Anterior insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex as a hub of self-regulation: combining activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis and meta-analytic connectivity modeling analysis.

Self-regulation, which is an individual's ability to control their emotions and behaviors in pursuit of goals, is a complex cognitive function that relies on distributed brain networks. Here, we used activation likelihood estimation (ALE) to conduct two large-scale meta-analyses of brain imaging studies of emotional regulation and behavioral regulation. We used single analysis of ALE to identify brain activation regions associated with behavioral regulation and emotion regulation. The conjunction results of the contrast analysis of the two domains showed that the crucial brain regions of dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), bilateral anterior insula (AI), and right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) are nested within the brain areas of the two regulation domains at the spatial and functional level. In addition, we assessed the coactivation pattern of the four common regions using meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM). The coactivation brain patterns based on the dACC and bilateral AI overlapped with the two regulation brain maps in a high proportion. Furthermore, the functional characters of the identified common regions were reverse-inferenced using the BrainMap database. Collectively, these results indicate that the brain regions of dACC and bilateral AI, playing a crucial role as a hub to other brain regions and networks by effective connectivity in self-regulation, are spatially nested in the brain network of behavioral regulation and emotion regulation.

Cadmium accelerates autophagy of osteocytes by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Cadmium (Cd) can damage bone cells and cause osteoporosis. Osteocytes are the most numerous bone cells and also important target cells for Cd-induced osteotoxic damage. Autophagy plays important role in the progression of osteoporosis. However, osteocyte autophagy in Cd-induced bone injury is not well characterized. Thus, we established a Cd-induced bone injury model in BALB/c mice and a cellular damage model in MLO-Y4 cells. Aqueous Cd exposure for 16 months showed an increase in plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and increase in urine calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in vivo. Moreover, expression level of autophagy-related microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 II (LC3II) and autophagy-related 5 (ATG5) proteins were induced, and the expression of sequestosome-1 (p62) was reduced, along with Cd-induced trabecular bone damage. In addition, Cd inhibited the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), protein kinase B (AKT), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). In vitro, 80 µM Cd concentrations exposure upregulated LC3II protein expression, and downregulated of p62 protein expression. Similarly, we found that treatment with 80 µM Cd resulted in a reduction in the phosphorylation levels of mTOR, AKT, and PI3K. Further experiments revealed that addition of rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, enhanced autophagy and alleviated the Cd-induced damage to MLO-Y4 cells. The findings of our study reveal for the first time that Cd causes damage to both bone and osteocytes, as well as induces autophagy in osteocytes and inhibits PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, which could be a protective mechanism against Cd-induced bone injury.

Brain networks under uncertainty: A coordinate-based meta-analysis of brain imaging studies.

In recent years, uncertainty has been extensively studied as a core factor in anxiety models. However, it remains unclear whether there is a stable brain circuitry to cope with uncertainty. Addressing this yet open question, we first distinguish uncertainty into three different states: risky, ambiguity, and threat anticipation. Then, we performed three meta-analyses of fMRI studies to identify those regions that are commonly activated by the three domains using activation likelihood estimation (ALE). The overlapping analyses of the three ALE maps revealed major conjunctions of the risk decision making, ambiguity decision making, and the threat anticipation in specifically the right insula. Contrast analysis further confirmed this finding. In addition, different uncertainty states also have different brain networks involved. Specifically, a large number of brain regions in the frontal-parietal cortex were recruited under ambiguity state, while subcortical gray matter regions were recruited under risk decision making, and the bilateral insula were closely associated with threat anticipation. Additionally, we assessed the co-activation pattern of identified regions using meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) to investigate the potential network underlying the relationship of three domains. The MACM analysis further confirmed that different uncertain states have specific brain network basis. We concluded that the right insula serves as a convergent brain region for brain regions recruited for different uncertain states, and its co-activation pattern also corresponds to the brain network of the three uncertain states. This study is a preliminary attempt to further uncover the brain circuitry of anxiety models with uncertainty at their core.

Nicorandil attenuates ventricular dysfunction and organ injury after cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: Nicorandil, an adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel agonist and nitric oxide donor, is a coronary vasodilator used to treat ischemia-induced chest pain, but it's potential cardioprotective benefits during open heart surgery have not been thoroughly investigated. The study objective was to assess the impact of nicorandil on postoperative ventricular dysfunction and end-organ injury in an established experimental model of open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardioplegic arrest. We hypothesized that nicorandil would attenuate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, preserve ventricular function, and reduce end-organ injury. METHODS: Rabbits were cannulated for CPB, followed by 60 min of aortic cross-clamp (ACC) with cold cardioplegic arrest, and 120 min of recovery after ACC removal. Nicorandil (or normal saline vehicle) was given intravenously 5 min before ACC and continued throughout the recovery period. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), systolic contractility (LV + dP/dt), and diastolic relaxation (LV -dP/dt) were continuously recorded, and blood and tissue samples were collected for measurement of oxidant stress (OS), inflammation, apoptosis, and organ injury. RESULTS: Nicorandil significantly attenuated IR-induced LV dysfunction compared to saline control (R-120: LV + dP/dt: 1596 ± 397 vs. 514 ± 269 mmHg/s, p = 0.010; LV -dP/dt: -1524 ± 432 vs. -432 ± 243 mmHg/s, p < 0.001; LVDP: 55 ± 11 vs. 22 ± 5 mmHg, p = 0.046). Furthermore, nicorandil inhibited IR-induced increases in OS, inflammation, apoptosis, and organ injury. CONCLUSIONS: Nicorandil exhibits myocardial protection by attenuation of IR-induced LV dysfunction associated with OS, inflammation, apoptosis, and organ injury. Nicorandil should be explored further as a potential therapeutic strategy for limiting global IR injury during open-heart surgery in humans.

Effect of trait anxiety on cognitive flexibility: Evidence from event-related potentials and resting-state EEG.

Individuals with anxiety often exhibit cognitive flexibility impairment; however, the neural underpinnings of this cognitive impairment remain unclear. In this study, 45 participants were instructed to complete a task-switching assessment of shifting function by EEG technology, and 200 participants were included in microstate analysis to study why cognitive flexibility is impaired and the neuromechanism. Behaviorally, a positive correlation between trait anxiety scores and set shifting cost was found. At the EEG level, there was a positive correlation between trait anxiety scores and frontal P2 peaks under the shifting condition, which was related to the activation of the stimulus-response associations by attention. Furthermore, microstate analysis was used to analyze EEG functional networks, and TA scores had significant positive correlations with the Occurrence of class D and the Contribution of class D, which was related to the dorsal attention network. These results provided direct neuroelectrophysiological evidence that trait anxiety impairs cognitive flexibility when shifting is required.

Relationship Between Arterial and Intraosseous Pressure in African Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus).

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between arterial pressure and intraosseous (IO) pressure obtained by conventional IO needle in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). Twelve healthy African grey parrots with mean body weight 465.25 g were anesthetized in an induction chamber with 5% isoflurane and 100% oxygen, followed by intubation and connection to a pressure-limited intermittent-flow ventilator. A 24-gauge catheter was placed into the deep radial artery in one wing and a 22-gauge needle was placed into the distal ulnar medullary cavity in the contralateral wing. Both cannulas were connected to a 9-cm noncompliant tube and then linked to a disposable pressure sensor. Pressures and waveforms from both cannulas were recorded for 10 minutes while isoflurane was maintained at 3%. The results showed that the arterial pressure values were normally distributed (P < .05), whereas the IO pressure values were not (P > .05). Arterial and IO pressure were not correlated (P > 0.05), but IO pressure and heart rate were positively correlated (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, 0.58; P < .05). Multiple characteristics of the IO waveforms were observed, including distinguishable continuous waveforms (n = 8), a single wave crest (n = 4), respiratory variation (n = 7), and a dicrotic notch (n = 3), and IO waveforms were appearing at a similar or delayed point relative to the related arterial waveforms (n = 8). Although IO pressure was not correlated with arterial pressure in the African grey parrots under the study conditions, the positive correlation between IO pressure and heart rate and the IO waveform characteristics suggest that the inflow arterioles likely account for the retained arterial waveform radiating into the IO space. These findings are consistent with those from all previously tested mammals. Therefore, insights into potential future improvements of the measuring techniques and protocols can be reached by thoroughly reviewing the current knowledge on IO pressure in mammals.

Normoxic re-oxygenation ameliorates end-organ injury after cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: In a rabbit model of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardioplegic arrest, we previously showed that hyperoxic myocardial reperfusion was associated with increased left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and myocardial injury compared with normoxic reperfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate in our experimental model the impact of post-CPB reperfusion conditions on other organs potentially vulnerable to ischemic injury such as the brain and kidney. METHODS: After 60 min of CPB, aortic cross-clamp, and cold cardioplegic arrest, rabbits were reperfused under hyperoxic or normoxic conditions for 120 min. Left ventricular systolic contractility (LV + dP/dt) and diastolic relaxation (LV -dP/dt) were continuously recorded, and end-organ injury was assessed by measuring circulating biomarkers specific for kidney (cystatin C and creatinine) and brain injury [S100B and neuron specific enolase (NSE)]. At completion of the protocol, kidney and brain tissues were harvested for measuring oxidant stress (OS), inflammation and apoptosis. RESULTS: Following aortic cross-clamp removal, rabbits exposed to normoxic reperfusion demonstrated preserved LV systolic and diastolic function compared with hyperoxic reperfusion (LV + dP/dt: 70 ± 14% of pre-CPB vs. 36 ± 21%, p = 0.018; LV -dP/dt: 72 ± 36% of pre-CPB vs. 33 ± 20%, p = 0.023). Similarly, CPB increased plasma creatinine, S100B and NSE that were significantly attenuated by normoxic reperfusion compared with hyperoxic reperfusion (creatinine: 4.0 ± 0.5 vs. 7.1 ± 0.8 mg/dL, p = 0.004; S100B: 4.0 ± 0.8 vs. 6.7 ± 1.0 ng/mL, p = 0.047; NSE: 57.7 ± 6.8 vs. 101.3 ± 16.1 pg/mL, p = 0.040). Furthermore, both kidney and brain tissues showed increased mRNA expression and activation of pathways for OS, inflammation, and apoptosis, that were reduced under normoxic compared with hyperoxic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Normoxic reperfusion ameliorates cardiac, renal and neural injury compared with hyperoxic reperfusion in an in vivo animal model of CPB and cardioplegic arrest. This protective effect of normoxic reperfusion may be due to a reduction in signaling pathways for OS, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Evaluation of an Anti-Thrombotic Continuous Lactate and Blood Pressure Monitoring Catheter in an In Vivo Piglet Model undergoing Open-Heart Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Blood lactate and blood pressure measurements are important predictors of life-threatening complications after infant open-heart surgeries requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We have developed an intravascular nitric oxide (NO)-releasing 5-Fr catheter that contains a lactate sensor for continuous in-blood lactate monitoring and a dedicated lumen for third-party pressure sensor attachment. This device has antimicrobial and antithrombotic properties and can be implanted intravascularly. The importance of this design is its ability to inhibit thrombosis, due to the slow release of NO through the surface of the catheter and around the electrochemical lactate sensors, to allow continuous data acquisition for more than 48 h. An in vivo study was performed using six piglets undergoing open-heart surgery with CPB and cardioplegic arrest, in order to mimic intra-operative conditions for infants undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. In each study of 3 h, two 5-Fr NO-releasing lactate and blood-pressure monitoring catheters were implanted in the femoral vessels (arteries and veins) and the CPB circuitry to monitor changing lactate levels and blood pressures during and immediately after aortic cross-clamp removal and separation from CBP. Electrical signals continuously acquired through the sensors were processed and displayed on the device's display and via Bluetooth to a computer in real-time with the use of a two-point in vivo calibration against blood gas results. The study results show that lactate levels measured from those sensors implanted in the CPB circuit during CPB were comparable to those acquired by arterial blood gas measurements, whereas lactate levels measured from sensors implanted in the femoral artery were closely correlated with those acquired intermittently by blood gas prior to CPB initiation, but not during CPB. Blood pressure sensors attached to one lumen of the device displayed accurate blood pressure readings compared to those measured using an FDA approved pressure sensor already on the market. We recommend that the sensor be implanted in the CPB's circuit to continuously monitor lactate during CPB, and implanted in the femoral arteries or jugular veins to monitor lactate before and after CPB. Blood pressures dramatically drop during CPB due to lower blood flow into the lower body, and we suspect that the femoral arteries are likely collapsing or constricting on the implanted catheter and disrupting the sensor-to-blood contact. This study shows that the device is able to accurately and continuously monitor lactate levels during CPB and potentially prevent post-surgery complications in infants.

Differential Effects of Normoxic and Hyperoxic Reperfusion on Global Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

The objectives were to investigate if after hypoxia or ischemia, normoxic reperfusion is associated with less oxidant stress (OS), inflammation, and myocardial injury than hyperoxic reperfusion. In this study, cardiomyocytes (H9c2 cells) were cultured in hypoxia, followed by reoxygenation in normoxia or hyperoxia. Cardiomyocyte OS, inflammation, and apoptosis were measured. In parallel experiments, rabbits were cannulated for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Following cardioplegic arrest and aortic cross-clamp removal, hearts were reperfused under normoxic or hyperoxic conditions. Left ventricular developed pressure and contractility (LV +dP/dt) were recorded, and blood samples and heart tissues were collected for measurement of OS, inflammation, and cardiac injury. Results showed that H9c2 cells exposed to hyperoxic reoxygenation showed significant increases in OS, inflammation, and apoptosis compared to normoxic reoxygenation. Following CPB and 2-hour hyperoxic reperfusion, LV +dP/dt and left ventricular developed pressure were significantly decreased compared with pre-CPB values (to 36 ± 21%, P = 0.002; and 53 ± 20%, P = 0.02, respectively), associated with significant increases in all plasma and tissue biomarkers for OS, inflammation, and myocardial injury. In contrast, LV +dP/dt was relatively well preserved under normoxic reperfusion conditions (to 70 ± 14% after 2-hour reperfusion), and was associated with an attenuated myocardial OS, inflammatory, apoptotic, and injury response compared to the hyperoxia group (eg, cTn-I: 5.9 ± 1.5 vs 20.2 ± 7.6 ng/mL, respectively, P < 0.0001). Overall, in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, normoxic reperfusion/reoxygenation was associated with less robust OS, inflammation, apoptosis, and myocardial injury compared with hyperoxic reperfusion/reoxygenation. These results suggest that hyperoxia should be avoided to minimize myocardial OS, inflammation, and ventricular dysfunction after CPB.

Myocardial Oxidative Stress in Infants Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease often necessitates a period of myocardial ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest, followed by reperfusion after aortic cross-clamp removal. In experimental models, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion is associated with significant oxidative stress and ventricular dysfunction. A prospective observational study was conducted in infants (<1 year) who underwent elective surgical repair of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) or tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Blood samples were drawn following anesthetic induction (baseline) and directly from the coronary sinus at 1, 3, 5, and 10 min following aortic cross-clamp removal. Samples were analyzed for oxidant stress using assays for thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, protein carbonyl, 8-isoprostane, and total antioxidant capacity. For each subject, raw assay data were normalized to individual baseline samples and expressed as fold-change from baseline. Results were compared using a one-sample t test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Sixteen patients (ten with TOF and six with VSD) were enrolled in the study, and there were no major postoperative complications observed. For the entire cohort, there was an immediate, rapid increase in myocardial oxidative stress that was sustained for 10 min following aortic cross-clamp removal in all biomarker assays (all P < 0.01), except total antioxidant capacity. Infant cardiac surgery is associated with a rapid, robust, and time-dependent increase in myocardial oxidant stress as measured from the coronary sinus in vivo. Future studies with larger enrollment are necessary to assess any association between myocardial oxidative stress and early postoperative outcomes.

Optimization of highly selective 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-5-carboxamide inhibitors of Sky kinase.

Optimization of the ADME properties of a series of 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-5-carboxamide inhibitors of Sky kinase resulted in the identification of highly selective compounds with properties suitable for use as in vitro and in vivo tools to probe the effects of Sky inhibition.

Impact of N-acetylcysteine on neonatal cardiomyocyte ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are hypothesized to play a key role in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury after cardiopulmonary bypass in children. Clinical studies in adults and several animal models suggest that myocardial IR injury involves cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis. This study investigated a potential relationship between IR-induced ROS production and neonatal cardiomyocyte apoptosis using both in vitro and ex vivo techniques. For in vitro experiments, embryonic rat cardiomyocytes (H9c2 cells) exposed to hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) showed a time-dependent increase in gp91 phox (a marker for ROS production by NADPH oxidases), caspase-3 (a key mediator of apoptosis) expression, and a decrease in the glutathione redox ratio. N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 0.25-2 mM), a potent antioxidant, decreased gp91 phox and caspase-3 expression, inhibited apoptosis and restored the glutathione redox ratio. For ex vivo study, IR injury significantly reduced left ventricular (LV) function and increased the expression of gp91 phox and caspase-3 in Langendorff-perfused neonatal (7-14 d) rabbit hearts. NAC (0.4 mM) treatment completely attenuated LV dysfunction after IR. In summary, neonatal myocardial IR injury is associated with an increase in cardiomyocyte oxidative stress and apoptosis. NAC attenuates apoptosis in an in vitro embryonic rat cardiomyocyte model of HR, and myocardial dysfunction in an ex vivo neonatal rabbit model of myocardial IR injury.

Formulation modifications of PD 0313052, a direct Factor Xa Inhibitor, alter pharmacokinetics and pharma-codynamics following subcutaneous administration to rabbits.

PURPOSE: PD 0313052 is a potent, direct factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor (Ki = 0.33 nM) and its antithrombotic effect has been previously demonstrated in several animal models, via intravenous (IV) administration. In the present study, we evaluated four different subcutaneous (SC) formulations to test the feasibility of developing PD 0313052 as a subcutaneous agent. METHODS: PD 0313052 was formulated in saline, methylcellulose (MC, 0.5% methylcellulose solution containing 1% Tween-80), sesame oil, and F127 (25% aqueous solution). Each formulation was injected subcutaneously into rabbits and the relative plasma exposure and the duration of action of PD 0313052 were assessed. Plasma concentration, FXa activity, and coagulation parameters were used to monitor the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles of PD 0313052. RESULTS: Regardless of formulation, there was a significant (p < 0.05) correlation between PD 0313052 plasma concentration and FXa activity (R2 = 0.90), prothrombin time (PT) (R2 = 0.86), and Heptest (R2 = 0.93). The saline and MC formulations had similar effects on FXa activity, coagulation parameters, and Heptest, peaking at 30 to 120 minutes after administration and decreasing rapidly thereafter. In contrast, formulations of F127 and sesame oil yielded lower maximal effects on PD markers but produced sustained PD effects over time. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that PD 0313052 is bioavailable after SC administration to rabbits and that there is a strong correlation between the PD parameters and plasma concentrations of PD 0313052. Modifications in the formulation of PD 0313052 produce marked differences in the PK and PD profiles of this agent after SC administration to rabbits. These results suggest that SC formulations can be optimized to improve the PK and PD profiles of PD 0313052, and that PD 0313052 is a viable candidate for development as a SC antithrombotic agent.

In vitro and in vivo antithrombotic activity of PD-198961, a novel synthetic factor Xa inhibitor.

PD-198961, 3-(4-5-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethyltetrahydro-1(2H)-pyridinyl]pentyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinoxalinyl)-4-hydroxybenzenecarboximidamide, is a novel, synthetic factor Xa inhibitor with a Ki of 2.7 nM against human factor Xa. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile and antithrombotic efficacy of PD-198961 in rabbits. When tested in vitro, PD-198961 doubled prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) at concentrations of 0.13 and 0.32 microM in human plasma, 0.2 and 0.09 microM in rabbit plasma, 0.3 and 0.4 microM in dog plasma, respectively. Intravenous administration of PD-198961 at 1 mg/kg over 30 minutes resulted in a maximal prolongation in PT and aPTT of 4.9 +/- 0.4 and 4.1 +/- 0.9-fold of baseline, respectively. The peak plasma concentration of PD-198961 was 977 +/- 96 ng/ml. The anticoagulant effect of PD-198961 was readily reversible; coagulation parameters and plasma concentration returned to near baseline 15 minutes after cessation of infusion. There was a good correlation between PT prolongation and plasma concentration of PD-198961 (r = 0.93). In an FeCl3-induced model of arterial thrombosis in rabbits, the antithrombotic effects of PD-198961 were compared with that of LB-30057, a direct thrombin inhibitor, and enoxaparin, a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). PD-198961 dose dependently increased the time to occlusion (TTO), reduced thrombus weight (TW), and decreased the incidence of occlusion. When administered at 3.0 microg/kg/min IV, PD-198961 prolonged TTO from 28 +/- 5 minutes (control) to 120 +/- 0 minutes (P < 0.001) and reduced TW from 9.9 +/- 1.5 mg (control) to 2.8 +/- 0.9 mg (P < 0.01). PD-198961 also dose dependently inhibited ex vivo plasma FXa activity. At the highest dose tested, PD-198961 increased aPTT to 1.4 +/- 0.1-fold of baseline (compared with 1.5 +/- 0.1 and 2.8 +/- 0.3-fold of baseline for LB-30057 [CI-1028] and enoxaparin, respectively), and had modest effects on bleeding time (< or = 2-fold). These results indicate that PD-198961 is a potent FXa inhibitor and an effective antithrombotic agent at doses that produce only modest changes in normal hemostasis.