No abstract

Regular scaling of brain networks during evolution has been proposed to be the major process leading to enlarged brains. Alternative views, however, suggest that deviations from regular scaling were crucial to the evolution of the primate brain and the emergence of different cerebrotypes. Here, we examined the scaling within the major link between the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex by studying the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN). We compared the major axonal and dendritic wiring in the DCN of rodents and monkeys in search of regular scaling. We were able to confirm regular scaling within the density of neurons, the general dendritic length per neuron and the Purkinje cell axon length. However, we also observed specific modification of the scaling rules within the primates’ largest and phylogenetically newest DCN, the dentate nucleus (LN/dentate). Our analysis shows a deviation from regular scaling in the predicted dendritic length per neuron in the LN/dentate. This reduction in the dendritic length is also associated with a smaller dendritic region-of-influence of these neurons. We also detected specific changes in the dendritic diameter distribution, supporting the theory that there is a shift in the neuronal population of the LN/dentate towards neurons that exhibit spatially restricted, clustered branching trees. The smaller dendritic fields would enable a larger number of network modules to be accommodated in the primate LN/dentate and would provide an explanation for the unique folded structure of the primate LN/dentate. Our results show that, in some brain regions, connectivity maximization (i.e., an increase of dendritic fields) is not the sole optimum and that increases in the number of network modules may be important for the emergence of a divergent primate cerebrotype.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00429-017-1402-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Low back pain is a major global public health problem, but the current intervention effect is not ideal. A large body of previous literature suggests that patients with chronic low back pain may have abnormal postural control, which is more evident in the dual task situation. In recent years, research on postural control in patients with low back pain under dual-task conditions has gradually become a hot topic. However, the results obtained from these studies were not entirely consistent. In this review, we summarized relevant studies on the performance of postural control in patients with low back pain under dual-task conditions, analyze it from the perspective of the theoretical model of dual-task interaction, the specific research paradigm of dual task, the performance of postural control, and the related factors affecting postural control performance, etc. It was reasonable to assume that patients with low back pain might have a certain degree of abnormal postural control, and this abnormality was affected by comprehensive factors such as age, cognitive resource capacity, attention needs, complex sensorimotor integration, external environment, etc. Furthermore, postural control performance in low back pain patients under dual-task conditions was further influenced by the nature and complexity of the different tasks. In general, the more attention resources were needed, the external environmental conditions were worse, and the age-related functions were degenerate, etc., the weaker posture control ability was. In short, a deeper understanding of postural control in patients with low back pain under dual-task conditions may shed light on more references for the rehabilitation and management of low back pain, as well as some new ideas for scientific research on cognition and postural control.

No abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, non-coding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length that negatively regulate translation of the protein-coding genes. As such, miRNAs are fundamental mediators of cellular differentiation, proliferation, and survival. Each miRNA may functionally interact with a multitude of target genes to exert various effects on normal physiology to support human health or pathological processes leading to disease conditions, such as cancer. Genome-wide analyses have generated specific miRNA profiles of thyroid cancers (TCs) and identified the up- and down-regulated miRNAs related to various carcinogenesis stages and prognoses. Here, we summarize the recent knowledge on aberrant miRNA expression in the various TCs, including papillary, follicular, and other rare types. In addition, we discuss the significance of miRNA profiles and individual miRNAs in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of these tumors.