Article
Neurosciences
Jessica A. Higginbotham, Rong Wang, Ben D. Richardson, Hiroko Shiina, Shi Min Tan, Mark A. Presker, David J. Rossi, Rita A. Fuchs
Summary: Systemic CB1R antagonism during cocaine-memory reconsolidation reduced drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior and inhibited cellular adaptations and synaptic physiology changes in the basolateral amygdala. These findings suggest that CB1R signaling modulates cellular and synaptic mechanisms in the BLA, potentially playing a crucial role in preventing relapse.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Nowrin Ahmed, Denis Pare
Summary: This study aimed to determine the neurotransmitter used by MD-projecting BLA cells in male and female rats. The results indicate that the BLA sends a mixed, glutamatergic-GABAergic projection to MD, which likely influences coordination of activity between BLA, MD, and medial prefrontal cortex.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Lucia Scipioni, Francesca Ciaramellano, Veronica Carnicelli, Alessandro Leuti, Anna Rita Lizzi, Noemi De Dominicis, Sergio Oddi, Mauro Maccarrone
Summary: This article reviews the role of microglial cells in chronic inflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the involvement of endocannabinoids in regulating their activity.
Article
Neurosciences
Yuki Higuchi, Tomoaki Tada, Taiga Nakachi, Hiroyuki Arakawa
Summary: This study investigated the alterations in 5-HT signaling and functionality in BTBR mice and their contribution to abnormal behaviors. Results showed a reduced number of 5-HT neurons in the median raphe of BTBR mice and decreased responsiveness to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone. Additionally, blunted c-Fos responses in the BLA and Hipp regions of BTBR mice were associated with a lack of anxiety-like behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Jessica A. Higginbotham, Nicole M. Jones, Rong Wang, Robert J. Christian, Jobe L. Ritchie, Ryan J. McLaughlin, Rita A. Fuchs
Summary: Manipulation of cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) signaling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) influences the strength of cocaine memories and the response to environmental cues, thereby impacting relapse behavior.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amandine Jullienne, Ryan Quan, Jenny Szu, Michelle Trinh, Erik J. Behringer, Andre Obenaus
Summary: This study utilized the 3xTg-AD mouse model to examine the role of vascular dysfunction and structural abnormalities in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The findings demonstrate progressive alterations in individual cortical vessels and the cortical vascular network, potentially identifying unique diagnostic signatures of AD progression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anton Meinicke, Wolfgang Haertig, Karsten Winter, Joana Puchta, Bianca Mages, Dominik Michalski, Alexander Emmer, Markus Otto, Karl-Titus Hoffmann, Willi Reimann, Matthias Krause, Stefan Schob
Summary: The classic surfactant proteins have important roles in the lungs and brain. A novel surfactant protein, SP-G, is linked to inflammation in the lungs and is also present in the brain, particularly elevated after hemorrhage in premature infants and in conditions affecting cerebrospinal fluid. This study suggests that SP-G might play a role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease.
Article
Neurosciences
Caesar M. Hernandez, Nateka L. Jackson, Abbi R. Hernandez, Lori L. McMahon
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the differential associations between fear extinction memory and basal amygdaloid nucleus (BA) synaptic dysfunction in nonpathologic aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The results showed that long-term extinction memory was impaired in older AD rats, and was associated with hyperexcitability in the BA and impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) compared to young WT rats. In contrast, long-term extinction memory was impaired in aged WT rats but not associated with BA hyperexcitability. Interestingly, middle-aged AD rats showed intact short-term extinction and BA long-term potentiation, suggesting a compensatory mechanism. These findings indicate that the associations between fear extinction memory and amygdala deficits differ in nonpathologic aging and AD.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jessica Dennison, Armando Mendez, Angela Szeto, Ines Lohse, Claes Wahlestedt, Claude-Henry Volmar
Summary: This study investigated the effects of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, chidamide, on male and female mice in an AD model. The results showed that chidamide treatment significantly improved glucose tolerance and increased expression of glucose transporters in the brains of male mice. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in the neuroinflammatory pathway and amyloid processing pathway showed different patterns between male and female mice after chidamide treatment.
Article
Neurosciences
Sara Schiavi, Antonia Manduca, Emilia Carbone, Valeria Buzzelli, Alessandro Rava, Alessandro Feo, Fabrizio Ascone, Maria Morena, Patrizia Campolongo, Matthew N. Hill, Viviana Trezza
Summary: This study investigates the role of endocannabinoid neurotransmission in autism-like traits in rats and finds that endocannabinoid mechanisms contribute to specific ASD-related behaviors. However, clinical evidence supporting the use of cannabinoid compounds in the treatment of ASD is limited, and the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown, leading to controversy.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vibhav Varshney, Debapriya Garabadu
Summary: The study has shown that Ang(1-7) exhibits neuroprotection against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity by improving behavioral, neurochemical, and molecular abnormalities. It is suggested that Ang(1-7) may exert its effects through nrf2-mediated neuroprotection in these rodents, making it a potential therapeutic option for Alzheimer's disease.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Qi Zhang, Shun-Heng Gao, Zhong-Shan Shen, Yun Wang, Su-Wan Hu, Guang-Bing Duan, Ye Liu, Dan-Ya Zhong, Jing Liu, Meng-Han Sun, Xin Zhang, Tian-Yu Cao, Jun-Li Cao, Qiong-Yao Tang, Zhe Zhang
Summary: Anxiety disorders are mental disorders characterized by anxiety and fear, and their molecular basis is still unclear. The study reveals the role of Slack channels in controlling anxious behaviors by decreasing the excitability of BLA-vHPC glutamatergic projections. This provides a potential target for anxiolytic therapies.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Houri Hintiryan, Ian Bowman, David L. Johnson, Laura Korobkova, Muye Zhu, Neda Khanjani, Lin Gou, Lei Gao, Seita Yamashita, Michael S. Bienkowski, Luis Garcia, Nicholas N. Foster, Nora L. Benavidez, Monica Y. Song, Darrick Lo, Kaelan Cotter, Marlene Becerra, Sarvia Aquino, Chunru Cao, Ryan P. Cabeen, Jim Stanis, Marina Fayzullina, Sarah Ustrell, Tyler Boesen, Amanda J. Tugangui, Zheng-Gang Zhang, Bo Peng, Michael S. Fanselow, Peyman Golshani, Joel D. Hahn, Ian R. Wickersham, Giorgio A. Ascoli, Li Zhang, Hong-Wei Dong
Summary: The authors used machine-learning based computational techniques to map the connectivity of the basolateral amygdalar complex, identifying distinct domains within the anterior BLA with target-specific projection neurons and morphological features. This study provides insights into the circuitry of BLA projection neurons and their connections to behavior networks within the brain.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evan E. Hart, Matthew P. H. Gardner, Marios C. Panayi, Thorsten Kahnt, Geoffrey Schoenbaum
Summary: Recording both single-unit activity and calcium signals in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of rats during olfactory discrimination learning, we found that the calcium signal only provided a degraded estimate of the information available in the single-unit spiking, primarily reflecting reward value.
Review
Biology
Tayebeh Sepahvand, Kyron D. Power, Tian Qin, Qi Yuan
Summary: Through the study of threat conditioning, extinction, and second-order threat conditioning in animal models, insights have been gained into the brain-based mechanisms of fear- and anxiety-related disorders and their treatment. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) has received much attention in these processes, and this review provides an overview of its role. Recent evidence suggests that the BLA serves as the core of a greater network of structures, including associative and sensory cortices, in these forms of learning. The BLA is regulated by inputs from the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, as well as by neuromodulators such as norepinephrine and dopamine, which may contribute important learning signals to these processes. The sensory cortices may play a crucial role in the long-term storage of threat memories, and further research can explore their potential in the storage of extinction and second-order conditioning memories.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Chichiarelli, Fabio Altieri, Giuliano Paglia, Elisabetta Rubini, Marco Minacori, Margherita Eufemi
Summary: The ERp57/PDIA3 protein, a member of the PDIs family, is found in various subcellular locations and is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes. This review presents new insights into its functions and summarizes PDIA3-specific inhibitors.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Domenico Galante, Viviana Manzulli, Adelia Donatiello, Antonio Fasanella, Barbara Chirullo, Massimiliano Francia, Valeria Rondinone, Luigina Serrecchia, Lorenzo Pace, Michela Iatarola, Michela Tarantino, Rosanna Adone
Summary: In this study, the Bacillus anthracis vaccine strain Sterne 34F2 was cultured to obtain a secretome with a high concentration of non-degraded PA(83), which was used as an antigen in a Complement Fixation Test (CFT) to monitor antibody production. The results showed that the PAS-based CFT and commercial ELISA kit yielded similar results in terms of specificity and sensitivity, and the Sterne 34F2 vaccine induced a strong antibody response to PA(83) in vaccinated rabbits.
Article
Virology
Luigia Trabace, Lorenzo Pace, Maria Grazia Morgese, Isabel Bianca Santo, Domenico Galante, Stefania Schiavone, Dora Cipolletta, Anna Maria Rosa, Pierluigi Reveglia, Antonio Parisi, Paolo Tucci, Giovanni Pepe, Rodolfo Sacco, Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro, Gaetano Corso, Antonio Fasanella
Summary: The Delta variant has raised concerns about its ability to evade SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. This study evaluated the neutralizing response of 172 Italian healthcare workers three months after receiving the Comirnaty vaccine. The results showed that the vaccine provides sustained neutralizing antibody activity against the Alpha variant, but it is less effective against the Gamma and even less against the Delta variants.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaime Gonzalez-Montero, Silvia Chichiarelli, Margherita Eufemi, Fabio Altieri, Luciano Saso, Ramon Rodrigo
Summary: Cancer is a highly fatal disease with increasing prevalence. While the development of modern chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy has brought new hope in the treatment of cancer, these therapies are also associated with frequent and sometimes severe adverse events. Ascorbate, a potent antioxidant, has been historically reported to have anti-tumor properties, but its deleterious effects due to interactions with iron have raised questions. Recent evidence suggests that high-dose ascorbate, particularly in cell systems with a high mitotic index, can positively modulate oxidative stress-induced cell death through ferroptosis. Ascorbate may also serve as an adjuvant in various cancer therapies by promoting tumor cell death through reactive oxygen species generation and ferroptosis. Re-examining ascorbate in cancer treatment could lead to the development of novel and safe strategies for its application in human medicine.
Article
Biology
Maurizio Guastalegname, Valeria Rondinone, Giuseppe Lucifora, Alfredo Vallone, Laura D'Argenio, Giovanni Petracca, Antonia Giordano, Luigina Serrecchia, Viviana Manzulli, Lorenzo Pace, Antonio Fasanella, Domenico Simone, Dora Cipolletta, Domenico Galante
Summary: This report describes three cases of human cutaneous anthrax, one complicated by meningitis, all linked to a single infected bullock. Microbiological examination and PCR testing on patients and the infected bullock led to accurate diagnosis and treatment. Collaboration between human and veterinary medicine proved successful in managing human anthrax cases.
Biographical-Item
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Maurice R. Elphick, Sam Dupont
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Silvia Di Giacomo, Ester Percaccio, Marco Gulli, Adele Romano, Annabella Vitalone, Gabriela Mazzanti, Silvana Gaetani, Antonella Di Sotto
Summary: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Hyperglycemia and brain insulin resistance are risk factors for AD development, referred to as type 3 diabetes. Ferulic acid, a compound with various bioactivities, may have potential neuroprotective properties.
Article
Cell Biology
Ana B. Tinoco, Michaela Egertova, Maurice R. Elphick
Summary: Neuropeptides derived from precursor proteins play important roles in regulating various physiological and behavioral processes in animals. In this study, researchers discovered two novel neuropeptides, ArCRZ and ArLQ, in the starfish Asterias rubens. However, they were unable to generate antibodies to these neuropeptides, hindering their analysis of neuropeptide expression. As an alternative approach, they generated antibodies to peptides corresponding to the C-terminal region of the precursor proteins and successfully demonstrated their applicability using the neuropeptide asterotocin. Furthermore, the generated antibodies to the C-terminal region of the ArCRZ and ArLQ precursors revealed the distribution of these neuropeptides in A. rubens and provided a neuroanatomical framework for future investigations.
CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Marialuisa de Ceglia, Maria Vittoria Micioni Di Bonaventura, Adele Romano, Marzia Friuli, Emanuela Micioni Di Bonaventura, Ana L. Gavito, Luca Botticelli, Silvana Gaetani, Fernando Rodriguez de Fonseca, Carlo Cifani
Summary: Consuming energy-dense palatable comfort food can alleviate stress, but withdrawal from such a diet can worsen symptoms. This study investigated the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and found that inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) may be a potential treatment for anxiety related to abstinence from palatable food.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tommaso Cassano, Flavia Giamogante, Silvio Calcagnini, Adele Romano, Angelo Michele Lavecchia, Francesca Inglese, Giuliano Paglia, Vidyasagar Naik Bukke, Antonino Davide Romano, Marzia Friuli, Fabio Altieri, Silvana Gaetani
Summary: In this study, a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was used to investigate the expression of PDIA3, an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, in brain regions affected by AD pathology. The results showed an age-dependent increase in PDIA3 levels in AD mice, and a significant reduction in PDIA3 at an early age compared to non-AD mice. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed a correlation between the levels of A beta and PDIA3 proteins in all brain regions analyzed. The findings suggest that altered PDIA3 levels may play a role in AD pathology and could be a potential therapeutic target.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Emanuela Mancini, Alessandra Alessiani, Adelia Donatiello, Antonella Didonna, Luigi D'Attoli, Simona Faleo, Gilda Occhiochiuso, Francesco Carella, Pietro Di Taranto, Lorenzo Pace, Valeria Rondinone, Annita Maria Damato, Rosa Coppola, Carmine Pedarra, Elisa Goffredo
Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of Salmonella spp. and Vibrio spp. in bivalve molluscs and the environmental multidrug resistance (MDR). The results showed one Salmonella strain with multidrug resistance and 41.3% of the Vibrio strains with resistance to certain antibiotics. Continuous monitoring and establishment of interpretative criteria are recommended.
Review
Biology
Alfredo Fabrizio Lo Faro, Diletta Berardinelli, Tommaso Cassano, Gregory Dendramis, Eva Montanari, Angelo Montana, Paolo Berretta, Simona Zaami, Francesco Paolo Busardo, Marilyn Ann Huestis
Summary: We conducted a comprehensive literature review on intoxications and fatalities related to New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to changes in drug consumption patterns, with some drugs being consumed less and an increase in the use of NPS. Synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, and synthetic cathinones were the most commonly abused NPS classes, and the combined consumption of several NPS classes accounted for 30% of all cases. It is important to consider that the reported cases may be an underestimate due to the impact of the pandemic on forensic toxicology capabilities.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
G. Diella, G. Caggiano, F. Apollonio, F. Triggiano, P. Stefanizzi, F. Fasano, L. Pace, V. Marcotrigiano, D. P. Sorrenti, G. T. Sorrenti, D. Galante, M. T. Montagna
Summary: The COVID-19 emergency has emphasized the significance of prevention systems and environmental microbiological monitoring in responding to epidemics and other health threats. The use of automated no-touch room disinfection systems improves the effectiveness of terminal disinfection by reducing reliance on operators. This study examines the potential SARS-CoV-2 contamination of surfaces in commercial services and evaluates the effectiveness of ozone treatment on the virus.
ANNALI DI IGIENE MEDICINA PREVENTIVA E DI COMUNITA
(2023)
