scholarly journals The perspectives of mapping and monitoring of the sense of self in neurosurgical patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Schaller ◽  
Giannina Rita Iannotti ◽  
Pavo Orepic ◽  
Sophie Betka ◽  
Julien Haemmerli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Insular Cortex ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients ◽  
Interoceptive Cues

AbstractSurgical treatment of tumors, epileptic foci or of vascular origin, requires a detailed individual pre-surgical workup and intra-operative surveillance of brain functions to minimize the risk of post-surgical neurological deficits and decline of quality of life. Most attention is attributed to language, motor functions, and perception. However, higher cognitive functions such as social cognition, personality, and the sense of self may be affected by brain surgery. To date, the precise localization and the network patterns of brain regions involved in such functions are not yet fully understood, making the assessment of risks of related post-surgical deficits difficult. It is in the interest of neurosurgeons to understand with which neural systems related to selfhood and personality they are interfering during surgery. Recent neuroscience research using virtual reality and clinical observations suggest that the insular cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and temporo-parietal junction are important components of a neural system dedicated to self-consciousness based on multisensory bodily processing, including exteroceptive and interoceptive cues (bodily self-consciousness (BSC)). Here, we argue that combined extra- and intra-operative approaches using targeted cognitive testing, functional imaging and EEG, virtual reality, combined with multisensory stimulations, may contribute to the assessment of the BSC and related cognitive aspects. Although the usefulness of particular biomarkers, such as cardiac and respiratory signals linked to virtual reality, and of heartbeat evoked potentials as a surrogate marker for intactness of multisensory integration for intra-operative monitoring has to be proved, systemic and automatized testing of BSC in neurosurgical patients will improve future surgical outcome.

scholarly journals Sex in the brain: hormones and sex differences

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-383 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
New Era ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Opioid Sensitivity ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Brain

Contrary to popular belief, sex hormones act throughout the entire brain of both males and females via both genomic and nongenomic receptors. Many neural and behavioral functions are affected by estrogens, including mood, cognitive function, blood pressure regulation, motor coordination, pain, and opioid sensitivity. Subtle sex differences exist for many of these functions that are developmentally programmed by hormones and by not yet precisely defined genetic factors, including the mitochondrial genome. These sex differences, and responses to sex hormones in brain regions and upon functions not previously regarded as subject to such differences, indicate that we are entering a new era in our ability to understand and appreciate the diversity of gender-related behaviors and brain functions.

scholarly journals Establishment of a Highly Sensitive Analytical Method For Measurement of Monoamine Neurotransmitters Using Mass Spectrometry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anri Hirai ◽  
Ryo Yamazaki ◽  
Atsushi Kobayashi ◽  
Takashi Kimura ◽  
Kei Nomiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Analytical Method ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Monoamine Neurotransmitters ◽  
Chemical Substances ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Spontaneous Movements ◽  
Highly Sensitive

Abstract Monoamine neurotransmitters (MAs), including dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT), regulate brain functions such as behavior, memory, and learning. Neonicotinoids are pesticides that are being used more frequently. Neonicotinoid exposure has been observed to produce neurological symptoms, such as altered spontaneous movements and anxiety-like behaviors, which are suspected to be caused by altered MA levels. However, current neurotoxicity tests are not sufficiently sensitive to make these determinations. In this study, we performed some behavior tests and developed a sensitive and accurate analytical method using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to clarify the effects of neonicotinoid administration on MAs in the brain.We orally administered the neonicotinoid imidacloprid (0, 10, and 50 mg/kg body weight) to C57BL/6NCrSlc mice. In behavior tests, the decrease of activity was observed. The LC-MS/MS quantification of MAs in various brain regions by tetrafluoroborate salt of 2,4-diphenyl-pyranylium (DPP) derivatization, which was newly developed in this study, showed a decrease in some MA levels in the olfactory bulb and the striatum.Thus, in this study, we developed a new method for the sensitive detection of MAs by LC/MS using DPP derivatization. In addition, we showed that this sensitive MA quantification is effective in clarifying the neurotoxicity caused by chemical substances.

scholarly journals Thirty-day readmission rate as a surrogate marker for quality of care in neurosurgical patients: a single-center Canadian experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (5) ◽  
pp. 1692-1698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell P. Wilson ◽  
Andrew S. Jack ◽  
Andrew Nataraj ◽  
Michael Chow
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Readmission Rate ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients ◽  
Avoidable Readmissions

OBJECTIVEReadmission to the hospital within 30 days of discharge is used as a surrogate marker for quality and value of care in the United States (US) healthcare system. Concern exists regarding the value of 30-day readmission as a quality of care metric in neurosurgical patients. Few studies have assessed 30-day readmission rates in neurosurgical patients outside the US. The authors performed a retrospective review of all adult neurosurgical patients admitted to a single Canadian neurosurgical academic center and who were discharged to home to assess for the all-cause 30-day readmission rate, unplanned 30-day readmission rate, and avoidable 30-day readmission rate.METHODSA retrospective review was performed assessing 30-day readmission rates after discharge to home in all neurosurgical patients admitted to a single academic neurosurgical center from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011. The primary outcomes included rates of all-cause, unplanned, and avoidable readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes included factors associated with unplanned and avoidable 30-day readmissions.RESULTSA total of 184 of 950 patients (19.4%) were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. One-hundred three patients (10.8%) were readmitted for an unplanned reason and 81 (8.5%) were readmitted for a planned or rescheduled operation. Only 19 readmissions (10%) were for a potentially avoidable reason. Univariate analysis identified factors associated with readmission for a complication or persistent/worsening symptom, including age (p = 0.009), length of stay (p = 0.007), general neurosurgery diagnosis (p < 0.001), cranial pathology (p < 0.001), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (p < 0.001), number of initial admission operations (p = 0.01), and shunt procedures (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified predictive factors of readmission, including diagnosis (p = 0.002, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–5.3), cranial pathology (p = 0.002, OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4–5.3), ICU admission (p = 0.004, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.2), and number of first admission operations (p = 0.01, OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.3–0.87). Univariate analysis performed to identify factors associated with potentially avoidable readmissions included length of stay (p = 0.03), diagnosis (p < 0.001), cranial pathology (p = 0.02), and shunt procedures (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified only shunt procedures as a predictive factor for avoidable readmission (p = 0.02, OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.4–22.8).CONCLUSIONSAlmost one-fifth of neurosurgical patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. However, only about half of these patients were admitted for an unplanned reason, and only 10% of all readmissions were potentially avoidable. This study demonstrates unique challenges encountered in a publicly funded healthcare setting and supports the growing literature suggesting 30-day readmission rates may serve as an inappropriate quality of care metric in neurosurgical patients. Potentially avoidable readmissions can be predicted, and further research assessing predictors of avoidable readmissions is warranted.

P14.23 Relation between neurological deficits and location of postsurgical ischemia in glioma resection

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii42-ii42
Author(s):  
A T J van der Boog ◽  
S David ◽  
A M M Steennis ◽  
J W Dankbaar ◽  
T J Snijders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corticospinal Tract ◽  
Insular Cortex ◽  
Spatial Relation ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Who Grade ◽  
Basal Nuclei ◽  
Supratentorial Glioma ◽  
The Right ◽  
Glioma Resection ◽  
Patients Experience

Abstract BACKGROUND Postoperative ischemia is a known complications of glioma resection and can lead to neurological deficits. New or worsened postoperative deficits are often transient, but some patients experience persisting effects after surgery. Neuroanatomical location of ischemia is suspected to play an important role in the development as well as persistence of neurological deficits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the spatial relation between postoperative ischemia and short-term and long-term neurological deficits. MATERIAL AND METHODS Postoperative ischemia was defined as new confluent areas of diffusion restriction on DWI in a retrospective database of 144 adult WHO grade II-IV supratentorial glioma patients, who received MRI within 3 days after resection in 2012–2014. New or worsened neurological deficits of any grade at discharge and after 3 months was assessed in relation to postoperative ischemia by an experienced neuro-oncologist. We manually delineated ischemic lesions and spatially normalized these to stereotaxic MNI space. Next, we performed voxel-based analysis (VBA) to identify locations of ischemia associated with new or worsened neurological deficits and corrected for multiple comparisons using family-wise error correction to eliminate false positive results. Delineations were labeled using the Harvard-Oxford cortical and subcortical atlases and a white matter atlas (XTRACT). RESULTS Any new or worsened neurological deficits were present in 44 (30.5%) cases at discharge and in 27 (20.9%) cases after 3 months, of which respectively 26 (18%) and 21 (16.3%) were related to ischemia. Volume of ischemia was significantly associated with deficits at discharge (P = 0.003) and after 3 months (P = 0.039). No areas of ischemia were associated with a lack of new or worsened deficits. A statistically significant cluster of 42.96cc was associated with deficits at discharge and encompassed the right frontal, insular and tempo-occipital regions. Voxels associated only with deficits at discharge included lateral occipital cortices and supramarginal gyri. A cluster of 17.68cc in the right frontal and insular lobes was significantly associated with deficits after 3 months. Overlapping areas included the right thalamus, caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidum, insular cortex, middle and inferior temporal gyri, corticospinal tract and superior thalamic radiation. CONCLUSION Transient and persisting new or worsened deficits after glioma resection were significantly associated with volume of postoperative ischemia. Ischemic lesions in right frontal and insular regions, including the basal nuclei, corticospinal tract and superior thalamic radiation were significantly associated with persisting neurological deficits after 3 months, while temporo-occipital lesions were associated with transient deficits only found at discharge.

Thin Screen

2011 ◽  
pp. 97-115
Author(s):  
Shalin Hai-Jew
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Depth Perception ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Human Behaviors ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Desktop Virtual Reality ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Thin Screen

Human depth perception involves complex visual and brain functions. Depth perception in desktop virtual reality has become more important given the uses of such spaces for learning, training, collaboration, simulations, showcasing work, and conducting research on human behaviors. This chapter involves a meta-analysis of the extant research on human depth perception in virtual worlds. It posits some early design concepts for both the creation and evolution of such spaces but also their deployment for educational purposes.

scholarly journals Potential Role of Neuroactive Tryptophan Metabolites in Central Fatigue: Establishment of the Fatigue Circuit

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 117864692093627
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Yamashita
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
Central Fatigue ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Kynurenine Pathway ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Tryptophan Metabolites

Central fatigue leads to reduced ability to perform mental tasks, disrupted social life, and impaired brain functions from childhood to old age. Regarding the neurochemical mechanism, neuroactive tryptophan metabolites are thought to play key roles in central fatigue. Previous studies have supported the “tryptophan-serotonin enhancement hypothesis” in which tryptophan uptake into extensive brain regions enhances serotonin production in the rat model of exercise-induced fatigue. However, serotonin was transiently released after 30 minutes of treadmill running to exhaustion, but this did not reflect the duration of fatigue. In addition, as the vast majority of tryptophan is metabolized along the kynurenine pathway, possible involvement of the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway in the mechanism of central fatigue induction has been pointed out. More recently, our study demonstrated that uptake of tryptophan and kynurenine derived from the peripheral circulation into the brain enhances kynurenic acid production in rat brain in sleep deprivation–induced central fatigue, but without change in serotonin activity. In particular, dynamic change in glial-neuronal interactive processes within the hypothalamus-hippocampal circuit causes central fatigue. Furthermore, increased tryptophan-kynurenine pathway activity in this circuit causes reduced memory function. This indicates a major potential role for the endogenous tryptophan-kynurenine pathway in central fatigue, which supports the “tryptophan-kynurenine enhancement hypothesis.” Here, we review research on the basic neuronal mechanism underlying central fatigue induced by neuroactive tryptophan metabolites. Notably, these basic findings could contribute to our understanding of latent mental problems associated with central fatigue.

scholarly journals STAB: a spatio-temporal cell atlas of the human brain

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (D1) ◽  
pp. D1029-D1037
Author(s):  
Liting Song ◽  
Shaojun Pan ◽  
Zichao Zhang ◽  
Longhao Jia ◽  
Wei-Hua Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Great Effort ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
The Brain

Abstract The human brain is the most complex organ consisting of billions of neuronal and non-neuronal cells that are organized into distinct anatomical and functional regions. Elucidating the cellular and transcriptome architecture underlying the brain is crucial for understanding brain functions and brain disorders. Thanks to the single-cell RNA sequencing technologies, it is becoming possible to dissect the cellular compositions of the brain. Although great effort has been made to explore the transcriptome architecture of the human brain, a comprehensive database with dynamic cellular compositions and molecular characteristics of the human brain during the lifespan is still not available. Here, we present STAB (a Spatio-Temporal cell Atlas of the human Brain), a database consists of single-cell transcriptomes across multiple brain regions and developmental periods. Right now, STAB contains single-cell gene expression profiling of 42 cell subtypes across 20 brain regions and 11 developmental periods. With STAB, the landscape of cell types and their regional heterogeneity and temporal dynamics across the human brain can be clearly seen, which can help to understand both the development of the normal human brain and the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. STAB is available at http://stab.comp-sysbio.org.

scholarly journals Maternal Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid Alters Lipid Peroxidation Products and (n-3)/(n-6) Fatty Acid Balance in Offspring Mice

Metabolites ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Yang ◽  
Runting Li ◽  
Taeseon Woo ◽  
Jimmy Browning ◽  
Hailong Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Peroxidation ◽  
Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽  
Maternal Diet ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Diet Group ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Enzymatic Reactions ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Lipid Peroxidation Products ◽  
Brain Functions

The abundance of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the mammalian brain has generated substantial interest in the search for its roles in regulating brain functions. Our recent study with a gene/stress mouse model provided evidence to support the ability for the maternal supplement of DHA to alleviate autism-associated behavior in the offspring. DHA and arachidonic acid (ARA) are substrates of enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions, and lipid peroxidation results in the production of 4-hydroxyhexenal (4-HHE) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), respectively. In this study, we examine whether a maternal DHA-supplemented diet alters fatty acids (FAs), as well as lipid peroxidation products in the pup brain, heart and plasma by a targeted metabolite approach. Pups in the maternal DHA-supplemented diet group showed an increase in DHA and a concomitant decrease in ARA in all brain regions examined. However, significant increases in 4-HHE, and not 4-HNE, were found mainly in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Analysis of heart and plasma showed large increases in DHA and 4-HHE, but a significant decrease in 4-HNE levels only in plasma. Taken together, the DHA-supplemented maternal diet alters the (n-3)/(n-6) FA ratio, and increases 4-HHE levels in pup brain, heart and plasma. These effects may contribute to the beneficial effects of DHA on neurodevelopment, as well as functional changes in other body organs.

Who is who: areas of the brain associated with recognizing and naming famous faces

2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Giussani ◽  
Franck-Emmanuel Roux ◽  
Lorenzo Bello ◽  
Valérie Lauwers-Cances ◽  
Costanza Papagno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Anterior Part ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Naming Task ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Object Naming ◽  
Language Deficit ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients ◽  
The Brain

Object It has been hypothesized that specific brain regions involved in face naming may exist in the brain. To spare these areas and to gain a better understanding of their organization, the authors studied patients who underwent surgery by using direct electrical stimulation mapping for brain tumors, and they compared an object-naming task to a famous face–naming task. Methods Fifty-six patients with brain tumors (39 and 17 in the left and right hemispheres, respectively) and with no significant preoperative overall language deficit were prospectively studied over a 2-year period. Four patients who had a partially selective famous face anomia and 2 with prosopagnosia were not included in the final analysis. Results Face-naming interferences were exclusively localized in small cortical areas (< 1 cm2). Among 35 patients whose dominant left hemisphere was studied, 26 face-naming specific areas (that is, sites of interference in face naming only and not in object naming) were found. These face naming–specific sites were significantly detected in 2 regions: in the left frontal areas of the superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyri (p < 0.001) and in the anterior part of the superior and middle temporal gyri (p < 0.01). Variable patterns of interference were observed (speech arrest, anomia, phonemic, or semantic paraphasia) probably related to the different stages in famous face processing. Only 4 famous face–naming interferences were found in the right hemisphere. Conclusions Relative anatomical segregation of naming categories within language areas was detected. This study showed that famous face naming was preferentially processed in the left frontal and anterior temporal gyri. The authors think it is necessary to adapt naming tasks in neurosurgical patients to the brain region studied.

scholarly journals Combined Parietal-Insular-Striatal Cortex Stroke with New-Onset Hallucinations: Supporting the Salience Network Model of Schizophrenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Saheba Nanda ◽  
Krishna Priya ◽  
Tasmia Khan ◽  
Puja Patel ◽  
Heela Azizi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Integration ◽  
Insular Cortex ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Salience Network ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Cortical Circuit ◽  
The Brain ◽  
New Onset

Brain imaging studies have identified multiple neuronal networks and circuits in the brain with altered functioning in patients with schizophrenia. These include the hippocampo-cerebello-cortical circuit, the prefrontal-thalamic-cerebellar circuit, functional integration in the bilateral caudate nucleus, and the salience network consisting of the insular cortex, parietal anterior cingulate cortex, and striatum, as well as limbic structures. Attributing psychotic symptoms to any of these networks in schizophrenia is confounded by the disruption of these networks in schizophrenic patients. Such attribution can be done with isolated dysfunction in any of these networks with concurrent psychotic symptoms. We present the case of a patient who presents with new-onset hallucinations and a stroke in brain regions similar to the salience network (insular cortex, parietal cortex, and striatum). The implication of these findings in isolating psychotic symptoms of the salience network is discussed.

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