Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Investigating The Effects Of Custom Made Orthotics On Brain Forms: A Pilot Study, Lindsay Carey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

OBJECTIVES: To determine (1) the feasibility of this novel approach and technique of recording brain activity, wirelessly and continuously, during human gait, and (2) if custom made orthotics will alter the brain activity patterns recorded. METHODS: Gait trials were performed on 16 participants walking with and without orthotic devices in their shoes while simultaneously collecting EEG data through the Emotiv wireless neuroheadset. RESULTS: The Emotiv neuroheadset was capable of detecting changes in brain activity between the two gait trials. The differences in brain activity identified between conditions were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the Emotiv EEG device is …

The Effects Of Pre- And Postnatal Administration Of Propionic Acid And Lipopolysaccharide On The Behaviour Of Adolescent Male And Female Rats, Kelly A. Foley

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The gut microbiome plays an important role in immune functioning and neurodevelopment. Altered microbiome composition, leading to short chain fatty acid, and/or immune system dysfunction has been observed in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This thesis describes the developmental influence of prenatal exposure to propionic acid (PPA), a metabolic fermentation product of enteric bacteria, or prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial mimetic and product of enteric bacteria, on a range of behaviours in male and female neonatal, adolescent and adult rats. Study one evaluated the effects of prenatal PPA and LPS, and postnatal PPA, on developmental milestones in …

Er Stress Coupled Pannexin Channel Activation Via Stim Proteins, Ankur Bodalia

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease, are associated with ER stress. It is suggested that plasma membrane channels contribute to the increased ionic influx and subsequent cell death in response to ER stress. Pannexin channels, which have been implicated in various pathophysiological conditions, are a suitable candidate for facilitating this response. However, mechanisms of pannexin channel activation are poorly defined. I investigated the potential regulation of pannexin activity by the ER stress sensor, STIM. It was hypothesized that pannexin channel activation during ER stress is contingent on the recruitment of STIM proteins. In neurons, pannexin activation was observed in response …

Secular Trends In Ischemic Stroke Subtypes, Chrysi Bogiatzi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: With an aging population and an increasing prevalence of therapy for atherosclerosis, it might be expected that stroke subtypes would be changing over time. Limited information exists on the ischemic stroke subtypes in adults in Canada.

Methods: Patients referred to the Urgent TIA Clinic, in London, Ontario, between 2002-2012 were included. Secular trends were analyzed using Poisson regression with spline trend function. Ischemic stroke subtype classification was validated.

Results: 3,445 consecutive patients (mean age + SD 64.8 + 14.9) were included. Cardioembolic strokes/TIAs increased from 21% in 2002 to 56% in 2012, whereas all other ischemic stroke subtypes …

The Role Of Kisspeptin And Kndy Cells In The Reproductive Neuroendocrine System, Christina M. Merkley

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus represent the final common output in the central control of reproduction. GnRH secretion is modulated indirectly by steroid feedback action of gonadal steroids on afferent interneurons. In recent years, the neuropeptide, kisspeptin, has emerged as a key mediator of steroid feedback onto GnRH neurons and the reproductive system. Kisspeptin neurons located in the preoptic area (POA) mediate estradiol (E2) positive feedback leading to the preovulatory surge, and kisspeptin cells in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) have been shown to mediate the negative feedback actions of E2 on pulsatile GnRH secretion. ARC kisspeptin neurons …

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of Brain Tissue Abnormalities: Transverse Relaxation Time In Autism And Tourette Syndrome And Development Of A Novel Whole-Brain Myelin Mapping Technique, Yann Gagnon

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The transverse relaxation time (T2) is a fundamental parameter of magnetic resonance imaging sensitive to tissue microstructure and water content, thus offering a non-invasive approach to evaluate abnormalities of brain tissue in-vivo. Prevailing hypotheses of two childhood psychiatric disorders were tested using quantitative T2 imaging and automated region of interest (ROI) analyses. In autism, the under-connectivity theory, which proposes aberrant connectivity within white matter (WM) was assessed, finding T2 to be eleveted in the frontal and parietal lobes, while dividing whole brain data into neurodevelopmentally relevant WM ROIs found increased T2 in bridging and radiate WM. In Tourette syndrome, tissue …