Therapeutic effects of aerobic exercise on EEG parameters and higher cognitive functions in mild cognitive impairment patients

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is becoming an emerging problem for developing countries where there is an increase in expected age. There is no specific curative therapeutic treatment available for these patients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate short and long-term changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) parameters and cognition of MCI patients with aerobic exercises.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 40 patients which were randomly divided into two groups, ‘aerobic exercise treatment group (n?=?21)’ and ‘no-aerobic control group (n?=?19)’. Short-term effects of exercise were measured after single session of exercise and long-term effects were measured after an 18 sessions (6?weeks) treatment. The outcomes which were measured were, electroenphelogram paramaters (slowness and complexity of the EEG) and cognitive functions (using mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), and trail making test (TMT) A and B).

Results: After one session of aerobic exercise there were significant improvements in slowness (delta waves; 0.678?±?0.035 vs 0.791?±?0.033; p?=?.015) and complexity (0.601?±?0.051 vs 0.470?±?0.042; p?=?.027) of the EEG in aerobic exercise treated group as compared to no-aerobic exercise group. After six weeks there were significant improvements in slowness (delta waves; 0.581?±?0.036 vs 0.815?±?0.025; p?=?.005) and complexity (0.751?±?0.045 vs 0.533?±?0.046; p?=?.001) of the EEG in the aerobic group as compared to no-aerobic group. Moreover, significant improvements were observed in the MMSE (p?=?.032), MoCA (p?=?.036), TMT-A (p?=?.005), and TMT-B (p?=?.007) in aerobic exercise group as compared to no-aerobic group.

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise showed improvement in cognition after short and long-term treatment in MCI subjects and can be used as potential therapeutic candidate.     

Parental characteristics and the risk of schizophrenia in a Chinese population: a case-control study

Background: Genetic studies have provided convergent results indicating that schizophrenia is a polygenic disorder with a heritability estimate of ～60–80%. The propensity for schizophrenia is ～10 times higher in individuals with first-degree relatives with schizophrenia when compared to the general population.

Aim: To identify associations between parental characteristics and the risk of schizophrenia in a Chinese population.

Methods: Participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited along with healthy controls (HCs) matched for age and gender from Weifang, China. Logistic regression models and generalized linear models were used to explore the associations between parental characteristics with the risk and age at onset of schizophrenia. In total, 414 cases and 639 HCs were recruited for the study.

Results: We observed an inverse association between levels of paternal and maternal education and risk of schizophrenia after controlling for potential confounders (Paternal: OR?=?1.525, 95% CI: 1.080–2.153, p?=?.017; Maternal: OR?=?1.984, 95% CI: 1.346-2.924, p?=?.001). Younger paternal and maternal childbearing age were associated with a higher risk of diagnosis of schizophrenia. We furtherly observed that individuals with earlier age at onset of schizophrenia had fewer siblings (p?=?.007) and had higher rates of parental marital disharmony (p?=?.033).

Conclusion: Our results indicate that parental years of education and age of childbearing are associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia in a Chinese population. Age of onset of schizophrenia was positively associated with a greater number of siblings and negatively associated with parental marital disharmony.     

Cystatin C as an index of acute cerebral infraction recurrence: one-year follow-up study

Background and purpose: Cystatin C is associated with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). However, the correlation of serum cystatin C level with recurrence of ACI and different subtypes of ACI had not been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to detect the relationship between serum cystatin C level and recurrent ACI in one-year follow-up and different subtypes of ACI.

Methods: A total of 532 consecutive patients with ACI and 339 healthy controls were included. All ACI patients were followed up for one year, the clinical and biochemical characteristics of ACI and ACI recurrent patients were documented and analyzed.

Results: A total of 477 (89.7%) patients completed one-year follow-up study, 64 (13.4%) patients suffered ACI recurrence. The results showed serum cystatin C was 1.04?±?0.19?mg/L and 1.14?±?0.49?mg/L in control and ACI, respectively (p<?.001). The significant risk factors for ACI recurrence were presence of hypertension (p?=?.009, OR =3.32), diabetes (p?=.03, OR =1.87), coronary heart disease (p?=?.01, OR =2.46), and cystatin C (p?=?.003, OR =2.87). The risk of ACI recurrence increased with serum cystatin C level. Additionally, cystatin C level was associated with different subtypes of ACI; large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) subtype had the highest level of cystatin C in ACI and recurrent ACI group.

Conclusions: Serum cystatin C level is an independent prediction biomarker for ACI recurrence. LAA subtype of ACI and ACI recurrence was more closely related to elevated cystatin C level.     

Effect of activity-based mirror therapy on lower limb motor-recovery and gait in stroke: A randomised controlled trial

Objective: To determine the effect of activity-based mirror therapy (MT) on motor recovery and gait in chronic poststroke hemiparetic subjects.

Design: A randomised, controlled, assessor-blinded trial.

Setting: Rehabilitation institute.

Participants: Thirty-six chronic poststroke (15.89?±?9.01 months) hemiparetic subjects (age: 46.44?±?7.89 years, 30 men and functional ambulation classification of median level 3).

Interventions: Activity-based MT comprised movements such as ball-rolling, rocker-board, and pedalling. The activities were provided on the less-affected side in front of the mirror while hiding the affected limb. The movement of the less-affected lower limb was projected as over the affected limb. Conventional motor therapy based on neurophysiological approaches was also provided to the experimental group. The control group received only conventional management.

Main outcome measures: Brunnstrom recovery stages (BRS), Fugl-Meyer assessment lower extremity (FMA-LE), Rivermead visual gait assessment (RVGA), and 10-metre walk test (10-MWT).

Results: Postintervention, the experimental group exhibited significant and favourable changes for FMA-LE (mean difference?=?3.29, 95% CI?=?1.23–5.35, p?=?.003) and RVGA (mean difference?=?5.41, 95% CI?=?1.12–9.71, p?=?.015) in comparison to the control group. No considerable changes were observed on 10-MWT.

Conclusions: Activity-based MT facilitates motor recovery of the lower limb as well as reduces gait deviations among chronic poststroke hemiparetic subjects.     

Prospective memory impairment in patients with white matter lesions

Objective: A vast majority of the episodic memory literature in white matter lesions (WML) had focused on “retrospective memory (RM)”, little was known about prospective memory (PM) in WML patients. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of WML patients on event-based prospective memory (EBPM) and time-based prospective memory (TBPM). In addition, our study attempted to understand the possible mechanisms of PM damage in WML patients.

Methods: A total of 42 WML patients and 40 age and education level matched healthy controls were included. EBPM (an action whenever particular words were presented) and TBPM (an action at certain times) were performed to test the involvement of PM in WML. The extent of WML within cholinergic pathways were assessed using the cholinergic pathways hyperintensities scale (CHIPS).

Results: A significant difference was found in the performance of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) (21.8?±?3.9 vs. 26.6?±?1.7, p?<?0.05) and TBPM (2.88?±?1.21 vs. 4.27?±?0.78, p?<?0.05), but not Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (26.9?±?2.8 vs. 27.3?±?1.2, p?>?0.05) and EBPM (3.62?±?1.25 vs.4.47?±?1.11, p?>?0.05) in WML patients compared with the healthy controls. Moreover, TBPM and MOCA scores were negatively correlated with CHIPS scores.

Conclusions: WML patients were impaired in TBPM but not in EBPM, supporting that EBPM and TBPM have different neural mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that WML are involved in the TBPM probably by affecting the central cholinergic pathway.     

Adult convulsive status epileptic us: clinical,etiological, and predictors of outcome study from rural population of North India

Aim: To determine the clinical profile, etiologies and predictors of mortality in patients with convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) among rural population of North India in view of limited published data on epidemiology and etiology of status epilepticus (SE) from developing countries.

Methods: One hundred sixty-two consecutive adult patients with CSE were evaluated from 2016 to 2018 for demographic profile, etiologies and predictors of poor outcome.

Results: The mean age was 41.71?±?19.72?years. Most of the CSE cases were acute symptomatic (48.8%) type with central nervous system (CNS) infections (24.1%) being the predominant precipitating factor. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) noncompliance accounted for 34.9% of the cases with pre-existing epilepsy. The median duration of CSE was 5.5?h (IQR-3-10?h). 82.1% cases responded to the first line drugs and their response was related with duration of CSE (p?=?.0045). Case fatality was 16.0% and the predictors of the mortality were; low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (OR =9.64, 95% CI= 2.064–45.02; p?=?.0001), lack of response to first line drugs (OR =0.019, 95% CI= 0.003–0.11; p?=?.0001) and absence of past history of epilepsy (OR =0.525, 95%CI =0.104–2.66; p?=?.004).

Conclusions: CNS infection and AEDs noncompliance were identified to be the major cause of CSE which can be potentially preventable. Present study signifies that prompt and successful control of infections appears to be the most efficient preventive approach. Level of consciousness as a potential predictor of poor outcome can be quickly accessible to the treating clinician in optimizing treatment strategies.     

Effect of exercise on type 2 diabetes-associated cognitive impairment in rats

OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes (T2D)-associated cognitive impairment is highly prevalent especially among the geriatric population. Here, we investigate the role of exercise in T2D-associated cognitive decline in rats.

METHODS: T2D was induced using high-fat diet (15 days) followed by low-dose STZ (25mg/kg). The T2D animals were subjected to aerobic exercise on running wheel for 6 weeks. Effect of aerobic exercise on cognitive performance of T2D animals was measured using step-down and transfer latency tests. This was followed by the measurement of reduced glutathione levels in hippocampal homogenates. We also measured hippocampal AchE activity and levels of neuroinflammatory markers such as IL-1 β, TNF-α and MCP-1. Morphology and density of hippocampal neurons were also determined by histopathological studies.

RESULTS: Exercise led to the following changes in T2D animals. It led to decrease in fasting blood glucose level (<250?mg/kg) and HbA1c (8.5?±?0.23) compared to diabetic (11.73?±?0.14) animals and improved insulin resistance. There was an increase in step-down latency (p?<?0.001) and a decrease in transfer latency (p?<?0.01) suggesting improved cognitive function. A significant increase in GSH levels (1.828?±?0.024) compared to diabetic group (1.52?±?0.03; p?<?0.001) and decrease in AchE activity (1.4?±?0.05) compared to diabetic group (1.65?±?0.03; p?<?0.05) were also observed. It reduced the levels of neuroinflammatory markers such as IL-1β, TNF-α and MCP-1 (p?<?0.01). Hippocampal sections showed higher CA1 and CA3 neuronal density (p?<?0.001) than T2D group.

CONCLUSION: We may conclude that aerobic exercise could partially reverse diabetes-associated cognitive decline by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory milieu in T2D animal brain.     

Homocysteine might increase the risk of recurrence in patients presenting with primary cerebral infarction

Purpose: Although hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) is a risk factor for cerebral infarction, its effect on recurrent cerebral infarction is less-defined. We aimed to investigate the association of Hhcy and increased risk of recurrent cerebral infarct.

Materials and methods: From 2011 to 2013, we recruited 231 primary cerebral infarct patients that were divided to a Hhcy group (n?=?105) and a control group (n?=?126) according to plasma homocysteinemia (Hcy) levels exceeding 15?μmol/L. In this prospective study, risk factors such as gender, age, blood lipid and glucose levels, history of diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking habits and plasma Hhcy levels were determined. A three-year follow-up compared differences in cerebral infarction recurrence rates. Statistical analyses identified whether plasma Hhcy levels were an independent risk factor for recurrent cerebral infarction.

Results: Triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in the Hhcy group were significantly higher than controls, and cerebral infarct recurrence rates in the Hhcy group exceeded control subject rates through the three-year follow-up (p?=?.021, p?=?.036 and p?=?.025). Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that elevated Hhcy levels (hazard ratio [HR]?=?3.062, p?<?.001), increased age (HR?=?1.069, p?<?.01), circulating triglyceride levels (HR?=?1.686, p?=?.048), and relative National Institutes of Health Stroke (NIHSS) score (HR?=?1.068, p?=?.016) were risk factors for recurrent cerebral infarction.

Conclusions: Level of Hhcy was a risk factor for recurrent cerebral infarction. Further, particular demographic and clinical outcomes including age, relative NIHSS scores, and circulating triglyceride levels were markedly associated with the occurrence of cerebral infarction.     

Evaluation of visual pathways using visual evoked potentials in the patients with impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance

Purpose: There are many studies on degeneration of the ganglion cells using visual evoked potential (VEP) in Diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study intended to investigate whether the retinopathy findings would be helpful for detecting the degeneration to develop or not in retinal ganglion cells with the VEP test before being detectable in ophthalmoscopic examination on prediabetic patients.

Materials and methods: The present study was conducted prospectively after obtaining approval from the Ethics Committee. In our study, the subjects were divided into three groups as impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and normal patients. They also underwent physical, ophthalmological and VEP examination. Three main components of VEP obtained from these groups were N75, P100, and N145 latency and N75-P100 amplitude.

Results: The study participants consisted of the IFG group (n: 30, female/male ratio: 21/9; mean age: 49.17?±?10.52 years), the IGT group (n: 30, female/male ratio: 23/7; mean age: 47.00?±?11.09 years), and the Control Group (n: 40, female/male ratio: 30/10; mean age: 48.03?±?10.96 years). Difference in sex and age between the study groups (p?>?0.05). P100 latency was found to increase significantly in comparison between the IGT and Control Group for both eyes (p right: 0.003, p left: 0.001) whereas it did not increase significantly in the comparison between the IFG and the Control Group (p right: 0.065, p left: 0.116).

Conclusion: It was observed that VEP may be a parameter of predictive value that might be used in evaluating prediabetic cases in terms of retinopathies similar to DM.     

First emerging objective experimental evidence of hearing impairment following subarachnoid haemorrhage; Felix culpa,phonophobia, and elucidation of the role of trigeminal ganglion

Objective: The exact mechanism of phonophobia induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has not been understood well. This subject was investigated.

Material and methods: This study was conducted on 25 rabbits. They divided into three groups: Five as control, five as SHAM, 20 as SAH group. All animals objected to 85?dB impulse noise by daily periods, and their phonophobic score values were examined by daily periods for 20 days. Their brains, trigeminal ganglia were extracted bilaterally. The normal and degenerated neuron densities of trigeminal ganglia were examined by stereological methods and compared with phonophobia scores.

Results: Phonophobic score was 19-17, mean live neuron density (LND) of the trigeminal ganglia was 16.321?±?2.430/mm³, and degenerated neuron density (DND) was 1.15?±?0.120/mm³ in animals of control groups (n?=?5). The phonophobic score was 17-14, LND: 14.345?±?1.913/mm³, DND of the trigeminal ganglia was 1.150?±?0.110/mm³ in SHAM group (n?=?5). The phonophobic score was 14-8, LND: 12.987?±?1.966/mm³, mean DND of the trigeminal ganglia was 2.520?±?510/mm³ in animals with high phonophobia scores (n?=?6). The phonophobic score was 7-4, LND: 9.122?±?1.006, mean DND of the trigeminal ganglia was 5.820?±?1.610/mm³, in animals with fever phonophobia scores (n?=?9).

Conclusion: An inverse relationship between DND trigeminal ganglion (TGG) and phonopobic score was found. The paralysis of tensor tympani muscle owing to trigeminal ganglia ischemia may be responsible for phonophobic clinical state in animals with SAH. In addition, there seems to be an important concern for the verbal component of GCS in SAH. These two important findings have not been published previously.     

The relationship between stroke survivors’ perceived identity and mood,self-esteem and quality of life

Objectives: To examine change in identity after stroke and to elucidate its relationship with mood and quality of life. To test Higgins’ theory of the impact of identity (self-discrepancy) on anxiety and depression. To examine the role of self-esteem in mediating the relationship between identity and outcomes.

Method: Sixty-five community-living first-time stroke survivors, mean age 61.58 and time since stroke 5.60 years, were recruited from stroke charities. A cross-sectional study used the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (adapted) and the Barthel Index.

Results: Identity was rated more negatively after stroke than before (t(64)?=?6.46, p?<?.00). Greater discrepancy in identity was associated with anxiety (r?=?.38, p?<?.00), depression (r?=?.59, p?<?.00), self-esteem (r?=??.48, p?<?.00) and quality of life (r?=??.54, p?<?.00). Overall positivity of identity after stroke predicted outcomes even better than discrepancy. The association between discrepancy and mood and quality of life was mediated by self-esteem (β?=?.30, p?<?.01; β?=??.24, p?<?.01, respectively). Specific types of discrepancy defined by Higgins did not show differential relationships with anxiety and depression as predicted.

Conclusions: Identity changes after stroke and identity and self-esteem are associated with important outcomes for stroke survivors.     

The intraocular pressure could not be used to determine the intracranial pressure in patients with hydrocephalus

Purpose: An accurate intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement is vital for patients with hydrocephalus. ICP is generally measured by lumbar puncture opening pressure, which is invasive and has potential adverse side effects. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was investigated to measure ICP indirectly; however, its accuracy was controversial. We conducted this retrospective study to investigate whether IOP can be used as a surrogate for ICP in hydrocephalus patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study enrolled 50 cases, including 32 patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and 18 patients with high pressure hydrocephalus (HPH). The independent factors of ICP, the correlation between ICP and other factors, and diagnostic value of IOP and papilledema to predict ICP were analysed, respectively.

Results: Patients with HPH were more likely suffered from visual deterioration (33.33% vs. 9.38%, p?=?.045) and papilledema (55.56% vs. 3.13%, p?=?.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that papilledema was a significant factor (OR =40.765, 95%CI 3.331–498.846, p?=?.004). Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated that ICP did not correlate with any other factors.

Conclusions: IOP was not an independent factor of ICP in patients with hydrocephalus, and could not be used to determine IOP. Papilledema might be a significant factor of ICP in hydrocephalus sufferers. Compared with NPH patients, patients with HPH were more prone to develop papilledema.     

The screen for cognitive impairment in psychiatry (SCIP) is associated with disease severity and cognitive complaints in major depression

Objective: To assess the relationship between the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) score and illness severity, subjective cognition and functioning in a cohort of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients.

Methods: Patients (n?=?40) diagnosed with MDD (DSM-IV-TR) completed the SCIP, a brief neuropsychological test, and a battery of self-administered questionnaires evaluating functioning (GAF, SDS, WHODAS 2.0, EDEC, PDQ-D5). Disease severity was evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI).

Results: Age and sex were associated with performance in the SCIP. The SCIP-Global index score was associated with disease severity (r?=??0.316, p?<?.05), the SDS, a patient self-assessment of daily functioning (r?=??0.368, p?<?.05), and the EDEC subscales of patient-reported cognitive deficits (r?=??0.388, p?<?.05) and their functional impacts (r?=??0.335, p?<?.05). Multivariate analysis adjusted for age and sex confirmed these tests are independent predictors of performance in the SCIP (CGI-S, F_[3,34]?=?4.478, p?=?.009; SDS, F_[3,34]?=?3.365, p?=?.030; EDEC-perceived cognitive deficits, F_[3,34]?=?5.216, p?=?.005; EDEC-perceived impacts of functional impairment, F_[3,34]?=?5.154, p?=?.005).

Conclusions: This study confirms that the SCIP can be used during routine clinical evaluation of MDD, and that cognitive deficits objectively assessed in the SCIP are associated with disease severity and self-reported cognitive dysfunction and impairment in daily life.     

‘It is nothing more than a senior moment’: the moderating role of subjective age in the effect of change in memory on self-rated memory

Objective: The association between memory performance and self-rated memory is yet to be understood. More specifically, little is known about the factors that lie at the base of self-evaluations of memory in relation to actual changes in memory. In this study, we suggest that subjective age modifies the effect of objective change in memory on self-rated memory.

Method: We used two waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4624) to examine whether subjective age moderates the effect of experienced changes in memory between T1 and T2 on self-rated memory at T2.

Results: Our results suggest that subjective age is a significant moderator of the effect of change in memory on self-rated memory. The effect is weaker among those with younger subjective age, and stronger for those with older subjective age.

Conclusion: While preserving a young subjective age is usually considered an adaptive strategy, it also has potential negative effects, masking changes in memory performance.     

A randomized study on the effect of modified behavioral activation treatment for depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified behavioral activation treatment (MBAT) intervention on reducing depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly.

Method: This is a randomized study registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17011289). Eighty rural left-behind elderly people who had a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score between 11 and 25 were randomly assigned to the intervention (n?=?40) and control group (n?=?40). The intervention group received both MBAT and regular treatment for 8 weeks while the control group received regular treatment. Both groups were assessed with the GDS, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention.

Results: There were a total of 73 participants that completed the intervention. The scores of GDS and BAI decreased significantly, but the scores of OHQ increased significantly in the intervention group after 8 sessions of MBAT (P?<?.01). The reduction in depression symptoms after the intervention was maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Significant differences in GDS, BAI, and OHQ scores were observed between the intervention group and the control group (P?<?.01).

Conclusion: MBAT produced a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms than regular care in rural left-behind elderly.

Clinical or methodological significance of this article: A modified behavioral activation (BA) psychotherapy can significantly reduce the recurrence and seriousness of depression symptoms in the left-behind elderly with mild to moderate depression. This study also suggests that further study of the MBAT as an intervention will provide a direction for the management of mental health in rural left-behind elders.     

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in a population-based sample of Turkish migrants living in Germany

Objectives: Data on cognitive testing in migrants in Germany are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in Turkish migrants in Berlin and its association with demographics and health-related variables.

Method: For this cross-sectional study, a random sample of persons with Turkish names was drawn from the registration-office. Cognitive function was assessed using the MoCA; 0 = worst, 30 = best total score. Multivariable linear regression models were calculated to determine associated factors with the total MoCA-score.

Results: In our analyses we included 282 participants (50% female), mean age 42.3 ± 11.9 years (mean ± standard deviation (SD)). The mean ± SD MoCA score was 23.3 ± 4.3. In the multivariable analysis, higher education (ß = 2.68; p < 0.001), and chosing the German version of the MoCA (ß = –1.13; p = 0.026), were associated with higher MoCA-scores, whereas higher age (ß = –0.08; p = 0.002) was associated with lower MoCA scores.

Conclusion: In our study, a higher educational level, lower age, and German as the preferred test language (as compared to Turkish) were positively associated with the cognitive performance of Berliners with Turkish roots. To examine neurocognitive health of migrants, longitudinal population-based and clinical cohort studies that specifically compare migrants and their descendants with the original population of their home countries are required.     

Brief compassion focused imagery for treatment of severe head injury

Objective: To determine whether participants with severe head injury (SHI) allocated to a brief compassion focused imagery (CFI) intervention show greater change in compassion than those exposed to relaxation imagery (RI).

Method: Participants were exposed to a preparatory video to promote engagement and then randomly allocated to intervention. Pre- and post-preparatory measures were Motivation for Intervention and Fears of Compassion Scales, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and PANAS. Pre- and post-intervention self-report measures were the Empathy Quotient, Self-Compassion Scale, STAI and Relaxation Scale. Heart rate variability (HRV) was monitored throughout.

Results: Motivation for therapy increased after the preparatory video (z?=?3.44, p?=?0.001). Across the intervention, group differences were not found on self-report measures or HRV changes. When CFI and RI groups were pooled, improvement in relaxation (r?=?.41, p?<?0.01) and state anxiety (r?=?.29, p?<?0.05) were found across the intervention; these outcomes were not associated with changes in self-compassion or HRV.

Conclusion: Brief CFI, a central aspect of compassion focused therapy, did not produce a reliable change in people with SHI. Enhanced motivation for psychological therapy after a brief preparatory video is relevant and underlines the need to understand mechanisms of action rather than the pursuing whole protocol approaches to therapy.     

The effect of serotonin on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity

Objective: This study was aimed at examining the epileptiform activity of the 5-HT₂ serotonin receptor agonist and antagonist, and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in penicillin-induced epilepsy in albino Wistar rats.

Methods: For this purpose, 90 albino male Wistar rats were used in this study. Epileptiform activity was induced by an injection of penicillin, an agonist of GABAA receptor, (500?IU, i.c.) into the somatomotor cortex. Thirty minutes after the injection of penicillin, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI, an agonist of 5-HT₂ receptor) (0.5, 1, 2 and 4?mg/kg, i.p.), methysergide, an antagonist of 5-HT₂ receptor, (1, 10, 20, 50 and 100?µM, i.c.v.) and 5-HTP, precursor of 5-HT, (25, 50, 75 and 100?mg/kg, i.p.) were administered, respectively.

Results: DOI, at the doses of 1 and 2?mg/kg, significantly decreased penicillin-induced epileptiform activity (p?<?0.05). Methysergide, at the doses of 20, 50 and 100?µM, significantly increased the mean spike frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity (p?<?0.05). The doses of 50, 75 and 100?mg/kg of 5-HTP decreased the mean spike frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity (p?<?0.05). The mean of amplitude of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity did not significantly change in any of the groups (p?>?0.05).

Conclusion: The electrophysiological data from the present study suggest that serotonin 5-HT₂ receptors have an important role in controlling penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in the rat.     

Orexin/hypocretin receptor,Orx1, gene variants are associated with major depressive disorder

Objective: Orexins (hypocretins) are neuropeptides expressed in hypothalamic neurons and have regulatory roles in feeding/drinking behaviours, endocrine functions and sleep/wakefulness state. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a major mood disorder and neurotransmitter dysfunction in hypothalamic neurons may have roles in its formation. Hence, we conducted experiments to determine whether orexin receptor 1 and 2 (Orx₁, Orx₂) genes were associated with MDD development.

Methods: Seventy-five MDD patients and 87 healthy controls were enrolled for the study. Genotyping was carried out with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Hamilton Rating-Scale for Depression (HRSD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were utilized to evaluate depressive symptom severity.

Results: A significant relation was found in genotype frequencies of Orx₁ rs10914456 and rs2271933 variants between MDD patients and controls (p?=?.009, p?=?.006). Rs10914456?CC genotype increased MDD risk 3.57 times more than carrying other genotypes (p?=?.008, OR =3.57;95% CI: 1.39–9.14). However, no association was observed in Orx₂ rs2653349 genotypes for MDD development (p?>?.05). Although statistically not significant, HRSD scores were diminished in MDD subjects carrying rs10914456?CC variants when compared with CT and TT variants (p?=?.069). Conclusion. This study suggests that, Orx₁ rs10914456 and rs2271933 can be associated with MDD development. Hence, Orx₁ rs10914456 variants may affect depressive symptom severity.     

Dynamic changes in miR-124 levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Objective: To investigate the changes in serum miR-124 levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and elucidate the underlying mechanism by a dynamic monitor.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with ACI and 51 healthy controls were included in our study. Baseline characteristics and blood samples were collected for further analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the serum miR-124 levels. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to evaluate the effect of miR-124 on iASPP, a protein that inhibits apoptosis stimulating proteins in the p53 family.

Results: Compared with normal controls, the miR-124 levels in the ACI group rapidly decreased at phase 1 (within 24?h after ischemia) (p?<?0.001) and then gradually increased at phase 2 (48?～?72?h after ischemia) (p?<?0.001) and phase 3 (the 7th day after ischemia) (p?<?0.001). The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-124 down-regulates iASPP expression in 293T cells.

Conclusion: The miR-124 levels are down-regulated in ACI patients. The dynamic changes of miR-124 might provide a possible method for the detection of ischemic stroke.

• Highlights

• The difference in miR-124 expression levels between ACI patients and normal controls.

• Dynamic changes of miR-124 expression levels in ACI patients.

• The down-regulation of miR-124 upon iASPP expression.