Ovariectomy and High Fat-Sugar-Salt Diet Induced Alzheimer's Disease/Vascular Dementia Features in Mice

While the vast majority of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is non-familial, the animal models of AD that are commonly used for studying disease pathogenesis and development of therapy are mostly of a familial form. We aimed to generate a model reminiscent of the etiologies related to the common late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) sporadic disease that will recapitulate AD/dementia features. Naïve female mice underwent ovariectomy (OVX) to accelerate aging/menopause and were fed a high fat-sugar-salt diet to expose them to factors associated with increased risk of development of dementia/AD. The OVX mice fed a high fat-sugar-salt diet responded by dysregulation of glucose/insulin, lipid, and liver function homeostasis and increased body weight with slightly increased blood pressure. These mice developed AD-brain pathology (amyloid and tangle pathologies), gliosis (increased burden of astrocytes and activated microglia), impaied blood vessel density and neoangiogenesis, with cognitive impairment. Thus, OVX mice fed on a high fat-sugar-salt diet imitate a non-familial sporadic/environmental form of AD/dementia with vascular damage. This model is reminiscent of the etiologies related to the LOAD sporadic disease that represents a high portion of AD patients, with an added value of presenting concomitantly AD and vascular pathology, which is a common condition in dementia. Our model can, thereby, provide a valuable tool for studying disease pathogenesis and for the development of therapeutic approaches.

Neonatal dysregulation of 2-arachidonoylglycerol induces impaired brain function in adult mice

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates neurotransmission linked to synaptic plasticity, cognition, and emotion. While it has been demonstrated that dysregulation of the ECS in adulthood is relevant not only to central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, cognitive dysfunction, and depression but also to brain function, there are few studies on how dysregulation of the ECS in the neonatal period affects the manifestation and pathophysiology of CNS disorders later in life. In this study, DO34, a diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLα) inhibitor affecting endocannabinoid 2-AG production, was injected into C57BL/6N male mice from postnatal day (PND) 7 to PND 10, inducing dysregulation of the ECS in the neonatal period. Subsequently, we examined whether it affects neuronal function in adulthood through electrophysiological and behavioral evaluation. DO34-injected mice showed significantly decreased cognitive functions, attributed to impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. The findings suggest that regulation of ECS activity in the neonatal period may induce enduring effects on adult brain function.

Subclinical peripheral inflammation has systemic effects impacting central nervous system proteome in budgerigars

Regulation of neuroimmune interactions varies across avian species. Little is presently known about the interplay between periphery and central nervous system (CNS) in parrots, birds sensitive to neuroinflammation. Here we investigated the systemic and CNS responses to dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced subclinical acute peripheral inflammation in budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). Three experimental treatment groups differing in DSS and LPS stimulation were compared to controls. Individuals treated with DSS showed significant histological intestinal damage. Through quantitative proteomics we described changes in plasma (PL) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition. In total, we identified 180 proteins in PL and 978 proteins in CSF, with moderate co-structure between the proteomes. Between treatments we detected differences in immune, coagulation and metabolic pathways. Proteomic variation was associated with the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in intestine and brain. Our findings shed light on systemic impacts of peripheral low-grade inflammation in birds.

Inherited PURA Pathogenic Variant Associated With a Mild Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Objectives

Purine-rich element-binding protein alpha (PURA) regulates gene expression and is ubiquitously expressed with an enrichment in neural tissues. Pathogenic variants in PURA cause the neurodevelopmental disorder PURA syndrome that has a variable phenotype but typically comprises moderate-to-severe global developmental delay, intellectual disability, early-onset hypotonia and hypothermia, epilepsy, feeding difficulties, movement disorders, and subtle facial dysmorphism. Speech is reportedly absent in most, but the specific linguistic phenotype is not well described.

Methods

We used genome sequencing to identify a pathogenic gene variant as part of a study of children ascertained for severe primary speech disorder in the absence of moderate or severe ID.

Results

The novel PURA c.296G>T (p.Arg99Leu) pathogenic missense variant segregated in the female proband and her affected mother. The proband had dysarthria; phonological disorder; and severe receptive and expressive language impairment, borderline intellect, attention difficulties, oropharyngeal dysmotility, and dysmorphic facial features. Her mother had dysarthria, moderate receptive language impairment, and borderline intellect. Both the proband and her mother completed mainstream schooling with classroom support.

Discussion

This is the first inherited PURA pathogenic germline variant in over 600 unrelated families documented on ClinVar or reported in the literature. PURA testing should be considered in families with primary speech disorder and borderline intellectual disability, given the specific genetic counseling implications.

Risks of developing major psychiatric disorders among child and adolescent intensive care unit survivors

BACKGROUND

The mental health of child and adolescent intensive care unit (ICU) survivors is increasingly being researched. However, the literature on how various types of critical illness influence specific psychiatric disorders remains limited.

METHODS

This study analyzed the data of 8704 child and adolescent ICU survivors and 87,040 age-, sex-, family income-, and residence-matched controls who were followed from enrollment to the end of 2013; the data covered the period from 1996 to 2013 and were extracted from a nationwide data set. The primary outcomes were the risks of five major psychiatric disorders (MPDs), namely schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

RESULTS

Relative to the controls, the child and adolescent ICU survivors (mean age = 10.33 years) exhibited higher risks of developing five MPDs. The associated hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) are as follows: PTSD, HR = 4.67, 95 % CI = 2.42-9.01; schizophrenia, HR = 3.19, 95 % CI = 2.27-4.47; BD, HR = 2.02, 95 % CI = 1.33-3.05; OCD, HR = 1.96, 95 % CI = 1.21-3.16; and MDD, HR = 1.68, 95 % CI = 1.44-1.95. The risks of developing MPDs varied across multiple types of critical illness related to ICU admission.

CONCLUSIONS

The risks of MPDs were significantly higher among the child and adolescent ICU survivors than among the controls. The development of appropriate MPD prevention strategies should be emphasized for this vulnerable population.

Oxytocin and cortisol concentrations in urine and saliva in response to physical exercise in humans

BACKGROUND

While peripheral markers of endogenous oxytocin and glucocorticoid release are widely employed in psychological and behavioural research, there remains uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of saliva and urine samples in accurately capturing fluctuating hormone levels in response to relevant stimuli. In addition, it is unclear whether and under which conditions, urinary concentrations correlate with salivary levels of oxytocin and cortisol.

METHODS

In the present study, two groups of healthy adult male and female participants (N=43) provided heart rate, saliva, and urine samples before and after exercising at different durations and intensities (3 ×10 min of running vs. 60 min of running). Effects of age, gender, cycle phase, and previous running experience were considered in the statistical analyses. Concentrations of oxytocin and cortisol were analysed in both saliva, and urine using validated assays.

RESULTS

Runners of both groups had significantly increased oxytocin concentrations in urine and saliva after running than before. Oxytocin in saliva was elevated after 10 min and peaked after 30 min of running. Only participants of the long-running group showed an increase in urinary cortisol concentrations following exercise (and only after 90 min of stimulus onset), and neither group had a significant increase in salivary cortisol levels. Oxytocin rise in urine and saliva from basal to post-run was strongly and significantly correlated, as was cortisol rise from basal to post-rest, but no correlations between absolute hormone concentrations were found for oxytocin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that both urine and saliva are useful body fluids that can provide meaningful results when measuring oxytocin and cortisol concentrations after a physical stimulus. While temporal resolution may be better with salivary sampling as higher sampling frequency is possible, signal strength and robustness were better in urinary samples. Importantly, we report a strong correlation between the magnitude of change in oxytocin and cortisol concentrations in urine and saliva following physical exercise, but no correlations between absolute oxytocin concentrations in the two substrates.

The distribution of neurotransmitters in the brain circuitry: Mesolimbic pathway and addiction

Understanding the central nervous system (CNS) circuitry and its different neurotransmitters that underlie reward is essential to improve treatment for many common health issues, such as addiction. Here, we concentrate on understanding how the mesolimbic circuitry and neurotransmitters are organized and function, and how drug exposure affects synaptic and structural changes in this circuitry. While the role of some reward circuits, like the cerebral dopamine (DA)/glutamate (Glu)/gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic pathways, in drug reward, is well known, new research using molecular-based methods has shown functional alterations throughout the reward circuitry that contribute to various aspects of addiction, including craving and relapse. A new understanding of the fundamental connections between brain regions as well as the molecular alterations within these particular microcircuits, such as neurotrophic factor and molecular signaling or distinct receptor function, that underlie synaptic and structural plasticity evoked by drugs of abuse has been made possible by the ability to observe and manipulate neuronal activity within specific cell types and circuits. It is exciting that these discoveries from preclinical animal research are now being applied in the clinic, where therapies for human drug dependence, such as deep brain stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation, are being tested. Therefore, this chapter seeks to summarize the current understanding of the important brain regions (especially, mesolimbic circuitry) and neurotransmitters implicated in drug-related behaviors and the molecular mechanisms that contribute to altered connectivity between these areas, with the postulation that increased knowledge of the plasticity within the drug reward circuit will lead to new and improved treatments for addiction.

Early life stress and iron metabolism in developmental psychoneuroimmunology

An estimated 250 million children face adverse health outcomes from early life exposure to severe or chronic social, economic, and nutritional adversity, highlighting/emphasizing the pressing concern about the link between ELS and long-term implications on mental and physical health. There is significant overlap between populations experiencing high levels of chronic stress and those experiencing iron deficiency, spotlighting the potential role of iron as a key mediator in this association. Iron, an essential micronutrient for brain development and immune function, is often depleted in stress conditions. Iron deficiency among the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world. Fetal and infant iron status may thus serve as a crucial intermediary between early chronic psychological stress and subsequent immune system changes to impact neurodevelopment. The review presents a hypothesized pathway between early life stress (ELS), iron deficiency, and neurodevelopment through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the IL-6-hepcidin axis. This hypothesis is derived from (1) evidence that stress impacts iron status (2) long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes that are shared by ELS and iron deficiency exposure, and (3) possible mechanisms for how iron may mediate the relation between ELS and iron deficiency through alterations in the developing immune system. The article concludes by proposing future research directions, emphasizing the need for rigorous studies to elucidate how stress and iron metabolism interact to modify the developing immune system. Understanding these mechanisms could open new avenues for improving human health and neurodevelopment for women and children globally, making it a timely and vital area of study in psychoneuroimmunology research.

A Comprehensive Aspect-Level Approach to the Personality Micro-Foundations of Foreign Policy Attitudes

We analyze in this article the effects of personality on attitudes toward foreign policy through a comprehensive aspect-level approach. We claim that previous observed null domain-level effects are the product of the aspect-level effects of opposing signs. By and large, we show that some personality effects are of comparable size or bigger than demographics studied in the literature, and that some of these effects are unique and independent of demographic covariates. Our results show that openness, orderliness, and compassion render people to be more supportive of cooperation. Assertiveness is the primary driver of support for the use of military force, whereas politeness and withdrawal ground reverse effects. Volatility roots isolationism postures, whereas industriousness, enthusiasm, and compassion show strong opposing effects. Moving beyond the Big Five personality domain approach provides us with a deeper and more nuanced understanding of how personality is associated with attitudes toward international issues.

Effects of liquid-based diets with breweries grains enriched with isolated starch and fish oil on veal quality

Since veal production has declined in the U.S., American veal producers are currently making efforts to implement new production standards to improve product quality and animal welfare. In this study, we hypothesized that diets containing brewery grains, starch and omega-3 fatty acids could lower a blood stress indicator and improve meat quality, mostly from a nutritional value stand point. Holstein bull calves with approximately 94.67 ± 12.07 kg of body weight and two months old were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments. Diets were formulated with nonmedicated milk replacer, microbreweries spent grains, and a mineral mix (CONTROL); CONTROL + isolated maize starch (STARCH); and CONTROL +3% fish oil (OMEGA-3). Veal calves fed all three diets were heavier than calves of the same age from experiments reported in the existing literature. Dietary treatments did not affect carcass weights, pH, color, moisture, sensory attributes, volatile profile, and fat quality indexes. Calves fed STARCH and OMEGA-3 showed the lowest levels of blood cortisol. Veal fed CONTROL and OMEGA-3 had higher concentrations of ΣMUFA when compared with STARCH. Veal fed OMEGA-3 had the highest concentrations of EPA, DHA, and Σn-3. Veal from all treatments had very high concentrations of ΣMUFA, mostly driven by high levels of c-9 18:1 n-9 from the milk replacer. Feeding OMEGA-3 lowered blood cortisol and increased levels of EPA and DHA without harming sensory attributes. Overall, including brewery grains, starch and fish oil in liquid diets containing milk replacer can improve veal production.

Serotonergic neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity

Synaptic plasticity constitutes a fundamental process in the reorganization of neural networks that underlie memory, cognition, emotional responses, and behavioral planning. At the core of this phenomenon lie Hebbian mechanisms, wherein frequent synaptic stimulation induces long-term potentiation (LTP), while less activation leads to long-term depression (LTD). The synaptic reorganization of neuronal networks is regulated by serotonin (5-HT), a neuromodulator capable of modify synaptic plasticity to appropriately respond to mental and behavioral states, such as alertness, attention, concentration, motivation, and mood. Lately, understanding the serotonergic Neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity has become imperative for unraveling its impact on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. Through a comparative analysis across three main forebrain structures-the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, this review discusses the actions of 5-HT on synaptic plasticity, offering insights into its role as a neuromodulator involved in emotional and cognitive functions. By distinguishing between plastic and metaplastic effects, we provide a comprehensive overview about the mechanisms of 5-HT neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity and associated functions across different brain regions.

The alterations in CD4+Treg cells across various phases of major depression

BACKGROUND

Major depression (MD) is recurrent and devastating mental disease with a high worldwide prevalence. Mounting evidence suggests neuroinflammation triggers cellular immune dysregulation, characterized by increased proportions of circulating monocytes, and T helper 17 cells and proinflammatory cytokines, thereby increasing susceptibility to MD. However, there is ambiguity in the findings of clinical studies that investigate CD4+ T regulatory (Treg) cells in MD.

METHODS

The proportion of CD4+ Treg cell from blood mononuclear cells was examined using flow cytometry in healthy controls (HCs: n = 96) and patients with first (FEMD: n = 62) or recurrent (RMD: n = 41) disease episodes of MD at baseline (T0; hospital admission) and after a two-week antidepressant treatment (T14). All participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments.

RESULTS

The initial scores on emotional assessments in patients with MD significantly differed from those of HCs. Both FEMD and RMD patients exhibited a significant decrease in CD4+ Treg cell proportion at baseline compared to HCs. Treg cell proportion rose significantly from T0 to T14 in FEMD patients, who responded to antidepressant therapy, whereas no significant changes were observed in FEMD patients in non-response as well as RMD patients. The improvement of 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale was correlate with changes of Treg cell proportion from T0 to T14 in FEMD patients in response, and the change in Treg cell proportion over a 14-day period exhibited an AUC curve of 0.710.

CONCLUSIONS

A decrease in the proportion of CD4+ Treg cells points towards immune system abnormalities in patients with MD. Furthermore, our finding suggests that the immune activation state varies across different stages of depression.

Relationships between the gut microbiome and brain functional alterations in first-episode, drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder

OBJECTIVE

Increasing evidence has shown that the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGB) is involved in the mechanism of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the relationship between the gut microbiome and brain function in MDD patients has not been determined. Here, we intend to identify specific changes in the gut microbiome and brain function in first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients and then explore the associations between the two omics to elucidate how the MGB axis plays a role in MDD development.

METHODS

We recruited 38 first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients and 37 healthy controls (HC). The composition of the fecal microbiome and neural spontaneous activity alterations were examined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis and regional homogeneity (ReHo). Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to assess the associations between the gut microbiome and brain function.

RESULTS

Compared with HC, MDD patients exhibited distinct alterations in the gut microbiota and elevated ReHo in the frontal regions. In the MDD group, a positive relationship was noted between the relative abundance of Blautia and the HAMD-17 and HAMA scores, as well as between the relative abundance of Oxalobacteraceae and the HAMD-17 score. The relative abundances of Porphyromonadaceae and Parabacteroides were negatively correlated with the ReHo values of frontal regions.

LIMITATIONS

Our study utilized a cross-sectional design, and the number of subjects was relatively small.

CONCLUSION

We found that some specific gut microbiomes were associated with frontal function, and others were associated with clinical symptoms in MDD patients, which may support the role of the MGB axis underlying MDD.

Modeling longitudinal relationships between sleep disturbances and depressed mood in postpartum: A cross-lagged panel design

BACKGROUND

This short communication explores the interrelationships between depressed mood and sleep disturbances in one-year postpartum period.

METHODS

Utilizing data from the Interaction of Gene and Environment of Depression during PostPartum Cohort (IGEDEPP) involving 3310 French postpartum women, we employed a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) to analyze the relationships between these two symptoms, across three time points (immediate postpartum [<1 week after delivery], early postpartum [<2 months after delivery], and late postpartum [2 months to 1 years after delivery]).

RESULTS

Depressed mood significantly influences sleep disturbances in late postpartum (β = 0.096, z-value = 7.4; p < 0.001) but not in early postpartum (p-value = 0.9). We found no cross-lagged influence of sleep disturbances on depressed mood in early (p = 0.066) or in late postpartum (p = 0.060). Moreover, depressed mood and sleep disturbances in immediate postpartum are predictive of similar symptoms in the two other postpartum periods (between each of the three periods, p = 0.006 and p < 0.001 for depressed mood, and p = 0.039 and p < 0.001 for sleep disturbances), thus demonstrating the stability of these symptoms over time.

LIMITATIONS

Although conducted with a prospectively assessed cohort, this study faces limitations due to potential methodological biases.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is a pioneering analysis of mutual causal interactions between depressed mood and sleep disturbances in the postpartum period, highlighting the need for vigilant monitoring, early detection, prevention of worsen outcomes and intervention on these symptoms.

Chronic intranasal oxytocin alleviates cognitive impairment and reverses oxytocin signaling upregulation in MK801-induced mice

OBJECTIVE

Cognitive impairment, especially impaired social cognition, is largely responsible for the deterioration of the social life of patients with schizophrenia (SZ). Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide that offers promising therapy for SZ. This study aimed to explore whether OT could affect dizocilpine (MK801)-induced cognitive impairment and to investigate the effect of exogenous OT on the endogenous OT system in the hippocampus.

METHODS

The SZ mouse model was established by repeated administration of dizocilpine [MK801, 0.6 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)], and then OT (6-60 μg/kg, intranasal) or risperidone (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to explore the effect of OT on cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

OT at a dose of 6 μg/kg alleviated MK801-induced hyperactivity, sociability impairment, and spatial memory impairment. OT at a dose of 20 or 60 μg/kg attenuated the hyperactivity and social novelty impairment. In MK801-injected mice, the compensatory upregulation of OT mRNA in the hippocampus was reversed by three OT doses, whereas 60 μg/kg OT reversed the compensatory upregulation of CD38 protein expression.

CONCLUSION

OT alleviated cognitive impairment in the SZ mouse model to varying degrees, reversing the compensatory upregulation of OT signaling in the hippocampus.

Physical Exercise Counteracts Aging-Associated White Matter Demyelination Causing Cognitive Decline

In the central nervous system, oligodendrocytes wrap around neuronal axons to form myelin, an insulating layer or sheath that allows for the efficient conductance of action potentials. In addition to structural insulation, myelin provides encased axons with nutrient, metabolic and defensive support. Demyelination, or myelin loss, can therefore cause axonal dysfunction, leading to neurological impairment and disease. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), progressive white matter demyelination is acknowledged as one of the earliest pathologies preceding symptom onset. Unfortunately, current pharmacotherapy for slowing demyelination or promoting remyelination in AD is nonexistent. Exercise is recognized for its wide-ranging benefits to human health, including improved mental health and the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Mounting evidence suggests the contribution of physical activity in delaying the progression of dementia in elderly populations. Recent mechanistic studies have shown that exercise facilitates myelination in the brain through the vitalization of intrinsic pro-myelination cues, such as increased neurotrophic factors and electrical activity. In this review, we summarize and discuss the potential of physical exercise on counteracting aging-associated white matter demyelination, which causes cognitive decline in AD. We highlight the need of further basic and clinical research investigations on this topic to establish novel approaches for healthy and improved brain aging.

Tryptophan Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease with the Involvement of Microglia and Astrocyte Crosstalk and Gut-Brain Axis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disease characterized by extracellular Amyloid Aβ peptide (Aβ) deposition and intracellular Tau protein aggregation. Glia, especially microglia and astrocytes are core participants during the progression of AD and these cells are the mediators of Aβ clearance and degradation. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is a complex interactive network between the gut and brain involved in neurodegeneration. MGBA affects the function of glia in the central nervous system (CNS), and microbial metabolites regulate the communication between astrocytes and microglia; however, whether such communication is part of AD pathophysiology remains unknown. One of the potential links in bilateral gut-brain communication is tryptophan (Trp) metabolism. The microbiota-originated Trp and its metabolites enter the CNS to control microglial activation, and the activated microglia subsequently affect astrocyte functions. The present review highlights the role of MGBA in AD pathology, especially the roles of Trp per se and its metabolism as a part of the gut microbiota and brain communications. We (i) discuss the roles of Trp derivatives in microglia-astrocyte crosstalk from a bioinformatics perspective, (ii) describe the role of glia polarization in the microglia-astrocyte crosstalk and AD pathology, and (iii) summarize the potential of Trp metabolism as a therapeutic target. Finally, we review the role of Trp in AD from the perspective of the gut-brain axis and microglia, as well as astrocyte crosstalk, to inspire the discovery of novel AD therapeutics.

Maternal immune response during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes: A longitudinal approach

Background and objectives

The neurodevelopment of the offspring is suggested to be influenced by the maternal immune system's responses throughout pregnancy, which in turn is also vulnerable to maternal psychosocial stress conditions. Therefore, our main goal was to investigate whether maternal peripheral immunological biomarkers (IB) during two stages of gestation are associated with distinct neurodevelopmental trajectories in the first two years of life. As a second goal, we also explored the association between maternal distal (childhood) and proximal (gestation) stressful experiences and the immunological markers assessed during pregnancy.

Methods

Maternal childhood trauma, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and peripheral IB (IFNγ, IL-10, IL1β, IL6, IL8, TNFα, EGF, IL13, IL17, IL1Ra and IL4) were measured at baseline (8-16 weeks of pregnancy) and at 30 weeks of pregnancy in 160 women. The participants had the blood samples collected from two randomized clinical trials conducted by the same team and methods in the same community. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was implemented to create meaningful composite variables that describe the cytokines joint variation. Finally, linear mixed-effects modeling was used to investigate the influence of inflammatory biomarkers, maternal childhood trauma, anxiety, and depressive symptoms on Bayley's III scores trajectories.

Results

The IB profile during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy predicted the offspring's neurodevelopmental trajectories in the first two years of life. The components derived from PCA were important predictors and captured different immune responses, reflecting both pro- and anti-inflammatory states. Maternal stressful experiences did not correlate with the immunological markers. Although not a reliable predictor alone, maternal psychosocial stress at the 1st trimester of pregnancy interacted with the mother's immune response while predicting the neurodevelopmental scores during the first two years of life.

Conclusions

Our results underscore the importance of the maternal immune response during pregnancy in shaping the neurodevelopmental trajectory of the offspring. Additionally, we observed that the maternal distress at the early stages of pregnancy has an incremental effect on the neurodevelopmental outcome but depends upon the immune response.

Evaluating the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Chronic Iron Administration in Male Wistar Rats: a Comparative Analysis of Affective, Cognitive, and Oxidative Stress with EDTA Chelator

Iron is the dominant metal in the brain and is distributed widely. However, it can lead to various neuropathological and neurobehavioral abnormalities as well as oxidative stress. On the other hand, melatonin, a pineal hormone, is known for its neuroprotective properties, as well as its ability to act as a natural chelator against oxidative stress. It has also been used as an antidepressant and anxiolytic. The study investigated the potential of melatonin and EDTA treatment to prevent anxiety, depressive behavior, and memory impairment in male rats induced by chronic iron administration, and its connection to oxidative stress regulation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The rats were divided into six groups and intraperitoneally injected for 8 weeks with NaCl solution (control), iron sulfate (1 mg/kg), melatonin (4 mg/kg), EDTA (4 mg/kg), 1 mg/kg of iron + 4 mg/kg of melatonin, or 1 mg/kg of iron + 4 mg/kg of EDTA. In this study, we performed a neurobehavioral assessment and biochemical determinations of oxidative stress levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of each animal. The results indicate that chronic exposure to iron sulfate induced anxiety-like depressive behavior, and cognitive impairment also increased the levels of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide, and reduced the activity of catalase in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in male Wistar rats, suggesting the induction of oxidative stress. In contrast, these alterations were reversed by melatonin better than EDTA. The results of this study show that melatonin protects against the neurobehavioral changes caused by iron, which may be associated with decreasing oxidative stress in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Longitudinal fragility phenotyping contributes to the prediction of lifespan and age-associated morbidity in C57BL/6 and Diversity Outbred mice

Aging studies in mammalian models often depend on natural lifespan data as a primary outcome. Tools for lifespan prediction could accelerate these studies and reduce the need for veterinary intervention. Here, we leveraged large-scale longitudinal frailty and lifespan data on two genetically distinct mouse cohorts to evaluate noninvasive strategies to predict life expectancy in mice. We applied a modified frailty assessment, the Fragility Index, derived from existing frailty indices with additional deficits selected by veterinarians. We developed an ensemble machine learning classifier to predict imminent mortality (95% proportion of life lived [95PLL]). Our algorithm represented improvement over previous predictive criteria but fell short of the level of reliability that would be needed to make advanced prediction of lifespan and thus accelerate lifespan studies. Highly sensitive and specific frailty-based predictive endpoint criteria for aged mice remain elusive. While frailty-based prediction falls short as a surrogate for lifespan, it did demonstrate significant predictive power and as such must contain information that could be used to inform the conclusion of aging experiments. We propose a frailty-based measure of healthspan as an alternative target for aging research and demonstrate that lifespan and healthspan criteria reveal distinct aspects of aging in mice.

Alterations in corpus callosum subregions morphology and functional connectivity in patients with adult-onset hypothyroidism

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain abnormalities have been reported in the corpus callosum (CC) of patients with adult-onset hypothyroidism. However, no study has directly compared CC-specific morphological or functional alterations among subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), overt hypothyroidism (OH), and healthy controls (HC). Moreover, the association of CC alterations with cognition and emotion is not well understood.

METHODS

Demographic data, clinical variables, neuropsychological scores, and MRI data of 152 participants (60 SCH, 37 OH, and 55 HC) were collected. This study investigated the clinical performance, morphological and functional changes of CC subregions across three groups. Moreover, a correlation analysis was performed to explore potential relationships between these factors.

RESULTS

Compared to HC, SCH and OH groups exhibited lower cognitive scores and higher depressive/anxious scores. Notably, rostrum and rostral body volume of CC was larger in the SCH group. Functional connectivity between rostral body, anterior midbody and the right precentral and dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus were increased in the SCH group. In contrast, the SCH and OH groups exhibited a decline in functional connectivity between splenium and the right angular gyrus. Within the SCH group, rostrum volume demonstrated a negative correlation with Montreal Cognitive Assessment and visuospatial/executive scores, while displaying a positive correlation with 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. In the OH group, rostral body volume exhibited a negative correlation with serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels, while a positive correlation with serum total thyroxine and free thyroxine levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that patients with different stages of adult-onset hypothyroidism may exhibit different patterns of CC abnormalities. These findings offer new insights into the neuropathophysiological mechanisms in hypothyroidism.

Adolescent treadmill exercise enhances hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and improves cognition in autism-modeled rats

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and altered communication abilities. Exercise is a low-cost intervention that could improve cognitive function and improve brain plasticity mechanisms. Here, the valproic acid (VPA) model was utilized to induce ASD-like phenotypes in rodents. Animals were exercised on a treadmill and performance was evaluated on a cognitive flexibility task. Biomarkers related to exercise and plasticity regulation were quantified from the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and skeletal muscle. Exercised VPA animals had higher levels of hippocampal BDNF compared to sedentary VPA animals and upregulated antioxidant enzyme expression in skeletal muscle. Cognitive improvements were demonstrated in both sexes, but in different domains of cognitive flexibility. This research demonstrates the benefits of exercise and provides evidence that molecular responses to exercise occur in both the central nervous system and in the periphery. These results suggest that improving regulation of BDNF via exercise, even at low intensity, could provide better synaptic regulation and cognitive benefits for individuals with ASD.

Unraveling the causal relationships between depression and brain structural imaging phenotypes: A bidirectional Mendelian Randomization study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have revealed structural brain abnormalities in individuals with depression, but the causal relationship between depression and brain structure remains unclear.

METHODS

A genetic correlation analysis was conducted using summary statistics from the largest genome-wide association studies for depression (N = 674,452) and 1,265 brain structural imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs, N = 33,224). Subsequently, a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach was employed to explore the causal relationships between depression and the IDPs that showed genetic correlations with depression. The main MR results were obtained using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, and other MR methods were further employed to ensure the reliability of the findings.

RESULTS

Ninety structural IDPs were identified as being genetically correlated with depression and were included in the MR analyses. The IVW MR results indicated that reductions in the volume of several brain regions, including the bilateral subcallosal cortex, right medial orbitofrontal cortex, and right middle-posterior part of the cingulate cortex, were causally linked to an increased risk of depression. Additionally, decreases in surface area of the right middle temporal visual area, right middle temporal cortex, right inferior temporal cortex, and right middle-posterior part of the cingulate cortex were causally associated with a heightened risk of depression. Validation and sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these findings. However, no evidence was found for a causal effect of depression on structural IDPs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal the causal influence of specific brain structures on depression, providing evidence to consider brain structural changes in the etiology and treatment of depression.

Baseline circulating biomarkers, their changes, and subsequent suicidal ideation and depression severity at 6 months: A prospective analysis in patients with mood disorders

BACKGROUND

Identifying circulating biomarkers associated with prospective suicidal ideation (SI) and depression could help better understand the dynamics of these phenomena and identify people in need of intense care. In this study, we investigated the associations between baseline peripheral biomarkers implicated in neuroplasticity, vascular homeostasis and inflammation, and prospective SI and depression severity during 6 months of follow-up in patients with mood disorders.

METHODS

149 patients underwent a psychiatric evaluation and gave blood to measure 32 plasma soluble proteins. At follow-up, SI incidence over six months was measured with the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology. Ninety-six patients provided repeated blood samples. Statistical analyses included Spearman partial correlation and Elastic Net regression, followed by the covariate-adjusted regression models.

RESULTS

51.4 % (N = 71) of patients reported SI during follow-up. After adjustment for covariates, higher baseline levels of interferon-γ were associated with SI occurrence during follow-up. Higher baseline interferon-γ and lower orexin-A were associated with increased depression severity, and atypical and anxious, but not melancholic, symptoms. There was also a tendency for associations of elevated baseline levels of interferon-γ, interleukin-1β, and lower plasma serotonin levels with SI at the six-month follow-up time point. Meanwhile, reduction in transforming growth factor- β1 (TGF-β1) plasma concentration correlated with atypical symptoms reduction.

CONCLUSION

We identified interferon-γ and orexin-A as potential predictive biomarkers of SI and depression, whereas TGF-β1 was identified as a possible target of atypical symptoms.

Cariprazine in the acute treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cariprazine has emerged as a promising augmenting treatment agent for unipolar depression and as a monotherapy option for bipolar depression. We evaluated cariprazine's efficacy in treating acute major depressive episodes in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted on MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov and ScanMedicine. Study quality was assessed using the RoB 2 tool. Pairwise and dose-response meta-analyses were conducted with RStudio. Evidence quality was assessed with GRADE.

RESULTS

Nine RCTs meeting inclusion criteria encompassed 4889 participants. Cariprazine, compared to placebo, significantly reduced the MADRS score (MD = -1.49, 95 % CI: -2.22 to -0.76) and demonstrated significantly higher response (RR = 1.21, 95 % CI: 1.12 to 1.30) and remission (RR = 1.19, 95 % CI: 1.06 to 1.34) rates. Subgroup analysis unveiled statistically significant reductions in MADRS score in MDD (MD = -1.15, 95 % CI: -2.04 to -0.26) and bipolar I disorder (BDI) (MD = -2.53, 95 % CI: -3.61 to -1.45), higher response rates for both MDD (RR = 1.19, 95 % CI: 1.08 to 1.31) and BDI (RR = 1.27, 95 % CI: 1.10 to 1.46), and higher remission rates only for BDI (RR = 1.41, 95 % CI: 1.24 to 1.60). A higher rate of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events was observed.

LIMITATIONS

Reliance solely on RCTs limits generalisability; strict criteria might not reflect real-world diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

Cariprazine demonstrates efficacy in treating major depressive episodes, although variations exist between MDD and BDI and tolerability may be an issue.

miR-93-5p impairs autophagy-lysosomal pathway via TET3 after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Intact autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) in neuronal survival is crucial. However, it remains unclear whether ALP is intact after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Ten-eleven translocation (TET) 3 primarily regulates genes related to autophagy in neurons in neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to investigate the role of TET3 in the ALP following SAH. The results indicate that the ALP is impaired after SAH, with suppressed autophagic flux and an increase in autophagosomes. This is accompanied by a decrease in TET3 expression. Activation of TET3 by α-KG can improve ALP function and neural function to some extent. Silencing TET3 in neurons significantly inhibited the ALP function and increased apoptosis. Inhibition of miR-93-5p, which is elevated after SAH, promotes TET3 expression. This suggests that the downregulation of TET3 after SAH is, at least in part, due to elevated miR-93-5p. This study clarifies the key role of TET3 in the functional impairment of the ALP after SAH. The preliminary exploration revealed that miR-93-5p could lead to the downregulation of TET3, which could be a new target for neuroprotective therapy after SAH.

The role of exosomes derived from stem cells in nerve regeneration: A contribution to neurological repair

Stem cell-derived exosomes have gained attention in regenerative medicine for their role in encouraging nerve regeneration and potential use in treating neurological diseases. These nanosized extracellular vesicles act as carriers of bioactive molecules, facilitating intercellular communication and enhancing the regenerative process in neural tissues. This comprehensive study explores the methods by which exosomes produced from various stem cells contribute to nerve healing, with a particular emphasis on their role in angiogenesis, inflammation, and cellular signaling pathways. By examining cutting-edge developments and exploring the potential of exosomes in delivering disease-specific miRNAs and proteins, we highlight their versatility in tailoring personalized therapeutic strategies. The findings presented here highlight the potential of stem cell-produced exosomes for use in neurological diseases therapy, establishing the door for future research into exosome-based neurotherapies.

Genomic Insights into Dementia: Precision Medicine and the Impact of Gene-Environment Interaction

The diagnosis, treatment, and management of dementia provide significant challenges due to its chronic cognitive impairment. The complexity of this condition is further highlighted by the impact of gene-environment interactions. A recent strategy combines advanced genomics and precision medicine methods to explore the complex genetic foundations of dementia. Utilizing the most recent research in the field of neurogenetics, the importance of precise genetic data in explaining the variation seen in dementia patients can be investigated. Gene-environment interactions are important because they influence genetic susceptibilities and aid in the development and progression of dementia. Modified to each patient's genetic profile, precision medicine has the potential to detect groups at risk and make previously unheard-of predictions about the course of diseases. Precision medicine techniques have the potential to completely transform treatment and diagnosis methods. Targeted medications that target genetic abnormalities will probably appear, providing the possibility for more efficient and customized medical interventions. Investigating the relationship between genes and the environment may lead to preventive measures that would enable people to change their surroundings and minimize the risk of dementia, leading to the improved lifestyle of affected people. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the genomic insights into dementia, emphasizing the pivotal role of precision medicine, and gene-environment interactions.

Short-chain fatty acid on blood-brain barrier and glial function in ischemic stroke

Stroke is the second most common cause of death and one of the most common causes of disability worldwide. The intestine is home to several microorganisms that fulfill essential functions for the natural and physiological functioning of the human body. There is an interaction between the central nervous system (CNS) and the gastrointestinal system that enables bidirectional communication between them, the so-called gut-brain axis. Based on the gut-brain axis, there is evidence of a link between the gut microbiota and the regulation of microglial functions through glial activation. This interaction is partly due to the immunological properties of the microbiota and its connection with the CNS, such that metabolites produced by the microbiota can cross the gut barrier, enter the bloodstream and reach the CNS and significantly affect microglia, astrocytes and other cells of the immune system. Studies addressing the effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on glial function and the BBB in ischemic stroke are still scarce. Therefore, this review aims to stimulate the investigation of these associations, as well as to generate new studies on this topic that can clarify the role of SCFAs after stroke in a more robust manner.

Spectral changes in electroencephalography linked to neuroactive medications: A computational pipeline for data mining and analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The increasing amount of open-access medical data provides new opportunities to gain clinically relevant information without recruiting new patients. We developed an open-source computational pipeline, that utilizes the publicly available electroencephalographic (EEG) data of the Temple University Hospital to identify EEG profiles associated with the usage of neuroactive medications. It facilitates access to the data and ensures consistency in data processing and analysis, thus reducing the risk of errors and creating comparable and reproducible results. Using this pipeline, we analyze the influence of common neuroactive medications on brain activity.

METHODS

The pipeline is constructed using easily controlled modules. The user defines the medications of interest and comparison groups. The data is downloaded and preprocessed, spectral features are extracted, and statistical group comparison with visualization through a topographic EEG map is performed. The pipeline is adjustable to answer a variety of research questions. Here, the effects of carbamazepine and risperidone were statistically compared with control data and with other medications from the same classes (anticonvulsants and antipsychotics).

RESULTS

The comparison between carbamazepine and the control group showed an increase in absolute and relative power for delta and theta, and a decrease in relative power for alpha, beta, and gamma. Compared to antiseizure medications, carbamazepine showed an increase in alpha and theta for absolute powers, and for relative powers an increase in alpha and theta, and a decrease in gamma and delta. Risperidone compared with the control group showed a decrease in absolute and relative power for alpha and beta and an increase in theta for relative power. Compared to antipsychotic medications, risperidone showed a decrease in delta for absolute powers. These results show good agreement with state-of-the-art research. The database allows to create large groups for many different medications. Additionally, it provides a collection of records labeled as "normal" after expert assessment, which is convenient for the creation of control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The pipeline allows fast testing of different hypotheses regarding links between medications and EEG spectrum through ecological usage of readily available data. It can be utilized to make informed decisions about the design of new clinical studies.

Comparisons of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation and functional connectivity in major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder: A resting-state fMRI study

BACKGROUND

Studies comparing the brain functions of major depressive disorder (MDD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) at the regional and network levels remain scarce. This study aimed to elucidate their pathogenesis using neuroimaging techniques and explore biomarkers that can differentiate these disorders.

METHODS

Resting-state fMRI data were collected from 48 patients with MDD, 41 patients with SAD, and 82 healthy controls. Differences in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) among the three groups were examined to identify regions showing abnormal regional spontaneous activity. A seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis was conducted using ALFF results as seeds and different connections were identified between regions showing abnormal local spontaneous activity and other regions. The correlation between abnormal brain function and clinical symptoms was analyzed.

RESULTS

Patients with MDD and SAD exhibited similar abnormal ALFF and FC in several brain regions; notably, FC between the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and the right posterior supramarginal gyrus (pSMG) in patients with SAD was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, patients with MDD showed higher ALFF in the right SFG than HCs and those with SAD.

LIMITATION

Potential effects of medications, comorbidities, and data type could not be ignored.

CONCLUSION

MDD and SAD showed common and distinct aberrant brain function patterns at the regional and network levels. At the regional level, we found that the ALFF in the right SFG was different between patients with MDD and those with SAD. At the network level, we did not find any differences between these disorders.

Oxytocin enhances group-based guilt in high moral disengagement individuals through increased moral responsibility

Group-based guilt (collective guilt) refers to the negative emotions experienced when group members violate moral standards and can motivate prosocial behavior. Individuals exhibiting high levels of moral disengagement are prone to engaging in unethical conduct without experience of guilt, thereby prolonging or exacerbating conflicts and hindering conflict resolution. Oxytocin is believed to play key role in shaping social cognition and behaviors associated with morality and prosociality. So, this study (N = 79) explores oxytocin's potential to enhance group-based guilt and compensation for victims among individuals with high moral disengagement. Employing a randomized placebo-controlled design, participants received either oxytocin or placebo before undertaking a task designed to induce group-based guilt, during which they made decisions regarding the allocation of money to victims. Results revealed that participants with high moral disengagement who received oxytocin perceived higher levels of moral responsibility, experienced increased group-based guilt, and allocated significantly more money to victims compared to those who received the placebo. These findings suggested that oxytocin holds promise as an intervention to mitigate moral disengagement and foster moral behavior in individuals predisposed to avoiding responsibility and guilt feelings.

Ubiquitin ligase RFWD2 promotes dendritic spine and synapse formation by activating the ERK/PEA3/c-Jun pathway in rat cerebral cortical neurons

The regulation of protein degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system is essential for normal brain development, axon growth, synaptic growth and plasticity. The E3 ubiquitin ligase RFWD2 plays a key role in the onset and development of neurological diseases, including the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanisms controlling the homeostasis of neuronal synaptic proteins are still poorly understood. Here, we showed that the expression level of RFWD2 gradually decreased with the age of the rats and was negatively correlated with the development of cerebral cortical neurons and dendrites in vivo. RFWD2 was shown to localize to presynaptic terminals and some postsynaptic sides of both excitatory synapses and inhibitory synapses via colocalization with neuronal synaptic proteins (SYN, PSD95, Vglut1 and GAD67). Overexpression of RFWD2 promoted dendrite development and dendritic spine formation and markedly decreased the expression of synaptophysin and PSD95 by reducing the expression of ETV1, ETV4, ETV5 and c-JUN in vitro. Furthermore, the whole-cell membrane slice clamp results showed that RFWD2 overexpression resulted in greater membrane capacitance in neuronal cells, inadequate cell repolarization, and a longer time course for neurons to emit action potentials with decreased excitability. RFWD2 regulates dendritic development and plasticity, dendritic spine formation and synaptic function in rat cerebral cortex neurons by activating the ERK/PEA3/c-Jun pathway via a posttranslational regulatory mechanism and can be used as an efficient treatment target for neurological diseases.

Pubertal maternal presence reduces anxiety and increases adult neurogenesis in Kunming mice offspring

Puberty is a critical period of emotional development and neuroplasticity. However, most studies have focused on early development, with limited research on puberty, particularly the parental presence. In this study, four groups were established, and pubertal maternal presence (PMP) was assessed until postnatal days 21 (PD21), 28 (PD28), 35 (PD35), and 42 (PD42), respectively. The social interaction and anxiety behaviors, as well as the expression of oxytocin (OT) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON), and the number of new generated neurons and the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the dentate gyrus (DG) were assessed. The results suggest that there is a lot of physical contact between the mother and offspring from 21 to 42 days of age, which reduces anxiety in both female and male offspring in adulthood; for example, the PMP increased the amount of time mice spent in the center area in the open field experiment and in the bright area in the light-dark box experiment. PMP increased OT expression in the PVN and SON and the number of newly generated neurons in the DG. However, there was a sexual difference in ERα, with ERα increasing in females but decreasing in males. In conclusion, PMP reduces the anxiety of offspring in adulthood, increases OT in the PVN and SON, and adult neurogenesis; ERα in the DG may be involved in this process.

cAMP-PKA signaling pathway and anxiety: Where do we go next?

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is an intracellular second messenger that is derived from the conversion of adenosine triphosphate catalysed by adenylyl cyclase (AC). Protein kinase A (PKA), the main effector of cAMP, is a dimeric protein kinase consisting of two catalytic subunits and two regulatory subunits. When cAMP binds to the regulatory subunits of PKA, it leads to the dissociation and activation of PKA, which allows the catalytic subunit of PKA to phosphorylate target proteins, thereby regulating various physiological functions and metabolic processes in cellular function. Recent researches also implicate the involvement of cAMP-PKA signaling in the pathologenesis of anxiety disorder. However, there are still debates on the prevention and treatment of anxiety disorders from this signaling pathway. To review the function of cAMP-PKA signaling in anxiety disorder, we searched the publications with the keywords including "cAMP", "PKA" and "Anxiety" from Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI databases. The results showed that the number of publications on cAMP-PKA pathway in anxiety disorder tended to increase. Bioinformatics results displayed a close association between the cAMP-PKA pathway and the occurrence of anxiety. Mechanistically, cAMP-PKA signaling could influence brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuropeptide Y and participate in the regulation of anxiety. cAMP-PKA signaling could also oppose the dysfunctions of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), intestinal flora, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroinflammation, and signaling proteins (MAPK and AMPK) in anxiety. In addition, chemical agents with the ability to activate cAMP-PKA signaling demonstrated therapy potential against anxiety disorders. This review emphasizes the central roles of cAMP-PKA signaling in anxiety and the targets of the cAMP-PKA pathway would be potential candidates for treatment of anxiety. Nevertheless, more laboratory investigations to improve the therapeutic effect and reduce the adverse effect, and continuous clinical research will warrant the drug development.

Childhood adversity, accelerated GrimAge, and associated health consequences

Childhood adversity is linked to psychological, behavioral, and physical health problems, including obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Epigenetic alterations are one pathway through which the effects of early life stress and adversity might persist into adulthood. Epigenetic mechanisms have also been proposed to explain why cardiometabolic health can vary greatly between individuals with similar Body Mass Index (BMIs). We evaluated two independent cross-sectional cohorts of adults without known medical illness, one of which explicitly recruited individuals with early life stress (ELS) and control participants (n = 195), and the other a general community sample (n = 477). In these cohorts, we examine associations between childhood adversity, epigenetic aging, and metabolic health. Childhood adversity was associated with increased GrimAge Acceleration (GAA) in both cohorts, both utilizing a dichotomous yes/no classification (both p < 0.01) as well as a continuous measure using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) (both p < 0.05). Further investigation demonstrated that CTQ subscales for physical and sexual abuse (both p < 0.05) were associated with increased GAA in both cohorts, whereas physical and emotional neglect were not. In both cohorts, higher CTQ was also associated with higher BMI and increased insulin resistance (both p < 0.05). Finally, we demonstrate a moderating effect of BMI on the relationship between GAA and insulin resistance where GAA correlated with insulin resistance specifically at higher BMIs. These results, which were largely replicated between two independent cohorts, suggest that interactions between epigenetics, obesity, and metabolic health may be important mechanisms through which childhood adversity contributes to long-term physical and metabolic health effects.

In situ direct reprogramming of astrocytes to neurons via polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 knockdown in a mouse model of ischemic stroke

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202410000-00025/figure1/v/2024-02-06T055622Z/r/image-tiff In situ direct reprogramming technology can directly convert endogenous glial cells into functional neurons in vivo for central nervous system repair. Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTB) knockdown has been shown to reprogram astrocytes to functional neurons in situ. In this study, we used AAV-PHP.eB-GFAP-shPTB to knockdown PTB in a mouse model of ischemic stroke induced by endothelin-1, and investigated the effects of GFAP-shPTB-mediated direct reprogramming to neurons. Our results showed that in the mouse model of ischemic stroke, PTB knockdown effectively reprogrammed GFAP-positive cells to neurons in ischemic foci, restored neural tissue structure, reduced inflammatory response, and improved behavioral function. These findings validate the effectiveness of in situ transdifferentiation of astrocytes, and suggest that the approach may be a promising strategy for stroke treatment.

Oxytocin attenuates neuroinflammation-induced anxiety through restoration of excitation and inhibition balance in the anterior cingulate cortex in mice

BACKGROUND

Accumulative evidence suggested that the oxytocin system plays a role in socio-emotional disorders, although its role in neuroinflammation-induced anxiety remains unclear.

METHOD

In the present study, anxiety-like behavior was induced in cohorts of animals through repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg, daily, Escherichia coli O55:B5) i.p. injections for seven consecutive days. These different cohorts were subsequently used for anxiety-like behavior assessment with open field test, elevated plus maze, and novelty-suppressed feeding test or for electrophysiology (EEG) recordings of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs), or local field potential (LFP) in vivo or ex vivo settings. Samples of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) from some cohorts were harvested to conduct immunostaining or western blotting analysis of oxytocin, oxytocin receptor, CamkII, GABA, vGAT, vGLUT2, and c-fos. The dendritic spine density was assessed by Golgi-Cox staining.

RESULTS

Repeated LPS injections induced anxiety-like behavior with concurrent decreases of oxytocin, vGLUT2, mEPSC, dendritic spine, c-fos, membrane excitability, and EEG beta and gamma oscillations, but increased oxytocin receptor and vGAT expressions in the ACC; all these changes were ameliorated by oxytocin intranasal or local brain (via cannula) administration.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our data suggested that oxytocin system may be a therapeutic target for developing treatment to tackle neuroinflammation-induced anxiety.

Association between immune-inflammation-based prognostic index and depression: An exploratory cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data

BACKGROUND

Immune-inflammatory mediators influence numerous immune and inflammatory pathways, elevating the likelihood of depression. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) emerges as an innovative prognostic indicator, integrating various peripheral blood immune cell subpopulations, specifically neutrophils, platelets, and lymphocytes. This exploratory study aims to examine the correlation between SII and depression.

METHODS

Data from the 2005-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were utilized. Depression was diagnosed with a Patient Health Questionnaire score of 10 or higher. The relationship between log2-SII and depression incidence was analyzed using a restricted cubic spline (RCS). Logistic regression was employed to calculate the odds ratio of depression concerning log2-SII. In cases of non-linearity, piecewise linear models with change points were applied to assess the associations in both the overall population and specific subgroups. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the applicability of the findings to particular populations.

RESULTS

A total of 42,133 participants were included in the study, comprising 49.32 % men and 50.68 % women, with an average age of 47.02 ± 17.45 years. RCS analysis demonstrated a J-shaped non-linear relationship between log2-SII and depression incidence. When log2-SII was ≥8.50, SII showed a positive association with depression incidence, even after adjusting for covariates. Additionally, each unit increase in log2-SII corresponded to an 18 % rise in depression incidence (OR = 1.18, 95 % CI: 1.10-1.27). Subgroup analysis further revealed that the association between SII and depression incidence varied across different populations.

LIMITATIONS

Due to the cross-sectional nature of NHANES, causality or long-term implications cannot be inferred. Further research is needed to ascertain if a longitudinal relationship exists between SII and depression.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest a significant and complex non-linear association between SII and depression. However, further basic and prospective studies are necessary to explore SII's impact on depression and clarify its underlying mechanisms. Additionally, these studies will provide a foundation for personalized interventions targeting the immune-inflammatory processes in patients with depression and elevated SII.

The influence of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on the relationship between emotion regulation and mood-related pathology in survivors of childhood interpersonal trauma

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino acid peptide that is widely expressed throughout the limbic system. Recent evidence has highlighted NPY as a marker of resilience to posttraumatic psychopathology, which may be due to its association with neural regions involved with emotion regulation. This study examined whether plasma NPY levels moderated the relationship between emotion regulation and psychopathology in a sample of adult survivors of childhood interpersonal trauma, a population known to be at high risk for psychopathology. Adults exposed to an interpersonal criterion A trauma during childhood (N = 54) were recruited from an urban population at a midwestern medical center and completed a baseline study visit as part of a larger clinical trial. Participants gave a blood sample in order to assess circulating levels of NPY and answered questions related to emotion regulation and mood-related pathology. Results of a moderated multiple regression showed that the overall model was significant R2 = 0.26, F (5, 48) = 3.46, p < .01. Difficulties in emotion regulation was significantly predictive of psychopathology (unstandardized B = 0.032, p < .01), and this relationship was significantly moderated by levels of NPY (unstandardized B = -0.001, p < .05) such that the relationship between emotion regulation and psychopathology was weaker for those with higher levels of NPY. Results suggest that higher levels of NPY may lessen the association between emotion regulation and posttraumatic psychopathology in survivors of childhood interpersonal trauma. Further investigation of the contribution of NPY to psychopathology in this population is warranted. NCT: 02279290.

G6PD deficiency mediated impairment of iNOS and lysosomal acidification affecting phagocytotic clearance in microglia in response to SARS-CoV-2

The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is X-linked and is the most common enzymatic deficiency disorder globally. It is a crucial enzyme for the pentose phosphate pathway and produces NADPH, which plays a vital role in regulating the oxidative stress of many cell types. The deficiency of G6PD primarily causes hemolytic anemia under oxidative stress triggered by food, drugs, or infection. G6PD-deficient patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed an increase in hemolysis and thrombosis. Patients also exhibited prolonged COVID-19 symptoms, ventilation support, neurological impacts, and high mortality. However, the mechanism of COVID-19 severity in G6PD deficient patients and its neurological manifestation is still ambiguous. Here, using a CRISPR-edited G6PD deficient human microglia cell culture model, we observed a significant reduction in NADPH level and an increase in basal reactive oxygen species (ROS) in microglia. Interestingly, the deficiency of the G6PD-NAPDH axis impairs induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mediated nitric oxide (NO) production, which plays a fundamental role in inhibiting viral replication. Surprisingly, we also observed that the deficiency of the G6PD-NADPH axis reduced lysosomal acidification and free radical production, further abrogating the lysosomal clearance of viral particles. Thus, impairment of NO production, lysosomal functions, and redox dysregulation in G6PD deficient microglia altered innate immune response, promoting the severity of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.

DPP-4 inhibitors sitagliptin and PF-00734,200 mitigate dopaminergic neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and behavioral impairment in the rat 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease

Epidemiological studies report an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that is mitigated in those prescribed dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. With an objective to characterize clinically translatable doses of DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) in a well-characterized PD rodent model, sitagliptin, PF-00734,200 or vehicle were orally administered to rats initiated either 7-days before or 7-days after unilateral medial forebrain bundle 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioning. Measures of dopaminergic cell viability, dopamine content, neuroinflammation and neurogenesis were evaluated thereafter in ipsi- and contralateral brain. Plasma and brain incretin and DPP-4 activity levels were quantified. Furthermore, brain incretin receptor levels were age-dependently evaluated in rodents, in 6-OHDA challenged animals and human subjects with/without PD. Cellular studies evaluated neurotrophic/neuroprotective actions of combined incretin administration. Pre-treatment with oral sitagliptin or PF-00734,200 reduced methamphetamine (meth)-induced rotation post-lesioning and dopaminergic degeneration in lesioned substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and striatum. Direct intracerebroventricular gliptin administration lacked neuroprotective actions, indicating that systemic incretin-mediated mechanisms underpin gliptin-induced favorable brain effects. Post-treatment with a threefold higher oral gliptin dose, likewise, mitigated meth-induced rotation, dopaminergic neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, and augmented neurogenesis. These gliptin-induced actions associated with 70-80% plasma and 20-30% brain DPP-4 inhibition, and elevated plasma and brain incretin levels. Brain incretin receptor protein levels were age-dependently maintained in rodents, preserved in rats challenged with 6-OHDA, and in humans with PD. Combined GLP-1 and GIP receptor activation in neuronal cultures resulted in neurotrophic/neuroprotective actions superior to single agonists alone. In conclusion, these studies support further evaluation of the repurposing of clinically approved gliptins as a treatment strategy for PD.

CC2D1A causes ciliopathy, intellectual disability, heterotaxy, renal dysplasia, and abnormal CSF flow

Intellectual and developmental disabilities result from abnormal nervous system development. Over a 1,000 genes have been associated with intellectual and developmental disabilities, driving continued efforts toward dissecting variant functionality to enhance our understanding of the disease mechanism. This report identified two novel variants in CC2D1A in a cohort of four patients from two unrelated families. We used multiple model systems for functional analysis, including Xenopus, Drosophila, and patient-derived fibroblasts. Our experiments revealed that cc2d1a is expressed explicitly in a spectrum of ciliated tissues, including the left-right organizer, epidermis, pronephric duct, nephrostomes, and ventricular zone of the brain. In line with this expression pattern, loss of cc2d1a led to cardiac heterotaxy, cystic kidneys, and abnormal CSF circulation via defective ciliogenesis. Interestingly, when we analyzed brain development, mutant tadpoles showed abnormal CSF circulation only in the midbrain region, suggesting abnormal local CSF flow. Furthermore, our analysis of the patient-derived fibroblasts confirmed defective ciliogenesis, further supporting our observations. In summary, we revealed novel insight into the role of CC2D1A by establishing its new critical role in ciliogenesis and CSF circulation.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met is Associated with Variation in Cortical Structure in Healthy Aging Subjects

Aging is associated with progressive brain atrophy and declines in learning and memory, often attributed to hippocampal or cortical deterioration. The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in modulating the structural and functional changes in the brain and visual system, particularly in relation to BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, remains underexplored. In this present cross-sectional observational study, we aimed to assess the effects of BDNF polymorphism on brain structural integrity, cognitive function, and visual pathway alterations. A total of 108 older individuals with no evidence of dementia and a mean (SD) age of 67.3 (9.1) years were recruited from the Optic Nerve Decline and Cognitive Change (ONDCC) study cohort. The BDNF Met allele carriage had a significant association with lower entorhinal cortex volume (6.7% lower compared to the Val/Val genotype, P = 0.02) and posterior cingulate volume (3.2% lower than the Val/Val group, P = 0.03), after adjusting for confounding factors including age, sex and estimated total intracranial volumes (eTIV). No significant associations were identified between the BDNF Val66Met genotype and other brain volumetric or diffusion measures, cognitive performances, or vision parameters except for temporal retinal nerve fibre layer thickness. Small but significant correlations were found between visual structural and functional, cognitive, and brain morphological metrics. Our findings suggest that carriage of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with lower entorhinal cortex and posterior cingulate volumes and may be involved in modulating the cortical morphology along the aging process.

3'-Deoxyadenosin alleviates methamphetamine-induced aberrant synaptic plasticity and seeking behavior by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202410000-00028/figure1/v/2024-02-06T055622Z/r/image-tiff Methamphetamine addiction is a brain disorder characterized by persistent drug-seeking behavior, which has been linked with aberrant synaptic plasticity. An increasing body of evidence suggests that aberrant synaptic plasticity is associated with the activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. 3'-Deoxyadenosin, an active component of the Chinese fungus Cordyceps militaris, has strong anti-inflammatory effects. However, whether 3'-deoxyadenosin attenuates methamphetamine-induced aberrant synaptic plasticity via an NLRP3-mediated inflammatory mechanism remains unclear. We first observed that 3'-deoxyadenosin attenuated conditioned place preference scores in methamphetamine-treated mice and decreased the expression of c-fos in hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, we found that 3'-deoxyadenosin reduced the aberrant potentiation of glutamatergic transmission and restored the methamphetamine-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity. We also found that 3'-deoxyadenosin decreased the expression of NLRP3 and neuronal injury. Importantly, a direct NLRP3 deficiency reduced methamphetamine-induced seeking behavior, attenuated the impaired synaptic plasticity, and prevented neuronal damage. Finally, NLRP3 activation reversed the effect of 3'-deoxyadenosin on behavior and synaptic plasticity, suggesting that the anti-neuroinflammatory mechanism of 3'-deoxyadenosin on aberrant synaptic plasticity reduces methamphetamine-induced seeking behavior. Taken together, 3'-deoxyadenosin alleviates methamphetamine-induced aberrant synaptic plasticity and seeking behavior by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Regulating the activity of GABAergic neurons in the ventral pallidum alters the general anesthesia effect of propofol

The full mechanism of action of propofol, a commonly administered intravenous anesthetic drug in clinical practice, remains elusive. The focus of this study was the role of GABAergic neurons which are the main neuron group in the ventral pallidum (VP) closely associated with anesthetic effects in propofol anesthesia. The activity of VP GABAergic neurons following propofol anesthesia in Vgat-Cre mice was observed via detecting c-Fos immunoreactivity by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Subsequently, chemogenetic techniques were employed in Vgat-Cre mice to regulate the activity of VP GABAergic neurons. The role of VP GABAergic neurons in generating the effects of general anesthesia induced by intravenous propofol was further explored through behavioral tests of the righting reflex. The results revealed that c-Fos expression in VP GABAergic neurons in Vgat-Cre mice dramatically decreased after propofol injection. Further studies demonstrated that chemogenetic activation of VP GABAergic neurons during propofol anesthesia shortened the duration of anesthesia and promoted wakefulness. Conversely, the inhibition of VP GABAergic neurons extended the duration of anesthesia and facilitated the effects of anesthesia. The results obtained in this study suggested that regulating the activity of GABAergic neurons in the ventral pallidum altered the effect of propofol on general anesthesia.

Predictors of retention in heroin-assisted treatment in Denmark 2010-2018 - A record-linkage study

INTRODUCTION

While randomized-controlled trials have shown that heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is superior to methadone maintenance alone in treatment of refractory clients, little is known about client factors associated with retention in HAT in routine care.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study assessed predictors of retention in first treatment episode among a consecutive cohort of clients admitted to HAT in Denmark from 2010 to 2018, who could be matched to the Danish population register and for whom a Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was available at admission (N = 432). The study derived predictors from client self-reports at intake and administrative data available in national registers. Cox proportional hazards regression modelled retention in treatment.

RESULTS

The one-year retention rate was 69.63 % (95 % CI 65.06 %-73.74 %), and the median time in treatment was 2.45 years (95 % CI, 1.83-3.12). Bivariate analyses showed that retention was lower for clients who had recent cocaine or benzodiazepine use and among those who had experienced an overdose in the year prior to enrollment in HAT. Age below 40, recent illegal activity, poorer emotional wellbeing, previous residential treatment experience, and previous intensive outpatient treatment were also predictors of dropout from HAT.

CONCLUSIONS

This observational study found that retention in HAT in routine care was similar to rates observed in randomized-controlled trials conducted in other countries. The results suggest that addressing polysubstance use as part of the HAT program may promote long-term retention, as may directing resources to certain subgroups identified at intake, including clients under 40 years and those who report recent criminal activity, emotional problems, or overdoses. The findings that previous residential treatment and intensive outpatient treatment were associated with dropout were unexpected.

Exploring aperiodic activity in first episode schizophrenia spectrum psychosis: A resting-state EEG analysis

Abnormalities in brain oscillatory patterns have long been observed in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders more broadly. However, far less is known about aperiodic neural activity in these disorders, which has been linked to excitation/inhibition balance and neuronal population spiking within the brain. Here, we analysed resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from 43 first episode schizophrenia spectrum psychosis (FESSP) patients and 28 healthy controls to examine whether aperiodic activity is disrupted in FESSP. We further assessed potential associations between aperiodic activity in FESSP and clinical symptom severity using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS). We found no significant differences in either the 1/f-like aperiodic exponent or the broadband aperiodic offset between the FESSP and healthy control groups when analysing the global neural signal averaged across all EEG electrodes. Bayesian analyses further supported these non-significant findings. However, additional non-parametric cluster-based permutation analyses did identify reduced aperiodic offset in the FESSP group, relative to controls across broad central, temporal, parietal and select frontal regions. No associations were found between either exponent or offset and clinical symptom severity when examining all FESSP participants, irrespective of antipsychotic medication status. However, offset was shown to predict BPRS and SANS scores in medication naive patients. In sum, this research presents an initial analysis of aperiodic neural activity in FESSP, offering preliminary evidence of altered aperiodic offset in this disorder. This contributes to a broader understanding of disrupted neural dynamics in early psychosis.

T cell activation and lowered T regulatory cell numbers are key processes in severe major depressive disorder: Effects of recurrence of illness and adverse childhood experiences

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by increased T helper (Th)1 polarization, T cell activation (e.g., CD71+ and CD40L+), and cannabinoid receptor type 2 bearing CD20+ B cells; and lower T regulatory (Treg) numbers.

AIMS

To delineate the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and recurrence of illness (ROI) on activated T and CB2-bearing B populations, and Tregs, including FoxP3 + CD152+, FoxP3 + GARP+, and FoxP3 + CB1+ cells.

METHODS

We measured ROI, ACEs, the number of activated T cells, Tregs, and CD20 + CB2+ B cells, in 30 MDD patients and 20 healthy controls.

RESULTS

A larger part of the variance in the depression phenome (40.8 %) was explained by increased CD20 + CB2+ and activated T cells, and lowered Tregs. ROI and lifetime suicidal behaviors were significantly and positively associated with CD20 + CB2+, CD3 + CD71+, CD3 + CD40L+, CD4 + CD71+, CD4 + CD40L+, and CD4HLADR+ numbers. ROI was significantly correlated with CD8 + CD40L+ numbers. The sum of ACEs was significantly associated with CD20 + CB2+, CD3 + CD40L+, CD4 + 40 L+ numbers, T cell activation (positively) and Treg (inversely) indices. One replicable latent vector could be extracted from activated T cells, lifetime and current suicidal behaviors, number of depressive episodes, and severity of depression, and 48.8 % of its variance was explained by ACEs.

CONCLUSIONS

ACE-induced activation of T effector and cytotoxic cells and B cells with autoimmune potential, coupled with lowered Treg numbers are a key component of depression. The findings indicate that increasing ROI, the phenome of depression and suicidal behaviors, are caused by autoimmune processes, which are the consequence of ACEs and increasing sensitization of immune responses.

Neurocognitive performance in the context of acute symptom reduction in OCD: Treatment effects and the impact of BDNF

BACKGROUND

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been associated with neurocognitive impairments. The present study examined the effect of treatment on neurocognitive performance in OCD and the relationship between neurocognitive change and symptom change. The present study also examined polymorphisms influencing brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as predictors of neurocognitive change.

METHOD

Treatment-seeking participants with OCD (N = 125) were assigned to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) alone, CBT combined with regular physical exercise, exercise alone, or a waitlist control group. Measures of OCD symptom severity and a neuropsychological battery were completed pre- and post-treatment. Blood or saliva samples were used to genotype the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.

RESULTS

OCD symptom severity was not cross-sectionally associated with neurocognitive performance. Several neurocognitive measures improved over treatment. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was significantly associated with worse performance on the Stroop test but did not significantly predict change in neurocognitive performance over time.

LIMITATIONS

Limitations include lack of a healthy control group.

CONCLUSION

Improvement in neurocognitive performance corresponded to symptomatic improvement and was independent of the BDNF Val66Met genotype.