Environmental enrichment improves recent but not remote memory in association with a modified brain metabolic activation profile in adult mice

Environmental enrichment is known to improve learning and memory in adult rodents. Whereas the morphological changes underlying these beneficial effects are well documented, few studies have addressed the influence of this housing condition on the neuronal networks underlying memory processes. We assessed the effects of environmental enrichment on behavioural performances and brain metabolic activation during a memory task in mice. Adult mice were housed in standard (SC) or enriched (EC) conditions for 3 weeks. Then, recent and remote memory performances were measured in the passive avoidance test. After testing, brain metabolic activation was assessed through cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity. EC improved recent memory, in association with an increased metabolic activation in the frontal and prefrontal cortices and a decreased activation in the baso-lateral amygdala and the hippocampus. EC did not improve remote memory, and globally decreased CO activity. Our findings suggest the involvement of regions of pivotal importance during recent memory, such as the frontal cortex, in the beneficial effects of EC.     

Large C9orf72 repeat expansions are not a common cause of Parkinson's disease

The concept of a pathological overlap between neurodegenerative disorders is gaining momentum. We sought to determine the contribution of C9orf72 repeat expansions, recently discovered as a cause of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in a large number of Parkinson's disease patients. No large expansions were identified in our cohort.     

TRPA1-mediated responses in trigeminal sensory neurons: interaction between TRPA1 and TRPV1

The transient receptor potential (TRP)A1 channel is involved in the transduction of inflammation-induced noxious stimuli from the periphery. Previous studies have characterized the properties of TRPA1 in heterologous expression systems. However, there is little information on the properties of TRPA1-mediated currents in sensory neurons. A capsaicin-sensitive subset of rat and mouse trigeminal ganglion sensory neurons was activated with TRPA1-specific agonists, mustard oil and the cannabinoid WIN55,212. Mustard oil- and WIN55,212-gated currents exhibited marked variability in their kinetics of activation and acute desensitization. TRPA1-mediated responses in neurons also possess a characteristic voltage dependency with profound outward rectification that is influenced by extracellular Ca²⁺ and the type and concentration of TRPA1-specific agonists. Examination of TRPA1-mediated responses in TRPA1-containing cells indicated that the features of neuronal TRPA1 are not duplicated in cells expressing only TRPA1 and, instead, can be restored only when TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels are coexpressed. In summary, our results suggest that TRPA1-mediated responses in sensory neurons have distinct characteristics that can be accounted for by the coexpression of the TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels.     

Un modèle de dispositif de prévention partenarial pédopsychiatrie et éducation nationale en faveur des collégiens et lycéens. Analyse de 26 années de fonctionnement

The organization presented here has existed since January 1991 in the department of Vienne. Its longevity permits us to have a critical opinion on the conditions necessary to install and thereafter to make function this dispositive. The originality of this is the association between two systems: permanence in secondary schools by nurses working in mental health services for the adolescents themselves (PEC) and another system for helping teachers and other members of the school community (EAR). This partner system allowed a better regulation for directing an adolescent with psychic discomfort to psychiatry services which has a real effect on the waiting list in medical and psychological centers. It has also sensitized mental health nurses to the impact of scolarization on presence of mind and allowed them to be conscious of difficulties which teachers have and the constraints of a school's organization. On the other hand, frequent meetings and discussions with mental health nurses and school personnel have resulted in a true formation within the school. We have also analyzed statistics after 11 years of functioning. The results of our study are exactly identical to those of the literature.     

Impact on survival of early tumor growth between surgery and radiotherapy in patients with de novo glioblastoma

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - Glioblastoma is the most aggressive malignant brain tumor. Despite multimodal treatments, median survival is only 15 months for glioblastoma patients, with...     

Bone and joint infections caused by Clostridium perfringens: a case series

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - The objective of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial therapy outcomes of bone and joint infections (BJI) caused by...