Links
- Brain Waves
- Neuroethics/University of Pennsylvania
- Psychscape
- Cinema and Brain Sciences Weblog
- Arts and Minds Weblog
- OCD Weblog
- the weblog of the American Association for Technology in Psychiatry
Archives
- 07/01/2003 - 08/01/2003
- 08/01/2003 - 09/01/2003
- 09/01/2003 - 10/01/2003
- 10/01/2003 - 11/01/2003
- 11/01/2003 - 12/01/2003
- 12/01/2003 - 01/01/2004
- 01/01/2004 - 02/01/2004
- 02/01/2004 - 03/01/2004
- 03/01/2004 - 04/01/2004
- 04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004
- 05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
- 06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004
- 07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004
- 08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004
- 09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004
- 10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004
- 11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004
- 12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005
- 01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005
- 02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005
- 03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005
- 04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
A Weblog on Brain Sciences,Society,Arts and Culture,by:Dr.Sina Ohadinia,MD
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Mild Cognitive Impairment: Correlation with Dementia
In the latest edition of Neurology journal there are two interesting articles on correlation between Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and future development of dementia.
In the first article, researchers from the University of Rush surveyed 180 clergies participating in the Religious Orders by annual detailed evaluation and brain autopsy. According to their findings, Persons with mild cognitive impairment had intermediate levels of cerebral infarctions and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, while only a non-significant number of them had Lewy body disease. So, there is significant probability that mild cognitive impairment may be the earliest clinical manifestation of some forms of dementia (AD and multi-infarct dementia)(Link to the abstract).
The second article suggests that measures of hippocampal water diffusivity at baseline can predict future progression to Alzheimer disease (AD) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). According to their findings, higher baseline hippocampal diffusivity is associated with a greater risk of progression to AD in aMCI (link to the abstract).
In the latest edition of Neurology journal there are two interesting articles on correlation between Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and future development of dementia.
In the first article, researchers from the University of Rush surveyed 180 clergies participating in the Religious Orders by annual detailed evaluation and brain autopsy. According to their findings, Persons with mild cognitive impairment had intermediate levels of cerebral infarctions and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, while only a non-significant number of them had Lewy body disease. So, there is significant probability that mild cognitive impairment may be the earliest clinical manifestation of some forms of dementia (AD and multi-infarct dementia)(Link to the abstract).
The second article suggests that measures of hippocampal water diffusivity at baseline can predict future progression to Alzheimer disease (AD) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). According to their findings, higher baseline hippocampal diffusivity is associated with a greater risk of progression to AD in aMCI (link to the abstract).
Friday, April 01, 2005
Perinatal complications in children with ADHD and their unaffected siblings
To identify those elements of the Pregnancy, labour/delivery and neonatal complications (PLDNC) that are more likely to be of a nonshared nature, Canadian researchers in the McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, studied Seventy children with ADHD along with 50 of their unaffected siblings. Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Restricted Academic Situation Scale (RASS) scores were also used as measures of ADHD symptoms in children with ADHD. The children with ADHD had significantly higher rates of neonatal complications compared with their unaffected siblings. Furthermore, neonatal complications in the children with ADHD were associated with worse CBCL total and externalising scores and with poorer performance on the CPT.The researchers have suggested that neonatal complications are probably a nonshared environmental risk factor that may be pathogenic in children with ADHD (Link to the abstract).
To identify those elements of the Pregnancy, labour/delivery and neonatal complications (PLDNC) that are more likely to be of a nonshared nature, Canadian researchers in the McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, studied Seventy children with ADHD along with 50 of their unaffected siblings. Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Restricted Academic Situation Scale (RASS) scores were also used as measures of ADHD symptoms in children with ADHD. The children with ADHD had significantly higher rates of neonatal complications compared with their unaffected siblings. Furthermore, neonatal complications in the children with ADHD were associated with worse CBCL total and externalising scores and with poorer performance on the CPT.The researchers have suggested that neonatal complications are probably a nonshared environmental risk factor that may be pathogenic in children with ADHD (Link to the abstract).
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Predictors of Post stroke Depression
To investigate the association between early depressive behaviour after stroke onset and occurrence of post stroke depression (PSD), researchers in Switzerlan, Italy and Canada, studied 273 patients with first-ever single uncomplicated ischemic stroke. According to their findings, in the stroke unit, Crying and overt sadness, but not apathy, were associated with a subjective experience of depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only severe functional disability (measured by Barthel Index), crying behaviours and an age <68 years were predictors of late PSD development. you can find the abstract, here.
To investigate the association between early depressive behaviour after stroke onset and occurrence of post stroke depression (PSD), researchers in Switzerlan, Italy and Canada, studied 273 patients with first-ever single uncomplicated ischemic stroke. According to their findings, in the stroke unit, Crying and overt sadness, but not apathy, were associated with a subjective experience of depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only severe functional disability (measured by Barthel Index), crying behaviours and an age <68 years were predictors of late PSD development. you can find the abstract, here.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Hobbit’s Brain: A Human Connection?
When about 6 months ago, the remains of the one-meter tall creatures were found in a cave in Indonesia, some researchers claimed these remains belong to Homo sapiens with microcephalia, and not a separate brand of human-like creatures, or Homo Floresiensis, as some scientists were quick to name it.
Now for the first time, the results of the detailed study of the creature’s brain by Dean Falk at Florida State University, has shown that it has advanced features that span the entire brain, suggesting that the original discoverers were right that it might be a new species of human.
Using a series of X-ray images to build up a 3-D computer model of the surface of the creature’s brain, researchers found enlarged frontal lobes, fat temporal lobes and evidence of lunate focus being pushed toward the back of the head, indicating the expansion of other parts of the brain. These findings show that these human beings were capable of intelligent thought, and had significant memory and speech abilities. The detailed examination of the creature's braincase has been published in Science and you can read it here.
When about 6 months ago, the remains of the one-meter tall creatures were found in a cave in Indonesia, some researchers claimed these remains belong to Homo sapiens with microcephalia, and not a separate brand of human-like creatures, or Homo Floresiensis, as some scientists were quick to name it.
Now for the first time, the results of the detailed study of the creature’s brain by Dean Falk at Florida State University, has shown that it has advanced features that span the entire brain, suggesting that the original discoverers were right that it might be a new species of human.
Using a series of X-ray images to build up a 3-D computer model of the surface of the creature’s brain, researchers found enlarged frontal lobes, fat temporal lobes and evidence of lunate focus being pushed toward the back of the head, indicating the expansion of other parts of the brain. These findings show that these human beings were capable of intelligent thought, and had significant memory and speech abilities. The detailed examination of the creature's braincase has been published in Science and you can read it here.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Of Oscars, Self harm in Adolescents and Mood Disturbances in Menopause
In this edition of Psychiatric Times there are two wonderful review article: 1-Menopause and Mood Disturbance, which discusses the range of psychiatric symptoms in the menopause, especially mood disorders and mood swings and how women should deal with it (read it here) and2-Deliberate Self-Harm in Adolescents: the Importance of Gender, which is an overview of the literature, focusing on gender differences among adolescents who engage in deliberate self-harm, and the writers have summarized the findings relating to gender from a school-based survey of over 6,000 adolescents from England aged 15 and 16.interesting stuff(read it here)
And by the way, my favourites in this year Oscar ceremony, the neurotic drama,”Sideways” and the obsessive-compulsive “Aviator”, didn`t win the main Oscars. One of my favourites of 2004,a drama with the theme of selective amnesia,” The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind”, wasn`t even nominated for the main categories(although it won an oscar for the ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY. No wonder, as Martine Scorsese, Alexander Payne and Michael Gondry are all very able filmmakers. Probably another year……….
In this edition of Psychiatric Times there are two wonderful review article: 1-Menopause and Mood Disturbance, which discusses the range of psychiatric symptoms in the menopause, especially mood disorders and mood swings and how women should deal with it (read it here) and2-Deliberate Self-Harm in Adolescents: the Importance of Gender, which is an overview of the literature, focusing on gender differences among adolescents who engage in deliberate self-harm, and the writers have summarized the findings relating to gender from a school-based survey of over 6,000 adolescents from England aged 15 and 16.interesting stuff(read it here)
And by the way, my favourites in this year Oscar ceremony, the neurotic drama,”Sideways” and the obsessive-compulsive “Aviator”, didn`t win the main Oscars. One of my favourites of 2004,a drama with the theme of selective amnesia,” The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind”, wasn`t even nominated for the main categories(although it won an oscar for the ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY. No wonder, as Martine Scorsese, Alexander Payne and Michael Gondry are all very able filmmakers. Probably another year……….
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
The Correlation Between Stresses, Depression and MI
To investigate the relation of psychosocial factors to the risk of myocardial infarction, a case-control study was done on 11,119 patients with a first MI and 13,648 age- and sex-matched control subjects, in 52 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and North and South America.
Those reporting general stress at work, home, or both were 1.45 times more likely to have an MI than those not reporting general stress. Those reporting severe financial stress were 1.33 times more likely to have an MI (1.19-1.48). Those reporting stressful life events in the past year were 1.48 times more likely to have an MI (1.33-1.64). Those reporting depression were 1.55 times more likely to have an MI. These findings were consistent across regions, in different ethnic groups, and in both sexes.(Link to the abstract in Clinical Diabetes)
To investigate the relation of psychosocial factors to the risk of myocardial infarction, a case-control study was done on 11,119 patients with a first MI and 13,648 age- and sex-matched control subjects, in 52 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and North and South America.
Those reporting general stress at work, home, or both were 1.45 times more likely to have an MI than those not reporting general stress. Those reporting severe financial stress were 1.33 times more likely to have an MI (1.19-1.48). Those reporting stressful life events in the past year were 1.48 times more likely to have an MI (1.33-1.64). Those reporting depression were 1.55 times more likely to have an MI. These findings were consistent across regions, in different ethnic groups, and in both sexes.(Link to the abstract in Clinical Diabetes)
Friday, February 18, 2005
Neuropsychiatry of Visual System: New findings
Can you believe this? As the results of a study by Canadian researchers in the McMaster University shows, old people are better than the young ones in the motion perception, due to the inactivation of inhibitory mechanisms in brain. You can read more about this interesting research, here (link to the article in the Nature).
Another study by British researchers in the University of Birmingham shows that left-handed people view the world differently from the right-handed people.
According to the findings of their research, right-handed people use the right hemisphere of their brain to focus on the whole of an image - for example a forest. But when it comes to focusing on the detail within an image - for instance individual trees in a forest – then they use their left hemisphere.
For left-handers the opposite is true.(link to the abstract in the Nature Neuroscience)
Can you believe this? As the results of a study by Canadian researchers in the McMaster University shows, old people are better than the young ones in the motion perception, due to the inactivation of inhibitory mechanisms in brain. You can read more about this interesting research, here (link to the article in the Nature).
Another study by British researchers in the University of Birmingham shows that left-handed people view the world differently from the right-handed people.
According to the findings of their research, right-handed people use the right hemisphere of their brain to focus on the whole of an image - for example a forest. But when it comes to focusing on the detail within an image - for instance individual trees in a forest – then they use their left hemisphere.
For left-handers the opposite is true.(link to the abstract in the Nature Neuroscience)
