by Walter Milano  , Paola Ambrosio  , Francesca Carizzone  and Anna Capasso

Received: 19 November 2019;  Published: 13 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2002055

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder, the etiopathogenesis of which is still not fully understood. Currently, the most accredited model is a multifactorial model, which involves interaction between predisposing factors of biological nature, partly genetically determined, and psychological/personological and environmental socio-cultural factors. The last 20 years have led to the advancement in our knowledge on the mechanisms of energy homeostasis maintenance. There has been a veritable explosion of studies aim [...]

by Paul Taglieri  , Paul Milham  , Paul Holford  and R. John Morrison

Received: 07 November 2019;  Published: 13 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/acr.2002005

Despite extensive research, the behaviour of the key nutrient element, phosphorus (P), in soil is not yet fully understood. This study focussed on the outstanding issue of the co-adsorption of protons (H+) and P by soils. We developed a congruent set of measures to determine the net H+:P co-adsorption ratio and tested it on goethite, for which a ratio of 1.6:1 had been estimated under CO2-free conditions for additions of NaH2PO4. Under our conditions, and using additions of KH2PO4, the net H+:P co-adsorption ratio [...]

by Xi Chen  and Jianhua Xuan

Received: 19 October 2019;  Published: 07 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2002107

The analysis of gene networks and signalling pathways plays a key role in understanding gene functions, i.e., their effects on the development of a particular disease. Yet, for many heterogeneous diseases, the number of known disease-associated genes is limited. Identifying disease-associated genes is still an open challenge. To understand the functions of genes associated with a disease, we develop a Metropolis-Hastings sampling based SIGnificant NETwork (MSIGNET) identification approach. MSIGNET integrates diseas [...]

by Annelie K Gusdal  and Christine Gustafsson

Received: 09 November 2019;  Published: 07 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002114

The people with dementia experience a progressive loss of cognition, while more than 90% of them develop behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). BPSD may result in physical injuries and psychological distress among people with dementia and their family/caregivers. First-line care strategies in dementia care should not unthinkingly involve pharmacological interventions to avert or reduce the behavior, and should rather consider the person and their unique requirements. Therefore, a combination of p [...]

by Fernando Cabo  and Isaac Aguaristi

Received: 01 April 2020;  Published: 02 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002018

by Ryan Sweeney  , Alvaro J La Rosa  , Nina Sheade  , Rachael C. Olson-Marszewski  , Ryan Bergren  and Edwin Meresh

Received: 12 January 2020;  Published: 01 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2002054

Case studies have associated catatonia with withdrawal from benzodiazepines and clozapine, both of which have been shown to increase GABA activity. Long-term use of GABAergic medications could result in GABAA downregulation and sudden discontinuation of the GABAergic drug could lead to a GABA hypoactive state which could predispose the patient to catatonia. The anticonvulsant topiramate, is known to increase brain GABA activity. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic imprinting disorder characterized by lack of e [...]

by Ahmed H Abdelhafiz

Received: 05 March 2020;  Published: 01 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002113

The prevalence of diabetes in older people is increasing. Diabetes in old age is associated with increased risk of mental dysfunction. Cognitive dysfunction and mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and diabetes-related distress tend to coexist in older people with diabetes and appear to have bidirectional relationship acting as a risk factor and, at the same time, as a consequence of diabetes. To break the vicious circle of this complex reciprocal relationship between diabetes and mental dysfunction, early id [...]

by Krisztian Kasos  , Luca Csirmaz  , Fanni Vikor  , Szabolcs Zimonyi  , Katalin Varga  and Anna Szekely

Received: 07 February 2020;  Published: 01 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002017

Hypnosis has proven to be an effective treatment in disorders that affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, the studies investigating the nature of its effect on the ANS have reported contradictory results. Measurement of electrodermal activity (EDA) is an objective way to assess the activity of the sympathetic branch of the ANS. We aim to elucidate the effects of hypnosis on EDA. Here, we report the results of two studies, both investigating the psychophysiological effects of hypnosis.In the first exper [...]

by Giuseppe Cocco

Received: 20 March 2020;  Published: 01 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002112

by David J. Ross

Received: 27 March 2020;  Published: 31 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001106

by Hsuan-Wei Chen  , Hsuan-Hwai Lin  , Yu-Lueng Shih  , Tsai-Yuan Hsieh  and Jung-Chun Lin

Received: 23 February 2020;  Published: 30 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.2001044

by Rohan R. Ravindranath  , Brian De La Franier  , Issaka Yougbare  , Jason E. Fish  and Michael Thompson

Received: 25 January 2020;  Published: 27 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001008

Coronary artery disease is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Coronary stents, tube-shaped medical implants that are placed in narrowed coronary arteries, have been used successfully in the management of this condition. However, re-narrowing (i.e. restenosis) of the artery can occur which is instigated by an immune response towards the implanted ‘foreign’ material. A new approach to prevent restenosis and reduce the stent-induced immune response has been proposed previously, which involve [...]

by Adam K. Morrison  , Robert J. Gajarski  , Ashley Hodge  , Sara Fitzgerald-Butt  , Peter Baker  , Patrick M. McConnell  and Deipanjan Nandi

Received: 21 May 2019;  Published: 26 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001105

Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a rare form of heritable cardiomyopathy with wide genotypic variability, numerous phenotypic variations, and a wide spectrum of clinical disease from asymptomatic to end stage heart failure. Here, we present a case of a 2-year-old boy who presented to their pediatrician with a cough as a first clinical sign of heart failure, rapidly progressing to severe heart failure. He was found to have mixed LVNC with a restrictive phenotype, a rare phenotype of this form [...]

by Sasha Gorrell  , Anne G.E. Collins  , Daniel Le Grange  and Tony T. Yang

Received: 03 December 2019;  Published: 23 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2001053

Driven exercise (i.e., the tendency to exercise in excess to influence weight/shape or regulate emotion) is difficult to manage in the context of anorexia nervosa, and is associated with poorer treatment outcomes, and psychological and medical severity. Driven exercise is observed in a considerable number of those diagnosed with anorexia nervosa; however, to date, this hallmark symptom remains poorly understood. Dopamine signaling is implicated in motivating and maintaining appetitive behavior among patients with e [...]

by Cynthia M.A. Geppert  and Ronald W. Pies

Received: 17 March 2020;  Published: 23 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001016

Cultural and religious competence is an essential component of palliative and end-of-life care. Because religious, ethnic and racial groups often differ in their values and preferences, including their attitudes toward palliative and end-of-life care, clinicians must maintain an open and respectful attitude toward these differences. Cultural and religious competence can improve palliative and end-of-life care, and strengthen the therapeutic alliance with patients and their families.

by Joun Park  , Xianzun Tao  and R. Grace Zhai

Received: 13 January 2020;  Published: 20 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2001106

By adjusting gene expression in response to environmental changes, cells can optimize fitness as needed. Alternative splicing is one of the most important post-transcriptional regulation steps, broadly involved in diverse physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we present 5 cases of alternative splicing conferring increased neuroprotection through diverse mechanisms. These examples highlight the enormous power of alternative splicing in maintaining viability of neurons. From pre-mRNA secondary structure al [...]

by Yan Yang  , Gerhard Litscher  , Zemin Sheng  and Lu Wang

Received: 12 February 2020;  Published: 20 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001015

Pain could be directly related to autonomous imbalance. To date, only one scientific work examining heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR) as the important parameters of autonomous nervous system (ANS) in the context of clinical routine acupuncture treatments for lumbosacral pain conditions is available in the listed databases. The present study aimed to investigate the short-term effects of HRV and HR, during and after the acupuncture needle stimulation in patients with lower back pain. Eighteen patients [...]

by Giuseppe Cocco  and Philipp Amiet

Received: 05 February 2020;  Published: 19 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001111

The present article summarizes the current state of understanding in geriatric cardiology in terms of the main developments in the field. The focus of the present review is on the therapeutics, into the specific characteristics of the elderly pa­tients dealing with the prevention of arterial hypertension, bradycardic arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery syndromes, valve heart diseases, and heart failure. Progress in the field of medicine has rendered possible to treat lethal cardiac diseases in the [...]

by Rolf R. Gerhardts

Received: 11 November 2019;  Published: 17 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001007

We summarize and discuss a self-consistent screening and magneto-transport theory, developed to understand the results of scanning-force-microscope experiments on the current distribution in a two-dimensional electron system (2DES), located in a narrow Hall bar under the conditions of the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE) and its breakdown. The theory explains why, at low temperatures, at certain intervals of the applied perpendicular magnetic field, the current density is confined to “incompressible stripes” (ISs [...]

by Antonella Ciaramella

Received: 01 January 2020;  Published: 17 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001014

Over the last 30 years, several neuroimaging and neurophysiological experiments have lent support to the neuropsychology of consciousness, and several definitions have followed to describe it. The phenomenological perspective of consciousness facilitates the description of the individual’s awareness experience of internal states (e.g., perception, sensations, emotion, volition, or memories), thus helping us to better understand the relationship between the brain and mind. Although significant research has been aime [...]

by Mohamed Zaiou

Received: 16 March 2020;  Published: 17 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2001105

by Sarah Kölling  and Annika Hof zum Berge

Received: 22 November 2019;  Published: 11 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2001052

Self-reports and actigraphy are common methods of sleep monitoring. Portable polysomnography (p-PSG) may serve as a screening tool in natural environments. Common concerns with its use are that sleep and compliance might be affected. Further, dysfunctional beliefs of the subjects may contribute to sleep disturbances, which might manifest throughout sleep monitoring. This study examined the effect of monitoring sleep patterns and attitudes among healthy individuals. Sixty-eight physically active university students [...]

by Victoria Rendell  , Natalie M. Bath  and Todd V. Brennan

Received: 09 May 2019;  Published: 10 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001104

Brazilian-born British biologist Dr. Peter Medawar played an integral role in developing the concepts of immunologic rejection and tolerance, which led to him receiving the Nobel Prize “for the discovery of acquired immunologic tolerance” and eventually made organ transplantation a reality. However, at the time of his early work in tolerance, a paradox to his theories was brought to his attention; how was pregnancy possible? Pregnancy resembles organ transplantation in that the fetus, possessing paterna [...]

by Tommy Sundqvist  , Lars Stenhammar  , Bo Tjellström  , Karl-Eric Magnusson  , Tore Midtvedt  , Elisabeth Norin  and Lotta Högberg

Received: 07 February 2020;  Published: 09 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.2001043

by Fernando Cabo  and Isaac Aguaristi

Received: 01 September 2019;  Published: 05 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001013

Several manual bodywork therapies that originated in Asia are related to the theory and practice of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). One of the aims of these therapies is to stimulate specific points on the body called acupoints which are the same points in which needles are inserted in acupuncture. These manual therapies, however, vary in their interpretation and explanation of the theories of TCM, and even more so, in the practical way the stimulation is applied. The aim of this paper is to cla [...]