Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Application of Pupillometry in Neurocritical Patients
Pupillary light reflex (PLR) assessment is a crucial examination for evaluating brainstem function, particularly in patients with acute brain injury and neurosurgical conditions. The PLR is controlled by neural pathways modulated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Altered PLR is a strong predictor of adverse outcomes after traumatic and ischemic brain injuries. However, the assessment of PLR needs to take many factors into account since it can be modulated by various medications, alcohol consumption, and neurodegenerative diseases. The development of devices capable of measuring pupil size and assessing PLR quantitatively has revolutionized the non-invasive neurological examination. Automated pupillometry, which is more accurate and precise, is widely used in diverse clinical situations. 
  • 764
  • 17 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Surgical Management of Brain Tumors with Focused Ultrasound
Focused ultrasound is a novel technique for the treatment of aggressive brain tumors that uses both mechanical and thermal mechanisms. This non-invasive technique can allow for both the thermal ablation of inoperable tumors and the delivery of chemotherapy and immunotherapy while minimizing the risk of infection and shortening the time to recovery. With recent advances, focused ultrasound has been increasingly effective for larger tumors without the need for a craniotomy and can be used with minimal surrounding soft tissue damage. Treatment efficacy is dependent on multiple variables, including blood–brain barrier permeability, patient anatomical features, and tumor-specific features. 
  • 763
  • 22 May 2023
Topic Review
Non-Invasive Neurostimulation for Migraine Treatment
One of the recent innovations in migraine treatment was the detection of several types of neurostimulation for acute and preventive treatment. The basic idea behind this is the stimulation of peripheral and cranial nerve structures or of the cortex to reduce migraine pain or to decrease migraine frequency. This follows a general development in pain therapy showing that specific stimulations of specific nervous structures can lead to a decrease in pain. The most commonly studied and used non-invasive methods are vagal nerve stimulation, electric peripheral nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and transcranial direct current stimulation. Other stimulation techniques, including mechanical stimulation, play only a minor role.
  • 762
  • 17 Aug 2021
Topic Review
CircRNAs  and RNA Editing in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable motor neuron disease caused by upper and lower motor neuron death. As aging is a major risk factor for ALS, age-related molecular changes may provide clues for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Dysregulation of age-dependent RNA metabolism plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ALS. In addition, failure of RNA editing at the glutamine/arginine (Q/R) site of GluA2 mRNA causes excitotoxicity due to excessive Ca2+ influx through Ca2+-permeable α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors, which is recognized as an underlying mechanism of motor neuron death in ALS. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a circular form of cognate RNA generated by back-splicing, are abundant in the brain and accumulate with age. Hence, they are assumed to play a role in neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that age-related dysregulation of RNA editing and changes in circRNA expression are involved in ALS pathogenesis.
  • 759
  • 20 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Substance P and NK1 Receptors in TBI
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired insult to the brain caused by external mechanical impact and/or acceleration forces that result in transient or permanent neurological dysfunction. Substance P is a member of the tachykinin protein family whose neuronal release after TBI plays a critical role in TBI pathophysiology, including the development of post-traumatic oedema, increased intracranial pressure, neuroinflammation, neuronal cell death, and neurodegeneration. Because substance P release after TBI is dependent on the intensity and frequency of injury-related mechanical stimulation, the degree and anatomical distribution of substance P receptor activation after TBI will vary with injury severity and frequency, resulting in different outcomes for different injuries.
  • 758
  • 15 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Common Cardiac Disorders
Acute and chronic cardiac disorders predispose to alterations in cognitive performance, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to overt dementia. Dysregulated and persistent inflammatory processes have been implicated as potentially causal mediators of the adverse consequences on brain function in patients with cardiac disease.
  • 757
  • 31 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Immunity, Ion Channels and Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder in modern society. One of the major unmet challenges is that current antiseizure medications are basically not disease-modifying. Among the multifaceted etiologies of epilepsy, the role of the immune system has attracted considerable attention in recent years. It is known that both innate and adaptive immunity can be activated in response to insults to the central nervous system, leading to seizures. Moreover, the interaction between ion channels, which have a well-established role in epileptogenesis and epilepsy, and the immune system is complex and is being actively investigated.
  • 754
  • 22 Jun 2022
Topic Review
GABAA-ρ Receptors in the Central Nervous System
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is known as the main inhibitory transmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), where it hyperpolarizes mature neurons through activation of GABAA receptors, pentameric complexes assembled by combination of subunits (α1–6, β1–3, γ1–3, δ, ε, θ, π and ρ1–3). GABAA-ρ subunits were originally described in the retina where they generate non-desensitizing Cl- currents that are insensitive to bicuculline and baclofen. The GABAA-ρ receptors are proposed to be involved in extrasynaptic communication and dysfunction involves reduced expression in Huntington's disease (HD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
  • 754
  • 12 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Histone Methylation in Brain Aging
Epigenetic mechanisms play a primary role in the cellular damage associated with brain aging. Histone posttranslational modifications represent intrinsic molecular alterations essential for proper physiological functioning, while divergent expression and activity have been detected in several aspects of brain aging. Aberrant histone methylation has been involved in neural stem cell (NSC) quiescence, microglial deficits, inflammatory processes, memory impairment, cognitive decline, neurodegenerative diseases, and schizophrenia.
  • 754
  • 15 Jan 2024
Topic Review
CCK2R Structure and Functions
Postoperative pain is defined as acute pain experienced by the patient after a surgical procedure. Good management of postoperative pain is important in reducing complications and facilitating rehabilitation. Postoperative pain relief is mainly based on opioids, and so is associated with side effects such as constipation, respiratory distress and the development of tolerance to administered opioids.
  • 753
  • 13 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Peripheral Prognostic Biomarkers in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) accounts for approximately 30–40% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and is related to a large direct and indirect societal financial burden that represents up to 70% of MDD’s total cost. Partial- or non-responsiveness to antidepressive treatment contributes to disease chronicity, poor quality of life and lower productivity, leading to a significant increase in healthcare expenses, as well as higher relapse rates and suicide risk. Patients with TRD visit general practitioners seven times more often and have three times longer durations of hospitalizations than MDD patients. Impressively, the annual cost of TRD in the U.S.A. alone is estimated at 44 billion dollars. The discovery of new biomarkers and the better clinical characterization of known biomarkers could support the better classification and staging of TRD, the development of personalized treatment algorithms with higher rates of remission and fewer side effects, and the development of new precision drugs for specific subgroups of patients. 
  • 753
  • 28 Jul 2022
Topic Review
The Clinical Definitions of Treatment-Resistant Depression
Treatment-resistant depression is a pleomorphic phenomenon occurring in 30% of patients with depression. The chance to achieve remission decreases with every subsequent episode. It constitutes a significant part of the global disease burden, causes increased morbidity and mortality, and is associated with poor quality of life. It involves multiple difficult-to-treat episodes, with increasing resistance over time. The official consensus on the definition of TRD (treatment-resistant depression) is still lacking, but based on systematic analysis, the most used definition is a lack of response after two to three adequate antidepressant treatment trials, irrespective of the drug class, plus an adequate trial of psychotherapy.
  • 753
  • 06 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Magnetic Gold Hybrids and Nanocomposites
The magnetic gold nanoparticles (mGNP) are hybrid metallic nanocomposites prepared from magnetic and plasmonic moieties that have attracted much attention over the last few years. Magnetic-plasmonic nanoparticles are basically core–shell structures with a bimetallic composition of iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), or nickel ferrite as the magnetic, core and gold (Au), platinum, or silver (Ag) as the plasmonic shell. However, magnetic-plasmonic core–shell structures based on magnetite (Fe3O4) or maghemite (ɤ-Fe2O3) core and Au shell offer renowned advantages, where the Au shell is coated over the Fe core in a controlled manner.
  • 752
  • 25 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Cognitive Impairment in Heart Failure
Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in heart failure (HF). Patients with HF demonstrate reduced global cognition as well as deficits in multiple cognitive domains compared to controls. Degree of CI may be related to HF severity. HF has also been associated with an increased risk of dementia. Anatomical brain changes have been observed in patients with HF, including grey matter atrophy and increased white matter lesions. Patients with HF and CI have poorer functional independence and self-care, more frequent rehospitalisations as well as increased mortality. Pathophysiological pathways linking HF and CI have been proposed, including cerebral hypoperfusion and impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation, systemic inflammation, proteotoxicity and thromboembolic disease.
  • 750
  • 27 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Tumor Microenvironment in Glial Neoplasm
Despite the multidisciplinary management in the treatment of glioblastomas, the average survival of GBM patients is still 15 months. In recent years, molecular biomarkers have gained more and more importance both in the diagnosis and therapy of glial tumors. At the same time, it has become clear that non neoplastic cells, which constitute about 30% of glioma mass, dramatically influence tumor growth, spread, and recurrence. This is the main reason why, in recent years, scientific research has been focused on understanding the function and the composition of tumor microenvironment and its role in gliomagenesis and recurrence.
  • 749
  • 20 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Applications of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in Brain Research
Raman spectroscopy (RS) is a label-free method that provides a molecular signature of any type of biological sample, including tissue, live or fixed cells and biofluids for disease diagnosis. RS allows a sample’s biochemical structure to be fingerprinted by analyzing the molecular bond vibrations of its biocomponents and has been employed to detect subtle biomolecular changes, enabling comparisons between a variety of tissues and biofluids. 
  • 747
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
MGMT-Methylation in Non-Neoplastic Diseases
Quantifying O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation plays an essential role in assessing the potential efficacy of alkylating agents in the chemotherapy of malignant gliomas. MGMT promoter methylation is considered to be a characteristic of subgroups of certain malignancies but has also been described in various peripheral inflammatory diseases. However, MGMT promoter methylation levels have not yet been investigated in non-neoplastic brain diseases. This study demonstrates for the first time that one can indeed detect slightly enhanced MGMT promoter methylation in individual cases of inflammatory demyelinating CNS diseases such as multiple sclerosis and progressive multifocal leucencephalopathy (PML), as well as in other demyelinating diseases such as central pontine and exptrapontine myelinolysis, and diseases with myelin damage such as Wallerian degeneration.
  • 746
  • 22 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Relationship between Blood Vessels and Migration of Neuroblasts
Neural precursors originating in the subventricular zone (SVZ), the largest neurogenic region of the adult brain, migrate several millimeters along a restricted migratory pathway, the rostral migratory stream (RMS), toward the olfactory bulb (OB), where they differentiate into interneurons and integrate into the local neuronal circuits. The homophilic mode of migration, i.e. using each other to move, is typical for neuroblast movement in the RMS. In addition, specifically-arranged blood vessels navigate SVZ-derived neuroblasts to the OB and provide signals which promote migration. Blood vessel reorganization in the RMS during the early postnatal period is necessary for proper migration of RMS neuroblasts in adulthood.
  • 746
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Neuroarchitecture in SREBP-1c deficient mice
Changes in structural and functional neuroplasticity have been implicated in various neurological disorders. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c is a critical regulatory molecule of lipid homeostasis in the brain. Recently, our findings have shown the potential involvement of SREBP-1c deficiency in the alteration of novel modulatory molecules in the hippocampus and occurrence of schizophrenia-like behaviors in mice. However, the possible underlying mechanisms, related to neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus, are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the hippocampus-dependent memory function and neuronal architecture of hippocampal neurons in SREBP-1c knockout (KO) mice. During the passive avoidance test, SREBP-1c KO mice showed memory impairment. Based on Golgi staining, the dendritic complexity, length, and branch points were significantly decreased in the apical cornu ammonis (CA) 1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the hippocampi of SREBP-1c KO mice, compared with those of wild-type (WT) mice. Additionally, significant decreases in the dendritic diameters were detected in the CA3 and DG subregions, and spine density was also significantly decreased in the apical CA3 subregion of the hippocampi of KO mice, compared with that of WT mice. Alterations in the proportions of stubby and thin-shaped dendritic spines were observed in the apical subcompartments of CA1 and CA3 in the hippocampi of KO mice. Furthermore, the corresponding differential decreases in the levels of SREBP-1 expression in the hippocampal subregions (particularly, a significant decrease in the level in the CA3) were detected by immunofluorescence. 
  • 745
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Effectiveness of Focal Muscle Vibration in Neuromotor Hypofunction
Adequate physical recovery after trauma, injury, disease, a long period of hypomobility, or simply ageing is a difficult goal because rehabilitation protocols are long-lasting and often cannot ensure complete motor recovery. Therefore, the optimisation of rehabilitation procedures is an important target to be achieved. The possibility of restoring motor functions by acting on proprioceptive signals by unspecific repetitive muscle vibration, focally applied on single muscles (RFV), instead of only training muscle function, is a new perspective, as suggested by the effects on the motor performance evidenced by healthy persons. The focal muscle vibration consists of micro-stretching-shortening sequences applied to individual muscles. By repeating such stimulation, an immediate and persistent increase in motility can be attained.
  • 745
  • 16 Aug 2023
  • Page
  • of
  • 54
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Academic Video Service
Feedback