Digital Commons Network^™

Long-Term Effects Of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure On Gabaergic System In Posterior Parietal Cortex, V Licheri, B J. Jacquez, D Sainz, C F. Valenzuela, J L. Brigman

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) are a group of neurobehavioral deficits including physical, cognitive, learning and behavioral disabilities that persist throughout the lifespan. Our recent investigation showed that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) during first and second-trimesters equivalent impairs cognitive control on a touchscreen continuous performance task accompanied by frontal and cortical power alterations. The literature to date had extensively investigated the molecular abnormalities underlying the PAE impairments in cognitive functions mediated by cortical areas, but there are no studies exploring the long-term effects of PAE in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC). The PPC represents one of the major cortical …

Improving The Detection Of Behavioral Health Conditions Through Positive And Unlabeled Learning: Self-Harm And Opioid Use Disorder, Praveen Kumar, Jonathan K. Tsosie, Christophe G. Lambert

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Accurate detection and estimation of behavioral health conditions, such as self-harm and opioid use disorder (OUD), is crucial for identifying at-risk individuals, determining treatment needs, tracking prevention and intervention efforts, and finding treatment-naive individuals for clinical trials. Despite the underdiagnosis and undercoding of these conditions in electronic health records (EHRs), our work aims to accurately estimate both the probability of a given patient having these conditions and the overall population prevalence.

We have developed a novel machine learning algorithm, “Positive Unlabeled Learning Selected Not At Random (PULSNAR)”, to estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed or unrecorded behavioral health conditions. Positive unlabeled …

Is There An Association Between Anxiety And Response Confidence?, Sofia Miranda, Garima Singh, Mark Levelle, James F. Cavanagh

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This project investigates the neuro-behavioral relationship between anxiety, error monitoring, and decision confidence. Individuals with heightened anxiety have larger neurobiological action monitoring signals, such as the Error Response Negativity (ERN) or Correct-Response Negativity (CRN): negative deflections in the trial-averaged EEG that occur when participants commit an erroneous or correct choice, respectively. Anxiety is associated with larger ERN amplitudes and lower decision confidence. Yet, response confidence is associated with both higher CRN amplitude as well as faster response time. It remains unknown how anxiety is related to these neural systems underlying decision confidence. The current study investigated ERN and CRN amplitudes …

Association Of Neurofascin155 With Severe, Rapidly Progressive Sensory Axonal Polyneuropathy In A Cohort Of Native American Women: A Novel Case Series And Review Of The Literature, Christine Meadows, Jonathan Cauchi, Clover Youn, Kayleigh Martin, Cynthia Olivas, Ilhem Messaoudi

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Objective: Paranodal antibodies against neurofascin155 (NF155) have been well-described in chronic and acute demyelinating diseases of both the central and peripheral nervous system, but have not yet been associated with acute axonal pathology¹. Here we characterize the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and electrodiagnostic features in a cohort of adult women of Native American ethnicity who presented with rapidly progressive, severe, subacute painful paresthesias and were found to have axonal polyneuropathy associated with positive serum NF155 antibody.

Methods: Five patients presented with severe, rapidly progressive, symmetric, painful paresthesias, and were found to have sensory greater than motor axonal polyneuropathy. All …

Agonizing The 5-Ht2c Receptor Attenuates Methamphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference In Adolescent Male Rats, Nicole C. Reyna, Nathan S. Pentkowski

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) and other s􀆟mulant use remains high in the Western area of the United States, with New Mexico having one of the highest s􀆟mulant use percentages in adolescents, at 11.4%. Addi􀆟onally, adolescence is a 􀆟me of enhanced sensi􀆟vity to drug reward and there are currently no FDA approved treatments for MUD. Therefore, there is a cri􀆟cal need to develop effec􀆟ve interven􀆟ons for adolescents using methamphetamine. The present study u􀆟lized a condi􀆟oned place preference paradigm (CPP) for determining if agonizing the serotonin-2C (5-HT2c) receptor atenuates expression of methamphetamine reward in adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats (PND 30). Rats were randomly …

Effect Of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure On Histamine H3 Receptor-Effector Coupling And Sigma-1 Receptor Modulation Of Histamine H3 Receptor Function, D E. Nelson, S Davies, D D. Savage

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

We have reported that the histamine H3 receptor (H3R) inverse agonist ABT-239 ameliorates prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE)-induced deficits in synaptic plasticity and learning. It has been reported that different H3R inverse agonists have variable affinities for also binding to Sigma-1 receptors (S1Rs), including ABT-239, which is roughly equipotent at both receptor types. Given this dual action of ABT-239 and other H3R inverse agonists on both H3Rs and S1Rs, we examined whether PAE would affect that actions of the more selective H3R inverse agonist JNJ5207852 compared to the specific S1R agonist PRE-084 on H3R receptor-effector coupling.

Radiohistochemical studies of [^{35 …}

Ascl1 Regulates Astrocyte And Oligodendrocyte Cell Fate, Proliferation, And Migration In The Dorsal Cortex, Luis E. Paez-Beltran, Milindu Lyanapathirana, Tou Y. Vue

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are part of the macroglia cell family, which is the most abundant cell type in the CNS. Glia progenitor cells (GPC) give rise to both lineages by differentiating in either astrocyte precursor cells (APC) or oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC), fate determined mainly by a few master regulators. ASCL1, a basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is one of these developmental regulators expressed in progenitors’ cells during neurogenesis and gliogenesis, but its specific role in fate, migration and proliferation remains yet to be elucidated. Methods: We employed an initial descriptive study to examine ASCL1 and OLIG2 distribution in the …

A Novel Methodological Approach Of Studying Heart Rate Variability During Still Face Paradigm In Infants Of Enrich Prospective Birth Cohort Study, R Rai, J Didomenico, S M. Rodriguez, J Maxwell, J Lowe, C Aragón, L N. Bakhireva, J M. Stephen

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Introduction: Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among school age children in the U.S. might be as high as 1-5%. Diagnosis of FASD is often delayed as higher-order cognitive deficits manifest later. The inability to regulate autonomic activity during social interactions is believed to contribute to social and emotional dysregulation in children. Heart rate variability (HRV) consists of changes in the time intervals between consecutive heartbeats called interbeat intervals. It is regulated by Autonomic Nervous System through synergistic activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. Still Face Paradigm (SFP) is used as an experimental social stressor paradigm to …

Nows In Covid - Neonatal Opiate Withdrawal Hospital Course After Implementation Of Covid-19 Infection Control Practices, Dane G. Winter, Sofia Chavez, Lorena Galvan, Peggy Maclean, Jessie Maxwell, Chelsea Wilhite, Heather Pratt-Chavez

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: The SARS-COVID-19 pandemic requires hospitals to increase infection control practices and implement policies calling for universal face masks. These policies dramatically changed the hospital milieu for newborns as visitors were either limited or entirely restricted. For newborns experiencing neonatal opiate withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) due to exposure to opioids during pregnancy, hospitalization is often prolonged. Protocols for care for infants with NOWS emphasize the importance of non-pharmacologic care as first-line treatment, recommending holding infants, swaddling, and rooming-in caregivers. With changes to infection control policies, providers are concerned infants with NOWS are experiencing complications including longer stays and more complex clinical …

Tyrosine Phosphatase Step Is A Key Regulator Of Post-Ischemic Inflammatory Response Under Hypertensive Condition, Prabu Paramasivam, Seong Won Choi, Ranjana Poddar, Surojit Paul

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: Hypertension, the most common comorbid condition in stroke patients worsens stroke outcome. The canonical pathway of stroke-induced brain damage involves excessive glutamate receptor activation. Post-ischemic inflammation further contributes to the pathogenesis of stroke outcome under comorbid conditions. In earlier studies we developed a novel therapeutic target TAT-STEP, derived from the brain-enriched and neuron specific tyrosine phosphatase STEP, which has been shown to be effective in reducing stroke induced brain damage in the absence of any associated comorbidities. In the current study we evaluated the post-ischemic inflammatory pathways that contribute to the exacerbation of ischemic brain injury under hypertensive conditions …

Meg Reveals Multiple Sources To The Reward Positivity, Only One Of Which Is Affected By Major Depression, Christopher Jh Pirrung, Garima Singh, Davin Quinn, Jeremy Hogeveen, James F. Cavanagh

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Anhedonia is a primary symptom of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In order to better understand this phenotypic dimension, we investigated a marker of reward that is sensitive to information content and valence, the Reward Positivity (RewP). This study used concurrent EEG and MEG to establish the source of the RewP in control and MDD participants. The RewP emerged as a distributed network involving ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC), and bilateral insulae. Only the vmPFC differed between groups, whereas the aMCC/insula “salience network” areas were similarly responsive to reward prediction error. This suggests specific deficits in affective valuation …

Repeated Concussions And Spreading Depolarizations Are Associated With Acute Behavioral Deficits, Natalie J. Pinkowski, Betty Fish, Carissa J. Mehos, Russel A. Morton

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

It is estimated that more than 42 million individuals have a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury every year. These injuries are accompanied by acute symptoms including disorientation, impaired motor coordination, and altered mental state. These symptoms are attributed to neurological impairment caused by disruptions in ion gradients and neurotransmitters. Recently, spreading depolarizations (SDs) have been shown to occur in concussion model injuries. SDs are massive waves of chemical and electrical changes that spread slowly in a unique way through grey matter of the brain. Our previous work found that an SD is sufficient to produce the acute symptoms of …

Participation In Echo Is Associated With Expanding Buprenorphine Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder In Rural Primary Care, Julie Salvador, Snehal Bhatt, Vanessa Jacobsohn, Larissa Lindsey, Heidi Rishel Brakey, Rana Alkhafaji, Jesus Fuentes, Magdalena Mcwethy, Laura Rombach, Rachel Abeyta, Julia Martinez, Andrew Sussman, Orrin Myers

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Context: Access to medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) is limited, especially in rural communities. Documented barriers limit integration of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in primary care settings, inhibiting provider training and delivery of treatment. Innovative delivery mechanisms are needed to enhance integration of services.

Objective: Examine impact of participation in the Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes model (ECHO) intervention on expansion of OUD treatment using buprenorphine among rural primary care providers.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental single group design to assess achievement of benchmark measures related MOUD expansion.

Analysis: We estimated the strength of the …

Progressive Endothelial S1pr1 Disruption And Bbb Dysfunction In Cerebral Microvasculature Induced By Chronic Hypoxic Hypoperfusion, Y Yang, J Thompson, K Duval, S Hobson, K Santacruz, M Griego

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: Clinical and neuroimaging studies suggested a fundamental role of BBB leakage in the progressive development of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) pathology. The capillary barrier and survival are regulated by sphingosine-1-phoshate (S1P) and its receptor isoforms (S1PRs). Disruption of endothelial S1P signalling leads to capillary dysfunction, BBB breakdown, and perivascular inflammation.

Aim: To test the hypothesis that chronic hypoxic hypoperfusion down-regulates capillary endothelial S1P receptor 1 (S1PR1), compromising BBB integrity and leading to neuroinflammation, using a rat model of SVD.

Method: Spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats underwent unilateral carotid artery occlusion (UCAO) followed by a Japanese permissive diet (JPD) for …

Mechanisms Contributing To Aberrant Vascular Development In The Brain Following Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Through Elevation Of Mir-150-5p, Marissa Westenskow, Roxana Gutierrez, Gabriela Perales, Amy S. Gardiner

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are conditions impacting development in children exposed to alcohol in utero. Among other associated anatomical defects, the organization of the brain microvasculature is altered in severe forms of FASD. Other vascular anomalies such as defective angiogenesis, permeability, vessel reactivity, and blood flow are found in animal models of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). The underlying mechanisms of these vascular defects are not fully understood. We previously found miR-150-5p to be upregulated in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) isolated from embryonic mouse cortices following moderate PAE. We identified targets of miR-150-5p in BMVECs and demonstrated that …

Examining The Psychometric Properties Of The Reward And Relief Inventory Of Drinking Situations, Victoria R. Votaw, Rylee Brachle, Jenny Fillebrown, Matthew Lopez, Ethan Van, Isabel Weisberg, Katie Witkiewitz

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Recent work has examined the extent to which individuals seek alcohol to enhance positive experiences (reward drinking) or relieve aversive states (relief drinking), and processes underlying reward/relief drinking correspond to neurobiological adaptations within the addiction cycle. Previous findings indicate the utility of reward/relief drinking phenotypes in matching patients to AUD pharmacotherapies, with high reward drinkers responding better to naltrexone versus placebo. Practical reward/relief drinking measures with good psychometric properties are needed to translate these findings to clinical practice. We examined the reliability and construct validity of a recently developed brief measure of reward /relief drinking, the Reward and Relief Inventory …

Placenta Programming Of Fetal Hpa Axis, Ludmila Bakhireva, Elizabeth Solomon, Melissa Roberts, Xingya Ma, Erin Milligan

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: Maternal stress and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) alter fetal programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, including glucocorticoid regulation of the stress response in placenta, leading to lifelong health issues. While preclinical studies began underlining the importance of placenta-mediated programming of the glucocorticoid signaling system in PAE, clinical studies are extremely limited.

The amount of cortisol that crosses the placenta is a function of relative expression of 11-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSD): 11β-HSD2 oxidizes active maternal cortisol into inactive 11-dehydrocortisone, while 11β-HSD1 acts as a reductase and converts inactive 11-dehydro-corticostisone to active cortisol. Down regulation of 11β-HSD2 is associated with altered glucocorticoid …

Differential Contributions Of Glun2a- And Glun2b- Containing Nmda Receptors To Tissue Recovery After Sd, Jordan E. Weisend, C W. Shuttleworth

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Spreading depolarizations (SDs) are now recognized as a principal source of excessive glutamate accumulation in stroke. It is not yet known whether different NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subtypes contribute to progression of SD or damaging effects of SD in vulnerable tissues. We examined possible contributions of GluN2A- and GluN2B-containing NMDARs to SDs in healthy and vulnerable tissues. Focal microinjection of KCl was used to initiate SDs in the hippocampal CA1 subregion of murine brain slices. Intrinsic optical signals (iOS) monitored SD propagation and tissue swelling. Extracellular potential changes (“DC shifts”) were used to examine prolonged depolarizations previously linked to neuronal injury. …

Peer Support Model To Address Substance Use Disorders Treatment Engagement In Rural Communities, Justine L. Saavedra, A S. Crisanti, Chole Caswell, Alyssa J. Jaramillo, Sttep Research Group

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: New Mexico (NM) leads the nation in alcohol-related and drug overdose deaths. This project aims to implement and test a model of telehealth-substance use disorder (TH-SUD) treatment to reach underserved rural, Hispanic, and Native American (NA) populations in Sandoval, San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Valencia, and Santa Fe Counties. The overall goal is to reduce the consequences of substance use in culturally relevant ways. Our population of focus is rural, Hispanic, and NA adult patients with an SUD presenting to the emergency department (ED) or inpatient units of the University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center located in Sandoval …

The Rpl/Rps Gene Signature Of Melanoma Ctcs Associates With Brain Metastasis, Tetiana Bowley, I Lagutina, C Francis, S Sivakumar, R Solwyn, E Taylor, Yan Guo, Bridget N. Fahy, Bernard Tawfik, Dario Marchetti

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) is linked to poor prognosis and low overall survival. We hypothesized that melanoma circulating tumor cells (CTCs) possess a gene signature significantly expressed and associated with MBM. Employing a multi-pronged approach, we provide first-time evidence identifying a common CTC gene signature for ribosomal protein large/small subunits (RPL/RPS) which associate with MBM onset and progression. Experimental strategies involved capturing, transcriptional profiling and interrogating CTCs, either directly isolated from blood of melanoma patients at distinct stages of MBM progression or from CTC-driven MBM in experimental animals. Second, we developed the first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) CTC-derived MBM xenograft …

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure And Placental Insufficiency Result In Altered Dendritic Complexity In Medial Frontal Cortical Neurons In Adult Rat Offspring, Brooke R. Dunn, Nathanie G. Pavlik, Clement Jose, Jessie C. Newville, Suzy Davies, Daniel D. Savage, Jessie R. Maxwell

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) results in deficits in executive functioning. PAE is also associated with placental abnormalities in function and perfusion, deemed placental insufficiency (PI). PI independently contributes to neurodevelopmental deficits. The impact on the combined effects of PAE and PI is unknown. We hypothesized that voluntary moderate PAE+PI would result in decreased neuronal complexity within the medial frontal cortex, a region critical to executive functioning, assessed through use of a three-dimensional (3D) Sholl analysis.

To establish a model of moderate PAE and PI, pregnant Long-Evans rats voluntarily drank 5% ethanol or saccharin water until embryonic day 18 (E18). On …

Guidance On Methadone For Opioid Use Disorder In Older Adults: Current Practices, M E. Dankoscik, S H. Patel, A Viszolay, E W. Green, C Smith, V Jacobsohn

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Introduction: Opioid use disorder is highly prevalent and treatment is becoming more complex with the emergence of fentanyl. Methadone is a highly effective medication and full agonist of the opioid receptor allowing treatment of patients with high opioid tolerance. The proportion of adults over 65 is increasing and will rise to 77 million by 2034. In geriatric populations up to 50% of Medicare recipients take at least five medications a day. This polypharmacy and physiologic changes of metabolism puts this population at a higher risk of adverse events. In this study, we aim to determine the current practice of methadone …

Post-Error Adjustment Enhances Task-Positive Visual Processing, Mark Lavelle, James F. Cavanagh

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Our ability to discern multiple, simultaneous latent processes during the exertion of control is limited by rudimentary combinations of manifest behavior. We hypothesized that EEG could provide unique evidence that control can simultaneously alter behavioral output (i.e. decision threshold) as well as sensory gain (i.e. drift rate). This study includes EEG data from 21 young adults who completed a Flankers task where the luminance of the stimuli varied trial-wise against a black background. Conflict was associated with lower drift and lower threshold, as well as increased frontal midline theta power. Controlling for these effects, lower drift rate and threshold were …

Emotional Faces And Working Memory In Children With High Autistic And Anxiety Traits, Teagan Mullins, Jeremy Hogeveen

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

While the impact of anxiety and autism on working memory has been investigated, conflicting findings have been reported. For both conditions, working memory has been reported to be intact, impaired, or improved, or variously modulated by other factors, including emotional content of stimuli, and neuroimaging findings have been varied. When looking at the combined effect of comorbidity, the picture is even less clear. Here, we determined whether a classic finding in the cognitive neuroscience of anxiety—increased salience and attention to negative emotional stimuli—varies across children who do or do not also have elevated autistic traits. Specifically, we used the Adolescent …

Continuous Tissue Plasminogen Activator Infusion Using A Minimally Invasive Irrigating Catheter For The Treatment Of Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage: Preclinical Model, Danika E. Nelson, Diego Carrera, Marc Mabray, Andrew P. Carlson

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a stroke subtype which poses one of the greatest treatment challenges affecting about 2 million people yearly worldwide. About 45 percent of ICH extend into the ventricles resulting in intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), which is associated with a 50-80 percent mortality and high morbidity.¹ Historically, surgical clot evacuation has failed to significantly improve functional outcomes¹ .² Minimally invasive approaches using an external ventricular drain with intermittent dosing of alteplase have shown to be a safe and viable method of reducing clot volume.^3,4 Despite not improving functional outcomes, a subgroup of patients may benefit …

Using The 55-Word Story Method Of Reflection And Writing About Not Losing Hope In Humanity, Pearl Huynh, Ricardo Falcon, Tim Peterson, Codruta Soneru

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Creative writing with 55-word stories can encapsulate key experiences. It stimulates reflection and professional growth. Their brevity adds insight and impact.

Draft 1:

I have so many mixed feelings about everything going on in the world right now. There is so much disagreement on everything and to me it feels like we can never get everyone on the same page. Whether it be political things, health care, Roe v. Wade, world hunger, vaccines, violence, etc.. Being a first-year medical student, it can be easy to forget about everything going on in the world as you are so busy trying to …

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (Pae) And Stress Alter Levels Of Circulating Corticosterone And Expression Of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (Crf) In Adult Brain, Justine Rose Zimmerly, Melody Sky Sun, Annette Katherine Fernandez-Oropeza, Shahani Noor, Andrea Pasmay, Ariana Nezhat Pritha, Carlos Fernando Valenzuela, Daniel Savage, Erin Damita Milligan

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) results in a constellation of negative consequences clinically known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which include disorders of mood, behavior, and cognition. The hypothalamus and amygdala influence the stress response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Glucocorticoids (CORT) released into circulation following HPA activation exert negative feedback by activating glucocorticoid receptors (GR) that inhibit further HPA activation and CORT release. Stress-induced production of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the brain initiates HPA activation, a process also associated with the activation of astrocytes and production of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β). We hypothesize that PAE alters brain …

Dose-Response Effect Of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure On Perinatal Outcomes, Alexandria Wiesel, Xingya Ma, Jared Didomenico, Fiona Wohler, Melissa Roberts, Ludila Bakhireva

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, yet studies examining the effect of specific patterns and levels of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes are scarce. The objectives of this study are to examine PAE effects of low-to-moderate exposure on adverse perinatal outcomes.

Methods: Data (n=112) for this analysis were combined from three interrelated prospective cohort studies conducted at the University of New Mexico. All cohorts included patients with PAE, assessed by Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB), binge drinking episodes, AUDIT questionnaire, and a battery of ethanol biomarkers. These data were abstracted …

Effects Of Ethanol Exposure On Oligodendrocyte Development In The Brain, Estrella Villicana, Luis E. Paez-Beltran, Bianca L. Myers, Milindu Liyanapathirana, Fernando Valenzuela, Tou Yia Vue

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) occurs when an expecting mother consumes alcohol. PAE will lead to children to develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which are a group of conditions that can include a wide range of physical deformities and/or intellectual disabilities. Glial cells such as oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are responsible for generating oligodendrocytes to myelinate neuronal axons, which is essential for proper conduction of action potentials. Studies in both humans and animal models showed that decrease myelination in the brain are prominent features of PAE. In this project, we propose that pups exposed to ethanol at the third …

Development Of A Patient-Centered Outcome (Pco) Measure For Dystonia, Arlann Erskine, Paul Reyes, Fares Qeadan, Brian Berman, Sarah L. Schneider, Janet Hieshetter, Charlene Hudgins, Kimberly Kuman, Cynthia Comella, David Peterson, Mark Hallett, Gamze Kilic-Berkmen, Laura Wright, Samantha Pentecost, Joel S. Perlmutter, H A. Jinnah, Sarah Pirio Richardson

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: The purpose of the Patient Centered Outcome (PCO) Project is to establish clinical trial readiness for novel treatments of dystonia. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a first-line therapy for focal dystonia including cervical dystonia (CD), blepharospasm (BSP), and laryngeal dystonia (LD). Although BoNT provides significant improvement, approximately one-third of patients discontinue use suggesting that BoNT therapy may not meet patient expectations.

Methods: We set out to develop a PCO that accurately captures the patient experience during therapy. After a modified Delphi process to identify candidate PCO items and based on FDA guidance, we surveyed a large number of patients with …