FGF22 signaling regulates synapse formation during post-injury remodeling of the spinal cord.

The remodeling of axonal circuits after injury requires the formation of new synaptic contacts to enable functional recovery. Which molecular signals initiate such axonal and synaptic reorganisation in the adult central nervous system is currently unknown. Here, we identify FGF22 as a key regulator of circuit remodeling in the injured spinal cord. We show that FGF22 is produced by spinal relay neurons, while its main receptors FGFR1 and FGFR2 are expressed by cortical projection neurons. FGF22 deficiency or the targeted deletion of FGFR1 and FGFR2 in the hindlimb motor cortex limits the formation of new synapses between corticospinal collaterals and relay neurons, delays their molecular maturation, and impedes functional recovery in a mouse model of spinal cord injury. These results establish FGF22 as a synaptogenic mediator in the adult nervous system and a crucial regulator of synapse formation and maturation during post-injury remodeling in the spinal cord.

Effectiveness of Written Dietary Advice for Improving Blood Lipids in Primary Care Adults-A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial (MYDICLIN).

Lifestyle management is the first line of treatment for moderately elevated blood lipids in healthy individuals. We investigated the effectiveness of providing food-based written advice for lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (intervention) or triglycerides (control) in a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms from 2018-2019 at a rural primary health care center. We sent feedback letters after 3 weeks and 6 months. Out of the 113 adult primary care patients randomized, 112 completed the study. There were no differences between the intervention and control groups for changes in LDL cholesterol after 3 weeks (mean ± standard deviation -0.21 ± 0.38 vs. -0.11 ± 0.34 mmol/L, p = 0.45) or 6 months (-0.05 ± 0.47 vs. 0.02 ± 0.41 mmol/L, p = 0.70) (primary outcome). Following the advice to consume plant sterols and turmeric was associated with a reduction in LDL cholesterol after 3 weeks. Following the advice to consume less carbohydrates was associated with reduced triglycerides. In the intervention arm, 14 individuals (25%) reduced their LDL cholesterol by ≥10% after three weeks. Their reduction was attenuated but maintained after six months (-7.1 ± 9.2% or -0.31 ± 0.38 mmol/L, p = 0.01 compared with baseline). They differed only in higher adherence to the advice regarding turmeric. In conclusion, this undemanding intervention had little effect on blood lipids for most individuals.