Interplay between thermoelectric and structural properties of type-I clathrate K8Ga8Sn38 single crystals

We report structural, transport, and thermal properties of type-I clathrate K8Ga8Sn38 single crystals grown by the self-flux method. Single-crystal x-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the guest K+ ion locates on the center in the tetrakaidecahedron composed of Ga and Sn atoms. The thermopower is largely negative,-200μ V/K at room temperature, irrespective of the flux used during growth Ga or Sn . The thermal conductivity κ(T) exhibits a large peak at 14 K. These observations in K8Ga8Sn38 are ontrasting with the splitting of the guest site and the glasslike behavior in κ(T) reported for type-I Ba8Ga16Sn30 although the free space for the guest is almost the same in both compounds. The electrostatic potential for the tetrakaidecahedron was calculated using the occupation probabilities of Ga ions in the three sites on the cage. It is found that the off-centered state is stabilized for the Ba2+ ions in Ba8Ga16Sn30 by the partial occupation of Ga anion in the 16i site while the on-center state for K8Ga8Sn38 is stabilized by the strongly preferred occupation of Ga anions in the 6c site. We conclude that the charge distribution on the cage is crucial for the splitting of the guest site into off-center positions in the tetrakaidecahedron of the type-I clathrate

Control of Cortical Axon Elongation by a GABA-Driven Ca<sup style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline-style: none; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0.85em; font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; text-align: inherit; vertical-align: super;">2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Cascade</sup>

Ca(2+) signaling plays important roles during both axonal and dendritic growth. Yet, whether and how Ca(2+) rises may trigger and contribute to the development of long range cortical connections remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that two separate limbs of CaMK kinase (CaMKK) - CaMKI cascades, CaMKK-CaMKIα and CaMKK-CaMKIγ, critically coordinate axonal and dendritic morphogenesis of cortical neurons, respectively. The axon-specific morphological phenotype required a diffuse cytoplasmic localization and a strikingly α-isoform-specific kinase activity of CaMKI. Unexpectedly, treatment with muscimol, a GABA(A) receptor agonist, selectively stimulated elongation of axons but not of dendrites, and the CaMKK-CaMKIα cascade critically mediated this axonogenic effect. Consistent with these findings, during early brain development, in vivo knockdown of CaMKIα significantly impaired the terminal axonal extension, and thereby perturbed the refinement of the interhemispheric callosal projections into the contralateral cortices. Our findings thus indicate a novel role for the GABA-driven CaMKK-CaMKIα cascade as a mechanism critical for accurate cortical axon pathfinding, an essential process which may contribute to fine-tuning the formation of interhemispheric connectivity during the perinatal development of the central nervous system

Application of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation over the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Alzheimer&rsquo;s Disease: A Pilot Study

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is reportedly a potential tool to understand the neural network; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive function change remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the cognitive function changes by rTMS over the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease (AD). We evaluated the feasibility of rTMS application for mild cognitive dysfunction in patients with AD in an open-label trial (UMIN000027013). An rTMS session involved 15 trains at 120% resting motor threshold on each side (40 pulses/train at 10 Hz). Efficacy outcome measures were changes from baseline in cognitive function, assessed based on the AD Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Japanese version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J), Behavioral and Psychological Symptom of Dementia, and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living scores. Sixteen patients with AD underwent five daily sessions of high-frequency rTMS over the bilateral DLPFC for 2 weeks. All participants completed the study; no major adverse effects were recorded. The MoCA-J score increased by 1.4 points (&plusmn;0.15%) following 2 weeks of stimulation. At 1 month following rTMS cessation, all cognitive functional scores returned to the original state. Our findings suggest that the DLPFC plays an important role in the neural network in AD

Chronological Rehabilitation Treatment Varying by Stage for Constructive Disability

Constructive disability poses significant challenges. However, such manifestations are often overlooked. To address these disabilities, customized rehabilitation is necessary across disease stages. This case report demonstrates how customized, stage-based occupational therapy interventions can effectively rehabilitate patients with progressive constructive disability. Herein, a 33-year-old female patient with progressive constructive disability underwent direct training and compensatory therapy in early stages and progressed to instrumental activities of daily living training in later stages. This case demonstrates how such customized, progressive occupational therapy can achieve substantial functional improvements even for patients with advancing cognitive and physical impairments from constructive disability

Improvement in Tongue Pressure Precedes Improvement in Dysphagia in Dermatomyositis

Dysphagia is known to occur in patients with dermatomyositis. However, the sudden-onset dysphagia without other symptoms can make diagnosis and treatment challenging. Two patients who did not have a severe muscle weakness complained of the sudden inability to swallow solids and liquids. The muscle biopsy results showed the perifascicular atrophy, and the patients were diagnosed with dermatomyositis. Videofluoroscopy revealed an inadequate pharyngeal contraction and a decreased upper esophageal sphincter opening with silent aspiration. Both patients showed low tongue pressures. Patient 1 received intravenous and oral methylprednisolone, and patient 2 received intravenous immunoglobulin in addition to intravenous and oral methylprednisolone. Several months after the onset of the dysphagia, the swallowing function of both patients improved. The improvement in tongue pressure preceded an improvement in the subjective and objective measurements of dysphagia. In conclusion, tongue pressure may be useful for predicting early improvement in swallowing function

Neuronal Dynamics of Pain in Parkinson’s Disease

Pain is an important non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It negatively impacts the quality of life. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying pain in PD remain to be elucidated. This study sought to use electroencephalographic (EEG) coherence analysis to compare neuronal synchronization in neuronal networks between patients with PD, with and without pain. Twenty-four patients with sporadic PD were evaluated for the presence of pain. Time-frequency and coherence analyses were performed on their EEG data. Whole-brain and regional coherence were calculated and compared between pain-positive and pain-negative patients. There was no significant difference in the whole-brain coherence between the pain-positive and pain-negative groups. However, temporal–temporal coherence differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.031). Our findings indicate that aberrant synchronization of inter-temporal regions is involved in PD-related pain. This will further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying pain in PD

The Lateralization of Resting Motor Threshold to Predict Medication-Mediated Improvement in Parkinson’s Disease

Cortical stimulation patterns in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are asymmetric and get altered over time. This study examined cortical neurophysiological markers for PD and identified neurophysiological markers for lateralization in PD. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study corticospinal and intracortical excitability in 21 patients with idiopathic PD. We used the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale for examination during on and off periods and evaluated inhibitory and facilitatory process markers using TMS, including resting motor thresholds (RMT), active motor thresholds, and motor evoked potential amplitude. The RMT in the more affected cortex was significantly shorter than in the less affected cortex, and was strongly correlated with improved motor function following medication. Patients in the tremor group exhibited significantly lower RMT compared to those in the akinetic-rigid group. Cortical electrophysiological laterality observed in patients with PD may be a useful marker for guiding treatment and identifying underlying compensatory mechanisms

The Rehabilitation for Visual Cognitive Impairment due to Hippocampal Infarction: A Case Report

Introduction: Disturbances in the visual pathway cause visual cognitive impairment. There is a lack of information regarding the effect of rehabilitation on individuals affected by this condition. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions in this condition. Case Presentation: We present the case of an 87-year-old woman with hippocampal infarction. While the patient’s ability to perform daily activities and engage in conversations was normal, she faced challenges at the execution stage, such as naming, constructing sentences, and copying. We diagnosed cerebral embolism because of atrial fibrillation and initiated direct oral anticoagulant therapy. Subsequently, we initiated a rehabilitation treatment comprising visual agnosia training (attribute learning training), verbalization learning training (writing training), and semantic memory training (copying training) to address visual agnosia. Conclusion: Associative visual perception challenges arising from hippocampal infarcts are rare and can be improved with early intervention through a rehabilitation program for visual agnosia

Challenges in evaluating forearm muscle activity based on the compound muscle action potential of the flexors of the whole forearm

Objective: Muscle strength, which correlates with the compound muscle action potential (CMAP), can also be estimated by measuring the CMAP. Therefore, we evaluated the CMAP of the flexor muscles of the whole forearm to identify their muscle strength. Methods: Fourteen healthy volunteers were enrolled. The elbow was determined to be the stimulation point, and the recording site for the flexor muscles of the whole forearm was set at approximately 8 cm distal to the elbow. We prospectively evaluated the baseline-to-peak amplitude of the CMAP of the whole forearm flexor muscles (WFFM), including that obtained from the median nerve stimulation (WFFMm), ulnar nerve stimulation (WFFMu), and their sum (WFFMsum). Additionally, we analyzed the relationships between WFFMm and WFFMu amplitudes with other quantitative parameters, including grip strength and routine CMAP amplitudes. Results: The CMAP’s test–retest analysis revealed high reliability. Grip power was significantly correlated with WFFMm and WFFMsum and mildly correlated with WFFMu. Tip-pinch strength with WFFMm and flexor pollicis longus (FPL) measurements correlated significantly. Lateral-pinch strength was significantly correlated with the first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) measurements but not with WFFM. The abductor digiti minimi (ADM) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) were not correlated with grip power or pinch strength. Conclusions: By electrophysiology examination, this study demonstrated that WFFMm is involved in grip power and other pinch strengths. This method may serve as a novel tool for measurement of distal muscle strengths. Significance: This is the first study to attempt to evaluate the muscle strength of forearm flexor muscles by measuring the CMAP