Understanding the role of environment in associative learning of nicotine-induced place preference conditioning in zebrafish.

Environmental enrichment (EE) is a well-known strategy in animal behavior to improve the welfare and health of animals in captivity. EE provides animals with stimulating and engaging environments that promote natural behaviors, cognitive stimulation and stress reduction. EE turns out to be an important strategy to increase the validity and reproducibility of behavioral data.

Histone Methyltransferase G9a Plays an Essential Role on Nicotine Preference in Zebrafish.

Psychostimulants regulate behavioral responses in zebrafish via epigenetic mechanisms. We have previously shown that DNA methylation and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition abolish nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) but little is known about the role of histone methylation in addictive-like behaviors. To assess the influence of histone methylation on nicotine-CPP, zebrafish were treated with a histone (H3) lysine-9 (K9) dimethyltransferase G9a/GLP inhibitor, BIX-01294 (BIX), which was administered before conditioning sessions.

Human motor sequence learning drives transient changes in network topology and hippocampal connectivity early during memory consolidation.

In the last decade, the exclusive role of the hippocampus in human declarative learning has been challenged. Recently, we have shown that gains in performance observed in motor sequence learning (MSL) during the quiet rest periods interleaved with practice are associated with increased hippocampal activity, suggesting a role of this structure in motor memory reactivation. Yet, skill also develops offline as memory stabilizes after training and overnight.

Evaluation of drug seeking behavior on nicotine conditioned place preference in zebrafish.

Seeking of drugs is commonly evaluated in a specific environment for assessing drug preference. However, cognitive strategies involved in drug seeking are mostly unknown. To assess the strength of environmental cues that can be associated with nicotine in the zebrafish brain reward circuitry, we have designed herein a modified conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm.

Vectorcardiography-derived index allows a robust quantification of ventricular electrical synchrony.

Alteration of muscle activation sequence is a key mechanism in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Successful cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), which has become standard therapy in these patients, is limited by the lack of precise dyssynchrony quantification. We implemented a computational pipeline that allows assessment of ventricular dyssynchrony by vectorcardiogram reconstruction from the patient's electrocardiogram.

An Artificial Intelligence-Based Alarm Strategy Facilitates Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

(1) Background: While an artificial intelligence (AI)-based, cardiologist-level, deep-learning model for detecting acute myocardial infarction (AMI), based on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), has been established to have extraordinary capabilities, its real-world performance and clinical applications are currently unknown. (2) Methods and Results: To set up an artificial intelligence-based alarm strategy (AI-S) for detecting AMI, we assembled a strategy development cohort including 25,002 visits from August 2019 to April 2020 and a prospective validation cohort including 14,296 visits from May to August 2020 at an emergency department. The components of AI-S consisted of chest pain symptoms, a 12-lead ECG, and high-sensitivity troponin I.

High Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Reduce Placental Aquaporin 3 Expression and Impair Trophoblastic Cell Migration.

Placentas from preeclamptic women display augmented tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels with reduced expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3). However, whether TNF-α modulates AQP3 expression remains to be elucidated. We hypothesize that elevated levels of TNF-α reduce AQP3 expression and negatively impact trophoblastic cell migration.

Methionine Supplementation Abolishes Nicotine-Induced Place Preference in Zebrafish: a Behavioral and Molecular Analysis.

In zebrafish, nicotine is known to regulate sensitivity to psychostimulants via epigenetic mechanisms. Little however is known about the regulation of addictive-like behavior by DNA methylation processes. To evaluate the influence of DNA methylation on nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), zebrafish were exposed to methyl supplementation through oral L-methionine (Met) administration.

Potential of Solar UV Radiation for Inactivation of Coronaviridae Family Estimated from Satellite Data.

The pandemic COVID-19 disease affects people dramatically overall the globe by illness and death. Several strategies are applied to restrict the spread of this disease such as lockdown, adequate social distance in different activities, hand disinfection and the use of masks. Potential hazard outdoors comes from released viruses, which may remain in the air for a while and settle down afterward and contaminating surfaces.

Dietary Phytase and Lactic Acid-Treated CerealGrains Differently Affected Calcium and PhosphorusHomeostasis from Intestinal Uptake to SystemicMetabolism in a Pig Model.

High intestinal availability of dietary phosphorus (P) may impair calcium (Ca)homeostasis and bone integrity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of phytasesupplementation in comparison to the soaking of cereal grains in 2.5% lactic acid (LA) on intestinalCa and P absorption; intestinal, renal, and bone gene expression regarding Ca and P homeostasis;bone parameters; and serum levels of regulatory hormones in growing pigs.

Pre-Exposure to Nicotine with Nocturnal Abstinence Induces Epigenetic Changes that Potentiate Nicotine Preference.

Prior exposure to drugs of abuse may facilitate addiction. It has been described that pre-exposure to nicotine can increase or, contrarily, prevent conditioned place preference (CPP). Here, we evaluated the effect of nicotine pre-exposure on CPP performance using an original protocol mimicking smokers' behaviour in zebrafish.

No Association Between Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections And Dementia: A Nationwide Cohort Study In Taiwan.

Background: The associations between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and dementias are as yet to be studied in Taiwan. The aim of this study is to clarify as to whether HIV infections are associated with the risk of dementia.

Methods: A total of 1,261 HIV-infected patients and 3,783 controls (1:3) matched for age and sex were selected between January 1 and December 31, 2000 from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

Changes in cardiac Aquaporin expression during aortic valve replacement surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objectives: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) use is an essential strategy for many cardiovascular surgeries. However, its use and duration have been associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications, such as low cardiac output syndrome due to myocardial oedema and dysfunction. Though Aquaporin water channels have been implicated in myocardial water balance, their specific role in this clinical scenario has not been established.

Sensitization-dependent nicotine place preference in the adult zebrafish.

Sensitization of motor activity is a behavioural test to evaluate the effects of psychostimulants. Conditioned place preference (CPP) is an associative learning procedure to examine the rewarding properties of drugs. We aimed to assess whether motor sensitization to drugs of abuse can make zebrafish more vulnerable to establishing drug-induced CPP.

A novel penicillin derivative induces antitumor effect in melanoma cells.

In this study, we explored the in-vitro and in-vivo mechanism of antitumor action of a novel synthetic nonantibiotic triazolylpeptidyl penicillin derivative, named TAP7f, on B16-F0 murine melanoma cells. In-vitro assays showed that TAP7f caused an inhibition of S phase progression and a concomitant decrease of the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase. We also found that TAP7f treatment induced an apoptotic response characterized by an increase of the sub-G1 fraction of B16-F0 hypodiploid cells, the occurrence of cells with picnotic nuclei, and the detection of phosphatidylserine exposure on the outer side of the plasma membrane.

Molecular Mechanisms in Perirhinal Cortex Selectively Necessary for Discrimination of Overlapping Memories, but Independent of Memory Persistence.

Successful memory involves not only remembering over time but also keeping memories distinct. The ability to separate similar experiences into distinct memories is a main feature of episodic memory. Discrimination of overlapping representations has been investigated in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (DG), but little is known about this process in other regions such as the perirhinal cortex (Prh).

Short- and long-term effects of nicotine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor phenylbutyrate on novel object recognition in zebrafish.

Rationale: Zebrafish have a sophisticated color- and shape-sensitive visual system, so we examined color cue-based novel object recognition in zebrafish. We evaluated preference in the absence or presence of drugs that affect attention and memory retention in rodents: nicotine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) phenylbutyrate (PhB).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether nicotine and PhB affect innate preferences of zebrafish for familiar and novel objects after short- and long-retention intervals.

Serotonin 2a Receptor and Serotonin 1a Receptor Interact Within the Medial Prefrontal Cortex During Recognition Memory in Mice.

Episodic memory, can be defined as the memory for unique events. The serotonergic system one of the main neuromodulatory systems in the brain appears to play a role in it. The serotonin 2a receptor (5-HT2aR) one of the principal post-synaptic receptors for 5-HT in the brain, is involved in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders associated with memory deficits.

Altered Corticostriatal Connectivity and Exploration/Exploitation Imbalance Emerge as Intermediate Phenotypes for a Neonatal Dopamine Dysfunction.

Findings showing that neonatal lesions of the forebrain dopaminergic system in rodents lead to juvenile locomotor hyperactivity and learning deficits have been taken as evidence of face validity for the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the core cognitive and physiological intermediate phenotypes underlying this rodent syndrome remain unknown. Here we show that early postnatal dopaminergic lesions cause long-lasting deficits in exploitation of shelter, social and nutritional resources, and an imbalanced exploratory behavior, where nondirected local exploration is exacerbated, whereas sophisticated search behaviors involving sequences of goal directed actions are degraded.

Voltage-dependent K+ currents contribute to heterogeneity of olfactory ensheathing cells.

The olfactory nerve is permissive for axon growth throughout life. This has been attributed in part to the olfactory ensheathing glial cells that encompass the olfactory sensory neuron fascicles. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) also promote axon growth in vitro and when transplanted in vivo to sites of injury.

Direct mapping rather than motor prediction subserves modulation of corticospinal excitability during observation of actions in real time.

Motor facilitation refers to the specific increment in corticospinal excitability (CSE) elicited by the observation of actions performed by others. To date, the precise nature of the mechanism at the basis of this phenomenon is unknown. One possibility is that motor facilitation is driven by a predictive process reminiscent of the role of forward models in motor control.

Positive end-expiratory pressure attenuates positional effect after thoracotomy.

Context: Thoracotomy is a common procedure. However, thoracotomy leads to lung atelectasis and deteriorates pulmonary gas exchange in operated side. Therefore, different positions with operated side lowermost or uppermost may lead to different gas exchange after thoracotomy.

Transient P2X7 receptor activation triggers macrophage death independent of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4, caspase-1, and pannexin-1 proteins.

The function of P2X(7) receptors (ATP-gated ion channels) in innate immune cells is unclear. In the setting of Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation, secondary activation of P2X(7) ion channels has been linked to pro-caspase-1 cleavage and cell death. Here we show that cell death is a surprisingly early triggered event.

Hormonal and pharmacological modification of plasma potassium homeostasis.

Human skeletal muscles contain the largest single pool of K+ in the body (2600 mmol, 46 times the total K+ content of the extracellular space). Intense exercise may double arterial plasma K+ in one min. This is because of excitation-induced release of K+ from the working muscle cells via K+ channels.