STING Driving Synaptic Phagocytosis of Hippocampal Microglia/Macrophages Contributes to Cognitive Impairment in Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy in Mice.

Background: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a serious neurologic complication in septic patients with poor prognoses. There is increasing evidence that stimulator of interferon genes (STING) plays a crucial role in neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. However, whether sepsis associated with STING changes contributes to cognitive impairment is unknown.

Associations between oral frailty, oral microbiota composition, and postoperative delirium in older adult patients.

Background: Poor oral health, prevalent among the older adults, can undermine overall health and contribute to frailty. Older adults experiencing oral frailty and dysbiosis potentially face an elevated risk of postoperative delirium. This study aims to explore the influence of oral frailty and changes in oral microbiota composition on occurrence of postoperative delirium in older adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Oxidative Stress-mediated Loss of Hippocampal Parvalbumin Interneurons Contributes to Memory Precision Decline After Acute Sleep Deprivation.

Sleep is pivotal to memory consolidation, and sleep deprivation (SD) after learning can impede this process, leading to memory disorders. In the present study, we aimed to explore the effects of acute sleep deprivation (ASD) on memory disorders and the underlying mechanisms. ASD model was induced by subjecting the mice to 6 h of SD following fear conditioning training.

Oxytocin attenuates neuroinflammation-induced anxiety through restoration of excitation and inhibition balance in the anterior cingulate cortex in mice.

Background: Accumulative evidence suggested that the oxytocin system plays a role in socio-emotional disorders, although its role in neuroinflammation-induced anxiety remains unclear.

Method: In the present study, anxiety-like behavior was induced in cohorts of animals through repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg, daily, Escherichia coli O55:B5) i.

Oxytocin ameliorates cognitive impairments by attenuating excitation/inhibition imbalance of neurotransmitters acting on parvalbumin interneurons in a mouse model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy.

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of sepsis, and it also induces alterations in brain neurotransmission, thereby contributing to the development of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Parvalbumin (PV) interneurons are pivotal contributors to cognitive processes in various central dysfunctions including SAE. Oxytocin, known for its ability to augment the firing rate of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons and directly stimulate inhibitory interneurons to enhance the tonic inhibition of pyramidal neurons, has prompted an investigation into its potential effects on cognitive dysfunction in SAE.

Plasma Aβ level alterations after sleep deprivation correspond to brain structural remodeling in medical night shift workers.

The relationship between brain structure alteration and metabolic product clearance after night shift work with total sleep deprivation (SD) remains unclear. Twenty-two intensive care unit staff on regularly rotating shift work were implemented with structural and diffusion MRI under both rest wakefulness (RW) and SD conditions. Peripheral blood samples were collected for the measurement of cerebral metabolites.

Acute and long-term cognitive impairment following sepsis: mechanism and prevention.

Introduction: Sepsis is a severe host response to infection, which induces both acute and long-term cognitive impairment. Despite its high incidence following sepsis, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive and effective treatments are not available clinically.

Area Covered: This review focuses on elucidating the pathological mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment following sepsis.

Lactate Improves Long-term Cognitive Impairment Induced By Repeated Neonatal Sevoflurane Exposures Through SIRT1-mediated Regulation of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Synaptic Plasticity in Male Mice.

Repeated neonatal exposures to sevoflurane induce long-term cognitive impairment that has been reported to have sex-dependent differences. Exercise promotes learning and memory by releasing lactate from the muscle. The study tested the hypothesis that lactate may improve long-term cognitive impairment induced by repeated neonatal exposures to sevoflurane through SIRT1-mediated regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

HMGB1 mediates synaptic loss and cognitive impairment in an animal model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy.

Background: Microglial activation-mediated neuroinflammation is one of the essential pathogenic mechanisms of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Mounting evidence suggests that high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) plays a pivotal role in neuroinflammation and SAE, yet the mechanism by which HMGB1 induces cognitive impairment in SAE remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism of HMGB1 underlying cognitive impairment in SAE.

Dysfunction of NRG1/ErbB4 Signaling in the Hippocampus Might Mediate Long-term Memory Decline After Systemic Inflammation.

Accumulating evidence has suggested that a great proportion of sepsis survivors suffer from long-term cognitive impairments after hospital discharge, leading to decreased life quality and substantial caregiving burdens for family members. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we established a mouse model of systemic inflammation by repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections.

Integrated Proteomic and Phosphoproteomic Analysis of the Hippocampus in a Mouse Model of Early Life Inflammation.

Introduction: Inflammation in early life is a risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric diseases later in adolescence and adulthood, yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, we performed an integrated proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of the hippocampus to identify potential molecular mechanisms of early life inflammation-induced cognitive impairment.

Methods: Both female and male mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 100 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on postnatal day 10 (P10).

Reduced inhibitory and excitatory input onto parvalbumin interneurons mediated by perineuronal net might contribute to cognitive impairments in a mouse model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy.

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is commonly defined as diffuse brain dysfunction and can manifest as delirium to coma. Accumulating evidence has suggested that perineuronal net (PNN) plays an important role in the modulation of the synaptic plasticity of central nervous system. We here investigated the role of PNN in SAE induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection.

Higher serum PGE2 is a predicative biomarker for postoperative delirium following elective orthopedic surgery in elderly patients.

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD), one of the most common complications following major surgery, imposes a heavy burden on patients and society. The objective of this exploratory study was to conduct a secondary analysis to identify whether there exist novel and reliable serum biomarkers for the prediction of POD.

Methods: A total of 131 adult patients (≥ 65 years) undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery with were enrolled in this study.

Presenilin enhancer 2 is crucial for the transition of apical progenitors into neurons but into not basal progenitors in the developing hippocampus.

Recent evidence has shown that presenilin enhancer 2 (Pen2; Psenen) plays an essential role in corticogenesis by regulating the switch of apical progenitors (APs) to basal progenitors (BPs). The hippocampus is a brain structure required for advanced functions, including spatial navigation, learning and memory. However, it remains unknown whether Pen2 is important for hippocampal morphogenesis.

Predictors and predictive effects of acute pain trajectories after gastrointestinal surgery.

Few studies have investigated factors associated with acute postsurgical pain (APSP) trajectories, and whether the APSP trajectory can predict chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) remains unclear. We aimed to identify the predictors of APSP trajectories in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Moreover, we hypothesised that APSP trajectories were independently associated with CPSP.

Reduced inhibition underlies early life LPS exposure induced-cognitive impairment: Prevention by environmental enrichment.

Early life immune activation has negative effects on the development of central nervous system and cognitive function, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that inflammation induces changes in microglia morphology, which lead to excessive synaptic pruning and improper function of neural circuits. Therefore, we hypothesized that early immune activation induced microglia activation, contributing to synaptic and cognitive impairments in adolescent mice.

Laparotomy-Induced Peripheral Inflammation Activates NR2B Receptors on the Brain Mast Cells and Results in Neuroinflammation in a Vagus Nerve-Dependent Manner.

: The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) remain unclear over the years. Neuroinflammation caused by surgery has been recognized as an important element in the development of POCD. Many studies also suggest that the vagus nerve plays an important role in transmitting peripheral injury signals to the central nervous system (CNS) and the resultant neuroinflammation.

Quadratus Lumborum Block Spares Postoperative Opioid Usage but Does Not appear to Prevent the Development of Chronic Pain After Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Background: Regional anesthesia has been used to reduce acute postsurgical pain and to  prevent chronic pain. The best technique, however, remains controversial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the short- and long-term postoperative analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) in open gastrointestinal surgery.