Brain state-dependent neocortico-hippocampal network dynamics are modulated by postnatal stimuli.

Neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus discharge synchronously in brain state-dependent manner to transfer information. Published studies have highlighted the temporal coordination of neuronal activities between the hippocampus and a neocortical area, however, how the spatial extent of neocortical activity relates to hippocampal activity remains partially unknown. We imaged mesoscopic neocortical activity while recording hippocampal local field potentials in anesthetized and unanesthetized GCaMP-expressing transgenic mice.

Dual-energy CT in diagnosing sacral fractures: assessment of diagnostic accuracy and intra- and inter-rater reliabilities.

Purpose: Evaluating sacral fractures is crucial in fragility fractures of the pelvis. Dual-energy CT (DECT) is considered useful for diagnosing unclear fractures on single-energy CT (SECT). This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of DECT in diagnosing sacral fractures.

Norepinephrine-mediated slow vasomotion drives glymphatic clearance during sleep.

As the brain transitions from wakefulness to sleep, processing of external information diminishes while restorative processes, such as glymphatic removal of waste products, are activated. Yet, it is not known what drives brain clearance during sleep. We here employed an array of technologies and identified tightly synchronized oscillations in norepinephrine, cerebral blood volume, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as the strongest predictors of glymphatic clearance during NREM sleep.

Clinical expert consensus document on bailout algorithms for complications in percutaneous coronary intervention from the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics.

The efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary artery disease has been established, and approximately 250,000 PCI procedures are performed annually in Japan. However, various complications including life-threatening complications can occur during PCI. Although several bailout procedures have been proposed to address complications during PCI, it is critically important for operators to manage each complication in real catheter rooms with confidence even in emergent situations.

Anti-seizure effects of norepinephrine-induced free fatty acid release.

The brain's ability to rapidly transition between sleep, quiet wakefulness, and states of high vigilance is remarkable. Cerebral norepinephrine (NE) plays a key role in promoting wakefulness, but how does the brain avoid neuronal hyperexcitability upon arousal? Here, we show that NE exposure results in the generation of free fatty acids (FFAs) within the plasma membrane from both astrocytes and neurons. In turn, FFAs dampen excitability by differentially modulating the activity of astrocytic and neuronal Na, K, ATPase.

Protocol to study oxygen dynamics in the in vivo mouse brain using bioluminescence microscopy.

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) relies on the biochemical reaction between substrate and enzyme that triggers light emission upon convergence. Here, we present a protocol to study molecular oxygen dynamics in the in vivo mouse brain using the oxygen-dependent reaction between luciferase and its substrate. We describe steps for acute craniotomy, viral transfection, substrate administration, imaging, and analysis of hypoxic pockets.

Characterization of changes in the electronic structure of platinum sub-nanoclusters supported on graphene induced by oxygen adsorption.

As the sizes of noble metal catalysts, such as platinum, have been successfully minimized, fundamental insights into the electronic properties of metal sub-nanoclusters are increasingly sought for optimizing their catalytic performance. However, it is difficult to rationalize the catalytic activities of metal sub-nanoclusters owing to their more complex electronic structure compared with those of small molecules and bulky solids. In this study, the adsorption of molecular oxygen on a Pt sub-nanocluster supported on a graphene layer was analyzed using density functional theory.

Oxygen imaging of hypoxic pockets in the mouse cerebral cortex.

Consciousness is lost within seconds upon cessation of cerebral blood flow. The brain cannot store oxygen, and interruption of oxidative phosphorylation is fatal within minutes. Yet only rudimentary knowledge exists regarding cortical partial oxygen tension (o) dynamics under physiological conditions.

Evaluation of a treatment protocol based on conservative therapy for fragility fractures of the pelvis.

Purpose: In an aging society, fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) have increased significantly. However, there is no clear consensus on the timing and criteria for transitioning from conservative treatment to surgery for these fractures. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of our treatment protocol for FFP based on conservative treatment.

Anxiety control by astrocytes in the lateral habenula.

The potential role of astrocytes in lateral habenula (LHb) in modulating anxiety was explored in this study. The habenula are a pair of small nuclei located above the thalamus, known for their involvement in punishment avoidance and anxiety. Herein, we observed an increase in theta-band oscillations of local field potentials (LFPs) in the LHb when mice were exposed to anxiety-inducing environments.

Butyrate reduction and HDAC4 increase underlie maternal high fructose-induced metabolic dysfunction in hippocampal astrocytes in female rats.

Maternal nutrient intake influences the health of the offspring via microenvironmental systems in digestion and absorption. Maternal high fructose diet (HFD) impairs hippocampus-dependent memory in adult female rat offspring. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear.

Potentiating glymphatic drainage minimizes post-traumatic cerebral oedema.

Cerebral oedema is associated with morbidity and mortality after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Noradrenaline levels are increased after TBI, and the amplitude of the increase in noradrenaline predicts both the extent of injury and the likelihood of mortality. Glymphatic impairment is both a feature of and a contributor to brain injury, but its relationship with the injury-associated surge in noradrenaline is unclear.

Lactate biosensors for spectrally and spatially multiplexed fluorescence imaging.

L-Lactate is increasingly appreciated as a key metabolite and signaling molecule in mammals. However, investigations of the inter- and intra-cellular dynamics of L-lactate are currently hampered by the limited selection and performance of L-lactate-specific genetically encoded biosensors. Here we now report a spectrally and functionally orthogonal pair of high-performance genetically encoded biosensors: a green fluorescent extracellular L-lactate biosensor, designated eLACCO2.

Local extracellular K in cortex regulates norepinephrine levels, network state, and behavioral output.

Extracellular potassium concentration ([K]) is known to increase as a function of arousal. [K] is also a potent modulator of transmitter release. Yet, it is not known whether [K] is involved in the neuromodulator release associated with behavioral transitions.

Astrocytic GPCR-Induced Ca Signaling Is Not Causally Related to Local Cerebral Blood Flow Changes.

Activation of Gq-type G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) gives rise to large cytosolic Ca elevations in astrocytes. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that astrocytic Ca elevations are closely associated with diameter changes in the nearby blood vessels, which astrocytes enwrap with their endfeet. However, the causal relationship between astrocytic Ca elevations and blood vessel diameter changes has been questioned, as mice with diminished astrocytic Ca signaling show normal sensory hyperemia.

Virally induced CRISPR/Cas9-based knock-in of fluorescent albumin allows long-term visualization of cerebral circulation in infant and adult mice.

Albumin, a protein produced by liver hepatocytes, represents the most abundant protein in blood plasma. We have previously engineered a liver-targeting adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) that expresses fluorescent protein-tagged albumin to visualize blood plasma in mice. While this approach is versatile for imaging in adult mice, transgene expression vanishes when AAV is administered in neonates due to dilution of the episomal AAV genome in the rapidly growing liver.

Astrocytic chloride is brain state dependent and modulates inhibitory neurotransmission in mice.

Information transfer within neuronal circuits depends on the balance and recurrent activity of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Chloride (Cl) is the major central nervous system (CNS) anion mediating inhibitory neurotransmission. Astrocytes are key homoeostatic glial cells populating the CNS, although the role of these cells in regulating excitatory-inhibitory balance remains unexplored.

Pt nanocluster electrocatalysts: preparation and origin of high oxygen reduction reaction activity.

We recently found that [Pt(CO)(PPh)] (Pt = platinum; CO = carbon monoxide; PPh = triphenylphosphine; = 1+ or 2+) is a Pt nanocluster (Pt NC) that can be synthesized with atomic precision in air. The present study demonstrates that it is possible to prepare a Pt-supported carbon black (CB) catalyst (Pt/CB) with 2.1 times higher oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity than commercial Pt nanoparticles/CB by the adsorption of [Pt(CO)(PPh)] onto CB and subsequent calcination of the catalyst.

The utility of zebrafish cardiac arrhythmia model to predict the pathogenicity of KCNQ1 variants.

Genetic testing for inherited arrhythmias and discriminating pathogenic or benign variants from variants of unknown significance (VUS) is essential for gene-based medicine. KCNQ1 is a causative gene of type 1 long QT syndrome (LQTS), and approximately 30% of the variants found in type 1 LQTS are classified as VUS. We studied the role of zebrafish cardiac arrhythmia model in determining the clinical significance of KCNQ1 variants.

Liver-secreted fluorescent blood plasma markers enable chronic imaging of the microcirculation.

Studying blood microcirculation is vital for gaining insights into vascular diseases. Blood flow imaging in deep tissue is currently achieved by acute administration of fluorescent dyes in the blood plasma. This is an invasive process, and the plasma fluorescence decreases within an hour of administration.

Memory-enhancing properties of sleep depend on the oscillatory amplitude of norepinephrine.

Sleep has a complex micro-architecture, encompassing micro-arousals, sleep spindles and transitions between sleep stages. Fragmented sleep impairs memory consolidation, whereas spindle-rich and delta-rich non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep promote it. However, the relationship between micro-arousals and memory-promoting aspects of sleep remains unclear.