to enter human lung cells. The new peptide can bind to the viral protein and potentially disarm it. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3dBCXGD

COVID-19 can have fatal consequences for those with cardiovascular conditions and can also cause cardiac injury in patients without underlying heart conditions. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3buIKMr

A mutation in the KCND2 gene appears to improve cognitive flexibility in mice. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2QP8fAk

The TBK1 gene regulates the disease progression of ALS in mouse models of the neurodegenerative disease. Loss of the TBK1 gene in motor neurons increases SOD1 aggregation and accelerates the onset of the disease. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2Jo5cL2

Feeling at a loose end due to social distancing? You can help researchers design drugs that could help stop coronavirus from infecting human cells. Using a free computer game called Foldit, citizen scientists are helping researchers to hunt for proteins that might stop COVID-19. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/33REHYb

The lateral hypothalamus is an integral component of social brain networks. It shapes socially motivated behaviors via functional coordination with neocortical regions. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3dzWkA4

A new model finds that, if left unchecked, the COVID-19 virus could have infected 7 billion people and caused around 40 million deaths this year. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2JmoUXP

The brain chooses between two neural systems responsible for emulation learning and imitation learning. Study reveals how the brain chooses which strategy to employ when faced with an observational learning task. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2vQ9p7c

Congratulations Dr. Nikolaus McFarland on the publication of “Automated MRI Classification in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: a Large International Cohort Study,” in the February issue of Movement Disorders.   Abstract Background The Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index is listed as one of the most reliable imaging morphometric markers for diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). However, the use of this index in diagnostic workup has been limited until now by the low generalizability of published results because of small monocentric patient cohorts, the lack of data validation in independent patient series, and manual measurements used for index calculation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the generalizability of Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index performance validating previously established cutoff values in a large international cohort of PSP patients subclassified into PSP–Richardson’s syndrome and PSP‐parkinsonism and to standardize the use of

A new  U.S. News and World Report  story highlights efforts by  University of Florida  experts Drs. Michael Okun & Frederick Southwick to educate patients with Parkinson’s about COVID-19. Access the article and view the  Parkinson’s Foundation ‘s Facebook Live videos:  bit.ly/2vVAhTy from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2UFJGqr

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A worldwide scientific collaboration has produced the first genetic map of the cerebral cortex. The map identifies more than 300 genetic variants that influence cortical structure and play roles in psychiatric disorders. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WMeBnV

The hand knob area of the premotor cortex operates across a wide range of motor functions and body areas. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3bxc7hl

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in eleven surveillance sites is 1 in 54 among children aged eight. This is a 10% increase from 2014 when it was 1 in 59. Since 2000, prevalence rates of ASD have almost tripled, from 0.67% to 1.85%. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3dryqXv

Efficient connection pathways across the entire brain provide a neural network that supports general cognitive function and ability. Higher fractional anisotropy is associated with higher IQ. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39mEdKo

Researchers discuss the need for long-term and more quantitative approaches by experts spanning various fields, to help understand viruses, like SARS-CoV-2, and how they may affect drinking water treatment strategies. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3dqiggS

HIV is associated with an increased risk of stroke, but there are sparse data on risk factors for stroke in people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan African. The goal of this study was to identify HIV-specific stroke characteristics and risk factors among adults in Botswana. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/3dvWuIL

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) might present as polyneuropathies (PNP). Because PNS are rare and PNP are frequent, it may be difficult to decide in patients with PNP of unclear or presumably idiopathic etiology whether to test for onconeural antibodies, which are highly predictive for PNS. In this regard, this is the largest study investigating the prevalence of onconeural antibodies in patients with PNP, in order to clarify whether such testing should be standard. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/3apSl72

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Levodopa (L-Dopa), the current main treatment for PD, reduces PD symptoms by partially replacing dopamine, but it does not slow neurodegeneration. Recent studies have evidenced that neuroinflammatory processes contribute to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the SNc under cytopathic conditions, while other lines of inquiry have implicated phosphorylation of collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) as a causal factor in axonal retraction after neural injury. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/39sfZyM

There is a lack of information on the natural history of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (AsymCS) associated with cardiovascular diseases that require surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for postoperative ipsilateral ischemic stroke and all-cause mortality after cardiovascular surgery in patients with AsymCS. from Journal of the Neurological Sciences https://ift.tt/39kPriS

Deep convolutional neural networks were used to help process neonatal brain image data. Modified LiviaNET and HyperDense-Net deep learning neural networks are discussed. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2JgRPN1

Converting skin cells to functional brain cells relies on precise insertion of Line-1 retrotransposons. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2UnfzFr