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1.
Brain activation and affective judgements in response to personal dietary images: An fMRI preliminary study.
Dodd, SL, Long, JD, Hou, J, Kahathuduwa, CN, O'Boyle, MW
Appetite. 2020;:104561
Abstract
Emerging evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain activation studies associated with dietary behavior reveals significant interaction of biological and behavioral mechanisms in response to visualized food stimuli. Because food intake is influenced by neurosensory stimulation and memory cues, personalized food images may be useful in prompting appropriate affective responses to food intake, which may subsequently lead to healthier eating behaviors. The current study used a cross-sectional mixed methods approach to explore neural responses and self-perceptions of eating behavior during review of personalized food images. A sample of college students (N = 16; 9 females; M age = 21.44) used cell-phone cameras and an online dietary tracking website to collect and report three days of diet. Within 2-3 weeks of completing dietary tracking activity, participants underwent an fMRI scan while reviewing recorded personal images and text descriptions of their diet. They also responded to three questions related to memory for the food items and future eating intentions. Post-scan interviews explored how participants felt after reviewing personal food images and the possible impact that such review might have on future food choices. Whole brain analyses suggested, compared to a written dietary record, that the visualization of personal images of diet evoked greater brain activation in memory regions (e.g., superior frontal gyrus) along with mediating emotion (e.g., thalamus, putamen, anterior cingulate cortex), imagery and executive functions (e.g., inferior orbitofrontal gyrus, fusiform, and parietal lobe). This study offers preliminary support for the use of personal food images to strengthen dietary monitoring.
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2.
Age-Related Changes and Sex-Related Differences in Brain Iron Metabolism.
Grubić Kezele, T, Ćurko-Cofek, B
Nutrients. 2020;(9)
Abstract
Iron is an essential element that participates in numerous cellular processes. Any disruption of iron homeostasis leads to either iron deficiency or iron overload, which can be detrimental for humans' health, especially in elderly. Each of these changes contributes to the faster development of many neurological disorders or stimulates progression of already present diseases. Age-related cellular and molecular alterations in iron metabolism can also lead to iron dyshomeostasis and deposition. Iron deposits can contribute to the development of inflammation, abnormal protein aggregation, and degeneration in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to the progressive decline in cognitive processes, contributing to pathophysiology of stroke and dysfunctions of body metabolism. Besides, since iron plays an important role in both neuroprotection and neurodegeneration, dietary iron homeostasis should be considered with caution. Recently, there has been increased interest in sex-related differences in iron metabolism and iron homeostasis. These differences have not yet been fully elucidated. In this review we will discuss the latest discoveries in iron metabolism, age-related changes, along with the sex differences in iron content in serum and brain, within the healthy aging population and in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke.
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3.
Effects of curcumin on mitochondria in neurodegenerative diseases.
Bagheri, H, Ghasemi, F, Barreto, GE, Rafiee, R, Sathyapalan, T, Sahebkar, A
BioFactors (Oxford, England). 2020;(1):5-20
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) result from progressive deterioration of selectively susceptible neuron populations in different central nervous system (CNS) regions. NDs are classified in accordance with the primary clinical manifestations (e.g., parkinsonism, dementia, or motor neuron disease), the anatomic basis of neurodegeneration (e.g., frontotemporal degenerations, extrapyramidal disorders, or spinocerebellar degenerations), and fundamental molecular abnormalities (e.g., mutations, mitochondrial dysfunction, and its related molecular alterations). NDs include the Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease, among others. There is a growing evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction and its related mutations in the form of oxidative/nitrosative stress and neurotoxic compounds play major roles in the pathogenesis of various NDs. Curcumin, a polyphenol and nontoxic compound, obtained from turmeric, has been shown to have a therapeutic beneficial effect in various disorders especially on the CNS cells. It has been shown that curcumin has considerable neuro- and mitochondria-protective properties against broad-spectrum neurotoxic compounds and diseases/injury-associating NDs. In this article, we have reviewed the various effects of curcumin on mitochondrial dysfunction in NDs.
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4.
Induction of SPARC on Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Phenotype Transformation, and Apoptosis of Human Brain Smooth Muscle Cells Via TGF-β1-NOX4 Pathway.
Tan, X, Li, T, Zhu, S, Zhong, W, Li, F, Wang, Y
Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN. 2020;(11):1728-1741
Abstract
Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) has a close association with inflammatory response and oxidative stress in tissues and is widely expressed in intracranial aneurysms (IAs), especially in smooth muscle cells. Therefore, it is inferred that SPARC might be involved in the formation and development of IAs through the inflammatory response pathway or oxidative stress pathway. The aim of this study is to investigate the pathological mechanism of SPARC in oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis during the formation of IAs, as well as the involvement of TGF-β1 and NOX4 molecules. Human brain vascular smooth muscle cells (HBVSMCs) were selected as experimental objects. After the cells were stimulated by recombinant human SPARC protein in vitro, the ROS level in the cells was measured using an ID/ROS fluorescence analysis kit combined with fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry. The related protein expression in HBVSMCs was measured using western blotting. The mitochondrial membrane potential change was detected using a mitochondrial membrane potential kit and laser confocal microscope. The mechanism was explored by intervention with reactive oxygen scavengers N-acetylcysteine (NAC), TGF-β1 inhibitor (SD-208), and siRNA knockout. The results showed that SPARC upregulated the expression of NOX4 through the TGF-β1-dependent signaling pathway, leading to oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory matrix behavior and apoptosis in HBVSMCs. These findings demonstrated that SPARC may promote the progression of IAs.
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5.
Cerebrospinal fluid ceruloplasmin levels predict cognitive decline and brain atrophy in people with underlying β-amyloid pathology.
Diouf, I, Bush, AI, Ayton, S, ,
Neurobiology of disease. 2020;:104810
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may involve oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is a circulating protein that intersects both these pathways, since its expression is increased during the acute phase response, and the protein acts to lower pro-oxidant iron in cells. Since the role of Cp in AD, and its potential for use as a biomarker is not established, we investigated CSF Cp and its association with longitudinal outcome measures related to AD. METHODS This was an observational study of 268 people from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging (ADNI) cohort. Subjects were classified clinically as having AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or were cognitively normal (CN), and were also classified as being positive for β-amyloid using established thresholds in the CSF t-tau/Aβ42 ratio. Subjects underwent cognitive tests and MRI studies every 6 months for 2 years, then yearly thereafter for up to 6 years. RESULTS At baseline, CSF Cp was not associated with clinical or pathological diagnosis, but we found an unexpected association between CSF Cp and levels of CSF apolipoprotein E. In longitudinal analysis, high level of CSF Cp was associated with accelerated cognitive decline (as assessed by ADAS-Cog, CDR-SB, and MMSE) and ventricular volume enlargement in people classified as MCI and who had underlying β-amyloid pathology. CONCLUSION These results raise new questions into the role of Cp in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and APOE pathways involved in AD, and reveal the potential for this protein to be used as a biomarker in disease prognostication.
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6.
Air Pollution Neurotoxicity in the Adult Brain: Emerging Concepts from Experimental Findings.
Haghani, A, Morgan, TE, Forman, HJ, Finch, CE
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2020;(3):773-797
Abstract
Epidemiological studies are associating elevated exposure to air pollution with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. In effect, air pollution accelerates many aging conditions that promote cognitive declines of aging. The underlying mechanisms and scale of effects remain largely unknown due to its chemical and physical complexity. Moreover, individual responses to air pollution are shaped by an intricate interface of pollutant mixture with the biological features of the exposed individual such as age, sex, genetic background, underlying diseases, and nutrition, but also other environmental factors including exposure to cigarette smoke. Resolving this complex manifold requires more detailed environmental and lifestyle data on diverse populations, and a systematic experimental approach. Our review aims to summarize the modest existing literature on experimental studies on air pollution neurotoxicity for adult rodents and identify key gaps and emerging challenges as we go forward. It is timely for experimental biologists to critically understand prior findings and develop innovative approaches to this urgent global problem. We hope to increase recognition of the importance of air pollution on brain aging by our colleagues in the neurosciences and in biomedical gerontology, and to support the immediate translation of the findings into public health guidelines for the regulation of remedial environmental factors that accelerate aging processes.
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7.
The texture and taste of food in the brain.
Rolls, ET
Journal of texture studies. 2020;(1):23-44
Abstract
Oral texture is represented in the brain areas that represent taste, including the primary taste cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex, and the amygdala. Some neurons represent viscosity, and their responses correlate with the subjective thickness of a food. Other neurons represent fat in the mouth, and represent it by its texture not by its chemical composition, in that they also respond to paraffin oil and silicone in the mouth. The discovery has been made that these fat-responsive neurons encode the coefficient of sliding friction and not viscosity, and this opens the way for the development of new foods with the pleasant mouth feel of fat and with health-promoting designed nutritional properties. A few other neurons respond to free fatty acids (such as linoleic acid), do not respond to fat in the mouth, and may contribute to some "off" tastes in the mouth. Some other neurons code for astringency. Others neurons respond to other aspects of texture such as the crisp fresh texture of a slice of apple versus the same apple after blending. Different neurons respond to different combinations of these texture properties, oral temperature, taste, and in the orbitofrontal cortex to olfactory and visual properties of food. In the orbitofrontal cortex, the pleasantness and reward value of the food is represented, but the primary taste cortex represents taste and texture independently of value. These discoveries were made in macaques that have similar cortical brain areas for taste and texture processing as humans, and complementary human functional neuroimaging studies are described.
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8.
Backstage of Eating Disorder-About the Biological Mechanisms behind the Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa.
Skowron, K, Kurnik-Łucka, M, Dadański, E, Bętkowska-Korpała, B, Gil, K
Nutrients. 2020;(9)
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) represents a disorder with the highest mortality rate among all psychiatric diseases, yet our understanding of its pathophysiological components continues to be fragmentary. This article reviews the current concepts regarding AN pathomechanisms that focus on the main biological aspects involving central and peripheral neurohormonal pathways, endocrine function, as well as the microbiome-gut-brain axis. It emerged from the unique complexity of constantly accumulating new discoveries, which hamper the ability to look at the disease in a more comprehensive way. The emphasis is placed on the mechanisms underlying the main symptoms and potential new directions that require further investigation in clinical settings.
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9.
A Public Health Issue: Dietary Supplements Promoted for Brain Health and Cognitive Performance.
Crawford, C, Boyd, C, Avula, B, Wang, YH, Khan, IA, Deuster, PA
Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.). 2020;(4):265-272
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Abstract
Background: Dietary supplements targeting brain health have quickly emerged in the marketplace as cognitive performance becomes an important public health issue. While manufacturers are required to report the exact ingredients and formulations listed on the Supplement Facts labels of products, many reports have indicated such labels are not always truthful, and the content of some products is inconsistent with the ingredients listed on the Supplement Facts label. Objectives: To identify dietary supplement products and ingredients marketed for brain health and cognitive performance and perform analyses of select products to verify whether purported claims are truthful and product labels accurate. Design: A scoping review was performed to identify products and ingredients. Products were selected for content analysis, investigated for scientific-sounding claims made, and assessed using an educational tool for potential red flags when reading Supplement Facts labels. Results: Twelve products were selected from the 650 products being marketed for brain health and queried about by Service Members. Eight (67%) had at least one ingredient listed on the Supplement Facts label not detected through analysis. Compounds not reported on the label were detected in 10 (83%) products. Scientific-sounding claims made are not supported by science and red flags are presented. Conclusions: There are dietary supplements targeting brain health being marketed to consumers that should be considered adulterated and misbranded. Advertisements and product labels may be deceiving and could put the public at risk. Education is required so that the public can recognize red flags while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration works to "modernize" the current regulations for dietary supplements.
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10.
Atypical Bilateral Multifocal Congenital Toxoplasmosis Retinochoroiditis: Case Report With Literature Review.
Reed, G, Agarwal-Sinha, S
Journal of investigative medicine high impact case reports. 2020;:2324709620961615
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis gondii is ubiquitously present on earth and infection, including congenital infection, is common. Neurological, developmental, and ocular effects can be devastating in the congenital toxoplasmosis population. At present, there is no standard, nation-wide neonatal screening for this disease in the United States. CASE PRESENTATION A 17-month-old Caucasian female presented to our institution by way of referral for macular scarring. She was diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation and born with low birth weight and microcephaly at an outside institution, but no systemic workup was conducted at that time. On ocular examination, she was found to have nystagmus and extensive multifocal chorioretinal pigmented scars involving the macula and peripheral retina in both eyes with fibrous vitreous strands extending between scars in the right eye. Toxoplasmosis immunoglobulin G was found to be highly positive. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed supratentorial intracranial calcifications. CONCLUSIONS Our patient presented with severe chorioretinal lesions, microcephaly, and nystagmus with a positive immunoglobulin G toxoplasmosis titer. She did not receive any evaluation, including TORCH infectious panel workup, on being born with low birth weight and microcephaly. There are currently no national programs in place for toxoplasmosis to be included in routine neonatal screening, despite the grave sequelae of congenital infection or that studies in other countries have shown cost-effectiveness in early screening and treatment.