Respiratory signaling of locus coeruleus neurons during hypercapnic acidosis in the bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus.

The locus coeruleus (LC) in the brainstem senses alterations in CO(2)/pH and influences ventilatory adjustments that restore blood gas values to starting levels in bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus). We hypothesized that neurons of the bullfrog LC are sensitive to changes in CO(2)/pH and that chemosensitive responses are intrinsic to individual neurons. In addition, we hypothesized putative respiratory control neurons of the bullfrog LC would be stimulated by hypercapnic acidosis within physiological ranges of P(CO(2))/pH. 84% of LC neurons depolarized and increased firing rates during exposure to hypercapnic acidosis (HA). A pH dose response curve shows LC neurons from bullfrogs increase firing rates during physiologically relevant CO(2)/pH changes. With chemical synapses blocked, half of chemosensitive neurons lost sensitivity to HA; however, gap junction blockade did not alter chemosensitive responses. Intrinsically chemosensitive neurons increased input resistance during HA. These data demonstrate that majority of neurons within the bullfrog LC elicit robust firing responses during physiological ΔCO(2)/pH, likely enabling adjustment of acid-base balance through breathing.

Ideas sobrevaloradas: cuestiones psicopatológicas / Overvalued ideas: psychopathologic issues

Se revisa críticamente la posición atribuida en los últimos años a las ideas sobrevaloradas entre el delirio y la obsesión, y que deriva de la reducción del constructo mismo a una de sus características, el insight. A través de un caso con ideas dismorfofóbicas se plantearán las dificultades para delimitarlo y diferenciarlo del delirio y se esbozarán distintas aproximaciones psicopatológicas que permitan reconstruir el caso de modo distinto (AU)

The position attributed in recent years to overvalued ideas between delusion and obsession and that are derived from the reduction of the construct per se to one of its characteristics, that is, insight, has undergone a critical review. Using a case with dysmorphophobic ideas, the difficulties to define it and differentiate it from delusionare proposed and different psychopathological approaches are outlined that make it possible to reconstruct the case differently (AU)

Overvalued ideas: psychopathologic issues.

The position attributed in recent years to overvalued ideas between delusion and obsession and that are derived from the reduction of the construct per se to one of its characteristics, that is, insight, has undergone a critical review. Using a case with dysmorphophobic ideas, the difficulties to define it and differentiate it from delusion are proposed and different psychopathological approaches are outlined that make it possible to reconstruct the case differently.

Meningioangiomatosis: clinical-radiological features and surgical outcome.

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare, benign neoplastic disorder involving the cortex and leptomeninges, the sporadic form, commonly presents as refractory localization-related epilepsy, but could be asymptomatic especially in older patients. The imaging features may be entirely non-specific. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) erroneously suggests meningioma, lowgrade tumour or vascular malformations. The pathological findings are characterised by proliferation of meningothelial cells and leptomeningeal vessels and calcifications within the mass. Macroscopically there is dense thickening in the underlying cortex, often in a sharply defined area. In this article we report 3 cases of MA, neither of whom had a familiary history or stigmata of Neurofibromatosis (NF). We discuss and place particular emphasis on the clinical presentation and diagnosis imaging, as well as on the outcome. We also review the literature concerning about the aetiology, pathology findings and imaging features of MA.

Meningioangiomatosis: clinical-radiological features and surgical outcome

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare, benign neoplastic disorder involving the cortex and leptomeninges, the sporadic form, commonly presents as refractory localization-related epilepsy, but could be a symptomatic especially in older patients. The imaging features may be entirely non-specific. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) erroneously suggests meningioma, low gradetumour or vascular malformations. The pathological findings are characterised by proliferation of meningothelial cells and leptomeningeal vessels and calcifications within the mass. Macroscopically there is dense thickening in the underlying cortex, often in a sharply defined area. In this article we report 3 cases of MA, neither of whom had a familiary history or stigmat a of Neurofibromatosis(NF). We discuss and place particular emphasis on the clinical presentation and diagnosis imaging, as well as on the outcome. We also review the literature concerning about the aetiology, pathology findings and imaging features of MA (AU)

La meningioangiomatosis (MA) es un proceso neoplásicobenigno raro, que envuelve el córtex y leptomeninges,en su forma esporádica comúnmente se presenta con epilepsia refractaria, en relación a su localización, pero puede ser asintomática, especialmente en adultos mayores. Las características de imagen pueden ser totalmente inespecíficas. Las imágenes de resonancia magnética erróneamente sugieren la presencia de un meningioma, tumores de bajo grado, o malformaciones vasculares. Los hallazgos patológicos se caracterizan por la proliferación de células meningoteliales, vasos leptomeningeos y calcificaciones dentro del tumor. Macroscópicamente se observa un denso engrosamiento en el córtex adyacente, generalmente con un área claramente definida. En este articulo, se describen 3 casos de MA, ninguno de ellos presentaba historia familiar o estigmas de neurofibromatosis (NF). Nosotros realizamos la discusión, haciendo particular énfasis en la presentación clínica y diagnóstico por imágenes, así como en el pronóstico (AU)

Concept of representation and mental symptoms. The case of theory of mind.

BACKGROUND: Most current theories explaining theory of mind (ToM) rely on the concept of 'representation', as it is usually employed in cognitive science, and is thus affected by its epistemic shortcoming, namely its incapacity to use 'sub-signifier' level information. This shortcoming is responsible for the lack of specificity of ToM deficits, which are now found in very different syndromes, from schizophrenia to bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder, in spite of its original formulation being restricted to childhood autism. METHOD: Representation, its shortcomings and the way they may affect clinical/research programs undergo a conceptual analysis, which shows how representational-founded semiology leave out information that is essential for symptom specificity and correct symptom assessment. Schizophrenic autism, delusional perception and axial syndromes are studied as examples of both the difficulties that have arisen and possible ways of dealing with them. RESULTS: Transfers of properties between different meanings of 'representation' together with a systematic ambiguity in the use of 'representation' are proposed as the main ways for representational approaches to assure stability to their proposals in spite of the violence exerted on clinical phenomena. CONCLUSIONS: It is exposed how systematic ambiguity and epistemic shortcomings both affect Leslie's formulation of ToM and, further, the importance of these characteristics of the concept of 'representation' for general issues in psychiatric semiology.

Origen y destino de la teoría de la mente: su afectación en trastornos distintos del espectro autista / Evolution of the theory of mind: its involvement in distinct autistic spectrum disorders

La disfunción de la habilidad para adscribir estados mentales a otros, esto es, la posesión de una teoría de la mente, ha sido propuesta por Frith como condición necesaria, suficiente y específica de la esquizofrenia. Este artículo revisa los datos a favor y en contra de tal asunción, teniendo en cuenta su relación hipotética con otras variables cognitivas, si la falta de una teoría de la mente es un marcador de rasgo o de estado y si su rol causal implica el trastorno psicótico básico o sólo algunos síntomas psicóticos. Igualmente se considera si los recientes hallazgos de disfunción de la teoría de la mente en el trastorno bipolar y en la demencia frontotemporal podrían modificar las asunciones teóricas básicas sobre la teoría de la mente, la esquizofrenia y los trastornos relacionados

Malfunction of the ability to ascribe mental states to others, that is, possession of a Theory of Mind (ToM), was proposed by CD Frith as a necessary, sufficient and specific condition of schizophrenia. The present article reviews the evidence for and against this assumption, bearing in mind its putative relationship with other cognitive variables, whether the lack of a ToM is trait marker or rather a state marker and whether its causal role involves the underlying psychotic disorder or only some psychotic symptoms. Equally, whether the recent findings of ToM dysfunction in bipolar disorder and frontotemporal dementia could modify basic theoretical assumptions about ToM, schizophrenia and related conditions is also discussed