scholarly journals Memory deficits in males and females long after subchronic immune challenge

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daria Tchessalova ◽  
Natalie C. Tronson
Keyword(s):  
Object Recognition ◽  
Memory Deficits ◽  
Poly I:C ◽  
Immune Challenge ◽  
Memory Decline ◽  
Memory Impairments ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Brain Barrier Permeability ◽  
Major Illness

ABSTRACTMemory impairments and cognitive decline persist long after recovery from major illness or injury, and correlate with increased risk of later dementia. Here we developed a subchronic peripheral immune challenge model to examine delayed and persistent memory impairments in females and in males. We show that intermittent injections of either lipopolysaccharide or Poly I:C cause memory decline in both sexes that are evident eight weeks after the immune challenge. Importantly, we observed sex-specific patterns of deficits. Females showed impairments in object recognition one week after challenge that persisted for at least eight weeks. In contrast, males had intact memory one week after the immune challenge but exhibited broad impairments in memory tasks including object recognition, and both context and tone fear conditioning several months later. The differential patterns of memory deficits in males and in females were observed without sustained microglial activation or changes in blood-brain barrier permeability. Together, these data suggest that transient neuroimmune activity results in differential vulnerabilities of females and males to memory decline after immune challenge. This model will be an important tool for determining the mechanisms in both sexes that contribute to memory impairments that develop over the weeks and months after recovery from illness. Future studies using this model will provide new insights into the role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of long-lasting memory decline and dementias.

scholarly journals Enduring and sex-specific changes in hippocampal gene expression after a subchronic immune challenge

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daria Tchessalova ◽  
Natalie C. Tronson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Neural Function ◽  
Immune Challenge ◽  
Memory Decline ◽  
Memory Impairments ◽  
Differential Gene ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Neuroimmune Activation

AbstractMajor illnesses, including heart attack and sepsis, can cause cognitive impairments, depression, and progressive memory decline that persist long after recovery from the original illness. In rodent models of sepsis or subchronic immune challenge, memory deficits also persist for weeks or months, even in the absence of ongoing neuroimmune activation. This raises the question of what mechanisms in the brain mediate such persistent changes in neural function. Here, we used RNA-sequencing as a large-scale, unbiased approach to identify changes in hippocampal gene expression long after a subchronic immune challenge previously established to cause persistent memory impairments in both males and females. We observed enduring dysregulation of gene expression three months after the end of a subchronic immune challenge, Surprisingly, we also found striking sex differences in both the magnitude of changes and the specific genes and pathways altered, where males showed persistent changes in both immune- and plasticity-related genes three months after immune challenge, whereas females showed few such changes. In contrast, females showed striking differential gene expression in response to a subsequent immune challenge. Thus, immune activation has enduring and sex-specific consequences for hippocampal gene expression and the transcriptional response to subsequent stimuli. Together with findings of long-lasting memory impairments after immune challenge, these data suggest that illnesses can cause enduring vulnerability to, cognitive decline, affective disorders, and memory impairments via dysregulation of transcriptional processes in the brain.

Sex Differences in Locus Coeruleus: A Heuristic Approach That May Explain the Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Females

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Alison M. Luckey ◽  
Ian H. Robertson ◽  
Brian Lawlor ◽  
Anusha Mohan ◽  
Sven Vanneste
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Locus Coeruleus ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Brain Barrier Permeability ◽  
And Function ◽  
New Hypothesis

This article aims to reevaluate our approach to female vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and put forth a new hypothesis considering how sex differences in the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline (LC-NA) structure and function could account for why females are more likely to develop AD. We specifically focus our attention on locus coeruleus (LC) morphology, the paucity of estrogens, neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier permeability, apolipoprotein ɛ4 polymorphism (APOE ɛ4), and cognitive reserve. The role of the LC-NA system and sex differences are two of the most rapidly emerging topics in AD research. Current literature either investigates the LC due to it being one of the first brain areas to develop AD pathology or acknowledges the neuroprotective effects of estrogens and how the loss of these female hormones have the capacity to contribute to the sex differences seen in AD; however, existing research has neglected to concurrently examine these two rationales and therefore leaving our hypothesis undetermined. Collectively, this article should assist in alleviating current challenges surrounding female AD by providing thought-provoking connections into the interrelationship between the disruption of the female LC-NA system, the decline of estrogens, and AD vulnerability. It is therefore likely that treatment for this heterogeneous disease may need to be distinctly developed for females and males separately, and may require a precision medicine approach.

Vitamin A: dietologist’s position

2020 ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
S. V. Orlova ◽  
E. A. Nikitina ◽  
L. I. Karushina ◽  
Yu. A. Pigaryova ◽  
O. E. Pronina
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Therapeutic Practice ◽  
The Past ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mucous Membranes

Vitamin A (retinol) is one of the key elements for regulating the immune response and controls the division and differentiation of epithelial cells of the mucous membranes of the bronchopulmonary system, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, eyes, etc. Its significance in the context of the COVID‑19 pandemic is difficult to overestimate. However, a number of studies conducted in the past have associated the additional intake of vitamin A with an increased risk of developing cancer, as a result of which vitamin A was practically excluded from therapeutic practice in developed countries. Our review highlights the role of vitamin A in maintaining human health and the latest data on its effect on the development mechanisms of somatic pathology.

Myocardial Noncompaction

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 2209-2212
Author(s):  
Alexandru Radu Mihailovici ◽  
Vlad Padureanu ◽  
Carmen Valeria Albu ◽  
Venera Cristina Dinescu ◽  
Mihai Cristian Pirlog ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Arrhythmias ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Noncompaction ◽  
Ventricular Noncompaction ◽  
Genetic Transmission ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Patients With Heart Failure

Left ventricular noncompaction is a primary cardiomyopathy with genetic transmission in the vast majority of autosomal dominant cases. It is characterized by the presence of excessive myocardial trabecularities that generally affect the left ventricle. In diagnosing this condition, echocardiography is the gold standard, although this method involves an increased risk of overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. There are also uncertain cases where echocardiography is inconclusive, a multimodal approach is needed, correlating echocardiographic results with those obtained by magnetic resonance imaging. The clinical picture may range from asymptomatic patients to patients with heart failure, supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias, thromboembolic events and even sudden cardiac death. There is no specific treatment of left ventricular noncompaction, but the treatment is aimed at preventing and treating the complications of the disease. We will present the case of a young patient with left ventricular noncompactioncardiomyopathy and highlight the essential role of transthoracic echocardiography in diagnosing this rare heart disease.

Semi-Quantitative Ultrasonographic Evaluation of NAFLD

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (32) ◽  
pp. 3915-3927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Ballestri ◽  
Claudio Tana ◽  
Maria Di Girolamo ◽  
Maria Cristina Fontana ◽  
Mariano Capitelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Metabolic Complications ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Of Progression ◽  
Progressive Liver Disease

: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) embraces histopathological entities ranging from the relatively benign simple steatosis to the progressive form nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is associated with fibrosis and an increased risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is the most common liver disease and is associated with extrahepatic comorbidities including a major cardiovascular disease burden. : The non-invasive diagnosis of NAFLD and the identification of subjects at risk of progressive liver disease and cardio-metabolic complications are key in implementing personalized treatment schedules and follow-up strategies. : In this review, we highlight the potential role of ultrasound semiquantitative scores for detecting and assessing steatosis severity, progression of NAFLD, and cardio-metabolic risk. : Ultrasonographic scores of fatty liver severity act as sensors of cardio-metabolic health and may assist in selecting patients to submit to second-line non-invasive imaging techniques and/or liver biopsy.

The GSTM1 and GSTT1 Null Genotypes Increase the Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Subsequent Development of Diabetic Complications: A Meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayantan Nath ◽  
Sambuddha Das ◽  
Aditi Bhowmik ◽  
Sankar Kumar Ghosh ◽  
Yashmin Choudhury
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Gstm1 Null Genotype ◽  
Increased Risk

Background:Studies pertaining to association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes with risk of T2DM and its complications were often inconclusive, thus spurring the present study.Methods:Meta-analysis of 25 studies for evaluating the role of GSTM1/GSTT1 null polymorphisms in determining the risk for T2DM and 17 studies for evaluating the role of GSTM1/GSTT1 null polymorphisms in development of T2DM related complications were conducted.Results:Our study revealed an association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null polymorphism with T2DM (GSTM1; OR=1.37;95% CI =1.10-1.70 and GSTT1; OR=1.29;95% CI =1.04-1.61) with an amplified risk of 2.02 fold for combined GSTM1-GSTT1 null genotypes. Furthermore, the GSTT1 null (OR=1.56;95%CI=1.38-1.77) and combined GSTM1-GSTT1 null genotypes (OR=1.91;95%CI=1.25- 2.94) increased the risk for development of T2DM related complications, but not the GSTM1 null genotype. Stratified analyses based on ethnicity revealed GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes increase the risk for T2DM in both Caucasians and Asians, with Asians showing much higher risk of T2DM complications than Caucasians for the same. </P><P> Discussion: GSTM1, GSTT1 and combined GSTM1-GSTT1 null polymorphism may be associated with increased risk for T2DM; while GSTT1 and combined GSTM1-GSTT1 null polymorphism may increase the risk of subsequent development of T2DM complications with Asian population carrying an amplified risk for the polymorphism.Conclusion:Thus GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes mellitus alone, in combination or with regards to ethnicity.

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