Tarrit K, Freedman EG, Francisco AA
… +3 more, Horsthuis DJ, Molholm S, Foxe JJ
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37869448
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BACKGROUND: Altered patterns of eye-movements during scene exploration, and atypical gaze preferences in social settings, have long been noted as features of the Autism phenotype. While these are typically attributed to...BACKGROUND: Altered patterns of eye-movements during scene exploration, and atypical gaze preferences in social settings, have long been noted as features of the Autism phenotype. While these are typically attributed to differences in social engagement and interests (e.g., preferences for inanimate objects over face stimuli), there are also reports of differential saccade measures to non-social stimuli, raising the possibility that fundamental differences in visuo-sensorimotor processing may be at play. Here, we tested the plasticity of the eye-movement system using a classic saccade-adaptation paradigm to assess whether individuals with ASD make typical adjustments to their eye-movements in response to experimentally introduced errors. Saccade adaptation can be measured in infants as young as 10 months, raising the possibility that such measures could be useful as early neuro-markers of ASD risk. METHODS: Saccade amplitudes were measured while children and adults with ASD ( = 41) and age-matched typically developing (TD) individuals ( = 68) made rapid eye-movements to peripherally presented targets. During adaptation trials, the target was relocated from 20-degrees to 15-degrees from fixation once a saccade to the original target location was initiated, a manipulation that leads to systematic reduction in saccade amplitudes in typical observers. RESULTS: Neither children nor adults with ASD showed any differences relative to TD peers in their abilities to appropriately adapt saccades in the face of persistently introduced errors. CONCLUSION: Of the three studies to date of saccade adaptation in ASD, none have shown deficits in saccade adaptation that are sufficient to generalize to the whole or a subgroup of the ASD population. Unlike prior studies, we found no evidence for a slower adaptation rate during the early adaptation phase, and no of evidence greater variance of saccade amplitudes in ASD. In analysis, there was evidence for larger primary saccades to non-adapted targets, a finding requiring replication in future work.
Snapp HA, Vanlooy L, Kuzbyt B
… +3 more, Kolberg C, Laffitte-Lopez D, Rajguru S
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37849955
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INTRODUCTION: Occupational workers are increasingly aware of the risk of noise overexposure to the auditory system but lack awareness about potential risks to the vestibular system. The purpose of this study was to inves...INTRODUCTION: Occupational workers are increasingly aware of the risk of noise overexposure to the auditory system but lack awareness about potential risks to the vestibular system. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in vestibular end organ function in a known at-risk noise-exposed population, firefighters compared to age- and sex-matched controls using electrophysiologic measures of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP). METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study compared cVEMP response characteristics in 38 noise-exposed firefighters. Firefighters were grouped by years of exposure in the fire service. The cVEMP responses were compared within firefighter groups and between firefighters and age- and sex-matched controls. Dependent variables included the response characteristics of amplitude, latency and threshold. RESULTS: cVEMP response amplitudes were significantly decreased in firefighters compared to their age- and sex-matched controls. Threshold of the cVEMP responses were significantly higher in firefighters compared to controls and firefighters had a higher incidence of absent cVEMP responses compared to controls. Response amplitudes decreased with increasing years in the fire-service at an increased rate compared to their age- and sex-matched controls. Latency of the cVEMP response was not significantly different in firefighters compared to controls. These findings are consistent with both animal and human studies suggesting noise-induced changes in the sacculocollic pathway. DISCUSSION: In the absence of any reported vestibular symptoms or auditory indicators of noise-induced hearing loss, these early effects on the vestibular system point to a potential hidden vestibular loss.
Carresi C, Cardamone A, Coppoletta AR
… +4 more, Mollace A, Musolino V, Gliozzi M, Mollace V
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37780094
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Cerebral metabolites are associated with different physiological and pathological processes in brain tissue. Among them, the concentrations of -acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline-containing compounds (Cho) in the thalamic...Cerebral metabolites are associated with different physiological and pathological processes in brain tissue. Among them, the concentrations of -acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline-containing compounds (Cho) in the thalamic region are recognized and analyzed as important predictive markers of brain impairment. The relationship among hypertension, modulation of brain metabolite levels and cerebral diseases is of recent investigation, leaving many unanswered questions regarding the origin and consequences of the metabolic damage caused in grey and white matter during hypertension. Here we provide evidence for the influence of hypertension on NAA and Cho ratios in hypertensive rat thalamus and how the use of natural occurring compounds ameliorates the balance of thalamic metabolites.
Raciti FM, Morales Y, Snapp HA
… +1 more, Rajguru SM
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37731913
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INTRODUCTION: Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) provide an objective measure of the integrity of the sacculo-collic pathway leading to their widespread use as a clinical tool in the diagnostic vesti...INTRODUCTION: Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) provide an objective measure of the integrity of the sacculo-collic pathway leading to their widespread use as a clinical tool in the diagnostic vestibular test battery. Though the application of cVEMPs in preclinical models to assess vestibular function, as performed in relevant clinical populations, remains limited. The present study aimed to establish a rodent model of cVEMP with standardized methods and protocols, examine the neural basis of the responses, and characterize and validate important features for interpretation and assessment of vestibular function. METHODS: We compared air-conducted sound (ACS)-evoked VEMPs from the sternocleidomastoid muscles in naïve Brown Norway rats. A custom setup facilitated repeatable and reliable measurements which were carried out at multiple intensities with ACS between 1 and 16 kHz and over 7 days. The myogenic potentials were identified by the presence of a positive (P1)-negative (N1) waveform at 3-5 ms from the stimulus onset. Threshold, amplitude, and latency were compared with intensity- and frequency-matched responses within and between animals. RESULTS: cVEMP responses were repeatedly evoked with stimulus intensities between 50-100 dB SPL with excellent test-retest reliability and across multiple measurements over 7 days for all frequencies tested. Suprathreshold, cVEMP responses at 90 dB SPL for 6-10 kHz stimuli demonstrated significantly larger amplitudes ( < 0.01) and shorter latencies ( < 0.001) compared to cVEMP responses for 1-4 kHz stimuli. Latency of cVEMP showed sex-dependent variability, but no significant differences in threshold or amplitude between males and females was observed. DISCUSSION: The results provide a replicable and reliable setup, test protocol, and comprehensive characterization of cVEMP responses in a preclinical model which can be used in future studies to elucidate pathophysiological characteristics of vestibular dysfunctions or test efficacy of therapeutics.
Tsitsi P, Nilsson M, Waldthaler J
… +4 more, Öqvist Seimyr G, Larsson O, Svenningsson P, Markaki I
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37727653
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INTRODUCTION: Visual disturbance is common symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), and defective pupil light reflex (PLR) is an anticipated contributing factor that may be associated to the presence of autonomic dysfunction...INTRODUCTION: Visual disturbance is common symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), and defective pupil light reflex (PLR) is an anticipated contributing factor that may be associated to the presence of autonomic dysfunction, which is a common non-motor feature of PD. Studies investigating the intercorrelation between PLR and dysautonomia in PD are limited. METHODS: The aim of this study was to investigate differences of PLR parameters, measured by eye-tracker, between patients with PD, with and without signs of dysautonomia, and healthy controls (HC). In total, 43 HC and 50 patients with PD were recruited and PLR parameters were measured with Tobii Pro Spectrum, during a long (1,000 ms) and a short (100 ms) light stimulus. Presence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) was used as proxy marker of dysautonomia. Linear mixed-effects model and non-parametric comparative statistics were applied to investigate differences among groups. RESULTS: Peak constriction velocity was slower in PD compared with HC, after adjustment for age and sex in the mixed model, and the difference was greater in the subgroup of PD with OH (unadjusted). Dilation amplitude and velocity were also gradually slower in HC vs. PD without OH vs. PD with OH (unadjusted for confounders). In the mixed model, age was significant predictor of dilation response. DISCUSSION: Our results support previous observations on defective PLR in PD, evaluated with eye-tracker, and show a possible association with autonomic dysfunction. Further studies with more patients and rigorous evaluation of autonomic dysfunction are needed to validate these findings.
Alvarado-Navarrete MDC, Pliego-Carrillo AC, Ledesma-Ramírez CI
… +1 more, Cuellar CA
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37711909
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The comprehension of the neural elements interacting in the spinal cord affected by vestibular input will contribute to the understanding of movement execution in normal and pathological conditions. In this context, Hoff...The comprehension of the neural elements interacting in the spinal cord affected by vestibular input will contribute to the understanding of movement execution in normal and pathological conditions. In this context, Hoffman's reflex (H-reflex) has been used to evaluate transient excitability changes on the spinal cord descending pathways. The post-activation depression (P-AD) of the H-reflex consists of evoking consecutive responses (>1 Hz) provoking an amplitude depression, which has been shown to diminish in pathological conditions (i.e., spasticity, diabetic neuropathy). Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) is a non-invasive method that activates the vestibular afferents and has been used to study the excitability of the H-reflex applied as a conditioning pulse. To our knowledge, there are no reports evaluating the P-AD during and after GVS. Our primary aim was to determine if GVS alters the P-AD evoked by stimulating the tibial nerve at 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 Hz, recording in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Direct current stimulation of 2.0 ± 0.6 mA with the cathode ipsilateral (Ipsi) or contralateral (Contra) to the H-reflex electrode montage was applied bilaterally over the mastoid process in 19 healthy subjects. The P-AD's immediate post-GVS response (P Ipsi, P Contra) was also analyzed. Secondarily, we analyzed the excitability of the H-reflex during GVS. Responses evoked at 0.1 Hz with GVS, post-GVS, and a Control (no GVS) condition were used for comparisons. Our results show that P-AD persisted in all subjects despite increased excitability induced by GVS: statistical significance was found when comparing P-AD at 1, 5, and 10 Hz with the corresponding condition (Control, Ipsi, P Ipsi, Contra, P Contra) at 0.1 Hz ( < 0.001). Additionally, the increase in excitability produced by GVS was quantified for the first H-reflex of each P-AD stimulation frequency. The percentage change for all GVS conditions surpassed the Control by at least 20%, being statistically significant for Contra compared to Control ( < 0.01). In summary, although GVS increases the excitability of the vestibulospinal pathway at a premotor level, the neural inhibitory mechanism present in P-AD remains unaltered in healthy subjects.
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37608860
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Many studies have documented cognitive deficits, especially spatial cognitive deficits, in patients with some form of vestibular loss. Almost 20 years ago, hippocampal (HPC) atrophy was reported to be correlated with spa...Many studies have documented cognitive deficits, especially spatial cognitive deficits, in patients with some form of vestibular loss. Almost 20 years ago, hippocampal (HPC) atrophy was reported to be correlated with spatial memory deficits in such patients and the idea has gradually emerged that HPC atrophy may be causally responsible for the cognitive deficits. However, the results of studies of HPC volume following vestibular loss have not always been consistent, and a number of studies have reported no evidence of HPC atrophy. This paper argues that HPC atrophy, if it does occur following vestibular loss, may not be directly, causally responsible for the cognitive deficits, and that it is more likely that rapid functional changes in the HPC are responsible, due to the interruption of the transmission of vestibular information to the HPC. The argument presented here rests on 3 tranches of evidence: (1) Cognitive deficits have been observed in humans even in the absence of HPC atrophy; (2) HPC atrophy has not been reported in animal studies following vestibular loss, despite cognitive deficits; and (3) Animal studies have shown that the interruption of the transmission of vestibular information to the HPC has immediate consequences for HPC place cells, far too quickly to be explained by HPC atrophy. It is possible that HPC atrophy, when it does occur, is related to the longer-term consquences of living with vestibular loss, which are likely to increase circulating cortisol.
Torres EB, Twerski G, Varkey H
… +4 more, Rai R, Elsayed M, Katz MT, Tarlowe J
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37600235
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INTRODUCTION: Recent changes in diagnostics criteria have contributed to the broadening of the autism spectrum disorders and left clinicians ill-equipped to treat the highly heterogeneous spectrum that now includes toddl...INTRODUCTION: Recent changes in diagnostics criteria have contributed to the broadening of the autism spectrum disorders and left clinicians ill-equipped to treat the highly heterogeneous spectrum that now includes toddlers and children with sensory and motor issues. METHODS: To uncover the clinicians' critical needs in the autism space, we conducted surveys designed collaboratively with the clinicians themselves. Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBAs) and developmental model (DM) clinicians obtained permission from their accrediting boards and designed surveys to assess needs and preferences in their corresponding fields. RESULTS: 92.6% of BCBAs are open to diversified treatment combining aspects of multiple disciplines; 82.7% of DMs also favor this diversification with 21.8% valuing BCBA-input and 40.6% neurologists-input; 85.9% of BCBAs and 85.3% of DMs advocate the use of wearables to objectively track nuanced behaviors in social exchange; 76.9% of BCBAs and 57.0% DMs feel they would benefit from augmenting their knowledge about the nervous systems of Autism (neuroscience research) to enhance treatment and planning programs; 50.0% of BCBAs feel they can benefit for more training to teach parents. DISCUSSION: Two complementary philosophies are converging to a more collaborative, integrative approach favoring scalable digital technologies and neuroscience. Autism practitioners seem ready to embrace the Digital-Neuroscience Revolutions under a new cooperative model.
Cooke DL, Shen H, Duvvuri M
… +7 more, Thompson D, Neylan T, Wolfe W, Hetts S, Ovbiagele B, Whooley M, Cohen B
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37600234
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BACKGROUND: Brain aneurysms represent a significant cause of hemorrhagic stroke. Prior research has demonstrated links between stress and stroke, including brain aneurysms. We aimed to determine relationships between sel...BACKGROUND: Brain aneurysms represent a significant cause of hemorrhagic stroke. Prior research has demonstrated links between stress and stroke, including brain aneurysms. We aimed to determine relationships between select psychiatric disorders and aneurysms and aneurysmal SAH. METHODS: We performed retrospective, case-control study of a National Veterans Affairs population with two experimental groups (aneurysm-only and aneurysmal SAH) and 10-fold controls per group matched by age, date, and clinical data source. The studied the presence of 4 psychiatric disorders: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and other mood disorders. Our main outcomes Unadjusted and multivariable adjusted ORs of PTSD, MDD, GAD, and mood disorders within aneurysm-only and aSAH groups. RESULTS: In 6,320,789 US Veterans who were enrolled for at least 5 years in Medicare and/or the Veterans Health Administration, we identified 35,094 cases of aneurysm without SAH and 5,749 cases of aneurysm with SAH between 1/2005 and 12/2019. In analyses adjusted for sex, hypertension, and tobacco use, patients with aneurysm were more likely than matched controls to have a history of PTSD (OR 1.48), MDD (OR 1.33), GAD (OR 1.26), and other mood disorders (OR 1.34) (all -values < 0.0001). Similarly, patients with aSAH were more likely than controls to have a history of PTSD (OR 1.35), MDD (OR 1.38), GAD (OR 1.18), and other mood disorders (OR 1.30) (all -values < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The study, the largest of its kind, further suggests links between psychiatric disorders and stroke. This is important as patients with aneurysms are not routinely screened for such psychiatric risk factors. Additional research on this topic could lead to novel strategies to improve stroke prevention.
Nicoli G, Pavon G, Grayson A
… +2 more, Emerson A, Mitra S
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37600233
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Many techniques have attempted to provide physical support to ease the execution of a typing task by individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). These techniques have been controversial due to concerns that the sup...Many techniques have attempted to provide physical support to ease the execution of a typing task by individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). These techniques have been controversial due to concerns that the support provider's touch can influence the typed content. The most common interpretation of assisted typing as an ideomotor phenomenon has been qualified recently by studies showing that users with DD make identifiable contributions to the process. This paper suggests a neurophysiological pathway by which touch could lower the cognitive load of seated typing by people with DD. The required sensorimotor processes (stabilizing posture and planning and executing manual reaching movements) and cognitive operations (generating and transcribing linguistic material) place concurrent demands on cognitive resources, particularly executive function (EF). A range of developmental disabilities are characterized by deficits in sensorimotor and EF capacity. As light touch has been shown to facilitate postural coordination, it is proposed that a facilitator's touch could assist the seated typist with sensorimotor and EF deficits by reducing their sensorimotor workload and thereby freeing up shared cognitive resources for the linguistic elements of the task. This is the first theoretical framework for understanding how a facilitator's touch may assist individuals with DD to contribute linguistic content during touch-assisted typing.
Xia Y, Rebello V, Bodison SC
… +13 more, Jonker D, Steigelmann B, Donald KA, Charles W, Stein DJ, Ipser J, Ahmadi H, Kan E, Sowell ER, Narr KL, Joshi SH, Odendaal HJ, Uban KA
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37534335
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BACKGROUND: Alcohol and tobacco are known teratogens. Historically, more severe prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) have been examined as the principal predictor of neurodevelopmental alte...BACKGROUND: Alcohol and tobacco are known teratogens. Historically, more severe prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) have been examined as the principal predictor of neurodevelopmental alterations, with little incorporation of lower doses or ecological contextual factors that can also impact neurodevelopment, such as socioeconomic resources (SER) or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Here, a novel analytical approach informed by a socio-ecological perspective was used to examine the associations between SER, PAE and/or PTE, and ACEs, and their effects on neurodevelopment. METHODS: = 313 mother-child dyads were recruited from a prospective birth cohort with maternal report of PAE and PTE, and cross-sectional structural brain neuroimaging of child acquired via 3T scanner at ages 8-11 years. SER was measured by maternal education, household income, and home utility availability. The child's ACEs were measured by self-report assisted by the researcher. PAE was grouped into early exposure (<12 weeks), continued exposure (>=12 weeks), and no exposure controls. PTE was grouped into exposed and non-exposed controls. RESULTS: Greater access to SER during pregnancy was associated with fewer ACEs (maternal education: β = -0.293, = 0.01; phone access: β = -0.968, = 0.05). PTE partially mediated the association between SER and ACEs, where greater SER reduced the likelihood of PTE, which was positively associated with ACEs (β = 1.110, = 0.01). SER was associated with alterations in superior frontal (β = -1336.036, = 0.046), lateral orbitofrontal (β = -513.865, = 0.046), caudal anterior cingulate volumes (β = -222.982, = 0.046), with access to phone negatively associated with all three brain volumes. Access to water was positively associated with superior frontal volume (β=1569.527, = 0.013). PTE was associated with smaller volumes of lateral orbitofrontal (β = -331.000, = 0.033) and nucleus accumbens regions (β = -34.800, = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Research on neurodevelopment following community-levels of PAE and PTE should more regularly consider the ecological context to accelerate understanding of teratogenic outcomes. Further research is needed to replicate this novel conceptual approach with varying PAE and PTE patterns, to disentangle the interplay between dose, community-level and individual-level risk factors on neurodevelopment.
Bartikofsky D, Hertz MJ, Bauer DS
… +3 more, Altschuler R, King WM, Stewart CE
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37497526
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INTRODUCTION: The vestibular system integrates signals related to vision, head position, gravity, motion, and body position to provide stability during motion through the environment. Disruption in any of these systems c...INTRODUCTION: The vestibular system integrates signals related to vision, head position, gravity, motion, and body position to provide stability during motion through the environment. Disruption in any of these systems can reduce agility and lead to changes in ability to safely navigate one's environment. Causes of vestibular decline are diverse; however, excessive noise exposure can lead to otolith organ dysfunction. Specifically, 120 decibel (dB) sound pressure level (SPL) 1.5 kHz-centered 3-octave band noise (1.5 kHz 3OBN) causes peripheral vestibular dysfunction in rats, measured by vestibular short-latency evoked potential (VsEP) and reduced calretinin-immunolabeling of calyx-only afferent terminals in the striolar region of the saccule. The present study examined the functional impact of this noise exposure condition, examining changes in motor performance after noise exposure with a balance beam crossing task. METHODS: Balance beam crossing time in rats was assessed for 19 weeks before and 5 weeks after noise exposure. Balance beam crossings were scored to assess proficiency in the task. When animals were proficient, they received a single exposure to 120 dB SPL 3-octave band noise. RESULTS: During the initial training phase slower crossing times and higher scores, including multiple failures were observed. This was followed by a period of significant improvement leading to proficiency, characterized by fast and stable crossing times and consistently low scores. After noise exposure, crossing times were significantly elevated from baseline for 4-weeks. A total of 5 weeks after noise exposure, crossing times improved, and though still trending higher than baseline, they were no longer significantly different from baseline. DISCUSSION: These findings show that the noise-induced peripheral vestibular changes we previously observed at cellular and electro-physiological levels also have an impact at a functional level. It has been previously shown that imbalance is associated with slower walking speed in older adults and aged rats. These findings in noise-exposed rats may have implications for people who experience noisy environments and for seniors with a history of noise exposure who also experience balance disorders and may be at increased fall risk.
Ilic K, Bertani R, Lapteva N
… +10 more, Drakatos P, Delogu A, Raheel K, Soteriou M, Mutti C, Steier J, Carmichael DW, Goadsby PJ, Ockelford A, Rosenzweig I
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37457556
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BACKGROUND: The presence of visual imagery in dreams of congenitally blind people has long been a matter of substantial controversy. We set to systematically review body of published work on the presence and nature of on...BACKGROUND: The presence of visual imagery in dreams of congenitally blind people has long been a matter of substantial controversy. We set to systematically review body of published work on the presence and nature of oneiric visuo-spatial impressions in congenitally and early blind subjects across different areas of research, from experimental psychology, functional neuroimaging, sensory substitution, and sleep research. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified using the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO. RESULTS: Studies using diverse imaging techniques and sensory substitution devices broadly suggest that the "blind" occipital cortex may be able to integrate non-visual sensory inputs, and thus possibly also generate visuo-spatial impressions. Visual impressions have also been reported by blind subjects who had near-death or out-of-body experiences. CONCLUSION: Deciphering the mechanistic nature of these visual impression could open new possibility in utilization of neuroplasticity and its potential role for treatment of neurodisability.
Gevers-Montoro C, Puente-Tobares M, Monréal A
… +3 more, Conesa-Buendía FM, Piché M, Ortega-De Mues A
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37449008
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INTRODUCTION: Over two thirds of individuals with low back pain (LBP) may experience recurrent or persistent symptoms in the long term. Yet, current data do not allow to predict who will develop chronic low back pain and...INTRODUCTION: Over two thirds of individuals with low back pain (LBP) may experience recurrent or persistent symptoms in the long term. Yet, current data do not allow to predict who will develop chronic low back pain and who will recover from an acute episode. Elevated serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have been associated with poor recovery and persistent pain following an acute episode of LBP. Inflammatory cytokines may also mediate mechanisms involved in nociplastic pain, and thus, have significant implications in chronic primary low back pain (CPLBP). METHODS: This study aimed to investigate the potential of urinary TNF-α levels for predicting outcomes and characterizing clinical features of CPLBP patients. Twenty-four patients with CPLBP and 24 sex- and age-matched asymptomatic controls were recruited. Urinary TNF-α concentrations were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks, during which CPLBP patients underwent spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). RESULTS: Concentrations of TNF-α were found to be elevated in baseline urine samples of CPLBP patients compared to asymptomatic controls. Moreover, these values differed among patients depending on their pain trajectory. Patients with persistent pain showed higher levels of TNF-α, when compared to those with episodic CPLBP. Furthermore, baseline TNF-α concentrations and their changes after 4 weeks predicted alterations in pain intensity and disability following SMT in patients with CPLBP. DISCUSSION: These findings warrant further research on the potential use of urinary TNF-α concentrations as a prognostic biomarker for CPLBP.
Front Integr Neurosci
· 2023 · PMID 37404707
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The last two decades have seen a surge of interest in the mechanisms underpinning bodily self-consciousness (BSC). Studies showed that BSC relies on several bodily experiences (i.e., self-location, body ownership, agency...The last two decades have seen a surge of interest in the mechanisms underpinning bodily self-consciousness (BSC). Studies showed that BSC relies on several bodily experiences (i.e., self-location, body ownership, agency, first-person perspective) and multisensory integration. The aim of this literature review is to summarize new insights and novel developments into the understanding of the neural bases of BSC, such as the contribution of the interoceptive signals to the neural mechanisms of BSC, and the overlap with the neural bases of conscious experience in general and of higher-level forms of self (i.e., the cognitive self). We also identify the main challenges and propose future perspectives that need to be conducted to progress into the understanding of the neural mechanisms of BSC. In particular, we point the lack of crosstalk and cross-fertilization between subdisciplines of integrative neuroscience to better understand BSC, especially the lack of research in animal models to decipher the neural networks and systems of neurotransmitters underpinning BSC. We highlight the need for more causal evidence that specific brain areas are instrumental in generating BSC and the need for studies tapping into interindividual differences in the phenomenal experience of BSC and their underlying mechanisms.