Mindfulness Meditation According to the Satipatthana Sutta: A Single-Case Study With Participants as Collaborators.

Objectives: We explored the effects of a mindfulness program based on the satipatthana sutta (instead of a contemporary Western program), with participants as collaborators, using a single-case experimental design. The main question was whether such a training has positive effects and, if so, whether and how the effects vary across participants and measures. Method: Participants chose the design (multiple baseline) and the measures to be repeatedly collected. Then they took part in a 6-week mindfulness training based on the satipatthana sutta; finally, they performed a preliminary data analysis of their own results. Reported are a selection of the visual analyses, intraindividual effect sizes (Tau-U), and the results of single-case meta-analyses over participants, as well as a multivariate graphical analysis of interindividual differences. Results: Substantial training effects were found on average and for the majority of participants for concentration, mind wandering, decentering, positive affect, and well-being. Effects were small for negative affect, and no effects were found for emotion regulation. However, interindividual variation was high, both in respect to specific measures and concerning the overall effect of the training program. Participants' motivation was found to be very high throughout the study. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that a traditional mindfulness program yields effects that are roughly comparable to the effects of secular mindfulness training regimens. Regarding participants as collaborators appears to have a strong motivating effect. And finally, the study demonstrates that using single-case experimental designs (instead of group designs) allows for a more fine-grained analysis of meditation effects. The high interindividual variation points to the possibility that the amount of unexplained variance in group studies is severely underestimated. Results from studies like the current one could have benefits for both theoretical advancement and custom-tailored assignment of specific forms of meditation to specific people with specific aims. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12671-023-02160-1.

Influence of chain length and branching on poly(ADP-ribose)-protein interactions.

Hundreds of proteins interact with poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) via multiple PAR interaction motifs, thereby regulating their physico-chemical properties, sub-cellular localizations, enzymatic activities, or protein stability. Here, we present a targeted approach based on fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to characterize potential structure-specific interactions of PAR molecules of defined chain length and branching with three prime PAR-binding proteins, the tumor suppressor protein p53, histone H1, and the histone chaperone APLF. Our study reveals complex and structure-specific PAR-protein interactions. Quantitative Kd values were determined and binding affinities for all three proteins were shown to be in the nanomolar range. We report PAR chain length dependent binding of p53 and H1, yet chain length independent binding of APLF. For all three PAR binders, we found a preference for linear over hyperbranched PAR. Importantly, protein- and PAR-structure-specific binding modes were revealed. Thus, while the H1-PAR interaction occurred largely on a bi-molecular 1:1 basis, p53-and potentially also APLF-can form complex multivalent PAR-protein structures. In conclusion, our study gives detailed and quantitative insight into PAR-protein interactions in a solution-based setting at near physiological buffer conditions. The results support the notion of protein and PAR-structure-specific binding modes that have evolved to fit the purpose of the respective biochemical functions and biological contexts.

Tuning the 3D microenvironment of reprogrammed tubule cells enhances biomimetic modeling of polycystic kidney disease.

Renal tubular cells frequently lose differentiation markers and physiological properties when propagated in conventional cell culture conditions. Embedding cells in 3D microenvironments or controlling their 3D assembly by bioprinting can enhance their physiological properties, which is beneficial for modeling diseases in vitro. A potential cellular source for modeling renal tubular physiology and kidney diseases in vitro are directly reprogrammed induced renal tubular epithelial cells (iRECs). iRECs were cultured in various biomaterials and as bioprinted tubular structures. They showed high compatibility with the embedding substrates and dispensing methods. The morphology of multicellular aggregates was substantially influenced by the 3D microenvironment. Transcriptomic analyses revealed signatures of differentially expressed genes specific to each of the selected biomaterials. Using a new cellular model for autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease, Pkd1-/- iRECs showed disrupted morphology in bioprinted tubules and a marked upregulation of the Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1 (Aldh1a1). In conclusion, 3D microenvironments strongly influence the morphology and expression profiles of iRECs, help to unmask disease phenotypes, and can be adapted to experimental demands. Combining a direct reprogramming approach with appropriate biomaterials will facilitate construction of biomimetic kidney tubules and disease models at the microscale.

Inflammatory type 2 conventional dendritic cells contribute to murine and human cholangitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive cholangiopathy characterised by fibrotic stricturing and inflammation of bile ducts, which seems to be driven by a maladaptive immune response to bile duct injury. The histological finding of dendritic cell expansion in portal fields of patients with PSC prompted us to investigate the role of dendritic cells in orchestrating the immune response to bile duct injury. METHODS: Dendritic cell numbers and subtypes were determined in different mouse models of cholangitis by flow cytometry based on lineage-imprinted markers. Findings were confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy of murine livers, and liver samples from patients with PSC were compared to control samples from bariatric surgery patients. Using genetic tools, selected dendritic cell subsets were depleted in murine cholangitis. The dendritic cell response to bile duct injury was determined by single-cell transcriptomics. RESULTS: Cholangitis mouse models were characterised by selective intrahepatic expansion of type 2 conventional dendritic cells, whereas plasmacytoid and type 1 conventional dendritic cells were not expanded. Expansion of type 2 conventional dendritic cells in human PSC lesions was confirmed by histology. Depletion studies revealed a proinflammatory role of type 2 conventional dendritic cells. Single-cell transcriptomics confirmed inflammatory maturation of the intrahepatic type 2 conventional dendritic cells and identified dendritic cell-derived inflammatory mediators. CONCLUSIONS: Cholangitis is characterised by intrahepatic expansion and inflammatory maturation of type 2 conventional dendritic cells in response to biliary injury. Therefore, type 2 conventional dendritic cells and their inflammatory mediators might be potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of PSC. LAY SUMMARY: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an inflammatory liver disease of the bile ducts for which there is no effective treatment. Herein, we show that the inflammatory immune response to bile duct injury is organised by a specific subtype of immune cell called conventional type 2 dendritic cells. Our findings suggest that this cell subtype and the inflammatory molecules it produces are potential therapeutic targets for PSC.

Non-stimulated regions in early visual cortex encode the contents of conscious visual perception.

Predictions shape our perception. The theory of predictive processing poses that our brains make sense of incoming sensory input by generating predictions, which are sent back from higher to lower levels of the processing hierarchy. These predictions are based on our internal model of the world and enable inferences about the hidden causes of the sensory input data. It has been proposed that conscious perception corresponds to the currently most probable internal model of the world. Accordingly, predictions influencing conscious perception should be fed back from higher to lower levels of the processing hierarchy. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging and multivoxel pattern analysis to show that non-stimulated regions of early visual areas contain information about the conscious perception of an ambiguous visual stimulus. These results indicate that early sensory cortices in the human brain receive predictive feedback signals that reflect the current contents of conscious perception.

Failure of thymic deletion and instability of autoreactive Tregs drive autoimmunity in immune-privileged liver.

The liver is an immune-privileged organ that can deactivate autoreactive T cells. Yet in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), autoreactive T cells can defy hepatic control and attack the liver. To elucidate how tolerance to self-antigens is lost during AIH pathogenesis, we generated a spontaneous mouse model of AIH, based on recognition of an MHC class II-restricted model peptide in hepatocytes by autoreactive CD4+ T cells. We found that the hepatic peptide was not expressed in the thymus, leading to deficient thymic deletion and resulting in peripheral abundance of autoreactive CD4+ T cells. In the liver, autoreactive CD4+ effector T cells accumulated within portal ectopic lymphoid structures and maturated toward pathogenic IFN-γ and TNF coproducing cells. Expansion and pathogenic maturation of autoreactive effector T cells was enabled by a selective increase of plasticity and instability of autoantigen-specific Tregs but not of nonspecific Tregs. Indeed, antigen-specific Tregs were reduced in frequency and manifested increased IL-17 production, reduced epigenetic demethylation, and reduced expression of Foxp3. As a consequence, autoantigen-specific Tregs had a reduced suppressive capacity, as compared with that of nonspecific Tregs. In conclusion, loss of tolerance and the pathogenesis of AIH were enabled by combined failure of thymic deletion and peripheral regulation.

Acute Effects of Foam Rolling on Range of Motion in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review with Multilevel Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Foam rolling (FR) has been demonstrated to acutely enhance joint range of motion (ROM). However, data syntheses pooling the effect sizes across studies are scarce. It is, furthermore, unknown which moderators affect the treatment outcome. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the immediate effects of FR on ROM in healthy adults. METHODS: A multilevel meta-analysis with a robust random effects meta-regression model was used to pool the standardized mean differences (SMD) between FR and no-exercise (NEX) as well as FR and stretching. The influence of the possible effect modifiers treatment duration, speed, targeted muscle, testing mode (active/passive ROM), sex, BMI, and study design was examined in a moderator analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-six trials with high methodological quality (PEDro scale) were identified. Compared to NEX, FR had a large positive effect on ROM (SMD: 0.74, 95% CI 0.42-1.01, p = 0.0002), but was not superior to stretching (SMD: - 0.02, 95% CI - 0.73 to 0.69, p = 0.95). Although the few individual study findings suggest that FR with vibration may be more effective than NEX or FR without vibration, the pooled results did not reveal significant differences (SMD: 6.75, 95% CI - 76.4 to 89.9, p = 0.49 and SMD: 0.66, 95% CI - 1.5 to 2.8, p = 0.32). According to the moderator analysis, most potential effect modifiers (e.g., BMI, speed or duration) do not have a significant impact (p > 0.05) but FR may be less effective in men (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: FR represents an effective method to induce acute improvements in joint ROM. The impact of moderators should be further elucidated in future research.

Migration Background Influences Consumption Patterns Based on Dietary Recommendations of Food Bank Users in Germany.

People with low income tend to eat less balanced than people with higher income. This seems to be particularly the case for people with migration background. This cross-sectional study examined the relation of consumption patterns of 597 food bank users with different migration background in Germany. Questionnaires were distributed assessing sociodemographic information and consumption patterns. Analyses were conducted using binary logistic regressions. Models were controlled for age, gender, type of household and education. The group of German food bank users consumed fewer fruits and vegetables and less fish compared to all other groups with migration background (former USSR, Balkan region, Middle East). A significant predictor for fruit and vegetable consumption was migration status. Participants from the former USSR consumed less often SSBs compared to the other groups. Dietary recommendations for low income populations should take into consideration other aspects besides income such as migration status.

Prevalence of food insecurity among food bank users in Germany and its association with population characteristics.

The prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among food bank users in many European countries is unknown. The study aims to examine FI prevalence and associated population characteristics among this particular group of disadvantaged people in Germany. Food insecurity status was assessed among 1033 adult food bank users with a mean age of 53 years (57% female, 43% male) in Germany in 2015 using the food insecurity experience scale (FIES). About half of the participants (55.8%) were single with no children and born in Germany. Over 37% had a self-reported BMI of 30 kg/m2 or above and 37.4% indicated to smoke. Over 70% of the food bank users can be described as food insecure. Of those, about 35% were considered mildly food insecure. Almost 30% were categorized as moderately food insecure while over 7% were categorized as severely food insecure. Significant associations with food insecurity were found for gender, age, subjective health status, smoking, duration of food bank use, school education and family type. Among this socially disadvantaged population, food insecurity is highly prevalent and public health efforts should be focusing on this vulnerable population taken into account the identified population and behavioral characteristics associated with food insecurity.

Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into renal tubular epithelial cells by defined transcription factors.

Direct reprogramming by forced expression of transcription factors can convert one cell type into another. Thus, desired cell types can be generated bypassing pluripotency. However, direct reprogramming towards renal cells remains an unmet challenge. Here, we identify renal cell fate-inducing factors on the basis of their tissue specificity and evolutionarily conserved expression, and demonstrate that combined expression of Emx2, Hnf1b, Hnf4a and Pax8 converts mouse and human fibroblasts into induced renal tubular epithelial cells (iRECs). iRECs exhibit epithelial features, a global gene expression profile resembling their native counterparts, functional properties of differentiated renal tubule cells and sensitivity to nephrotoxic substances. Furthermore, iRECs integrate into kidney organoids and form tubules in decellularized kidneys. Our approach demonstrates that reprogramming factors can be identified by targeted in silico analysis. Renal tubular epithelial cells generated ex vivo by forced expression of transcription factors may facilitate disease modelling, drug and nephrotoxicity testing, and regenerative approaches.

MK2/3 Are Pivotal for IL-33-Induced and Mast Cell-Dependent Leukocyte Recruitment and the Resulting Skin Inflammation.

The IL-1R family member IL-33R mediates Fcε-receptor-I (FcεRI)-independent activation of mast cells leading to NF-κB activation and consequently the production of cytokines. IL-33 also induces the activation of MAPKs, such as p38. We aimed to define the relevance of the p38-targets, the MAPK-activated protein kinases 2 and 3 (MK2 and MK3) in IL-33-induced signaling and the resulting mast cell effector functions in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that the IL-33-induced IL-6 and IL-13 production strongly depends on the MK2/3-mediated activation of ERK1/2 and PI3K signaling. Furthermore, in the presence of the stem cell factors, IL-33 did induce an MK2/3-, ERK1/2- and PI3K-dependent production of TNF-α. In vivo, the loss of MK2/3 in mast cells decreased the IL-33-induced leukocyte recruitment and the resulting skin inflammation. Therefore, the MK2/3-dependent signaling in mast cells is essential to mediate IL-33-induced inflammatory responses. Thus, MK2/3 are potential therapeutic targets for suppression of IL-33-induced inflammation skin diseases such as psoriasis.