Effects of Ramadan on cognitive functions in young boys

Fasting during Ramadan involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset, potentially influencing cognitive functions essential for the intellectual development of the youth. Therefore, understanding the effects of fasting on these functions in children/adolescents provides valuable perspectives to enhance education and promote mental well-being. However, studies on children/adolescents in this context are still limited. To evaluate the impact of Ramadan fasting on cognitive functions, including information processing speed, inhibition, decision-making, and auditory attention processes among children and adolescents aged 11 to 15 years. This study was conducted with 24 healthy children/adolescents (aged 12.84 ± 0.69 years). The experimental protocol consisted of two sessions: Before-Ramadan (BR) and at the beginning of the second week of Ramadan (R2). At each session, the boys were randomly tested on simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT), negative priming reaction time (NPRT), and auditory discrimination (P300). The tests were administered and scored by the same person in the different sessions. The study found that Ramadan fasting did not have an effect on various reaction times or on electro-physiological data, including P300 amplitude and latency. The current study, conducted with healthy children/adolescents, indicates that Ramadan fasting had no impact on various reaction times (SRT, CRT, NPRT), suggesting the preservation of information processing speed and decision-making, even in the face of increased task complexity. This is evident, on the one hand, through the maintenance of the ability to react to unexpected events, and, on the other hand, through the mastery of resistance to automatism, thus reflecting the preservation of inhibitory function (NPRT). Regarding P300 data, the absence of changes in latencies and amplitudes suggests that Ramadan fasting did not alter either the evaluation time of auditory stimuli or auditory attention processes.

Network analysis of smoking-related sleep characteristics in Chinese adults

The associations between multiple sleep characteristics and smoking behavior are inconsistent, and it is unclear which sleep characteristics are most crucial for tobacco prevention. This study aimed to explore the associations between smoking status/intensity and multiple sleep characteristics and to identify the potential core domain of smoking-related sleep using network analysis. Data were obtained from a survey of cancer-related risk factors among Chinese adults. Logistic regression models were used to quantify the associations between sleep characteristics and smoking status/intensity. Network analyses were employed to identify the core sleep characteristics. A total of 5,228 participants with a median age of 44 years old were included in the study. Current smoking was significantly positively associated with long nap time, difficulty falling asleep, late bedtime, getting up after 7 am, and waking up earlier than expected. There was significant positive association between current smoking and short sleep duration in young adults under 45 years old. Late bedtime and getting up after 7 am were only associated with current heavy smoking, but not current light smoking. Network analyses showed that multiple smoking-related sleep characteristics were interconnected, with difficulty falling asleep and late bedtime as central characteristics in the network. The study found that the associations between sleep characteristics and smoking varied by age and smoking intensity and highlights the potential benefits of sleep health promotion in smoking cessation, with a particular focus on difficulty falling asleep and late bedtime.

Ribose-cysteine and levodopa abrogate Parkinsonism via the regulation of neurochemical and redox activities in alpha-synuclein transgenic Drosophila melanogaster models

Parkinson's disease (PD), the most prevalent type of parkinsonism, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition marked by several non-motor and motor symptoms. PD is thought to have a complex aetiology that includes a combination of age, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors. Increased expression of α-synuclein (α-Syn) protein is central to the evolvement of neuropathology in this devastating disorder, but the potential of ribose-cysteine and levodopa in abating pathophysiologic changes in PD model is unknown. Crosses were set up between flies conditionally expressing a pathological variant of human α-Syn (UAS-α-Syn) and those expressing GAL4 in neurons (elav-GAL4) to generate offspring referred to as PD flies. Flies were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 40) from the total population of flies, with each group having five replicates. Groups of PD flies were treated with either 500 mg/kg ribose-cysteine diet, 250 mg/kg levodopa diet, or a combination of the two compounds for 21 days, whereas the control group (w1118) and the PD group were exposed to a diet without ribose-cysteine or levodopa. In addition to various biochemical and neurochemical assays, longevity, larval motility, and gravitaxis assays were carried out. Locomotive capability, lifespan, fecundity, antioxidant state, and neurotransmitter systems were all significantly (p < 0.05) compromised by overexpression of α-Syn. However, flies treated both ribose cysteine and levodopa showed an overall marked improvement in motor functions, lifespan, fecundity, antioxidant status, and neurotransmitter system functions. In conclusion, ribose-cysteine and levodopa, both singly and in combination, potentiated a therapeutic effect on alpha-synuclein transgenic Drosophila melanogaster models of Parkinsonism.

Predictors for cannabis cessation during pregnancy: a 10-year cohort study

The aim of this study is to determine factors associated with cannabis discontinuation, to assess the impact of mental health and addiction interventions on cannabis discontinuation during pregnancy and to investigate the neonatal impact of cannabis discontinuation. This is a 10-year cohort study in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain, including women with self-reported cannabis use during pregnancy. Main outcome was cannabis discontinuation based on biological sample testing. Secondary outcomes were neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, preterm birth, birth weight and bottle-feeding. When cannabis use was detected during pregnancy, 32 out of 81 (38.3%) discontinued cannabis during pregnancy vs. four out of 61 (6.6%) when detected at birth (p < .001). Multivariate binary logistic regression showed that null parity (OR: 6.95, p = .011), detection of cannabis use during pregnancy (OR: 5.35, p = .018) and early detection and referral to mental health care for counseling on cannabis cessation and interventions on the first trimester (OR: 25.46, p < .001) increased cannabis discontinuation. Risk for preterm birth <37 weeks (11.4% vs. 30.8%) and NICU admission (25.7% vs. 54.2%) were lower when discontinuation. Early detection of cannabis use during pregnancy, cessation counseling with mental health interventions, and null parity are predictors for cannabis discontinuation during pregnancy.

Combined cold-water immersion and breathwork may be associated with improved mental health and reduction in the duration of upper respiratory tract infection - a case-control study

A polar plunge is a term referring to an ice-cold water immersion (CWI), usually in the winter period. It is also a part of a specific training program (STP) which currently gains popularity worldwide and was proven to display paradigm-shifting characteristics. The aim of this study was to compare the indices of mental functioning (including depression, anxiety, mindfulness) and duration of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) measured among the study participants. A set of questionnaires was distributed via the Internet. Participants declaring regular STP practice were selected (N = 77). Two groups were matched based on a case-control principle: the first one (the control group) comprised participants who did not declare nor CWI practice, nor STP practice. The second one comprised participants declaring regular CWI practice only. The CWI only group displayed better mental health indices and shorter URTIs compared to the control group. Moreover, the STP group also displayed better general mental health, less somatic complaints, and shorter URTIs compared to the CWI only group. This study suggests the existence of CWI's potential in boosting mental health and immune system functioning, however when complemented by a specific breathwork, this potential can be increased. However, further research is required.

Trauma context exerts intergenerational effects on child mental health via DNA methylation

Many people experience traumatic or negative events, but few develop mental health issues as a result. This study investigated whether newborn DNA methylation (DNAm) previously associated with maternal childhood physical abuse by her father affected the child's mental health and physical growth, as well as whether it mediated or moderated developmental outcomes.

METHODS

Study sample (N = 903) and data came from Bristol University's Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. DNAm was measured in cord blood at birth. DNAm data was preprocessed, normalized, and quality controlled before subsetting to 60 CpG sites of interest from previous research. Linear regression analysis examined newborn DNAm and child development outcome associations. Sobel test examined the mediating relationship between mother's history of childhood abuse by father, newborn targeted gene DNAm of significant CpG sites, and child's mental health and physical growth. Moderation analyses examined the interaction effects between the significant CpG sites and mothers' physical abuse by their fathers on child's mental health and physical growth.

RESULTS

Full cohort analyses showed that newborn DNAm of several different CpG sites associates with separation anxiety, fear, and unhappy/tearful presentations in children aged 6-7 y. Sex-specific associations emerged with boys showing associations with anxiety and fear, and girls showing associations with fear and unhappiness. In boys only, cord blood DNAm mediates the effect of maternal childhood trauma on offspring mental health. No moderation effects emerged.

CONCLUSION

Intergenerational effects of mother's relationship to her abuser present in newborn DNAm associate with 7-year-old child's mental health, show sex-specific effects, and newborn DNAm does mediate maternal childhood trauma effects on offspring mental health in early-life.

Are nocturnal awakenings at age 1 predictive of sleep duration and efficiency at age 6: Results from two birth cohorts

Objective

To investigate the association of nighttime awakenings at 12 months with the duration and efficiency of nighttime sleep at 6 years of age.

Methods

Data from two population-based prospective studies (The Pelotas 2004 and The Pelotas 2015 Birth Cohorts) were used. Information on nighttime awakenings was provided by mothers during the 12-month follow-up interview. Infants who awakened >3 times after sleep onset at 12 months were considered frequent wakeners. Sleep duration and sleep efficiency were obtained by actigraphy at the 6-year follow-up. Children wore the device at the wrist of the non-dominant arm continuously for 3-7 days, including at least one weekend day. Unadjusted and adjusted beta coefficients were obtained by linear regression for each cohort separately.

Results

2500 children from the 2004 and 2793 from the 2015 cohort had full information on nighttime awakenings at 12 months and actigraphy at 6 years and were analyzed. Prevalence of frequent wakeners was 6.3 % and 5.9 % in the 2004 and 2015 cohort, respectively. Mean bedtime and wake-up time at 6 years were, respectively, 23:23 and 08:41 h in the 2004 cohort, and 00:10 and 09:00 h int the 2015 cohort. Nighttime sleep lasted on average 7.54 and 7.24 h respectively in the 2004 and the 2015 cohort, and the sleep efficiency was 81.1 and 82.5 % respectively. In adjusted analyses, no associations were found between awakening at 12 months and sleep duration or sleep efficiency at 6 years of age.

Conclusion

In both cohorts sleep duration and efficiency were below the recommendation for school-age children (respectively 9-11 h and 85 %). There was no relationship between the number of nighttime awakenings at 12 months and sleep duration or efficiency at 6 years.

Brain-Derived neurotrophic factor and inflammatory biomarkers are unaffected by acute and chronic intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic exposure in geriatric patients: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Animal and human studies have shown that exposure to hypoxia can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein transcription and reduce systematic inflammatory cytokine response. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the acute and chronic effects of intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic exposure (IHHE) prior to aerobic exercise on BDNF, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) blood levels in geriatric patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-five geriatric patients (83.1 ± 5.0 yrs, 71.1 ± 10.0 kg, 1.8 ± 0.9 m) participated in a placebo-controlled, single-blinded trial and were randomly assigned to either an intervention (IG) or control group (CG) performing an aerobic cycling training (17 sessions, 20 min·session-1, 3 sessions·week-1). Prior to aerobic cycling exercise, the IG was additionally exposed to IHHE for 30 min, whereas the CG received continuous normoxic air. Blood samples were taken immediately before (pre-exercise) and 10 min (post-exercise) after the first session as well as 48 h (post-training) after the last session to determine serum (BDNFS) and plasma BDNF (BDNFP), IL-6, and CRP levels. Intervention effects were analyzed using a 2 x 2 analysis of covariance with repeated measures. Results were interpreted based on effect sizes with a medium effect considered as meaningful (ηp2 ≥ 0.06, d ≥ 0.5).

RESULTS

CRP was moderately higher (d = 0.51) in the CG compared to the IG at baseline. IHHE had no acute effect on BDNFS (ηp2 = 0.01), BDNFP (ηp2 < 0.01), BDNF serum/plasma-ratio (ηp2 < 0.01), IL-6 (ηp2 < 0.01), or CRP (ηp2 = 0.04). After the 6-week intervention, an interaction was found for BDNF serum/plasma-ratio (ηp2 = 0.06) but not for BDNFS (ηp2 = 0.04), BDNFP (ηp2 < 0.01), IL-6 (ηp2 < 0.01), or CRP (ηp2 < 0.01). BDNF serum/plasma-ratio increased from pre-exercise to post-training (d = 0.67) in the CG compared to the IG (d = 0.51). A main effect of time was found for BDNFP (ηp2 = 0.09) but not for BDNFS (ηp2 = 0.02). Within-group post-hoc analyses revealed a training-related reduction in BDNFP in the IG and CG by 46.1% (d = 0.73) and 24.7% (d = 0.57), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The addition of 30 min IHHE prior to 20 min aerobic cycling seems not to be effective to increase BDNFS and BDNFP or to reduce IL-6 and CRP levels in geriatric patients after a 6-week intervention.The study was retrospectively registered at drks.de (DRKS-ID: DRKS00025130).

Cultural applicability and desirability of 'Broodles': The first serious game intervention for siblings of children with disabilities

Objective

Serious games can serve as easily accessible interventions to support siblings of children with disabilities, who are at risk of developing mental health problems. The Dutch serious game 'Broodles' was developed for siblings aged 6-9 years. The current study aims to assess the cultural applicability, desirability, feasibility, and acceptability of 'Broodles' in Norway.

Methods

Norwegian siblings (N = 16) aged 6-13 years and parents (N = 12) of children with intellectual disabilities assessed the game. Their feedback data from interviews and questionnaires were sorted using a model of engagement factors in serious games.

Results

At pre-use, participants showed interest in the game, and after initial use the participants were overall positive about the format, content and objectives, including validation of emotions and recognition. The participants had suggestions for improved engagement and feasibility.

Conclusion

The game was found to be culturally applicable, desirable and acceptable, although Norwegian translation is necessary for further evaluation. Recommendations to enhance engagement were provided, including suggestions to play the game with parents or in a group.

Innovation

This initial assessment of the serious game Broodles in a non-Dutch setting shows promise for an innovative way of supporting siblings of children with disabilities.

Common questions and misconceptions about caffeine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?

Caffeine is a popular ergogenic aid that has a plethora of evidence highlighting its positive effects. A Google Scholar search using the keywords "caffeine" and "exercise" yields over 200,000 results, emphasizing the extensive research on this topic. However, despite the vast amount of available data, it is intriguing that uncertainties persist regarding the effectiveness and safety of caffeine. These include but are not limited to: 1. Does caffeine dehydrate you at rest? 2. Does caffeine dehydrate you during exercise? 3. Does caffeine promote the loss of body fat? 4. Does habitual caffeine consumption influence the performance response to acute caffeine supplementation? 5. Does caffeine affect upper vs. lower body performance/strength differently? 6. Is there a relationship between caffeine and depression? 7. Can too much caffeine kill you? 8. Are there sex differences regarding caffeine's effects? 9. Does caffeine work for everyone? 10. Does caffeine cause heart problems? 11. Does caffeine promote the loss of bone mineral? 12. Should pregnant women avoid caffeine? 13. Is caffeine addictive? 14. Does waiting 1.5-2.0 hours after waking to consume caffeine help you avoid the afternoon "crash?" To answer these questions, we performed an evidence-based scientific evaluation of the literature regarding caffeine supplementation.

Tiny clue reveals the general trend: a bibliometric and visualized analysis of renal microcirculation

BACKGROUND

Renal microcirculation plays a pivotal role in kidney function by maintaining structural and functional integrity, facilitating oxygen and nutrient delivery, and waste removal. However, a thorough bibliometric analysis in this area remains lacking. Therefore, we aim to provide valuable insights through a bibliometric analysis of renal microcirculation literature using the Web of Science database.

METHODS

We collected renal microcirculation-related publications from the Web of Science database from January 01, 1990, to December 31, 2022. The co-authorship of authors, organizations, and countries/regions was analyzed with VOSviewer1.6.18. The co-occurrence of keywords and co-cited references were analyzed using CiteSpace6.1.R6 software to generate visualization maps. Additionally, burst detection was applied to keywords and cited references to forecast research hotspots and future trends.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 7462 publications, with the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology contributing the most articles. The United States, Mayo Clinic, and Lerman Lilach O emerged with the highest publication count, indicating their active collaborations. 'Type 2 diabetes' was the most significant keyword cluster, and 'diabetic kidney disease' was the largest cluster of cited references. 'Cardiovascular outcome' and 'diabetic kidney diseases' were identified as keywords in their burst period over the past three years.

CONCLUSION

Our bibliometric analysis illuminates the contours of nephrology and microcirculation research, revealing a landscape ripe for challenges and the seeds of future scientific innovation. While the trends discerned from the literature emerging opportunities in diagnostic innovation, renal microcirculation research, and precision medicine interventions, their translation to clinical practice is anticipated to be a deliberate process.

Current perspectives and trends of the research on hypertensive nephropathy: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2023

Hypertensive nephropathy continues to be a major cause of end-stage renal disease and poses a significant global health burden. Despite the staggering development of research in hypertensive nephropathy, scientists and clinicians can only seek out useful information through articles and reviews, it remains a hurdle for them to quickly track the trend in this field. This study uses the bibliometric method to identify the evolutionary development and recent hotspots of hypertensive nephropathy. The Web of Science Core Collection database was used to extract publications on hypertensive nephropathy from January 2000 to November 2023. CiteSpace was used to capture the patterns and trends from multi-perspectives, including countries/regions, institutions, keywords, and references. In total, 557 publications on hypertensive nephropathy were eligible for inclusion. China (n = 208, 37.34%) was the most influential contributor among all the countries. Veterans Health Administration (n = 19, 3.41%) was found to be the most productive institution. Keyword bursting till now are renal fibrosis, outcomes, and mechanisms which are predicted to be the potential frontiers and hotspots in the future. The top seven references were listed, and their burst strength was shown. A comprehensive overview of the current status and research frontiers of hypertensive nephropathy has been provided through the bibliometric perspective. Recent advancements and challenges in hypertensive nephropathy have been discussed. These findings can offer informative instructions for researchers and scholars.

Integrated approach to reducing polypharmacy in older people: exploring the role of oxidative stress and antioxidant potential therapy

Increased life expectancy, attributed to improved access to healthcare and drug development, has led to an increase in multimorbidity, a key contributor to polypharmacy. Polypharmacy is characterised by its association with a variety of adverse events in the older persons. The mechanisms involved in the development of age-related chronic diseases are largely unknown; however, altered redox homeostasis due to ageing is one of the main theories. In this context, the present review explores the development and interaction between different age-related diseases, mainly linked by oxidative stress. In addition, drug interactions in the treatment of various diseases are described, emphasising that the holistic management of older people and their pathologies should prevail over the individual treatment of each condition.

ZSCAN25 methylation predicts seizures and severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Currently, clinicians use their judgement and indices such as the Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Scale (PAWSS) to determine whether patients are admitted to hospitals for consideration of withdrawal syndrome (AWS). However, only a fraction of those admitted will experience severe AWS. Previously, we and others have shown that epigenetic indices, such as the Alcohol T-Score (ATS), can quantify recent alcohol consumption. However, whether these or other alcohol biomarkers, such as carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT), could identify those at risk for severe AWS is unknown. To determine this, we first conducted genome-wide DNA methylation analyses of subjects entering and exiting alcohol treatment to identify loci whose methylation quickly reverted as a function of abstinence. We then tested whether methylation at a rapidly reverting locus, cg07375256, or other existing metrics including PAWSS scores, CDT levels, or ATS, could predict outcome in 125 subjects admitted for consideration of AWS. We found that PAWSS did not significantly predict severe AWS nor seizures. However, methylation at cg07375256 (ZSCAN25) and CDT strongly predicted severe AWS with ATS (p < 0.007) and cg07375256 (p < 6 × 10-5) methylation also predicting AWS associated seizures. We conclude that epigenetic methods can predict those likely to experience severe AWS and that the use of these or similar Precision Epigenetic approaches could better guide AWS management.

Registry and survey of circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder patients

Objective

Circadian Sleep Disorders Network has created a registry of circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder (CRSWD) patients, and a survey of their experiences. The purpose of the registry is to provide volunteers willing to participate in research; the purpose of the survey is to fill some of the knowledge gaps on these disorders, including information on subjective patient experience and the efficacy and durability of treatments.Researchers are invited to contact Circadian Sleep Disorders Network for permission to use the registry to find potential research participants, and to further analyze the survey data.

Patients

Over 1627 patients have participated; 1298 have completed the entire survey. Here we present results based on the 479 clinically diagnosed CRSWD patients.

Methods

The survey covers a variety of topics relating to CRSWDs, including diagnosis, comorbidities, treatments, and work/educational accommodations.

Conclusions

Results of this survey diverged from much of the literature. More than half the participants reported tiredness even when sleeping on their preferred schedule. While depression may cause sleep problems, our data suggests that sleep/circadian problems often precede depression.There were more people suffering from sighted non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder than some of the literature would lead us to expect.Current treatments did not appear to be helpful to a large percentage of our participants. Most of them did not find light therapy helpful and nearly all participants who tried phase-delay chronotherapy reported at best only short-term improvement. A sizable proportion of people who tried phase-delay chronotherapy subsequently developed non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder.

MicroRNA-502-3p regulates GABAergic synapse function in hippocampal neurons

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202412000-00026/figure1/v/2024-04-08T165401Z/r/image-tiff Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons, the most abundant inhibitory neurons in the human brain, have been found to be reduced in many neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementia. Our previous study identified the upregulation of microRNA-502-3p (miR-502-3p) and downregulation of GABA type A receptor subunit α-1 in Alzheimer's disease synapses. This study investigated a new molecular relationship between miR-502-3p and GABAergic synapse function. In vitro studies were performed using the mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line HT22 and miR-502-3p agomiRs and antagomiRs. In silico analysis identified multiple binding sites of miR-502-3p at GABA type A receptor subunit α-1 mRNA. Luciferase assay confirmed that miR-502-3p targets the GABA type A receptor subunit α-1 gene and suppresses the luciferase activity. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, miRNA in situ hybridization, immunoblotting, and immunostaining analysis confirmed that overexpression of miR-502-3p reduced the GABA type A receptor subunit α-1 level, while suppression of miR-502-3p increased the level of GABA type A receptor subunit α-1 protein. Notably, as a result of the overexpression of miR-502-3p, cell viability was found to be reduced, and the population of necrotic cells was found to be increased. The whole cell patch-clamp analysis of human-GABA receptor A-α1/β3/γ2L human embryonic kidney (HEK) recombinant cell line also showed that overexpression of miR-502-3p reduced the GABA current and overall GABA function, suggesting a negative correlation between miR-502-3p levels and GABAergic synapse function. Additionally, the levels of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease were high with miR-502-3p overexpression and reduced with miR-502-3p suppression. The present study provides insight into the molecular mechanism of regulation of GABAergic synapses by miR-502-3p. We propose that micro-RNA, in particular miR-502-3p, could be a potential therapeutic target to modulate GABAergic synapse function in neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementia.

Spike Analysis of the Neural Activities Across the Rats' Auditory Brain Structures

Tinnitus is a health condition that affects a large population. Clinical diagnosis and treatment have been developed for treating tinnitus for years. However, there are still limitations because researchers have yet to elucidate the mechanisms underlying how tinnitus neural signals develop in brain structures. Abnormal neural interactions among the brain areas are considered to play an important role in tinnitus generation. Researchers have been studying neural activities in the auditory brain structures, including the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), inferior colliculus (IC), and auditory cortex (AC), to seek a better understanding of the information flow among these brain regions, especially in comparison with both health and tinnitus conditions. In this project, neural activities from the DCN, IC, and AC were collected and analyzed before and after the animals were noise-exposed and before and after their auditory cortices were electrically stimulated. These conditions in rats were used to estimate healthy animals, noise-trauma-induced tinnitus, and after auditory cortex electrical stimulation (ACES) treatment. The signal processing algorithms started with the raw measurement data and focused on the local field potentials (LFPs) and spikes in the time domain. The firing rate, shape of spikes, and time differences among channels were analyzed in the time domain, and phase-phase correlation was used to test the phase-frequency information. All the analysis results were summarized in plots and color-heat maps and also used to identify if any neural signal differs and cross-channel relation changes at various animal conditions and discussed.

Efficacy of exercise rehabilitation for managing patients with Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and degenerative neurological disease characterized by the deterioration of cognitive functions. While a definitive cure and optimal medication to impede disease progression are currently unavailable, a plethora of studies have highlighted the potential advantages of exercise rehabilitation for managing this condition. Those studies show that exercise rehabilitation can enhance cognitive function and improve the quality of life for individuals affected by AD. Therefore, exercise rehabilitation has been regarded as one of the most important strategies for managing patients with AD. Herein, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the currently available findings on exercise rehabilitation in patients with AD, with a focus on the exercise types which have shown efficacy when implemented alone or combined with other treatment methods, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying these positive effects. Specifically, we explain how exercise may improve the brain microenvironment and neuronal plasticity. In conclusion, exercise is a cost-effective intervention to enhance cognitive performance and improve quality of life in patients with mild to moderate cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, it can potentially become both a physical activity and a tailored intervention. This review may aid the development of more effective and individualized treatment strategies to address the challenges imposed by this debilitating disease, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, neuroinflammation, and sigma 1 receptors as contributors to depression and its treatment

The etiological factors contributing to depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders are largely undefined. Endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways and autophagy are well-defined mechanisms that play critical functions in recognizing and resolving cellular stress and are possible targets for the pathophysiology and treatment of psychiatric and neurologic illnesses. An increasing number of studies indicate the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy in the control of neuroinflammation, a contributing factor to multiple neuropsychiatric illnesses. Initial inflammatory triggers induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, leading to neuroinflammatory responses. Subsequently, induction of autophagy by neurosteroids and other signaling pathways that converge on autophagy induction are thought to participate in resolving neuroinflammation. The aim of this review is to summarize our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, and neuroinflammation in the central nervous system. Studies focused on innate immune factors, including neurosteroids with anti-inflammatory roles will be reviewed. In the context of depression, animal models that led to our current understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying depression will be highlighted, including the roles of sigma 1 receptors and pharmacological agents that dampen endoplasmic reticulum stress and associated neuroinflammation.

Connecting cellular mechanisms and extracellular vesicle cargo in traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury is followed by a cascade of dynamic and complex events occurring at the cellular level. These events include: diffuse axonal injury, neuronal cell death, blood-brain barrier break down, glial activation and neuroinflammation, edema, ischemia, vascular injury, energy failure, and peripheral immune cell infiltration. The timing of these events post injury has been linked to injury severity and functional outcome. Extracellular vesicles are membrane bound secretory vesicles that contain markers and cargo pertaining to their cell of origin and can cross the blood-brain barrier. These qualities make extracellular vesicles intriguing candidates for a liquid biopsy into the pathophysiologic changes occurring at the cellular level post traumatic brain injury. Herein, we review the most commonly reported cargo changes in extracellular vesicles from clinical traumatic brain injury samples. We then use knowledge from animal and in vitro models to help infer what these changes may indicate regrading cellular responses post traumatic brain injury. Future research should prioritize labeling extracellular vesicles with markers for distinct cell types across a range of timepoints post traumatic brain injury.

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.

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.

Longitudinal course of core cognitive domains in first-episode acute and transient psychotic disorders compared with schizophrenia

Acute and transient psychotic disorder (ATPD) is characterized by acute onset of psychotic symptoms and early recovery. Contrastingly, schizophrenia (SZ) is a chronic mental disorder characterized by impaired functioning including a deficit in cognition. In SZ, the cognitive deficit is among the core symptoms, but in ATPDs, the existing evidence brings mixed results. Our primary aim was to compare three core cognitive domains (executive functioning/abstraction, speed of processing and working memory) of patients diagnosed with ATPD and SZ over a 12-month period. Moreover, we explored how these diagnostic subgroups differed in their clinical characteristics. We recruited 39 patients with a diagnosis of SZ and 31 with ATPD with schizophrenic symptoms. All patients completed clinical and neuropsychological assessments. At baseline, we used a one-way ANCOVA model with a group as the between-subjects factor. Mixed-model repeated-measures ANOVAs with time as the within-subjects factor and group as the between-subjects factor were run to test the overtime differences. At baseline, we did not find any differences in cognition - with sex, education and age as covariates - between ATPDs and SZ. After one year, all patients showed an improvement in all three domains, however, there were no significant overtime changes between ATPDs and SZ. Regarding clinical profiles, ATPDs demonstrated less severe psychopathology and better functioning compared to SZ both at baseline and after 12 months. The medication dosage differed at retest, but not at baseline between the groups. Our findings suggest clinical differences and a similar trajectory of cognitive performance between these diagnostic subgroups.

PsyCog: A computerised mini battery for assessing cognition in psychosis

Despite the functional impact of cognitive deficit in people with psychosis, objective cognitive assessment is not typically part of routine clinical care. This is partly due to the length of traditional assessments and the need for a highly trained administrator. Brief, automated computerised assessments could help to address this issue. We present data from an evaluation of PsyCog, a computerised, non-verbal, mini battery of cognitive tests. Healthy Control (HC) (N = 135), Clinical High Risk (CHR) (N = 233), and First Episode Psychosis (FEP) (N = 301) participants from a multi-centre prospective study were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. PsyCog was used to assess cognitive performance at baseline and at up to two follow-up timepoints. Mean total testing time was 35.95 min (SD = 2.87). Relative to HCs, effect sizes of performance impairments were medium to large in FEP patients (composite score G = 1.21, subtest range = 0.52-0.88) and small to medium in CHR patients (composite score G = 0.59, subtest range = 0.18-0.49). Site effects were minimal, and test-retest reliability of the PsyCog composite was good (ICC = 0.82-0.89), though some practice effects and differences in data completion between groups were found. The present implementation of PsyCog shows it to be a useful tool for assessing cognitive function in people with psychosis. Computerised cognitive assessments have the potential to facilitate the evaluation of cognition in psychosis in both research and in clinical care, though caution should still be taken in terms of implementation and study design.

The functions of exosomes targeting astrocytes and astrocyte-derived exosomes targeting other cell types

Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cells in the central nervous system; they participate in crucial biological processes, maintain brain structure, and regulate nervous system function. Exosomes are cell-derived extracellular vesicles containing various bioactive molecules including proteins, peptides, nucleotides, and lipids secreted from their cellular sources. Increasing evidence shows that exosomes participate in a communication network in the nervous system, in which astrocyte-derived exosomes play important roles. In this review, we have summarized the effects of exosomes targeting astrocytes and the astrocyte-derived exosomes targeting other cell types in the central nervous system. We also discuss the potential research directions of the exosome-based communication network in the nervous system. The exosome-based intercellular communication focused on astrocytes is of great significance to the biological and/or pathological processes in different conditions in the brain. New strategies may be developed for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders by focusing on astrocytes as the central cells and utilizing exosomes as communication mediators.

Therapeutic advances in neural regeneration for Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion mutation of a cytosine-adenine-guanine triplet in the exon 1 of the HTT gene which is responsible for the production of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. In physiological conditions, Htt is involved in many cellular processes such as cell signaling, transcriptional regulation, energy metabolism regulation, DNA maintenance, axonal trafficking, and antiapoptotic activity. When the genetic alteration is present, the production of a mutant version of Htt (mHtt) occurs, which is characterized by a plethora of pathogenic activities that, finally, lead to cell death. Among all the cells in which mHtt exerts its dangerous activity, the GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons seem to be the most affected by the mHtt-induced excitotoxicity both in the cortex and in the striatum. However, as the neurodegeneration proceeds ahead the neuronal loss grows also in other brain areas such as the cerebellum, hypothalamus, thalamus, subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra, determining the variety of symptoms that characterize Huntington's disease. From a clinical point of view, Huntington's disease is characterized by a wide spectrum of symptoms spanning from motor impairment to cognitive disorders and dementia. Huntington's disease shows a prevalence of around 3.92 cases every 100,000 worldwide and an incidence of 0.48 new cases every 100,000/year. To date, there is no available cure for Huntington's disease. Several treatments have been developed so far, aiming to reduce the severity of one or more symptoms to slow down the inexorable decline caused by the disease. In this context, the search for reliable strategies to target the different aspects of Huntington's disease become of the utmost interest. In recent years, a variety of studies demonstrated the detrimental role of neuronal loss in Huntington's disease condition highlighting how the replacement of lost cells would be a reasonable strategy to overcome the neurodegeneration. In this view, numerous have been the attempts in several preclinical models of Huntington's disease to evaluate the feasibility of invasive and non-invasive approaches. Thus, the aim of this review is to offer an overview of the most appealing approaches spanning from stem cell-based cell therapy to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes in light of promoting neurogenesis, discussing the results obtained so far, their limits and the future perspectives regarding the neural regeneration in the context of Huntington's disease.

Brain dysfunctions and neurotoxicity induced by psychostimulants in experimental models and humans: an overview of recent findings

Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that psychostimulants, in addition to having abuse potential, may elicit brain dysfunctions and/or neurotoxic effects. Central toxicity induced by psychostimulants may pose serious health risks since the recreational use of these substances is on the rise among young people and adults. The present review provides an overview of recent research, conducted between 2018 and 2023, focusing on brain dysfunctions and neurotoxic effects elicited in experimental models and humans by amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methylphenidate, caffeine, and nicotine. Detailed elucidation of factors and mechanisms that underlie psychostimulant-induced brain dysfunction and neurotoxicity is crucial for understanding the acute and enduring noxious brain effects that may occur in individuals who use psychostimulants for recreational and/or therapeutic purposes.

Microglial NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation and therapeutic strategies in depression

Previous studies have demonstrated a bidirectional relationship between inflammation and depression. Activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat, and NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes is closely related to the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases. In patients with major depressive disorder, NLRP3 inflammasome levels are significantly elevated. Understanding the role that NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation plays in the pathogenesis of depression may be beneficial for future therapeutic strategies. In this review, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms that lead to the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in depression as well as to provide insight into therapeutic strategies that target the NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, we outlined various therapeutic strategies that target the NLRP3 inflammasome, including NLRP3 inflammatory pathway inhibitors, natural compounds, and other therapeutic compounds that have been shown to be effective in treating depression. Additionally, we summarized the application of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors in clinical trials related to depression. Currently, there is a scarcity of clinical trials dedicated to investigating the applications of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors in depression treatment. The modulation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in microglia holds promise for the management of depression. Further investigations are necessary to ascertain the efficacy and safety of these therapeutic approaches as potential novel antidepressant treatments.

Interplay between microglia and environmental risk factors in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease, among the most common neurodegenerative disorders, is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment. At present, the Alzheimer's disease main risk remains genetic risks, but major environmental factors are increasingly shown to impact Alzheimer's disease development and progression. Microglia, the most important brain immune cells, play a central role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and are considered environmental and lifestyle "sensors." Factors like environmental pollution and modern lifestyles (e.g., chronic stress, poor dietary habits, sleep, and circadian rhythm disorders) can cause neuroinflammatory responses that lead to cognitive impairment via microglial functioning and phenotypic regulation. However, the specific mechanisms underlying interactions among these factors and microglia in Alzheimer's disease are unclear. Herein, we: discuss the biological effects of air pollution, chronic stress, gut microbiota, sleep patterns, physical exercise, cigarette smoking, and caffeine consumption on microglia; consider how unhealthy lifestyle factors influence individual susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease; and present the neuroprotective effects of a healthy lifestyle. Toward intervening and controlling these environmental risk factors at an early Alzheimer's disease stage, understanding the role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease development, and targeting strategies to target microglia, could be essential to future Alzheimer's disease treatments.

Vagus nerve stimulation in cerebral stroke: biological mechanisms, therapeutic modalities, clinical applications, and future directions

Stroke is a major disorder of the central nervous system that poses a serious threat to human life and quality of life. Many stroke victims are left with long-term neurological dysfunction, which adversely affects the well-being of the individual and the broader socioeconomic impact. Currently, post-stroke brain dysfunction is a major and difficult area of treatment. Vagus nerve stimulation is a Food and Drug Administration-approved exploratory treatment option for autism, refractory depression, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease. It is expected to be a novel therapeutic technique for the treatment of stroke owing to its association with multiple mechanisms such as altering neurotransmitters and the plasticity of central neurons. In animal models of acute ischemic stroke, vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to reduce infarct size, reduce post-stroke neurological damage, and improve learning and memory capacity in rats with stroke by reducing the inflammatory response, regulating blood-brain barrier permeability, and promoting angiogenesis and neurogenesis. At present, vagus nerve stimulation includes both invasive and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation. Clinical studies have found that invasive vagus nerve stimulation combined with rehabilitation therapy is effective in improving upper limb motor and cognitive abilities in stroke patients. Further clinical studies have shown that non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation, including ear/cervical vagus nerve stimulation, can stimulate vagal projections to the central nervous system similarly to invasive vagus nerve stimulation and can have the same effect. In this paper, we first describe the multiple effects of vagus nerve stimulation in stroke, and then discuss in depth its neuroprotective mechanisms in ischemic stroke. We go on to outline the results of the current major clinical applications of invasive and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation. Finally, we provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of cerebral ischemia and provide an outlook on the developmental trends. We believe that vagus nerve stimulation, as an effective treatment for stroke, will be widely used in clinical practice to promote the recovery of stroke patients and reduce the incidence of disability.

A novel mechanism of PHB2-mediated mitophagy participating in the development of Parkinson's disease

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202408000-00037/figure1/v/2023-12-16T180322Z/r/image-tiff Endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play important roles in Parkinson's disease, but the regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Prohibitin-2 (PHB2) is a newly discovered autophagy receptor in the mitochondrial inner membrane, and its role in Parkinson's disease remains unclear. Protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) is a factor that regulates cell fate during endoplasmic reticulum stress. Parkin is regulated by PERK and is a target of the unfolded protein response. It is unclear whether PERK regulates PHB2-mediated mitophagy through Parkin. In this study, we established a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease. We used adeno-associated virus to knockdown PHB2 expression. Our results showed that loss of dopaminergic neurons and motor deficits were aggravated in the MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Overexpression of PHB2 inhibited these abnormalities. We also established a 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+)-induced SH-SY5Y cell model of Parkinson's disease. We found that overexpression of Parkin increased co-localization of PHB2 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, and promoted mitophagy. In addition, MPP+ regulated Parkin involvement in PHB2-mediated mitophagy through phosphorylation of PERK. These findings suggest that PHB2 participates in the development of Parkinson's disease by interacting with endoplasmic reticulum stress and Parkin.

Biosensors for psychiatric biomarkers in mental health monitoring

Psychiatric disorders are associated with serve disturbances in cognition, emotional control, and/or behavior regulation, yet few routine clinical tools are available for the real-time evaluation and early-stage diagnosis of mental health. Abnormal levels of relevant biomarkers may imply biological, neurological, and developmental dysfunctions of psychiatric patients. Exploring biosensors that can provide rapid, in-situ, and real-time monitoring of psychiatric biomarkers is therefore vital for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mental disorders. Recently, psychiatric biosensors with high sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility have been widely developed, which are mainly based on electrochemical and optical sensing technologies. This review presented psychiatric disorders with high morbidity, disability, and mortality, followed by describing pathophysiology in a biomarker-implying manner. The latest biosensors developed for the detection of representative psychiatric biomarkers (e.g., cortisol, dopamine, and serotonin) were comprehensively summarized and compared in their sensitivities, sensing technologies, applicable biological platforms, and integrative readouts. These well-developed biosensors are promising for facilitating the clinical utility and commercialization of point-of-care diagnostics. It is anticipated that mental healthcare could be gradually improved in multiple perspectives, ranging from innovations in psychiatric biosensors in terms of biometric elements, transducing principles, and flexible readouts, to the construction of 'Big-Data' networks utilized for sharing intractable psychiatric indicators and cases.

Volumetric and taste behavior of D(+)-glucose and D(-)-fructose in aqueous solutions of ethanolammoium acetate

The hydration and taste behaviour of glucose and fructose in aqueous ethanolammonium acetate solutions were investigated by measuring volumetric properties. Density and speed of sound were measured at four different temperatures. Apparent and partial molar volumes, apparent specific compressibility, apparent specific volume, transfer volumes, and hydration numbers were determined from the measured density and speed of sound data. Positive transfer properties of saccharides from water to aqueous ethanolammonium acetate solutions suggested the dominance of hydrophilic-ionic interactions. However, such interactions weakened with incremental concentrations of ethanolammonium acetate. The transfer properties increased in the order: glucose > fructose, indicating stronger interactions between glucose and ethanolammonium acetate. The apparent specific volume and apparent specific isentropic compressibility values for monosaccharides in water and in aqueous ethanolammonium acetate were found to fall within the sweet taste modality.

Smoking cessation in pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of an eHealth intervention including heart rate variability-biofeedback training

BACKGROUND

Prenatal smoking and stress are associated with adverse health effects for women themselves and are risk factors for adverse outcomes of the child. Effective interventions are needed to support women with smoking cessation and reducing stress. The aims were (1) to test the effectiveness of an 8-week eHealth intervention targeting stress reduction and smoking cessation; (2) to examine whether stress reduction mediated the intervention effect on smoking behavior; (3) to test motivation to quit as a moderator; and (4) to investigate a dose-response effect of program usage.

METHODS

Pregnant women were included if they were >18 years of age, < 28 weeks pregnant at recruitment, and currently smoking. In total, 156 consenting participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or active control condition. Study outcomes on smoking (yes/no, frequency, and quantity) were collected via online questionnaires at pre-intervention (baseline; t0), post-intervention (8 weeks after t0; t1), and follow up at two weeks (t2) and three months (t3) after birth.

RESULTS

Smoking and stress reduced over the 8-week period in both conditions. The intervention effect on smoking was not mediated by stress reduction. Motivation to quit was found to moderate the intervention effect (smoking frequency and quantity) and a dose-response effect was found for program usage in the intervention for the reduction on smoking frequency and quantity.

CONCLUSION

Program usage and motivation to quit are important for smoking reduction in pregnant women. Further research is needed to examine how the intervention could be improved to increase treatment effectiveness.

Effective parental strategies against problematic smartphone use among adolescents: A 6-month prospective study

Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) among adolescents is growing problem worldwide and multiple studies investigated its associated parental risk and protective factors. The available studies, however, typically do not address the multidimensional nature of PSU. They also rely heavily on cross-sectional designs with a small number of potentially contributing variables. This 6-month prospective study examines the relationships between a large range of parental factors with the three known dimensions of PSU: social environment pressure, emotional gain, and addiction-like behaviors. Specifically the study examines whether, and to what extent, the various dimensions of current and future PSU are related to parental support giving, general quality of communication, specific communication about smartphone use, and the four common mediation strategies. The sample comprised 1187 triads of mothers, fathers, and adolescents. The data-analysis pipeline consisted of three consecutive phases: (1) analyses of parental factors at baseline, (2) analyses of parental factors change over 6-months, and (3) interaction analyses between parental factors and the time-period of the study. The pipeline elicited three factors that moderated the change in PSU over time: Communication about smartphones with mothers, parental support giving, and parental co-use. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the existing literature and the familial, microsystem theoretical framework. Altogether, this prospective study scrutinized key parental factors and strategies that could be utilized by parents for coping with one of the most difficult parenting challenges of the digital era. Further research may build upon these findings to develop designated interventions to reduce PSU.

Predicting Driver's mental workload using physiological signals: A functional data analysis approach

This study investigates the impact of advanced driver-assistance systems on drivers' mental workload. Using a combination of physiological signals including ECG, EMG, EDA, EEG (af4 and fc6 channels from the theta band), and eye diameter data, this study aims to predict and categorize drivers' mental workload into low, adequate, and high levels. Data were collected from five different driving situations with varying cognitive demands. A functional linear regression model was employed for prediction, and the accuracy rate was calculated. Among the 31 tested combinations of physiological variables, 9 combinations achieved the highest accuracy result of 90%. These results highlight the potential benefits of utilizing raw physiological signal data and employing functional data analysis methods to understand and assess driver mental workload. The findings of this study have implications for the design and improvement of driver-assistance systems to optimize safety and performance.

Higher T central and lower effector memory cells in bipolar disorder: A differentiation abnormality?

The aim of this study was to elucidate the nature of T cell abnormalities in bipolar disorder (BD). With the use of multicolor flow cytometry, we first quantified the composition of the different memory and pro-inflammatory immune subpopulations in samples of 58 patients with BD and compared them to 113 healthy controls. Second, to assess if cytomegalovirus infection was related to the resulted immune subpopulation compositions in the two groups, we measured cytomegalovirus-specific antibodies in serum. Thirdly, we assessed differences between the two groups in the serum levels of the immune cell differentiation factor interleukin-7. Compared to healthy controls, patients showed significantly higher T helper-17, T regulatory and T central memory cells (CD4+ and CD8+). Besides, patients showed significantly lower CD4+ T effector memory and CD4+ T effector memory re-expressing RA cells. Cytomegalovirus infection was not related to the observed abnormalities, with the exception of T helper-17 cells. This immune subpopulation was significantly higher only in patients seropositive to cytomegalovirus infection. Finally, interleukin-7 levels were significantly lower in BD compared to healthy controls. In conclusion, the aberrant levels of T memory cell populations in BD may suggest a T cell differentiation abnormality. The role of interleukin-7 in this putative abnormality should be further investigated.

Effects of social environments on male primate HPG and HPA axis developmental programming

Developmental plasticity is particularly important for humans and other primates because of our extended period of growth and maturation, during which our phenotypes adaptively respond to environmental cues. The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes are likely to be principal targets of developmental "programming" given their roles in coordinating fitness-relevant aspects of the phenotype, including sexual development, adult reproductive and social strategies, and internal responses to the external environment. In social animals, including humans, the social environment is believed to be an important source of cues to which these axes may adaptively respond. The effects of early social environments on the HPA axis have been widely studied in humans, and to some extent, in other primates, but there are still major gaps in knowledge specifically relating to males. There has also been relatively little research examining the role that social environments play in developmental programming of the HPG axis or the HPA/HPG interface, and what does exist disproportionately focuses on females. These topics are likely understudied in males in part due to the difficulty of identifying developmental milestones in males relative to females and the general quiescence of the HPG axis prior to maturation. However, there are clear indicators that early life social environments matter for both sexes. In this review, we examine what is known about the impact of social environments on HPG and HPA axis programming during male development in humans and nonhuman primates, including the role that epigenetic mechanisms may play in this programming. We conclude by highlighting important next steps in this research area.

Exploring the gut microbiome-Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction connection: Mechanisms, clinical implications, and future directions

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) is a common yet poorly understood complication of surgery that can lead to long-term cognitive decline. The gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and the gut microbiota, plays a significant role in maintaining cognitive health. The potential for anesthetic agents and perioperative medications to modulate the gut microbiota and influence the trajectory of POCD suggests the need for a more integrated approach in perioperative care. Perioperative medications, including opioids and antibiotics, further compound these disruptions, leading to dysbiosis and consequent systemic and neuroinflammation implicated in cognitive impairment. Understanding how surgical interventions and associated treatments affect this relationship is crucial for developing strategies to reduce the incidence of POCD. Strategies to preserve and promote a healthy gut microbiome may mitigate the risk and severity of POCD. Future research should aim to clarify the mechanisms linking gut flora alterations to cognitive outcomes and explore targeted interventions, such as probiotic supplementation and microbiota-friendly prescription practices, to safeguard cognitive function postoperatively.

Sign-tracking to non-drug reward is related to severity of alcohol-use problems in a sample of individuals seeking treatment

BACKGROUND

A prominent neuroscientific theory of drug addiction is the incentive sensitization model. Individual differences in the tendency to ascribe motivational salience to cues that predict reward, and involuntary "sign-tracking" (orientation towards) such cues have been identified as potentially important in understanding vulnerability to addiction and relapse. However, to date this behaviour has not been assessed in a treatment-seeking clinical population, who typically represent those most susceptible to alcohol-related harms and episodes of relapse. This highlights a significant gap in the literature pertaining to incentive sensitization and drug dependence.

METHODS

Individuals accessing inpatient drug and alcohol services with alcohol as primary drug of concern were recruited to participate in a Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) intervention. At the baseline assessment, participants completed various self-report measures (including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; AUDIT) in addition to a visual search task measuring sign-tracking to cues signalling monetary reward. At 3-month follow up, abstinence from alcohol was the primary outcome measure. All analyses and hypotheses were pre-registered.

RESULTS

At baseline (57 participants), AUDIT scores correlated with sign-tracking to signals of monetary reward. In a subsequent regression analysis sign-tracking, gender and self-reported alcohol craving predicted abstinence at 3-month follow up (41 participants).

CONCLUSIONS

Our work demonstrates that involuntary sign-tracking to cues signalling non-drug reward is associated with problematic alcohol use and return to use at 3-month follow up, in a treatment-seeking sample. Whether this automatic prioritisation of cues signalling reward is a consequence or vulnerability for problematic alcohol use remains to be investigated.

Perception of visual and audiovisual trajectories toward and away from the body in the first postnatal year

Perceiving motion in depth is important in everyday life, especially motion in relation to the body. Visual and auditory cues inform us about motion in space when presented in isolation from each other, but the most comprehensive information is obtained through the combination of both of these cues. We traced the development of infants' ability to discriminate between visual motion trajectories across peripersonal space and to match these with auditory cues specifying the same peripersonal motion. We measured 5-month-old (n = 20) and 9-month-old (n = 20) infants' visual preferences for visual motion toward or away from their body (presented simultaneously and side by side) across three conditions: (a) visual displays presented alone, (b) paired with a sound increasing in intensity, and (c) paired with a sound decreasing in intensity. Both groups preferred approaching motion in the visual-only condition. When the visual displays were paired with a sound increasing in intensity, neither group showed a visual preference. When a sound decreasing in intensity was played instead, the 5-month-olds preferred the receding (spatiotemporally congruent) visual stimulus, whereas the 9-month-olds preferred the approaching (spatiotemporally incongruent) visual stimulus. We speculate that in the approaching sound condition, the behavioral salience of the sound could have led infants to focus on the auditory information alone, in order to prepare a motor response, and to neglect the visual stimuli. In the receding sound condition, instead, the difference in response patterns in the two groups may have been driven by infants' emerging motor abilities and their developing predictive processing mechanisms supporting and influencing each other.

Distinct Sensory Hedonic Functions for Sourness in Adults

Over the last half-century, variable responses to sweetness have repeatedly been shown to fall into a small number of hedonic responses, implying that looking only at group means may can obfuscate meaningfully different response patterns. Comparative data for sourness is quite sparse, especially in adults. While increased liking with higher acid concentration has been reported for some children, in adults, sourness is classically assumed to be aversive, with a monotonic drop in liking with increasing sourness. Here, we test this assumption using a simple model system or experimental beverage in convenience samples of adults from the United States (increasing citric acid in water) and Italy (increasing citric acid in pear juice). Participants rated intensity and liking of sampled stimuli. For both cohorts, we find clear evidence of three distinct patterns of responses: a strong negative group where liking dropped with increased sourness, an intermediate group who showed a more muted drop in liking with more sourness, and a strong positive group where liking increased with more sourness. Strikingly, both cohorts showed similar proportions of response patterns, with ~63-70% in the strong negative group, and 11-12% in the strong positive group, suggesting these proportions may be stable across cultures. Notably, the three groups did not differ by age or gender. These data support the existence of different hedonic response profiles to sour stimuli in adults, once again highlighting the importance of looking at individual differences and potential consumer segments, rather than merely averaging hedonic responses across all individuals within a group.

Rhinorrhea and watery eyes in infancy and risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in school-age children

Increased parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity is associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inattentive symptoms, but not hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, and may contribute to inattentive subtype etiology. Guided by prior work linking infant rhinorrhea and watery eyes without a cold (RWWC) to PNS dysregulation, we examined associations between infant RWWC and childhood ADHD symptoms in a longitudinal cohort of Black and Latinx children living in the context of economic disadvantage (N = 301 youth: 158 females, 143 males). Infant RWWC predicted higher inattentive (relative risk [RR] 2.16, p < .001) but not hyperactive-impulsive (RR 1.53, p = .065) ADHD symptoms (DuPaul scale), administered to caregivers at child age 8-14 years. Stratified analyses revealed that these associations were present in females but not males, who were three times more likely to have higher ADHD current total symptoms if they had infant RWWC than if they did not. Additionally, associations between RWWC and inattention symptoms were observed only in females. RWWC may thus serve as a novel risk marker of ADHD inattentive-type symptoms, especially for females.

A trace amine associated receptor mediates antimicrobial immune response in the oyster Crassostrea gigas

Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) are a class of G protein-coupled receptors, playing an immunomodulatory function in the neuroinflammatory responses. In the present study, a TAAR homologue with a 7tm_classA_rhodopsin-like domain (designated as CgTAAR1L) was identified in oyster Crassostrea gigas. The abundant CgTAAR1L transcripts were detected in visceral ganglia and haemocytes compared to other tissues, which were 55.35-fold and 32.95-fold (p < 0.01) of those in adductor muscle, respectively. The mRNA expression level of CgTAAR1L in haemocytes significantly increased and reached the peak level at 3 h after LPS or Poly (I:C) stimulation, which was 4.55-fold and 12.35-fold of that in control group, respectively (p < 0.01). After the expression of CgTAAR1L was inhibited by the injection of its targeted siRNA, the mRNA expression levels of interleukin17s (CgIL17-1, CgIL17-5 and CgIL17-6), and defensin (Cgdefh1) significantly decreased at 3 h after LPS stimulation, which was 0.51-fold (p < 0.001), 0.39-fold (p < 0.01), 0.48-fold (p < 0.05) and 0.41-fold (p < 0.05) of that in the control group, respectively. The nuclear translocation of Cgp65 protein was suppressed in the CgTAAR1L-RNAi oysters. Furthermore, the number of Vibrio splendidus in the haemolymph of CgTAAR1L-RNAi oysters significantly increased (4.11-fold, p < 0.001) compared with that in the control group. In contrast, there was no significant difference in phagocytic rate of haemocytes to V. splendidus in the CgTAAR1L-RNAi oysters. These results indicated that CgTAAR1L played an important role in the immune defense against bacterial infection by inducing the expressions of interleukin and defensin.

Decision-making under stress: A psychological and neurobiological integrative model

Understanding the impact of stress on cognitive processes, particularly decision-making, is crucial as it underpins behaviors essential for survival. However, research in this domain has yielded disparate results, with inconsistencies evident across stress-induction paradigms and drug administration protocols designed to investigate specific stress pathways or neuromodulators. Building upon empirical studies, this research identifies a multifaceted matrix of variables contributing to the divergent findings. This matrix encompasses factors such as the temporal proximity between stressors and decision tasks, the nature of stressors and decision contexts, individual characteristics including psychobiological profiles and affective states at the time of decision-making and even cultural influences. In response to these complexities, we propose a comprehensive model that integrates these relevant factors and their intricate interplay to elucidate the mechanisms governing decision-making during stressful events. By synthesizing these insights, our model not only refines existing paradigms but also provides a framework for future study designs, offering avenues for theoretical advancements and translational developments in the field of stress's impact on cognitive functions. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the nuanced relationship between stress and decision-making, ultimately advancing our knowledge of cognitive processes under challenging conditions.

Kisspeptin administration may promote precopulatory behavior in male rats independently or supplementally to testosterone and contribute to proceptive behavior in female partners, reducing mating failure

Kisspeptin is a peptide that plays an important role through its effects on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. It has also been implicated in sexual behavior. The present study investigated whether the relationship between kisspeptin and sexual behavior is independent of the HPG axis, i.e., testosterone. Sexual behavior was examined after the administration of kisspeptin to gonadally intact male rats and gonadectomized male rats that received testosterone supplementation. Other male rats were also observed for sexual behavior once a week from 2 to 5 weeks after gonadectomy and receiving kisspeptin for the sixth postoperative week. Sexual behavior in female rats serving as the partner for each male was also observed. Female rats were not administered kisspeptin in the present study. The results obtained showed that the administration of kisspeptin increased precopulatory behavior in gonadally intact male rats and gonadectomized male rats that received testosterone supplementation and proceptive behavior in their female partners. Precopulatory behavior in males and receptive behavior in females increased, while copulatory behavior in males and receptive behavior in females remained unchanged. Furthermore, the administration of kisspeptin increased precopulatory behavior in gonadectomized males, but did not affect receptive behavior in females. These results suggest that kisspeptin affected males independently and/or supplementally to testosterone, and also that changes in the presence of testosterone in males had an impact on proceptive behavior in their female partners. In conclusion, kisspeptin may involve an as-yet-unidentified neural pathway in sexual desire independently of the HPG axis.

Cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease induced by hypertension

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is a primary risk factor for the progression of cognitive impairment caused by cerebral small vessel disease, the most common cerebrovascular disease. However, the causal relationship between hypertension and cerebral small vessel disease remains unclear. Hypertension has substantial negative impacts on brain health and is recognized as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. Chronic hypertension and lifestyle factors are associated with risks for stroke and dementia, and cerebral small vessel disease can cause dementia and stroke. Hypertension is the main driver of cerebral small vessel disease, which changes the structure and function of cerebral vessels via various mechanisms and leads to lacunar infarction, leukoaraiosis, white matter lesions, and intracerebral hemorrhage, ultimately resulting in cognitive decline and demonstrating that the brain is the target organ of hypertension. This review updates our understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension-induced cerebral small vessel disease and the resulting changes in brain structure and function and declines in cognitive ability. We also discuss drugs to treat cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment.