Neural underpinnings of fine motor skills under stress and anxiety: A review.

This review offers a comprehensive examination of how stress and anxiety affect motor behavior, particularly focusing on fine motor skills and gait adaptability. We explore the role of several neurochemicals, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine, in modulating neural plasticity and motor control under these affective states. The review highlights the importance of developing therapeutic strategies that enhance motor performance by leveraging the interactions between key neurochemicals.

Bezafibrate reduces the damage, activation and mechanical properties of lung fibroblast cells induced by hydrogen peroxide.

In pulmonary fibrosis, the proliferation of fibroblasts and their differentiation into myofibroblasts is often caused by tissue damage, such as oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species, which leads to progressive rupture and thus destruction of the alveolar architecture, resulting in cell proliferation and tissue remodeling. Bezafibrate (BZF) is an important member of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARs) family agonists, used in clinical practice as antihyperlipidemic. However, the antifibrotic effects of BZF are still poorly studied.

Conventional Mirror Therapy versus Immersive Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy: The Perceived Usability after Stroke.

Background: Stroke is a widespread and complex health issue, with many survivors requiring long-term rehabilitation due to upper-limb impairment. This study is aimed at comparing the perceived usability of two feedback-based stroke therapies: conventional mirror therapy (MT) and immersive virtual reality mirror therapy (VR).

Methods: The study involved 45 participants, divided into three groups: the stroke survivors ( = 15), stroke-free older adults ( = 15), and young controls ( = 15).

Can anxiety-like behavior and spatial memory predict the extremes of skilled walking performance in mice? An exploratory, preliminary study.

Introduction: Skilled walking is influenced by memory, stress, and anxiety. While this is evident in cases of neurological disorders, memory, and anxiety traits may predict skilled walking performance even in normal functioning. Here, we address whether spatial memory and anxiety-like behavior can predict skilled walking performance in mice.

Environmental Enrichment in Stroke Research: an Update.

Environmental enrichment (EE) refers to different forms of stimulation, where the environment is designed to improve the levels of sensory, cognitive, and motor stimuli, inducing stroke recovery in animal models. Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and neurological disability among older adults, hence the importance of developing strategies to improve recovery for such patients. This review provides an update on recent findings, compiling information regarding the parameters affected by EE exposure in both preclinical and clinical studies.

The Foot Fault Scoring System to Assess Skilled Walking in Rodents: A Reliability Study.

The foot fault scoring system of the ladder rung walking test (LRWT) is used to assess skilled walking in rodents. However, the reliability of the LRWT foot fault score has not been properly addressed. This study was designed to address this issue.

Age-related tolerance to paraquat-induced parkinsonism in Drosophila melanogaster.

Paraquat (PQ) is a widely used herbicide that can cross the dopaminergic neuronal membrane, accumulate in mitochondria and damage complex I of the electron transport chain, leading to neuronal death. In Drosophila melanogaster, PQ exposure leads to the development of parkinsonism and is a classical model for studying Parkinson's Disease (PD). Muscle mitochondrial dysfunction, affecting survival and locomotion, is described in familial PD in D.

Contagious depression: Automatic mimicry and the mirror neuron system - A review.

Contagious depression is a theory proposing that depression can be induced or triggered by our social environment. This theory is based on emotional contagion, the idea that affective states can be transferred during social interaction, since humans can use emotional contagion to communicate feelings and emotions in conscious and unconscious ways. This review presents behavioral, physiological, and neuroanatomical aspects of two essential contagious depression mechanisms, automatic mimicry and the mirror neuron system.

Morphological and mechanical changes induced by quercetin in human T24 bladder cancer cells.

Quercetin is a flavonoid found in a great variety of foods such as vegetables and fruits. This compound has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of various types of cancer cells, as well as the growth of tumors in animal models. In the present study, we analyze morphological and mechanical changes produced by quercetin in T24 bladder cancer cells.

Rat Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells (ADSCs) Increases the Glioblastoma Growth and Decreases the Animal Survival.

Many studies have shown that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their secreted factors may modulate the biology of tumor cells. However, how these interactions happen in vivo remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of rat adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) and their conditioned medium (ADSC-CM) in glioma tumor growth and malignancy in vivo.

SARS-CoV-2 mutations in Brazil: from genomics to putative clinical conditions.

Due to the high rate of transmissibility, Brazil became the new COVID-19 outbreak epicenter and, since then, is being monitored to understand how SARS-CoV-2 mutates and spreads. We combined genomic and structural analysis to evaluate genomes isolated from different regions of Brazil and show that the most prevalent mutations were located in the S, N, ORF3a and ORF6 genes, which are involved in different stages of viral life cycle and its interaction with the host cells. Structural analysis brought to light the positions of these mutations on protein structures, contributing towards studies of selective structure-based drug discovery and vaccine development.

Does Angiotensin II Peak in Response to SARS-CoV-2?

Human infection by the SARS-CoV-2 is causing the current COVID-19 pandemic. With the growing numbers of cases and deaths, there is an urgent need to explore pathophysiological hypotheses in an attempt to better understand the factors determining the course of the disease. Here, we hypothesize that COVID-19 severity and its symptoms could be related to transmembrane and soluble Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (tACE2 and sACE2); Angiotensin II (ANG II); Angiotensin 1-7 (ANG 1-7) and angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1R) activation levels.

Neuroprotective effect of ACTH on collagenase-induced peri-intraventricular hemorrhage in newborn male rats.

Peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) is a common and serious prematurity-related complication in neonates. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has neuroprotective actions and is a candidate to ameliorate brain damage following PIVH. Here, we tested the efficacy of ACTH on a collagenase-induced lesion of the germinal matrix (GM) in newborn male rats.

Human leukocyte antigen-G polymorphisms in periodontitis.

This study evaluated human leucocyte antigen-G gene polymorphisms in patients with periodontitis and healthy controls. The insertion/deletion polymorphism of 14 bp and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C > G on the position +3142 of the 3' untranslated region of the gene were analyzed in chronic periodontitis ( = 62), aggressive periodontitis ( = 24) patients and healthy individuals ( = 47). Considering the 14 bp insertion/deletion, a significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg expectations in the chronic periodontitis group was observed, but not in the other groups.

Increases in dendritic spine density in BLA without metabolic changes in a rodent model of PTSD.

Imaging studies have shown abnormal amygdala function in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, alterations in synaptic plasticity have been associated with psychiatric disorders and previous reports have indicated alterations in the amygdala morphology, especially in basolateral (BLA) neurons, are associated with stress-related disorders. Since, some individuals exposed to a traumatic event develop PTSD, the goals of this study were to evaluate the early effects of PTSD on amygdala glucose metabolism and analyze the possible BLA dendritic spine plasticity in animals with different levels of behavioral response.

Selective brain neuronal and glial losses without changes in GFAP immunoreactivity: Young versus mature adult Wistar rats.

Normal ageing results in brain selective neuronal and glial losses. In the present study we analyze neuronal and glial changes in Wistar rats at two different ages, 45 days (young) and 420 days (mature adult), using Nissl staining and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry associated to the Sholl analysis. Comparing mature adults with young rats we noted the former present a decrease in neuronal density in the cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, pyriform cortex, L.

Blockade of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors reduces short-term brain damage induced by early-life status epilepticus.

Status epilepticus (SE) during developmental periods can cause short- and long-term consequences to the brain. Brain damage induced by SE is associated to NMDA receptors (NMDAR)-mediated excitotoxicity. This study aimed to investigate whether blockade of GluN2B-containing NMDAR is neuroprotective against SE-induced neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in young rats.

Involvement of the Cholinergic Parameters and Glial Cells in Learning Delay Induced by Glutaric Acid: Protection by N-Acetylcysteine.

Dysfunction of basal ganglia neurons is a characteristic of glutaric acidemia type I (GA-I), an autosomal recessive inherited neurometabolic disease characterized by deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) and accumulation of glutaric acid (GA). The affected patients present clinical manifestations such as motor dysfunction and memory impairment followed by extensive striatal neurodegeneration. Knowing that there is relevant striatal dysfunction in GA-I, the purpose of the present study was to verify the performance of young rats chronically injected with GA in working and procedural memory test, and whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) would protect against impairment induced by GA.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein levels are associated with global histone H4 acetylation after spinal cord injury in rats.

Emerging evidence has suggested global histone H4 acetylation status plays an important role in neural plasticity. For instance, the imbalance of this epigenetic marker has been hypothesized as a key factor for the development and progression of several neurological diseases. Likewise, astrocytic reactivity - a well-known process that markedly influences the tissue remodeling after a central nervous system injury - is crucial for tissue remodeling after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Remodeling of the number and structure of dendritic spines in the medial amygdala: From prepubertal sexual dimorphism to puberty and effect of sexual experience in male rats.

The posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) is a sexually dimorphic area and plays a central role in the social behavior network of rats. Dendritic spines modulate synaptic processing and plasticity. Here, we compared the number and structure of dendritic spines in the MePD of prepubertal males and females and postpubertal males with and without sexual experience.

Octyl gallate reduces ATP levels and Ki67 expression leading HepG2 cells to cell cycle arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Octyl gallate (OG) is an antioxidant that has shown anti-tumor, anti-diabetic and anti-amyloidogenic activities. Mitochondria play an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma, mainly by maintaining accelerated cellular proliferation through the production of ATP. Thus, the mitochondria may be a target for antitumor therapies.

Can an aversive, extinction-resistant memory trigger impairments in walking adaptability? An experimental study using adult rats.

Cognitive demands can influence the adaptation of walking, a crucial skill to maintain body stability and prevent falls. Whilst previous research has shown emotional load tunes goal-directed movements, little attention has been given to this finding. This study sought to assess the effects of suffering an extinction-resistant memory on skilled walking performance in adult rats, as an indicator of walking adaptability.

Effects of tannery wastewater exposure on adult Drosophila melanogaster.

Our aim was to evaluate the effects of exposure to tannery wastewater on mortality and/or antioxidant enzyme system in adult wild-type Canton-S Drosophila melanogaster. Exposure to tannery wastewater induced a concentration-dependent lethality in adult Canton-S flies. Tannery wastewater was able to alter antioxidant enzyme activities, specifically glutathione peroxidase-like and glutathione S-transferase, in adult Canton-S D.

Ketamine promotes increased freezing behavior in rats with experimental PTSD without changing brain glucose metabolism or BDNF.

Acute treatment with ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has been reported to be efficacious in treating depression. The goal of our study was to evaluate ketamine treatment in an animal model of another important psychiatric disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fifty-eight male rats were initially divided into four groups: Control+Saline (CTRL+SAL), Control+Ketamine (CTRL+KET), PTSD+Saline (PTSD+SAL) and PTSD+Ketamine (PTSD+KET).

Physical exercise reverses spatial memory deficit and induces hippocampal astrocyte plasticity in diabetic rats.

Physical exercise can induce brain plasticity and reduce the cognitive decline observed in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We investigated the effects of physical exercise to prevent or reverse spatial memory deficits produced by diabetes and some biochemical and immunohistochemical changes in hippocampal astrocytes of T1DM model. In this study, 56 male Wistar rats were divided in four groups: trained control (TC), non-trained control (NTC), trained diabetic (TD) and non-trained diabetic (NTD).