Global Brain Dynamics during Social Exclusion Predict Subsequent Behavioral Conformity

Individuals react differently to social experiences; for example, people who are more sensitive to negative social experiences, such as being excluded, may be more likely to adapt their behavior to fit in with others. We examined whether functional brain connectivity during social exclusion in the fMRI scanner can be used to predict subsequent conformity to peer norms. Adolescent males (n = 57) completed a two-part study on teen driving risk: a social exclusion task (Cyberball) during an fMRI session and a subsequent driving simulator session in which they drove alone and in the presence of a peer who expressed risk-averse or risk-accepting driving norms. We computed the difference in functional connectivity between social exclusion and social inclusion from each node in the brain to nodes in two brain networks, one previously associated with mentalizing (medial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, precuneus, temporal poles) and another with social pain (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula). Using predictive modeling, this measure of global connectivity during exclusion predicted the extent of conformity to peer pressure during driving in the subsequent experimental session. These findings extend our understanding of how global neural dynamics guide social behavior, revealing functional network activity that captures individual differences

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Sleep phenotype in the Townes mouse model of sickle cell disease.

PURPOSE: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) regularly experience abnormal sleep, characterized by frequent arousals and reduced total sleep time. However, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common comorbidity of SCD, making it unclear whether the disease per se is impacting sleep, or sleep disruption is secondary to the presence of OSAS. Thus, we assessed sleep, independent of OSAS, using a mouse model of SCD. METHODS: Sleep was compared between 10-to-12-week-old Townes knockout-transgenic mice with the sickle cell phenotype SS (n = 6) and Townes mice with sickle cell trait AS (n = 6; control). The mice underwent chronic polysomnographic electrode implantation (4EEG/2EMG) to assess sleep architecture. RESULTS: The SS mice had significantly lower hemoglobin concentration compared to control AS mice (7.3 ± 1.3 vs. 12.9 ± 1.7 g/dL; p \u3c 0.01), consistent with the expected SCD phenotype. SS mice exhibited significantly decreased total NREM sleep time (45.0 ± 0.7 vs. 53.0 ± 1.3% 24 h sleep time; p \u3c 0.01), but no change in total REM sleep time compared to the AS mice. The SS mice took longer to resume sleep after a wake period compared to the AS mice (3.2 ± 0.3 min vs. 1.9 ± 0.2 min; p \u3c 0.05). Unexpectedly, SS mice experienced fewer arousals compared to AS mice (19.0 ± 0.9 vs. 23.3 ± 2.1 arousals/h of sleep; p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of decreased total NREM sleep associated with reduced arousals, in the absence of OSAS, suggests a distinctive underlying sleep phenotype in a mouse model of SCD

Stimulation of the endogenous incretin glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide by enteral dextrose improves glucose homeostasis and inflammation in murine endotoxemia.

Loss of glucose homeostasis during sepsis is associated with increased organ dysfunction and higher mortality. Novel therapeutic strategies to promote euglycemia in sepsis are needed. We have previously shown that early low-level intravenous (IV) dextrose suppresses pancreatic insulin secretion and induces insulin resistance in septic mice, resulting in profound hyperglycemia and worsened systemic inflammation. In this study, we hypothesized that administration of low-level dextrose via the enteral route would stimulate intestinal incretin hormone production, potentiate insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, and thereby improve glycemic control in the acute phase of sepsis. We administered IV or enteral dextrose to 10-week-old male C57BL/6J mice exposed to bacterial endotoxin and measured incretin hormone release, glucose disposal, and proinflammatory cytokine production. Compared with IV administration, enteral dextrose increased circulating levels of the incretin hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) associated with increased insulin release and insulin sensitivity, improved mean arterial pressure, and decreased proinflammatory cytokines in endotoxemic mice. Exogenous GIP rescued glucose metabolism, improved blood pressure, and increased insulin release in endotoxemic mice receiving IV dextrose, whereas pharmacologic inhibition of GIP signaling abrogated the beneficial effects of enteral dextrose. Thus, stimulation of endogenous GIP secretion by early enteral dextrose maintains glucose homeostasis and attenuates the systemic inflammatory response in endotoxemic mice and may provide a therapeutic target for improving glycemic control and clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis

Human adipose-derived stem cells and three-dimensional scaffold constructs: a review of the biomaterials and models currently used for bone regeneration

Hydrogels serve as three-dimensional scaffolds whose composition can be customized to allow attachment and proliferation of several different cell types. Extracellular matrix-derived hydrogels are considered close replicates of the tissue microenvironment. They can serve as scaffolds for tissue engineering and are a useful tool to study cell-scaffold interaction. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) and decellularized adipose tissue-derived (DAT) hydrogel interaction on ASC morphology, proliferation, differentiation, and DAT hydrogel microstructure. First, the ASCs were characterized using flow cytometry, adipogenic/osteogenic differentiation, colony-forming unit fibroblast assay and doubling time. The viability and proliferation assays showed that ASCs seeded in DAT hydrogel at different concentrations and cultured for 21 days remained viable and displayed proliferation. ASCs were seeded on DAT hydrogel and cultured in stromal, adipogenic, or osteogenic media for 14 or 28 days. The analysis of adipogenic differentiation demonstrated the upregulation of adipogenic marker genes and accumulation of oil droplets in the cells. Osteogenic differentiation demonstrated the upregulation of osteogenic marker genes and mineral deposition in the DAT hydrogel. The analysis of DAT hydrogel fiber metrics revealed that ASC seeding, and differentiation altered both the diameter and arrangement of fibers in the matrix. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity was assessed to determine the possible mechanism for DAT hydrogel remodeling. MMP-2 activity was observed in all ASC seeded samples, with the osteogenic samples displaying the highest MMP-2 activity. These findings indicate that DAT hydrogel is a cytocompatible scaffold that supports the adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of ASCs. Furthermore, the attachment of ASCs and differentiation along adipogenic and osteogenic lineages remodels the microstructure of DAT hydrogel

Hip arthroscopy: surgical approach, positioning, and distraction

The hip is the most deeply recessed joint in the body making it difficult to access arthroscopically. However, for the patient with a symptomatic loose body or labral tear open techniques are less advantageous. It is for this reason that, however difficult, minimally-invasive approaches to the hip have been developed. Meticulous attention to proper positioning and portal placement is paramount for safe and successful arthroscopy of the hip. The current authors will review the seminal features of positioning and minimally-invasive surgical approaches to the hip

First analysis of the safety and efficacy of UGN-101 in the treatment of ureteral tumors.

OBJECTIVE: UGN-101 has been approved for the chemoablation of low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) involving the renal pelvis and calyces. Herein is the first reported cohort of patients with ureteral tumors treated with UGN-101. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients treated with UGN-101 for UTUC at 15 high-volume academic and community centers focusing on outcomes of patients treated for ureteral disease. Patients received UGN-101 with either adjuvant or chemo-ablative intent. Response rates are reported for patients receiving chemo-ablative intent. Adverse outcomes were characterized with a focus on the rate of ureteral stenosis. RESULTS: In a cohort of 132 patients and 136 renal units, 47 cases had tumor involvement of the ureter, with 12 cases of ureteral tumor only (8.8%) and 35 cases of ureteral plus renal pelvic tumors (25.7%). Of the 23 patients with ureteral involvement who received UGN-101 induction with chemo-ablative intent, the complete response was 47.8%, which did not differ significantly from outcomes in patients without ureteral involvement. Fourteen patients (37.8%) with ureteral tumors had significant ureteral stenosis at first post-treatment evaluation, however, when excluding those with pre-existing hydronephrosis or ureteral stenosis, only 5.4% of patients developed new clinically significant stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: UGN-101 appears to be safe and may have similar efficacy in treating low-grade urothelial carcinoma of the ureter as compared to renal pelvic tumors