Search results for "Brain"
showing 10 items of 3997 documents
BDNF as a Mediator of Antidepressant Response: Recent Advances and Lifestyle Interactions
2022
Conventional antidepressants are widely employed in several psychiatric and neurologic disorders, yet the mechanisms underlying their delayed and partial therapeutic effects are only gradually being understood. This narrative review provides an up-to-date overview of the interplay between antidepressant treatment and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) signaling. In addition, the impact of nutritional, environmental and physiological factors on BDNF and the antidepressant response is outlined. This review underlines the necessity to include information on lifestyle choices in testing and developing antidepressant treatments in the future.
La valutazione delle attività neurodidattiche. Fondamenti, tecniche e strumenti.
2022
Le attività neurodidattiche si fondano sulla commistione tra le Scienze dell’Educazione e le Neuroscienze. Oggi, il cammino intrapreso da quest’ambito di ricerca intende fornire preziosi apporti alla prassi educativo-didattica; tuttavia, se da un lato esso registra un grande fervore sia in ambito nazionale sia soprattutto nel panorama internazionale, dall’altro stenta a convertire le nuove consapevolezze apprese in solide basi del proprio percorso. Se il Brain-based learning comincia a campeggiare nel contesto didattico italiano, è parimenti vero che la formazione all’utilizzo dei modelli di attività neurodidattiche richiede l’implementazione della riflessione, della verifica continua delle…
In vitro models of blood-brain barrier set by co-culturing primary pericytes, astrocytes and brain capillary endothelial cells
2010
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) under the effects of the brain microenvironment. BCECs are sealed together by tight junctions (TJs) [2]. We previously found that occludin, one of the main TJ components, is correctly localized at the cell periphery only if BCECs are co-cultured with neurons/astrocytes [1-2]. Moreover, pericytes induce PLA2 protein expression through activation of PKCalpha and the MAPK/ERK cascade in immortalized GP8.3 endothelial cells [3]. In the present work, we analyzed the effects of pericytes and/or astrocytes on survival and differentiation of primary endothelial cells, in the presence of a serum-free medium. To test…
Left Atrial Remodeling and Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels Variation after Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion
2021
Background: Few data are available about brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) variation and left atrial remodeling after the left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) technique. Methods: Prospective study included all consecutive patients successfully implanted with an LAAO device. Contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography (CT) was performed before and 6 weeks after the procedure with reverse left atrial remodeling defined by an increase in LA volume >
Evolution of vertebrate survival circuits
2018
Evolution selects those adaptive features that increase reproductive probabilities and facilitate survival. Analysing the brain circuits mediating risk-avoidance (e.g. defense) and those allowing reward-seeking (motivated) behaviours in different vertebrates leads to several main conclusions. First, circuits mediating risk-avoidance are similar in all studied vertebrates, where they include amygdala homologues located in the posterior half of the cerebral hemispheres, in close relationship with the chemosensory systems. Second, in all vertebrates, reward-seeking behaviours involve the activity of tegmento-striatal dopaminergic pathways, plus other inputs to the ventral striatum, including a…
Comparison of Shod and Unshod Gait in Patients With Parkinson's Disease With Subthalamic and Nigral Stimulation
2022
Background: The Parkinsonian [i.e., Parkinson's disease (PD)] gait disorder represents a therapeutical challenge with residual symptoms despite the use of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN DBS) and medical and rehabilitative strategies. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different DBS modes as combined stimulation of the STN and substantia nigra (STN+SN DBS) and environmental rehabilitative factors as footwear on gait kinematics.Methods: This single-center, randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial assessed shod and unshod gait in patients with PD with medication in different DBS conditions (i.e., STIM OFF, STN DBS, and STN+SN DBS) during differe…
Understanding the Role of Sensorimotor Beta Oscillations
2021
Beta oscillations have been predominantly observed in sensorimotor cortices and basal\ud ganglia structures and they are thought to be involved in somatosensory processing\ud and motor control. Although beta activity is a distinct feature of healthy and pathological\ud sensorimotor processing, the role of this rhythm is still under debate. Here we review\ud recent findings about the role of beta oscillations during experimental manipulations (i.e.,\ud drugs and brain stimulation) and their alteration in aging and pathology. We show how\ud beta changes when learning new motor skills and its potential to integrate sensory input\ud with prior contextual knowledge. We conclude by discussing a n…
Cluster priors in the Bayesian modelling of fMRI data
2001
Purification by affinity chromatography of H1 RNA-Binding Proteins from rat brain
2003
Post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA metabolism is involved in processes as different as cell fate specification in development and cell response to a large variety of environmental cues. Regulation of all steps of RNA metabolism depends on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). By using a T1 RNase protection assay, we previously identified three H1° RNA-binding factors (p40, p70 and p110), highly expressed in the rat brain. Here we report enrichment of these factors from brain extracts, obtained by affinity chromatography of biotinylated H1° RNA-protein complexes on streptavidin-conjugated paramagnetic particles. The purified proteins maintain RNA-binding ability and preference for histone messag…
Descending Connections from the Brainstem to the Spinal Cord in the Electric Fish <i>Eigenmannia</i>
1990
The descending connections from the brainstem to the spinal cord in Eigenmannia sp. were demonstrated using the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) technique. The spinal cord was transecte