Psychophysiological Effects of Sideritis and Bacopa Extract and Three Combinations Thereof—A Quantitative EEG Study in Subjects Suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is regarded as a transitional stage during the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Diagnosis of MCI can be obtained by the questionnaire “DemTect” in German speaking countries. Quantitative assessment has been successfully performed using psychometric testing concomitantly with quantitative EEG recording. The present investigation aimed at the possible treatment of MCI with two botanicals, namely extracts from Sideritis scardica (500 mg) or Bacopa monnieri (320 mg) and three combinations thereof using this method in order to find a new treatment. The performance of the d2-test, an arithmetic calculation test (CPT) and a memory-test revealed better performance for the d2-test only in the presence of Sideritis extract or the combinations with Bacopa extract. Quantitative EEG assessment during the different experimental conditions showed massive differences between both extracts. Whereas Sideritis extract and its combination with a low amount of Bacopa extract (160 mg) induced increases of spectral power in fronto-temporal brain areas, Bacopa and the combination of Sideritis with high amounts of Bacopa extract produced attenuation of all waves except for delta in fronto-temporal brain areas. These differences were also documented by quantitative EEG maps in comparison to Placebo. A different action of both extracts was confirmed by discriminant analysis, where Sideritis extract and its combination with low Bacopa grouped together quite at distance to Bacopa and the combination of Sideritis with high Bacopa. A combination of Sideritis extract with a low amount of Bacopa should be tested with daily repetitive dosing for at least 4 weeks as a consequence.

Neurophysiological Biomarker of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment is sometimes regarded as related to aging. However, statistically every second case turns into full dementia, which still is resistant to any treatment. It is therefore desir-able to recognize deviations from normality as early as possible. This might be feasible by using quantitative EEG analysis in the presence of mental work. The present retrospective data analysis revealed a new quantitative biomarker indicating the degree of impairment. Current source density was calculated from 16 channel EEG using CATEEM?? software. Four different conditions were analyzed: relaxed state, performing a d2-concentration test, a calculation performance test and a memory test for 5 min each. Subjects older than 40 years were divided into two groups according to their DemTect score: 13 - 18 (HC;n = 44) or 8 - 12 (MCI;n = 45). Spectral power was chopped into six frequency ranges (delta, theta, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1 and beta 2). Average spectral power was enhanced in the MCI group in comparison to healthy subjects with respect to delta (p = 0.05) during relaxed state when all electrode positions were regarded. With respect to EEG recording during performance of three different psychometric tests it was recognized that mainly spectral changes during performance of the d2-concentration test were related to mild cognitive impairment. With regard to all electrode positions statistically significantly lower spectral power values were reached during the d2-test for delta (p = 0.001), theta (p = 0.0001) and alpha 1 waves (p = 0.08) in impaired subjects in comparison to healthy subjects. Regarding regions of interest increases of delta and theta power were seen in the fronto-temporal brain during performance of the d2-concentration test. These increases disappeared when looking at MCI data. In the centro-parietal region decreases of alpha and beta 1 power emerged, which were even larger in MCI subjects. No MCI-dependent changes were observed in the other two tests. A correlation was found between psychometric performance of the d2-test and the DemTect score (r = 0.51). MCI subjects had statistically significant worse performance in all three mental challenges in comparison to healthy volunteers. It is concluded that MCI can be characterized at an early stage by EEG recording in the relaxed state. High spectral delta and theta power in general and specifically at fronto- temporal electrode positions (especially at T3) was recognized as a biomarker for MCI. A DemTect score of 8-12 was validated as indicative for MCI.

A New Approach to the Ordered Classification of Critical Factors in the Degradation Processes of River Basins

The aim of this paper is to present through information collected via qualitative analysis in order to provide an alternative perspective to classify critical factors and their correlations in the processes of degradation of river basins in countries in development in an ordered way.This study was started with a bibliographical review for gathering relevant information about the main factors,which was submitted to specialists and related professionals via survey developed in a format of answers on Likert scale,with the analyses of data from the respondents as well as their contribution within sample assembly exploratory factorial analysis and the charge factor item from the questionnaire with usage of polychoric correlation matrix with which it is proposed to establish the ordering of the factors relevance as well as their correlations through parametric statistical analysis with the usage of a generalized model of partial credit which belongs to the family of the models for polyatomic gradual answers to the item response theory(IRT)and the applying of cluster analysis(ICLUST)with the usage of both alpha and omega coefficient for the estimation of the variables group,with the R tool.As a result,the present study aims to establish a comprehension of the main factors for the ordering of the actions and attention of public and private sectors towards the preservation of urban river basins.

Effect of Zembrin^(█) on Brain Electrical Activity in 60 Older Subjects after 6 Weeks of Daily Intake.A Prospective,Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled,3-Armed Study in a Parallel Design

Zembrin? is a botanical functional food and dietary supplement ingredient sold in the USA, and Canada for enhancing mood, decreasing anxiety and stress and improving cognitive function under stress. It is a proprietary extract of a cultivated selection of Sceletium tortuosum. The present investigation aimed at the measurement of the effect of 25 or 50 mg of Zembrin? in comparison to placebo after daily repetitive intake for 6 weeks. Sixty healthy male (n = 32) and female (n = 28) right-handed subjects between 50 and 80 years old (59.7 ± 5.43 and 56.7 ± 5.88 years, respectively) were recruited. The EEG was recorded bipolarly from 17 surface electrodes (CATEEM?) before and 1 h after intake. Six cognitive tests were performed: d2-test, memory test, calculation performance test, reaction time test, number identifying test and number connection test. Three questionnaires were included: Profile of Mood States, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and a sleep questionnaire. Quantitative EEG revealed increases of delta activity during performance of the d2-test, the number identification and number connection test in the fronto-temporal brain region. Higher theta activity was seen during relaxation and performance of the d2-test after intake of 50 mg of Zembrin?. Statistically conspicuous increases of alpha1 spectral power were seen in the relaxed state. With respect to alpha2 spectral power larger increases were observed in the centro- occipital region. Discriminant analysis revealed a projection of Zembrin? data into the vicinity of the calming preparation Calmvalera tablets and a Ginkgo-Ginseng mixture. Statistically significant improvement during performance of the arithmetic calculation test and number connection test was documented. The HAM-A anxiety score revealed a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.03) after six weeks. Zembrin? showed significant activity on three levels of evidence: questionnaires, psychometry and quantitative EEG. The results indicate that in healthy people Zembrin? improves some aspects of cognitive function, decreases anxiety, and may enhance mood.

Validity of self-reported male sexual function scalesin a young Chinese population:a comparative studywith clinician-assisted evaluation

Psychometric scales,commonly used to gauge sexual function,can sometimes be influenced by response biases.In our researchfrom June 2020 to April 2021,we examined the accuracy of self-reported sexual function scales.We invited patients from theDepartment of Infertility and Sexual Medicine at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University(Guangzhou,China),whohave male sexual dysfunction,to participate by filling out a self-reported version of a specific questionnaire.In addition,they wentthrough a clinician-assisted version of this questionnaire,encompassing tools such as the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool(PEDT),the 6-item International Index of Erectile Function(IIEF-6),the Erection Hardness Scale(EHS),and the MasturbationErection Index(MEI).Using the clinician-assisted version as a reference,we categorized patients and applied various statisticalmethods,such as the Chi-square test,intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC),logistic regression,and the Bland–Altman plot,to gauge reliability.In our study with 322 participants,we found that while there were no notable discrepancies in error ratesbased on our categorization,certain scales showed significant differences in terms of overestimation and underestimation,withthe exception of the PEDT.The positive diagnosis rate consistency between the self-reported and clinician-assisted versions wasobserved.High ICC values between the two versions across the scales were indicative of remarkable reliability.Our findings showthat the self-reported versions of tools such as EHS,IIEF-6,MEI,and PEDT are credible and hold clinical reliability.However,employing a dual-diagnosis approach might be more prudent to circumvent potential misdiagnoses.