Improve Brain Function Research Articles

The effect and mechanism of exercise for post-stroke pain.

One of the common negative effects of a stroke that seriously lowers patients' quality of life is post-stroke pain (PSP). Thus, exercise in PSP management has become a hot research topic. The main advantages of exercise therapy are affordability and ease of acceptance by patients compared to other treatment methods. Therefore, this article reviews the effectiveness and possible mechanisms of exercise interventions for PSP. Exercise training for patients with PSP not only improves physical function but also effectively reduces pain intensity and attenuates the behavioral response to pain. In addition, exercise therapy can improve brain function and modulate levels of pro-inflammatory and neurotrophic factors to exert specific analgesic effects. Potential mechanisms for exercise intervention include modulation of synaptic plasticity in the anterior cingulate gyrus, modulation of endogenous opioids in vivo, reversal of brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression, inhibition of purinergic receptor (P2X4R, P2X7R) expression, and inhibition of microglia activation. However, current research on exercise for PSP remains limited, and the sustainable benefits of exercise interventions for PSP need to be further investigated.

Running exercise improves spatial learning and memory ability and enhances angiogenesis in the cerebral cortex via endogenous nitric oxide

BackgroundThe molecular mechanisms by which exercise improves brain function and capillaries in the cerebral cortex are unclear. Exercise can increase the expression of nitric oxide (NO) in the brain, and endogenous NO is thought to exert beneficial effects on proangiogenic factors, antiangiogenic factors and brain function. Therefore, we hypothesized that running exercise might improve brain function and enhance angiogenesis through endogenous NO. Methods and resultsThe following three groups of rats were administered intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections before running exercise each day for 4 weeks: exercise+L-NAME group (i.c.v. L-NAME, an NO synthase blocker, dose: 1 μmol/μl and 5 μl/day; treadmill exercise, 20 min/day), exercise group (i.c.v. normal saline, 5 μl/day; treadmill exercise, 20 min/day), and sham group (i.c.v. normal saline, 5 μl/day; no treadmill exercise). Subsequently, the spatial learning and memory abilities were tested using a Morris water maze, and the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the cerebral cortex in each group of rats was measured using a method involving nitric acid reductase and metabolic chemistry. The parameters of the cortical capillaries were quantitatively investigated using an immunohistochemistry technique and stereological methods. The expression levels of proangiogenic factors (VEGF and FGF-2) and an antiangiogenic inhibitor (endostatin) in the cerebral cortex were tested using a Western blot analysis. Running exercise significantly improved the rats' spatial learning and memory abilities and increased NOS activity in the cortex. Running exercise also subsequently improved the expression of proangiogenic factors (VEGF and FGF-2) and the length, volume and surface area of capillaries and reduced the expression of antiangiogenic factors (endostatin) in the cortex. In contrast, the L-NAME treatment attenuated the effects of running exercise. ConclusionsRunning exercise regulates proangiogenic factors, antiangiogenic factors and angiogenesis in the cerebral cortex via a partially NO-dependent mechanism, and influencing endogenous NO might potentially affect the exercise-related beneficial effects on cognitive ability and cortical capillaries.

Effect of combined use of cerebral oximetry and electroencephalogram monitoring on the incidence of perioperative neurocognitive disorders in adult cardiac and non-cardiac surgery: A systematic review of randomized and non-randomized trials

Background: There is insufficient evidence to recommend using either intraoperative cerebral oximetry or (processed) electroencephalogram (EEG) alone for preventing perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs). Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of combined use of cerebral oximetry and electroencephalogram-guided anesthesia on the incidence of PNDs in adult patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac interventions. Methods: A PICOS - based systematic review of English articles using Pubmed and Embase (from inception to August 2022) was performed. There were no exclusion criteria regarding the type of the study. Abstract proceedings and new study protocols or ongoing studies were not included. Review articles were analyzed in search of eligible references. All possible terms that were illustrative of PNDs were used. Results: Among the 63 full manuscripts that were analyzed in detail, 15 met the inclusion criteria. We found 2 retrospective, 8 prospective observational and 5 randomized controlled trials of which 1 did not evaluate the use of neuromonitoring in the randomization process. The definition and the methods used to diagnose PNDs were very heterogeneous. Only 8 studies used an algorithm to avoid/treat cerebral oxygen desaturation and/or to treat EEG abnormalities. Overall, there was a tendency towards less PNDs in studies where such an algorithm was used. Conclusions: Our results suggest that integrating information obtained from cerebral oximetry and an EEG monitor may reduce the incidence of PNDs whenever an adapted algorithm is used to improve brain function.

The role of exerkines on brain mitochondria: a mini-review.

Exercise benefits many organ systems, including having a panacea-like effect on the brain. For example, aerobic exercise improves cognition and attention and reduces the risk of brain-related diseases, such as dementia, stress, and depression. Recent advances suggest that endocrine signaling from peripheral systems, such as skeletal muscle, mediates the effects of exercise on the brain. Consequently, it has been proposed that factors secreted by all organs in response to physical exercise should be more broadly termed the "exerkines." Accumulating findings suggest that exerkines derived from skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissues directly impact brain mitochondrial function. Mitochondria play a pivotal role in regulating neuronal energy metabolism, neurotransmission, cell repair, and maintenance in the brain, and therefore exerkines may act via impacting brain mitochondria to improve brain function and disease resistance. Therefore, herein we review studies investigating the impact of muscle-, liver-, and adipose tissue-derived exerkines on brain cognitive and metabolic function via modulating mitochondrial bioenergetics, content, and dynamics under healthy and/or disease conditions.

Gamma oscillations and application of 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation to improve brain function.

Audiovisual stimulation, such as auditory stimulation, light stimulation, and audiovisual combined stimulation, as a non-invasive stimulation, which can induce gamma oscillation, has received increased attention in recent years, and it has been preliminarily applied in the clinical rehabilitation of brain dysfunctions, such as cognitive, language, motor, mood, and sleep dysfunctions. However, the exact mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation remains unclear; the clinical applications of 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation in brain dysfunctions rehabilitation still need further research. In order to provide new insights into brain dysfunction rehabilitation, this review begins with a discussion of the mechanism underlying 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation, followed by a brief evaluation of its clinical application in the rehabilitation of brain dysfunctions. Currently, 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation was demonstrated to affect synaptic plasticity and modify the connection status of related brain networks in animal experiments and clinical trials. Although its promising efficacy has been shown in the treatment of cognitive, mood, and sleep impairment, research studies into its application in language and motor dysfunctions are still ongoing. Although 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation seems to be effective in treating cognitive, mood, and sleep disorders, its role in language and motor dysfunctions has yet to be determined.

Abstract 101: Distinctive Individual Effects of LPC(18:2) and LPC(22:6) on Survival and Neurological Outcomes After Cardiac Arrest: Combination As A Future Therapy

Introduction: Decreased plasma Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) was found to be associated with survival after cardiac arrest (CA) in humans and rats. Supplementing LPC species containing docosahexaenoic acid, LPC(22:6), improved rat brain function and survival after CA. Thus, LPC deficiency may be a major cause of CA pathology and LPC supplementation may be a novel therapeutic approach to CA. However, the therapeutic effects of individual LPC species are not fully understood, particularly a species containing linoleic acid, LPC(18:2). While 22:6 is an omega-3 fatty acid and highly abundant in the brain, 18:2 is omega-6 and minimally present in the brain. Therefore, we hypothesized that the protective role of LPC(18:2) may be different from LPC(22:6). Furthermore, LPC(18:2) may provide additive protection when administered together with LPC(22:6). Objective: To investigate the protective role of supplementing LPC(18:2) compared to LPC(22:6) after CA. Methods and Results: We first compared the relationship between plasma LPC(18:2) levels and outcomes of CA patients as compared to LPC(22:6). LPC(22:6) was found to be associated with both survival and neurological outcomes, whereas the levels of LPC(18:2) were associated with survival only. We then tested whether supplementing LPC(18:2) can improve survival and neurological function in rats undergoing 10 minutes of asphyxial CA. Supplementing LPC(18:2) post-resuscitation significantly improved survival as did LPC(22:6) in rats. Although LPC(18:2) supplementation improved in some individual neurofunctional tasks, the overall neurological function of survived rats was not improved. Particularly, while 3 of 7 survived rats treated with LPC(22:6) were able to walk across a ledge, none of 10 survived rats treated with LPC(18:2) were able to cross the ledge. Conclusion: Significantly improved survival without significantly improved brain function in rats and poor correlation with neurological outcomes from humans suggest that LPC(18:2) may protect organs other than the brain. The results further indicate that different LPC species have different mechanisms of improving outcomes, demonstrating the potential of utilizing different combinations of LPC as improved therapeutic treatments in CA.

The Effects of Grounding on Meditation Quality: Preliminary Study Report—A Case Series

Background: Published research shows that grounding the human body to Earth (also called “earthing”) produces multiple health benefits. An earlier study documented immediate and abrupt changes in the left hemisphere of the brain upon grounding, an indication of improved brain function (Chevalier et al., 2006). The findings suggest that grounding might improve the practice of meditation, an activity that has gained widespread popularity throughout the world. Objective: To explore possible added benefits from meditating indoors while grounded, an experiment was set up involving 10 longtime meditators. Methods: : Brain mapping with electroencephalographic (EEG) electrodes applied to the head was used to measure brain function during grounding vs. non-grounding periods of the meditation. The participants were monitored separately while meditating in a special conductive recliner chair. They were grounded for 40 minutes in the middle of their meditation session. Grounding was accomplished by using conductive cords to connect the chair, as well as patches applied to the palms of the hands, to the grounding system of the building. For the first 15 minutes of the meditation and the last 10 minutes, participants were disconnected, that is, not grounded. They were blind to when they were and were not grounded. Results: Both objectively and participatively, a deeper meditation was documented during the period of the meditation when participants were grounded compared to when they were not grounded. About half of the participants showed evidence through brain mapping of improvements in brain function. The principal characteristics of the meditation improvements during grounding were: (a) high Alpha in the frontal lobes (increased top-down control regulation and emotional control), (b) high Theta (increase in internal focus, spiritual awareness, and meditation), and (c) tendencies toward brain disorders disappeared during grounding. Conclusion: This small pilot project presents evidence that meditating indoors while grounded offers benefits beyond the meditation itself and replicates traditional practices in which individuals meditated while sitting on the ground. These results warrant more research with more participants and a control group.

Control of the quality of creatine sports supplements using a validated LC method with UV detection

Creatine is a popular supplement which has considerable advantages for athletes’ function and human health. It improves brain function, improve exercise performance and speed up muscle growth. Creatine is the number one supplement for enhancing exercise performance in the gym. In this work, a simple and validated HPLC approach was introduced for the assessment of creatine in sports supplements and its comparison with the label information. The method was based on a reversed-phase HPLC in which the analyte elution and separation was done in an isocratic mode using deionized water adjusted at pH=3 and UV detection. The lower limit of quantification of the method was 1 mg/L. The inter- and intra-day RSDs as well as accuracy were less than 5%. In this study, totally 36 sports supplement samples containing creatine monohydrate were analyzed. Proposed methodology was found to be suitable for the fast assessment of creatine products available in Iranian market.

PC022 / #276 TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL STIMULATION ON PC6, ST36 AND SP06 PREVENTS POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM AND IMPROVES COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS AFTER LUMBAR SURGERY: E-POSTER VIEWING

Delirium and cognition impairment are common complications in elderly patients after anesthesia and surgery. However, it remains unclear how to prevent these complications. Based on acupuncture theory, transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) improves brain function, which may be a preventive strategy. Therefore, we aimed to find whether TES could prevent surgery-induced delirium and cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients after surgery.

PO100 / #922 CLINICAL EEG AND CORTICAL EVENT-RELATED POTENTIAL (ERP) TRACKING TECHNIQUES FOR TBI NEUROMODULATION INTERVENTIONS. BENEFITS OF ADVANCED COMPUTER ALGORITHMS: E-POSTER VIEWING

Successful neuromodulation interventions aimed at improving brain function following acquired brain injury require objective baselines. EEG based cortical evoked potentials are consistent physiological markers for individuals. Furthermore, EEG frequencies and amplitudes are known to shift following medication or neuromodulatory interventions. Advanced computer algorithms are now able to evaluate EEG activity and categorize the individual patients into groups through cluster analysis. Clusters can be normal control brain activity grouping or a patient can display activity identified and quantified within a grouping consistent with prior brain injury.

Art Therapy and Beyond: Emerging Practice Innovations and Implications for Practice and Research in the Arabian Gulf

Engaging in the arts has been demonstrated scientifically to enhance brain function. Creativity can modify a person’s perspective and experience of the world. Changes in cerebrum waves impact changes in the nervous system which can raise serotonin levels. This can affect emotions positively by regulating moods and improving brain function which influences both psychological and physiological wellbeing. Creativity is part of our natural development and should be a part of our healing as a community. Art Therapy (AT) is a mental health profession which carries out innovative adaptations as it is recognized as a stand-alone clinical intervention and through community engagement and social justice. Art Therapists are collaborating within diverse fields of clinical and non-clinical practice such as neuroscience and virtual reality. Three papers explore the development of Art Therapy as a profession in Qatar and how AT is an accessible and underutilised or often misjudged profession. Paper one introduces ways that AT is practiced as a clinical, social action and community-based profession. AT might address the shame connected with psychological wellness by connecting with communities, sharing experiences of AT with the general public and by clinical professionals to support their careers, prompting less burnout. Dr. Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed shares the Qatar Cancer Society’s experience of using Art in psychosocial support for children living with cancer. The western trained Art Therapist's awareness of cultural competence when working in the context of non-western cultural approaches to mental health is imperative to complement the heritage, creativity and community values of the local culture. Intersectional frameworks will inform ethical professional values to be upheld. Paper two develops how AT offers context to reduce the stigma of mental health in Qatar. The first Museum and Gallery AT visit in Qatar, with patients attending a substance misuse program, saw outcomes that included increased engagement in clinical sessions and an art exhibition that was held in the hospital and at conferences within Qatar and globally. Paper three discusses the global alterations in the AT workplace following the Covid-19 epidemic; online AT; and how AT has adapted to employing technology before and after the pandemic. The technology employed in AT is not new. Art Therapists are now using Virtual Reality, where the client becomes part of the world they have created, interacting in it, with the art therapist present. The Emotion Sensing Recognition (ESRA) app is being developed by Dr. Mowafa and Dr. Jens with the consultation of an Art Therapist Trish, to ensure the ethics of working with images. This app can increase positive parent-child attachment and increase the ability to recognise and talk about feelings for parent and child. AT is a cost-effective adaptive treatment and is being prescribed by General Practitioners in the UK and USA alongside visits to museums, choirs etc. How will Qatar embrace this adaptable, unique profession and will ensure it is ethically practiced by trained licensed Art Therapists? Collaborative research and training within different fields should be encouraged.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial function of Ginkgo biloba exocarp extract against clinical bacteria and its effect on Staphylococcus haemolyticus by disrupting biofilms

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe fruit of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgo nuts) has been used for a long time as a critical Chinese medicine material to treat cough and asthma, as well as a disinfectant. Similar records were written in the Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu, pinyin in Chinese) and Sheng Nong's herbal classic (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, pinyin in Chinese). Recent research has shown that Ginkgo biloba exocarp extract (GBEE) has the functions of unblocking blood vessels and improving brain function, as well as antitumour activity and antibacterial activity. GBEE was shown to inhibit methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm formation as a traditional Chinese herb in our previous report in this journal. Aim of the studyThe antibiotic resistance of clinical bacteria has recently become increasingly serious. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the Ginkgo biloba exocarp extract (GBEE) antibacterial lineage, as well as its effect and mechanism on S. haemolyticus biofilms. This study will provide a new perspective on clinical multidrug resistant (MDR) treatment with ethnopharmacology herbs. MethodsThe microbroth dilution assay was carried out to measure the antibacterial effect of GBEE on 13 types of clinical bacteria. Bacterial growth curves with or without GBEE treatment were drawn at different time points. The potential targets of GBEE against S. haemolyticus were screened by transcriptome sequencing. The effects of GBEE on bacterial biofilm formation and mature biofilm disruption were determined by crystal violet staining and scanning electron microscopy. The metabolic activity of bacteria inside the biofilm was assessed by colony-forming unit (CFU) counting and (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2HY-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to measure the gene expression profile of GBEE on S. haemolyticus biofilm-related factors. ResultsThe results showed that GBEE has bacteriostatic effects on 3 g-positive (G+) and 2 g-negative (G-) bacteria among 13 species of clinical bacteria. The antibacterial effect of GBEE supernatant liquid was stronger than the antibacterial effect of GBEE supernviaould-like liquid. GBEE supernatant liquid inhibited the growth of S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, and E. faecium at shallow concentrations with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2 μg/ml, 4 μg/ml and 8 μg/ml, respectively. Genes involved in quorum sensing, two-component systems, folate biosynthesis, and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters were differentially expressed in GBEE-treated groups compared with controls. Crystal violet, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and MTT assays showed that GBEE suppressed S. haemolyticus biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, GBEE supernatant liquid downregulated cidA, cidB and atl, which are involved in cell lysis and extracellular DNA (eDNA) release, as well as downregulated the cbp, ebp and fbp participation in encoding cell-surface binding proteins. ConclusionsGBEE has an excellent antibacterial effect on gram-positive bacteria and also inhibits the growth of gram-negative bacteria, such as A. baumannii (carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii) CRABA and S. maltophilia. GBEE inhibits the biofilm formation of S. haemolyticus by altering the regulation and biofilm material-related genes, including the release of eDNA and cell-surface binding proteins.

Clinical efficacy of idebenone in stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment, and its effect on regional homogeneity of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Idebenone in stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment, and its effect on regional homogeneity (ReHo) of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) of the brain.
 Methods: One hundred and twenty stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment who were admitted to the Department of Neurology of the China Rehabilitation Research Center Beijing Boai Hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into control group and study group. Control group was treated with nimodipine, while the study group received a combination of nimodipine and idebenone.
 Results: Clinical efficacy was higher in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Scores on Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and activity of daily living scale (ADL) were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in both groups after treatment, but scores for MoCA and ADL were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.05). After 6 months of treatment, there were significantly more patients with improved clinical dementia rating (CDR)in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.05).
 Conclusion: The use of idebenone and nimodipine for treatment of stroke patients with cognitive dysfunction leads to significant improvement in clinical outcomes, and enhancement of cognitive function and quality of life, due to improved brain function in the precuneus. However, the mechanism involved in the combination therapy-induced enhancement of cognitive function requires further investigation.
 Keywords: Stroke; Cognitive dysfunction; Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging of brain; Regional homogeneity; Quality of life

Combined caloric restriction and exercise provides greater metabolic and neurocognitive benefits than either as a monotherapy in obesity with or without estrogen deprivation

Neurodegeneration, as indicated by brain dysfunction and cognitive decline, is one of the complications associated with obesity and estrogen deprivation. Calorie restriction and exercise regimes improved brain function in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the comparative effects of a combination of calorie restriction with exercise, calorie restriction, and an exercise regime alone on brain/cognitive function in obesity with or without estrogen deprivation have not been investigated. Sixty female rats were fed a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 27 weeks. At week 13, the ND-fed rats underwent a sham operation with sedentary lifestyle, HFD-fed rats were divided into two groups: each having either a sham operation (HFS) or ovariectomy (HFO). At week 20, HFD-fed rats in each group were divided into four subgroups undergoing either a sedentary lifestyle, calorie restriction, exercise regime or a combination of calorie restriction and exercise for 7 weeks. Insulin resistance, cognitive decline and hippocampal pathologies were found in both HFS and HFO rats. HFO rats had higher levels of insulin resistance and hippocampal reactive oxygen species levels than HFS rats. Calorie restriction decreased metabolic disturbance and hippocampal oxidative stress but failed to attenuate cognitive decline in HFS and HFO rats. Exercise attenuated metabolic/hippocampal dysfunctions, resulting in improved cognition only in HFS rats. Combined therapies restored brain function, and cognitive function in HFS and HFO rats. Therefore, a combination of calorie restriction with exercise is probably the greatest lifestyle modification to diminish the brain pathologies and cognitive decline in obesity with or without estrogen deprivation.

CSF factors in memory function

With the ageing population increasing worldwide, interventions to slow down cognitive decline are urgently needed. To reach this goal, rejuvenation of the systemic environment—potentially improving brain function—is one approach that has been investigated over the past decade. A group of researchers working in the field of brain ageing and rejuvenation, led by Tony Wyss-Coray at Stanford University (Stanford, CA, USA), has previously shown that when old mice are exposed to blood from young mice, or blood plasma obtained from human umbilical cords, several age-affected processes in the brain are reversed to a younger state, leading to improved memory function.

The effect of bi-hemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation on verbal function in Broca's aphasia

Aphasia is one of the most common deficits occurring after stroke that remains, at least in part, even after speech therapy and medication treatment. Non-invasive direct current transcranial stimulation (tDCS) is used to improve brain function by induction of neural plasticity. This study investigated the effect of bi-hemispheric tDCS on verbal function in patients with stroke-induced Broca's aphasia. Thirty patients with Broca's aphasia due to ischemic stroke, referred to an academic hospital in Guilan Province, Iran, in 2019-20, were studied. Patients were divided into two groups receiving seven sessions of either active or sham tDCS. The tDCS sessions began 10–20 days after stroke onset. The severity of aphasia before and after the intervention and a 3-month follow-up were assessed by the Persian version of the Western Battery-1 test (P-WAB-1). T-test, ANOVA, and Repeated Measurement were used for data analyses. The mean P-WAB-1 score was significantly higher in the intervention group both early after tDCS (P ≤ 0.0001) and on the 3-months follow-up (P ≤ 0001). Linear regression analysis indicated that tDCS had a positive effect on verbal performance scores independent of age, sex, and lesion volume (Regression coefficient = −33.3). Bi-hemispheric tDCS effectively improves verbal function in Broca's aphasia in the sub-acute phase of ischemic stroke.

The Effect of a Systematic Workout Routine on Medical Students’ General Wellbeing and Academic Performance at the Texila American University

The purpose of this study is to discover how many students have a systemic workout routine. The members of this group aimed to investigate the types of workout routines the students practiced, how often they did so, and to determine the impact of a systematic workout routine on the well-being of medical students at Texila American University. This study was established from the responses of one hundred and twenty medical students at Texila American University to a questionnaire distributed by the members of the group via online. The questionnaire consisted of fourteen questions that mainly focused on the workout routine, well-being, and academic performances of each student. In view of the fact that “well-being can be understood as how people feel and how they function both on a personal and social level, and how they evaluate their lives as a whole,”. The findings revealed that even though less than half of the students regularly worked out, having a workout routine, or simply exercising ever so often helped boost students’ mood, strengthen their mental, emotional, and physical health as well as improve their academic performance overall. The results of our research were in accordance with our hypothesis, which was: “A regular workout routine has a positive effect on the general well-being and academic performance of medical students at Texila American University by improving brain function and mood.” While the results obtained were in agreement with our hypothesis, they were somewhat hampered by the fact that only 43% (52 students) of our respondents had a systematic workout routine. Keywords: Medical students, Workout routine, Academic performance, General well-being

A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Music Training on Attention in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

Prior studies indicate differences in brain volume and neurophysiological responses of musicians relative to non-musicians. These differences are observed in the sensory, motor, parietal, and frontal cortex. Children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience deficits in auditory, motor, and executive function domains. Therefore, we hypothesized that short-term music training in children with an FASD due to prenatal alcohol exposure may improve brain function. Children (N = 20) with an FASD were randomized to participate in either five weeks of piano training or to a control group. Selective attention was evaluated approximately seven weeks apart (pre-/post-music training or control intervention), examining longitudinal effects using the Attention Networks Test (ANT), a well-established paradigm designed to evaluate attention and inhibitory control, while recording EEG. There was a significant group by pre-/post-intervention interaction for the P250 ms peak of the event-related potential and for theta (4–7 Hz) power in the 100–300 ms time window in response to the congruent condition when the flanking stimuli were oriented congruently with the central target stimulus in fronto-central midline channels from Cz to Fz. A trend for improved reaction time at the second assessment was observed for the music trained group only. These results support the hypothesis that music training changes the neural indices of attention as assessed by the ANT in children with an FASD. This study should be extended to evaluate the effects of music training relative to a more closely matched active control and determine whether additional improvements emerge with longer term music training.

Anti-Huntington's Effect of Rosiridin via Oxidative Stress/AchE Inhibition and Modulation of Succinate Dehydrogenase, Nitrite, and BDNF Levels against 3-Nitropropionic Acid in Rodents.

Background: Rosiridin is a compound extracted from Rhodiola sachalinensis; water extracts of Rhodiola root elicit positive effects on the human central nervous system and improve brain function. They are also thought to be beneficial to one’s health, in addition to being antioxidants. The present study aims to evaluate the anti-Huntington’s effect of rosiridin against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA)-induced Huntington’s disease (HD)-like effects in rats. Materials and Methods: The acute toxicity in rats was elucidated to track the conceivable toxicities in the rats. The effectiveness of rosiridin at a dosage of 10 mg/kg was evaluated against several dose administrations of 3-NPA-induced HD-like symptoms in the rats for 22 days. At the end of the study, behavioral parameters were assessed as a hallmark for the cognitive and motor functions in the rats. Similarly, after the behavioral assessment, the animals were sacrificed to obtain a brain tissue homogenate. The prepared homogenate was utilized for the estimation of several biochemical parameters, including oxidative stress (glutathione, catalase, and malondialdehyde), brain-derived neurotrophic factor and succinate dehydrogenase activity, and the glutamate and acetylcholinesterase levels in the brain. Furthermore, inflammatory mediators linked to the occurrence of neuroinflammation in rats were evaluated in the perfused brain tissues. Results: The rosiridin-treated group exhibited a significant restoration of behavioral parameters, including in the beam-walk test, latency in falling during the hanging wire test, and percentage of memory retention during the elevated plus-maze test. Further, rosiridin modulated several biochemical parameters, including oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nitrite, and acetylcholinesterase as compared to disease control group that was treated with 3-NPA. Conclusions: The current study exhibits the anti-Huntington’s effects of rosiridin in experimental animal models.

Subgaleal Effusion and Brain Midline Shift After Cranioplasty: A Retrospective Study Between Polyetheretherketone Cranioplasty and Titanium Cranioplasty After Decompressive Craniectomy.

Cranioplasty with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has recently shown better cerebral protection performance, improved brain function, and aesthetic contour compared with titanium mesh. However, whether patients undergoing PEEK cranioplasty tend to develop subgaleal effusions remains elusive. This retrospective study included patients who underwent cranioplasty with PEEK implants or titanium mesh after decompressive craniectomy between July 2017 and July 2020. Patient information, including general information, location, size of the defect, subgaleal depth, and brain midline shift was collected and statistically analyzed. There were 130 cases of cranioplasty, including 35 with PEEK implants and 95 with a titanium mesh. Patients who underwent cranioplasty with a PEEK implant had a higher subgaleal effusion rate than those who underwent cranioplasty with titanium mesh (85.71% vs. 53.68%, P < 0.001), while a midline shift >5 mm was more frequently observed in the PEEK group than in the titanium group (20% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.021). The PEEK material was the only factor associated with subgaleal effusion after cranioplasty (OR 5.589, P = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis further showed that age was a protective factor against midline shift in the PEEK cranioplasty group (OR 0.837, P = 0.029). Patients who underwent cranioplasty with PEEK implants were more likely to develop severe subgaleal effusion and significant brain midline shifts than those with titanium mesh implants.