Existential neuroscience: effects of mortality salience on the neurocognitive processing of attractive opposite-sex faces

Being reminded of the inherently finite nature of human existence has been demonstrated to elicit strivings for sexual reproduction and the formation and maintenance of intimate relationships. Recently, it has been proposed that the perception of potential mating partners is influenced by mortality salience. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the neurocognitive processing of attractive opposite-sex faces after priming with death-related words for heterosexual men and women. Significant modulations of behavioral and neural responses were found when participants were requested to decide whether they would like to meet the presented person. Men were more in favor of meeting attractive women after being primed with death-related words compared to a no-prime condition. Increased neural activation could be found under mortality salience in the left anterior insula and the adjacent lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) for both men and women. As previously suggested, we believe that the lPFC activation reflects an approach-motivated defense mechanism to overcome concerns that are induced by being reminded of death and dying. Our results provide insight on a neurocognitive level that approach motivation in general, and mating motivation in particular is modulated by mortality salience.     

Palmitoylethanolamide Regulates Development of Intestinal Radiation Injury in a Mast Cell-Dependent Manner

Background

Mast cells and neuroimmune interactions regulate the severity of intestinal radiation mucositis, a dose-limiting toxicity during radiation therapy of abdominal malignancies.

Aim

Because endocannabinoids (eCB) regulate intestinal inflammation, we investigated the effect of the cannabimimetic, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), in a mast competent (+/+) and mast cell-deficient (Ws/Ws) rat model.

Methods

Rats underwent localized, fractionated intestinal irradiation, and received daily injections with vehicle or PEA from 1 day before until 2 weeks after radiation. Intestinal injury was assessed noninvasively by luminol bioluminescence, and, at 2 weeks, by histology, morphometry, and immunohistochemical analysis, gene expression analysis, and pathway analysis.

Results

Compared with +/+ rats, Ws/Ws rats sustained more intestinal structural injury (p = 0.01), mucosal damage (p = 0.02), neutrophil infiltration (p = 0.0003), and collagen deposition (p = 0.004). PEA reduced structural radiation injury (p = 0.02), intestinal wall thickness (p = 0.03), collagen deposition (p = 0.03), and intestinal inflammation (p = 0.02) in Ws/Ws rats, but not in +/+ rats. PEA inhibited mast cell-derived cellular immune response and anti-inflammatory IL-6 and IL-10 signaling and activated the prothrombin pathway in +/+ rats. In contrast, while PEA suppressed nonmast cell-derived immune responses, it increased anti-inflammatory IL-10 and IL-6 signaling and decreased activation of the prothrombin pathway in Ws/Ws rats.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that the absence of mast cells exacerbate radiation enteropathy by mechanisms that likely involve the coagulation system, anti-inflammatory cytokine signaling, and the innate immune system; and that these mechanisms are regulated by PEA in a mast cell-dependent manner. The eCB system should be explored as target for mitigating intestinal radiation injury.     

Duplex PCR Assay for Identification of Tissue of Cattle and Buffalo Origin Targeting Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - The aim of this study was to develop PCR assay for simultaneous detection of tissues from cattle and buffalo...     

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Responses in Individuals with Antibody Deficiency: Findings from the COV-AD Study

Background

Vaccination prevents severe morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the general population. The immunogenicity and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with antibody deficiency is poorly understood.

Objectives

COVID-19 in patients with antibody deficiency (COV-AD) is a multi-site UK study that aims to determine the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in patients with primary or secondary antibody deficiency, a population that suffers from severe and recurrent infection and does not respond well to vaccination.

Methods

Individuals on immunoglobulin replacement therapy or with an IgG less than 4 g/L receiving antibiotic prophylaxis were recruited from April 2021. Serological and cellular responses were determined using ELISA, live-virus neutralisation and interferon gamma release assays. SARS-CoV-2 infection and clearance were determined by PCR from serial nasopharyngeal swabs.

Results

A total of 5.6% (n?=?320) of the cohort reported prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, but only 0.3% remained PCR positive on study entry. Seropositivity, following two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, was 54.8% (n?=?168) compared with 100% of healthy controls (n?=?205). The magnitude of the antibody response and its neutralising capacity were both significantly reduced compared to controls. Participants vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine were more likely to be seropositive (65.7% vs. 48.0%, p?=?0.03) and have higher antibody levels compared with the AstraZeneca vaccine (IgGAM ratio 3.73 vs. 2.39, p?=?0.0003). T cell responses post vaccination was demonstrable in 46.2% of participants and were associated with better antibody responses but there was no difference between the two vaccines. Eleven vaccine-breakthrough infections have occurred to date, 10 of them in recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Conclusion

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines demonstrate reduced immunogenicity in patients with antibody deficiency with evidence of vaccine breakthrough infection.

     

Knowledge and attitude towards breast feeding among adolescent girls

Majority of the urban adolescent girl students (n = 76) from middle socioeconomic group correctly reported that breast milk is the best food for infants (95%), and it has protective antibodies (98%). However, most of them (92%) had incorrect knowledge about the role of diet in breast milk secretion and continuation of breastfeeding while mother is suffering from tuberculosis (92%), malaria (84%).     

Prevalence of behaviour problems in Ajmer school children

In a questionnaire survey of 10,000 primary school children, parents and teachers reported behaviour problems in 38% of 6199 children on whom complete information was made available. Categorization of 3572 behaviour problems according to a modified APA-DSM II classification showed aggressive reactions to be the commonest (22.7%). This was followed by disorders of sleep (17.1%), unsocial aggressive reactions (15.5%), aggressive-regressive reactions (13.5%), regressive reactions (10.7%), school grade problems (8.7%) and others. Significant influence of sex, age and socio-economic class was noted on the overall prevalence, and prevalence of specific behaviour problems. A general lack of awareness among the parents about the childhood behavioural problems was noticeable from the pattern of utilization of the pediatric outpatient services in the study area. There is a need to educate parents on behaviour of children and the significance of behavioural deviations.     

Initiation codon mutation in an Asian Indian family

The beta-thalassemias are a heterogeneous group of hereditary anemias. A multitude of mutations have been reported, resulting in varied phenotypes. In each ethnic group there is always a subset of common, less common, and rare mutations, which makes population screening, prenatal diagnosis, and genetic counseling easier. In this paper we report a rare beta-thalassemia mutation found in an Indian subject by SSCP and sequencing analysis. The mutation, initiation ATG --> ACG, was found in heterozygous condition in a patient belonging to Brahmin family of Uttar Pradesh origin. Haplotype analysis was performed to identify the chromosomal background associated with the mutation and to tracing the origin and spread of the mutation. This study, as previous studies, suggests that rare beta-thalassemia mutations, such as the initiation codon mutations, have no set geographical distribution and are relatively recent.