Neuroscience Journal of Shefaye Khatam
Year:2018 | Volume:6 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:10

Introduction: The hemodynamic response function (HRF), reflecting cerebral blood flow in response to neural activity, plays a crucial role in the analysis of the brain data obtained by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this study, a comparison of two statistical models was performed to evaluate HRF for block design.Materials and Methods: fMRI data from 3 patients with brain tumor were taken using a 3 Tesla scanner. Analysis of fMRI data was performed by the SPM12 toolbox in MATLAB software. The AIC, SBC and MSE indices were used to select the most convenient HRF mode.Results: Based on the simulation data, HRF estimated by canonical HRF model plus time derivations (TD) model was more consistent with simulated HRF. These models were evaluated on real data. The MSE, AIC and SBC indices were obtained for TD-logistic model (IL) models (for TD and logis tic IL models; 0.052, 1235.1, 1223.9 and 0.068, -1091.5, 1049.2, respectively). Based on the average values of T, W, H and model selection indicators, IL model for estimating HRF in healthy regions of the brain and brain tumor is a more appropriate approach.Conclusion: The results of the present study can be helpful for the evaluation and diagnosis of HRF in high-metabolism points. Using the IL model to estimate HRF in the block design may lead to a better estimation of HRF and thus maintaining patient health and quality of life after surgical treatment and non-surgical medical procedures.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. This disease is the most common cause of disability in young age. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychodrama based on unity-oriented therapeutic approach on resilience of patients with multiple sclerosis.Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research investigation, using pre- post and follow-up testing plan with a control group. Through a convenience sampling technique, a total of 20 individuals were selected among female patients with multiple sclerosis referring to Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Society. Then, the subjects were randomly placed into two control and experimental groups. The experimental group participated in a twelve-session unity-focused psychodrama therapy plan for 6 weeks, while the control group received no intervention. In order to collect data, the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC; 2003) was used.Results: The results revealed a significant difference between two groups for the post test and follow-up test scores. The psychodrama intervention based on unity-oriented therapeutic approach can be used as an effective modality to enhance a sense of resilience among patients with multiple sclerosis.Conclusion: Our findings suggest using psychodrama based on unity-oriented for improving mental condition of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. The psychodrama based on unity-oriented therapeutic approach provides the integrity and acquisition of semantic knowledge about patients’ negative experiences. Furthermore, this approach can foster the acceptance of illness, as of being connected with the world and a sense of immortality, among these patients.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the CNS in which autoimmunity to myelin plays a role in pathogenesis. Infection with common viruses, particularly varicella zoster virus (VZV) and Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) are postulated to contribute to the pathobiology of MS. The aim of this study was to detect of HHV-6 and VZV in the urine samples of patients with MS in the Kerman province, Iran.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 60 non-repetitive urine samples from patients with MS and 60 urine samples from healthy people without any neurological disease and urinary tract infection were collected. The infection with HHV- 6 and VZV were investigated using multiplex PCR method.Results: Of the 60 urine samples obtained from MS patients, 23 (13.8%) and 7 (4.2%) were positive for HHV-6 and VZV, respectively. VZV and HHV-6 were not detected simultaneously in any of obtained samples. HHV-6 and VZV were not found in any samples obtained from healthy people.Conclusion: The prevalence of HHV-6 and VZV viruses in MS patients is high, which may suggest an association between MS and the presence of these viruses in this region.

Introduction: Cognitive and emotional factors play a crucial role in addiction treatment. The aims of this study was to evaluate cognitive emotional regulation and neurocognitive functioning in addicts treated with methadone and buprenorphine.Materials and Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional and causal-comparative study. Statistical population of this research include all men of maintenance substance treatment. The population evaluated in this study consisted of 50 patients treated with methadone and 50 patients treated with buprenorphine in Mashhad Addiction Recovery Center during 2016. The Barkley deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) and Garnofsky’s Emotion Regulation Scale were evaluated for all individuals. Data analysis was performed using descriptive indicators and independent t-test.Results: The results showed that the mean score in the cognitive emotion regulation scale of the buprenorphine-treated group were higher than the methadone-treated group. In contrast, the methadone-treated group received a significant higher score in BDEFS test compared to the buprenorphine group.Conclusion: Although both methadone and buprenorphine lead to a reduction in neurocognitive functioning and emotion regulation, buprenorphine seems to be a better drug to preserve cognitive function during treatment of addiction.

Introduction: Depression during pregnancy is not uncommon. In addition, depression is more common in patients suffering from epilepsy. Aerobic activity has been reported to alleviate depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic training during pregnancy on seizure-induced depression.Materials and Methods: Pregnant mice were randomly divided to control, sham, and experiment groups. The pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) kindling was induced on days 14 to19 after pregnancy in the experiment group. Experiment group was divided to mice with and without aerobic activities. Aerobic activity was performed every day during pregnancy. The rate of depression in pregnant mice was measured between the 14th and 19th days of pregnancy once in 48 hours and two hours after PTZ injection.Results: Treatment with aerobic training significantly decreased seizure-induced depression as well as seizure severity in pregnant mice.Conclusion: The present study showed that aerobic training during pregnancy is positively associated with decreasing depression and severity of seizure in PTZ-treated mice.

Introduction: Today, substance abuse is assumed as a chronic disease. Depression is one of the causes of attitude toward substance abuse in youth. In addition, substance abuse can be a direct result of the lack of meaning in life. There is a negative relationship between the lack of meaning in life and depression. The main goal of this study was to test the role of meaning of life on the relationship between attitude toward substance abuse and depression in students.Materials and Methods: Method of this study was descriptive-correlational and samples were selected through a random sampling method.Results: A significant negative relationship has been observed between depression and the meaning in life. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between the meaning of life and the attitude toward substance abuse. The results supported the effect of meaning in life on the relationship between depression and attitude toward substance abuse.Conclusion: There is a two-way relationship between depression and meaning in life. Depression, due to various causes, lead to reduced meaning in life. In turn, decreased meaning in life leads to feeling of disorientation and subsequently to substance abuse.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that can cause demyelination and axonal damage. There are different therapeutic approaches for MS, including administration of interferon-b, Glatiramer Acetate, Natalizumab, Fingolimod, and other immune-modulating agents. Currently approved MS treatments primarily decrease CNS inflammation. Noticeably, the unsolved challenge in the MS field is to advance neuroprotective and remyelinating approaches for the treatment of MS patients. Treatment strategies to prevent tissue damage and/or enhance remyelination and axonal regeneration are seriously needed.Conclusion: Recently application of stem cell therapy for MS therapy has created a lot of hopes to treat MS patients. Several studies have been shown that stem cell therapy has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects in brain tissue. In this review, we have explained the properties of different types of stem cells and their role in the treatment of MS.

Introduction: Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs), a family of four G protein-coupled receptors, are characterized by their unique activation mechanism which involves the proteolytic unmasking of a tethered ligand. To date, four PARs receptors have been discovered in human and mammals. All four members of the PARs family are expressed in the nervous system, where they have been shown to affect neural cell morphology, proliferation, and function. Furthermore, PARs play significant roles in degenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV-associated dementia, and stroke. The widespread distribution of PARs in the nervous system and their potential roles in different disorders make them attractive therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.Conclusion: In this review we summarize the roles of PARs in the central and peripheral nervous systems in the physiological setting as well as in pathological conditions.

Introduction: Several investigations on the mechanism of motor control and learning leads to multiple theories in this field. The purpose of this study was to examine these theories and integrate them into a conceptual model for a better understanding of motor control and learning.Conclusion: A series of motor control studies have demonstrated that many movements, especially reaching movement that requires high final position accuracy, consist of two acceleration and deceleration phases. Review of some motor control theories show that they are consist of two parts so that each one controls a particular part of the reaching movement by different mechanisms. Integrating these theories, based on the neural structures involved at each stage, provides a comprehensive understanding of how to control the movement. We suggest conceptual integrated model.

Introduction: Methamphetamine (METH) is a drug which is highly addictive, psychoactive and hallucinogenic. Besides marijuana, it is the second widely-used drug all over the world, especially by young people and adolescents. The wide use of METH has opened a new era in social problems. It has been proved that these compounds have toxic effects on the central nervous system. Regular use of METH can damage the dopaminergic and serotonergic synaptic network in different parts of the brain. Memory and learning disorders, anxiety and depression as well as motor disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, are among the toxic side-effects of the drug on the neuronal system. In addition, evidence suggests that this compound can cause schizophrenia, cognitive disturbances, and motor disorders in some consumers. In spite of the devastating effects caused by METH, the exact mechanism of action has not been understood yet, which has created a major challenge to the treatment strategies.Conclusion: Today, using METH is highly increasing among the youth and teenagers. Sufficient knowledge and awareness on the catastrophic and irreversible side-effects of this drug can prevent serious harm to the public health.