Article
Neurosciences
Bartosz Pomierny, Weronika Krzyzanowska, Alicja Skorkowska, Jakub Jurczyk, Beata Bystrowska, Boguslawa Budziszewska, Joanna Pera
Summary: Brain ischemia is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, and the release of glutamate after ischemia induces neuronal excitotoxicity. VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 are involved in filling presynaptic vesicles with glutamate. This study explores the effect of cerebral ischemia on the expression of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2, and the impact of VGLUT inhibition on glutamate release and stroke outcome.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sam B. Choi, Tarlan Vatan, Theresa A. Alexander, Chenghang Zhang, Shyrice M. Mitchell, Colenso M. Speer, Peter Nemes
Summary: During brain development, the formation of axonal projections in the mouse visual system is influenced by both spontaneous retinal activity and visual experience. However, the precise proteomic changes in the retinorecipient targets during this developmental transition are still unknown.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaotao Xu, Kaixuan Wu, Xiaqing Ma, Wenying Wang, Haiyan Wang, Min Huang, Limin Luo, Chen Su, Tifei Yuan, Haibo Shi, Ji Han, Aizhong Wang, Tao Xu
Summary: The study demonstrates that mGluR5 expressed in the NAc can modulate pain and social avoidance behavior induced by chronic social defeat stress. Overexpression of mGluR5 prevents the development of depressive-like behaviors and pain in susceptible mice, while knockdown of mGluR5 exacerbates these symptoms. Additionally, mGluR5-mediated eCB production in the NAc relieves stress-induced depressive-like behaviors and pain.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Xiang Li, Wenjun Wang, Jianghong Yan, Fancai Zeng
Summary: This review discusses the role of glutamate transporters in Parkinson's disease, comparing the expression of different types of glutamate transporter genes using bioinformatics and suggesting that they may be potential targets for the treatment of PD.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Cheng Zhao, Chunyu Wang, Hainan Zhang, Weiqian Yan
Summary: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease associated with multiple neurotransmitter pathways. Glutamate, the central excitatory neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in neuronal activity control. This review highlights the role of vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) in neurotransmitter and synaptic communication, as well as the significant alterations in Glutamate transmission and VGLUTs levels in PD.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Benjamin M. Siemsen, Sarah M. Barry, Kelsey M. Vollmer, Lisa M. Green, Ashley G. Brock, Annaka M. Westphal, Raven A. King, Derek M. DeVries, James M. Otis, Christopher W. Cowan, Michael D. Scofield
Summary: This study identified and characterized a specific subpopulation of nucleus accumbens neurons that receive dense prelimbic cortical input. These neurons play a crucial role in regulating cue-induced cocaine seeking behavior, but not sucrose seeking. Additionally, they undergo morphological changes during the peak of cocaine seeking. These findings provide insights into the neural mechanisms of drug relapse and offer a novel target for addiction therapeutics.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lucia Caffino, Francesca Mottarlini, Giorgia Targa, Michel M. M. Verheij, Fabio Fumagalli, Judith R. Homberg
Summary: This study investigates the influence of SERT deletion on glutamate homeostasis in the NAc, and finds that SERT deletion leads to a reduction in glutamate signaling and further dysregulation in the glutamatergic synapse after cocaine self-administration.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lucia Caffino, Francesca Mottarlini, Giorgia Targa, Michel M. M. Verheij, Judith Homberg, Fabio Fumagalli
Summary: The study found that the deletion of serotonin transporter (SERT) may sensitize the glutamatergic synapses of the nucleus accumbens core to long-term but not short-term intake of cocaine.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Guangchao Zhang, Mengqiao Cui, Ran Ji, Shiya Zou, Lingzhen Song, Bingqian Fan, Li Yang, Di Wang, Suwan Hu, Xiao Zhang, Tantan Fang, Xiaolu Yu, Jun-Xia Yang, Dipesh Chaudhury, He Liu, Ankang Hu, Hai-Lei Ding, Jun-Li Cao, Hongxing Zhang
Summary: Due to the lack of novel mechanism pain medications and the severe adverse effects of opioid analgesics, there is a need to explore non-opioid analgesia and gain a better understanding of pain mechanisms. The study identifies a new neural circuit (PVTGlut -> NAc) for pain sensation and non-opioid analgesia, which involves glutamatergic inputs from the paraventricular thalamic nucleus to the nucleus accumbens. It is shown that inhibiting this circuit in mice has a potent analgesic effect, independent of opioid receptors, making it a valuable target for developing safer pain medications.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Jinyue Liu, Shilin Jia, Fang Huang, Hongwen He, Wenguo Fan
Summary: This study reviewed the mechanisms of peripheral glutamate-mediated orofacial pain, the regulation of glutamate in the periphery, and the translation of these findings into pain treatments.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Lukasz Bijoch, Joanna Klos, Monika Pawlowska, Justyna Wisniewska, Diana Legutko, Urszula Szachowicz, Leszek Kaczmarek, Anna Beroun
Summary: In this study, brain imaging techniques were used to investigate the brain regions involved in processing natural and addictive rewards. Results showed that acute sucrose exposure activated numerous brain structures, while prolonged use did not elicit similar response. On the other hand, cocaine exposure engaged more structures than sucrose treatment. Additionally, both natural and addictive rewards induced the accumulation of silent synapses in the nucleus accumbens.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Tracy L. Fetterly, Max F. Oginsky, Allison M. Nieto, Yanaira Alonso-Caraballo, Zuleirys Santana-Rodriguez, Carrie R. Ferrario
Summary: Human fMRI studies indicate that insulin influences brain activity in regions related to reward and motivation, such as the nucleus accumbens. Insulin has concentration-dependent bidirectional effects on excitatory transmission in the NAc, with insulin receptor activation increasing transmission and IGF receptor activation decreasing transmission. Obesity leads to a loss of insulin receptor-mediated increase in excitatory transmission in the NAc, while preserving reductions in transmission mediated by IGF receptors.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Yu-Chen Chan, Wei-Chin Hsu, Tai-Li Chou
Summary: Sexual humor activates neural mechanisms related to humor and sexual arousal. The amygdala plays a role in processing sexual humor appreciation. Functional connectivity is observed between the amygdala and midbrain, as well as between the amygdala and posterior OFC, during the appreciation of sexual humor.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Carmen Alonso-Martinez, Mario Rubio-Teves, Cesar Porrero, Francisco Clasca
Summary: The thalamus serves as a crucial connection between the cortical and subcortical motor systems in the brain, and the inputs from the deep nuclei of the cerebellum, substantia nigra reticulata (SNr), and globus pallidus internus/substantia nigra pars reticulata (GPi/ENT) to the ventral nuclei of the mouse thalamus have been mapped in this study. It was found that the ventral nuclei receive inputs from all three systems, with different territories characterized by glutamatergic or GABAergic neurotransmission markers. This delineation of the mouse ventral motor nuclei based on inputs provides valuable insights into motor system organization.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Georgia E. Kirkpatrick, Paige M. Dingess, Jake A. Aadland, Travis E. Brown
Summary: This study investigates whether forced exercise can attenuate the incubation of high-fat food craving. The results suggest that high-intensity exercise can prevent the establishment of incubation of craving for high-fat foods and may reduce cue-induced maladaptive food-seeking behaviors.
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Yuru Song, Mingchen Yao, Helen Kemprecos, Aine Byrne, Zhengdong Xiao, Qiaosheng Zhang, Amrita Singh, Jing Wang, Zhe S. Chen
Summary: Pain is a complex experience involving sensory-discriminative and affective-emotional processes, with high variability depending on context and anticipation. Researchers proposed a predictive coding paradigm to characterize pain and investigated the temporal coordination of oscillatory activity between different brain regions, offering new predictions about the impact of model parameters on physiological or behavioral outcomes.
JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Robert S. Talay, Yaling Liu, Matthew Michael, Anna Li, Isabel D. Friesner, Fei Zeng, Guanghao Sun, Zhe Sage Chen, Qiaosheng Zhang, Jing Wang
Summary: The study found that AMPAkines can restore endogenous anti-nociceptive functions in the PL-PFC region, providing a successful strategy for treating chronic neuropathic pain.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael R. Moore, Isabel D. Friesner, Emanuelle M. Rizk, Benjamin T. Fullerton, Manas Mondal, Megan H. Trager, Karen Mendelson, Ijeuru Chikeka, Tahsin Kurc, Rajarsi Gupta, Bethany R. Rohr, Eric J. Robinson, Balazs Acs, Rui Chang, Harriet Kluger, Bret Taback, Larisa J. Geskin, Basil Horst, Kevin Gardner, George Niedt, Julide T. Celebi, Robyn D. Gartrell-Corrado, Jane Messina, Tammie Ferringer, David L. Rimm, Joel Saltz, Jing Wang, Rami Vanguri, Yvonne M. Saenger
Summary: This study demonstrated that automated digital TIL analysis (ADTA) using a deep learning algorithm can improve accurate prediction of disease specific survival (DSS) in early-stage melanoma. This suggests that ADTA could be a valuable tool for further evaluation in larger studies for inclusion in staging algorithms.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Fei Zeng, Qiaosheng Zhang, Yaling Liu, Guanghao Sun, Anna Li, Robert S. Talay, Jing Wang
Summary: The corticostriatal circuit, with the projection from the prelimbic cortex to the nucleus accumbens, plays a crucial role in regulating pain behaviors. Enhancing glutamate signaling in the NAc through AMPAkines can reduce pain, but excessive use may mask the pain aversion effects of the PL. This suggests that the NAc is a key target for the PL in pain aversion.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Benjamin G. Wu, Imran Sulaiman, Jun-Chieh J. Tsay, Luisanny Perez, Brendan Franca, Yonghua Li, Jing Wang, Amber N. Gonzalez, Mariam El-Ashmawy, Joseph Carpenito, Evan Olsen, Maya Sauthoff, Kevin Yie, Xiuxiu Liu, Nan Shen, Jose C. Clemente, Bianca Kapoor, Tonia Zangari, Valeria Mezzano, Cynthia Loomis, Michael D. Weiden, Sergei B. Koralov, Jeanine D'Armiento, Sunil K. Ahuja, Xue-Ru Wu, Jeffrey N. Weiser, Leopoldo N. Segal
Summary: The study found that aspiration with oral commensals in mice led to short-term lower-airway dysbiosis, but induced a prolonged inflammatory response, including IL-17-producing T cells, lasting at least 14 days. Furthermore, aspiration with oral commensals decreased hosts' susceptibility to respiratory challenge with S. pneumoniae.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David H. Peng, B. Leticia Rodriguez, Lixia Diao, Pierre-Olivier Gaudreau, Aparna Padhye, Jessica M. Konen, Joshua K. Ochieng, Caleb A. Class, Jared J. Fradette, Laura Gibson, Limo Chen, Jing Wang, Lauren A. Byers, Don L. Gibbons
Summary: Understanding the resistance mechanisms in mutant KRAS lung cancers to targeted therapies and immune checkpoint blockade is crucial for developing novel combination therapies. MEK inhibition combined with anti-PD-L1 can synergistically reduce lung tumor growth, but resistance may develop eventually. Increased Th17 cell infiltration in resistant tumors promotes invasiveness and resistance to MEK inhibitors, and a triple therapy targeting MEK, PD-L1, and IL-17 may overcome this resistance for better in vivo responses.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa Doan, Kristoffer Padjen, Deborah Ok, Adam Gover, Jawad Rashid, Bijan Osmani, Shirley Avraham, Jing Wang, Samir Kendale
Summary: This study found that preoperative benzodiazepine use is associated with increased odds of readmission in patients undergoing total knee and hip arthroplasty, but not with respiratory failure or length of stay. Preoperative opioids were not associated with increased odds of the examined outcomes. Further studies are needed to examine risks associated with preoperative benzodiazepine use.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Abdullah Alfawaz, Vikas S. Kotha, Manas Nigam, Jenna C. Bekeny, Cara K. Black, Eshetu Tefera, Jing Wang, Kathleen M. Coerdt, Paige K. Dekker, Kevin G. Kim, Karen K. Evans, Cameron M. Akbari, Christopher E. Attinger
Summary: The study focused on the posterior flap technique for below-knee amputation (BKA) and found significant associations between preoperative popliteal and tibial arterial flow and BKA outcomes. Adequate blood flow was associated with higher healing rates, while preoperative popliteal artery patency was linked to better postoperative ambulation rates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lianyan Huang, Jianhua Jin, Kai Chen, Sikun You, Hongyang Zhang, Alexandra Sideris, Monica Norcini, Esperanza Recio-Pinto, Jing Wang, Wen-Biao Gan, Guang Yang
Summary: This study demonstrates that structural and functional changes in the primary somatosensory cortex caused by peripheral nerve injury in male mice require neuron-microglial signaling, with an up-regulation of BDNF mRNA expression in microglia. Conditional knockout of microglial BDNF prevents nerve injury-induced synaptic remodeling and hyperactivity in the S1, as well as pain hypersensitivity in mice, highlighting the crucial role of cerebral microglial BDNF in somatosensory cortical plasticity and pain hypersensitivity.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qiaosheng Zhang, Sile Hu, Robert Talay, Zhengdong Xiao, David Rosenberg, Yaling Liu, Guanghao Sun, Anna Li, Bassir Caravan, Amrita Singh, Jonathan D. Gould, Zhe S. Chen, Jing Wang
Summary: A closed-loop brain-machine interface (BMI) can modulate sensory-affective experiences in real time by decoding neural codes for nociception and coupling them with therapeutic cortical stimulation. This approach effectively inhibits pain-induced behaviors in rats.
NATURE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Guanghao Sun, Fei Zeng, Michael McCartin, Qiaosheng Zhang, Helen Xu, Yaling Liu, Zhe Sage Chen, Jing Wang
Summary: This study presents a neural interface that combines automated pain detection with treatment methods, effectively detecting and treating both acute and chronic pain. The interface is rapidly activated and maintains stable efficacy over time.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Guanghao Sun, Michael McCartin, Weizhuo Liu, Qiaosheng Zhang, George Kenefati, Zhe Sage Chen, Jing Wang
Summary: Pain has both sensory and affective components, with sensory pain being encoded in S1 and emotional pain processed in ACC. The temporal processing of nociceptive information in the cortex has been little studied. This study used two approaches to examine how nociceptive inputs are processed in S1 and ACC, finding that mechanical pain triggered neural activity changes first in S1, while S1 and ACC processed thermal pain with a similar time course. These findings suggest the importance of temporal processing of nociceptive information in different cortical regions for the overall pain experience.
Article
Neurosciences
Hyun Jung Jee, Elaine Zhu, Mengqi Sun, Weizhuo Liu, Qiaosheng Zhang, Jing Wang
Summary: Pain catastrophizing is a clinical phenomenon where patients amplify the negative value of pain or similar non-painful stimuli. A study on rats found that repeated noxious stimuli may lead to hyperactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and cause increased avoidance of subthreshold stimuli. Inhibiting the activity of ACC may play a role in treating pain catastrophizing.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Juan Li, Jing Wang, Xiangjing Kong, Tingting Gao, Bei Wu, Jianmin Liu, Jing Chu
Summary: Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, initiating and sustaining person-centered communication is possible and necessary, playing significant roles in improving the quality of care and patient relationships, promoting treatment adherence, and enhancing patients' psychological well-being.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Gerontology
Charlene H. Chu, Jing Wang, Chie Fukui, Sandra Staudacher, Patrick A. Wachholz, Bei Wu
Summary: Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care homes is crucial, but broad visitation restrictions have worsened the existing social isolation crisis in these facilities. This research identifies dominant policies from six countries and proposes five strategies to address or mitigate social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
JOURNAL OF AGING & SOCIAL POLICY
(2021)