Identifying Ketamine Responses in Treatment-Resistant Depression Using a Wearable Forehead EEG.

This study explores responses to ketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) using a wearable forehead electroencephalography (EEG) device. We recruited and randomly assigned 55 outpatients with TRD into three approximately equal-sized groups (A: 0.5-mg/kg ketamine; B: 0.2-mg/kg ketamine; and C: normal saline) under double-blind conditions. The ketamine responses were measured by EEG signals and Hamilton depression rating scale scores. At baseline, the responders showed significantly weaker EEG theta power than the non-responders (p < 0.05). Compared to the baseline, the responders exhibited higher EEG alpha power but lower EEG alpha asymmetry and theta cordance post-treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, our baseline EEG predictor classified the responders and non-responders with 81.3 ± 9.5% accuracy, 82.1 ± 8.6% sensitivity, and 91.9 ± 7.4% specificity. In conclusion, the rapid antidepressant effects of mixed doses of ketamine are associated with prefrontal EEG power, asymmetry, and cordance at baseline and early post-treatment changes. Prefrontal EEG patterns at baseline may serve as indicators of ketamine effects. Our randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study provides information regarding the clinical impacts on the potential targets underlying baseline identification and early changes from the effects of ketamine in patients with TRD.

Early administration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist promotes survival of transplanted neural stem cells and axon myelination after spinal cord injury in rats.

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has been reported to be a leading strategy to stimulate neuroplasticity, repair neuronal loss and promote the morphologic and functional recovery of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, massive death of transplanted NSCs is still a problem, which is considered to be related to a series of pro-inflammatory cytokines that induce apoptosis, extensive demyelination and axonal destruction. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), as one of the major inflammation initiators, contributes to secondary neural cell death. We previously found that the administration of the TNF-α antagonist etanercept during the acute phase of SCI can reduce the apoptosis of neurons and oligodendrocytes. To investigate whether etanercept can suppress transplanted NSC apoptosis and promote NSC survival, axon myelination and functional recovery, we tested the combination strategy of the early administration of etanercept and NSC transplantation. First we observed that etanercept suppressed the TNF-α expression and apoptosis of transplanted NSCs by Western blot, TUNEL and immunofluorescence staining. The Basso, Beattle and Bresnahan scale and motor-evoked potential were used to evaluate functional recovery. The results suggest significantly better recovery after combination therapy. Further, histopathological alterations were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining. These procedures showed that the early administration of etanercept improved survival of neurons in the ventral horn, restored neural morphology and produced a smaller cavity area. We observed most abundant NF-positive fibers after the combination treatment, indicating that combination therapy retained and promoted neural regeneration. Finally, the early suppression of TNF-α reduced the occurrence of demyelination, and the combination therapy led to more myelinated axons, as shown by electron microscopy. These data suggest that this strategy significantly protected transplanted NSCs via the anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis effects of etanercept, promoting re-myelination, neural regeneration and locomotor function.

Increased risk of stroke after spinal cord injury: a nationwide 4-year follow-up cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases but whether or not the risk of cerebrovascular disease also increases remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of stroke in patients with disability caused by SCI. METHODS: Study subjects were identified from a nationwide cohort of 18,690,066 people from 1998 to 2002 that was divided into an SCI group (n = 2,806), who were disabled from SCI, and a comparison group (n = 28,060), composed of age-, sex-, and propensity score- matched control subjects. Every subject was followed up for 4 years, unless they died or had a stroke by December 31, 2006. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The incidence rate of stroke in the SCI group (5.96 per 1,000 person-years) was higher than that of the comparison group (p < 0.001). Stroke was more likely to occur in the SCI group than in the comparison group (crude hazard ratio 2.93, p < 0.001; adjusted hazard ratio 2.85, p < 0.001). In the SCI group, the incidence of ischemic stroke was higher than that of hemorrhagic stroke (incidence rate ratio 3.42, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SCI patients with disability are at a higher risk of stroke, especially the ischemic type. Strategies to prevent stroke are therefore suggested for them.

Studies of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters and defect structures for the tetragonal and cubic Yb3+ centers in AgCl crystal.

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters, g factors and hyperfine structure constants, for the tetragonal and cubic Yb(3+) centers in AgCl crystal are calculated from the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. The calculations are based on the defect models that the tetragonal Yb(3+) center is formed by the substitutional Yb(3+) associated with two nearest Ag(+) vacancy (V(Ag)) along <001> and <001¯> axes (i.e., C(4) axis) owing to charge compensation and in cubic Yb(3+) center the two compensators V(Ag) are remote. From the calculations, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters of both Yb(3+) centers in AgCl are explained reasonably, the signs of hyperfine structure constants A(i)((171)Yb(3+)) and A(i)((173)Yb(3+)) are suggested, the above defect models of both Yb(3+) centers are confirmed and their defect structures are determined.

Studies on the spin-Hamiltonian parameters of CuN(6) clusters and their tetragonal distortions due to Jahn-Teller effect for Cu2+ in trigonal M(1-propyltetrazole)6(BF4)2 (M=Zn, Fe) crystals.

This paper reports the theoretical calculations for the anisotropic and isotropic spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors and the hyperfine structure constants) of tetragonal CuN6 octahedral clusters due, respectively, to the static and dynamic Jahn-Teller effects for Cu2+ ion in the trigonal M(=Zn, Fe) sites of M(1-propyltetrazole)6(BF4)2 crystals. The calculations are carried out using the high-order perturbation formulas based on a two-mechanism model, in which besides the contributions to spin-Hamiltonian parameters due to the crystal-field mechanism concerning the crystal-field excited states in the extensively used crystal-field theory, the contributions due to charge-transfer mechanism concerning the charge-transfer excited states (which are neglected in the crystal-field theory) are included. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. From the calculations the tetragonal elongations ΔR=R//-R⊥ (where R// and R⊥ denote the Cu-N distances parallel with and perpendicular to the C4 axis) of CuN6 octahedral clusters due to Jahn-Teller effect are obtained. The results are discussed.

Alcohol dehydrogenase-2 and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 genotypes, alcohol drinking and the risk of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of alcohol dehydrogenase-2 (ADH2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) genotypes as well as alcohol drinking to the susceptibility of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A case-control study including 208 cases of HCC and 208 controls matched with sex, age and residential area was carried out in Taixing city of Jiangsu province, China. Blood samples were collected and tested for ADH2 and ALDH2 genotypes by PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the frequency of either ADH2 or ALDH2 genotypes between cases and controls. Compared with no-drinkers possessing ALDH21*1 genotypes, drinkers with ALDH21*2 or ALDH22*2 genotypes and cumulative amount of alcohol consumption >3 (Kg * years) were at a significantly higher risk of developing HCC (OR=3.30, 95%CI: 1.24-8.83). In contrast, there was no significant difference in cancer risk between no-drinkers with ADH21*1 and drinkers with ADH2 1*2 or ADH22*2 genotypes. A dose-dependent positive result was found (P=0.044) between cumulative amount of alcohol consumption and the risk of HCC in individuals carrying ALDH21*2 or ALDH22*2 genotypes. Drinkers with cumulative amount of alcohol consumption >3 (Kg * years) who possessed both inactive ALDH2 (ALDH21*2 or ALDH22*2) and inactive ADH (ADH21*2 or ADH22*2) genotypes were not at a significantly higher risk of HCC (adjusted OR=4.26, 95%CI: 0.63-29.08) compared to no-drinkers possessing ADH21*1 and ALDH21*1 genotypes. Compared with individuals possessing ALDH21*1, with negative HBsAg and cumulative amount of alcohol consumption 3 (Kg * years) had a significantly higher risk of HCC (OR=49.71, 95%CI: 5.51-448.96). CONCLUSION: These results revealed that it was not ADH2 but ALDH2 polymorphisms that had a significant interaction with heavy alcohol consumption in the development of HCC. This result suggests that to help lower their risk for HCC , persons with ALDH21*2 or ALDH22*2 genotypes should be encouraged to reduce their consumption of alcoholic beverages.