Effects of long-term infliximab and tocilizumab treatment on anxiety-like behavior and cognitive function in naive rats.

BACKGROUND: Circulating cytokines have been proposed to be implicated in the development of mood disorders and cognitive impairment. This study aims to examine the effect of chronic treatment with infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitor, and tocilizumab, an antibody against interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor on anxiety-like behavior and cognitive function. METHODS: Twenty-eight male, Wistar rats were randomly allocated into negative control, vehicle, infliximab and tocilizumab groups. After 8 weeks of intraperitoneal drug administration, rats performed the elevated-plus maze, the elevated-zero maze, the olfactory social memory and the passive avoidance tests. Brain sections at the level of the hippocampus, the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex were histologically examined. Finally, hippocampal and amygdaloid brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: Infliximab group exhibited a significantly higher number of entries and time spent into the open arms of the mazes, showing a lower level of anxiety. In the olfactory social memory test, tocilizumab significantly increased the ratio of interaction. Both infliximab- and tocilizumab-treated animals had a significantly lower latency time in the passive avoidance test that suggests an improved memory. Histological examination revealed similar morphology and neuronal density between groups. BDNF expression levels were significantly increased in the groups receiving anti-cytokine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that long-term peripheral TNF-alpha and IL-6 inhibition improves anxiety and cognitive function in rats and leads to an increased BDNF expression in the brain.

Α Virtual Reality App for Physical and Cognitive Training of Older People With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an effective treatment modality for cognitive and physical training in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, to replace existing nonpharmaceutical treatment training protocols, VR platforms need significant improvement if they are to appeal to older people with symptoms of cognitive decline and meet their specific needs. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to design and test the acceptability, usability, and tolerability of an immersive VR platform that allows older people with MCI symptoms to simultaneously practice physical and cognitive skills on a dual task. METHODS: On the basis of interviews with 20 older people with MCI symptoms (15 females; mean age 76.25, SD 5.03 years) and inputs from their health care providers (formative study VR1), an interdisciplinary group of experts developed a VR system called VRADA (VR Exercise App for Dementia and Alzheimer's Patients). Using an identical training protocol, the VRADA system was first tested with a group of 30 university students (16 females; mean age 20.86, SD 1.17 years) and then with 27 older people (19 females; mean age 73.22, SD 9.26 years) who had been diagnosed with MCI (feasibility studies VR2a and VR2b). Those in the latter group attended two Hellenic Association Day Care Centers for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. Participants in both groups were asked to perform a dual task training protocol that combined physical and cognitive exercises in two different training conditions. In condition A, participants performed a cycling task in a lab environment while being asked by the researcher to perform oral math calculations (single-digit additions and subtractions). In condition B, participants performed a cycling task in the virtual environment while performing calculations that appeared within the VR app. Participants in both groups were assessed in the same way; this included questionnaires and semistructured interviews immediately after the experiment to capture perceptions of acceptability, usability, and tolerability, and to determine which of the two training conditions each participant preferred. RESULTS: Participants in both groups showed a significant preference for the VR condition (students: mean 0.66, SD 0.41, t29=8.74, P<.001; patients with MCI: mean 0.72, SD 0.51, t26=7.36, P<.001), as well as high acceptance scores for intended future use, attitude toward VR training, and enjoyment. System usability scale scores (82.66 for the students and 77.96 for the older group) were well above the acceptability threshold (75/100). The perceived adverse effects were minimal, indicating a satisfactory tolerability. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that VRADA is an acceptable, usable, and tolerable system for physical and cognitive training of older people with MCI and university students. Randomized controlled trial studies are needed to assess the efficacy of VRADA as a tool to promote physical and cognitive health in patients with MCI.

Single Center Retrospective Analysis of Conventional and Radial TIG Catheters for Transradial Diagnostic Coronary Angiography.

Current guidelines favor the radial approach for coronary angiography. Therefore, specialty radial diagnostic catheters were designed to engage both coronary arteries with a single device. However, it is unclear if single catheters are superior to conventional catheters. A retrospective analysis was performed of consecutive right radial coronary angiographies to determine catheter use, fluoroscopy time, radiation dosage, and consumption of contrast. Procedures were performed with a single TIG catheter or conventional catheters (CONV). Procedures with coronary artery bypass grafts or ventricular angiographies were excluded. 273 transradial procedures were performed successfully. 95 procedures were performed with CONV and 178 procedures with a TIG. Crossover to additional catheters was higher in TIG (15.2%) compared to CONV (5.3%, p = 0.02). Fluoroscopy time was comparable between CONV and TIG, without crossover (2.2 ± 1.2 min versus 2.3 ± 1.2 min; n.s.), however, greater in the case of crossover for CONV (5.8 ± 0.7) and TIG (7.6 ± 3.0; p = 0.0001). Radiation dosage was similar in CONV and the TIG, without crossover (1419 ± 1075, cGy∗cm(2) versus 1690 ± 1138; n.s.), however, greater for CONV (2374 ± 620) and TIG (3733 ± 2281, p = 0.05) with crossover. Overall, the amount of contrast was greater in TIG (56 ± 13 mL) versus CONV (48 ± 3 mL; p = 0.0003). CONV femoral catheters may be the primary choice for radial approach.