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Gene expression is a critical component of brain physiology, but monitoring this expression in the living brain represents a major challenge. Here, we introduce a new paradigm called recovery of markers through insonation (REMIS) for noninvasive measurement of gene expression in the brain with cell type, spatial, and temporal specificity. Our approach relies on engineered protein markers that are produced in neurons but exit into the brain's interstitium. When ultrasound is applied to targeted brain regions, it opens the blood-brain barrier and releases these markers into the bloodstream. Once in blood, the markers can be readily detected using biochemical techniques. REMIS can noninvasively confirm gene delivery and measure endogenous signaling in specific brain sites through a simple insonation and a subsequent blood test. REMIS is reliable and demonstrated consistent improvement in recovery of markers from the brain into the blood. Overall, this work establishes a noninvasive, spatially specific method of monitoring gene delivery and endogenous signaling in the brain.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj7686 | DOI Listing |
Elife
September 2025
Human Biology and Primate Evolution, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Evidence indicates that transposable elements (TEs) can contribute to the evolution of new traits, with some TEs acting as deleterious elements while others are repurposed for beneficial roles in evolution. In mammals, some KRAB-ZNF proteins can serve as a key defense mechanism to repress TEs, offering genomic protection. Notably, the family of KRAB-ZNF genes evolves rapidly and exhibits diverse expression patterns in primate brains, where some TEs, including autonomous LINE-1 and non-autonomous Alu and SVA elements, remain mobile.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInterv Neuroradiol
September 2025
Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
IntroductionVenous sinus stenting (VSS) is an effective, less invasive alternative to ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). While efficacy is comparable, with some evidence favoring VSS for headache control, perioperative costs remain under-characterized due to reliance on reimbursement rates rather than actual expenditures.ObjectiveTo compare the perioperative cost of elective VSS and VPS for IIH, including outpatient workup and follow-up costs, using detailed institutional cost data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJAMA Psychiatry
September 2025
Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville.
Importance: Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), the most common subtype of FTD, is a leading form of early-onset dementia worldwide. Accurate and timely diagnosis of bvFTD is frequently delayed due to symptoms overlapping with common psychiatric disorders, and interest has increased in identifying biomarkers that may aid in differentiating bvFTD from psychiatric disorders.
Objective: To summarize and critically review studies examining whether neurofilament light chain (NfL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood is a viable aid in the differential diagnosis of bvFTD vs psychiatric disorders.
JAMA Psychiatry
September 2025
School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Importance: Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug, with 10% to 30% of regular users developing cannabis use disorder (CUD), a condition linked to altered hippocampal integrity. Evidence suggests high-intensity interval training (HIIT) enhances hippocampal structure and function, with this form of physical exercise potentially mitigating CUD-related cognitive and mental health impairments.
Objective: To determine the impact of a 12-week HIIT intervention on hippocampal integrity (ie, structure, connectivity, biochemistry) compared with 12 weeks of strength and resistance (SR) training in CUD.
JAMA Netw Open
September 2025
Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, and Survivorship Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Importance: Survivors of critical illness often have ongoing issues that affect functioning, including driving ability.
Objective: To examine whether intensive care unit (ICU) delirium is independently associated with long-term changes in driving behaviors.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter, longitudinal cohort study included 151 survivors of critical illness residing within 200 miles of Nashville, Tennessee.