2^nd International Conference on Brain Disorders and Therapeutics October 26-28, 2016 Chicago, USA

Biography:

Kerensa Broersen completed her Doctorate in the field of protein aggregation at Wageningen University in The Netherlands in 2005. After her Post-doctoral study at the MRC-LMB in the UK, she joined the Free University of Brussels (VUB)/Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) in 2007. Here, she headed a research team that studied the molecular mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease. This led to the discovery of molecular pathways of a number of risk factors that affect Alzheimer’s disease pathobiology. Subsequently, she joined the Nanobiophysics Group at the University of Twente/MIRA Institute in The Netherlands as an Assistant Professor investigating further the impact of protein structures on human health with her team

Abstract:

One of the most prominent hallmarks detected in the brain of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is the deposition of amyloidogenic plaques. These plaques are largely composed of the amyloid-beta peptide. It has been demonstrated that, even though these plaques comprise an important and recurring feature for disease, that precursor forms of these plaques, called ‘oligomers’ or ‘protofibrils’ more potently affect neuronal functioning. The amyloid-beta peptide arises from cleavage of trans-membrane amyloid precursor protein through cleavage by means of a combination of secretase enzymes. As a result of this enzymatic processing, genetic profile and further modifications, the amyloid beta peptide does not exist as a well-defined species but arises in a variety of truncated and modified forms. For example, it has been reported that, within any one individual, a range of amyloid beta peptides exist varying in length from 34 to 49 amino acids and that multiple otherwise modified forms of this peptide are present in a complex mixture. We have shown that small shifts in the composition of the amyloid beta pool can have significant impact on the aggregation reaction, cellular response and cognitive behavior in animal models. The mechanism by which hence formed variants of the amyloid-beta peptide cause disease still remains elusive. In aim to determine how amyloid beta peptide manifests its pathological effects, we use Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy, mass spectrometry and immunohistochemistry to monitor peptide aggregation.

Biography:

P. Giannakopoulos was Born in 1965 in Greece and obtained his MD degree in the University of Athens in 1989 before completing a full training on psychiatry and psychotherapy in London (Maudsley Hospital and Geneva) as well as postdoc training in Paris (La Pitié-Sâlpetrière Hospital, Federation of Neurology). In 1998, aged 33 years, he has been appointed as associate professor and medical head of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry of the University Hospitals of Geneva. Later on (2004) he obtained the position of full tenured professor of Psychiatry in the University of Geneva. From 2003 to 2011, he also assumed a parallel position of full professor of Old Age Psychiatry in the University of Lausanne in order to promote the academic careers of junior staff locally. He has been Chairman of the Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry in Geneva for ten years (2005-2015) and vice dean of the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Geneva in charge of postgraduate and continuous education (2003-2011). From December 1^st 2015, he is the medical head of the forensic psychiatry development in Geneva county. Specialist of Alzheimer disase research, he published more than 220 peer reviewed articles in the field of neurobiology of aging with particular focus on predictive biomarkers of cognitive decline.

Abstract:

Early clinic-pathological studies demonstrated that the two cardinal lesions associated with Alzheimer disease (AD), neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and amyloid deposits, have a differential impact on cognition both at early and late stages of the neurodegenerative process. In contrast to ß-amyloid (Aß) deposition that occurs diffusely in the human brain over 60 years of age, NFT formation follows hierarchical schemes of regional and cellular vulnerability affecting first the entorhinal cortex and parahippocampal formation before moving in adjacent neocortical association areas. Long before the emergence of novel imaging techniques, it was clear that Aß deposits correlate very weekly with cognition and downstream neurodegenerative biomarkers. In contrast, NFT and associated synaptic loss is strictly related to the loss of cognitive functions not only at late but also at early stages of AD.  The last decade was characterized by the exponential increase of knowledge in the field of AD predictive biomarkers and, most importantly, characterization of tracers for ß-amyloid (Aß). It is now widely acknowledged that amyloid deposits in positron emission tomography (PET) with Pittsburg compound B (PiB; a marker of Aß fibrillar deposits) precede dementia by 5-10 years, and PiB burden inversely correlates with concentration of Aβ42 in the cerebro-spinal fluid. However, increased PiB burden was reported in nearly 20% to 30% of controls in the general population pointing to the fact that Aß deposition is not sufficient to cause cognitive decline in AD. Moreover, the rate of Aß accumulation is not related to neurodegeneration at baseline and only 8% of controls display both decreased hippocampal volume and increased PiB signal. According to Jack’s model, all of the aforementioned markers become positive well before dementia onset, and the ones related to amyloid pathology already reach their plateau at the time of first cognitive deficits. More recently, selective tau tracers became available for clinical research. Although a PiB equivalent is not yet ready for tau imaging, the recent development of tau tracers with higher selectivity, reduced non-specific binding and improved tracer kinetics compared to the first molecules raise increasing expectations among the scientific community. Given the tight association between tau deposition, cognition and neurodegeneration, and unlike Aß imaging, tau imaging will be essential for assessing disease progression. Furthermore, they may help to resolve the controversy about the temporal sequence of tau pathology in AD. The new diagnostic criteria by Dubois and collaborators consider that the development of tau pathology, at least under its fibrillar forms, is a late phenomenon in AD dependent, at least partly, on the Aß deposition in prodromal states. Recent contributions showed that tau-related markers (but also structural MRI changes) might become positive in the absence of PiB deposits mainly in preclinical cases. Ultimately, tau imaging will provide the tool to change the landscape and explore whether or not presymptomatic administration of anti-Aß therapy impacts on the progression of tau pathology that determines the clinical expression of AD.

Biography:

Ann Marie Gillie works as an Education Assistant for Parkland County School Division in Alberta, Canada, where her role is working primarily with students who suffer from ADHD/ADD/ ODD and other behavior disorders. She was asked in 2012 to be a Canadian Advocate for Epilepsy and with her passion and drive for motivating others her role has taken her internationally to speak. She is also a published author (If Walls Could Talk and Let's Talk about Epilepsy) and had several articles published in regards to experience with epilepsy and surgery. Her topics of discussion at conferences and seminars are - her surgery (Left Selective Amygdalahippocampectomy), women and epilepsy, sex & seizures and her books. She is passionate about helping others that struggle with the disorder and her goal is to help others internationally.

Abstract:

Being diagnosed with Epilepsy at the age of 2 1/2 years old defiantly created several obstacles for myself and my family, but being the stubborn and positive individual that I am, I was able to get through it; I actually Beat Epilepsy. On December 03, 2002 my life was changed forever, I underwent neuro surgery at University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. My surgery was called Left Selective Amygdala hippocampectomy and the procedure was a 100% success. I had 6 grand mal seizures two days before my surgery and those were my last, I can even say that I have been off all medications now for over 10 years. That is an extremely proud feeling. My past history with epilepsy was like a roller coaster, on meds, off meds, side effects, seizures, no seizures; it was a never ending hurtles, but I stayed strong and survived it. I was never in special needs classes; I played sports and was an individual with an infectious personality, so I am regularly told. Since my surgery in 2002, I have accomplished some amazing tasks and ones I would never have thought possible. I have published two books have had several articles published in papers and magazines, as well as international medical sites like SNI (Surgical Neurology International) and CURE. My number one goal is to educate others around the world, but not from a professional side of things but from someone that has lived it, that understands the obstacles others go through. From my understanding, there are not a lot of individuals that speak on the topic of epilepsy, locally or internationally and I want to change that. I have been a people person my whole life and I feel that there was a reason I am here today speaking about my story; Epilepsy needs to be talked about and I am the one to do that! I want to be that Voice for Epilepsy.

Biography:

Sanjoy Sanyal is Associate Dean, Clinical Neuroscience Professor, Surgeon and Informatician in Texila American University, Guyana, South America. He holds double Master's degrees from India and UK. He has published more than 50 papers in print and online journals. He is a Neuroscience editor and peer-reviewer of WebmedCentral. He has posted more than 300 Neuroscience videos online, accompanied by his running commentaries. He is currently writing a Neuroscience book for medical students. He has presented papers in more than 10 international forums. He holds a provisional patent from USPTO on a computerized program for staging 26 human cancers

Abstract:

While the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are poorly understood, researchers have used functional brain imaging in healthy volunteers and individuals with schizophrenia and BPD to map interrelationships between five brain networks. Brain networks are regions that function together and are responsible for its higher activities.  Two networks showed diminished interactions in schizophrenia and BPD. On this platform of existing knowledge it was decided to chart the neural pathways on a dissected human brain and relate this to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and BPD.

After sagittally dividing a formalinized human brain, five components of basal forebrain, ventral tegmental area and cingulate gyrus were located on the model. Next, the meso-cortical and meso-limbic pathways were charted out on the brain model. Then the most probable locations of pathology in Types-I and II schizophrenia were pinpointed in these pathways.

While obviously speculative, this approach enhances understanding of schizophrenia and BPD in several ways. Networks that are out of balance in both illnesses may be related to certain psychotic symptoms seen in both, such as delusions. This model provides the location of antipsychotic intervention on Dopamine-2 and 5HT-2 receptors for the amelioration of schizophrenia and possibly BPD symptoms. It also enables the neurologist to envisage the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and BPD in a more tangible way. Preliminary feedback from viewers of this model has been very positive. Finally, this brain model paves the way for focused imaging studies for more accurate localization of the pathological brain networks in both conditions

Biography:

Martin Kronenbuerger, MD obtained his medical school training in Heidelberg, Germany and Lexington, Kentucky. He completed Neurology Residency at Aachen University Hospital, Germany, where he was subsequently attending Neurologist. He is currently a fellow in Movement Disorders at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He has published more than 25 papers in peer-review journals, most of them on Movement Disorders.

Abstract:

Essential tremor (ET) is a very prevalent tremor disorder. Tremor in ET is due to an over activity of cerebello-thalamic-cortical tracts. Newer evidence point to the existence of non-motor symptoms in ET such as neuropsychological deficits, related to a disturbance of the cerebello-thalamic/cortical tracts. There are no formal studies on the effects of drug treatment on neuropsychological performance in ET, and little is known about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) on neuropsychological deficits in ET. We systematically assessed the effects of DBS on neuropsychological functioning in ET patients. We examined nine ET patients before surgery (PRE-SURGERY), and 1 and 6 years thereafter with DBS switched on (DBS-ON) and off (DBS-OFF). Standardized neuropsychological tests and reaction time tests were applied. There were no differences in tasks of verbal fluency, memory, and executive and intellectual functions comparing PRE-SURGERY, DBS-ON, and DBS-OFF at 1 and 6 years post-surgery. Lesions caused by DBS electrode implantation led to an increase in simple reaction time, while the actual electrical stimulation restored impaired reaction time. Neither stereotactic surgery nor electrical stimulation affected higher cognitive processes in patients with ET in the short or long term. This study proposes that cerebello- thalamo-cortical pathways in humans are involved in tasks of simple reaction time.

Biography:

Mehdi Ghasemi completed his M.D. in Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in 2008. After working as a clinical researcher in Dept. of Psychiatry and senior researcher in Dept. of Pharmacology in TUMS, he joined Department of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2009 as post-dctoral researcher. He was also the director of Neuroscience Clinical Research Program at Neurology Institute for Brain Health and Fitness (2012-2014). Ghasemi is currently a resident of neurology at University of Massachusetts Medical School. He has published over 80 papers/abstracts in peer reviewed journals and scientific conferences worldwide and serving as an editorial board member and ad hoc reviewer of many scientific international journals.

Abstract:

There is no doubt that the elderly population is growing worldwide and in the USA. As age advances, the likelihood of sleep disturbances increases, which leads to alterations in the quality and quantity of sleep. Complaints about sleep disturbances have been reported in approximately 50% of seniors more than 65 years old living at home and 65% of those residing in nursing home facilities. Persistent sleep disorders in these group of people are associated with impaired cognition, diminished intellect, poor memory, confusion, and psychomotor retardation all of which may be misinterpreted as dementia. Therefore, understanding of sleep disturbances and the efficient therapeutic approach to these disorders plays a key role in decreasing the likelihood of cognitive impairment in elderly and those patients with demetia. In this talk, we review the sleep pattern changes related to aging, and recent pathophysiologic theories underlying sleep diturbances (such as glymphatic system theory) and related cognitive impairment in patients with neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia). We also discuss the most common sleep disorders related to the neurodegenerative disorders and therapeutic approaches to these disoroders.

Biography:

Yuri P Danilov is a system neuroscientist with over 35 years’ experience in research on brain functions and the special senses, including vision, taste, hearing and balance. He is the lead discoverer of the balance retention effect and continues to identify potential clinical and non-clinical application of neuromodulation and sensory substitution technology. He received the PhD degree in Neuroscience, in 1984, from the Pavlov Institute of Physiology, USSR Academy of Science. He was co-inventor of the Brain Port vision and balance systems. He is a co-inventor of the CN-NINM technology and his interest areas are neuroplasticity, neurorehabilitation and enhancement of human performance.

Abstract:

Th e neurorehabilitation of sensory and motor functions aft er brain damage and loss of brain functions is underdeveloped,
including the recovery of eye-movement control. Th ere are very few methods that show the possibility of eye movements
enhancement aff ected by brain injuries or disease. Th e goal of our research was to investigate how cranial-nerve non-invasive
neuromodulation (CN-NINM) can recover the oculomotor function impairments and help to improve eye movement control
for people with stroke, Parkinson’ s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms. Th e CNNINM
therapy includes a combination of targeted exercises for recovery of balance and gait motor control with electrotactile
tongue stimulation, using the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNStm device). Assessment of oculomotor function was
performed before and aft er the CN-NINM intervention using special 4-channel binocular eye tracking goggles (VisualEyes,
Micromedical Inc) and custom analysis soft ware. To evaluate the state of subjects’ eye movements, we used three static
nystagmus tests (vertical and horizontal gaze, and spontaneous nystagmus) and two dynamic tests (random saccade and
smooth pursuit). All of the tests were performed without tongue stimulation.
Balance, gait, and eye movement control gradually improved in all tests. We observed improvement of eye fi xation, accuracy
and stability in nystagmus and gaze tests, increased eye movement accuracy and precision, improved gain and velocity of target
tracking, and changes in both smoothness and synchronization of binocular movement control in oculomotor tests. Th e
improvements of eye movement control demonstrated by this set of case studies suggest that CN-NINM therapy may benefi t
people aff ected by stroke, PD, MS, and TBI, and would off er a novel treatment option for oculomotor disorders.

Biography:

Jordan L Holtzman, Graduated from University of Chicago, the Pritzker School Of Medicine in 1959. He Complete internship from University Ill Rsc/Ed in 1960. He Completed Residency training from University of Minnesota in 1973, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN, USA at present he is in Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN, USA. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, USA.

Abstract:

Alzheimer’s disease is described as a progressive dementia associated with the extracellular deposits in the brain of a garbage protein, β-amyloid (Aβ) and the intracellular deposits of tangles. The vast majority of the patients develop the disease in old age while a small portion has an early onset, familial form. Since the 1970’s it has been generally assumed that the dementia seen in the two forms is due to the neurotoxicity of the Aβ. With the purification and sequencing of Aβ in the 1990’s investigators were able to identify the mutations associated with the familial forms. A number of laboratories transfected mice with these mutated genes. Since these animals exhibited many of the pathological and clinical manifestations of the late onset disease, they have been used to screen for new therapeutic agents. Unfortunately, all 244 drugs identified in these models have failed in clinical trials in elderly patients. Work from my laboratory has suggested that plaque deposits of Aβ rather than causing the dementia is merely a biomarker for a decline in the capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in the cells to catalyze the posttranslational processing of 40% of cellular proteins, including those synaptic, membrane proteins required for a functioning memory. This paradigm is based on our observation that in the CSF all Aβ is normally N-glycosylated and bound to ER proteins, ERp57 and calreticulin. These data suggest a new direction for drug discovery in which agents are screened for their ability to increase the levels in cell lines of fluorescently labeled components of the ER posttranslational pathway. The development of these cell lines would permit rapid screening for potential therapeutic agents in plate readers.

Biography:

Marina Zueva, Professor of Pathophysiology, PhD, Dr. Biol. Sci., graduated from the Lomonosov Moscow State University (Department of Physiology of Higher Nervous Activity), received her PhD and Dr. Biol. Sci. degrees from Moscow Helmholtz Research Institute of Eye Diseases. Currently, she is the Head of the Division of Clinical Physiology of Vision at the Moscow Helmholtz Research Institute of Eye Diseases. She is a member of International Society of Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV), European Association on Vision and Eye Research (EVER), European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA), the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR). She has published over ten peer-reviewed papers in English (over 80 in Russian) and presented over 60 topics at international conferences.

Abstract:

The theory of "fractality of sensations" was recently published, which for the first time substantiates that healthy functions of the brain and visual system are tied intimately to the fractal complexity of the temporal and spatial structure of the environmental visual, auditory and other cues, which accompany the person during his life. It follows from the theory that the loss for various reasons of the complex fractal characteristics of the environment stimuli can contribute to the simplification of network connections and the activity of the brain. It, in turn, can result in the distortion in the timing of CNS maturation (e.g., in amblyopia) and biological rhythms regulation and aggravate the age-related neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., in glaucoma, Alzheimer's diseases). An application of fractal flickering, sound pulses and other fractal rhythms seem to be effective in restoring the function of the brain and visual system, in particular, in patients with neurodegenerative diseases and amblyopia. The artificial fractal cues may underlie new therapeutic paradigms for the reactivation of brain plasticity. It determines the relevance of the elaboration of technologies providing the intermittent fractal stimuli of the complex temporal structure. Possible new directions for experimental and applied research based on the fundamental tenets of this theory must determine benefits of and indications for non-linear stimulation, and for the combined use of fractal stimulation and noise therapy. One should also explore the assumption that exposure to artificial visual and auditory stimuli with regular temporal structure may contribute to the decline in brain functions.

Biography:

John Kennedy is a pioneer in the field of Applied Neuroplasticity. He was contracted by the US Marines in 2006 to create an on-digital neuroplastic mental performance training program to reduce casualties in combat by improving attention, intuition and decision making under stress. He has since helped over 2500 people, in the areas of military, education, business, mental resiliency, improve their quality of life. He speaks regularly at corporate events and parent organizations on the topic of creating neuroplastically enriching environments. He is also the author of the forthcoming book Zombie Thinking™- Why we do what we do and how to change it.

Abstract:

PACE is the core modality of Combat Brain Training™ (CBT) a unique, non-digital neuroplastic training regimen developed at the request of US Military forces to improve intuition and situational awareness. Vetted by USSOCOM, it has proven to be an effective pre-deployment force multiplier for all branches of the Armed Forces including Marines, SEALs, Snipers and Pilots. As Marines returned from combat with severe TBI, CBT was found to significantly accelerate recovery and is currently being integrated into Rush Hospital’s (Chicago) Road Home program for transitioning vets. It provides targeted robust mental stimulation to create long term potentiation in the areas of the brain associated with executive function using analog neuroplastic training tools. These changes solidify in as little as 20 minutes and after the stabilization process ends the synapse is significantly stronger - this process can occur as many times as need be until the synapse no longer receives the stimulation that is greater than it is prepared for, hence progressively accelerated cognitive exertion. The exercise tools look like games and can be performed with family and caregivers so sessions are fun and interactive and carry no stigma usually associated with interventions. In the civilian world it has helped victims of TBI from accidents, athletes suffering from concussions and children with severe LD. Over 2500 people have experienced PACE with 100% reporting significant improvements in real world performance.

Biography:

Abstract:

Background and Objective: Verticalization was reported to improve the level of arousal and awareness in patients with severe acquired brain injury (ABI) and to be safe in ICU. We evaluated the effectiveness of a very early stepping verticalization protocol on their functional and neurological outcome.

Methods: Consecutive patients with Vegetative State or Minimally Conscious State were enrolled in ICU on the third day after an ABI. They were randomized to undergo conventional physiotherapy alone or associated to fifteen 30-minute sessions of verticalization, using a tilt table with robotic stepping device. Once stabilized, patients were transferred to our Neurorehabilitation unit for an individualized treatment. Outcome measures (Glasgow Coma Scale, Coma Recovery Scale revised -CRSr-, Disability Rating Scale –DRS- and Levels of Cognitive Functioning) were assessed on the third day from the injury (T0), at ICU discharge (T1) and at Rehab discharge (T2). Between- and within-group comparisons were performed by the Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, respectively.

Results: Of the 40 patients enrolled, 31 completed the study without adverse events (15 in the verticalization group and 16 in the conventional physiotherapy). Early verticalization started  12.4±7.3 (mean±SD) days after ABI. The length of stay in ICU was longer for the verticalization group (38.8 ± 15.7 vs 25.1 ± 11.2 days, p=0.01), while the total length of stay (ICU+Neurorehabilitation) was not significantly different (153.2 ± 59.6 vs 134.0 ± 61.0 days, p=0.41). All outcome measures significantly improved in both groups after the overall period (T2 vs T0, p<0.001 all), as well as after ICU stay (T1 vs T0, p<0.004 all) and after Neurorehabilitation (T2 vs T1, p<0.004 all). The improvement was significantly better in the experimental group for CRSr (T2-T0 p=0.033, T1-T0 p=0.006) and (borderline) for DRS (T2-T0 p=0.040, T1-T0 p=0.058).

Conclusions: a stepping verticalization protocol, started since the acute stages, improves the short-term and long-term functional and neurological outcome of ABI patients.

Biography:

Abstract:

Over preliminary avocation to (virtual) experimentation upon the feasibility of regional or overall transmission of Human Brain’s Electromagnetic waves – as an EEG Signal confi guration – to another Person’s Cerebral cortex, But: REMOTELY – like a modulated Signal of compatible Frequency Magnitude, without implement mediation e.g. microchip, cerebral implants or skull electrodes – IN OPEN AIR and ON ANY GPS PARAMETER. Meaning Emission Interaction from Brain to Brain (B-B Interface) means Radio Antennas sensors and Satellite mediated procedures. Primary schedule runs as: EEGgraphic waves properly detected, through specifi c sensitive appliances are gathered to be Transmitted TO OTHER Participant’s Brain. It
follows a with detectable Phase Diff erence Elaboration of those EEGgraphic Signals because these are compatible with Human Brain’s Electrophysiology. Here Not a PC but Cortex is the Decoding matter. Eff ects are impressive and constitute COGNITIVE COMMUNICATION of other’s Cerebral funct resulting in Comprehension of them as a copied Speech Analogon–Parallele,
coinciding technically to the long spoken concept of Telepathy. Th at goes back even to the very early origination of Mental Constructions’ that is to Th ought and Intangible (sensed) Images΄ making of. Furthermore this Brain to Brain Transmittal comprises not only cognitive but also Sensory interpretations. Th e quality of Perception and Interaction from person to person coincides with Reality in some fi elds while simultaneously and at any moment Intangible sensory and cognitive Images – Noetic forms Gestalt* - are realized bilaterally:

Biography:

Abstract:

Neural stem cells (NSC) have  self-renewal and multipotent properties and may serve as an ideal cell source for transplantation to treat neurodegenerative insults such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and spinal cord injury (SCI).  Obtaining NSCs from adult human olfactory bulb (OB) would avoid ethical issues associated with the use of embryonic tissue, and provide an easily accessible cell source that would preclude the need for invasive brain surgery.  To assess the therapeutic potential of OBNSCs, we studied the fate of allogenic adult human olfactory bulb neural stem/progenitor cells (OBNSC/NPCs) transplanted into the rat hippocampus treated with ibotenic acid (IBO), striatum of 6-OHDA Parkinsonian rats, and in a rat model of SCI at day 7 post injury. In AD, stereological analysis of engrafted OBNSCs eight weeks post transplantation revealed a 1.89 fold increase with respect to the initial cell population, indicating a marked ability for survival and proliferation. In addition, 54.71_11.38%, 30.18_6.00%, and 15.09_5.38% of engrafted OBNSCs were identified by morphological criteria suggestive of mature neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes respectively. In PD, the grafted cells survived in the lesion environment for more than eight weeks after implantation with no tumor formation. The grafted cells differentiated in vivo into oligodendrocyte-like (25±2.88%), neuron-like (52.63±4.16%), and astrocytic-like (22.36±}1.56%) lineages based on morphological criteria. Transplanted rats exhibited a significant partial correction in cognitive ability (AD) and stepping and placing non-pharmacological behavioral tests (PD), using a pole and rotarod. In SCI, the survival rate was about 30% relevant to initially transplanted cells. 27% of the engrafted cells differentiated along the oligodendrocyte, nearly as many (16%) differentiated into neurons, and about 56% of the cells displayed astrocyte morphology. The study revealed that OBNSCs were able to survive in the lesion  environment for more than eight weeks after implantation; this  was supported by transgenic overexpression of hNGF on engrafted cells. We didn't observe locomotor recovery by BBB test, footprint analysis and grid walk tests three months post-treatment. Taken together, this work demonstrated that human OBNSCs ameliorate the cognitive and motor deficiencies associated with AD and PD rats model rats, and the improvement can probably be attributed primarily to neuronal and glial cell replacement as well as the trophic influence exerted by the secreted NGF. In contrast, we didn't observe locomotor recovery by BBB test, footprint analysis and grid walk tests three months post-treatment in SCI.

Biography:

CDM is an MTech and PhD from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India and gained postdoctoral experience in neurobiotechnology under eminent scientists at Ohio State University Medical centre, USA. She has more than 30 publications in reputed journals and sponsored research projects. Presently she is actively engaged in teaching and research and her research interest includes preparation of nanomedicine from natural products to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract:

New research shows that an overactive immune system plays a powerful role in causing central nervous system inflammation and the destruction of neurons. It is hypothesized that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents that cross the blood brain barrier could halt the release of these damaging immune factors and reduce risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Present FDA approved medications for AD can’t reverse the natural course of the disease. A natural antioxidant, turmeric, plays a protective role in AD through immunomodulation. Epidemiological studies in India, where turmeric consumption is widespread, suggest it has the lowest prevalence rates of AD in the world. Preclinical research work has already established the effectiveness of curcumin in lowering Aβ loads, alleviating neuroinflammation, preserving neurones and synapses and preventing hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins. However, because of poor bioavailability of curcumin and rapid biotransformation in blood, translation of curcumin’s effectiveness in clinical settings is not fully observed. Encapsulation of curcumin bioactive compounds in nanopraticles which can cross blood brain barrier plays a significant role in neurorestoration by inhibiting glial proliferation and Aβ plaque formation. Curcumin C3 complex in patients with mild to moderate stage of the disease is being tried to understand the efficacy [through AD Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale (ADASCog), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADCS-ADL)] the mechanism of action of curcumin (cholesterol levels, CSF isoprostanes, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, C-reactive protein, tau, Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42). A 24 week randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of two doses of curcumin in persons with mild-to-moderate AD was promising.

Biography:

Dong Sun received a degree of Bachelor of Medicine from Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China, in 1986 and a M.Sc. in Radiology from West China Medical University, Chengdu, China in 1989.  Following a residency training in Radiology, Dr. Sun became an attending Radiologist for a number of years in China before pursuing Ph.D. training in Experimental Neuropathology at School of Medicine, Southampton University, United Kingdom in 1995. After completing Ph.D. in 1999, Dr. Sun did postdoctoral trainings, first in the Department of Pharmacology at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Maryland, and then in the Department of Neurosurgery at Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University (MCV/VCU), Virginia, before becoming an Assistant Professor in 2004 and then Associate Professor in 2010 in MCV/VCU.  Dr. Sun’s research interest is to investigate strategies that can facilitate brain repair and regeneration following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and aging.  Using varying type of rodent TBI models as well as Alzheimer’s transgenic model, her studies examine the association of TBI, aging, neuroinflammation with neurogenesis and cognitive function. Her search is well supported by NIH and other foundation grants.

Abstract:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem worldwide.  Despite improving survival rate after TBI, currently, there is no effective treatment to improve neural structural repair and functional recovery of TBI survivors.  It is now well established that in the mature mammalian brain, new neurons are generated throughout life in the neurogenic regions of the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus.  The extent and the function of adult neurogenesis under neuropathological conditions have been explored in varying types of disease models in animals. Increasing evidence has indicated that this endogenous neurogenesis may play regenerative and reparative roles in response to CNS injuries or diseases. In the field of brain trauma, neural regeneration either through stimulating endogenous neural stem cells or through stem cell transplantation has gained increasing attention. This presentation will discuss recent development of strategies we and others have explored to facilitate the repair and regeneration of the injured brain following TBI through manipulating endogenous neurogenesis and through optimizing neural transplantation. 

Biography:

Gemma Casadesus Smith has authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, chapters, and commentaries, has edited several books and special topics for various journals, and serves as editor in chief of Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience. Casadesus is a member of several editorial boards including Journal of Alzheimer’s disease, Neuropharmacology and Neurobiology of Aging, amongst others, serves in advisory and review panels for federal and private foundations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, NIH and the VA and is a member of various scientifi c societies including Society for Neurosciences, the International Behavioral Neurosciences Society and the International Society for Neurochemistry

Abstract:

The goal of my laboratory is to determine the chronology of appearance and interplay between pathological CNS events that underlie the loss of learning and memory function and neuronal plasticity during aging. Th e focus on my work is on Alzheimer’s Disease prevention/delay strategies, however, the basic understanding of mechanisms studied in my laboratory can be broadly translated to brain health strategies beyond AD such neuroprotection and repair. Particular focus is placed on understanding the basic mechanisms of peptide hormones such as leptin, amylin, estrogen and gonadotropins and how age-related changes in these metabolic and reproductive peptide and steroid hormones infl uence hippocampal function and plasticity and brain health. We use animal and cellular models and a broad variety of techniques including behavioral testing, histology, in vivo and in vitro viral and pharmacological delivery, imaging, and transgenic approaches to address these aims.

Biography:

Marc Borsotto has obtained his PhD in the University of Nice Côte d’Azur. He is a Researcher Director (CNRS) at the Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (Valbonne, France), he is the PI of the project "Spadin and Depression". His laboratory is member of the ICST Excellence Network, a connection between ionic channels research teams. He is internationally recognized in the field of potassium channels (ATP-sensitive K+ channels, KCNQ2/3 K+ channels and Two-pore domain K+ channels). He published more than 50 articles cited more than 2600 fold, h-index = 25, i10 = 34 (Google scholar). He is coauthor of 4 patents.

Abstract:

From the posttranslational maturation process of sortilin, we identified a 17 aminoacid peptide, called spadin as a new antidepressant drug concept. Spadin exerts its antidepressant actions on the TREK-1 potassium channel, a novel antidepressant (AD) target. We showed that spadin acts more rapidly in comparison to other ADs. We have pointed out that spadin induced neurogenesis after only 4-day treatments. We demonstrated that spadin did not display side effects at the cardiac level and on TREK-1 controlled functions such as stroke, epilepsy or pain. With the final goal to make spadin a drug for human clinic, we sought analogs of spadin demonstrating a better affinity or a better in vivo stability or both. By electrophysiology on HEK293 cells stably transfected with TREK-1 channels, several analogs were tested for their ability to block the TREK-1 channel activity. AD effects were measured by using the forced swim and novelty suppressed feeding tests. Synaptogenesis was investigated by measuring the expression level of the synaptic protein PSD-95 in in vitro cultured neurons. Our data allow us to identify a shortened spadin, called mini-spadin, that displayed the same AD properties as spadin and a 400 fold increase in the TREK-1 affinity. Mini-spadin increased the synaptogenesis marker PSD95 levels after only 24 hours of treatment, suggesting that like spadin, mini-spadin was able to induce neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Even if further experiments are required, the mini-spadin appears to be more efficient than spadin offering a very promising alternate to spadin as human drug.

Biography:

Abstract:

Background: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a relatively common psychiatric disorder characterized by preoccupations with perceived defects in physical appearance. Objectives: This review aimed to explore epidemiology, clinical features, co morbidities and treatment options for BDD in different clinical settings. We reviewed the literature written between 1985 and 2012 using the key words body dysmorphic disorder, dysmorphophobia, Psychodermatology. Results: BDD occurs in 0.7%–2.4% of community samples and 13% of psychiatric inpatients. Etiology is multi-factorial with recent findings indicating deficits in visual information processing. There is considerable overlap between BDD and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in symptoms etiology and response to treatment which led to suggestions that BDD can be classified with anxiety disorders and OCD. A recent finding indicated genetic overlap between BDD and OCD. Over 60 % of BDD patients had a lifetime anxiety disorder, 38% had social phobia which tends to predate the onset of BDD. Studies reported a high level of co-morbidity with depression and social phobia occurring in >70% of BDD patients. BDD individuals present frequently to dermatologists (about 9%–14% of dermatologic patients have BDD). BDD co-occurs with pathological skin picking in 26-44.9% of cases. BDD has currently two variants: delusional and non-delusional and both variants respond similarly to Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SRIs) which may have effect on obsessive thoughts and rituals. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has the best established treatment results. Conclusion: A considerable overlap exists between BDD and other psychiatric disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety and delusional disorder and this comorbidity should be considered in evaluation, management and long term follow up of the disorder. Individuals with BDD usually consult dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons rather than psychiatrist. Collaboration between different specialties (such as primary care, dermatology, cosmetic surgery and psychiatry) is required for better treatment outcome.

Biography:

Ming-Jen Lee has completed his Neurology resident training at the age of 31 years from National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), Taipei, Taiwan. He completed his PhD course from Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK.  He is an associate professor in the Department of Neurology, NTUH. He is in charge of the neurogenetic clinic for ten more years and is interested in the disease mechanism of peripheral neuropathy and neurocutaneous disorders. He has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals.

Abstract:

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is a rare genetic disorder frequently caused by a mutation in transthyretin (TTR) gene. There are two cardinal clinical features of TTR-FAP, autonomic dysfunction and sensorimotor polyneuropathy. To elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms of FAP, we evaluated the changes of the electrophysiological parameters in both patients (TTR, p.A97S mutation) and mutant carriers. The clinical phenotypes, neuropathy severity scores (NDS and ONLS), and the indices from nerve excitability test (NET) were collected. The median NDS and ONLS scores for patients are 54.5 (range, 13-82) and 4.5 (3-9), respectively. The nerve conduction studies showed markedly reduced CMAP and SNAP in patients, but unremarkable in carriers. NET data obtained from ulnar nerves of carriers showed increase of threshold, rheobase, and refractories in recovery cycle (RC). In the patient group, the NET study showed prolonged latency, reduced threshold elevation during hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus (TE) at 10~40 ms (TE_h(10-20ms) and TE_h(20-40ms)), and increased refractoriness in the motor axons. There were prolonged latency, increased threshold reduction and S2 accommodation in depolarizing TE, lowed TE_{h(slope 101-140 ms)}, delayed time to overshoot after hyperpolarization, increased refractoriness and superexcitability in RC in sensory axons. The regression models demonstrated that the increase of refractoriness and prolonged relatively refractory period are correlated to the disease progression from carrier to patients. A defect in sodium current might be an early pre-symptomatic pathophysiological change considering the marked increase of refractoriness at short-width stimulus. Furthermore, the shallower slope of recovery, delayed time to overshoot after hyperpolarizing TE, and increase of superexcitability suggest a focal disruption of basal lamina and myelin membrane leading to the increase of intermodal capacity.

Biography:

Michihiko Koeda is a senior assistant professor of the psychiatry department at Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. He completed his PhD at the Medical Research Institute of Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He was a visiting researcher at the University of Glasgow. He is continuing to investigate auditory brain function by the use of functional MRI to clarify the pathophysiology of psychiatric symptoms, and pharmacological and/or genetic effects.

Abstract:

In order to understand the pathophysiology of depression, development of a convenient clinical application for evaluating frontotemporal function using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a very important challenge. In terms of time resolution, NIRS is more effective than functional MRI (fMRI), although anatomical resolution is not much better than by fMRI. However, whether the significant brain activation by NIRS is equivalent to that shown by fMRI is unclear. To confirm the anatomical validity of brain function, in the present study, by comparing the results of NIRS and fMRI, we investigated frontotemporal function during verbal fluency. 20 normal subjects participated in this study. Brain function of all subjects was examined by both NIRS and fMRI during a verbal fluency procedure. Two tasks were examined; period A: they simply spoke vowel sounds repeatedly; period B: they spoke words as much as possible after their initials were displayed. In both the results of NIRS and fMRI, under the condition of period B compared with period A, a significant activation was observed in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal gyrus. From these findings, we concluded that frontal activation of verbal fluency by NIRS conveniently reflects frontal brain function by fMRI.

Biography:

Francesca Gilli, received her MS in Medical Biotechnology and PhD in Human Biology from the University of Torino (Italy). She then completed her postdoctoral research in neuroimmunology at University of Torino (Italy), University of Basel (Switzerland), and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (USA). She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Neurology at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, where she works as a basic scientist. Her research focuses on attempting to understand the basic biology of neuroinflammation, demyelination and neuronal injury in Multiple Sclerosis. She has published more than 37 papers in peer-reviewed journals including 23 as main author.

Abstract:

Standard MRI sequences have been shown to be insensitive and non-specific in monitoring multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression. This lack of reliability of spinal cord imaging in identifying significant disease is a major problem in the clinical management of MS patients. In the present study, we sought to address this gap by testing the hypothesis that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), an advanced imaging technique, can reliably quantitate MS disease in the spinal cord, by using a well-characterized animal model of progressive MS, i.e. Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD).

SJL mice with TMEV-IDD and varying levels of clinical disease were imaged using a 9.4T horizontal bore small animal MRI scanner. Axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) were calculated. These DTI metrics were obtained for several regions-of-interest (ROIs) in the spinal cord, namely dorsal, dorsal-lateral, ventral and ventral-lateral white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM). Progressive disability in mice was assessed by the Rotarod performance test and disability data were expressed as a neurological function index (NFI). Correlation was then performed between DTI metrics and disability scores. TMEV-IDD mice displayed significant increased neurological deficits over time when compared with sham mice (two-way ANOVA p<0.0001). Concurrently, the values of FA and AD were both significantly decreased compared to sham controls (both p<0.0001), while RD was increased (p<0.0001). Overall, FA changes were greater in WM than in GM, and differences were more pronounced in the ventral region. Interestingly, lower NFI scores were associated with decreased FA values measured in the ventral (r=0.68; p<0.0001) and ventral-lateral (r=0.70; p<0.0001) regions of the WM, but not in the dorsal region of the WM (r=0.08; p=0.625) and the GM (r=0.24; p=0.170).

In conclusion, these data demonstrate that improved DTI measures of the spinal cord contribute to strengthening the association between neuroradiological markers and clinical disability, and support the routine use of DTI measures in spinal cord imaging in MS patients.

Biography:

Silvio Basic earned his medical degree at the Zagreb University Medical School in 1995 and obtained PhD degree in 2006. He works at the University hospital Dubrava in Zagreb as the Deputy Director, Head of the Department of Neurology and as the Head of the Referral Centre of Croatian Ministry of Health for Preoperative Assessment of Patients with Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy.

His primary field of interest is epilepsy management, especially management of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy using minimally invasive digagnostic and surgical procedures. He is the author of many scientific papers and articles with more than 150 citations

Abstract:

Stereoelectroencephalograpy (SEEG) is methodology in preoperative invasive monitoring of drug-resistant epilepsy patients with almost 60 years of clinical use. It is an established technique in Europe, especially in France in Italy, and it has been rapidly accepted as favourable preoperative method in huge number of epilepsy centres around the world, including USA and Canada. It enables tailored individualized surgical excision based on precise localization of the epileptogenic zones, especially those localized in deep cortical structures. Its main advantage is precise epileptogenic zone detection with minimally invasive approach, especially in cases when bilateral explorations are needed. Additional advantage of this technique is a possibility of intervention by using temporarily implanted depth electrodes. SEEG guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation is a treatment option for patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. By using implanted depth electrodes for invasive monitoring and epileptogenic zone detection, it is, at the same time, possible to perform thermolesions of the epileptic foci avoiding craniotomy and standard neurosurgical procedures.

Croatian experience with SEEG in preoperative assessment and as a treatment option in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy will be presented. 

Biography:

Amir Mufaddel has graduated from Khartoum University and did his MD in Psychiatry from Sudan Medical Specialization Board in 2008. Currently he is working in
Al Ain Hospital, Community Mental Health Services. He is also an Adjunct Lecturer in United Arab Emirates University. He has published several papers in reputed
journals mostly refl ecting the psychiatric aspects of physical conditions such as neurology, infectious diseases and dermatology

Abstract:

Psychiatric symptoms can be associated with several systemic and central nervous system infections and they can be the initial presenting symptoms, occurring in the absence of neurological symptoms in some disorders as in some cases of viral encephalitis. They could also be part of the clinical picture in other cases such as psychosis or mood symptoms secondary to brucellosis or toxoplasmosis. Late-onset neuropsychiatric complications may also occur several years following the infection such as in the case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis due to measles. Some Infectious diseases may have possible etiological role for major psychiatric disorders, based on yet unconfirmed reports for viral infectious diseases (e.g. Influenza virus and HSV-1) which are thought to have risk for developing schizophrenia and psychosis. Neuropsychiatric adverse effects can occur due to drugs (e.g. mefloquine, interferon-alpha) that are used for treatment of infectious diseases. Psychiatric symptoms can also be reactivated resulting from chronic, complicated and serious infections such as HIV that can lead to depression, anxiety or adjustment disorders, although CNS involvement can also be a possible etiological factor. Patients suffering from primary and severe psychiatric disorders are at increased risk of contracting infection; that is mainly related to high risk behaviors in patients with mania or schizophrenia. It is also important to consider that the co-occurrence of psychiatric symptoms and infection can be incidental (i.e. infectious diseases can occur in psychiatric patients regardless of the above mentioned factors). Early identification of the underlying etiology for organic/secondary psychiatric symptoms is essential for appropriate intervention and early treatment of the primary condition that could be the etiology of psychiatric symptoms so as to avoid unnecessary long-term psychiatric treatment and to avoid complications of possible misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of the primary condition.

Biography:

Delia England Frederick is working in University of South Carolina Aiken, USA and his research interests are chronic conditions and health, education, and
socioeconomic disparities of people groups in the United States. In addition, an interest in describing care behaviors for nurses providing bedside care in the
medical-surgical and critical care units.

Abstract:

The brain is an organ in a jar, or better yet a pitcher with an amazing spout that fi lls all the glasses awaiting their stimulating neurological drink. Many nurses recognize the brain is enclosed in the skull, a feature that results in increased intracranial pressure or pressure on one part of the brain by excess fl uid or tissue in another place within the skull. Th e purpose of this presentation is to clarify the care needs of a person with a brain tumor. Personal hygiene, nutrition, hydration and mobility interventions are routinely needed. A head-to-toe assessment related to the neurological system will be described with a few methods of neurological monitoring explained. Psycho-social care needs for the person with a brain tumor will also be
discussed.

Biography:

Akter is a surgical resident and doctoral student at The Stem Cell Institute, University Of Cambridge. Akter’s current research interests include studying the pathophysiology and treatment of cervical myelopathy and spinal cord injury

Abstract:

Spinal cord injury (SCI) defects are complicated and there is currently no solution to completely repair spinal cord injuries.  Neural tissue engineering offers hope to patients and is becoming a rapidly growing field, which aims to create engineered tissue that can replace and repair damaged tissue. Injury to the spinal cord can result in a permanent disability and is thus of significant psychological, social and economic morbidity to the patient and their relatives.  As part of the endogenous repair process following acute injury, there is a migration of cells such as astrocytes, microglia and schwann cells. However, the spinal cord has limited endogenous regenerative capacity. Current treatment strategies including drug delivery and cell delivery have been investigated; however have been met with variable success. Tissue engineering is an emerging area in biomaterial research that possesses great therapeutic potential. We will be discussing the current use of scaffolds, cells and growth factors used in tissue engineering of the spinal cord. 

Biography:

Sonia Shahid is a final year M.B.B.S student of Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi Pakistan. She has been a part of several national and international researches and many are ongoing. She has attended several national and international seminars and conferences. Sonia is an inquisitive student with a passion for education as a power for change and improvement in the healthcare field of her country and is very ambitious in pursuing her career.

Abstract:

Inclusion criteria:

Pediatric patients of age ≤ 2 years regardless of gender presenting to pediatric clinic of tertiary care hospitals of Karachi with principal complain of Hydrocephalus were included.

Exclusion criteria:

Patients who were having autoimmune disorders and also immunocompromised patients were excluded from the study.

Results:

Total 73 patients were inspected, out of which 32.88% were male and 67.12% were females. When inquired about the reason of hydrocephalus, 54.79% were due to obstruction of ventricles, 27.40% due to inadequate drainage of CSF and 17.81% due to increased CSF production.

Out of 73 patients, 73.97% were the cases of Congenital hydrocephalus and 26.03% were of Acquired hydrocephalus. Among these, 32 have birth defects, 13 have genetic abnormality, 10 infant’s mothers were infected with rubella, 9 have meningitis, 3 were prematurely delivered, 3 have injury to brain and 3 have CNS tumor.

93.15% were treated by shunt insertion and 6.85% by ventriculostomy. The outcomes of treatment by shunt insertion were not very good as there were 26 shunt failures.

Conclusion:

Most of the cases were of Congenital hydrocephalus. The prognosis for infants and children with hydrocephalus depends on various factors, including the cause of the hydrocephalus. With early detection and treatment, the prognosis becomes better, though some children suffered from serious complications despite the adequate treatment was provided.

Biography:

Emine Gerçek has completed her PhD at the age of 31 years from Ege University and postdoctoral studies from Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Nursing. She is the director of Adnan Menderes University Söke Health Services Vocational Schools, assistant professor in Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Nursing in Turkey. She has published more than 30 papers in national and international journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute

Abstract:

The nursing workforce in neurology clinics is closely associated with rehabilitation process of the patient. The inpatient neurology wards admit patients with a diagnosis of acute cerebral infarction, acute cerebral hemorrhage, or transient ischemic attack (TIA); other than the symptoms of the disease, most of these patients have additional symptoms and needs, such as high blood pressure, consciousness disorders, self-care deficiencies, movement deficiencies, feeding tubes, urinary catheters, and most require rehabilitation care. Some studies indicated that nurses are not satisfied with the pay, the job, or the nurse staffing level, job environment and that most nurses have high burnout, while working in a neurology clinic. The critical thinking and decision-making skills will provide to increase on skills such as take responsibility, empathy, questioning, using intuition of neuroscience intensive care unit (NICU) nurses. Many studies show that using critical thinking skills increased nurse satisfaction and motivation and decrease burnout level. With the instruction and help from experienced and having the critical thinking skills nurses, patients can gain the maximum level of wellness and achieve their optimal level of functioning. Therefore, improving nurse satisfaction and decreasing nurse burnout will be very important to keep the stability of the nursing workforce, increase the quality of care and promote patient outcomes. It is important to determine of NICU nurses' perceptions regarding their roles and responsibilities in the decision-making process during the change in intensity of care and end-of-life care for patients. More studies should be done concerning critical care nurses' levels of use critical thinking skills and experiences with end-of-life care.

Biography:

Abstract:

Imagine that you come face to face with death in a moment while your health is very good. After undergoing any kind of major surgery, you thinks "What happened to me, what do I do next?" Then ıt may occur many side effects; depression or agitation.

Brain surgery - or even receiving a diagnosis of brain disease - can change someone's personality, pretty much like any psychological trauma.

Brain surgery that most often result in depressed patients who are with high levels of anxiety caused by the surgery. Symptoms may start within three months of the surgery and cause significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships.

This time is normal and part of the recovery period. Nurses are mostly concerned with just the patient’s physical recovery, rather than their mental status.

A major surgery and its treatments can cause changes in a personality and ability to think. Patients may experience challenges with their communication, concentration, memory and emotional abilities. Most brain tumor patients exhibit signs that are consistent with depression and agitation, especially post surgery. Patients may feel self worthlessness. Many lose interest in their usual activities and they become socially isolated. Sometimes it is due to the prescribed medications.

We will discuss what may cause this situations, some of the symptoms of it, and what can be done to minimize the effects and help get rid of it altogether.

Nurses should struggle to educate patients on what happened to them and what it could mean for their future

Biography:

Ravanfar has completed MD at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Worked as researcher at clinical neurology research center Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Now serving as research assistant and general practitioner at Neurology research center.

Abstract:

Licorice root has been reported to contain several neuroprotective compounds. In the present study we investigated its benefit in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke for which, treatment modalities are limited. Randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial. Subjects: 75 patients admitted to the neurology emergency department of Namazi hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. Patients were randomly prescribed oral 450 mg or 900 mg licorice extract or placebo capsules three times daily for 7 days. National institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) scores were assessed before initiation of therapy and 3 months after treatment. Improvement of these scores were compared between study and control groups. Mean NIHSS scores in 450 mg and 900 mg groups decreased from an initial score of 10.68 and 10.44 to 6.4 and 5.48 after 3 months respectively; while in the control group changed from 8.36 to 5.64. The decline in NIHSS scores were significantly greater in licorice treated groups than the control group. Similarly the decrease in MRS was greater in the licorice treated groups (4.2–2.9 in 450 mg licorice group, and 4.4–2.8 in 900 mg licorice group) versus the control group (3.9–2.8). None of the participants developed adverse reactions attributed to licorice overdose. The results of this study support the beneficial effect of whole licorice extract in neurologic improvement of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Licorice may be useful as a medication for the treatment of the adverse effects caused by acute ischemic stroke.

Biography:

John Kennedy is a pioneer in the fi eld of Applied Neuroplasticity. He was contracted by the US Marines in 2006 to create anon-digital neuroplastic mental performance training program to reduce casualties in combat by improving attention, intuition and decision making under stress. He has since helped over 3500 people, in the areas of military, education, business, mental resiliency, improve their quality of life. He speaks regularly at corporate events and parent organizations on the topic of creating neuroplastically enriching environments. He is also the author of the forthcoming book Zombie Thinking™- Why we do what we do and how to change it.

Abstract:

Workshop Details:
Session 1 (required for session 2)
Education:
We will examine the following aspects of Neuroplasticity:
• how zombie systems (unconscious mental processing) are created
• the three primary levels of zombie systems
• how we can recreate our environments to foster positive zombie systems at all levels
Training:
Practical application of what we’ve learned
• Experience Foundational Cognition Targeted Neuroplastic Training (TNT) proven eff ective at improving performance
of 100% of over 3500 people in military, business, education and brain trauma recovery
• Th e only program of its kind in the world, vetted and approved by US Special Operations Command, used by Navy
SEALs, Pilots, Snipers and Marines
• Vetted and approved by Rush Hospital’s Road Home program as an eff ective accelerator of brain trauma recovery
• You will keep the neuroplastic training tools to use on your own aft er the workshop to continue to experience the
benefi ts of improved focus and intuition and better, faster decision making especially under stress

Biography:

Pooneh Heshmati, MD, PhD is a physician and clinical neuroscientist with a background in art, medicine and cognitive neuroscience. Heshmati earned a medical degree from Azad University, and subsequently completed a PhD at the Institute of Cognitive Science Studies. Her research interests are in the areas of memory and emotion, neuropsychological and neurobehavioral medicine, cognitive rehabilitation and brain stimulation.

Heshmati joined the Center for Neurosciences’ Functional Brain Imaging Laboratory as a postdoctoral research trainee. She has experience in both human and animal model research and is currently working on studies in Parkinson’s disease and dystonia

Abstract:

Purpose

SLE patients experience deterioration in cognitive function over time but attribution to disease-related mechanisms is confounded by medication effects, disease flares, hormonal influences and infection. The purpose of this study was to use magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to determine whether changes in the anatomical connectivity might begin to account for the cognitive impairment in SLE subjects.

Methods

17 SLE patients with inactive disease and no history of CNS involvement and 14 gender, age-matched healthy control (HC) subjects were imaged using DTI with a 3T MRI scanner (57 slices of 2.5 mm thickness, FOV 240 mm, data acquisition matrix 128 x128 zero filled to 256 x 256, TR 15s).  Five b=0 images and 33 diffusion weighted images with b=800 s/mm2 were acquired.  The DTI images were processed using FSL routines (FMRIB software library: www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl), and FA and MD maps were calculated. Tracts were reconstructed based on clusters identified by voxel-wise comparison of FDG PET scans using TrackVis software (http://www.trackvis.org/).

Results

Relative to HC, the SLE group displayed a 28% reduction in hippocampal-thalamic (HT) tract count. The basal ganglia-thalamic tract was preserved in the SLE group (% 8.5 difference), whereas hippocampal-parietal tract number was increased (+30%) relative to HC.

Conclusions

This is the first study to show abnormal HT tracts in SLE subjects. Abnormalities in the HT tract have been associated with impaired learning and memory as well as with increased symptoms in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia.

Biography:

Abstract:

Over preliminary avocation to (virtual) experimentation upon the feasibility of regional or overall transmission of Human Brain’s Electromagnetic waves – as an EEG Signal configuration – to another Person’s Cerebral cortex, But: REMOTELY – like a modulated Signal of compatible Frequency Magnitude, without implement mediation e.g. microchip, cerebral implants or skull electrodes – IN OPEN AIR and ON ANY GPS PARAMETER. Meaning Emission Interaction from Brain to Brain (B-B Interface) means Radio Antennas sensors and Satellite mediated procedures. Primary schedule runs as: EEGgraphic waves properly detected, through specific sensitive appliances are gathered to be Transmitted TO OTHER Participant’s Brain. It follows a with detectable Phase Difference Elaboration of those EEGgraphic Signals because these are compatible with Human Brain’s Electrophysiology. Here Not a PC but Cortex is the Decoding matter. Effects are impressive and constitute COGNITIVE COMMUNICATION of other’s Cerebral function resulting in Comprehension of them as a copied Speech Analogon–Parallele, coinciding technically to the long spoken concept of Telepathy. That goes back even to the very early origination of Mental Constructions’ that is to Thought and Intangible (sensed) Images΄ making of. Furthermore this Brain to Brain Transmittal comprises not only cognitive but also Sensory interpretations. The quality of Perception and Interaction from person to person coincides with Reality in some fields while simultaneously and at any moment Intangible sensory and cognitive Images – Noetic forms Gestalt* - are realized bilaterally:

Psychesthetism**Essence in perception and comprehension

At all time Speech interaction simulates open space conversation

Biography:

Joshua A Cuoco completed his MS from Johns Hopkins University. He is currently a second-year medical student at NYIT-COM. He studies the anatomic and functional neuronal diversity in the brain during brain development and in brain pathologies. He has published several papers in the field of neuroscience

Abstract:

Inflammation is a complex biologic response to gross traumatic injury, endogenous ligands (e.g., cell death signals within a slowly degenerating tissue), or exogenous ligands (e.g., bacterial toxins within an acute microbial infection). The inflammatory response is necessary for reestablishing organismal homeostasis. It must be meticulously monitored and tightly regulated as over- or under activation of the inflammatory response can cause morbidity and even mortality. Emerging evidence has begun to depict the molecular mechanisms by which inflammation is regulated via the nervous system; that is, inflammation is controlled by neuroimmunologic circuitry operating in a reflexive continuum. Known as the inflammatory reflex arc, this pathway exhibits an afferent and efferent arc: both of which derive from vagal nerve fibers. The afferent arc is comprised of vagal receptors detecting specific ligands indicating injury. An activated afferent arc will initiate the efferent arc, the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, which regulates immunologically-mediated inflammation. Suboccipital decompression by osteopathic manipulative treatment has been demonstrated to enhance vagal output. Considering this association, we postulate that suboccipital decompression may stimulate the efferent branch of this vagal-mediated reflex, the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, thereby suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations. In this poster, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of the vagal-mediated inflammatory reflex arc emphasizing the possibility ofsuppressing inflammation with osteopathic manipulative treatment

Biography:

Abstract:

Historically, a number of studies focusing on mentalising skills in children with ASD (Baron-Cohen, Leslie & Frith, 1985) and in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (Frith, 1992) claimed that people who received a diagnosis of ASD or schizophrenia tended not to do well in identifying other people’s point of view. In fact, the primary or default perspective the brain activates is always one’s own (Samson, Apperly, Braithwaite, Andrews & Scott, 2010) and in order for anyone to acknowledge somebody else’s perspective, the self-perspective has to be inhibited. In order to investigate the actual presence of impairments in the alter centric perspective recognition in schizophrenia, twenty-five outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (Group S) and on anti-psychotic medication for more than ten years and twenty-five healthy controls who had never received a diagnosis of a mental health disorder and who had never received any psychiatric medication (Group C) took part in three experiments. Participants were matched for verbal comprehension IQ, working memory skills and attention. The experiments consisted of a visual computational perspective-taking task, a facial emotions recognition task and a hinting task. Results for the visual computational perspective-taking task showed that people who received a diagnosis of schizophrenia made more mistakes than controls when identifying the avatar’s perspective, not their own perspective. The hinting task results showed that patients had more difficulties than controls in identifying what the hints meant. Facial emotions recognition task results showed no significant differences between patients and controls. Results from the facial emotions recognition task suggest that facial emotions recognition is a separate visual interpretation skill that perhaps is not directly related to being able to acknowledge another person’s perspective.

Biography:

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To describe, for the fi rst time, an isolated right pseudoabducens palsy in a young patient with acute left thalamic
infarction revealed by diff usion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI MRI).
BACKGROUND: Ocular abnormalities are rarely reported in thalamic strokes. When present, impairment of vertical gaze is usually noted, sometimes accompanied by vertical diplopia. Other oculomotor defi cits such as skew deviation or third nerve palsy have also been reported in pure thalamic infarctions. Th e presentation of thalamic stroke with pseudoabducens palsy is
extremely rare and are associated with impairment in vertical eye movements.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old right-handed smoker, otherwise healthy, man presented with a 12-hour history of progressively worsening horizontal diplopia and related feeling unsteady on his feet, and mild left -occipital headache. He reported feeling unsteady on his feet because of his double vision. Cranial nerve examination showed horizontal diplopia in
all directions of gaze and was most prominent when focusing on distant objects especially and more on the right gaze. Eye movements were disconjugate when looking to the right; there was no abduction of the right eye. DWI MRI revealed a focus of restricted diff usion in the left thalamus, consistent with acute ischemic infarct, with no lesions in the brainstem or the cerebellum; however, the subthalamic area above the midbrain was possibly involved.
CONCLUSIONS: Th is case supports the hypothesis that a lesion can cause isolated esotropia by interrupting descending inhibitory convergence pathways that traverse the paramedian thalamus and decussate in the subthalamic region to innervate the contralateral third oculomotor nucleus.

Biography:

Ayodeji Egunlusi is a pharmacist who is currently busy with his PhD. He had participated in the young scientist program organised by the Novartis Pharma (Basel). His PhD entails the design and synthesis of novel molecules as potential neuroprotective agents. Few compounds have been synthesised and screened for neuroprotective activities.

Abstract:

Neurodegenerative disorders are debilitating conditions characterised by progressive dysfunction and death of neuronal cells by means of apoptosis, necrosis or autophagic degeneration. Amidst the proposed mechanisms of neurodegeneration, the effects of excitotoxicity via glutamate receptor stimulation on neuronal cells are prominent. Numerous molecules have been synthesised to regulate glutamate receptors but some, such as dizolcipine and phencyclidine, have been marked by undesirable side effects. Uncompetitive blockers such as memantine and amantadine proved to be neuroprotective with fewer side effects and are approved for clinical use. This has led to the development of structurally related polycyclic molecules such as NPG1-01, which exhibit neuroprotective properties through NMDA receptor and VGCC inhibitions with lower side effect profile. In this study, a series of compounds were synrhesised for evalulation of inhibitiion of calcium influx through NMDA receptor channels and voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC). The structures were confrimed using NMR, IR and MS. Compounds (2, 3, 6, 7 and 10) demonstrated potential ability to attenuate calcium influx through NMDA receptor and/or VGCC. Based on the significant activity of compound 2 & 3, a new series of tricycloundecane derivatives have been proposed. However, the true potential benefit of the already synthesised novel compounds as neuroprotective agents and safety in patients is yet to be established. Additional derivatives have been designed and are in the process of being synthesised. The compounds could serve as lead structures for the development of novel neuroprotective drugs.

Biography:

WK Tang was appointed to professor in the Department of Psychiatry, the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2011. His main research areas are Addictions and Neuropsychiatry in Stroke. Professor Tang has published over 100 papers in renowned journals, and has also contributed to the peer review of 40 journals. He has secured over 20 major competitive research grants. He has served the editorial boards of five scientific journals. He was also a recipient of the Young Researcher Award in 2007, awarded by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Abstract:

Depression is common following an acute stroke. Poststroke Depression (PSD) have notable impacts on the function recovery and quality of life of stroke survivors. Incidence decreased across time after stroke, but prevalence of PSD tend to be stable. Vascular factors such as diabetes, hypertension and smoking have been related to the development of PSD. Many studies have explored the association between lesion location and the incidence of PSD. For example, lesions in frontal lobe, basal ganglia and deep white matter have been related with PSD. Furthermore, cerebral microbleeds and functional changes in brain networks have also been implicated in the development of PSD. In this presentation, evidences of such association between the above structural and functional brain changes and PSD will be reviewed.

Biography:

Makarenko O M has taken PhD degree from Moscow Medical Stomatological Institute, MD degree from the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity in Moscow. He carries out his post-doc researches at the Institute of higher nervous activity and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. He is a Professor of the psychology department, the author of more than 200 articles in reputed journals and 5 monographs (Lambert Academic Publishing).

Abstract:

In HS investigations researchers didn't pay much attention to disorders of the immune system, appearing under acute disorders of brain circulation. For evaluation of the immune disorders, under experimental hemorrhage stroke (HS) the experimental study was performed on 105 white mice and 24 white rats, in the conditions of HS modeling with different degrees of intensity. The first group was performed with the help of the part of a metal mandrin, the second group – by mandrin destroyed the central part of the brain and the third group – by addition injection of blood. An initial immune humoral response and cell immunity level, which were evaluated according to the reaction of hypersensitivity of slow type, were studied. The quantity increase of agglutinin-like antibodies is especially observed in the first group animals. HS was provoked according to the method, described above. The animals were decapitated on the 1^st, 3^rd and 10^th day after the lethal dose of thiopental-sodium. The morphological study of the sub-neocortical injury was performed by thionine staining of the frontal brain slices. Ten rats from 14 under examination of brain showed clear inflammation changes of the brain tissue. The sings of productive ependimatitis and local vasculitis, consisted of microglia cells and lymphocytes, resembling inflammatory changes in the brain during viral infections (Herpes family). During the post-stroke condition development, we succeed in getting of the evidence of pathomorphological changes and activation of the latent infection in the form of encephalitis.

Biography:

Francisco José Montero Bancalero, from Spain, studied psychology at Seville University and obtained his doctorate at Huelva University. He is currently a professor at Osuna University (Spain) www.euosuna.org . His professional career started in the field of addictions working as a therapist in an outpatient treatment center, and then he began to participate in different investigation projects. He reached the point of leading a pioneering tool in Aula de Alcoholismo (Alcoholism Classroom) www.auladealcoholismo.es . He has become a member of the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse and has presented his projects at different international conferences.

Abstract:

Binge drinking among young people in Spain is a result of the interaction between multiple factors: globalization of consumption patterns; weather conditions that favor consumption in the street, in squares, or in large groups; easy access to alcohol; and a favorable culture of consumption associated with fun, celebration. To achieve a better understanding of this phenomenon, the influence of brain development during adolescence and young adulthood, as well as the late acquisition of reflection skills and self-control, must be taken into account. The human brain continues to develop until the individual is around 25 years of age. Because the brain matures from back to front and the last region to mature is the frontal area, which is involved in making thoughtful and planned decisions, it is necessary that programs are developed with this in mind. It is important to consider the late development of self-control and planning skills when designing and implementing educational programs and strategies to combat heavy drinking in youth. These actions should involve political, social, and educational agents, in addition to the family: • Train teachers in the field of addiction prevention. • Establish appropriate channels of communication between schools and families to facilitate early detection of problems. • Implement education plans to help youth develop skills in critically analyzing the current alcohol consumption messages in advertising, films… in order to enable better decision-making and the ability to say "no". • Promote and publicize healthy leisure activities available at institutions as alternatives to binge drinking. • Promote education on emotional development.

Biography:

Belchior earned her bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Dom Bosco Catholic University in Brazil. She completed a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Her postdoctoral work focused on cognitive aging and was also completed at the University of Florida, at the department of Clinical and Health Psychology. Dr. Belchior is currently an assistant professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University and she is affiliated with the Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal. Her research program focuses on the promotion of functional autonomy in individuals at risk for dementia.

Abstract:

Dementia is becoming a global epidemic with no known cure or prevention strategy. The presymptomatic course of dementia can last over a decade [1,2], offering researchers and clinicians a crucial window of opportunity to provide pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions with the potential to limit the catastrophic effects of this disease on the person’s overall functioning and quality of life. Despite growing evidence suggesting that individuals at risk for dementia already face subtle but important functional declines [3], it is still not clear how to capture these declines in the clinical setting. This presentation will focus on the lessons learned from a series of studies that we have conducted in this topic and propose a novel approach to help early identification of individuals at risk for dementia. Our first study investigated current occupational therapists’ practices regarding functional assessments in individuals with MCI [4]. Subsequently, we have conducted a series of reviews in this topic to investigate which assessment tools have been validated with this population and what are the functional domains covered in each of these tools. In this presentation we will discuss the best available assessment tools to date and the strengths and weakness of these tools. [5-7]. Finally, we will present a novel investigative technique to help in the identification of the subtle functional declines in individuals at risk for dementia [

Biography:

Abbas  Alnaji  A consultant  neurosurgeon, had the degree of Iraqi board of Neurosurgery form university of Baghdad 1999 and worked as clinical neurosurgeon to the teaching hospital of Alkufa university. 

Abstract:

Over more than fifteen years of my Career in Neurosurgery I focused my efforts on the causation of  surgical pathologies ( biological bases). Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is embarrassing, that whatever the neurosurgeon do, still some end with big disability, the blindness . My vision is based on two, first, as the histopathology of brain parenchyma say  presence of long standing  water In extracellular spaces without trauma or toxins, the logic explanation for that is the chronic inflammatory process. The second base, I concentrated on the patient as a whole rather than on CNS only trying to discover the relation between this CNS inflammatory process and presence of any systemic disease which make this CNS impairment as a complication to it. By taking a strict history, systemic review and physical examination I concluded the presence of a chronic or sub-acute general disease which in my career it was chronic Brucellosis however ( pre PCR era in Iraq) serology is negative in most, for that anti Brucella trial treatment was adopted to result in a very high success rate in mild to moderate cases which are several tens in number ( apart from two severe cases) over the 15 years. Complete work up done to exclude other entities , fundus camera to register and follow optic disc edema or atrophy. The two sever cases underwent  all modalities of treatment in other centers  but end with blindness,  one fifty five years old male no light perception and the second is twenty three old female end with shadow perception, on ensuing this anti Neurobrucellosis ( no steroids), the male after six months regained his full vision gradually , the female after three months also regained her full vision gradually  for this female patient PCR of CSF was positive for Brucella.  

Biography:

Tohru Hasegawa has has completed his PhD of Okayama University and worked at Saga Medical School as an associate professor and moved to Saga Woman University as Professor. He retired and got the professor emeritus. He found the Homocysteic acid as one of pathogens of AD.

Abstract:

At present we have no hope to recover the Alzheimer cognitive impairment. Just only an intervention which combines an exercise with DHA supplement establishes to recover the cognition. It is interested in DHA supplement combination. Many hypothesises are considered why these interventions can recover the cognitive decline in AD. The exercise indeed stimulates the blood circulation which induces the urinary excretion of blood unknown pathogens for the cognitive impairment and consequently some recovery can be observed. We hypothesize that the homocysteic acid in blood is the one of pathogens which are excreted into urine. Why is DHA supplement needed for the recovery process induced by an exercise? DHA is known to decrease homocysteine level and exercise contributes DHA effect. In other words, the combination of exercise and DHA induces the strong decrease of homocysteine in blood, which supports our hypothesis, the targeting homocysteic acid in blood is a possible method which can recover an Alzheimer cognitive impairment. Our hypothesis was proved by the fact that the memorial problem of 3xTg- AD model mice which were developed by amyloid pathology and the model for the familial AD were recovered by anti-HA antibody and not by amyloid treatment. Why did 3xTg-AD mice which increased amyloid pathology increase HA level? APP and/or presenilin increased calcium inflax which could increase superoxide level and consequently increase HA level from homocysteine or methionine. Also our hypothesis is partially supported by the open clinical trial of some supplement which can decrease the homocysteic acid in blood for Alzheimer’s patients and the result is very impressive.

Biography:

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The importance of the problem is determined by social and economic burden of stroke but a good management of risk factors can lead to dramatic changes in the incidence of stroke. METHODS: In november 2015 we have initiated an epidemiological study in a village located in the center of the country for estimation of stroke risk factors in the population of Republic of Moldova. The subjects were examined according to our Protocol of risk factors’estimation in the population of Republic of Moldova. This protocol includes: questionnaire, clinical examination, ECG and Doppler Duplex ultrasound of extracranial segment of carotid arteries RESULTS: In the study were included 337 subjects, 215 (64 %) were women and 122 (36 %) men. The mean age was 50.25 years. The most common risk factor was obesity, identified in 157 (46 %) subjects, while 110 (33 %) subjects were overwighted and 70 (21 %) were normal weighted. Second risc factor by frequency was hypertension, noticed in 149 (44 %) subjects. The third risk factor by frequency was migraine 43 (13%) subjects, where 36 subjects were women and seven were men. Thirty one (9%) of examined had atrial fibrillation and 30 (9%) had diabetes mellitus. Thirty one (9 %) subjects were smokers and aterosclerotic plaques was found in 60 (20%) subjects. Left myocardial hypertrophy on ECG was present in 182 (54%) subjects and also on ECG was detected old myocardial infarction at 9 (3%) and acute ischemic changes in 6 (2%) subjects. The most frequent association of risk factors was arterial hypertension and obesity 99 (29%) subjects. Results of laboratory tests showed that glycosylated hemoglobin rate was increased in 52 (18%) of subjects, predominantly in males (19% vs 16%) and was increased with age. Serum glucose was increased in 92 (30%) of studied persons, and again predominantly in males (36% vs 26%). And more then 50 % of subjects had dyslipidemia, so total cholesterol was increased in 175( 58%), LDL cholesterol was increased in 198 (66%) subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke is a major health and social problem. Therefore it becomes obvious need to strengthen all efforts in stroke prevention to reduce its impact on society. The are many risk factors involved in appearance of stroke but the degree of their expression differs from one community to another. Study results will allow the identification of specific stroke risk factors and the elaboration of primary prevention strategies with the purpose to minimize burden of stroke in the population of Republic of Moldova.

Biography:

NGUYEN Tran Quynh Nhu graduated from University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam in 2007. Since 2008, she has worked as cardiologist in Children’s Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. She has completed master course from School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan in March 2015 and now continues Ph.D course at the same above university. 

Abstract:

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EvC) is a ciliopathy with cardiac anomalies, disproportionate short stature, polydactyly, dystrophic nails and oral defects. Approximately 60% of EvC patients have severe congenital heart disorders (CHDs), of which more than half are atrio-ventricular septal defect (AVSD) and common atrium. Neuropsychological development of EvC is generally normal. However, CHD was confirmed as a high risk of developmental disabilities (DDs). Here we presented a typical EvC case with DDs. She is a 2.5-year-old female, the first child of consanguineous couple. Here height was 62.0 cm (under the 2^nd percentile), post-axial polydactyly of hands, nail dystrophy, and AVSD with pulmonary stenosis. Her SPO2 was 70-80% from birth. We detected two novel compound heterozygous variants (p. E177X, p.R826X) in this patient. Her mental development was normal up to the age of 2 years old. From 2 to 2 ½ years-old, she reveals DDs, which was evaluate by ASQ-3 score. The head circumference is 47.0 cm. MRI showed no defects. We suggested that hypoxia caused DDs in this patient.

DDs in children with CHD are common and should be alert. The feeding difficulty, hypoxia, medical comorbidities, genetic abnormalities, and more complex treatment increased risk for DD. Thus, longitudinal follow-up throughout childhood and into adulthood is necessary for children with CHD because exposure to risk and prevalence of DD change over time. Primary and special care for children with CHD is critical to minimize DDs. 

Biography:

Abstract:

Introduction: Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is prevalent in traumatic brain injury (TBI), often associated with poor outcomes, including cognitive impairments and psychiatric disturbance. Cognitive impairments resulting from the DAI are related to disorders in the white matter pathway connections, especially between the cortex and deep structures. Also, over-activation of NMDA-mediated excitatory processes and excess of GABA-mediated inhibition are described after TBI on the acute and sub-acute phases. Nevertheless, there are few studies regarding this circuitry on the chronic phase. Our primary aim was to assess cognition in patients with DAI at 6 and 12 months after the trauma. The secondary aim was to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms and RMI in patients with DAI at 3, 6 and 12 months after the trauma; and assess the cortical excitability on chronic phase (more than 12 months after the trauma) Methods: This was a longitudinal, open label, one arm, no interventional study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with DAI aged 18 years or older were invited to participate. The study had four time-points: (1) between 1 to 3 months after the trauma – evaluation of neuropsychiatric symptoms and MRI; (2) 6 months after the trauma – evaluation of neuropsychiatric symptoms, MRI, and cognitive assessment; (3) 12 months after the trauma - evaluation of neuropsychiatric symptoms, MRI, and cognitive assessment; (4) more than 12 months after the trauma – evaluation of cortical excitability. Results: From Agost 2010 to July 2015, 187 patients were diagnosed with DAI. 63 patients agreed to participate on the trial. N=47 patients completed the neuropsychiatric evaluation at 3, 6 and 12 months after the trauma. Multivariate test of pooled data showed no significant difference in depression (p=0.067) and anxiety symptoms (p=0.43) among the three time-points. No significant interactions were found between the severity of the trauma and the depression (p=0.898) and anxiety symptoms (p=0.622). MRI results showed a correlation between the number of lesions (MARS) and cerebral atrophy (r=0.51, p=0.0096). Our analysis did not find correlation between number of lesions (MARS) and attentional processes by Trail Making Test (TMT) form A and B, neither in verbal episodic memory by HVLT. The results of cognitive assessment between 6 and 12 months after the trauma, showed an improvement on response time by TMT forms A and B, (p=0.001); improvement on selective attention by Stroop test, card A, (p=0.044), B (p=0.003), and C (or interference, p=0.001). For episodic memory, our analysis showed an improvement on visuospatial memory by Rey Complex Figure (RCF) recall over time (p=0.013), but not on the RCF copy (p=0.657) scores. We also found improvement on immediate verbal memory assessed by HVLT (p=0.001) but a trend on delay recall (p=0.056). We did not find differences on the other cognitive tests. For cortical excitability, no significant differences between left and right hemispheres were found. Values of RMT, MEPs and ICF from DAI patients were found within the normality. However, short interval intra-cortical inhibition (SIICI) values were higher on DAI patients (DAI SIICI 1.60±1.15 versus 0.56±0.63; DAI pp02-Rel 1.57±1.28 vs. 0.40±0.44; DAI pp04-Rel 1.64±1.47 vs. 0.61±0.84) showing a disarranged inhibitory system. Conclusion: No significative clinical or statistical changes were observed for depression or anxiety symptoms. We also did not observe any interaction between the severity of the trauma and the different time-points. We found a positive and significant correlation between the reduction of the white matter volume between three and 12 months after the trauma. Additionally we observed a time-dependent improvement on attentional processes, visuo-spatial and verbal episodic memory in patients with DAI. It seems that neuroplasticity play an important role in the first year of the trauma, leading to an open window to cognitive improvements. Also, as inhibition processes are GABA-mediated, it is likely to infer that DAI pathophysiology may deplete GABA leading to a disinhibition of the neural system.

Biography:

Lehrer received his M.D. degree from the State University of New York in 1956. He completed his Post Graduate education in the Specialty of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, became Board Certified, and was on the Attending Staff and taught at the Hospital for 10 years before moving his practice to New Jersey. He has specialized in Neurotology, and is a Member of the American Neurotology Society, as well as other Societies in that specialty. His papers and letters to the Editor concerning Vestibular and Auditory Disorders have been published in major specialty and general journals. He has presented at National and International meetings on Inner Ear disorders and has served on the Faculty of Meetings devoted to Inner Ear disorders. His major focus at this point in his career has been on Vestibular disorders with regard to Diagnosis and Management of these disorders and their effects upon Brain Function

Abstract:

The Vestibular System is ancient contributor to Central Nervous System function, historically over 500 million years old. It has evolved to become more complex in Vertebrates. It provides precise information with respect to Gravity and Head movements which allows vertebrates to maintain balance and spatial orientation. In Humans, as in most Vertebrates, it provides such information to the Brain in concert with the Visual and Proprioceptive Systems with some contribution from the sense of Touch.

Distortions, or loss, of vestibular inputs have been known, for centuries, to adversely affect balance. However, only recently, for decades, has knowledge surfaced indicating other effects on Brain function, particularly with regard to accompanying dysfunctions of the Visual, Cognitive and Affective   Systems.

The aim of the Presentation is to describe  these  adverse  effects  of  Vestibular dysfunction  as seen  in  a Neurotologic  practice,  and  to provide  literature describing these issues. The Presenter has concluded,  rom  his  observations  of  patients,  and  his review of the literature that the Vestibular System provides information basic to Brain functions other than balance and spatial orientation. He hopes to inform and stimulate the  Audience  to  consider  the  diffuse  role  of  the  Vestibular  System  in  Brain function.

Biography:

Osvaldo Francisco Ribas Lobos Fernandez Graduated in Social Sciences from the Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho (1987 ) , master's degree in Social Sciences from the Catholic University of São Paulo ( 1993) and a PhD in Social Sciences from the Federal University of Bahia (2007 ) . He was visiting professor and conducted post-doctoral research in urban anthropology at Columbia University in New York City. He was visiting professor at the School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, performing in stage sabbatical stage . He is currently full professor of anthropology in the course of social sciences , education department , the Bahia State University . It has experience in the field of the Anthropology, with an emphasis on medical and urban anthropological theories, researching the following subjects: consumption of illegal drugs , homosexuality, violence , homophobia, schools and training teachers and health professionals

Abstract:

This article presents results of a long fieldwork that included direct observation of four cocaine user groups, application of two series of interviews and detailed tracking of eleven subjects in the Greater São Paulo. The consumers were predominantly characterized as being regular users, includes some casual users, but with a long history of cocaine use by the inhaled route. The survey was conducted in two periods, 1994 and 2006. After 12 years, users were re-interviews conducted and contact re-established with some users, enabling the visualization of different trajectories and career developed over time, indicating different patterns substance use.

As the main methodological strategy, participant observation was adopted, in order to better understand the groups and select the respondents. Depending on the degree of acceptance shown by different subjects, you could have privileged access to information normally hidden and get so a partial view of trade and drug trafficking network. Such observations were crucial to collect data on consumption, social rituals and performances of users, comparing views and information given by key informants in interviews with direct observations collected by the researcher. Thus, the ethnographic research focused on the scenes and patterns of use of various networks of sociability of different territories and lifestyles.

Some users were observed and classified as key informants of the observed users were selected as key informants, giving preference to those who proved willing to maintain a continuous dialogue with the researcher in the field, as well as having a good insertion in different territories and networks of consumers of coca-based products. On being interviewed, they were able to describe their own consumption, other consumer profiles, the sociocultural context, lifestyles, worldviews and social imaginary around consumption.

Our intention was to contextualize different forms of cocaine use, relating them to the lifestyles in the metropolis and the sociability of individuals in the urban middle classes. Therefore, we focus on the description of the ethnographic process, the selection of respondents (key informants), the characterization of the case studies and the changes in the market and experienced by consumers, etc.

The research is concentrated in São Paulo, where they were subject to several scenes of use, or scenarios. These, however varied they were, were characterized by discretion and / or privacy. They included, among them, bars, clubs, classrooms, home parties and villas, located in different areas of the city (Central, West, North and East). The study was the use of cocaine inhaler, trying to understand the culture and consumption rituals developed around the substance and their different usage patterns. More specifically, interested us the informal rules and controls developed by users on self-regulation of consumption.

In this research, our respondents reported periods of cocaine use that  ranged from a minimum of seven to  a maximum of thirty-five years. To analyze and interpret the data collected, we separated the group of users who had developed problems arising from their use of cocaine and other drugs from those who had not developed “problematic” use patterns taking into account the consequences in terms of their impact on the subjects´  physical and mental health, and in terms of possible social consequences (imprisonment, psychiatric hospitalizations and others).The research  focused on the construction of cocaine use styles, and drew on suggestions made by Zinberg (1984) about "compulsive" and "controlled" drug use. Following the ethnographic evidence for the particular meanings attributed to cocaine use in each different lifestyle (Bieleman & BIE, 1992;. DIAS, et al, 1992; Grund, 1993), the label of light users and hard, native terms, currents in time among our middle-class subjects in São Paulo.

We considered to be light users, those who had not developed health problems stemming from cocaine use and who were not engaged in crime. This type of user does not miss work, develops strategies to deal efficiently with everyday life, is involved in networks of social relations, employs a series of rituals and product usage rules, deals with his cocaine differently from the compulsive and / or dysfunctional user and makes a series of efforts to maintain the stability of his use.  We reviewed their drug using careers, focusing our interest on their development of informal controls, their understanding of changes that might occur in their usage patterns and the relationship between use and abuse in certain moments of their lives, trying to unravel the various social processes that contribute to shape their practices and the varied meanings attributed to them. We believe that they are equivalent to the "controlled user" discussed by Zinberg.

We classified as hard or compulsive users those who presented physical or social consequences of their drug use and who have to resort more frequently to expert help than the so-called light users. The hard users do not usually restrict themselves to using inhaled cocaine, and generally admit to the other forms of cocaine use or to the consumption of other substances, like marijuana.

Biography:

Saule T.Turuspekova MD, PhD, neurologist highest category, Professor of the Department of internship and residency in neurology of KazNMU. 1995- PhD Thesis -"Vegetative-vascular disorders in cerebral manifestations of diabetes mellitus." 2010 - Doctoral thesis - "The influence of small doses of ionizing radiation on the nervous system". Over 100 scientific papers which were presented at international conferences in many countries. State scholarship for talented young scientists of the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Coordinator of the Russian Youth Academy of Sciences (Samara). 2015-the personal physician of the Kazakhstan astronaut Aydin Aimbetov. Member of the ESO, WSO, «Neurosciences», EAN.    

Abstract:

It is known that alcohol remains the predominant form of addictive diseases worldwide. Alcohol use is a major risk factor for mortality in men aged 15-59 years.The basis of alcoholic nervous system disorders are neyrometabolizm, the development of which is related to pathogenic factors: nutritional, glutamatergic factor (excitotoxic effects of glutamate), GABAergic factor (reduction of GABA in nerve tissue).The highest value in the alimentary pathogenic mechanism is deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1).

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of benfotiamine for the correction of cognitive functions in patients with chronic alcoholism.

Material and Methods: Observed 68 patients with chronic alcoholism lasting no more than 10 years aged 25-50 years. To determine the degree of cognitive impairment used Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a brief scale of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Cog test, proofreading test Bourdon, test for mirroring, test for reciprocal coordination. Under supervision there were 2 groups: 1^st - 53 patients who received 300 mg benfotiamine; 2 ^rd-15 control patients treated according to the protocol.

Results: more than 83% of patients with chronic alcoholism identified cognitive impairment. According to MoCA average value was 20,8 points. There was a significant positive dynamics of cognitive functions according to the MoCA test in the intervention group (from 20,8 to 24,6 points) compared with controls (20,8- 21,3 ). Also, there was an improvement in terms of proofreading Bourdon samples and other tests.

Conclusions: Thus, the dynamics of the research shows the positive effect of receiving benfotiamine on cognitive function in patients with chronic alcoholism.