Clinical Neuroscience Research

Relationship between Cognitive Impairment and Serum ALP after Light Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Elderly

Xi Chen — 2024-03-29

Objective: To analyze the association between cognitive impairment and serum ALP levels in elderly patients who developed light acute ischemic stroke. Methods: 100 cases of elderly patients with mild acute ischemic stroke admitted from January 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the study subjects, and were divided into two groups according to whether or not they developed cognitive impairment within six months; those who did not develop cognitive impairment were classified into the control group, with a total of 62 cases, while those who developed cognitive impairment were classified into the case group, with a total of 38 cases. The general data and serum ALP levels of the two groups were compared, and the correlation between serum ALP levels and MoCA scores was analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference between the general information of the two groups of patients in the control group and the case group (P > 0.05). The serum ALP level of the patients in the case group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), and there was a negative correlation between the serum ALP level and the total score of MoCA, the visuospatial and executive scores, and the memory score (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The serum ALP levels of elderly patients with cognitive impairment after mild acute ischemic stroke were higher than those of elderly patients without cognitive impairment after mild acute ischemic stroke, so the risk of cognitive impairment can be predicted in advance by detecting serum ALP levels.

Effect of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Motor Performance

Shota Miyaguchi — 2024-03-29

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation that can modulate oscillatory brain activity in the cortical region. By applying alternating current through two electrodes attached to a subject’s head, it is possible to entrain the oscillation of the cortex directly under one electrode to a specific frequency. This study finds that applying tACS to the primary motor cortex and cerebellar hemisphere improves motor performance. The study also shows the effect of tACS on the supplementary motor cortex to modulate the maintenance and update of motor plans in a bimanual motor task. These recent findings show that individualized tACS interventions can be tailored by selecting the stimulation area and frequency depending on the subject’s performance level and exercise task. By further investigating the effects of tACS on motor performance, it is believed that tACS can be applied in rehabilitation.

Application of Neural Rehabilitation Manipulator Training in Upper Limb Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia

Shan Xiang — 2024-04-09

Objective: To analyze the application of neural rehabilitation manipulator training in upper limb rehabilitation of stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods: 94 patients with hemiplegia after stroke were selected from January 2021 to January 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 47 cases in each group. The control group received routine rehabilitation training while the observation group received neural rehabilitation manipulator training. The upper limb and nerve function, daily task performance ability, quality of life, and rehabilitation training satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant difference in upper limb and nerve function between the two groups before training, P > 0.05. After training, the observation group had 51.45 ± 8.75 points in ARAT and 52.59 ± 8.48 points in FMA-UE, which were higher than those in the control group with 43.81 ± 6.67 points and 45.51 ± 7.31 points respectively, P < 0.05. The observation group had 5.71 ± 1.53 points in NIHSS, which was lower than those in the control group with 8.04 ± 2.39 points, P < 0.05. In terms of daily task performance ability and quality of life, there was no significant difference between the two groups before training, P > 0.05. After training, the observation group had 78.54 ± 10.63 scores in MBI and 171.93 ± 19.12 scores in SS-QOL, which were higher than those in the control group with 70.51 ± 9.25 scores and 160.13 ± 18.42 scores respectively, P < 0.05. In terms of satisfaction, the total satisfaction rate of the observation group was 93.62%, which was higher than that of the control group with 74.47%, P < 0.05. Conclusion: The application of neural rehabilitation manipulator training in the upper limb rehabilitation of stroke patients with hemiplegia can significantly improve the upper limb function of patients, relieve nerve defects, improve daily task performance ability and quality of life, and increase patient satisfaction with rehabilitation training.

Application of Network Pharmacology to Explore the Anti-Aging Molecular Mechanism of Radix notoginseng

Junyang Zhang — 2024-03-29

Objective: To study the anti-aging effects of Radix Notoginseng and to explore its molecular network mechanism. Methods: Aging and Radix notoginseng gene targets were searched and downloaded from the Genecards website, then Venn intersection analysis was performed to find common genes for diseases and drugs to explore candidate targets for Radix notoginseng in the treatment of aging. Bioinformatics was then used to analyze the biological processes, cellular components, molecular functions, and KEGG signaling pathways of the shared target network. Protein molecular network construction was carried out to find the core molecular network genes of the drug Radix notoginseng for the treatment of aging. A final PubMed literature comparison was performed to assess the value of the potential role of core network genes. Results: The keywords “Aging” and “Radix notoginseng” were queried in Genecards and 25,000 aging-related targets were obtained, 17 for Radix notoginseng. GO and KEGG analysis of the intersecting genes obtained from the Venn intersection analysis then showed that the BP with the highest potential to be associated with disease and drugs is positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, CC is macromolecular complex and MF is identical protein binding. The KEGG with the higher correlation is lipid and atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, and proteoglycans in cancer. A total of 10 hub genes were identified in the PPI network construction, including EGFR, MMP9, TNF, VEGFA, RHOA, CDKN1A, CASP3, CCND1, AKT1, and IL1B. Among these, it found that a large number of MMP9 and TNF genes were reported in the literature, with the remaining hub genes less frequently reported in the literature. Conclusion: This study uses bioinformatics and network pharmacology to explain the core network mechanisms of the drug Radix notoginseng in the treatment of aging using the latest databases. The results show that hub genes such as CDKN1A, EGFR, and AKT1 are involved in the core biological processes of aging. The results of the study provide an important reference for resolving the core molecular network mechanism of anti-aging properties and provide a validation basis for future experimental validation.

Role of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation as an Alternative Exercise Method

Toshiaki Miyamoto — 2024-03-29

The prevalence of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, is escalating at an alarming rate in many countries. These diseases are usually associated with insufficient physical activity since physical activity has beneficial effects on a variety of health outcomes such as decreased mortality and risk of these diseases. Moderate to vigorous physical activity has been recommended to achieve these positive effects. However, many patients cannot perform adequate exercise because of severe diseases, health complications, and/or exercise intolerance. This issue highlights a need for alternative therapies. There is an increasing literature that recognizes the positive effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical performance, and metabolism in healthy adults and clinical settings. The present review introduces the effect of NMES on muscle strength and glucose metabolism as well as NMES-induced physiological responses such as the myokines which are related to preventing dementia and cancer.

Research Progress on the Use of Music Therapy Combined with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Cognitive Impairment after Stroke

Chubo Xiang — 2024-03-29

Stroke patients may develop different functional impairments, including cognitive impairment after treatment. To improve their condition, music therapy combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy should be used in rehabilitation treatment to promote their cognitive and living ability, thereby improving the patient’s quality of life and easing the burden on the patient’s family. Therefore, it is necessary to first clarify the concept of cognitive impairment after stroke and then elaborate on music therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment. The respective roles played in rehabilitating patients with cognitive impairment after stroke and the value of their combined application are discussed for reference.

Characterization of Neural Plasticity in Monkey Models of Neuropathic Pain – A Secondary Publication

Kazuaki Nagasaka — 2024-03-29

Neuropathic pain can occur as a result of injuries and diseases of the nervous system. Animal models using rodents have been developed and characterized to reveal plastic changes underlying neuropathic pain. However, structures and functions of some brain areas that are associated with pain perception differ between rodents and primates. Therefore, animal models using non-human primates, such as the macaque monkey, with brain structures and functions closer to those of humans are important for elucidating the mechanisms underlying pain in human patients. Recently, we measured brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a macaque model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain and reported abnormal activation of pain-related brain regions including insular and secondary somatosensory cortices. In the monkey model of central post-stroke pain, moreover, the increased activation of pain-related areas as seen in the patients was confirmed by fMRI. These results indicate that fMRI measurement of brain activity combined with behavioral outcomes in macaque models could be used not only to understand the pathogenetic mechanisms but also to test therapeutic interventions for neuropathic pain.