FMRI-EEG estimation of cerebral reactivity to motor tasks in patients with brain tumors

fMRI (1.5 or 3 T) and EEG studies with estimation of reactive responses on motor task (by right or left hand) were performed in 9 patients with tumors localized in frontal lobe of the brain. Results of this investigation were compared with results of the similar study in 12 healthy persons. It was shown that in cases of the brain pathology disorders of functional specialization and increase of diffuse component of reactivity was observed, fMRI-responses had been characterized the more intact reactions than reactive changes of EEG parameters. This specificity was described in cases of afferent loads in damaged hemisphere. Peculiarity of including different spectral bands in forming of EEG responses on motor tasks and changes of fMRI-answer depend on degree of cerebral decompensation, reflected in the of baseline EEG reorganization and degree of motor defect. Predominantly an increase of EEG coherence in delta-band with the predominance of reaction in the damaged hemisphere in cases of addressing any afferent load was observed in patients with severe cerebral decompensation and reflect dominant character of pathological focus forming. This data indicate on the more including of the deep brain structures in process of reactivity in patients compared with healthy persons and confirmed by fMRI-data.     

fMRI-EEG assessment of cerebral reactivity to motor tasks in patients with brain tumor

A comprehensive study with the assessment of reactive responses to motor tasks was performed in nine patients with a tumor localized in the frontal divisions of the brain using two methodological approaches: functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and EEG. The data obtained were compared to the results of a similar study on 12 healthy subjects. It was established that cerebral pathology was associated with disorders of functional specialization and an increase in the diffuse component of reactivity. The fMRI responses were characterized by greater intactness compared to the EEG parameters of reactive changes. These features are especially marked when an afferent stimulus is sent to the damaged hemisphere. The characteristics of the involvement of individual EEG bands in the formation of motor responses and changes in the fMRI response topography are determined by the degree of cerebral dysfunction reflected by the pattern of baseline EEG reorganization and the severity of the motor defect. The predominant increase in the coherence of slow rhythms in the damaged hemisphere irrespective of the target of the afferent stimulus in patients with severe cerebral dysfunction reflects the dominant formation of a pathological focus and is indicative of a greater, compared to healthy subjects, involvement of deep brain structures in the reactive process, which is confirmed by the fMRI data.     

Frontal EMG-biofeedback training of athetoid cerebral palsy patients

Six athetoid cerebral palsy patients participated in the following: speech and motor prebiofeedback training evaluation; frontal EMG biofeedback training, 6 wk; speech and motor postbiofeedback training evaluation, Frontal pretraining levels for the subjects averaged 28.9 µV p-p. Subjects' feedback consisted of an auditory signal(clicks) varying proportionately with frontal EMG activity. A visual meter display of the integrated EMG was also provided. Self-regulation of frontal EMG was evident for all subjects within session 1. Throughout all sessions, EMG levels of 2–4 µV were often attained. Trend analysis of EMG acquisition curves showed significant reduction in frontal tension across sessions for all but one subject. Frontal posttraining levels averaged 13.0 µV p-p. Parents or subjects, or both, reported subtle improvements in various speech and motor functions, a finding confirmed by objective postbiofeedback training evaluation. Only the 2 most severely impaired subjects, JA and DS, failed to improve significantly on the speech measures. All subjects improved significantly on those measures that tapped fine and gross motor skills. Collectively, these results indicate that EMG biofeedback training shows promise as an additional treatment modality in the habilitation of cerebral palsy patients.     

Brooding in echinoderms: How can modern experimental techniques add to our historical perspective?

Echinoderms are among the most abundant and ecologically successful groups of marine animals on earth. Their unique adaptations have enabled them to inhabit diverse environments ranging from various substrates in shallow water habitats to the benthos of the deepest seas. Although members of the Echinodermata generally share common characteristics including radial symmetry, a unique water vascular system, and decentralized cephalization, they have evolved a variety of life history strategies that enable them to reproduce successfully across a wide range of habitats. These reproductive strategies range from a complete lack of parental care (broadcasting) to internal and external brooding of the eggs, embryos, and juvenile phases. Although brooding is relatively rare in echinoderms, it is of interest as a “deviant” or “derived” form of reproduction that has been the subject of much study and debate. The aim of the present review is to examine how and why brooding occurs from a historical perspective, and then explore how modern experimental techniques are providing novel approaches to answering fundamental questions related to brooding in this very successful group of benthic marine invertebrates.     

Contribution of the biceps brachii and pronator teres muscles to the efforts of pronation or supination. II. dynamic work (author's transl)

The electrical activity of the biceps brachii and pronator teres muscles is studied through the prono-supination of the forearm in some anisometrical conditions (dynamic work) when the inertia of the mobile system and the elbow position are being varied. The subjects are required to perform pronation, supination and flexion movements, either isolated or combined. From the findings obtained when the integrated electrical activity (Q) is related to the mechanical work (W), one can conclude that a. the Q-W linear relationship seems to characterize the chief function of a muscle, b. the slope of the Q-W relationship depends on the elbow position, c. the pronator muscles do not inhibit in a selective manner the biceps supinating function. So a bifunctional muscle seems to act as a whole.     

Contribution of the biceps brachii and pronator teres muscles to the efforts of pronation or supination. I. Statistical work (author's transl)

The electrical activity of the biceps brachii and pronator teres muscles is studied through the prono-supination of the forearm in some isometrical conditions (static work) with different loads and joint positions. If the pronator teres is always being active in pronation, this activity is a function of the load and of the wrist and elbow positions. The same phenomena can be observed for the biceps brachii but when in supination. From the curvilinear relationships between the integrated electrical activity and the load--observed on both muscles--some torque-angle relationships can be established for the biceps brachii which show that a bifunctional muscle seems to be characterized by a very and unique force-length relationship.     

Serum antibodies to brain protein antigens in cerebral palsy in children]

Using special brain antigen test-system ELITEST-24, ELISA assays of the serum of children with cerebral palsy were conducted. The data obtained were compared to relevant characteristics of the sera from neurologically and somatically healthy persons and patients with diagnoses of multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, epilepsy and hepato-cerebral dystrophy according to special PC program VIZUAL and DIAGNOST. High specificity of the cerebral palsy anti-brain antigens reactivity was revealed by ELITEST technique. Moreover, the comparison of the mother-child pair immunoreactivity has been conducted. Evidence for hypothesis of epigenetically performing of children antibodies repertoires by mother-during-pregnancy immune status were obtained. Possible immunopathologic mechanisms of the disease are discussed.     

Progesterone can enhance consolidation and/or performance in spatial, object and working memory tasks in Long-Evans rats

Progesterone has a ubiquitous role in reproduction and fitness and may influence cognitive performance. We examined the effects of administration of progesterone (a regimen that facilitates sexual behaviour) on consolidation of complex information in Long-Evans rats, Rattus norvegicus, that may be relevant for social engagement. We also examined the effects of subcutaneous progesterone administration (4 mg/kg versus oil vehicle placebo) on memory of ovariectomized rats during various cognitive tasks. Ovariectomized rats that received progesterone, versus the vehicle, immediately post-training were better able to find a hidden platform in the water maze. In a recognition task, rats that received progesterone spent more time in the novel arm of the Y-maze task than rats that received the vehicle. Ovariectomized rats that received progesterone immediately after training spent significantly more time exploring a novel object (compared to a familiar object) than did vehicle-administered rats. When socially relevant stimuli (i.e. objects with the scent of familiar or novel conspecifics) were used in the social cognition task, ovariectomized rats that received progesterone spent more time exploring the object with the novel conspecifics' scent than did vehicle-administered rats. Pairing of progesterone, but not the vehicle, conditioned a place preference to the originally nonpreferred side of the conditioning chamber. We found no significant differences in motor activity measures in these tasks due to progesterone treatment. These results suggest that progesterone's effects to improve cognitive processes with nonsocial and socially relevant stimuli, as well as have reinforcing effects, may underlie some of its salient effects on reproduction-related behaviours.     

Multivariate analysis of the selected metals in the hair of cerebral palsy patients versus controls

Seventeen metals were measured in scalp hair samples from cerebral palsy patients (CPPs) and controls. Samples were collected from 95 CPPs and 93 controls. The nitric acid-perchloric acid wet digestion procedure was used for quantification of the selected metals by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of Ag, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Li, and Mg were significantly higher and those of Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Sb were lower in the hair of CPPs compared with controls. A strong positive correlation was found between Ca and Mg in the hair of controls but not in that of CPPs. Antimony was found significantly negative in terms of its correlation with Co and Cu in CPPs group but not in the controls. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data extracted seven factors for CPPs and six factors for controls. Cluster analysis (CA) was also used to support the PCA results. The study evidenced some specific source of Mg and Sb in the hair of CPPs.     

Prediction of response to robot-aided motor neuro-rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy

Robot-aided neuro-rehabilitation is increasingly being incorporated into rehabilitation practices. The aim of this study was to search for patterns in the data acquired by a robot in the baseline evaluation session which could predict progress over the next therapy sessions. Kinematic and kinetic data were acquired during robot-mediated evaluation sessions of 12 children with motor impairments due to hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Time and wavelets features were extracted from the data and used for K-means clustering. The data were labeled by the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) and the gradient of improvement change in the QUEST between the baseline assessment and therapy follow-up one month after completion of 16 robot-mediated therapy sessions. Two distinct clusters segregated these 12 children into performers and non-performers in terms of the QUEST.     

Sniffing behavior of mice during performance in odor-guided tasks

Sniffing, a rhythmic inhalation and exhalation of air through the nose, is a behavior thought to play a critical role in shaping how odor information is represented and processed by the nervous system. Although the mouse has become a prominent model for studying olfaction, little is known about sniffing behavior in mice. Here, we characterized mouse sniffing behavior by measuring intranasal pressure transients in behaving mice. Sniffing was monitored during unstructured exploratory behavior and during performance of 3 commonly used olfactory paradigms: a habituation/dishabituation task, a sand digging-based discrimination task, and a nose poke-based discrimination task. We found that respiration frequencies in quiescent mice ranged from 3 to 5 Hz--higher than that reported for rats. During exploration, sniff frequency increased up to approximately 12 Hz and was highly dynamic, with rapid changes in frequency, amplitude, and waveform. Sniffing behavior varied strongly between tasks as well as for different behavioral epochs of each task. For example, mice performing the digging-based task showed little increase in sniff frequency prior to digging, whereas mice performing a nose poke-based task showed robust increases. Mice showed large increases in sniff frequency prior to reward delivery in all tasks. Mice also showed increases in sniff frequency when nose poking in a nonodor-guided task. These results show that mouse sniffing behavior is highly dynamic, varies with behavioral context, and is strongly modulated by olfactory as well as nonolfactory events.     

Intraductal laser photocoagulation of the bilateral parotid ducts for reduction of drooling in patients with cerebral palsy

Patients with cerebral palsy who experience drooling are often isolated from social interaction. Surgical treatment is effective in reducing abnormal, profuse drooling in patients who have low cognitive function, but it has a risk of complications. In this study, a new, simple procedure using laser intervention that minimizes surgical complications is described. Forty-eight patients with cerebral palsy and persistent drooling after more than 6 months of conservative treatment were enrolled in this study. An Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) was used for intraductal laser photocoagulation of the bilateral parotid ducts at 7 to 10 W for 10 seconds. The outcome was evaluated by questionnaire-based, semiquantitative assessments of drooling severity and frequency, collection and measurement of stimulated saliva, and salivary amylase measurement. The entire procedure was completed in 25 to 65 minutes, with a mean duration of 38.4 minutes. Early complications included transient facial swelling in all patients. Swelling persisted for 6 to 37 days (mean, 11 days). One hematoma (2.1 percent of patients), two infections (4.2 percent of patients), and two cystic formations (4.2 percent of patients) also occurred. No obvious xerostomia or visible scar was noted after the procedure. In the final assessment, a significant improvement in drooling severity (p < 0.05) and frequency (p < 0.05) was noted in the majority of cases. Forty patients (83.3 percent) demonstrated remarkable improvement in drooling severity, seven patients (14.6 percent) showed significant improvement, and one patient (2.1 percent), who was also autistic, continued to experience severe drooling after the laser procedure. The decrease in the amount of saliva produced ranged from 20 to 60 percent at 12 weeks after surgery. The decrease in the amount of salivary amylase measured ranged from 4 to 97 percent at 12 weeks after surgery (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the intraductal laser photocoagulation of bilateral parotid ducts is a simple, effective procedure for reducing drooling in patients who have cerebral palsy. This procedure minimizes risks and complications, compared with those associated with conventional surgery.     

Altered sense of Agency in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Background  

Children diagnosed with spastic Cerebral Palsy (CP) often show perceptual and cognitive problems, which may contribute to their functional deficit. Here we investigated if altered ability to determine whether an observed movement is performed by themselves (sense of agency) contributes to the motor deficit in children with CP.