December 2018 - Neuro-All - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

MNN Visiting Speaker Dr. Shawn Hochman | Thurs. Dec 13 @ 12 Noon, Theatre B
by Manitoba Neuroscience Network 12 Dec '18

12 Dec '18

cid:image001.jpg@01D158FE.B69B8D00 M N N S E M I N A R & V I S I T I N G S P E A K E R S E R I E S D A T E: Thursday December 13, 2018 12:00 Noon L O C A T I O N: Theatre B Bannatyne Campus **followed by a trainee lunch in 431 BMSB S P E A K E R Dr. Shawn Hochman Professor and Interim Chair Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA T O P I C: Paravertebral sympathetic thoracic chain ganglia: recruitment principles and plasticity after spinal cord injury O b j e c t I v e s: Paravertebral chain sympathetic postganglionic neurons (SPNs) represent the final neural control element regulating vasomotor tone and can be thought of as a distribution system for sympathetic activity that must span the body vasculature. Alterations in sympathetic chain activity are implicated in various autonomic disorders. The thoracic SPNs (tSPNs) control vasomotor function in upper extremities and trunk (this includes vascular supply to integumentary, cardiorespiratory and digestive systems). tSPNs remain a barely-studied area of vertebrate autonomic neuroscience. 1. Use whole-cell patch clamp recordings in an adult mouse ex vivo preparation to uncover the operational principles governing tSPN recruitment. 2. Obtain a reliable cellular and synaptic data set for realistic computational simulation. The relative simplicity of the organization makes discovery of principles through modeling more assured than in more complex systems. 3. To determine whether changes in tSPNs contribute to autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury. B I O S K E T C H: Shawn Hochman is Professor and Interim Chair of Physiology at Emory University School of Medicine. His research embraces broad aspects of neuromodulation-based control of sensorimotor and autonomic integration. Current research focuses on emergent dysfunction in mouse models of spinal cord injury. Efforts include; (i) continuous non-invasive capture of changes in physio-behavioral variables in the vivarium home-cage, and (ii) the role of the peripheral NS in driving emergent sensory and autonomic dysfunction For more information, contact the MNN office @ 204.235.3939 Tabrez Siddiqui Chair, MNN Seminar Series E: Tabrez.siddiqui(a)umanitoba.ca Kelly Jorundson Coordinator, Membership & Operations Manitoba Neuroscience Network Email: kjorund(a)sbrc.ca Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre Room R4046 - 351 Taché Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 CANADA ****************************************** <http://www.manitobaneuroscience.ca/> cid:image003.jpg@01D159B3.9F0B9710 <https://www.facebook.com/manitobaneuroscience/?fref=ts> cid:image007.png@01D29326.7E26D480 <https://www.instagram.com/manitobaneuroscience/> cid:image009.jpg@01D29326.7E26D480 <https://twitter.com/manitobaneuro> cid:image010.png@01D29326.7E26D480

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Mark your calendars... MNN Visiting Speaker | Dr. Keith Murai Jan 14th @ 12 noon
by Manitoba Neuroscience Network 07 Dec '18

07 Dec '18

cid:image001.jpg@01D158FE.B69B8D00 S E M I N A R & V I S I T I N G S P E A K E R S E R I E S D A T E Monday, January 14, 2019 12:00 Noon (Followed by a trainee lunch in SR415 KIAM Bldg) L O C A T I O N Theatre C, Bannatyne Campus S P E A K E R D r. Keith Murai, Ph.D. Director for the Centre for Research in Neuroscience Professor, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Faculty and Department of Medicine Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre T O P I C Astrocyte diversity and brain circuit microenvironments Objectives: 1) Discuss the complexity and heterogeneity of astrocyte populations in the CNS which may confer differential responses in the injured brain 2) Discuss the future potential of manipulating brain astrocytes for treating brain injuries, increasing resiliency of neurons in brain diseases, and promoting repair Abstract: Astrocytes are key partners for neurons in the healthy brain and contribute to the physiology and homeostasis of neural circuits. The complex molecular, functional, and structural properties of astrocytes enable these cells to precisely regulate extracellular ionic balance, neurotransmission, brain energetics, and cerebrovasculature. However, the mechanisms that enable astrocytes to perform highly diverse and specialized functions in the brain remain poorly understood. In this presentation, results will be provided showing the remarkable anatomical and functional complexity of astrocytes using advanced electron microscopy and molecular techniques. Furthermore, new findings will be shown demonstrating how mature neurons signal to neighbouring astrocytes to guide their molecular and physiological features in multiple brain regions. This neuron to astrocyte communication is both necessary and sufficient for astrocyte molecular diversification including the expression of important molecules including glutamate transporters and receptors, potassium channels, and water channels. Thus, ongoing communication between neurons and astrocytes plays an fundamental role in optimizing local neural circuit microenvironments to ensure optimal brain health and function. Brief Bio: Keith Murai is the Director of the Centre for Research in Neuroscience at McGill University, Leader of the Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN) Program at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, and Professor in the Dept. of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University. He is a recipient of a Canada Research Chair position and is an EJLB Scholar for Schizophrenia Research. His research has two main areas of focus: (1) Understanding how neurons and glial cells cooperate to regulate brain development and homeostasis and (2) Discovering mechanism that regulate the plasticity of synapses that underlie memory formation, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. His laboratory uses advanced mouse genetic, imaging, electrophysiological, and optogenetic techniques and has pioneered approaches for understanding glial cells in brain function. He is an Associate (handling) Editor at Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, Section Editor in Development and Plasticity at the Journal of Experimental Neuroscience, and a Member of the editorial board at Developmental Neurobiology. He has been an author on high impact research studies published in journals such as the Journal of Neuroscience, PNAS, Journal of Cell Biology, Nature Neuroscience, Current Biology, Neuron, Cell, and Science. /sent on behalf of Tabrez Siddiqui Chair, MNN Seminar Series Kelly Jorundson Coordinator, Membership & Operations Manitoba Neuroscience Network Room R4046 - 351 Taché Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 CANADA Email: <mailto:kjorund@sbrc.ca> kjorund(a)sbrc.ca Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 . ****************************************** <http://www.manitobaneuroscience.ca/> cid:image003.jpg@01D159B3.9F0B9710 <https://www.facebook.com/manitobaneuroscience/?fref=ts> cid:image007.png@01D29326.7E26D480 <https://www.instagram.com/manitobaneuroscience/> cid:image009.jpg@01D29326.7E26D480 <https://twitter.com/manitobaneuro> cid:image010.png@01D29326.7E26D480

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Dr Moussavi presents at our Dementia Journal club - Dec 7th at Riverview Health Ctr- 11:30 AM Please post or circulate
by Manitoba Neuroscience Network 03 Dec '18

03 Dec '18

cid:image001.jpg@01D158FE.B69B8D00 /sent on behalf of Dr. Ben Albensi Subject: Dr Moussavi presents at our Dementia Journal club - Dec 7th at Riverview Health Ctr- 11:30 AM Please post or circulate Come to our Dementia Journal Club on Friday, Dec. 7th, 11:30 AM Riverview Health Ctr, Winnipeg DH132 is the basement of the “Day Hospital” at Riverview Health Center. Day Hospital has an entrance through the back parking lot (east side of the campus facing the river) but also has connection to the main hospital through tunnels. Street parking around the RHC is for 1 or some for 2 hours free. One block south of the center like Baltimore street is free parking all day. ----------------- Brain Fitness APP for Aging with a Healthy Brain and Detecting Cognitive Declines Dr Zahra Moussavi While currently there is no cure or "vaccine" against dementia, there are hopes to delay the onset or progression of the disease by living a brain-healthy life style. In this study, we developed 7 games in a Brain Fitness App based on the premise of brain plasticity, targeting spatial orientation, associative memory and short-term memory that are known to decline with normal aging and dementia. Twenty cognitively healthy individuals (69.8±5.9 yr) and 20 (68.9±8.2 yr) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild stage of Alzheimer’s were enrolled in the study. Cognitively healthy participants used the App at home at their own pace but were advised and encouraged to use it daily. The MCI/Alzheimer’s group mostly (n=15) used the App in a supervised manner (with a tutor) 5 day/week for 4 consecutive weeks, two blocks of 30 minutes per day with half an hour break in between. The tutors were 5 different young students. The assessor also helped with tutoring one of the participants. The remaining 5 of the 20 in this group used the App at home with the help of their caregiver. The cognitive function of both groups’ participants was assessed by using WMS-IV at baseline and immediately post-intervention. Half of the healthy group was assessed at two baselines to establish the practice effect on the WMS-IV score. The results of the healthy group, on average, indicate a significant improvement in cognitive functioning from baseline to post-intervention; however, not significant when accounting for the practice effect of the WMS-IV test. For the MCI/Alzheimer’s group, we did not expect any practice effect for the assessment and that was apparent among the 4 individuals who used the App at their home with their caregiver at their own pace (less regimented and less frequently); they showed no difference in scores after the intervention. However, the group who were tutored showed a significant improvement post-intervention. The total score of their WMS-IV test increased by 22.6 on average (p<0.02, paired t-test). Having a tutor may be considered as a placebo effect for the main effect. While we believe the observed improvement is beyond the placebo effect (2 participants did not improve despite enjoying their sessions), we believe especially for MCI and Alzheimer’s individuals having a tutor for brain exercises and having a regimented tutoring/learning is the key for the brain exercises to be effective in improving the cognition. The results of the healthy group also indicate that when individuals use brain exercises at their own pace, the majority do not challenge themselves and do not use the games as frequently as instructed; thus, not surprising that those individuals do not benefit as much from any brain exercises. Our results, overall, indicate delivery of brain exercises by a personal trainer (tutor) can be the key for a beneficial outcome. ----------------------- B. Albensi, PhD Dementia Research Chair Kelly Jorundson Coordinator, Membership & Operations Manitoba Neuroscience Network Room R4046 - 351 Taché Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 CANADA Email: <mailto:kjorund@sbrc.ca> kjorund(a)sbrc.ca Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 . ****************************************** <http://www.manitobaneuroscience.ca/> cid:image003.jpg@01D159B3.9F0B9710 <https://www.facebook.com/manitobaneuroscience/?fref=ts> cid:image007.png@01D29326.7E26D480 <https://www.instagram.com/manitobaneuroscience/> cid:image009.jpg@01D29326.7E26D480 <https://twitter.com/manitobaneuro> cid:image010.png@01D29326.7E26D480

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