Neuroscience bulletin
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Neuroscience bulletin · Feb 2014
Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase activation in spinal cord contributes to pain hypersensitivity in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes.
Painful peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. The symptom of pain can become a major factor that decreases the quality of life of patients with diabetes, while effective treatment is lacking. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the changes of pain threshold in the early stage of diabetes in db/db mice, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. ⋯ Also, the expression of pERK1 and pERK2 was upregulated following the formalin injection. Our results suggested that the activation of ERK in spinal neurons and astrocytes is correlated with pain hypersensitivity of the type 2 diabetes animal model. Inhibiting the ERK pathway may provide a new therapy for pain control in type 2 diabetes.
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Neuroscience bulletin · Oct 2013
Local synchronization and amplitude of the fluctuation of spontaneous brain activity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a resting-state fMRI study.
Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) are two approaches to depicting different regional characteristics of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) data. Whether they can complementarily reveal brain regional functional abnormalities in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains unknown. In this study, we applied ReHo and ALFF to 23 medication-naïve boys diagnosed with ADHD and 25 age-matched healthy male controls using whole-brain voxel-wise analysis. ⋯ In conclusion, ReHo may be more sensitive to regional abnormalities, at least in boys with ADHD, than ALFF. And ALFF may be complementary to ReHo in measuring local spontaneous activity. Combination of the two may yield a more comprehensive pathophy-siological framework for ADHD.
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Neuroscience bulletin · Oct 2013
Synaptic non-GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors regulate tyrosine phosphorylation of GluN2B 1472 tyrosine site in rat brain slices.
Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) mediates changes in the phosphorylation status of the glutamate receptors themselves. Previous studies have indicated that during synaptic activity, tyrosine kinases (Src and Fyn) or phosphatases (PTPα and STEP) are involved in regulating the phosphorylation of NMDARs. In this study, we used immunoblotting to investigate the role of an NMDAR subpopulation on the phosphorylation level of the GluN2B subunit at the Y1336 and Y1472 sites in rat brain slices after NMDA treatment. ⋯ Extrasynaptic NMDAR activation did not reduce the phosphorylation of GluN2B at Y1472. In addition, ifenprodil, a selective antagonist of GluN2B-containing NMDARs, did not abolish the decreased phosphorylation of GluN2B at Y1472 triggered by NMDA. These results suggest that the activation of synaptic GluN2A-containing NMDARs is required for the decreased phosphorylation of GluN2B at Y1472 that is induced by NMDA treatment in rat brain slices.
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Neuroscience bulletin · Oct 2012
ReviewDorsal root ganglion compression as an animal model of sciatica and low back pain.
As sciatica and low back pain are among the most common medical complaints, many studies have duplicated these conditions in animals. Chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion (CCD) is one of these models. The surgery is simple: after exposing the L4/L5 intervertebral foramina, stainless steel rods are implanted unilaterally, one rod for each vertebra, to chronically compress the lumbar dorsal root ganglion (DRG). ⋯ Also, new data regarding its significant property of maintaining peripheral input are also discussed. Investigations using this animal model will enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms for low back pain and sciatica. Furthermore, the peripheral location of the DRG facilitates its use as a locus for controlling pain with minimal central effects, in the hope of ultimately uncovering analgesics that block neuropathic pain without influencing physiological pain.
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Neuroscience bulletin · Oct 2012
Correlation of continuous electroencephalogram with clinical assessment scores in acute stroke patients.
To compare electroencephalogram (EEG) symmetry values between stroke patients with different 28-day outcomes, and to assess correlations between clinical characteristics and 28-day outcomes. ⋯ A higher BSI predicts a poorer short-term prognosis for stroke patients. Acute EEG monitoring may be of prognostic value for 28-day outcomes. The early prediction of functional outcomes after stroke may enhance clinical management and minimize short-term mortality.