CB1R activates the epilepsy-associated protein Go to regulate neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum.

encodes the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric Go protein. Despite being the most abundant G protein at synapses, the role of Go in the brain remains unclear, primarily because of the high mortality associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) 17 in mutated animals. Here, we conducted proteomic analyses with a brain synaptosomal fraction to investigate the Go-interactome and then generated a non-DEE model using mice to selectively knockout (KO) the presynaptic Gαo within cerebellum.

Effects of bathing in different hot spring types on Japanese gut microbiota.

Hot springs have been used for a variety of purposes, including the treatment and amelioration of illness and recreation. Japan has ten different types of therapeutic springs (described here as spa types), which are traditionally believed to have different efficacy. However, more research must be conducted to determine how they affect healthy people.

Resting-state prefrontal EEG biomarker in correlation with postoperative delirium in elderly patients.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is associated with adverse outcomes in elderly patients after surgery. Electroencephalography (EEG) can be used to develop a potential biomarker for degenerative cerebral dysfunctions, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between preoperative EEG and POD.

Evaluation of the effect of photoplethysmograms on workers' exposure to methyl bromide using second derivative.

Methyl bromide (MB) is worldwide the only effective fumigant heavily used for quarantine pre-shipment treatment and has a critical use exemption for soil fumigations due to its excellent permeability and insecticidal effect. However, MB should be replaced as it is an an ozone-depleting substance and also highly toxic to humans. Recently, MB has been shown to be hazardous even for asymptomatic workers, affecting their central and autonomic nervous systems.

Preclinical Study on Biodistribution of Mesenchymal Stem Cells after Local Transplantation into the Brain.

Therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is determined by biodistribution and engraftment . Compared to intravenous infusion, biodistribution of locally transplanted MSCs are partially understood. Here, we performed a pharmacokinetics (PK) study of MSCs after local transplantation.

Prefrontal EEG slowing, synchronization, and ERP peak latency in association with predementia stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Early screening of elderly individuals who are at risk of dementia allows timely medical interventions to prevent disease progression. The portable and low-cost electroencephalography (EEG) technique has the potential to serve it.

Objective: We examined prefrontal EEG and event-related potential (ERP) variables in association with the predementia stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin improves cardiac energy status via mitochondrial ATP production in diabetic mice.

Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor developed, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Several studies have suggested that empagliflozin improves the cardiac energy state which is a partial cause of its potency. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear.

Variations in the Second Derivative of a Photoplethysmogram with Age in Healthy Korean Adults.

Second derivative of photoplethysmogram (SDPTG) indices correlate with aging and vascular health. The trend of SDPTG indices with age has not yet been studied in the Korean population. Various SDPTG indices were measured in 300 healthy Koreans (150 men and 150 women), aged 19−69 years, stratified into five age groups consisting of 60 people (30 men and 30 women) in each age group from their 20s to 60s.

Age-Related Changes in the Characteristics of the Elderly Females Using the Signal Features of an Earlobe Photoplethysmogram.

Non-invasive measurement of physiological parameters and indicators, specifically among the elderly, is of utmost importance for personal health monitoring. In this study, we focused on photoplethysmography (PPG), and developed a regression model that calculates variables from the second (SDPPG) and third (TDPPG) derivatives of the PPG pulse that can observe the inflection point of the pulse wave measured by a wearable PPG device. The PPG pulse at the earlobe was measured for 3 min in 84 elderly Korean women (age: 71.

Cell Type-specific Knockout with -mediated Cre Recombination in the Developing Cerebellum.

The inducible system provides a useful tool for inducing the selective deletion of genes that are essential for proper development and enables the study of gene functions in properly developed animals. Here, we show that inducible driven by the -promoter can induce cell-type-specific deletion of target genes in cerebellar cortical neurons. We used reporter mice containing the YFP (yellow fluorescence protein) gene at the locus with a -flanked transcriptional stop sequence, in which successful Cre-mediated excision of the stop sequence is indicated by YFP expression in Cre-expressing cells.

Predicting Dementia With Prefrontal Electroencephalography and Event-Related Potential.

: To examine whether prefrontal electroencephalography (EEG) can be used for screening dementia. : We estimated the global cognitive decline using the results of Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), measurements of brain activity from resting-state EEG, responses elicited by auditory stimulation [sensory event-related potential (ERP)], and selective attention tasks (selective-attention ERP) from 122 elderly participants (dementia, 35; control, 87). We investigated that the association between MMSE and each EEG/ERP variable by using Pearson's correlation coefficient and performing univariate linear regression analysis.

Psycho-Electrophysiological Benefits of Forest Therapies Focused on Qigong and Walking with Elderly Individuals.

We developed two distinct forest therapy programs (FTPs) and compared their effects on dementia prevention and related health problems for older adults. One was focused on Qigong practice in the forest (QP) and the other involved active walking in the forest (WP). Both FTPs consisted of twelve 2-h sessions over six weeks and were conducted in an urban forest.

Declining Trends of Heart Rate Variability According to Aging in Healthy Asian Adults.

Heart rate variability (HRV) indices correlate with aging and are related to the autonomic nervous system. However, the trend of HRV with age has not been explored for the Asian population. Therefore, we proposed a linear regression model of HRV indices that decreased with aging in healthy Asian adults.

Heart Rate Variability Analysis in Workers Exposed to Methyl Bromide as a Quarantine Treatment.

Objective: To determine whether methyl bromide (MB) fumigation work for plants imported in Korea affects workers' health by assessing heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: We measured HRV indices (TP, VLF, LF, HF, HR, SDNN, pNN50 and HRV-index) and urinary bromide ion (Br-) in 62 fumigators (study group) and 34 inspectors (the control group) before and after fumigation work. In addition, the relationship between Br- concentration and HRV indices was analysed.

Negative effect of methyl bromide fumigation work on the central nervous system.

Methyl bromide (MB) is a fumigant that has been widely used for killing pests on plants in trade, soils, and structures worldwide due to its excellent permeability and insecticidal effect; however, MB should be replaced because it is an ozone-depleting substance. It is well-known that MB is highly toxic and hazardous to workers, but the effects of exposure in asymptomatic workers have not been explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of MB fumigation on the health of fumigators at a sensitive level.

ERK Regulates NeuroD1-mediated Neurite Outgrowth via Proteasomal Degradation.

Neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD1) is a class B basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor and regulates differentiation and survival of neuronal and endocrine cells by means of several protein kinases, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). However, the effect of phosphorylation on the functions of NeuroD1 by ERK has sparked controversy based on context-dependent differences across diverse species and cell types. Here, we evidenced that ERK-dependent phosphorylation controlled the stability of NeuroD1 and consequently, regulated proneural activity in neuronal cells.

Assessing the Retest Reliability of Prefrontal EEG Markers of Brain Rhythm Slowing in the Eyes-Closed Resting State.

. We examined whether prefrontal lobe EEG markers of slower brain rhythms, which are correlated with functional brain aging, can reliably reflect those of other brain lobes, as measured by a multichannel device. .

Traditional Korean Medicine-Based Forest Therapy Programs Providing Electrophysiological Benefits for Elderly Individuals.

We aimed to develop forest therapy programs (FTPs) to prevent dementia and related health problems in the elderly population, with the assumption that health benefits are FTP-type specific and depend on the participant's psychophysiological traits. For this purpose, we developed two distinct FTPs, namely, a guided-breathing meditation program (BP) and a walking program (WP); we adopted the approach of Sasang constitutional (SC) medicine, which categorizes individuals into one of three SC types (SC1, SC2, or SC3) for medical care. The FTPs ran 11 sessions over 11 weeks.

Resting-state prefrontal EEG biomarkers in correlation with MMSE scores in elderly individuals.

We investigated whether cognitive decline could be explained by resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers measured in prefrontal regions that reflect the slowing of intrinsic EEG oscillations. In an aged population dwelling in a rural community (total = 496, males = 165, females = 331), we estimated the global cognitive decline using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and measured resting-state EEG parameters at the prefrontal regions of Fp1 and Fp2 in an eyes-closed state. Using a tertile split method, the subjects were classified as T3 (MMSE 28-30, N = 162), T2 (MMSE 25-27, N = 179), or T1 (MMSE ≤ 24, N = 155).

Deletion of the α subunit of the heterotrimeric Go protein impairs cerebellar cortical development in mice.

G is a member of the pertussis toxin-sensitive G family. Despite its abundance in the central nervous system, the precise role of G remains largely unknown compared to other G proteins. In the present study, we explored the functions of G in the developing cerebellar cortex by deleting its gene, Gnao.

Spatiotemporal Protein Atlas of Cell Death-Related Molecules in the Rat MCAO Stroke Model.

Ischemic stroke and cerebral infarction triggered by the blockage of blood supply can cause damage to the brain via a complex series of pathological changes. Recently, diverse therapies have emerged as promising candidates for the treatment of stroke. These treatments exert therapeutic effects by acting on diverse target molecules and cells in different time windows from the acute to chronic phases.

Rare variants in RNF213, a susceptibility gene for moyamoya disease, are found in patients with pulmonary hypertension and aggravate hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice.

Ring finger 213 ( RNF213) is a susceptibility gene for moyamoya disease (MMD), a progressive cerebrovascular disease. Recent studies suggest that RNF213 plays an important role not only in MMD, but also in extracranial vascular diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension (PH). In this study, we undertook genetic screening of RNF213 in patients with PH and performed functional analysis of an RNF213 variant using mouse models.

β-cell-specific overexpression of adiponectin receptor 1 does not improve diabetes mellitus in Akita mice.

Adiponectin, a metabolically-active cytokine secreted from adipose tissue, is reported to have anti-apoptotic effects on β-cells as well as anti-hyperglycemic effects through adiponectin receptor signaling. However, the anti-apoptotic effects of adiponectin on β-cells have not been confirmed in established diabetic models, and the anti-hyperglycemic effects and their associated signal cascades remain controversial. To investigate the effects of adiponectin on β-cell protection and its down-stream signaling events, we have generated β-cell-specific rat insulin promoter (RIP)-AdipoR1 transgenic mice (AdipoR1 mice), in which the adiponectin receptor, AdipoR1, is overexpressed in β-cells in a manner synchronous with insulin demand.