Neuroscience
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Neurological disorders significantly impact the central nervous system, contributing to a growing public health crisis globally. The spectrum of these disorders includes neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. This manuscript reviews the crucial roles of cellular signalling pathways in the pathophysiology of these conditions, focusing primarily on glutaminase/glutamate/NMDA receptor signalling, alongside the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways-ERK1/2, C-JNK, and P38 MAPK. ⋯ Incorporating insights from precision medicine and innovative drug delivery systems could enhance treatment efficacy. Overall, understanding the intricate mechanisms of these pathways is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate the impact of neurological disorders and improve patient outcomes. This review highlights the necessity for further exploration into these signalling cascades to facilitate advancements in therapeutic approaches, ensuring better prognoses for individuals affected by neurological conditions.
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Occlusal tactile acuity (OTA) and bite force are essential components of the sensorimotor control of oral behaviors. While these variables have been studied independently, it has not yet been revealed whether compressive force impacts the occlusal perception mediated by the mechanoreceptive afferents in the periodontal ligament. The present study examined the effect of repetition and maximum bite force on OTA by testing nine aluminum foils of different thicknesses together with a sham test with no foil, three times each, in randomized order in 36 healthy individuals. ⋯ Collectively, the results suggest that the enhanced OTA may be attributed to repetition-mediated learning and neuroplasticity within the pathways related to OTA. Furthermore, the compressive bite force may have induced a short-term change that lasted seconds and was not detected by the subsequent OTA measurements or may have altogether inhibited the facilitatory effect of repeated OTA. This underscores the potential for future research to explore the implications of compressive force and pain on OTA in patient populations, which could provide valuable insights into the adaptive mechanisms of the sensorimotor system in pathological conditions.
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Review
A systematic review of deep learning in MRI-based cerebral vascular occlusion-based brain diseases.
Neurological disorders, including cerebral vascular occlusions and strokes, present a major global health challenge due to their high mortality rates and long-term disabilities. Early diagnosis, particularly within the first hours, is crucial for preventing irreversible damage and improving patient outcomes. Although neuroimaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have advanced significantly, traditional methods often fail to fully capture the complexity of brain lesions. ⋯ Advanced architectures like U-Net variants and transformer-based models are highlighted as promising tools to enhance reliability in clinical applications. By automating complex neuroimaging tasks and improving diagnostic accuracy, deep learning facilitates personalized treatment strategies. This review provides a roadmap for integrating technical advancements into clinical practice, underscoring the transformative potential of deep learning in managing neurological disorders and improving healthcare outcomes globally.
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Lead (Pb) is an environmental toxin ubiquitously present in the human environment due to anthropogenic activities and industrialization. Lead can enter the human body through various sources and pathways, such as inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact, leading to detrimental health effects. The majority of lead that enters the body is removed by urine or feces; however, under chronic exposure conditions, lead is not efficient, as lead is absorbed and transferred to numerous organs, such as the brain, liver, kidney, muscles, and heart, and it is ultimately stored in mineralizing tissues such as bones and teeth. ⋯ Chelation therapy, which is used to treat lead poisoning, has various adverse effects, making this treatment detrimental because it disrupts the levels of other essential elements and redistributes lead to various tissues. One of the main mechanisms by which lead induces toxicity is through the generation of reactive oxygen species. Hence, bioactive compounds that are the source of antioxidants if consumed along with ongoing lead exposure can ameliorate the toxic effects of lead.
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Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a non-invasive means to study PD and its progression. This study utilized the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of parkinsonism to assess whether white matter microstructural integrity measured using advanced free-water diffusion tensor imaging metrics (fw-DTI) and gray matter density using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) can serve as imaging biomarkers of pathological changes following nigrostriatal denervation. ⋯ Smaller clusters of decreased fw-FA and fw-AX were found in the corpus callosum. Regions of both increased and decreased diffusivity were noted in fw-RD, primarily in the brainstem, while the f index was elevated in several regions in the 6-OHDA lesioned group, except for a cluster in the contralateral thalamus. In conclusion, this study underscores the significant potential role for gray and white matter imaging biomarkers in delineating disease pathology in parkinsonism.