scholarly journals MAP Training My Brain™: Meditation Plus Aerobic Exercise Lessens Trauma of Sexual Violence More Than Either Activity Alone

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey Shors ◽  
Han Y.M. Chang ◽  
Emma Millon
Keyword(s):  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Training Session ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
History Of ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Brain

Sexual violence against women often leads to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental illness characterized by intrusive thoughts and memories about the traumatic event (Shors and Millon, 2016). These mental processes are obviously generated by the brain but often felt in the body. MAP Training My Brain is a novel clinical intervention that combines mental training of the brain with physical training of the body (Curlik and Shors, 2013; Shors et al., 2014). Each training session begins with 20-min of sitting meditation, followed by 10-min of slow-walking meditation, and ending with 30-min of aerobic exercise at 60–80% of the maximum heart rate (see maptrainmybrain.com). In previous studies, the combination of mental and physical (MAP) training together significantly reduced symptoms of depression and ruminative thoughts, while reducing anxiety (Shors et al., 2014, 2017; Alderman et al., 2016). We also documented positive changes in brain activity during cognitive control and whole-body oxygen consumption in various populations. In the present pilot study, we asked whether the combination of meditation and aerobic exercise during MAP Training would reduce trauma-related thoughts, ruminations, and memories in women and if so, whether the combination would be more effective than either activity alone. To test this hypothesis, interventions were provided to a group of women (n = 105), many of whom had a history of sexual violence (n = 32). Groups were trained with (1) MAP Training, (2) meditation alone, (3) aerobic exercise alone, or (4) not trained. Individuals in training groups completed two sessions a week for at least 6 weeks. MAP Training My Brain significantly reduced post-traumatic cognitions and ruminative thoughts in women with a history of sexual violence, whereas meditation alone, and exercise alone did not. MAP Training significantly enhanced a measure of self-worth, whereas meditation and exercise alone did not. Similar positive effects were observed for all participants, although meditation alone was also effective in reducing trauma-related thoughts. Overall, these data indicate the combination of meditation and exercise is synergistic. As a consequence, MAP Training is preferable and especially so for women who have experienced sexual violence in their past. Simply put, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

scholarly journals A Brief Background on Cannabis: From Plant to Medical Indications

2019 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 412-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda E Klumpers ◽  
David L Thacker
Keyword(s):  
Cannabinoid Receptors ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
The Body ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
History Of ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Loss Of Appetite ◽  
Medical Indications ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Cannabis has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years. As a result of centuries of breeding and selection, there are now over 700 varieties of cannabis that contain hundreds of compounds, including cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids are fatty compounds that are the main biological active constituents of cannabis. Terpenes are volatilecompounds that occur in many plants and have distinct odors. Cannabinoids exert their effect on the body by binding to receptors, specifically cannabinoid receptors types 1 and 2. These receptors, together with endogenous cannabinoids and the systems forsynthesis, transport, and degradation, are called the Endocannabinoid System. The two most prevalent and commonly known cannabinoids in the cannabis plantare delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol. The speed, strength, and type of effects of cannabis vary based on the route of administration. THC is rapidly distributed through the body to fattytissues like the brain and is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system to 11-hydroxy-THC, which is also psychoactive. Cannabis and cannabinoids have been indicated for several medical conditions. There is evidence of efficacy in the symptomatic treatmentof nausea and vomiting, pain, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, loss of appetite, Tourette’s syndrome, and epilepsy. Cannabis hasalso been associated with treatment for glaucoma, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and dystonia, but thereis not good evidence tosupport its efficacy. Side effects of cannabis include psychosis and anxiety, which can be severe. Here, we provided a summary ofthe history of cannabis,its pharmacology, and its medical uses.

An Uncommon Manifestation of a Common Tropical Disease: Disseminated Cysticercosis

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Gangadhar ◽  
D. Santhosh
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscles ◽  
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Rare Form ◽  
Whole Body Mri ◽  
History Of ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
The Brain

Disseminated cysticercosis is a rare form of cysticercosis in which the cysticerci spread throughout the body. We describe the case of a seven-year-old child with disseminated cysticercosis. He presented with a one month history of swelling of the whole body, unable to walk for one month and swelling of both eyes for 20 days. After extensive investigation from superficial musculoskeletal ultrasound B-scan of eye, brain computed tomography, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whole body MRI and pathologic biopsy, the child was diagnosed as having cysticercosis involving the brain, retina and skeletal muscles throughout the whole body.

scholarly journals Perception of the dynamic visual vertical during sinusoidal linear motion

2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 2499-2506 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pomante ◽  
L. P. J. Selen ◽  
W. P. Medendorp
Keyword(s):  
Vestibular System ◽  
Spatial Orientation ◽  
Linear Acceleration ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Motion ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Linear Motion ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Visual Vertical ◽  
The Brain

The vestibular system provides information for spatial orientation. However, this information is ambiguous: because the otoliths sense the gravitoinertial force, they cannot distinguish gravitational and inertial components. As a consequence, prolonged linear acceleration of the head can be interpreted as tilt, referred to as the somatogravic effect. Previous modeling work suggests that the brain disambiguates the otolith signal according to the rules of Bayesian inference, combining noisy canal cues with the a priori assumption that prolonged linear accelerations are unlikely. Within this modeling framework the noise of the vestibular signals affects the dynamic characteristics of the tilt percept during linear whole-body motion. To test this prediction, we devised a novel paradigm to psychometrically characterize the dynamic visual vertical—as a proxy for the tilt percept—during passive sinusoidal linear motion along the interaural axis (0.33 Hz motion frequency, 1.75 m/s2peak acceleration, 80 cm displacement). While subjects ( n=10) kept fixation on a central body-fixed light, a line was briefly flashed (5 ms) at different phases of the motion, the orientation of which had to be judged relative to gravity. Consistent with the model’s prediction, subjects showed a phase-dependent modulation of the dynamic visual vertical, with a subject-specific phase shift with respect to the imposed acceleration signal. The magnitude of this modulation was smaller than predicted, suggesting a contribution of nonvestibular signals to the dynamic visual vertical. Despite their dampening effect, our findings may point to a link between the noise components in the vestibular system and the characteristics of dynamic visual vertical.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A fundamental question in neuroscience is how the brain processes vestibular signals to infer the orientation of the body and objects in space. We show that, under sinusoidal linear motion, systematic error patterns appear in the disambiguation of linear acceleration and spatial orientation. We discuss the dynamics of these illusory percepts in terms of a dynamic Bayesian model that combines uncertainty in the vestibular signals with priors based on the natural statistics of head motion.

scholarly journals A comparative study of impact on cognitive function between diabetic and non-diabetic patients in a tertiary care hospital

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 1547
Author(s):  
Dharnaben A. Patel ◽  
Dhruv J. Patel ◽  
N. D. Kantharia
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
The Body ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Proper Understanding ◽  
History Of ◽  
Control Of Diabetes ◽  
The Brain

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, polyuria, hyperlipidemia etc, resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. It affects various organs of the body including the brain. Cognitive function is the thinking process of the brain. In any chronic disease evaluation of cognitive function is justified as it may affect various common day to day activities.Methods: It is a prospective, observational and non-interventional study. Thirty diabetic patients who were recently started on insulin i.e. within 7 days were enrolled in the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty non diabetic healthy individuals served as a control. Cognitive function was accessed by Adenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE III) at the time of enrollment.Results: The results were analysed using paired t-test. Attention, Memory and Visiospatial ability was significantly reduced in diabetic patients compared to control. Verbal fluency and language was also reduced but the change was not significant. Total ACE III score was significantly reduced in diabetic patients compared to control.Conclusions: Cognitive function is significantly reduced in Diabetic patients recently started on insulin. Hyperglycemia could be the possible reason of cognitive decline. Proper understanding of the natural history of Diabetes and the pathogenesis of cognitive decline as well as control of Diabetes can help to prevent development of cognitive dysfunction.

scholarly journals P11.62 Brain distribution models to select polymer-delivered drugs for the intra-cavity treatment of malignant glioma

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii58-iii58
Author(s):  
J Rowlinson ◽  
P McCrorie ◽  
S Smith ◽  
D Barrett ◽  
D Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Brain Homogenate ◽  
Systemic Toxicity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Label Free ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Franz Cell ◽  
Diffusion Rates ◽  
The Brain

Abstract BACKGROUND Conventional oral or intravenous chemotherapy distributes drugs to the whole body whereby systemic toxicity to healthy parts of the body (e.g. bone marrow failure) limits the maximum dose that can be achieved in the brain. This presents a particular concern for CNS tumours where the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) restricts drug influx from the circulation. The ability to deliver chemotherapy locally at the tumour site offers the opportunity to target residual cancer cells post-surgery whilst minimising systemic toxicity. We have developed a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA/PEG) polymer matrix that forms a porous paste at room temperature when mixed with chemotherapy-containing saline, solidifying only at body temperature, with close apposition to the irregular surgical cavity. It is important that we can observe whether the drugs released from PLGA/PEG can penetrate brain parenchyma beyond the surgical resection margin at therapeutic doses. Currently the only way to measure the distribution of drugs in the body is to inject radioactive drugs into an animal. We aim to establish drug distribution parameters using label-free mass spectrometry imaging methods, prior to selection of drug formulations for clinically-relevant in vivo models. Drugs that penetrate the brain the furthest will be identified as good candidates for localised brain cancer drug delivery using PLGA/PEG paste. MATERIAL AND METHODS Diffusion rates were measured by examining the proportion of olaparib, dasatnib, carboplatin, etoposide, paclitaxel and gemcitabine at 2mg/ml concentration, which passes through 1mm slices of rat brain tissue within Franz cell chambers over a 6 hour period. The spatio-temporal distribution of label-free olaparib and dasatinib within mouse brain homogenate was quantitatively measured using innovative 3D OrbiSIMS, a hybrid time-of-flight / OrbitrapTM secondary ion mass spectrometer. RESULTS Within the Franz cell model, carboplatin and gemcitabine showed the highest diffusion rate diffusion at 16.4 and 6.53 µg/cm2/h respectively whereas olaparib, etoposide and paclitaxel were relatively poorly diffused at 1.87, 3.82 and 2.27 µg/cm2/h respectively. The minimum threshold of OrbiSIMS detection for label-free olaparib and dasatinib ions was 0.025 mg/ml and 0.2 mg/ml respectively throughout brain homogenate. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates different diffusion rates through brain tissue, between label-free chemotherapy drugs of distinct chemistries, with highest diffusion rates observed for carboplatin and gemcitabine. We also demonstrate label-free detection of olaparib and dasatinib using the innovative 3D OrbiSIMS method. These models will facilitate the rapid identification of agents most amenable for localised biomaterial-based chemotherapy delivery with high brain penetrance.

scholarly journals The Kidney Clock Contributes to Timekeeping by the Master Circadian Clock

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihwan Myung ◽  
Mei-Yi Wu ◽  
Chun-Ya Lee ◽  
Amalia Ridla Rahim ◽  
Vuong Hung Truong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
The Body ◽  
Circadian Clocks ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
The Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Body Level ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Master Clock

The kidney harbors one of the strongest circadian clocks in the body. Kidney failure has long been known to cause circadian sleep disturbances. Using an adenine-induced model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in mice, we probe the possibility that such sleep disturbances originate from aberrant circadian rhythms in kidney. Under the CKD condition, mice developed unstable behavioral circadian rhythms. When observed in isolation in vitro, the pacing of the master clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), remained uncompromised, while the kidney clock became a less robust circadian oscillator with a longer period. We find this analogous to the silencing of a strong slave clock in the brain, the choroid plexus, which alters the pacing of the SCN. We propose that the kidney also contributes to overall circadian timekeeping at the whole-body level, through bottom-up feedback in the hierarchical structure of the mammalian circadian clocks.

scholarly journals Transformation of vestibular signals for the decisions of hand choice during whole body motion

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 2392-2400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romy S. Bakker ◽  
Luc P. J. Selen ◽  
W. Pieter Medendorp
Keyword(s):  
Reference Frame ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Hand Preference ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Motion ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Head Orientation ◽  
Inertial Acceleration ◽  
Reach Planning ◽  
The Brain

In daily life, we frequently reach toward objects while our body is in motion. We have recently shown that body accelerations influence the decision of which hand to use for the reach, possibly by modulating the body-centered computations of the expected reach costs. However, head orientation relative to the body was not manipulated, and hence it remains unclear whether vestibular signals contribute in their head-based sensory frame or in a transformed body-centered reference frame to these cost calculations. To test this, subjects performed a preferential reaching task to targets at various directions while they were sinusoidally translated along the lateral body axis, with their head either aligned with the body (straight ahead) or rotated 18° to the left. As a measure of hand preference, we determined the target direction that resulted in equiprobable right/left-hand choices. Results show that head orientation affects this balanced target angle when the body is stationary but does not further modulate hand preference when the body is in motion. Furthermore, reaction and movement times were larger for reaches to the balanced target angle, resembling a competitive selection process, and were modulated by head orientation when the body was stationary. During body translation, reaction and movement times depended on the phase of the motion, but this phase-dependent modulation had no interaction with head orientation. We conclude that the brain transforms vestibular signals to body-centered coordinates at the early stage of reach planning, when the decision of hand choice is computed. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The brain takes inertial acceleration into account in computing the anticipated biomechanical costs that guide hand selection during whole body motion. Whereas these costs are defined in a body-centered, muscle-based reference frame, the otoliths detect the inertial acceleration in head-centered coordinates. By systematically manipulating head position relative to the body, we show that the brain transforms otolith signals into body-centered coordinates at an early stage of reach planning, i.e., before the decision of hand choice is computed.

Convexity Meningioma Presenting as Postpartum Eclampsia

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bello B Shehu ◽  
Nasiru J Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
The Body ◽  
History Of ◽  
Neurological Features ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Tomography Scan ◽  
Progressive Weakness ◽  
In Pregnancy

A 37-year-old woman, Para 5+0 presented with a 1 year history of recurrent convulsions and progressive weakness of the right side of the body. She had been treated for postpartum eclampsia in her last delivery but symptoms recurred 3 months later. Evaluation including computerized tomography scan of the brain suggested a parieto-temporal meningioma, which was completely excised at craniotomy. Histology confirmed this to be a meningioma. The patient was well at 8 months of follow up. The growth of meningiomas may increase during pregnancy due to presence of receptors for progestational hormones in the tumour and the meningioma may become symptomatic in pregnancy, presenting as eclampsia. Close follow up of patients with eclampsia is necessary to identify neurological features that may lead to a diagnosis of meningioma. Early diagnosis is essential if a good outcome is to be ensured.

scholarly journals Vitamin C In Neuropsychiatry

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan M. Pavlović ◽  
Merdin Š. Markišić ◽  
Aleksandra M. Pavlović
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
The Body ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Normal Brain ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Normal Brain Function ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
High Doses ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Vitamins are necessary factors in human development and normal brain function. Vitamin C is a hydrosoluble compound that humans cannot produce; therefore, we are completely dependent on food intake for vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is an important antioxidative agent and is present in high concentrations in neurons and is also crucial for collagen synthesis throughout the body. Ascorbic acid has a role in modulating many essential neurotransmitters, enables neurogenesis in adult brain and protects cells against infection. While SVCT1 enables the absorption of vitamin C in the intestine, SVCT2 is primarily located in the brain. Ascorbate deficiency is classically expressed as scurvy, which is lethal if not treated. However, subclinical deficiencies are probably much more frequent. Potential fields of vitamin C therapy are in neurodegenerative, cerebrovascular and affective diseases, cancer, brain trauma and others. For example, there is some data on its positive effects in Alzheimer’s disease. Various dosing regimes are used, but ascorbate is safe, even in high doses for protracted periods. Better designed studies are needed to elucidate all of the potential therapeutic roles of vitamin C.

The Use of Image Habituation Training with Post-traumatic Stress Disorders

1992 ◽  
Vol 161 (5) ◽  
pp. 658-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Vaughan ◽  
Nicholas Tarrier
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Stress Disorders ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Habituation Training ◽  
Minimal Improvement ◽  
Traumatic Stress Disorders ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Treatment Gains

An exposure treatment for patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is described. Image habituation training (IHT) involves the patient in generating verbal descriptions of the traumatic event and recording these onto an audiotape. After the initial training session with the therapist, homework sessions of self-directed exposure in which the patient visualised the described event in response to listening to the audiotape were carried out. Of ten consecutive patients who received this treatment, six improved considerably after ten homework sessions, two showed moderate improvements, and two showed minimal improvement on a range of outcome measures. There were significant decreases in anxiety between and within homework sessions, suggesting that habituation did occur and was responsible for improvement. Treatment gains were maintained at six-month follow-up.

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