scholarly journals Neuropsychological rehabilitation, neuroimaging and neuroplasticity: A clinical commentary

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
George P. Prigatano ◽  
Lucia Braga ◽  
Spring Flores Johnson ◽  
Lígia M.N. Souza
Keyword(s):  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Spontaneous Recovery ◽  
Motor Functioning ◽  
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation ◽  
New Era ◽  
Brain Changes ◽  
Initial Impressions ◽  
Rehabilitation Hospitals ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

Initial brain imaging studies on recovery of motor functioning after stroke suggested their potential prognostic value in neurorehabilitation. However, the value of brain imaging in documenting brain changes associated with cognitive and behavioral treatment effects seem less likely. Also, neuroimaging studies at that time seem to have little, if any, value for treatment planning. Advances in neuroimaging technology are beginning to challenge these initial impressions. In this clinical commentary, we propose that advances in the field of neuroimaging have relevance for the future development of neuropsychological rehabilitation. Neuropsychological rehabilitation is entering a new era which involves collaboration with neuroimaging and associated studies on neuroplasticity. We recognize that this may seem “aspirational” rather than practical in most rehabilitation settings. However, we provide examples of how this can be achieved as illustrated by collaborative efforts of clinicians and scientists in the SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals in Brazil. We also review selective papers on neuroplasticity, spontaneous recovery and diaschisis that have relevance for research which will expand and further develop the field of neuropsychological rehabilitation.

Introduction and overview of the special issue “Brain imaging and aging”: The new era of neuroimaging in aging research

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsutoshi Furukawa ◽  
Aiko Ishiki ◽  
Naoki Tomita ◽  
Yuta Onaka ◽  
Haruka Saito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
New Era

scholarly journals Associations Between Retinal Microvascular Changes and Dementia, Cognitive Functioning, and Brain Imaging Abnormalities: A Systematic Review

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 983-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie M Heringa ◽  
Willem H Bouvy ◽  
Esther van den Berg ◽  
Annette C Moll ◽  
L Jaap Kappelle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Vascular Lesions ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Microvascular Changes ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Brain Changes ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies ◽  
The Brain

Retinal microvascular changes can be visualized noninvasively and have been associated with cognitive decline and brain changes in relation to aging and vascular disease. We systematically reviewed studies, published between 1990 and November 2012, on the association between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive functioning, and brain imaging abnormalities, in the context of aging and vascular risk factors. In cross-sectional studies (k = 26), retinal microvascular changes were associated with the presence of dementia (range of odds ratios (ORs) 1.17;5.57), with modest decrements in cognitive functioning in nondemented people (effect sizes -0.25;0.03), and with brain imaging abnormalities, including atrophy and vascular lesions (ORs 0.94;2.95). Longitudinal studies were more sparse ( k = 9) and showed no consistent associations between retinal microvascular changes and dementia or cognitive dysfunctioning 3 to 15 years later (ORs and hazard ratios 0.77;1.55). However, there were indications of prospective associations with brain imaging abnormalities ((ORs) 0.81;3.19). In conclusion, particularly in cross-sectional studies there is a correlation between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive impairment, and brain imaging abnormalities. Associations are strongest for more severe retinal microvascular abnormalities. Retinal microvascular abnormalities may offer an important window on the brain for etiological studies.

scholarly journals Bullying at Workplace and Brain-Imaging Correlates

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Nolfe ◽  
Mario Cirillo ◽  
Alessandro Iavarone ◽  
Alberto Negro ◽  
Elisabetta Garofalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Hippocampal Volume ◽  
Whole Brain ◽  
Brain Volumes ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Psychiatric Disturbances ◽  
Brain Changes ◽  
Stress At Work ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between psychosocial stress at work and mental health outcome is well-known. Brain-imaging studies hypothesize morphological brain modifications connected to work-related stress. To our knowledge this is the first study describing the link between work characteristics and brain imaging in a sample of work-related psychiatric patients assessed according to standardized clinical and diagnostic criteria. The aims of the study are: (1) to evaluate hippocampal and whole brain volumes in work-related psychiatric disturbances; (2) to verify the relationship between brain changes and the anxious and/or depressive symptoms; (3) to observe the relationship between the brain changes and the degree of the bullying at workplace. The hippocampus and whole brain volumes of 23 patients with work-related adjustment-disorders were compared with 15 controls by means of MRI. MR images highlight a smaller hippocampal volume in patients compared with controls. Significant reduction in the patients’ gray matter was found in three brain areas: right inferior temporal gyrus, left cuneus, left inferior occipital gyrus. The reduction of the hippocampi volumes was related to work distress and, above all, to bullying at workplace. The results confirm that the morphological brain abnormalities could be involved in work-related psychiatric disturbances.

Unbiased estimation of particle number and sizes using the new stereological tools: the disector, the fractionator, the selector, and the nucleator — or just point-sampled intercepts

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 428-429
Author(s):  
H.J.G. Gundersen
Keyword(s):  
Particle Number ◽  
Small Distance ◽  
Parallel Plane ◽  
Unbiased Estimation ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
New Era ◽  
Size And Shape ◽  
Distinct Property ◽  
Sectioned Tissue

Previously, all stereological estimation of particle number and sizes were based on models and notoriously gave biased results, were very inefficient to use and difficult to justify. For all references to old methods and a direct comparison with unbiased methods see recent reviews.The publication in 1984 of the DISECTOR, the first unbiased stereological probe for sampling and counting 3—D objects irrespective of their size and shape, signalled the new era in stereology — and give rise to a number of remarkably simple and efficient techniques based on its distinct property: It is the only known way to obtain an unbiased sample of 3-D objects (cells, organelles, etc). The principle is simple: within a 2-D unbiased frame count or sample only cells which are not hit by a parallel plane at a known, small distance h.The area of the frame and h must be known, which might sometimes in itself be a problem, albeit usually a small one. A more severe problem may arise because these constants are known at the scale of the fixed, embedded and sectioned tissue which is often shrunken considerably.

Drug Induced Changes in Cell Organelles

1968 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 110-111
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Luse
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Cell Organelles ◽  
Riboflavin Deficiency ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
New Era ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Cellular Pathology ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
The Impact

In the mid-nineteenth century Virchow revolutionized pathology by introduction of the concept of “cellular pathology”. Today, a century later, this term has increasing significance in health and disease. We now are in the beginning of a new era in pathology, one which might well be termed “organelle pathology” or “subcellular pathology”. The impact of lysosomal diseases on clinical medicine exemplifies this role of pathology of organelles in elucidation of disease today.Another aspect of cell organelles of prime importance is their pathologic alteration by drugs, toxins, hormones and malnutrition. The sensitivity of cell organelles to minute alterations in their environment offers an accurate evaluation of the site of action of drugs in the study of both function and toxicity. Examples of mitochondrial lesions include the effect of DDD on the adrenal cortex, riboflavin deficiency on liver cells, elevated blood ammonia on the neuron and some 8-aminoquinolines on myocardium.

A new tool for rapid development of electron microscopy negatives and micrographs: Initial impressions of the MOHR/PRO-8 processor

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 972-973
Author(s):  
James C. Long
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Processing Time ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Processing Times ◽  
Initial Impressions ◽  
Transport Method

Over the years, many techniques and products have been developed to reduce the amount of time spent in a darkroom processing electron microscopy negatives and micrographs. One of the latest tools, effective in this effort, is the Mohr/Pro-8 film and rc paper processor.At the time of writing, a unit has been recently installed in the photographic facilities of the Electron Microscopy Center at Texas A&M University. It is being evaluated for use with TEM sheet film, SEM sheet film, 35mm roll film (B&W), and rc paper.Originally designed for use in the phototypesetting industry, this processor has only recently been introduced to the field of electron microscopy.The unit is a tabletop model, approximately 1.5 × 1.5 × 2.0 ft, and uses a roller transport method of processing. It has an adjustable processing time of 2 to 6.5 minutes, dry-to-dry. The installed unit has an extended processing switch, enabling processing times of 8 to 14 minutes to be selected.

Dysarthric Sentence Intelligibility

1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1282-1293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Mertz Garcia ◽  
Paul A. Dagenais
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Presentation Mode ◽  
Contextual Influences ◽  
Motor Functioning ◽  
Video Presentation ◽  
Independent Information ◽  
Communicative Process ◽  
Presentation Formats ◽  
Sentence Intelligibility ◽  
Audio Video

This study examined changes in the sentence intelligibility scores of speakers with dysarthria in association with different signal-independent factors (contextual influences). This investigation focused on the presence or absence of iconic gestures while speaking sentences with low or high semantic predictiveness. The speakers were 4 individuals with dysarthria, who varied from one another in terms of their level of speech intelligibility impairment, gestural abilities, and overall level of motor functioning. Ninety-six inexperienced listeners (24 assigned to each speaker) orthographically transcribed 16 test sentences presented in an audio + video or audio-only format. The sentences had either low or high semantic predictiveness and were spoken by each speaker with and without the corresponding gestures. The effects of signal-independent factors (presence or absence of iconic gestures, low or high semantic predictiveness, and audio + video or audio-only presentation formats) were analyzed for individual speakers. Not all signal-independent information benefited speakers similarly. Results indicated that use of gestures and high semantic predictiveness improved sentence intelligibility for 2 speakers. The other 2 speakers benefited from high predictive messages. The audio + video presentation mode enhanced listener understanding for all speakers, although there were interactions related to specific speaking situations. Overall, the contributions of relevant signal-independent information were greater for the speakers with more severely impaired intelligibility. The results are discussed in terms of understanding the contribution of signal-independent factors to the communicative process.

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