Hornfalk3798

Emerging evidence indicates that dysbiosis of gut microbiota plays an important role in epilepsy, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear due to the complex nature of both microbial composition and pathophysiology of epilepsy. We investigated effects of long-term probiotics supplementation on epileptic seizures, and inflammatory and oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers in a pentylenetetrazole(PTZ)-induced seizure model in rats. Male Wistar weaner-rats were divided into four groups. The first two groups received 1 ml/day saline solution, while the other groups received 0.05 mg/1ml/day vehicle or 109cfu/1ml/day probiotic-mixture, respectively, for 60 days by gavage. Seizure was induced by a single convulsive dose of PTZ. Seizures were evaluated using Racine's scale. Concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in plasma and brain tissue were determined using ELISA, while oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers were measured using an automated-colorimetric method. Probiotics supplementation exhibited anticonvulsant effects against PTZ-induced seizures by retarding onset-times of both myoclonic-jerk and generalized tonic-clonic seizure, and by shortening duration of generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Additionally, it alleviated PTZ-induced increases in levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17A, but not of IFNγ, in plasma and brain tissue. Moreover, it restored PTZinduced fluctuations in levels of oxidants TOS and disulfide, and of antioxidants native thiol and total thiol. Our findings suggest that long-term probiotics supplementation exhibits protective effects against epileptic seizures, and alleviates (neuro)inflammation and oxidative stress related to pathophysiology of epilepsy. A probiotic-rich diet provided from childhood may provide prophylaxis against epileptic seizures, especially in susceptible individuals, as the neonate diet represents a fundamental extrinsic factor in establishing gut microbiota.White-eyes are an iconic radiation of passerine birds that have been the subject of studies in evolutionary biology, biogeography, and speciation theory. Zosterops white-eyes in particular are thought to have radiated rapidly across continental and insular regions of the Afro- and Indo-Pacific tropics, yet their phylogenetic history remains equivocal. Here, we sampled 77% of the genera and 47% of known white-eye species and sequenced thousands of ultraconserved elements to infer the phylogeny of the avian family Zosteropidae. We used concatenated maximum likelihood and species tree methods and found strong support for seven clades of white-eyes and three clades within the species-rich Zosterops radiation.The Balkans are one of the European biodiversity hotspots, hosting outstandingly rich, yet threatened, flora and fauna. This region hosts one of the richest endemic freshwater ichthyofauna in Europe, including several genera occurring exclusively here. One of these is the genus of the primary freshwater minnows Pelasgus, which was designated only in 2007. The genus is one of the most ancient genera of the family Leuciscidae and comprises seven small-bodied species, inhabiting slower, well-vegetated courses of rivers. This work is the first molecular multilocus phylogeny of the genus, based on one mitochondrial and three nuclear markers. In total, 305 individuals across almost entire distribution range of the genus were analysed. We inferred the evolutionary history of the species by comparing the results of our calibrated multilocus coalescent species-tree to palaeogeological events. The diversification of the genus started in the early Miocene and continued through to the beginning of Pleistocene. We identif between the two species, and at one of them, the genetically pure native species was not found at all. This points to a threat of the loss of the native ichthyofauna due to unintentional translocations.The splanchnic anti-inflammatory pathway, the efferent arm of the endogenous inflammatory reflex, has been shown to suppress the acute inflammatory response of rats to systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here we show for the first time that this applies also to mice, and that the reflex may be engaged by a range of inflammatory stimuli. Experiments were performed on mice under deep anaesthesia. Half the animals were subjected to bilateral section of the splanchnic sympathetic nerves, to disconnect the splanchnic anti-inflammatory pathway, while the remainder underwent a sham operation. Mice were then challenged intravenously with one of three inflammatory stimuli the toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 agonist, LPS (60 µg/kg), the TLR-3 agonist Polyinosinicpolycytidylic acid (Poly IC, 1 mg/kg) or the TLR-2 and -6 agonist dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine (Pam2cys, 34 µg/kg). Ninety minutes later, blood was sampled by cardiac puncture for serum cytokine analysis. The splanchnic anti-inflammatory reflex action was assessed by comparing cytokine levels between animals with cut versus those with intact splanchnic nerves. A consistent pattern emerged Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels in response to all three challenges were raised by prior splanchnic nerve section, while levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) were reduced. The raised TNFIL-10 ratio after splanchnic nerve section indicates an enhanced inflammatory state when the reflex is disabled. These findings show for the first time that the inflammatory reflex drives a coordinated anti-inflammatory action also in mice, and demonstrate that its anti-inflammatory action is engaged, in similar fashion, by inflammatory stimuli mimicking a range of bacterial and viral infections.Obesity in childhood and adolescence is a complex health issue that has detrimental effects on the physical and psychological health of the youngster, both in the short and long term. A characteristic of obesity is the associated chronic low-grade inflammation which can result in insulin resistance. Previous research suggested that biomarkers referring to such increased inflammation may help in understanding resistance to weight loss. Whether and how psychosocial factors are related with inflammation remains to be proven. The current study consisted of 594 children and adolescents (7-19 years), of whom 480 had follow-up data, who enrolled for a ten-month inpatient multidisciplinary obesity treatment consisting of healthy food routines, physical activities and psychological treatment. The purpose of the study was to explore (1) the relationship between inflammation and psychosocial stress variables (i.e., depressive symptoms, eating behavior, concerns about eating/shape/weight, insecure parent-child attachment) (correlational and multiple regression analysis), (2) whether a lifestyle intervention for obese youngsters results in decreased C-reactive protein (CRP) values (paired t-test) and (3) which psychosocial variables influence this CRP change as indication of treatment success (multiple regression analysis with change in BMI as control variable). Results showed that the psychosocial stress variables emotional eating, external eating and attachment anxiety are related to higher CRP values. Our data further suggested that a lifestyle intervention decreases the CRP values. This significant reduction in blood inflammatory marker was besides being influenced by weight loss also dependent on psychosocial variables, more specific on self-reported attachment avoidance, as this latter was related to less CRP decrease.Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multi-symptom disorder affecting approximately 30 percent of the nearly 700,000 Veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. GWI-related chemical (GWIC) exposure promotes immune activation that correlates with cognitive impairment and other symptoms of GWI. However, the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways linking GWIC to inflammation and neurological symptoms remain unclear. this website Here we show that acute exposure of murine macrophages to GWIC potentiates innate immune signaling and inflammatory cytokine production. Using an established mouse model of GWI, we report that neurobehavioral changes and neuroinflammation are attenuated in mice lacking the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) and NOD-, LRR- or pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) innate immune pathways. In addition, we report sex differences in response to GWIC, with female mice showing more pronounced cognitive impairment and hippocampal astrocyte hypertrophy. In contrast, male mice display a GWIC-dependent upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines in the plasma that is not present in female mice. Our results indicate that STING and NLRP3 are key mediators of the cognitive impairment and inflammation observed in GWI and provide important new information on sex differences in this model.The brown egg 4 (b-4) is a recessive mutant in the silkworm (Bombyx mori), whose egg and adult compound eyes exhibit a reddish-brown color instead of normal purple and black, respectively. By double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) analysis, we narrowed down a region linked to the b-4 phenotype to approximately 1.1 Mb that contains 69 predicted gene models. RNA-seq analysis in a b-4 strain indicated that one of the candidate genes had a different transcription start site, which generates a short open reading frame. We also found that exon skipping was induced in the same gene due to an insertion of a transposable element in other two b-4 mutant strains. This gene encoded a putative amino acid transporter that belongs to the β-group of solute carrier (SLC) family and is orthologous to Drosophila eye color mutant gene, mahogany (mah). Accordingly, we named this gene Bmmah. We performed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout targeting Bmmah. Several adult moths in generation 0 (G0) had totally or partially reddish-brown compound eyes. We also established three Bmmah knockout strains, all of which exhibit reddish-brown eggs and adult compound eyes. Furthermore, eggs from complementation crosses between the b-4 mutants and the Bmmah knockout mutants also exhibited reddish-brown color, which was similar to the b-4 mutant eggs, indicating that Bmmah is responsible for the b-4 phenotypes.

To determine the effects of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) on prostate elasticity as assessed using ultrasound elastography (US-E) and to describe baseline US-E's potential role in patient selection.

This was a prospective investigation that included 20 patients undergoing PAE to treat lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). US-E with measurement of the prostatic elastic modulus (EM) and shear wave velocity (SWV) was performed before PAE and at 1-month follow-up. Baseline, 3-month, and 1-year follow-up evaluations included prostate-specific antigen, uroflowmetry, pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical assessment using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and quality of life (QoL) metrics.

Seventeen patients entered statistical analysis. US-E showed a significant reduction in mean prostatic EM (34.4 kPa vs 46.3 kPa,-24.7%, P < .0001) and SWV (3.55 m/s vs 4.46 m/s,-20.0%, P < .0001) after PAE. There were moderate positive correlations between baseline EM and 1-year IPSS (R= 0.