scholarly journals Headaches and Magnesium: Mechanisms, Bioavailability, Therapeutic Efficacy and Potential Advantage of Magnesium Pidolate

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2660
Author(s):  
Jeanette A. Maier ◽  
Gisele Pickering ◽  
Elena Giacomoni ◽  
Alessandra Cazzaniga ◽  
Paolo Pellegrino
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Magnesium Deficiency ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Good Penetration ◽  
Magnesium Salts ◽  
Molecular Effects ◽  
Tension Type Headaches ◽  
The Brain ◽  
High Bioavailability

Magnesium deficiency may occur for several reasons, such as inadequate intake or increased gastrointestinal or renal loss. A large body of literature suggests a relationship between magnesium deficiency and mild and moderate tension-type headaches and migraines. A number of double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials have shown that magnesium is efficacious in relieving headaches and have led to the recommendation of oral magnesium for headache relief in several national and international guidelines. Among several magnesium salts available to treat magnesium deficiency, magnesium pidolate may have high bioavailability and good penetration at the intracellular level. Here, we discuss the cellular and molecular effects of magnesium deficiency in the brain and the clinical evidence supporting the use of magnesium for the treatment of headaches and migraines.

scholarly journals Flexible categorization in perceptual decision making

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genís Prat-Ortega ◽  
Klaus Wimmer ◽  
Alex Roxin ◽  
Jaime de la Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Network Models ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Drift Diffusion ◽  
Perceptual Decision ◽  
Attractor Dynamics ◽  
Attractor Model ◽  
Winner Take All ◽  
The Brain

AbstractPerceptual decisions require the brain to make categorical choices based on accumulated sensory evidence. The underlying computations have been studied using either phenomenological drift diffusion models or neurobiological network models exhibiting winner-take-all attractor dynamics. Although both classes of models can account for a large body of experimental data, it remains unclear to what extent their dynamics are qualitatively equivalent. Here we show that, unlike the drift diffusion model, the attractor model can operate in different integration regimes: an increase in the stimulus fluctuations or the stimulus duration promotes transitions between decision-states leading to a crossover between weighting mostly early evidence (primacy regime) to weighting late evidence (recency regime). Between these two limiting cases, we found a novel regime, which we name flexible categorization, in which fluctuations are strong enough to reverse initial categorizations, but only if they are incorrect. This asymmetry in the reversing probability results in a non-monotonic psychometric curve, a novel and distinctive feature of the attractor model. Finally, we show psychophysical evidence for the crossover between integration regimes predicted by the attractor model and for the relevance of this new regime. Our findings point to correcting transitions as an important yet overlooked feature of perceptual decision making.

scholarly journals Effects of Resistance Exercise on Cerebral Redox Regulation and Cognition: An Interplay Between Muscle and Brain

Antioxidants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo A. Pinho ◽  
Aderbal S. Aguiar ◽  
Zsolt Radák
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Resistance Training ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Redox Regulation ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Complete Understanding ◽  
Molecular Effects ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Systematic Database

This review highlighted resistance training as an important training type for the brain. Most studies that use physical exercise for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases have focused on aerobic physical exercise, revealing different behavioral, biochemical, and molecular effects. However, recent studies have shown that resistance training can also significantly contribute to the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases as well as to the maintenance, development, and recovery of brain activities through specific neurochemical adaptations induced by the training. In this scenario we observed the results of several studies published in different journals in the last 20 years, focusing on the effects of resistance training on three main neurological aspects: Neuroprotective mechanisms, oxidative stress, and cognition. Systematic database searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline were performed to identify peer-reviewed studies from the 2000s. Combinations of keywords related to brain disease, aerobic/resistance, or strength physical exercise were used. Other variables were not addressed in this review but should be considered for a complete understanding of the effects of training in the brain.

scholarly journals Androgens and cardiac diseases

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vittorio Bianchi ◽  
Alessandro Mezzani
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular System ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Testosterone Therapy ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies

Although androgens have been considered deleterious for the cardiovascular system, recent data have demonstrated favourable testosterone effects on cardiac and vascular remodeling and clinical outcome. However, the cardiovascular risk-benefit profile of testosterone therapy remains largely elusive due to lack of well-designed and adequately powered randomized clinical trials. In any case, a large body of clinical evidence underlines that low plasma testosterone levels should be considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and that the evaluation of sex steroids should be included in the routine clinical evaluation of cardiac patients. A better understanding of the mechanism regulating the effects of testosterone on cardiovascular system could lead to novel therapeutic strategies in several cardiac patient populations, such as chronic heart failure patients and those who recently underwent cardiac surgery.

scholarly journals On the methods for reactivation and replay analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1799) ◽  
pp. 20190231 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tingley ◽  
Adrien Peyrache
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Temporal Structure ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Neural Data ◽  
History Of ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Neuronal Patterns ◽  
External Stimuli ◽  
The Brain

A major task in the history of neurophysiology has been to relate patterns of neural activity to ongoing external stimuli. More recently, this approach has branched out to relating current neural activity patterns to external stimuli or experiences that occurred in the past or future. Here, we aim to review the large body of methodological approaches used towards this goal, and to assess the assumptions each makes with reference to the statistics of neural data that are commonly observed. These methods primarily fall into two categories, those that quantify zero-lag relationships without examining temporal evolution, termed reactivation , and those that quantify the temporal structure of changing activity patterns, termed replay . However, no two studies use the exact same approach, which prevents an unbiased comparison between findings. These observations should instead be validated by multiple and, if possible, previously established tests. This will help the community to speak a common language and will eventually provide tools to study, more generally, the organization of neuronal patterns in the brain. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Memory reactivation: replaying events past, present and future’.

Greater Occipital Nerve Stimulation Boosts Associative Memory in Older Individuals: A Randomized Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 1020-1029
Author(s):  
Alison M. Luckey ◽  
S. Lauren McLeod ◽  
Ian H. Robertson ◽  
Wing Ting To ◽  
Sven Vanneste
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Occipital Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
The Brain

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (tES) is a new approach that aims to stimulate the brain. Recently, we have developed tES approaches to enhance plasticity that modulate cortical activity via the greater occipital nerve (ON) in a “bottom-up” way. Thirty subjects between the ages of 55 and 70 years were enrolled and tested using a double-blind, sham-controlled, and randomized design. Half of the participants received active stimulation, while the other half received sham stimulation. Our results demonstrate that ON-tES can enhance memory in older individuals after one session, with effects persisting up to 28 days after stimulation. The hypothesized mechanism by which ON-tES enhances memory is activation of the locus coeruleus–noradrenaline (LC-NA) pathway. It is likely that this pathway was activated after ON-tES, as supported by observed changes in α-amylase concentrations, a biomarker for noradrenaline. There were no significant or long-lasting side effects observed during stimulation. Clinicaltrial.gov (NCT03467698).

scholarly journals Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Maffioletti ◽  
Alessandra Minelli ◽  
Daniela Tardito ◽  
Massimo Gennarelli
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Pharmacological Treatments ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Reciprocal Interactions ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
Molecular Effects ◽  
Molecular Bases ◽  
The Brain

Despite the extensive research conducted in recent decades, the molecular mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) and relative evidence-based treatments remain unclear. Various hypotheses have been successively proposed, involving different biological systems. This narrative review aims to critically illustrate the main pathogenic hypotheses of MDD, ranging from the historical ones based on the monoaminergic and neurotrophic theories, through the subsequent neurodevelopmental, glutamatergic, GABAergic, inflammatory/immune and endocrine explanations, until the most recent evidence postulating a role for fatty acids and the gut microbiota. Moreover, the molecular effects of established both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for MDD are also reviewed. Overall, the existing literature indicates that the molecular mechanisms described in the context of these different hypotheses, rather than representing alternative ones to each other, are likely to contribute together, often with reciprocal interactions, to the development of MDD and to the effectiveness of treatments, and points at the need for further research efforts in this field.

scholarly journals M211. NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SHI-ZHEN-AN-SHEN-TANG, A CHINESE HERB FORMULA ON MICE EXPOSED TO CUPRIZONE

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S216-S217
Author(s):  
Chao Ma ◽  
Yan Wu ◽  
Pei Chen ◽  
Yuan Jia ◽  
Dongqing Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Dose ◽  
Neuroprotective Effect ◽  
Chinese Herb ◽  
Large Body ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Neuregulin 1 ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Different Doses ◽  
Medium Dose

Abstract Background Our previous study indicated a therapeutic effect of Shi-Zhen-An-Shen-Tang (SZAST), a Chinese herb formula, on schizophrenia, but the related mechanism is unknown(citation). A large body of evidence suggests the important role of white matter of the brain in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of SZAST on schizophrenia with demyelinated mice. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were given mixed cuprizone (CPZ, a copper chelator, 0.2 %, w/w) rodent chow for six successive weeks to induce demyelination. During the last two weeks, mice were given an oral gavage of saline, or SZAST of three different doses (a low dose of 5.5g·kg-1·d-1, a medium dose of 8.24g·kg-1·d-1, or a high dose of 10.98 g·kg-1·d-1), or quetiapine, respectively. Behavioral tests were conducted after the last treatment. Meanwhile, the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neuregulin-1(NRG1) in the brain was tested by immunohistochemistry staining or Western Blot. Results Mice exposed to CPZ for six weeks showed obvious schizophrenia-like behaviors, including lower nest-building activity, sensory gating activity, and higher locomotor activity. CPZ-fed mice also displayed a lower myelin density in the corpus callosum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex and a reduction of MBP and NRG1 protein in the hippocampus compared with controls. Both quetiapine and SZAST significantly alleviated the abnormal schizophrenia-like behaviors and the impairment of myelin sheath in CPZ-fed mice, however, SZAST with medium dose showed better neuroprotective effect than the low dose or the high dose of SZAST. Furthermore, the expression of NRG1protein in the hippocampus was slightly, but not significantly increased in all SZAST-treated and quetiapine-treated groups. Discussion These results indicate that the neuroprotective effect of SZAST in demyelinated mice might partially relate to remyelination in the hippocampus in CPZ-fed mice.

scholarly journals MEDICINAL HERBS AND PHYTOCHEMICALS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION: A REVIEW

2019 ◽  
pp. 8-14
Author(s):  
APOORVA HA ◽  
SEEMA MEHDI ◽  
KRISHNA KL ◽  
NABEEL K
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Primary Hypothesis ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Additional Option

Depression is a condition of no mood and loss of interest in any activity that can diminish a person’s thinking, conduct, tendencies, emotional state, and a sense of well-being. Although there is a conventional class of medication which have been beneficial in the treatment of depression, current studies have reported having side effects which can be minimized by the intervention of herbs and phytochemicals. Most of the studies have proven the various mechanisms and have started to research a very ground-breaking method by glancing the ancient treatmen. Where this new approach of using the herbs and phytochemicals has shown better results alone and in combination with conventional drugs which has shown lesser adverse effects. The practice of phytomedicine is an additional option for the treatment of depression. In the various segments of treating the depression, the mainstream can be a breakthrough including phytoconstituents. In this aspect, there are many contributions for the treatment of the depression acting to the neuronal level signaling and the phytoconstituents also have shown some basic mechanisms in the treatment of depression as that of the conventional medications following some primary hypothesis and signaling pathways and life interactions that effects the brain in either way to treat the depression in all sort of way. Clinical evidence is required to provide backing to the safety and effectiveness of herbs and phytochemicals alone or in combination with currently available drugs to overcome the reported side effects during the treatment of depression.

scholarly journals Acute sickness behaviour: an immune system-to-brain communication?

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 761-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
UTÉ VOLLMER-CONNA
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Adaptive Function ◽  
Sickness Behaviour ◽  
Specific Symptom ◽  
Seminal Paper ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Brain

Over the past 20 years, psychoneuroimmunological research has produced a large body of evidence that challenges the historically dominant view that the immune system operates in an autonomous manner independent of other physiological systems. Today, there is little doubt that the brain and the immune system are intimately linked and capable of reciprocal communication (Ader et al. 1991). Despite the acknowledged bi-directional nature of the brain–immune system connection, the predominant focus of study has been on the effects of psychological and behavioural events (e.g. stress) on immune responses and disease processes, and the mechanisms underlying such effects (see Kusnekov & Rabin, 1994; Maier et al. 1994; Rozlog et al. 1999). However, considerable interest in the possibilities of immune-system-to-brain communication was initiated by a seminal paper considering the biological basis of behaviour in sick animals (Hart, 1988). Subsequently, the immunological determinants of the behavioural, cognitive and emotional changes associated with acute illness, as well as with more chronic psychopathological states (e.g. depression) have become the subject of rapidly expanding areas of research (e.g. Kent et al. 1992; Lloyd et al. 1992; Hickie & Lloyd, 1995; Maes et al. 1995a; Rothwell & Hopkins, 1995; Dantzer et al. 1996; Maier & Watkins, 1998; Vollmer-Conna et al. 1998; Maes, 1999).The main objective of this editorial is to provide a succinct overview of current knowledge of the normal behavioural correlates of acute infective illness, their adaptive function and underlying mechanisms. Elucidation of the processes involved in the appearance, maintenance and inhibition of ‘normal’ sickness behaviour is important if extrapolations from this phenomenon to more chronic psychopathological conditions are to provide more than a new label for poorly understood non-specific symptom clusters.

Gut–brain axis: Physiology and pathology

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Petrella ◽  
Giuseppe Nisticò ◽  
Robert Nisticò
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Gastrointestinal Function ◽  
Gut Flora ◽  
Intestinal Homeostasis ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Dietary Strategies

A large body of research has shown the presence of a complex pathway of communication between gut and brain. It is now recognized that, through this pathway, microbiota can influence intestinal homeostasis and modulate brain plasticity in normal and pathological conditions. This chapter provides an overview of preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the possible mechanisms whereby microbiota can influence gastrointestinal function and stress-related behaviour. Since normalization of gut flora can prevent changes in behaviour, the authors further postulate that the gut–brain axis might represent a possible target for pharmacological and dietary strategies aimed at improving intestinal and mental health.

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