Radial stem astrocytes (aka neural stem cells): Identity, development, physio-pathology, and therapeutic potential.

Adult neurogenesis is a striking example of neuroplasticity, which enables adaptive network remodelling in response to all forms of environmental stimulation in physiological and pathological contexts. Dysregulation or cessation of adult neurogenesis contributes to neuropathology negatively affecting brain functions and hampering regeneration of the nervous tissue while targeting adult neurogenesis may provide the basis for potential therapeutic interventions. Neural stem cells in the adult mammalian brain are at the core and the entry point of adult neurogenesis.

Molybdenum Tungsten Disulfide with a Large Number of Sulfur Vacancies and Electronic Unoccupied States on Silicon Micropillars for Solar Hydrogen Evolution.

Hydrogen energy is a promising alternative for fossil fuels because of its high energy density and carbon-free emission. Si is an ideal light absorber used in solar water splitting to produce H gas because of its small band gap, appropriate conduction band position, and high theoretical photocurrent. However, the overpotential required to drive the photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on bare Si electrodes is severely high owing to its sluggish kinetics.

Neuropeptides Modulate Local Astrocytes to Regulate Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the dentate gyrus (DG) reside in a specialized local niche that supports their neurogenic proliferation to produce adult-born neurons throughout life. How local niche cells interact at the circuit level to ensure continuous neurogenesis from NSCs remains unknown. Here we report the role of endogenous neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK), released from dentate CCK interneurons, in regulating neurogenic niche cells and NSCs.

Reliability of a single-region sample to evaluate tumor immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Intratumor heterogeneity has frequently been reported in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, the reliability of single-region tumor samples for evaluation of the tumor immune microenvironment is also debatable. We conducted a prospective study to analyze the similarity in tumor immune microenvironments among different regions of a single tumor.

Assaying Circuit Specific Regulation of Adult Hippocampal Neural Precursor Cells.

Adult neurogenesis is a dynamic process by which newly activated neural stem cells (NSCs) in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus (DG) generate new neurons, which integrate into an existing neural circuit and contribute to specific hippocampal functions. Importantly, adult neurogenesis is highly susceptible to environmental stimuli, which allows for activity-dependent regulation of various cognitive functions. A vast range of neural circuits from various brain regions orchestrates these complex cognitive functions.

Ex Vivo Expanded Human Vγ9Vδ2 T-Cells Can Suppress Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth.

γδ-T-cells have attracted attention because of their potent cytotoxicity towards tumors. Most γδ-T-cells become activated via a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent pathway by the interaction of their receptor, Natural Killer Group 2 Member D (NKG2D) with the tumor-specific NKG2D ligands, including MHC class I-related chain A/B (MICA/B) and UL16-binding proteins (ULBPs), to kill tumor cells. However, despite their potent antitumor effects, the treatment protocols specifically targeting ovarian tumors require further improvements.

Mossy Cells Control Adult Neural Stem Cell Quiescence and Maintenance through a Dynamic Balance between Direct and Indirect Pathways.

Mossy cells (MCs) represent a major population of excitatory neurons in the adult dentate gyrus, a brain region where new neurons are generated from radial neural stem cells (rNSCs) throughout life. Little is known about the role of MCs in regulating rNSCs. Here we demonstrate that MC commissural projections structurally and functionally interact with rNSCs through both the direct glutamatergic MC-rNSC pathway and the indirect GABAergic MC-local interneuron-rNSC pathway.

An Adeno-Associated Virus-Based Toolkit for Preferential Targeting and Manipulating Quiescent Neural Stem Cells in the Adult Hippocampus.

Quiescent neural stem cells (qNSCs) with radial morphology are the only proven source of new neurons in the adult mammalian brain. Our understanding of the roles of newly generated neurons depends on the ability to target and manipulate adult qNSCs. Although various strategies have been developed to target and manipulate adult hippocampal qNSCs, they often suffer from prolonged breeding, low recombination efficiency, and non-specific labeling.

Applying a Treatment Effects Model to Investigate Public Amenity Effect on Physical Activity of the Elderly.

The increasing elderly population puts significant health, economic, and social burdens on society. Physical activity is one of the most cost-effective ways to maintain the health of the elderly. This study adopts a treatment effects model to investigate the causal relationship between environment attributes and physical activity among the elderly, while taking endogeneity into account.

Neonatal Dexamethasone Treatment Exacerbates Hypoxia/Ischemia-Induced White Matter Injury.

Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, has been widely used to prevent or ameliorate morbidity of chronic lung disease in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Despite its beneficial effect on neonatal lung function, growing concern has arisen about adverse effects of this clinical practice on fetal brain development. We demonstrated previously that neonatal dexamethasone (DEX) treatment may render the newborn brain to be more vulnerable to hypoxia/ischemia (HI)-induced gray matter injury.

Glutamine synthetase in astrocytes from entorhinal cortex of the triple transgenic animal model of Alzheimer's disease is not affected by pathological progression.

Astrocytes are fundamental for brain physiology and pathology, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among their functions, the maintenance of glutamate balance via the glutamate-glutamine (Glu-Gln) shuttle is critical for both normal cognitive functions and excitotoxicity relevant for AD progression. Astroglial glutamine synthetase (GS), converting glutamate to glutamine, is a key element in the Glu-Gln cycle.

Complex and region-specific changes in astroglial markers in the aging brain.

Morphological aging of astrocytes was investigated in entorhinal cortex (EC), dentate gyrus (DG), and cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) regions of hippocampus of male SV129/C57BL6 mice of different age groups (3, 9, 18, and 24 months). Astroglial profiles were visualized by immunohistochemistry by using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), glutamine synthetase (GS), and s100β staining; these profiles were imaged using confocal or light microscopy for subsequent morphometric analysis. GFAP-positive profiles in the DG and the CA1 of the hippocampus showed progressive age-dependent hypertrophy, as indicated by an increase in surface, volume, and somata volume at 24 months of age compared with 3-month-old mice.

Neonatal dexamethasone treatment exacerbates hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Background: The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) is commonly used to prevent chronic lung disease in prematurely born infants. Treatment regimens usually consist of high doses of DEX for several weeks, notably during a critical period of brain development. Therefore, there is some concern about adverse effects of this clinical practice on fetal brain development.

Early astrocytic atrophy in the entorhinal cortex of a triple transgenic animal model of Alzheimer's disease.

The EC (entorhinal cortex) is fundamental for cognitive and mnesic functions. Thus damage to this area appears as a key element in the progression of AD (Alzheimer's disease), resulting in memory deficits arising from neuronal and synaptic alterations as well as glial malfunction. In this paper, we have performed an in-depth analysis of astroglial morphology in the EC by measuring the surface and volume of the GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) profiles in a triple transgenic mouse model of AD [3xTg-AD (triple transgenic mice of AD)].

A quantile regression approach to re-investigate the relationship between sleep duration and body mass index in Taiwan.

Objective: Previous studies on the relationship between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI) have shown inconsistent results by using estimation strategies within the framework of ordinary least squares (OLS). This study examined the relationship between sleep duration and BMI by using quantile regression to account for the potential heterogeneous effect of sleep duration on BMI in different BMI categories.

Methods: The data of 2,392 adults were from the 2005 Panel Study of Family Dynamics in Taiwan.

Astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease.

The circuitry of the human brain is formed by neuronal networks embedded into astroglial syncytia. The astrocytes perform numerous functions, providing for the overall brain homeostasis, assisting in neurogenesis, determining the micro-architecture of the grey matter, and defending the brain through evolutionary conserved astrogliosis programs. Astroglial cells are engaged in neurological diseases by determining the progression and outcome of neuropathological process.

Private doctors' practices, knowledge, and attitude to reporting of communicable diseases: a national survey in Taiwan.

Background: Epidemiological surveillance of infectious diseases through the mandatory-reporting system is crucial in the planning and evaluation of disease control and prevention program. This study investigated the reporting behavior, knowledge, and attitude to reporting communicable disease in private doctors in Taiwan. The differences between the reporting and non-reporting doctors were also explored.