Papers by Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Behavior contagion in social decision-making refers to the alignment of an individual's behavior ... more Behavior contagion in social decision-making refers to the alignment of an individual's behavior and decisions with those of others in social interactions. Despite previous studies in the field, it remains necessary to understand how brain activities are spatiotemporally organized during contagion. Since brain activities include both positive and negative fluctuations, monitoring these occurrences in a polar space using a visibility graph (VG) can aid in a better understanding of this phenomenon. Methods: We subjected a healthy group to a psycho-economic task while their EEG was simultaneously recorded. The participants' performances were compared before and after observation of others' preferences in a dictator game task. Subsequently, two groups were differentiated based on their behavior contagion rate. Then, the VGs of event-related potentials (ERPs) in both contagion and non-contagion groups were compared before and after observation. Results: Our results indicated that the VG features differentially change in various EEG channels. For instance, changes in clustering coefficient, modularity, and efficiency of VGs suggested that the number of ERP components varies after contagion, specifically at the frontal, frontocentral, centroparietal, and parietal regions. Conclusion: This result may raise questions about the ERP analysis of contagion, particularly when using the same number and length of components (e.g. P300) for comparing ERPs before and after contagion.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Introduction: Cerebral ischemia is one of the leading causes of global mortality and disability i... more Introduction: Cerebral ischemia is one of the leading causes of global mortality and disability in many countries. Damage caused by reperfusion is due to the inflammatory function of the injured tissue. Ischemia-reperfusion causes the formation of oxygen free radicals and other oxidants. The CA1 region of the hippocampus is one of the highly sensitive parts of the brain in ischemia and hypoxia. The Nigella sativa plant, with its antioxidant properties, can remove free radicals and cell-damaging compounds to prevent cell death and damage to viable cells. To determine the effects of hydroalcoholic extract and nano-hydroalcoholic extract containing N. sativa on the CA1 region of the hippocampus in male Wistar rats following transient global ischemia/reperfusion. Methods: Four groups of 32 male Wistar rats were randomly formed: Control, ischemia, hydroalcoholic extract of black recipient seed, and nano-extract of hydroalcoholic black seed recipient. Ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries induced an ischemia model. Following the behavioral test, brain removal was completed and prepared for Nissl staining and stereological evaluations, along with the expression levels of Bax and Bcl2, using the realtime PCR technique. Results: A considerable rise in the number of viable pyramidal cells was observed in the hydroalcoholic extract and nano-hydroalcoholic extract groups compared to the ischemia group. Bax expression was elevated, and the expression of Bcl-2 declined after transient global I/R in the CA1 region. The effects of transient global ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) on gene expression were reversed by the injection of hydroalcoholic and nano-hydroalcoholic extracts containing N. Sativa. Conclusion: Transient global I/R remarkably promotes cell death and morphological changes. It appears that the hydroalcoholic extract of N. sativa, particularly the nanohydroalcoholic extract, at a dose of 400 mg/kg, may be a suitable solution for treating ischemia-induced brain damage.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Globally, stroke ranks as the second most prevalent cause of death, contributing significantly to... more Globally, stroke ranks as the second most prevalent cause of death, contributing significantly to worldwide mortality burdens, imposing a significant economic and emotional challenge on societies. This study was designed to investigate the effect of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) on memory and associated molecular factors in a mouse model of photothrombotic ischemic stroke. Methods: The photothrombotic model was used to induce medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) ischemia. ACS were prepared by intracardiac puncture of C57BL/6 mice using special ACS syringes. After blood incubation, the sample was centrifuged, and the serum was analyzed with ELISA kits to quantify the levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I). The ischemic animals received 48 µL intranasal ACS two times a day, once a day, or once every other day for one week. Behavioral tests, including the Lashley-III maze and social interaction test, were conducted following treatment administration. Additionally, IGF-1, IL-1β, IL-1RA levels, and phospho-tau/total-tau ratio were measured in the mPFC area by western blot. Histological analysis was performed to assess ischemic volume. Results: The results indicated that once-daily administration of ACS significantly improved spatial memory in the Lashley-III maze and showed a notable enhancement in social memory as measured by the social interaction test. In terms of molecular analysis, ACS increased the levels of IGF-1 and IL-1RA, whilst decreasing the levels of IL-1β and p-tau/total-tau ratio. Conclusion: In conclusion, post-stroke intranasal ACS administration enhances memory, possibly by increasing the level of IGF-1 and attenuating inflammation through the inhibition of IL-1β signal by IL-1RA, and regulation of tau levels.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Introduction: Cognitive trajectories in individuals with a baseline clinical dementia rating (CDR... more Introduction: Cognitive trajectories in individuals with a baseline clinical dementia rating (CDR) score of 0.5 vary widely, ranging from recovery (stable reverse migration) to resistance to recovery. Identifying predictors of these trajectories is essential for targeted interventions. This study aimed to investigate baseline structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and clinical factors associated with the rate of recovery and the likelihood of resistance to it, using a penalized mixture cure model (MCM). Methods: Data from 185 individuals with a baseline CDR of 0.5 in the OASIS-3 database were analyzed. OASIS-3 is a retrospective compilation of data for 1378 participants that were collected across several ongoing projects through the WUSTL Knight ADRC over 30 years. Structural MRI features and clinical measures were assessed using the latency and incidence components of an MCM. The latency component evaluated factors influencing recovery rates, while the incidence component identified predictors of resistance. Results: The latency component revealed that increasing right rostral middle frontal thickness (hazard ratio [HR]=2.06) was linked to faster recovery, while right frontal pole thickness (HR=0.48) predicted slower recovery. The cure component identified left bankssts volume (odds ratio [OR]=2.21) as a key predictor of resistance, whereas left pars orbitalis thickness (OR=0.56) was protective. Notably, right supramarginal thickness was paradoxically associated with both faster recovery (HR=1.24) and increased resistance (OR=1.48), potentially acting as a proxy for both compensatory mechanisms and maladaptive changes. Conclusion: The MCM revealed complex, context-dependent roles of structural MRI features in recovery and resistance trajectories, with frontal and temporal regions pivotal to cognitive outcomes. These findings highlight the value of MCM in advancing personalized therapeutic strategies and understanding recovery dynamics.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
This study aimed to investigate the cortical activity differences between healthy older adults an... more This study aimed to investigate the cortical activity differences between healthy older adults and younger individuals during postural adjustments in response to external perturbations under both single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT) conditions. Methods: Nineteen young adults (mean age: 24.25±3.15) and 20 older adults (mean age: 65.55±4.67 years) were recruited. Participants stood barefoot while a load (3% body weight) was unpredictably released, inducing postural perturbations. In DT trials, participants performed a cognitive task (counting backward) while maintaining balance. Quantitative electroencephalography was recorded from 32 channels, focusing on cortical regions involved in postural control (e.g. motor and sensorimotor cortices). Alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (12.5-25 Hz) absolute power in specific brain regions (C3, C4, Fz, Cz, Pz) were analyzed using a 3-way mixed-design analysis of variance. Results: Older adults exhibited significantly higher alpha power in sensorimotor areas (C4, Pz) during DT conditions, compared to younger adults. Group×condition interactions revealed greater beta power in the frontal and central regions (F4, C4) in older adults under DT conditions. Post hoc analysis indicated significantly greater beta power in older adults during DT than in younger individuals. Conclusion: These findings suggest that older adults rely more on cortical resources for postural recovery, particularly under cognitively demanding DT conditions. The increased alpha and beta power in cortical regions reflects a shift towards compensatory cortical strategies, likely due to age-related declines in automatic postural control mechanisms. Understanding these neural changes can inform fall prevention strategies targeting both cognitive and motor functions in older adults.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Reliable balance measures are crucial for effective stroke rehabilitation. This study examines th... more Reliable balance measures are crucial for effective stroke rehabilitation. This study examines the between-day and within-day reliabilities of the center of pressure (CoP) measures in chronic stroke survivors in different standing positions under the influence of motor and cognitive dual-tasking. Methods: Sixteen people (49.31±15.5 years, 5 females) with chronic stroke were assessed in two sessions, 48 hours apart. Participants completed three balance control conditions: Singletask, motor dual-task, and cognitive dual-task. They performed three trials of open-eye quiet standing and semi-tandem standing. Three trials of closed-eye quiet standing were conducted in the single-task condition. A 2-way random model of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated for CoP mean velocity, anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) mean velocity, the standard deviation (SD) of AP and ML velocity, and sway area. Results: Within-day ICC values were higher than between-day values (ICC: 0.78-0.96). Mean velocity and Mean±SD of velocity in the AP direction showed the highest relative and absolute reliabilities in an open-eye quiet standing position (ICC: 0.82-0.92, SEM: 0.67-1.24). Dual-tasking could increase the reliability of the CoP measures, except for the sway area (ICC: 0.53-0.93 changed to 0.84-0.96). MDCs ranged from 1.03 to 7.77 mm/s for velocity-based variables. Conclusion: Assessing the postural control system during dual-task conditions provides more reliable CoP measures, especially in a semi-tandem standing position. These findings can provide clinicians with valuable insights into detecting specific balance problems that poststroke individuals encounter.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Astrocyte dysfunction plays a crucial role in epileptogenesis by impacting neuronal excitability ... more Astrocyte dysfunction plays a crucial role in epileptogenesis by impacting neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. This study investigates how specific small molecules (SMs) affect the survival of astrocytes derived from various brain regions (the neocortex, hippocampus, or amygdala) of patients with medically refractory epilepsy. Methods: This study evaluated astrocyte responses to three distinct SMs (valproate, forskolin, and GSK3 inhibitor/WNT activator CHIR99021), individually or in combined forms, to determine their differential effects on astrocyte survival. Results: The effects of SMs on astrocyte survival varied based on the brain tissue source and individual patient differences. Astrocytes from the amygdala of two patients showed heightened sensitivity to the SMs, while astrocytes from the neocortex of one patient exhibited decreased viability following treatment with CHIR99021 and valproate. Moreover, astrocytes from the hippocampus exhibited a significant decrease in viability in one patient, whereas no significant changes were observed in other patients. Conclusion: Variability in astrocyte responses to SMs, influenced by brain region and patient differences, may highlight their role in shaping diverse therapeutic outcomes in individuals. Further studies are required to clarify the factors involved in the different behaviors of astrocytes in response to SMs in epilepsy.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common causes of motor disability in childhood. Since CP i... more Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common causes of motor disability in childhood. Since CP is a corollary of brain damage, persistent treatment should accompany alterations in brain functional activity in line with clinical improvements. Methods: A total of 14 children with spastic hemiplegic CP were randomly divided into 2 groups. The training group (8.5 years) underwent 45 min anti-gravity treadmill training sessions 3 times/week for 8 weeks, while the control group (8.2 years) received the same amount of occupational therapy (OT). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted to quantify brain activation during the performance of passive tasks, including ankle plantarflexion to dorsiflexion and knee flexion to extension over the range of motion. Walking capacity was assessed using the timed-up-and-go, 10-m, and 6-m walking tests. All evaluations were performed before and after training and compared between the two groups. Results: This study could detect the signatures of ankle and knee passive movement tasks in the fMRI and characterize them in terms of activated voxels. The pre-post activation changes following the completion of the training course showed that the elicited motor cortex activation was greater for the ankle than the knee tasks. For the ankle, the primary motor cortex, precentral gyrus, and corpus callosum showed significant enhancement in most study participants. The results indicated 16.1% more active voxels in the study than control groups. Similarly, clinical outcome measures improved over twice as much in this group. Conclusion: Anti-gravity treadmill training could be a potentially effective therapeutic intervention for improving gait and balance impairments in children with CP.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Maintaining motivation is one of the most important characteristics of rehabilitation strategies ... more Maintaining motivation is one of the most important characteristics of rehabilitation strategies for successful treatment. Understanding the underlying mechanism of mental state helps develop new therapeutic methods based on virtual reality (VR) and serious game technologies. The present study develops a cost-benefit game-based hand rehabilitation system and assesses the influence on the psychological state of subjects when they interact with a VR environment in different task difficulty levels. Methods: First, we introduced a low-cost smart hand rehabilitation system based on the Leap Motion Tracker. Subsequently, the experimental study was performed with 20 healthy participants. Their mental states were evoked using interaction with two separate games in four different difficulty levels. Three measures from the self-assessment manikin (SAM) self-reported test were described as a psychological response to this condition, and four features were extracted from the photoplethysmogram signal to quantify psychophysiological responses of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Results: Comparison of the different difficulty levels revealed significant changes in arousal and dominance corresponding to the under-challenging and over-challenging conditions, respectively. The results of psychophysiological feature analysis showed significant differences only for the standard deviation of intervals between consecutive heartbeats. Conclusion: The developed system is a low-cost smart solution that can be useful for upper limb neurological rehabilitation. Regulating difficulty parameters of the implemented game can be used to influence the motivation of users through rehabilitation procedures. Photoplethysmogram is an appropriate psychophysiological indicator of mental states, but further studies are required.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) is extensively distributed across brain regions that are crucia... more Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) is extensively distributed across brain regions that are crucial for emotional processing, social cognition, and anxiety, including the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. Dysregulation of CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) has been associated with several disorders characterized by impaired empathy, social behavior, and anxiety. Accordingly, this study investigates the modulatory role of CB1Rs in social interaction and anxiety in an empathic pain model in rats. Methods: A total of 48 adult male Wistar rats were used (n=8 for each group). One sibling received formalin injection into the hind paw five times within nine days (demonstrator), and the other siblings reported pain (observer) while being treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the CB1R agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN; 3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), or the CB1R antagonist rimonabant (1 mg/kg intraperitoneal). Treatments were administered intraperitoneally 30 min before behavioral tests conducted on day 10, which were used to assess social behavior and anxiety. Results: Empathic pain can impair social behavior and elicit anxiety-like effects. Rimonabant was effective in ameliorating deficits induced by empathic pain; conversely, WIN did not have a significant effect. Conclusion: CB1Rs play a modulatory role in social contagion. This modulation may provide new therapeutic targets for conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychological disorders characterized by impaired empathy and dysregulated social behavior associated with the CB1 signaling pathway.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Working with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) often involves engaging with multiple f... more Working with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) often involves engaging with multiple file formats and complex viewers. In this study, we developed a novel platform as a visualization and conversion fMRI (VCfMRI) MATLAB toolbox for fMRI data. Methods: The VCfMRI was developed to read and write 3D fMRI volumes in DICOM, NIfTI, ANALYZE, and MAT formats and convert between them, on a single user-friendly platform. It includes 62 functions across seven graphical user interface modules for conversion, batch read/write, and orthogonal viewing (sagittal, coronal, horizontal). This toolbox also supports overlaying statistical maps on anatomical images with adjustable thresholds. We built and tested VCfMRI using real datasets from a scanner (3T, Siemens Co.) at UMRAM, Bilkent University. Results: VCfMRI successfully converted and visualized all supported formats in one environment, enabling synchronized 3D views and functional overlays with interactive threshold control, streamlining previously fragmented steps. Conclusion: The VCfMRI toolbox provides a simple and efficient solution for fMRI data conversion and visualization. It simplifies the handling of fMRI datasets across different formats, which is especially beneficial for physicians, healthcare specialists, and researchers who face challenges in processing and visualizing multi-format neuroimaging data.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by insulin uptake or deficiency. Side effects of di... more Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by insulin uptake or deficiency. Side effects of diabetes are numerous, according to the severity of the disease. Diabetes could harm the peripheral nerves, with chronic pain leading to nerve damage known as diabetic neuropathy (DN). Signs and symptoms of DN are sharp pains, numbness, and tingling. Distal symmetric polyneuropathy is the most common nerve injury during DN. Accordingly, this study screens candidate genes related to sural nerve DN (SDN) to find the critical ones. Methods: Gene expression data from diabetic patients with and without progressive sural nerve neuropathy (GSE24290) were included in the analysis. GEO2R was applied to the first step analysis to find the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The queried significant DEGs, along with their first 100 neighbors, were included in a network using the Cytoscape software. The network was analyzed using the Cytoscape network analysis application, and the central nodes were identified. Results: A total of 26 significant DEGs that were extracted from the gene expression profiles, plus 100 first neighbors, were interacted to form the network. INS, ALB, AKT1, APP, SNAP25, NEFL, GFAP, IL6, NEFM, TNF, MAPT, GAP43, and MBP were identified as 13 hubs of the network. NEFL and NEFM were highlighted as the queried hub genes. Insulin, as the top hub node, was determined among all interacted genes (the queried and added genes). Conclusion: INS, NEFL, and NEFM are key genes in DN, which are involved in metabolism regulation and intracellular transportation into axons and dendrites, respectively.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Inflammatory responses in celiac disease (CD) may lead to immune dysregulation and sleep disturba... more Inflammatory responses in celiac disease (CD) may lead to immune dysregulation and sleep disturbance. Additionally, impaired tryptophan (Trp) metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract has been linked to chronic intestinal inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep disorders, Trp levels, and cytokine profiles in patients with CD. Methods: A cohort study involving 76 adults with CD (mean age 40.3 years) was conducted from March to December 2022. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaire. Plasma Trp levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-10 levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-2 and IL-4 expression was evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: A significant proportion (63.2%) of patients with CD experienced poor sleep quality. Additionally, increasing age was positively correlated with sleep disturbances. Importantly, patients with CD and poor sleep quality had lower plasma Trp levels than those with good sleep quality (P<0.0001). Moreover, individuals with poor sleep quality exhibited elevated IL-2 levels (P=0.03) compared to those with good sleep quality. Conversely, no significant difference was observed in IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-α levels between individuals with poor and good sleep quality. Conclusion: Low Trp levels may indicate the potential for Trp supplementation to alleviate sleep disturbances in patients with CD. However, further research is required to understand the underlying mechanisms and evaluate potential interventions.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease whose motor and non-motor complica... more Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease whose motor and non-motor complications significantly affect a person's quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to investigate the QoL of these patients using the PD questionnaire (PDQ)-39 and identify the prognostic factors associated with their QoL. Methods: In this case-control study, the QoL of two groups (211 controls and 211 cases) was investigated and compared using the PDQ-39 questionnaire. Prognostic factors associated with QoL were determined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Several 422 patients with a mean age of 59.8±13.7 years were included in the study. The mean PDQ-39 score in the case group was significantly higher in all subscales, except for social support, compared to the control group. The mean score of PDQ-39 was significantly higher in the patients with non-deep brain stimulation (DBS) (53.9±21.1 (than those with DBS (42.22±18.1), especially in the sub-scales of mobility, activities of daily living, cognition, and communication. As the stage of the disease increased, the mean PDQ-39 score in these patients increased significantly. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that sex, patient age, smoking, education level, duration of disease, patient stage, and intervention with DBS were significantly related to patients' QoL (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study highlights the significant impact of DBS on PD patients' QoL, especially in sub-scales of mobility, daily activities, emotional well-being, and cognition. Moreover, identifying the main prognostic factors of QoL (sex, age, smoking status, educational level, disease duration, and stage) can lead to avenues for improving the lives of these patients.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
A benign condition known as a febrile seizure (FS) occurs between the ages of six and 60 months w... more A benign condition known as a febrile seizure (FS) occurs between the ages of six and 60 months when the patient has a fever of at least 38 °C, is not suffering from a central nervous system (CNS) infection or metabolic disorder, and has no prior history of FSs. Oxidative stress is thought to contribute to the emergence of several neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in febrile children with and without seizures. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Heshmatieh Hospital, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, between March 2020 and March 2021. Forty febrile children with a temperature of 38 °C and above (F) and 40 febrile children who experienced FS were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from all patients. PAB was evaluated using a special PAB assay. The pro-oxidant-antioxidant ratio values were expressed in HK units. Results: The HK variable in the FS group was 180.43±9.28 and 131.83±17.73 in the F group. The FS group had a higher mean serum level of PAB than the F group (P<0.05), indicating that the level of oxidative stress in patients with FSs was higher than in febrile patients without seizures. Conclusion: Serum antioxidant levels appear to interiorize the risk of seizures in febrile children.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-beta ... more Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation, leading to inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired synaptic function. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective mechanisms of Vitis vinifera L. flavones (VTF) against Aβ-induced neurodegeneration and their potential as AD therapeutics. Methods: In an in vitro analysis, Aβ1-42 oligomers were used to induce mitophagy in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Cells were treated with VTF alone and in combination with chloroquine (CQ), a lysosomal inhibitor, to assess Aβ1-42-induced mitophagy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence (IFC) were used to investigate the effects of Aβ1-42 on autophagosomes and deposition. Cellular protection against Aβ-induced damage was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Western blotting (WB) was used to determine the expression of autophagy-lysosomal pathway proteins (Beclin-1, Atg7, p62, and BACE1) and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, which serves as a marker of autophagy. Results: CQ and VTF demonstrated significant neuroprotection against Aβ1-42-induced neurodegeneration (P<0.05). VTF, alone or with CQ, increased viable cell count (~1.2-fold; P<0.05), indicating reparative capabilities. TEM and IFC showed robust protection by VTF and CQ against Aβ protein deposition, as well as preservation of mitochondrial and autophagosomal structures. VTF and CQ treatments reduced Beclin-1, Atg7, and BACE1 levels, indicating the modulation of mitophagy and autophagy-lysosomal suppression. VTF+CQ maintained LC3-II/LC3-I balance, confirming VTF's role in preserving autophagy (P<0.01). Conclusion: This study reveals the novel neuroprotective role of VTF, emphasizing its potential as an AD therapeutic. Future research should extend investigations to in vivo models and clinical settings to enhance our understanding of VTF's neuroprotective efficacy.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
The sural-to-radial sensory nerve action potential amplitude ratio (SRAR) can be used to diagnose... more The sural-to-radial sensory nerve action potential amplitude ratio (SRAR) can be used to diagnose peripheral axonal neuropathy. However, different studies have revealed varying lowest values for this index. This study aimed to identify the minimum normal value of SRAR in healthy individuals and evaluate the impact of age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), forearm length, wrist circumference, ankle circumference, and leg length on the lowest normal value of SRAR to distinguish between healthy individuals and those with axonal polyneuropathy. Methods: This study involved 108 individuals referred for four-limb electrodiagnostic tests with normal results. The participants were between 20 and 70 years old, and the study was conducted between July 2022 and December 2023. Electrodiagnostic tests were performed to determine the range of sensation in the sural and radial sensory nerves. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 26, and a P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study revealed that the lowest SRAR value was 0.2 (mean 0.435±0.175). According to the Pearson correlation test, the SRAR has no significant correlation with age, BMI, forearm length, wrist circumference, ankle circumference, and leg length. Conclusion: The study found that the SRAR was not affected by various physical characteristics, such as age, sex, height, weight, forearm length, wrist circumference, ankle circumference, or leg circumference. An SRAR value of 0.2 was identified as the minimum normal value of SRAR in our healthy subjects.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Genotropin, a recombinant human growth hormone (GH), has been proposed as a potential repositioni... more Genotropin, a recombinant human growth hormone (GH), has been proposed as a potential repositioning drug to treat neurological disorders. However, its efficacy in managing neuropathic pain remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effects of Genotropin and investigate its potential mechanisms of action. Methods: Two weeks after chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, adult male rats were randomly assigned to three main groups: Control, vehicle (normal saline [NS]), and treatment. The treatment group received Genotropin at doses of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg, either alone or in combination with L-arginine, L-NAME, or glutamate (n=8 per group). Pain-related behaviors were assessed using Von Frey filaments, the plantar test, and the Randall-Selitto test. Blood samples were collected to analyze oxidative and antioxidative markers. Results: Genotropin significantly reduced mechanical allodynia (P<0.05, F=2.7) and mechanical (P<0.01, F=3.4) and thermal hyperalgesia (P<0.001, F=2.5). Pretreatment with 0.3 mg/kg GH abolished the pronociceptive effects of L-arginine (500 mg/kg) and glutamate (1000 nmol) (P<0.01; F=2, F=3) while enhancing the antinociceptive effect of L-NAME (P<0.05, F=2.8). GH also significantly reduced lipid peroxidation (P<0.01, F=3.7) and restored levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P<0.01; F=11, F=10.52, F=5, respectively). Additionally, catalase (CAT) levels were significantly increased (P<0.01, F=5). Conclusion: These results suggest that exogenous GH alleviates neuropathic pain and enhances antioxidant defenses in a model of peripheral neuropathic pain. The involvement of glutamate and nitric oxide (NO) pathways in GH's antinociceptive effects was also demonstrated. Therefore, Genotropin holds potential as a repositioned therapeutic agent for treating neuropathic pain.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Targeting smoothened (SMO) has been a remarkable strategy for treating sonic hedgehog (Shh)-depen... more Targeting smoothened (SMO) has been a remarkable strategy for treating sonic hedgehog (Shh)-dependent cancers, especially medulloblastoma. GDC-0449, also known as vismodegib, is a potent SMO inhibitor with mild toxicity and high affinity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the anti-medulloblastoma efficacy of vismodegib in the DAOY medulloblastoma cell line. Methods: Human DAOY medulloblastoma cells were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM). 50, 80, 100, and 150 μM doses of vismodegib were used to treat cells. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), scratch, and trypan blue assays, as well as real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence studies, were performed 24 and 48 h post-treatment. Results: The MTT and trypan blue assays showed a significant difference in viability between the control and treatment groups. The results of the scratch assay showed that in the control group, the cells were able to repair the lesion, while the scratch disintegrated at higher doses of vismodegib. The expression of SMO, Gli1, and MYCN genes, the main components of the SHH signalling pathway, was significantly reduced in the vismodegib-treated groups compared to the control group. Also, a notable increase in the activation of metastasis-promoting genes (Bax and p53) and a reduction in the activation of the metastasis-inhibiting gene (Bcl2) were observed. Conclusion: The results of the current study confirm that vismodegib is a potent inhibitor of the Shh pathway and may be used in combination with new therapeutic methods to treat medulloblastoma.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 2025
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease accompanied by cognitive dysf... more Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease accompanied by cognitive dysfunction. Preclinical changes can precede the onset of clinical symptoms by decades, highlighting the need for preventative and therapeutic strategies to mitigate or delay disease progression. This pilot clinical trial aimed to investigate the effects of commercially available curcumin nanomicelles on oxidative stress pathways and serum cholinesterase levels in patients with AD. Methods: Fifteen volunteers with mild-to-severe AD and 15 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Participants with AD received 80 mg of thermodynamically stable 10 nm curcumin nanomicelles on alternate days for two months. Cognitive function, as assessed by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), did not exhibit significant changes in patients with AD following curcumin nanomicelle administration (19.8 versus 20.6). Serum levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibition, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and cholinesterase activity, were evaluated before and after intervention. Results: The results showed no significant differences in cognition improvement, CAT activity, SOD inhibition, MOD concentration, or cholinesterase activity between patients with AD and healthy controls or before and after curcumin nanomicelle administration. Conclusion: Although curcumin nanocarriers did not enhance antioxidant biomolecule levels, they did not provoke lipid peroxidation. Therefore, this study suggests that optimizing nanocarrier parameters, including concentration, particle size larger than 10 nm, and blood-brain barrier (BBB)targeting, warrants further investigation in a long-term study to explore their potential as supplemental therapies for AD. Article info:
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Papers by Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal