Automatic detection and classification of disease in citrus fruit and leaves using a customized CNN based model / Detección y clasificación automática de enfermedades en frutas y hojas de cítricos utilizando un modelo basado en CNN personalizado

India's commercial advancement and development depend heavily on agriculture. A common fruit grown in tropical settings is citrus. A professional judgment is required while analyzing an illness because different diseases have slight variati ons in their symptoms. In order to recognize and classify diseases in citrus fruits and leaves, a customized CNN - based approach that links CNN with LSTM was developed in this research. By using a CNN - based method, it is possible to automatically differenti ate from healthier fruits and leaves and those that have diseases such fruit blight, fruit greening, fruit scab, and melanoses. In terms of performance, the proposed approach achieves 96% accuracy, 98% sensitivity, 96% Recall, and an F1 - score of 92% for ci trus fruit and leave identification and classification and the proposed method was compared with KNN, SVM, and CNN and concluded that the proposed CNN - based model is more accurate and effective at identifying illnesses in citrus fruits and leaves.

El avance y desarrollo comercial de India dependen en gran medida de la agricultura. Un tipo de fruta comunmente cultivada en en tornos tropicales es el cítrico. Se requiere un juicio profesional al analizar una enfermedad porque diferentes enfermedades tienen ligeras variaciones en sus síntomas. Para reconocer y clasificar enfermedades en frutas y hojas de cítricos, se desarrolló e n esta investigación un enfoque personalizado basado en CNN que vincula CNN con LSTM. Al utilizar un método basado en CNN, es posible diferenciar automáticamente entre frutas y hojas más saludables y aquellas que tienen enfermedades como la plaga de frutas , el verdor de frutas, la sarna de frutas y las melanosis. En términos de desempeño, el enfoque propuesto alcanza una precisión del 96%, una sensibilidad del 98%, una recuperación del 96% y una puntuación F1 del 92% para la identificación y clasificación d e frutas y hojas de cítricos, y el método propuesto se comparó con KNN, SVM y CNN y se concluyó que el modelo basado en CNN propuesto es más preciso y efectivo para identificar enfermedades en frutas y hojas de cítricos.

Sjögren: unique surname, two men, four syndromes and one disease / Sjögren: sobrenome único, dois homens, quatro síndromes e uma doença

Abstract Henrik and Torsten Sjögren (/'ogrƏn/ or SHOH-grƏn) were two Swedish physicians living in the same period, but completely unrelated, except for their notable contributions to Medicine. The first one described keratoconjunctivitis sicca, afterward called Sjögren's syndrome, and a fishing net aspect retinal pigmentation affecting visual acuity, nowadays known as Sjögren reticular dystrophy. The last one contributed to the understanding of Spielmeyer-Sjögren disease, Marinesco-Sjögren, and Sjögren-Larsson syndromes, all related to genetic disorders and neurological symptoms. In this paper, we aim to describe each disorder, in order to avoid any misunderstanding in diagnosis and for historical record.

Resumo Henrik e Torsten Sjögren (/'ogrƏn/ or SHOH-grƏn) foram dois médicos suecos que viveram na mesma época, mas não tinham nenhuma relação entre si, exceto por suas notáveis contribuições à medicina. O primeiro descreveu a ceratoconjuntivite sicca, posteriormente chamada de síndrome de Sjögren, e uma pigmentação da retina com aspecto de rede de pesca que afeta a acuidade visual, hoje conhecida como distrofia reticular de Sjögren. O último contribuiu para a compreensão da doença de Spielmeyer-Sjögren, das síndromes de Marinesco-Sjögren e Sjögren-Larsson, todas relacionadas a distúrbios genéticos e sintomas neurológicos. Neste artigo, pretendemos descrever cada desordem, a fim de evitar qualquer mal-entendido no diagnóstico e para registro histórico.

Effects of bisdemethoxycurcumin promoting neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells in mice and its mechanism / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of the curcumin derivative bisdemethoxycurcumin （BC） promoting neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells Neuro-2a （N2a） in mice and its mechanism. METHODS The effects of BC （1， 2， 4， 6， 8， 10 μmol/L） on the viability of N2a cells were detected by MTT assay to determine the concentration range of drug treatment. The control group， retinoic acid （RA） group （10 μmol/L） and BC groups （1， 2 and 4 μmol/L） were set up， and the length of neural protrusions of the differentiated cells was measured and the cell differentiation rate was calculated after 48 h and 72 h of culture. Compared with 0 min group， Western blot was used to detect the phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B （Akt）， extracellular- signal regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2）， and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38） proteins in cells treated by 4 μmol/L BC for 5， 15， 30， 60， 120 min. After intervention with inhibitors LY294002 （LY） and PD98059 （PD）， the effects of BC on Akt and ERK1/2 protein phosphorylation levels and promoting neural differentiation were further validated. RESULTS According to the MTT experiment， the BC concentrations for subsequent induction of cell differentiation were determined to be 1， 2， and 4 μmol/L. After 48 hours of differentiation， compared with the control group， the cell differentiation rate in RA group and BC 1， 2 and 4 μmol/L groups， the length of cellular neural processes wjxhhxx413@163.com in the BC 4 μmol/L group significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；after inducing differentiation of BC for 72 hours，compared with the control group， the cell differentiation rate and the length of cellular neural processes in the RA group， the cell differentiation rate in the BC 4 μmol/L group， and the length of cellular neural processes in the BC 2 μmol/L group all significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）.Compared with the 0 min group， the phosphorylation levels of Akt， ERK1/2， and p38 proteins in cells of the 5， 15， 30， 60 and 120 min groups increased to varying degrees after treated by 4 μmol/L BC， and some differences were statistically significant （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. After adding the inhibitor LY/PD， compared with the BC group， the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 protein in the PD+BC group cells were significantly reduced （P＜0.01）， and the cell differentiation rates in the LY group， LY+BC group， PD group， and PD+BC group was significantly reduced （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS BC promotes N2a cell differentiation mainly by increasing cell differentiation rate and neural protrusion length. The mechanism may be related to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/ ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

The P300 Auditory Evoked Potential in Cochlear Implant Users: A Scoping Review

Abstract Introduction The P300 auditory evoked potential is a long-latency cortical potential evoked with auditory stimulation, which provides information on neural mechanisms underlying the central auditory processing. Objectives To identify and gather scientific evidence regarding the P300 in adult cochlear implant (CI) users. Data Synthesis A total of 87 articles, 20 of which were selected for this study, were identified and exported to the Rayyan search software. Those 20 articles did not propose a homogeneous methodology, which made comparison more difficult. Most articles (60%) in this review compare CI users with typical hearing people, showing prolonged P300 latency in CI users. Among the studies, 35% show that CI users present a smaller P300 amplitude. Another variable is the influence of the kind of stimulus used to elicit P300, which was prolonged in 30% of the studies that used pure tone stimuli, 10% of the studies that used pure tone and speech stimuli, and 60% of the studies that used speech stimuli. Conclusion This review has contributed with evidence that shows the importance of applying a controlled P300 protocol to diagnose and monitor CI users. Regardless of the stimuli used to elicit P300, we noticed a pattern in the increase in latency and decrease in amplitude in CI users. The user's experience with the CI speech processor over time and the speech test results seem to be related to the P300 latency and amplitude measurements.

Effect of mobile phone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations on oxidative stress and feeding behaviour in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats

Objectives: Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from mobile phones is known to produce a stress response because of its effect on hypothalamus. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives with increasing usage not only in terms of number of users but also increase in talk time. The present study aimed to study the effect of mobile phone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations on oxidative stress and feeding behaviour assessment in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Materials and Methods: Twelve male SD rats of 10–12 weeks old, weighing 180–220 g, were housed and allowed to acclimatise in a room with 12:12 h light-dark cycle with ad libitum amount of food and reverse osmosis (RO) water before the start of the study. Then, rats were divided into control and RF-EMR exposed groups, and everyday feed intake and body weight were measured. At the end of the study period, blood sample was collected through retro orbital puncture for biochemical investigations. Results: The present study showed significant increase in malondialdehyde and serum corticosterone levels and decrease feeding behaviour in rats exposed to RF-EMR in rats exposed to RF-EMR. Conclusion: This study proves that mobile RF-EMR causes oxidative stress and oxidative damage leading to decreased feeding behaviour in SD rats.

Lipofuscinosis neuronal ceroidea tipo 2 (CLN2): primer caso diagnosticado en Panamá, causado por una variante patogénica del gen TPP1 producida por una mutación sin sentido

Se presenta el caso clínico de un paciente con Lipofuscinosis Neuronal Ceroidea tipo 2 (CLN2), condición genética producida por mutaciones en el gen TPP1. La CLN2 es una Enfermedad de Depósito Lisosomal (LSD), grupo de trastornos genéticos que forman parte de los Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, en los que se acumula un sustrato que no puede ser degradado a nivel de los lisosomas por la deficiencia en una enzima. En el caso de la CLN2, este déficit enzimático ocasiona un cuadro de deterioro neurológico acelerado con epilepsia refractaria, tratándose del primer caso descrito en la República de Panamá a la fecha. Esta condición es una enfermedad rara, y este reporte muestra la importancia de la necesidad de considerar la realización de paneles de diagnóstico genético cuando se presenta una epilepsia de difícil manejo en infantes. (provisto por Infomedic International)

The clinical case of a patient with Ceroid Neuronal Lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2), a genetic condition produced by mutations in the TPP1 gene, is presented. CLN2 is a Lysosomal Deposition Disease (LSD), a group of genetic disorders that are part of the Inborn Errors of Metabolism, in which a substrate accumulates that cannot be degraded at the level of the lysosomes due to a deficiency in an enzyme. In the case of CLN2, this enzymatic deficit causes an accelerated neurological deterioration with refractory epilepsy, being the first case described in the Republic of Panama to date. This condition is a rare disease, and this report shows the importance of the need to consider genetic diagnostic panels when a difficult-to-manage epilepsy occurs in infants. (provided by Infomedic International)

Clinical management and diagnosis of CLN2 disease: consensus of the Brazilian experts group / Manejo clínico e diagnóstico da doença CLN2: consenso do grupo de especialistas brasileiros

Abstract Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) is a rare neurodegenerative genetic disease that affects children in early life. Its classic form is rapidly progressive, leading to death within the first 10 years. The urge for earlier diagnosis increases with the availability of enzyme replacement therapy. A panel of nine Brazilian child neurologists combined their expertise in CLN2 with evidence from the medical literature to establish a consensus to manage this disease in Brazil. They voted 92 questions including diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and treatment of the disease, considering the access to healthcare in this country. Clinicians should suspect CLN2 disease in any child, from 2 to 4 years old, with language delay and epilepsy. Even though the classic form is the most prevalent, atypical cases with different phenotypes can be found. Electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging, molecular and biochemical testing are the main tools to investigateand confirm the diagnosis. However, we have limited access to molecular testing in Brazil, and rely on the support from the pharmaceutical industry. The management of CLN2 should involve a multidisciplinary team and focus on the quality of life of patients and on family support. Enzyme replacement therapy with Cerliponase α is an innovative treatment approved in Brazil since 2018; it delays functional decline and provides quality of life. Given the difficulties for the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases in our public health system, the early diagnosis of CLN2 needs improvement as enzyme replacement therapy is available and modifies the prognosis of patients.

Resumo Lipofuscinose ceróide neuronal (CLN2) é uma doença genética neurodegenerativa rara que afeta crianças nos primeiros anos de vida. A sua forma clássica é rapidamente progressiva, levando à morte nos primeiros 10 anos. A necessidade de um diagnóstico precoce aumenta com a disponibilidade do tratamento de terapia enzimática. Um painel de nove neurologistas infantis brasileiros combinou sua experiência em CLN2 com evidências da literatura médica para estabelecer um consenso no manejo desta doença no Brasil. Eles votaram 92 questões abordando diagnóstico, manifestações clínicas e tratamento, considerando o acesso à saúde no Brasil. Deve-se suspeitar de CLN2 em qualquer criança de 2 a 4 anos de idade que apresente atraso de linguagem e epilepsia. Apesar da forma clássica ser a mais prevalente, podem ser encontrados casos atípicos com diferentes fenótipos. Eletroencefalograma, ressonância magnética, testes moleculares e bioquímicos são as principais ferramentas para investigar e confirmar o diagnóstico. No entanto, o acesso aos testes moleculares é limitado no Brasil, necessitando contar com o apoio da indústria farmacêutica. O manejo da CLN2 deve envolver uma equipe multidisciplinar e focar na qualidade de vida dos pacientes e no apoio familiar. A terapia de reposição enzimática com Cerliponase alfa é um tratamento inovador aprovado no Brasil desde 2018; ele retarda o declínio funcional e proporciona qualidade de vida. Diante das dificuldades para o diagnóstico e tratamento de doenças raras em nosso sistema público de saúde, o diagnóstico precoce de CLN2 precisa de melhorias pois a terapia de reposição enzimática está disponível e modifica o prognóstico dos pacientes.

Impacto do metilfenidato no estresse oxidativo e na plasticidade cerebral / Methylphenidate impact on oxidative stress and brain plasticity

Esse estudo avaliou o impacto do tratamento com cloridrato de metilfenidato (MFD) em crianças com Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade. O estudo incluiu metodologia variada, contendo estudo de revisão sobre efeito de metilfenidato sobre BDNF e estudo de coorte experimental. O estudo de revisão seguiu as diretrizes do PRISMA e foi registrado no PROSPERO. No estudo experimental, coorte aberta de centro único foi desenhada, com amostra de conveniência recrutada entre os anos de 2020 e 2022, no ambulatório de ensino da faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (MG). Amostra de 62 crianças, 6 a 14 anos incompletos, sem tratamento prévio, diagnosticadas por psiquiatra infantil segundo os critérios do Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico dos Transtornos Mentais (DSM5). Média de 8 consultas de acompanhamento clínico realizadas, com coletas de amostras biológicas em 3 delas: antes do início do MFD, com 12 e 24 semanas após uso da medicação. Amostra caracterizada quanto a dados sociodemográficos, sintomas de TDAH, avaliações clínica e psiquiátrica e testagem de inteligência pela psicologia. Amostras biológicas para dosagens séricas de marcadores oxidativos (níveis de capacidade antioxidante total -FRAP -, atividade de superóxido dismutase ­ SOD-, catalase ­ CAT -, glutathione -S-transferase -GST-, níveis de peroxidação lipídica e de proteínas carboniladas) foram coletadas de cada criança nos três momentos da avaliação. Metilfenidato de liberação imediata foi administrado na dosagem de média de 0,65mg/kg/dia. Usou-se o teste de Shapiro-Wilk e Kolmogorov-Smirnov para análise de normalidade. Frequências absolutas e relativas foram determinadas para as variáveis numéricas que foram descritas por suas médias e desvios padrões. Para comparações múltiplas dos parâmetros oxidativos foi realizado pós teste paramétrico de Tukey e para as demais variáveis análise de variância ANOVA (f). Análises dos parâmetros oxidativos foram realizadas no programa GraphPad Prism 7.0 (GraphPad Software, Inc. San Diego, CA, USA) e dos dados sociodemográficos e clínicos no software SPSS (versão 23.0 para Windows). Significância estatística foi considerada com p <0.05. Os resultados mostram: Sexo masculino predominante (71%), idade média 8,58 ± 1,91, predominância de apenas um cuidador - mãe e/ou pai biológico como chefe de família e maior frequência de tipo combinado de TDAH. Pressão arterial sistólica, frequência cardíaca e temperatura corporal alterações significativas, porém sem significância clínica. Índice massa corporal com diferença estatística, 37%, 19,3% e 21% das crianças apresentaram IMC acima do esperado para idade na avaliação 1, 2 e 3 respectivamente. Adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso permaneceu acima de 93,5% na 24ª semana. Durante o tratamento: FRAP não se alterou; atividade de SOD reduziu na 12ª semana em comparação à linha de base; atividade de CAT aumento significativo à 24ª em comparação 12ª semana; aumento significativo dos níveis de peroxidação lipídica à 24ª semana em comparação à 12ª semana. Aumento significativo das proteínas carboniladas na linha de base em comparação aos níveis da 12ª e 24ª semanas. O metilfenidato parece influenciar os parâmetros redox de crianças com TDAH, aumentando o estresse oxidativo. Porém, mecanismos cerebrais tamponam e desconhecemos o resultado dessas interações na estrutura cerebral. Níveis de BDNF não foram influenciados significativamente por metilfenidato em crianças com TDAH, quando comparados a controles em nossa metanálise.

This study evaluated the impact of methylphenidate hydrochloride (MFD) treatment (MFD) in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The study included varied methodology, including a review study about methylphenidate effects on BDNF and an experimental cohort study. The review study followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. In the experimental study, a single-center open cohort was designed, with a convenience sample recruited between the years 2020 and 2022, at the teaching outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Medicine at Viçosa Federal University (UFV-MG). Sample with 62 children, 6 to 14 years old, without previous treatment, diagnosed by a child psychiatrist according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5). Eight clinical follow-up visits were carried out, and biological samples were collected in 3 visits: before MFD beginning and after 12- and 24-weeks medication. Sociodemographic data, ADHD symptoms, clinical and psychiatric assessments were performed, as well as intelligence testing by psychology. Biological samples for oxidative markers serum dosages (total antioxidant capacity levels -FRAP -, superoxide dismutase activity - SOD-, catalase - CAT -, glutathione S transferase -GST-, lipid peroxidation and carbonyl proteins levels) were collected of each child in the 3 evaluation moments. Immediate-release methylphenidate was administered at approximately 0.65mg/kg/day. The Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for normality analysis. Absolute and relative frequencies were used for numeric variables that were described by their means and standard deviations. Tukey's parametric test and variance analysis ANOVA (f) were performed for multiple comparisons in redox parameters and other variables respectively. Redox parameters analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 7.0 program (GraphPad Software, Inc. San Diego, CA, USA) and other variables using SPSS software (version 23.0 for Windows). Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. Male was predominant (71%), with a mean age of 8.58 ± 1.91, mother and/or biological father were the householder in most homes. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature had significant changes, but without clinical significance. Body mass index showed a statistical difference, with 37%, 19.3% and 21% of the children having a BMI above the expected for their age in assessment 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Combined-ADHD occurred in 58.1% of the children, inattentive in 32.3% and hyperactive/impulsive in 9.7%. Drug treatment adherence was 98.4% (12th week) and 93.5% (24th week). There were no changes in FRAP levels; SOD activity had significant decreased at week 12 compared to baseline activity; CAT activity showed a significant increase at the 24th week compared to 12th week; Significant increase in lipid peroxidation levels at 24th week compared to 12th week. Significant increase in protein carbonyls levels at baseline (before methylphenidate use) compared to levels at 12 and 24 weeks. Methylphenidate can influence the oxidative and antioxidative parameters of ADHD children, increasing oxidative stress. However, buffer brain mechanisms may act and the result of these interactions in brain structure is not completely known. BDNF levels were not significantly affected by methylphenidate treatment in ADHD children and do not differ from controls in our meta-analysis.

Characterization of neural stem cells derived from human stem cells from the apical papilla undergoing three-dimensional neurosphere induction

Abstract Objectives The endogenous repairing based on the activation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is impaired by neurodegenerative diseases. The present study aims to characterize human stem cells from the apical papilla (hSCAPs) with features of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and to demonstrate the neuronal differentiation of hSCAPs into NSCs through the formation of three-dimensional (3D) neurospheres, verifying the structural, immunophenotyping, self-renewal, gene expression and neuronal activities of these cells to help further improve NSCs transplantation. Methodology The hSCAPs were isolated from healthy impacted human third molar teeth and characterized as MSCs. They were then induced into 3D-neurospheres using a specific neural induction medium. Subsequently, the intra-neurospheral cells were confirmed to be NSCs by the identification of Nissl substance and the analysis of immunofluorescence staining, self-renewal ability, and gene expression of the cells. Moreover, the neuronal activity was investigated using intracellular calcium oscillation. Results The isolated cells from the human apical papilla expressed many markers of MSCs, such as self-renewal ability and multilineage differentiation. These cells were thus characterized as MSCs, specifically as hSCAPs. The neurospheres induced from hSCAPs exhibited a 3D-floating spheroidal shape and larger neurospheres, and consisted of a heterogeneous population of intra-neurospheral cells. Further investigation showed that these intra-neurospheral cells had Nissl body staining and also expressed both Nestin and SOX2. They presented a self-renewal ability as well, which was observed after their disaggregation. Their gene expression profiling also exhibited a significant amount of NSC markers (NES, SOX1, and PAX6). Lastly, a large and dynamic change of the fluorescent signal that indicated calcium ions (Ca2+) was detected in the intracellular calcium oscillation, which indicated the neuronal activity of NSCs-derived hSCAPs. Conclusions The hSCAPs exhibited properties of MSCs and could differentiate into NSCs under 3D-neurosphere generation. The present findings suggest that NSCs-derived hSCAPs may be used as an alternative candidates for cell-based therapy, which uses stem cell transplantation to further treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Mesenchymal stromal cells derived from exfoliated deciduous teeth express neuronal markers before differentiation induction

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to evaluate neuronal markers in stromal cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and standardize the isolation and characterization of those cells. Methodology: Healthy primary teeth were collected from children. The cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion with collagenase. By following the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) guidelines, SHED were characterized by flow cytometry and differentiated into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Colony-forming unit-fibroblasts (CFU-F) were performed to assess these cells' potential and efficiency. To clarify the neuronal potential of SHED, the expression of nestin and βIII-tubulin were examined by immunofluorescence and SOX1, SOX2, GFAP, and doublecortin (DCX), nestin, CD56, and CD146 by flow cytometry. Results: SHED showed mesenchymal stromal cells characteristics, such as adhesion to plastic, positive immunophenotypic profile for CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD166 markers, reduced expression for CD14, CD19, CD34, CD45, HLA-DR, and differentiation in three lineages confirmed by staining and gene expression for adipogenic differentiation. The average efficiency of colony formation was 16.69%. SHED expressed the neuronal markers nestin and βIII-tubulin; the fluorescent signal intensity was significantly higher in βIII-tubulin (p<0.0001) compared to nestin. Moreover, SHED expressed DCX, GFAP, nestin, SOX1, SOX2, CD56, CD146, and CD271. Therefore, SHED had a potential for neuronal lineage even without induction with culture medium and specific factors. Conclusion: SHEDs may be a new therapeutic strategy for regenerating and repairing neuronal cells and tissues.

Deciphering the dynamic characteristics of non-neuronal cells in dorsal root ganglion of rat at different developmental stage based on single cell transcriptome data / 生物工程学报

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is an essential part of the peripheral nervous system and the hub of the peripheral sensory afferent. The dynamic changes of neuronal cells and their gene expression during the development of dorsal root ganglion have been studied through single-cell RNAseq analysis, while the dynamic changes of non-neuronal cells have not been systematically studied. Using single cell RNA sequencing technology, we conducted a research on the non-neuronal cells in the dorsal root ganglia of rats at different developmental stage. In this study, primary cell suspension was obtained from using the dorsal root ganglions (DRGs, L4-L5) of ten 7-day-old rats and three 3-month-old rats. The 10×Genomics platform was used for single cell dissociation and RNA sequencing. Twenty cell subsets were acquired through cluster dimension reduction analysis, and the marker genes of different types of cells in DRG were identified according to previous researches about DRG single cell transcriptome sequencing. In order to find out the non-neuronal cell subsets with significant differences at different development stage, the cells were classified into different cell types according to markers collected from previous researches. We performed pseudotime analysis of 4 types Schwann cells. It was found that subtype Ⅱ Schwann cells emerged firstly, and then were subtype Ⅲ Schwann cells and subtype Ⅳ Schwann cells, while subtype Ⅰ Schwann cells existed during the whole development procedure. Pseudotime analysis indicated the essential genes influencing cell fate of different subtypes of Schwann cell in DRG, such as Ntrk2 and Pmp2, which affected cell fate of Schwann cells during the development period. GO analysis of differential expressed genes showed that the up-regulated genes, such as Cst3 and Spp1, were closely related to biological process of tissue homeostasis and multi-multicellular organism process. The down regulated key genes, such as Col3a1 and Col4a1, had close relationship with the progress of extracellular structure organization and negative regulation of cell adhesion. This suggested that the expression of genes enhancing cell homestasis increased, while the expression of related genes regulating ECM-receptor interaction pathway decreased during the development. The discovery provided valuable information and brand-new perspectives for the study on the physical and developmental mechanism of Schwann cell as well as the non-neuronal cell changes in DRG at different developmental stage. The differential gene expression results provided crucial references for the mechanism of somatosensory maturation during development.

Trends in neuroanatomical research / 解剖学报

The basic structure of the nervous system is neurons and the connections formed by nerve fibers. Identifying different types of neurons in different parts of the nervous system, revealing the efferent and afferent nerve fibers they constitute, and elucidating the neuroactive substances and receptors involved, provide the basis for the regulation of neuronal activity and the uncovering of how the nervous system works. It is also the goal of neuroanatomy research. The rapid development of modern science and technology and interdisciplinary penetration require us to conduct in-depth neuroanatomy studies on specific neural pathways composed of specific types of neurons using specific neuroactive substances for specific neural functions. This also provides a good opportunity for us to clarify the structure of nervous system and analyze its working principle from macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic levels.

Effect of chemogenetic manipulation of PVN corticotropin-releasing factor-expressing neurons on excitability of presympathetic neurons in SHR / 中国药理学通报

Aim To observe the effect of corticotropin-releasing factor ( CRF) -expressing neurons on presympathetic neurons in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus ( PVN) of normotensive Wistar Kyoto ( WKY) rats or spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) , and to elucidate the underlying neuronal circuit mechanism of central sympathetic hyperexcitability. Methods The expression levels of CRF protein in WKY rats and SHR PVN were determined by Western blot. Meanwhile, the WKY and SHR PVN CRF-expressing neurons and presympathetic neurons were observed by immunofluo-rescent staining. Adult WKY rats and SHR were used in this study. By microinjection of Cre-dependent ade-no-associated viruses ( AAV) that specifically recognized the CRF promoter and AAV of chemogenetics into the PVN, CRF-expressing neurons expressed designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). Human M3 muscarinic DREADD coupled to Gq receptor ( hM3 Dq) was specifically expressed in PVN CRF-expressing neurons in WKY rats, while human M4 muscarinic DREADD coupled to Gi receptor ( hM4Di) was specifically expressed in PVN CRF-expressing neurons in SHR. Clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) , as a designer ligand, would couple to excitatory hM3Dq or inhibitory hM4Di to regulate the excitability of PVN CRF-expressing neurons. Then the PVN presympathetic neurons were retrogradely labeled by microinjection of fluosecent tracer into the intermedio-lateral column (IML) of spinal cord. Lastly, whole cell patch clamp was used to determine the effect of CNO (10 jjumol L~ ) on spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents ( sEPSCs) and current-evoked firing of PVN presympathtic neurons of WKY rats and SHR. Results The expression of CRF protein in the PVN of SHR was significantly higher than that of WKY rats, and the activity and number of CRF-expressing neurons in the PVN of SHR were increased. PVN CRF-expressing neurons were expressed with chemogenetic DREADDs and PVN presympathetic neurons were retrogradely labeled with fluorescent tracer in WKY rats and SHR. In SHR expressed with chemogenetic inhibitory hM4Di-mCherry of PVN CRF-expressing neurons, bath application of CNO to the brain slices resulted in a significant decrease in sEPSCs frequency, but no change in their amplitude of labeled PVN presympathetic neurons. In contrast, in WKY rats expressed with excitatory hM3Dq-eGFP of PVN CRF-expressing neurons, CNO had no obvious effect on the sEPSCs frequency and amplitude in PVN presympathetic neurons. Furthermore, bath application of CNO had no significant effect on current-evoked firing of PVN presympathetic neurons of either WKY rats with hM3Dq-eGFP expression in CRF neurons or SHR with hM4Di-mCherry expression in CRF neurons. Conclusions The activity and number of PVN CRF-expressing neurons are increased in SHR, and CRF-expressing neurons enhance the excitability of presympathetic neurons, which acts as a regulatory neuronal microcircuit between CRF neurons and presympathetic neurons in the PVN.

Role of CypD-mediated mPTP in melatonin improving cognitive impairment induced by repeated exposure to sevoflurane / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the involvement of cy-clophilin D ( CypD ) -mediated mitochondrial permeability transition pore ( mPTP) in the neuroprotective effects of melatonin on cognitive impairment induced by repeated exposure to sevoflurane in newborn animals. Methods Mice were randomly assigned into control group, sevoflurane ( Sevo) group, and melatonin pre-treatment + sevoflurane ( Sevo + Mel) group. JC-1 kit was used to assess the mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP) ; Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the protein expressions of CypD, postsynaptic density protein 95 ( PSD95 ), and Synapsin-1; and behavioral test were employed to measure cognitive function. Results The MMP level in the Sevo group was significantly reduced compared to the control group (P < 0. 01 ), the expression of CypD increased (P <0. 05), whereas the expression of PSD95 and Synapsin-1 decreased ( P < 0. 01) . Furthermore, the new object recognition index and spatial memory ability both exhibited a significant decline (P < 0. 01, P < 0. 05). However, when compared to the Sevo group, Sevo + Mel group could raise the MMP level (P <0. 01), increase the expression of synaptic proteins ( P < 0. 05 ), decrease the expression of CypD (P <0. 01) and elevate the new object recognition index and the spatial memory capacity ( P < 0. 01 ). Conclusions Melatonin could ameliorate cognitive impairment induced by repeated exposure to sevoflurane in newborn mice, and the underlying mechanism may be attributed to the inhibition of mPTP mediated by CypD and the promotion of synaptic protein synthesis.

Cathepsin D overexpression in the nervous system rescues lethality and Aβ42 accumulation of cathepsin D systemic knockout in vivo

The lysosome is responsible for protein and organelle degradation and homeostasis and the cathepsins play a key role in maintaining protein quality control. Cathepsin D (CTSD), is one such lysosomal protease, which when deficient in humans lead to neurolipofuscinosis (NCL) and is important in removing toxic protein aggregates. Prior studies demonstrated that CTSD germ-line knockout-CtsdKO (CDKO) resulted in accumulation of protein aggregates, decreased proteasomal activities, and postnatal lethality on Day 26 ± 1. Overexpression of wildtype CTSD, but not cathepsin B, L or mutant CTSD, decreased α-synuclein toxicity in worms and mammalian cells. In this study we generated a mouse line expressing human CTSD with a floxed STOP cassette between the ubiquitous CAG promoter and the cDNA. After crossing with Nestin-cre, the STOP cassette is deleted in NESTIN + cells to allow CTSD overexpression-CTSDtg (CDtg). The CDtg mice exhibited normal behavior and similar sensitivity to sub-chronic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced neurodegeneration. By breeding CDtg mice with CDKO mice, we found that over-expression of CTSD extended the lifespan of the CDKO mice, partially rescued proteasomal deficits and the accumulation of Aβ42 in the CDKO. This new transgenic mouse provides supports for the key role of CTSD in protecting against proteotoxicity and offers a new model to study the role of CTSD enhancement in vivo.

Spatial Distribution of Parvalbumin-Positive Fibers in the Mouse Brain and Their Alterations in Mouse Models of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Parkinson's Disease / 神经科学通报·英文版

Parvalbumin interneurons belong to the major types of GABAergic interneurons. Although the distribution and pathological alterations of parvalbumin interneuron somata have been widely studied, the distribution and vulnerability of the neurites and fibers extending from parvalbumin interneurons have not been detailly interrogated. Through the Cre recombinase-reporter system, we visualized parvalbumin-positive fibers and thoroughly investigated their spatial distribution in the mouse brain. We found that parvalbumin fibers are widely distributed in the brain with specific morphological characteristics in different regions, among which the cortex and thalamus exhibited the most intense parvalbumin signals. In regions such as the striatum and optic tract, even long-range thick parvalbumin projections were detected. Furthermore, in mouse models of temporal lobe epilepsy and Parkinson's disease, parvalbumin fibers suffered both massive and subtle morphological alterations. Our study provides an overview of parvalbumin fibers in the brain and emphasizes the potential pathological implications of parvalbumin fiber alterations.

CXCR5 Regulates Neuronal Polarity Development and Migration in the Embryonic Stage via F-Actin Homeostasis and Results in Epilepsy-Related Behavior / 神经科学通报·英文版

Epilepsy is a common, chronic neurological disorder that has been associated with impaired neurodevelopment and immunity. The chemokine receptor CXCR5 is involved in seizures via an unknown mechanism. Here, we first determined the expression pattern and distribution of the CXCR5 gene in the mouse brain during different stages of development and the brain tissue of patients with epilepsy. Subsequently, we found that the knockdown of CXCR5 increased the susceptibility of mice to pentylenetetrazol- and kainic acid-induced seizures, whereas CXCR5 overexpression had the opposite effect. CXCR5 knockdown in mouse embryos via viral vector electrotransfer negatively influenced the motility and multipolar-to-bipolar transition of migratory neurons. Using a human-derived induced an in vitro multipotential stem cell neurodevelopmental model, we determined that CXCR5 regulates neuronal migration and polarization by stabilizing the actin cytoskeleton during various stages of neurodevelopment. Electrophysiological experiments demonstrated that the knockdown of CXCR5 induced neuronal hyperexcitability, resulting in an increased number of seizures. Finally, our results suggested that CXCR5 deficiency triggers seizure-related electrical activity through a previously unknown mechanism, namely, the disruption of neuronal polarity.

Investigating the role of Prefrontal Neurons in cognitive tasks through Fiber Photometry and Adapted Barnes Maze Protocols

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is essential in the execution of cognitive tasks, however very little is known on how these neurons are modulated during specific tasks and which subtype of neurons are responsible for so. Therego, with the intention of addressing this issue, we recorded mPFC gabaergic and glutamatergic activation patterns through fiber photometry (FIP) in mice, while simultaneously performing the Barnes Maze (BM) cognitive task (4 day behavioral trial). In addition, an altered structural and procedural protocol for BM was validated in this study due to necessary modifications allowing FIP and BM to happen simultaneously. A successful protocol validation was followed by our preliminary results, which showed that both glutamatergic and gabaergic neurons presented significant change in activation intensity and number of events in specific contexts throughout the task days. In addition, when stratified and crossed with BM performance parameters, such as latency to complete tasks and adopted strategy, glutamatergic and gabaergic neurons presented a significant decline in both activation patterns and number of activation events throughout the days. This data suggest not only an important role of glutamatergic and gabaergic mPFC neurons in learning, memory and decision making, but also that activation patterns of each of these groups may serve as markers for cognitive progression and/or dysfunction. KEY-WORDS: Memory, Learning, Decision Making, Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC), Fiber Photometry (FIP), Barnes Maze (BM), Glutamatergic, Gabaergic, Neuronal Activity, Neuronal Activation Patterns, Neuronal Dynamics.

O córtex pré-frontal medial (mPFC) é essencial na execução de tarefas cognitivas, no entanto, pouco se sabe sobre como esses neurônios são modulados durante tarefas específicas e qual subtipo de neurônios é responsável por isso. Portanto, com a intenção de abordar essa questão, registramos os padrões de ativação de neurônios gabaérgicos e glutamatérgicos do mPFC por meio de fotometria de fibra (FIP) em camundongos, enquanto realizávamos simultaneamente a tarefa cognitiva do Labirinto de Barnes (BM) (ensaio comportamental de 4 dias). Além disso, um protocolo estrutural e procedimental alterado para o BM foi validado neste estudo devido a modificações necessárias que permitiram a realização simultânea de FIP e BM. Uma validação bem-sucedida do protocolo foi seguida pelos nossos resultados preliminares, que mostraram que tanto os neurônios glutamatérgicos quanto os gabaérgicos apresentaram mudanças significativas na intensidade de ativação e no número de eventos em contextos específicos ao longo dos dias da tarefa. Além disso, quando estratificados e cruzados com parâmetros de desempenho do BM, como latência para completar as tarefas e estratégia adotada, os neurônios glutamatérgicos e gabaérgicos apresentaram uma diminuição significativa nos padrões de ativação e no número de eventos de ativação ao longo dos dias. Esses dados sugerem não apenas um papel importante dos neurônios glutamatérgicos e gabaérgicos do mPFC na aprendizagem, memória e tomada de decisões, mas também que os padrões de ativação de cada um desses grupos podem servir como marcadores de progressão e/ou disfunção cognitiva. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Memória, Aprendizagem, Tomada de Decisões, Córtex Pré-Frontal Medial (mPFC), Fotometria de Fibra (FIP), Labirinto de Barnes (BM), Glutamatérgico, Gabaérgico, Atividade Neuronal, Padrões de Ativação Neuronal, Dinâmica Neuronal.

Neuronal guidance genes in health and diseases

Neurons migrate from their birthplaces to the destinations, and extending axons navigate to their synaptic targets by sensing various extracellular cues in spatiotemporally controlled manners. These evolutionally conserved guidance cues and their receptors regulate multiple aspects of neural development to establish the highly complex nervous system by mediating both short- and long-range cell-cell communications. Neuronal guidance genes (encoding cues, receptors, or downstream signal transducers) are critical not only for development of the nervous system but also for synaptic maintenance, remodeling, and function in the adult brain. One emerging theme is the combinatorial and complementary functions of relatively limited classes of neuronal guidance genes in multiple processes, including neuronal migration, axonal guidance, synaptogenesis, and circuit formation. Importantly, neuronal guidance genes also regulate cell migration and cell-cell communications outside the nervous system. We are just beginning to understand how cells integrate multiple guidance and adhesion signaling inputs to determine overall cellular/subcellular behavior and how aberrant guidance signaling in various cell types contributes to diverse human diseases, ranging from developmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders to cancer metastasis. We review classic studies and recent advances in understanding signaling mechanisms of the guidance genes as well as their roles in human diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the remaining challenges and therapeutic potentials of modulating neuronal guidance pathways in neural repair.

Biphasic Cholinergic Modulation of Reverberatory Activity in Neuronal Networks / 神经科学通报·英文版

Acetylcholine (ACh) is an important neuromodulator in various cognitive functions. However, it is unclear how ACh influences neural circuit dynamics by altering cellular properties. Here, we investigated how ACh influences reverberatory activity in cultured neuronal networks. We found that ACh suppressed the occurrence of evoked reverberation at low to moderate doses, but to a much lesser extent at high doses. Moreover, high doses of ACh caused a longer duration of evoked reverberation, and a higher occurrence of spontaneous activity. With whole-cell recording from single neurons, we found that ACh inhibited excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) while elevating neuronal firing in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, all ACh-induced cellular and network changes were blocked by muscarinic, but not nicotinic receptor antagonists. With computational modeling, we found that simulated changes in EPSCs and the excitability of single cells mimicking the effects of ACh indeed modulated the evoked network reverberation similar to experimental observations. Thus, ACh modulates network dynamics in a biphasic fashion, probably by inhibiting excitatory synaptic transmission and facilitating neuronal excitability through muscarinic signaling pathways.