Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptors in the Gustatory Cortex Influence Food Intake.

The gustatory cortex (GC) region of the insular cortex processes taste information in manners important for taste-guided behaviors, including food intake itself. In addition to oral gustatory stimuli, GC activity is also influenced by physiological states including hunger. The specific cell types and molecular mechanisms that provide the GC with such abilities are unclear. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is produced by neurons in the brain, where it can act on GLP-1 receptor-expressing (GLP-1R+) neurons found in several brain regions. In these brain regions, GLP-1R agonism suppresses homeostatic food intake and dampens the hedonic value of food. Here, we report in mice of both sexes that cells within the GC express Glp1r mRNA and further, by ex vivo brain slice recordings, that GC GLP-1R+ neurons are depolarized by the selective GLP-1R agonist, exendin-4. Next we found that chemogenetic stimulation of GLP-1R+ neurons, and also pharmacological stimulation of GC-GLP-1Rs themselves, both reduced homeostatic food intake. When mice were chronically maintained on diets with specific fat contents and then later offered foods with new fat contents, we also found that GLP-1R agonism reduced food intake toward foods with differing fat contents, indicating that GC GLP-1R influences may depend on palatability of the food. Together, these results provide evidence for a specific cell population in the GC that may hold roles in both homeostatic and hedonic food intake.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The present study demonstrates that a population of neurons in the GC region of the insular cortex expresses receptors for GLP-1Rs, these neurons are depolarized by agonism of GLP-1Rs, and GC GLP-1Rs can influence food intake on their activation, including in manners depending on food palatability. This work is significant by adding to our understanding of the brain systems that mediate ingestive behavior, which holds implications for metabolic diseases.

Comparative analysis of COVID-19 guidelines from six countries: a qualitative study on the US, China, South Korea, the UK, Brazil, and Haiti.

BACKGROUND: In late January, a worldwide crisis known as COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO. Within only a few weeks, the outbreak took on pandemic proportions, affecting over 100 countries. It was a significant issue to prevent and control COVID-19 on both national and global scales due to the dramatic increase in confirmed cases worldwide. Government guidelines provide a fundamental resource for communities, as they guide citizens on how to protect themselves against COVID-19, however, they also provide critical guidance for policy makers and healthcare professionals on how to take action to decrease the spread of COVID-19. We aimed to identify the differences and similarities between six different countries' (US, China, South Korea, UK, Brazil and Haiti) government-provided community and healthcare system guidelines, and to explore the relationship between guideline issue dates and the prevalence/incidence of COVID-19 cases. METHODS: To make these comparisons, this exploratory qualitative study used document analysis of government guidelines issued to the general public and to healthcare professionals. Documents were purposively sampled (N = 55) and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The major differences in the evaluation and testing criteria in the guidelines across the six countries centered around the priority of testing for COVID-19 in the general population, which was strongly dependent on each country's healthcare capacity. However, the most similar guidelines pertained to the clinical signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and methods to prevent its contraction. CONCLUSION: In the initial stages of the outbreak, certain strategies were universally employed to control the deadly virus's spread, including quarantining the sick, contact tracing, and social distancing. However, each country dealt with differing healthcare capacities, risks, threats, political and socioeconomic challenges, and distinct healthcare systems and infrastructure. Acknowledging these differences highlights the importance of examining the various countries' response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a nuanced view, as each of these factors shaped the government guidelines distributed to each country's communities and healthcare systems.

Bidirectional modulation of negative emotional states by parallel genetically-distinct basolateral amygdala pathways to ventral striatum subregions.

Distinct basolateral amygdala (BLA) cell populations influence emotional responses in manners thought important for anxiety and anxiety disorders. The BLA contains numerous cell types which can broadcast information into structures that may elicit changes in emotional states and behaviors. BLA excitatory neurons can be divided into two main classes, one of which expresses Ppp1r1b (encoding protein phosphatase 1 regulatory inhibitor subunit 1B) which is downstream of the genes encoding the D1 and D2 dopamine receptors (drd1 and drd2 respectively). The role of drd1+ or drd2+ BLA neurons in learned and unlearned emotional responses is unknown. Here, we identified that the drd1+ and drd2+ BLA neuron populations form two parallel pathways for communication with the ventral striatum. These neurons arise from the basal nucleus of the BLA, innervate the entire space of the ventral striatum, and are capable of exciting ventral striatum neurons. Further, through three separate behavioral assays, we found that the drd1+ and drd2+ parallel pathways bidirectionally influence both learned and unlearned emotional states when they are activated or suppressed, and do so depending upon where they synapse in the ventral striatum - with unique contributions of drd1+ and drd2+ circuitry on negative emotional states. Overall, these results contribute to a model whereby parallel, genetically-distinct BLA to ventral striatum circuits inform emotional states in a projection-specific manner.

Gut Dysbiosis and Immune System in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ACVD).

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and mortality worldwide. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition, known as gut dysbiosis, have been shown to contribute to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) development through several pathways. Disruptions in gut homeostasis are associated with activation of immune processes and systemic inflammation. The gut microbiota produces several metabolic products, such as trimethylamine (TMA), which is used to produce the proatherogenic metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, butyrate, and propionate, and certain bile acids (BAs) produced by the gut microbiota lead to inflammation resolution and decrease atherogenesis. Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with common risk factors for atherosclerosis, including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity. Novel strategies for reducing ACVD include the use of nutraceuticals such as resveratrol, modification of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) levels, supplementation with probiotics, and administration of prebiotic SCFAs and BAs. Investigation into the relationship between the gut microbiota, and its metabolites, and the host immune system could reveal promising insights into ACVD development, prognostic factors, and treatments.

Can the Healthy Start Risk Screen Predict Perinatal Depressive Symptoms among High-Risk Women?

OBJECTIVES: Early detection of depression in at-risk populations is critical for ensuring better maternal and child health outcomes. This study assessed whether Healthy Start Prenatal Risk Screening (HSPRS) could predict depressive symptoms in women enrolled in a Healthy Start (HS) program in under-resourced, high-risk communities of Hillsborough County. METHODS: Data from HS participants were included for those who were evaluated using the HSPRS and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A correlation analysis determined if the HSPRS score was associated with a positive EPDS screen, and HSPRS questions related to the participants psychosocial environment were assessed individually to determine their predictive potential. The crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR (controlling for sociodemographic covariates) were calculated for each question of interest. RESULTS: A total of 736 women were included, with 122 (16.5%) scoring 14 or greater on the EPDS, indicating probable depression risk. There were significant differences between women at risk for depression compared to those not at risk regarding maternal age (p-value = 0.03) and marital status (p-value = 0.01). There were no significant differences in education, ethnicity, or race. The total HSPRS score had a weak yet significant correlation with the EPDS score (r = 0.14, p-value = 0.0001), and seven individual HSPRS questions were significantly associated with risk for perinatal depression. Conclusions for Practice: By focusing on responses to key HSPRS questions rather than the overall score, women may receive access to much needed services more quickly, thereby reducing the risk for poorer maternal and developmental outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE: A young maternal age and single marital status have been identified as risk factors for perinatal depression. Additionally, women from racial/ethnic minority groups or low-income populations are more likely to experience depression. Thus, in communities where women exhibit many pre-identified risk factors for perinatal depression, the ability to quickly identify those at the highest risk is imperative. This work indicates that among medically and socially high-risk mothers enrolled in a HS program, the overall HSPRS score was not as predictive of perinatal depression as individual responses to key questions. Attention to these responses could result in women receiving much needed services quicker.