2024: A "nucleoid space" odyssey featuring H-NS.

The three-dimensional architecture of the bacterial chromosome is intertwined with genome processes such as transcription and replication. Conspicuously so, that the structure of the chromosome permits accurate prediction of active genome processes. Although appreciation of this interplay has developed rapidly in the past two decades, our understanding of this subject is still in its infancy, with research primarily focusing on how the process of transcription regulates and is regulated by chromosome structure. Here, we summarize the latest developments in the field with a focus on the interplay between chromosome structure and transcription in Escherichia coli (E. coli) as mediated by H-NS-a model nucleoid structuring protein. We describe how the organization of chromosomes at the global and local scales is dependent on transcription, and how transcription is regulated by chromosome structure. Finally, we take note of studies that highlight our limited knowledge of structure-function relationships in the chromosome, and we point out research tracks that will improve our insight in the topic.

Associations between prenatal stress with offspring inflammation, depression and anxiety.

PURPOSE: Few longitudinal studies have investigated the mediating role of inflammation during childhood in associations between prenatal maternal stress and adolescent mental health. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between prenatal maternal stress, concentrations of immune markers at age 9, and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression during adolescence. METHODS: This study included 3723 mother-child pairs from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Prenatal maternal stress was examined using 55 items measured during pregnancy. Inflammation was assessed using serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) when children were 9 years old. GAD and depression were assessed when children were 16 and 18 years of age, respectively. Analyses comprised of structural equation models. RESULTS: Prenatal maternal stress was associated with higher concentrations of IL-6 in childhood, and with greater symptoms of depression and GAD in adolescence. However, we did not observe associations between prenatal maternal stress and CRP; also, CRP and IL-6 were not associated with depression and GAD. There was no evidence that CRP and IL-6 mediated the associations between prenatal maternal stress and either GAD or depression. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal maternal stress is associated with IL-6 levels in childhood, and with GAD and depression during adolescence. Future studies should examine immune activity at multiple points during development in relation to mental health into adulthood to determine whether inflammation at different points during development could increase risk for mental health problems among children whose mothers experienced significant stressors during pregnancy.

ChIP-qPCR of FLAG-Tagged Proteins in Bacteria.

DNA-protein interactions occur in biological processes such as genome replication, gene transcription, DNA repair, and chromatin compaction and organization. Mapping the distribution of the DNA-bound proteins on the chromosome is essential for understanding their associated biological process. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) involves the antibody-mediated enrichment of DNA fragments bound by a target protein and has become one of the most powerful techniques for exploring the distribution of proteins on the chromosome. By incorporating quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) downstream of the ChIP assay, ChIP-qPCR was developed to describe binding profiles of DNA-associated proteins at a candidate locus. In this chapter, we describe ChIP-qPCR. We provide a step-by-step protocol for the preparation of a ChIP library of a 3× FLAG-tagged protein in bacteria, describe how downstream qPCR experiments can be performed with the appropriate controls, and explain how the data is analyzed. This chapter provides reliable technical guidance for ChIP-qPCR studies in bacteria.

Reliability of brain metrics derived from a Time-Domain Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy System.

With the growing interest in establishing brain-based biomarkers for precision medicine, there is a need for noninvasive, scalable neuroimaging devices that yield valid and reliable metrics. Kernel's second-generation Flow2 Time-Domain Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (TD-fNIRS) system meets the requirements of noninvasive and scalable neuroimaging, and uses a validated modality to measure brain function. In this work, we investigate the test-retest reliability (TRR) of a set of metrics derived from the Flow2 recordings. We adopted a repeated-measures design with 49 healthy participants, and quantified TRR over multiple time points and different headsets-in different experimental conditions including a resting state, a sensory, and a cognitive task. Results demonstrated high reliability in resting state features including hemoglobin concentrations, head tissue light attenuation, amplitude of low frequency fluctuations, and functional connectivity. Additionally, passive auditory and Go/No-Go inhibitory control tasks each exhibited similar activation patterns across days. Notably, areas with the highest reliability were in auditory regions during the auditory task, and right prefrontal regions during the Go/No-Go task, consistent with prior literature. This study underscores the reliability of Flow2-derived metrics, supporting its potential to actualize the vision of using brain-based biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment selection and treatment monitoring of neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive disorders.

A prospective observational study evaluating two patient immobilisation methods in lung stereotactic radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The main objective of this study was to assess inter- and intrafraction errors for two patient immobilisation devices in the context of lung stereotactic body radiation therapy: a vacuum cushion and a simple arm support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients who were treated with lung stereotactic body radiation therapy in supine position with arms above their head were included in the study. Ten patients were setup in a vacuum cushion (Bluebag™, Elekta) and ten other patients with a simple arm support (Posirest™, Civco). A pretreatment four-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography and a post-treatment three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography were acquired to compare positioning and immobilisation accuracy. Based on a rigid registration with the planning computed tomography on the spine at the target level, translational and rotational errors were reported. RESULTS: The median number of fractions per treatment was 5 (range: 3-10). Mean interfraction errors based on 112 four-dimensional cone-beam computed tomographies were similar for both setups with deviations less than or equal to 1.3mm in lateral and vertical direction and 1.2° in roll and yaw. For longitudinal translational errors, mean interfraction errors were 0.7mm with vacuum cushion and -3.9mm with arm support. Based on 111 three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomographies, mean lateral, longitudinal and vertical intrafraction errors were -0.1mm, -0.2mm and 0.0mm respectively (SD: 1.0, 1.2 and 1.0mm respectively) for the patients setup with vacuum cushion, and mean vertical, longitudinal and lateral intrafraction errors were -0.3mm, -0.7mm and 0.1mm respectively (SD: 2.3, 1.8 and 1.4mm respectively) for the patients setup with arm support. Intrafraction errors means were not statistically different between both positions but standard deviations were statistically larger with arm support. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed similar inter and intrafraction mean deviations between both positioning but a large variability in intrafraction observed with arm support suggested a more accurate immobilization with vacuum cushion.

Functional differences between the extraordinary eyes of deep-sea hyperiid amphipods.

The ocean's midwater is a uniquely challenging yet predictable and simple visual environment. The need to see without being seen in this dim, open habitat has led to extraordinary visual adaptations. To understand these adaptations, we compared the morphological and functional differences between the eyes of three hyperiid amphipods-Hyperia galba, Streetsia challengeri and Phronima sedentaria. Combining micro-CT data with computational modelling, we mapped visual field topography and predicted detection distances for visual targets viewed in different directions through mesopelagic depths. Hyperia's eyes provide a wide visual field optimized for spatial vision over short distances, while Phronima's and Streetsia's eyes have the potential to achieve greater sensitivity and longer detection distances using spatial summation. These improvements come at the cost of smaller visual fields, but this loss is compensated for by a second pair of eyes in Phronima and by behaviour in Streetsia. The need to improve sensitivity while minimizing visible eye size to maintain crypsis has likely driven the evolution of hyperiid eye diversity. Our results provide an integrative look at how these elusive animals have adapted to the unique visual challenges of the mesopelagic.

A rare case of methemoglobinemia in a preterm newborn with unclear etiology.

 Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the tissues due to increased levels of deoxygenated hemoglobin in capillaries. It is a common finding in newborn infants that can be caused by different diseases, including pulmonary, cardiac, infectious, and hematological disorders. Methemoglobinemia is a rare cause of cyanosis, in which hemoglobin is oxidized, changing its heme iron configuration from the ferrous (Fe2 +) to the ferric (Fe3 +) state, creating methemoglobin (Met-Hb), a form that does not bind oxygen, leading to decreased oxygen delivery to the tissues and cyanosis. We report a rare case of a preterm newborn, who developed cyanosis and worsening hypoxemia on day ten of life, she was found to have elevated Met-Hb percentage in blood gas analysis that required treatment with intravenous methylene blue. Her symptoms resolved after a period of maintenance treatment with oral methylene blue and ascorbic acid, and the etiology of her disease remains unclear.

An obscured obstacle—Prevalence and nature of micro aggressions amongst healthcare professionals / Un obstáculo oscurecido. Prevalencia y naturaleza de las microagresiones entre los profesionales de la salud

Introduction: Microaggressions create negative consequences on the mental health of individuals who experience them, such as feelings of alienation, frustration and low self-esteem. Physicians worldwide are negatively impacted by the detrimental effects of microaggressions and implicit bias. It is imperative to establish the prevalence specificity of the problem hence the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, nature and determinants of microaggressions amongst healthcare professionals. Method: The study used an online anonymous survey to collect data including demographics, awareness of the term, experience of microaggression, acts and response. The research findings were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses using Chi-square test and binary logistic regression respectively. Result: A total of 443 participants (40.9% males, 59.1% females) included 403 physicians (91%), 21 dentists (4.7%), 15 nurses (3.4%) and 4 pharmacists (0.9%). More than half of the participants (59.8%) were aware of the term micro-aggression. The percentage was significantly higher among respondents from the western region of Saudi Arabia than the Gulf/Middle Eastern countries. Approximately 38.1% of the participants experienced microaggression and more than half (55.62%) did not report experiencing microaggression. The most common form of microaggression was passive-aggressive behavior (80.5%) followed by invalidation of an opinion (73.4%). Among those who experienced microaggression, (12.9%) reported anger as the most predominant emotional response. Conclusion: Microaggression is a universal phenomenon. Further research is necessary to determine its prevalence in other countries to establish a comprehensive understanding of its cultural context.(AU)

Introducción: Las microagresiones crean consecuencias negativas en la salud mental de las personas que las experimentan, como sentimientos de alienación, frustración y baja autoestima. Los médicos de todo el mundo se ven afectados negativamente por los efectos perjudiciales de las microagresiones y el sesgo implícito. Es imperativo establecer la especificidad de prevalencia del problema, por lo que el objetivo de este estudio es determinar la prevalencia, la naturaleza y los determinantes de las microagresiones entre los profesionales de la salud. Método: El estudio utilizó una encuesta anónima en línea para recopilar datos demográficos, conocimiento del término, experiencia de microagresión, actos y respuesta. Los resultados de la investigación se analizaron mediante análisis univariados y multivariados mediante la prueba de Chi-cuadrado y la regresión logística binaria, respectivamente. Resultado: Un total de 443 participantes (40,9% hombres, 59,1% mujeres) incluyeron 403 médicos (91%), 21 dentistas (4,7%), 15 enfermeras (3,4%) y 4 farmacéuticos (0,9%). Más de la mitad de los participantes (59,8%) conocían el término microagresión. El porcentaje fue significativamente mayor entre los encuestados de la región occidental de Arabia Saudita que entre los países del Golfo/Medio Oriente. Aproximadamente el 38,1% de los participantes experimentaron microagresión y más de la mitad (55,62%) informaron no haber experimentado microagresión. La forma más común de microagresión fue el comportamiento pasivo-agresivo (80,5%), seguido de la invalidación de una opinión (73,4%). Entre quienes experimentaron microagresión, 12,9% reportaron ira como la respuesta emocional predominante. Conclusión: La microagresión es un fenómeno universal. Se necesita más investigación para determinar su prevalencia en otros países a fin de establecer una comprensión integral de su contexto cultural.(AU)

Functionally distinct dopamine domains in the hippocampus.

Numerous studies have identified dopamine signaling in the hippocampus as necessary for certain types of learning and memory. Since dopamine in the striatum is strongly tied to rewards, dopamine in the hippocampus is thought to reinforce reward learning. Despite the critical influence of dopamine on hippocampal function, little is known about dopamine release in the hippocampus or the specific ways dopamine can influence hippocampal function. Based on the functional complexity of hippocampal circuitry, we hypothesized the existence of multiple dopamine signaling domains. Using optical dopamine sensors, two-photon imaging, and head-fixed behaviors, we identified two functionally and spatially distinct dopamine domains in the hippocampus. The "superficial" domain (cell somata and apical dendrites) showed reward-related dopamine transients early in Pavlovian conditioning but were replaced by "deep" domain transients (basal dendritic layer) with experience. These two domains also play distinct roles in a hippocampal-dependent, goal-directed virtual reality task where mice use exploratory licks to discover the location of a hidden reward zone. Here, positive dopamine ramps appeared in the superficial domain as mice approached the reward zone, similar to those seen in the striatum. At the same time, the deep domain showed strong reward-related transients. These results reveal small-scale, anatomically segregated, dopamine domains in the hippocampus. Furthermore dopamine domain activity had temporal-specificity for different phases of behavior. Finally, the subcellular scale of dopamine domains suggests specialized postsynaptic pathways for processing and integrating functionally distinct dopaminergic influences.

An obscured obstacle-Prevalence and nature of micro aggressions amongst healthcare professionals.

INTRODUCTION: Microaggressions create negative consequences on the mental health of individuals who experience them, such as feelings of alienation, frustration and low self-esteem. Physicians worldwide are negatively impacted by the detrimental effects of microaggressions and implicit bias. It is imperative to establish the prevalence specificity of the problem hence the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, nature and determinants of microaggressions amongst healthcare professionals. METHOD: The study used an online anonymous survey to collect data including demographics, awareness of the term, experience of microaggression, acts and response. The research findings were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses using Chi-square test and binary logistic regression respectively. RESULT: A total of 443 participants (40.9% males, 59.1% females) included 403 physicians (91%), 21 dentists (4.7%), 15 nurses (3.4%) and 4 pharmacists (0.9%). More than half of the participants (59.8%) were aware of the term micro-aggression. The percentage was significantly higher among respondents from the western region of Saudi Arabia than the Gulf/Middle Eastern countries. Approximately 38.1% of the participants experienced microaggression and more than half (55.62%) did not report experiencing microaggression. The most common form of microaggression was passive-aggressive behavior (80.5%) followed by invalidation of an opinion (73.4%). Among those who experienced microaggression, (12.9%) reported anger as the most predominant emotional response. CONCLUSION: Microaggression is a universal phenomenon. Further research is necessary to determine its prevalence in other countries to establish a comprehensive understanding of its cultural context.

Tracing probiotic producing bacterial species from gut of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), South-East-Asia / Rastreando espécies bacterianas produtoras de probióticos de intestino de búfalo (Bubalus bubalis), sudeste da Ásia

Due to extensive application of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed, antimicrobial resistance has been increased. To overcome this challenge, rumen microbiologists search for new probiotics to improve the rate of livestock production. The present study was aimed to isolate and evaluate breed-specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as potential animal probiotics. The current study was conducted during 10 months from July 2020 to April 2021, in which a total of n=12 strains were isolated from different samples including milk, rumen, and feces of Nilli Ravi Buffaloes. These isolates were evaluated for their antimicrobial potential against common animal pathogens (Bacillus spp., E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria spp.). All the isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the phylogenetic analyses inferred that these strains showed close relations to the species of various genera; Enterococcus lactis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Bacillus subtilis Weissella cibaria, Weissella soli, Bacillus tequilensis, Weissella bombi, Bacillus licheniformis, Lactococcus lactis, Bacillus megaterium, Lactobacillus ruminis, and Lactococcus lactis. NMCC-Ru2 has exhibited the enormous potential of antimicrobial activity, 28 mm, for Salmonella typhimurium;23 mm for Listeria monocytogenes 21 mm for E.coil. Highest resistance was seen in NMCC-Ru2 agasint test antbiotic, like 25.5 mm for Tetracycline. Overall results revesl that the probiotic profile of isolates was achieved using standard criteria, particularly with animal probiotic properties

Devido à extensa aplicação de antibióticos como promotores de crescimento na alimentação animal, a resistência aos antimicrobianos aumentou. Para superar esse desafio, os microbiologistas do rúmen buscam novos probióticos para melhorar a produtividade do gado. O presente estudo teve como objetivo isolar e avaliar bactérias lácticas específicas de raças (BAL) como potenciais probióticos animais. 12 cepas foram isoladas de diferentes amostras, incluindo leite, rúmen e fezes de búfalos Nilli Ravi. Esses isolados foram avaliados quanto ao seu potencial antimicrobiano contra patógenos animais comuns (Bacillus spp., E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria spp.). Todos os isolados foram identificados por meio do sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA e as análises filogenéticas inferiram que essas cepas apresentaram estreita relação com as espécies de vários gêneros; Enterococcus lactis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Bacillus subtilis, Weissella cibaria, Weissella soli, Bacillus tequilensis, Weissella bombi, Bacillus licheniformis, Lactococcus lactis, Bacillus megaterium, Lactobacillus ruminis e Lactococcus lactis. O perfil probiótico dos isolados foi obtido usando critérios padrão, particularmente com propriedades probióticas animais.

Tracing probiotic producing bacterial species from gut of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), South-East-Asia

Abstract Due to extensive application of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed, antimicrobial resistance has been increased. To overcome this challenge, rumen microbiologists search for new probiotics to improve the rate of livestock production. The present study was aimed to isolate and evaluate breed-specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as potential animal probiotics. The current study was conducted during 10 months from July 2020 to April 2021, in which a total of n=12 strains were isolated from different samples including milk, rumen, and feces of Nilli Ravi Buffaloes. These isolates were evaluated for their antimicrobial potential against common animal pathogens (Bacillus spp., E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria spp.). All the isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the phylogenetic analyses inferred that these strains showed close relations to the species of various genera; Enterococcus lactis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Bacillus subtilis Weissella cibaria, Weissella soli, Bacillus tequilensis, Weissella bombi, Bacillus licheniformis, Lactococcus lactis, Bacillus megaterium, Lactobacillus ruminis, and Lactococcus lactis. NMCC-Ru2 has exhibited the enormous potential of antimicrobial activity, 28 mm, for Salmonella typhimurium;23 mm for Listeria monocytogenes 21 mm for E.coil. Highest resistance was seen in NMCC-Ru2 agasint test antbiotic, like 25.5 mm for Tetracycline. Overall results revesl that the probiotic profile of isolates was achieved using standard criteria, particularly with animal probiotic properties

Resumo Devido à extensa aplicação de antibióticos como promotores de crescimento na alimentação animal, a resistência aos antimicrobianos aumentou. Para superar esse desafio, os microbiologistas do rúmen buscam novos probióticos para melhorar a produtividade do gado. O presente estudo teve como objetivo isolar e avaliar bactérias lácticas específicas de raças (BAL) como potenciais probióticos animais. 12 cepas foram isoladas de diferentes amostras, incluindo leite, rúmen e fezes de búfalos Nilli Ravi. Esses isolados foram avaliados quanto ao seu potencial antimicrobiano contra patógenos animais comuns (Bacillus spp., E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria spp.). Todos os isolados foram identificados por meio do sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA e as análises filogenéticas inferiram que essas cepas apresentaram estreita relação com as espécies de vários gêneros; Enterococcus lactis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Bacillus subtilis, Weissella cibaria, Weissella soli, Bacillus tequilensis, Weissella bombi, Bacillus licheniformis, Lactococcus lactis, Bacillus megaterium, Lactobacillus ruminis e Lactococcus lactis. O perfil probiótico dos isolados foi obtido usando critérios padrão, particularmente com propriedades probióticas animais.

Awareness of Healthy Lifestyle Among Elderly Population During Aging in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: The research explores healthy aging among elderly individuals globally and in Saudi Arabia. Factors like health services, lifestyle, and chronic diseases affecting seniors are examined. However, there is a gap in culturally relevant research, particularly in Arabic-speaking countries. This study aims to understand elderly individuals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding healthy lifestyles for effective functional preservation in aging. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, specifically Al-Ahsa, from February to May 2023. The Raosoft calculator was employed to determine a sample size of at least 384 participants. The data was analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: Regarding the associations between knowledge levels and demographics, education significantly impacts knowledge (p=0.003). Retired respondents exhibit higher knowledge (50.4%) compared to those with jobs (10.4%) (p=0.002). Smoking has a significant impact on knowledge (p=0.012). Regarding the opinions on elderly care, respondents agree on the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables (52.2%), increased protein intake (64.3%), less fat (83.5%), and regular exercise (44.3%). Supplements' necessity is disagreed upon (95.7%). Living with family is favored (67.8%), and elderly self-management is recognized (60.9%). Significant differences are seen in fruit and vegetable consumption (p=0.001), less fat usage (p=0.000), exercise habits (p=0.000), smoking (p=0.000), and using just salt in cooking (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Study findings underscore the importance of education in influencing healthy behaviors and informed choices, with education levels significantly impacting knowledge levels. Respondents' preferences for balanced diets, exercise, and self-management reflect a positive trend toward embracing healthy aging principles. Notably, the study identifies disparities between knowledge groups in various lifestyle factors, highlighting the potential of education to drive positive changes in behaviors.

Cri-Du-Chat Syndrome Associated With Meningomyelocele: A Case Report.

Cri-du-chat syndrome (CdCS) is a rare genetic disorder in which the short arm of chromosome 5 is deleted. This report aims to highlight a rare association with the syndrome. We present a preterm male delivered at 35 weeks gestation with an antenatal diagnosis of meningomyelocele. The patient's clinical examination revealed ruptured lumbosacral meningomyelocele, lower limb hypotonia, and hyporeflexia. The patient also displayed dysmorphic features, including microcephaly, a rounded face, low-set ears, and club feet. In addition, he is noted to have a high-pitched cry. Diagnosis of Chiari tonsil hernia type II was made by magnetic resonance imaging, and whole exome sequencing has confirmed CdCS. The spina bifida was surgically corrected, and the patient has since been cared for by a multidisciplinary team. The patient's short-term follow-up revealed a significant developmental delay. Few cases of CdCS associated with meningomyelocele have been reported. More evidence is needed to support a relevant association between CdCS and meningomyelocele.

The environmentally-regulated interplay between local three-dimensional chromatin organisation and transcription of proVWX in E. coli.

Nucleoid associated proteins (NAPs) maintain the architecture of bacterial chromosomes and regulate gene expression. Thus, their role as transcription factors may involve three-dimensional chromosome re-organisation. While this model is supported by in vitro studies, direct in vivo evidence is lacking. Here, we use RT-qPCR and 3C-qPCR to study the transcriptional and architectural profiles of the H-NS (histone-like nucleoid structuring protein)-regulated, osmoresponsive proVWX operon of Escherichia coli at different osmolarities and provide in vivo evidence for transcription regulation by NAP-mediated chromosome re-modelling in bacteria. By consolidating our in vivo investigations with earlier in vitro and in silico studies that provide mechanistic details of how H-NS re-models DNA in response to osmolarity, we report that activation of proVWX in response to a hyperosmotic shock involves the destabilization of H-NS-mediated bridges anchored between the proVWX downstream and upstream regulatory elements (DRE and URE), and between the DRE and ygaY that lies immediately downstream of proVWX. The re-establishment of these bridges upon adaptation to hyperosmolarity represses the operon. Our results also reveal additional structural features associated with changes in proVWX transcript levels such as the decompaction of local chromatin upstream of the operon, highlighting that further complexity underlies the regulation of this model operon. H-NS and H-NS-like proteins are wide-spread amongst bacteria, suggesting that chromosome re-modelling may be a typical feature of transcriptional control in bacteria.

CDKN2B-AS (rs2891168), SOD2 (rs4880), and PON1 (rs662) polymorphisms and susceptibility to coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iranian patients: A case-control study.

Background and Aims: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a devastating illness and primary cause of death worldwide that arises from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Several large-scale studies found that 9p21.3, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) polymorphisms increase type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and/or coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Our research aimed to investigate whether the SNPs of the 9p21.3 locus (rs28911698), SOD2 (rs4880), and PON1 (rs662) genes were associated with the risk of T2DM and/or CAD in the Iranian population. Methods: In this case-control study four group subjects including patients with CAD non-T2DM, with CAD and T2DM, non-CAD with T2DM, and non-CAD non-T2DM were recruited to the study from 2019 to 2020. Molecular analysis was carried out by allele specific-polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) technique for rs4880, Taqman genotyping assay for rs2891168, and PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique for rs662. Results: The rs2891168 polymorphism presented an elevated risk of CAD in non-T2DM with CAD and with T2DM CAD groups compared to the non-T2DM non-CAD group with GG genotype and dominant model after adjustment (p < 0.05). G-allele in PON1 rs662 polymorphism associated with increased risk of T2DM in T2DM non-CAD, and T2DM CAD groups compared to non-T2DM non-CAD group with dominant model, GG and AG genotypes (p < 0.05). However, SOD2 rs4880 polymorphism presented no significant association with the development of diabetes or CAD. Conclusion: These results provide a prime witness that rs2891168 and rs662 gene variants might have a possible increased risk of CAD and T2DM occurrence, respectively. To obtain more definitive and accurate results in this area, further research is required.

A neural code for time and space in the human brain.

Time and space are primary dimensions of human experience. Separate lines of investigation have identified neural correlates of time and space, yet little is known about how these representations converge during self-guided experience. Here, 10 subjects with intracranially implanted microelectrodes play a timed, virtual navigation game featuring object search and retrieval tasks separated by fixed delays. Time cells and place cells activate in parallel during timed navigation intervals, whereas a separate time cell sequence spans inter-task delays. The prevalence, firing rates, and behavioral coding strengths of time cells and place cells are indistinguishable-yet time cells selectively remap between search and retrieval tasks, while place cell responses remain stable. Thus, the brain can represent time and space as overlapping but dissociable dimensions. Time cells and place cells may constitute a biological basis for the cognitive map of spatiotemporal context onto which memories are written.

Princeton RAtlas: A Common Coordinate Framework for Fully cleared, Whole Rattus norvegicus Brains.

Whole-brain clearing and imaging methods are becoming more common in mice but have yet to become standard in rats, at least partially due to inadequate clearing from most available protocols. Here, we build on recent mouse-tissue clearing and light-sheet imaging methods and develop and adapt them to rats. We first used cleared rat brains to create an open-source, 3D rat atlas at 25 µm resolution. We then registered and imported other existing labeled volumes and made all of the code and data available for the community (https://github.com/emilyjanedennis/PRA) to further enable modern, whole-brain neuroscience in the rat. Key features • This protocol adapts iDISCO (Renier et al., 2014) and uDISCO (Pan et al., 2016) tissue-clearing techniques to consistently clear rat brains. • This protocol also decreases the number of working hours per day to fit in an 8 h workday. Graphical overview.

Dynamic neural representations of memory and space during human ambulatory navigation.

Our ability to recall memories of personal experiences is an essential part of daily life. These episodic memories often involve movement through space and thus require continuous encoding of one's position relative to the surrounding environment. The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is thought to be critically involved, based on studies in freely moving rodents and stationary humans. However, it remains unclear if and how the MTL represents both space and memory especially during physical navigation, given challenges associated with deep brain recordings in humans during movement. We recorded intracranial electroencephalographic (iEEG) activity while participants completed an ambulatory spatial memory task within an immersive virtual reality environment. MTL theta activity was modulated by successful memory retrieval or spatial positions within the environment, depending on dynamically changing behavioral goals. Altogether, these results demonstrate how human MTL oscillations can represent both memory and space in a temporally flexible manner during freely moving navigation.

Contrast sensitivity, visual acuity and the effect of behavioural state on optokinetic gain in fiddler crabs.

Most animals rely on visual information for a variety of everyday tasks. The information available to a visual system depends in part on its spatial resolving power and contrast sensitivity. Because of their competing demands for physical space within an eye, these traits cannot simultaneously be improved without increasing overall eye size. The contrast sensitivity function is an integrated measure of visual performance that measures both resolution and contrast sensitivity. Its measurement helps us identify how different species have made a trade-off between contrast sensitivity and spatial resolution. It further allows us to identify the evolutionary drivers of sensory processing and visually mediated behaviour. Here, we measured the contrast sensitivity function of the fiddler crab Gelasimus dampieri using its optokinetic responses to wide-field moving sinusoidal intensity gratings of different orientations, spatial frequencies, contrasts and speeds. We further tested whether the behavioural state of the crabs (i.e. whether crabs are actively walking or not) affects their optokinetic gain and contrast sensitivity. Our results from a group of five crabs suggest a minimum perceived contrast of 6% and a horizontal and vertical visual acuity of 0.4 cyc deg-1 and 0.28 cyc deg-1, respectively, in the crabs' region of maximum optomotor sensitivity. Optokinetic gain increased in moving crabs compared with restrained crabs, adding another example of the importance of naturalistic approaches when studying the performance of animals.