scholarly journals Integrative activity of the brain in health and disease of the nervous system

2001 ◽  
Vol XXXIII (1-2) ◽  
pp. 75-81
Author(s):  
Yu. N. Bykov

Attempts to link human mental and mental activity with the brain were made in the days of Hippocrates (460-370 BC) and Galen (131-201). At the same time, a connection between the brain and movements on the opposite half of the body was noticed. This was judged by the occurrence of seizures in the half of the body opposite to the lesion of the head [44]. The origin of this fact was associated with a general disruption of the brain. The pathogenesis of all disease states was explained by the humoral theory. In accordance with it, the balance of four fluids - phlegm, blood, black and yellow bile - ensures the normal development and activity of the body. When the balance of these components is disturbed, a disease occurs [39]. In the 17th century, Thomas Willis, the author of the term "neurology", somewhat modernized the humoral theory [45]. He believed that general sensitivity is represented in the striatum, his own feelings in the corpus callosum, and memory in the cortex. This marked the beginning of the development of localization as a direction in the study of brain function. At the extreme pole of this scientific worldview is the phrenological teaching of Franz-Joseph Gall and his students [36]. They assumed that mental and moral qualities are localized in certain areas of the brain surface. At the same time, there is a direct relationship between the degree of development of a particular ability and the volume of its cortical representation. By the shape of the skull, its "tubercles" and "bumps, Gall tried to unravel the professional abilities of a person and characterological features. In 1842, Flurance and Haller put forward the thesis of the physiological equivalence of the cortex. The dogma of the equipotentiality of parts of the brain arose, and then the theory of universalism appeared.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Che Mohd Nasril Che Mohd Nassir ◽  
Mazira Mohamad Ghazali ◽  
Sabarisah Hashim ◽  
Nur Suhaila Idris ◽  
Lee Si Yuen ◽  
...  

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) represents a spectrum of pathological processes of various etiologies affecting the brain microcirculation that can trigger neuroinflammation and the subsequent neurodegenerative cascade. Prevalent with aging, CSVD is a recognized risk factor for stroke, vascular dementia, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease. Despite being the most common neurodegenerative condition with cerebrocardiovascular axis, understanding about it remains poor. Interestingly, modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy diet including high intake of processed food, high-fat foods, and animal by-products are known to influence the non-neural peripheral events, such as in the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular stress through cellular inflammation and oxidation. One key outcome from such events, among others, includes the cellular activations that lead to elevated levels of endogenous cellular-derived circulating microparticles (MPs). MPs can be produced from various cellular origins including leukocytes, platelets, endothelial cells, microbiota, and microglia. MPs could act as microthrombogenic procoagulant that served as a plausible culprit for the vulnerable end-artery microcirculation in the brain as the end-organ leading to CSVD manifestations. However, little attention has been paid on the potential role of MPs in the onset and progression of CSVD spectrum. Corroboratively, the formation of MPs is known to be influenced by diet-induced cellular stress. Thus, this review aims to appraise the body of evidence on the dietary-related impacts on circulating MPs from non-neural peripheral origins that could serve as a plausible microthrombosis in CSVD manifestation as a precursor of neurodegeneration. Here, we elaborate on the pathomechanical features of MPs in health and disease states; relevance of dietary patterns on MP release; preclinical studies pertaining to diet-based MPs contribution to disease; MP level as putative surrogates for early disease biomarkers; and lastly, the potential of MPs manipulation with diet-based approach as a novel preventive measure for CSVD in an aging society worldwide.


Development ◽  
1960 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
Stuart E. Nichols ◽  
Willie M. Reams

Mammals, as a rule, are described as having melanocytes of neural crest origin confined almost entirely to the skin. Of the organs other than skin which have been described as possessing melanocytes are portions of the gonado-genital apparatus of the Opossum (Burns, 1939), and, in the house mouse, tissues of the nictitans, the meninges of the brain, the parathyroids, the thymus and harderian glands (Markert & Silvers, 1956), and the parathyroids of C58 mice (Dunn, 1949). The present investigation has been made in a strain of mice in which melanocytes are found in the connective tissues throughout much of the body. This strain originated several years ago in the Department of Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, from a cross between inbred C3H and black mice of unknown breed obtained from a local pet shop. Because of the latter circumstance, the line-bred progeny have been termed the PET/MCV strain.


2020 ◽  
pp. 151-159
Author(s):  
Dmitry Vadimovich Bakharev

This article represents a brief overview of the teaching of Austrian medical scholar and natural scientist Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828) on human anthropology and psychology. Soviet science viewed Gall as a creator of pseudoscience of phrenology, although in prerevolutionary period, he received mostly complimentary assessment. For example, the prominent Russian criminalist D. A. Dril called Gall a “father of criminal anthropology”. In order to determine the objectivity of such assessments, the author attempted to distill the essence of Gall’s doctrine and assess his conclusions regarding the formation of such branch of criminology as criminal anthropology. The research methodology is based on the analysis of monograph works of F. J. Gall and subsequent summarization of the key theses of psychophysiological doctrine of Austrian scholar. In his works, Gall substantiated the ides that the moral qualities and intellectual abilities are innate, and their manifestation depends on the organization of the brain, which is the organ of all propensities and aptitudes. In his opinion, different parts of brain are responsible for completely different functions. The author concludes that the widespread in Soviet science interpretation of the role of Gall in the area of phrenology is inadequate to reality. Firstly, Gall never attributed any special merits to himself pertaining to studying connection between the form of human skull and peculiarities of his psyche and intellect; and secondly, not disputing the existence of such connection, he however, did not establish any strong patterns.


1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Drew ◽  
S. Rossignol

1. The present article described the various patterns of movement evoked in the limbs and neck by microstimulation (33-ms trains, 330 Hz, 0.2-ms pulses at less than or equal to 35 microA) of the medullary reticular formation (MRF) of seven chronically implanted, unanesthetized, intact cats. Altogether 878 loci were stimulated in 83 penetrations. However, as stimulation in the more lateral regions of the MRF was less effective, the results are based on stimulation in 592 loci made in 56 penetrations at distances of between 0.5 and 2.5 mm lateral to the midline. 2. Of these 592 loci, movement of one or more parts of the body was evoked from a total of 539 (91%) sites. Most of these movements were compound in nature, involving movement of one or more limbs as well as the head. Discrete movements were observed only with respect to the head; limb movements were always accompanied by head movement. In addition, hindlimb movements were always accompanied by forelimb movements, although the inverse was generally not true. 3. The most common effects of the stimulation were as follows: a turning of the head to the ipsilateral side (79% of stimulated sites); flexion of the ipsilateral elbow (41%); and extension of the contralateral elbow (45%). Effects in the hindlimbs were more variable and less frequent, with the majority of the effective loci causing flexion of the ipsilateral knee (9%) together with extension of the contralateral knee (8%). In total, including both flexion and extension, 18% of the stimulated sites caused movement of the ipsilateral hindlimb and 11% of the contralateral hindlimb. 4. Although movements of the head were obtained from the whole extent of the brain stem, movements of the forelimbs showed a dorsoventral organization with flexion of the ipsilateral elbow being evoked from the more dorsal regions of the brain stem, whereas contralateral elbow extension was evoked more frequently from the ventral regions. There was a large area of overlap from which movements of both limbs could be obtained simultaneously. Movements of the hindlimbs were more frequently evoked from central and ventral areas of the brain stem and from the most rostral aspect of the explored region. 5. In examining the combinations of movements evoked by the MRF stimulation, it was found that the most commonly evoked pattern was movement of the head to the stimulated side together with flexion of the ipsilateral forelimb and extension of the contralateral forelimb (26.5% of sites).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 911-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. M. White ◽  
Mario Cibelli ◽  
Laszlo Urban ◽  
Bernd Nilius ◽  
J. Graham McGeown ◽  
...  

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) is a calcium-permeable nonselective cation channel, originally described in 2000 by research teams led by Schultz ( Nat Cell Biol 2: 695 –702, 2000) and Liedtke ( Cell 103: 525–535, 2000). TRPV4 is now recognized as being a polymodal ionotropic receptor that is activated by a disparate array of stimuli, ranging from hypotonicity to heat and acidic pH. Importantly, this ion channel is constitutively expressed and capable of spontaneous activity in the absence of agonist stimulation, which suggests that it serves important physiological functions, as does its widespread dissemination throughout the body and its capacity to interact with other proteins. Not surprisingly, therefore, it has emerged more recently that TRPV4 fulfills a great number of important physiological roles and that various disease states are attributable to the absence, or abnormal functioning, of this ion channel. Here, we review the known characteristics of this ion channel's structure, localization and function, including its activators, and examine its functional importance in health and disease.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1604
Author(s):  
Patrick A. DeSouza ◽  
Xuan Qu ◽  
Hao Chen ◽  
Bhuvic Patel ◽  
Christopher A. Maher ◽  
...  

Transcription occurs across more than 70% of the human genome and more than half of currently annotated genes produce functional noncoding RNAs. Of these transcripts, the majority—long, noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs)—are greater than 200 nucleotides in length and are necessary for various roles in the cell. It is increasingly appreciated that these lncRNAs are relevant in both health and disease states, with the brain expressing the largest number of lncRNAs compared to other organs. Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive, fatal brain tumor that demonstrates remarkable intratumoral heterogeneity, which has made the development of effective therapies challenging. The cooperation between genetic and epigenetic alterations drives rapid adaptation that allows therapeutic evasion and recurrence. Given the large repertoire of lncRNAs in normal brain tissue and the well-described roles of lncRNAs in molecular and cellular processes, these transcripts are important to consider in the context of GBM heterogeneity and treatment resistance. Herein, we review the general mechanisms and biological roles of lncRNAs, with a focus on GBM, as well as RNA-based therapeutics currently in development.


Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Campbell ◽  
Chengyuan Wu

The brain-electrode interface is arguably one of the most important areas of study in neuroscience today. A stronger foundation in this topic will allow us to probe the architecture of the brain in unprecedented functional detail and augment our ability to intervene in disease states. Over many years, significant progress has been made in this field, but some obstacles have remained elusive—notably preventing glial encapsulation and electrode degradation. In this review, we discuss the tissue response to electrode implantation on acute and chronic timescales, the electrical changes that occur in electrode systems over time, and strategies that are being investigated in order to minimize the tissue response to implantation and maximize functional electrode longevity. We also highlight the current and future clinical applications and relevance of electrode technology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 611-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onur Yilmaz ◽  
Baris Afsar ◽  
Alberto Ortiz ◽  
Mehmet Kanbay

AbstractThe endothelium is the largest organ in the body and recent studies have shown that the endothelial glycocalyx (eGCX) plays a major role in health and disease states. The integrity of eGCX is vital for homoeostasis and disruption of its structure and function plays a major role in several pathologic conditions. An increased understanding of the numerous pathophysiological roles of eGCX may lead to the development of potential surrogate markers for endothelial injury or novel therapeutic targets. This review provides a state-of-the-art update on the structure and function of the eGCX, emphasizing the current understanding of interorgan crosstalk between the eGCX and other organs that might also contribute to the pathogenesis of kidney diseases.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 857-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack M. Gorman

It seems obvious to most people that the brain and the rest of the body interact. Stress seems to worsen most general medical conditions, mortality is higher among widowers than married men, and almost everyone becomes moody when he or she has a viral infection. However, these are mostly anecdotal observations. The precise ways in which mind and body relate in health and disease is more elusive and, at times, controversial.Perhaps the hardest evidence we have for a mind-body connection comes from studies showing that depression is an independent—and, surprisingly, quite a robust—risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Following acute coronary syndrome depression significantly worsens outcome, including increasing all-cause mortality rates.Another well-documented finding, going in the opposite direction, is the high rate of depression experienced by those receiving α-interferon for the treatment of hepatitis C or malignant melanoma. Less secure is whether depression increases risk or worsens prognosis for cancer; why patients with schizophrenia are at greater risk for heart disease and cancer than the general population; if it is true that stress plays a role in exacerbations of multiple sclerosis; and what is the relationship between depression and the risk for Alzheimer's disease. In each there are conflicting epidemiological data and difficulties understanding the neural mechanisms that would broker the relationship between brain and targeted peripheral organ.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 16-19
Author(s):  
George Emanuel ◽  
Jiang He

Abstract:The structure and organization of cells within organs is essential to their function, but nowhere in the body is this more spectacular than the brain. There, sprawling, snowflake-like neurons have grown into a precise arrangement, reaching out to neighboring cells to form neural circuits. Communication within neural circuits, made possible by spatial positioning, forms the basis of our physiology. Recently, a high-resolution cell atlas generated by MERFISH (multiplex error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization) technology has mapped this spectacular organ with unmatched resolution, depth, and scale. The atlas catalogs cells as they exist in the intact biological system and will allow us to learn more about rare cell types and sparsely expressed cell signaling receptors fundamental to health and disease.


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