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Feb 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-4518.jsdr-24-4949
Nussbaum LACorresponding author
Background Insomnia and other sleep disorders represent a major cause of disability and impaired productivity. We evaluated the impact of peripheral somatosensory stimulation (PSS) on sleep quality in 12 patients with varying degrees of insomnia. Methods Twelve adult patients underwent daily PSS therapy for a 4-week period and were evaluated using the Insomnia Severity Index at baseline (prior to initiation of therapy) and then at the conclusion of the treatments. All data were obtained through a self-reported 7-question survey evaluating overall severity of insomnia symptoms and the impact of sleep patterns on satisfaction with sleep, daily functioning, and overall quality of life. Changes from baseline insomnia scores were analyzed using cumulative link mixed models (CLMMs). Results Seven men and five women completed one month of PSS therapy. Mean age was 55.1 (range 29 to 80 years). No adverse events were described by the patients. The average total change from baseline score was -10.3 points (baseline: 16.5 vs. week 4: 6.2). Patients had statistically significant improvements for every individual survey question by week 4. The median composite score was improved from baseline, with an overall median score of 2 (IQR: 1.25 – 2.75, min-max: 1-4) at baseline compared to 0.5 (IQR: 0 – 0.25, min-max: 0-2) by week 4 (MD = -1 95% CI: , p < 0.001), signaling typically moderate insomnia at baseline vs. typically minimal to no symptoms by week 4. The predicted probability of obtaining the best outcome (score=0) was 9% at baseline vs. 53% by week 4. The overall cumulative odds ratio was 11.9 (p < 0.001), suggesting that on average, the odds of moving from one score to a lower (improved) score at week 4 compared to the baseline are approximately 12 times higher than moving to a neutral or worse score. Conclusions PSS stimulation appeared to have a significantly favorable effect on sleep quality in this group of patients. Symptoms related to ability to fall asleep, remain asleep, and overall quality of sleep were all improved with PSS therapy. We suggest that further investigation into the potential usefulness of PSS therapy in patients with sleep disorders is warranted.
Feb 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-8572.joa-22-4072
Mario Biava PierCorresponding author
Centro Medico Turati, Piazza Cavour 1, Milano (MI)
This translational paper discusses differentiation‑stage factors from zebrafish embryos as epigenetic regulators with potential to reverse neurosensory hearing loss. It outlines experimental evidence, delivery concepts, and research gaps.
Jun 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-6694.jbbs-19-2784
Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior ErnestoCorresponding author
Laboratory of Phototherapy and Innovative Technologies in Health, Nove de Julho University – UNINOVE, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The aim of this clinical study was to determine the efficacy of bilateral alternating somatosensory stimulation for the management of stress and anxiety during and after the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a laboratory procedure for reliably inducing stress in human subjects. For this, a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded clinical trial of 80 qualified subjects was conducted. Subjects were randomized into two groups, a treatment group (n=40) and a control (placebo) group (n=40). Metrics of emotional stress assessed were a subjective rating of the level of emotional stress and salivary cortisol levels, both obtained at 3 timepoints: before treatment (baseline), immediately following completion of the TSST, and after 20 minutes of rest following completion of the TSST. Results showed that the treatment group had a statistically greater decrease in the subjective rating of stress relative to the control group both immediately following the TSST and 20 minutes after the TSST. Salivary cortisol levels in the treatment group were also lower than the control group at those same time points. These results suggest that bilateral alternating somatosensory stimulation may be effective in reducing subjective levels of stress and anxiety. It also may actively attenuate stress-related cortisol levels, which may reflect a mechanism for reducing cortisol-induced inflammation back to baseline after exposure to stressful situations.
May 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-2629
Mihrete YimerCorresponding author
Menelik II Health and Medicine College, Department of Human Nutrition, Kotebe Metropolitan University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The effects of 55-70% teff (Eragrostis tef), 20-30% sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and 5-15% faba bean (Viciafaba) flours blending ratio and fermentation time (24, 48 and 72 h) with custom design on iron, zinc and calcium contents and sensory properties of injera were investigated using 100% teff injera as a control. The mixture of faba bean and sorghum with tef significantly increased the iron, zinc and calcium contents of the blended injera. High iron (22.66 mg/100 g), zinc (23.81 mg/100 g) and calcium (187.25 mg/100 g) contents were obtained from 55% tef, 30% sorghum and 15% faba bean blended injera fermented for 72 h. Sensory acceptability of all blended injera scored a mean rating well above the average, which is an indicative of the goodness as products. The most preferred injera by panelists was produced from tef flour combined with 20% sorghum and 10% faba bean flours fermented for 72 h.
Apr 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-16-1213
Wood-Nartker JeanneaneCorresponding author
Department of Human Environmental Studies, Central Michigan University
As people age, environments supporting changing needs can potentially impact their quality of life. The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop and assess the validity of a checklist instrument used to evaluate senior-supportive environmental risk factors within assisted living facilities (ALFs). Aging often leads to a decrease in the ability of a person to interpret sensory cues within his or her environment. This checklist instrument examined the relationship between sensory cue frequency and the influence on fall incidence within ALFs to maximize safety and quality of life. Observers visited 140 ALFs, utilizing the checklist instrument to document the presence or non-presence of 110 sensory cues. Contrary to the original hypothesis, a positive correlation was found between sensory cues and reported falls in each space. As the number of cues increased, the number of falls also increased. Additionally, the frequency of sensory cues within each room increased as facility size increased. Lastly, data revealed that more sensory cues were present in ALFs designed or renovated by design professionals. Although the results were contrary to expectations, the checklist instrument demonstrated face and predictive validity as a future research tool.
Dec 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-8572.joa-16-1369
Klessinger StephanCorresponding author
Department of Neurosurgery, nova clinic Biberach, Eichendorffweg 5, 88400 Biberach, Germany.
The purpose was to discover if medial branch blocks (MBBs) of the cervical spine can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify patients with somatosensory tinnitus. MBBs are a diagnostic tool to confirm the diagnosis facet joint pain in patients with neck pain. It is not known, if MBBs are also suitable for testing other symptoms than pain. However, the existence of neural connections between the auditory system and the cervical region can be assumed. Included were 22 consecutive patients presenting with tinnitus, who had received MBBs in a ten years’ period. Patients were tested with a MBB with bupivacaine and triamcinolone. Injections were performed with fluoroscopic visualization using established techniques. The mean follow-up time was 6.2 weeks. Tinnitus was analyzed through the global clinical impression of the patient. Seven patients (31.8 %) experienced a significant improvement of the tinnitus. In one patient a thermal radiofrequency neurotomy was done after positive response to two MBBs. The pain relief and a significant reduction of the tinnitus sustained at the follow-up examination 20 weeks after the denervation. No statistically significant difference was found in age, gender, duration of symptoms, additional neck pain or vertigo, or side or level of the intervention. This pilot study shows the feasibility to identify patients with somatosensory tinnitus with MBBs. Further studies with the primary intention on tinnitus are necessary to prove the significance of MBBs. After a positive response to MBBs, treatment with radiofrequency neurotomy is the rational consequence.
Mar 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2689-4602.jes-24-4982
O. Henderson JeffreyCorresponding author
Mammalian Rbm45 is predominately expressed in neuronal tissue and is integral in brain development and neuronal differentiation under physiological conditions. Dysregulation of Rbm45 has been strongly associated with neurodegenerative disorders in humans and can drive hepatocellular carcinoma through reprogramming lipid metabolism. Intriguingly, Rbm45 is an ancient protein, evolutionarily conserved throughout metazoans, including in sponges which lack a nervous system. Curiously, the evolution of Rbm45 gene structure and protein domain conservation across kingdom Animalia is largely unknown. We performed phylogenetic analysis of Rbm45 nucleotide and amino acid sequences from 36 species representing 9 phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Priapulida, Mollusca, Brachiopoda, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Hemichordata, and Chordata. While the tree from Rbm45 nucleotide sequence data resulted in clades Protostomia and Deuterostomia showing paraphyly, the phylogeny derived from Rbm45 amino acid sequence largely recapitulated known monophyletic relationships among metazoans. Human RBM45 protein structure includes three RNA-binding domains (RBD), a homo-oligomerization association (HOA) domain, a nuclear localization sequence (NLS), and a nuclear export sequence (NES). Multiple sequence alignment across the same 36 taxa used for phylogenetic analysis revealed conservation of all three RBDs, the HOA, and NLS; in contrast the NES was only detected in clade Craniata and not in clades Ambulacraria and Protostomia. Rbm45 gene structure analysis revealed increasing gene complexity concomitant with increasing evolutionary complexity. Rbm45 from non-bilaterian taxa had from 2 to 4 large exons, while bilaterian taxa had between 6 to17 small exons. These findings demonstrate that Rbm45 is an ancient, highly conserved gene among metazoans suggesting a function in a breadth of neural/sensory systems.
Dec 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2644-1101.jhp-20-3637
Huang YanliCorresponding author
Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
How human understand and represent concepts is always a hot topic in cognitive psychology. According to the conceptual metaphor theory 12, understanding and representing abstract concepts rely on concrete concepts via metaphoric mappings. In this review, we discussed three core issues with the aim to have a comprehensive understanding of conceptual metaphors. First, I describe the underlying process of metaphoric mappings. Lakoff and Johnson (1999) 2 put forward that the source domain (concrete concepts) can be used to represent the target domain (abstract concepts). The metaphoric mappings from source domains to target domains are characterized as image schemas, which structure and provide sensory-motor grounding for abstract concepts. Then, I concerned on the directionality (the second issue) and automaticity (the third issue) of metaphoric mappings. According to conceptual metaphor theory, metaphoric mappings have the directionality from the concrete domain to the abstract domain, which is an automatic and obligatory process with neither effort nor awareness. However, directionality and automaticity were debated by recent research. In this article, by focusing on the three important issues I provided a comprehensive review which would help deepen our understanding about the nature of metaphoric mappings.
Jun 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2688-5328.ijp-20-3386
Pruneti CarloCorresponding author
Dept. of Medicine and Surgery, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Psychophysiology and Clinical Neuropsychology Labs., University of Parma, Italy.
How to define pain? One of the most accredited definition is certainly “An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage" (IASP (International Association for the Study of Pain - 1986) and World Health Organization (WHO) 1. However, what are the essential components of pain experience? Certainly many factors are involved such as, among others: Perceptual ability / suitability / subjective threshold; The "subjective" experience; Multidimensionality; Occasionally or chronicity. All these components have to be taken into consideration in the treatment of these disorders which, very often, require a multidisciplinary approach. From a clinical psychological point of view, much can also be offered at a diagnostic level, from the reception to listening to the patient's suffering, to the evaluation with standardized tests and psychophysiological analysis procedures in order to arrive at an effective personalization of treatments
Feb 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-5020.jnrt-20-3226
Jalal Al Mosawi AamirCorresponding author
Children Teaching Hospital, Baghdad Medical City, Bab Al Muadham, Baghdad, Iraq
Charcot Marie Tooth disease is a is a very chronic progressive hereditarymotor and sensory neuropathy characterized by progressive weakness andloss of touch sensation across various parts of the body. There are no curative or effective medical therapies that can ameliorate the disability associated with Charcot Marie Tooth disease. The aim of this paper is to describe the safe novel use of cerebrolysin in an Iraqi patient with Charcot Marie Tooth disease. Patients and Methods A boy who was born on the seventh of November, 2009, and was first seen on 29th of January, 2018 at the Children Teaching Hospital of Baghdad Medical City and had Charcot Marie Tooth disease was observed. He had difficulty in walking and abnormal gait that made him left first grade primary school. The nerve conduction study and electromyography study supported the clinical diagnosis of chronic symmetric sensori-motor polyneuropathy of moderated severity. The boy was treated with a safe novel therapy for one month. He receivedten doses of 3 ml intra-muscular cerebrolysin every three days. Results The short term effect of the therapy was dramatic with noticeable improvement that has never been reported before with this condition. Conclusion Further studies enrolling more patients are highly recommended.
May 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2644-1101.jhp-19-2766
Crespi FrancescoCorresponding author
Biology, CSK, Verona, Italy
Cholecystokinin (CCK) is found in high concentrations in cortical and limbic structures including the amygdala of rodents, and evidence has been gathered supporting a role for CCK in the neurobiology of anxiety. A variety of animal models have been used to study a central state of fear or anxiety, state that appears to produce a complex pattern of behaviors highly correlated with each other. It is now well established that the amygdala in particular is a critical link in the pathway through which sensory stimuli come to acquire fear evoking properties. The purpose of the proposed experiments is to study the role of the putative neurotransmitter CCK in fear and anxiety in vivo by means of a methodology coupling electrochemical and electrophysiological measurements in various brain areas. Indeed, the association of in vivo differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with in vivo extracellular single unit recording could be able to provide concomitant physiological and neurochemical indications and to relate them to behavioral events. To further study and support the initial observations pharmacological experiments will also be performed by means of CCK receptor agonists and antagonists. This may eventually lead to development of more effective pharmacological strategies for treating clinical anxiety disorders.
Apr 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-2646
Oladejo Thomas ADEPOJUCorresponding author
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
The potential of Nigerian indigenous tree leaves as vegetable source, pharmaceuticals and other therapeutic materials have been reported. However, Silk cotton (Ceiba pentandra) leaf is still underutilised as vegetable in parts of Nigeria where it exists despite its potential great health benefits. The aim of the study was to assess the micronutrient and phytochemical potential contribution to nutrient intake of its consumers, and acceptability of its cooked soup and sauce ‘as consumed’. Fresh young shoots and leaves of Ceiba pentandra were harvested from Ihitte/Uboma in Imo State, Nigeria. Composite sample of the leaf was prepared and divided into four portions. One portion was labelled as raw sample, and others blanched, cooked to soup and sauce. The four samples were analysed for proximate, minerals, vitamins and phytochemical composition using standard methods of AOAC. Sensory evaluation of soup and sauce was carried out using 9-point hedonic scale with 30 untrained panelists. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p<0.05 Raw Ceiba pentandraleaf contained 80.9g moisture, 3.9g protein, 0.8g fat, 15.3g carbohydrate, 68.40 kcal gross energy, 183.40mg potassium, 119.38mg calcium, 112.99mg phosphorus, and 3.46mg iron/100g sample. The leaf was rich in phytochemicals such as saponins, flavonoid and alkaloids. Raw sample was highest in water-soluble vitamins while the sauce was highest in β-carotene (339.72µg/100g). Cooking the leaf to soup and sauce significantly increased the mineral content of the products (P<0.05) with reduction in water-soluble vitamins and phytochemicals (P<0.05). The sensory attributes of the soup and sauce were generally acceptable to the panelists, with the sauce being more acceptable. The leaf and its products were rich in essential minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals. The sauce retained more nutrients compared to other samples. Inclusion of this underutilised vegetable in diets will reduce micronutrient malnutrition, promote dietary diversity, good health and wellness.
Jan 2019
Excessive variability in behavioral performance and neuronal activation is a common finding in studies of schizophrenia. Recent evidence suggests that this may be due to an imbalance in the ratio of excitation to inhibition in brain function, or E/I imbalance. We used computational modeling of visual system activity to determine whether different potential causes of E/I imbalance would generate effects resembling those reported in schizophrenia. Three major findings emerged. First, reductions in retinal and lateral geniculate nucleus signaling initially led to increases in firing rate variability within the context of reduced V1 activation; however, with prolonged adaptation to weakened sensory signaling, compensatory hyper-activation in V1 neurons occurred, but variability was no longer increased. Second, direct increases in V1 excitation, or decreases in inhibition, led to the highest levels of initial activation but not variability; however, with prolonged inhibitory adaptation to increased excitation, overall activity was no longer elevated, but an increase in firing rate variability was observed. Third, the greatest fluctuation in firing rate variability, in response to the same stimulus across increasing contrast levels, was observed with reductions in sensory signaling, but only immediately after model perturbations; with prolonged adaption, the largest fluctuations were associated with increased excitation or reduced inhibition within V1. Implication of these findings are that schizophrenia-related increases in neuronal response variability may arise from at least two sources: 1) weakened sensory signaling and its associated low signal-to-noise ratio; and 2) compensatory but incomplete inhibitory responses to continuous increases in cortical excitation.
Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-18-2212
T NkrumahCorresponding author
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Fish meat is a common and broadly used food due to its high nutritional values yet the bones and flavour of fresh fish can be unpleasant. The unpleasant fishy flavour makes it difficult to handle and process. The fishy flavour is as a result of microbial presence and growth. Studies associated with microbial contaminations have concentrated more on the carcass. Such contaminations which affect the microbiological status of processed products can emanate from spices and other non-meat ingredients, environment, equipment and handlers. The successful application of processing/preservation technology results in the conservation of desirable qualities in stabilized and varietal fish products. This study sought to use fish in the manufacture of frankfurter-type sausages, which could have improved preservation characteristics without any adverse effects on sensory properties. The nutritional composition and microbiological safety of fresh fish and sausages were determined using the methods described by AOAC and ICMSF respectively. The study showed that, catfish sausages were higher in protein (15.69 %) and were lower in fat (10.66%) compared to the other sausages. Total Viable Counts (TVC) were within the accepted limits (106 and 107cfu/g) for fish and pork respectively. E. coli was not detected in any of the treatments during frozen storage for 6 weeks. It was concluded that catfish frankfurter has high nutritive value because it contained less fat but with higher crude protein. Like pork frankfurters, both catfish and mackerel sausages could be stored for six weeks without any negative effects on microbial quality.
Feb 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-6694.jbbs-18-1887
S. Hageman NathanCorresponding author
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA Corresponding Author
The application of bilateral alternating stimulation in tactile (BLAST) form technology, a non-invasive, somatosensory-based method, has been shown to modulate the electrical activity of brain networks that mediate the stress response, resulting in a stress-reducing effect in individuals with high reported levels of anxiety, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we examined archival data from a heterogeneous group of users (n = 1109) of BLAST technology via Touchpoints, a novel BLAST-based treatment modality, all of whom had high self-reported levels of stress and anxiety. Ratings of levels of emotional stress and bodily distress on a scale of 0 (no stress/distress) to 10 (worst stress/distress of one's life) before and after the application of Touchpoints for 30 seconds were entered into an app. Results showed a statistically significant reduction in the levels of both emotional stress and bodily distress, 62.26% and 50.502%, respectively, after 30 seconds of BLAST technology was applied. This demonstrates a clear benefit of BLAST on the stress response, reducing both emotional stress and disturbing body sensations. Recent work examining EEG changes after BLAST technology is applied suggests that BLAST may reduce sympathetic activation by reducing the electrical activity of key areas of the salience network. Further work will more precisely characterize the effects of BLAST, its potential clinical uses, and the mechanisms of actions behind it’s apparent stress-reducing effects.
Aug 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2688-5328.ijp-17-1581
Gustorff B.Corresponding author
Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine & Vienna Human Pain Research Group, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria, teaching hospital of the Medical University of Vienna
Background Capsaicin 8% patch reduces peripheral neuropathic pain. Based on the concept of neuropathic pain (NeP) in mixed low back pain (LBP) it is hypothesized, that an exclusively lumbar capsaicin 8% patch is an effective treatment of mixed LBP. The aim is a proof of this concept and to identify predictors of responsiveness. Methods This prospective stratified study included 54 chronic, mixed, LBP patients with spontaneous pain >3/10 on the NRS (0-10) and a painDETECT Questionnaire (PDQ) score >12 meaning possible or likely (>18) NeP. Pain intensity, PDQ, and quantitative sensory testing (QST) were assessed at baseline. After a one-hour capsaicin 8% treatment on the low back, follow-up was carried out regularly over three months. Response was determined at one month (≥30% pain reduction) and predictors were compared accordingly. Results The average change in pain intensity at week four was -1.1 (-0.50;-1.71, 95%CI, p < 0.001). Twenty-one (39%) patients responded at one month with a mean pain reduction of -3.1 (-4.0;-2.3, 95%CI) and even 10 of the 21 responders showed a ≥ 50% pain reduction. No pain reduction was seen in 33 (61%) patients (p = 0.42). Responders and non-responders did not differ at any baseline parameter: NRS (p = 0.85), PDQ score (p = 0.47), duration of pain (median of 48 and 36 months) nor QST profiles. Conclusions Lumbar capsaicin 8% patch is an effective treatment in about 40% of chronic patients with mixed neuropathic LBP. However, predictors for response could not be identified.
Jun 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9359.jot-17-1570
A. ForsbergCorresponding author
Institute of Health Sciences at Lund University, Sweden.
Chronic bodily pain after lung transplantation has received little attention. Therefore, the aim was to provide a multidimensional assessment of self-reported chronic pain 1-5 years after lung transplantation and its relationship with self-reported psychological general well-being (PGWB) and self-efficacy. This multicenter, cross-sectional study is a part of the Swedish national study: Self-management after thoracic transplantation (SMATT). In total, 117 lung transplant recipients, all white, due for their yearly follow-up at one (n=35), two (n=28), three (n=23), four (n=20) or five years (n=11) after transplantation were included. Of these, 113 reported their pain on the Pain-O-Meter (POM), which provides information about pain intensity, quality, location, and duration. In addition, they responded to the PGWB instrument and the Self-Efficacy instrument for managing chronic disease. The prevalence of pain was 51% after 1 year, 68 % after 2 years, 69.5 % after 3 years, 75 % after 4 years and 54.5 % after 5 years. Women experienced higher pain intensity and worse sensory and affective burden than men. Psychological general well-being was the main factor that contributed to the experience of pain. Better perceived psychological well-being lowered the odds for pain, while higher self-efficacy reduced the probability of experiencing pain. Many of the lung recipients lacked pain treatment and were uncertain about the reasons behind their pain. Chronic bodily pain is a common and serious symptom up to five years after lung transplantation. Female lung recipients experience more pain and pain related illness than men.