Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of epilepsy: electromagnetic stimulation-mediated neuromodulation therapy and new technologies

Epilepsy is a severe, relapsing, and multifactorial neurological disorder. Studies regarding the accurate diagnosis, prognosis, and in-depth pathogenesis are crucial for the precise and effective treatment of epilepsy. The pathogenesis of epilepsy is complex and involves alterations in variables such as gene expression, protein expression, ion channel activity, energy metabolites, and gut microbiota composition. Satisfactory results are lacking for conventional treatments for epilepsy. Surgical resection of lesions, drug therapy, and non-drug interventions are mainly used in clinical practice to treat pain associated with epilepsy. Non-pharmacological treatments, such as a ketogenic diet, gene therapy for nerve regeneration, and neural regulation, are currently areas of research focus. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathogenesis, diagnostic methods, and treatments of epilepsy. It also elaborates on the theoretical basis, treatment modes, and effects of invasive nerve stimulation in neurotherapy, including percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain electrical stimulation, repetitive nerve electrical stimulation, in addition to non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation. Numerous studies have shown that electromagnetic stimulation-mediated neuromodulation therapy can markedly improve neurological function and reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures. Additionally, many new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy are being explored. However, current research is mainly focused on analyzing patients' clinical manifestations and exploring relevant diagnostic and treatment methods to study the pathogenesis at a molecular level, which has led to a lack of consensus regarding the mechanisms related to the disease.

Targeting TrkB-PSD-95 coupling to mitigate neurological disorders

Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling plays a pivotal role in dendritic growth and dendritic spine formation to promote learning and memory. The activity-dependent release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor at synapses binds to pre- or postsynaptic TrkB resulting in the strengthening of synapses, reflected by long-term potentiation. Postsynaptically, the association of postsynaptic density protein-95 with TrkB enhances phospholipase Cγ-Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling required for long-term potentiation. In this review, we discuss TrkB-postsynaptic density protein-95 coupling as a promising strategy to magnify brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling towards the development of novel therapeutics for specific neurological disorders. A reduction of TrkB signaling has been observed in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease, and enhancement of postsynaptic density protein-95 association with TrkB signaling could mitigate the observed deficiency of neuronal connectivity in schizophrenia and depression. Treatment with brain-derived neurotrophic factor is problematic, due to poor pharmacokinetics, low brain penetration, and side effects resulting from activation of the p75 neurotrophin receptor or the truncated TrkB.T1 isoform. Although TrkB agonists and antibodies that activate TrkB are being intensively investigated, they cannot distinguish the multiple human TrkB splicing isoforms or cell type-specific functions. Targeting TrkB-postsynaptic density protein-95 coupling provides an alternative approach to specifically boost TrkB signaling at localized synaptic sites versus global stimulation that risks many adverse side effects.

Pro-resolving lipid mediator reduces amyloid-β42-induced gene expression in human monocyte-derived microglia

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202503000-00031/figure1/v/2024-06-17T092413Z/r/image-tiff Specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators including maresin 1 mediate resolution but the levels of these are reduced in Alzheimer's disease brain, suggesting that they constitute a novel target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease to prevent/stop inflammation and combat disease pathology. Therefore, it is important to clarify whether they counteract the expression of genes and proteins induced by amyloid-β. With this objective, we analyzed the relevance of human monocyte-derived microglia for in vitro modeling of neuroinflammation and its resolution in the context of Alzheimer's disease and investigated the pro-resolving bioactivity of maresin 1 on amyloid-β42-induced Alzheimer's disease-like inflammation. Analysis of RNA-sequencing data and secreted proteins in supernatants from the monocyte-derived microglia showed that the monocyte-derived microglia resembled Alzheimer's disease-like neuroinflammation in human brain microglia after incubation with amyloid-β42. Maresin 1 restored homeostasis by down-regulating inflammatory pathway related gene expression induced by amyloid-β42 in monocyte-derived microglia, protection of maresin 1 against the effects of amyloid-β42 is mediated by a re-balancing of inflammatory transcriptional networks in which modulation of gene transcription in the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway plays a major part. We pinpointed molecular targets that are associated with both neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease and therapeutic targets by maresin 1. In conclusion, monocyte-derived microglia represent a relevant in vitro microglial model for studies on Alzheimer's disease-like inflammation and drug response for individual patients. Maresin 1 ameliorates amyloid-β42-induced changes in several genes of importance in Alzheimer's disease, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.

Potential role and therapeutic implications of glutathione peroxidase 4 in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder with a complex and incompletely understood pathogenesis. Despite extensive research, a cure for Alzheimer's disease has not yet been found. Oxidative stress mediates excessive oxidative responses, and its involvement in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis as a primary or secondary pathological event is widely accepted. As a member of the selenium-containing antioxidant enzyme family, glutathione peroxidase 4 reduces esterified phospholipid hydroperoxides to maintain cellular redox homeostasis. With the discovery of ferroptosis, the central role of glutathione peroxidase 4 in anti-lipid peroxidation in several diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, has received widespread attention. Increasing evidence suggests that glutathione peroxidase 4 expression is inhibited in the Alzheimer's disease brain, resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation, ferroptosis, and apoptosis, which are closely associated with pathological damage in Alzheimer's disease. Several therapeutic approaches, such as small molecule drugs, natural plant products, and non-pharmacological treatments, ameliorate pathological damage and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease by promoting glutathione peroxidase 4 expression and enhancing glutathione peroxidase 4 activity. Therefore, glutathione peroxidase 4 upregulation may be a promising strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This review provides an overview of the gene structure, biological functions, and regulatory mechanisms of glutathione peroxidase 4, a discussion on the important role of glutathione peroxidase 4 in pathological events closely related to Alzheimer's disease, and a summary of the advances in small-molecule drugs, natural plant products, and non-pharmacological therapies targeting glutathione peroxidase 4 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Most prior studies on this subject used animal models, and relevant clinical studies are lacking. Future clinical trials are required to validate the therapeutic effects of strategies targeting glutathione peroxidase 4 in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Gamma-glutamyl transferase 5 overexpression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells improves brain pathology, cognition, and behavior in APP/PS1 mice

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202502000-00030/figure1/v/2024-05-28T214302Z/r/image-tiff In patients with Alzheimer's disease, gamma-glutamyl transferase 5 (GGT5) expression has been observed to be downregulated in cerebrovascular endothelial cells. However, the functional role of GGT5 in the development of Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of GGT5 on cognitive function and brain pathology in an APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the underlying mechanism. We observed a significant reduction in GGT5 expression in two in vitro models of Alzheimer's disease (Aβ1-42-treated hCMEC/D3 and bEnd.3 cells), as well as in the APP/PS1 mouse model. Additionally, injection of APP/PS1 mice with an adeno-associated virus encoding GGT5 enhanced hippocampal synaptic plasticity and mitigated cognitive deficits. Interestingly, increasing GGT5 expression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells reduced levels of both soluble and insoluble amyloid-β in the brains of APP/PS1 mice. This effect may be attributable to inhibition of the expression of β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1, which is mediated by nuclear factor-kappa B. Our findings demonstrate that GGT5 expression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells is inversely associated with Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, and that GGT5 upregulation mitigates cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice. These findings suggest that GGT5 expression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells is a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.

Brain region-specific roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in social stress-induced depressive-like behavior

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a key factor in stress adaptation and avoidance of a social stress behavioral response. Recent studies have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in stressed mice is brain region-specific, particularly involving the corticolimbic system, including the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. Determining how brain-derived neurotrophic factor participates in stress processing in different brain regions will deepen our understanding of social stress psychopathology. In this review, we discuss the expression and regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in stress-sensitive brain regions closely related to the pathophysiology of depression. We focused on associated molecular pathways and neural circuits, with special attention to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling pathway and the ventral tegmental area-nucleus accumbens dopamine circuit. We determined that stress-induced alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are likely related to the nature, severity, and duration of stress, especially in the above-mentioned brain regions of the corticolimbic system. Therefore, BDNF might be a biological indicator regulating stress-related processes in various brain regions.

COT-TT vaccine attenuates cocaine-seeking and cocaine-conditioned place preference in rats

Vaccination active, promising alternative immunological strategy to treat of CUD. Various models of cocaine vaccines have been evaluated in animals and humans with relative success. In this sense, it is necessary to improve or optimize the cocaine vaccines already evaluated. Our laboratory previously reported the efficacy of the tetanus toxoid-conjugated morphine vaccine (M6-TT). The M6-TT vaccine can generate high titers of antibodies and reduce heroin-induced behavioral effects in rodents. So, it would be plausible to assume that if we modify the M6-TT vaccine by changing the hapten and maintaining the rest of the structural elements of the vaccine, we will maintain the properties of the M6-TT vaccine (high antibody titers). The objective of this study was to determine whether the antibodies generated by a tetanus toxoid-conjugated cocaine vaccine (COC-TT) can recognize and capture cocaine and decrease the cocaine-induced reinforcing effects. Male Wistar rats were immunized with the COC-TT. A solid-phase antibody-capture ELISA was used to monitor antibody titer responses after each booster dose in vaccinated animals. The study used cocaine self-administration and place-preference testing to evaluate the cocaine-reinforcing effects. The COC-TT vaccine could generate high levels of anti-cocaine antibodies. The antibodies reduced the cocaine self-administration and cocaine place preference. In addition, they decreased the cocaine-induced Fos protein expression. These findings suggest that the COC-TT vaccine generates a robust immunogenic response capable of reducing the reinforcing effects of cocaine, which supports its possible future use in clinical trials in patients with CUD.

Observational methods for human studies of transgenerational effects

There are substantial challenges in studying human transgenerational epigenetic outcomes resulting from environmental conditions. The task requires specialized methods and tools that incorporate specific knowledge of multigenerational relationship combinations of probands and their ancestors, phenotype data for individuals, environmental information of ancestors and their descendants, which can span historical to present datasets, and informative environmental data that chronologically aligns with ancestors and descendants over space and time. As a result, there are few epidemiologic studies of potential transgenerational effects in human populations, thus limiting the knowledge of ancestral environmental conditions and the potential impacts we face with modern human health outcomes. In an effort to overcome some of the challenges in studying human transgenerational effects, we present two transgenerational study designs: transgenerational space-time cluster detection and transgenerational case-control study design. Like other epidemiological methods, these methods determine whether there are statistical associations between phenotypic outcomes (e.g., adverse health outcomes) among probands and the shared environments and environmental factors facing their ancestors. When the ancestor is a paternal grandparent, a statistically significant association provides some evidence that a transgenerational inheritable factor may be involved. Such results may generate useful hypotheses that can be explored using epigenomic data to establish conclusive evidence of transgenerational heritable effects. Both methods are proband-centric: They are designed around the phenotype of interest in the proband generation for case selection and family pedigree creation. In the examples provided, we incorporate at least three generations of paternal lineage in both methods to observe a potential transgenerational effect.

Inhibition of prefrontal cortex parvalbumin interneurons mitigates behavioral and physiological sequelae of chronic stress in male mice

Chronic stress leads to hypofunction of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), mechanisms of which remain to be determined. Enhanced activation of GABAergic of parvalbumin (PV) expressing interneurons (INs) is thought to play a role in stress-induced prefrontal inhibition. In this study, we tested whether chemogenetic inhibition of mPFC PV INs after chronic stress can rescue chronic stress-related behavioral and physiological phenotypes. Mice underwent 2 weeks of chronic variable stress (CVS) followed by a battery of behavioral tests known to be affected by chronic stress exposure, e.g. an open field (OF), novel object recognition (NOR), tail suspension test (TST), sucrose preference test (SPT), and light dark (LD) box. Inhibitory DREADDs were actuated by 3 mg/kg CNO administered 30 min prior to each behavioral test. CVS caused hyperactivity in the OF, reduced sucrose preference in the SPT (indicative of enhanced anhedonia), and increased anxiety-like behavior in the LD box. Inhibition of PV IN after stress mitigated these effects. In addition, CVS also resulted in reduced thymus weight and body weight loss, which were also mitigated by PV IN inhibition. Our results indicate that chronic stress leads to plastic changes in PV INs that may be mitigated by chemogenetic inhibition. Our findings implicate cortical GABAergic INs as a therapeutic target in stress-related diseases.

Combining Off-flow, a Nextflow-coded program, and whole genome sequencing reveals unintended genetic variation in CRISPR/Cas-edited iPSCs

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas nucleases and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology can reveal deep insight into the genetic and molecular bases of human biology and disease. Undesired editing outcomes, both on-target (at the edited locus) and off-target (at other genomic loci) hinder the application of CRISPR-Cas nucleases. We developed Off-flow, a Nextflow-coded bioinformatic workflow that takes a specific guide sequence and Cas protein input to call four separate off-target prediction programs (CHOPCHOP, Cas-Offinder, CRISPRitz, CRISPR-Offinder) to output a comprehensive list of predicted off-target sites. We applied it to whole genome sequencing (WGS) data to investigate the occurrence of unintended effects in human iPSCs that underwent repair or insertion of disease-related variants by homology-directed repair. Off-flow identified a 3-base-pair-substitution and a mono-allelic genomic deletion at the target loci, KCNQ2, in 2 clones. Unbiased WGS analysis further identified off-target missense variants and a mono-allelic genomic deletion at the targeted locus, GNAQ, in 10 clones. On-target substitution and deletions had escaped standard PCR and Sanger sequencing analysis, while missense variants at other genomic loci were not detected by Off-flow. We used these results to filter out iPSC clones for subsequent functional experiments. Off-flow, which we make publicly available, works for human and mouse genomes currently and can be adapted for other genomes. Off-flow and WGS analysis can improve the integrity of studies using CRISPR/Cas-edited cells and animal models.

Selecting, implementing and evaluating control and placebo conditions in light therapy and light-based interventions

Introduction: Light profoundly influences human physiology, behaviour and cognition by affecting various functions through light-sensitive cells in the retina. Light therapy has proven effective in treating seasonal depression and other disorders. However, designing appropriate control conditions for light-based interventions remains a challenge.Materials and methods: This article presents a novel framework for selecting, implementing and evaluating control conditions in light studies, offering theoretical foundations and practical guidance. It reviews the fundamentals of photoreception and discusses control strategies such as dim light, darkness, different wavelengths, spectral composition and metameric conditions. Special cases like dynamic lighting, simulated dawn and dusk, complex interventions and studies involving blind or visually impaired patients are also considered.Results: The practical guide outlines steps for selection, implementation, evaluation and reporting, emphasizing the importance of α-opic calculations and physiological validation.Conclusion: In conclusion, constructing effective control conditions is crucial for demonstrating the efficacy of light interventions in various research scenarios.

The use of high-resolution SNP arrays to detect congenital cardiac defects

OBJECTIVE

Copy number variations (CNVs) detected by high-resolution single nucleotide polymorphism microarrays (SNP arrays) have been associated with congenital heart defects (CHDs). The genetic mechanism underlying the development of CHDs remains unclear.

METHODS

High-resolution SNP arrays were used to detect CNVs and traditional chromosomal analyses, respectively, were carried out on 60 and 249 fetuses from gestational 12-37 weeks old, having isolated or complex CHDs that were diagnosed using prenatal ultrasound.

RESULTS

Twenty of the 60 fetuses (33.5%) had abnormalities, of which 23 CNVs (12 pathogenic, five probable pathogenic and six of undetermined significance) were detected by SNP arrays, and two distinct CNVs were present in three of these fetuses. In addition, in 39 patients with isolated congenital heart disease who had normal karyotypes, abnormal CNVs were present in 28.2% (11/39), and in patients with complex coronary artery disease, 19.0% (4/21) had abnormal karyotypes and 42.9% (9/21) had abnormal CNVs. In patients with complex coronary artery disease, 19.0% (4/21) had abnormal karyotypes and 42.9% (9/21) had abnormal CNVs.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, genome-wide high-resolution SNP array can improve the diagnostic rate and uncover additional pathogenic CNVs. The submicroscopic deletions and duplications of Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) genes found in this study have haploinsufficient (deletion) or triplosensitive (duplication) traits, which further clarify the etiology and inheritance of CHDs.

EM-COGLOAD: An investigation into age and cognitive load detection using eye tracking and deep learning

Alzheimer's Disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, and is a leading cause of disability among the elderly. Eye movement behaviour demonstrates potential as a non-invasive biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease, with changes detectable at an early stage after initial onset. This paper introduces a new publicly available dataset: EM-COGLOAD (available at https://osf.io/zjtdq/, DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/ZJTDQ). A dual-task paradigm was used to create effects of declined cognitive performance in 75 healthy adults as they carried out visual tracking tasks. Their eye movement was recorded, and time series classification of the extracted eye movement traces was explored using a range of deep learning techniques. The results of this showed that convolutional neural networks were able to achieve an accuracy of 87.5% when distinguishing between eye movement under low and high cognitive load, and 76% when distinguishing between the oldest and youngest age groups.

Transgenerational epigenetic self-memory of Dio3 dosage is associated with Meg3 methylation and altered growth trajectories and neonatal hormones

Intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic effects resulting from conditions in previous generations can contribute to environmental adaptation as well as disease susceptibility. Previous studies in rodent and human models have shown that abnormal developmental exposure to thyroid hormone affects endocrine function and thyroid hormone sensitivity in later generations. Since the imprinted type 3 deiodinase gene (Dio3) regulates sensitivity to thyroid hormones, we hypothesize its epigenetic regulation is altered in descendants of thyroid hormone overexposed individuals. Using DIO3-deficient mice as a model of developmental thyrotoxicosis, we investigated Dio3 total and allelic expression and growth and endocrine phenotypes in descendants. We observed that male and female developmental overexposure to thyroid hormone altered total and allelic Dio3 expression in genetically intact descendants in a tissue-specific manner. This was associated with abnormal growth and neonatal levels of thyroid hormone and leptin. Descendant mice also exhibited molecular abnormalities in the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted domain, including increased methylation in Meg3 and altered foetal brain expression of other genes of the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted domain. These molecular abnormalities were also observed in the tissues and germ line of DIO3-deficient ancestors originally overexposed to thyroid hormone in utero. Our results provide a novel paradigm of epigenetic self-memory by which Dio3 gene dosage in a given individual, and its dependent developmental exposure to thyroid hormone, influences its own expression in future generations. This mechanism of epigenetic self-correction of Dio3 expression in each generation may be instrumental in descendants for their adaptive programming of developmental growth and adult endocrine function.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of piperazine derivatives involved in the 5-HT1AR/BDNF/PKA pathway

In this study, four series of piperazine derivatives were designed, synthesised and subjected to biological test, and compound 6a with potential antidepressant activity was obtained. An affinity assay of compound 6a with 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin, 5-HT)1A receptor (5-HT1AR) was undertaken, and the effects on the 5-HT level in the brains of mice were also tested. The results showed that compound 6a had the best affinity with 5-HT1AR (Ki = 1.28 nM) and significantly increased the 5-HT level. The expression levels of 5-HT1AR, BDNF, and PKA in the hippocampus were analysed by western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses. The results showed that the expression of 5-HT1AR, BDNF, and PKA in the model group was reduced compared to that of the control group, and compound 6a could reverse this phenomenon. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the interactions of the studied compound 6a with 5-HT1AR on the molecular level.

Cerebral white matter burden is linked to cognitive function in patients undergoing hemodialysis

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease is related to neurodegeneration and structural changes in the brain which might lead to cognitive decline. The Fazekas scale used for assessing white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) was associated with poor cognitive performance. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between the mini-mental status examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), cognitive abilities screening instrument (CASI), and Fazekas scale in patients under hemodialysis (HD).

METHODS

The periventricular (PV) WMHs and deep WMHs (DWMHs) in brain magnetic resonance images of 59 patients under dialysis were graded using the Fazekas scale. Three cognition function tests were also performed, then multivariable ordinal regression and logistic regression were used to identify the associations between cognitive performance and the Fazekas scale.

RESULTS

There were inverse associations between the three cognitive function tests across the Fazekas scale of PVWMHs (p = .037, .006, and .008 for MMSE, MoCA, and CASI, respectively), but the associations were attenuated in the DWMHs group. In CASI, significant differences were identified in short-term memory, mental manipulation, abstract thinking, language, spatial construction, and name fluency in the PVWMHs group. However, DWMHs were only significantly correlated with abstract thinking and short-term memory.

CONCLUSION

An inverse correlation existed between the Fazekas scale, predominantly in PVWMHs, and cognition in patients undergoing HD. The PVWMHs were associated with cognitive performance assessed by MMSE, MoCA, and CASI, as well as with subdomains of CASI such as memory, language and name fluency in patients undergoing HD.

Non-coding 886 (nc886/vtRNA2-1), the epigenetic odd duck - implications for future studies

Non-coding 886 (nc886, vtRNA2-1) is the only human polymorphically imprinted gene, in which the methylation status is not determined by genetics. Existing literature regarding the establishment, stability and consequences of the methylation pattern, as well as the nature and function of the nc886 RNAs transcribed from the locus, are contradictory. For example, the methylation status of the locus has been reported to be stable through life and across somatic tissues, but also susceptible to environmental effects. The nature of the produced nc886 RNA(s) has been redefined multiple times, and in carcinogenesis, these RNAs have been reported to have conflicting roles. In addition, due to the bimodal methylation pattern of the nc886 locus, traditional genome-wide methylation analyses can lead to false-positive results, especially in smaller datasets. Herein, we aim to summarize the existing literature regarding nc886, discuss how the characteristics of nc886 give rise to contradictory results, as well as to reinterpret, reanalyse and, where possible, replicate the results presented in the current literature. We also introduce novel findings on how the distribution of the nc886 methylation pattern is associated with the geographical origins of the population and describe the methylation changes in a large variety of human tumours. Through the example of this one peculiar genetic locus and RNA, we aim to highlight issues in the analysis of DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs in general and offer our suggestions for what should be taken into consideration in future analyses.

On the functions of astrocyte-mediated neuronal slow inward currents

Slow inward currents are known as neuronal excitatory currents mediated by glutamate release and activation of neuronal extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors with the contribution of astrocytes. These events are significantly slower than the excitatory postsynaptic currents. Parameters of slow inward currents are determined by several factors including the mechanisms of astrocytic activation and glutamate release, as well as the diffusion pathways from the release site towards the extrasynaptic receptors. Astrocytes are stimulated by neuronal network activity, which in turn excite neurons, forming an astrocyte-neuron feedback loop. Mostly as a consequence of brain edema, astrocytic swelling can also induce slow inward currents under pathological conditions. There is a growing body of evidence on the roles of slow inward currents on a single neuron or local network level. These events often occur in synchrony on neurons located in the same astrocytic domain. Besides synchronization of neuronal excitability, slow inward currents also set synaptic strength via eliciting timing-dependent synaptic plasticity. In addition, slow inward currents are also subject to non-synaptic plasticity triggered by long-lasting stimulation of the excitatory inputs. Of note, there might be important region-specific differences in the roles and actions triggering slow inward currents. In greater networks, the pathophysiological roles of slow inward currents can be better understood than physiological ones. Slow inward currents are identified in the pathophysiological background of autism, as slow inward currents drive early hypersynchrony of the neural networks. Slow inward currents are significant contributors to paroxysmal depolarizational shifts/interictal spikes. These events are related to epilepsy, but also found in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke, leading to the decline of cognitive functions. Events with features overlapping with slow inward currents (excitatory, N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor mediated currents with astrocytic contribution) as ischemic currents and spreading depolarization also have a well-known pathophysiological role in worsening consequences of stroke, traumatic brain injury, or epilepsy. One might assume that slow inward currents occurring with low frequency under physiological conditions might contribute to synaptic plasticity and memory formation. However, to state this, more experimental evidence from greater neuronal networks or the level of the individual is needed. In this review, I aimed to summarize findings on slow inward currents and to speculate on the potential functions of it.

The increasing authorship trend in neuroscience: A scientometric analysis across 11 countries

Previous studies have demonstrated an increasing trend of the number of authors across various fields over the years. This trend has been attributed to the necessity for larger collaborations and, at times, to ethical issues regarding authorship attribution. Our study focuses on the evolution of authorship trends in the field of Neuroscience. We conducted our analysis based on a dataset containing 580,782 neuroscience publications produced from 2000 to 2022, focusing on the publications within the Group of ten (G10) countries. Using a matrix-based methodology, we extracted and analyzed the average number of authors per country. Our findings reveal a consistent rise in authorship across all G10 countries over the past two decades. Italy emerged with the highest average number of authors, while France stood out for experiencing the most significant increase, particularly in the last decade. The countries with the lowest number of authors per publication were the USA, UK and Canada. Differences between countries could result from variations in the size of collaboration between researchers in different countries. Additionally, these differences may depend on utilitarian considerations aimed at receiving higher scores in the individual evaluation of their own work. We propose that a normalization procedure for the number of authors should be implemented to ensure a fair evaluation of researchers.

Sex differences in the prospective association of excessively long reaction times and hazardous cannabis use at six months

Objective

The neurocognitive risk mechanisms predicting divergent outcomes likely differ between men and women who use cannabis recreationally. Increasingly, the use of descriptive distributions including the ex-Gaussian has been applied to draw stronger inferences about neurocognitive health in clinical populations. The current project examines whether the long tail of reaction times (RTs) in a distribution, as characterized by the ex-Gaussian parameter tau which may represent difficulty with the regulation of arousal, predicts problematic cannabis use 6 months later in those who use cannabis recreationally, and whether sex moderates these prospective associations.

Method

Young adults (ages 18-30, mean age 20.5 years, N =159, 57.2% women, 69.2% Caucasian) who recreationally used cannabis either occasionally (at least once per month) or frequently (three times or more per week) completed the Stroop Color-Word Task at baseline. Ex-Gaussian parameter tau was estimated for each participant. Self-report of hazardous cannabis use (CUDIT-R) and dysregulation of negative (DERS) and positive emotions (DERS-Positive) were obtained at baseline and 6-month follow-up.

Results

For those with larger tau at baseline, being a man (but not a woman) was associated with increased difficulty regulating positive emotions concurrently (b = -0.01, F (1,159) = 5.48, p = 0.02), and with hazardous cannabis use six months later (b = -0.007, F (1,159) = 4.42, p = 0.037) after controlling for baseline hazardous cannabis use.

Conclusions

Excessively long RTs during cognitive performance may help characterize men at risk for increased hazardous use, which contributes to understanding between-sex heterogeneity in pathways towards cannabis use disorders.

Effect of prior beliefs and cognitive deficits on learning in first-episode schizophrenia patients

Introduction

It is known that cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia and that in the general population, prior beliefs significantly influence learning and reasoning processes. However, the interaction of prior beliefs with cognitive deficits and their impact on performance in schizophrenia patients is still poorly understood. This study investigates the role of beliefs and cognitive variables (CVs) like working memory, associative learning, and processing speed on learning processes in individuals with schizophrenia. We hypothesize that beliefs will influence the ability to learn correct predictions and that first-episode schizophrenia patients (FEP) will show impaired learning due to cognitive deficits.

Methods

We used a predictive-learning task to examine how FEP (n = 23) and matched controls (n = 23) adjusted their decisional criteria concerning physical properties during the learning process when predicting the sinking behavior of two transparent containers filled with aluminum discs when placed in water.

Results

On accuracy, initial differences by group, trial type, and interaction effects of these variables disappeared when CVs were controlled. The differences by conditions, associated with differential beliefs about why the objects sink slower or faster, were seen in patients and controls, despite controlling the CVs' effect.

Conclusions

Differences between groups were mainly explained by CVs, proving that they play an important role than what is assumed in this type of task. However, beliefs about physical events were not affected by CVs, and beliefs affect in the same way the decisional criteria of the control or FEP patients' groups.

Resource: A curated database of brain-related functional gene sets (Brain.GMT)

Transcriptional profiling has become a common tool for investigating the nervous system. During analysis, differential expression results are often compared to functional ontology databases, which contain curated gene sets representing well-studied pathways. This dependence can cause neuroscience studies to be interpreted in terms of functional pathways documented in better studied tissues (e.g., liver) and topics (e.g., cancer), and systematically emphasizes well-studied genes, leaving other findings in the obscurity of the brain "ignorome". To address this issue, we compiled a curated database of 918 gene sets related to nervous system function, tissue, and cell types ("Brain.GMT") that can be used within common analysis pipelines (GSEA, limma, edgeR) to interpret results from three species (rat, mouse, human). Brain.GMT includes brain-related gene sets curated from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB) and extracted from public databases (GeneWeaver, Gemma, DropViz, BrainInABlender, HippoSeq) and published studies containing differential expression results. Although Brain.GMT is still undergoing development and currently only represents a fraction of available brain gene sets, "brain ignorome" genes are already better represented than in traditional Gene Ontology databases. Moreover, Brain.GMT substantially improves the quantity and quality of gene sets identified as enriched with differential expression in neuroscience studies, enhancing interpretation. •We compiled a curated database of 918 gene sets related to nervous system function, tissue, and cell types ("Brain.GMT").•Brain.GMT can be used within common analysis pipelines (GSEA, limma, edgeR) to interpret neuroscience transcriptional profiling results from three species (rat, mouse, human).•Although Brain.GMT is still undergoing development, it substantially improved the interpretation of differential expression results within our initial use cases.

Transmission of reduced levels of miR-34/449 from sperm to preimplantation embryos is a key step in the transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of the effects of paternal chronic social instability stress

The transgenerational effects of exposing male mice to chronic social instability (CSI) stress are associated with decreased sperm levels of multiple members of the miR-34/449 family that persist after their mating through preimplantation embryo (PIE) development. Here we demonstrate the importance of these miRNA changes by showing that restoring miR-34c levels in PIEs derived from CSI stressed males prevents elevated anxiety and defective sociability normally found specifically in their adult female offspring. It also restores, at least partially, levels of sperm miR-34/449 normally reduced in their male offspring who transmit these sex-specific traits to their offspring. Strikingly, these experiments also revealed that inducing miR-34c levels in PIEs enhances the expression of its own gene and that of miR-449 in these cells. The same induction of embryo miR-34/449 gene expression likely occurs after sperm-derived miR-34c is introduced into oocytes upon fertilization. Thus, suppression of this miRNA amplification system when sperm miR-34c levels are reduced in CSI stressed mice can explain how a comparable fold-suppression of miR-34/449 levels can be found in PIEs derived from them, despite sperm containing ~50-fold lower levels of these miRNAs than those already present in PIEs. We previously found that men exposed to early life trauma also display reduced sperm levels of miR-34/449. And here we show that miR-34c can also increase the expression of its own gene, and that of miR-449 in human embryonic stem cells, suggesting that human PIEs derived from men with low sperm miR-34/449 levels may also contain this potentially harmful defect.

Development and initial testing of mindful journey: a digital mindfulness-based intervention for promoting recovery from Substance use disorder

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

There is a great unmet need for accessible adjunctive interventions to promote long-term recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). This study aimed to iteratively develop and test the initial feasibility and acceptability of Mindful Journey, a novel digital mindfulness-based intervention for promoting recovery among individuals with SUD.

PATIENTS/MATERIALS

Ten adults receiving outpatient treatment for SUD.

METHODS

Phase 1 (n = 5) involved developing and testing a single introductory digital lesson. Phase 2 included a separate sample (n = 5) and involved testing all 15 digital lessons (each 30- to 45-minutes) over a 6-week period, while also receiving weekly brief phone coaching for motivational/technical support.

RESULTS

Across both phases, quantitative ratings (rated on a 5-point scale) were all at or above a 4 (corresponding with 'agree') for key acceptability dimensions, such as usability, understandability, appeal of visual content, how engaging the content was, and helpfulness for recovery. Additionally, in both phases, qualitative feedback indicated that participants particularly appreciated the BOAT (Breath, Observe, Accept, Take a Moment) tool for breaking down mindfulness into steps. Qualitative feedback was used to iteratively refine the intervention. For example, based on feedback, we added a second core mindfulness tool, the SOAK (Stop, Observe, Appreciate, Keep Curious), and we added more example clients and group therapy videos. In Phase 2, 4 out of 5 participants completed all 15 lessons, providing initial evidence of feasibility. Participants reported that the phone coaching motivated them to use the app. The final version of Mindful Journey was a smartphone app with additional features, including brief on-the-go audio exercises and a library of mindfulness practices. Although, participants used these additional features infrequently.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on promising initial findings, future acceptability and feasibility testing in a larger sample is warranted. Future versions might include push notifications to facilitate engagement in the additional app features.

Efficacy of intraoperative systemic lidocaine on quality of recovery after laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Many clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of intraoperative systemic lidocaine administration in major abdominal surgeries. We tested the hypothesis that systemic lidocaine is associated with an enhanced early quality of recovery in patients following laparoscopic colorectal resection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We randomly allocated 126 patients scheduled for laparoscopic colorectal surgery in a 1:1 ratio to receive either lidocaine (1.5 mg kg-1 bolus over 10 min, followed by continuous infusion at 2 mg kg-1 h-1 until the end of surgery) or identical volumes and rates of saline. The primary outcome was the Quality of Recovery-15 score assessed 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were areas under the pain numeric rating scale curve over time, 48-h morphine consumption, and adverse events.

RESULTS

Compared with saline, systemic lidocaine improved the Quality of Recovery-15 score 24 h postoperatively, with a median difference of 4 (95% confidence interval: 1-6; p = 0.015). Similarly, the area under the pain numeric rating scale curve over 48 h at rest and on movement was reduced in the lidocaine group (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, these differences were not clinically meaningful. Lidocaine infusion reduced the intraoperative remifentanil requirements but not postoperative 48-h morphine consumption (p < 0.001 and p = 0.34, respectively). Additionally, patients receiving lidocaine had a quicker and earlier return of bowel function, as indicated by a shorter time to first flatus (log-rank p < 0.001), yet ambulation time was similar between groups (log-rank test, p = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery, intraoperative systemic lidocaine resulted in statistically but not clinically significant improvements in quality of recovery (see Graphical Abstract).Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; ChiCTR1900027635.

Off-label use of clomiphene citrate to treat anabolic androgenic steroid induced hypogonadism upon cessation among men (CloTASH) - A pilot study protocol

Background

Non-prescribed anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use is associated with AAS-induced hypogonadism (ASIH), and metabolic, cardiovascular, and mental health risks. Symptoms of ASIH (fatigue, depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction) are hard to endure following cessation, but there is no consensus on whether endocrine treatment should be used to treat ASIH. This proof-of-concept study aims to explore safety of off-label clomiphene citrate therapy, whether the treatment will reduce the symptoms of androgen deficiency, and to study changes in health risks after cessation.

Methods

In this open-labeled non-randomized off-label hormone intervention pilot study, we shall include males with AAS dependence intending to cease use. The 16-week intervention included clomiphene citrate, transdermal testosterone gel for the first four weeks and optional human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from week 4 if low treatment response. Measures of physical and mental health will be examined from ongoing AAS use, during the intervention, and at 6- and 12 months post cessation. Change in self-reported symptoms of hypogonadism and other withdrawal symptoms will be compared with data from a group of men who ended AAS use temporarily without the medical intervention. The study may provide valuable clinical insights and may be used to inform the design of future intervention studies.

The antipsychotic potential of Salix Mucronata on ketamine-induced rats

Salix mucronata is one of the herbal plants offered by the traditional health practitioners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa for the treatment of schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated administration of ketamine on social interaction, novelty and motivation in adult, male Sprague Dawley rats. It also aimed to investigate the potential of risperidone and the herbal extract of S. mucronata to reverse impairments that are induced by ketamine. Experimental rats (n=45) received a dose of ketamine at 30 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection for 5 consecutive days. They were then allocated into their respective treatment groups and given risperidone (APD) and the herbal extract of S. mucronata (TM) at doses of 6 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, respectively, for 7 consecutive days. Social behaviour was tested using the 3-chambered sociability test, and anhedonia was tested using the sucrose preference test. Ketamine induction elicited social withdrawal and reduced social novelty which were later successfully reversed by risperidone and S. mucronata. The rats showed reduced preference to sucrose post-induction and post-treatment. Ketamine and mild stress caused by scruff restraint elicited reduced weight gain for the animals. No differences were noted on brain mass between controls and experimental groups and also between risperidone and S. mucronata groups. However, reduced brain volume was noted in experimental groups. Dopamine and acetylcholine concentration levels were high in groups which received risperidone and S. mucronata. These findings highlight that the antipsychotic potential of S. mucronata is similar to risperidone.

Retracted article: The effects of fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on mental health parameters and metabolic status of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

We, the Editor and Publisher of the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology have retracted the following article:Mehrdad Amini, Fereshteh Bahmani, Fatemeh Foroozanfard, Zahra Vahedpoor, Amir Ghaderi, Mohsen Taghizadeh, Hassan Karbassizadeh & Zatollah Asemi (2018), The effects of fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on mental health parameters and metabolic status of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2018.1508282.Following publication, significant concerns were raised by a third party 1 about the integrity of the data and the reported findings in the article.When approached for an explanation, the authors and their institution have been cooperative in providing some responses and documents. To verify the reported findings, the article and the documents provided by the authors were further evaluated by the journal editorial team, and also sent for review by an external statistical reviewer.Both the journal editorial team and the external statistical reviewer were unable to confirm the integrity of the trial design and the main outcome of the external review was that the article's results and conclusions are unreliable. Therefore, as the editorial team no longer have confidence in the reported conclusions the decision has been made to retract the article.The authors listed in the publication have been informed. The authors do not agree with the retraction.We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and the COPE guidelines.The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as 'Retracted'.

Helix-to-sheet transition of the Aβ42 peptide revealed using an enhanced sampling strategy and Markov state model

The self-assembly of Aβ peptides into toxic oligomers and fibrils is the primary cause of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, the conformational transition from helix to sheet is considered a crucial step in the aggregation of Aβ peptides. However, the structural details of this process still remain unclear due to the heterogeneity and transient nature of the Aβ peptides. In this study, we developed an enhanced sampling strategy that combines artificial neural networks (ANN) with metadynamics to explore the conformational space of the Aβ42 peptides. The strategy consists of two parts: applying ANN to optimize CVs and conducting metadynamics based on the resulting CVs to sample conformations. The results showed that this strategy achieved better sampling performance in terms of the distribution of sampled conformations. The sampling efficiency is increased by 10-fold compared to our previous Hamiltonian Exchange Molecular Dynamics (MD) and by 1000-fold compared to ordinary MD. Based on the sampled conformations, we constructed a Markov state model to understand the detailed transition process. The intermediate states in this process are identified, and the connecting paths are analyzed. The conformational transitions in D23-K28 and M35-V40 are proven to be crucial for aggregation. These results are helpful in clarifying the mechanism and process of Aβ42 peptide aggregation. D23-K28 and M35-V40 can be identified as potential targets for screening and designing inhibitors of Aβ peptide aggregation.

Calling the question: what is mammalian transgenerational epigenetic inheritance?

While transgenerational epigenetic inheritance has been extensively documented in plants, nematodes, and fruit flies, its existence in mammals remains controversial. Several factors have contributed to this debate, including the lack of a clear distinction between intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), the inconsistency of some studies, the potential confounding effects of in-utero vs. epigenetic factors, and, most importantly, the biological challenge of epigenetic reprogramming. Two waves of epigenetic reprogramming occur: in the primordial germ cells and the developing embryo after fertilization, characterized by global erasure of DNA methylation and remodelling of histone modifications. Consequently, TEI can only occur if specific genetic regions evade this reprogramming and persist through embryonic development. These challenges have revived the long-standing debate about the possibility of inheriting acquired traits, which has been strongly contested since the Lamarckian and Darwinian eras. As a result, coupled with the absence of universally accepted criteria for transgenerational epigenetic studies, a vast body of literature has emerged claiming evidence of TEI. Therefore, the goal of this study is to advocate for establishing fundamental criteria that must be met for a study to qualify as evidence of TEI. We identified five criteria based on the consensus of studies that critically evaluated TEI. To assess whether published original research papers adhere to these criteria, we examined 80 studies that either claimed or were cited as supporting TEI. The findings of this analysis underscore the widespread confusion in this field and highlight the urgent need for a unified scientific consensus on TEI requirements.

Human brain organoid: trends, evolution, and remaining challenges

Advanced brain organoids provide promising platforms for deciphering the cellular and molecular processes of human neural development and diseases. Although various studies and reviews have described developments and advancements in brain organoids, few studies have comprehensively summarized and analyzed the global trends in this area of neuroscience. To identify and further facilitate the development of cerebral organoids, we utilized bibliometrics and visualization methods to analyze the global trends and evolution of brain organoids in the last 10 years. First, annual publications, countries/regions, organizations, journals, authors, co-citations, and keywords relating to brain organoids were identified. The hotspots in this field were also systematically identified. Subsequently, current applications for brain organoids in neuroscience, including human neural development, neural disorders, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and toxicity assessment studies, are comprehensively discussed. Towards that end, several considerations regarding the current challenges in brain organoid research and future strategies to advance neuroscience will be presented to further promote their application in neurological research.

Isoform- and cell-state-specific APOE homeostasis and function

Apolipoprotein E is the major lipid transporter in the brain and an important player in neuron-astrocyte metabolic coupling. It ensures the survival of neurons under stressful conditions and hyperactivity by nourishing and detoxifying them. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism, combined with environmental stresses and/or age-related alterations, influences the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge of how apolipoprotein E homeostasis, i.e. its synthesis, secretion, degradation, and lipidation, is affected in Alzheimer's disease.

Unveiling DNA methylation in Alzheimer's disease: a review of array-based human brain studies

The intricacies of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis are being increasingly illuminated by the exploration of epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation. This review comprehensively surveys recent human-centered studies that investigate whole genome DNA methylation in Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. The examination of various brain regions reveals distinctive DNA methylation patterns that associate with the Braak stage and Alzheimer's disease progression. The entorhinal cortex emerges as a focal point due to its early histological alterations and subsequent impact on downstream regions like the hippocampus. Notably, ANK1 hypermethylation, a protein implicated in neurofibrillary tangle formation, was recurrently identified in the entorhinal cortex. Further, the middle temporal gyrus and prefrontal cortex were shown to exhibit significant hypermethylation of genes like HOXA3, RHBDF2, and MCF2L, potentially influencing neuroinflammatory processes. The complex role of BIN1 in late-onset Alzheimer's disease is underscored by its association with altered methylation patterns. Despite the disparities across studies, these findings highlight the intricate interplay between epigenetic modifications and Alzheimer's disease pathology. Future research efforts should address methodological variations, incorporate diverse cohorts, and consider environmental factors to unravel the nuanced epigenetic landscape underlying Alzheimer's disease progression.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the retina under acute high intraocular pressure

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202419110-00032/figure1/v/2024-03-08T184507Z/r/image-tiff High intraocular pressure causes retinal ganglion cell injury in primary and secondary glaucoma diseases, yet the molecular landscape characteristics of retinal cells under high intraocular pressure remain unknown. Rat models of acute hypertension ocular pressure were established by injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel (Healaflow®). Single-cell RNA sequencing was then used to describe the cellular composition and molecular profile of the retina following high intraocular pressure. Our results identified a total of 12 cell types, namely retinal pigment epithelial cells, rod-photoreceptor cells, bipolar cells, Müller cells, microglia, cone-photoreceptor cells, retinal ganglion cells, endothelial cells, retinal progenitor cells, oligodendrocytes, pericytes, and fibroblasts. The single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the retina under acute high intraocular pressure revealed obvious changes in the proportions of various retinal cells, with ganglion cells decreased by 23%. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL staining confirmed the damage to retinal ganglion cells under high intraocular pressure. We extracted data from retinal ganglion cells and analyzed the retinal ganglion cell cluster with the most distinct expression. We found upregulation of the B3gat2 gene, which is associated with neuronal migration and adhesion, and downregulation of the Tsc22d gene, which participates in inhibition of inflammation. This study is the first to reveal molecular changes and intercellular interactions in the retina under high intraocular pressure. These data contribute to understanding of the molecular mechanism of retinal injury induced by high intraocular pressure and will benefit the development of novel therapies.

TFEB/LAMP2 contributes to PM0.2-induced autophagy-lysosome dysfunction and alpha-synuclein dysregulation in astrocytes

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) exacerbates the risk factor for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (PD) by promoting the alpha-synuclein (α-syn) pathology in the brain. However, the molecular mechanisms of astrocytes involvement in α-syn pathology underlying the process remain unclear. This study investigated PM with particle size <200 nm (PM0.2) exposure-induced α-syn pathology in ICR mice and primary astrocytes, then assessed the effects of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (PP242) in vitro studies. We observed the α-syn pathology in the brains of exposed mice. Meanwhile, PM0.2-exposed mice also exhibited the activation of glial cell and the inhibition of autophagy. In vitro study, PM0.2 (3, 10 and 30 µg/mL) induced inflammatory response and the disorders of α-syn degradation in primary astrocytes, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2)-mediated autophagy underlies α-syn pathology. The abnormal function of autophagy-lysosome was specifically manifested as the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3II), cathepsin B (CTSB) and lysosomal abundance increased first and then decreased, which might both be a compensatory mechanism to toxic α-syn accumulation induced by PM0.2. Moreover, with the transcription factor EB (TFEB) subcellular localization and the increase in LC3II, LAMP2, CTSB, and cathepsin D proteins were identified, leading to the restoration of the degradation of α-syn after the intervention of PP242. Our results identified that PM0.2 exposure could promote the α-syn pathological dysregulation in astrocytes, providing mechanistic insights into how PM0.2 increases the risk of developing PD and highlighting TFEB/LAMP2 as a promising therapeutic target for antagonizing PM0.2 toxicity.

Novel mechanisms of Anshen Dingzhi prescription against PTSD: Inhibiting DCC to modulate synaptic function and inflammatory responses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Anshen Dingzhi prescription (ADP), documented in "Yi Xue Xin Wu", is a famous prescription for treating panic-related mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which ADP intervened in PTSD-like behaviors.

METHODS

A mouse model of single prolonged stress (SPS) was established to evaluate the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of ADP on PTSD. Behavioral tests were used to assess PTSD-like behaviors in mice; transmission electron microscopy was used to observe changes in the ultrastructure of hippocampal synapses, and western blot, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were used to detect the expression of hippocampal deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and downstream Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) - P21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) signal, as well as levels of synaptic proteins and inflammatory factors. Molecular docking technology simulated the binding of potential brain-penetrating components of ADP to DCC.

RESULTS

SPS induced PTSD-like behaviors in mice and increased expression of hippocampal netrin-1 (NT-1) and DCC on the 14th day post-modeling, with concurrent elevation in serum NT-1 levels. Simultaneously, SPS also decreased p-Rac1 level and increased p-PAK1 level, the down-stream molecules of DCC. Lentiviral overexpression of DCC induced or exacerbated PTSD-like behaviors in control and SPS mice, respectively, whereas neutralization antibody against NT-1 reduced DCC activation and ameliorated PTSD-like behaviors in SPS mice. Interestingly, downstream Rac1-PAK1 signal was altered according to DCC expression. Moreover, DCC overexpression down-regulated N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor 2A (GluN2A) and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95), up-regulated NMDA receptor 2B (GluN2B) and increased neuroinflammatory responses. Administration of ADP (36.8 mg/kg) improved PTSD-like behaviors in the SPS mice, suppressed hippocampal DCC, and downstream Rac1-PAK1 signal, upregulated GluN2A and PSD95, downregulated GluN2B, and reduced levels of inflammatory factors NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Importantly, DCC overexpression could also reduce the ameliorative effect of ADP on PTSD. Additionally, DCC demonstrated a favorable molecular docking pattern with the potential brain-penetrating components of ADP, further suggesting DCC as a potential target of ADP.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that DCC is a key target for the regulation of synaptic function and inflammatory response in the onset of PTSD, and ADP likely reduces DCC to prevent PTSD via modulating downstream Rac1-PAK1 pathway. This study provides a novel mechanism for the onset of PTSD and warrants the clinical application of ADP.

Mild cognitive impairment detection from facial video interviews by applying spatial-to-temporal attention module

Early detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) leads to early interventions to slow the progression from MCI into dementia. Deep Learning (DL) algorithms could help achieve early non-invasive and low-cost detection of MCI. This paper presents the detection of MCI in older adults using DL models based only on facial features extracted from video-recorded conversations at home. We used the data collected from the I-CONECT behavioral intervention study (NCT02871921), where several sessions of semi-structured interviews between socially isolated older individuals and interviewers were video recorded. We develop a framework that extracts holistic spatial facial features using a convolutional autoencoder and temporal information using transformers. We proposed the Spatial-to-Temporal Attention Module (STAM) to detect the I-CONECT study participants' cognitive conditions (MCI vs. those with normal cognition (NC)) using facial and interaction features. The interaction features of the facial features improved the prediction performance compared with applying facial features solely. The detection accuracy using this combined method reached 88%, whereas the accuracy without applying the segments and sequences information of the facial features within a video on a certain theme was 84%. Overall, the results show that spatiotemporal facial features modeled using DL algorithms have a discriminating power for the detection of MCI.

Micro/nanoplastics impair the feeding of goldfish by disrupting the complicated peripheral and central regulation of appetite

The ubiquitous presence of plastic particles in water bodies poses a potential threat to aquatic species. Although numerous adverse effects of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have been documented, their effects on fish feeding, one of the most important behaviors of animals, are far from being fully understood. In this study, the effects of MPs and NPs (at environmentally realistic levels) on fish food consumption and feeding behavior were assessed using goldfish (Carassius auratus) and polystyrene (PS) particles as representatives. In addition, to reveal the potential mechanisms, the effects of MPs and NPs on peripheral and central regulation of appetite were evaluated by examining appetite-regulation related intestinal, serous, and hypothalamic parameters. The results obtained indicated that the 28-day MP- and NP-exposure significantly impaired goldfish feeding by disrupting peripheral and central appetite regulation. Based on differences observed in their effects on the abovementioned behavioral, histological, and physiological parameters, MPs and NPs may interfere with appetite regulation in a size-dependent manner. Blocking the gastrointestinal tract and causing histopathological and functional damage to inner organs may be the main routes through which MPs and NPs disrupt appetite regulation. Our findings suggested that plastic particles exposure may have far-reaching effects on fish species through impaired feeding, which warrants further attention.

Exposure to coal dust exacerbates cognitive impairment by activating the IL6/ERK1/2/SP1 signaling pathway

Coal dust (CD) is a common pollutant, and epidemiological surveys indicate that long-term exposure to coal dust not only leads to the occurrence of pulmonary diseases but also has certain impacts on cognitive abilities. However, there is little open-published literature on the effects and specific mechanisms of coal dust exposure on the cognition of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). An animal model has been built in this study with clinical population samples to explore the changes in neuroinflammation and cognitive abilities with coal dust exposure. In the animal model, compared to C57BL/6 mice, APP/PS1 mice exposed to coal dust exhibited more severe cognitive impairment, accompanied by significantly elevated levels of neuroinflammatory factors Apolipoprotein E4 (AOPE4) and Interleukin-6 (IL6) in the hippocampus, and more severe neuronal damage. In clinical sample sequencing, it was found that there is significant upregulation of AOPE4, neutrophils, and IL6 expression in the peripheral blood of MCI patients compared to normal individuals. Mechanistically, cell experiments revealed that IL6 could promote the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and enhance the expression of transcription factor SP1, thereby promoting AOPE4 expression. The results of this study suggest that coal dust can promote the upregulation of IL6 and AOPE4 in patients, exacerbating cognitive impairment.

Reversal of electrophysiological and behavioral deficits mediated by 5-HT7 receptor upregulation following LP-211 treatment in an autistic-like rat model induced by prenatal valproic acid exposure

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by alterations and imbalances in multiple brain neurochemical systems, particularly the serotonergic neurotransmission. This includes changes in serotonin (5-HT) levels, aberrations in 5-HT transporter activity, and decreased synthesis and expression of 5-HT receptors (5-HT7Rs). The exact role of the brain 5-HT system in the development of ASD remains unclear, with conflicting evidence on its involvement. Recently, we have reported research has shown a significant decrease in serotonergic neurons originating from the raphe nuclei and projecting to the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus in autistic-like rats. Additionally, we have shown that chronic activation of 5-HT7Rs reverses the effects of autism induction on synaptic plasticity. However, the functional significance of 5-HT7Rs at the cellular level is still not fully understood. This study presents new evidence indicating an upregulation of 5-HT7R in the CA1 subregion of the hippocampus following the induction of autism. The present account also demonstrates that activation of 5-HT7R with its agonist LP-211 can reverse electrophysiological abnormalities in hippocampal pyramidal neurons in a rat model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to VPA. Additionally, in vivo administration of LP-211 resulted in improvements in motor coordination, novel object recognition, and a reduction in stereotypic behaviors in autistic-like offspring. The findings suggest that dysregulated expression of 5-HT7Rs may play a role in the pathophysiology of ASD, and that agonists like LP-211 could potentially be explored as a pharmacological treatment for autism spectrum disorder.

Involvement of dopamine D3 receptor in impulsive choice decision-making in male rats

Impulsive decision-making has been linked to impulse control disorders and substance use disorders. However, the neural mechanisms underlying impulsive choice are not fully understood. While previous PET imaging and autoradiography studies have shown involvement of dopamine and D2/3 receptors in impulsive behavior, the roles of distinct D1, D2, and D3 receptors in impulsive decision-making remain unclear. In this study, we used a food reward delay-discounting task (DDT) to identify low- and high-impulsive rats, in which low-impulsive rats exhibited preference for large delayed reward over small immediate rewards, while high-impulsive rats showed the opposite preference. We then examined D1, D2, and D3 receptor gene expression using RNAscope in situ hybridization assays. We found that high-impulsive male rats exhibited lower levels of D2 and D3, and particularly D3, receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), with no significant changes in the insular, prelimbic, and infralimbic cortices. Based on these findings, we further explored the role of the D3 receptor in impulsive decision-making. Systemic administration of a selective D3 receptor agonist (FOB02-04) significantly reduced impulsive choices in high-impulsive rats but had no effects in low-impulsive rats. Conversely, a selective D3 receptor antagonist (VK4-116) produced increased both impulsive and omission choices in both groups of rats. These findings suggest that impulsive decision-making is associated with a reduction in D3 receptor expression in the NAc. Selective D3 receptor agonists, but not antagonists, may hold therapeutic potentials for mitigating impulsivity in high-impulsive subjects.

Cebranopadol, a novel long-acting opioid agonist with low abuse liability, to treat opioid use disorder: Preclinical evidence of efficacy

Maintenance therapy with buprenorphine and methadone is the gold standard pharmacological treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Despite these compounds demonstrating substantial efficacy, a significant number of patients do not show optimal therapeutic responses. The abuse liability of these medications is also a concern. Here we used rats to explore the therapeutic potential of the new long-acting pan-opioid agonist Cebranopadol in OUD. We tested the effect of cebranopadol on heroin self-administration and yohimbine-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. In addition, we evaluated the abuse liability potential of cebranopadol in comparison to that of heroin under fixed ratio 1 (FR1) and progressive ratio (PR) operant self-administration contingencies. Oral administration of cebranopadol (0, 25, 50 μg/kg) significantly attenuated drug self-administration independent of heroin dose (1, 7, 20, 60μg/inf). Cebranopadol also reduced the break point for heroin (20 μg/inf). Finally, pretreatment with cebranopadol significantly attenuated yohimbine-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. In abuse liability experiments under FR1 contingency, rats maintained responding for heroin (1, 7, 20, 60μg/inf) to a larger extent than cebranopadol (0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 6.0μg/inf). Under PR contingency, heroin maintained responding at high levels at all except the lowest dose, while the break point (BP) for cebranopadol did not differ from that of saline. Together, these data indicate that cebranopadol is highly efficacious in attenuating opioid self-administration and stress-induced reinstatement, while having limited abuse liability properties. Overall, the data suggest clinical potential of this compound for OUD treatment.

Open-Source Python Module for the Analysis of Personalized Light Exposure Data from Wearable Light Loggers and Dosimeters

Light exposure fundamentally influences human physiology and behavior, with light being the most important zeitgeber of the circadian system. Throughout the day, people are exposed to various scenes differing in light level, spectral composition and spatio-temporal properties. Personalized light exposure can be measured through wearable light loggers and dosimeters, including wrist-worn actimeters containing light sensors, yielding time series of an individual's light exposure. There is growing interest in relating light exposure patterns to health outcomes, requiring analytic techniques to summarize light exposure properties. Building on the previously published Python-based pyActigraphy module, here we introduce the module pyLight. This module allows users to extract light exposure data recordings from a wide range of devices. It also includes software tools to clean and filter the data, and to compute common metrics for quantifying and visualizing light exposure data. For this tutorial, we demonstrate the use of pyLight in one example dataset with the following processing steps: (1) loading, accessing and visual inspection of a publicly available dataset, (2) truncation, masking, filtering and binarization of the dataset, (3) calculation of summary metrics, including time above threshold (TAT) and mean light timing above threshold (MLiT). The pyLight module paves the way for open-source, large-scale automated analyses of light-exposure data.

Blockade of pre- and post-synaptic GABAB receptors in the anteroventral bed nucleus of stria terminalis produces anxiolytic-like and anxiety-like effects in parkinsonian rats respectively

The anteroventral bed nucleus of stria terminalis (avBNST) is a limbic forebrain region involved in the regulation of anxiety, and expresses GABAB receptors, which are located at both pre- and post-synaptic sites. However, it is unclear how blockade of these receptors affects anxiety-like behaviors, particularly in Parkinson's disease (PD)-related anxiety. In the present study, unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the substantia nigra pars compacta in rats induced anxiety-like behaviors, and increased GABA release and decreased glutamate release in the avBNST, as well as decreased level of dopamine (DA) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Intra-avBNST injection of pre-synaptic GABAB receptor antagonist CGP36216 produced anxiolytic-like effects, while the injection of post-synaptic GABAB receptor antagonist CGP35348 induced anxiety-like responses in both sham and 6-OHDA rats. Intra-avBNST injection of CGP36216 inhibited the GABAergic neurons and increased GABA/glutamate ratio in the avBNST and increased levels of DA and serotonin (5-HT) in the BLA; conversely, CGP35348 produced opposite effects on the firing activity of avBNST GABAergic neurons and levels of the neurotransmitters in the avBNST and BLA. Moreover, the doses of the antagonists producing significant behavioral effects in 6-OHDA rats were lower than those in sham rats, and the duration of action of the antagonists on the firing rate of the neurons and release of the neurotransmitters was prolonged in 6-OHDA rats. Altogether, these findings suggest that pre- and post-synaptic GABAB receptors in the avBNST are implicated in PD-related anxiety-like behaviors, and degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway enhances functions and/or upregulates expression of these receptors.

Potential role of hippocampal neurogenesis in spinal cord injury induced post-trauma depression

It has been reported both in clinic and rodent models that beyond spinal cord injury directly induced symptoms, such as paralysis, neuropathic pain, bladder/bowel dysfunction, and loss of sexual function, there are a variety of secondary complications, including memory loss, cognitive decline, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. The large-scale longitudinal population-based studies indicate that post-trauma depression is highly prevalent in spinal cord injury patients. Yet, few basic studies have been conducted to address the potential molecular mechanisms. One of possible factors underlying the depression is the reduction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis which may come from less physical activity, social isolation, chronic pain, and elevated neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury. However, there is no clear consensus yet. In this review, we will first summarize the alteration of hippocampal neurogenesis post-spinal cord injury. Then, we will discuss possible mechanisms underlie this important spinal cord injury consequence. Finally, we will outline the potential therapeutic options aimed at enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis to ameliorate depression.

Norepinephrine regulates TNF expression via the A1AR-p38 MAPK-Relish pathway in granulocytes of oyster Crassostrea gigas

Norepinephrine (NE) is involved in regulating cytokine expression and phagocytosis of immune cells in the innate immunity of vertebrates. In the present study, the modulation mechanism of NE on the biosynthesis of TNFs in oyster granulocytes was explored. The transcripts of CgTNF-1, CgTNF-2 and CgTNF-3 were highly expressed in granulocytes, and they were significantly up-regulated after LPS stimulation, while down-regulated after NE treatment. The phagocytic rate and apoptosis index of oyster granulocytes were also triggered by LPS stimulation and suppressed by NE treatment. The mRNA expressions of CgMAPK14 and CgRelish were significantly induced after NE treatment, and the translocation of CgRelish from cytoplasm to nucleus was observed. The concentration of intracellular Ca2+ in granulocytes was significantly up-regulated upon NE incubation, and this trend reverted after the treatment with DOX (specific antagonist for NE receptor, CgA1AR-1). No obvious significance was observed in intracellular cAMP concentrations in the PBS, NE and NE + DOX groups. Once CgA1AR-1 was blocked by DOX, the mRNA expressions of CgMAPK14 and CgRelish were significantly inhibited, and the translocation of CgRelish from cytoplasm to nucleus was also dramatically suppressed, while the mRNA expression of CgTNF-1 and the apoptosis index increased significantly to the same level with those in LPS group, respectively. These results collectively suggested that NE modulated TNF expression in oyster granulocyte through A1AR-p38 MAPK-Relish signaling pathway.

Differential effects of opioid receptor antagonism on the anti-dyskinetic and anti-parkinsonian effects of sub-anesthetic ketamine treatment in a preclinical model

Sub-anesthetic ketamine treatment has been shown to be an effective therapy for treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain. Our group has previously shown that sub-anesthetic ketamine produces acute anti-parkinsonian, and acute anti-dyskinetic effects in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Ketamine is a multifunctional drug and exerts effects through blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors but also through interaction with the opioid system. In this report, we provide detailed pharmacokinetic rodent data on ketamine and its main metabolites following an intraperitoneal injection, and second, we explore the pharmacodynamic properties of ketamine in a rodent PD model with respect to the opioid system, using naloxone, a pan-opioid receptor antagonist, in unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned male rats, treated with 6 mg/kg levodopa (l-DOPA) to establish a model of l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID). As previously reported, we showed that ketamine (20 mg/kg) is highly efficacious in reducing LID and now report that the magnitude of this effect is resistant to naloxone (3 and 5 mg/kg). The higher naloxone dose of 5 mg/kg, however, led to an extension of the time-course of the LID, indicating that opioid receptor activation, while not a prerequisite for the anti-dyskinetic effects of ketamine, still exerts an acute modulatory effect. In contrast to the mild modulatory effect on LID, we found that naloxone added to the anti-parkinsonian activity of ketamine, further reducing the akinetic phenotype. In conclusion, our data show opioid receptor blockade differentially modulates the acute anti-parkinsonian and anti-dyskinetic actions of ketamine, providing novel mechanistic information to support repurposing ketamine for individuals with LID.

L-type calcium channel regulation of depression, anxiety and anhedonia-related behavioral phenotypes following chronic stress exposure

Exposure to chronic and unpredictable stressors can precipitate mood-related disorders in humans, particularly in individuals with pre-existing mental health challenges. L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) have been implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, as LTCC encoding genes have been identified as candidate risk factors for neuropsychiatric illnesses. In these sets of experiments, we sought to examine the ability of LTCC blockade to alter depression, anxiety, and anhedonic-related behavioral responses to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) exposure in female and male rats. Rats first underwent either 21 days of CUS or no exposure to chronic stressors, serving as home cage controls (HCC). Then rats were examined for anhedonia-related behavior, anxiety and depression-like behavioral responses as measured by the sucrose preference test (SPT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and forced swim test (FST). CUS exposed females and males showed anhedonic and anxiogenic-like behavioral responses on the SPT and EPM, respectively, when compared to HCCs. In female and male rats, systemic administration of the LTCC blocker isradipine (0.4 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg, I.P.) attenuated the CUS-induced decrease in sucrose preference and reversed the CUS-induced decrease in open arm time. In the FST, systemic isradipine decreased immobility time across all groups, consistent with an antidepressant-like response. However, there were no significant differences in forced swim test immobility time between HCC and CUS exposed animals. Taken together, these data point to a role of LTCCs in the regulation of mood disorder-related behavioral phenotype responses to chronic stress exposure.

Navacaprant, a novel and selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist, has no agonist properties implicated in opioid-related abuse

Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) are implicated in the pathophysiology of various psychiatric and neurological disorders creating interest in targeting the KOR system for therapeutic purposes. Accordingly, navacaprant (NMRA-140) is a potent, selective KOR antagonist being evaluated as a treatment for major depressive disorder. In the present report, we have extended the pharmacological characterization of navacaprant by further demonstrating its selective KOR antagonist properties and confirming its lack of agonist activity at KORs and related targets involved in opioid-related abuse. Using CHO-K1 cells expressing human KOR, mu (MOR), or delta (DOR) opioid receptors, navacaprant demonstrated selective antagonist properties at KOR (IC50 = 0.029 μM) versus MOR (IC50 = 3.3 μM) and DOR (IC50 > 10 μM) in vitro. In vivo, navacaprant (10-30 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently abolished KOR-agonist induced analgesia in the mouse tail-flick assay. Additionally, navacaprant (10, 30 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced KOR agonist-stimulated prolactin release in mice and rats, confirming KOR antagonism in vivo. Navacaprant showed no agonist activity at any opioid receptor subtype (EC50 > 10 μM) in vitro and exhibited no analgesic effect in the tail-flick assays at doses ≤100 mg/kg, p.o. thereby confirming a lack of opioid receptor agonist activity in vivo. Importantly, navacaprant did not alter extracellular dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens shell of freely-moving rats following doses ≤100 mg/kg, p.o., whereas morphine (10, 20 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased dopamine levels. These results demonstrate that navacaprant is a KOR-selective antagonist with no pharmacological properties implicated in opioid-related abuse.