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One-trial association task as a basic biological model of episodic memory in rats
Radostová, Dominika ; Stuchlík, Aleš (advisor) ; Horáček, Jiří (referee) ; Telenský, Petr (referee)
One-trial association task as a basic biological model of episodic memory in rats Abstract A very important structure in the animal and human brain is the hippocampus. The study one of its many functions, episodic memory, is facing with the limited possibilities of non-invasive methods. In this regard, animal models are helpful. In order to study the individual components of such a complex ability in detail, a new behavioral task testing the association of temporally close but separate stimuli was developed. The test animals were exposed to a sequence of a sound conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned electric shock, between which there was a delay of 2 seconds. 59% of the rats successfully learned the association as well as the correct escape reaction to solve the task. Based on the results, the so-called One-Trial Trace Escape Reaction task could be a very valuable tool for a more detailed understanding of animals' incidental one-trial learning important for episodic memory. Another important phenomenon investigated in this work is the development of new neurons in the hippocampus in adulthood and its influence on learning and flexibility. After blocking the animals' neurogenesis with the temozolomide, the animals' ability to learn to avoid an invisible sector in the active avoidance task was tested....
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Prediction of the Antidepressant Effect of Ketamine Based on Clinical Parameters and Intoxication Phenomenology
Andrashko, Veronika ; Horáček, Jiří (advisor) ; Papežová, Hana (referee) ; Juřica, Jan (referee)
Background: ketamine is a rapid and potent antidepressant treatment, however no sufficient predictors for tailored treatment have been identified to date. The aim of the thesis was to identify possible clinical and phenomenological characteristics, associated with better antidepressant response in patients receiving ketamine. Materials and methods: data from 86 depressed patients from cohorts A (2010-2015) and B (2018-2022) were utilized. All patients underwent ketamine infusion and demographic as well as clinical assessment (severity of depressive symptoms, subjective and objective anxiety and anhedonia before and after ketamine application). In addition, an electrocardiogram was taken to assess heart rate variability in cohort A and blood pressure, heart rate, and altered state of consciousness scales were recorded in cohort B during ketamine intoxication. Results: in cohort A, the use of higher doses of benzodiazepines was associated with worse response at day 3 (p = 0.04) and day 7 (p = 0.02) after ketamine administration. Responders showed higher heart rate (p = 0.001) and differed from nonresponders in heart rate variability (p = 0.011). In cohort B, responders reached higher values od systolic (p = 0.003) and diastolic (p = 0.005) blood pressure during intoxication, but not higher heart...
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Altered morphology of white and grey matter in patients with Alzheimer disease and Schizophrenia on MRI
Lahutsina, Anastasiya ; Zach, Petr (advisor) ; Horáček, Jiří (referee) ; Němcová, Veronika (referee)
Cortical folding of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), particularly the cingulate (CS) and the paracingulate (PCS) sulci, represents a neurodevelopmental marker. Deviations in in utero development in schizophrenia can be traced using CS and PCS morphometry. In the present study, we measured the length of CS, PCS, and their segments on T1 MRI scans in 93 patients with first episode schizophrenia and 42 healthy controls. Besides the length, the frequency and the left-right asymmetry of CS/PCS were compared in patients and controls. Distribution of the CS and PCS morphotypes in patients was different from controls. Parcellated sulcal pattern CS3a in the left hemisphere was longer in patients (53.8 ± 25.7 mm vs. 32.7 ± 19.4 mm in controls, p < 0.05), while in CS3c it was reversed-longer in controls (52.5 ± 22.5 mm as opposed to 36.2 ± 12.9 mm, n.s. in patients). Non parcellated PCS in the right hemisphere were longer in patients compared to controls (19.4 ± 10.2 mm vs. 12.1 ± 12.4 mm, p < 0.001). Therefore, concurrent presence of PCS1 and CS1 in the left hemisphere and to some extent in the right hemisphere may be suggestive of a higher probability of schizophrenia. Measurement of an hippocampal area or volume is useful in clinical practice as a supportive aid for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease....
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The influence of morphometric changes of gray and white matter on brain functional connectivity in schizophrenia
Görnerová, Natálie ; Horáček, Jiří (advisor) ; Zach, Petr (referee) ; Filip, Pavel (referee)
More than a century has passed since a clear definition for schizophrenia was established, yet, the etiology, neuropathological and pathophysiological mechanisms of this psychiatric disorder still, to a large extent, remain to be elucidated. In the theoretical part of this dissertation, we review current classification and pathophysiology of schizophrenia, paying a particular attention to the findings from structural and functional imaging techniques. These techniques demonstrate that patients with schizophrenia tend to have reduced volume of grey matter, reduced integrity of white matter and a disrupted inter-regional functional connectivity (FC). The temporal association between structural changes, already detectable on imaging before symptoms appear, and development of disrupted FC remains to be uncovered. At the same time, current knowledge does not fully explain the link between disrupted FC and disturbed experience of self-awareness, a core symptom of schizophrenia. In addition, it is necessary to develop novel effective methods to prevent relapse and prevent the progression of neurobiological changes in the brain. In the practical part of this dissertation, we designed a study with three different groups of subjects aiming to fulfil three key aims that would help us to fill the gaps in...
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Structure and dynamics of electronic defects in liquid water
Maršálek, Ondřej ; Jungwirth, Pavel (advisor) ; Horáček, Jiří (referee) ; Pittner, Jiří (referee)
Title: Structure and dynamics of electronic defects in liquid water Author: Ondřej Maršálek Institute: Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Supervisor: prof. Mgr. Pavel Jungwirth, DSc. Supervisor's e-mail address: pavel.jungwirth@uochb.cas.cz Abstract: In this thesis we present ab inito molecular dynamics simulations of two different electronic defects in water. Photoionization of liquid water produces a cationic hole, which undergoes ultrafast dynamics and forms the hydrated proton and the hydroxyl radical as its products. We study both the dynamics and spectroscopy of this process. The hydrated electron is a key intermediate in radiation chemistry of aqueous systems. We simulate its equilibrium properties in anionic water clusters as well as the dynamics of vertical electron attachment to cold and warm clusters. The hydrated electron reacts with a hydrated proton to form a hydrogen atom. We examine this reaction at a finite temperature in a larger cluster as well as in more detail in a smaller cluster. Because both of the electronic defects studied here are challenging open-shell species, we put emphasis on benchmarking and testing our computational setup. Six published articles are attached to the thesis. Keywords: density functional theory,...
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Diagnostic markers in patients in early stage of multiple sclerosis
Hynčicová, Eva ; Laczó, Jan (advisor) ; Horáček, Jiří (referee) ; Taláb, Radomír (referee)
The aims of the thesis were to assess diagnostic markers for monitoring of the disease progression in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and laboratory markers of efficacy of the interferon beta (IFNß) therapy. This thesis includes 4 studies. The first study was focused on evaluation of cognitive impairment and its structural correlates in patients with CIS. Using comprehensive neuropsychological testing and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with volumetric analyses we found cognitive impairment in 18-37 % of CIS patients in almost all cognitive domains. Brain volume was reduced predominantly in fronto- temporal regions and the thalamus. Next, visuo-spatial impairment was associated with lower white matter volume in patients with CIS. The two other studies evaluated neuropsychiatric symptoms, life satisfaction, health-related quality of life and their mutual relationships. In addition, one of these two studies evaluated structural correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms on brain MRI. Using a battery of specific questionnaires, we demonstrated depressive symptoms and anxiety in patients with CIS, lower life satisfaction, lower health-related quality of life and close mutual relationships. The quality of life was associated more with cognitive functioning than with disability in...
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Nonpharmacological Rehabilitation of Schizophrenic patients
Pelcová, Petra ; Horáček, Jiří (advisor)
In my work I try to give an overview of the psychological and neurobiological aspects of schizophrenia in the context of the current non-pharmacological treatment options of schizophrenia. At the same time it is an overview of the available methods of nonpharmacological interventions for schizophrenia. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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