Activated apoptotic and anti-survival effects on rat hearts with fructose induced metabolic syndrome.

Consumption of fructose has been linked to the development of metabolic syndrome, whereas the cardiomyopathic changes and cardiac apoptosis of dietary high-fructose intake have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of high-fructose on cardiac apoptotic and survival pathways. Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (CON), which received a standard chow diet, and a fructose-induced metabolic syndrome group (FIMS), which received a 50% fructose-content diet for 13 weeks. Histopathological analysis, TUNEL assays and Western blotting were performed on the excised hearts from both groups. The blood pressure, glucose, insulin, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly increased in the FIMS group, compared with the CON group. The abnormal myocardial architecture, enlarged interstitial space and increased cardiac TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were observed in the FIMS group. The TNF-α, TNF receptor 1, Fas ligand, Fas receptor, FADD, and activated caspase-3 and 8 protein levels (Fas pathway) and the Bax, Bak, Bax/Bcl-2, Bak/Bcl-xL, cytosolic cytochrome c, and activated caspase-3 and nine protein levels (mitochondria pathway) were increased in the FIMS group compared with those in the CON group. The IGFI, IGFI-R, p-PI3K, p-Akt, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein levels (survival pathway) were all significantly decreased in the FIMS group compared with those in the CON group. High-fructose intake elevated blood pressure and glucose levels; moreover, high-fructose diet activated cardiac Fas-dependent and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways and suppressed the survival pathway, which might provide one possible mechanism for developing heart failure in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Diode laser (980 nm) enucleation of the prostate: a promising alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate.

With good hemostatic ability, the end-firing continuous-wave diode laser at 980 nm was used to enucleate the prostate (DiLEP) for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). The study compared the patients' demographics and surgical outcomes between DiLEP and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Patients with significant BPO and a total prostatic weight of 40 g or more who had undergone DiLEP (n = 74) or TURP (n = 52) during the same period at our hospital were enrolled for analysis. DiLEP was performed by a single surgeon (Yang), and TURP by three surgeons (Yang, Hsieh and Chang). The 4-U incision technique was developed for DiLEP. The diode laser ensured bloodless incision followed by blunt dissection using the resectoscope and laser fiber as an 'index finger' to enucleate the prostate. To prevent unexpected deep thermal damage, the power of the laser was set at 80 W and the laser beam was directed towards the bladder neck and not towards the prostatic capsule. Demographic data and perioperative parameters were comparable between the two groups, except that DiLEP resulted in a significantly lower drop in hemoglobin level (0.9 ± 1.0 vs. 1.6 ± 2.4 g/dl, p = 0.03), shorter catheterization time (41.2 ± 19.9 vs. 67.7 ± 33.3 h, p = 0.01), and shorter postoperative stay (2.9 ± 1.9 vs. 4.1 ± 6.2 days, p = 00.01). Delayed postoperative sloughing of necrotic tissue was not observed in the DiLEP group. Improvements in voiding parameters were comparable between the groups, and were sustained during a follow-up of up to 1 year. DiLEP provided better hemostasis than TURP as evidenced by less blood loss. The role of DiLEP treating BPO requires further investigation.

Creativity Is Contextual: A Narrative Review of Motor Creativity Tests From an Ecological Perspective.

This narrative review seeks to compare the various ways in which motor creativity has been measured and to critically evaluate those methods within the context of our contemporary understanding of motor creativity. Eligible studies included those of any study design, experimental or observational, as long as motor creativity was measured. Three databases (i.e., PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) were searched from the earliest possible start dates to December 2021. No risk of bias assessment was performed as the study outcomes were not the focus of the review. After screening for eligibility, 23 articles were included for review, all having measured motor creativity. Of the 23 articles, 16 measured generic motor creativity, while the remaining seven measured task-specific motor creativity. Furthermore, 16 of the studies tested motor creativity with largely static environmental constraints, while the remaining seven were conducted with dynamic environmental constraints. Using a contemporary understanding of motor creativity, most motor creativity tests presently do not possess sufficient task specificity and environmental dynamism, which may not provide an appropriate context for the emergence of creative motor action.

A Systematic Review of Physical Activity Intervention Programs in ASEAN Countries: Efficacy and Future Directions.

A systematic review was conducted on the efficacy of interventions to improve physical activity. PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were scanned for eligible studies published from 1978 to August 2021, resulting in a total of 52 relevant studies for review. The Downs and Black checklist was used as a quality assessment ool for a risk of bias assessment. The 52 studies were then broadly categorised into three major approach types: informational, behavioural and/or social, as well as direct. Within each major approach, studies were further sub-categorised into more specific intervention types before being assessed for their efficacy and applicability. Overall, the intervention types that seemed to be the most efficacious in increasing physical activity levels were those that involved home-based information provision, community-wide campaigns, incentivised change, individually adapted health behaviour programs, family-based social support interventions and the provision of self-monitoring tools. However, the results must be interpreted holistically, as many of the successful interventions included more than one approach type and success is likely contingent on effectively addressing several concurrent facets. The systematic review is registered on PROSPERO. Registration number: 282752.

Nuclear and Cytoplasmatic Players in Mitochondria-Related CNS Disorders: Chromatin Modifications and Subcellular Trafficking.

Aberrant mitochondrial phenotypes are common to many central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. Mitochondrial function and homeostasis depend on proper control of several biological processes such as chromatin remodeling and transcriptional control, post-transcriptional events, vesicle and organelle subcellular trafficking, fusion, and morphogenesis. Mutation or impaired regulation of major players that orchestrate such processes can disrupt cellular and mitochondrial dynamics, contributing to neurological disorders. The first part of this review provides an overview of a functional relationship between chromatin players and mitochondria. Specifically, we relied on specific monogenic CNS disorders which share features with mitochondrial diseases. On the other hand, subcellular trafficking is coordinated directly or indirectly through evolutionarily conserved domains and proteins that regulate the dynamics of membrane compartments and organelles, including mitochondria. Among these "building blocks", longin domains and small GTPases are involved in autophagy and mitophagy, cell reshaping, and organelle fusion. Impairments in those processes significantly impact CNS as well and are discussed in the second part of the review. Hopefully, in filling the functional gap between the nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles new routes for therapy could be disclosed.

Physical Activity Measurement Methodologies: A Systematic Review in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a preventable threat to livelihood and longevity in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and insufficient physical activity (PA) is a primary cause of NCDs. A PRISMA-based systematic review of measurement methodologies used to assess PA was conducted. 564 studies published between 1978 and 2020 were reviewed. The majority of the PA measurement employed subjective methodologies and were observational and cross-sectional, with disproportionately fewer studies conducted in economically-challenged member nations, except for Brunei. PA research in Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar constituted 0.4-1.1% while Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia contributed 12-37% of all PA research within ASEAN. A decision matrix can be used to determine the measurement methodology of choice to assess PA. Joint research across ASEAN using a common assessment or measurement template that is co-curated by ASEAN researchers that incorporates multi-level and whole-of-society criteria in terms of PA enablers is a recommendation. This could be co-led by more experienced and better-resourced countries so as to produce a unified and universal 'report card' for PA measurement within ASEAN.

Ectopic cerebellar cell migration causes maldevelopment of Purkinje cells and abnormal motor behaviour in Cxcr4 null mice.

SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling plays an important role in neuronal cell migration and brain development. However, the impact of CXCR4 deficiency in the postnatal mouse brain is still poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the importance of CXCR4 on cerebellar development and motor behaviour by conditional inactivation of Cxcr4 in the central nervous system. We found CXCR4 plays a key role in cerebellar development. Its loss leads to defects in Purkinje cell dentritogenesis and axonal projection in vivo but not in cell culture. Transcriptome analysis revealed the most significantly affected pathways in the Cxcr4 deficient developing cerebellum are involved in extra cellular matrix receptor interactions and focal adhesion. Consistent with functional impairment of the cerebellum, Cxcr4 knockout mice have poor coordination and balance performance in skilled motor tests. Together, these results suggest ectopic the migration of granule cells impairs development of Purkinje cells, causes gross cerebellar anatomical disruption and leads to behavioural motor defects in Cxcr4 null mice.

A phantom and in vivo study of mice following an ischemic stroke using sodium MRI.

Sodium is one of the essential indicators of cell viability in vivo. Regarding extant literature, sodium MRI is widely employed for various studies, including research on tumors, strokes, and neurocognition, because it can non-invasively provide data of physiological metabolism in vivo. Currently, strokes are among the 3 leading causes of death worldwide, and can be categorized as hemorrhagic or ischemic. Approximately 70% to 80% of stroke patients experience an ischemic stroke. Although numerous relevant studies have focused on larger animal models, such as rats, cats, and nonhuman primates, literature that employs mice experimental models is scarce. In this study, we conducted sodium MRI on the brains of mice after an ischemic stroke to observe sodium signal variations in the brain following this type of stroke. The findings indicated that the sodium signals in the brain regions affected by stroke were 2.3 times stronger than those in the lateral ventricles.