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Neurology India Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Facial Paralysis; Nystagmus, Pathologic; Male; Medulla Oblongata; Female
PubMed: 38691500
DOI: 10.4103/NI.Neurol-India-D-23-00369 -
Neurology India Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Medulla Oblongata; Brain Stem Infarctions; Male; Middle Aged; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 38691497
DOI: 10.4103/NI.Neurol-India-D-23-00393 -
Emerging Microbes & Infections Dec 2024Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) was just recently shown to cause predominantly fatal encephalitis in humans. Despite its rarity, bornavirus encephalitis (BVE) can be... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Comparative study of virus and lymphocyte distribution with clinical data suggests early high dose immunosuppression as potential key factor for the therapy of patients with BoDV-1 infection.
Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) was just recently shown to cause predominantly fatal encephalitis in humans. Despite its rarity, bornavirus encephalitis (BVE) can be considered a model disease for encephalitic infections caused by neurotropic viruses and understanding its pathomechanism is of utmost relevance. Aim of this study was to compare the extent and distribution pattern of cerebral inflammation with the clinical course of disease, and individual therapeutic procedures. For this, autoptic brain material from seven patients with fatal BVE was included in this study. Tissue was stained immunohistochemically for pan-lymphocytic marker CD45, the nucleoprotein of BoDV-1, as well as glial marker GFAP and microglial marker Iba1. Sections were digitalized and counted for CD45-positive and BoDV-1-positive cells. For GFAP and Iba1, a semiquantitative score was determined. Furthermore, detailed information about the individual clinical course and therapy were retrieved and summarized in a standardized way. Analysis of the distribution of lymphocytes shows interindividual patterns. In contrast, when looking at the BoDV-1-positive glial cells and neurons, a massive viral involvement in the brain stem was noticeable. Three of the seven patients received early high-dose steroids, which led to a significantly lower lymphocytic infiltration of the central nervous tissue and a longer survival compared to the patients who were treated with steroids later in the course of disease. This study highlights the potential importance of early high-dose immunosuppressive therapy in BVE. Our findings hint at a promising treatment option which should be corroborated in future observational or prospective therapy studies. BoDV-1: Borna disease virus 1; BVE: bornavirus encephalitis; Cb: cerebellum; CNS: central nervous system; FL: frontal lobe; GFAP: glial fibrillary acid protein; Hc: hippocampus; Iba1: ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1; Iba1: general activation of microglial cells; Iba1: formation of microglial nodules; IL: insula; Me: mesencephalon; Mo: medulla oblongata; OL: occipital lobe; pASS: per average of 10 screenshots; pat: patients treated with early high dose steroid shot; pat: patients treated with late or none high dose steroid shot; Po: pons; So: stria olfactoria; Str: striatum.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Brain; Borna Disease; Lymphocytes; Microfilament Proteins; Leukocyte Common Antigens; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Immunosuppression Therapy; Borna disease virus; Encephalitis, Viral; Neuroglia
PubMed: 38687703
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2350168 -
Heliyon Apr 2024Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a potentially fatal condition caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Chronic alcoholism is the most common cause of WE; however,...
INTRODUCTION
Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a potentially fatal condition caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Chronic alcoholism is the most common cause of WE; however, other conditions responsible for thiamine deficiency should also be considered.
CASE REPORT
We report the case of a 64-year-old woman with a history of diabetes who presented with confusion and apathy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed T2 hyperintensities involving dorsolateral medulla oblongata, tegmentum of the pons, vermis of the cerebellum, periaqueductal region, and the bilateral mammillary bodies. She had a history of intravenous glucose administration before her mental symptoms developed. On suspicion of WE, she was treated with a high dose of thiamine empirically. Her clinical condition improved rapidly in 2 weeks.
CONCLUSION
Endogenous thiamine stores can be rapidly depleted in the case of enhanced glucose oxidation. Patients who receive glucose should also be prescribed thiamine to avoid inducing or exacerbating WE.
PubMed: 38681648
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29419 -
The Journal of Poultry Science 2024Food intake affects poultry productivity. A complete understanding of these regulatory mechanisms provides new strategies to improve productivity. Food intake is... (Review)
Review
Food intake affects poultry productivity. A complete understanding of these regulatory mechanisms provides new strategies to improve productivity. Food intake is regulated by complex mechanisms involving many factors, including the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, hormones, and nutrients. Although several studies have been conducted to elucidate regulatory mechanisms in chickens, the mechanisms remain unclear. To update the current knowledge on feeding regulation in chickens, this review focuses on recent findings that have not been summarized in previous reviews, including spexins, adipokines, neurosecretory proteins GL and GM, and central intracellular signaling factors.
PubMed: 38681189
DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.2024012 -
Brain Research Aug 2024Swallowing is induced by a central pattern generator in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). We aimed to create a medullary slice preparation to elucidate the neural...
Swallowing is induced by a central pattern generator in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). We aimed to create a medullary slice preparation to elucidate the neural architecture of the central pattern generator of swallowing (Sw-CPG) and record its neural activities. Experiments were conducted on 2-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 46). The brainstem-spinal cord was transected at the pontomedullary and cervicothoracic junctions; the medulla was sliced transversely at thicknesses of 600, 700, or 800 μm. The rostral end of the slice was 100 μm rostral to the vagus nerve. We recorded hypoglossal nerve activity and electrically stimulated the vagus nerve or microinjected bicuculline methiodide (BIC) into the NTS. The 800-μm slices generated both rhythmic respiratory activity and electrically elicited neural activity. The 700-μm slices generated only respiratory activity, while the 600-μm slices did not generate any neural activity. BIC microinjection into the NTS in 800-μm slices resulted in the typical activity that closely resembled the swallowing activity reported in other experiments. This swallowing-like activity consistently lengthened the respiratory interval. Despite complete inhibition of respiratory activity, weak swallowing-like activity was observed under bath application of a non-NMDA receptor antagonist. Contrastingly, bath application of NMDA receptor antagonists resulted in a complete loss of swallowing-like activity and no change in respiratory activity. These results suggest that the 800-μm medullary slice preparation contains both afferent and efferent neural circuits and pattern generators of swallowing activity. Additionally, NMDA receptors may be necessary for generating swallowing activity. This medullary slice preparation can therefore elucidate Sw-CPG neural networks.
Topics: Animals; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Deglutition; Medulla Oblongata; Animals, Newborn; Bicuculline; Rats; Vagus Nerve; Central Pattern Generators; Hypoglossal Nerve; Electric Stimulation; Solitary Nucleus
PubMed: 38679314
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148955 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024According to previous studies, the median raphe region (MRR) is known to contribute significantly to social behavior. Besides serotonin, there have also been reports of...
According to previous studies, the median raphe region (MRR) is known to contribute significantly to social behavior. Besides serotonin, there have also been reports of a small population of dopaminergic neurons in this region. Dopamine is linked to reward and locomotion, but very little is known about its role in the MRR. To address that, we first confirmed the presence of dopaminergic cells in the MRR of mice (immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR), and then also in humans (RT-PCR) using healthy donor samples to prove translational relevance. Next, we used chemogenetic technology in mice containing the Cre enzyme under the promoter of the dopamine transporter. With the help of an adeno-associated virus, designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) were expressed in the dopaminergic cells of the MRR to manipulate their activity. Four weeks later, we performed an extensive behavioral characterization 30 min after the injection of the artificial ligand (Clozapine-N-Oxide). Stimulation of the dopaminergic cells in the MRR decreased social interest without influencing aggression and with an increase in social discrimination. Additionally, inhibition of the same cells increased the friendly social behavior during social interaction test. No behavioral changes were detected in anxiety, memory or locomotion. All in all, dopaminergic cells were present in both the mouse and human samples from the MRR, and the manipulation of the dopaminergic neurons in the MRR elicited a specific social response.
Topics: Animals; Dopaminergic Neurons; Male; Mice; Social Behavior; Humans; Clozapine; Raphe Nuclei; Behavior, Animal; Dopamine; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 38673899
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084315 -
Science Advances Apr 2024The supraspinal descending pain modulatory system (DPMS) shapes pain perception via monoaminergic modulation of sensory information in the spinal cord. However, the role...
The supraspinal descending pain modulatory system (DPMS) shapes pain perception via monoaminergic modulation of sensory information in the spinal cord. However, the role and synaptic mechanisms of descending noradrenergic signaling remain unclear. Here, we establish that noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) are essential for supraspinal opioid antinociception. While much previous work has emphasized the role of descending serotonergic pathways, we find that opioid antinociception is primarily driven by excitatory output from the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) to the LC. Furthermore, we identify a previously unknown opioid-sensitive inhibitory input from the rostroventromedial medulla (RVM), the suppression of which disinhibits LC neurons to drive spinal noradrenergic antinociception. We describe pain-related activity throughout this circuit and report the presence of prominent bifurcating outputs from the vlPAG to the LC and the RVM. Our findings substantially revise current models of the DPMS and establish a supraspinal antinociceptive pathway that may contribute to multiple forms of descending pain modulation.
Topics: Locus Coeruleus; Periaqueductal Gray; Animals; Medulla Oblongata; Pain; Analgesics, Opioid; Male; Adrenergic Neurons; Mice; Neural Pathways
PubMed: 38669335
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj9581 -
International Journal of Surgery... Apr 2024
Topics: Humans; Pulmonary Edema; Arginine; Medulla Oblongata; Postoperative Complications; Brain Neoplasms
PubMed: 38668671
DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001085 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jul 2024Suicide attempters show increased activation in the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG). Here, we investigated the rSTG functional connectivity (FC) to identify a...
INTRODUCTION
Suicide attempters show increased activation in the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG). Here, we investigated the rSTG functional connectivity (FC) to identify a functional network involved in suicidality and its associations with psychological suicidality risk and resilience factors.
METHODS
The resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 151 healthy individuals from the Human Connectome Project Young Adult database were used to explore the FC of the rSTG with itself and with the rest of the brain. The correlation between the rSTG FC and loneliness and purpose in life scores was assessed with the NIH Toolbox. The effect of sex was also investigated.
RESULTS
The rSTG had a positive FC with bilateral cortical and subcortical regions, including frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, limbic, and cerebellar regions, and a negative FC with the medulla oblongata. The FC of the rSTG with itself and with the left central operculum were associated with loneliness scores. The within rSTG FC was also negatively correlated with purpose in life scores, although at a trend level. We did not find any effect of sex on FC and its associations with psychological factors.
LIMITATIONS
The cross-sectional design, the limited age range, and the lack of measures of suicidality limit the generalizability of our findings.
CONCLUSIONS
The rSTG functional network is associated with loneliness and purpose in life. Together with the existing literature on suicide, this supports the idea that the neural activity of rSTG may contribute to suicidality by modulating risk and resilience factors associated with suicidality.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Temporal Lobe; Resilience, Psychological; Young Adult; Adult; Connectome; Loneliness; Cross-Sectional Studies; Risk Factors; Suicide, Attempted; Suicidal Ideation
PubMed: 38653349
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.048