Content Validity and Inter-rater Reliability of the Music Interventions in Pediatric DoC Behavior Observation Record.

Aligned with best practice guidelines for patients presenting with a disorder of consciousness (DoC), music therapy interventions with this population aim to increase arousal and awareness to support emergence to consciousness. There is a significant evidence base supporting music therapy for adults with a DoC; however, there are currently no published tools that systematically capture behavioral responses of this population during rehabilitative music therapy interventions. Further, the developmentally specific response to severe brain injury in the pediatric population means pediatric-specific research is required. The Music Interventions in Pediatric DoC Behavior Observation Record (Music Behavior Record [MBR]) was developed to objectively record responses during music therapy interventions for children presenting with a DoC. To establish content validity and inter-rater reliability, a pragmatic pilot study was undertaken. Results established that the MBR has content validity with 100% agreement among participants. Overall fair-substantial inter-rater reliability in >70% of the behavioral responses recorded in the MBR indicate the MBR is an early but promising tool to objectively capture responses during music therapy interventions. The use of the MBR may ultimately support clinical advancement and intervention research to optimize consciousness recovery for the pediatric DoC population.

Prevenção do suicídio: esquecimento do ser e era da técnica / Suicide prevention: forgetfulness of being and technical era / Prevención del suicidio: olvido del ser y la era de la técnica

Martin Heidegger, em sua ontologia, destaca uma característica específica da atualidade que atravessa o comportamento humano, na filosofia, na ciência ou no senso comum: o esquecimento do ser. O filósofo diferencia a época atual das demais épocas históricas. O horizonte histórico contemporâneo se desvela por meio do desafio e da exploração, da tentativa de controle e domínio dos acontecimentos, ao modo da disponibilidade e em função da produtividade. O filósofo esclarece que todo esse desenraizamento do homem atual está atrelado ao esquecimento daquilo que é o mais essencial, qual seja, a existência. A questão que norteia este estudo é apurar, por meio das referências de Heidegger e dos estudos sobre suicídio, o quanto a interpretação da morte voluntária nos dias atuais está atravessada por tal esquecimento. Pretendemos investigar o quanto as ações de prevenção desenvolvidas pela suicidologia se encontram atravessadas por tal esquecimento do ser do homem e, dessa forma, acabam por estabelecer relações entre ser e ente em uma consequente redução ao ente como invariante e atemporal. O caminho para investigar a questão iniciará por abordar, em maiores detalhes, a analítica existencial, a questão da técnica e o movimento de esquecimento do ser apontados por Heidegger a fim de problematizar as perspectivas científicas atuais sobre o suicídio em sua prevenção para, então, estabelecer uma compreensão fenomenológica e existencial sobre o referido fenômeno.(AU)

Martin Heidegger, in his ontology, highlights a specific characteristic of the present moment that crosses human behavior, in philosophy, science, or common sense: the forgetfulness of being. The philosopher differentiates the current age from other historical ages. The contemporary historical horizon is unveiled by the challenge and the exploration, from the attempt to control and dominate events, to the mode of standing reserve and in terms of productivity. The philosopher clarifies that all this uprooting of the current man is linked to the forgetfulness of what is the most essential, namely, the existence itself. The question that guides this study is to investigate, via Heidegger's references and studies on suicide, to what extent the interpretation of voluntary death today is crossed by such forgetfulness. We intend to investigate to what extent the prevention actions developed by suicidology are crossed by such forgetfulness of the human's being and, in this way, they end up establishing relationships between being and entity in a consequent reduction to entity as an invariant and timeless. The path to investigate the issue will start by addressing, in greater detail, the existential analytics, the question concerning technique and the movement of forgetting the being pointed out by Heidegger to problematize the current scientific perspectives on suicide and its prevention to, then, propose a phenomenological and existential understanding about the referred phenomenon.(AU)

Martin Heidegger en su ontología destaca una característica específica del presente que atraviesa el comportamiento humano, ya sea en la filosofía, la ciencia o el sentido común: el olvido del ser. El filósofo diferencia la época actual de otras épocas históricas. El horizonte histórico contemporáneo se devela el desafío y la exploración, el intento de controlar y dominar los eventos, en la modalidad de disponibilidad y en términos de productividad. Y así aclara que todo este desarraigo del hombre actual está involucrado en el olvido de lo más esencial, que es la existencia misma. A partir de las referencias a Heidegger y de los estudios sobre el suicidio, este estudio busca saber hasta qué punto la interpretación de la muerte voluntaria hoy está atravesada por este olvido. Pretendemos investigar en qué medida las acciones de prevención desarrolladas por la suicidología se encuentran atravesadas por el olvido del ser del hombre y, de esta manera, terminan por establecer relaciones entre el ser y el ente, en una consecuente reducción al ente como invariante y atemporal. Para investigar el tema se abordará inicialmente, con mayor detalle, la analítica existencial, la cuestión de la técnica y el movimiento del olvido del ser señalado por Heidegger para problematizar las perspectivas científicas actuales sobre el suicidio y su prevención y, luego, proponer una comprensión fenomenológica y existencial sobre el referido fenómeno.(AU)

GW9508 ameliorates cognitive dysfunction via the external treatment of encephalopathy in Aß1-42 induced mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

The functions and mechanisms of GPR40 receptor to ameliorating the Alzheimer's disease (AD) by external treatment of encephalopathy remain unknown. In present study, the typical Aß1-42 induced mice model was applied to explore the functions and mechanisms of GPR40 receptor by external treatment of encephalopathy in AD. GPR40 agonist GW9508 and antagonist GW1100 were given by i.g injection to activate/inhibit the GPR40 receptor respectively in the gut of AD mouse which illustrated the function and mechanism of GPR40 receptor in ameliorating AD symptoms by external treatment of encephalopathy. A series of behavioral experiments were used to investigate the cognitive function and memory ability of mice, while molecular biology experiments such as Western blot, ELISA, flow cytometry were used to detect the corresponding changes of signaling pathways. The results revealed that intragastric administrated GW9508 could significantly ameliorate cognitive deficits of AD mouse, up-regulate the expression levels of gut-brain peptides both in blood circulation and hypothalamus thus up-regulate the expression levels of α-MSH in hypothalamus, while the negative autophagy-related proteins and inflammation-related proteins were down-regulated correspondingly. Meanwhile, GW9508 could also inhibit the pathological process of neuroinflammation in microglia. GW1100 reversed the effects of GW9508 significantly. These results suggested that GPR40 was an underlying therapeutic target for the external treatment of encephalopathy related to AD and GPR40 agonist could be explored as the emerging AD therapeutic drug.

Unmittelbare Reaktionen von Menschen mit Demenz auf individualisierte Musik - Analyse von Verhaltensbeobachtungen im Pflegeheim .

Immediate reactions of people with dementia to individualized music - Analysis of behavioral observations in a nursing home Abstract. Background: Due to the increasing prevalence of dementia, there is an urgent need for effective non-pharmacological interventions to improve the quality of life of people with dementia (PwD) and to relieve their carers. Studies show evidence for the benefits of individualized music. However, the immediate reactions to individualized music have not yet been adequately investigated. AIM: The research objective of the study was the investigation of the immediate effects of an individualized music intervention in a nursing home using a newly developed systematic behavioral observation rating scale. METHODS: In 153 behavioral observations of 20 PwD, 32 different experiences and behaviors pertaining to 11 categories such as emotional and motor changes which indicate immediate reactions to listening to music were rated. RESULTS: Participants showed significantly more positive reactions (e. g. joy or relaxation) and less negative reactions immediately after listening to the music compared to before. Moreover, in the course of listening to music, participants showed significantly more positive reactions, most often smiles, movements to music, attentive listening, relaxation and general vigilance / interest / social contact. CONCLUSIONS: The systematic behavioral observation rating scale proved to be a suitable method for rating the experiences and behaviors of people with dementia. Listening to individualized music seems to be a helpful intervention for PwD in institutional care settings.

Antidepressant Activity of Euparin: Involvement of Monoaminergic Neurotransmitters and SAT1/NMDAR2B/BDNF Signal Pathway.

Depression is the most significant risk factor for suicide, yet the causes are complex and disease mechanism remains unclear. The incidence and disability rate of depression are very high and the efficacy of some traditional antidepressants is not completely satisfactory. Recently, some studies have found that benzofurans have anti-oxidation and anti-monoamine oxidase properties, which are related to depression. Euparin is a monomer compound of benzofuran, previous work by our team found that it improves the behavior of depressed mice. However, additional antidepressant effects and mechanisms of Euparin have not been reported. In this study, the Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) model of mice was used to further investigate the effect and mechanism of Euparin on depression. Results showed that Euparin (8, 16 and 32 mg/kg) reduced depression-like behavior in mice compared with the model group. Meanwhile, all doses of Euparin were found to increase the contents of monoamine neurotransmitter and decrease monoamine oxidase and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in brain of depression mice. Additionally, Euparin restored CUMS-induced decrease of Spermidine/Spermine N1-Acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1), N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype 2B (NMDAR2B) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. These findings demonstrate that Euparin has antidepressant properties, and its mechanism involves the SAT1/NMDAR2B/BDNF signaling pathway.

Using Nonparticipant Observation as a Method to Understand Implementation Context in Evidence-Based Practice.

BACKGROUND: The uptake of evidence-based knowledge in practice is influenced by context. Observations are suggested as a valuable but under-used approach in implementation research for gaining a holistic understanding of contexts. AIM: The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how data from observations can provide insights about context and evidence use in implementation research. METHODS: Data were collected over 24 months in a randomised trial with an embedded realist evaluation in 24 nursing homes across four European countries; notes from 183 observations (representing 335 hours) were triangulated with interview transcripts and context survey data (from 357 staff interviews and 725 questionnaire responses, respectively). RESULTS: Although there were similarities in several elements of context within survey, interview and observation data, the observations provided additional features of the implementation context. In particular, observations demonstrated if and how the resources (staffing and supplies) and leadership (formal and informal, teamwork, and professional autonomy) affected knowledge use and implementation. Further, the observations illuminated the influence of standards and the physical nursing environment on evidence-based practice, and the dynamic interaction between different aspects of context. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Although qualitative observations are resource-intensive, they add value when used with other data collection methods, further enlightening the understanding of the implementation context and how evidence use and sharing are influenced by context elements. Observations can enhance an understanding of the context, evidence use and knowledge-sharing triad in implementation research.

Salvianolic Acid B improves cognitive impairment by inhibiting neuroinflammation and decreasing Aß level in Porphyromonas gingivalis-infected mice.

Amyloid-ß (Aß) accumulation is one of the main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), the pathogen of chronic periodontitis, could cause Aß accumulation and was identified in the brain of AD patients. Salvianolic Acid B (SalB) has been proven to have the neuroprotective effect. Whether SalB could protect against P. gingivalis-induced cognitive impairment is still unknown. In this study, a P. gingivalis-infected mouse model was employed to study the neuroprotective role of SalB. The results showed that SalB (20 and 40 mg/kg) treatment for 4 weeks could shorten the escape latency and improve the percentage of spontaneous alternation in the P. gingivalis-infected mice. SalB inhibited the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, while increased the levels of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase). SalB decreased the levels of IL-1ß and IL-6, increased the mRNA levels of bdnf and ngf in the brain of P. gingivalis-infected mice. In addition, SalB obviously decreased the level of Aß. SalB elevated the protein expression of ADAM10, while downregulated BACE1 and PS1. SalB increased the protein expression of LRP1, while decreased RAGE. In conclusion, SalB could improve cognitive impairment by inhibiting neuroinflammation and decreasing Aß level in P. gingivalis-infected mice.

Ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorates the cognitive deficits in D-galactose and AlCl3-induced aging mice by restoring FGF2-Akt and BDNF-TrkB signaling axis to inhibit apoptosis.

Ginsenoside Rg1 is the main active ingredient of Panax ginseng with the activity of neuroprotective, antioxidant and strengthening the immune system. Therefore, we hypothesized that Rg1 may afford anti-aging effects although the mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, chemically induced aging mice were established by consecutive administration of D-galactose and AlCl3. We found that Rg1 effectively ameliorates spatial learning and memory deficits in aging mice demonstrated by their improved performance in step down avoidance tests and Morris water maze experiments. Rg1 restored aging-induced decline of FGF2 and BDNF, reactivated TrkB/Akt signaling pathways in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex to inhibit apoptosis, for the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and apoptosis promoting enzyme cleaved-Caspase3 were antagonistically restored. Therefore, these results established the anti-aging effects of Rg1, and FGF2, BDNF and associated signaling pathways might be promising targets. Our data may provide a new avenue to the pharmacological research and diet therapeutic role of ethnic products such as Rg1 in anti-aging and aging associated diseases.

Automated detection of the head-twitch response using wavelet scalograms and a deep convolutional neural network.

Hallucinogens induce the head-twitch response (HTR), a rapid reciprocal head movement, in mice. Although head twitches are usually identified by direct observation, they can also be assessed using a head-mounted magnet and a magnetometer. Procedures have been developed to automate the analysis of magnetometer recordings by detecting events that match the frequency, duration, and amplitude of the HTR. However, there is considerable variability in the features of head twitches, and behaviors such as jumping have similar characteristics, reducing the reliability of these methods. We have developed an automated method that can detect head twitches unambiguously, without relying on features in the amplitude-time domain. To detect the behavior, events are transformed into a visual representation in the time-frequency domain (a scalogram), deep features are extracted using the pretrained convolutional neural network (CNN) ResNet-50, and then the images are classified using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm. These procedures were used to analyze recordings from 237 mice containing 11,312 HTR. After transformation to scalograms, the multistage CNN-SVM approach detected 11,244 (99.4%) of the HTR. The procedures were insensitive to other behaviors, including jumping and seizures. Deep learning based on scalograms can be used to automate HTR detection with robust sensitivity and reliability.

The neuroprotective effect of NeuroAid on morphine-induced amnesia with respect to the expression of TFAM, PGC-1α, ΔfosB and CART genes in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats.

Morphine is a natural alkaloid which derived from the opium poppy Papaver somniferum. Many studies have reported the effect of morphine on learning, memory and gene expression. CART (cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript)is an important neuropeptide which has a critical role in physiological processes including drug dependence and antioxidant activity. ΔfosB is a transcription factor which modulates synaptic plasticity and affects learning and memory. TFAM (the mitochondrial transcription factor A) and PGC-1α (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α) are critically involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant pathways. NeuroAid is a Chinese medicine that induces neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects. In this research, we aimed to investigate the effect of NeuroAid on morphine-induced amnesia with respect to the expression of TFAM, PGC-1α, ΔfosB and CART in the rat's hippocampus. In this study, Morphine sulfate (at increasing doses), Naloxone hydrochloride (2.5 mg/kg) and NeuroAid (2.5 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneal and real-time PCR reactions were done to assess gene expression. The results showed, morphine impaired memory of step-through passive avoidance, while NeuroAid had no effect. NeuroAid attenuated (but not reversed) morphine-induced memory impairment in morphine-addicted rats. Morphine increased the expression of PGC-1α and decreased the expression of CART. However, NeuroAid increased the expression of TFAM, PGC-1α, ΔfosB and CART. NeuroAid restored the effect of morphine on the expression of CART and PGC-1α. In conclusion, morphine impaired memory of step-through passive avoidance and NeuroAid attenuated this effect. The effect of NeuroAid on morphine-induced memory impairment/gene expression may be related to its anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects.

Hyperactivated PTP1B phosphatase in parvalbumin neurons alters anterior cingulate inhibitory circuits and induces autism-like behaviors.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have social interaction deficits and difficulty filtering information. Inhibitory interneurons filter information at pyramidal neurons of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), an integration hub for higher-order thalamic inputs important for social interaction. Humans with deletions including LMO4, an endogenous inhibitor of PTP1B, display intellectual disabilities and occasionally autism. PV-Lmo4KO mice ablate Lmo4 in PV interneurons and display ASD-like repetitive behaviors and social interaction deficits. Surprisingly, increased PV neuron-mediated peri-somatic feedforward inhibition to the pyramidal neurons causes a compensatory reduction in (somatostatin neuron-mediated) dendritic inhibition. These homeostatic changes increase filtering of mediodorsal-thalamocortical inputs but reduce filtering of cortico-cortical inputs and narrow the range of stimuli ACC pyramidal neurons can distinguish. Simultaneous ablation of PTP1B in PV-Lmo4KO neurons prevents these deficits, indicating that PTP1B activation in PV interneurons contributes to ASD-like characteristics and homeostatic maladaptation of inhibitory circuits may contribute to deficient information filtering in ASD.

Mixed company: a framework for understanding the composition and organization of mixed-species animal groups.

Mixed-species animal groups (MSGs) are widely acknowledged to increase predator avoidance and foraging efficiency, among other benefits, and thereby increase participants' fitness. Diversity in MSG composition ranges from two to 70 species of very similar or completely different phenotypes. Yet consistency in organization is also observable in that one or a few species usually have disproportionate importance for MSG formation and/or maintenance. We propose a two-dimensional framework for understanding this diversity and consistency, concentrating on the types of interactions possible between two individuals, usually of different species. One axis represents the similarity of benefit types traded between the individuals, while the second axis expresses asymmetry in the relative amount of benefits/costs accrued. Considering benefit types, one extreme represents the case of single-species groups wherein all individuals obtain the same supplementary, group-size-related benefits, and the other extreme comprises associations of very different, but complementary species (e.g. one partner creates access to food while the other provides vigilance). The relevance of social information and the matching of activities (e.g. speed of movement) are highest for relationships on the supplementary side of this axis, but so is competition; relationships between species will occur at points along this gradient where the benefits outweigh the costs. Considering benefit amounts given or received, extreme asymmetry occurs when one species is exclusively a benefit provider and the other a benefit user. Within this parameter space, some MSG systems are constrained to one kind of interaction, such as shoals of fish of similar species or leader-follower interactions in fish and other taxa. Other MSGs, such as terrestrial bird flocks, can simultaneously include a variety of supplementary and complementary interactions. We review the benefits that species obtain across the diversity of MSG types, and argue that the degree and nature of asymmetry between benefit providers and users should be measured and not just assumed. We then discuss evolutionary shifts in MSG types, focusing on drivers towards similarity in group composition, and selection on benefit providers to enhance the benefits they can receive from other species. Finally, we conclude by considering how individual and collective behaviour in MSGs may influence both the structure and processes of communities.

Pyridoxine induces glutathione synthesis via PKM2-mediated Nrf2 transactivation and confers neuroprotection.

Oxidative stress is a major pathogenic mechanism in Parkinson's disease (PD). As an important cellular antioxidant, glutathione (GSH) balances the production and incorporation of free radicals to protect neurons from oxidative damage. GSH level is decreased in the brains of PD patients. Hence, clarifying the molecular mechanism of GSH deficiency may help deepen our knowledge of PD pathogenesis. Here we report that the astrocytic dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) regulates GSH synthesis via PKM2-mediated Nrf2 transactivation. In addition we find that pyridoxine can dimerize PKM2 to promote GSH biosynthesis. Further experiments show that pyridoxine supplementation increases the resistance of nigral dopaminergic neurons to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity in wild-type mice as well as in astrocytic Drd2 conditional knockout mice. We conclude that dimerizing PKM2 may be a potential target for PD treatment.

Mentalisation Amongst Maternal and Child Health Nurses Using the Newborn Behavioural Observations With Infant-mother dyads: A Qualitative Study.

PURPOSE: This study explored Maternal and Child Health Nurses' (MCHN) mentalisation processes towards infant-mother dyads when using the Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) system in practice. DESIGN AND METHODS: Ten Australian MCHNs (female; aged 31-66 years), who had used the NBO clinically within the last 12 months, were recruited from a database of NBO-trained practitioners. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of one-on-one semi-structured interviews explored MCHNs experiential meaning-making. RESULTS: Analysis of the data produced four main themes: reflections regarding the dyad, personal reflections, reflection into action, and professional identity and future practice. MCHNs reported that the NBO's focus on the pre-verbal infant provided them with an added dynamic to consultations outside of the practitioner-caregiver relationship. Thus, they were able to provide holistic and collaborative relationship support to infant-mother dyads. Emotional satisfaction and pride in profession were also reported; in current literature, these factors have been found to reduce burnout in primary care providers. CONCLUSIONS: The NBO appears to promote practitioner mentalisation, offering MCHNs a framework and confidence to apply infant mental health theory practically. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The NBO offers potential benefits to child and family health nursing practice, and other primary care providers, who offer infant mental health and relationship support as part of their work with families in the first three months. The NBO also provides a means to shift from prescriptive to mentalisation-based, infant-inclusive, and individualised practice.

Neuroprotective effect of salvianolate on cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting the Caspase-3 signal pathway.

Salvianolate has been widely used for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of how it alleviates cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of salvianolate in acute cerebral infarction using the PC12 cell oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model in vitro and the rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in vivo. The results showed that the salvianolate significantly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species and inhibited the Caspase-3 signalling pathway in vitro; at the same time, in vivo experiments showed that salvianolate obviously reduced the infarct area (12.9%) and repaired cognitive function compared with the model group (28.28%). In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the salvianolate effectively alleviated cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury via suppressing the Caspase-3 signalling pathway.

Combined action observation and motor imagery facilitates visuomotor adaptation in children with developmental coordination disorder.

The internal modelling deficit (IMD) hypothesis suggests that motor control issues associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are the result of impaired predictive motor control. In this study, we examined the benefits of a combined action observation and motor imagery (AO + MI) intervention designed to alleviate deficits in internal modelling and improve eye-hand coordination during a visuomotor rotation task. Twenty children with DCD were randomly assigned to either an AO + MI group (who watched a video of a performer completing the task whilst simultaneously imagining the kinaesthetic sensations associated with action execution) or a control group (who watched unrelated videos involving no motor content). Each group then attempted to learn a 90° visuomotor rotation while measurements of completion time, eye-movement behaviour and movement kinematics were recorded. As predicted, after training, the AO + MI group exhibited quicker completion times, more target-focused eye-movement behaviour and smoother movement kinematics compared to the control group. No significant after-effects were present. These results offer further support for the IMD hypothesis and suggest that AO + MI interventions may help to alleviate such deficits and improve motor performance in children with DCD.

Behavioral effects of the kappa opioid receptor partial agonist nalmefene in tests relevant to depression.

Compounds with high affinity at kappa and mu opioid receptors may have clinical utility in treating major depressive disorder. Nalmefene (NMF) is a partial kappa opioid receptor agonist and potent mu opioid receptor antagonist, but there has been no preclinical evaluation of NMF in rodent tests relevant to depression and anxiety. To address this, the effects of NMF on neurochemical and behavioral endpoints in C57BL/6J mice were examined and contrasted with a structurally related analog, naltrexone (NTX). NMF exhibited kappa opioid receptor agonist activity, measured as a reduction in extracellular dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens using in vivo microdialysis following acute but not chronic administration. In the mouse forced swim test, female mice were more responsive to higher doses of NMF and NTX compared to male mice. The behavioral effects of NMF in the forced swim test were blocked in Oprk1-/- and Oprm1-/- mice. Conversely, the effects of NTX were blocked only in Oprm1-/- mice. These results indicate that both kappa and mu opioid receptors mediate the behavioral effects of NMF, but the effects of NTX in this test were modified only by mu opioid receptor engagement. Unlike NTX, NMF did not produce conditioned place aversion in either sex. Finally, NMF's activity in the marble burying test and forced swim test were retained following chronic administration. The sustained effects exerted by NMF on tests that are sensitive to antidepressant and anxiolytic compounds support further investigation of NMF as a potential therapeutic for depression.

Notopterygium incisum extract (NRE) rescues cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 Alzhneimer's disease mice by attenuating amyloid-beta, tau, and neuroinflammation pathology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a frequently occurring disease of the elderly, and "deficiency" is the root of AD. Most famous experts of traditional Chinese medicine believe that the disease is based on deficiency, and the deficiency of kidney essence is the basis. Notopterygium incisum (Qiang huo) is beneficial to bladder, liver, and kidneys. It is used to treat liver and kidney deficiency, language difficulties, and mental coma. Qiang huo yu feng tang has been used to treat liver and kidney deficiency, unclear language and mental paralysis in many traditional Chinese medicine books and records. In modern times, it has been used to treat AD and exhibited favourable efficacy. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study attempts to investigate the effects of furocoumarins from Notopterygium incisum (NRE) on the Aß cascade, tau pathology and inflammatory pathology of AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we reported a detailed protocol for stabilizing HEK APPswe293T cells with lentivirus for the first time. This cell line can secrete high concentration of Aß. In addition, we treated N2a cells with AKT/PKC specific inhibitors (wortmannin/GF-109203X) and established a tau pathological cell model (AKT/PKC N2a) by activating GSK3ß and triggering hyperphosphorylation of tau. The Aß levels and the expression of phosphorylated tau were detected by ELISA and Western blot. The cognitive ability of NRE on APP/PS1 mice was detected using a Morris water maze (MWM) assay and Aß contents were also evaluated. RESULTS: In HEK APPswe293T cells, NRE (10, 20, 40 µg/mL) significantly inhibited the secretion and production of Aß in dose dependent manner. In addition, NRE also suppressed the expression of phosphorylated tau in wortmannin/GF-109203X treated N2a cells. Furthermore, NRE ameliorated the cognitive impairment of APP/PS1 mice, and the contents of Aß, IL-1ß and TNF-α were significantly depressed in hippocampus and cortex. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results demonstrated that NRE has a potential anti-AD effect via the inhibition of the Aß cascade, tau pathology and neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo.

Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like activities of hydroethanol leaf extract of Newbouldia laevis (P.Beauv.) Seem. (Bignoniaceae) in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Newbouldia laevis (Bignoniaceae) is a woody tropical plant commonly found in southwest Nigeria. Ethnobotanical survey and literature revealed its application in the management of CNS disorders e.g. psychosis, insomnia, convulsions and associated anxiety and depression. This study evaluated the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of the hydroethanol leaf extract of N. laevis in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hole-board (HBT), elevated plus maze (EPMT), light/dark exploration (LDET), open field (OFT), social interaction (SIT) (anxiolytic activity), forced swim (FST) and tail suspension (TST) (antidepressant property) tests were employed in this investigation. Mice randomly allotted to different groups were treated orally with distilled water (10 ml/kg), diazepam (1 and 3 mg/kg), imipramine (20 mg/kg) and N. laevis (25-200 mg/kg). The mice were subjected to the various tests 60 min post-treatment. RESULTS: In the HBT, N. laevis (25 and 100 mg/kg) increased the number of sectional crossings significantly (p < 0.05). In the OFT, N. laevis (25-200 mg/kg) increased the number of general square crossings, centre square crossings, rearings and assisted rearings (p < 0.05). In the EPMT, the extract (25 and 50 mg/kg) increased the open arms time spent, number of head dips and entry (p < 0.05). In the LDET, N. laevis increased the number of transitions at 100 and 200 mg/kg (p < 0.05). For the SIT, N. laevis (25 and 200 mg/kg) increased the frequency and duration of interaction respectively (p < 0.05). In the FST and TST, N. laevis (25-200 mg/kg) increased the latency and reduced the total duration of immobility (p < 0.05). The effect of the extract on duration of immobility was significantly reversed by sulpiride (Dopamine D2 receptor antagonist). CONCLUSION: The hydroethanol leaf extract of N. laevis possesses anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like activities, the later possibly mediated by dopaminergic enhancement(s).

Face recognition and memory in congenital amusia.

Congenital amusia, commonly known as tone deafness, is a lifelong impairment of music perception and production. It remains a question of debate whether the impairments in musical domain observed in congenital amusia are paralleled in other non-musical perceptual abilities. Using behavioral measures in two experiments, the current study explored face perception and memory in congenital amusics. Both congenital amusics and matched controls performed a face perception task (Experiment 1) and an old/novel object memory task (for both faces and houses, Experiment 2). The results showed that the congenital amusic group had significantly slower reaction times than that in matched control group when identifying whether two faces presented together were the same or different. For different face-pairs, the deficit was greater for upright faces compared with inverted faces. For object memory task, the congenital amusic group also showed worse memory performance than the control group. The results of the present study suggest that the impairment attributed to congenital amusia is not only limited to music, but also extends to visual perception and visual memory domain.