Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Marc Schneeberger, Nicola L. Brice, Kyle Pellegrino, Luca Parolari, Jordan T. Shaked, Keith J. Page, Francois Marchildon, Douglas W. Barrows, Thomas S. Carroll, Thomas Tolpiko, Victoria M. Mulligan, Robert Newman, Kevin Doyle, Roland Burli, Daniel F. Barker, Angela Glen, Maria Jose Ortuno, Alexander R. Nectow, Nicolas Renier, Paul Cohen, Mark Carlton, Nathaniel Heintz, Jeffrey M. Friedman
Summary: Food intake and body weight are regulated by specific neurons in the brain. Activating glutamatergic neurons in the brainstem can suppress food intake and increase locomotion. These neurons project to the lateral hypothalamus, which is involved in decreasing food intake. Chronic activation of these neurons can reduce weight in leptin-deficient and diet-induced obese mice. The orexin 1 receptor is highly expressed in these neurons and can be targeted with an antagonist to reduce feeding and body weight. This potential therapy for obesity may also apply to humans.
Article
Neurosciences
Yingling Xu, Xixiao Zhu, Yuerong Chen, Yeqing Chen, Yichen Zhu, Siqi Xiao, Mengwei Wu, Yifang Wang, Chi Zhang, Zenmin Wu, Xiaofen He, Boyu Liu, Zui Shen, Xiaomei Shao, Jianqiao Fang
Summary: Electroacupuncture (EA) effectively alleviates anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic neuropathic pain, and the mechanism may be related to the changes in glutamatergic neuronal activity between the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), as well as the serotoninergic neuronal activity.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sen Li, Ikuo Otsuka, Takaki Tanifuji, Satoshi Okazaki, Tadasu Horai, Motonori Takahashi, Takeshi Kondo, Yasuhiro Ueno, Akitoyo Hishimoto
Summary: Previous evidence has shown increased ribosomal DNA (rDNA) content in the blood of patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) among European populations. This study investigated rDNA copy number (rDNAcn) of SCZ in East Asian populations, as well as in blood and brain tissues. The results showed that patients with SCZ had significantly increased rDNAcn in both blood and brain tissues compared to controls. These findings replicate previous observations in Europeans and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying SCZ pathophysiology.
Article
Neurosciences
Han-Wen Gu, Guang-Fen Zhang, Pan-Miao Liu, Wei-Tong Pan, Yuan-Xiang Tao, Zhi-Qiang Zhou, Jian-Jun Yang
Summary: Neuropathic pain severely affects patients' quality of life, but the neuronal circuit mechanisms associated with this disorder remain poorly understood. Recent research has found that a projection from the lateral hypothalamus to the lateral habenula participates in nerve injury-induced nociceptive hypersensitivity. These findings contribute to understanding neuropathic pain and provide potential targets for treatment.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuting Cui, Xiaodan Huang, Pengcheng Huang, Lu Huang, Zhao Feng, Xinkuan Xiang, Xinfeng Chen, Anan Li, Chaoran Ren, Haohong Li
Summary: This study reveals the important role of the basal forebrain-lateral habenula circuit in the pathophysiology of depression. Chronic activation of the circuit leads to depressive-like behaviors, while inhibition of the circuit alleviates stress-induced depressive phenotype.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ross A. McDevitt, Rosa Anna M. Marino, Hugo A. Tejeda, Antonello Bonci
Summary: Serotonin plays a crucial role in cue-reward learning in mice, as serotonin reuptake inhibitors can reduce lever pressing behavior, and alterations in serotonin levels in different brain regions can impact behavioral responses.
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Alex Fratzl, Alice M. Koltchev, Nicole Vissers, Yu Lin Tan, Andre Marques-Smith, A. Vanessa Stempel, Tiago Branco, Sonja B. Hofer
Summary: Animals can choose to act on or ignore sensory stimuli based on prior experience and perception of threat level in the environment, which is controlled by the activity of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN). The vLGN plays a critical role in modulating escape responses and risk-avoidance behavior in animals, particularly in response to visual threats.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yun Lo, Pei-Lu Yi, Yi-Tse Hsiao, Fang-Chia Chang
Summary: The neuropeptide Hypocretin is released in response to stress and plays a role in regulating arousal and energy balance. In a study, researchers found that footshock stimulation led to an increase in Hypocretin release and suppressed REM sleep in rodents. The study also showed that the elevated levels of Hypocretin disrupted both REM sleep and slow wave activity during NREM sleep. Furthermore, the footshock stimulation also caused an increase in innate anxiety.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiao-ju Liu, Hai-juan Wang, Xiao-yu Wang, Yin-xia Ning, Jie Gao
Summary: The study aimed to clarify the role of GABABR1 in regulating aggressive behavior in rats. Rat models of highly and less aggressive behavior were established through social isolation plus resident intruder. Results indicated that the regulatory relationship between GABA and serotonin in different brain regions plays a role in rodent aggressive behavior.
NEUROCHEMISTRY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ekaterina Martianova, Renata Sadretdinova, Alicia Pageau, Nikola Pausic, Tommy Doucet Gentiletti, Danahe Leblanc, Arturo Marroquin Rivera, Benoit Labonte, Christophe D. Proulx
Summary: The outputs of lateral hypothalamic neurons play a critical role in sensory integration and organizing behavior responses. This study demonstrates the significant coherent activity of three major neuronal outputs projecting to downstream targets during sensory-evoked or self-initiated motor responses in mice.
Article
Neurosciences
Xi-yang Wang, Xiao-qi Chen, Guo-quan Wang, Rong-lin Cai, Hao Wang, Hai-tao Wang, Xiao-qi Peng, Meng-ting Zhang, Shun Huang, Guo-ming Shen
Summary: In this study, a mouse model of gastric dilation was used to investigate the neural pathways underlying gastric motility disorders. It was found that activation of PVNCRH neurons is associated with gastric motility disorders, and inhibition of PVNCRH neuron activity can alleviate these disorders. Furthermore, it was discovered that PVNCRH neurons project to DMVChAT neurons, suggesting a potential pathway by which somatic stimulation affects gastric motility.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nima Khalighinejad, Sanjay Manohar, Masud Husain, Matthew F. S. Rushworth
Summary: Decision-making involves choosing actions, as well as determining when and whether to initiate them. Different brain regions, such as DRN, BF, and ACC, contribute to different stages of decision-making, with 5-HT and ACh playing complementary roles.
Article
Physiology
Toshiyuki Fujita, Naoya Aoki, Chihiro Mori, Eiko Fujita, Toshiya Matsushima, Koichi J. Homma, Shinji Yamaguchi
Summary: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating mental states and processing emotions in mammals. This study conducted a molecular dissection of serotonergic neurons in the brainstem of birds and found heterogeneity among these neurons. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the correspondence between bird and mammalian serotonergic neurons.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jacqueline K. Khamma, Daniel S. Copeland, Holly S. Hake, Stephanie C. Gantz
Summary: The activity of dorsal raphe neurons is controlled by noradrenaline afferents, which activate α1-adrenergic receptors to produce EPSC. The amplitude of the EPSC is influenced by the amount of noradrenaline released, while the decay time is not affected. The termination of EPSC is primarily mediated by reuptake via transporters.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Isabel de Araujo Salgado, Chia Li, C. Joseph Burnett, Shakira Rodriguez Gonzalez, Jordan J. Becker, Allison Horvath, Thomas Earnest, Alexxai V. Kravitz, Michael J. Krashes
Summary: This study explores the flexible survival decisions of animals facing predation threats during food seeking. The presence of predators rapidly induces physiological, neuronal, and behavioral adaptations in mice. When the threat level increases, food seeking and consumption in mice are restricted, and conflict can be reduced by changing internal states or external environments, leading to a shift in feeding strategies.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Christian Holscher
Summary: Type 2 diabetes and insulin desensitization have been linked to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. GLP-1 and GIP hormones have shown neuroprotective effects in trials, suggesting potential disease-modifying care for patients.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Guang-Zhao Yang, Qi-Chao Gao, Wei-Ran Li, Hong-Yan Cai, Hui-Min Zhao, Jian-Ji Wang, Xin-Rui Zhao, Jia-Xin Wang, Mei-Na Wu, Jun Zhang, Christian Holscher, Jin-Shun Qi, Zhao-Jun Wang
Summary: (D-Ser2) Oxyntomodulin improves cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice by restoring hippocampal synaptic function and theta rhythm.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Niamh McCombe, Shuo Liu, Xuemei Ding, Girijesh Prasad, Magda Bucholc, David P. Finn, Stephen Todd, Paula L. McClean, Kongfatt Wong-Lin
Summary: This study focuses on extreme missingness in clinical data and evaluates imputation and classification workflows. The results show that iterative imputation on the training dataset combined with a reduced-feature classification model provides the best approach in terms of speed and accuracy when dealing with extreme missing data.
IEEE JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATICS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiaoyan Yang, Peng Feng, Rong Ji, Yiqing Ren, Wenshi Wei, Christian Holscher
Summary: The review summarizes preclinical and clinical studies testing GLP-1R agonists and dual GLP-1/GIPR agonists in PD and discusses possible mechanisms of action.
EXPERT OPINION ON THERAPEUTIC TARGETS
(2022)
Article
Medical Informatics
Alok Joshi, Stephen Todd, David P. Finn, Paula L. McClean, Kongfatt Wong-Lin
Summary: This study analyzed the prescribing practices of antidepressant medications for dementia patients in hospitals in England and Wales, revealing complex interactions between prescribed drug types, dementia subtypes, and depression.
BMC MEDICAL INFORMATICS AND DECISION MAKING
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Jaishree Jalewa, Juanita Todd, Patricia T. Michie, Deborah M. Hodgson, Lauren Harms
Summary: This study investigates the neurobiology of MMN as a preclinical biomarker of schizophrenia and the effects of developmental risk factors, maternal infection and adolescent cannabis use, on rat MMR amplitude. The findings suggest that male rats exposed to these risk factors show reduced MMR in specific auditory contexts, providing a model for MMN impairments in schizophrenia.
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Chandan K. Behera, Alok Joshi, Da-Hui Wang, Trevor Sharp, KongFatt Wong-Lin
Summary: By computationally modeling neural circuits and analyzing dynamical systems, this study found that neural circuits with different structures can perform the same function, indicating the degeneracy of neural circuits. However, it is still unclear whether neural circuits with interacting neuromodulator sources can degenerate while maintaining the same neuromodulatory function. This study addresses this question by simulating neural circuits of neuromodulators serotonin and dopamine, local interneurons, and their interactions under reward/punishment-based conditioning tasks.
FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Yogesh Kumar Meena, Hubert Cecotti, Braj Bhushan, Ashish Dutta, Girijesh Prasad
Summary: In this study, a multimodal Hindi language eye-gaze-assisted learning system based on a virtual keyboard was used to reduce tracking errors and detect children with dyslexia. The results showed that the workload and usability of the system were substantially different for children with dyslexia, and different classifiers were successfully able to distinguish dyslexic children based on typing speed on different words. This work highlights the importance of inclusive virtual keyboards and demonstrates their potential for detecting dyslexia.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON HUMAN-MACHINE SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Niamh McCombe, Jake Bamrah, Jose M. Sanchez-Bornot, David P. Finn, Paula L. McClean, Kongfatt Wong-Lin
Summary: This study compares the performance of a classifier based on data-driven diagnostic classes to clinician diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. The results show that the cluster-based classifier has higher accuracy in diagnosing AD and suggests the potential value of combining objective cluster-based diagnostic labels with GNN classification for clinical risk stratification and diagnosis of AD.
HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jie Hao, Jiawei Zou, Jiaqiang Zhang, Ke Chen, Duojiao Wu, Wei Cao, Guoguo Shang, Jean Y. H. Yang, KongFatt Wong-Lin, Hourong Sun, Zhen Zhang, Xiangdong Wang, Wantao Chen, Xin Zou
Summary: Cell-state transition analysis using single-cell RNA-sequencing can reveal additional information in time-resolved biological phenomena. However, current methods are limited to short-term evolution of cell states based on gene expression derivative. This study presents scSTAR, a method that overcomes this limitation by constructing a paired-cell projection between different biological conditions with arbitrary time spans, leading to more accurate predictions and new discoveries in aging and cancer research.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Vahab Youssofzadeh, Sujit Roy, Anirban Chowdhury, Aqil Izadysadr, Lauri Parkkonen, Manoj Raghavan, Girijesh Prasad
Summary: This study analyzed magnetoencephalography (MEG) data to examine the cortical engagement during mental imagery tasks. They found that beta power decrements can be used as markers to map and decode cortical engagement and classify different task types with high accuracy.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Zijuan Zhang, Ziyang Yu, Ye Yuan, Jing Yang, Shijie Wang, He Ma, Li Hao, Jinlian Ma, Zhonghua Li, Zhenqiang Zhang, Christian Hölscher
Summary: Synaptic impairment and loss are important in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and can cause cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. In this study, a novel CCK analogue was found to improve synaptic plasticity, spatial learning, and memory in an AD mouse model. This effect was achieved through the activation of the PI3K/Akt and PKA/CREB-BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways, leading to protection of synapses and cognition.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Hong-Yan Cai, Si-Ru Chen, Yu Wang, Juan-Juan Jiao, Jun Qiao, Christian Holscher, Zhao-Jun Wang, Sheng-Xiao Zhang, Mei-Na Wu
Summary: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that worsens with age. Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the associated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network may be linked to the occurrence and development of AD. RNA sequencing identified 358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 302 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and 56 differential expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs). The constructed ceRNA network includes 4 lncRNAs, 4 microRNAs, and 2 mRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of DEmRNAs in AD-related biological functions. Co-expressed DEmRNAs in humans and mice were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The findings provide insights into AD-related pathological mechanisms and can contribute to improving AD diagnosis and treatment.
Article
Neurosciences
Theodora Panagaki, Elisa B. Randi, Csaba Szabo, Christian Holscher
Summary: The study confirms the protective effects of incretin signaling in managing neuronal degeneration in Parkinson's disease, and further explains the observed effects of incretin-based therapies in PD patients. The dual incretin analog shows superior anti-apoptotic effects compared to the glucagon-like peptide-1 analog.
JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Niamh Mccombe, Xuemei Ding, Girijesh Prasad, Paddy Gillespie, David P. Finn, Stephen Todd, Paula L. Mcclean, Kongfatt Wong-Lin
Summary: This study optimized feature selection for dementia diagnosis by considering assessment time as a practical constraint, resulting in informative subsets with better diagnostic accuracy and total assessment time. The implementation of a sandbox-like toolbox with a graphical user interface facilitated further evaluation and testing of selected assessment items by clinicians and non-specialists.
IEEE JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL ENGINEERING IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE
(2022)
