Effect of high mobility group box 1 pathway inhibition on gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of mice exposed to alcohol.

Introduction: The high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) pathway plays a pivotal role in the development of alcohol-induced brain injury. Glycyrrhizinic acid (GlyA) is widely regarded as an inhibitor of HMGB1. The objective is to investigate the impact on gene expression in the prefrontal cortex,we sequenced the transcriptome in control, alcohol-exposed, and HMGB1-inhibited groups of mice.

Nrf2 pathway activation promotes the expression of genes related to glutathione metabolism in alcohol-exposed astrocytes.

Introduction: Oxidative and antioxidant pathways play essential roles in the development of alcohol-induced brain injury. The Nrf2 pathway is an endogenous antioxidant response pathway, but there has been little research on the role of Nrf2 in alcohol-related diseases. Thus, we examined the effects of alcohol and an Nrf2 agonist (TBHQ) on astrocyte function, mRNA expression, and metabolite content to further explore the protective mechanisms of Nrf2 agonists in astrocytes following alcohol exposure.

Prevalence of cerebral palsy comorbidities in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to comprehensively understand the comorbidity of cerebral palsy (CP) in China.

Methods: We searched through databases in both Chinese and English until December 2022 to gather cross-sectional studies on the comorbidity of CP in China. After two reviewers independently screened the articles, collected the data, and assessed the bias risk, a meta-analysis was conducted using the Stata 17.

Inhibition of the Rho/ROCK pathway promotes the expression of developmental and migration-related genes in astrocytes exposed to alcohol.

Astrocytes are an important regulator of alcohol dependence. Furthermore, the downregulation of Rho-associated coiled coil-containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) attenuates alcohol-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in astrocytes. On the basis of these findings, we examined the effects of alcohol and a Rho/RACK kinases inhibitor on astrocyte function and investigated their effects on mRNA expression to further explore the protective mechanisms of a Rho/RACK kinases inhibitor in astrocytes after alcohol exposure.

Fasudil may alleviate alcohol-induced astrocyte damage by modifying lipid metabolism, as determined by metabonomics analysis.

Alcohol dependence is a chronic, relapsing encephalopathy characterized by compulsive craving for alcohol, loss of control over alcohol use, and the presence of negative emotions and physical discomfort when alcohol is unavailable. Harmful use of alcohol is one of the greatest risk factors for death, illness, and disability. Rho kinase inhibitors have neuroprotective effects.

High Mobility Group Box 1/Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling Increases Expression in Alcohol Exposure.

Introduction: Prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatal neurotransmitter homeostasis is affected by alcohol dependence. In this study, the microarray dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were downloaded. The prefrontal and striatum data were cross-analyzed to reveal the co-effects of alcohol dependence on the two brain regions of mice.

CD36 deficiency affects depressive-like behaviors possibly by modifying gut microbiota and the inflammasome pathway in mice.

Both inflammatory processes and gut microbiota have been implicated in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. The class B scavenger receptor CD36 is involved in the cytotoxicity associated with inflammation. However, its role in depression has not yet been examined.

Extracellular Matrix and Oxidative Phosphorylation: Important Role in the Regulation of Hypothalamic Function by Gut Microbiota.

Background: In previous studies, our team examined the gut microbiota of healthy individuals and depressed patients using fecal microbiota transplantation of germ-free (GF) mice. Our results showed that depression-like and anxiety-like behavioral phenotypes of host mice were increased, but the molecular mechanism by which gut microbiota regulate host behavioral phenotypes is still unclear.

Methods: To investigate the molecular mechanism by which gut microbiota regulate host brain function, adult GF mice were colonized with fecal samples derived from healthy control (HC) individuals or patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Diterpene Ginkgolides Exert an Antidepressant Effect Through the NT3-TrkA and Ras-MAPK Pathways.

Background: Depression is a highly prevalent mental illness that severely impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. Our recent studies demonstrated that diterpene ginkgolides (DG) have antidepressant effects in mice. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remained much unclear.

Dl-3-n-butylphthalide attenuates mouse behavioral deficits to chronic social defeat stress by regulating energy metabolism via AKT/CREB signaling pathway.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe mental disorder associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Current first-line pharmacotherapies for MDD are based on enhancement of monoaminergic neurotransmission, but these antidepressants are still insufficient and produce significant side-effects. Consequently, the development of novel antidepressants and therapeutic targets is desired.

Hippocampus-specific regulation of long non-coding RNA and mRNA expression in germ-free mice.

Gut microbiota can affect multiple brain functions and cause behavioral alterations through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. In our previous study, we found that the absence of gut microbiota can influence the expression of microRNAs and mRNAs in the hippocampal region of the germ-free (GF) mice. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly being recognized as an important functional transcriptional regulator in the brain.

Depressive symptoms and quality of life among Chinese medical postgraduates: a national cross-sectional study.

High workloads and heavy academic pressure can have significant implications for the risk for depression and poor quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to investigate QoL and depressive symptoms in medical students undergoing postgraduate neurology specialty training in China. The survey covered demographic characteristics, the 8-itemMedical Outcomes Study Short-Formquestionnaire (SF-8), and the 2-itemPrimary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders depression screening tool.

Sema3A - mediated modulation of NR1D1 expression may be involved in the regulation of axonal guidance signaling by the microbiota.

Aims: The microbiota has a profound impact on host development and function. Axon guidance is essential for the formation of neural circuits and plays an important role in neurological diseases and behavioral disorders. However, the impact of the microbiota on axon guidance signaling is unclear.

Ginkgo biloba extract and its diterpene ginkgolide constituents ameliorate the metabolic disturbances caused by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in rat prefrontal cortex.

Introduction: Although recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is a widely used therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke, rtPA-induced toxicity or its adverse effects have been reported in our previous studies. However, Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) may provide neuroprotective effects against rtPA-induced toxicity. Thus, in the present study, we investigated whether a single administration of rtPA caused neurotoxicity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats and determined whether GBE or its diterpene ginkgolide (DG) constituents were neuroprotective against any rtPA-induced toxicity.

Mechanisms of ketamine on mice hippocampi shown by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis.

In the present study, we used a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics method to evaluate the effects of ketamine on mice hippocampi. Multivariate statistical analysis and ingenuity pathway analysis were then used to identify and explore the potential mechanisms and biofunction of ketamine. Compared with the control (CON) group, 14 differential metabolites that involved amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and oxidative stress metabolism were identified.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of deep brain stimulation in treatment-resistant depression.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been applied in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) as a putative intervention targeting different brain regions. However, the antidepressant effects of DBS for TRD in recent clinical trials remain controversial.

Methods: We searched Scopus, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and PsycINFO for all published studies investigating the efficacy of DBS in TRD up to Feb 2017.