For patients with schizophrenia, the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs13194504 AA genotype is associated with reduced severity of tardive dyskinesia (TD), but is not associated with occurrence, according to a study recently published in Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental.
Neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (NM-MRI) contrast is associated with psychosis severity in antipsychotic-free patients with schizophrenia, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Kenneth Wengler, Ph.D., from Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study involving 42 antipsychotic-free patients with schizophrenia, 53 antipsychotic-free individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR), and 52 matched healthy controls to replicate previous findings relating NM-MRI, a proxy measure of dopamine function, to psychosis severity. Data were also included for an external validation sample of 16 antipsychotic-naive patients with schizophrenia.
The researchers found that higher Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale positive total scores correlated with higher mean NM-MRI contrast in the psychosis regions of interest (ROI) in the schizophrenia sample.
Schizophrenia, a neurodevelopmental disorder that features psychosis among its symptoms, is thought to arise from disorganization in brain connectivity and functional integration. Now, a recent study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, finds differences in functional brain connectivity in people with and without psychosis and schizophrenia that could help researchers understand the neural underpinnings of this disease.
The brain’s cortex is organized in a hierarchical fashion, anchored by the sensorimotor cortex at one end and by multimodal association areas at the other, with the task of integrating incoming sensory information with internal and external sensory signals. The loss of executive control in schizophrenia may stem from disruption of this hierarchical signaling.
Alexander Holmes, a Ph.D. candidate at Monash University who led the study, said, “We used brain imaging and novel mathematical techniques to investigate the hierarchical organization of the brains of individuals with early psychosis and established schizophrenia. This organization is important for brain health, as it regulates how we can effectively respond to and process stimuli from the external world.”
The mechanisms underlying human cell diversity are unclear. Here the authors provide a single-cell epigenome map of human neural organoid development and dissect how epigenetic changes control cell fate specification from pluripotency to distinct cerebral and retina neural types.
Japanese researchers have developed a novel technique to attach engineered skin tissue to humanoid robots.
Robotic platforms may benefit from enhanced mobility, embedded sensing capabilities, self-healing capabilities, and a more realistic appearance.
The innovation was made possible by mimicking skin-ligament structures and using V-shaped perforations in a robot face.
The organoids were treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), which are a liver toxic material, and nontoxic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The comparison showed that the toxicity of each material could be accurately observed, in contrast to the conventional method.
Ahruem Baek, a senior researcher at KRISS, said, “Based on our results, we will establish standard nanomaterial and nanomedicine safety assessment procedures using organoids, contributing to the advancement of Korea’s nano-industry.”
The results from this study may allow for rapid and accurate safety assessment of nanomaterials and nanomedicine using organoids, contributing to the safe utilization of nanomaterials in various strategic technical fields.
Soft bioelectronic devices are made from polymer-based and hybrid electronic materials that form natural interfaces with the human body. In this Review, the authors present recent developments in soft bioelectronic sensors and actuators, and discuss system-level integration for wearable and implantable medical applications.
The integration of artificial neuromorphic devices with biological systems plays a fundamental role for future brain-machine interfaces, prosthetics, and intelligent soft robotics. Harikesh et al. demonstrate all-printed organic electrochemical neurons on Venus flytrap that is controlled to open and close.
Proteins are the building blocks of life, involved in virtually every biological process. Understanding how proteins interact with each other is crucial for deciphering the complexities of cellular functions, and has significant implications for drug development and the treatment of diseases.
Many people are familiar with oncogenes—genes long known to be involved in cancers in humans, such as the gene Src. What’s less widely understood is that oncogenes didn’t evolve just to cause cancer in species, but rather to control events of normal growth and differentiation.
