Targeting the left DLPFC and right VLPFC in unmarried romantic relationship breakup (love trauma syndrome) with intensified electrical stimulation: A randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Ending a romantic relationship is one of the most painful losses an adult experience. Neuroimaging studies suggest that there is a neuropsychological link between breakup experiences and bereaved individuals, and that specific prefrontal regions are involved. The aim of this study was to determine whether enhancement of left DLPFC and right VLPFC activity with a novel intensified anodal transcranial direct current stimulation protocol reduces core symptoms of love trauma syndrome (LTS) and improves treatment-related variables. METHODS: In this randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind parallel trial, we assessed the efficacy of an intensified anodal stimulation protocol (20 min, twice-daily sessions with 20 min intervals, 5 consecutive days) with two montages (left DLPFC vs right VLPFC) to reduce love trauma symptoms. 36 participants with love trauma syndrome were randomized in three tDCS condition (left DLPFC, right VLPFC, sham stimulation). LTS symptoms, treatment-related outcome variables (depressive state, anxiety, emotion regulation, positive and negative affect), and cognitive functions were assessed before, right after, and one month after intervention. RESULTS: Both DLPFC and VLPFC protocols significantly reduced LTS symptoms, and improved depressive state and anxiety after the intervention, as compared to the sham group. The improving effect of the DLPFC protocol on love trauma syndrome was significantly larger than that of the VLPFC protocol. For emotion regulation and positive and negative affect, improved regulation of emotions and positive affect and reduced negative affect were revealed after intervention in the two real stimulation conditions compared to the sham. For cognitive functions, no significant difference was observed between the groups, but again a positive effect of intervention within groups in the real stimulation conditions (DLPFC and VLPFC) was found for most components of the cognitive tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Enhancement of left DLPFC and right VLPFC activity with intensified stimulation improves LTS symptoms and treatment-related variables. For LTS symptoms, DLPFC stimulation was more efficient than VLPFC stimulation., For the other variables, no significant difference was observed between these two stimulation groups. These promising results require replication in larger trials.

The impact of transcranial direct current stimulation on attention bias modification in children with ADHD.

Individuals with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with the interaction of attention and emotion. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) are assumed to be involved in this interaction. In the present study, we aimed to explore the effect of stimulation applied over the dlPFC and vmPFC on attention bias in individuals with ADHD. Twenty-three children with ADHD performed the emotional Stroop and dot probe tasks during transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in 3 conditions: anodal dlPFC (F3)/cathodal vmPFC (Fp2), anodal vmPFC (Fp2)/cathodal dlPFC (F3), and sham stimulation. Findings suggest reduction of attention bias in both real conditions based on emotional Stroop task and not dot probe task. These results were independent of emotional states. The dlPFC and vmPFC are involved in attention bias in ADHD. tDCS can be used for attention bias modification in children with ADHD.

Exosomes biogenesis was increased in metformin-treated human ovary cancer cells; possibly to mediate resistance.

BACKGROUND: Exosomes derived from tumor cells contribute to the pathogenesis of cancers. Metformin, the most usually used drug for type 2 diabetes, has been frequently investigated for anticancer effects. Here, we examined whether metformin affects exosomes signaling in human ovary cancer cells in vitro. METHODS: Human ovary cancer cells, including A2780 and Skov3 cells, were treated with metformin for either 24-48 h. Cell viability and caspase-3 activity were determined by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and colorimetric assays respectively. Oil-Red-O staining and in vitro, scratch assays were used to examine cellular toxicity and wound healing rate. After treatment with metformin, exosomes were isolated from cells and quantified by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) assay, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and their markers. Genes related to exosomes signaling were analyzed by real-time PCR or western blotting. RESULTS: Our results showed that metformin decreased the viability of both cells dose/time-dependently (P < 0.05). Metformin increased the activity of caspase-3 (P < 0.05) as well as the number of Oil-Red-O positive cells in both cell lines. In vitro scratch assay showed that the cell migration rate of metformin-treated cells was decreased (P < 0.05), whereas AChE activity of exosomes from metformin-treated cells was increased (P < 0.05). Concurrent with an increase in CD63 protein levels, expression of Alix, CD63, CD81, Lamp-2, and Rab27b up-regulated in treated cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results indicated that metformin had a cytotoxic effect on ovary cancer cells and enhanced exosome biogenesis and secretion.

Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) improves hot and cold executive functions in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have impaired hot and cold executive functions, which is thought to be related to impaired ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (vmPFC and dlPFC) functions. The present study aimed to assess the impact concurrent stimulation of dlPFC and vmPFC through transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a non-invasive brain stimulation tool which enhances cortical excitability via application of alternating sinusoidal currents with random frequencies and amplitudes over the respective target regions on hot and cold executive functions. Eighteen children with ADHD received real and sham tRNS over the left dlPFC and the right vmPFC in two sessions with one week interval. The participants performed Circle Tracing, Go/No-Go, Wisconsin Card Sorting, and Balloon Analogue Risk Tasks during stimulation in each session. The results showed improved ongoing inhibition, prepotent inhibition, working memory, and decision making, but not set-shifting performance, during real, as compared to sham stimulation. This indicates that simultaneous stimulation of the dlPFC and the vmPFC improves hot and cold executive functions in children with ADHD.

The effects of adding attention training to naming treatment for individuals with aphasia.

AIM: Given the ever-increasing evidence for the co-occurrence of attention impairments and language disorders in chronic aphasia, this study aimed to compare the effects of two naming treatment programs, one with and one without attention training components, on the naming performance of participants with aphasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-subject crossover study in which six people with chronic aphasia and different degrees of naming and attention impairments participated. Two treatment programs were implemented for each participant, with the sequence of the treatments with crossover design. Each program consisted of 12 treatment sessions plus pre- and post-treatment assessment sessions (15 weeks for each participant). The visual analysis and WEighted STatistics methods were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: Based on visual analysis, both treatments improved in comparison to the baseline phase. Statistical analysis revealed that the number of participants with significant naming improvement following combined program (5 participants) was larger than the number of participants showing improvement following completion of the single, program. CONCLUSION: Although integrating attention training into a conventional treatment for anomia can increase the effect of treatment on naming ability, more studies are required to clarify the role of attention in remediating naming impairments in aphasia.

Targeting the prefrontal-supplementary motor network in obsessive-compulsive disorder with intensified electrical stimulation in two dosages: a randomized, controlled trial.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with a high disease burden, and treatment options are limited. We used intensified electrical stimulation in two dosages to target a main circuitry associated with the pathophysiology of OCD, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (l-DLPFC), and pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and assessed clinical outcomes, neuropsychological performance, and brain physiology. In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, thirty-nine patients with OCD were randomly assigned to three groups of sham, 2-mA, or 1-mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the l-DLPFC (F3) and pre-SMA (FC2) with anodal and cathodal stimulation respectively. The treatment included 10 sessions of 20-minute stimulation delivered twice per day with 20-min between-session intervals. Outcome measures were reduction in OCD symptoms, anxiety, and depressive states, performance on a neuropsychological test battery (response inhibition, working memory, attention), oscillatory brain activities, and functional connectivity. All outcome measures except EEG were examined at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up times. The 2-mA protocol significantly reduced OCD symptoms, anxiety, and depression states and improved quality of life after the intervention up to 1-month follow-up compared to the sham group, while the 1-mA protocol reduced OCD symptoms only in the follow-up and depressive state immediately after and 1-month following the intervention. Both protocols partially improved response inhibition, and the 2-mA protocol reduced attention bias to OCD-related stimuli and improved reaction time in working memory performance. Both protocols increased alpha oscillatory power, and the 2-mA protocol decreased delta power as well. Both protocols increased connectivity in higher frequency bands at frontal-central areas compared to the sham. Modulation of the prefrontal-supplementary motor network with intensified tDCS ameliorates OCD clinical symptoms and results in beneficial cognitive effects. The 2-mA intensified stimulation resulted in larger symptom reduction and improved more converging outcome variables related to therapeutic efficacy. These results support applying the intensified prefrontal-SMA tDCS in larger trials.

Attention Training Improves Executive Functions and Ameliorates Behavioral Symptoms in Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Implication of Tele-Cognitive-Rehabilitation in the Era of Coronavirus Disease.

Background: Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with impaired attention, leading to impaired executive function and behavioral symptoms. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of attention training on executive functions and behavioral symptoms in children with ADHD, in a tele-cognitive-rehabilitation setting. Methods: Thirty children (mean age: 9.93 ± 1.68 years, 21 boys) with ADHD were randomly assigned to 2 equal groups of attention training and active control group. Attentive Rehabilitation and Improvement of Attention (ARIA) and a class of storytelling were used for intervention in two groups, in an online platform. Continuous performance test, one-back test, Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), Conner's parent rating scale, and behavioral rating inventory of executive function (BRIEF) were used for assessment in three-baseline, postintervention, and follow-up sessions. Repeated measures analysis of variances were used for analysis. Results: ARIA leads to significant improvement in omission error (P < 0.001), commission error (P = 0.006), and response time (P = 0.005) of continuous performance test, cluster (P = 0.001), but not preservation error (P = 0.110) of WCST, accuracy of NBT (P = 0.004) and the score of Conner's parent rating scale (P < 0.001) and BRIEF (P < 0.001). These results indicate improved attention and executive functions, amelioration of ADHD symptoms, and improved behavioral performance. Conclusion: This study suggests that attention can be trained through tele-cognitive rehabilitation using a remediation program in children with ADHD. The effectiveness of this training can be confirmed by examining the transfer of training effects to other untrained cognitive domains, executive functions, symptoms of ADHD, and behavioral performance.

Comparable Efficacy of Repeated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Their Combination in Improvement of Cold and Hot Cognitive Functions and Amelioration of Depressive Symptoms.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of repeated transcranial direct current stimulation (rtDCS), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and their combination (rtDCS-CBT) in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction, social cognition, and depressive symptoms in women diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). A total of 40 female participants with MDD were randomly assigned to one of four groups: rtDCS, CBT, rtDCS-CBT, and a control group. The participants' depressive symptoms, executive functions, and social cognition were assessed at baseline, preintervention, postintervention, and during a 1-month follow-up. The rtDCS group received 10 sessions of anodal dorsolateral and cathodal ventromedial prefrontal cortex (2 mA for 20 minutes). The CBT group received 10 sessions of traditional CBT, whereas the combined group received CBT after the tDCS sessions. The results of the analysis of variance indicated that all intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in depressive symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, and social cognition compared with the control group (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, the rtDCS-CBT group exhibited significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms when compared with each intervention alone (all p < 0.001). Notably, working memory improvements were observed only in the rtDCS group ( p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study suggests that both CBT and tDCS, either individually or in combination, have a positive therapeutic impact on enhancing executive functions, theory of mind, and depressive symptoms in women with MDD.

Remediation of theory of mind in children with autism spectrum disorders: Effectiveness and transferability of training effects to behavioral symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) struggle with impaired theory of mind. We aimed to evaluate the effect of remediation of theory of mind on theory of mind, face perception, and behavioral symptoms in children with ASD. METHODS: Thirty children with ASD were randomly assigned to two equal groups of theory of mind training and active control group. Attentive remediation of theory of mind (ARTOM) and story-telling sessions were used for intervention in the groups. Theory of mind and facial emotion recognition tests as well as Gilliam autism rating scale (GARS) were used for assessment in three baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up sessions. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used for analysis. RESULTS: The results showed improvement in facial emotion recognition and theory of mind in intervention group. The behavioral symptoms, measured by GARS, were ameliorated in the intervention group. The training effects lasted until follow-up session. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest remediation of basic components of theory of mind, without direct intervention on theory of mind, improves theory of mind skill. The results also suggest that the remediation of basic components of theory of mind improves social and communicational performance and ameliorates stereotypes symptoms in children with ASD.

Review of spatial disability in individuals with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: Toward spatial cognition theory.

Spatial cognition is the ability to detect, process, integrate, and formulate the spatial aspects of the environment. Spatial abilities, as perceptual doorway of information processing, influence on higher cognitive functions. This systematic review aimed to explore impaired spatial ability in individuals with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD). The data from 18 empirical experiments that explored at least one factor of spatial ability in individuals with ADHD was collected in accordance with the PRISMA approach. This study discussed several determinants of impaired spatial ability, including factors, domains, tasks, and measures of spatial ability. Furthermore, the impact of age, gender, and comorbidities are discussed. Finally, a model was proposed to explain the impaired cognitive functions in children with ADHD based on spatial abilities.

The role of prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction in interpersonal comfort and emotional approach.

Our perception of physical distance to individuals and stimuli is influenced by our mental distance and relatedness. The present study aimed to investigate the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), and right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) in interpersonal comfortable distance and approach behaviors towards emotional stimuli. Twenty healthy volunteers received brain stimulation in four separate sessions with a one-week interval, including anodal left dlPFC, anodal right vmPFC, anodal rTPJ, and sham condition, with an extracranial return electrode. Our results revealed an increase in interpersonal distance during anodal rTPJ stimulation and a decrease in distance to positive pictures during anodal vmPFC stimulation. These findings suggest that the rTPJ plays a role in the perceptual component of self-other distancing, while the vmPFC is involved in approaching positive emotions.

Mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes: novel carriers for nanoparticle to combat cancer.

BACKGROUND: The advancement in novel cancer therapeutics brought a platform combining the properties of exosomes with nanoparticles to precision medicine. The novel therapeutic approach aim is cancer-targeted therapy. Exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs-Exo) exhibit unique properties in cancer therapies, which makes them an ideal tool for delivering therapeutic agents into tumor cells. The key role of natural MSCs-Exo is controversial in cancer therapy; however, they can be engineered at their surface or cargo to serve as a smart drug delivery system for cancer-targeted therapy. In the last few years, researchers harnessed nanotechnology to enforce MSCs-Exo for cancer management including, tumor cell tracking, imaging, and tumor cell killing. Different nanoparticles such as gold nanoparticles have particularly been incorporated into MSCs-Exo, which showed an efficient accumulation at the site of tumor with improved anticancer impact. These findings indicate that a hybrid of exosomes-nanoparticles may serve as combination therapy for the effective removal of cancers. SHORT CONCLUSION: Although exhibiting impressive potential, the use of nanoparticle-loaded MSCs-Exo as a drug-delivery tool has been troubled by some challenges, therefore, translation to clinic prerequisites further scrutiny. In this review, we focus on nanoparticle-loaded MSCs-Exo as a new cancer therapy and discuss engineered MSC-Exo for target therapy.

Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation Improves Verbal Fluency in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with impaired verbal fluency as an executive function. The left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and the right inferior frontal gurus (IFG), which show reduced functionality in individuals with ADHD, are involved in verbal fluency. In this study, a total of thirty-seven children with ADHD participated in two separate experiments. Each experiment included three different stimulation conditions: anodal left dlPFC/cathodal right vmPFC stimulation, the reversed montage, and a sham stimulation in Experiment 1, and anodal right dlPFC, anodal right IFG with extracranial return electrode, and a sham stimulation in Experiment 2. During each session, participants performed semantic and phonemic verbal fluency tasks while receiving tDCS. The results revealed a significant main effect of stimulation condition on phonemic verbal fluency during anodal left dlPFC stimulation in Experiment 1, and on semantic verbal fluency during both real stimulation conditions in Experiment 2. In conclusion, this study suggests that anodal left dlPFC stimulation improves phonemic verbal fluency, while anodal right dlPFC and right IFG stimulation enhance semantic verbal fluency. This domain-specific improvement can be attributed to the distinct cognitive demands of phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tasks. Phonemic verbal fluency heavily relies on working memory processes, whereas semantic verbal fluency requires effective inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility.

Neural symphony of risky decision making in children with ADHD: Insights from transcranial alternating current stimulation and cognitive modeling.

BACKGROUND: The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) are key brain regions involved in risky decision making, affected in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study aims to examine how entrainment of these areas impacts the process and outcome of risky decision making in children with ADHD. METHODS: Eighteen children with ADHD performed the balloon analogue risk-taking task (BART) during five different sessions of tACS (1.5 mA, 6 Hz), separated by one-week intervals, via (1) two channels with synchronized stimulation over the left dlPFC and right vmPFC, (2) the same electrode placement with anti-phase stimulation, (3) stimulation over the left dlPFC only, (4) stimulation over right vmPFC only, and (5) sham stimulation. Four-parameter and constant-sensitivity models were used to model the data. RESULTS: The study showed that synchronized stimulation was associated with a reduction in positive prior belief, risk propensity, and deterministic selection. Desynchronized stimulation was associated with accelerated learning from initial selections. Isolated stimulation of the dlPFC leads to riskier decision enhanced learning updates and risk propensity, whereas isolated stimulation of the vmPFC facilitated faster learning and increased probabilistic selection. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the important roles of the dlPFC and vmPFC and their communication in decision making, showcasing their impact on various aspects of the decision-making process. The findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between cognitive and emotional factors in shaping our choices.

The impact of time perception remediation on cold and hot executive functions and behavioral symptoms in children with ADHD.

Children with ADHD struggle with impaired time management, indicating premature and temporally inadequate behavioral style. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of time perception remediation on hot and cold executive functions (EFs) and behavioral symptoms in children with ADHD. In this pilot study, an RCT design was employed to investigate the effects of the intervention on children with ADHD. The participants were assigned to either the control group (n = 15) or the intervention group (n = 13). The intervention group receive 10-12 sessions of program for attentive remediation of time perception (PART). Time perception, N-back, Wisconsin card sorting, Go/No-Go, balloon analog risk, Iowa gambling tasks, and Conner's parental rating scale were used for the assessment in three baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up sessions. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used for analysis. The results suggest improved time perception and risky decision making in intervention group. Working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility did not improve after intervention. The behavioral symptoms ameliorated after intervention. Time perception is trainable in children with ADHD. This training effect transfers to hot EFs and behavioral symptoms, but not cold EFs. A cognitive model has been proposed based on the results of this studies and other cognitive training studies.

The Interaction of the Dorsolateral and Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex During Mind Wandering.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mind wandering refers to spontaneously occurring, often disruptive thoughts during an ongoing task or resting state. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) are two main cortical areas which are involved in this process. This study aimed to explore the interaction of these areas during mind wandering by enhancing specific oscillatory activity of these areas via transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the theta frequency range. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen healthy adults participated in a randomized, single-blinded, crossover study. tACS (1.5 mA, 6 Hz) was applied in five sessions with one week interval via (1) two channels with synchronized stimulation over the left dlPFC and right vmPFC, (2) the same electrode placement with anti-phase stimulation, (3) stimulation over the left dlPFC only, (4) stimulation over right vmPFC only, and (5) sham stimulation. The return electrodes were placed over the contralateral shoulder in all conditions. The sustained attention to response task (SART) with embedded probes about task-unrelated-thoughts and awareness of these thoughts was performed during intervention. RESULTS: Stimulation did not alter SART performance. Right vmPFC stimulation decreased mind wandering and increased awareness of mind wandering. Left dlPFC stimulation and desynchronized stimulation over the dlPFC and vmPFC increased mind wandering compared to the sham stimulation condition. Synchronized stimulation had no effect on mind wandering, but increased awareness of mind wandering. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that regional entrainment of the vmPFC decreases mind wandering and increases awareness of mind wandering, whereas regional entrainment of the dlPFC increases mind wandering, but decreases awareness. Under desynchronized stimulation of both areas, the propensity of mind wandering was increased, whereas synchronized stimulation increased the awareness of mind wandering. These results suggest a role of the dlPFC in initiation of mind wandering, whereas the vmPFC downregulates mind wandering, and might exert this function by counteracting respective dlPFC effects via theta oscillations.

Transcranial direct current stimulation alters the process of reward processing in children with ADHD: Evidence from cognitive modeling.

BACKGROUND: The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) are the neural underpinnings of reward processing, which is impaired in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In the present study, we aimed to explore the impact of the vmPFC and the dlPFC regulation on reward processing. METHODS: Twenty-six children with ADHD performed the balloon analogue risk-taking task (BART) and chocolate delay discounting task (CDDT) during five different sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), separated by a one-week interval: anodal left dlPFC/cathodal right vmPFC, the reversed electrode positioning, anodal left dlPFC stimulation with extracranial return electrode, anodal right vmPFC stimulation with extracranial return electrodes, and sham stimulation. Four-parameter and constant-sensitivity models were used to model the data. RESULTS: In the BART, anodal dlPFC/cathodal vmPFC stimulation facilitated conservative decision making, anodal tDCS over dlPFC with extracranial return electrode increased positive beliefs about the explosion of a balloon, and anodal vmPFC/cathodal dlPFC stimulation reduced ongoing learning in the process of decision making. In the CDDT, anodal vmPFC stimulation with extracranial return electrode decreased impatience in the process of the task. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a role of the left dlPFC and right vmPFC in the outcome of decision making and the process of risky decision making and delay discounting.

Developmental trajectory of hot and cold executive functions in children with and without attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

BACKGROUND: Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a delayed development. Two main cognitive models of ADHD are executive (cold) and motivational (hot) models. In this study, we aimed to compare the development of hot and cold executive functions in children with and without ADHD. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Forty-six children with ADHD symptoms (56% boys) and forty-four typically developing controls (54% boys), in three age groups of 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 years, were participated in the study. Go/No-Go Task (GNGT), One-Back Test (OBT) and Shifting Attention Test (SAT), Delay Discounting Test (DDT) and Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) were used for assessment. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Children with ADHD showed lower performance in GNG, OBT, SAT, and BART, but intact performance in DDT. The tasks' performance was significantly different between three age groups in GNG and SAT, but similar in OBT and BART. The interaction effect was significant only for the BART measures. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Children with ADHD compared to typically developing children, experience impaired hot and cold executive functions. The cognitive delay was found only in risky decision making as a hot executive function.

Low-molecular weight oligosaccharides from gum tragacanth (Astragalus gossypinus) ameliorate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Wistar male rats.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease affecting 25% of the world's population. The effects of oligosaccharides from Gum tragacanth (Astragalus gossypinus) (GT) on oxidative stress, glucose metabolism, and expression of autophagy genes were investigated in induced non-alcoholic fatty liver. Twenty-four male healthy rats were divided into four groups, Control; high-fat diet, high-fat diet + 100 mg GT oligosaccharides/kg body weight, high-fat diet + 200 mg GT oligosaccharides/kg body weight and fed with the trial diets for 70 days. At the end of the experiment, the results indicated that GT oligosaccharides affected the weight gain and liver weight in NAFLD-induced rats. In addition, the results showed that the use of GT oligosaccharides significantly decreased oxidative stress, liver injury, and hyperglycemia (p < .05) and upregulated the expression of autophagy genes in NAFLD-induced rats. Practical applications: Overall, the results of the current study demonstrated that the use of GT oligosaccharides obtained from Gum tragacanth (Astragalus gossypinus) showed significant antioxidant properties and hypoglycemia in NAFLD induced rats and could be used as a useful nutritional strategy for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

The effect of comprehensive working memory training on executive functions and behavioral symptoms in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of working memory training on executive functions and behavioral symptoms in children with ADHD. Thirty children with ADHD were randomly assigned to active control or Active Memory Intervention (AMIN) group. Executive functions and rating scales were used for assessment in three baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up sessions. The results show AMIN improves working memory and inhibitory control as well as ameliorates ADHD symptoms at home and school. Working memory training is beneficial and transferable intervention in children with ADHD.