Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
David A. Eagles, Chun Yuen Chow, Glenn F. King
Summary: This review examines the role of Na(V)1.7 channels in nociception, their history as a therapeutic target, and the challenges in developing potent inhibitors. Despite significant progress in drug development, effective analgesia remains elusive in clinical trials.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Matthew R. Sapio, Diana M. King, Ellen S. Staedtler, Dragan Maric, Jahandar Jahanipour, Natalya A. Kurochkina, Allison P. Manalo, Andre Ghetti, Andrew J. Mannes, Michael J. Iadarola
Summary: This study evaluates the expression pattern of a painless neuropathy gene in human tissue and finds that it is widely expressed but not enriched in pain fibers.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Alison J. Barker
Summary: As organisms invade new ecological niches, new species are formed and behavioral repertoires and neural circuitry diverge to adapt to new environments. Speciation events provide a unique advantage for studying brain evolution by allowing direct comparisons between homologous neural circuits with distinct functional outputs, revealing common motifs within brain evolution.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Donald Iain MacDonald, Shafaq Sikandar, Jan Weiss, Martina Pyrski, Ana P. Luiz, Queensta Millet, Edward C. Emery, Flavia Mancini, Gian D. Iannetti, Sascha R. A. Alles, Manuel Arcangeletti, Jing Zhao, James J. Cox, Robert M. Brownstone, Frank Zufall, John N. Wood
Summary: Deletion of SCN9A encoding Na(V)1.7 in humans leads to pain insensitivity and anosmia. Knockout mice show normal nociceptor activity, but synaptic transmission from nociceptor terminals in the spinal cord is reduced by an opioid-dependent mechanism, reversing analgesia. This mechanism is also responsible for anosmia.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Merry Kalingel-Levi, Naomi Schreuer, Yelena Granovsky, Tami Bar-Shalita, Irit Weissman-Fogel, Tseela Hoffman, Eynat Gal
Summary: This study aims to illuminate the various aspects of pain experience as perceived by adults with ASD. The findings emphasize the crucial role of pain awareness and communication in the pain experience of individuals with ASD, highlighting the need for better understanding and listening to their unique pain profiles and experiences.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiao-hui Xie, Jian-guang Tang, Zhong-hua Liu, Shui-jiao Peng, Zhuang-zhuang Yuan, Heng Gu, Yi-qiao Hu, Zhi-ping Tan
Summary: Charcot neuroarthropathy associated with CIP has a wider spectrum than previously recognized, and the novel SCN9A mutation identified in this study contributes to understanding critical amino acids for maintaining Nav1.7 function, which is valuable for the development of Nav1.7-targeted analgesics.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Soo-Eun Lee, Hyemin Shin, Gyumyoung Kim, Hyeri Moon, Ji-Won Hur
Summary: This study examined the gray matter volume patterns in individuals with NSSI and found significant decreases in the volume of the right anterior insula, bilateral secondary somatosensory cortex, and left inferior frontal gyrus. Individuals with smaller volume in these regions were more likely to engage in self-injury for affect regulation and sensation seeking, and experience higher pain intensity during self-injury.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Nadine C. Hornig, Paul-Martin Holterhus
Summary: Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome is characterized by resistance of the body and cells to androgens due to a hemizygous loss of function mutations in the X-chromosomal androgen receptor gene, despite 46, XY gonosomes. Partial forms of PAIS may exhibit varying degrees of virilisation depending on the activity of the androgen receptor. Despite the presence of the same mutation within a family, the phenotypic outcome can still be variable.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Naama Wagner, Michael Alburquerque, Noa Ecker, Edo Dotan, Ben Zerah, Michelle Mendonca Pena, Neha Potnis, Tal Pupko
Summary: In this study, novel machine-learning algorithms were developed to characterize the secretion signal of Type III effectors in both plant and animal pathogens. A benchmark dataset was curated and the results showed that the novel approach had substantially better classification accuracy compared to previous methodologies. The study also revealed that plant and animal pathogen effectors may have different secretion signals.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Margherita Marchi, Ilaria D'Amato, Mirna Andelic, Daniele Cartelli, Erika Salvi, Raffaella Lombardi, Evren Gumus, Giuseppe Lauria
Summary: Mutations in SCN9A gene can lead to a wide range of clinical outcomes related to pain sensitivity. This study describes a patient born from consanguineous parents who exhibited pain insensitivity, diminished temperature sensation, foot burns, and loss of nociceptive nerve fibers. Through genetic sequencing and functional studies, a novel mutation in SCN9A gene causing pain insensitivity was identified.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Steven J. Middleton, Irene Perini, Andreas C. Themistocleous, Greg A. Weir, Kirsty McCann, Allison M. Barry, Andrew Marshall, Michael Lee, Leah M. Mayo, Manon Bohic, Georgios Baskozos, India Morrison, Line S. Loken, Sarah McIntyre, Saad S. Nagi, Roland Staud, Isac Sehlstedt, Richard D. Johnson, Johan Wessberg, John N. Wood, Christopher G. Woods, Aziz Moqrich, Hakan Olausson, David L. Bennett
Summary: The study shows that Na(v)1.7 plays a crucial role in regulating C-low threshold mechanoreceptor function, cool sensitivity, and affective touch in addition to pain perception. Patients with loss-of-function mutations in Nav1.7 exhibit congenital insensitivity to pain and abnormalities in the encoding of affective touch. Overall, Na(v)1.7 is essential for normal C-LTMR function and pleasant touch perception.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jinfeng Dong, Yilin Jiang, Jiawei Liu, Jun Pei, Xian Yi Tan, Haihua Hu, Ady Suwardi, Ning Jia, Chuntai Liu, Qiang Zhu, Qingyu Yan, Jing-Feng Li
Summary: In this study, composition-insensitive GeTe-based compounds with high thermoelectric coefficients and excellent module performance were developed, suitable for waste heat recovery and solid-state cooling applications.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rong Zhu, Yuxiang Zhu, Mingpeng Xu, Zhensheng Gu
Summary: We present a case of CIPA with a new NTRK1 gene mutation, in which the patient experienced recurrent corneal ulcer. Genetic sequencing revealed compound-heterozygous mutations in NTRK1 gene. After medication, the corneal ulcer of the patient healed. This study expands the spectrum of NTRK1 gene mutation associated with CIPA and provides a feasible approach for clinicians to treat patients with CIPA-related keratopathy.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Benedict M. Wand, Aidan G. Cashin, James H. McAuley, Matthew K. Bagg, Gemma M. Orange, G. Lorimer Moseley
Summary: This article describes a model for understanding the complexity of chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) by integrating modifiable factors across the biopsychosocial spectrum. The model suggests that individuals with chronic LBP hold strong and relatively unchangeable internal models of a damaged, fragile, and unhealthy back, and that information supporting these models is more credible and accessible than conflicting information. The article proposes a treatment framework aimed at changing these internal models to view the back as healthy, adaptable, and fit for purpose, while providing precise and trustworthy evidence to support this view and minimizing conflicting information.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chaoxia Zhao, Li Xue, Yanping Zhou, Yi Zhang, Kama Huang
Summary: A novel electrodeless high-flow microwave atmospheric plasma jet was developed for fast degradation of p-nitrophenol, achieving 100% removal with stable performance. The key role of hydroxyl radicals and the possible intermediate products and degradation pathway were elucidated during the degradation process.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Nihal A. Salem, Lawrence Manzano, Michael W. Keist, Olga Ponomareva, Amanda J. Roberts, Marisa Roberto, R. Dayne Mayfield
Summary: This study identified cell-type specific gene expression changes associated with alcohol dependence in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice. The results revealed dysregulated gene co-expression networks and differentially expressed genes in multiple cell types, highlighting the involvement of inhibitory neurons and astrocytes in alcohol dependence. Novel targets for studying molecular mechanisms contributing to alcohol dependence were also identified.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Laura E. Hawley, Megan Stringer, Abigail J. Deal, Andrew Folz, Charles R. Goodlett, Randall J. Roper
Summary: This study found that the overexpression of DYRK1A protein in Down syndrome mice varies with age, sex, and brain region, and reducing the copy number of Dyrk1a can decrease the expression of DYRK1A. These sex-specific patterns of DYRK1A overexpression may provide mechanistic targets for therapeutic intervention in Down syndrome.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2024)