Astrocytes initiate autophagic flux and maintain cell viability after internalizing non-active native extracellular α-synuclein.

Astrocytes are tasked with regulating the synaptic environment. Early stages of various neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by synapse loss, and astrocytic atrophy and dysfunction has been proposed as a possible cause. α-Synuclein (αS) is a highly expressed neuronal protein located in the synapse that can be released in the extracellular space. Evidence points to astrocytes as being responsible for uptake and degradation of extracellular αS. Therefore, misfolded active fibrillized αS resulting in protein inclusions and aggregates could be due to astrocytic dysfunction. Despite these pathological hallmarks and lines of evidence, the autophagic function of astrocytes in response to monomeric non-active αS to model healthy conditions has not been investigated. Human primary cortical astrocytes were treated with 100 nM of extracellular monomeric non-active αS alone, and in combination with N-terminal binding monomeric γ-synuclein (γS) as a control. Western blot analysis and super resolution imaging of HiLyte-488 labeled αS confirmed successful internalization of αS at 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment, while αS dimers were only observed at 48 h. Western blot analysis also confirmed αS's ability to induce autophagic flux by 48 h. Annexin V/PI flow cytometry results revealed increased early apoptosis at 24 h, but which resolved itself by 48 h, indicating no cell death in cortical astrocytes at all time points, suggesting astrocytes can manage the protein degradation demand of monomeric αS in healthy physiological conditions. Likewise, astrocytes reduced secretion of apolipoprotein (ApoE), a protein involved in pro-inflammatory pathways, synapse regulation, and autophagy by 12 h. Similarly, total c-JUN protein levels, a transcription factor involved in pro-inflammatory pathways increased by 12 h in the nuclear fraction. Therefore, astrocytes are able to respond and degrade αS in healthy physiological conditions, and astrocyte dysfunction could precede detrimental αS accumulation.

The effects of buprenorphine and morphine during pregnancy: Impact of exposure length on maternal brain, behavior, and offspring neurodevelopment.

The escalating incidence of opioid-related issues among pregnant women in the United States underscores the critical necessity to understand the effects of opioid use and Medication for Opioid Use Disorders (MOUDs) during pregnancy. This research employed a translational rodent model to examine the impact of gestational exposure to buprenorphine (BUP) or morphine on maternal behaviors and offspring well-being. Female rats received BUP or morphine before conception, representing established use, with exposure continuing until postnatal day 2 or discontinued on gestational day 19 to mimic treatment cessation before birth. Maternal behaviors - including care, pup retrieval, and preference - as well as hunting behaviors and brain neurotransmitter levels were assessed. Offspring were evaluated for mortality, weight, length, milk bands, surface righting latency, withdrawal symptoms, and brain neurotransmitter levels. Our results reveal that regardless of exposure length (i.e., continued or discontinued), BUP resulted in reduced maternal care in contrast to morphine-exposed and control dams. Opioid exposure altered brain monoamine levels in the dams and offspring, and was associated with increased neonatal mortality, reduced offspring weight, and elevated withdrawal symptoms compared to controls. These findings underscore BUP's potential disruption of maternal care, contributing to increased pup mortality and altered neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring. This study calls for more comprehensive research into prenatal BUP exposure effects on the maternal brain and infant development with the aim to mitigate adverse outcomes in humans exposed to opioids during pregnancy.

ARX regulates cortical interneuron differentiation and migration.

Mutations in aristaless-related homeobox ( ARX ) are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including developmental epilepsies, intellectual disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders, with or without brain malformations. Aspects of these disorders have been linked to abnormal cortical interneuron (cIN) development and function. To further understand ARX's role in cIN development, multiple Arx mutant mouse lines were interrogated. We found that ARX is critical for controlling cIN numbers and distribution, especially, in the developing marginal zone (MZ). Single cell transcriptomics and ChIP-seq, combined with functional studies, revealed ARX directly or indirectly regulates genes involved in proliferation and the cell cycle (e.g., Bub3 , Cspr3 ), fate specification (e.g., Nkx2.1 , Maf , Mef2c ), and migration (e.g., Nkx2.1 , Lmo1 , Cxcr4 , Nrg1 , ErbB4 ). Our data suggest that the MZ stream defects primarily result from disordered cell-cell communication. Together our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying cIN development and migration and how they are disrupted in several disorders.

Choline kinase alpha genotype is related to hippocampal brain volume and cognition in postmenopausal women.

This study examined how single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to choline synthesis and metabolism, processes largely regulated by estrogen, influenced hippocampal volume and neuropsychological function following menopause. We investigated the effect of choline kinase alpha (CHKA) genotype on brain volume and neuropsychological performance in postmenopausal women. The effect alleles of certain CHKA SNPs (rs6591331 T, rs10791957 A) are associated with varied responses to choline deficiency and delegation of choline to physiological pathways. The presence of these alleles was hypothesized to correlate with worse cognitive performance in women after menopause. Results from structural MRI scans revealed larger right hippocampal volumes in subjects with a T/T CHKA rs6591331 genotype compared to A/A subjects. Delayed memory scores from the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) were lower in subjects with T/T genotypes compared to those with the A/T genotype and the A/A genotype. Based on these findings, we proposed a CHKA-dependent mechanism present within the brain to compensate for the decreased estrogen and biosynthesized choline associated with menopause.

Maternal care behavior and physiology moderate offspring outcomes following gestational exposure to opioids.

The opioid epidemic has resulted in a drastic increase in gestational exposure to opioids. Opioid-dependent pregnant women are typically prescribed medications for opioid use disorders ("MOUD"; e.g., buprenorphine [BUP]) to mitigate the harmful effects of abused opioids. However, the consequences of exposure to synthetic opioids, particularly BUP, during gestation on fetal neurodevelopment and long-term outcomes are poorly understood. Further, despite the known adverse effects of opioids on maternal care, many preclinical and clinical studies investigating the effects of gestational opioid exposure on offspring outcomes fail to report on maternal care behaviors. Considering that offspring outcomes are heavily dependent upon the quality of maternal care, it is important to evaluate the effects of gestational opioid exposure in the context of the mother-infant dyad. This review compares offspring outcomes after prenatal opioid exposure and after reduced maternal care and integrates this information to potentially identify common underlying mechanisms. We explore whether adverse outcomes after gestational BUP exposure are due to direct effects of opioids in utero, deficits in maternal care, or a combination of both factors. Finally, suggestions for improving preclinical models of prenatal opioid exposure are provided to promote more translational studies that can help to improve clinical outcomes for opioid-dependent mothers.

Retrospective Analysis of Sugammadex Use in Adolescent Females on Progestin-Containing Contraceptives.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Sugammadex, a novel neuromuscular blockade reversal agent, functions as a steroid binder postulated to decrease hormone exposure used within progestin-containing contraceptive medications. Thus, alternative non-medication contraceptive methods are recommended to prevent unplanned pregnancies. The study aims were to evaluate sugammadex use in adolescent females prescribed a progestin-containing contraceptive and positive pregnancy screening frequency. We hypothesized that sugammadex use is infrequent in this population and no pregnancy screens would be positive. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational cohort study utilizing the TriNetX electronic health record database of female subjects aged 12-21 years reported to be prescribed sugammadex. The data collected were analyzed for demographic characteristics, International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th edition diagnostics, medication, procedural codes, progestin-containing medication timing, and timing of pregnancy screening. RESULTS: We included 18,686 subjects (contraceptive group, 2017 [10.8%], and no contraceptive group, 16,669 [89.2%]). Both groups had similar frequencies of pregnancy screening (contraceptive group, 54 [2.7%], vs no contraceptive group, 366 [2.2%]). Of the contraceptive group, 1 (0.05%) subject, 17 years of age, was confirmed to have a positive pregnancy screen 35 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: We found that sugammadex may be administered to adolescent females prescribed progestin-containing contraceptives, but positive pregnancy screens are rare. Effective counseling, use of nonhormonal contraceptives 7 days after sugammadex administration, and the theoretical reproductive risks of this agent may have contributed to these findings. Continued counseling after sugammadex use in the adolescent population is recommended to avoid the occurrence of unplanned pregnancies.

The Synucleins and the Astrocyte.

Synucleins consist of three proteins exclusively expressed in vertebrates. α-Synuclein (αS) has been identified as the main proteinaceous aggregate in Lewy bodies, a pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Less is understood about ß-synuclein (ßS) and γ-synuclein (γS), although it is known ßS can interact with αS in vivo to inhibit aggregation. Likewise, both γS and ßS can inhibit αS's propensity to aggregate in vitro. In the central nervous system, ßS and αS, and to a lesser extent γS, are highly expressed in the neural presynaptic terminal, although they are not strictly located there, and emerging data have shown a more complex expression profile. Synapse loss and astrocyte atrophy are early aspects of degenerative diseases of the brain and correlate with disease progression. Synucleins appear to be involved in synaptic transmission, and astrocytes coordinate and organize synaptic function, with excess αS degraded by astrocytes and microglia adjacent to the synapse. ßS and γS have also been observed in the astrocyte and may provide beneficial roles. The astrocytic responsibility for degradation of αS as well as emerging evidence on possible astrocytic functions of ßS and γS, warrant closer inspection on astrocyte-synuclein interactions at the synapse.

Drosophila yakuba - Tsc1.

Gene Model for the ortholog of Tsc1 in the Drosophila yakuba DyakCAF1 assembly (GCA_000005975.1).

Drosophila yakuba - Tsc1.

Gene Model for Tsc1 in the Drosophila yakuba's DyakCAF1 assembly (GCA_000005975.1).

The Astrogenic Balance in the Aging Brain.

An inverse correlation between the incidence of cancer and neurodegenerative disease has been observed, with the prevalence of cancer peaking around 60 years of age, then slowly tapering off as neurodegenerative diseases increase in the elderly. Although the diseases rarely occur concurrently, the same genes are differentially expressed between the diseases, with four transcription factors found to be in common for their expression. In the brain, mature astrocytes are the origin of astrocytoma, which make up 58.2% of malignant brain tumors in patients 65 or older, while GFAP+ astrocyte-like neural stem cells from the subventricular zone give rise to glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma, which make up 41.6%. Likewise, in neurodegenerative disease, a decrease in astrocyte density is observed in early disease states, and senescent astrocytes increase. Because astrocytes coordinate synaptic function, astrocyte dysfunction likely contributes to or causes initial synapse loss and cognitive decline seen in neurodegenerative disease. In non-disease states, astrocytes retain their ability to successfully re-enter the cell cycle through adult astrogenesis to maintain the neuroenvironment, and controlled astrocytic proliferation could be an important contributor to neurological function. Disruption to this astrogenic balance could account for the inverse correlation of cell cycle dysregulation resulting in malignant astrocytes and tumorigenesis, and astrocytic senescence and cell death without self-renewal in aging resulting in neurodegenerative disease. The current understanding of the astrocytic roles of the transcription factors that could be the cause of this imbalance will be discussed, as well as possible therapeutic approaches to modulate their expression in the astrocyte.

Influence of Lab Adapted Natural Diet and Microbiota on Life History and Metabolic Phenotype of Drosophila melanogaster.

Symbiotic microbiota can help its host to overcome nutritional challenges, which is consistent with a holobiont theory of evolution. Our project investigated the effects produced by the microbiota community, acquired from the environment and horizontal transfer, on metabolic traits related to obesity. The study applied a novel approach of raising Drosophila melanogaster, from ten wild-derived genetic lines on naturally fermented peaches, preserving genuine microbial conditions. Larvae raised on the natural and standard lab diets were significantly different in every tested phenotype. Frozen peach food provided nutritional conditions similar to the natural ones and preserved key microbial taxa necessary for survival and development. On the peach diet, the presence of parental microbiota increased the weight and development rate. Larvae raised on each tested diet formed microbial communities distinct from each other. The effect that individual microbial taxa produced on the host varied significantly with changing environmental and genetic conditions, occasionally to the degree of opposite correlations.

PIK3R2/Pik3r2 Activating Mutations Result in Brain Overgrowth and EEG Changes.

OBJECTIVE: Mutations in phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K) complex have been associated with a broad spectrum of brain and organ overgrowth syndromes. For example, mutations in phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase regulatory subunit 2 (PIK3R2) have been identified in human patients with megalencephaly polymicrogyria polydactyly hydrocephalus (MPPH) syndrome, which includes brain overgrowth. To better understand the pathogenesis of PIK3R2-related mutations, we have developed and characterized a murine model. METHODS: We generated a knock-in mouse model for the most common human PIK3R2 mutation, p.G373R (p.G367R in mice) using CRISPR/Cas9. The mouse phenotypes, including brain size, seizure activity, cortical lamination, cell proliferation/size/density, interneuron migration, and PI3K pathway activation, were analyzed using standard methodologies. For human patients with PIK3R2 mutations, clinical data (occipitofrontal circumference [OFC] and epilepsy) were retrospectively obtained from our clinical records (published / unpublished). RESULTS: The PI3K-AKT pathway was hyperactivated in these mice, confirming the p.G367R mutation is an activating mutation in vivo. Similar to human patients with PIK3R2 mutations, these mice have enlarged brains. We found cell size to be increased but not cell numbers. The embryonic brain showed mild defects in cortical lamination, although not observed in the mature brain. Furthermore, electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings from mutant mice showed background slowing and rare seizures, again similar to our observations in human patients. INTERPRETATION: We have generated a PIK3R2 mouse model that exhibits megalencephaly and EEG changes, both of which overlap with human patients. Our data provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of the human disease caused by PIK3R2 p.G373R mutation. We anticipate this model will be valuable in testing therapeutic options for human patients with MPPH. ANN NEUROL 2020;88:1077-1094.

Remote Assessment of Video-Recorded Oral Presentations Centered on a Virtual Case-Based Module: A COVID-19 Feasibility Study.

Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the suspension of our pediatric clerkship, which may result in medical student skill erosion due to lack of patient contact. Our clerkship has developed and assessed the feasibility of implementing a video-recorded oral presentation assignment and formative assessment centered on virtual case-based modules. Methods This retrospective study examined the feasibility of providing a remote formative assessment of third-year medical student video-recorded oral presentation submissions centered on virtual case-based modules over a one-week time period after pediatric clerkship suspension (March 16th to 20th, 2020). Descriptive statistics were used to assess the video length and assessment scores of the oral presentations. Results Twelve subjects were included in this study. Overall median assessment score [median score, (25th, 75th percentile)] was 5 (4,6), described as "mostly on target" per the patient presentation rating tool. Conclusion Patient-related activities during the pediatric clerkship were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study demonstrated the possibility of remotely assessing oral presentation skills centered on virtual case-based modules using a patient presentation tool intended for non-virtual patients. This may prepare students for their clinical experiences when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Future studies are needed to determine if suspended clerkships should consider this approach.

Voluntary assignments during the pediatric clerkship to enhance the clinical experiences of medical students in the United States

PURPOSE: Pediatric clerkships that utilize off-campus clinical sites ensure clinical comparability by requiring completion of patient-focused tasks. Some tasks may not be attainable (especially off-campus); thus, they are not assigned. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of providing a voluntary assignment list to third-year medical students in their pediatric clerkship. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center cross-sectional analysis of voluntary assignment completion during the 2019­2020 academic year. Third-year medical students were provided a voluntary assignment list (observe a procedure, use an interpreter phone to obtain a pediatric history, ask a preceptor to critique a clinical note, and follow-up on a patient after the rotation ends). Descriptive statistics were used to assess the timing and distribution of voluntary assignment completion. RESULTS: In total, 132 subjects (77 on the main campus, 55 off-campus) were included. Eighteen (13.6%) main-campus and 16 (12.1%) off-campus students completed at least 1 voluntary assignment. The following voluntary assignments were completed: observe a procedure (15, 11.4%), use an interpreter phone (26, 19.7%), ask a preceptor to critique a clinical note (12, 9.1%), and follow-up on a patient after the rotation ends (7, 5.3%). Off-campus students completed the assignments more often (29.1%) than on-campus students (23.4%) CONCLUSION: Our clerkship values specific patient-focused tasks that may enhance student development, but are not attainable at all clinical sites. When provided a voluntary assignment list, 34 out of 132 students (25.8%) completed them. Clerkships that utilize off-campus sites should consider this approach to optimize the pediatric educational experience.

JNK signaling is required for proper tangential migration and laminar allocation of cortical interneurons.

The precise migration of cortical interneurons is essential for the formation and function of cortical circuits, and disruptions to this key developmental process are implicated in the etiology of complex neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy. We have recently identified the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway as an important mediator of cortical interneuron migration in mice, regulating the proper timing of interneuron arrival into the cortical rudiment. In the current study, we demonstrate a vital role for JNK signaling at later stages of corticogenesis, when interneurons transition from tangential to radial modes of migration. Pharmacological inhibition of JNK signaling in ex vivo slice cultures caused cortical interneurons to rapidly depart from migratory streams and prematurely enter the cortical plate. Similarly, genetic loss of JNK function led to precocious stream departure ex vivo, and stream disruption, morphological changes and abnormal allocation of cortical interneurons in vivo These data suggest that JNK signaling facilitates the tangential migration and laminar deposition of cortical interneurons, and further implicates the JNK pathway as an important regulator of cortical development.

Effect of student-directed solicitation of evaluation forms on the timeliness of completion by preceptors in the United States.

PURPOSE: Summative evaluation forms assessing a student's clinical performance are often completed at the end of a clinical experience from a faculty preceptor. In our institution, despite the use of an electronic system, completion timeliness has been suboptimal potentially limiting our ability to monitor student progress. The aim of the present study was to determine if a student-centered approach to summative evaluation form collection at the end of a pediatrics clinical experience will enhance timeliness of completion for third year medical students at Pennsylvania State College of Medicine. METHODS: This was a pre- and post-intervention educational quality improvement project focused on 156 (82 pre-intervention, 74 post-intervention) third year medical students at Pennsylvania State College of Medicinecompleting their four-week pediatric clerkship. Utilizing Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) informatics support, student-directed evaluation form solicitation was encouraged. Wilcoxon rank sum test was applied to compare pre-intervention (May 1, 2017 to March 2, 2018) and post-intervention (April 2, 2018 to December 21, 2018) percentages of forms completed before rotation midpoint. RESULTS: Seven hundred and forty evaluation forms were submitted during the pre-intervention phase and five-hundred and seventeen were submitted during the post-intervention phase. Form completion percentage before rotation midpoint increased after implementation of student-directed solicitation (9.6% versus 39.7%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our clerkship relies on subjective summative evaluations to track student progress, employ improvement strategies, and determine criteria for advancement; however, our preceptors struggled with timely submission. Allowing students to direct the solicitation of evaluation forms enhanced the timeliness of completion at our institution and should be considered in clerkships with similar difficulties.

Report of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Offered in Pennsylvania Childcare Centers.

The study objective was to quantify sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) offerings to children in Pennsylvania (PA) childcare centers and determine whether this information is communicated to parents. In October 2014, a SurveyMonkey link was sent to 4461 PA childcare centers. The 518 respondents represented 88% of PA counties. 279 centers (54%) serve SSBs. 330 (65%) of childcare centers provide parents a report of their child's daily intake. Of 185 centers serving SSBs and providing a daily intake report, 91% include SSB consumption. In total, 38% of centers (103/272) offer but do not report SSB consumption. In 96% of centers, parents may request their child not receive SSBs. In conclusion, though more than half of PA childcare centers surveyed offer SSBs, those providing daily intake reports usually include SSB consumption. Requiring daily intake reports may be a strategy to increase parental awareness of items consumed outside the home.

Cortical interneurons require Jnk1 to enter and navigate the developing cerebral cortex.

Proper assembly of cortical circuitry relies on the correct migration of cortical interneurons from their place of birth in the ganglionic eminences to their place of terminal differentiation in the cerebral cortex. Although molecular mechanisms mediating cortical interneuron migration have been well studied, intracellular signals directing their migration are largely unknown. Here we illustrate a novel and essential role for c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling in guiding the pioneering population of cortical interneurons into the mouse cerebral cortex. Migrating cortical interneurons express Jnk proteins at the entrance to the cortical rudiment and have enriched expression of Jnk1 relative to noninterneuronal cortical cells. Pharmacological blockade of JNK signaling in ex vivo slice cultures resulted in dose-dependent and highly specific disruption of interneuron migration into the nascent cortex. Time-lapse imaging revealed that JNK-inhibited cortical interneurons advanced slowly and assumed aberrant migratory trajectories while traversing the cortical entry zone. In vivo analyses of JNK-deficient embryos supported our ex vivo pharmacological data. Deficits in interneuron migration were observed in Jnk1 but not Jnk2 single nulls, and those migratory deficits were further exacerbated when homozygous loss of Jnk1 was combined with heterozygous reduction of Jnk2. Finally, genetic ablation of Jnk1 and Jnk2 from cortical interneurons significantly perturbed migration in vivo, but not in vitro, suggesting JNK activity functions to direct their guidance rather than enhance their motility. These data suggest JNK signaling, predominantly mediated by interneuron expressed Jnk1, is required for guiding migration of cortical interneurons into and within the developing cerebral cortex.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital femoral deficiency and fibular hemimelia.

OBJECTIVES: Routine ultrasonography can detect congenital femoral deficiency (CFD) and fibular hemimelia (FH), but prenatal detection rate and its relation to deformity severity have never been reported. Whether mothers prefer prenatal diagnosis is also unknown. We aimed to determine whether mothers prefer prenatal diagnosis, to report detection rates for CFD and/or FH, and to correlate detection rates to severity of limb shortening. METHODS: Surveys were mailed to 171 mothers who gave birth to children with CFD/FH between 2000 and 2008. Bilateral femoral and tibial lengths were measured on postnatal radiographs. We calculated corresponding femoral/tibial lengths at gestational weeks 20 and 30. RESULTS: Sixty-five surveys were returned, and 56 radiographs were reviewed. Most mothers (63%) preferred prenatal diagnosis as it enables prenatal counseling. Congenital limb shortening was detected in 24 cases (37%) and was not detected in 41 cases (63%). Detection rate was 52% (12 of 23) in CFD cases, 23% (three of 13) in FH cases, and 30% (six of 20) in combined cases. CFD cases with severe shortening had a higher detection rate. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonographers should measure both femoral and tibial lengths. Unilateral shortening should result in pediatric orthopedic consultation to estimate limb-length discrepancy at maturity and discuss treatment.

Neonatal conductive hearing loss disrupts the development of the Cat-315 epitope on perineuronal nets in the rat superior olivary complex.

The critical period is a postnatal window characterized by a high level of experience-dependent neuronal plasticity in the central nervous system and sensory deprivation during this period significantly impacts neurological function. Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized aggregates of the extracellular matrix which ensheath neuronal cell bodies, primary dendrites and axon hillocks and function in neuronal protection and stabilize synapses. PNNs are generally not present at birth, but reach adult-like patterns by the end of the third or fourth postnatal week. Their appearance is believed to mark the close of the critical period and sensory deprivation during this epoch disrupts development of PNNs. Here we investigate the postnatal development of two PNN markers (Wisteria floribunda agglutinin [WFA] and Cat-315) and the effect of neonatal conductive hearing loss (CHL) on their development. Our data indicates that these PNN markers are not present in the superior olivary complex (SOC) at birth, but develop over the first four postnatal weeks in different temporal patterns and also that neonatal CHL results in a significant decrease in the number of SOC neurons associated with Cat-315 reactive PNNs.