Article
Neurosciences
Valeria Mussetto, Aurora Moen, Lidia Trofimova, Juergen Sandkuehler, Roni Hogri
Summary: The clinical burden faced by chronic pain patients is compounded by affective comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that reactive glial cells in the spinal cord dorsal horn play a key role in the chronification of pain, while supraspinal glia are important for psychological aspects of chronic pain.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biology
Amelie M. Borie, Larry J. Young, Robert C. Liu
Summary: Oxytocin modulates social behavior in various vertebrate species, but its effects vary across species, individuals, and lifetimes. The physiological effects of oxytocin are mediated through interaction with different neuromodulatory systems and can depend on the specific neural circuits involved. Additionally, these effects can be influenced by genetics and experience. This article focuses on the interaction between oxytocin and endocannabinoids in the nucleus accumbens and their modulation of prosocial behaviors in prairie voles. The authors discuss research on the role of social experience, such as mating and pair bonding, in altering how oxytocin modulates glutamatergic signaling in the nucleus accumbens through the recruitment of endocannabinoids. They also explore potential sex differences in this modulation based on recent data in male voles, and propose that future precision medicine therapies involving oxytocin should consider the interaction between social experience, sex, and genetics in influencing oxytocin actions.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Feng Zhang, Xiaolie He, Kun Dong, Li Yang, Bei Ma, Yuchen Liu, Zhibo Liu, Bairu Chen, Rongrong Zhu, Liming Cheng
Summary: This study evaluated the combined effects of layered double hydroxide-coupled NT3 (MgFe-LDH/NT3) nanoparticles (NPs) and ultrasound (US) for spinal cord injury (SCI) therapy. The combined treatment promoted neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation into neurons and exerted anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. In a completely transected murine thoracic SCI model, the combined therapy improved behavioral and electrophysiological performance at eight weeks. RNA sequencing revealed that ultrasonic-induced Piezo1 downregulation is the core mechanism by which combined therapy promotes neurogenesis and inhibits inflammation.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yasunori Haranishi, Koji Hara, Tadanori Terada
Summary: AM404 has been shown to alleviate mechanical and cold hyperalgesia primarily through CB1 receptor activation at the site of the spinal cord in rats with chronic constriction injury. The CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 significantly inhibited the antihyperalgesic effects of AM404, while the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 antagonist capsazepine showed a potentiating effect. These findings support the potential of AM404 as a promising treatment for neuropathic pain.
PHARMACOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Shuai Ren, Weihua Zhang, HongMiao Liu, Xin Wang, Xiangchen Guan, Mingzhe Zhang, Jian Zhang, Qiong Wu, Yan Xue, Dan Wang, Yong Liu, Jianyu Liu, Xiaoping Ren
Summary: The study focused on investigating the restoration of motor function following spinal cord injury through transplanting a vascularized pedicle of hemisected spinal cord to bridge the transected spinal cord. Results showed that electrical continuity was restored, leading to motor function recovery, supporting the potential effectiveness of similar operative techniques in treating SCI patients previously considered to have irreversible damage or paralysis.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Tara Lagu, Samantha L. Schroth, Carol Haywood, Allen Heinemann, Allison Kessler, Leslie Morse, Sadiya S. Khan, Kiarri N. Kershaw, Mark S. Nash
Summary: Over 16,000 Americans experience spinal cord injury (SCI) annually, leading to chronic disability and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. SCI patients have a higher burden of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and encounter numerous barriers to care due to disability and socioeconomic inequities. It is crucial for primary care physicians and cardiologists to be aware of the importance of timely diagnosis and management of cardiac risk factors in SCI patients.
Article
Psychiatry
Hagar Bauminger, Hiba Zaidan, Irit Akirav, Inna Gaisler-Salomon
Summary: NMDA receptor blockade in rodents can induce schizophrenia-like behavioral abnormalities, and the endocannabinoid system can modulate these abnormalities. The study shows that anandamide hydrolysis inhibitor can reverse the behavioral deficits induced by NMDA receptor blocker in adolescence. It also suggests that endocannabinoid stimulation may have therapeutic potential in treating treatment-resistant symptoms.
SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Dongwoo Yu, Seul Ah Mun, Sang Woo Kim, Dae-Chul Cho, Chi Heon Kim, Inbo Han, Subum Lee, Sang -Woo Lee, Kyoung-Tae Kim
Summary: D-serine exacerbates neuropathic pain after traumatic spinal cord injury by mediating the NMDA receptor. NMDA receptor antagonists alleviate neuropathic pain after traumatic spinal cord injury.
Review
Immunology
Jiansong Chen, Yiguo Shen, Xiaobo Shao, Weiliang Wu
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) and spinal cord tumor cause significant damage to the spinal cord, leading to multiple impairments and high morbidity and mortality. The treatment options for these conditions are limited and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the review, the role of inflammasomes in SCI and spinal cord tumors is highlighted, and targeting inflammasomes is suggested as a potential therapeutic strategy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaoping Ren, Weihua Zhang, Jie Qin, Jian Mo, Yi Chen, Jie Han, Xinjian Feng, Sitan Feng, Haibo Liang, Liangjue Cen, Xiaofei Wu, Linxuan Han, Rongyu Lan, Haixuan Deng, Huihui Yao, Zhongquan Qi, Hongjun Gao, Lishan Wei, Shuai Ren
Summary: This study tested spinal cord fusion (SCF) using the neuroprotective agent polyethylene glycol (PEG) in different animal models and developed a new clinical procedure called vascular pedicle hemisected spinal cord transplantation (vSCT) for the treatment of paraplegic patients. The results demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of vSCT in re-establishing the continuity of spinal nerve fibers, potentially restoring motor, sensory, and autonomic nervous functions in paraplegic patients. Further clinical trials are needed to validate these findings.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
W. L. Tai, L. Sun, H. Li, P. Gu, E. A. Joosten, C. W. Cheung
Summary: The joint treatment of environmental enrichment (EE) and clinical analgesic ketamine has been shown to provide greater relief of spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain and motor dysfunction by reducing spinal glutamatergic activation.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tao Jiang, Tao Qin, Peng Gao, Zhiwen Tao, Xiaowei Wang, Mengyuan Wu, Jun Gu, Bo Chu, Ziyang Zheng, Jiang Yi, Tao Xu, Yifan Huang, Hao Liu, Shujie Zhao, Yongxin Ren, Jian Chen, Guoyong Yin
Summary: The expression of SIRT1 in spinal cord endothelial cells is decreased after spinal cord injury (SCI). SIRT1 has the ability to reduce endothelial reactive oxygen species production and protect endothelial barrier function, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target for promoting functional recovery against blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) disruption following SCI.
Review
Neurosciences
Giuliano Taccola, Ronaldo M. Ichiyama, V. Reggie Edgerton, Parag Gad
Summary: This review discusses the physiological states of spinal networks, highlighting the stochastic modulation by changing ensembles of proprioceptive and supraspinal input. Spinal epidural interfaces offer a platform for studying spinal network dynamics post-injury. Low-frequency epidural pulses can evoke motor responses with oscillatory patterns. The neural variability among spinal networks is seen as a fundamental mechanism of network design rather than noise interfering with movement control.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Haiying Guan, Ting Yan, Dongyang Wu, Alok Shiomurti Tripathi
Summary: This study demonstrates that epifriedelinol treatment can alleviate neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury, improve locomotor function, and reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, epifriedelinol treatment can regulate the expression of key proteins and decrease the level of glutamate, thus protecting the neural tissue.
TOHOKU JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yasunori Haranishi, Koji Hara, Tadanori Terada
Summary: Punicalagin, a natural compound found in pomegranate, has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It has been shown to alleviate neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain in the spinal cord, without affecting motor function.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL MEDICINES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Mawj Mandwie, Jordan A. Piper, Catherine A. Gorrie, Kevin A. Keay, Giuseppe Musumeci, Ghaith Al-Badri, Alessandro Castorina
Summary: Evidence suggests that there are region-specific disruptions of GFAP and Iba1 transcript and protein levels in higher brain regions as early as 24 hours post-spinal cord injury (SCI).
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Rebekah A. Jenkin, Samuel A. Garrett, Kevin A. Keay
Summary: Health education, research, and training rely on body donation and organ donation. However, supply is limited due to restrictions and legal requirements. Research suggests that health workers are less likely to support self-body and/or organ donation. Exposure to gross anatomy teaching may affect support and willingness for donation.
ANATOMICAL SCIENCES EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
M. Karmina Sosa, Damien C. Boorman, Kevin A. Keay
Summary: Increased glucocorticoids are observed in acute pain responses, but not in chronic pain state, indicating specific changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that prevent basal glucocorticoid levels from elevating in chronic pain. Individuals with chronic pain show normal HPA-axis responses to acute stressors, suggesting a rebalancing of the underlying circuits. Preclinical models of chronic neuropathic pain generally confirm these clinical observations, but few studies have explored the potential alterations in the neuroendocrine circuitry. Moreover, individual differences in the behavioral outcomes of these pain models, which resemble those in response to stress, threat, and motivational cues, may also be reflected in divergent patterns of HPA-axis activity. We investigated the effects of chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve on adrenocortical and hypothalamic markers of HPA-axis activity in rats showing persistent changes in social interactions (Persistent Effect) after CCI, comparing them with rats that did not show these changes (No Effect). Basal plasma corticosterone did not change after CCI and did not differ between groups. However, adrenocortical sensitivity to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) diverged between the two groups. No Effect rats showed significant increases in basal plasma ACTH with no change in adrenocortical melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) expression, while Persistent Effect rats exhibited modest decreases in plasma ACTH and significant increases in MC2R expression. In the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of Persistent Effect rats, there were significantly more corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) +ve and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) +ve neurons. Double-labelling revealed a decrease in the number of GR +ve CRF +ve neurons, suggesting decreased hypothalamic sensitivity of CRF neurons to circulating corticosterone in Persistent Effect rats. We propose that, in addition to rebalancing the HPA-axis, the increased CRF expression in Persistent Effect rats contributes to changes in complex behaviors, particularly social interactions.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Damien C. Boorman, Kevin A. Keay
Summary: Chronic pain is more prevalent and severe in women, and opioid analgesics are less effective and cause stronger nauseant effects in women. Neurobiological mechanisms underlying these sex differences, potentially involving neuronal-glial interactions, have yet to be clearly defined. In a rat study, female rats showed sex differences in astrocyte density and morphology, with smaller volumes and reduced complexity compared to males. These differences in astrocyte activity may contribute to the sex differences seen in the processing of opioids in the context of chronic neuropathic pain.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lewis S. Crawford, Damien C. Boorman, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: This review summarizes the current understanding of the roles of brainstem nuclei in modulating the intensity of pain and how these circuits can be used therapeutically for pain relief. Recent advancements in neuroimaging and statistical analysis have provided a more integrated understanding of brainstem function during pain. The knowledge of brainstem circuits in pain modulation can contribute to the optimization of pain management from acute to chronic and palliative states.
CURRENT OPINION IN SUPPORTIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Rebecca Robertson, Lewis S. Crawford, Noemi Meylakh, Paul M. Macey, Vaughan G. Macefield, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: In the past two decades, researchers have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore brain activation patterns during acute pain stimuli. While these studies have mainly focused on cortical regions, they have not extensively investigated discrete changes within small brain areas that play a critical role in pain responses, such as the hypothalamus, amygdala, and periaqueductal gray matter (PAG). Using ultra-high field (7-Tesla) MRI, this study examined signal changes in these specific brain regions during acute orofacial pain stimuli in awake humans. The findings revealed altered activity in subregions of the hypothalamus, amygdala, and PAG during pain stimulation, as well as sex-related differences in certain areas. This study provides insight into the activity of specific brain nuclei during acute pain stimulation in awake humans.
Article
Neurosciences
Fernando A. Tinoco Mendoza, Timothy E. S. Hughes, Rebecca Robertson, Lewis S. Crawford, Noemi Meylakh, Paul M. Macey, Vaughan G. Macefield, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: The PAG is a critical region for pain-related responses and shows a crude somatotopy for contextually appropriate behavioral responses. Different regions in the PAG are activated by cutaneous and muscle pain. Using ultra-high field functional magnetic resonance imaging, it was found that the PAG exhibits different signal intensity changes in response to noxious stimuli. This suggests a preserved somatotopic organization in the PAG between animals and humans.
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Anette Wu, Sean C. McWatt, Rachel Utomo, Austin Talis, Que Yun Xiao, Kerstin Saraci, Cecilia Brassett, Mandeep Gill Sagoo, Richard Wingate, Chung-Liang Chien, Hannes Traxler, Jens Waschke, Fransziska Vielmuth, Anna Sigmund, Yukari Yamada, Takeshi Sakurai, Mina Zeroual, Jorgen Olsen, Salma El-Batti, Suvi Viranta-Kovanen, Kevin Keay, William Stewart, Yinghui Mao, Ariella Lang, Carol Kunzel, Paulette Bernd, Heike Kielstein, Geoffroy P. J. C. Noeel
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of focus group discussions between peers with varying degrees of exposure to cadaveric material as an alternate approach to stimulate deep reflection on the topic of death. Results showed that students engaged in deep reflection and felt a sense of connectedness with their peers despite differences in exposure levels and physical distance. This suggests that focus groups with students from different laboratory contexts can help all students reflect on death and initiate thoughts about body donation among non-dissecting students.
ANATOMICAL SCIENCES EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James W. M. Kang, Kevin A. A. Keay, Michael D. D. Kendig, Laura H. H. Corbit, David Mor
Summary: The ability to adaptively guide behavior requires integration of external information with internal motivational factors. Acute stress and chronic pain can impair decision-making, including cognitive dysfunction. This study investigated the relationship between dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites in brain regions regulating motivated behavior and decision-making.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Damien C. Boorman, Kevin A. Keay
Summary: This study used non-pharmacological, contextual conditioning approaches to elicit placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia in rats with chronic neuropathic pain. The results showed that stronger placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia were observed when rats were conditioned in a more complex environment, indicating the importance of context in these effects. The findings highlight the significance of context and learning in the development of placebo and nocebo responses in male rodents with a neuropathic injury.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Biology
Lewis S. Crawford, Noemi Meylakh, Paul M. Macey, Vaughan G. Macefield, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: An fMRI study with 47 participants has discovered that stimulus-independent and stimulus-dependent neural networks centered around the midbrain periaqueductal gray region are responsible for an individual's ability to experience placebo analgesia. The specific neural circuits that regulate placebo analgesic responsiveness are still unknown, but involvement of brainstem pain modulatory regions is considered crucial. This study demonstrates differences in neural circuit connectivity between placebo responders and non-responders, highlighting the importance of altered connections involving the hypothalamus, anterior cingulate cortex, and midbrain periaqueductal gray matter in the placebo analgesic response.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Maria K. S. Sosa, Damien C. Boorman, Kevin A. Keay
Summary: Acute pain leads to transiently elevated corticosterone, while chronic pain does not. In a chronic pain model, different behavioral outcomes are associated with adaptations to the HPA-axis. Persistent changes in social behaviors are related to increased CRF and GR expression in the paraventricular hypothalamus. The sensitivity of brainstem catecholaminergic pathways to glucocorticoids does not play a key role in rebalancing the HPA-axis triggered by chronic pain.
Article
Neurosciences
Lewis S. Crawford, Emily P. Mills, A. Peek, Vaughan G. Macefield, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: Prior experiences, conditioning cues, and expectations of improvement play important roles in placebo analgesia expression, which is mediated by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). This study investigated the biochemistry and function of DLPFC in 38 healthy individuals during placebo analgesia. The results showed that the concentration of glutamate in DLPFC was inversely correlated with pain rating variability, and there was altered functional connectivity between DLPFC and the midbrain periaqueductal gray. These findings suggest that DLPFC is involved in formulating stimulus-response relationships during conditioning and translating them into altered cortico-brainstem functional relationships for placebo analgesia expression.
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Anette Wu, Que Yun Xiao, Sean McWatt, Rachel Utomo, Austin Talis, Kerstin Saraci, Cecilia Brassett, Mandeep Gill Sagoo, Richard Wingate, Chung-Liang Chien, Hannes Traxler, Jens Waschke, Franziska Vielmuth, Yukari Yamada, Takeshi Sakurai, Mina Zeroual, Jorgen Olsen, Salma El-Batti, Suvi Viranta-Kovanen, Kevin Keay, William Stewart, Carol Kunzel, Paulette Bernd, Heike Kielstein, Geoffroy P. J. C. Noel
Summary: This study investigated the impact of different anatomy course formats on students' reflections on death during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that anatomy dissection courses play a significant role in initiating students' thoughts about the topic of death.
MEDICAL SCIENCE EDUCATOR
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Emily P. Mills, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: Acute pain acts as a protective mechanism while chronic neuropathic pain may be related to plasticity within the brainstem pain-modulation circuitry, leading to pro-nociceptive conditions. Recent MRI studies have identified a key role of this system in various analgesic and hyperalgesic responses.
FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Song Xue, Feng Kong, Yiying Song, Jia Liu
Summary: This study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the relationship between individual's spontaneous neural activity and social interaction anxiety in a nonclinical population. The results showed that social interaction anxiety was correlated with the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in several brain regions, and that emotional intelligence partially mediated this relationship. This study provides evidence for the neural basis of social interaction anxiety in the normal population and highlights the role of emotional intelligence in this anxiety.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Katsuyuki Yamaguchi, Takuya Yazawa
Summary: This study provides morphometric data on the development of the human medullary arcuate nucleus (AN) by examining the brains of preterm and perinatal infants. The results show that AN morphology demonstrates asymmetry and individual variability during the fetal period. The volume and neuronal number of AN increase exponentially with age, while neuronal density decreases exponentially. The AN may undergo neuron death and neuroblasts production after mid-gestation.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhan Zhou, Weixin Dai, Tianxiao Liu, Min Shi, Yi Wei, Lifei Chen, Yubo Xie
Summary: Studies have shown that propofol-induced neurotoxicity is caused by disruption of mitochondrial fission and fusion, leading to an energy supply imbalance for developing neurons. Healthy mitochondria released by astrocytes can migrate to compromised neurons to mitigate propofol-induced neurotoxicity, but the exact mechanisms involved still need further clarification.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
An Chen, Song Hao, Yongpeng Han, Yang Fang, Yibei Miao
Summary: This study explores the efficacy of two forms of BCI attention training games and finds that physical games may be more effective than video games. The research also offers valuable insights for future game design from a neuroscience perspective.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Lina Liu, Luran Liu, Yunting Lu, Tianyuan Zhang, Wenting Zhao
Summary: This study reveals that GDI1 serves as a potential diagnostic biomarker for AD and inhibition of GDI1 can attenuate Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. The findings offer new insights for the treatment of AD.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Zahra Gholami, Ava Soltani Hekmat, Ali Abbasi, Kazem Javanmardi
Summary: This study investigated the effects of alamandine on allodynia in a rat model and found the presence of MrgD receptors in the vlPAG and RVM regions. Microinjection of alamandine resulted in a significant increase in paw withdrawal threshold and could be blocked by an MrgD receptor antagonist. Upregulation of MrgD receptor expression following allodynia induction suggests a potential compensatory mechanism in response to pain.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Mingliang Xu, Lei Xia, Junjie Li, Yehong Du, Zhifang Dong
Summary: This study found that DHF effectively alleviates sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment in developing mice by restoring the balance between tau O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation. Therefore, DHF has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for treating cognitive impairment associated with anesthetics, such as sevoflurane.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Tsubasa Mitsutake, Hisato Nakazono, Takanori Taniguchi, Hisayoshi Yoshizuka, Maiko Sakamoto
Summary: The posterior parietal cortex plays a crucial role in postural stability, and transcranial electrical stimulation of this region can modulate physical control responses. This study found that cathodal stimulation significantly decreased joint angular velocity in multiple directions, while there were no significant differences with transcranial random noise stimulation.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Xishuai Yang, Wei Zhang, Xueli Chang, Zuopeng Li, Runquan Du, Junhong Guo
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose rituximab (RTX) in patients with muscle-specific kinase antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG). The results showed that low-dose RTX treatment led to significant improvements in clinical symptoms and quality of life for patients with MuSK-MG.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Jian Zhang, Shunyuan Guo, Rong Tao, Fan Wang, Yihong Xie, Huizi Wang, Lan Ding, Yuejian Shen, Xiaoli Zhou, Junli Feng, Qing Shen
Summary: This study established an Alzheimer's disease (AD) model of zebrafish induced by AlCl3 and found that marine-derived plasmalogens (Pls) could alleviate cognitive impairments of AD zebrafish by reversing athletic impairment and altering the expression levels of genes related to oxidative stress, ferroptosis, synaptic dysfunction, and apoptosis.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Lu Li, Jiaqi Ren, Qi Fang, Liqiang Yu, Jintao Wang
Summary: ICU-AW is a common and severe neuromuscular complication in critically ill patients. Electrophysiological examination is essential for accurate diagnosis and early prediction of the disease. This study aimed to establish and validate an ICU-AW predictive model in SIRS patients, providing a practical tool for early clinical prediction.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Ahmad Alipour, Roghayeh Mohammadi
Summary: The present study aimed to investigate the separate and combined effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3) regions on pain relief in patients with type-2 diabetes suffering from neuropathic pain (NP). The results showed that tDCS had the potential to induce pain relief in patients with type-2 diabetes suffering from NP. The mean perceived pain intensity in the posttest was lower in the M1 stimulation group than in the F3 stimulation group. However, more trials with larger sample sizes are necessary to define clinically relevant effects.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Eduardo J. Fusse, Franciele F. Scarante, Maria A. Vicente, Mariana M. Marrubia, Flavia Turcato, Davi S. Scomparin, Melissa A. Ribeiro, Maria J. Figueiredo, Tamires A. V. Brigante, Francisco S. Guimaraes, Alline C. Campos
Summary: Repeated exposure to psychosocial stress alters the endocannabinoid system and affects brain regions associated with emotional distress. Enhancing the effects of endocannabinoids through pharmacological inhibition induces an anti-stress behavioral effect, possibly mediated by the mTOR signaling pathway.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Agostoni, Luca Bischetti, Federica Repaci, Margherita Bechi, Marco Spangaro, Irene Ceccato, Elena Cavallini, Luca Fiorentino, Francesca Martini, Jacopo Sapienza, Mariachiara Buonocore, Michele Francesco D'Incalci, Federica Cocchi, Carmelo Guglielmino, Roberto Cavallaro, Marta Bosia, Valentina Bambini
Summary: This study found a general impairment in humor comprehension in individuals with schizophrenia, with mental jokes being more difficult for both patients and controls. Humor comprehension was closely associated with the patients' overall pragmatic and linguistic profile, while the association with Theory of Mind (ToM) was minimal. Another notable finding was the increased appreciation of humor in individuals with schizophrenia, who rated jokes as funnier than controls did, regardless of whether they were correctly or incorrectly completed. The funniness ratings were not predicted by any measure, suggesting a dimension of humor untied to cognition or psychopathology.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiuping Gong, Qi Li, Yang Liu
Summary: This study demonstrates that Sev targets CREBBP to inhibit ALG13 transcription, leading to hippocampal damage and cognitive impairment.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
