Neuroscience
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Review Meta Analysis
Potential similarities in gut microbiota composition between autism spectrum disorder and neurotypical siblings: Insights from a comprehensive meta-analysis.
Previous studies have explored the differences in gut microbiota (GM) between individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurotypical controls. However, factors such as diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposure influence GM, leading to significant variability, even among neurotypical individuals. Comparing the GM of ASD individuals with neurotypical siblings, who share similar genes and living conditions, may offer better insights into the GM mechanisms associated with ASD. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the GM composition in ASD by comparing it to that of neurotypical siblings, potentially identifying microbiota that influence ASD. ⋯ GM composition in ASD individuals closely resembles that of neurotypical siblings, with only a few unstable differences. This suggests that other crucial bacteria or certain interacting environmental factors play a role. Further studies are needed to gather stronger evidence to uncover the differences in GM and their mechanisms in ASD people.
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) targeting myelinated axons. Pathogenesis of MS entails an intricate genetic, environmental, and immunological interaction. Dysregulation of immune response i.e. autoreactive T & B-Cells and macrophage infiltration into the CNS leads to inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. ⋯ Therapeutic innovations have significantly transformed the management of MS, especially the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to reduce relapse rates and control disease progression. Advancements in research, neuroprotective strategies, and remyelination strategies hold promising results in reversing CNS damage. Various mice models are being adopted for testing new entities in MS research.
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Psychogenic erectile dysfunction (pED) is often accompanied by abnormal brain activities. This study aimed to develop an automaticclassifier to distinguish pED from healthy controls (HCs) by identified brain-basedcharacteristics. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 45 pED patients and 43 HCs. ⋯ This study identified altered regional activity and FC in specific brain regions of pED patients, which might be related to the development of pED. The application of machine learning confirmed the distinctive characteristics of these functional changes in the brain. The high accuracy of our diagnostic model suggested a promising direction for developing objective diagnostic tools for psychological disorders.
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The experiment was designed to explore the effects and mechanism of Dilong on alleviating cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced brain injury in mice. Fifty male SPF Kunming mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups: Group A served as the control group; Group B received intraperitoneal injection of CTX; Groups C, D, and E were administered Dilong at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg respectively for 14 days after intraperitoneal injection of CTX. Results showed that after modeling, the movement speed of mice significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the number of neurons in the hippocampus and cortex decreased. ⋯ Dilong significantly increased mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity (P < 0.05), and the mitochondrial structure was restored to some extent. By significantly reducing NLRP3/TLR4/caspase1/pro caspase1/GSDMD (P < 0.05), it increased neuronal cell survival. This resulted in an increase in neuronal cell survival, thus exerting a protective effect on the brain.
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Due to the increasing prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in youth, a growing interest in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) as a potential alternative target point for treatment arised. This study aimed to investigate whether chronic administration of escitalopram reverses behavioral changes induced by maternal separation in male adolescent Wistar rats and explore the corresponding neurochemical changes in the ECS. The pups were separated from their dams for 360 min daily from postnatal day (PND) 2 until PND 15. ⋯ Escitalopram reversed anxiety-like behavior and attenuated signs of despair behavior. The escitalopram administration has been followed by a decrease in the studied genes expression in the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the hippocampus, what might suggest that the endocannabinoid system is involved in the mechanism of its action in adolescents. However Western blot analysis did not indicate significant alterations in the protein levels, so more detailed studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.