Blocking NMDAR Disrupts Spike Timing and Decouples Monkey Prefrontal Circuits: Implications for Activity-Dependent Disconnection in Schizophrenia

We employed multi-electrode array recording to evaluate the influence of NMDA receptors (NMDAR) on spike-timing dynamics in prefrontal networks of monkeys as they performed a cognitive control task measuring specific deficits in schizophrenia. Systemic, periodic administration of an NMDAR antagonist (phencyclidine) reduced the prevalence and strength of synchronous (0-lag) spike correlation in simultaneously recorded neuron pairs. We employed transfer entropy analysis to measure effective connectivity between prefrontal neurons at lags consistent with monosynaptic interactions and found that effective connectivity was persistently reduced following exposure to the NMDAR antagonist. These results suggest that a disruption of spike timing and effective connectivity might be interrelated factors in pathogenesis, supporting an activity-dependent disconnection theory of schizophrenia. In this theory, disruption of NMDAR synaptic function leads to dys-regulated timing of action potentials in prefrontal networks, accelerating synaptic disconnection through a spike-timing-dependent mechanism

Ginger inhibits cell growth and modulates angiogenic factors in ovarian cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ginger (<it>Zingiber officinale </it>Rosc) is a natural dietary component with antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. The ginger component [6]-gingerol has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects through mediation of NF-κB. NF-κB can be constitutively activated in epithelial ovarian cancer cells and may contribute towards increased transcription and translation of angiogenic factors. In the present study, we investigated the effect of ginger on tumor cell growth and modulation of angiogenic factors in ovarian cancer cells <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effect of ginger and the major ginger components on cell growth was determined in a panel of epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. Activation of NF-κB and and production of VEGF and IL-8 was determined in the presence or absence of ginger.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ginger treatment of cultured ovarian cancer cells induced profound growth inhibition in all cell lines tested. We found that <it>in vitro</it>, 6-shogaol is the most active of the individual ginger components tested. Ginger treatment resulted in inhibition of NF-kB activation as well as diminished secretion of VEGF and IL-8.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Ginger inhibits growth and modulates secretion of angiogenic factors in ovarian cancer cells. The use of dietary agents such as ginger may have potential in the treatment and prevention of ovarian cancer.</p

26th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2017): Part 3 - Meeting Abstracts - Antwerp, Belgium. 15–20 July 2017

This work was produced as part of the activities of FAPESP Research,\ud Disseminations and Innovation Center for Neuromathematics (grant\ud 2013/07699-0, S. Paulo Research Foundation). NLK is supported by a\ud FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship (grant 2016/03855-5). ACR is partially\ud supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Idiopathic catatonic syndrome in a young male with no prior psychiatric history: a case report

Abstract Background Catatonia is a syndrome characterized by severe psychomotor disturbances such as hypomotility, bradykinesia, and unusual movements. The condition has been described in the context of a wide variety of primary disease processes, including psychotic and mood disorders and numerous general medical conditions. In the medical community, catatonia is misunderstood, under-recognized, and under-treated. There continues to be debate about whether catatonia is an independent syndrome or a secondary expression of other conditions. This is a unique case presentation, as there are few reports describing cases of isolated catatonic syndrome in the absence of any other psychiatric or medical condition. Case Presentation We present the case of a 20-year-old previously healthy Caucasian male whose initial presentation to psychiatric care was in the form of an acute catatonic syndrome dominated by mutism, blank staring, and poverty of movement. As the nature of the patient’s symptoms precluded the collection of a complete psychiatric  and medical history, we employed a broad differential diagnosis including catatonia due to another medical condition, catatonia as a specifier for a number of mental disorders, and catatonia not otherwise specified. Conclusions The presentation of an acute onset of psychomotor symptoms in the absence of a history of mental illness warrants extensive workup to rule out medical causes to ensure effective treatment of any underlying illness. Benzodiazepines are the first-line treatment for catatonic symptoms, and electroconvulsive therapy can be used to resolve symptoms in patients who do not respond to medical intervention

Computational validity: using computation to translate behaviours across species

We propose a new conceptual framework (computational validity) for translation across species and populations based on the computational similarity between the information processing underlying parallel tasks. Translating between species depends not on the superficial similarity of the tasks presented, but rather on the computational similarity of the strategies and mechanisms that underlie those behaviours. Computational validity goes beyond construct validity by directly addressing questions of information processing. Computational validity interacts with circuit validity as computation depends on circuits, but similar computations could be accomplished by different circuits. Because different individuals may use different computations to accomplish a given task, computational validity suggests that behaviour should be understood through the subject's point of view; thus, behaviour should be characterized on an individual level rather than a task level. Tasks can constrain the computational algorithms available to a subject and the observed subtleties of that behaviour can provide information about the computations used by each individual. Computational validity has especially high relevance for the study of psychiatric disorders, given the new views of psychiatry as identifying and mediating information processing dysfunctions that may show high inter-individual variability, as well as for animal models investigating aspects of human psychiatric disorders. This article is part of the theme issue 'Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory'