Low effective organizational strategies in visual memory performance of unmedicated alcoholics during early abstinence

Objective: Alcohol-dependent patients in early abstinence show an impairment of cognitive functions which can be seen in poor implementation of newly learned skills for avoiding relapse. Executive dysfunction may persist during abstinence in alcohol-dependent persons, thus mitigating long-term abstinence. This study assessed visual memory function and choice of organizational strategies in alcoholics, as these are major factors necessary to implement ongoing behavior changes which are required for maintaining abstinence

A review of nitrogen isotopic alteration in marine sediments

Key Points: Use of sedimentary nitrogen isotopes is examined; On average, sediment 15N/14N increases approx. 2 per mil during early burial; Isotopic alteration scales with water depth Abstract: Nitrogen isotopes are an important tool for evaluating past biogeochemical cycling from the paleoceanographic record. However, bulk sedimentary nitrogen isotope ratios, which can be determined routinely and at minimal cost, may be altered during burial and early sedimentary diagenesis, particularly outside of continental margin settings. The causes and detailed mechanisms of isotopic alteration are still under investigation. Case studies of the Mediterranean and South China Seas underscore the complexities of investigating isotopic alteration. In an effort to evaluate the evidence for alteration of the sedimentary N isotopic signal and try to quantify the net effect, we have compiled and compared data demonstrating alteration from the published literature. A >100 point comparison of sediment trap and surface sedimentary nitrogen isotope values demonstrates that, at sites located off of the continental margins, an increase in sediment 15N/14N occurs during early burial, likely at the seafloor. The extent of isotopic alteration appears to be a function of water depth. Depth-related differences in oxygen exposure time at the seafloor are likely the dominant control on the extent of N isotopic alteration. Moreover, the compiled data suggest that the degree of alteration is likely to be uniform through time at most sites so that bulk sedimentary isotope records likely provide a good means for evaluating relative changes in the global N cycle

A hepatoprotective Lindera obtusiloba extract suppresses growth and attenuates insulin like growth factor-1 receptor signaling and NF-kappaB activity in human liver cancer cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In traditional Chinese and Korean medicine, an aqueous extract derived from wood and bark of the Japanese spice bush <it>Lindera obtusiloba </it>(<it>L.obtusiloba</it>) is applied to treat inflammations and chronic liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma. We previously demonstrated anti-fibrotic effects of <it>L.obtusiloba </it>extract in hepatic stellate cells. Thus, we here consequently examine anti-neoplastic effects of <it>L.obtusiloba </it>extract on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and the signaling pathways involved.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Four human HCC cell lines representing diverse stages of differentiation were treated with <it>L.obtusiloba </it>extract, standardized according to its known suppressive effects on proliferation and TGF-β-expression. Beside measurement of proliferation, invasion and apoptosis, effects on signal transduction and NF-κB-activity were determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>L.obtusiloba </it>extract inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in all HCC cell lines and provoked a reduced basal and IGF-1-induced activation of the IGF-1R signaling cascade and a reduced transcriptional NF-κB-activity, particularly in the poorly differentiated SK-Hep1 cells. Pointing to anti-angiogenic effects, <it>L.obtusiloba </it>extract attenuated the basal and IGF-1-induced expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The traditional application of the extract is confirmed by our experimental data. Due to its potential to inhibit critical receptor tyrosine kinases involved in HCC progression via the IGF-1 signaling pathway and NF-κB, the standardized <it>L.obtusiloba </it>extract should be further analysed for its active compounds and explored as (complementary) treatment option for HCC.</p

a neuronal basis for the better understanding of patients with personality disorder and comorbid substance addiction

Etwa 60% der Patienten, die abhängigkeitserzeugende Substanzen konsumieren erfüllen die Kriterien für eine Persönlichkeitsstörung. Wiederholter Konsum solcher Substanzen kann zur Entwicklung einer Abhängigkeitserkrankung führen. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Erforschung und synoptische Zusammenstellung neurobiologischer Mechanismen zur a) Verarbeitung emotional valenter Stimuli sowie b) von Craving, c) Rückfallverhalten und d) Impulsivität. Dies sind zentrale Mechanismen, die dem klinischen Bild von Patienten mit einer Kombination von Abhängigkeitserkrankung und Persönlichkeitsstörung zugrunde liegen. Fernziel ist die Entwicklung effektiver Behandlungsmethoden für diese Patientengruppe. Die Arbeit gibt zunächst einen Überblick über die aktuelle Forschung zur Neurobiologie der Verarbeitung von Stimuli mit aversiver emotionaler Valenz sowie von Belohnungsreizen. Die im experimentellen Teil erhobenen eigenen Befunde stützen sich im Wesentlichen auf Befunde der Positronen-Emissions-Tomographie, der funktionellen Kernspintomographie und der Persönlichkeitsfragebogenforschung. Hypothesen, die in dieser Arbeit diskutiert werden und in eigenen Untersuchungen geprüft wurden, sind: Globale Hypothese: Neurobiologische Strukturen oder Systeme, die entscheidend an der Entwicklung von Abhängigkeitserkrankungen beteiligt sind, sind auch an der Verarbeitung aversiver emotionaler Reize beteiligt. Nebenhypothesen: 1) Eine neu entwickelte, evaluierte mathematische Methode zur Berechnung der regionalen Dopamin Speicherkapazität im Gehirn ist für die Erörterung neurobiologischer Fragestellungen in Amygdala bei psychiatrischen Patienten geeignet. 2) Das dopaminerge Neurotransmittersystem in Amygdala und Nucleus accumbens ist an der Verarbeitung aversiver emotionaler Stimuli beteiligt. 3) Der anteriore cinguläre Kortex (ACC) und Amygdala sind an der Verarbeitung emotionaler Stimuli beteiligt. Das Ausmaß ihrer Beteiligung ist von der funktionellen Kapazität des dopaminergen Systems in Amygdala und Nucleus accumbens abhängig. 4) ACC und Nucleus accumbens sind an Craving, impulsivem Verhalten und Konsumrückfällen beteiligt. 5) Psychotherapeutisch wirksame Verfahren für Patienten mit der Komorbidität von Persönlichkeitsstörung und Abhängigkeitserkrankung trainieren die Fähigkeit dysfunktionale Handlungsimpulse zu reduzieren. Alle genannten Hyothesen konnten in eigenen Untersuchungen bestätigt werden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit bieten Hilfestellungen für die Entwicklung zukünftiger, wirksamer Therapien und bilden weiterhin die Grundlage für die Entwicklung neuer Hypothesen, die zukünftig eine gezielte Untersuchung neurobiologischer Verhältnisse bei Patienten mit einer Komorbidität aus Persönlichkeitsstörung und Abhängigkeitserkrankung ermöglicht.About 60% of patients consuming substances that are able to cause addiction fulfil the criteria of any personality disorder. Repetitive use of these substances may cause substance addiction. This paper reviews current literature in neurobiology research and integrates data collected from our own research group to the topics a) processing of emotional valent stimuli, b) craving for the substance of addiction, c) relapse behavior and d) impulsive behavior. The mechanisms listed are core mechanisms that characterize clinical appearance of patients with substance addiction and comorbid personality disorder. Major research techniques referred to are positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging as well as research using personality inventories. Here we test the following hypotheses: Global hypothesis: Neurobiological structures relevant for the pathological interplay of addictive behavior in substance addiction are also involved in the processing of aversive emotional stimuli. Further hypotheses: 1) A new developed mathematical model for Fluorodopa uptake in neuronal tissue is valid to assess dopamine storage in amygdala in psychiatric patients with substance addiction and healthy controls 2) The dopamine neurotransmitter system affecting amygdala and nucleus accumbens is involved in the processing of aversive emotional stimuli. 3) Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and amygdala influence the processing of emotional valid stimuli. The extent of this influence is determined by the dopamine storage capacity in amygdala and nucleus accumbens. 4) ACC and nucleus accumbens are structures involved in craving, impulsive behavior and relapse behavior. 5) Distinct evidence based approaches in psychotherapy evaluated for the treatment of patients with substance addiction and comorbid personality disorder train the skill to reduce dysfunctional coping strategies. Conclusion: the results of our studies contributed to all hypotheses listed above. This paper may give new points of view that may help to develop a sustainable neurobiological basis for a better understanding of this severe comorbidity in patients

Alkoholabhängigkeit : ein Leitfaden zur Gruppentherapie

Dieser Leitfaden beinhaltet eine umfassende, übersichtliche und in sich abgeschlossene Therapieeinheit für die strukturierte Behandlung von Patienten mit Alkoholabhängigkeit. Er wurde für ambulante und stationäre Gruppentherapien entwickelt und evaluiert, bietet aber auch wertvolle Anregungen für die einzeltherapeutische Arbeit mit alkoholabhängigen Patienten. Neu ist die Integration aktueller Befunde aus der Neurobiologie sowie der sich daraus ableitenden Folgerungen für die psychotherapeutische Behandlung. Die Beschreibung der einzelnen Therapiemodule mit einfacher Verfügbarkeit der Arbeitsmaterialien als Download ermöglicht eine schnelle und praxisnahe Integration des Konzeptes in den therapeutischen Alltag

Hemispheric asymmetry for affective stimulus processing in healthy subjects--a fMRI study.

BACKGROUND: While hemispheric specialization of language processing is well established, lateralization of emotion processing is still under debate. Several conflicting hypotheses have been proposed, including right hemisphere hypothesis, valence asymmetry hypothesis and region-specific lateralization hypothesis. However, experimental evidence for these hypotheses remains inconclusive, partly because direct comparisons between hemispheres are scarce. METHODS: The present fMRI study systematically investigated functional lateralization during affective stimulus processing in 36 healthy participants. We normalized our functional data on a symmetrical template to avoid confounding effects of anatomical asymmetries. Direct comparison of BOLD responses between hemispheres was accomplished taking two approaches: a hypothesis-driven region of interest analysis focusing on brain areas most frequently reported in earlier neuroimaging studies of emotion; and an exploratory whole volume analysis contrasting non-flipped with flipped functional data using paired t-test. RESULTS: The region of interest analysis revealed lateralization towards the left in the medial prefrontal cortex (BA 10) during positive stimulus processing; while negative stimulus processing was lateralized towards the right in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9 & 46) and towards the left in the amygdala and uncus. The whole brain analysis yielded similar results and, in addition, revealed lateralization towards the right in the premotor cortex (BA 6) and the temporo-occipital junction (BA 19 & 37) during positive stimulus processing; while negative stimulus processing showed lateralization towards the right in the temporo-parietal junction (BA 37,39,42) and towards the left in the middle temporal gyrus (BA 21). CONCLUSION: Our data suggests region-specific functional lateralization of emotion processing. Findings show valence asymmetry for prefrontal cortical areas and left-lateralized negative stimulus processing in subcortical areas, in particular, amygdala and uncus

Dinamik hareket birimleri ile insan hareketi tanıma

Thesis (M.A.)--Özyeğin University, Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering, Department of Computer Science, September 2015.Dynamic Movement Primitives (DMPs)-originally a method for movement trajectory generation has been also used for recognition tasks. However there has not been a systematic comparison between other recognition methods and DMPs using human movement data. We have implemented a movement recognition method based on DMPs with Gaussians centered equally spaced in phase variable and scaled one-nearest-neighbor weight comparison. Furthermore, in thesis, we presented a comparison of commonly used Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based recognition with our implementation of DMP based recognition using human generated letter trajectories. As the working principles of these two methods are very different, in addition to the performance, the numbers of adaptable parameters that are used in each method and, process time were compared. The results indicate that DMP gives better results than HMM in the tests with noiseless data, noisy data and derogated data with given human movement dataset.Dinamik Hareket Birimleri (DHB), ilk olarak hareket güzergahlarının üretilmesinde kullanılan bir yöntem olduğu halde hareket tanıma görevlerinde de kullanılmıştır. Fakat DHB'lerle yapılan tanıma ile diğer tanıma yöntemleri arasında sistematik bir karşılaştırma yapılmamıştır. Biz de faz değişkeninde eşit merkezlenmis Gaussian fonksiyonları kullandığımız DHB'lerde, boyutları değiştirilmiş ağırlık karşılaştırması ile hareket tanıma yöntemi gerçekleştirdik. Ayrıca, bu tezde yaygın olarak kullanılan Saklı Markov Modeli (SMM) yöntemi ve DHB ile yapılan insan tarafından üretilmiş hareket güzergahları üzerinde tanıma işlemleri karşılaştırılmıştır. Bu iki yöntemin çalışma prensipleri çok farklı olduğu için, performansa ek olarak adapte edilebilir parametrelerin miktarı ve tanıma işleminin aldığı zaman karşılaştırılmıştır. Sonuçlar, DHB'nin insan hareketleri verisi üzerine gürültüsüz, gürültü eklenerek ve veriler azaltılarak yapılan testlerde SMM'den daha iyi sonuçlar verdiğini göstermektedir