Our results show good agreement between RS- and visual field (VF)- based maps using either the standard or Bayesian CF approach. In addition to quantify the uncertainty associated with each estimate in both RS and VF data, we applied our Bayesian CF framework to provide the underlying marginal distribution of the CF parameters. Finally, we show how an additional CF parameter, beta, can be used as a data-driven threshold on the RS data to further improve CF estimates. We conclude that Bayesian CF modeling can characterize local functional connectivity between visual cortical areas from RS data at 3T. Moreover, observations obtained using 3T scanners were qualitatively similar to those reported for 7T. In particular, we expect the ability to assess parameter uncertainty in individual participants will be important for future clinical studies.Pupil dynamics can represent an indirect measure of perception; thus, it has been broadly explored in the auditory and visual fields. Although it is crucial for experiencing the outside world, tactile perception is not well-explored. Considering that, we sought to answer the following question via a systematic review does normal tactile perception processing modulate pupil dilation in mammals (human or not)? The review process was conducted according to PRISMA Statement. We searched on Periódicos CAPES (Brazil) for the following terms [(touch) OR (cutaneous stimulation) OR (tactile perception) OR (somatosensory) AND (pupil OR pupillary) NOT blind NOT reflex NOT pain NOT fear NOT noxious NOT autism NOT nerve NOT (pupillary block) NOT glaucoma NOT cataract NOT aneurysm NOT syndrome NOT treatment NOT special education]. From the 6,488 papers found, 4,568 were duplicates, and nine fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All papers found a positive relationship between pupil diameter and tactile perception. We found that the pupil is a reliable indirect measure of brain states and can evaluate norepinephrine (NE)/locus coeruleus (LC) action, stimulus inhibition, arousal, cognitive processes, and affection independently of the stimuli category (visual, auditory, or tactile). We also found that the perceptual tactile processing occurs in similar ways as the other perceptual modalities. We verified that more studies should be done, mostly avoiding low sampling rate recording systems, confounders as cue signs, not automated stimulation, and concurrent stimulus and using more reliable equipment.
Previous studies reported a correlation between olfactory function and depression. However, in literature, no data are available for the correlation between depression and all other factors such as age, sex, olfactory, gustatory, and cognitive function in healthy subjects taken together. The aim of this study was to provide a systematic account regarding the association between those variables in a non-clinical population.
Two hundred and seventy-three participants were recruited with an age range of 19-84 years. Olfactory, gustatory, cognitive function, and depression level were evaluated by means of the following tests the Sniffin' Sticks test, Taste Strips test, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
In our data, an age-related decrease in olfactory and gustatory function and a decline in cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and language were observed. Instead, no significant differences were observed for the depression level in relation to the different age ranges. However, our results indicated that the depression level could be associated to sex, odor identification impairment, and decreased attention and language.
Sex, the odor identification impairment, and an age-related decrease in attention and language are associated with increased level of depression in healthy subjects. Our data can be useful and informative for health care workers, that is, to have adequate preventive strategies to be used whenever these conditions are detected and recognized.
Sex, the odor identification impairment, and an age-related decrease in attention and language are associated with increased level of depression in healthy subjects. selleck chemicals Our data can be useful and informative for health care workers, that is, to have adequate preventive strategies to be used whenever these conditions are detected and recognized.Excitatory toxicity due to excessive glutamate release is considered the core pathophysiological mechanism of cerebral ischemia. It is primarily mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) on neuronal membranes. Our previous studies have found that icaritin (ICT) exhibits neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia in rats, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of ICT on glutamate-induced neuronal injury and uncover its possible molecular mechanism. An excitatory toxicity injury model was created using rat primary cortical neurons treated with glutamate and glycine. The results showed that ICT has neuroprotective effects on glutamate-treated primary cortical neurons by increasing cell viability while reducing the rate of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and reducing apoptosis. Remarkably, ICT rescued the changes in the ERK/DAPK1 signaling pathway after glutamate treatment by increasing the expression levels of p-ERK, p-DAPK1 and t-DAPK1. In addition, ICT also regulates NMDAR function during glutamate-induced injury by decreasing the expression level of the GluN2B subunit and enhancing the expression level of the GluN2A subunit. As cotreatment with the ERK-specific inhibitor U0126 and ICT abolishes the beneficial effects of ITC on the ERK/DAPK1 pathway, NMDAR subtypes and neuronal cell survival, ERK is recognized as a crucial mediator in the protective mechanism of ICT. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that ICT has a neuroprotective effect on neuronal damage induced by glutamate, and its mechanism may be related to inactivating GluN2B-containing NMDAR through the ERK/DAPK1 pathway. This study provides a new clue for the prevention and treatment of clinical ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.Macrophages are one of the most abundant non-malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment, playing critical roles in mediating tumor immunity. As important innate immune cells, macrophages possess the potential to engulf tumor cells and present tumor-specific antigens for adaptive antitumor immunity induction, leading to growing interest in targeting macrophage phagocytosis for cancer immunotherapy. Nevertheless, live tumor cells have evolved to evade phagocytosis by macrophages via the extensive expression of anti-phagocytic molecules, such as CD47. In addition, macrophages also rapidly recognize and engulf apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) in the tumor microenvironment, which inhibits inflammatory responses and facilitates immune escape of tumor cells. Thus, intervention of macrophage phagocytosis by blocking anti-phagocytic signals on live tumor cells or inhibiting tumor efferocytosis presents a promising strategy for the development of cancer immunotherapies. Here, the regulation of macrophage-mediated tumor cell phagocytosis is first summarized, followed by an overview of strategies targeting macrophage phagocytosis for the development of antitumor therapies.selleck chemicals
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