CircAKT3 alleviates postoperative cognitive dysfunction by stabilizing the feedback cycle of miR-106a-5p/HDAC4/MEF2C axis in hippocampi of aged mice.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have garnered significant attention in the field of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's diseases due to their covalently closed loop structure. However, the involvement of circRNAs in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is still largely unexplored. To identify the genes differentially expressed between non-POCD (NPOCD) and POCD mice, we conducted the whole transcriptome sequencing initially in this study. According to the expression profiles, we observed that circAKT3 was associated with hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in POCD mice. Moreover, we found that circAKT3 overexpression reduced apoptosis of hippocampal neurons and alleviated POCD. Subsequently, through bioinformatics analysis, our data showed that circAKT3 overexpression in vitro and in vivo elevated the abundance of miR-106a-5p significantly, resulting in a decrease of HDAC4 protein and an increase of MEF2C protein. Additionally, this effect of circAKT3 was blocked by miR-106a-5p inhibitor. Interestingly, MEF2C could activate the transcription of miR-106a-5p promoter and form a positive feedback loop. Therefore, our findings revealed more potential modulation ways between circRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA, providing different directions and targets for preclinical studies of POCD.

Microbiota-gut-brain axis in perioperative neurocognitive and depressive disorders: Pathogenesis to treatment.

An increasing number of people undergo anesthesia and surgery. Perioperative neurocognitive and depressive disorders are common central nervous system complications with similar pathogeneses. These conditions pose a deleterious threat to human health and a significant societal burden. In recent years, numerous studies have focused on the role of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in the central nervous system via the gut-brain axis. Its involvement in perioperative neurocognitive and depressive disorders has attracted considerable attention. This review aimed to elucidate the role of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in the pathogenesis of perioperative neurocognitive and depressive disorders, as well as the value of targeted interventions and treatments.

Chronic restraint stress induces abnormal behaviors in pain sensitivity and cognitive function in mice: the role of Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.

Stress is a series of physical and psychological responses to external and internal environmental stimuli. Growing studies have demonstrated the detrimental impacts of acute restraint stress (ARS) and chronic restraint stress (CRS) on animal behavior. However, the related pathogenesis and therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. Hence, the present study aimed to examine whether unfolded protein response (UPR) and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway are associated with ARS- and CRS- induced abnormal behaviors of pain sensitivity and cognitive function. We here used four behavioral tests to evaluate pain sensitivity and cognitive function in ARS and CRS mice. CRS markedly decreased Paw Withdrawal Mechanical Threshold (PWMT) and Tail-flick Latency (TFL) scores, whereas ARS altered TFL but had no effect on PWMT scores. Additionally, CRS, but not ARS, significantly changed behaviors in nest building behavior and MWMT. Intriguingly, the expression of Keap1 and Nrf2 protein were decreased in the spinal cord and hippocampus in CRS mice, but not in ARS mice. Moreover, neither the ARS nor the CRS groups significantly differed from the control group in terms of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Taken together, this study demonstrated that CRS could induce abnormal pain sensitivity and cognitive function probably via Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in spinal cord and hippocampus. It is therefore likely that effective intervention of Keap1/Nrf2 pathway may contribute to preventing and treating hyperalgesia and cognitive dysfunction in CRS.

Persuader-receiver neural coupling underlies persuasive messaging and predicts persuasion outcome.

Opportunities to persuade and be persuaded are ubiquitous. What interpersonal neural pathway in real-world settings determining successful information propagation in naturalistic two-person persuasion scenarios? Hereby, we extended prior research on a naturalistic dyadic persuasion paradigm (NDP) using dual-fNIRS protocol simultaneously measured the neural activity from persuader-receiver dyads while they engaged in a modified "Arctic Survival Task." Investigating whether neural coupling between persuaders and receivers underpinning of persuading and predict persuasion outcomes (i.e., receiver's compliance). Broadly, we indicated that the persuasive arguments increase neural coupling significantly compared to non-persuasive arguments in the left superior temporal gyrus-superior frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus-inferior frontal gyrus. G-causality indices further revealed the coupling directionality of information flows between the persuader and receiver. Critically, the neural coupling could be a better predictor of persuasion outcomes relative to traditional self-report measures. Eventually, temporal dynamics neural coupling incorporating video recording revealed neural coupling marked the micro-level processes in response to persuading messages and possibly reflecting the time that persuasion might occurs. The initial case of the arguments with targeted views is valuable as the first step in encouraging the receiver's compliance. Our investigation represented an innovative interpersonal approach toward comprehending the neuroscience and psychology underlying complex and true persuasion.

Reward delays quitting in visual search.

Reward motivates goal-directed behaviors, leading to faster reaction time (RT) and lower error rate in searching for a target in the reward condition than in the no-reward condition in target-discrimination tasks. However, it is unclear how reward influences target detection in which participants are required to judge whether a predesignated target is present or absent. Here, we asked participants to complete a target-detection search task in which the color of the search array indicated the reward availability of the current trial. Correct and faster (than a baseline) responses would be rewarded if the search array had the reward-related color. In Experiments 1A and 1B, the target was presented in 50% of the trials. Experiment 1B had the same design as Experiment 1A, except that different baselines were set for the target-present and target-absent conditions. In Experiment 2, the proportion of target presence was manipulated to be high (80%), moderate (50%), or low (20%) in different blocks of stimuli. Results showed that, across all the experiments, participants responded faster and made fewer errors in the reward than in the no-reward condition when the target was present. However, this facilitatory effect was reversed when the target was absent, showcasing a reward-induced interference. The signal detection analysis suggested that reward biased the report criterion to the "yes" response. These findings demonstrate that the impact of reward on goal-directed behavior can be detrimental and reward prolongs the search process by rendering participants reluctant to say "no" in visual search termination.

Lead exposure induced transgenerational developmental neurotoxicity by altering genome methylation in Drosophila melanogaster.

Heavy metal toxicity is a significant global health concern, with particular attention given to lead (Pb) exposure due to its adverse effects on cognitive development, especially in children exposed to low concentrations. While Pb neurotoxicity has been extensively studied, the analysis and molecular mechanisms underlying the transgenerational effects of Pb exposure-induced neurotoxicity remain poorly understood. In this study, we utilized Drosophila, a powerful developmental animal model, to investigate this phenomenon. Our findings demonstrated that Pb exposure during the developmental stage had a profound effect on the neurodevelopment of F0 fruit flies. Specifically, we observed a loss of correlation between the terminal motor area and muscle fiber area, along with an increased frequency of the ß-lobe midline crossing phenotype in mushroom bodies. Western blot analysis indicated altered expression levels of synaptic vesicle proteins, with a decrease in Synapsin (SYN) and an increase in Bruchpilot (BRP) expression, suggesting changes in synaptic vesicle release sites. These findings were corroborated by electrophysiological data, showing an increase in the amplitude of evoked excitatory junctional potential (EJP) and an increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory junctional potential (mEJP) following Pb exposure. Importantly, our results further confirmed that the developmental neurotoxicity resulting from grandparental Pb exposure exhibited a transgenerational effect. The F3 offspring displayed neurodevelopmental defects, synaptic function abnormalities, and repetitive behavior despite lacking direct Pb exposure. Our MeDIP-seq analysis further revealed significant alterations in DNA methylation levels in several neurodevelopmental associated genes (eagle, happyhour, neuroglian, bazooka, and spinophilin) in the F3 offspring exposed to Pb. These findings suggest that DNA methylation modifications may underlie the inheritance of acquired phenotypic traits resulting from environmental Pb exposure.

The changing permafrost environment under desertification and the heat transfer mechanism in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

With the development of desertification in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), aeolian sand becomes the remarkable local factor affecting the thermal state of permafrost along the Qinghai-Tibet Engineering Corridor (QTEC). In this study, a model experiment was conducted to analyze the impact of thickness and water content of aeolian sand on its thermal effect, and a hydro-thermo-vapor coupling model of frozen soil was carried out to reveal the heat transfer mechanism of the aeolian sand layer (ASL) with different thicknesses and its hydrothermal effect on permafrost. The results indicate that: (1) ASL with the thickness larger than 80 cm has the property of converting precipitation into soil water. The thicker the ASL, the more precipitation infiltrates and accumulates in the soil layer. (2) The cooling effect of ASL on permafrost results from the lower net surface radiation, causing the annual average surface heat flux shifting from heat inflow to heat outflow. The warming effect of ASL on permafrost results from the increasing convective heat accompanying the infiltrated precipitation. (3) As the ASL thickens, the thermal effect of ASL on permafrost gradually shifts from the cooling effect dominated by heat radiation and heat conduction to the warming effect dominated by precipitation infiltration and heat convection. The warming effect of thick ASL on permafrost requires a certain amount of years to manifest, and the critical thickness is suggested to be larger than 120 cm.

Characterization of the natural peptidome of four leeches by integrated proteogenomics and pseudotargeted peptidomics.

Animal-derived drugs are an indispensable part of folk medicine worldwide. However, their chemical constituents are poorly approached, which leads to the low level of the quality standard system of animal-derived drugs and further causes a chaotic market. Natural peptides are ubiquitous throughout the organism, especially in animal-derived drugs. Thus, in this study, we used multi-source leeches, including Hirudo nipponica (HN), Whitmania pigra (WP), Whitmania acranulata (WA), and Poecilobdella manillensis (PM), as a model. A strategy integrating proteogenomics and novel pseudotargeted peptidomics was developed to characterize the natural peptide phenotype and screen for signature peptides of four leech species. First, natural peptides were sequenced against an in-house annotated protein database of closely related species constructed from RNA-seq data from the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) website, which is an open-sourced public archive resource. Second, a novel pseudotargeted peptidomics integrating peptide ion pair extraction and retention time transfer was established to achieve high coverage and quantitative accuracy of the natural peptides and to screen for signature peptides for species authentication. In all, 2323 natural peptides were identified from four leech species whose databases were poorly annotated. The strategy was shown to significantly improve peptide identification. In addition, 36 of 167 differential peptides screened by pseudotargeted proteomics were identified, and about one-third of them came from the leucine-rich repeat domain (LRR) proteins, which are widely distributed in organisms. Furthermore, six signature peptides were screened with good specificity and stability, and four of them were validated by synthetic standards. Finally, a dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) method based on these signature peptides was established and revealed that one-half of the commercial samples and all of the Tongxinluo capsules were derived from WP. All in all, the strategy developed in this study was effective for natural peptide characterization and signature peptide screening, which could also be applied to other animal-derived drugs, especially for modelless species that are less studied in protein database annotation.

CD36 palmitoylation disrupts free fatty acid metabolism and promotes tissue inflammation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fatty acid translocase CD36 (CD36) is a membrane protein with multiple immuno-metabolic functions. Palmitoylation has been suggested to regulate the distribution and functions of CD36, but little is known about its significance in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: Human liver tissue samples were obtained from patients undergoing liver biopsy for diagnostic purposes. CD36 knockout mice were injected with lentiviral vectors expressing wild-type CD36 or CD36 with mutated palmitoylation sites. Liver histology, immunofluorescence, mRNA expression profile, subcellular distributions and functions of CD36 protein were assessed. RESULTS: The localization of CD36 on the plasma membrane of hepatocytes was markedly increased in patients with NASH compared to patients with normal liver and those with simple steatosis. Increased CD36 palmitoylation and increased localization of CD36 on the plasma membrane of hepatocytes were also observed in livers of mice with NASH. Furthermore, inhibition of CD36 palmitoylation protected mice from developing NASH. The absence of palmitoylation decreased CD36 protein hydrophobicity reducing its localization on the plasma membrane as well as in lipid raft of hepatocytes. Consequently, a lack of palmitoylation decreased fatty acid uptake and CD36/Fyn/Lyn complex in HepG2 cells. Inhibition of CD36 palmitoylation not only ameliorated intracellular lipid accumulation via activation of the AMPK pathway, but also inhibited the inflammatory response through the inhibition of the JNK signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the key role of palmitoylation in regulating CD36 distributions and its functions in NASH. Inhibition of CD36 palmitoylation may represent an effective therapeutic strategy in patients with NASH. LAY SUMMARY: Fatty acid translocase CD36 (CD36) is a multifunctional membrane protein which contributes to the development of liver steatosis. In the present study, we demonstrated that the localization of CD36 on the plasma membrane of hepatocytes is increased in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Blocking the palmitoylation of CD36 reduces CD36 distribution in hepatocyte plasma membranes and protects mice from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The inhibition of CD36 palmitoylation not only improved fatty acid metabolic disorders but also reduced the inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo. The present study suggests that CD36 palmitoylation is important for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis development and inhibition of CD36 palmitoylation could be used to cure non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Volition motivates cognitive performance at the response-execution level by attenuating task-irrelevant motor activations.

Humans express volition by making voluntary choices which, relative to forced choices, can motivate cognitive performance in a variety of tasks. However, a task that requires the generation of motor responses on the basis of external sensory stimulation involves complex underlying cognitive processes, e.g., pre-response processing, response selection, and response execution. The present study investigated how these underlying processes are facilitated by voluntary choice-making. In five experiments, participants were free or forced to choose a task-irrelevant picture from two alternatives, and then completed a conflict task, i.e., Flanker, Stroop, Simon, Stroop-Simon, or Flanker-Simon task, where the conflict effect could occur at different processing levels. Results consistently showed that responses in all tasks were generally faster after voluntary (vs. forced) choices. Importantly, the conflict effect at the response-execution level (i.e., the Simon effect), but not the conflict effect at the pre-response and response-selection levels (i.e., the Flanker and Stroop effects), was reduced by the voluntary choice-making. Model fitting revealed that the peak amplitude of automatic motor activations in the response-execution conflict was smaller after voluntary (vs. forced) choices. These findings suggest that volition motivates subsequent cognitive performance at the response-execution level by attenuating task-irrelevant motor activations.

The benefit of making voluntary choices generalizes across multiple effectors.

It has been shown that cognitive performance could be improved by expressing volition (e.g., making voluntary choices), which necessarily involves the execution of action through a certain effector. However, it is unclear if the benefit of expressing volition can generalize across different effectors. In the present study, participants made a choice between two pictures either voluntarily or forcibly, and subsequently completed a visual search task with the chosen picture as a task-irrelevant background. The effector for choosing a picture could be the hand (pressing a key), foot (pedaling), mouth (commanding), or eye (gazing), whereas the effector for responding to the search target was always the hand. Results showed that participants responded faster and had a more liberal response criterion in the search task after a voluntary choice (vs. a forced choice). Importantly, the improved performance was observed regardless of which effector was used in making the choice, and regardless of whether the effector for making choices was the same as or different from the effector for responding to the search target. Eye-movement data for oculomotor choice showed that the main contributor to the facilitatory effect of voluntary choice was the post-search time in the visual search task (i.e., the time spent on processes after the target was found, such as response selection and execution). These results suggest that the expression of volition may involve the motor control system in which the effector-general, high-level processing of the goal of the voluntary action plays a key role.

Aquaporin 1 is renoprotective in septic acute kidney injury by attenuating inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis through inhibition of P53 expression.

Sepsis associated Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical syndrome characterized by suddenly decreased in renal function and urinary volume. This study was designed to investigate the role of Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and P53 in the development of sepsis-induced AKI and their potential regulatory mechanisms. Firstly, transcriptome sequencing analysis of mice kidney showed AQP1 expression was reduced and P53 expression was elevated in Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced AKI compared with controls. Bioinformatics confirmed that AQP1 expression was remarkably decreased and P53 expression was obviously elevated in renal tissues or peripheral blood of septic AKI patients. Moreover, we found in vivo experiments that AQP1 mRNA levels were dramatically decreased and P53 mRNA significantly increased following the increased expression of inflammation, apoptosis, fibrosis, NGAL and KIM-1 at various periods in septic AKI. Meanwhile, AQP1 and P53 protein levels increased significantly first and then decreased gradually in kidney tissue and serum of rats in different stages of septic AKI. Most importantly, in vivo and vitro experiments demonstrated that silencing of AQP1 greatly exacerbates renal or cellular injury by up-regulating P53 expression promoting inflammatory response, apoptosis and fibrosis. Overexpression of AQP1 prevented the elevation of inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis by down-regulating P53 expression in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI or HK-2 cells. Therefore, our results suggested that AQP1 plays a protective role in modulating AKI and can attenuate inflammatory response, apoptosis and fibrosis via downregulating P53 in septic AKI or LPS-induced HK-2cells. The pharmacological targeting of AQP1 mediated P53 expression might be identified as potential targets for the early treatment of septic AKI.

Prognostic role of MUCIN family and its relationship with immune characteristics and tumor biology in diffuse-type gastric cancer.

The main component of O-glycoproteins, mucin, is known to play important roles in physiological conditions and oncogenic processes, particularly correlated with poor prognosis in different carcinomas. Diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) has long been associated with genomic stability and unfavorable clinical outcomes. To investigate further, we obtained clinical information and the RNA-seq data of the TCGA-STAD cohort. Through the use of unsupervised clustering methods and GSEA, we identified two distinct clusters, characterized by higher and lower expression of MUC2 and MUC20, denoted as cluster 1 and cluster 2, respectively. Subsequently, employing CIBERSORT, it was determined that cluster 2 exhibited a higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) and a greater abundance of CD8+ T cells and activated CD4+ memory T cells, in addition to immune checkpoints (ICPs). On the other hand, cluster 1 showed a lower TIDE score estimation, indicating a higher probability of tumor immune escape. Furthermore, overexpression of MUC15 and MUC20 was confirmed through qPCR and Western blotting, and their specific roles in mediating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of GC cells (SNU484 and Hs746t) were validated via CCK-8 assay and wound healing assay in vitro. These findings highlight the potential prognostic value of MUC20 and offer insights into the prospects of immunotherapy for DGC by targeting MUC20.

Prognostic significance of preoperative nutritional status for postoperative acute kidney injury in older patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The association between malnutrition and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) has not been well studied. In this study, the authors examined the association between preoperative nutritional status and postoperative AKI in older patients who underwent major abdominal surgery, as well as the predictive value of malnutrition for AKI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively included patients aged 65 or older who underwent major elective abdominal surgery. The nutritional status of the patient was evaluated using three objective nutritional indices, such as the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and the controlling nutritional status (CONUT). AKI was determined using the KDIGO criteria. The authors performed logistic regression analysis to investigate the association between preoperative nutritional status and postoperative AKI, as well as the predictive value of nutritional scores for postoperative AKI. RESULTS: A total of 2775 patients were included in the study, of which 707 (25.5%), 291 (10.5%), and 517 (18.6%) had moderate to severe malnutrition according to GNRI, PNI, and CONUT calculations. After surgery, 144 (5.2%) patients developed AKI, 86.1% at stage 1, 11.1% at stage 2, and 2.8% at stage 3 as determined by KDIGO criteria. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, worse nutritional scores were associated with a higher AKI risk. In addition to traditional risk factors, these nutritional indices improved the predictive ability of AKI prediction models, as demonstrated by significant improvements in integrated discrimination and net reclassification. CONCLUSIONS: Poor preoperative nutritional status, as assessed by GNRI, PNI, and CONUT scores, was associated with an increased risk of postoperative AKI. Incorporating these scores into AKI prediction models improved their performance. These findings emphasize the need for screening surgical patients for malnutrition risk. Further research is needed to determine whether preoperative malnutrition assessment and intervention can reduce postoperative AKI incidence.

CD133-targeted multifunctional nanomicelles for dual-modality imaging and synergistic high-intensity focus ultrasound (HIFU) ablation on pancreatic cancer in nude mice.

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive and highly fatal malignant tumor. Recent studies have shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in resisting current therapeutic modalities. Furthermore, CD133 is highly expressed in CSCs. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising non-invasive therapeutic strategy for unresectable pancreatic cancers. In our study, we synthesized targeted CD133 organosilane nanomicelles by encapsulating perfluorohexane (PFH). The CD133 antibody on the surface could specifically bind to CD133-positive pancreatic cancer cells and selectively concentrate in pancreatic cancer tumor tissues. PFH was introduced to improve the ablation effect of HIFU due to its liquid-gas phase transition properties. By combining with the dorsal skinfold window chamber model (DSWC) of pancreatic cancer in nude mice, multiphoton fluorescence microscopy was used to evaluate the targeting effect of nanomicelles on pancreatic cancer tumor tissue. These multifunctional nanomicelles synergistically affected HIFU treatment of pancreatic cancer, providing an integrated research platform for diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer with HIFU.

Aquaporin-1 Facilitates Macrophage M1 Polarization by Enhancing Glycolysis Through the Activation of HIF1α in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

This study aimed to investigate how aquaporin 1 (AQP1) modulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) to promote glycolysis and drive the M1 polarization of macrophages. Within 12 h post-treatment with LPS to induce acute kidney injury in rats, a significant upregulation of AQP1 and HIF1α protein levels was noted in serum and kidney tissues. This elevation corresponded with a decrease in blood glucose concentrations and an enhancement of glycolytic activity relative to the control group. Furthermore, there was a pronounced reduction in the circulating levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, accompanied by an upregulation in the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. The administration of an HIF1α inhibitor reversed these effects, which did not affect the production of AQP1 protein. In cellular assays, AQP1 knockdown mitigated the increase in HIF1α expression induced by LPS. Furthermore, the suppression of HIF1α with PX-478 led to decreased expression levels of Hexokinase 2 (HK2) and Lactate Dehydrogenase A (LDHA), indicating that AQP1 regulates glycolysis through HIF1α. M1 polarization of macrophages was reduced by AQP1 knockdown and was further diminished by the addition of an HIF1α inhibitor. Inhibition of the glycolytic process not only weakened M1 polarization but also promoted M2 polarization, thereby reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines. These findings provide a novel perspective for developing therapeutic strategies that target AQP1 and HIF1α, potentially improving the treatment of sepsis-associated AKI.

Role of astrocytes in sleep deprivation: accomplices, resisters, or bystanders?

Sleep plays an essential role in all studied animals with a nervous system. However, sleep deprivation leads to various pathological changes and neurobehavioral problems. Astrocytes are the most abundant cells in the brain and are involved in various important functions, including neurotransmitter and ion homeostasis, synaptic and neuronal modulation, and blood-brain barrier maintenance; furthermore, they are associated with numerous neurodegenerative diseases, pain, and mood disorders. Moreover, astrocytes are increasingly being recognized as vital contributors to the regulation of sleep-wake cycles, both locally and in specific neural circuits. In this review, we begin by describing the role of astrocytes in regulating sleep and circadian rhythms, focusing on: (i) neuronal activity; (ii) metabolism; (iii) the glymphatic system; (iv) neuroinflammation; and (v) astrocyte-microglia cross-talk. Moreover, we review the role of astrocytes in sleep deprivation comorbidities and sleep deprivation-related brain disorders. Finally, we discuss potential interventions targeting astrocytes to prevent or treat sleep deprivation-related brain disorders. Pursuing these questions would pave the way for a deeper understanding of the cellular and neural mechanisms underlying sleep deprivation-comorbid brain disorders.

Intermittent Fasting on Neurologic Diseases: Potential Role of Gut Microbiota.

As the global population ages, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is surging. These disorders have a multifaceted pathogenesis, entwined with genetic and environmental factors. Emerging research underscores the profound influence of diet on the development and progression of health conditions. Intermittent fasting (IF), a dietary pattern that is increasingly embraced and recommended, has demonstrated potential in improving neurophysiological functions and mitigating pathological injuries with few adverse effects. Although the precise mechanisms of IF's beneficial impact are not yet completely understood, gut microbiota and their metabolites are believed to be pivotal in mediating these effects. This review endeavors to thoroughly examine current studies on the shifts in gut microbiota and metabolite profiles prompted by IF, and their possible consequences for neural health. It also highlights the significance of dietary strategies as a clinical consideration for those with neurological conditions.

High-Resolution Profiling of Head and Neck Squamous Cells Carcinoma Identifies Specific Biomarkers and Expression Subtypes of Clinically Relevant Vulnerabilities.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide. Although there are several options for the treatment of HNSC, there is still a lack of better biomarkers to accurately predict the response to treatment and thus be more able to correctly treat the therapeutic modality. METHODS: First, we typed cases from the TCGA-HNSC cohort into subtypes by a Bayesian non-negative matrix factorization (BayesNMF)-based consensus clustering approach. Subsequently, genomic and proteomic data from HNSC cell lines were integrated to identify biomarkers of response to targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Finally, associations between HNSC subtypes and CD8 T-cell-associated effector molecules, common immune checkpoint genes, were compared to assess the potential of HNSC subtypes as clinically predictive immune checkpoint blockade therapy. RESULTS: The 500 HNSC cases from TCGA were put through a consensus clustering approach to identify six HNSC expression subtypes. In addition, subtypes with unique proteomics and dependency profiles were defined based on HNSC cell line histology and proteomics data. Subtype 4 (S4) exhibits hyperproliferative and hyperimmune properties, and S4-associated cell lines show specific vulnerability to ADAT2, EIF5AL1, and PAK2. PD-L1 and CASP1 inhibitors have therapeutic potential in S4, and we have also demonstrated that S4 is more responsive to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. CONCLUSION: Overall, our HNSC typing approach identified robust tumor-expressing subtypes, and data from multiple screens also revealed subtype-specific biology and vulnerabilities. These HNSC expression subtypes and their biomarkers will help develop more effective therapeutic strategies.

Exploring Astrocyte-Mediated Mechanisms in Sleep Disorders and Comorbidity.

Astrocytes, the most abundant cells in the brain, are integral to sleep regulation. In the context of a healthy neural environment, these glial cells exert a profound influence on the sleep-wake cycle, modulating both rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep phases. However, emerging literature underscores perturbations in astrocytic function as potential etiological factors in sleep disorders, either as protopathy or comorbidity. As known, sleep disorders significantly increase the risk of neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic, or psychiatric diseases. Meanwhile, sleep disorders are commonly screened as comorbidities in various neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, and others. Building on existing research that examines the role of astrocytes in sleep disorders, this review aims to elucidate the potential mechanisms by which astrocytes influence sleep regulation and contribute to sleep disorders in the varied settings of brain diseases. The review emphasizes the significance of astrocyte-mediated mechanisms in sleep disorders and their associated comorbidities, highlighting the need for further research.