Introdução: a epilepsia reflexa é uma condição na qual todas as crises são desencadeadas por um estímulo específico e, na grande maioria dos casos, apresenta-se com crises refratárias ao tratamento. São vários os fatores desencadeantes, entre os quais se destaca pela raridade a evacuação. Objetivos: realizar revisão de literatura sobre epilepsia reflexa, identificar a evacuação como possível fator desencadeador de crise epiléptica e relatar o caso de um paciente com crise reflexa evacuatória documentada à monitorização por vídeo-eletroencefalograma Métodos: revisão de literatura acerca de epilepsias reflexas e revisão de prontuário de um paciente com suspeita clínica de epilepsia reflexa evacuatória. Resultados: o paciente deste estudo, um menino de 10 anos de idade, com dominância manual esquerda, iniciou, aos 4 anos, crises associadas à evacuação. Na monitorização por vídeo-eletroencefalograma, durante episódio de evacuação, apresentou parada comportamental, desvio cefálico para a direita, automatismos em membro superior esquerdo e arresponsividade, coçando o nariz tardiamente com a mão esquerda. O EEG ictal demonstrou atividade rítmica teta em região temporal esquerda com posterior envolvimento frontal esquerdo e de áreas homólogas contralaterais. As ressonâncias magnéticas de encéfalo não evidenciaram alterações e o SPECT interictal identificou hipoperfusão discreta na porção anterior do lobo temporal esquerdo. Com uso de ácido valpróico e carbamazepina o paciente segue livre de crises. Avaliações neuropsicológicas e de qualidade de vida sugerem comprometimento global, tanto antes como após o controle da epilepsia. Conclusão: este é apenas o terceiro caso de epilepsia reflexa evacuatória descrito na literatura, e o segundo com crises dessa ordem documentadas por vídeo-eletroencefalograma. Ambos sugeriram lateralização e localização em região temporal esquerda, elegendo esta região como potencial zona epileptogênica. O tratamento com ácido valpróico e carbamazepina mostrou-se eficaz para controle de crises neste paciente, podendo ser uma opção de tratamento em outros pacientes com este tipo de epilepsia. / Background: Reflex epilepsy is a condition in which all seizures are triggered by a specific stimulus. There are many known stimulus, including defecation which has rarely been reported. In the majority of cases, it presents with refractory seizures. Objective: review the literature on reflex epilepsy, as well as identify defecation as a possible trigger and report a case of a patient with reflex seizures triggered by defecation documented by video-electroencephalogram monitoring. Methods: literature review on reflex epilepsies and review of medical records of a patient with reflex epilepsy triggered by defecation. Results: we present a 10-year-old-boy patient, left-handed, whose epilepsy onset was at the age of four. Its seizures were characterized by episodes of loss of consciousness and atonia during defecation. Video-electroencephalogram monitoring had shown a seizure triggered by defecation, characterized by right head deviation, left upper limb automatisms, associated with consciousness impairment and afterwards nose wiping with the left hand. The ictal EEG demonstrated theta rhythmic activity in the left temporal lobe. The brain magnetic resonance was normal. The interictal SPECT identified left anterior temporal lobe mild hypoperfusion. The patient became seizure free after the treatment with valproic acid and carbamazepine. Neuropsychological and quality of life assessments suggested global impairment, before and after seizure control. Conclusion: this is the third case of epilepsy induced by defecation, and the second with seizures documented by videoelectroencephalogram. Similar to this case, both had suggested lateralization and localization over the left temporal region, suggesting this region as a potential epileptogenic zone in patients with this type of reflex epilepsy. In our patient, the treatment with valproic acid and carbamazepine was effective for the seizure control and may be an option to other patients with this condition.

Orientadores: Iscia Teresinha Lopes Cendes, Vinicius D'Ávila Bitencourt Pascoal / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T15:13:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Matos_AlexandreHilarioBerenguerde_M.pdf: 2928972 bytes, checksum: d4db9f154891dd3379d9e02aacc7279f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Wistar audiogenic rat (WAR) é um modelo genético de epilepsia de crises audiogênicas desencadeadas após alta intensidade de estimulação sonora. Outro modelo genético recentemente identificado é o da epilepsia generalizada com crises de ausência (GEAS). O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar o perfil de expressão gênica destas duas cepas através de uma análise em larga escala. Para os estudos de expressão foi utilizada inicialmente a tecnologia de microarranjos seguida da validação dos resultados por técnica quantitativa de PCR em tempo real. Os resultados foram analisados em ambiente R, utilizando os pacotes AFFY e RankProd do bioconductor, utilizando o algoritmo MAS 5 os array foram normalizados e calculou-se a intensidade do sinal e a detecção (presença ou ausência de expressão). Após a detecção, os transcritos que estavam ausentes foram removidos. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o teste RankProd, que é biologicamente projetado para testar e detectar genes diferencialmente expressos em experimentos de microarranjos. Foi utilizado um valor de p ? 0,01 e pfp ? 0,05, a fim de considerar os transcritos diferencialmente expressos. No geral, nossos resultados mostram uma assinatura molecular similar nos dois modelos de ratos genéticos analisados. Houve uma sobreposição na lista de genes diferencialmente expressos encontrados em ambos os modelos, quando comparado com controles. Além disso, descobrimos que duas importantes vias moleculares para epileptogênese: neurotransmissão GABAérgica e potencialização de longo prazo pós-sináptica NMDA-dependente, foram encontrados em ambos os modelos, quando combinamos os dados dos animais WAR e GEAS. No entanto, algumas diferenças nas vias de sinalização expressas nos dois modelos também foram identificadas. Portando os resultados mostram claramente a natureza heterogênea e complexa dos mecanismos moleculares envolvidos na epileptogênese / Abstract: Wistar audiogenic rat (WAR) is a genetic epilepsy model susceptible to audiogenic seizures, after high-intensity sound stimulation. Another genetic model we have recently identified is the generalized epilepsy with absence seizures (GEAS) rat. The aim of the present study was to characterize and compare the genetic profile of these two strains using gene expression analysis. Experiments were performed initially using microarray technology followed by quantitative real-time PCR. Results were analyzed in R environment using the Affy and RankProd packages from Bioconductor, using the algorithm MAS 5 we normalized the arrays and calculated the signal intensity and the detection (presence or absence of expression), after the detection, transcripts which were absent in all samples were removed. For statistical analysis we used the Rank Product test, which is biologically motivated and designed to test and detect differentially expressed genes in replicated microarray experiments. This is a simple non-parametric statistical method based on ranks of fold changes. We used a p-value ? 0.01 and a pfp ? 0.05 in order to consider a given transcript to be differentially expressed Overall, the results show a different molecular signature in the two genetic rat models analyzed, since different enriched gene ontology categories were found. However, there was some overlap in the list of genes differentially expressed found in both models when comparing to controls. In addition, we found that two important molecular pathways for epileptogenesis: GABAergic neurotransmission and: Neurophysiological process NMDA-dependent postsynaptic long-term potentiation in CA1 hippocampal neurons, were found to be present in both models when combining data from WAR and GEAS animals. In conclusion, our results clearly show the heterogeneous and intricate nature of the molecular mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis as well as the importance of studies looking at different regulatory pathways at once, in order to better appreciate this complexity / Mestrado / Neurociencias / Mestre em Ciências

Defence sounds are widespread and diverse amongst insects. Despite their ubiquity and variability, hypotheses explaining their functions and evolutionary origins have been understudied. My thesis focused on these topics using silk and hawkmoth Bombycoidea caterpillars as a model system. In Chapter Two I investigated why defence sounds have evolved in some caterpillars but not others by testing the hypothesis that large body size is a factor in the evolution of defence sounds. To test this hypothesis, I followed the development of defence sounds in four Bombycoidea species from hatching to pupation. I predicted that early instars would not produce defence sounds, and that within sound producing instars defence sounds would be more likely to occur in larger caterpillars. Results showed that defence sounds were absent in the first and second instar, and that they developed in the third through to the fifth instar in all species. Moreover, the onset of sound production occurred when all species were the same relative size (~1.12 g, ~26.37 mm), despite the fact that the species differed in their final instar size. I concluded that early instar caterpillars do not make defence sounds, and that there is a critical size when defence sounds develop. I further tested the hypothesis that smaller caterpillars do not have enough energy to make defence sounds, by analyzing the relationship between size and several temporal characteristics of the sounds. I predicted that smaller caterpillars would signal less than larger caterpillars, and produce shorter signal units and trains, with lower duty cycles. Results partly supported the hypothesis, showing that in two species there was a positive relationship between size and the number of units produced within two seconds following an attack, the mean number of units per train, and the mean duration of the units in one species. I also tested the hypothesis that sounds of small caterpillars are not in the hearing range of predators. I predicted that there would be a relationship between caterpillar size, and the sound pressure levels and dominant frequencies of the sounds. Results showed no significant relationships with dominant frequencies or sound pressure levels and size. I concluded that the caterpillars made sounds that were within the hearing range of major predators from the onset of sound production. In Chapter Three I followed the other antipredator defences of the four species throughout development. I investigated whether the frequency of defences changed with instar. I found that the caterpillars employed up to seven different secondary defences throughout development. In one species the frequency of dropping and major thrashing increased in the late instars, and in a different species the frequency of regurgitation increased. I concluded that in some cases defence sound production accompanies other secondary defences that increase with the size of caterpillars during development. In Chapter Four I tested the hypothesis that the defensive whistle of the walnut sphinx caterpillar, Amorpha juglandis (Sphingidae: Sphinginae), functions to startle birds. I predicted that the birds would startle to the sounds, and habituate upon repeated exposure within a trial. Results showed that play-back recordings of the whistles elicited a startle response in captive red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) and caused them to hesitate and/or flee from prey. I concluded that the whistles function as a startle display. Together, the experiments conducted within my thesis addressed important outstanding questions regarding the evolutionary origins of defence sounds in caterpillars, and their functions in predator-prey interactions.

Simple circuits perform simple tasks. Complex circuits can perform more complicated tasks. This is true for artificial circuits and for brain circuits. As is known from artificial networks, a complexity that makes circuits substantially more powerful is distributing learning across multiple layers. In fact, most brain circuits in vertebrate systems are multi-layer circuits (but for few that perform simple reflexes) in which learning is distributed across layers. Despite the crucial contribution of learning in middle layer neurons to the output of the circuits they are embedded in, there is little understanding of the principles defining this contribution. A very common feature in brain circuits is that middle layer neurons generate two types of signals, known as spikes. These middle layer neurons commonly have long dendrites where they generate dendritic spikes. As well, like most neurons, they generate axonal spikes near the cell body. Neurons exhibiting these two spike types include pyramidal cells in the neo-cortex and the hippocampus, the Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and many more. In this thesis I study another circuit that contains middle layer neurons, the electrosensory lateral lobe (ELL) of the mormyrid fish. The ELL is a tractable brain circuit in which the middle layer neurons generate dendritic and axonal spikes. In this thesis I show that these spike types are not two different expressions of the same inputs. Rather, they have a symbiotic relationship. Instead of all inputs triggering both spikes, some inputs can selectively drive dendritic spikes. The dendritic spikes in return modify the synaptic strength of another set of inputs. The modified inputs are then transmitted to downstream neurons via the axonal spikes, which contributes a desired signal to the output of the circuits. Effectively there is a separation of learning and signaling in the middle layer neurons through the two spike types. Having two types of spikes in the same neuron doing different computations enormously expands the computational power of the neuron. But, being in the same neuron means the separation of function is constrained and needs to be supported by biophysical principles. I have thus built a biophysical model to understand the biophysical principles underlying the separation of function. I show that in the middle layer neurons of the ELL, the axonal spikes are strongly reduced in amplitude as they backpropagate to the apical dendrites, yet they remain crucial in driving dendritic spikes. Critically, modulation of inhibitory inputs can selectively dial up or down the ability of the backpropagating axonal spikes to drive dendritic spikes. Thus, a set of inhibitory modulating inputs can selectively modulate dendritic spikes. Having learning in different layers contributing to the outcome of the circuit, naturally leads to asking how the work is divided across layers and neuron types within the circuit. In this thesis I answer this question in the context of the outcome of the ELL circuit. Finally, another signature of a complex circuit is the ability to integrate many different inputs, usually in middle layer neurons, to generate sophisticated outputs. A goal for scientists studying systems neuroscience is to understand how this integration works. In this thesis I provide a coherent model of a learning behavior called vestibulo occular reflex (VOR) adaptation, that depends on the integration of separate inputs to yield a learned behavior. The VOR is a simple reflex generated in the brain stem. Inputs from the brain stem are also sent to an area in the cerebellar cortex called the flocculus. The flocculus also receives another set of inputs that generate a different behavior, called smooth-pursuit. The integration of VOR inputs with smooth-pursuit inputs in the flocculus generate VOR adaptation. Understanding complex circuits is one of the greatest challenges for today's neuroscientists. In this thesis I tackle two such circuits and hope that through a better understandings of these circuits we gain principles that apply to other circuits and thereby advance our understanding of the brain.

In this thesis, a simple small vehicle powered by differential chassis was projected and constructed. The vehicle is controlled manually with the help of user program on personal computer (PC). The software equipment allows recording trajectory run by the small vehicle and then repeating it automatically. The operation system of the small vehicle is based on microcontroller ATmega16 series. Communication between the microcontroller and PC is carried out through RS232 serial bus. The vehicle has digital compass and five reflex sensors that serve for obstruction detection in the closest vicinity of the vehicle. Power unit of the vehicle consists of seven NiCd cells with the capacity of 500 mAh. Propellant unit is powered directly from NiCd cells. Voltage of 5 V for feeding of the control electronics is gained through the set up clasp source of voltage connected to NiCd cells.

Patients with non-compensated vestibular dysfunction frequently complain of the ability to maintain dynamic visual acuity during activities which require the movement of the head. When this occurs the patient is experiencing oscillopsia, which is the symptom resulting from a non-functional vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). To measure the presence of oscillopsia, tests of dynamic visual acuity (DVA) may be used. A recent test of DVA has been reported which is administered while patients are walking on a treadmill. Although this test has been shown to be useful in evaluating DVA in patients, there are several disadvantages to treadmill use. These include physical space, cost and accessibility. Additionally, walking at the required treadmill speed to produce sufficient head movement may pose difficulties and be medically contraindicated for patients with certain health risks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a different method to measure DVA in patients which would not require the use of the treadmill, but instead utilize a volitional head movement to reveal oscillopsia. In this study, patients performed the DVA test in two conditions: (1) walking on a treadmill, and (2) seated on a chair volitionally moving the head. In this study, DVA was tested in both conditions with 15 adults with normal vestibular function, and 16 adults with vestibular impairment. Results revealed that both methods, treadmill walking and volitional head movement, appeared equivalent for measuring DVA in normal subjects and vestibular impaired subjects. The lack of finding a significant main effect of method, and interactions that include method, supports the equivalence of volitional head movement to a treadmill approach for the measurement of DVA.

Male and Female newborn rats were primed with either quinpirole 0.05 mg/kg IP or SKF-38393 0.1 mg/kg IP on days 1-11, 12-22 and 23-33 of their lives. When the rats reached the age of 13 weeks, they were placed on metal rods in an activity avoidance chamber, and light and electric current of 30V/0.8 mA were used on them as conditioning stimuli. Avoidance of the electric shock was considered a positive conditioned reaction. Training and memorizing the conditioned avoidance reflex consisted of a series of ten trials, 60 seconds apart, once a week for ten weeks. The mean number of positive responses after quinpirole was more profound in all priming intervals tested, as compared to SKF-38393, and was higher as the priming started later in life. Significantly higher scores were obtained by the female rats primed with quinpirole, as compared to the male rats primed with the same drug. These differences were much weaker with SKF-38393. These findings confirm that the central D2 receptor system is involved in learn ing and memorizing of Conditioned Avoidance Reflex much more than the D1 receptors do, and that female rats are more sensitive and retentive to this reflex.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the SPAR test (Sensitivity Prediction by the Acoustic Reflex) on a sample of older adults who professed negative otologic histories. Twenty-seven subjects, ranging in age from sixty-four to eighty-three years of age (54 ears) were ultimately chosen as subjects. A young adult group, ranging in age from eighteen to thirty years of age, with normal audiometric hearing levels served as controls. Reflex threshold levels were obtained using 500 Hz., 1000 Hz., and 2000 Hz. pure tones and noise stimuli. Assessment of hearing loss was calculated on the difference between measures to ascertain hearing loss category and slope of loss according to a formula developed by Jerger (1974). The following conclusions were made on the basis of data collected in this investigation: The SPAR test was significant in assessing hearing sensitivity levels among the sample of geriatric subjects. The SPAR test was not statistically significant in assessing slope of loss in this sample of geriatric subjects. Reflex thresholds were consistently higher for aging than for a sample of young adults with normal hearing. This was true even among elderly subjects with average pure tone thresholds in the normal range. A significant portion of this carefully screened older adult sample displayed abnormal middle-ear function (as measured by tympanometry) in the absence of conventional audiometric indications of this. A significant portion of this older adult sample provided audiometric evidence of middle-ear pathology.

The study aimed to determine the relationship between the medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent reflex strength and susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This was evaluated by measuring the efferent suppression (ES) results from the contralateral suppression of Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAEs). It was predicted by several researchers that the strength of the MOC efferent reflex could determine the susceptibility to hearing loss (HL). The prediction was that an individual with a stronger MOC efferent reflex was less susceptible to developing a HL and an individual with a weaker MOC efferent reflex was more susceptible to developing a HL. The design used in the study was a categorical independent comparative design. The independent values used in the study were the results from the contralateral suppression of the TEOAEs and the thresholds obtained from each participant’s pure tone audiogram. A quantitative research approach was used as different numerical values were collected from each participant. The numerical results obtained for each participant were objectively compared between the two identified groups. Forty-one participants between the ages of 30 and 45 years, who had been exposed to noise levels between 89.3 dBA and 101.6 dBA at a Platinum mine in the North West Province, were used for the study. Twenty participants presented thresholds within normal limits of 0 to 15 dB and 21 participants presented with a permanent minimal NIHL with thresholds of 16 to 40 dB at 3000 Hz, 4000 Hz and 6000 Hz averaged. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 25 (IBM Inc.). Non-parametric tests were used with the Mann-Whitney U test, where the ES of the two independent groups were compared. The results showed no statistically significant difference in the ES of the normal hearing participants compared to the participants with a minimal HL. However, participants with normal hearing presented, on average, with a slightly stronger ES than the participants with a minimal HL. The lowest p-values in this study were calculated at 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz, with a p-value of 0.085 at 4000 Hz for the age category 30 to 35 years and a p-value of 0.086 at 2000 Hz for the age category 41 to 45 years. This suggests that it could be possible that the MOC reflex strength may predict the degree of HL. It is recommended that more research be done on contralateral suppression of TEOAE measurements on participants who present with permanent NIHL to possibly use the MOC reflex to predict susceptibility to HL in clinical practice. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology (Audiology))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MCommunication Pathology (Audiology) / Unrestricted

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第18322号 / 農博第2047号 / 新制||農||1021(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4829(農学部図書室) / 31180 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 近藤 直, 教授 松井 徹, 准教授 小川 雄一 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM