bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soil bacterial communities of three types of plants from ecological restoration areas and plant-growth promotional benefits of Microbacterium invictum (strain X-18)
Authors: Liu Chao , Zhuang Jiayao , Wang Jie , Fan Guohua , Feng Ming , Zhang Shutong
Published: August 2022

Microbial-assisted phytoremediation promotes the ecological restoration of high and steep rocky slopes. To determine the structure and function of microbial communities in the soil in response to changes in soil nutrient content, the bacterial communities of rhizospheric soil from three types of plants, i.e., Robinia pseudoacacia, Pinus massoniana, and Cynodon dactylon, were analyzed using Illumina sequencing technology. High-quality sequences were clustered at the 97% similarity level. The dominant genera were found to be RB41, Gemmatimonas, Sphingomonas, Bradyrhizobium, and Ellin6067. The Tukey HSD (honestly significant difference) test results showed that the abundance of RB41 and Gemmatimonas were significantly different among three types of plants (p < 0.01). The relative abundances of RB41 (13.32%) and Gemmatimonas (3.36%) in rhizospheric soil samples from R. pseudoacacia were significantly higher than that from P. massoniana (0.16 and 0.35%) and C. dactylon (0.40 and 0.82%), respectively. The soil chemical properties analyses suggested that significant differences in rhizospheric soil nutrient content among the three plant types. Especially the available phosphorus, the content of it in the rhizospheric soil of R. pseudoacacia was about 280% (P. massoniana) and 58% (C. dactylon) higher than that of the other two plants, respectively. The soil bacterial communities were further studied using the correlation analysis and the Tax4Fun analysis. A significant and positive correlation was observed between Gemmatimonas and soil nutrient components. Except total nitrogen, the positive correlation between Gemmatimonas and other soil nutrient components was above 0.9. The outcomes of these analyses suggested that Gemmatimonas could be the indicator genus in response to changes in the soil nutrient content. Besides, the genes involved in metabolism were the major contributor to soil nutrients. This study showed that soil nutrients affect the soil bacterial community structure and function. In addition, pot experiments showed that Microbacterium invictum X-18 isolated from the rhizospheric soil of R. pseudoacacia significantly improved soil nutrient content and increased R. pseudoacacia growth. A significant increase in the numbers of nodules of R. pseudoacacia and an increase of 28% in plant height, accompanied by an increase of 94% in available phosphorus was measured in the M. invictum X-18 treatment than the control treatment.
Biological characterization and in vitro fungicide screenings of a new causal agent of wheat Fusarium head blight in Tibet, China
Authors: Tang Xiaoli , Yangjing Gongsang , Zhuoma Gusang , Guo Xiaofang , Cao Pengxi , Yi Benlin , Wang Wumei , Ji De , Pasquali Matias , Baccelli Ivan , Migheli Quirico , Chen Xiaoyulong , Cernava Tomislav
Published: August 2022

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop, widely grown throughout the temperate zones, and also suitable for cultivation at higher elevations. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a highly destructive disease of wheat throughout the globe. In July 2020, serious wheat FHB symptoms were observed in open fields located in Linzhi City, southeast of Tibet, China. The causal agent was identified as Fusarium avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc. by amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) gene, and RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB-2) gene, as well as by morphological characterization. Koch’s postulates were confirmed by a pathogenicity test on healthy spikes, including re-isolation and identification. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. avenaceum causing FHB on wheat in Tibet, China. Moreover, to determine pathogen characteristics that may be useful for future disease management, the utilization of different carbon and nitrogen resources, temperature, light, and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on mycelium growth and conidia germination were studied. Soluble starch and peptone were the best carbon, and nitrogen source for the pathogen respectively. The optimal temperatures for the pathogen’s mycelium growth and conidia germination were 15–20°C, matching the average temperature during the growing season in Linzhi (Tibet). Meanwhile, alternating 8-h light and 16-h dark was shown to be conducive to mycelia growth, and complete darkness facilitated conidia germination. In addition, UV Irradiation of 48 MJ/cm2, approximately 100 times of the local condition, did not inhibit the germination of conidia. Furthermore, in vitro screening of effective fungicides was conducted. Among the seven tested pesticides, carbendazim showed the best inhibition rate, with an EC50 (concentration for 50% of maximal effect) value of 2.1 mg/L. Propiconazole also showed sufficient inhibitory effects against F. avenaceum, with an EC50 value of 2.6 mg/L. The study provides insights into the newly identified causal agent of wheat FHB in Tibet, China, as well as first pathogen characteristics and promising candidate substances for its management.
A new class of biological ion-driven rotary molecular motors with 5:2 symmetry
Authors: Rieu Martin , Krutyholowa Roscislaw , Taylor Nicholas M. I. , Berry Richard M.
Published: August 2022

Several new structures of three types of protein complexes, obtained by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and published between 2019 and 2021, identify a new family of natural molecular wheels, the “5:2 rotary motors.” These span the cytoplasmic membranes of bacteria, and their rotation is driven by ion flow into the cell. They consist of a pentameric wheel encircling a dimeric axle within the cytoplasmic membrane of both Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The axles extend into the periplasm, and the wheels extend into the cytoplasm. Rotation of these wheels has never been observed directly; it is inferred from the symmetry of the complexes and from the roles they play within the larger systems that they are known to power. In particular, the new structure of the stator complex of the Bacterial Flagellar Motor, MotA5B2, is consistent with a “wheels within wheels” model of the motor. Other 5:2 rotary motors are believed to share the core rotary function and mechanism, driven by ion-motive force at the cytoplasmic membrane. Their structures diverge in their periplasmic and cytoplasmic parts, reflecting the variety of roles that they perform. This review focuses on the structures of 5:2 rotary motors and their proposed mechanisms and functions. We also discuss molecular rotation in general and its relation to the rotational symmetry of molecular complexes.
Exploring strain diversity of dominant human skin bacterial species using single-cell genome sequencing
Authors: Ide Keigo , Saeki Tatsuya , Arikawa Koji , Yoda Takuya , Endoh Taruho , Matsuhashi Ayumi , Takeyama Haruko , Hosokawa Masahito
Published: August 2022

To understand the role of the skin commensal bacterial community in skin health and the spread of pathogens, it is crucial to identify genetic differences in the bacterial strains corresponding to human individuals. A culture-independent genomics approach is an effective tool for obtaining massive high-quality bacterial genomes. Here we present a single-cell genome sequencing to obtain comprehensive whole-genome sequences of uncultured skin bacteria from skin swabs. We recovered 281 high-quality (HQ) and 244 medium-quality single-amplified genomes (SAGs) of multiple skin bacterial species from eight individuals, including cohabiting group. Single-cell sequencing outperformed in the genome recovery from the same skin swabs, showing 10-fold non-redundant strain genomes compared to the shotgun metagenomic sequencing and binning approach. We then focused on the abundant skin bacteria and identified intra-species diversity, especially in 47 Moraxella osloensis derived HQ SAGs, characterizing the strain-level heterogeneity at mobile genetic element profiles, including plasmids and prophages. Even between the cohabiting individual hosts, they have unique skin bacterial strains in the same species, which shows microdiversity in each host. Genetic and functional differences between skin bacterial strains are predictive of in vivo competition to adapt bacterial genome to utilize the sparse nutrients available on the skin or produce molecules that inhibit the colonization of other microbes or alter their behavior. Thus, single-cell sequencing provides a large number of genomes of higher resolution and quality than conventional metagenomic analysis and helps explore the skin commensal bacteria at the strain level, linking taxonomic and functional information.
Network pharmacology and molecular docking-based investigations of Kochiae Fructus’s active phytomolecules, molecular targets, and pathways in treating COVID-19
Authors: Khan Shakeel Ahmad , Lee Terence Kin Wah
Published: August 2022

COVID-19 disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2. Hyper-inflammation mediated by proinflammatory cytokines is humans’ primary etiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Kochiae Fructus is widely used in China as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat inflammatory diseases. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, we hypothesized that Kochiae Fructus would be a promising therapeutic agent for COVID-19. The active phytomolecules, targets, and molecular pathways of Kochiae Fructus in treating COVID-19 have not been explored yet. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to determine the active phytomolecules, molecular targets, and pathways of Kochiae Fructus. The phytomolecules in Kochiae Fructus were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, and their potential targets were predicted with the SwissTargetPrediction webserver. COVID-19-related targets were recovered from the GeneCards database. Intersecting targets were determined with the VENNY tool. The Protein-protein interaction (PPI) and Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) network analyses were constructed using the Cytoscape software. Using the DAVID tool, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the intersecting targets. AutoDock Vina (version 1.2.0.) was used for molecular docking analysis. Six active phytomolecules and 165 their potential targets, 1,745 COVID-19-related targets, and 34 intersecting targets were identified. Network analysis determined 13 anti-COVID-19 core targets and three key active phytomolecules (Oleanolic acid, 9E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid, and 11,14-eicosadienoic acid). Three key pathways (pathways in cancer, the TNF signaling pathway, and lipid and atherosclerosis) and the top six anti-COVID-19 core targets (IL-6, PPARG, MAPK3, PTGS2, ICAM1, and MAPK1) were determined to be involved in the treatment of COVID-19 with active phytomolecules of Kochiae Fructus. Molecular docking analysis revealed that three key active phytomolecules of Kochiae Fructus had a regulatory effect on the identified anti-COVID-19 core targets. Hence, these findings offer a foundation for developing anti-COVID-19 drugs based on phytomolecules of Kochiae Fructus.
High bacterial diversity and siderophore-producing bacteria collectively suppress Fusarium oxysporum in maize/faba bean intercropping
Authors: Sun Xinzhan , Zhang Chaochun , Bei Shuikuan , Wang Guangzhou , Geisen Stefan , Bedoussac Laurent , Christie Peter , Zhang Junling
Published: August 2022

Beyond interacting with neighboring plants, crop performance is affected by the microbiome that includes pathogens and mutualists. While the importance of plant–plant interactions in explaining overyielding in intercropping is well known, the role of the microbiome, in particular how the presence of microbes from heterospecific crop species inhibit pathogens of the focal plants in affecting yield remains hardly explored. Here we performed both field samplings and pot experiments to investigate the microbial interactions in the maize/faba bean intercropping system, with the focus on the inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum in faba bean plants. Long-term field measurements show that maize/faba bean intercropping increased crop yield, reduced the gene copies of F. oxysporum by 30–84% and increased bacterial richness and Shannon index compared to monocropping. Bacterial networks in intercropping were more stable with more hub nodes than the respective monocultures. Furthermore, the observed changes of whole microbial communities were aligned with differences in the number of siderophore-producing rhizobacteria in maize and pathogen abundances in faba bean. Maize possessed 71% more siderophore-producing rhizobacteria and 33% more synthetases genes abundance of nonribosomal peptides, especially pyochelin, relative to faba bean. This was further evidenced by the increased numbers of siderophore-producing bacteria and decreased gene copies of F. oxysporum in the rhizosphere of intercropped faba bean. Four bacteria (Pseudomonas spp. B004 and B021, Bacillus spp. B005 and B208) from 95 isolates antagonized F. oxysporum f. sp. fabae. In particular, B005, which represented a hub node in the networks, showed particularly high siderophore-producing capabilities. Intercropping increased overall bacterial diversity and network complexity and the abundance of siderophore-producing bacteria, leading to facilitated pathogen suppression and increased resistance of faba bean to F. oxysporum. This study has great agronomic implications as microorganisms might be specifically targeted to optimize intercropping practices in the future.
Panic disorder aging characteristics: The role of telomerase reverse transcriptase gene and brain function
Authors: Ding Huachen , Zhong Yuan , Liu Na , Wu Huiqin , Xu Huazhen , Wu Yun , Liu Gang , Yuan Shiting , Zhou Qigang , Wang Chun
Published: August 2022

Panic disorder (PD) causes serious functional damage and disability and accelerates the process of individual aging. The pathological basis of PD is the same as that of age-related diseases, which is proposed as a new viewpoint in recent years. Memory decline and social functional impairment are common manifestations of accelerated aging in PD. The function of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomere length (TL) is abnormal in patients with aging and PD. However, the molecular mechanism behind remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between TERT gene expression (including DNA methylation) and the changes in PD aging characteristics (memory and social function). By TERT gene knockout mice, we found that loss of TERT attenuated the acquisition of recent fear memory during contextual fear conditioning. This study reported that a significantly lower methylation level of human TERT (hTERT) gene was detected in PD patients compared with healthy control and particularly decreased CpG methylation in the promoter region of hTERT was associated with the clinical characteristics in PD. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis showed that the methylation of hTERT (cg1295648) influenced social function of PD patients through moderating the function of the left postcentral gyrus (PCG). This indicates that the hTERT gene may play an important role in the pathological basis of PD aging and may become a biological marker for evaluating PD aging. These findings provide multidimensional evidence for the underlying genetic and pathological mechanisms of PD.
Subject-specific features of excitation/inhibition profiles in neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Monteverdi Anita , Palesi Fulvia , Costa Alfredo , Vitali Paolo , Pichiecchio Anna , Cotta Ramusino Matteo , Bernini Sara , Jirsa Viktor , Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott Claudia A. M. , D’Angelo Egidio
Published: August 2022

Brain pathologies are characterized by microscopic changes in neurons and synapses that reverberate into large scale networks altering brain dynamics and functional states. An important yet unresolved issue concerns the impact of patients’ excitation/inhibition profiles on neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In this work, we used The Virtual Brain (TVB) simulation platform to simulate brain dynamics in healthy and neurodegenerative conditions and to extract information about the excitatory/inhibitory balance in single subjects. The brain structural and functional connectomes were extracted from 3T-MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans and TVB nodes were represented by a Wong-Wang neural mass model endowing an explicit representation of the excitatory/inhibitory balance. Simulations were performed including both cerebral and cerebellar nodes and their structural connections to explore cerebellar impact on brain dynamics generation. The potential for clinical translation of TVB derived biophysical parameters was assessed by exploring their association with patients’ cognitive performance and testing their discriminative power between clinical conditions. Our results showed that TVB biophysical parameters differed between clinical phenotypes, predicting higher global coupling and inhibition in Alzheimer’s Disease and stronger N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent excitation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. These physio-pathological parameters allowed us to perform an advanced analysis of patients’ conditions. In backward regressions, TVB-derived parameters significantly contributed to explain the variation of neuropsychological scores and, in discriminant analysis, the combination of TVB parameters and neuropsychological scores significantly improved the discriminative power between clinical conditions. Moreover, cluster analysis provided a unique description of the excitatory/inhibitory balance in individual patients. Importantly, the integration of cerebro-cerebellar loops in simulations improved TVB predictive power, i.e., the correlation between experimental and simulated functional connectivity in all pathological conditions supporting the cerebellar role in brain function disrupted by neurodegeneration. Overall, TVB simulations reveal differences in the excitatory/inhibitory balance of individual patients that, combined with cognitive assessment, can promote the personalized diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.
Endophenotypic effects of the SORL1 variant rs2298813 on regional brain volume in patients with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Chen Chun-Yu , Lin Yung-Shuan , Lee Wei-Ju , Liao Yi-Chu , Kuo Yu-Shan , Yang Albert C. , Fuh Jong-Ling
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Two common variants of sortilin-related receptor 1 gene (SORL1), rs2298813 and rs1784933, have been associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the Han Chinese population in Taiwan. However, neuroimaging correlates of these two SORL1 variants remain unknown. We aimed to determine whether the two SORL1 polymorphisms were associated with any volumetric differences in brain regions in late-onset AD patients.

Methods: We recruited 200 patients with late-onset AD from Taipei Veterans General Hospital. All patients received a structural magnetic resonance (MR) imaging brain scan and completed a battery of neurocognitive tests at enrollment. We followed up to assess changes in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores in 155 patients (77.5%) at an interval of 2 years. Volumetric measures and cortical thickness of various brain regions were performed using FreeSurfer. Regression analysis controlled for apolipoprotein E status. Multiple comparisons were corrected for using the false discovery rate.

Results: The homozygous major allele of rs2298813 was associated with larger volumes in the right putamen (p = 0.0442) and right pallidum (p = 0.0346). There was no link between the rs1784933 genotypes with any regional volume or thickness of the brain. In the rs2298813 homozygous major allele carriers, the right putaminal volume was associated with verbal fluency (p = 0.008), and both the right putaminal and pallidal volumes were predictive of clinical progression at follow-up (p = 0.020). In the minor allele carriers, neither of the nuclei was related to cognitive test performance or clinical progression.

Conclusion: The major and minor alleles of rs2298813 had differential effects on the right lentiform nucleus volume and distinctively modulated the association between the regional volume and cognitive function in patients with AD.
Validation of the Alzheimer’s disease-resemblance atrophy index in classifying and predicting progression in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: He Qiling , Shi Lin , Luo Yishan , Wan Chao , Malone Ian B. , Mok Vincent C. T. , Cole James H. , Anatürk Melis
Published: August 2022

Background

Automated tools for characterising dementia risk have the potential to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we examined a novel machine learning-based brain atrophy marker, the AD-resemblance atrophy index (AD-RAI), to assess its test-retest reliability and further validate its use in disease classification and prediction.

Methods

Age- and sex-matched 44 probable AD (Age: 69.13 ± 7.13; MMSE: 27–30) and 22 non-demented control (Age: 69.38 ± 7.21; MMSE: 27–30) participants were obtained from the Minimal Interval Resonance Imaging in Alzheimer’s Disease (MIRIAD) dataset. Serial T1-weighted images (n = 678) from up to nine time points over a 2-year period, including 179 pairs of back-to-back scans acquired on same participants on the same day and 40 pairs of scans acquired at 2-week intervals were included. All images were automatically processed with AccuBrain® to calculate the AD-RAI. Its same-day repeatability and 2-week reproducibility were first assessed. The discriminative performance of AD-RAI was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve, where DeLong’s test was used to evaluate its performance against quantitative medial temporal lobe atrophy (QMTA) and hippocampal volume adjusted by intracranial volume (ICV)-proportions and ICV-residuals methods, respectively (HVR and HRV). Linear mixed-effects modelling was used to investigate longitudinal trajectories of AD-RAI and baseline AD-RAI prediction of cognitive decline. Finally, the longitudinal associations between AD-RAI and MMSE scores were assessed.

Results

AD-RAI had excellent same-day repeatability and excellent 2-week reproducibility. AD-RAI’s AUC (99.8%; 95%CI = [99.3%, 100%]) was equivalent to that of QMTA (96.8%; 95%CI = [92.9%, 100%]), and better than that of HVR (86.8%; 95%CI = [78.2%, 95.4%]) or HRV (90.3%; 95%CI = [83.0%, 97.6%]). While baseline AD-RAI was significantly higher in the AD group, it did not show detectable changes over 2 years. Baseline AD-RAI was negatively associated with MMSE scores and the rate of the change in MMSE scores over time. A negative longitudinal association was also found between AD-RAI values and the MMSE scores among AD patients.

Conclusions

The AD-RAI represents a potential biomarker that may support AD diagnosis and be used to predict the rate of future cognitive decline in AD patients.
Distinct neural activation patterns of age in subcomponents of inhibitory control: A fMRI meta-analysis
Authors: Long Jixin , Song Xiaoqi , Wang You , Wang Chanyu , Huang Ruiwang , Zhang Ruibin
Published: August 2022

Inhibitory control (IC) is a fundamental cognitive function showing age-related change across the healthy lifespan. Since different cognitive resources are needed in the two subcomponents of IC (cognitive inhibition and response inhibition), regions of the brain are differentially activated. In this study, we aimed to determine whether there is a distinct age-related activation pattern in these two subcomponents. A total of 278 fMRI articles were included in the current analysis. Multilevel kernel density analysis was used to provide data on brain activation under each subcomponent of IC. Contrast analyses were conducted to capture the distinct activated brain regions for the two subcomponents, whereas meta-regression analyses were performed to identify brain regions with distinct age-related activation patterns in the two subcomponents of IC. The results showed that the right inferior frontal gyrus and the bilateral insula were activated during the two IC subcomponents. Contrast analyses revealed stronger activation in the superior parietal lobule during cognitive inhibition, whereas stronger activation during response inhibition was observed primarily in the right inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral insula, and angular gyrus. Furthermore, regression analyses showed that activation of the left anterior cingulate cortex, left inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral insula, and left superior parietal lobule increased and decreased with age during cognitive inhibition and response inhibition, respectively. The results showed distinct activation patterns of aging for the two subcomponents of IC, which may be related to the differential cognitive resources recruited. These findings may help to enhance knowledge of age-related changes in the activation patterns of IC.
Aversive anticipations modulate electrocortical correlates of decision-making and reward reversal learning, but not behavioral performance
Authors: Bublatzky Florian , Schellhaas Sabine , Paret Christian
Published: August 2022

Predicting the consequences of one’s own decisions is crucial for organizing future behavior. However, when reward contingencies vary frequently, flexible adaptation of decisions is likely to depend on the situation. We examined the effects of an instructed threat context on choice behavior (i.e., reversal learning) and its electrocortical correlates. In a probabilistic decision-making task, 30 participants had to choose between two options that were either contingent on monetary gains or losses. Reward contingencies were reversed after reaching a probabilistic threshold. Decision-making and reversal learning were examined with two contextual background colors, which were instructed as signals for threat-of-shock or safety. Self-report data confirmed the threat context as more unpleasant, arousing, and threatening relative to safety condition. However, against our expectations, behavioral performance was comparable during the threat and safety conditions (i.e., errors-to-criterion, number of reversal, error rates, and choice times). Regarding electrocortical activity, feedback processing changed throughout the visual processing stream. The feedback-related negativity (FRN) reflected expectancy-driven processing (unexpected vs. congruent losses and gains), and the threat-selective P3 component revealed non-specific discrimination of gains vs. losses. Finally, the late positive potentials (LPP) showed strongly valence-specific processing (unexpected and congruent losses vs. gains). Thus, regardless of contextual threat, early and late cortical activity reflects an attentional shift from expectation- to outcome-based feedback processing. Findings are discussed in terms of reward, threat, and reversal-learning mechanisms with implications for emotion regulation and anxiety disorders.
Emotion regulation strategies differentially modulate neural activity across affective prediction stages: An HD-EEG investigation
Authors: Del Popolo Cristaldi Fiorella , Mento Giovanni , Buodo Giulia , Sarlo Michela
Published: August 2022

Emotion regulation (ER) strategies can influence how affective predictions are constructed by the brain (generation stage) to prearrange action (implementation stage) and update internal models according to incoming stimuli (updating stage). However, neurocomputational mechanisms by which this is achieved are unclear. We investigated through high-density EEG if different ER strategies (expressive suppression vs. cognitive reappraisal) predicted event-related potentials (ERPs) and brain source activity across affective prediction stages, as a function of contextual uncertainty. An S1-S2 paradigm with emotional faces and pictures as S1s and S2s was presented to 36 undergraduates. Contextual uncertainty was manipulated across three blocks with 100, 75, or 50% S1-S2 affective congruency. The effects of ER strategies, as assessed through the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, on ERP and brain source activity were tested for each prediction stage through linear mixed-effects models. No ER strategy affected prediction generation. During implementation, in the 75% block, a higher tendency to suppress emotions predicted higher activity in the left supplementary motor area at 1,500–2,000 ms post-stimulus, and smaller amplitude of the Contingent Negative Variation at 2,000–2,500 ms. During updating, in the 75% block, a higher tendency to cognitively reappraise emotions predicted larger P2, Late Positive Potential, and right orbitofrontal cortex activity. These results suggest that both ER strategies interact with the levels of contextual uncertainty by differently modulating ERPs and source activity, and that different strategies are deployed in a moderately predictive context, supporting the efficient updating of affective predictive models only in the context in which model updating occurs.
The role of hypoxia-associated miRNAs in acquired sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Safabakhsh Sina , Wijesinghe Printha , Nunez Morgan , Nunez Desmond A.
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a prevalent sensory deficit presenting commonly as age-related hearing loss. Other forms of SNHL include noise-induced and sudden SNHL. Recent evidence has pointed to oxidative stress as a common pathogenic pathway in most subtypes of acquired SNHL. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA sequences that suppress target mRNA expression and affect downstream processes. Many studies have shown that miRNAs are integral biomolecules in hypoxia-adaptive responses. They also promote apoptosis in response to oxidative stress resulting in SNHL. Our hypothesis is that miRNAs are involved in the pathophysiological responses to hypoxia and oxidative stress that result in SNHL. This study reviews the evidence for hypoxia-adaptive miRNAs (hypoxamiRs) in different types of acquired SNHL and focuses on miRNAs involved in hypoxia driven SNHL.

Methods: Electronic bibliographic databases PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched independently by two investigators for articles published in English from the inception of individual databases to the end of July 2020. The text word or medical subject heading searches of all fields, titles, abstracts, or subject headings depending on the database were undertaken with combinations of the words “microRNAs”, “hypoxia”, “hypoxamiRs”, “oxidative stress”, “ischemia” and “hearing loss”. The reference lists of studies meeting the inclusion criteria were searched to identify additional relevant studies. The inclusion criteria included relevant clinical studies with human subjects, animals, and in vitro experiments. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool for human studies and the Systematic Review Center for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) a risk of bias assessment tool for animal model and in vitro studies.

Results: A total of 15 primary articles were selected for full text screening after excluding duplicates, reviews, retracted articles, and articles not published in English. All nine articles meeting the study inclusion criteria were from animal or in vitro model studies and were assessed to be at low risk of bias. miRNAs miR-34a and miR-29b were reported to be involved in SNHL in inner ear cell models exposed to oxidative stress. Signaling pathways Sirtuin 1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1-alpha (SIRT1/PGC-1α), SIRT1/p53, and SIRT1/hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) were identified as underlying pathways involved in acquired SNHL.

Conclusion: There is evidence that miR-34a and -29b are involved in hypoxia-driven and other causes of oxidative stress-related acquired SNHL. Further studies are required to determine if these findings are clinically applicable.
Mitochondrial behavior when things go wrong in the axon
Authors: Pozo Devoto Victorio M. , Onyango Isaac G. , Stokin Gorazd B.
Published: August 2022

Axonal homeostasis is maintained by processes that include cytoskeletal regulation, cargo transport, synaptic activity, ionic balance, and energy supply. Several of these processes involve mitochondria to varying degrees. As a transportable powerplant, the mitochondria deliver ATP and Ca2+-buffering capabilities and require fusion/fission to maintain proper functioning. Taking into consideration the long distances that need to be covered by mitochondria in the axons, their transport, distribution, fusion/fission, and health are of cardinal importance. However, axonal homeostasis is disrupted in several disorders of the nervous system, or by traumatic brain injury (TBI), where the external insult is translated into physical forces that damage nervous tissue including axons. The degree of damage varies and can disconnect the axon into two segments and/or generate axonal swellings in addition to cytoskeletal changes, membrane leakage, and changes in ionic composition. Cytoskeletal changes and increased intra-axonal Ca2+ levels are the main factors that challenge mitochondrial homeostasis. On the other hand, a proper function and distribution of mitochondria can determine the recovery or regeneration of the axonal physiological state. Here, we discuss the current knowledge regarding mitochondrial transport, fusion/fission, and Ca2+ regulation under axonal physiological or pathological conditions.
Sensitivity to extracellular potassium underlies type-intrinsic differences in retinal ganglion cell excitability
Authors: Boal Andrew M. , McGrady Nolan R. , Risner Michael L. , Calkins David J.
Published: August 2022

Neuronal type-specific physiologic heterogeneity can be driven by both extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms. In retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which carry visual information from the retina to central targets, evidence suggests intrinsic properties shaping action potential (AP) generation significantly impact the responses of RGCs to visual stimuli. Here, we explored how differences in intrinsic excitability further distinguish two RCG types with distinct presynaptic circuits, alpha ON-sustained (αON-S) cells and alpha OFF-sustained (αOFF-S) cells. We found that αOFF-S RGCs are more excitable to modest depolarizing currents than αON-S RGCs but excitability plateaued earlier as depolarization increased (i.e., depolarization block). In addition to differences in depolarization block sensitivity, the two cell types also produced distinct AP shapes with increasing stimulation. αOFF-S AP width and variability increased with depolarization magnitude, which correlated with the onset of depolarization block, while αON-S AP width and variability remained stable. We then tested if differences in depolarization block observed in αON-S and αOFF-S RGCs were due to sensitivity to extracellular potassium. We found αOFF-S RGCs more sensitive to increased extracellular potassium concentration, which shifted αON-S RGC excitability to that of αOFF-S cells under baseline potassium conditions. Finally, we investigated the influence of the axon initial segment (AIS) dimensions on RGC spiking. We found that the relationship between AIS length and evoked spike rate varied not only by cell type, but also by the strength of stimulation, suggesting AIS structure alone cannot fully explain the observed differences RGC excitability. Thus, sensitivity to extracellular potassium contributes to differences in intrinsic excitability, a key factor that shapes how RGCs encode visual information.
Training intervention effects on cognitive performance and neuronal plasticity—A pilot study
Authors: Wiebking Christine , Lin Chiao-I , Wippert Pia-Maria
Published: August 2022

Studies suggest that people suffering from chronic pain may have altered brain plasticity, along with altered functional connectivity between pain-processing brain regions. These may be related to decreased mood and cognitive performance. There is some debate as to whether physical activity combined with behavioral therapy (e.g. cognitive distraction, body scan) may counteract these changes. However, underlying neuronal mechanisms are unclear. The aim of the current pilot study with a 3-armed randomized controlled trial design was to examine the effects of sensorimotor training for nonspecific chronic low back pain on (1) cognitive performance; (2) fMRI activity co-fluctuations (functional connectivity) between pain-related brain regions; and (3) the relationship between functional connectivity and subjective variables (pain and depression). Six hundred and sixty two volunteers with non-specific chronic low back pain were randomly allocated to a unimodal (sensorimotor training), multidisciplinary (sensorimotor training and behavioral therapy) intervention, or to a control group within a multicenter study. A subsample of patients (n = 21) from one study center participated in the pilot study presented here. Measurements were at baseline, during (3 weeks, M2) and after intervention (12 weeks, M4 and 24 weeks, M5). Cognitive performance was measured by the Trail Making Test and functional connectivity by MRI. Pain perception and depression were assessed by the Von Korff questionnaire and the Hospital and Anxiety. Group differences were calculated by univariate and repeated ANOVA measures and Bayesian statistics; correlations by Pearson's r. Change and correlation of functional connection were analyzed within a pooled intervention group (uni-, multidisciplinary group). Results revealed that participants with increased pain intensity at baseline showed higher functional connectivity between pain-related brain areas used as ROIs in this study. Though small sample sizes limit generalization, cognitive performance increased in the multimodal group. Increased functional connectivity was observed in participants with increased pain ratings. Pain ratings and connectivity in pain-related brain regions decreased after the intervention. The results provide preliminary indication that intervention effects can potentially be achieved on the cognitive and neuronal level. The intervention may be suitable for therapy and prevention of non-specific chronic low back pain.
Factors affecting the intention of COVID-19 vaccination in Korean patients with myasthenia gravis: A survey-based study
Authors: Kim Sooyoung , Jeong Seong Ho , Shin Ha Young , Kim Seung Woo
Published: August 2022

Objective

To investigate the intention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in Korean patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and to determine the factors that influence their attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination.

Materials and methods

We conducted a questionnaire survey of 160 Korean patients with MG. The questionnaire consisted of five categories, including vaccination status, willingness to get vaccinated, general concerns over vaccination, impact of MG diagnosis on vaccination decision, and MG-specific concerns over vaccination. The responses were rated from 1 (no intention or influence) to 5 (significant intention or influence). We compared the clinical factors between patients willing to get vaccinated (willing group) and those who were neutral or unwilling (hesitant group).

Results

The average score of willingness to get vaccinated was 4.1 ± 1.2 (Likert score, 1–5). The hesitant group demonstrated higher proportions of women, patients with MG Foundation of America (MGFA) classification ≥III at nadir, and those who had experienced myasthenic crisis than the willing group (women, p = 0.027; MGFA classification≥III, p = 0.018; myasthenic crisis, p = 0.027). Scores for the willingness to get vaccinated (Likert score, 1–5) were negatively correlated with the MGFA classification at nadir (r = −0.235, p = 0.003), degree of general concern about vaccination (r = −0.362, p < 0.001), and impact of MG diagnosis on vaccination decision (r = −0.365, p < 0.001). In the path analysis, the MGFA classification at nadir was negatively associated with the willingness to get vaccinated by increasing the impact of MG diagnosis on vaccination decision.

Conclusion

MG diagnosis, maximum disease severity, and general concerns about vaccination influenced the intention to get vaccinated.
Characterizing stroke-induced changes in the variability of lower limb kinematics using multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis
Authors: Xu Pan , Yu Hairong , Wang Xiaoyun , Song Rong
Published: August 2022

Movement variability reflects the adaptation of the neuromuscular control system to internal or external perturbations, but its relationship to stroke-induced injury is still unclear. In this study, the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis was used to explore the stroke-induced changes in movement variability by analyzing the joint angles in a treadmill-walking task. Eight healthy subjects and ten patients after stroke participated in the experiment, performing a treadmill-walking task at a comfortable speed. The kinematics data of the lower limbs were collected by the motion-capture system, and two indicators, the degree of multifractality (α) and degree of correlation [h(2)], were used to investigate the mechanisms underlying neuromuscular control. The results showed that the knee and ankle joint angles were multifractal and persistent at various scales, and there was a significant difference in the degree of multifractality and the degree of correlation at the knee and ankle joint angles among the three groups, with the values being ranked in the following order: healthy subjects < non-paretic limb < paretic limb. These observations highlighted increased movement variability and multifractal strength in patients after stroke due to neuromotor defects. This study provided evidence that multifractal detrended analysis of the angles of the knee and ankle joints is useful to investigate the changes in movement variability and multifractal after stroke. Further research is needed to verify and promote the clinical applications.
Brain network analysis of interictal epileptiform discharges from ECoG to identify epileptogenic zone in pediatric patients with epilepsy and focal cortical dysplasia type II: A retrospective study
Authors: Wang Zhi Ji , Noh Byoung Ho , Kim Eun Seong , Yang Donghwa , Yang Shan , Kim Nam Young , Hur Yun Jung , Kim Heung Dong
Published: August 2022

Objective

For patients with drug–resistant focal epilepsy, intracranial monitoring remains the gold standard for surgical intervention. Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is the most common cause of pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy in pediatric patients who usually develop seizures in early childhood. Timely removal of the epileptogenic zone (EZ) is necessary to achieve lasting seizure freedom and favorable developmental and cognitive outcomes to improve the quality of life. We applied brain network analysis to investigate potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of EZ that will aid in the resection for pediatric focal epilepsy patients with FCD type II.

Methods

Ten pediatric patients with focal epilepsy diagnosed as FCD type II and that had a follow–up after resection surgery (Engel class I [n = 9] and Engel class II [n = 1]) were retrospectively included. Time–frequency analysis of phase transfer entropy, graph theory analysis, and power spectrum compensation were combined to calculate brain network parameters based on interictal epileptiform discharges from ECoG.

Results

Clustering coefficient, local efficiency, node out–degree, and node out–strength with higher values are the most reliable biomarkers for the delineation of EZ, and the differences between EZ and margin zone (MZ), and EZ and normal zone (NZ) were significant (p < 0.05; Mann–Whitney U-test, two–tailed). In particular, the difference between MZ and NZ was significant for patients with frontal FCD (MZ > NZ; p < 0.05) but was not significant for patients with extra–frontal FCD.

Conclusions

Brain network analysis, based on the combination of time–frequency analysis of phase transfer entropy, graph theory analysis, and power spectrum compensation, can aid in the diagnosis of EZ for pediatric focal epilepsy patients with FCD type II.
The application and perspective of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in acute ischemic stroke: From the bench to a starter?
Authors: Yan Yujia , Zhang Xiqiang , An Xingwei , Fan Wanpeng , Liang Jingbo , Luo Bin , Ren Hecheng , Huang Ying
Published: August 2022

Stroke has become a significant cause of death and disability globally. Along with the transition of the world's aging population, the incidence of acute ischemic stroke is increasing year by year. Even with effective treatment modalities, patients are not guaranteed to have a good prognosis. The treatment model combining intravenous thrombolysis/endovascular therapy and neuroprotection is gradually being recognized. After the clinical translation of pharmacological neuroprotective agents failed, non-pharmacological physical neuroprotective agents have rekindled hope. We performed a literature review using the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) PubMed database for studies that focused on the application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in acute ischemic stroke. In this review, we present the history and mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, focusing on the current status, outcomes, current challenges, perspective, safety, and complications of the application of hyperbaric oxygen in animal experiments and human clinical trials. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a non-pharmacological treatment, can improve the oxygenation level at the ischemic lesions in increased dissolved oxygen and oxygen diffusion radius to achieve salvage of neurological function, giving a new meaning to acute ischemic stroke.
The Romberg sign, unilateral vestibulopathy, cerebrovascular risk factors, and long-term mortality in dizzy patients
Authors: Berge Jan Erik , Goplen Frederik Kragerud , Aarstad Hans Jørgen , Storhaug Tobias Andre , Nordahl Stein Helge Glad
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Describe the relationship between unsteadiness, canal paresis, cerebrovascular risk factors, and long-term mortality in patients examined for dizziness of suspected vestibular origin.

Study design

Observational cohort with prospective collection of survival data.

Setting

University clinic neurotological unit.

Patients

Consecutive patients aged 18–75 years examined in the period 1992–2004 for dizziness of suspected vestibular origin.

Outcome measures

Overall survival. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR). Factors: Unsteadiness, canal paresis, age, sex, patient-reported diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, or TIA/minor stroke. Patients were classified as steady or unsteady based on static posturography at baseline compared to normative values.

Results

The study included 1,561 patients with mean age 48 years and 60 % females. Mean follow-up was 22 years. Unsteadiness was associated with higher age, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and cerebrovascular dizziness. There were 336 deaths over 31,335 person-years (SMR 0.96; 95 % confidence interval: 0.86–1.07). Canal paresis was not related to unsteadiness (chi square: p = 0.46) or to mortality (unadjusted Cox hazard ratio: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.80–1.34). Unsteadiness was an independent predictor of mortality (adjusted Cox hazard ratio: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.14–1.82).

Conclusions

Unsteadiness measured by static posturography is associated with higher age, known cerebrovascular risk factors, and with increased long-term mortality, but not with canal paresis in patients evaluated for dizziness. The study highlights the importance of evaluating patients with conspicuous postural instability for non-vestibular causes.