scholarly journals Evidence for intranasal oxytocin delivery to the brain: recent advances and future perspectives

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Quintana ◽  
Knut T. Smerud ◽  
Ole A. Andreassen ◽  
Per G. Djupesland
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Central Compartment ◽  
Olfactory Nerve ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychiatric Illnesses ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Oxytocin Receptors ◽  
The Brain

The neuropeptide oxytocin plays an evolutionarily conserved role in mammalian social behavior. To experimentally manipulate central levels of oxytocin, animal studies have adopted direct intracerebroventricular (ICV) delivery to the brain, given that only small amounts of peripherally circulating oxytocin are thought to transfer from the periphery to the central compartment. Despite striking effects on social behavior in animals, ICV drug delivery is largely impractical for human therapies. Intranasal oxytocin delivery provides a non-invasive alternative to increase central oxytocin activity, and has shown promise as a treatment for psychiatric illnesses characterized by social dysfunction. Intranasal oxytocin delivery is purported to increase central oxytocin concentrations via channels surrounding trigeminal and olfactory nerve fibres, which may facilitate increased activity at central oxytocin receptors. This review outlines the evidence for intranasal oxytocin delivery increasing central concentrations or activity, identifies current knowledge gaps, and highlights future research opportunities. Recent efforts to enhance intranasal oxytocin delivery via improved intranasal delivery technology and dose-ranging studies are also discussed.

scholarly journals Metabolomics Biomarkers for Detection of Colorectal Neoplasms: A Systematic Review

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Erben ◽  
Megha Bhardwaj ◽  
Petra Schrotz-King ◽  
Hermann Brenner
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Colorectal Neoplasms ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
External Validation ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
And Performance

Background: Several approaches have been suggested to be useful in the early detection of colorectal neoplasms. Since metabolites are closely related to the phenotype and are available from different human bio-fluids, metabolomics are candidates for non-invasive early detection of colorectal neoplasms. Objectives: We aimed to summarize current knowledge on performance characteristics of metabolomics biomarkers that are potentially applicable in a screening setting for the early detection of colorectal neoplasms. Design: We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed and Web of Science and searched for biomarkers for the early detection of colorectal neoplasms in easy-to-collect human bio-fluids. Information on study design and performance characteristics for diagnostic accuracy was extracted. Results: Finally, we included 41 studies in our analysis investigating biomarkers in different bio-fluids (blood, urine, and feces). Although single metabolites mostly had limited ability to distinguish people with and without colorectal neoplasms, promising results were reported for metabolite panels, especially amino acid panels in blood samples, as well as nucleosides in urine samples in several studies. However, validation of the results is limited. Conclusions: Panels of metabolites consisting of amino acids in blood and nucleosides in urinary samples might be useful biomarkers for early detection of advanced colorectal neoplasms. However, to make metabolomic biomarkers clinically applicable, future research in larger studies and external validation of the results is required.

scholarly journals Adenosine A2AReceptors in Substance Use Disorders: A Focus on Cocaine

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Wydra ◽  
Dawid Gawliński ◽  
Kinga Gawlińska ◽  
Małgorzata Frankowska ◽  
Dasiel O. Borroto-Escuela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
D2 Receptors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Receptor Complexes ◽  
Abused Drugs ◽  
The Brain

Several psychoactive drugs can evoke substance use disorders (SUD) in humans and animals, and these include psychostimulants, opioids, cannabinoids (CB), nicotine, and alcohol. The etiology, mechanistic processes, and the therapeutic options to deal with SUD are not well understood. The common feature of all abused drugs is that they increase dopamine (DA) neurotransmission within the mesocorticolimbic circuitry of the brain followed by the activation of DA receptors. D2 receptors were proposed as important molecular targets for SUD. The findings showed that D2 receptors formed heteromeric complexes with other GPCRs, which forced the addiction research area in new directions. In this review, we updated the view on the brain D2 receptor complexes with adenosine (A)2A receptors (A2AR) and discussed the role of A2AR in different aspects of addiction phenotypes in laboratory animal procedures that permit the highly complex syndrome of human drug addiction. We presented the current knowledge on the neurochemical in vivo and ex vivo mechanisms related to cocaine use disorder (CUD) and discussed future research directions for A2AR heteromeric complexes in SUD.

Swearing and the brain

2018 ◽  
pp. 107-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shlomit Ritz Finkelstein
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Tourette Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Data ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Inhibition ◽  
Previous Knowledge ◽  
The Brain

This chapter explores and summarizes the current knowledge about the neurophysiological substrata of the utterance of expletives—its brain regions, pathways, and neurotransmitters, and its interaction with hormones. The chapter presents clinical data that have been gathered directly from patients of aphasia, Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and brain injuries—all are disorders often accompanied with expletives. It also discusses the possible relations between swearing and aggression, swearing and pain, and swearing and social inhibition in the population at large. Finally, the chapter examines the clinical data and the data gathered from the population at large within one frame, and proposes two hypotheses that can serve as possible directions for future research about the biological substrata of swearing. No previous knowledge of the brain is assumed.

scholarly journals Liver Fibrosis: Causes and Methods of Assessment, A Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 304-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Erfani Karimzadeh Toosi
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Liver Biopsy ◽  
Hepatic Dysfunction ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Progressive Development ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
The Past ◽  
Invasive Method

AbstractHepatic fibrogenesis is the final result of injury to the liver. Fibrosis could lead to hepatic dysfunction, important in the pathogenesis of other chronic problems. Therefore, understanding the mechanism, accurate diagnosis and staging of it in early stages accelerates the treatment and reduces the prevalence of chirrosis. Treatment strategies of liver problems and detction methods depend on the amount and progression of liver fibrosis and the rate of cirrhosis development. Traditionally the invasive method, liver biopsy, is reference standard to follow progression and stage of fibrosis. However, during the past decade, progressive development of novel non-invasive methodologies has challenged the invasive method. Non-invasive methods have been initially introduced for chronic hepatitis C with increasing use in other chronic liver diseases. The need for liver biopsy has nowadays decreased significantly as a result of these methodologies. Most of the new non-invasive methods depend on either ‘biological’ or ‘physical’ approaches.In this review, starting from the mechanism of fibrogenesis, the current knowledge about diagnosis, treatment strategies and different methods for its evaluation is discussed. This is followed by a conclusion on what is expected to be known in this field during the future research.

scholarly journals Neurotropic Astroviruses in Animals

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1201
Author(s):  
Nicole Wildi ◽  
Torsten Seuberlich
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neuronal Necrosis ◽  
Ruminant Species ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Viral Determinants ◽  
Suppurative Inflammation ◽  
The Brain

Astrovirus infections are among the main causes of diarrhea in children, but their significance for animal health has remained underestimated and largely unknown. This is changing due to the increasing amount of newly identified neurotropic astroviruses in cases of nonsuppurative encephalitis and neurological disease in humans, pigs, ruminant species and minks. Neurological cases in ruminants and humans usually occur sporadically and as isolated cases. This contrasts with the situation in pigs and minks, in which diseases associated with neurotropic astroviruses are endemic and occur on the herd level. Affected animals show neurological signs such as mild ataxia to tetraplegia, loss of orientation or trembling, and the outcome is often fatal. Non-suppurative inflammation with perivascular cuffing, gliosis and neuronal necrosis are typical histological lesions of astrovirus encephalitis. Since astroviruses primarily target the gastrointestinal tract, it is assumed that they infect the brain through the circulatory system or retrograde following the nerves. The phylogenetic analysis of neurotropic astroviruses has revealed that they are genetically closely related, suggesting the presence of viral determinants for tissue tropism and neuroinvasion. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on neurotropic astrovirus infections in animals and propose future research activities.

scholarly journals Effects of air pollution exposure on social behavior: a synthesis and call for research

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea A. Weitekamp ◽  
Hans A. Hofmann
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Future Research

Abstract Background There is a growing literature from both epidemiologic and experimental animal studies suggesting that exposure to air pollution can lead to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we suggest that effects of air pollutant exposure on the brain may be even broader, with the potential to affect social decision-making in general. Methods We discuss how the neurobiological substrates of social behavior are vulnerable to air pollution, then briefly present studies that examine the effects of air pollutant exposure on social behavior-related outcomes. Results Few experimental studies have investigated the effects of air pollution on social behavior and those that have focus on standard laboratory tests in rodent model systems. Nonetheless, there is sufficient evidence to support a critical need for more research. Conclusion For future research, we suggest a comparative approach that utilizes diverse model systems to probe the effects of air pollution on a wider range of social behaviors, brain regions, and neurochemical pathways.

Exosomal microRNAs in the development of essential hypertension and its potential as biomarkers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina Pei Suu Tan ◽  
Deborah Hall ◽  
William M. Chilian ◽  
Yook Chin Chia ◽  
Shamsul Mohd Zain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Circulating Mirnas ◽  
Disease Biomarkers ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Exosomal Mirnas ◽  
External Conditions ◽  
Hypertension Diagnosis ◽  
Non Coding Rnas

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory molecules that are involved in post-transcriptional modifications. These non-coding RNAs are usually ferried by extracellular carriers such as exosomes or other protein and lipid carriers inside a range of body fluids including plasma and urine. Due to their ability to withstand harsh external conditions, exosomal miRNAs possess enormous potentials as non-invasive disease biomarkers for, notably hypertension, whereby exosomal miRNAs have been implicated in its pathophysiological processes. More importantly, alterations in the microenvironment as a result of disease progression can induce active and selective loading of miRNAs into exosomes. In this paper, we first review the mechanisms of miRNA loading into exosomes, followed by the roles of exosomal miRNAs in the development of hypertension; and the potentials of exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers in comparison to other free circulating miRNAs. Finally challenges and future research surrounding exosomal miRNAs will also be discussed. The information synthesized in this review summarizes current knowledge of non-invasive biomarkers for early hypertension diagnosis and for probing therapeutic efficacy.

scholarly journals The interplay of blood flow and temperature in regional hyperthermia: a mathematical approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 201234
Author(s):  
Jesús J. Bosque ◽  
Gabriel F. Calvo ◽  
Víctor M. Pérez-García ◽  
María Cruz Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Brain Tumours ◽  
Adjuvant Radiotherapy ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mathematical Approach ◽  
Regional Hyperthermia ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Temperature Levels ◽  
The Brain

In recent decades, hyperthermia has been used to raise oxygenation levels in tumours undergoing other therapeutic modalities, of which radiotherapy is the most prominent one. It has been hypothesized that oxygenation increases would come from improved blood flow associated with vasodilation. However, no test has determined whether this is a relevant assumption or other mechanisms might be acting. Additionally, since hyperthermia and radiotherapy are not usually co-administered, the crucial question arises as to how temperature and perfusion in tumours will change during and after hyperthermia. Overall, it would seem necessary to find a research framework that clarifies the current knowledge, delimits the scope of the different effects and guides future research. Here, we propose a simple mathematical model to account for temperature and perfusion dynamics in brain tumours subjected to regional hyperthermia. Our results indicate that tumours in well-perfused organs like the brain might only reach therapeutic temperatures if their vasculature is highly disrupted. Furthermore, the characteristic times of return to normal temperature levels are markedly shorter than those required to deliver adjuvant radiotherapy. According to this, a mechanistic coupling of perfusion and temperature would not explain any major oxygenation boost in brain tumours immediately after hyperthermia.

Retinal involvement in Alzheimer's disease (AD): evidence and current progress on the non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of AD-related pathology using the eye

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 883-904
Author(s):  
Fidelis Chibhabha ◽  
Yang Yaqi ◽  
Feng Li
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Impaired Memory ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Cerebral Pathology ◽  
Visual Problems ◽  
The Brain

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a common form of age-related dementia that mostly affects the aging population. Clinically, it is a disease characterized by impaired memory and progressive cognitive decline. Although the pathological hallmarks of AD have been traditionally described with a general confinement in the brain, recent studies have shown similar pathological changes in the retina, which is a developmental outgrowth of the forebrain. These AD-related neurodegenerative changes in the retina have been implicated to cause early visual problems in AD even before cognitive impairment becomes apparent. With recent advances in research, the commonly held view that AD-related cerebral pathology causes visual dysfunction through disruption of central visual pathways has been re-examined. Currently, several studies have already explored how AD manifests in the retina and the possibility of using the same retina as a window to non-invasively examine AD-related pathology in the brain. Non-invasive screening of AD through the retina has the potential to improve on early detection and management of the disease since the majority of AD cases are usually diagnosed very late. The purpose of this review is to provide evidence on the involvement of the retina in AD and to suggest a possible direction for future research into the non-invasive screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of AD using the retina.

NON-INVASIVE BCI METHOD: EEG - ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY

2019 ◽  
pp. 139-145
Author(s):  
Selma Büyükgöze
Keyword(s):  
Brain Computer Interface ◽  
Computer Interface ◽  
Electrode Placement ◽  
Eeg Signals ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Brain Signals ◽  
Brain States ◽  
The Brain

Brain Computer Interface consists of hardware and software that convert brain signals into action. It changes the nerves, muscles, and movements they produce with electro-physiological signs. The BCI cannot read the brain and decipher the thought in general. The BCI can only identify and classify specific patterns of activity in ongoing brain signals associated with specific tasks or events. EEG is the most commonly used non-invasive BCI method as it can be obtained easily compared to other methods. In this study; It will be given how EEG signals are obtained from the scalp, with which waves these frequencies are named and in which brain states these waves occur. 10-20 electrode placement plan for EEG to be placed on the scalp will be shown.

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