Effects of esketamine on electrophysiology and metabolic reprogramming in brain organoids: insights into antidepressant mechanisms.

Esketamine, commonly used to treat treatment-resistant depression, has pharmacological mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. Brain organoids offer a human-relevant platform for investigating the cellular and molecular effects of drugs. In this study, we investigated the effects of esketamine on the electrophysiology and metabolism of brain organoids derived from iPSCs of healthy control subjects and depressed patients.

Gα13 Overexpression in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Disrupts Social Behavior Through the Adcyap1/cAMP/PKA/NMDAR Pathway.

Background: Social withdrawal is a core symptom of schizophrenia (SCZ), yet its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Gα13 (GNA13), a G protein alpha subunit, has been implicated in SCZ susceptibility. This study investigated the role of Gα13 in social behavior by overexpressing it in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) pyramidal neurons of mice.

The Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis-Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus Neural Circuit Regulates Neuropathic Pain Through the Brain-Spleen Axis.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system. While the spleen may influence neuropathic pain, its role has been poorly understood. This study demonstrates that the spleen plays a crucial role in regulating neuropathic pain through the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) - paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) neural circuit in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) mouse model.

Carotid blowout syndrome as a late complication of carotid stenting in irradiated neck: covered stent treatment using the "No-Touch" technique.

Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is a potentially fatal condition requiring prompt diagnosis and intervention. CBS primarily affects patients with a history of surgery or irradiation for head and neck malignancies. In this report, we describe a case of CBS in which the carotid artery ruptured 2 months after carotid artery stenting in a patient with a previous history of surgery and irradiation for pharyngeal cancer.

High Lipoprotein (a) Levels Causing Recurrent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Different Pregnancies: A Case Report.

Introduction: High levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] have gained attention as a risk factor for venous thrombosis. Venous thrombosis during pregnancy in women without thrombophilic predisposition is attributed to pregnancy itself. Herein, we report a case of high Lp (a) levels manifesting as recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in different pregnancies.

Proximal occlusion for infectious carotid-cavernous fistula caused by invasive fungal sinusitis: illustrative case.

Background: Thirteen cases of fungal cavernous-carotid aneurysms (CCAs) attributable to invasive fungal sinusitis have been reported in the literature. These reports included only 1 case of carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF). In this report, the authors present a case of CCF attributable to the rupture of an infected CCA caused by invasive fungal sinusitis that required proximal occlusion for treatment.

Prophylactic Effect of Prefrontal Alternating Current Stimulation on Postoperative Sleep Disturbance in Patients Undergoing Gynecological Laparoscope: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial.

Aims: Postoperative sleep disturbance (PSD) is a common complication following surgical procedures. We aimed to evaluate the effect of prefrontal transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in preventing PSD among patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery.

Methods: A total of 176 eligible patients, aged 18-65 years, with ASA Class I to III, and scheduled for gynecological laparoscopic surgery, were randomly allocated to receive either a single 20-min session of prefrontal tACS (2 mA, 7 Hz) or sham stimulation immediately after extubation.

Association of novel triglyceride-glucose-related indices with incident stroke in early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome.

Background: Emerging triglyceride-glucose (TyG)-related indices, such as the TyG-related body roundness index (TyG-BRI), a body shape index (TyG-ABSI), weight-adjusted waist index (TyG-WWI), and Chinese visceral adiposity index (TyG-CVAI), have gained attention as promising predictors of diverse cardiometabolic conditions. Nevertheless, their prospective associations with stroke onset remain insufficiently characterized, especially in individuals affected by cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 7,503 middle-aged and older adults with CKM syndrome stages 0-3 (see Methods: Definition of CKM Stages 0 to 4) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Small intestinal γδ T17 cells promote SAE through STING/C1q-induced microglial synaptic pruning in male mice.

Sepsis is a severe global health issue with high mortality rates, and sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) further exacerbates this risk. While recent studies have shown the migration of gut immune cells to the lungs after sepsis, their impact on the central nervous system remains unclear. Our research demonstrates that sepsis could induce the migration of IL-7R CD8 γδ T17 cells from the small intestine to the meninges, where they secrete IL-17A, impairing mitochondrial function in microglia and activating the cGAS-STING-C1q pathway in male mice.

Variability in Oxytocin Blood Levels in Rats: A Review and Experimental Insights.

Oxytocin, often called the "love hormone," is well-known for its roles in childbirth and lactation. Beyond these traditional functions, it plays a vital role in emotional and social behaviors, mood regulation, stress responses, and various physiological processes. Blood oxytocin levels are typically low under basal conditions but increase significantly during labor, breastfeeding, sexual activity, and positive social interactions.

Transforming Growth Factor-β Serum Levels Associated with Social Function in Subjects at Ultra-high Risk for Psychosis: A Multicenter Study.

Objective: Schizophrenia mainly begins in adolescence and leads to impairments of social functioning. Alterations in the immune system, as represented by cytokine levels, has been linked to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Among a variety of cytokines, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) plays a role in several neural events, e.

Microglial BDNF modulates arketamine's antidepressant-like effects through cortico-accumbal pathways.

Arketamine, the ()-enantiomer of ()-ketamine, shows even greater rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects in rodent models compared to esketamine, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we used the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model to investigate how arketamine exerts its antidepressant-like effects. We found that activating cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) at S133 and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) at S421 drives the transcription of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), contributing to arketamine's antidepressant-like effects.

Central-peripheral neuroimmune dynamics in psychological stress and depression: insights from current research.

Psychological stress plays a critical role in the onset of depression by activating neuroimmune and endocrine responses, leading to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and increased inflammation. This imbalance impacts key brain regions involved in mood regulation, such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala, contributing to the development of depressive symptoms. Moreover, stress induces immune dysregulation and inflammation in peripheral organs, including the gut, spleen, liver, lungs, and heart, which can result in metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and immune dysfunction.

Splenic γδ T cells are required for vagotomy-mediated protection against LPS-induced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors through the spleen-brain axis.

Depression is increasingly linked to inflammation, yet its underlying mechanisms remain only partially understood. In this study, we examined the role of the vagus nerve-mediated spleen-brain axis-focusing on γδ T cells and gut microbiota-in modulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (SDV) was performed to evaluate its effects on behavioral, immunological, and microbiological parameters.

Therapeutic mechanisms of Acorus tatarinowii and its bioactive compounds in cardiovascular diseases: A comprehensive review.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, imposing significant healthcare and economic burdens. Despite advances in treatment, current therapies have limitations that underscore the need for safer and more effective alternatives. Acorus tatarinowii (A.

Clinical Outcomes After Catheter Ablation in Cardiac Sarcoidosis and Idiopathic Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) may present clinically with ventricular tachycardia (VT). Since the diagnosis is challenging, clinical manifestations and imaging findings are commonly used to identify probable CS in patients without histological diagnosis or extracardiac sarcoidosis. However, data on VT ablation with probable CS remains limited.

Optimal Thromboembolism Prevention for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation on Long-Term Dialysis.

Background: Optimal strategies for thromboembolism prevention, including vitamin K antagonists (VKA), direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO), for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and on dialysis have not been fully investigated. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of thromboembolism prevention strategies in AF patients on dialysis through a network meta-analysis.

Methods: Multiple databases were searched through January 2024.

Pulsed field ablation of ventricular arrhythmias arising from intracavitary structures: insights from a clinical case series.

Introduction: Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) from intracavitary structures, such as papillary muscles and the moderator band, can be challenging to treat. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) offers a novel strategy for treating these arrhythmias.

Methods: Between 2023 and 2024, three patients with intracavitary PVCs (two with PVC-mediated ventricular fibrillation) underwent PFA at a tertiary referral centre.

Demyelination in psychiatric and neurological disorders: Mechanisms, clinical impact, and novel therapeutic strategies.

Demyelination, defined as the loss of myelin sheaths around neuronal axons, is increasingly recognized as a key factor in a broad range of psychiatric and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism spectrum disorder, substance use disorders, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. This review investigates the core mechanisms driving demyelination, its clinical impact, and emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at maintaining or restoring myelin integrity. Disruption of myelin impairs crucial neural communication pathways, resulting in cognitive, motor, and behavioral deficits that substantially reduce quality of life and create significant economic and social challenges.

Extending ketamine's antidepressant effects.

Boosting an intracellular signaling pathway preserves the antidepressant response to ketamine.