It remains unclear whether language tasks in one's first (L1) or second (L2) language can cause stress responses and whether frontal, autonomic and behavioral responses to stressful tasks are correlated. In this study, we studied 22 Chinese subjects whose L2 was English and measured the cerebral blood oxygenation in their frontal lobe by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as participants engaged in a mental arithmetic task (MAT) and verbal fluency tasks (VFTs) in L1 (Chinese) and L2 (English). To examine the activated cortical areas, we estimated the channel location based on Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) standard brain space by using a probabilistic estimation method. We evaluated heart rate (HR) changes to analyze autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning. We found that the MAT and VFTs induced greater increases in HR than did the control (Ctrl) task. Furthermore, subjects developed greater increases in HR in the MAT and VFTL2 than they did in the VFTL1. Compared with the Ctrl task, the MAT and both VFTL1 and VFTL2 produced robust and widespread bilateral activation of the frontal cortex. Interestingly, partial correlation analysis indicated that the activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) [Brodmann's area (BA) 47] was consistently correlated with the increases in HR across the three tasks (MAT, VFTL2, and VFTL1), after controlling for the performance data. The present results suggested that a VFT in L2 may be more stressful than in L1. The LIFG may affect the activation of the sympathetic system induced by stressful tasks, including MATs and VFTs.

Objective To investigate the effects of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep on neural behavior and cerebral pathology of rats. Based on the observation and quantitative analysis of neural behavior, a new type of animal models with dystonia is expected to be demonstrated. Methods Twenty-four female SD rats, weighting 250 g, were equally randomized into control and experimental groups. The animals in the experimental group were treated with 1.5 ml Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep once daily for consecutive 10 d. For rats in the control group, the same volume of saline (0.9%) was delivered by the same method. Neurobehavioral changes were observed; and quantitative analysis of neurobehavior and balancing ability was performed by using Noldus and Rota Rod systems. After behavioral experiments, the rats were sacrificed and the brains were got for pathological observations,especially the striatum, midbrain and hippocampus. Results Three to 7 d after the treatment, rats in the experimental group presented different degrees of neurobehavioral changes, mainly manifested as hypokinesia, decreased balanced capacity and postural dystonic abnormalities of the neck and limbs.Behavioral analysis showed that the distance, mean velocity and value of activity index in rats of the experimental group were significantly decreased as compared with those in the control group (P＜0.05).The experimental group showed a more serious dysfunction of the coordinating movement in the tested by rotating rod, a significantly shorter time of staying in the rod as compared with the control group (P＜0.05). Pathological investigation clearly demonstrated that the experimental group had decreased neurons in the corpus striatum and midbrain, especially in the hippocampus, and some neural pathological findings were observed. Conclusion Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep can induce significant changes of neural behavior in rats, which is similar to the symptoms of patients with dystonia caused by Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep poisoning, mainly manifested as hypokinesia, dysfunction of the coordinating movement, indicating that rats in the experimental group maybe a new type of animal model of dystonia, which is important in the study of dystonia.

OBJECTIVETo explore indication and approaches of neurotomy of tibial nerve for the treatment of the talipes equinovarus and spastic paralysis.

METHODA total of 25 patients including 15 patients with cerebral paralysis and other 10 patients were diagnosed with clear etiology, spastic muscles with supplied nerves were analyzed in detail, neurotomy of the tibial nerve was performed under microscope, during operation, motor nerve was lovated with electronic stimuli and monitored with induced electromyography. The surgical results were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 36 of 37 (97%) neurotomy of the tibial nerve were improved with dorsum flex of ankle at 10 - 45 degree, and 22 of 24 (85%) talipes equinovarus improved clinically. Of 37 feet with surgery, 24 feet (65%) were in normal position and could touch ground completely, 9 feet (24%) had 10 degree with ground or could contact ground with external one third of the feet, 4 feet (11%) were abnormal. Of 25 patents, 21 (84%) had improvement of motor activity at discretion, 5 patients (20%) improved dramatically. All the 4 patients failed after the operation were cerebral paralysis, and were presumably related to disorders of spinal function, abnormal reflex and the disappearance of inhibitory reflex.

CONCLUSIONNeurotomy is an effective method to treat talipes equinovarus, and can improve the motor activity of low extremity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clubfoot ; surgery ; Equinus Deformity ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Tibial Nerve ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

It remains unclear whether language tasks in one's first (L1) or second (L2) language can cause stress responses and whether frontal, autonomic and behavioral responses to stressful tasks are correlated. In this study, we studied 22 Chinese subjects whose L2 was English and measured the cerebral blood oxygenation in their frontal lobe by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as participants engaged in a mental arithmetic task (MAT) and verbal fluency tasks (VFTs) in L1 (Chinese) and L2 (English). To examine the activated cortical areas, we estimated the channel location based on Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) standard brain space by using a probabilistic estimation method. We evaluated heart rate (HR) changes to analyze autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning. We found that the MAT and VFTs induced greater increases in HR than did the control (Ctrl) task. Furthermore, subjects developed greater increases in HR in the MAT and VFTL2 than they did in the VFTL1. Compared with the Ctrl task, the MAT and both VFTL1 and VFTL2 produced robust and widespread bilateral activation of the frontal cortex. Interestingly, partial correlation analysis indicated that the activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) [Brodmann's area (BA) 47] was consistently correlated with the increases in HR across the three tasks (MAT, VFTL2, and VFTL1), after controlling for the performance data. The present results suggested that a VFT in L2 may be more stressful than in L1. The LIFG may affect the activation of the sympathetic system induced by stressful tasks, including MATs and VFTs.
Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; methods ; Female ; Functional Laterality ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Oxyhemoglobins ; metabolism ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; physiology ; Psychomotor Performance ; physiology ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods ; Stress, Psychological

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study causes of ineffectiveness of microvascular decompression (MVD) in treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS).

METHODSReoperative MVD was performed in 23 HFS patients with previous ineffective MVD. In the patients, the main causes of ineffectiveness included misjudgment of compressing vessels (7 patients), improper insertion of decompressing grafts (9), improper selection of grafts (5) and small grafts (2).

RESULTSSymptoms of HFS disappeared immediately after the second MVD in 21 patients and delayed in 2 patients (after 2 weeks, 6 weeks). No recurrence of HFS was noted during the follow-up period of 1.0 - 6.0 years (mean 3.4 years).

CONCLUSIONSMVD is an effective microsurgical method for treating HFS. Accurate judgement of compressing vessels and proper decompression are the key to surgical effectiveness.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemifacial Spasm ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Futility ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult