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Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Recent studies have demonstrated dysregulation of the autophagy pathway in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in animal models of PD, highlighting its emerging... (Review)
Review
Recent studies have demonstrated dysregulation of the autophagy pathway in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in animal models of PD, highlighting its emerging role in disease. In particular, several studies indicate that autophagy, which is an essential degradative process for the damaged protein homeostasis and the management of cell balance, can manifest significant variations according to gender. While some evidence suggests increased autophagic activation in men with PD, women may have distinct regulatory patterns. In this review, we examined the existing literature on gender differences in PD-associated autophagic processes, focusing on the autophagy related proteins (ATGs) and leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) genes. Also, this review would suggest that an in-depth understanding of these gender differences in autophagic processes could open new perspectives for personalized therapeutic strategies, promoting more effective and targeted management of PD.
PubMed: 38933683
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1408152 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Functional dyspepsia is a highly prevalent digestive disorder. The limited effectiveness of current pharmaceutical interventions necessitates the exploration of...
BACKGROUND
Functional dyspepsia is a highly prevalent digestive disorder. The limited effectiveness of current pharmaceutical interventions necessitates the exploration of alternative therapeutic options for functional dyspepsia. Xiangsha liujunzi decoction, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine formulation, has been widely employed in the treatment of functional dyspepsia in China. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of Xiangsha liujunzi decoction in the treatment of functional dyspepsia remains uncertain.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness and safety of Xiangsha liujunzi decoction for treating functional dyspepsia.
METHODS
We retrieved seven databases containing randomized controlled trials on functional dyspepsia published up until 31 July 2023. The quality of these studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool. The analysis of data was performed using the software RevMan 5.4. The total clinical effectiveness rate was evaluated as the primary outcome. In addition, gastric emptying rate, symptom score and safety evaluation were evaluated as the secondary outcomes.
RESULTS
The meta-analysis included 23 studies, involving 2,101 individuals. Xiangsha liujunzi decoction demonstrated a significantly higher clinical effectiveness rate compared to the control group (RR 1.27; 95% CI 1.21, 1.33; < 0.00001). Moreover, it exhibited superior gastric emptying rate and symptom score improvement compared to the control group. Nevertheless, no remarkable differences were detected in safety between Xiangsha liujunzi decoction and the control group (RR 0.67; 95% CI 0.16, 2.76; = 0.58).
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study suggest that Xiangsha liujunzi decoction exhibits effectiveness and no significant adverse events observed. However, because of the low quality of the enrolled studies, more high-quality and strict design randomized controlled trials are required in the future.
PubMed: 38933675
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1356899 -
Frontiers in Neural Circuits 2024Various mammals have shown that sensory stimulation plays a crucial role in regulating the development of diverse structures, such as the olfactory bulb (OB), cerebral... (Review)
Review
Various mammals have shown that sensory stimulation plays a crucial role in regulating the development of diverse structures, such as the olfactory bulb (OB), cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and retina. In the OB, the dendritic development of excitatory projection neurons like mitral/tufted cells is influenced by olfactory experiences. Odor stimulation is also essential for the dendritic development of inhibitory OB interneurons, such as granule and periglomerular cells, which are continuously produced in the ventricular-subventricular zone throughout life. Based on the morphological and molecular features, OB interneurons are classified into several subtypes. The role for each interneuron subtype in the control of olfactory behavior remains poorly understood due to lack of each specific marker. Among the several OB interneuron subtypes, a specific granule cell subtype, which expresses the oncofetal trophoblast glycoprotein (Tpbg or 5T4) gene, has been reported to be required for odor detection and discrimination behavior. This review will primarily focus on elucidating the contribution of different granule cell subtypes, including the Tpbg/5T4 subtype, to olfactory processing and behavior during the embryonic and adult stages.
Topics: Animals; Interneurons; Olfactory Bulb; Humans; Neurogenesis
PubMed: 38933598
DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1427378 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024In patients with severe and recurrent infections, minimal diagnostic workup to test for Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) includes a full blood count, IgG, IgA and IgM.... (Review)
Review
In patients with severe and recurrent infections, minimal diagnostic workup to test for Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) includes a full blood count, IgG, IgA and IgM. Vaccine antibodies against tetanus toxoid are also frequently measured, whereas testing for anti-polysaccharide IgG antibodies and IgG subclasses is not routinely performed by primary care physicians. This basic approach may cause a significant delay in diagnosing monogenic IEI that can present with an impaired IgG response to polysaccharide antigens with or without IgG subclass deficiency at an early stage. Our article reviews genetically defined IEI, that may initially present with an impaired IgG response to polysaccharide antigens, but normal or only slightly decreased IgG levels and normal responses to protein or conjugate vaccine antigens. We summarize clinical, genetic, and immunological findings characteristic for these IEI. This review may help clinicians to identify patients that require extended immunologic and genetic evaluations despite unremarkable basic immunologic findings. We recommend the inclusion of anti-polysaccharide IgG antibodies as part of the initial routine work-up for possible IEI.
PubMed: 38933494
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1386959 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Over the course of four consecutive years, a comparative study, for the first time, was carried out to assess their growth characteristics, vegetative and productive...
INTRODUCTION
Over the course of four consecutive years, a comparative study, for the first time, was carried out to assess their growth characteristics, vegetative and productive performances.
MATERIAL
Micropropagated, grafted on not suckering rootstock and own-rooted plants by layering from three Italian hazelnut ( L.) cultivars were established in the same orchard and environmental condition.
RESULTS
We found that the micropropagated plants, regardless of the variety considered, even being smaller than the other plants at the beginning of the plantation, reached similar sizes as the other plants after four growing seasons. Furthermore, micropropagated plants exhibited greater uniformity in growth compared to grafted ones, while own-rooted plants displayed more variability. No significant differences in yield performance and canopy volume were observed among the three propagation methods. These results suggest that the propagation technique, even in hazelnut, allows standardizing the plant material while preserving cultivar characteristics. Finally, propagation as well as grafting can be safely recommended for the cultivation of hazelnut cultivars.
PubMed: 38933464
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1412170 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Autotetraploid rice holds high resistance to abiotic stress and substantial promise for yield increase, but it could not be commercially used because of low fertility....
INTRODUCTION
Autotetraploid rice holds high resistance to abiotic stress and substantial promise for yield increase, but it could not be commercially used because of low fertility. Thus, our team developed neo-tetraploid rice with high fertility and hybrid vigor when crossed with autotetraploid rice. Despite these advances, the molecular mechanisms underlying this heterosis remain poorly understood.
METHODS
An elite autotetraploid rice line (HD11) was used to cross with neo-tetraploid rice, and 34 hybrids were obtained to evaluate agronomic traits related to yield. WE-CLSM, RNA-seq, and CRISPR/Cas9 were employed to observe endosperm structure and identify candidate genes from two represent hybrids.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
These hybrids showed high seed setting and an approximately 55% increase in 1000-grain weight, some of which achieved grain yields comparable to those of the diploid rice variety. The endosperm observations indicated that the starch grains in the hybrids were more compact than those in paternal lines. A total of 119 seed heterosis related genes (SHRGs) with different expressions were identified, which might contribute to high 1000-grain weight heterosis in neo-tetraploid hybrids. Among them, 12 genes had been found to regulate grain weight formation, including , and . Haplotype analyses of these 12 genes revealed the various effects on grain weight among different haplotypes. The hybrids could polymerize more dominant haplotypes of above grain weight regulators than any homozygous cultivar. Moreover, two SHRGs ( and ) mutants displayed a significant reduction in 1000-grain weight and an increase in grain chalkiness, indicating that and positively regulate grain weight. Our research has identified a valuable autotetraploid germplasm for generating strong yield heterosis in combination with neo-tetraploid lines and gaining molecular insights into the regulatory processes of heterosis in tetraploid rice.
PubMed: 38933462
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1421207 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Afforestation success is measured by the tree establishment and growth capacity which contribute to a range of ecosystem services. In the Mongolian steppe, and have...
Afforestation success is measured by the tree establishment and growth capacity which contribute to a range of ecosystem services. In the Mongolian steppe, and have been tested as candidate species for large afforestation programs, by analyzing their response to a combination of irrigation and fertilization treatments. While in temperate and Mediterranean forest ecosystems, xylogenetic studies provide insight into the trees' plasticity and adaptability, this type of knowledge is non-existent in semi-arid regions, whose climatic features are expected to become a global issue. Furthermore, in general, a comparison between the stem and root response is scarce or absent. In the present study, we show that the anatomical traits of the vascular cambium and the xylem, from stem and root microcores, reflect the previously noted dependence of from irrigation - as they proportionally increase and the higher adaptability of to drought - due to the reduced impact across all five characteristics. As the first wood anatomy study of these species in semiarid areas, future research is urgently needed, as it could be a tool for quicker understanding of species' suitability under expected to be exacerbated semi-arid conditions.
PubMed: 38933456
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1393245 -
Health Science Reports Jun 2024The study and practice of medicine are known to contribute to burnout in medical students and junior doctors. There is limited data on the degree of mental health burden...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The study and practice of medicine are known to contribute to burnout in medical students and junior doctors. There is limited data on the degree of mental health burden for Australian medical students and doctors-in-training (DiT). This scoping review aims to explore the impact of medical training on the mental health of Australian medical students and DiT. Exploring the mental health landscape across different stages of training will help to establish putative factors underlying psychiatric comorbidities in this demographic.
METHODS
The Joanna Brigs Institute (JBI) framework for scoping review was utilized, involving the Population/Concept/Context (PCC) criteria to identify the target population and develop the search strategy. Peer-reviewed articles, published in English from 2012 to 2022 focusing on Australian medical students' and doctors-in-training mental health were considered.
RESULTS
Of the 177 articles identified, 24 studies were included in the review. The majority of the studies focused on DiT ( 19) of which interns and residents were most well represented ( = 12) followed by surgical training ( = 5), with general practice (GP) ( = 2) and physician specialties (nil) being poorly represented. Most studies were quantitative ( = 18), with qualitative studies( = 6) under represented. Common mental health themes identified were overall psychological distress, burnout, and depression/suicidal ideation with workplace harassment and discrimination being less well represented.
CONCLUSIONS
Australian DiT are not equally represented in the literature with how different specialty training pathways impact their mental health. Most studies were cross-sectional, preventing a detailed longitudinal assessment of burnout and work-associated psychological distress.
PubMed: 38933423
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.2214 -
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2024The purpose of this study was to review the current literature regarding the non-operative treatment of isolated medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to review the current literature regarding the non-operative treatment of isolated medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries.
DESIGN
Systematic review, registered in the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/E9CP4).
DATA SOURCES
The Embase, MEDLINE and PEDro databases were searched; last search was performed on December 2023.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Peer-reviewed original reports from studies that included information about individuals who sustained an isolated MCL injury with non-surgical treatment as an intervention, or reports comparing surgical with non-surgical treatment were eligible for inclusion. Included reports were synthesised qualitatively. Risk of bias was assessed with the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Studies. Certainty of evidence was determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation.
RESULTS
A total of 26 reports (1912 patients) were included, of which 18 were published before the year 2000 and 8 after. No differences in non-operative treatment were reported between grade I and II injuries, where immediate weight bearing and ambulation were tolerated, and rehabilitation comprised different types of strengthening exercises with poorly reported details. Some reports used immobilisation with a brace as a treatment method, while others did not use any equipment. The use of a brace and duration of use was inconsistently reported.
CONCLUSION
There is substantial heterogeneity and lack of detail regarding the non-operative treatment of isolated MCL injuries. This should prompt researchers and clinicians to produce high-quality evidence studies on the promising non-operative treatment of isolated MCL injuries to aid in decision-making and guide rehabilitation after MCL injury.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level I, systematic review.
PubMed: 38933372
DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001750 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2024
PubMed: 38933364
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1439746