Effects of 16 Weeks of Taekwondo Training on the Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, Circulating Neurotransmitters, and Subjective Well-Being of Obese Postmenopausal Women

We investigated the effects of Taekwondo training on the body composition, serum lipid profiles, plasma neurotransmitter levels, cerebral blood flow velocities, and subjective well-being of 24 obese postmenopausal women. The women were randomly assigned into the experimental (n = 12) and control (n = 12) groups. The experimental group underwent Taekwondo training five times per week for 16 weeks, while the control group did not. All participants underwent evaluation for the following parameters before and after the intervention: body composition; serum lipid profiles; plasma serotonin and dopamine levels; cerebral blood flow velocities; positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) scores; satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) scores. After the intervention, it was observed that the weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and PANAS-NA (negative affect in the PANAS questionnaire) scores were significantly decreased (p < 0.05)—while the plasma serotonin levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05)—in the experimental group. Conversely, there were no significant changes in the cerebral blood flow velocities (p > 0.05). Taekwondo training can be effective in not only reducing obesity, but also in increasing the circulating neurotransmitters and enhancing the subjective well-being of obese postmenopausal women.

Robotic Transcranial Doppler in Non-Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Safety and Efficacy Study

Introduction: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) secondary to vasospasm is a determinate of outcomes following non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). SAH patients are monitored using transcranial doppler (TCD) to measure cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFv). However, the accuracy and precision of manually acquired TCD can be operator dependent. The NovaGuide robotic TCD system attempts to standardize acquisition. This investigation evaluated the safety and efficacy of the NovaGuide system in SAH patients in a Neuro ICU.Methods: We retrospectively identified 48 NovaGuide scans conducted on SAH patients. Mean and maximum middle cerebral artery (MCA) CBFv were obtained from the NovaGuide and the level of agreement between CBFv and computed tomography angiography (CTA) for vasospasm was determined. Safety of NovaGuide acquisition of CBFv was evaluated based on number of complications with central venous lines (CVL) and external ventricular drains (EVD) Results: There was significant agreement between the NovaGuide and CTA (Cohen’s Kappa = 0.74) when maximum MCA CBFv ≥120 cm/s was the threshold for vasospasm. 27/48 scans were carried out with CVLs and EVDs present without negative outcomes. Conclusions: The lack of adverse events associated with EVDs/CVLs and the strong congruence between maximal MCA CBFv and CTA illustrates the diagnostic utility of the NovaGuide.

COMPARATIVE STUDY FOR WAVE SPEED ESTIMATION AT A SINGLE AND TWO MEASUREMENT POINTS

Local wave speed is a prognostic detector that allows the analysis of cardiovascular function. Objectives: This study compared wave speed ([Formula: see text] measurements at single-point and two-point techniques. Material and methods: [Formula: see text] were determined from the cepstral analysis of the blood flow velocities, which identified the arrivals times of reflected waves. The blood velocities waveforms were measured by using phase-contrast magnetic resonance (PCMR) for 20 subjects on young and old healthy subjects. Local wave speed was estimated through the arrivals time of reflections waves ([Formula: see text] and the distance separating the measurement site to reflection area ([Formula: see text] or the distance separating the two measurement sites. Results: Our obtained results were in total agreement with reference values reported in the literature. Moreover, the detected results show that there is a high correlation ([Formula: see text]) between the two methods. Conclusion: The analysis of the wave speed variations with advancing age is also achieved out through different regression models.

Cerebral Metabolic Crisis in Pediatric Cerebral Malaria

Cerebral metabolic energy crisis (CMEC), often defined as a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate: pyruvate ratio (LPR) >40, occurs in various diseases and is associated with poor neurologic outcomes. Cerebral malaria (CM) causes significant mortality and neurodisability in children worldwide. Multiple factors that could lead to CMEC are plausible in these patients, but its frequency has not been explored. Fifty-three children with CM were enrolled and underwent analysis of CSF lactate and pyruvate levels. All 53 patients met criteria for a CMEC (median CSF LPR of 72.9 [interquartile range [IQR]: 58.5–93.3]). Half of children met criteria for an ischemic CMEC (median LPR of 85 [IQR: 73–184]) and half met criteria for a nonischemic CMEC (median LPR of 60 [IQR: 54–79]. Children also underwent transcranial doppler ultrasound investigation. Cerebral blood flow velocities were more likely to meet diagnostic criteria for low flow (<2 standard deviation from normal) or vasospasm in children with an ischemic CMEC (73%) than in children with a nonischemic CMEC (20%, p = 0.04). Children with an ischemic CMEC had poorer outcomes (pediatric cerebral performance category of 3–6) than those with a nonischemic CMEC (46 vs. 22%, p = 0.03). CMEC was ubiquitous in this patient population and the processes underlying the two subtypes (ischemic and nonischemic) may represent targets for future adjunctive therapies.

Evaluation of Haemodynamics and Morphology of Carotid Artery in Nonarteritic Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy

Purpose To compare haemodynamics and morphological changes of carotid artery in patients with unilateral non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with their contralateral side. Methods Twenty-six patients with unilateral NAION were included in this retrospective study. Colour Doppler imaging (CDI) was used to measure the haemodynamics and morphological changes of carotid artery, including blood flow velocities of common carotid artery (CCA) as well as the diameter of CCA, internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA) and the thickness of carotid artery plaque. A paired-sample t test was performed to analyze those carotid artery hemodynamics and morphological changes between the affected eye and the unaffected contralateral eye. Subgroup analysis of the blood flow velocities of CCA was performed by dividing patients into two groups according to the presence/ absence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension or hyperlipidaemia. Results The average blood flow velocity of CCA in the affected eyes was 0.45 ± 0.13m/s, greater than that in the unaffected eyes (0.41 ± 0.15m/s) (p = 0.003; t=-3.321). Subgroup analysis found this significant bilateral difference was still existed in groups of diabetes mellitus, non-diabetes mellitus, and hypertension except for groups of non-hypertension, hyperlipidamemia, and non-hyperlipidaemia. The thickness of carotid artery plaque was 0.75 ± 1.33mm in the affected eyes, insignificantly differed from that in the unaffected eyes (0.55 ± 0.77mm) (p = 0.4). There were no difference in the diameters of the CCA, ICA, and ECA between the affected and unaffected eyes (p = 0.862, 0.758, and 0.72, respectively). Conclusions Increased CCA blood flow velocity might be associated with the development of NAION. Further study on larger scale are needed to confirm our findings.

Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor PJ34 Reduces Brain Damage after Stroke in the Neonatal Mouse Brain

The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor PJ34 has recently been reported to increase cerebral blood flow, via the endothelial NO synthase, in the naive mouse brain throughout life. We addressed here the benefits of PJ34 after neonatal ischemia on hemodynamics and components of the neurovascular unit including the blood-brain barrier (BBB), microglia, and astrocytes. Nine-day-old mice were subjected to permanent MCA occlusion (pMCAo), and treated with either PBS or PJ34 (10 mg/kg). Mean blood-flow velocities (mBFV) were measured in both internal carotid arteries (ICA) and basilar trunk (BT) using Doppler-ultrasonography. BBB opening was assessed through somatostatin-receptor type-2 internalization and immunohistochemistry at 24 and 48 h. Lesion areas were measured 8 days after ischemia. In PBS-treated mice, pMCAo involved a drop in mBFV in the left ICA (p < 0.001 vs. basal), whereas mBFV remained stable in both right ICA and BT. PJ34 prevented this drop in the left ICA (NS vs. basal) and increased mBFV in the right ICA (p = 0.0038 vs. basal). No modification was observed in the BT. In contrast to PBS, BBB disruption extent and astrocyte demise were reduced in PJ34 mice only in the rostral brain at 48 h and 8 days post-pMCAo, respectively. Accordingly, 8 days after pMCAo, affected areas were reduced in the rostral brain (Bregma +0.86 and +0.14 mm), whereas total tissue loss was not reduced after PJ34 (4.0 ± 3.1%) vs. PBS (5.8 ± 3.4%). These results show that PJ34 reduced BBB permeability, astrocyte demise, and tissue loss (particularly in the rostral territories), suggesting that collateral supply mainly proceeds from the anterior ICA’s branches in the ischemic neonatal mouse brain.