Background: Previous neuroimaging studies have detected markers of neuroinflammation in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is suitable for measuring brain metabolites linked to inflammation, but has only been applied to discrete regions of interest in ME/CFS. We extended the MRS analysis of ME/CFS by capturing multi-voxel information across the entire brain. Additionally, we tested whether MRS-derived brain temperature is elevated in ME/CFS patients.Methods: Fifteen women with ME/CFS and 15 age-and gender-matched healthy controls completed fatigue and mood symptom questionnaires and whole-brain echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI). Choline (CHO), myo-inositol (MI), lactate (LAC), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) were quantified in 47 regions, expressed as ratios over creatine (CR), and compared between

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The effect of methamphetamine (MA) dependence on the structure of the human brain has not been extensively studied, especially in active users. Previous studies reported cortical deficits and striatal gains in grey matter (GM) volume of abstinent MA abusers compared with control participants. This study aimed to investigate structural GM changes in the brains of 17 active MA-dependent participants compared with 20 control participants aged 18–46 years using voxel-based morphometry and region of interest volumetric analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging data, and whether these changes might be associated with cognitive performance. Significant volume increases were observed in the right and left putamen and left nucleus accumbens of MA-dependent compared to control participants. The volumetric gain in the right putamen remained significant after Bonferroni correction, and was inversely correlated with the number of errors (standardised z-scores) on the Go/No-go task. MA-dependent participants exhibited cortical GM deficits in the left superior frontal and precentral gyri in comparison to control participants, although these findings did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. In conclusion, consistent with findings from previous studies of abstinent users, active chronic MA-dependent participants showed significant striatal enlargement which was associated with improved performance on the Go/No-go, a cognitive task of response inhibition and impulsivity. Striatal enlargement may reflect the involvement of neurotrophic effects, inflammation or microgliosis. However, since it was associated with improved cognitive function, it is likely to reflect a compensatory response to MA-induced neurotoxicity in the striatum, in order to maintain cognitive function. Follow-up studies are recommended to ascertain whether this effect continues to be present following abstinence. Several factors may have contributed to the lack of more substantial cortical and subcortical GM changes amongst MA-dependent participants, including variability in MA exposure variables and difference in abstinence status from previous studies.

Physiological and subjective data reflected a clear similarity between the effects of BZP and those of other commonly known stimulants such as amphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedure has been shown to be a possible cause of postoperative neurological morbidity for various reasons, including: large amounts of gaseous microemboli (GME) reaching the patient and hypoperfusion of the patient due to "stolen" blood flow. This study used a simulated CPB circuit identical to that in a clinical setting to examine three different hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators without intergrated arterial filters - the Capiox RX05, the Quadrox-i neonatal, and the KIDS D100 - to determine their ability to reduce the number of GME delivered to the neonatal patient and their hemodynamic properties in response to varying flow rates, normothermic vs hypothermic conditions, and open vs closed purge line. The circuit was primed with Ringer's Lactate and then human blood with a hematocrit of 30%. Injections of 5cc bolusses of air were injected into the venous line proximal to the venous reservoir over a thirty-second interval. Six injections were done for each oxygenator at each of the eight different experimental conditions for a total of 64 experiments per oxygenator (192 total injections). A flow probe, pressure transducer, and Emboli Detection and Classification (EDAC) quantifier transducer were positioned both upstream and downstream of the oxygenator to measure differences in each parameter. Results demonstrated that the Capiox RX05 is the most effective oxygenator at reducing the number of microemboli that potentially can be delivered to the neonatal patient. In regards to the hemodynamic properties, the Quadrox-i has the most favorable results, with the lowest mean pressure drop and the best energy retention across the oxygenator.

These physiological and subjective data reflect clear similarities between the effects of BZP/TFMPP and commonly known stimulants such as dexamphetamine and MDMA.

Objective Prolonged exposure to opioids is known to produce neuroplastic changes in animals; however, few studies have investigated the effects of short-term prescription opioid use in humans. A previous study from our laboratory demonstrated a dosage-correlated volumetric decrease in the right amygdala of participants administered oral morphine daily for 1 month. The purpose of this current study was to replicate and extend the initial findings. Methods Twenty-one participants with chronic low back pain were enrolled in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Participants were randomized to receive daily morphine (n = 11) or a matched placebo (n = 10) for 1 month. High-resolution anatomical images were acquired immediately before and after the treatment administration period. Morphological gray matter changes were investigated using tensor-based morphometry, and significant regions were subsequently tested for correlation with morphine dosage. Results Decreased gray matter volume was observed in several reward- and pain-related regions in the morphine group, including the bilateral amygdala, left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, and bilateral pre-supplementary motor areas. Morphine administration was also associated with significant gray matter increases in cingulate regions, including the mid cingulate, dorsal anterior cingulate, and ventral posterior cingulate. Conclusions Many of the volumetric increases and decreases overlapped spatially with the previously reported changes. Individuals taking placebo for 1 month showed neither gray matter increases nor decreases. The results corroborate previous reports that rapid alterations occur in reward-related networks following short-term prescription opioid use.

Perfusion quality during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures can contribute to postoperative neurological complications and influence patient recovery and outcome. Gaseous microemboli generated in the circuit and hemodynamic properties of blood reaching the patient can be monitored during CPB to optimize perfusion. Oxygenators that oxygenate the blood during CPB can significantly influence the quality of blood reaching the patient by their manufacturing designs. New hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators are developed with integrated arterial filters to reduce priming volume and eliminate a separate arterial filter in the circuit. To evaluate the performance of these new oxygenators, we used a simulated model to compare the Quadrox-i Neonatal and the Capiox Baby FX05 neonatal oxygenators and to provide a review of these oxygenators with their respective counterparts which have separate arterial filters. We found that microemboli counts for the new Quadrox-i and Capiox FX05 oxygenators are similar in the arterial line, but different across the oxygenator for all experimental conditions. The arterial purge line diverting blood from the patient reduces microemboli count for the Capiox FX05, but is inconsistent for the Quadrox-i Neonatal. While hemodynamic energy delivered to the patient is similar for both oxygenators, shunted blood flow for the Quadrox-i Neonatal oxygenator is three times higher than the Capiox FX05 (103.6 mL/min vs 33.0 mL/min at 400 mL/min and 35°C) (p<0.001).