A randomized proof-of-mechanism trial of TNF antagonism for motivational anhedonia and related corticostriatal circuitry in depressed patients with high inflammation.

Chronic, low-grade inflammation has been associated with motivational deficits in patients with major depression (MD). In turn, impaired motivation has been linked to poor quality of life across psychiatric disorders. We thus determined effects of the anti-inflammatory drug infliximab-a potent tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist-on behavioral and neural measures of motivation in 42 medically stable, unmedicated MD patients with a C-reactive protein > 3mg/L. All patients underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose, randomized clinical trial with infliximab (5mg/kg) versus placebo. Behavioral performance on an effort-based decision-making task, self-report questionnaires, and neural responses during event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging were assessed at baseline and 2 weeks following infusion. We found that relative to placebo, patients receiving infliximab were more willing to expend effort for rewards. Moreover, increase in effortful choices was associated with reduced TNF signaling as indexed by decreased soluble TNF receptor type 2 (sTNFR2). Changes in effort-based decision-making and sTNFR2 were also associated with changes in task-related activity in a network of brain areas, including dmPFC, ventral striatum, and putamen, as well as the functional connectivity between these regions. Changes in sTNFR2 also mediated the relationships between drug condition and behavioral and neuroimaging measures. Finally, changes in self-reported anhedonia symptoms and effort-discounting behavior were associated with greater responses of an independently validated whole-brain predictive model (aka "neural signature") sensitive to monetary rewards. Taken together, these data support the use of anti-inflammatory treatment to improve effort-based decision-making and associated brain circuitry in depressed patients with high inflammation.

Biomedical Applications of Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide and Magnesium-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Extract of Ziziphus Oxyphylla Leaves.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium-doped zinc oxide (Mg-doped ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using Ziziphus oxyphylla 's aqueous leaf extract as reducing agent. UV-Vis absorption peaks at 324 nm and 335 nm were indicative of ZnO and Mg-doped ZnO, respectively. FTIR absorption bands observed at 3238, 1043, 1400, 1401, 2186 and 2320 cm -1 suggested the presence of phenols, alcohols, saturated hydrocarbons, and possibly alkynes. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy revealed pure, spherical and agglomerated NPs with average size of 35.9 nm (ZnO) and 56.8 nm (Mg-doped ZnO). Both NPs remained active against all bacterial strains with the highest inhibition zones observed against Proteus vulgaris (21.16±1.25 mm for ZnO and 24.1±0.76 mm for Mg-doped ZnO. EtBr fluorescence (cartwheel assay) indicated efflux pump blockage, suggesting its facilitation in the bacterial growth inhibition. Antioxidant potential, determined via DPPH radical scavenging assay, revealed stronger antioxidant potential for Mg-doped ZnO (IC [Formula: see text]/mL) than pure ZnO (IC [Formula: see text]/mL). Furthermore, both NPs showed antileishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica promastigotes (IC [Formula: see text]/mL for Mg-doped ZnO and 64.34±6.56 for ZnO), while neither NP exhibited significant hemolysis, indicating biocompatibility and further assessment for their drugability.

Vascular Variations and Incidental Pathologies in Potential Living Renal Donors Using 160-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography Angiography.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to evaluate the vascular variations and incidental pathologies in potential living renal donors using 160-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography. METHODS: This is an observational study conducted at the Department of Radiology from January 2017 to May 2022. In this study, we performed retrospective data analysis of 61 CT renal angiograms, totaling 122 kidneys of potential renal donors, using a Toshiba 160 slice MDCT scanner with a four-phase CT image acquisition protocol, performed for pre-transplant workup. All patients had normal renal functions. RESULTS: Of our 61 patients, 34 (55.7%) were male and 27 (44.3%) were female, and their mean age was 31.2 ± 9.4 years. We have found 31 (50.8%) variations in the right renal arteries and 21 (34.4%) in the left renal arteries. Of these patients, 13 had bilateral renal arterial variations. The late confluence of the renal vein was found in 3.3% of males, multiple right renal veins in 7 (11.5%), and left renal veins in 2 (3.3%). By distributing the data according to gender, we noticed more diversity in the renal vessels of male patients. Left renal artery variations were more frequent in males (16, 76.2%) than in females (5, 23.8%), and they were statistically significant (p=0.02). Likewise, variations in the right renal arteries were also more frequently found in males (19, 61.3%) as compared to females (12, 38.7%). Right renal vein variations were more common in males (9, 81.8%) as compared to females (2, 18.2%) (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: Frequent renal vascular variations and incidental pathologies in potential living donors were found by MDCT examination, and these vascular variations should be analyzed before renal transplant.