Brachycephalic anaesthesia,part 1: the pre-anaesthetic period

Abstract

This article intends to highlight the many complications that can arise during the pre-anaesthesic period with brachycephalic breeds , and address how to mitigate some of the risks. This first article will deal with the pre-anaesthetic stage discussing anatomy, admitting the brachycephalic patient and pre-anaesthetic checks, whilst a subsequent article will address the recovery period.     

A comprehensive review on the role of testosterone on the neurobehavioral systems implicated in the reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality

ObjectivesThe Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) is a neuropsychological theory of personality emphasizing approach and avoidance as the two core behavioral aspects. Approach is represented by the behavioral approach system (BAS). Avoidance is represented by the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and the fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS). Although the influence of testosterone on human behavior has been demonstrated, few studies have investigated the relation between testosterone and the RST. The aim of this narrative review was to decipher the possible role of testosterone on the biological systems involved in the RST in humans.MethodsGoogle scholar, PubMed, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Scopus and Cochrane library databases were interrogated using keywords such as testosterone, BIS, BAS, FFFS, personality, reinforcement sensitivity theory.ResultsSeven original articles, published between 2009 and 2022, assessing the relation between testosterone and the systems implicated in the RST, were included. The results of these studies suggested the presence of a possible positive relation between testosterone and the BAS. However, the impact of testosterone on the BIS and/or FFFS seems to be less clear.DiscussionThe consistency in the results supporting the presence of a positive relation between testosterone and the BAS might lead to the consideration of testosterone as a potential correlate in the clinical assessment of several psychopathologies. The inconsistency in the conclusions regarding the impact of testosterone on the BIS and/or the FFFS might be attributed to the different questionnaires used as measurement tools. Additional research remains needed.     

Approach-related left prefrontal EEG asymmetry predicts muted error-related negativity

In two studies, we used electroencephalography (EEG) to test whether approach-motivation-related brain activity would predict reduced sensitivity to negative outcomes. In both studies, participants (Study 1, N=26; Study 2, N=56) were first recorded for baseline EEG to measure approach-related left frontal EEG activity. They then completed either the color-naming Stroop task (Study 1) or the Multi-Source Interference Task (Study 2) to measure error-related negativity (ERN), an event-related potential that has been associated with aversive motivation and distress. In both studies, higher leftward frontal EEG asymmetry predicted reduced ERN amplitude. Hierarchical regression analyses of the separate frontal nodes that comprised the asymmetry score further showed that left frontal activity predicted reduced ERN amplitude whereas right frontal activity predicted greater ERN amplitude. Results have implications for understanding emotion and motivation and for understanding the personal resilience associated with approach motivated states.     

Relations among EEG-alpha asymmetry,BIS/BAS,and dispositional optimism

Past research has been unable to address whether the activity in the frontal hemispheres is related to the direction of motivation (approach versus withdrawal) or valence of emotion (positive versus negative). The present study was an attempt to address this question by using a standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) which provides EEG localization measures that are independent of the recording reference. Resting EEG, self-report measures of Behavioral Activation and Inhibition System (BAS and BIS) strength, dispositional optimism and a measure of hedonic tone, were collected from 51 unselected undergraduates. Three measures of cortical activation were obtained: (a) alpha asymmetry at conventional scalp sites, (b) anterior and posterior source alpha asymmetries (sLORETA method), (c) posterior versus frontal delta and theta activity. Both alpha asymmetry measures (conventional EEG and sLORETA) yielded significant frontal and parietal asymmetry correlation patterns. Neither measure identified significant associations between resting posterior versus frontal delta and theta activity personality traits. Higher BAS was uniquely related to greater left-sided activation in the middle frontal gyrus (BA11). Optimism was associated with higher activations in the left-superior frontal gyrus (BA10) and in the right-posterior cingulate cortex (BA31).     

Reactive and self-regulatory temperament dimensions in relation to alcohol use in adolescence

The present study investigated the cross-sectional relations of reactive [Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and Behavioral Activation System (BAS)] and self-regulatory [effortful control (EC)] temperament dimensions with alcohol use in a community sample of adolescents aged 14 to 20 years. Participants completed the BIS/BAS Scales (Carver & White, 1994), the Effortful Control Scale of the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire Revised (EATQ-R; Ellis & Rothbart, 2001) and a subset of questions based on from the Teen Addiction Severity Index (T-ASI; Kaminer, Bukstein, & Tarter, 1991). Age of first use and quantity of alcohol use were predicted by the unique effect of BAS Fun Seeking. Frequency and quantity of alcohol use were predicted by the BAS Fun Seeking × EC interaction: High BAS Fun Seeking was related to frequency and quantity of alcohol use only if EC was low. Frequency of alcohol use was also predicted by the BAS Drive × EC interaction, but simple slope analysis revealed that the slopes were not significant, both at low EC and at high EC. The findings of the present study confirm and extend previous research and add to the growing literature of temperamental vulnerability to alcohol use in young populations.     

British Andrology Society guidelines for the screening of semen donors for donor insemination (1999)

The British Andrology Society (BAS) guidelines for the screeningof semen donors have undergone a recent review, and followingconsultation with members of the Society and with experts inthe allied professions, the following revised guidelines havebeen issued. Major changes include the introduction of an upperage limit for semen donors (<40 years old) and the generalexclusion of men who are seropositive for cytomegalovirus asdonors. The BAS recommends the screening of prospective semendonors for chromosomal abnormalities and for cystic fibrosiscarrier status. Following the report of cross-contaminationof human cells with hepatitis B virus within a liquid nitrogenstorage vessel, the BAS recommends that steps be taken to ensurethe safe cryopreservation of donor gametes.     

Error-related ERP components and individual differences in punishment and reward sensitivity

Although the focus of the discussion regarding the significance of the error related negatively (ERN/Ne) has been on the cognitive factors reflected in this component, there is now a growing body of research that describes influences of motivation, affective style and other factors of personality on ERN/Ne amplitude. The present study was conducted to further evaluate the relationship between affective style, error related ERP components and their neural basis. Therefore, we had our subjects fill out the Behavioral Activation System/Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS/BAS) scales, which are based on Gray's (1987, 1989) biopsychological theory of personality. We found that subjects scoring high on the BIS scale displayed larger ERN/Ne amplitudes, while subjects scoring high on the BAS scale displayed larger error positivity (Pe) amplitudes. No correlations were found between BIS and Pe amplitude or between BAS and ERN/Ne amplitude. Results are discussed in terms of individual differences in reward and punishment sensitivity that are reflected in error related ERP components.     

Influence of TAAR6 polymorphisms on response to aripiprazole

Background

There is some evidence suggesting a role of TAAR6 in schizophrenia. The aim of the present study is to investigate possible influences of a panel of markers in TAAR6 (rs8192625, rs4305745, rs4305746, rs6903874, rs6937506) on clinical outcomes and side effects in a sample of Korean schizophrenic aripiprazole treated patients.

Methods

Efficacy was assessed at baseline and weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 using CGI-S, CGI-I, BPRS and SANS. Side effects were evaluated through SAS, BAS and AIMS. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to test possible influences of single SNPs on clinical and safety scores. Tests for associations using multi-marker haplotypes were performed using the statistics environment “R”.

Results

A significant time per genotype interaction was found between rs4305746 in repeated measures of ANOVA on BPRS scores (F = 2.45, df = 10,365, p = 0.008). In particular G/A and A/A genotype patients were more likely to improve over time as compared to carriers of the G/G genotype. Permutation analysis confirmed a significant effect of rs4305746 on course of BPRS scores over time (p = 0.007). Haplotype analysis did not reveal any significant association with clinical and safety scores at any time.

Conclusion

A possible association could exist between some genotypes in TAAR6 and response to aripiprazole. However, several limitations characterize the present work, such as small sample size, the finding related to a single scale and the possibility of false positive findings, thus further investigation is required.     

BIS/BAS, cortical oscillations and coherence in response to emotional cues

The present study explored the effect of the individual differences related to BIS and BAS (Behavioural Inhibition and Activation System) on brain oscillations, in response to appetitive and aversive emotional stimuli. EEG cortical measures (delta, theta, alpha, and gamma) were recorded, during viewing IAPS figures, that varied in terms of pleasantness and arousal. Withdrawal (BIS system) and appetitive (BAS system) behaviour showed opposite patterns of subjective responses. Also, a specific frontal network was found to be responsive to the relevance of emotional cues. Moreover an increased response for high arousing (negative and positive) stimuli in comparison with low arousing and neutral stimuli was found within the left and right frontal areas. Specifically delta and theta band have a significant role in monitoring the attentional significance of emotions. Finally, the effects of subjective evaluation and individual differences were discussed at light of the two-dimensional model of emotion processing, that is the valence and the arousing power of emotional cues.