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Sediments contaminated with hazardous metals pose risks to humans and wildlife, yet viable management options are scarce. In a series of laboratory experiments, we characterized Polonite® – an activated calcium-silicate – as a novel sorbent for thin-layer capping of metal-contaminated sediments. We tested a fine-grained by-product from the Polonite production as a cheap and sustainable sorbent. First, Polonite was reacted with solutions of Cu, Pb, and Zn, and the surface chemistry of the Polonite was examined using, e.g., scanning electron microscopy to investigate metal sorption mechanisms. Batch experiments were conducted by adding Polonite to industrially contaminated harbor sediment to determine sorption kinetics and isotherms. Importantly, we measured if the Polonite could reduce metal bioavailability to sediment fauna by performing digestive fluid extraction (DFE). Finally, a cap placement technique was studied by applying a Polonite slurry in sedimentation columns. The results showed rapid metal sorption to Polonite via several mechanisms, including hydroxide and carbonate precipitation, and complexation with metal oxides on the Polonite surface. Isotherm data revealed that the sediment uptake capacity (K f) for Cu, Pb, and Zn increased by a factor of 25, 21, and 14, respectively, after addition of 5% Polonite. The bioavailability of Cu, Pb, and Zn was reduced by 70%, 65%, and 54%, respectively, after a 25% Polonite addition. In conclusion, we propose that sediment treatment with low doses of the Polonite by-product can be a cheap, sustainable, and effective remediation method compared to other more intrusive methods such as dredging or conventional isolation capping. [Display omitted] • A new calcium-silicate was tested for amendment of metal polluted sediment. • A 5% dose increased sediment uptake capacity of metals by a factor of 14–25. • A 25% dose decreased bioavailability (solubilization in gut fluid) by 54–70%. • Adsorption occurred through several types of complexation and precipitation. • The amendment is an effective, cheap, and sustainable remediation option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) in infants have been regarded as highly specific for abuse. Other causes of CSDH have not been investigated in a large population.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent external hydrocephalus is present in infants with ASDH and CSDH undergoing evaluation for abuse.Material and Methods: Eighty-five infants suspected of being abused, with ASDH (n = 16) or CSDH (n = 69), were reviewed regarding age, risk factor profiles, craniocortical width (CCW), sinocortical width (SCW), frontal interhemispheric width (IHW), subarachnoid space width (SSW), and head circumference (HC). In infants with unilateral subdural hematoma (SDH), correlations between contralateral SSW and ipsilateral CCW and SDH width were investigated.Results: Infants with CSDH had significantly lower mortality, were more often premature and male, and had significantly higher CCW, SCW, IHW, and SSW than infants with ASDH (P < 0.05). Ipsilateral CCW (R = 0.92, P < 0.001) and SDH width (R = 0.81, P < 0.01) correlated with contralateral SSW. Increased HC was more prevalent in infants with CSDH (71%) than in infants with ASDH (14%) (P < 0.01). Forty-two infants, all with CSDH, had at least one of CCW, SCW, or IHW ≥95th percentile. Twenty infants, all with CSDH, had CCW, SCW, and IHW >5 mm, in addition to increased HC.Conclusion: A substantial proportion of infants with CSDH who had been suspected of being abused had findings suggesting external hydrocephalus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a mood disorder for which selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM) treatment has been demonstrated to be beneficial. The neural signatures of this treatment have been so far identified as greater fronto-cingulate reactivity during aggressive response to provocation, but no changes in terms of gray matter structure. White matter has recently been found to differ between patients with PMDD and healthy controls. The present study thus sought to investigate the relationship between white matter volume and SPRM treatment in patients with PMDD. A pharmaco-neuroimaging study was conducted on patients with PMDD participating in a randomized controlled trial. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging before and after treatment randomization to ulipristal acetate (an SPRM), or placebo, for three months. The interaction effect of treatment by time on white matter volume (WMV) was assessed. Voxel based morphometry analyses were performed on both a whole brain exploratory level and on regions of interest. No treatment effect was observed on WMV in any region, including the anterior thalamic radiations, cingulum, forceps minor, fornix, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, superior cerebellar peduncle, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus. This is the first finding to indicate that no white matter volume alterations follow three-month progesterone antagonism, suggesting that white matter volume does not participate in symptom relief upon SPRM treatment for PMDD. • No effect of three-month treatment with SPRM on WMV. • No significant time by treatment interaction effect on WMV. • No follow-up differences on WMV between treatment groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of interest to women's mental health, a wealth of studies suggests sex differences in nicotine addiction and treatment response, but their psychoneuroendocrine underpinnings remain largely unknown. A pathway involving sex steroids could indeed be involved in the behavioural effects of nicotine, as it was found to inhibit aromatase in vitro and in vivo in rodents and non-human primates, respectively. Aromatase regulates the synthesis of oestrogens and, of relevance to addiction, is highly expressed in the limbic brain. The present study sought to investigate in vivo aromatase availability in relation to exposure to nicotine in healthy women. Structural magnetic resonance imaging and two [11C]cetrozole positron emission tomography (PET) scans were performed to assess the availability of aromatase before and after administration of nicotine. Gonadal hormones and cotinine levels were measured. Given the region-specific expression of aromatase, a ROI-based approach was employed to assess changes in [11C]cetrozole non-displaceable binding potential. The highest availability of aromatase was found in the right and left thalamus. Upon nicotine exposure, [11C]cetrozole binding in the thalamus was acutely decreased bilaterally (Cohen's d = −0.99). In line, cotinine levels were negatively associated with aromatase availability in the thalamus, although as non-significant trend. These findings indicate acute blocking of aromatase availability by nicotine in the thalamic area. This suggests a new putative mechanism mediating the effects of nicotine on human behaviour, particularly relevant to sex differences in nicotine addiction. • First in vivo evidence of nicotine effect on aromatase in humans. • Nicotine acutely blocks aromatase in the thalamus of healthy women. • Nicotine absorption levels were tendentially related to aromatase blockade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small posterior fossa (PF) has been hypothesized to explain the increased incidence of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in females and could make microvascular decompression (MVD) more challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the PF volume and dimensions in relation to biological sex, type of neurovascular conflict (NVC), and outcome after MVD in classic TN. In this observational study, 84 patients with TN operated on with MVD with a preoperative head computed tomography(CT) scan were included. Eighty-two adults without TN who had undergone head CT for other reasons were included as controls. PF volume and dimensions (x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis) were evaluated on the CT scans. For the patients with TN, Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) grade was evaluated 6 months after MVD. There was no difference in PF volume or dimensions between the patients with TN and controls. Women showed a smaller volume and narrower (x-axis) PF than men, but these differences did not manifest when comparing patients with TN and controls within each sex. Patients with an NVC involving the superior cerebellar artery had a narrower (x-axis) and shorter (y-axis) PF than did patients with an NVC resulting from other arteries. PF volume or dimensions were not associated with BNI grade after MVD. PF anatomy was related to the NVC type but did not differ between patients with TN and controls and was not related to the surgical outcome after MVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Established cardiovascular risk markers, such as hypertension, are associated with increased risk of brain infarcts. The newer markers N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, troponin I, C-reactive protein, and cystatin C may affect the risk of cardiovascular events and potentially, thereby, also stroke. We investigated the association between established and new risk markers for cardiovascular disease and brain infarcts detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at age 75. Methods Four hundred six randomly selected subjects from the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors study were examined with MRI of the brain at age 75. Blood samples, measurements, and dedicated questionnaires at age 70 were used for analysis of risk markers. A history of diseases had been obtained at age 70 and 75. MRI was evaluated regarding lacunar and cortical infarcts. Univariate associations between outcomes and risk markers were assessed with logistic regression models. Results One or more infarcts were seen in 23% of the subjects (20% had only lacunar infarcts, 1% had only cortical infarcts, and 2% had both). Hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4, 4.7) and obesity (OR 1.3; CI 1.0, 1.8) were significantly associated with increased risk of brain infarction. The newer risk markers were not significantly associated with the brain infarcts. Conclusions The new markers were not associated with the predominantly lacunar infarcts in our 75-year-old population, why troponin I and NT-proBNP may be associated mainly with cardioembolic infarcts as shown recently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: S100B is suggested to be a peripheral biomarker of central nervous system injury with increased blood–brain barrier permeability. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a difference in plasma levels of S100B throughout pregnancy between women developing pre-eclampsia and those who did not. Study design: A nested case-control study within a longitudinal study cohort was performed. Healthy pregnant women were enrolled and plasma samples were collected at gestational weeks 10, 25, 28, 33 and 37. Levels of S100B throughout pregnancy were analyzed with an ELISA assay. Results: The levels of S100B did not change between gestational weeks 10 and 37 (0.047 vs. 0.052; p =0.71) in the healthy controls, but the S100B levels increased between corresponding weeks in women who developed pre-eclampsia (0.052 vs. 0.075; p <0.05). In gestational weeks 33 and 37 women who developed pre-eclampsia had higher levels of S100B than the controls (p =0.047 and p =0.010, respectively). Conclusion: S100B levels increase during pregnancy in women who develop pre-eclampsia and there is an increased S100B level in women who develop pre-eclampsia compared with healthy pregnancies several weeks before clinical symptoms of the disease. The increased amount of plasma S100B in women developing pre-eclampsia might be secondary to cerebral vascular damage and S100B is a potential peripheral biomarker reflecting cerebral involvement in pre-eclampsia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: This study evaluated the distribution and degree of symmetry of lower extremity artery stenoses in an unselected elderly population and its relation to a reduced ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement. Methods: This was a population-based study set in a university hospital comprising 306 randomly selected 70-year-old individuals participating in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study. Whole-body magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and bilateral ABI measurements were performed in each participant. The prevalence of stenosis ≥50% was evaluated in nine different arterial segments in both legs: common iliac artery (CIA), external iliac artery (EIA), common femoral artery (CFA), superficial femoral artery (SFA), popliteal artery (PA), tibioperoneal trunk (TPTr), anterior tibial artery (ATA), posterior tibial artery (PTA), and peroneal artery. The relations between the prevalences of stenosis in different arterial segments in the right and left leg were assessed. An evaluation was made of the relation between a ≥50% stenosis and an ABI <0.9 in the different segments. Results: The prevalence of stenosis was 0% to 21%. In all segments, a stenosis was more commonly found in one of the legs only than in both legs. The prevalence of ≥50% stenosis in the right leg only, left leg only, and both legs was 0.3%, 0.7%, and 0% in the CIA; 0.3%, 1.0%, and 0.7% in the EIA; 0%, 0%, and 0% in the CFA; 2.0%, 1.3%, and 0.7% in the SFA; 0.7%, 0.7%, and 0.3% in the PA; 1.0%, 0.7%, and 0% in the TPTr; 5.6%, 6.3%, and 8.6% in the ATA; 0.7%, 1.7%, and 0% in the peroneal artery; and in 2.0%, 2.7%, and 3.4% in the PTA. When the legs were compared, a significant correlation was found for the presence of a ≥50% stenosis in the EIA, SFA, PA, ATA, and PTA. Seventeen participants showed ABI <0.9. In logistic regression analysis with ABI <0.9 as dependent variable, stenosis in SFA, ATA, and PTA were the major independent variables to explain a low ABI in both of the legs. Conclusions: The distribution of stenosis differs substantially when legs are compared. Despite this difference, stenosis in SFA, ATA, and PTA was the major determinant of a low ABI in both of the legs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Grey matter volumes do not change during SPRM treatment. • Cortical architecture does not change during SPRM treatment. • Grey matter structure changes do not relate to symptom severity change. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is characterized by severe cyclic mood symptoms emerging in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The variation in progesterone levels and its metabolites during the luteal phase seems critical to the occurrence of PMDD symptoms. Notably, the efficacy of selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM) treatment on the mental symptoms of PMDD has been recently demonstrated. In the present study, structural magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess the effects of SPRM treatment, compared with placebo, on grey matter morphology in women with PMDD. In total, 35 women were scanned during the luteal phase, before and after three months of treatment with SPRM or placebo. Symptom severity was assessed using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP), while gonadal hormone levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Region-of-interest and whole-brain approaches were employed to perform voxel-based morphometry analyses, subcortical volumetric analyses, and surface-based morphometry analyses. No interaction or main effects of treatment and time were observed on grey matter volume and cortical surface measures (cortical thickness, gyrification index, sulcal depth, and fractal dimension). The relationship between change in brain morphology and symptom severity was also explored but no treatment-dependant grey matter structure change was related to symptom severity change. These findings suggest that SPRM treatment does not impart macrostructural changes onto grey matter structure, at least in the short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paired cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement is usually acquired before and after vasoactive stimulus to estimate cerebrovascular reserve (CVR). However, CVR may be confounded because of variations in time-to-maximum CBF response (t max) following acetazolamide injection. With a mathematical model, CVR can be calculated insensitive to variations in t max , and a model offers the possibility to calculate additional model-derived parameters. A model that describes the temporal CBF response following a vasodilating acetazolamide injection is proposed and evaluated. Methods: A bi-exponential model was adopted and fitted to four CBF measurements acquired using arterial spin labelling before and initialised at 5, 15 and 25 min after acetazolamide injection in a total of fifteen patients with Moyamoya disease. Curve fitting was performed using a non-linear least squares method with a priori constraints based on simulations. Results: Goodness of fit (mean absolute error) varied between 0.30 and 0.62 ml·100 g-1·min-1. Model-derived CVR was significantly higher compared to static CVR measures. Maximum CBF increase occurred earlier in healthy- compared to diseased vascular regions. Conclusions: The proposed mathematical model offers the possibility to calculate CVR insensitive to variations in time to maximum CBF response which gives a more detailed characterisation of CVR compared to static CVR measures. Although the mathematical model adapts generally well to this dataset of patients with MMD it should be considered as experimental; hence, further studies in healthy populations and other patient cohorts are warranted. • The proposed model derives CVR insensitive to variations in time to maximum CBF response. • Static CVR may exaggerate CVR deficit secondary to variations in time to maximum CBF response. • Additional model-derived parameters may hold unexplored clinical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Cerebral complications, including eclampsia, contribute substantially to mortality in preeclampsia. However, the pathophysiology behind the eclamptic seizures is not fully understood. Pregnancy calls for extensive vascular, fluid and hormonal adaptations and some of these changes are associated with increased propensity for hyperexcitability. Plasma osmolality and sodium levels are lowered in pregnancy, but the level of organic osmolytes in brain cells remains to be determined. Further, most of these are functionally inert, but they include glutamate, the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. The hypothesis of this study was that pregnancy is associated with extrusion of cerebral organic osmolytes and that this is even more pronounced in preeclampsia. Objectives To compare levels of cerebral organic osmolytes in women with preeclampsia, normal pregnancy and non-pregnant controls, and correlate them to plasma osmolality, -glutamate and -sodium levels. Material and methods We recruited 30 women with preeclampsia, 32 women with normal pregnancies and 16 non-pregnant controls. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study cerebral metabolites including organic osmolytes. Plasma samples were collected within one hour of the examination. Results Compared to non-pregnant women, women with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy had lower cerebral levels of the osmolytes glutamate, myo-inositol, choline and creatine. Women with normal pregnancy and preeclampsia had similar levels of cerebral osmolyte levels, except for glutamate, which was significantly lower in preeclampsia. The levels of the different cerebral osmolytes correlated with each other ( p < 0.05). Cerebral and plasma glutamate levels correlated ( p < 0.008) and cerebral myo-inositol, choline and creatine levels all correlated with plasma osmolality and sodium levels ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Our results indicate that pregnancy is associated with extrusion of organic osmolytes, including the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, which may be involved in the pathophysiology of seizures in preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Premenstrual disorder (PMDD) affects around 5% of women in childbearing ages. An increased sensitivity in emotion processing areas of the brain to variations in ovarian steroid levels has been suggested as part of the pathophysiology in PMDD, but prior neuroimaging studies of emotion processing are yet inconclusive. Previous behavioral studies of women with PMDD have, however, reported enhanced luteal phase startle responsivity during emotional anticipation. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate central neural circuitry activity during anticipation of, and exposure to, emotional stimuli across the menstrual cycle in women with and without PMDD. As compared to healthy controls, women with PMDD displayed significantly enhanced reactivity in the prefrontal cortex during anticipation of, but not exposure to, negative emotional stimuli during the luteal phase. In PMDD patients, BOLD reactivity during anticipation or viewing of negative emotional stimuli was not dependent on absolute levels of estradiol or progesterone. However, progesterone levels were positively correlated with emotion-induced reactivity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to positive emotional stimuli. These findings suggest that cortical emotional circuitry reactivity during anticipation is altered in PMDD during the luteal phase, which might be part of the pathophysiology behind the emotional symptoms or lack of emotional control reported by women with PMDD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: The acoustic startle response (ASR) is a withdrawal reflex to sudden or noxious auditory stimuli and, most importantly, an unbiased measure of emotional processing of appetitive and aversive stimuli. By exposing subjects to fearful situations, such as aversive pictures, the ASR may be enhanced, suggesting that amygdala modulates the startle circuit during threat situations. As one previous study, investigating affective modulation of the ASR in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), discovered no difference during picture viewing it is possible that the mood changes observed in PMDD relate to anxious anticipation rather than to direct stimulus responding. Hence we sought to examine the effects of PMDD on picture anticipation and picture response. Sixteen PMDD patients and 16 controls watched slide shows containing pleasant and unpleasant pictures and positive and negative anticipation stimuli during the follicular and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Simultaneously, semi-randomized startle probes (105dB) were delivered and the ASR was assessed with electromyography. Compared with control subjects, PMDD patients displayed an enhanced startle modulation by positive and negative anticipation stimuli in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. This finding was mainly driven by increased modulation in the luteal phase in comparison to the follicular phase among PMDD patients but also by an increased modulation in patients compared to controls during luteal phase. This suggests that the neural circuits underlying response to emotional anticipation are more sensitive during this period and emphasize the need of examining the neural correlates of anticipatory processes in women with PMDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Menopause denotes the end of the reproductive period in a woman''s life and is characterized by gradually declining plasma levels of ovarian hormones. Mounting evidence suggests that prepulse inhibition (PPI) is sensitive to fluctuations in estradiol and progesterone. Deficits in PPI are associated with conditions characterized by increased levels of ovarian steroids, such as the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and the third trimester of pregnancy. The aim of the current study was to further elucidate ovarian steroid-related effects on PPI by examining 43 women with regular menstrual cycles, 20 healthy postmenopausal women without hormone replacement treatment (HRT) and 21 healthy postmenopausal women with ongoing estradiol-only or estradiol and progesterone therapy (EPT). Cycling women were tested during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle while postmenopausal women were tested on any arbitrary day. The PPI was measured by electromyography. Cycling women exhibited lower levels of PPI than postmenopausal women (p <0.05). There were no differences in PPI between postmenopausal HRT users and non-users. However, postmenopausal women with estradiol serum concentrations in the cycling range had lower PPI than postmenopausal women with low estradiol concentrations (group×PPI interaction, p <0.05). In conclusion, the results further suggest a role for the ovarian steroids in PPI regulation as PPI is increased in postmenopausal women in comparison to regularly menstruating women examined during the late luteal phase. Furthermore, postmenopausal women with estradiol levels in the cycling range had lower PPI than postmenopausal women with low estradiol levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Children born very preterm often exhibit atypical gaze behaviors, affect recognition difficulties and are at risk for cerebral white matter damage. This study explored links between these sequalae. In 24 12-year-old children born very preterm, ventricle size using Evans and posterior ventricle indices, and corpus callosum area were used to measure white matter thickness. The findings revealed a correlation between less attention towards the eyes and larger ventricle size. Ventricle and posterior corpus callosum sizes were correlated to affect-recognition proficiency. Findings suggest a link between white matter damage, gaze behavior, and affect recognition accuracy, emphasizing a relation with social perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face perception depends on activation of a core face processing network including the fusiform face area, the occipital face area and the superior temporal sulcus (STS). The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is also involved in decoding facial expression and damage to the anterior MTL, including the amygdala, generally interferes with emotion recognition. The impairment in emotion recognition following anterior MTL injury can be a direct result from injured MTL circuitry, as well as an indirect result from decreased MTL modulation of areas in the core face network. To test whether the MTL modulates activity in the core face network, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate activation in the core face processing network in patients with right or left anterior temporal lobe resections (ATR) due to intractable epilepsy. We found reductions of face-related activation in the right STS after both right and left ATR together with impaired recognition of facial expressions. Reduced activity in the fusiform and the occipital face areas was also observed in patients after right ATR suggesting widespread effects on activity in the core face network in this group. The reduction in face-related STS activity after both right and left ATR suggests that MTL modulation of the STS may facilitate recognition of facial expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We investigate neural correlates of sex differences in spatial memory. [•] Men are better than women at recalling their starting location. [•] Both men and women activate the posterior hippocampus during the task. [•] Men show a right-lateralization in activity not present in women. [•] Greater right-lateralization is associated with better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: Most women on combined oral contraceptives (COC) report high levels of satisfaction, but 4–10% complain of adverse mood effects. The aim of this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was to investigate if COC use would induce more pronounced mood symptoms than placebo in women with previous history of COC-induced adverse mood. A second aim was to determine if COC use is associated with changes in brain reactivity in regions previously associated with emotion processing. Methods: Thirty-four women with previous experience of mood deterioration during COC use were randomized to one treatment cycle with a levonorgestrel-containing COC or placebo. An emotional face matching task (vs. geometrical shapes) was administered during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) prior to and during the COC treatment cycle. Throughout the trial, women recorded daily symptom ratings on the Cyclicity Diagnoser (CD) scale. Results: During the last week of the treatment cycle COC users had higher scores of depressed mood, mood swings, and fatigue than placebo users. COC users also had lower emotion-induced reactivity in the left insula, left middle frontal gyrus, and bilateral inferior frontal gyri as compared to placebo users. In comparison with their pretreatment cycle, the COC group had decreased emotion-induced reactivity in the bilateral inferior frontal gyri, whereas placebo users had decreased reactivity in the right amygdala. Conclusion: COC use in women who previously had experienced emotional side effects resulted in mood deterioration, and COC use was also accompanied by changes in emotional brain reactivity. These findings are of relevance for the understanding of how combined oral contraceptives may influence mood. Placebo-controlled fMRI studies in COC sensitive women could be of relevance for future testing of adverse mood effects in new oral contraceptives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The postpartum period is characterized by complex hormonal changes, but human imaging studies in the postpartum period have thus far predominantly focused on the neural correlates of maternal behavior or postpartum depression, whereas longitudinal studies on neural correlates of cognitive function across the postpartum period in healthy women are lacking. The aim of this study was to longitudinally examine response inhibition, as a measure of executive function, during the postpartum period and its neural correlates in healthy postpartum women and non-postpartum controls. Thirteen healthy postpartum women underwent event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a Go/NoGo task. The first assessment was made within 48h of delivery, and the second at 4–7 weeks postpartum. In addition, 13 healthy women examined twice during the menstrual cycle were included as non-postpartum controls. In postpartum women region of interest analyses revealed task-related decreased activations in the right inferior frontal gyrus, right anterior cingulate, and bilateral precentral gyri at the late postpartum assessment. Generally, postpartum women displayed lower activity during response inhibition in the bilateral inferior frontal gyri and precentral gyri compared to non-postpartum controls. No differences in performance on the Go/NoGo task were found between time-points or between groups. In conclusion, this study has discovered that brain activity in prefrontal areas during a response inhibition task decreases throughout the course of the first postpartum weeks and is lower than in non-postpartum controls. Further studies on the normal adaptive brain activity changes that occur during the postpartum period are warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) has generally not been associated with impulsive behavior. However, some studies suggest that women with PMDD have higher impulsivity scores than healthy controls and that brain activity during response inhibition may vary across the menstrual cycle. Therefore, our aim was to unravel potentially important cognitive aspects of PMDD by investigating brain activity during response inhibition in women with PMDD and healthy controls in relation to menstrual cycle phase. Methods: Fourteen PMDD patients and 13 healthy controls performed a Go/NoGo task to measure brain activity during response inhibition by use of event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Women with PMDD displayed decreased activity during both menstrual cycle phases compared to healthy controls in several task-related parietal areas. A significant group by phase interactions was found in the left insula, driven by enhanced activity among healthy controls in the follicular phase and by enhanced insula activity during the luteal phase among PMDD patients. Limitations: The limitations of the present study are the relatively limited sample size, the relatively small number of NoGo trials and the lack of a baseline contrast for the NoGo trials. Conclusions: During response inhibition women with PMDD have reduced activity in areas associated with attention and motor function which is unrelated to menstrual cycle phase. Insular cortex activity, involved in both affective and cognitive processing, was significantly activated during the luteal phase among PMDD women. These findings are relevant for the understanding of how ovarian steroids influence mood symptoms in women. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]