探讨基于近红外脑成像技术的阈下抑郁情志刺激反应机制研究可行性

近红外脑功能成像技术是近几年发展起来用于动态检测脑功能的方法,能够很好地反映抑郁人群认知活动期间大脑有氧代谢的变化,为阈下抑郁研究提供了一个新思路。本研究通过文献综述,结合中医情志理论,在过往研究的基础上基于近红外脑功能成像技术探讨中医情志刺激对阈下抑郁的反应机制,为后期研究提供理论与实践可行性的依据。     

Event-related potential changes due to early-onset Parkinson’s disease in parkin (PARK2) gene mutation carriers and non-carriers

ObjectiveTo investigate cognitive functions in non-demented patients with early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD), and to compare PARK2 gene mutation carriers and non-carriers by means of event-related brain potentials (ERPs).MethodsThe participants comprised patients with early-onset PD (EOPD) and healthy controls (HC). Patients with EOPD were divided into two groups as carriers of known pathogenic variants of PARK2 gene (EOPD-PC) and non-carriers of genes involved in familial PD (EOPD-NC). ERP data were collected during auditory oddball and visual continuous performance test (CPT).ResultsBoth EOPD groups (EOPD-PC and EOPD-NC) displayed reduced and delayed P3 in response to oddball target and CPT NoGo. CPT Go P3 was reduced in EOPD-NC but not in EOPD-PC. Oddball target N1 was reduced and P2 was enhanced in both EOPD-PC and EOPD-NC. In both cognitive tasks, RTs were prolonged and accuracy was lower in EOPD-PC and EOPD-NC.ConclusionsWe found several EOPD-related neurophysiologic changes, implying impairments in cognitive functions. Pairwise comparisons between EOPD-PC and EOPD-NC revealed no significant ERP marker.SignificanceIn this study, the confounding effect of normative aging was somewhat excluded compared with many previous studies. In contrast with the many oddball studies in non-demented PD, we clearly observed reduced and prolonged P3 in early-onset PD. Our NoGo P3 findings also contribute to the limited ERP research concerning response inhibition.     

Contribution of transcranial magnetic stimulation in restless legs syndrome: pathophysiological insights and therapeutical approaches

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may offer a reliable means to characterize significant pathophysiologic and neurochemical aspects of restless legs syndrome (RLS). Namely, TMS has revealed specific patterns of changes in cortical excitability and plasticity, in particular dysfunctional inhibitory mechanisms and sensorimotor integration, which are thought to be part of the pathophysiological mechanisms of RLS rather than reflect a non-specific consequence of sleep architecture alteration.If delivered repetitively, TMS is able to transiently modulate the neural activity of the stimulated and connected areas. Some studies have begun to therapeutically use repetitive TMS (rTMS) to improve sensory and motor disturbances in RLS. High-frequency rTMS applied over the primary motor cortex or the supplementary motor cortex, as well as low-frequency rTMS over the primary somatosensory cortex, seem to have transient beneficial effects. However, further studies with larger patient samples, repeated sessions, an optimized rTMS setup, and clinical follow-up are needed in order to corroborate preliminary results.Thus, we performed a systematic search of all the studies that have used TMS and rTMS techniques in patients with RLS.     

Localization of motor and verbal fluency effects in subthalamic DBS for Parkinson's disease

IntroductionSubthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) improves cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) but can worsen verbal fluency (VF). An optimal site of stimulation for overall motor improvement has been previously identified using an atlas-independent, fully individualized, field-modeling approach. This study examines if cardinal motor components (bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity) share this identified optimal improvement site and if there is co-localization with a site that worsens VF.MethodsAn atlas-independent, field-modeling approach was used to identify sites of maximal STN DBS effect on overall and cardinal motor symptoms and VF in 60 patients. Anatomic coordinates were referenced to the STN midpoint. Symptom severity was assessed with the MDS-UPDRS part III and established VF scales.ResultsSites for improved bradykinesia and rigidity co-localized with each other and the overall part III site (0.09 mm lateral, 0.93 mm posterior, 1.75 mm dorsal). The optimal site for tremor was posterior to this site (0.10 mm lateral, 1.40 mm posterior, 1.93 mm dorsal). Semantic and phonemic VF sites were indistinguishable and co-localized medial to the motor sites (0.32 mm medial, 1.18 mm posterior, 1.74 mm dorsal).ConclusionThis study identifies statistically distinct, maximally effective stimulation sites for tremor improvement, VF worsening, and overall and other cardinal motor improvements in STN DBS. Current electrode sizes and voltage settings stimulate all of these sites simultaneously. However, future targeted lead placement and focused directional stimulation may avoid VF worsening while maintaining motor improvements in STN DBS.     

The interaction between pain and movement

Study DesignClinical commentary.Introduction/PurposePain and movement are universally relevant phenomena that influence human experiences in readily observable ways. Improved understanding of pain-movement relationships can guide medical and rehabilitative approaches to recovery and decrease risk of dysfunctional long-term consequences of otherwise normal neuromuscular responses. Therefore, the overall intent of this article is to elucidate the relationships between pain and movement as they relate to clinical decision making.ConclusionsMotor output is highly adaptable, can be influenced by multiple mechanisms at various levels along the nervous system, and may vary between individuals despite similar diagnoses. Therefore, interventions need to be individualized and consider both the types of motor response observed (ie, whether the response is protective or maladaptive), and the patient's acute physical activity tolerance when prescribing exercise/movement.     

弥散张量成像在癫痫中的研究进展

癫痫作为多种病因引起的神经系统慢性、发作性疾病,严重影响着患者的生活质量,因此对其及时诊断和早期治疗极为重要。目前已有多种神经影像技术用于癫痫的定位、定侧和病理生理研究。弥散张量成像是利用水分子在组织中弥散的各向异性成像的磁共振技术,是目前唯一能在活体中无创性地显示脑白质纤维束的方法,它能敏感地显示脑部细微结构,并能揭示各个结构间的功能联系,有助于癫痫的研究。本文主要从癫痫的病因诊断、癫痫手术的辅助指导、癫痫的结构网络及其与癫病功能障碍的相关性研究等方面对DTI应用于癫痫的最新研究进展进行综述。     

Simulation of transcranial magnetic stimulation in head model with morphologically-realistic cortical neurons

BackgroundTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) enables non-invasive modulation of brain activity with both clinical and research applications, but fundamental questions remain about the neural types and elements TMS activates and how stimulation parameters affect the neural response.ObjectiveTo develop a multi-scale computational model to quantify the effect of TMS parameters on the direct response of individual neurons.MethodsWe integrated morphologically-realistic neuronal models with TMS-induced electric fields computed in a finite element model of a human head to quantify the cortical response to TMS with several combinations of pulse waveforms and current directions.ResultsTMS activated with lowest intensity intracortical axonal terminations in the superficial gyral crown and lip regions. Layer 5 pyramidal cells had the lowest thresholds, but layer 2/3 pyramidal cells and inhibitory basket cells were also activated at most intensities. Direct activation of layers 1 and 6 was unlikely. Neural activation was largely driven by the field magnitude, rather than the field component normal to the cortical surface. Varying the induced current direction caused a waveform-dependent shift in the activation site and provided a potential mechanism for experimentally observed differences in thresholds and latencies of muscle responses.ConclusionsThis biophysically-based simulation provides a novel method to elucidate mechanisms and inform parameter selection of TMS and other cortical stimulation modalities. It also serves as a foundation for more detailed network models of the response to TMS, which may include endogenous activity, synaptic connectivity, inputs from intrinsic and extrinsic axonal projections, and corticofugal axons in white matter.