Innervation of the pineal gland in the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) by nerve fibres immunoreactive to substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide

Background: The study demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the nerve fibres supplying the pineal gland in the Arctic fox. Materials and methods: The expression and distribution pattern of the studied substances were examined by double-labelling immunofluorescence technique. Results: The SP-positive fibres enter into the pineal gland through the capsule as the nervi conarii. The fibres formed thick bundles in the capsule and connective tissue septa, from where they penetrated into the pineal parenchyma. Inside the parenchyma, the nerve fibres created basket-like structures surrounding clusters of pinealocytes. The density of intrapineal SP positive fibres was slightly higher in the distal and middle parts of the gland than in the proximal one. Double immunostaining with antibodies against SP and CGRP revealed that the vast majority of SP positive fibres were also CGRP positive. The fibres showing a positive reaction to SP and negative to CGRP were scattered within the whole gland. The fibres immunopositive to CGRP and immunonegative to SP were not observed. In the habenular and posterior commissural areas adjoining to the pineal gland the immunoreactive nerve fibres were not found. Moreover, no immunopositive cell bodies were observed in both the pineal gland and the commissural areas. Conclusions: These results reveal that SP and CGRP are involved in the innervation of pineal gland in carnivores. In turn we suggest that these peptides can regulate/modulate melatonin secretion

Evaluating Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence Model

INTRODUCTION: To date, multiple models of problematic pornography use have been proposed, but attempts to validate them have been scarce. AIM: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the Pornography Problems due to Moral Incongruence model proposing that self-appraisals of pornography addiction stem from (i) general dysregulation, (ii) habits of use, and (iii) moral incongruence between internalized norms and behavior. We investigated whether the model can be used to adequately explain the self-perceptions of addiction to pornography (model 1) and a broader phenomenon of problematic pornography use (model 2). METHODS: An online, nationally representative study was conducted on a sample of 1036 Polish adult participants, of whom, 880 declared a lifetime history of viewing pornography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The outcomes were self-perceived pornography addiction, problematic pornography use, avoidant coping, frequency of pornography use, religiosity, moral disapproval of pornography, and related variables. RESULTS: Our results indicated that avoidant coping (an indicator of general dysregulation), frequency of pornography use (indicator of habits of use), and the distress connected with incongruence between own sexual behavior and internalized norms, attitudes and beliefs positively contributed to self-perceived addiction (model 1) as well as problematic pornography use (model 2). This broadly confirms the basic shape of the PPMI model. There were, however, notable differences between the models. Moral incongruence related distress was only weakly related to self-perceived addiction (β = 0.15, P \u3c .001), with a stronger relation for problematic pornography use (β = 0.31, P \u3c .001). When controlling for other factors, religiosity weakly predicted problematic pornography use (β = 0.13, P \u3c .001), but not self-perceived addiction to pornography (β = 0.03, P = .368). Frequency of pornography use was the strongest predictor of both self-perceived addiction (β = 0.52, P \u3c .001) and problematic pornography use (β = 0.43, P \u3c .001). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Factors proposed within the PPMI model are distinctly relevant intervention targets, and they should be considered in the process of diagnosis and treatment. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The presented study is the first to evaluate PPMI model. Its main limitation is that it has a cross-sectional design. CONCLUSION: The PPMI model is a promising framework for investigating the factors related to self-perceived addiction and problematic pornography use. Despite the differences between the models and in the strength of specific predictors, (i) dysregulation, (ii) habits of use, and (iii) moral incongruence all uniquely contribute to self-perceived addiction and problematic pornography use. Lewczuk, K., Glica, A., Nowakowska, I., et al. Evaluating Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence Model. J Sex Med 2020;17:300-311

Cerebrospinal Fluid Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, and Cognitive Decline.

Elevated cortisol levels have been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may accelerate the development of brain pathology and cognitive decline. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) has anti-glucocorticoid effects and it may be involved in the AD pathophysiology. To investigate associations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cortisol and DHEAS levels with (1) cognitive performance at baseline; (2) CSF biomarkers of amyloid pathology (as assessed by CSF Aβ levels), neuronal injury (as assessed by CSF tau), and tau hyperphosphorylation (as assessed by CSF p-tau); (3) regional brain volumes; and (4) clinical disease progression. Individuals between 49 and 88 years (n = 145) with mild cognitive impairment or dementia or with normal cognition were included. Clinical scores, AD biomarkers, brain MRI volumetry along with CSF cortisol and DHEAS were obtained at baseline. Cognitive and functional performance was re-assessed at 18 and 36 months from baseline. We also assessed the following covariates: apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, BMI, and education. We used linear regression and mixed models to address associations of interest. Higher CSF cortisol was associated with poorer global cognitive performance and higher disease severity at baseline. Cortisol and cortisol/DHEAS ratio were positively associated with tau and p-tau CSF levels, and negatively associated with the amygdala and insula volumes at baseline. Higher CSF cortisol predicted more pronounced cognitive decline and clinical disease progression over 36 months. Higher CSF DHEAS predicted more pronounced disease progression over 36 months. Increased cortisol in the CNS is associated with tau pathology and neurodegeneration, and with decreased insula and amygdala volume. Both CSF cortisol and DHEAS levels predict faster clinical disease progression. These results have implications for the identification of patients at risk of rapid decline as well as for the development of interventions targeting both neurodegeneration and clinical manifestations of AD

Plasma neurofilament light and phosphorylated tau 181 as biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease pathology and clinical disease progression.

To assess the performance of plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181) to inform about cerebral Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and predict clinical progression in a memory clinic setting. Plasma NfL and p-tau181, along with established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of AD pathology, were measured in participants with normal cognition (CN) and memory clinic patients with cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment and dementia, CI). Clinical and neuropsychological assessments were performed at inclusion and follow-up visits at 18 and 36 months. Multivariate analysis assessed associations of plasma NfL and p-tau181 levels with AD, single CSF biomarkers, hippocampal volume, and clinical measures of disease progression. Plasma NfL levels were higher in CN participants with an AD CSF profile (defined by a CSF p-tau181/Aβ <sub>1-42</sub> > 0.0779) as compared with CN non-AD, while p-tau181 plasma levels were higher in CI patients with AD. Plasma NfL levels correlated with CSF tau and p-tau181 in CN, and with CSF tau in CI patients. Plasma p-tau181 correlated with CSF p-tau181 in CN and with CSF tau, p-tau181, Aβ <sub>1-42</sub> , and Aβ <sub>1-42</sub> /Aβ <sub>1-40</sub> in CI participants. Compared with a reference model, adding plasma p-tau181 improved the prediction of AD in CI patients while adding NfL did not. Adding p-tau181, but not NfL levels, to a reference model improved prediction of cognitive decline in CI participants. Plasma NfL indicates neurodegeneration while plasma p-tau181 levels can serve as a biomarker of cerebral AD pathology and cognitive decline. Their predictive performance depends on the presence of cognitive impairment

Plasma neurofilament light and phosphorylated tau 181 as biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease pathology and clinical disease progression.

BACKGROUND: To assess the performance of plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181) to inform about cerebral Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and predict clinical progression in a memory clinic setting. METHODS: Plasma NfL and p-tau181, along with established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of AD pathology, were measured in participants with normal cognition (CN) and memory clinic patients with cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment and dementia, CI). Clinical and neuropsychological assessments were performed at inclusion and follow-up visits at 18 and 36 months. Multivariate analysis assessed associations of plasma NfL and p-tau181 levels with AD, single CSF biomarkers, hippocampal volume, and clinical measures of disease progression. RESULTS: Plasma NfL levels were higher in CN participants with an AD CSF profile (defined by a CSF p-tau181/Aβ1-42 > 0.0779) as compared with CN non-AD, while p-tau181 plasma levels were higher in CI patients with AD. Plasma NfL levels correlated with CSF tau and p-tau181 in CN, and with CSF tau in CI patients. Plasma p-tau181 correlated with CSF p-tau181 in CN and with CSF tau, p-tau181, Aβ1-42, and Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 in CI participants. Compared with a reference model, adding plasma p-tau181 improved the prediction of AD in CI patients while adding NfL did not. Adding p-tau181, but not NfL levels, to a reference model improved prediction of cognitive decline in CI participants. CONCLUSION: Plasma NfL indicates neurodegeneration while plasma p-tau181 levels can serve as a biomarker of cerebral AD pathology and cognitive decline. Their predictive performance depends on the presence of cognitive impairment

Cerebrospinal fluid and blood biomarkers for neurodegenerative dementias: An update of the Consensus of the Task Force on Biological Markers in Psychiatry of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry

Contains fulltext : 191138.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access

A Specific Reduction in A beta(1-42) vs. a Universal Loss of A beta Peptides in CSF Differentiates Alzheimer's Disease From Meningitis and Multiple Sclerosis

A reduced concentration of A beta(1-42) in CSF is one of the established biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease Reduced CSF concentrations of A beta(1-42) have also been shown in multiple sclerosis, viral encephalitis and bacterial meningitis As neuroinflammation is one of the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, an infectious origin of the disease has been proposed According to this hypothesis, amyloid pathology is a consequence of a microbial infection and the resulting immune defense Accordingly, changes in CSF levels of amyloid-beta peptides should be similar in AD and inflammatory brain diseases A beta(1-42) and A beta(1-40) levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid by ELISA and Western blotting in 34 patients with bacterial meningitis (n = 9), multiple sclerosis (n = 5) or Alzheimer's disease (n = 9) and in suitable controls (n = 11) Reduced concentrations of A beta(1-42) were detected in patients with bacterial meningitis, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease However, due to a concurrent reduction in A beta(1-40) in multiple sclerosis and meningitis patients, the ratio of A beta(1-42)/A beta(1-40) was reduced only in the CSF of Alzheimer's disease patients Urea-SDS-PAGE followed by Western blotting revealed that all A beta peptide variants are reduced in bacterial meningitis, whereas in Alzheimer's disease, only A beta(1-42) is reduced These results have two implications First, they confirm the discriminatory diagnostic power of the A beta(1-42)/A beta(1-40) ratio Second, the differential pattern of A beta peptide reductions suggests that the amyloid pathology in meningitis and multiple sclerosis differs from that in AD and does not support the notion of AD as an infection-triggered immunopathology

Cardiac Surgery is Associated with Biomarker Evidence of Neuronal Damage

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia and surgery is commonly associated with central nervous system sequelae and cognitive symptoms, which may be caused by neuronal injury. Neuronal injury can be monitored by plasma concentrations of the neuronal biomarkers tau and neurofilament light protein (NFL). Currently, there are no studies examining whether neuronal injury varies between surgical procedures. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate if neuronal damage is more frequent after cardiac than after otolaryngeal surgery, as estimated by tau and NFL concentrations in plasma. METHODS: Blood samples were drawn before, during, and after surgery and concentrations of tau, NFL, Aβ40, and Aβ42 were measured in 25 patients undergoing cardiac surgery (9 off-pump and 16 on-pump) and 26 patients undergoing otolaryngeal surgery. RESULTS: Tau increased during surgery (1752%, p = 0.0001) and NFL rose seven days post-surgery (1090%, p < 0.0001) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery; even more in patients on-pump than off-pump. No changes were observed in patients undergoing otolaryngeal surgery and only minor fluctuations were observed for Aβ40 and Aβ42. CONCLUSION: Cardiac surgery is associated with neuronal injury, which is aggravated by extracorporeal circulation. Analyses of NFL and tau in blood may guide development of surgical procedures to minimize neuronal damage, and may also be used in longitudinal clinical studies to assess the relationship of surgery with future neurocognitive impairment or dementia

The landscape of open science in behavioral addiction research: Current practices and future directions

Open science refers to a set of practices that aim to make scientific research more transparent, accessible, and reproducible, including pre-registration of study protocols, sharing of data and materials, the use of transparent research methods, and open access publishing. In this commentary, we describe and evaluate the current state of open science practices in behavioral addiction research. We highlight the specific value of open science practices for the field; discuss recent field-specific meta-scientific reviews that show the adoption of such practices remains in its infancy; address the challenges to engaging with open science; and make recommendations for how researchers, journals, and scientific institutions can work to overcome these challenges and promote high-quality, transparently reported behavioral addiction research. By collaboratively promoting open science practices, the field can create a more sustainable and productive research environment that benefits both the scientific community and society as a whole

Measurement of ISR-FSR interference in the processes e+ e- --> mu+ mu- gamma and e+ e- --> pi+ pi- gamma

Charge asymmetry in processes e+ e- --> mu+ mu- gamma and e+ e- --> pi+ pi- gamma is measured using 232 fb-1 of data collected with the BABAR detector at center-of-mass energies near 10.58 GeV. An observable is introduced and shown to be very robust against detector asymmetries while keeping a large sensitivity to the physical charge asymmetry that results from the interference between initial and final state radiation. The asymmetry is determined as afunction of the invariant mass of the final-state tracks from production threshold to a few GeV/c2. It is compared to the expectation from QED for e+ e- --> mu+ mu- gamma and from theoretical models for e+ e- --> pi+ pi- gamma. A clear interference pattern is observed in e+ e- --> pi+ pi- gamma, particularly in the vicinity of the f_2(1270) resonance. The inferred rate of lowest order FSR production is consistent with the QED expectation for e+ e- --> mu+ mu- gamma, and is negligibly small for e+ e- --> pi+ pi- gamma.Comment: 32 pages,29 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.