Sensory Changes Research Articles

Outcomes and complications of cerebral aneurysms operated on by eyebrow incision according to aneurysm type and location

ObjectiveTrans-eyebrow supraorbital aneurysmal neck clipping, also known as keyhole surgery, have many advantages of minimal invasive surgery. However, there are few studies on whether there is a difference in keyhole surgery according to the location of the aneurysm, and how the complications after keyhole approach differ from the conventional approach. The authors investigated the surgical outcome of keyhole aneurysmal surgery for clarify the characteristics of keyhole surgery.MethodsA retrospective study was performed with review of medical records and images of patients with anterior circulation aneurysm undergoing aneurysmal clipping with keyhole surgery. The patient's clinical condition, imaging, surgical condition, and outcome were investigated.ResultsAs a result of analysis about the location of the aneurysm, middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm group had a longer operation time than internal carotid artery and anterior cerebral artery aneurysm groups, but there was no significant difference in complication rate. The olfactory dysfunction occurred more than that of conventional surgery and occurred less in MCA aneurysm group than others. Scalp sensory change in the surgical site was more common in patients with unruptured aneurysms.ConclusionBy accurately investigating the frequency and severity of complications associated with trans-eyebrow aneurysmal neck clipping surgery, it can help to select a surgical approach considering risk versus benefit. In addition, patient’s satisfaction can be increased by providing information to patients and caregivers in advance about the outcome of this approach and the anticipated complications.

Vocal music and brain plasticity_a literature review

IntroductionVocal music has been a way for the expression of beautiful human emotions and gives a consolidated framework to words. Our review is centered on finding neuroplastic changes in exposure to music.ObjectivesOur main Objective is to identify structural brain changes in different brain areas. Identification of motor and sensory changes that are produced in response to vocal music.MethodsDetailed literature review was conducted using Pubmed and Google Scholar databases. The literature search was narrowed down to cover the research topic with the search terms [plasticity] OR [brain] OR [neurons] OR [music] OR [vocal]. Our Inclusion criteria included studies with effects of vocal music on neuronal plasticity regardless of age, gender, duration of training, type of training, medium of lanuage and profession. Exclusion criteria included instrumental music and forms of music other than vocal music.ResultsResults showed that music impacts areas of the brain that are highly associated with human emotions. Any brain area can undergo neuroplasticity but is most commonly seen in the insular areas, paracortex, putamen, amygdala, and white matter. Music therapy promotes the formation of instant neural networks and the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These microscopic changes increase depending on the duration of exposure to vocal music. Later, it appears as macroscopic changes visible with the help of neuroimaging. There is also a significant difference in the brain changes of vocalists and non vocalists. Vocal music impacts the left side of the cortex. Music activates reward system in the brain that leads to stimulation of dopaminergic pathways. It helps in neuronal division in post strock and post traumatic brain injury patients.ConclusionsMusic therapy is widely used as the rehabilitative process that combines music with therapeutic medications to promote therapeutic alliance and better results. It is used to direct focus toward the fulfillment of the emotional and cognitive needs of patients with psychiatric ailments. This area is needed to be explored more so that vocal music can be used for integrated therapy.Keywords: Vocal music; Brain changes; neuroplasticity; therapy.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Abstract Number ‐ 280: A Unique Case of Pial AVF Presenting as Hemispheric Cerebral Edema

Introduction To describe a unique case of pial arteriovenous fistula presenting as left hemispheric cerebral edema with hemianopsia, sensory change and ataxia. Methods Case report Results Our patient is a 38 year old male with a history of diabetes, hyperlipidemia and congenital deafness with a left cochlear implant who presented to an outside hospital for visual complaints. Non‐contrast CT of the head was negative at that time; he could not obtain an MRI due to his cochlear implant. He developed worsening right hemianopia and aphasia, prompting his transfer to our facility. Upon arrival, repeat imaging was done, including a CTA of the head and neck. This revealed a large region of hypodensity involving the left PCA and distal MCA territories. An MRI was attempted but artifact from his implant obscured visualization of the left hemisphere. Post‐contrast CT was negative for evidence of tumor. CT venogram was negative for veno‐occlusive disease. He complained of worsening headache and demonstrated worsening word‐finding ability. He received100g total of mannitol divided across 3 boluses which improved his symptoms mildly. Over the following days he began to become ataxic and clumsy in the right upper extremity and his headache worsened further and he began to develop focal seizures electrographically localized to the left parietal lobe. Repeat CTA demonstrated expanding hypodensity with marked vascular engorgement in the left hemisphere. He underwent 6‐vessel digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of the head which revealed gross left hemispheric venous congestion with early filling of the left hemispheric venous system by a parasagittal pial ateriovenous fistula believed to be responsible for his hemispheric edema. He was discharged on acetazolamide and acetaminophen for headache management and plans for outpatient follow‐up and potential intervention. Follow‐up DSA revealed improvement in his venous congestion and reduction in the degree of his early venous filling with some symptomatic improvement by medical management. Conclusions Pial arteriovenous fistulae (pAVF) are a rare entity and can present in a variety of ways, with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and ischemia being two of the most common. This case illustrates an unusual instance of hemispheric edema initially mistaken for venous infarct caused by a pAVF, and prompts the physician to consider angiography and further exploration when initial workup for cerebral edema and/or venous infarct is initially unrevealing.

Evidence for rapid divergence of sensory systems between Texas populations of the Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus)

Population divergence is often quantified using phenotypic variation. However, because sensory abilities are more difficult to discern, we have little information on the plasticity and rate of sensory change between different environments. The Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) is a fish distributed throughout Southern Texas and Northern Mexico and has evolved troglomorphic phenotypes, such as vestigial eyes and reduced pigmentation, when surface ancestors invaded caves in the past several hundred thousand years. In the early 1900s, surface A. mexicanus were introduced to the karstic Edwards-Trinity Aquifer in Texas. Subsequent cave colonization of subterranean environments resulted in fish with phenotypic and behavioral divergence from their surface counterparts, allowing examination of how new environments lead to sensory changes. We hypothesized that recently introduced cave populations would be more sensitive to light and sound when compared to their surface counterparts. We quantified divergence using auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) and particle acceleration levels (PALs) to measure differences in sound sensitivity, and electroretinography (ERGs) to measure light sensitivity. We also compared these results to measurements taken from native populations and lab-born individuals of the introduced populations. Honey Creek Cave fish were significantly more sensitive than proximate Honey Creek surface fish to sound pressure levels between 0.6 and 0.8 kHz and particle acceleration levels between 0.4 and 0.8 kHz. Pairwise differences were found between San Antonio Zoo surface and the facultative subterranean San Pedro Springs and Blue Hole populations, which exhibited more sensitivity to particle acceleration levels between 0.5 and 0.7 kHz. Electroretinography results indicate no significant differences between populations, although Honey Creek Cave fish may be trending toward reduced visual sensitivity. Auditory thresholds between wild-caught and lab-raised populations of recently invaded fish show significant differences in sensitivity, suggesting that these traits are plastic. Collectively, while these results may point to the rapid divergence of A. mexicanus in cave habitats, it also highlights the responsive plasticity of A. mexicanus auditory system to disparate environments.

Untargeted Metabolomics Combined with Sensory Analysis to Evaluate the Chemical Changes in Coppa Piacentina PDO during Different Ripening Times.

Ripening time is known to drive the chemical and sensory profiles of dry meat products, thus potentially affecting the final quality of the product. Starting from these background conditions, the aim of this work was to shed light, for the first time, on the chemical modifications of a typical Italian PDO meat product-namely, Coppa Piacentina-during ripening, to find correlations between its sensory quality and the biomarker compounds related to the progress of ripening. The ripening time (from 60 to 240 days) was found to deeply modify the chemical composition of this typical meat product, providing potential biomarkers of both oxidative reactions and sensory attributes. The chemical analyses revealed that there is typically a significant decrease in the moisture content during ripening, likely due to increased dehydration. In addition, the fatty acid profile showed that the distribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly (p < 0.05) decreased during ripening, because of their high susceptibility to oxidation and conversion to intermediate and secondary molecules. An untargeted metabolomics approach, coupled with unsupervised and supervised multivariate statistics, highlighted a significant impact (prediction scores > 1) of lipid oxidation during ripening time, with some metabolites (such as γ -glutamyl-peptides, hydroperoxy-fatty acids, and glutathione) being particularly discriminant in predicting the changes observed. The discriminant metabolites were coherent with the progressive increase of peroxide values determined during the entire ripening period. Finally, the sensory analysis outlined that the highest degree of ripening provided greater color intensity of the lean part, slice firmness, and chewing consistency, with glutathione and γ-glutamyl-glutamic acid establishing the highest number of significant correlations with the sensory attributes evaluated. Taken together, this work highlights the importance and validity of untargeted metabolomics coupled with sensory analysis to investigate the comprehensive chemical and sensory changes to dry meat during ripening.

Artisanal and sanitary inspection seals impact on acceptance and emotions of colonial cheese consumption

AbstractThe objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of sanitary inspection and artisanal related seal on colonial cheese acceptance and the emotions they evoke on consumers. Volunteers blindly rated their acceptance of four samples of a same batch cheese, which were related to different labels and checked all emojis. When consumers were exposed to the label without any seal the acceptance were higher than when they were presented to labels with the seals studied. Cheese acceptance evoked positive emotions, meanwhile the sanitary inspection seal was presented on product label, neutral, and negative emotions. The artisanal seal was associated with positive emotions, which was similar behavior when both seals were on cheese label. The impact of the sanitary inspection seal stimuli on acceptance was not related to volunteers' sociodemographic profile. Thus, seals impact on sensorial perception and emotions, and it is related to consumers' socio‐demographic characteristics.Practical applicationResults contribute to the discussion over the artisanal products (cheeses in the present work) showing that the presence of regulatory seals impacts negatively on sensory acceptance and evokes other emotions that not only with positive valence. Also, results show that sociodemographic profile is related to sensory perception changes due to the presence of seals onto cheese labels. Thus, the present work brings the important information for to governments' agencies to further food policies and cheesemaking factories marketing drivers.

Voluntary torque production is unaffected by changes in local thermal sensation during normothermia and hyperthermia.

What is the central question of this study? Hyperthermia reduces the human capacity to produce muscular force, which is associated with decreased neural drive: does mitigating a reduction in neural drive by altering localised thermal sensation help to preserve voluntary force output? What is the main finding and its importance? Altering thermal sensation by cooling and heating the head independent of core temperature did not change neural drive or benefit voluntary force production. Head cooling did slow the rate of rise in core temperature during heating, which may have practical applications in passive settings. This study investigated altered local head and neck thermal sensation on maximal and rapid torque production during voluntary contractions. Nine participants completed four visits in two environmental conditions: at rectal temperatures ∼39.5°C in hot (HOT; ∼50°C, ∼39% relative humidity) and ∼37°C in thermoneutral (NEU; ∼22°C, ∼46% relative humidity) conditions. Local thermal sensation was manipulated by heating in thermoneutral conditions and cooling in hot conditions. Evoked twitches and octets were delivered at rest. Maximum voluntary torque (MVT), normalised surface electromyography (EMG) and voluntary activation (VA) were assessed during brief maximal isometric voluntary contractions of the knee extensors. Rate of torque development (RTD) and EMG were measured during rapid voluntary contractions. MVT (P=0.463) and RTD (P=0.061) were similar between environmental conditions despite reduced VA (-6%; P=0.047) and EMG at MVT (-31%; P=0.019). EMG in the rapid voluntary contractions was also lower in HOT versus NEU during the initial 100ms (-24%; P=0.035) and 150ms (-26%; P=0.035). Evoked twitch (+70%; P<0.001) and octet (+27%; P<0.001) RTD during the initial 50ms were greater in the HOT compared to NEU conditions, in addition to a faster relaxation rate of the muscle (-33%; P<0.001). In conclusion, hyperthermia reduced neural drive without affecting voluntary torque, likely due to the compensatory effects of improved intrinsic contractile function and faster contraction and relaxation rates of the knee extensors. Changes in local thermal perception of the head and neck whilst hyperthermic or normothermic did not affect voluntary torque.

Ser77Tyr transthyretin amyloidosis in Israel: Initial manifestations and diagnostic features.

Amyloidosis due to the transthyretin Ser77Tyr mutation (ATTRS77Y) is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder, characterized by carpal-tunnel syndrome, poly- and autonomic-neuropathy, and cardiomyopathy. However, related symptoms and signs are often nonspecific and confirmatory tests are required. We describe the age and frequency of early symptoms and diagnostic features among individuals of Jewish Yemenite descent in Israel. Records of mutation carriers were retrospectively reviewed. ATTRS77Y diagnosis was defined by the presence of amyloid in tissue and/or amyloid-related cardiomyopathy. We identified the Ser77Tyr mutation at the heterozygous state in 19 amyloidosis patients (meanage at diagnosis: 62 ± 5.7 years, range 49-70) and 30 amyloid-negative carriers. The probability for disease diagnosis increased from 4.4% at age 49 to 100% at 70 and occurred earlier in males. Initial symptoms preceded diagnosis by 5 ± 3.8 years (range 0-12) and were commonly sensory changes in the extremities. Erectile dysfunction predated these in 8/13 (62%) males. In two patients cardiac preceded neurological symptoms. Two patients declined symptoms. Electrophysiological studies nearthetimeof diagnosis indicated a median neuropathy at the wrist in 18/19 (95%) and polyneuropathy in 13/19 (68%). Skin biopsy revealed epidermal denervation in 15/16 (94%) patients. Cardiomyopathy was identified in 16/19 (84%). Sensory complaints or epidermal denervations were present in 17/30 (57%) of amyloid-negative carriers and co-occurred in 10/30 (33%). ATTRS77Y symptoms commonly occur after age 50, but may begin earlier. Median neuropathy, skin denervation and cardiomyopathy are frequently identified. Symptoms may be absent in patients and common in amyloid-negative carriers.

Correlation of leg pain responses with ankle-brachial index and peripheral sensory responses in foot of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is associated with changes that occur in the peripheral circulation that affect foot functions. Therefore, there is a need for a risk prediction test on foot abnormalities using the leg pain response parameters in T2DM patients with ankle-brachial index (ABI) and peripheral sensory changes as a preventive effort to manage foot care.&#x0D; Design and Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design in which 63 T2DM patients in a Public Health Center (PHC) in Malang were investigated. The instruments used include visual analog scale (VAS), monofilament, and foot doppler.&#x0D; Results: The Pearson correlation test showed no relationship between the responses to leg pain and the ABI of the right and left feet (p-values = 0.217 and 0.692), but there was a significant relationship between the left foot ABI and sensory status (p-value 0.002; left foot r = 0.383). Meanwhile, the Pearson's correlation and linear regression test also showed a relationship between the right foot ABI and sensory status (p-value = 0.007; r = 0.338). Furthermore, a multiple linear regression test showed a relationship between the leg pain response and sensory perception of the right and left feet (p-value = 0.035; r = 0.325).&#x0D; Conclusions: The relationship between the sensory status of the right and left feet and the response to leg pain in T2DM patients were moderate with a negative direction. It, therefore, implies that a decrease in the sensory responses increased the leg pain. Meanwhile, the moderate relationship and positive direction between the ABI and sensory status of the feet of T2DM patients indicates that a higher ABI score led to an increase in the sensory status of the foot.

Emerging Nonpharmacologic Interventions to Treat Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

Significance: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a complication of metabolic syndrome, type I and type II diabetes, leads to sensory changes that include slow nerve conduction, nerve degeneration, loss of sensation, pain, and gate disturbances. These complications remain largely untreatable, although tight glycemic control can prevent neuropathy progression. Nonpharmacologic approaches remain the most impactful to date, but additional advances in treatment approaches are needed. Recent Advances: This review highlights several emerging interventions, including a focus on dietary interventions and physical activity, that continue to show promise for treating DPN. We provide an overview of our current understanding of how exercise can improve aspects of DPN. We also highlight new studies in which a ketogenic diet has been used as an intervention to prevent and reverse DPN. Critical Issues: Both exercise and consuming a ketogenic diet induce systemic and cellular changes that collectively improve complications associated with DPN. Both interventions may involve similar signaling pathways and benefits but also impact DPN through unique mechanisms. Future Directions: These lifestyle interventions are critically important as personalized medicine approaches will likely be needed to identify specific subsets of neuropathy symptoms and deficits in patients, and determine the most impactful treatment. Overall, these two interventions have the potential to provide meaningful relief for patients with DPN and provide new avenues to identify new therapeutic targets.

Quantitative Sensory Changes Following Posterior Spinal Fusion to Treat Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Sensory changes surrounding the incision frequently develop after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) to treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Anecdotally, patients may experience sensory changes on the chest wall. Such postsurgical sensory changes are not well described quantitatively. This study aims to evaluate the presence, intensity, and duration of mechanical sensory changes in AIS patients postoperatively. A prospective cohort of AIS patients, 10 to 21 years old, was followed. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) included touch detection threshold [mechanical detection threshold (MDT)] and pain detection threshold (MPT), using VonFrey monofilaments and pinprick stimulators. QST was performed at 3 sites at T6: the right and left chest at the nipple line and adjacent to the incision below the inferior angle of the scapula. QST at the thenar eminence was the control. QST was collected at baseline, 3 days, 1, and 6 months postoperative. Thirty-four patients (21% males; mean age: 14.9 years old; median preoperative curve: 58 degrees) completed all testing. Mean deformity correction was 64% (SD: 10.4). Adjacent to the incision site, MDT was significantly higher compared with baseline at 3 days and 1 month ( P < 0.001) but not at 6 months ( P = 0.19), whereas MPT was significantly higher at 3 days, ( P < 0.001), 1 month ( P < 0.001), and 6 months ( P = 0.001). For the chest wall in all patients, MPT was higher on the left chest at 3 days ( P = 0.04) and on the right chest at 3 days ( P = 0.022) and 1 month ( P = 0.05). For patients with right-sided curves, MDT ( P = 0.01) and MPT ( P = 0.015) overall were significantly higher on the concave side (left) chest postoperatively. PSF is associated with sensory disturbances that are detectable within days, persist at 1 month, and improve at 6 months postoperatively adjacent to the incision and on the chest wall. We suspect that these sensory changes are transient. Describing postoperative sensory changes will help us better set postoperative expectations for patients undergoing PSF. Level I.

Longitudinal study of energy, neurosensory and eating responses durinG pregnancY (ENERGY cohort): A study protocol

Physiological changes that occur during pregnancy can have long-term impacts on metabolism and neurosensory responses to food, which can impact nutrition and health outcomes. The ENERGY cohort is a longitudinal study that aims to capitalizes on pregnancy as a natural model of metabolic reprogramming in order to understand the neurosensory mechanisms underpinning links between metabolism and dietary behaviour. The study objectives are to test for multi-sensory shifts during pregnancy, and the effect of sensory changes on dietary choices and bodyweights, and to identify neurosensory mechanisms that determine macronutrient selection before and after pregnancy. A longitudinal cohort study involving 130 pregravid women planning to conceive with the next 12-months and 65 pregravid women with no short-term plans to conceive. Participants will be recruited from Dunedin and Auckland, New Zealand. The study will test for changes in diet, neurosensory outcomes, and metabolism across the reproductive cycle, from pre-pregnancy to 1-year post-pregnancy. Data will be collected at six timepoint throughout the pregnancy which will occur approximately every 3 months. The primary response variables will be changes in supra-threshold sensitivity across modalities, dietary intake, and metabolism between pre-pregnancy and post-pregnancy. Longitudinal data analysis will use linear mixed models to assess changes in the response outcomes over time adjusted for age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Understanding the relationship between metabolism, sensory processing, and macronutrient preferences will provide crucial insights into diet-related health issues, including obesity. This study will lead to the formation of a prospective research cohort that is unique to Aotearoa New Zealand, and will develop multidisciplinary skills that are increasingly necessary to addressing the obesity epidemic.

Effect of UV Filters during the Application of Pulsed Light to Reduce Lactobacillus brevis Contamination and 3-Methylbut-2-ene-1-thiol Formation While Preserving the Physicochemical Attributes of Blonde Ale and Centennial Red Ale Beers

Pulsed light (PL) is a novel, non-thermal technology being used to control the microbial spoilage of foods and beverages. Adverse sensory changes, commonly characterized as "lightstruck", can occur in beers when exposed to the UV portion of PL due to the formation of 3-methylbut-2-ene-1-thiol (3-MBT) upon the photodegradation of iso-α-acids. This study is the first to investigate the effect of different portions of the PL spectrum on UV-sensitive beers (light-colored blonde ale and dark-colored centennial red ale) using clear and bronze-tinted UV filters. PL treatments with its entire spectrum, including the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum, resulted in up to 4.2 and 2.4 log reductions of L. brevis in the blonde ale and centennial red ale beers, respectively, but also resulted in the formation of 3-MBT and small but significant changes in physicochemical properties including color, bitterness, pH, and total soluble solids. The application of UV filters effectively maintained 3-MBT below the limit of quantification but significantly reduced microbial deactivation to 1.2 and 1.0 log reductions of L. brevis at 8.9 J/cm2 fluence with a clear filter. Further optimization of the filter wavelengths is considered necessary to fully apply PL for beer processing and possibly other light-sensitive foods and beverages.

Abstract TMP20: Performing The Pediatric National Institutions Of Health Stroke Scale Over Televideo: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Telestroke networks are widely used by stroke neurologists to rapidly assess adults presenting to remote facilities with suspected acute stroke. Televideo assessment of acute neurological deficits in children is potentially useful for children who live in remote areas, but has not been studied. This study tested the feasibility of assessing the pediatric National Institutes of Health stroke scale (PedNIHSS) by televideo in children. Methods: Children ages 2-17 years with and without strokes were recruited and examined in the outpatient neurology clinic. The PedNIHSS was performed on each child by separate neurologists; one by televideo and the other at the bedside. The total PedNIHSS, subscores and time to complete each exam were recorded. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to analyze inter-rater reliability. Results: Twenty children were recruited with an average range of 9.2 years (range 2-17 years). Six children had chronic stroke. By bedside exam, the total PedNIHSS score ranged from 0-8 with a mean of 1.65. By televideo, the PedNIHSS total score was identical to the bedside examination in 12/20 (60%) of the children and identical or within 1 point in 19/20 children (95%). All total PedNIHSS were scored higher by the bedside vs remote examiner in cases where there was a difference. There was excellent overall inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.92; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.97) for the total PedNIHSS when comparing bedside and video exams. In the subgroup of children less than 6 years of age, ICC was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.44-0.98). The PedNIHSS subscores with lowest reliability between exams were dysarthria, ataxia and sensory change. The average time to complete the bedside and remote examinations were 5 minutes and 7 minutes, respectively. Conclusions: It is feasible to perform the full PedNIHSS over televideo with reasonable accuracy and in a similar amount of time as compared to bedside evaluations. Limitations of this study include a small number of patients and overall low burden of neurologic deficits. Future studies focusing on children presenting with focal neurologic deficits in the acute care setting are needed to further determine the reliability of performing the PedNIHSS over televideo.

Extending the Shelf Life of Raw Milk and Pasteurized Milk with Plantaricin FB-2.

Raw milk and pasteurized milk are characterized by a short shelf life, and drinking expired raw milk and pasteurized milk causes illness. In the study, Plantaricin FB-2 (extracted from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FB-2) was added to liquid milk. By evaluating the microbial growth, acidity changes, protein content, and sensory changes in raw milk and pasteurized milk during storage, it was found that when Plantaricin FB-2 was added at 0.4 g/kg, the shelf life of raw milk was extended by 3 days (7 days if not added). The shelf life of pasteurized milk with Plantaricin FB-2 was extended to 31 days (25 days in the control group), and the optimal amount was 0.3 g/kg. This confirmed that Plantaricin FB-2 can effectively prolong the shelf life of raw and pasteurized milk. This study provides valuable information for the application of bacteriocins produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in raw milk and pasteurized milk to improve their shelf life.

Sensory and motor cortical excitability changes induced by rTMS and sensory stimulation in stroke: A randomized clinical trial.

The ability to produce coordinated movement is dependent on dynamic interactions through transcallosal fibers between the two cerebral hemispheres of the brain. Although typically unilateral, stroke induces changes in functional and effective connectivity across hemispheres, which are related to sensorimotor impairment and stroke recovery. Previous studies have focused almost exclusively on interhemispheric interactions in the primary motor cortex (M1). To identify the presence of interhemispheric asymmetry (ASY) of somatosensory cortex (S1) excitability and to investigate whether S1 repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with sensory stimulation (SS) changes excitability in S1 and M1, as well as S1 ASY, in individuals with subacute stroke. A randomized clinical trial. Participants with a single episode of stroke, in the subacute phase, between 35 and 75 years old, were allocated, randomly and equally balanced, to four groups: rTMS/sham SS, sham rTMS/SS, rTMS/SS, and sham rTMS/Sham SS. Participants underwent 10 sessions of S1 rTMS of the lesioned hemisphere (10 Hz, 1,500 pulses) followed by SS. SS was applied to the paretic upper limb (UL) (active SS) or non-paretic UL (sham SS). TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of the paretic UL and somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) of both ULs assessed M1 and S1 cortical excitability, respectively. The S1 ASY index was measured before and after intervention. Evaluator, participants and the statistician were blinded. Thirty-six participants divided equally into groups (nine participants per group). Seven patients were excluded from MEP analysis because of failure to produce consistent MEP. One participant was excluded in the SSEP analysis because no SSEP was detected. All somatosensory stimulation groups had decreased S1 ASY except for the sham rTMS/Sham SS group. When compared with baseline, M1 excitability increased only in the rTMS/SS group. S1 rTMS and SS alone or in combination changed S1 excitability and decreased ASY, but it was only their combination that increased M1 excitability. clinicaltrials.gov, identifier (NCT03329807).

Autoencoding slow representations for semi-supervised data-efficient regression

The slowness principle is a concept inspired by the visual cortex of the brain. It postulates that the underlying generative factors of a quickly varying sensory signal change on a different, slower time scale. By applying this principle to state-of-the-art unsupervised representation learning methods one can learn a latent embedding to perform supervised downstream regression tasks more data efficient. In this paper, we compare different approaches to unsupervised slow representation learning such as L_p norm based slowness regularization and the SlowVAE, and propose a new term based on Brownian motion used in our method, the S-VAE. We empirically evaluate these slowness regularization terms with respect to their downstream task performance and data efficiency in state estimation and behavioral cloning tasks. We find that slow representations show great performance improvements in settings where only sparse labeled training data is available. Furthermore, we present a theoretical and empirical comparison of the discussed slowness regularization terms. Finally, we discuss how the Fréchet Inception Distance (FID), commonly used to determine the generative capabilities of GANs, can predict the performance of trained models in supervised downstream tasks.

Oral Somatosensory Alterations in Head and Neck Cancer Patients-An Overview of the Evidence and Causes.

Food-related sensory alterations are prevalent among cancer patients and negatively impact their relationship with food, quality of life, and overall health outcome. In addition to taste and smell, food perception is also influenced by somatosensation comprising tactile, thermal, and chemesthetic sensations; yet studies on oral somatosensory perception of cancer patients are lacking to provide patients with tailored nutritional solutions. The present review aimed to summarise findings on the oral somatosensory perception of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and the potential aetiologies of somatosensory alterations among this population. Subjective assessments demonstrated alterations in oral somatosensory perception such as sensitivity to certain textures, spices, and temperatures. Physiological changes in oral somatosensation have been observed through objective assessments of sensory function, showing reduced localised tactile function and thermal sensitivity. Changes in whole-mouth tactile sensation assessed using texture discrimination and stereognosis ability seem to be less evident. Available evidence indicated oral somatosensory alterations among HNC patients, which may affect their eating behaviour, but more studies with larger sample sizes and standardised assessment methods are needed. Unlike other types of cancers, sensory alterations in HNC patients are not only caused by the treatments, but also by the cancer itself, although the exact mechanism is not fully understood. Prevalent oral complications, such as xerostomia, dysphagia, mucositis, and chemosensory alterations, further modify their oral condition and food perception. Oral somatosensory perception of cancer patients is an under-investigated topic, which constitutes an important avenue for future research due to its potential significance on eating behaviour and quality of life.

Facial skin temperature and overall thermal sensation of sub-tropically acclimated Chinese subjects in summer

This study explored the facial skin temperature and thermal sensation of sub-tropically acclimated subjects in summer. We conducted a summer experiment that simulated the common indoor temperatures in Changsha, China. Twenty healthy subjects experienced five exposure conditions: 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 °C with a relative humidity of 60%. During exposure (140min), the sitting participants documented their thermal sensation, comfort and acceptability of the environment. Their facial skin temperatures were continuously and automatically recorded by using iButtons. These facial parts include the forehead, nose, left and right ears, left and right cheeks and chin. The results found that the maximum facial skin temperature difference increased with air temperature reduction. The forehead skin temperature was the highest. Nose skin temperature is lowest when air temperature is not higher than 26 °C during summer. Correlation analysis confirmed that the nose is the potential facial part that is most suitable to evaluate thermal sensation. Based on the published winter experiment, we further explored their seasonal effects. The seasonal analysis showed that, compared with winter, thermal sensation is more sensitive to indoor temperature changes and facial skin temperatures were less susceptible to thermal sensation changes in summer. Facial skin temperatures were higher in summer under the same thermal conditions. It suggests that seasonal effects should be considered when facial skin temperature can be used as an important parameter for indoor environment control in the future through monitoring thermal sensation.

Accuracy of dermatomes in the localization of lumbar disc herniations for pre-operative planning: A systematic review

IntroductionSymptomatic lumbar disc herniations have a prevalence of 1–3% in the general population. Clinical examination is utilized to identify the level of nerve root impingement using pain or sensory changes in dermatomal patterns. These findings are often cited as beneficial for pre-operative planning to localize the level of nerve root impingement in conjunction with advanced imaging. Recent studies have challenged the accuracy of previous dermatomal distributions. ObjectiveTo evaluate the rate of correlation for altered sensation and pain in dermatomal distributions with the specific level of nerve root compression. MethodsA systematic review was performed using PRISMA guidelines. A search was performed on PUBMED/MEDLINE, Cochrane Database and Embase on 08 OCT 2022. Search keywords were “nerve root, disc herniation, physical examination, lumbar”. CT, MRI or intra-operative findings for level of nerve root compression were recorded. Dermatomal pain or sensation on physical examination were compared to the level of nerve root compression. ResultsA total of three hundred and forty-seven articles were obtained from the literature search. Eighty-one full length articles were obtained and reviewed. Full data was obtained from seven articles. Overall correlation of physical examination findings with nerve root compression ranged from 5 to 93%. Overall correlation was 42%. L4 correlation ranged from 7.7 to 33%. L5 compression correlated 7.1–41%. S1 physical examination matched 2.4–54%. ConclusionDermatomal pain and sensory loss are utilized for identifying nerve root compression. The current systematic review identified an overall correlation of 42% with physical examination for sensory loss and the level of lumbar nerve root compression.