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Effect of a psychoneurotherapy on brain electromagnetic tomography in individuals with major depressive disorder.

Psychiatry Res. 2009 Dec 30;174(3):231-9

Authors: Paquette V, Beauregard M, Beaulieu-Prévost D

Recent advances in power spectral analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) signals and brain-computer interface (BCI) technology may significantly contribute to the development of psychoneurotherapies. The goal of this study was to measure the effect of a psychoneurotherapy on brain source generators of abnormal EEG activity in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). Thirty participants with unipolar MDD were recruited in the community. The proposed psychoneurotherapy was developed based on the relationship between the localization of abnormal EEG activity and depressive symptomatology. Brain electromagnetic abnormalities in MDD were identified with low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) and a normative EEG database. Localization of brain changes after treatment was assessed through the standardized version of LORETA (sLORETA). Before treatment, excessive high-beta (18-30 Hz) activity was noted in several brain regions located in the fronto-temporal regions. After treatment, only participants who successfully normalized EEG activity in cortico-limbic/paralimbic regions could be considered in clinical remission. In these regions, significant correlations were found between the percentage of change of depressive symptoms and the percentage of reduction in high-beta activity. These results suggest that the normalization of high-beta activity in cortico-limbic/paralimbic regions can be associated with a significant reduction of depressive symptoms.

PMID: 19914046 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Extraction of prefronto-amygdalar pathways by combining probability maps.

Psychiatry Res. 2009 Dec 30;174(3):217-22

Authors: Bracht T, Tüscher O, Schnell S, Kreher B, Rüsch N, Glauche V, Lieb K, Ebert D, Il’yasov KA, Hennig J, Weiller C, van Elst LT, Saur D

Many recent studies reported altered functional connectivity within the frontolimbic circuitry in a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, functional connectivity must rely on structural connections. In this study we applied a novel probabilistic fiber tracking method to assess the structural connectivity between the amygdala and different prefrontal brain regions in vivo. Twenty healthy subjects were investigated with diffusion tensor imaging. Probabilistic fiber tracking was started from the amygdala and different prefrontal brain regions. Resulting probability maps were combined using an extended multiplication of probabilistic maps to identify the most probable anatomical pathways connecting these structures. We found one ventral pathway through the uncinate fascicle, connecting the amygdala and the medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortices. In addition to this ventral pathway, we depicted distinct dorsal pathways (medial and lateral), which connect the amygdala with the anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The dorso-medial pathway proceeds through the inferior thalamic peduncle, while the dorsolateral pathway travels through the external capsule. We believe that our approach provides a promising tool to assess the integrity of specific structural connections in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders.

PMID: 19910167 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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The effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on physical therapy outcomes for patients in gait training following stroke: a feasibility study.

Int J Neurosci. 2009;119(12):2183-95

Authors: Hayden R, Clair AA, Johnson G, Otto D

Adults aged 55 to 80 years participated voluntarily in a wait-list control study during in-patient physical therapy following first stroke. All participants (N = 15) received conventional physical therapy gait training throughout 30 treatment sessions. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS)-enhanced gait training was nested within conventional treatments in three conditions: (1) RAS throughout 30 treatments (N = 5); (2) RAS in the last 20 treatments (N = 5); and (3) RAS in the last 10 treatments (N = 5). Cadence and balance outcome measurements were taken at baseline, and following 10, 20, and 30 treatment sessions. Improvements across time were statistically significant in all conditions for one-limb stance, cadence, velocity, stride length, and posture head tilt with no statistically significant improvements for the Timed Up and Go Test and the Functional Reach Test. Statistically significant gains were made in the one-limb stance and cadence with earlier implementations of RAS. Results of the study demonstrate the feasibility of RAS to enhance gait training that warrants further investigation of the protocol to demonstrate the effects of RAS in stroke rehabilitation.

PMID: 19916847 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Effects of an exercise intervention using Dance Dance Revolution on endothelial function and other risk factors in overweight children.

Int J Pediatr Obes. 2009;4(4):205-14

Authors: Murphy EC, Carson L, Neal W, Baylis C, Donley D, Yeater R

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an exercise intervention using an active video game (Dance Dance Revolution [DDR]) is effective in improving endothelial dysfunction (EDF) and other risk factors in overweight children. DESIGN: Thirty-five children (Body mass index > or = 85(th) percentile, mean age 10.21+/-1.67 years, 17 females) with EDF were assessed for flow-mediated dilation (FMD), lipids, insulin, glucose, NO(2)+NO(3), asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine, l-arginine, height, weight, aerobic fitness, and blood pressure. In a subsample, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and adiponectin were also assessed. Subjects were randomly assigned to 12-weeks of aerobic exercise (EX) using DDR or to a non-exercising delayed-treatment control group (DTC). RESULTS: EX had significant improvements in FMD ( 5.56+/-5.04% compared with 0.263+/-4.54%, p=0.008), exercise time on the graded exercise test (53.59+/-91.54 compared with -12.83+/-68.10 seconds, p=0.025), mean arterial pressure (MAP) (-5.62+/-7.03 compared with -1.44+/-2.16 mmHg, p=0.05), weight (0.91+/-1.53 compared with 2.43+/-1.80 kg, p=0.017) and peak VO(2) (2.38+/-3.91 compared with -1.23+/-3.18 mg/kg/min, p=0.005) compared with the DTC. Thirteen EX subjects achieved normal EDF while ten did not. These groups differed at baseline with regard to total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). CONCLUSION: Twelve weeks of DDR-use improved FMD, aerobic fitness, and MAP in overweight children. Improvements occurred without changes in inflammatory markers or nitric oxide production. The results document the need to explore relationships between obesity, endothelial function, inflammation, lipids, exercise intensity, and gender in a larger sample of overweight children.

PMID: 19922034 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Leptin concentrations are a predictor of overweight reduction in a lifestyle intervention.

Int J Pediatr Obes. 2009;4(4):215-23

Authors: Reinehr T, Kleber M, de Sousa G, Andler W

OBJECTIVE: Leptin resistance is discussed to be involved in the genesis of obesity. Therefore, we hypothesized that leptin levels were negatively associated with degree of weight loss in obese children participating in a lifestyle intervention. METHODS: We studied 248 obese children aged 8-14 years attending the “Obeldicks” lifestyle intervention (mean age 10.6+/-0.2 years, 53% female, 48% pubertal, mean body mass index (BMI) 27.8+/-0.3 kg/m2, and mean standard deviation score [SDS]-BMI 2.43+/-0.03). Baseline leptin concentrations were correlated with change of weight status, waist circumference, and percentage body fat, as calculated from skinfold measurements in the one-year intervention by Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. Furthermore, the relationship between leptin and cardiovascular risk factors (insulin, insulin resistance index HOMA, blood pressure, lipids, and glucose) were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 212 children (85%) reduced their overweight, 9 children (4%) dropped out, and 27 children (11%) did not reduce their overweight in the lifestyle intervention “Obeldicks”. The mean reduction of SDS-BMI was 0.34+/-0.02. The reduction of SDS-BMI (r=- 0.27), waist circumference (r=- 0.64), and percentage body fat (r=- 0.26) were significantly negatively associated with baseline leptin levels both in univariate analyses and in multiple regression analyses, adjusted to baseline age, BMI, gender and pubertal stage. Baseline leptin concentrations were significantly associated with BMI, pubertal stage, gender, waist circumference, and insulin, but not to any other cardiovascular risk factors in multiple regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that baseline leptin concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with the degree of weight loss in a lifestyle intervention supports the hypothesis of leptin resistance in obesity. This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00435734).

PMID: 19922035 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Efficacy of a brief alcohol consumption reintervention for adolescents.

Subst Use Misuse. 2009;44(7):1009-20

Authors: Moore MJ, Werch CC

This article reports the efficacy of a brief substance use preventive reintervention for suburban high school students funded by NIAAA. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a brief consultation or control brochure in Fall 2002. Significant positive effects at the 3- and 12-month follow-up have been reported elsewhere. A total of 346 10th- and 12th-grade students were recruited from the original sample for the reintervention study in Fall 2003. Students remained in their originally assigned group and received a brief iterative consultation or control brochure. The same survey was used to collect information on ATOD use and risk/protective factors at all data points. MANCOVAs revealed no group differences 18 months after the initial study baseline. Analysis examining interactions between substance users and nonusers by treatment group indicated significant positive effects for substance-using adolescents who received reintervention. Study limitations, implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

PMID: 19938941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Factors associated with chronic noncancer pain in the Canadian population.

Pain Res Manag. 2009 Nov-Dec;14(6):454-60

Authors: Rashiq S, Dick BD

Chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is a prevalent health problem with pervasive negative effects on the individual’s quality of life. Previous epidemiological studies of CNCP have suggested a number of individual biological, psychological and societal correlates of CNCP, but it has rarely been possible to simultaneously compare the relative strengths of many such correlates in a Canadian population sample. With data provided by the 1996/1997 Canadian National Population Health Survey, ordinal logistic regression was used to examine the extent to which a number of population variables are associated with CNCP in a large (n=69,365) dataset. The analysis revealed cross-sectional correlations of varying strengths between CNCP and 27 factors. Increasing age, low income, low educational achievement, daily cigarette smoking, physical inactivity and abstention from alcohol were among the factors found to increase CNCP risk. The considerable impact of distress and depression on CNCP are also highlighted. A number of comorbid medical illnesses increased CNCP risk, including some (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, epilepsy and thyroid disease) that have not hitherto been associated with pain. White race and the affirmation of an important role for spirituality or faith reduced CNCP risk. In contrast to some previous studies, female sex did not emerge as an independent CNCP risk. The present exploratory analysis describes associations between CNCP and a number of characteristics from several domains, thus suggesting many areas for further research.

PMID: 20011716 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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A systematic review of the effectiveness of group versus individual treatments for adult obesity.

Obes Facts. 2009;2(1):17-24

Authors: Paul-Ebhohimhen V, Avenell A

BACKGROUND: Both group and individual modes of delivery are employed for obesity treatments. Commercial weight loss groups commonly employ group-based delivery, while many clinical based settings employ one-to-one delivery. We systematically reviewed randomised controlled trials of treatments for adult obesity to compare the effectiveness of group-based to individual-based modes of treatment delivery. METHODS: We searched 7 electronic databases and 2 journals and reviewed secondary references, based on a priori criteria to systematically review: randomised controlled trials of obesity treatments, participants with BMI >or=28 kg/m(2), age >or=18 years, comparison groups including at least 1 group-based and 1 individual-based treatment group, and follow-up >or=1 year. We extracted data and conducted meta-analysis of weight change. RESULTS: Eleven comparison groups from 5 qualifying trials were obtained, representing a total participant pool of 336. Significantly greater (p = 0.03) weight change at 12 months was found in group-based over individualbased treatment, and sub-analyses showed that increased effectiveness was associated with the use of financial reward and psychologist-led interventions. CONCLUSION: Group-based interventions were more effective than individual-based interventions among a predominantly female participant pool receiving psychologist-led interventions. Future studies to explore differences by professional group and interventions among men, which are accompanied by economic evaluation, are recommended.

PMID: 20054200 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Behaviour problems of patients with Moebius sequence and parental stress.

J Paediatr Child Health. 2010 Jan 26;

Authors: Briegel W, Hofmann C, Schwab KO

Aim: Moebius sequence is a rare condition usually defined as congenital facial paralysis with congenital impairment of ocular abduction. At present, there is little information on behavioural problems, parental stress and possible relationships between these factors. To fill this gap, this study investigated these aspects relevant for counselling. Methods: Parents of 4-17 year old subjects known to the German Möbius syndrome foundation were anonymously asked to fill out several questionnaires, for example, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)4-18. Results: The primary care givers of 41/58 subjects (70.7%) sent back filled-out questionnaires. Ten subjects did not meet the inclusion criteria; 15 males and 16 females (4; 7-17; 0 years, median age: 10; 7 years) were included. Ten out of 31 subjects were rated as clinical on at least one CBCL scale; three had a total problem score in the clinical range. Social problems were the most important problems with rates of 12-17-year old subjects being about five times as high as those of younger subjects. Compared with the general population, but not with other parents of mentally and/or physically handicapped children, the primary care givers experienced higher levels of stress, which were correlated to anxious/depressed behaviour, aggressive behaviour, externalising problems and total problem score of the children. The older a child the higher the primary care giver’s life satisfaction was. Conclusions: Social problems seem to be frequent among 4-17-year old subjects with Moebius sequence, and primary care givers show increased strain. Therefore, families with an affected child need early and adequate support.

PMID: 20105253 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Diagnostic crossover from obesity to atypical anorexia nervosa - a case report.

Obes Facts. 2009;2(1):52-3

Authors: Wolter H, Schneider N, Pfeiffer E, Lehmkuhl U

A 15-year-old, female, formerly obese adolescent was referred to our day care clinic due to self-induced massive weight loss and depressive symptoms. Intense treatment, additional dialectical behavioral therapy and psychopharmacological treatment prevented further weight loss and improved her affective state. Due to remaining anorexic symptoms such as body image distortion, outpatient psychotherapeutic treatment is continued. This case report indicates the importance of further research on diagnostic crossover from obesity to atypical anorexia nervosa.

PMID: 20054205 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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