FOXP2-immunoreactive corticothalamic neurons in neocortical layers 6a and 6b are tightly regulated by neuromodulatory systems.

The / gene, linked to fine motor control in vertebrates, is a potential candidate gene thought to play a prominent role in human language production. It is expressed specifically in a subset of corticothalamic (CT) pyramidal cells (PCs) in layer 6 (L6) of the neocortex. These L6 FOXP2+ PCs project exclusively to the thalamus, with L6a PCs targeting first-order or both first- and higher-order thalamic nuclei, whereas L6b PCs connect only to higher-order nuclei.

Vitamin K: a potential missing link in critical illness-a scoping review.

Background: Vitamin K is essential for numerous physiological processes, including coagulation, bone metabolism, tissue calcification, and antioxidant activity. Deficiency, prevalent in critically ill ICU patients, impacts coagulation and increases the risk of bleeding and other complications. This review aims to elucidate the metabolism of vitamin K in the context of critical illness and identify a potential therapeutic approach.

Is a Vitamin K Epoxide Reductase Complex Subunit 1 () Polymorphism a Risk Factor for Nephrolithiasis in Sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by granuloma formation in various organs. It has been associated with nephrolithiasis. The vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 () gene, which plays a crucial role in vitamin K metabolism, has been implicated in the activation of proteins associated with calcification, including in the forming of nephrolithiasis.

Network-neuron interactions underlying sensory responses of layer 5 pyramidal tract neurons in barrel cortex.

Neurons in the cerebral cortex receive thousands of synaptic inputs per second from thousands of presynaptic neurons. How the dendritic location of inputs, their timing, strength, and presynaptic origin, in conjunction with complex dendritic physiology, impact the transformation of synaptic input into action potential (AP) output remains generally unknown for in vivo conditions. Here, we introduce a computational approach to reveal which properties of the input causally underlie AP output, and how this neuronal input-output computation is influenced by the morphology and biophysical properties of the dendrites.

Drug-Gene Risk Stratification in Patients with Suspected Drug-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease.

Background: Pulmonary toxicity has been associated with drug use. This is often not recognized in clinical practice, and underestimated.

Objective: We aimed to establish whether polymorphisms in certain genes corresponding with a metabolic pathway of drug(s) used are associated with pulmonary toxicity in patients with suspected drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DI-ILD).

Inhibition of 26S proteasome activity by α-synuclein is mediated by the proteasomal chaperone Rpn14/PAAF1.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) into protein inclusions in degenerating brains. Increasing amounts of aggregated α-syn species indicate significant perturbation of cellular proteostasis. Altered proteostasis depends on α-syn protein levels and the impact of α-syn on other components of the proteostasis network.

Heterogeneity of synaptic connectivity in the fly visual system.

Visual systems are homogeneous structures, where repeating columnar units retinotopically cover the visual field. Each of these columns contain many of the same neuron types that are distinguished by anatomic, genetic and - generally - by functional properties. However, there are exceptions to this rule.

Exploring health and toxicity in food choices: 10 examples navigating the gray area.

People's perception on what is healthy and what is toxic food, determines food preferences and eating behavior. The difference between heathy and toxic food and food ingredients is however not always clear. This is illustrated with 10 examples.

Higher levels of circulating desphospho-uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein over time are associated with worse survival: the prospective Maastricht Intensive Care COVID cohort.

Background: Extra-hepatic vitamin K-status, measured by dephosphorylated uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (dp-ucMGP), maintains vascular health, with high levels reflecting poor vitamin K status. The occurrence of extra-hepatic vitamin K deficiency throughout the disease of COVID-19 and possible associations with pulmonary embolism (PE), and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients has not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigated the association between dp-ucMGP, at endotracheal intubation (ETI) and both ICU and six months mortality.

Sulforaphane as a potential modifier of calorie-induced inflammation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Background And Aims: Observational data indicate that diets rich in fruits and vegetables have a positive effect on inflammatory status, improve metabolic resilience and may protect against the development of non-communicable diseases. Nevertheless, experimental evidence demonstrating a causal relationship between nutrient intake (especially whole foods) and changes in metabolic health is scarce. This study investigated the pleiotropic effects of sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts, compared to pea sprouts, on biomarkers of endothelial function, inflammation and metabolic stress in healthy participants subjected to a standardized caloric challenge.

The effect of cations and epigallocatechin gallate on in vitro salivary lubrication.

Ionic valency influences oral processing by changing salivary behavior and merits more attention since little is known. In this study, the influence of three ionic valences (monovalent, divalent and trivalent), ionic strength and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on lubricating properties of saliva were investigated. Tribological measurements were used to characterize the lubrication response of KCl, MgCl, FeCl, and AlCl in combination with EGCG to the ex vivo salivary pellicle.

The beneficial effect of sulforaphane on platelet responsiveness during caloric load: a single-intake, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in healthy participants.

Background And Aims: As our understanding of platelet activation in response to infections and/or inflammatory conditions is growing, it is becoming clearer that safe, yet efficacious, platelet-targeted phytochemicals could improve public health beyond the field of cardiovascular diseases. The phytonutrient sulforaphane shows promise for clinical use due to its effect on inflammatory pathways, favorable pharmacokinetic profile, and high bioavailability. The potential of sulforaphane to improve platelet functionality in impaired metabolic processes has however hardly been studied in humans.

A Roadmap for Increasing the Usefulness and Impact of Patient-Preference Studies in Decision Making in Health: A Good Practices Report of an ISPOR Task Force.

Many qualitative and quantitative methods are readily available to study patient preferences in health. These methods are now being used to inform a wide variety of decisions, and there is a growing body of evidence showing studies of patient preferences can be used for decision making in a wide variety of contexts. This ISPOR Task Force report synthesizes current good practices for increasing the usefulness and impact of patient-preference studies in decision making.

Lubrication behavior of ex-vivo salivary pellicle influenced by tannins, gallic acid and mannoproteins.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of tannins and gallic acid on the salivary lubrication behavior. Furthermore, the effects of pH and mannoproteins in combination with gallic acid on the lubrication of saliva were studied. The addition of gallic acid and tannins were found to increase friction caused by the removal of the saliva film.

Circuit-selective cell-autonomous regulation of inhibition in pyramidal neurons by Ste20-like kinase.

Maintaining an appropriate balance between excitation and inhibition is critical for neuronal information processing. Cortical neurons can cell-autonomously adjust the inhibition they receive to individual levels of excitatory input, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We describe that Ste20-like kinase (SLK) mediates cell-autonomous regulation of excitation-inhibition balance in the thalamocortical feedforward circuit, but not in the feedback circuit.

Drug-induced comorbidities in patients with sarcoidosis.

Purpose Of Review: Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystemic inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology with a wide range of highly variable clinical manifestations and unpredictable disease course. Sarcoidosis patients may present with specific organ-related symptoms involving functional impairments, and less specific symptoms. The decision whether and when to treat a sarcoidosis patient with pharmacotherapy depends on two major factors: risk of organ failure and/or death and impairment of quality of life.

Altered pharmacology and toxicology during ageing: implications for lung disease.

Purpose Of Review: Drug use in elderly people is high compared to younger people. Simultaneously, elderly are at greater risk when exposed to environmental substances. It is puzzling therefore, that ageing, as a variable in pharmacological and toxicological processes is not investigated in more depth.

Senescence in pulmonary arterial hypertension: is there a link?

Purpose Of Review: Cellular senescence has been recognized as a promising target in the treatment of many cardiovascular diseases. The pathways involved in the development of senescence share many similarities with pathobiological mechanisms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). But the potential of senolytics to improve pulmonary hemodynamics and to reduce vascular remodelling in PAH has thus far not been investigated in depth.

How COVID-19 impacted surplus food redistribution in the Netherlands: An explorative study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been detrimental to food security globally. The Netherlands, despite its advanced stage of development, saw a surge in food insecurity among its most vulnerable citizens. Dutch food aid is managed by private charities and social organisations that often aim to address the problems of food insecurity and food waste by redistributing surplus food that is safe to consume.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experience and mental health of university students studying in Canada and the UK: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experiences and mental health of university students.

Design: A cross-sectional study consisting of an electronic survey about students' experiences and concerns during the pandemic and the associated impact. In addition to the quantitative analysis, free-text responses were extracted and analysed using a framework technique.