Bifrontal and bioccipital transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) does not induce mood changes in healthy volunteers: A placebo controlled study

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is the application of a weak electrical direct current (1.5?mA), which has the ability to modulate spontaneous firing rates of the cortical neurons by depolarizing or hyperpolarizing the neural resting membrane potential. tDCS in patients with depressive disorders has been proven to be an interesting therapeutic method potentially influencing pathologic mood states. Except one study, no alterations in mood could be confirmed applying tDCS in healthy participants. In this study, bifrontal or bioccipital stimulation was applied in 17 healthy subjects during 20 minutes with 1.5 mA in a placebo-controlled manner. Bifrontal stimulation consisted of both anodal and cathodal placement on right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in two separate sessions. Using a set of self-reported moodscales (SUDS, POMS-32, PANAS, BISBAS) no significant mood changes could be observed, neither with bifrontal nor bioccipital tDCS. As already demonstrated by previous studies, we confirmed the minimal side effects and the safety of this neuromodulation technique.     

What is a multisensory cortex? A laminar,connectional, and functional study of a ferret temporal cortical multisensory area

Now that examples of multisensory neurons have been observed across the neocortex, this has led to some confusion about the features that actually designate a region as “multisensory.” While the documentation of multisensory effects within many different cortical areas is clear, often little information is available about their proportions or net functional effects. To assess the compositional and functional features that contribute to the multisensory nature of a region, the present investigation used multichannel neuronal recording and tract tracing methods to examine the ferret temporal region: the lateral rostral suprasylvian sulcal area. Here, auditory-tactile multisensory neurons were predominant and constituted the majority of neurons across all cortical layers whose responses dominated the net spiking activity of the area. These results were then compared with a literature review of cortical multisensory data and were found to closely resemble multisensory features of other, higher-order sensory areas. Collectively, these observations argue that multisensory processing presents itself in hierarchical and area-specific ways, from regions that exhibit few multisensory features to those whose composition and processes are dominated by multisensory activity. It seems logical that the former exhibit some multisensory features (among many others), while the latter are legitimately designated as “multisensory.”     

Do negative aspects of social relations influence fatigue? A cross-sectional study on a non-clinical sample of middle-aged Danish men

ObjectiveFatigue is a common complaint among young and old adults and may be associated with negative aspects of social relations. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the association between demands from and conflicts with different sources of social relations and fatigue.MethodsThe study was based on sub-populations of the 6292 members of the Danish Metropolit Cohort. The cohort comprises men born in 1953 in the Copenhagen Metropolitan area who participated in a questionnaire survey in 2004. Data were analysed using χ²-tests and multivariable logistic regression.ResultsThe results showed that demands from and conflicts with children were independently associated with fatigue in a dose–response pattern. The adjusted odds ratio for fatigue was 1.48 (95% CI: 1.01–2.17) when the men experienced frequent demands from children and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.17–3.06) when they had frequent conflicts with their children. Crude analyses of demands from or conflicts with spouse, relatives or friends, respectively showed associations with fatigue compared to no demands or no conflicts. However, adjustment for depression and physical chronic disease cancelled out these associations.ConclusionWe concluded that middle-aged Danish men, who had frequent negative social interactions with their children, more frequently experienced fatigue. However, negative social interactions with spouse, relatives or friends were not associated with fatigue.     

Do foot posture,deformity, and footwear fit influence physical activity levels in children with Down syndrome? A prospective cohort study

Background Foot problems may limit physical activity in children with Down syndrome. This prospective cohort study investigated the association of foot posture, deformity, and footwear fit with activity.

Method Foot posture of 50 children with Down syndrome (22 girls, 28 boys; M age?=?10.5 years) was assessed using the arch index and deformities were documented. Footwear fit compared the difference in length and width of shoes with participants’ feet. Physical activity was measured using accelerometers.

Results Mean arch index (0.29?±?0.08) was indicative of flat feet. Footwear fit was too short for five participants, too long for 26 participants, and too narrow for 29 participants. Regression analysis for the 20 participants adherent with wearing an accelerometer found no association of foot posture or deformity with activity. Footwear fit was negatively associated with activity (p?=?.03).

Conclusion Preliminary data suggest poor footwear fit is associated with reduced physical activity in children with Down syndrome.     

Mapping cortical hand motor representation using TMS: A method to assess brain plasticity and a surrogate marker for recovery of function after stroke?

ObjectiveStroke is associated with reorganization within motor areas of both hemispheres. Mapping the cortical hand motor representation using transcranial magnetic stimulation may help to understand the relationship between motor cortex reorganization and motor recovery of the affected hand after stroke.MethodsA standardized review of the pertinent literature was performed.ResultsWe identified 20 trials, which analyzed the relationship between the extent and/or location of cortical hand motor representation using transcranial magnetic stimulation and motor function and recovery of the affected hand. Several correlations were found between cortical reorganization and measures of hand motor impairment and recovery.ConclusionA better understanding of the relationships between the extent and location of cortical hand motor representation and the motor impairment and motor recovery of the affected hand after stroke may contribute to a targeted use of non-invasive brain stimulation protocols. In the future motor mapping may help to guide brain stimulation techniques to the most effective motor area in an affected individual.     

Do pain,anxiety and depression influence quality of life for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease? A national study reconciling previous conflicting literature

Introduction

The importance of elucidating the relationships between pain, mood and quality of life (QoL) amongst people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease is evident to clinicians, yet the literature is limited and inconsistent. We explored the relationships between pain, depression, anxiety and QoL to reconcile the previous contrasting findings and inform future research and clinical practice.

Methods

Patient-reported outcomes were obtained as part of the Trajectories of Outcomes in Neurological Conditions study. Mood and QoL scales underwent Rasch analysis. Correlation coefficients examined the strength of association between variables of interest. A bivariate regression model was developed to examine the effects of pain, depression and anxiety on joint psychological and physical QoL domains.

Results

Of 636 people with ALS, 69% reported pain, of these most had mild pain. Seven percent (7%) of participants exceeded published cutoffs for probable depression and 14% had probable anxiety. Pain, depression and anxiety all influence quality of life; depression has a significant effect on both physical and psychological domains of QoL, whereas pain affects physical QoL and anxiety psychological QoL.

Conclusions

These results show the importance of expressing quality of life in a conceptually appropriate way, as failing to take account of the multidimensional nature of QoL can result in important nuances being overlooked. Clinicians must be aware that pain, depression and anxiety all worsen QoL across their ranges, and not just when pain is severe or when anxiety or depression reach case level.

     

Correction to: Do pain,anxiety and depression influence quality of life for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease? A national study reconciling previous conflicting literature

Journal of Neurology - The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. Oliver Hanemann name was incorrect in the in the acknowledgements section of this paper.     

Do monomeric <Emphasis Type="Italic">vs</Emphasis> dimeric forms of MAO-A make a difference? A direct comparison of the catalytic properties of rat and human MAO-A’s

Summary The recent crystallographic structures of human MAO-A and rat MAO-A have shown that human MAO-A is monomeric whereas rat MAO-A is a dimer, even though they share ∼90% sequence identity. The functional significance of this structural difference is unknown. Therefore, biochemical approaches in this paper were performed to investigate the influence of oligomeric state on functional properties of human and rat MAO-A’s. The data show that 1) dimerization of MAO-A increases its structural stability; 2) the differences in kinetic properties may be caused by differences in active site structures as a result of differences in oligomeric states of the human and the rat enzymes; 3) QSAR studies show rat MAO-A as well as human MAO-A catalysis occur via proton abstraction mechanisms, and the binding of substrates is similar for both enzymes.