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Objectives There is no effective evidence-based non-pharmacological treatment for severe neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI). Paired associative stimulation (PAS) has been used in motor rehabilitation of patients after SCI. In the SCI-PAS protocol for tetraplegic patients, peripheral and central nerve tracts are activated with subject-specific timing, such that ascending and descending signals appear simultaneously at the cervical level. The effect on motor rehabilitation is thought to arise via strengthening of cervical upper and lower motoneuron synapses. We have observed an analgesic effect of PAS on mild-to-moderate neuropathic pain in tetraplegic patients receiving PAS for motor rehabilitation. Here, we applied PAS to a patient with severe drug-resistant neuropathic pain. Methods The patient is a 50-year-old man who had a traumatic cervical SCI three years earlier. He has partial paresis in the upper limbs and completely plegic lower limbs. The most severe pain is located in the right upper limb and shoulder region. The pain has not responded to either pharmacological therapy or repetitive-TMS therapy targeted to either primary motor cortex or secondary somatosensory cortex. PAS was targeted to relieve pain in the right upper arm. Peripheral nerve stimulation targeted the median, ulnar, and radial nerves and was accompanied by TMS pulses to the motor representation area of abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti minimi, and extensor digitorum communis muscles, respectively. Results Hand motor function, especially finger abduction and extension, was already enhanced during the first therapy week. Pain decreased at the end of the second therapy week. Pain was milder especially in the evenings. Numerical rating scale scores (evening) decreased 44% and patient estimation of global impression of change was 1, subjectively indicating great benefit when compared to before therapy. Quality of sleep also improved. Conclusions The SCI-PAS protocol reduced neuropathic pain in our subject. The mechanism behind the analgesic effect may involve the modulation of nociceptive and sensory neuronal circuits at the spinal cord level. The possibility to use PAS as an adjunct treatment in drug-resistant post-SCI neuropathic pain warrants further investigation and sham-controlled studies. Patients with neuropathic pain due to SCI may benefit from PAS therapy in addition to PAS therapy-induced improvement in motor function.

The human brain is just 2% of the body’s weight, but 20% of its metabolic load (1⇓–3), and 10 times more expensive per gram than muscle. On the other hand, the brain manages to produce poetry, design spacecraft, and create art on an energy budget of ∼20 W, a paltry sum given that the computer on which this article is being typed requires 80 W. So where in the brain is power consumed, what is it used for, why is it so expensive relative to other costs of living, and how does it achieve its power efficiency relative to engineered silicon? Many classic papers have studied these questions. Attwell and Laughlin (4) developed detailed biophysical estimates suggesting that neural signaling and the postsynaptic effects of neurotransmitter release combined to account for 80% of the brain’s adenosine triphosphate (ATP) consumption, conclusions that are also supported by the overall physiology and anatomy of neural circuits (5, 6). Numerous studies explored the structural and functional consequences of this expenditure for limiting brain size (7) and scaling (8), efficient wiring patterns (9), analog (graded potential) vs. digital (spiking) signaling (10), distributed neural codes (11⇓–13), the distribution of information traffic along nerve tracts and their size distribution (14⇓–16), and computational heterogeneity and efficiency (17). Many of these ideas have been synthesized by Sterling and Laughlin (18) into a set of principles governing the design of brains. Now, in PNAS, Levy and Calvert (19) propose a functional accounting of the power budget of the mammalian brain, suggesting that communication is vastly more expensive than computation, and exploring the functional consequences for neural circuit organization. Levy and Calvert (19) build on the earlier literature by focusing primarily on the relative power committed to different modes of information … [↵][1]1Email: vijay{at}physics.upenn.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is a consequence of inflammation of various etiologies resulting in damage to the nerve tracts. Regardless of the etiology, the prevalence of ATM is estimated at 1–4 new cases per million a year. Among connective tissue disorder, systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is the most common cause of ATM. SLE is complicated by neurological manifestation in 25–80% of the patients. ATM may be a complication in 1–3% of SLE patients, but in some patients, it may be the first manifestation of SLE. We describe the case of a 20-year-old male where longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis was the initial manifestation of SLE involving almost the whole length of the spine. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment may prevent long-term permanent damage and may have a favorable outcome

The surgical management of lesions within or around the brainstem is usually associated with significant morbidity. Even though several safe entry zones have been described for brainstem lesions, especially cavernous malformations (CMs), their resection remains a challenge due to the convergence of highly functional nerve tracts and nuclei in this rather small structure. Moreover, the ventral location of some of these lesions usually calls for complex surgical approaches involving extensive bone drilling and significant manipulation of neurovascular structures. The expanded endoscopic endonasal approach has been subject to considerable advancements, widening the range of lesions accessible through this route. In this operative video, we describe the surgical nuances of an endoscopic endonasal transclival resection of a ventral pontine CM (Figure 1-2). A pedicled nasoseptal flap was harvested for reconstruction, gaining access to the sphenoid rostrum, which was resected. The sellar floor was removed to expose the middle third of the clivus, which was drilled out until posterior fossa dura mater was identified. A centered dural incision was performed to expose the ventral pons and the basilar artery. Using image-guidance, a limited pial incision over the most superficial aspect of the lesion allowed a prompt drainage of the hematoma and resection of the CM. The surgical cavity was directly inspected through the endoscope, confirming a complete resection. Reconstruction was carried out in a multi-layered fashion. The patient presented a postoperative CSF leak, which resolved with a lumbar drain. Neurologic status remained unchanged after surgery, with the patient displaying a favorable clinical outcome.

Introduction. Digital tensor tractography (DTT) is well-known and efficient method for white-matter tracts visualization. However, few publications show its effectiveness in cranial nerves tractography. The aim of the study is to develop and to implement the protocol for visualizing cranial nerve tracts. Materials and methods . DTT was implemented in 6 patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) W. Koos 3-4 grade, preliminary coordinated by the study of 5 patients with trigeminal neuralgia. The tracts were “built” using 3D Slicer software. Results. In 5 of 6 cases, full correlation of pre- and intraoperative data was registered. In 1 case, the tracts were non-identifiable. Conclusion. Presented algorithm provides effective preoperative visualization of cranial nerves (V, VII). Obtained results allow to consider the method of DTT a promising technique for preoperative visualization of trigeminal and facial nerves in patients with posterior fossa lesions.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) have become increasingly popular in the last few years, especially among adolescents. Given ADHD is overrepresented in patients with substance use across adolescents compared to the general population, the current study aims were two-fold: i) examine structural brain network topology in SC users compared to healthy controls and, ii) examine the influence of ADHD on network topology in SC users. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 27 SC users (14 without ADHD and 13 with ADHD combined type) and 13 controls. Structural networks were examined using network-based statistic and connectomic analysis. We found that SC users without ADHD had significantly weaker connectivity compared to controls in bilateral hemispheres, most notably in edges connecting the left parietal and occipital regions. In contrast, SC users with ADHD showed stronger structural connectivity compared to controls. In addition, adolescent SC users with ADHD, but not without ADHD, displayed reduced network organization, indicated by lower clustering coefficient and modularity, suggesting that poor structural network segregation and preserved structural network integration. These results suggest that comorbidity of ADHD and substance dependence may show different structural connectivity alterations than substance use alone. Therefore, future connectivity studies in the substance use population should account for the presence of ADHD in their samples, which may be associated with disparate connectivity profiles. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature., 2015 EGEBAM 001, This research was funded by Ege University Science and Technology Application and Research Center (grant number 2015 EGEBAM 001) which had no role in the design of the study, collection and analysis of data and decision to publish.

Background Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a devastating pediatric cancer with unmet clinical need. DIPG is invasive in nature, where tumor cells interweave into the fiber nerve tracts of the pons making the tumor unresectable. Accordingly, novel approaches in combating the disease are of utmost importance and receptor-driven cell invasion in the context of DIPG is under-researched area. Here, we investigated the impact on cell invasion mediated by PLEXINB1, PLEXINB2, platelet growth factor receptor (PDGFR)α, PDGFRβ, epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), activin receptor 1 (ACVR1), chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), and NOTCH1. Methods We used previously published RNA-sequencing data to measure gene expression of selected receptors in DIPG tumor tissue versus matched normal tissue controls (n = 18). We assessed protein expression of the corresponding genes using DIPG cell culture models. Then, we performed cell viability and cell invasion assays of DIPG cells stimulated with chemoattractants/ligands. Results RNA-sequencing data showed increased gene expression of receptor genes such as PLEXINB2, PDGFRα, EGFR, ACVR1, CXCR4, and NOTCH1 in DIPG tumors compared to the control tissues. Representative DIPG cell lines demonstrated correspondingly increased protein expression levels of these genes. Cell viability assays showed minimal effects of growth factors/chemokines on tumor cell growth in most instances. Recombinant SEMA4C, SEM4D, PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, ACVA, CXCL12, and DLL4 ligand stimulation altered invasion in DIPG cells. Conclusions We show that no single growth factor-ligand pair universally induces DIPG cell invasion. However, our results reveal a potential to create a composite of cytokines or anti-cytokines to modulate DIPG cell invasion.

Some organophosphorus compounds (OPs) can cause a type of delayed neurotoxicity in human being, which is known as organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). Signs and symptoms of the patients include tingling and sensory loss of the hands and feet, followed by progressive muscle weakness in the lower and upper limbs, and ataxia. Pathologically, OPIDN are characterized by distal sensorimotor axonopathy due to the distal axonal degeneration of nerve tracts located in central and peripheral nervous systems. The morphological pattern of the distal axonopathy is similar to Wallerian degeneration that occurs after nerve injury in vitro. It is generally acknowledged that inhibition and subsequent aging of neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is required for the occurrence of OPIDN. However, the underlying mechanisms through which NTE triggers axonal degeneration in OPIDN is still largely unclear. Recently, sterile alpha and toll/interleukin receptor motif-containing protein 1（SARM1) has been identified as a key player in Wallerian degeneration. In physical and chemical transection of axons, SARM1 was found to promotes axon degeneration by hydrolyzing NAD+. By contrast, SARM1 deficiency could prevent neuron degeneration in response to a wide range of insults. Furthermore, SARM1 can also translocate to mitochondria and cause mitochondrial damage, thus triggering axon degeneration and neuron death. These findings suggested the existence of a pathway in axonal degeneration that might be targeted therapeutically. Here, we hypothesize that SARM1 activation after NTE inhibition and aging might be an etiological factor in OPIDN that regulates Wallerian-like degeneration. Analysing SARM1 mediated NAD degeneration pathway and its upstream activators in OPIDN could contribute to the development of novel therapies to treat OPIDN.

Diffusion of water is based on the principle that the water molecules show random motion. In diffusion study on magnetic resonance imaging using motion proving gradient, signal decrease which is caused by molecular diffusion in the tissue provides information about tissue structure and physiological status. Diffusion-weighted image plays a very important role in the brain diagnosis especially for acute infarctions and has become an essential tool for clinical practice. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using the Gaussian distribution model also has made success in evaluating anisotropic water diffusion in the white matter in which water diffusion is restricted by macromolecules, membrane, and myelin. Diffusion tensor tractography is an innovative application of diffusion tensor method which can access the pathways of neuronal fibers. Complicated wall structures exist in the neuronal tissue, and the Gaussian distribution model does not reflect the existence of a large number of compartments and nerve tracts in the central nervous system. Therefore, instead of a simple Gaussian distribution model, measurement of the probability distribution of a detailed water molecule is required. One method is q-space imaging (QSI). QSI is performed by measurement of a large amount of diffusion encoding and can provide the probability density function of water molecules. One limitation of QSI is the long acquisition time due to the large sampling number. Kurtosis is a quantity that reflects a gap between the diffusion distribution of a water molecule in vivo and the Gaussian distribution, and can be calculated from datasets of relatively few diffusion encoding elements compared to QSI. Thus, a rather short acquisition time is needed for diffusion kurtosis images (DKI). DKI as well as DTI will provide useful information on tissue microstructure not only in scientific research but also in clinical practice.

Sensory and motor systems in insects with hemimetabolous development must be ready to mediate adaptive behavior directly on hatching from the egg. For the desert locust S. gregaria, cholinergic transmission from antennal sensillae to olfactory or mechanosensory centers in the brain requires that choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (vAChT) already be present in sensory cells in the first instar. In this study, we used immunolabeling to demonstrate that ChAT and vAChT are both expressed in sensory cells from identifiable sensilla types in the immature antennal nervous system. We observed ChAT expression in dendrites, neurites and somata of putative basiconic-type sensillae at the first instar stage. We also detected vAChT in the sensory axons of these sensillae in a major antennal nerve tract. We then examined whether evidence for cholinergic transmission is present during embryogenesis. Immunolabeling confirms that vAChT is expressed in somata typical of campaniform sensillae, as well as in small sensory cell clusters typically associated with either a large basiconic or coeloconic sensilla, at 99% of embryogenesis. The vAChT is also expressed in the somata of these sensilla types in multiple antennal regions at 90% of embryogenesis, but not at earlier (70%) embryonic stages. Neuromodulators are known to appear late in embryogenesis in neurons of the locust central complex, and the cholinergic system of the antenna may also only reach maturity shortly before hatching.

The latter subdivisions might be considered as sites for the transduction of environmental and extra- or intragonadal forms of informational and nutritional input to the gametes. Since Ferguson has considered all currently recognized means of transport which might possibly bring nutrients into the gonads, the present chapter will be limited to a discussion of potential mechanisms of intragonadal nutrient receipt, storage, distribution and utilization in all classes of Echinodermata. The major constituent of this epithelium is a layer of interconnected flagellated-collar cells underlain by granule-containing perikarya and nerve tracts; muscle fibers which are thought to be specializations of the basal portions of some flagellated-collar cells have also been seen in the asteroids. The genital coelomic sinus is a fluid-filled space that totally separates the outer and inner sacs from each other in asteroids, ophiuroids, and probably in echinoids. Numerous studies of gametogenesis in both sexes of members of the Ophiuroidea have been made using light microscopy.

SummaryAlthoughNanomianectophores are specialized for locomotion, their cellular elements and complex nerve structures suggest they have multiple subsidiary functions.The main nerve complex is a nerve ring, an adjacent columnar-shaped matrix plus two associated nerve projections. An upper nerve tract appears to provide a sensory input while a lower nerve tract connects with the rest of the colony.The nerve cell cluster that gives rise to the lower nerve tract may relay information from the colony stem.The structure of the extensively innervated “flask cells” located around the bell margin suggests a secretory function. They are ideally placed to release chemical messengers or toxins into the jet of water that leaves the nectophore during each swim.The numerous nematocytes present on exposed nectophore ridges appear to have an entangling rather than a penetrating role.Movements of the velum, produced by contraction of the Claus’ muscle system during backwards swimming, can be elicited by electrical stimulation of the surface epithelium even when the major nerve tracts serving the nerve ring have been destroyed (confirming Mackie, 1964).Epithelial impulses generated by electrical stimulation elicit synaptic potentials in Claus’ muscle fibres. Their amplitude suggests a neural input in the vicinity of the Claus’ muscle system. The synaptic delay is During backward swimming radial muscle fibres in the endoderm contract isometrically providing the Claus’ fibres with a firm foundation.Summary StatementNanomia colonies have specialized swimming bells capable of backwards swimming; thrust is redirected by an epithelial signal that leads to muscle contraction via a synaptic rather than an electrotonic event.

International audience; The bilateral major pelvic ganglia (MPG; synonym, pelvic ganglia) are the primary source of postganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons innervating pelvic organs of rodents; the functionally equivalent structure in humans is the inferior hypogastric plexus. The major pelvic ganglia also provide the route by which lumbar and sacral sensory axons reach the pelvic organs. These complex, mixed ganglia can prove challenging to identify and dissect for further experimental study of normal autonomic mechanisms or to establish preclinical models of disease, injury or visceral pain. Here we describe a protocol to access and visualize these ganglia and their associated nerve tracts. We provide this protocol with schematics for both male and female rats, as the ganglion size and landmarks for identification differ between sexes. The protocol describes removal of the ganglion for in vitro studies, but this method can be integrated into a surgical recovery protocol for experimental interventions (e.g., nerve crush, nerve resection) or for mapping neuronal circuits (e.g., by microinjection of neural tracers). We also demonstrate the primary structures of the ganglion and its associated nerves immediately following dissection and following immunohistochemical staining.

Aim of this study was to explore the EEG functional connectivity in amnesic mild cognitive impairments (MCI) subjects with multidomain impairment in order to characterize the Default Mode Network (DMN) in converted MCI (cMCI), which converted to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), compared to stable MCI (sMCI) subjects. A total of 59 MCI subjects were recruited and divided -after appropriate follow-up- into cMCI or sMCI. They were further divided in MCI with linguistic domain (LD) impairment and in MCI with executive domain (ED) impairment. Small World (SW) index was measured as index of balance between integration and segregation brain processes. SW, computed restricting to nodes of DMN regions for all frequency bands, evaluated how they differ between MCI subgroups assessed through clinical and neuropsychological four-years follow-up. In addition, SW evaluated how this pattern differs between MCI with LD and MCI with ED. Results showed that SW index significantly decreased in gamma band in cMCI compared to sMCI. In cMCI with LD impairment, the SW index significantly decreased in delta band, while in cMCI with ED impairment the SW index decreased in delta and gamma bands and increased in alpha1 band. We propose that the DMN functional alterations in cognitive impairment could reflect an abnormal flow of brain information processing during resting state possibly associated to a status of pre-dementia.

i) Although Nanomia’s bell-shaped nectophores are specialized for locomotion, their cellular elements and complex nerve structures suggest they have multiple subsidiary functions. ii) The main nerve complex is a nerve ring at the base of the bell, an adjacent columnar-shaped matrix plus two associated nerve projections. An upper nerve tract may provide a sensory input while a lower nerve tract connects with the rest of the colony apparently via a cluster of nerve cells at the stem. iii) The structure of the extensively innervated “flask cells” located around the bell margin suggests a secretory function. iv) The numerous nematocytes present on exposed ridges of the nectophore appear to have an entangling rather than a penetrating role. v) Movements of the velum, produced by contraction of the Claus’ muscle system during backwards swimming, can be elicited by electrical stimulation of the surface epithelium even when the major nerve tracts serving the nerve ring have been destroyed (confirming Mackie, 1964). vi) Epithelial impulses generated by electrical stimulation elicit slow potentials and action potentials in the velum musculature. The slow potentials arise at different sites around the velum and give rise to action potentials in contracting Claus’ muscle fibres. vii) A synaptic rather than an electrotonic model can more readily account for the time course of the slow potentials. viii) During backward swimming radial muscle fibres in the endoderm contract isometrically providing the Claus’ fibres with a firm foundation.

BACKGROUND White matter (WM) blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals are reported to be related to neural activity. However, sensitivity of WM BOLD signals to disease remains unclear. PURPOSE To investigate WM BOLD signal changes, directional variations of resting-state correlations in sensorimotor system in patients with pontine strokes, and to determine the relationship between WM BOLD signals and motor deficits. STUDY TYPE Prospective. SUBJECTS Ethical approval was obtained from the local Ethics Committee and each participant gave written informed consent. Sixteen patients with focal pontine lesions and 16 age-matched control subjects were included. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3.0T T1 -weighted anatomic images using a 3D magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo sequence. Resting-state fMRI images using gradient-echo echo-planar imaging sequence. Diffusion-weighted images using single-shot spin-echo diffusion echo-planar imaging. ASSESSMENT Relevant WM tracts in the sensorimotor system by region of interest-wise analysis were identified. Power spectra of BOLD signals and anisotropy of resting-state correlations were measured in sensorimotor system and compared between two groups. Their relationships with clinical scores were analyzed. STATISTICAL TESTS Two-sample t-test; partial correlation analysis. RESULTS Power spectra of BOLD signals in nerve tracts on the ipsilesional side were significantly decreased (P

Ketamine has been used for medical purposes, most typically as an anesthetic, and recent studies support its use in the treatment of depression. However, ketamine tends to be abused by adolescents and young adults. In the current study, we examined the effects of early ketamine exposure on brain structure and function. We employed MRI to assess the effects of ketamine abuse on cerebral gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) in 34 users and 19 non-users, employing covariates. Ketamine users were categorized as adolescent-onset and adult-onset based on when they were first exposed to ketamine. Imaging data were processed by published routines in SPM and AFNI. The results revealed lower GMV in the left precuneus in ketamine users, with a larger decrease in the adolescent-onset group. The results from a seed-based correlation analysis show that both ketamine groups had higher functional connectivity between left precuneus (seed) and right precuneus than the control group. Compared to controls, ketamine users showed decreased GMV in the right insula, left inferior parietal lobule, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex/superior frontal gyrus, and left medial orbitofrontal cortex. These preliminary results characterize the effects of ketamine misuse on brain structure and function and highlight the influence of earlier exposure to ketamine on the development of the brain. The precuneus, a structure of central importance to cerebral functional organization, may be particularly vulnerable to the influences of early ketamine exposure. How these structural and functional brain changes may relate to the cognitive and affective deficits remains to be determined with a large cohort of participants.

Intranasal administration is a promising route of delivery of stem cells to the central nervous system (CNS). Reports on this mode of stem cell delivery have not yet focused on the route across the cribriform plate by which cells move from the nasal cavity into the CNS. In the current experiments, human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from Wharton’s jelly of umbilical cords and were labeled with extremely bright quantum dots (QDs) in order to track the cells efficiently. At 2 h after intranasal delivery in immunodeficient mice, the labeled cells were found under the olfactory epithelium, crossing the cribriform plate adjacent to the fila olfactoria, and associated with the meninges of the olfactory bulb. At all times, the cells were separate from actual nerve tracts; this location is consistent with them being in the subarachnoid space (SAS) and its extensions through the cribriform plate into the nasal mucosa. In their location under the olfactory epithelium, they appear to be within an expansion of a potential space adjacent to the turbinate bone periosteum. Therefore, intranasally administered stem cells appear to cross the olfactory epithelium, enter a space adjacent to the periosteum of the turbinate bones, and then enter the SAS via its extensions adjacent to the fila olfactoria as they cross the cribriform plate. These observations should enhance understanding of the mode by which stem cells can reach the CNS from the nasal cavity and may guide future experiments on making intranasal delivery of stem cells efficient and reproducible.

The internal capsule is a brain structure with many important nerve tracts, including the pyramidal tract, which conducts information for the voluntary movement of the limbs. These nerve tracts and the specific location of their nerve fibers have been known for over 40 years. However, the study of these tracts can be difficult to understand, because these structures are not easily isolated for an in vivo anatomical study. Therefore, in this work we want to analyze and present the somatotopic arrangement of the nerve tracts in the internal capsule. To do so, we will use the information obtained from a magnetic resonance sequence with post-processing software to create the tractographic representation of this area.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of compressed nerves derived in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and the corresponding clinical symptoms for quantitative and clinical evaluation in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. Thirty-six patients and ten volunteers participated in the study and measured with DTI. The resultant FA values for L5–S1 lumbar nerve roots were calculated at three sub-regions. Additionally, the DTI relevant tractography was also performed on L4–S1 nerve roots. Clinical symptoms were performed by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring for each patient and volunteer. The FA values of the nerves at the symptomatic side were significantly lower than those at the asymptomatic side (p

Kearns Sayre syndrome (KSS) is a mitochondrial disorder characterized by development of visual impairment. Electroretinogram (ERG) and visual evoked potentials are not able to provide topographical information of optic damage. The purpose of this study was to explore retrochiasmatic optic pathway alteration in KSS with diffusion tractographic analysis and to compare it with different tracts. DTI from 8 KSS subjects (14.7 years) and 10 healthy controls (HC) were acquired on a 3T scanner. Optic radiations (OR), optic tracts (OT), inferior frontooccipital fasciculus (IFOF) and corticospinal tract (CST) were reconstructed with probabilistic tractography. Fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), radial (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD) were calculated, evaluating group differences. T test on diffusion parameters identified significantly different track portions among cohorts. All patients had optic pathway alterations at electrophysiological examination. Significant lower FA were found in OT, IFOF, and CST of KSS group. RD was significantly higher in bilateral OR, IFOF, CST, and right OT, while ADC was higher in bilateral OR and CST. RD values were higher in the proximal and distal portion of OR bilaterally and in the distal portion of right OT, while widespread differences were found in IFOF and CST. No significant differences were found for AD. FA profiles analysis demonstrated significant differences between groups in several regions of OT, IFOF, and CST, while ADC assessment revealed spread differences in OR and CST. DTI evaluation of retrochiasmatic tracks may represent a useful tool to topographically investigate retrochiasmatic visual impairment in KSS.

Manganese‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) enables tract tracing to follow neural pathways through axonal transport. However, the method is problematic because of the high local concentrations of Mn2+ involved. We developed a tetrananogel containing a dextran‐manganese complex (Dex‐Mn‐Gel) and applied this nanogel to rats. MnCl2 (n = 5), Dex‐Mn‐Gel (n = 5), or saline control (n = 3) was injected into the left knee joint of the rats (n = 13). Inflammation and tissue alterations in the knee joint were also evaluated histologically. T1‐weighted images were obtained on a 7 T MRI system 24 hours after the administration and compared across groups. The sciatic nerve in both legs and the surrounding musculature were used as regions of interest (ROI). No swelling was found in the knee joint infused with Dex‐Mn‐Gel, although prominent swelling of the knee joint was observed with MnCl2. White blood cells inside the knee joint tissue infused with the Dex‐Mn‐Gel were significantly less abundant (45%, P

Objective The structural and functional organization of brain networks subserving basic daily activities (i.e. language, visuo-spatial cognition, movement, semantics, etc.) are not completely understood to date. Here, we report the first probabilistic cortical and subcortical atlas of critical structures mediating human brain functions based on direct electrical stimulation (DES), a well-validated tool for the exploration of cerebral processing and for performing safe surgical interventions in eloquent areas. Methods We collected 1162 cortical and 659 subcortical DES responses during testing of 16 functional domains in 256 patients undergoing awake surgery. Spatial coordinates for each functional response were calculated, and probability distributions for the entire patient cohort were mapped onto a standardized three-dimensional brain template using a multinomial statistical analysis. In addition, matching analyses were performed against prior established anatomy-based cortical and white matter (WM) atlases. Results The probabilistic maps for each functional domain were provided. The topographical analysis demonstrated a wide spatial distribution of cortical functional responses, while subcortical responses were more restricted, localizing to known WM pathways. These DES-derived data showed reliable matching with existing cortical and WM atlases as well as recent neuroimaging and neurophysiological data. Conclusions We present the first integrated and comprehensive cortical-subcortical atlas of structures essential for humans’ neural functions based on highly-specific DES mapping during real-time neuropsychological testing. This novel atlas can serve as a complementary tool for neuroscientists, along with data obtained from other modalities, to improve and refine our understanding of the functional anatomy of critical brain networks.

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) estimates the underlying tissue magnetic susceptibility from MRI gradient-echo phase signal and typically requires several processing steps. These steps involve phase unwrapping, brain volume extraction, background phase removal and solving an ill-posed inverse problem. The resulting susceptibility map is known to suffer from inaccuracy near the edges of the brain tissues, in part due to imperfect brain extraction, edge erosion of the brain tissue and the lack of phase measurement outside the brain. This inaccuracy has thus hindered the application of QSM for measuring the susceptibility of tissues near the brain edges, e.g., quantifying cortical layers and generating superficial venography. To address these challenges, we propose a learning-based QSM reconstruction method that directly estimates the magnetic susceptibility from total phase images without the need for brain extraction and background phase removal, referred to as autoQSM. The neural network has a modified U-net structure and is trained using QSM maps computed by a two-step QSM method. 209 healthy subjects with ages ranging from 11 to 82 years were employed for patch-wise network training. The network was validated on data dissimilar to the training data, e.g. in vivo mouse brain data and brains with lesions, which suggests that the network has generalized and learned the underlying mathematical relationship between magnetic field perturbation and magnetic susceptibility. AutoQSM was able to recover magnetic susceptibility of anatomical structures near the edges of the brain including the veins covering the cortical surface, spinal cord and nerve tracts near the mouse brain boundaries. The advantages of high-quality maps, no need for brain volume extraction and high reconstruction speed demonstrate its potential for future applications., 26 pages

Telocytes (TCs) have been identified as a distinct type of interstitial cells, but have not yet been reported in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of ruminants. In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and double-labelling immunofluorescence (IF) (antibodies: CD34, vimentin and PGP9.5) to seek TCs and investigate their potential functions in the muscle layers of the goat rumen. TCs were distributed widely in the myenteric plexus (TC-MYs) between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers, within circular muscle layers (TC-CMs) as well as in longitudinal muscle layers (TC-LMs). Ultrastructurally, TCs displayed small cell bodies with several long prolongations—telopodes—harboring alternate thin segments (podomers) and dilated segments (podoms). The podoms contained mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and caveolae. Telopodes frequently established close physical interactions with near telopodes, collagen fibers (CFs), nerve fibers (NFs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), nerve tracts, and smooth muscle bundles, as well as with blood vessels (BVs). Furthermore, both homo- and heterotypic connections were observed. In addition, telopodes were capable of releasing extracellular vesicles (EVs). IF analyses proved that TCs were reliably labeled as CD34+/vimentin+ cells, displaying spindle- or triangle-shaped bodies with long prolongations, consistent with TEM results. Specifically, podoms were visible as obvious bright spots. These positive cells covered entire muscular layers, surrounding ganglions, intermuscular BVs as well as entire smooth muscle bundles, forming a network. TC-MYs were distributed as clusters in the external ganglion, encompassing the entire ganglion and spreading to the muscle layers where TC-CMs and TC-LMs seemingly surround whole smooth muscle bundles. TC-MYs were also scattered within the interior of the ganglion, surrounding each ganglionic neuron, following the glial cells layer. We speculate that TCs support the muscle layer structure of the goat rumen and facilitate intercellular signaling directly or indirectly via the TC network.

BACKGROUND Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric condition associated with the impairment of the frontolimbic network. However, a growing body of studies suggests that brain dysfunction underling BPD could involve other brain areas. We explored the whole-brain white matter (WM) organization in BPD patients to clarify the structural pattern underlying the disease and its relationship with clinical features. METHODS Fourteen BPD patients and 14 healthy controls underwent a multidimensional clinical assessment and diffusion tensor imaging acquisition. Measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean, axial and radial (RD) diffusivity were collected, and alterations in the WM were assessed using the voxelwise approach, including substance and alcohol abuse as covariates. Voxelwise regression analysis was performed to identify associations between microstructural changes and clinical feature in BPD. RESULTS Group comparisons showed alterations only for FA and RD: FA decreased in the right posterior hemisphere, while RD increased bilaterally and widespread in anterior and posterior areas (p

Porphyrophora (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Margarodidae) is a genus of soil-inhabiting scale insects. The antennal sensilla and their innervation in the first-instar nymphs of Porphyrophora sophorae were studied using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy to understand the function of these sensilla and determine the sensillar innervation feature on these small antennae. The results show that the six-segmented antennae of these nymphs have 20-23 sensilla which can be morphologically classified into seven types, for example, one Bohm's bristle (Bb), one campaniform sensillum (Ca), one Johnston's organ (Jo), 13-16 aporous sensilla trichodea (St), two coeloconic sensilla (Co), one straight multiporous peg (Mp1), and one curvy multiporous peg (Mp2). According to their function, these sensilla can be categorized into three categories: mechanoreceptors, that is, Bb, Ca, Jo, and St; thermo/hygroreceptors, that is, Co only; and chemoreceptors, that is, Mp1 and Mp2. The dendrites that innervate the Mp1, Mp2, and Co sensilla combine to form a large nerve tract (NT1) in the antennal lumen. Because NT1 extends through and out of the antenna, the somata of these neurons are present in the lymph cavity of the insect's head. The dendrites that innervate the mechanoreceptors form another nerve tract (NT2). The somata of these neurons are located inside the scape and pedicel. J. Morphol. 277:1631-1647, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography has recently been shown to successfully visualize periprostatic tracts allegedly representing the neurovascular bundle. Purpose To examine the impact of different fractional anisotropy (FA) thresholds on the results of DTI tractography in the male pelvis as well as to evaluate the resulting specificity for nerve tracts. Material and Methods Ten healthy male volunteers were examined at 3 Tesla. DTI tractography was performed based on seed points placed circularly around the prostate, in the rectoprostatic angle, the peripheral zone of the prostate, the sciatic nerve, and in addition the urinary bladder using FA thresholds of 0.20, 0.05, and 0.01. DTI tract number and DTI tract length measured with different FA thresholds were compared. ANOVA with repeated measures was used for statistics. Results DTI tract number and tract length were significantly dependent on FA thresholds. While a FA threshold of 0.20 visualized the typical distribution of DTI tracts in the sciatic nerve, a FA threshold of ≤0.05 was necessary to yield results visually mimicking the distribution of nerve tracts in the NVB. However, with such low FA thresholds even in the filled urinary bladder DTI tracts could be visualized. With FA thresholds of 0.20, the number and length of periprostatic DTI tracts did not differ from those measured within the prostate. Conclusion DTI tractography can be used to visualize DTI tracts periprostatically. However, one may doubt that these DTI tracts represent nerve tracts and that the periprostatic neurovascular bundle can be evaluated in a meaningful way with the current methods available.

Perineural invasion is an underrecognized route of metastatic spread along the nerve bundles within the nerve sheath into the surrounding tissues. It hinders the ability to establish local control as tumour cells can traverse along nerve tracts well beyond the extent of any local invasion rendering them inoperable and unresectable. Perineural invasion is a marker of poor prognosis. Oral submucous fibrosis with oral cancer constitutes a clinicopathologically distinct disease. Our case highlights an enigmatic presentation of oral submucous fibrosis and its coexistence with oral cancer presenting with unusual neurological disturbance of the inferior alveolar nerve and facial nerve and diffuse widening of the mandibular canal. The objective of this case report is to enumerate the significance of perineural invasion in determining the course of the disease and necessitate the need for future studies that can shed light on molecular mediators and pathogenesis of perineural spread.

In the early embryonic grasshopper, two pairs of sibling cells near the apex of the antenna pioneer its dorsal and ventral nerve tracts to the brain. En route, the growth cones of these pioneers contact a so-called base pioneer associated with each tract and which acts as a guidepost cell. Both apical and basal pioneers express stereotypic molecular labels allowing them to be uniquely identified. Although their developmental origins are largely understood, the fates of the respective pioneers remain unclear. We therefore employed the established cell death markers acridine orange and TUNEL to determine whether the apical and basal pioneers undergo apoptosis during embryogenesis. Our data reveal that the apical pioneers maintain a consistent molecular profile from their birth up to mid-embryogenesis, at which point the initial antennal nerve tracts to the brain have been established. Shortly after this the apical pioneers undergo apoptosis. Death occurs at a developmental stage similar to that reported elsewhere for pioneers in a leg – an homologous appendage. Base pioneers, by contrast, progressively change their molecular profile and can no longer be unequivocally identified after mid-embryogenesis. At no stage up to then do they exhibit death labels. If they persist, the base pioneers must be assumed to adopt a new role in the developing antennal nervous system.

The results of a survey of the patients with a prostatic carcinoma, who have undergone a retropubic prostatectomy and a medical supervision within a maximum period of 9 years, are presented. The data about 94 patients with a prostatic carcinoma, who have undergone a retropubic prostatectomy and a pelvic lymphadenectomy in the time period since 2005 till 2013 in the Urology Department of SBO RR “RCH”, are retrospectively estimated. An average age of the patients was 63,5+7,8 years, a median of prostatic specific antigen is 11,6 ng/ml. Possessing the median of supervision as 44 months a biochemical recurrence is revealed in a total of 18 patients (19,1%) with the avarage time before its development 13 months. 5-years cancrispecific survival rate in D’Amico risk group terms in the postoperative period estimated as: 1) low - 100%, 2) intermediate - 94,4%, 3) high - 81,8% The most frequent delayed postoperative sequela were enuresis - 24,4% of the patients - within the period of 12 months after a retropubic prostatectomy performance, erectile dysfunction - 69,1% of the patients, stenoses of vesicourethral inosculation - 10,6% of the patients. Considering our data an erectile dysfunction after a retropubic prostatectomy performance occurred in 1,2 times more frequent after a retropubic prostatectomy performance without nerve tracts preservation. In the group of patients who have undergone a retropubic prostatectomy with a neck of urinary bladder, proximal and distal ends of urethra preservation, 16 (94,1%) patients are able to keep urine completely, in the group of patients who have undergone a retropubic prostatectomy without a neck of urinary bladder, proximal and distal ends of urethra preservation 46 patients (71,9%) haven’t got urinary incontinence. A retropubic radical prostatectomy revealed good results of oncological effectiveness among the patients with a prostatic carcinoma in a low risk group as well as in intermediate and high risk groups. Thorough selection of the patients who can undergo a retropubic prostatectomy with nerve tracts preservation, with a neck of urinary bladder, proximal and distal parts of urethra preservation makes it possible to improve the functional results of sergical operations without a loss of oncological effectiveness.

The twin nerve tracts of the antenna of the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria are established early in embryogenesis by sibling pairs of pioneers which delaminate from the epithelium into the lumen at the antennal tip. These cells can be uniquely identified via their co-expression of the neuronal labels horseradish peroxidase and the lipocalin Lazarillo. The apical pioneers direct axons toward the antennal base where they encounter guidepost-like cells called base pioneers which transiently express the same molecular labels as the apical pioneers. To what extent the pioneer growth cones then progress into the brain neuropil proper, and what their targets there might be, has remained unclear. In this study, we show that the apical antennal pioneers project centrally beyond the antennal base first into the deutocerebral, and then into the protocerebral brain neuropils. In the protocerebrum, we identify their target circuitry as being identified Lazarillo-positive cells which themselves pioneer the primary axon scaffold of the brain. The apical and base antennal pioneers therefore form part of a molecularly contiguous pathway from the periphery to an identified central circuit of the embryonic grasshopper brain.

Practical Radiation Oncology (2017) 7, 100-102 www.practicalradonc.org Teaching Case Recurrent squamous cell carcinoma involving cranial nerves in a patient with left glottic carcinoma treated with definitive radiation therapy: A case report Kunal Sindhu BA a , William Armstrong MD b , Anton Hasso MD c , Ted Farzaneh MD d , Parima Daroui MD, PhD e, ⁎ a Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Department of Otolaryngology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Orange, California c Department of Radiology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Orange, California d Department of Pathology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Orange, California e Department of Radiation Oncology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Orange, California b Received 19 September 2016; revised 4 November 2016; accepted 10 November 2016 Introduction Side effects from definitive radiation therapy in patients with cancers of the head and neck are not uncommon. Controlling the acute side effects of treatment, including mucositis, xerostomia, dysphagia, and dysphonia, is of the utmost necessity because these symptoms are potentially debilitating and may jeopardize patients’ adherence to treatment regimens. In the longer term, persistent xeros- tomia, difficulties with speech and swallowing, and fibrosis have been noted in patients who have received radiation therapy. 1 Radiation-induced cranial neuritis, although rare, has also been observed and most often affects the sixth and twelfth cranial nerves. 2 When patients with a history of head or neck radiation treatment develop these symptoms, however, clinicians must maintain a wide differential diagnosis because each of these symptoms has a vast array of potential etiologies. In this report, we present a patient whose symptoms, although mirroring Conflicts of interest: None. ⁎ Corresponding author. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, 101 The City Drive South, Building 23, Orange, CA 92868. E-mail address: pdaroui@uci.edu (P. Daroui). some of those known to be long-term consequences of radiation therapy, were instead found to be a manifestation of a recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) limited to the cranial nerve tract. Case report A 53-year-old man with a 50 pack-year smoking history initially presented to his primary care physician with nasal congestion and otalgia. Two months later, after antibiotics failed to ameliorate these symptoms, he developed progressive hoarseness and throat discomfort. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FFL) performed by a specialist revealed an exophytic, left true vocal cord lesion. The patient was then referred to our institution, where a repeat FFL showed mucosal irregularity of the left true vocal cord in the context of otherwise symmetrically mobile vocal cords. Computed tomography scans of the neck demonstrated irregularity and thickening of the left true vocal cord with obscuration of the laryngeal ventricle. Microdirect laryngoscopy with partial excision of the left true vocal cord mass was performed to acquire tissue. A 10-mm mass along the superior surface of the left true http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prro.2016.11.004 1879-8500/© 2016 American Society for Radiation Oncology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The development of the eyes is a product of the brain; the development of the central visual nerve tract which leads from the eyes to the brain is a product of the eyes and the development of the six extraocular muscles for the oculo-motoric control of the eyes is a further product of the brain. Therefore, the human visual system is a product of the brain and the eyes. Paradoxical constructions are part of the blueprint. These are not self-explanatory and are not immediately recognizable as intelligent solutions. Some of these solutions have been labelled as a ‘malperformance of nature’, others are paradoxically misinterpreted. Some paradoxa are discussed before the grating-optical 'cortical’ information processing in the three nuclear layers of the retina - the ‘brain in the eye’ - are looked at. The paradoxical construction of the visual nerve tract leading via the chiasm of the optic nerves (Chiasma Opticum) to the two CGL (Corpus Geniculatum Laterale) and to V1 (area 17) is based on this. At the same time, the ‘brain in the eye’ becomes the decisive basis of vision and the central visual nerve tract becomes a prominent organ of balance with a sensor and a motor function. Geometric optics and diffractive grating interference Near-field optics play an important part here as do the coordinate systems and the axis-centered symmetry operations.

Video Objective In this video, we are going to introduce two methods for proper identification and preservation of the hypogastric nerves within the USL (uterosacral ligament) DIE (deep infiltrating endometriosis) complex during laparoscopic nerve-sparing DIE surgery. Setting Single institute, single surgical team's experience. Interventions USL is the mostly frequently involved area of pelvic endometriosis. Hypogastric nerves just lie between USL and pelvic ureter, locate in the Okabayashi pararectal space. They are frequently involved (either direct infiltration, or just encasement by surrounding tissue fibrosis) by the DIE lesions. En-bloc excision of USL DIE lesions frequently result in inadvertent hypogastric nerve injury, or even pelvic plexus injury. Proper identification and preservation of the hypogastric nerves is mandatory during nerve-sparing DIE surgery. We develop two methods to identify the hypogastric nerve within the USL DIE complex. (1) “Contralateral nerve traction test”: If we can clearly identify and isolate the hypogastric nerve on the more healthy side, by gentle pulling on this side hypogastric nerve, we can see the contralateral hypogastric nerve move on the other side. Thus we can have a good mapping of the course of hypogastric nerve within the DIE complex. (2) “Antegrade tracing from pre-sacral region”: If we move upward to the pre-sacral region, starting dissection from the virgin site, proximal part of hypogastric nerve can be easily identified. Antegrade tracing along the hypogastric nerve, un-roofing and bi-half the overlying DIE USL tissue, the whole course of hypogastric nerve can be safely traced and the nerve can be well-preserved. Conclusion Proper identification and preservation of the hypogastric nerves within the USL (uterosacral ligament) DIE (deep infiltrating endometriosis) complex during laparoscopic nerve-sparing DIE surgery is important. By this two simple methods and concepts (“contralateral nerve tract test” and “antegrade tracing”), we can minimize the risk of inadvertent nerve injury.

Three-dimensional neural organoids are emerging tools with the potential for improving our understanding of human brain development and neurological disorders. Recent advances in this field have demonstrated their capacity to model neurogenesis1,2, neuronal migration and positioning3,4, and even response to sensory input5. However, it remains to be seen whether these tissues can model axon guidance dynamics and the formation of complex connectivity with functional neuronal output. Here, we have established a longterm air-liquid interface culture paradigm that leads to improved neuronal survival and allows for imaging of axon guidance. Over time, these cultures spontaneously form thick axon tracts capable of projecting over long distances. Axon bundles display various morphological behaviors including intracortical projection within and across the organoid, growth cone turning, decussation, and projection away from the organoid. Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals the full repertoire of cortical neuronal identities, and retrograde labelling demonstrates these tract morphologies match the appropriate molecular identities, namely callosal and corticofugal neuron types. We show that these neurons are functionally mature, generate active networks within the organoid, and that extracortical projecting tracts innervate and activate mouse spinal cord-muscle explants. Muscle contractions can be evoked by stimulation of the organoid, while axotomy of the innervating tracts abolishes the muscle contraction response, demonstrating dependence on connection with the organoid. Overall, these results reveal a remarkable selforganization of corticofugal and callosal tracts with a functional output, providing new opportunities to examine relevant aspects of human CNS development and response to injury.

Light and electron microscopy reveal that simple receptor cells in the jaw epithelium of sea urchin pedicellariae are connected by nerve tracts to the neuropile that coordinates jaw movements. The muscles responsible for jaw opening and closure and for flexion of the stem are all innervated in this neuropile. At least two types of vesicles occur at the simple synapses between neurone profiles and at neuromuscular junctions. The muscles include both striated and smooth fibres; however, their distribution varies according to pedicellaria type, and an unexpected arrangement exists in trifoliate pedicellariae.

Vestimentifera is a peculiar group of marine gutless siboglinids which has uncertain position in annelid tree. The detailed study of the fragmentary explored central nervous system of vestimentiferans and other siboglinids is requested to trace the evolution of the siboglinid group. Among all siboglinids the vestimentiferans preserve the gut rudiment what makes them a key group to homologize main cerebral structures with the ones of typical annelids, such as supra- and subesophageal commissures, cirsumesophageal connectives etc. Histologically we revealed main annelid brain structures in the compact large brain ofRiftia pachyptila: circumesophageal connectives (longitudinal nerve tracts) and commissures (dorsal, supra- and subenteral commissures). Innervation of tentacles makes them homologous to peristomial palps of the rest annelids. The single nerve cord is represented by paired intraepidermal longitudinal strands associated with the ventral ciliary field in vestimentum and bearing giant axons originating from at least four pairs of perikarya. The absence of regularly positioned ganglia and lateral nerves in the nerve cord in vestimentum and trunk and presence of them in the opisthosome segments. Among siboglinids, the vestimentiferans distinguished by a large and significatly differentiated brain which is reflection of the high development of the palp apparatus.Osedax, frenulates andSclerolinumhave less developped brain. Frenulates andSclerolinumhave good ganglionization in the opisthosome, which probably indicates its high mobility. Comparative neuroanatomical analysis of the siboglinids and annelid sister clades allows us to hypothesize that the last common ancestor of siboglinids might had brain with a dorsal commissure giving rise neurite bundles to palps and paired ventral nerve cord.

We have reported previously that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived neural network scaffold not only survived in the injury/graft site of spinal cord but also served as a “neuronal relay” that was capable of improving the limb motor function in a complete spinal cord injury (SCI) rat model. It remained to be explored whether such a strategy was effective for repairing the large spinal cord tissue loss as well as restoring motor function in larger animals. We have therefore extended in this study to construct a canine MSC-derived neural network tissue in vitro with the aim to evaluate its efficacy in treating adult beagle dog subjected to a complete transection of the spinal cord. The results showed that after co-culturing with neurotropin-3 overexpressing Schwann cells in a gelatin sponge scaffold for 14 days, TrkC overexpressing MSCs differentiated into neuron-like cells. In the latter, some cells appeared to make contacts with each other through synapse-like structures with trans-synaptic electrical activities. Remarkably, the SCI canines receiving the transplantation of the MSC-derived neural network tissue demonstrated a gradual restoration of paralyzed limb motor function, along with improved electrophysiological presentation when compared with the control group. Magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging showed that the canines receiving the MSC-derived neural network tissue exhibited robust nerve tract regeneration in the injury/graft site. Histological analysis showed that some of the MSC-derived neuron-like cells had survived in the injury/graft site up to 6.5 months. Implantation of MSC-derived neural network tissue significantly improved the microenvironment of the injury/graft site. It is noteworthy that a variable number of them had integrated with the regenerating corticospinal tract nerve fibers and 5-HT nerve fibers through formation of synapse-like contacts. The results suggest that the transplanted MSC-derived neural network tissue may serve as a structural and functional “neuronal relay” to restore the paralyzed limb motor function in the canine with complete SCI.

Decoding the meaning of others’ actions, a crucial step for social cognition, involves different neural mechanisms. While the “mirror” and “mentalizing” systems have been associated with, respectively, the processing of biological actions versus more abstract information, their respective contribution to intention understanding is debated. Processing social interactions seems to recruit both neural systems, with a different weight depending on cues emphasizing either shared action goals or shared mental states. We have previously shown that observing cooperative and affective social interactions elicits stronger activity in key nodes of, respectively, the mirror (left posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), superior parietal cortex (SPL), and ventral/dorsal premotor cortex (vPMC/dPMC)) and mentalizing (ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)) systems. To unveil their causal organization, we investigated the effective connectivity underlying the observation of human social interactions expressing increasing cooperativity (involving left pSTS, SPL, and vPMC) versus affectivity (vmPFC) via dynamic causal modeling in 36 healthy human subjects. We found strong evidence for a model including the pSTS and vPMC as input nodes for the observed interactions. The extrinsic connectivity of this model undergoes oppositely valenced modulations, with cooperativity promoting positive modulations of connectivity between pSTS and both SPL (forward) and vPMC (mainly backward), and affectivity promoting reciprocal positive modulations of connectivity between pSTS and vmPFC (mainly backward). Alongside fMRI data, such divergent effective connectivity suggests that different dimensions underlying the processing of social interactions recruit distinct, although strongly interconnected, neural pathways associated with, respectively, the bottom–up visuomotor processing of motor intentions, and the top–down attribution of affective/mental states.

Wassermolekule im Gewebe sind aufgrund ihrer Warmeenergie in standiger regelloser Bewegung, die als Diffusion bezeichnet wird. Pathologisch veranderte Gewebe (z. B. Ischamie, Entzundung oder Neoplasien) weisen eine gegenuber dem Normalzustand veranderte Wasserdiffusion auf. Durch Einsatz diffusionsgewichteter MR-Bildgebung („diffusion-weighted imaging“, DWI) ist es moglich, die lokale Starke und Vorzugsrichtung der Diffusionsbewegung fur jedes Bildelement zu messen und somit diagnostische Gewebeinformationen zu erhalten, die uber die Darstellung der Morphologie hinausgehen. Diffusionsgewichtete MR-Sequenzen basieren auf der sehr schnellen, aber auch artefaktanfalligen Echo-planar-imaging(EPI)-Technik. Mithilfe spezieller starker Magnetfeldgradientenpulse wird das MR-Signal empfindlich fur mikroskopische Bewegungen der Wassermolekule. Dadurch ergibt sich ein eigener Bildkontrast, zusatzlich zu T1 und T2. Lokale Abweichungen der Diffusionsstarke vom Normwert weisen auf pathologische Prozesse hin. DWI-Sequenzen erlauben die Messung der Diffusion entlang beliebiger Achsen, in der klinischen Routine werden jedoch meist nur richtungsgemittelte DWI-Bilder („trace map“) verwendet. „Diffusion tensor imaging“ (DTI) stellt eine Erweiterung der DWI dar, welche gezielt die Richtungsabhangigkeit (Anisotropie) der Diffusion untersucht, um zusatzliche Informationen uber die Mikrostruktur des Gewebes zu gewinnen. Die diffusionsgewichtete MR-Bildgebung ist ein etabliertes Verfahren zur Einschatzung krankhafter Gewebeprozesse. Die Hauptanwendung besteht in der Schlaganfalldiagnostik. Zunehmend wird die DWI aber auch zur Detektion und Charakterisierung verschiedenartiger Raumforderungen sowohl im Gehirn als auch extrakraniell eingesetzt. Moderne Sequenztechniken haben dabei zu einer erheblichen Verringerung von Bildartefakten gefuhrt. Mithilfe der DTI kann man daruber hinaus die Faserstruktur des Gewebes rekonstruieren und dreidimensional visualisieren. Die klinische Bedeutung der DTI liegt v. a. in der Darstellung der Nervenbahnen in Gehirn und Ruckenmark im Rahmen der Operations- und Bestrahlungsplanung.

In our previous study, it was found that implanting the sensory nerve tract into the tissue-engineered bone to repair large bone defects can significantly result in better osteogenesis effect than tissue-engineered bone graft (TEBG) alone. To study the behavior of the preimplanted sensory nerve in the TEBG, the TEBG was constructed by seeding bone mesenchymal stem cells into β-tricalcium phosphate scaffold with (treatment group) or without (blank group) implantation of the sensory nerve. The expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which helps in the healing of bone defect in the treatment group was significantly higher than the blank group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The expression of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), which might be expressed during nerve healing in the treatment group, was significantly higher than the blank group at 4 and 8 weeks. The nerve tracts of the preimplanted sensory nerve were found in the scaffold by the nerve tracing technique. The implanted sensory nerve tracts grew into the pores of scaffolds much earlier than the vascular. The implanted sensory nerve tracts traced by Dil could be observed at 4 weeks, but at the same time, no vascular was observed. In conclusion, the TEBG could be benefited from the preimplanted sensory nerve through the healing behavior of the sensory nerve. The sensory nerve fibers could grow into the pores of the TEBG rapidly, and increase the expression of CGRP, which is helpful in regulating the bone formation and the blood flow.

Research concerning the elaboration and application of biomaterial which may support the nerve tissue regeneration is currently one of the most promising directions. Biocompatible polymer devices are noteworthy group among the numerous types of potentially attractive biomaterials for regenerative medicine application. Polylactides and polyurethanes may be utilized for developing devices for supporting the nerve regeneration, like nerve guide conduits or bridges connecting the endings of broken nerve tracts. Moreover, the combination of these biomaterial devices with regenerative cell populations, like stem or precursor cells should significantly improve the final therapeutic effect. Therefore, the composition and structure of final device should support the proper adhesion and growth of cells destined for clinical application. In current research, the three polymer mats elaborated for connecting the broken nerve tracts, made from polylactide, polyurethane and their blend were evaluated both for physical properties and in vitro, using the olfactory-bulb glial cells and mesenchymal stem cells. The evaluation of Young's modulus, wettability and roughness of obtained materials showed the differences between analyzed samples. The analysis of cell adhesion, proliferation and morphology showed that the polyurethane–polylactide blend was the most neutral for cells in culture, while in the pure polymer samples there were significant alterations observed. Our results indicated that polyurethane–polylactide blend is an optimal composition for culturing and delivery of glial and mesenchymal stem cells.

According to recent findings, diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) only allows prediction of facial nerve location in relation to vestibular schwannoma (VS) with high probability. However, previous studies have not mentioned why only the facial nerve was selectively visualized. Our previous report investigated the optimal conditions of DTT for normal facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. In the present study, we applied the optimal conditions of DTT to VS patients to assess the feasibility of DTT for the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. We investigated 11 patients with VS who underwent tumor resection. Visualized tracts were compared with locations of the facial and cochlear nerves as identified by intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring. With the proposed method, visualized tracts corresponded to pathway area of the facial or cochlear nerves in nine of 11 patients (81.8 %); specifically, to the pathway area of the facial nerve in three of 11 patients (27.3 %), and to the pathway area of the cochlear nerve in six of 11 patients (54.5 %). We visualized facial or vestibulocochlear nerves in nine of 11 patients (81.8 %). For the first time, DTT proved able to visualize not only the facial nerve but also the vestibulocochlear nerve in VS patients. Despite our findings, good methods for distinguishing whether a visualized nerve tract represents facial nerve, vestibulocochlear nerve, or only noise remain unavailable. Close attention should therefore be paid to the interpretation of visualized fibers.

Objective To quantitatively evaluate nerve roots by measuring fractional anisotropy (FA) values in healthy volunteers and sciatica patients, visualize nerve roots by tractography, and compare the diagnostic efficacy between conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DTI. Materials and methods Seventy-five sciatica patients and thirty-six healthy volunteers underwent MR imaging using DTI. FA values for L5–S1 lumbar nerve roots were calculated at three levels from DTI images. Tractography was performed on L3–S1 nerve roots. ROC analysis was performed for FA values. Results The lumbar nerve roots were visualized and FA values were calculated in all subjects. FA values decreased in compressed nerve roots and declined from proximal to distal along the compressed nerve tracts. Mean FA values were more sensitive and specific than MR imaging for differentiating compressed nerve roots, especially in the far lateral zone at distal nerves. Conclusions DTI can quantitatively evaluate compressed nerve roots, and DTT enables visualization of abnormal nerve tracts, providing vivid anatomic information and localization of probable nerve compression. DTI has great potential utility for evaluating lumbar nerve compression in sciatica.