Recent Advances in Imaging of Dopaminergic Neurons for Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Dopamine is the most intensely studied monoaminergic neurotransmitter. Dopaminergic neurotransmission plays an important role in regulating several aspects of basic brain function, including motor, behavior, motivation, and working memory. To date, there are numerous positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radiotracers available for targeting different steps in the process of dopaminergic neurotransmission, which permits us to quantify dopaminergic activity in the living human brain. Degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopamine system causes Parkinson's disease (PD) and related Parkinsonism. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that has been classically associated with the reinforcing effects of drug abuse. Abnormalities within the dopamine system in the brain are involved in the pathophysiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dopamine receptors play an important role in schizophrenia and the effect of neuroleptics is through blockage of dopamine D2 receptors. This review will concentrate on the radiotracers that have been developed for imaging dopaminergic neurons, describe the clinical aspects in the assessment of neuropsychiatric disorders, and suggest future directions in the diagnosis and management of such disorders

The Role of Molecular Imaging in the Diagnosis and Management of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Neuropsychiatric disorders are becoming a major socioeconomic burden to modern society. In recent years, a dramatic expansion of tools has facilitated the study of the molecular basis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Molecular imaging has enabled the noninvasive characterization and quantification of biological processes at the cellular, tissue, and organism levels in intact living subjects. This technology has revolutionized the practice of medicine and has become critical to quality health care. New advances in research on molecular imaging hold promise for personalized medicine in neuropsychiatric disorders, with adjusted therapeutic doses, predictable responses, reduced adverse drug reactions, early diagnosis, and personal health planning. In this paper, we discuss the development of radiotracers for imaging dopaminergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic systems and β-amyloid plaques. We will underline the role of molecular imaging technologies in various neuropsychiatric disorders, describe their unique strengths and limitations, and suggest future directions in the diagnosis and management of neuropsychiatric disorders

Acute effects of kinesiology tape tension on soleus muscle h-reflex modulations during lying and standing postures

Copyright: © 2020 Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Kinesiology tape (KT) has been widely used in the areas of sports and rehabilitation. However, there is no gold standard for the tape tension used during a KT application. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of KT application with different tension intensities on soleus muscle Hoffmann-reflex (H-reflex) modulation during lying and standing postures. Fifteen healthy university students were tested with 3 tape tension intensities during separate visits with a randomized sequence: tape-on no tension (0KT), moderate (about 50% of the maximal tape tension: (ModKT), and maximal tape tension (MaxKT). During each experimental visit, the H-reflex measurements on the soleus muscle were taken before, during, and after the KT application for both lying and standing postures. The H-wave and M-wave recruitment curves were generated using surface electromyography (EMG). There was a main effect for posture (p = 0.001) for the maximal peak-to-peak amplitude of the H-wave and M-wave (Hmax/Mmax) ratio, showing the depressed Hmax/Mmax ratio during standing, when compared to the lying posture. Even though the tension factor had a large effect (ηp2 = 0.165), different tape tensions showed no significant differential effects for the Hmax/Mmax ratio. The spinal motoneuron excitability was not altered, even during the maximal tension KT application on the soleus muscle. Thus, the tension used during a KT application should not be a concern in terms of modulating the sensorimotor activity ascribed to elastic taping during lying and standing postures

Mortality risk factors in patients with Acinetobacter baumannii ventilator-associated pneumonia

Background/PurposeVentilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Acinetobacter baumannii has contributed to high mortality rate, prolonged stays in the intensive care unit, and the rapid development of antimicrobial resistance to commonly used antimicrobials. This study sought to determine predictors of mortality and carbapenem resistance for patients with A baumannii VAP.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 541 adult patients with A baumannii pneumonia, who were admitted to a medical center between 2005 and 2007; of which 180 (33.3%) had been treated with mechanical ventilation. Of the 180 patients, 98 (54.4%) who survived were categorized as the survivor group, and 82 (45.6%) who died as the mortality group. Eighty-seven (48.3%) with imipenem-sensitive A baumannii VAP were categorized as the IS-AB group, and the remaining 93 (51.7%) with imipenem-resistant VAP as the IR-AB group.ResultsCompared with the survivor group, the mortality group had significantly higher Charlson comorbidity index scores, and more neoplastic disease, other sites of infection, bloodstream infections, altered mental status, confusion, urea >7 mmol/L, respiratory rate >30/min, low blood pressure (systolic <90 mmHg or diastolic <60 mmHg), age >65 years (CURB-65) ≥ 3, creatinine > 1.6 mg/dL, C-reactive protein ≥ 100 mg/L, and imipenem resistance. The survivor group had more cases of tracheostomy and diabetes mellitus than the mortality group had. Compared with the IS-AB group, the IR-AB group had higher Charlson comorbidity index scores, longer stays before VAP onset, an increase in other sites of infection, white blood cell count <4/μL or >1.1 × 104/μL, and higher hospital mortality rates.ConclusionInadequate initial empiric antimicrobial therapy and higher disease severity scores, including CURB ≥ 3 and C-reactive protein ≥ 120 mg/L, were independent risk factors associated with higher mortality rates for A baumannii pneumonia. Length of stay before VAP and white blood cell count <4/μL or >1.1 × 104/μL were independent risk factors for carbapenem resistance

Action Research on Reciprocal Teaching for Improving Third Grade Students' Reading Comprehension： Taking Zhishan Elementary School as an Example

本研究旨在探究相互教學法實施過程中，國小三年級學童運用預測、澄清、提問、摘要這四種閱讀理解策略的情形，及使用相互教學法對於三年級學童閱讀理解能力之效應。 本研究採行動研究法，以研究者任教之臺北市芝山國民小學七十三位三年級學生為研究對象，於閱讀課進行策略教學。教學過程歷時八週，前兩週為示範課程，共進行兩次行動研究。教學過程中透過觀察、訪談、教師省思札記、觀課教師的回饋和錄影等方式蒐集質性資料，再就所蒐集到的資料進行整理、歸納和分析。教學課程前後各以「三年級閱讀理解篩選測驗」 為評量工具，所得分數進行相依樣本 t 檢定，進行量化分析。 在本研究中，三年級學童依循策略的固定使用時機，能逐漸掌握此四種閱讀理解策略的使用技巧，藉由每個教學階段所提供的鷹架，相繼學會「預測」、「澄清」、「提問」、「摘要」這四項閱讀理解策略，並得以下結論： 1. 三年級學童於閱讀課接受相互教學法後，不僅整體「閱讀理解能力」得以提升且有顯著差異，分項的「字詞義理解」和「文本理解」等兩項閱讀理解能力在相互教學法教學後也皆具有明顯提升效果。 2. 三年級不同閱讀理解能力的學童於閱讀課接受相互教學法後，閱讀理解能力之表現皆有提昇，其中低閱讀理解能力學童的提升最高，其次依序為高閱讀理解能力、中閱讀理解能力學童。 3. 多數學童對相互教學法持正向態度，表示喜歡學習責任轉移為小組討論的方式。四個策略中，學生認為「摘要」策略最難，「預測」策略最容易使用。The purpose of this study was to explore the situation that third grade students use predicting, clarifying, questioning, summarizing reading comprehension strategies during the implementation of reciprocal teaching. The other purpose of this study was to explore the effect on third grade students’ reading comprehension ability using reciprocal teaching. The action research method was adopted in this study with taking the seventy-three third grade students of Zhishan Elementary School as the research object, and researchers used strategy teaching in reading classes. The teaching process lasted eight weeks. The first two weeks were model courses and two action studies were completed. During the teaching process, qualitative information was collected through previous observations, interviews, teachers' notes, teachers' feedback and videos. Then organized, summarized, and analyzed the collected data. The “Third-grade Reading Comprehension Screening Test” was used as a measure tool both before and after the teaching course. The scores obtained were based on the paired sample t-test and were quantitatively analyzed. In this study, third grade students followed the fixed use timing to practiced strategies, and they could gradually master the use of these four reading comprehension strategies. Through the scaffold provided in each teaching stage, they successively learned the four reading comprehension strategies of “prediction”, “clarification”, “question” and “summarization.” According to the findings of this research, the conclusions were as following: 1. After the third grade students accepted reciprocal teaching in the reading class, not only did the overall “reading comprehension ability” improve and there were significant differences. The sub-items “literal comprehension” and “context comprehension” were two reading comprehension abilities. After reciprocal teaching, it also has a significant improvement effect. 2. Grade third students with different reading comprehension skills have improved reading comprehension skills after reading lessons in the reading class. Students with low reading comprehension ability had the highest improvement, followed by students with high reading comprehension ability and medium reading comprehension ability. 3. Most students have positive attitude toward the reciprocal teaching approach, and expressed that they liked the way of reciprocal discussion. As for these four strategies, students thought that the strategy of “summarization” is the most difficult and “prediction” is the most easily to use