Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amina Moustaqim-Barrette, Damon Dhillon, Justin Ng, Kristen Sundvick, Farihah Ali, Tara Elton-Marshall, Pamela Leece, Katherine Rittenbach, Max Ferguson, Jane A. Buxton
Summary: Naloxone programs, especially 'take-home naloxone', have emerged as a key intervention in reducing opioid overdose deaths. Existing systematic reviews and best practice guidelines mainly focus on naloxone effectiveness, safety, provision feasibility, dosing and routes of administration, overdose response after naloxone administration, cost-effectiveness, training and education, as well as recommendations for policy, practice, and knowledge gaps.
Article
Neurosciences
Thilo Rusche, Joern Kaufmann, Juergen Voges
Summary: This study aimed to visualize the afferent and efferent connections of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and validate the methodology for clinical applications. The results show good concordance with existing data, suggesting potential for selective electrical stimulation of NAc projections using deep brain stimulation with directional lead technology.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hemmings Wu, Bina Kakusa, Sophie Neuner, Daniel J. Christoffel, Boris D. Heifets, Robert C. Malenka, Casey H. Halpern
Summary: This study used in vivo imaging to examine the activity of D1 and D2 neurons in the nucleus accumbens during hedonic feeding and investigated the effects of continuous DBS and responsive DBS. The results suggest that D1 neuron activity is increased prior to high-fat food approach and responsive DBS can durably reduce high-fat intake, while continuous DBS does not have the same effect.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
E. Anne Martin, Jennifer Carlisle Michel, Jane S. Kissinger, Fabio A. Echeverry, Ya-Ping Lin, John O'Brien, Alberto E. Pereda, Adam C. Miller
Summary: The subcellular positioning and molecular compositions of synapses are crucial for neural circuits. This study investigates the localization of the autism- and epilepsy-associated gene Neurobeachin, the Connexins, and the electrical synapse scaffold ZO1. It is found that Neurobeachin localizes to the electrical synapse independently, and its presence is necessary for the localization of ZO1 and Connexins. This research provides new insights into the molecular complexity and mechanisms of electrical synapse formation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giovanni Hernandez, Willemieke M. Kouwenhoven, Emmanuelle Poirier, Karim Lebied, Daniel Levesque, Pierre-Paul Rompre
Summary: The present study found that GluN2C is the most abundant subunit of NMDA receptors expressed in the VTA, and about 50% of neurons expressing TH also co-localize with the Grin2c transcript. Down-regulation of GluN2C protein subunit significantly reduced brain stimulation reward, while pharmacological alteration of VTA NMDA receptors enhanced it, but only in rats that received the nonactive RNA sequence.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Allen L. Ho, Austin Y. Feng, Daniel A. N. Barbosa, Hemmings Wu, Monique L. Smith, Robert C. Malenka, Peter A. Tass, Casey H. Halpern
Summary: The study found that CRS stimulation can reduce binge-like alcohol drinking behavior effectively, with CRS targeting NAc significantly decreasing binge drinking without interfering with social and locomotor activities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jesus Pastor, Lorena Vega-Zelaya, Elena Martin-Abad
Summary: This study describes a new type of atypical extracellular action potentials (EAPs) that differ significantly from the canonical forms. These atypical units have only been observed in the hypothalamus so far, and further research is needed to assess their existence in other brain structures.
FRONTIERS IN BIOSCIENCE-LANDMARK
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mauricio Serrano-Rubi, Lidia Jimenez, Jacqueline Martinez-Rendon, Marcelino Cereijido, Arturo Ponce
Summary: Gap junctional intercellular communication is reduced in cancer cells compared to normal cells, but the plant-derived substance ouabain enhances this communication in various cancer cell lines through signaling mechanisms involving Csrc, ErK1/2, and ROCK-Rho. This finding suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for influencing cancer progression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Riccardo Serra, J. Marc Simard
Summary: This article reviews 45 research articles on intercellular junctions in the ependyma, indicating the important role of ependymal lining ultrastructure in fluid flow interactions in the brain. These findings have implications for understanding and treating CSF-related disorders.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jason Yuen, Abhinav Goyal, Aaron E. Rusheen, Abbas Z. Kouzani, Michael Berk, Jee Hyun Kim, Susannah J. Tye, Osama A. Abulseoud, Tyler S. Oesterle, Charles D. Blaha, Kevin E. Bennet, Kendall H. Lee, Yoonbae Oh, Hojin Shin
Summary: Opioids are the leading cause of overdose death in the United States, with nearly 70,000 deaths in 2020. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising treatment for substance use disorders. This study investigated the modulation of dopaminergic and respiratory effects of oxycodone by DBS of the ventral segmental area (VTA) in rodents. The results demonstrated that DBS reduced baseline dopamine levels and alleviated the increase in dopamine levels and respiratory depression induced by oxycodone.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Yiping Liu, Min Cao, Xu Yan, Xin Cai, Yuqing Li, Chao Li, Ting Xue
Summary: Cell-to-cell communication through gap junction channels is essential for coordinating cellular functions in multicellular tissues. This study identified 48 members of the gap junction protein family in Sebastes schlegelii, classifying them into connexin and pannexin types. The connexins were further divided into five subfamilies. The study also revealed the protein structure and interactions of GJs, and showed that GJ proteins were highly expressed in intestinal tissues and regulated after bacterial infection. The findings provide valuable insights for further understanding the function of GJ proteins in S. schlegelii.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer Ortiz, Yuriy Bobkov, Melissa B. DeBiasse, Dorothy G. Mitchell, Allison Edgar, Mark Q. Martindale, Anthony G. Moss, Leslie S. Babonis, Joseph F. Ryan
Summary: This article investigates the innexin gene in four species of ctenophores and finds that these genes have evolved independently from those of other animals and were established early in the evolution of ctenophores. The study also shows that ctenophores have functional innexin hemichannels that are closely related to those of other animals. Overall, the results suggest that the last common ancestor of animals had channels capable of forming both gap junctions and innexin hemichannels, and that innexin genes have independently evolved in major lineages throughout Metazoa.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Rui Chang, Jionghong Peng, Yunfan Chen, Hailin Liao, Size Zhao, Ju Zou, Sijie Tan
Summary: This article reviews the research progress on deep brain stimulation (DBS) for drug addiction, with a focus on the treatment effects of NAc DBS and other brain regions.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Marek Harat, Michal Kiec, Marcin Rudas, Marcin Birski, Jacek Furtak
Summary: The study showed that bilateral nucleus accumbens DBS treatment can effectively reduce self-destructive and aggressive behaviors, with better outcomes for patients with Tourette syndrome.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amber R. Dassen, Jiska van Schaik, Pepijn van den Munckhof, P. R. Schuurman, Eelco W. Hoving, Hanneke M. van Santen
Summary: Hypothalamic dysfunction can lead to morbid obesity and neurobehavioral dysfunction. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be an effective treatment for hypothalamic dysfunction, but the evidence is limited and more research is needed.
Article
Neurosciences
Yang He, Jun Tang, Meng Zhang, Junjie Ying, Dezhi Mu
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of human placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) transplantation in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The results showed that hPMSCs transplantation reduced apoptosis and improved long-term neurological prognosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of Sema 3A/NRP-1 expression and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway played a key role in the protective effects of hPMSCs.
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Isenstein, Edward G. Freedman, Jiayi Xu, Ian A. DeAndrea-Lazarus, John J. Foxe
Summary: This study evaluated electrophysiological discrimination of parametric somatosensory stimuli in healthy young adults to understand how the brain processes the duration of tactile information. The results showed that participants did not electrophysiologically discriminate between 100 and 115 ms, but they exhibited distinct electrophysiological responses when the deviant stimuli were 130, 145, and 160 ms. These findings contribute to a better understanding of tactile sensitivity in different clinical conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Juliana R. Souza, Ludmila Lima-Silveira, Daniela Accorsi-Mendonca, Benedito H. Machado
Summary: This study demonstrates that A2A receptors play a crucial role in modulating synaptic transmission in the NTS neurons and are required for the enhancement of glutamatergic transmission observed under short-term sustained hypoxia conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Miki Hashizume, Rina Ito, Rie Suge, Yasushi Hojo, Gen Murakami, Takayuki Murakoshi
Summary: The basolateral amygdaloid complex (BLA) is closely involved in the formation of emotional memories, including both aversive memory and contextual fear memory. Acute sleep deprivation (SD) disrupts the acquisition of tone-associated fear memory in juvenile rats, but has no significant effect on contextual fear memory. Slow network oscillation in the amygdala contributes to the formation of amygdala-dependent fear memory in relation to sleep.
Article
Neurosciences
Qunxian Wang, Shipeng Guo, Dongjie Hu, Xiangjun Dong, Zijun Meng, Yanshuang Jiang, Zijuan Feng, Weihui Zhou, Weihong Song
Summary: GSDME plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the switch from apoptosis to pyroptosis and participating in neuroinflammatory response. Knockdown of GSDME has been shown to improve cognitive impairments, indicating that GSDME could be a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.