Classification by EEG Frequency Distribution in Imagination of Directions

AbstractThis paper describes the method for classification of brain state by the measured electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency in directions (up, down, left, and right) imagination. Recently, Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) has been studied in a variety of ways due to the development of brain measurement technology. Therefore, we have used the BMI to identify the human selection of directions. Our method consists of data normalization, principal component analysis and neural network. The maximum value of the identification rate was 46% by using 3 electrodes (F4, F8 and T8) in the previous study. In this study, we improved the learning method of neural network for the improvement of identification rate of brain state. For that purpose, the measurement points of EEG and the number of subjects are increased. As a result, the maximum value of the identification rate was improved

Postprandial Hyperglycemia Is Associated With White Matter Hyperintensity and Brain Atrophy in Older Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular disease. However, the precise mechanism underlying the effects of glucose management on brain abnormalities is not fully understood. The differential impacts of glucose alteration on brain changes in patients with and without cognitive impairment are also unclear. This cross-sectional study included 57 older type 2 diabetes patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or normal cognition (NC). We examined the effects of hypoglycemia, postprandial hyperglycemia and glucose fluctuations on regional white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and brain atrophy among these patients. In a multiple regression analysis, postprandial hyperglycemia was independently associated with frontal WMH in the AD patients. In addition, postprandial hyperglycemia was significantly associated with brain atrophy, regardless of the presence of cognitive decline. Altogether, our findings indicate that postprandial hyperglycemia is associated with WMH in AD patients but not NC patients, which suggests that AD patients are more susceptible to postprandial hyperglycemia associated with WMH

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 contributes to human atrial remodeling during atrial fibrillation

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-1, -2, and -9, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and the atrial structural remodeling during atrial fibrillation (AF).BackgroundMatrix metalloproteinases, a family of proteolytic enzymes and TIMPs, regulate the extracellular matrix turnover in cardiac tissue.MethodsTissue samples were obtained from 25 patients without a history of AF (regular sinus rhythm [RSR]) and 13 patients with AF (paroxysmal AF: 6, chronic AF 7) undergoing cardiac operations. We performed a western blotting analysis of the MMP-1, -2, and -9, and quantitatively analyzed the expression of the MMP-9 and TIMP-1 by real time polymerase chain reaction and ELISA. The localization of the MMP-9 was investigated by in situ zymography and immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe active form of the MMP-9 was significantly increased in the AF group in comparison to that in the RSR group (p < 0.05), but there were no differences between the groups in the protein level of the latent form of the MMP-9 and active and latent forms of the MMP-1 and MMP-2. We also demonstrated that the expression of the MMP-9 was significantly more increased in the atria of the AF group than in that of the RSR group for both the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) (AF: RSR; 1: 1.5) and protein levels (AF: RSR; 3.9 ± 1.3 : 1.5 ± 0.4 ng/mg atrium). The expression level of the MMP-9 was also higher in the PAF group than in the RSR group, however, the diameter of the left atrium was similar in both groups. The gelatinase activity and left atrium diameter were positively correlated (p < 0.05, R = 0.766). The relative expression of the mRNA for the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 was higher in the AF group than in the RSR group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the MMP-9 was distributed within the perivascular area and under the epicardium of the atria.ConclusionsWe clearly showed that the expression of the MMP-9 increased in fibrillating atrial tissue, which may have contributed to the atrial structural remodeling and atrial dilatation during AF

Characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms for a forward genetics approach using genetic crosses in C57BL/6 and BALB/c substrains of mice.

Forward genetics is a powerful approach based on chromosomal mapping of phenotypes and has successfully led to the discovery of many mouse mutations in genes responsible for various phenotypes. Although crossing between genetically remote strains can produce F2 and backcross mice for chromosomal mapping, the phenotypes are often affected by background effects from the partner strains in genetic crosses. Genetic crosses between substrains might be useful in genetic mapping to avoid genetic background effects. In this study, we investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) available for genetic mapping using substrains of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. In C57BL/6 mice, 114 SNP markers were developed and assigned to locations on all chromosomes for full utilization for genetic mapping using genetic crosses between the C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N substrains. Moreover, genetic differences were identified in the 114 SNP markers among the seven C57BL/6 substrains from five production breeders. In addition, 106 SNPs were detected on all chromosomes of BALB/cAJcl and BALB/cByJJcl substrains. These SNPs could be used for genotyping in BALB/cJ, BALB/cAJcl, BALB/cAnNCrlCrlj, and BALB/cCrSlc mice, and they are particularly useful for genetic mapping using crosses between BALB/cByJJcl and other BALB/c substrains. The SNPs characterized in this study can be utilized for genetic mapping to identify the causative mutations of the phenotypes induced by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis and the SNPs responsible for phenotypic differences between the substrains of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice

Association of Glucose Fluctuations with Sarcopenia in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus accelerates loss of muscle mass and strength. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) also show these conditions, even in the early stages of AD. The mechanism linking glucose management with these muscle changes has not been elucidated but has implications for clarifying these associations and developing preventive strategies to maintain functional capacity. This study included 69 type 2 diabetes patients with a diagnosis of cognitive impairment (n = 32) and patients with normal cognition (n = 37). We investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia in diabetes patients with and without cognitive impairment and examined the association of glucose alterations with sarcopenia. Daily glucose levels were evaluated using self-monitoring of blood glucose, and we focused on the effects of glucose fluctuations, postprandial hyperglycemia, and the frequency of hypoglycemia on sarcopenia. Diabetes patients with cognitive impairment displayed a high prevalence of sarcopenia, and glucose fluctuations were independently associated with sarcopenia, even after adjusting for glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and associated factors. In particular, glucose fluctuations were significantly associated with a low muscle mass, low grip strength, and slow walking speed. Our observation suggests the importance of glucose management by considering glucose fluctuations to prevent the development of disability