The Dietary Flavonoid Rhamnetin Inhibits Both Inflammation and Excitotoxicity During Ethanol Withdrawal in Rat Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures.

BACKGROUND: Ethanol (EtOH) causes neurotoxicity via several mechanisms including neuroinflammation (during EtOH exposure), and excitotoxicity (during EtOH withdrawal [EWD]). Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) selective agonists have the potential to reduce both. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential of rhamnetin, a dietary flavonoid with alpha7 nAChR selective activity, in an in vitro model of EtOH-induced neurotoxicity. METHODS: The anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of rhamnetin were assessed in neonatal organotypic hippocampal slice cultures undergoing EWD (or not) and challenged with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Neurotoxicity was determined using propidium iodide uptake, and the inflammatory response was evaluated by measuring the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (NO; quantified by ELISA) and nitric oxide (quantified by the Griess reaction) into culture media. RESULTS: As predicted, rhamnetin reduced LPS-induced release of TNF-alpha and NO both under control conditions and during EWD. Additionally, rhamnetin had no effect on NMDA-induced neurotoxicity under control conditions, but significantly reduced NMDA toxicity during EWD. In contrast, rhamnetin had no effect on neurotoxicity induced by NMDA and LPS combined despite reducing TNF-alpha and NO levels under these conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Rhamnetin is anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective during EWD and therefore has potential value in treating neurotoxicity caused by EtOH.

Altered relation between lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response and excitotoxicity in rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures during ethanol withdrawal.

BACKGROUND: Ethanol (EtOH) causes neurotoxicity by several mechanisms including excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation, but little is known about the interaction between these mechanisms. Because neuroinflammation is known to enhance excitotoxicity, we hypothesized that neuroinflammation contributes to the enhanced excitotoxicity, which is associated with EtOH withdrawal (EWD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response of cultured hippocampal tissue during EWD and its effects on the enhanced N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitotoxicity, which occurs at this time. METHODS: Using a neonatal organotypic hippocampal slice culture (OHSC) model, we assessed the effects of NMDA and LPS (separately or combined) during EWD after 10 days of EtOH exposure. Neurotoxicity was assessed using propidium iodide uptake, and the inflammatory response was evaluated by measuring the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and nitric oxide (NO; quantified by the Griess reaction) into culture media. Furthermore, we explored the potential role of the microglial cell type using immortalized BV2 microglia treated with EtOH for 10 days and challenged with LPS during EWD. RESULTS: As predicted, NMDA-induced toxicity was potentiated by LPS under control conditions. However, during EWD, the reverse was observed and LPS inhibited peak NMDA-induced toxicity. Additionally, LPS-induced release of TNF-alpha and NO during EWD was reduced compared to control conditions. In BV2 microglia, following EtOH exposure, LPS-induced release of NO was reduced, whereas TNF-alpha release was potentiated. CONCLUSIONS: During EWD following chronic EtOH exposure, OHSC exhibited a desensitized inflammatory response to LPS and the effects of LPS on NMDA toxicity were reversed. This might be explained by a change in microglia to an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective phenotype. In support, studies on BV2 microglia indicate that EtOH exposure and EWD do alter the response of these cells to LPS, but this cannot fully explain the changes observed in the OHSC. The data suggest that neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity do interact during EWD. However, the interaction is not as simple as we originally proposed. This in turn illustrates the need to assess the extent, importance, and relation of these mechanisms in models of EtOH exposure producing neurotoxicity.

Are you advocating for me? Social penalties toward teachers that (dis)confirm gender stereotypes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We investigated the effects of gender stereotype violations within the context of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as whether social penalties for violating gender stereotypes in this domain are moderated by trait levels of gender system justification. Participants (N = 254) rated four hypothetical teaching scenarios where target sex (male or female teacher) and reason for refusal to return to in-person teaching (advocating for one's self vs. advocating for others) were manipulated. Results showed that as predicted, participants with high levels of gender system justification rated self-advocating female teachers least favorably. Unexpectedly, participants with low levels of gender system justification rated self-advocating male teachers least favorably. Implications for gender stereotype violation are discussed as well as implications for those teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Academic Stress and Emotional Well-Being in United States College Students Following Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 has resulted in extraordinary disruptions to the higher education landscape. Here, we provide a brief report on 295 students' academic perceptions and emotional well-being in late May 2020. Students reported the high levels of uncertainty regarding their academic futures as well as significant levels of stress and difficulty coping with COVID-19 disruptions. These outcomes were related to the higher levels of neuroticism and an external locus of control. Female students reported worse emotional well-being compared to males, and the students of color reported the significantly higher levels of stress and uncertainty regarding their academic futures compared to White students. These results suggest that some students may be at particular risk for academic stress and poor emotional well-being due to the pandemic and highlight the urgent need for intervention and prevention strategies.

Arthroscopic Saucerization and Repair of Discoid Lateral Meniscal Tear.

Meniscal tears are among the most commonly diagnosed knee injuries and often require surgical intervention. Understanding the types of meniscal tears and treatment options is paramount to caring for the young athlete. Sports medicine and arthroscopic physicians now recognize that meniscal preservation in the young athlete is essential to the long-term health and function of the knee. Although uncommon, the discoid lateral meniscus is more prone to injury because of its increased thickness and lack of blood supply. Because of the abnormal development, the peripheral attachments are frequently absent and instability often persists after a partial meniscectomy. If the instability is unrecognized during the initial treatment, a recurrence of pain and mechanical symptoms is likely and a subsequent subtotal meniscectomy may be the only treatment option. With increased awareness, arthroscopic saucerization accompanied by arthroscopically assisted inside-out meniscal repair is a preferable treatment option with an excellent outcome.

Arthroscopic treatment of subscapularis calcific tendonitis.

Rotator cuff tendonitis is a very common diagnosis of the shoulder that usually responds to conservative management. However, calcific tendonitis occurs less frequently and often necessitates surgical intervention. The etiology and treatment options for this disorder remain controversial among orthopaedic shoulder specialists. Calcific tendonitis frequently presents within the supraspinatus tendon and rarely appears within the subscapularis tendon. We present a case and accompanying video technique of arthroscopic treatment of subscapularis calcific tendonitis.