Journal of neuroscience methods
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Mar 2014
Tractography in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using a novel probabilistic tool: a study with tract-based reconstruction compared to voxel-based approach.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is one of the most sensitive MRI tools for detecting subtle cerebral white matter abnormalities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Nowadays a plethora of DTI tools have been proposed, but very few methods have been translated into clinical practice. ⋯ DTI tractography metrics provided by TRACULA perfectly agree with those previously reported in several post-mortem and DTI studies, thus demonstrating the accuracy of this method in characterizing the microstructural changes occurring in ALS. With further validation (i.e. considering the heterogeneity of other clinical phenotypes), this method has the potential to become useful for clinical practice providing objective measurements that might aid radiologists in the interpretation of MR images and improve diagnostic accuracy of ALS.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Mar 2014
Rotterdam Advanced Multiple Plate: a novel method to measure cold hyperalgesia and allodynia in freely behaving rodents.
To investigate the pathophysiology of temperature hypersensitivity in neuropathic pain rodent models, it is essential to be able to quantify the phenotype as objective as possible. Current temperature sensitivity measuring paradigms are performed during exposure to external factors, i.e. light, sound and smell, which modulate behavior significantly. In addition the present outcome measure for temperature hypersensitivity in rodents is the examination of the hind paw lift upon exposure to a certain temperature, which reflects more a reflex-flexion than an experience of pain. ⋯ The results indicate that the RAMP is able to quantify cold hyperalgesia and allodynia in neuropathic pain rats while resolves some of the problems of conventional temperature sensitivity measuring paradigms in rodents.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Jan 2014
A novel mouse model of pediatric cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation reveals age-dependent neuronal sensitivities to ischemic injury.
Pediatric sudden cardiac arrest (CA) is an unfortunate and devastating condition, often leading to poor neurologic outcomes. However, little experimental data on the pathophysiology of pediatric CA is currently available due to the scarcity of animal models. ⋯ Therefore, the mouse pediatric CA/CPR model we developed is unique and will provide an important new tool to the research community for the study of pediatric brain injury.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Jan 2014
Comparative StudyComparison of manual and semi-automated segmentation methods to evaluate hippocampus volume in APP and PS1 transgenic mice obtained via in vivo magnetic resonance imaging.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease is valuable to understand better the structural changes that occur in the brain and could provide a means to test drug treatments. A hallmark pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease is atrophy of the hippocampus, which is an early biomarker of the disease. MRI can be used to detect and monitor this biomarker. ⋯ These results suggest that manual segmentation is still considered the most reliable segmentation method for small structures. However, if performing longitudinal studies, where there is at least one year between imaging sessions, the segmentation should be done all at once at the end of all the imaging sessions. If segmentation is done after each imaging session, with at least a year passing between segmentations, very small variations in volumes can be missed. This method provides a means to quantify the volume of the hippocampus in a live mouse using manual segmentation, which is the first step toward studying hippocampus atrophy in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Oct 2013
Superparamagnetic beads for estimation of spinal subarachnoid space permeability in rats.
Human spinal pathological processes have been linked to a loss of spinal subarachnoid space (SSAS) permeability, which has therefore become a target for therapy. Hence, it has become important to measure SSAS patency in rat models of these human disorders. ⋯ A novel method has been established to reliably determine SSAS permeability in rats. The method is reproducible and has the required sensitivity to detect an 84.4% reduction in bead recovery, as seen in laminectomized rats compared to intact animals.