Sustained Benefit of Short-Term Levodopa Treatment on Inner Retinal Function in Patients With Diabetes.

Purpose: This study investigated the long-term progression of oscillatory potential (OP) implicit times (ITs) in individuals with preclinical diabetic retinopathy (DR) with and without levodopa (L-DOPA) treatment by quantifying functional and structural retinal changes.

Methods: Participants from the Motz et al. (2020) study were re-evaluated after 5 years, including individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) who received L-DOPA treatment for 2 weeks (the DM + L-DOPA group; n = 14), those who did not (the DM group; n = 6), and non-diabetic healthy controls (the control group; n = 37).

High-Resolution Imaging and Interpretation of Three-Dimensional RPE Sheet Structure.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a monolayer of pigmented cells, is critical for visual function through its interaction with the neural retina. In healthy eyes, RPE cells exhibit a uniform hexagonal arrangement, but under stress or disease, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), dysmorphic traits like cell enlargement and apparent multinucleation emerge. Multinucleation has been hypothesized to result from cellular fusion, a compensatory mechanism to maintain cell-to-cell contact and barrier function, as well as conserve resources in unhealthy tissue.

Effects of Treadmill Exercise on Retinal Vascular Morphology, Function, and Circulating Immune Factors in a Mouse Model of Retinal Degeneration.

Purpose: Exercise is neuroprotective in rodents undergoing retinal degeneration (RD). However, the effects of exercise on retinal vasculature remain unexplored. Here, we investigate whether treadmill exercise influences retinal vascular morphology, function, gene expression, and circulating factors in a light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD) mouse model.

Three Months of Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise Can Reduce OFF-time and Enhance Quality of Life in Older Adults with Parkinson's Disease.

Introduction: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is commonly treated with the dopamine precursor, levodopa, which is used in antiparkinsonian therapy. After several years of taking this medication, many individuals with PD experience medication-related motor fluctuations (MRMF), a.k.

Forced exercise modulates retinal inflammatory response and regulates miRNA expression to promote retinal neuroprotection during degeneration.

Background: Our labs have demonstrated exercise is protective in animal models of retinal degeneration (RD). Inflammation drives RD progression, and is regulated by the recruitment and reactivity of glia cells as well as through small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we explore the effects of treadmill exercise on the recruitment and reactivity of retinal inflammatory cells within the neural retina and miRNA expression in a light-induced retinal degeneration model (LIRD) that exhibits phenotypes found in patients with RD.

Social support may not impact physical function outcomes following a tango or walking intervention in people with Parkinson's disease: an exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Poor physical function influences social support among people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Physical function can be improved through exercise, but whether social support influences intervention responsiveness is unclear. This study aimed to (1) examine the influence of 12 weeks of group exercise (tango or walking) on physical function in people with PD who reported low versus high baseline social support, and (2) determine the influence of intervention type on social support effects.

Assessment of a novel color vision optomotor response assay in zebrafish larvae with red cone ablation.

Zebrafish are widely used to investigate visual function, owing to their well-defined retinal organization and optical transparency during early developmental stages. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of a color vision optomotor response (CV-OMR) assay for assessing zebrafish with red cone ablation. Tg (thrb:gal4;UAS:epNTR-p2a-mCherry) transgenic zebrafish were used to ablate red cones via the addition of metronidazole (MTZ).

Aerobic Cycling Exercise Training Does Not Improve Impaired Vagal Reactivation in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Purpose: Parasympathetic reactivation is essential for the rapid decrease in heart rate following exercise and delayed heart rate recovery (HRR) post-exercise is linked to poor clinical outcomes. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with autonomic dysfunction including reduced parasympathetic activity. Exercise training may improve parasympathetic reactivation.

Studies of All-trans Retinoic Acid Transport in the Eye.

Purpose: Myopia incidence is increasing globally. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) is important in myopigenic retinoscleral signaling, motivating research on its ocular transport. However, atRA's weak autofluorescence limits its direct visualization in tissues.

The influence of cardiovascular fitness and ventilatory efficiency on fMRI assessed cerebrovascular reactivity in older adults.

Purpose: Biological aging has a profound impact on cerebral health. A prevalent factor thought to underpin overall brain health is healthy cerebrovascular function. Recent research suggests a beneficial relationship between cerebrovascular health and physical activity.

Blood-Based Biomarkers for Improved Characterization of Traumatic Brain Injury: Recommendations from the 2024 National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke Traumatic Brain Injury Classification and Nomenclature Initiative Blood-Based Biomarkers Working Group.

A 2022 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine called for a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Classification Workshop by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a more precise, evidence-based classification system. The workshop aimed to revise the Glasgow Coma Scale-based system by incorporating neuroimaging and validated blood biomarker tests. In December 2022, the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke formed six working groups of TBI experts to make recommendations for this revision.

Heteronymous feedback from quadriceps onto soleus is influenced by limb loading and task context.

Heteronymous reflexes from quadriceps can increase and/or decrease soleus activity; yet few studies have examined factors influencing reflex strength. This study examined the independent influence of limb loading, posture, and task context on heteronymous feedback from quadriceps onto soleus. The influence of limb loading and posture was determined by comparing femoral nerve elicited heteronymous excitation and inhibition of soleus in a semi-recumbent position with and without 50% body weight limb loading and while standing with back support (n = 16).

40 Hz sensory stimulation enhances CA3-CA1 coordination and prospective coding during navigation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

40 Hz sensory stimulation ("flicker") has emerged as a new technique to potentially mitigate pathology and improve cognition in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. However, it remains unknown how 40 Hz flicker affects neural codes essential for memory. Accordingly, we investigate the effects of 40 Hz flicker on neural representations of experience in the hippocampus of the 5XFAD mouse model of AD by recording 1,000s of neurons during a goal-directed spatial navigation task.

Neuropsychological impact and mechanisms of creative movement: Implications for rehabilitation for aging, neurodegenerative disease, and neurotrauma.

Throughout humanity's existence, dance and creative movement have been used to express concepts, attitudes, and emotions, as well as to develop skills. Dance offers a paradigm to investigate neuroplasticity associated with learning sensorimotor interactions, and how these interactions enhance health, psychosocial, cognitive, and motor function, including for older individuals with neurotrauma and neurodegenerative disease. This collection explores the science of learning to move and its impact on cognition, how the neuropsychological aspects of the creative movement process is manifested in the brain, and how creative movement or dance can be harnessed to enhance health, cognitive function, and quality of life.

Digital gait biomarkers in Parkinson's disease: susceptibility/risk, progression, response to exercise, and prognosis.

This narrative review examines the utility of gait digital biomarkers in Parkinson's disease (PD) research and clinical trials across four contexts: disease susceptibility/risk, disease progression, response to exercise, and fall prediction. The review of the literature to date suggests that upper body characteristics of gait (e.g.

Modulation of All-Trans Retinoic Acid by Light and Dopamine in the Murine Eye.

Purpose: Ambient light exposure is linked to myopia development in children and affects myopia susceptibility in animal models. Currently, it is unclear which signals mediate the effects of light on myopia. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) and dopamine (DA) oppositely influence experimental myopia and may be involved in the retinoscleral signaling cascade underlying myopic eye growth.

An improved method of transducing retinal ganglion cells using AAV via transpupillary injection in adult mouse eyes.

Purpose: Intravitreal injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors is a good approach for transducing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in mice. It allows for high transduction efficiency and is relatively specific to RGCs. To deliver vectors, most studies use a transscleral approach that can have potentially negative effects, causing damage to the lens or retina.

Retina-Targeted 17β-Estradiol by the DHED Prodrug Rescues Visual Function and Actuates Neuroprotective Protein Networks After Optic Nerve Crush in a Rat Model of Surgical Menopause.

The association between 17β-estradiol (E2) deprivation, seen in menopause, and a risk for developing glaucoma has been shown. Thus, exogenous supplementation of E2 may protect against retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degradation and vision loss. Here, we investigated the utility of topical 10β,17β-dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one (DHED), a prodrug of E2 that selectively produces the neuroprotective hormone in the retina, on visual function after optic nerve crush (ONC) and ovariectomy (OVX).

Heteronymous feedback from quadriceps onto soleus in stroke survivors.

Background: Recent findings suggest increased excitatory heteronymous feedback from quadriceps onto soleus may contribute to abnormal coactivation of knee and ankle extensors after stroke. However, there is lack of consensus on whether persons post-stroke exhibit altered heteronymous reflexes and, when present, the origin of increased excitation (i.e.

Effects of treadmill exercise on retinal vascular morphology, function, and circulating immune factors in a mouse model of retinal degeneration.

Purpose: Exercise is neuroprotective in rodents undergoing retinal degeneration (RD). However, the effects of exercise on retinal vasculature remain unexplored. Here, we investigate whether treadmill exercise influences retinal vascular morphology, function, gene expression, and circulating factors in a light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD) mouse model.

High-Intensity Interval Training for Individuals With Isolated Impaired Fasting Glucose: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Standard lifestyle interventions have shown limited efficacy in preventing type 2 diabetes among individuals with isolated impaired fasting glucose (i-IFG). Hence, tailored intervention approaches are necessary for this high-risk group.

Objective: This study aims to (1) assess the feasibility of conducting a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) study and the intervention acceptability among individuals with i-IFG, and (2) investigate the preliminary efficacy of HIIT in reducing fasting plasma glucose levels and addressing the underlying pathophysiology of i-IFG.

All- retinoic acid and fluid transport in myopigenesis.

Myopia, or near-sightedness, is rapidly growing in prevalence, with significant long-term implications for ocular health. There is thus great impetus to better understand molecular signaling pathways leading to myopia. We and others have reported that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) is involved in myopigenic signaling, yet the understanding of how atRA is transported and exerts a myopigenic influence is poor.

Accessible LED Lightbox for Light-induced Retinal Damage in Pigmented Mice.

Purpose: To design and validate a cost-effective and titratable system capable of light-induced photoreceptor dysfunction and damage in pigmented mice.

Methods: Two commonly used mouse strains in vision research, C57BL/6J and 129SVE mice, were exposed individually to varying light intensities in custom-designed boxes. Visual function was assessed by ERG, which was conducted two days prior, one day, and one week after light exposure.

Retinal and metabolic changes in a high-fat diet (HFD)+STZ model of Type II diabetes.

While the high-dose streptozotocin (STZ; 100 mg/kg) rodent model is the gold standard in modeling Type I diabetes, models for Type II diabetes are needed for this more common form of diabetes. We investigated the retinal, cognitive, and metabolic alterations in a Type II diabetic model induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and low-dose STZ (30 mg/kg). Long Evans rats were assigned to naïve control, HFD, or HFD+STZ groups.