Brown adipose tissue (BAT) influences energy balance through nonshivering thermogenesis, and its metabolism daily and seasonal variations are regulated by melatonin through partially known ...mechanisms. We evaluated the role of melatonin in BAT molecular machinery of male Control, pinealectomized (PINX), and melatonin‐treated pinealectomized (PINX/Mel) adult rats. BAT was collected either every 3 hours over 24 hours or after cold or high‐fat diet (HFD) acute exposure. HFD PINX animals presented decreased Dio2 expression, while HFD PINX/Mel animals showed increased Dio2, Ucp1, and Cidea expression. Cold‐exposed PINX rats showed decreased Dio2 and Lhs expression, and melatonin treatment augmented Adrβ3, Dio2, Ucp1, and Cidea expression. Daily profiles analyses showed altered Dio2, Lhs, Ucp1, Pgc1α, and Cidea gene and UCP1 protein expression in PINX animals, leading to altered rhythmicity under sub‐thermoneutral conditions, which was partially restored by melatonin treatment. The same was observed for mitochondrial complexes I, II, and IV protein expression and enzyme activity. Melatonin absence seems to impair BAT responses to metabolic challenges, and melatonin replacement reverses this effect, with additional increase in the expression of crucial genes, suggesting that melatonin plays an important role in several key points of the thermogenic activation pathway, influencing both the rhythmic profile of the tissue and its ability to respond to metabolic challenges, which is crucial for the organism homeostasis.
Community-based and small-scale forestry enterprises (CSFEs) are heavily promoted as organizations for poverty reduction and deforestation. CSFEs are required to comply with formal laws, policies, ...and official programs, yet they also operate in informal spaces, with communities following traditional ways of managing their resources. Based on a case study of the Ampiyacu basin in the Peruvian Amazon, we analyzed how the interaction between formal and informal timber management systems has evolved over time, and how this interaction has affected tenure, forest management, forest monitoring and timber commercialization. Using qualitative research methods, including interviews with key informants and community members, our findings show that formal and traditional systems interact in diverse, complex and even contradictory ways. Informal community rules regulate timber use as much or more than the state, and can be more effective because they are more diverse, flexible and specific. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to a reflective debate on the recognition of local and Indigenous institutions, highlighting the importance of strengthening Indigenous peoples' autonomy.
•Formal and informal forest management systems interact in diverse, complex, and even contradictory ways.•Ineffectiveness of some formal norms are due to their bureaucratic, strict nature, unaligned with the local context•Local norms can be more flexible, derived from interwoven social relationships of kinship, affect, and empathy•Strengthening Indigenous peoples’ autonomy over forests is fundamental for just and effective formalization initiatives.
Purpose
To improve knowledge on nutrition and catheter care in children with cancer by an educational intervention with a social robot.
Methods
We conducted a cohort study on pediatric cancer ...patients in a high complexity Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. We included 14 patients (8–17 years old) who underwent an educational intervention with the help of a humanoid robot (Nao V6). The robot was programmed to transmit educational messages about self-care in feeding and using the central venous catheter. A survey with yes–no questions was administered before and after the intervention.
Results
We found an improvement in understanding of the subject matter related to nutrition and catheter care, when comparing the knowledge on topics before and after the educational intervention (
p
< .001).
Conclusion
Education by a social robot on nutrition and catheter care showed a positive effect on children’s knowledge on these topics. Therefore, it potentially decreases the risk of poor feeding habits and inadequate central venous catheter management, and improves adherence to recommendations and quality of life.
To establish the effects of anterior chamber inflammation (ACI) on the corneal endothelium parameters and central corneal thickness (CCT).
We conducted a comprehensive literature review using medical ...databases (PubMed, EMBASE, VHL, and medRxiv) on March 8, 2023, for studies that included patients with ACI who had undergone specular microscopy or pachymetry. Case series with >10 patients, cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies were included. The risk of bias was assessed using CLARITY tools and validated scales such as those by Hassan Murad et al. and Hoy et al. A narrative synthesis and a quantitative standardized mean difference meta-analysis, I2 heterogeneity assessment, and publication bias tests were conducted. The study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023420148) and approved by the Universidad del Rosario ethical committee (DVO005 2277- CV1712).
Thirty-four studies, encompassing 1,388 eyes with ACI, were included. Compared with healthy controls, overall, ACI eyes show significant mean differences in endothelial parameters (endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), and hexagonality (HEX)) (P < 0.05). In the subgroup analysis compared with healthy controls, both active and chronic-recurrent ACI demonstrated a reduced ECD. An increased CV was observed in active, inactive, and chronic-recurrent ACI. Lower HEX was evident in inactive, acute, and chronic-recurrent ACI, while both active and acute ACI exhibited high CCT.
ACI leads to significant alterations in endothelial parameters and CCT. The primary contributors to these changes are increased IOP, uveitis duration, and intraocular surgeries. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of ACI etiology on the endothelium, potential biases in IOP measurements during acute ACI episodes, and the potential necessity for monitoring the endothelial parameters and CCT in patients with chronic ACI.
The prevalence of psychiatric disorders has increased in recent years. Among existing mental disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD) has emerged as one of the leading causes of disability ...worldwide, affecting individuals throughout their lives. Currently, MDD affects 15% of adults in the Americas. Over the past 50 years, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and brain stimulation have been used to treat MDD. The most common approach is still pharmacotherapy; however, studies show that about 40% of patients are refractory to existing treatments. Although the monoamine hypothesis has been widely accepted as a molecular mechanism to explain the etiology of depression, its relationship with other biochemical phenomena remains only partially understood. This is the case of the link between MDD and inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Studies have found that depressive patients usually exhibit altered inflammatory markers, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, oxidized mitochondrial DNA, and thus high levels of both central and peripheral reactive oxygen species (ROS). The effect of antidepressants on these events remains unclear. Nevertheless, the effects of ROS on the brain are well known, including lipid peroxidation of neuronal membranes, accumulation of peroxidation products in neurons, protein and DNA damage, reduced antioxidant defenses, apoptosis induction, and neuroinflammation. Antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, tocopherols, and coenzyme Q have shown promise in some depressive patients, but without consensus on their efficacy. Hence, this paper provides a review of MDD and its association with inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress and is aimed at thoroughly discussing the putative links between these events, which may contribute to the design and development of new therapeutic approaches for patients.
Carotid-Cavernous sinus fistula (CCF) represents a misdiagnosed condition with potential repercussion in functional, neurological, and social roles of patients with this disease. Earlier reports ...remark on the efficiency and safety of endovascular therapy with resolution of the symptoms were performed appropriately. We present a case of a male patient from a developing country, with gunshot wound head trauma history and short-term progressive functional and neurological impairment in the presence of intracranial hypertension and ocular symptoms who developed a large CFF, subsequently treated by transradial access embolization. We aim to describe the real-world experience in diagnosis and treatment of CCFs, emphasizing on the scope and outcomes of the endovascular treatment. This case supports worldwide experience, positioning endovascular therapy as an effective strategy in the resolution of CFFs, and the relevance of suspecting this disease in the presence of typical symptoms, even if they are rapidly progressive.
New approaches to recovery after stroke Marín-Medina, Daniel S.; Arenas-Vargas, Paula A.; Arias-Botero, Juan C. ...
Neurological sciences,
01/2024, Volume:
45, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
After a stroke, several mechanisms of neural plasticity can be activated, which may lead to significant recovery. Rehabilitation therapies aim to restore surviving tissue over time and reorganize ...neural connections. With more patients surviving stroke with varying degrees of neurological impairment, new technologies have emerged as a promising option for better functional outcomes. This review explores restorative therapies based on brain-computer interfaces, robot-assisted and virtual reality, brain stimulation, and cell therapies. Brain-computer interfaces allow for the translation of brain signals into motor patterns. Robot-assisted and virtual reality therapies provide interactive interfaces that simulate real-life situations and physical support to compensate for lost motor function. Brain stimulation can modify the electrical activity of neurons in the affected cortex. Cell therapy may promote regeneration in damaged brain tissue. Taken together, these new approaches could substantially benefit specific deficits such as arm-motor control and cognitive impairment after stroke, and even the chronic phase of recovery, where traditional rehabilitation methods may be limited, and the window for repair is narrow.
Establishing robust models of human myelinating Schwann cells is critical for studying peripheral nerve injury and disease. Stem cell differentiation has emerged as a key human cell model and disease ...motivating development of Schwann cell differentiation protocols. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are considered the ideal pluripotent cell but ethical concerns regarding their use have propelled the popularity of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Given that the equivalence of hESCs and hiPSCs remains controversial, we sought to compare the molecular and functional equivalence of hESC- and hiPSC-derived Schwann cells generated with our previously reported protocol. We identified only modest transcriptome differences by RNA sequencing and insignificant proteome differences by antibody array. Additionally, both cell types comparably improved nerve regeneration and function in a chronic denervation and regeneration animal model. Our findings demonstrate that Schwann cells derived from hESCs and hiPSCs with our protocol are molecularly comparable and functionally equivalent.
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•RNA sequencing and antibody array data from hESC- and hiPSC-derived Schwann cells•HESC- and hiPSC-derived Schwann cells exhibit minimal transcriptome differences•No proteome differences by antibody array in hESC- and hiPSC-derived Schwann cells•hESC- and hiPSC-derived Schwann cells equally promote regeneration in vivo
Neuroscience; Cell biology; Stem cells research; Transcriptomics
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