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The Caatinga is an exclusively Brazilian biome, and is the largest and most biodiverse Seasonal Tropical Dry Forest in the world. Despite that, the mammalian fauna, especially small mammals, is the least studied of all Brazilian biomes. In order to fill gaps and provide detailed information on small mammals (Didelphimorphia, Rodentia) in the Caatinga biome, we compiled reliable records focusing on richness, composition and some biometric data. These records came from mammal collections, papers, theses, books, and unpublished data, prioritizing records with vouchers housed in scientific collections. We compiled a total of 3133 records from 816 locations, resulting in a richness of 47 native species (12 marsupials and 35 rodents, plus three exotic rodents, Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, and Mus musculus). This dataset includes records of three new species for the biome and its transition zone: the rodents Calomys mattevii, Holochilus oxe, and Nectomys squamipes. Of the total number of records, 1808 (57.71%) are from consulting activities, 95 (3.03%) are from zoonoses studies and 104 (3.32%) are from the National Plague Service (SNP). All nine Brazilian states with territory in the Caatinga have sampling data for small mammals, but the number of records and localities are unevenly distributed, with the state of Rio Grande do Norte having the lowest number of records and locations sampled. Our dataset is the first of its kind for the Caatinga biome and has considerable potential value for studies of habitat use, landscape ecology, macroecology, biogeography, and conservation. There are no copyright restrictions on the data. Please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vestibular lamina (VL) forms as an epithelial outgrowth parallel to the dental lamina (DL) in the oral cavity. During late development, it opens to create a furrow that divides the dental tissue from the cheeks and lips and is known as the vestibule. Defects in this process lead to failure in the separation of the teeth from the lips and cheeks, including the presence of multiple frenula. In this paper, the development of the VL is followed in the mouse, from epithelial placode in the embryo to postnatal opening and vestibule formation. During early outgrowth, differential proliferation controls the curvature of the VL as it extends under the forming incisors. Apoptosis plays a role in thinning the deepest part of the lamina, while terminal differentiation of the epithelium, highlighted by the expression of loricrin and flattening of the nuclei, predates the division of the VL into two to create the vestibule. Development in the mouse is compared to the human VL, with respect to the relationship of the VL to the DL, VL morphology and mechanisms of opening. Overall, this paper provides insight into an understudied part of the oral anatomy, shedding light on how defects could form in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lewis serologic reagents frequently give inaccurate phenotyping results. Furthermore these serologic reagents are often used in nonserologic assays such as inhibition and immunohistochemistry. In both scenarios knowledge of the fine specificity and cross-reactivity of these reagents will improve the quality of results obtained.Study Design and Methods: A range of contemporary and historical workshop and developmental Lewis reagents including mouse monoclonal (MoAb) and human and goat polyclonal (PoAb) reagents were evaluated. All were evaluated both against Lewis kodecytes expressing only single Le(a) , Le(b) , ALe(b) , BLe(b) , Le(x) , Le(y) , ALe(y) , or BLe(y) antigens and against the same antigens inkjet printed on a paper-based microplate and analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. Nine clinical samples were also evaluated. A kodecyte antigen dilution sensitivity assay was used to establish the ratio of Le(b) antigen between group A1 /A2 and O RBCs.Results: A continuum of cross-reactivity from Le(x) through to H was observed with MoAbs. All PoAb and few MoAb anti-Le(a) samples and reagents cross-reacted to some degree with Le(b) antigen. Some PoAb and MoAb anti-Le(b) did not cross-react with Le(a) . All polyclonal goat anti-Le(b) reagents showed substantial activity against ALe(b) and BLe(b) , while no MoAb reagent had this activity. A1 RBCs had less than half the Le(b) antigen of A2 /O RBCs.Conclusions: Substantial cross-reactivity of both MoAbs and PoAbs with related antigens highlights the risks of using serologic reagents in nonserologic assays or against synthetic antigens. The lack of ALe(b) activity in anti-Le(b) MoAbs explains their poor performance against blood group A1 Le(a-b+) phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a systemic osteopathy characterized by bone metabolism disorders that become more serious with age increases in postmenopausal women. Recent studies have found that antler protein is the main bioactive component of cervus pantotrichum, and it has a positive regulatory effect on bone metabolism and can improve estrogen level. This study aimed to investigate the effect of velvet antler extract (VAE) on the prevention of osteoporosis and the modulation of gut microbiota in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. OVX mice treated with 12 weeks of VAE exhibited higher levels of serum BGP, Ca2+, CT, and HyP (p <.05). Micro‐CT scans showed that VAE significantly elevated bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular bone number (Tb.N), trabecular bone thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular bone connection density (Conn.D), decreased trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), and structural modality index (SMI) than untreated OVX mice. The right tibial retinaculum in the VAE group was clearer, with a clearer reticular structure, smaller gaps, a tighter distribution, and a more orderly arrangement. The gut microbiota of the cecal contents was analyzed by 16 s rDNA amplicon sequencing. The data indicated that VAE modulated the species, numbers, and diversity of the gut microbiota in OVX mice. Ovariectomy caused dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota by increasing the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in mice, but the ratio decreased after treatment with VAE. These results suggest that VAE has a therapeutic effect on OVX mice via modulate bone‐related biochemical markers in serum and structure of gut microbiota. In this paper, I show that velvet antler extract has a positive effect on osteoporosis model mice. I found that velvet antler extract can improve the serum biochemical indexes, bone microstructure, and intestinal flora of osteoporosis model mice. In addition, I noticed that the antler extract significantly increased the content of Akkermansia bacteria in the intestinal tract of mice, indicating that Akkermansia bacteria may be a new biomarker of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several obstacles limit the efficacy of brain tumour treatment, most notably the blood‐brain barrier (BBB), which prevents the brain uptake of the majority of accessible medicines due to tight junctions. The presence of glutathione (GSH) receptors on the BBB surface has been demonstrated in numerous papers; consequently, products containing glutathione as a targeting ligand coupled with nanoliposomes are used to enhance drug delivery across the BBB. Here, the 5% pre‐inserted PEG2000‐GSH PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin was conducted according to 2B3‐101 being tested in clinical trials. In addition, PEGylated nanoliposomal doxorubicin connected to the spacer‐GSH targeting ligand (GSGGCE) and the PEG3400 was conducted using post‐insertion method. Next, in vivo biodistribution of the produced formulations was tested on healthy mice to see if GSGGCE, as the targeted ligand, could cross the BBB compared to 5% pre‐inserted PEG2000‐GSH and Caelyx®. Compared to the pre‐inserted formulation and Caelyx®, the post‐inserted formulations' concentration was lower in the heart and higher in brain tissues, resulting in boosting the brain concentration of accumulated doxorubicin with fewer possible side effects, including cardiotoxicity. In comparison to the pre‐insertion procedure, the post‐insertion method is easier, faster, and more cost‐effective. Moreover, employing PEG3400 and the post‐insertion approach in the PEG3400‐GSGGCE liposomal formulations was found to be effective in crossing the BBB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computed tomography (CT) generates a three‐dimensional rendering that can be used to interrogate a given region or desired structure from any orientation. However, in preclinical research, its deployment remains limited due to relatively high upfront costs. Existing integrated imaging systems that provide merged planar X‐ray also dwarfs CT popularity in small laboratories due to their added versatility. Purpose: In this paper, we sought to generate CT‐like data using an existing small‐animal X‐ray imager with a specialized specimen rotation system, or MiSpinner. This setup conforms to the cone‐beam CT (CBCT) geometry, which demands high spatial calibration accuracy. Therefore, a simple but robust geometry calibration algorithm is necessary to ensure that the entire imaging system works properly and accurately. Methods: Because the rotation system is not permanently affixed, we propose a structure tensor‐based two‐step online (ST‐TSO) geometry calibration algorithm. Specifically, two datasets are needed, namely, calibration and actual measurements. A calibration measurement detects the background of the system forward X‐ray projections. A study on the background image reveals the characteristics of the X‐ray photon distribution, and thus, provides a reliable estimate of the imaging geometry origin. Actual measurements consisted of an X‐ray of the intended object, including possible geometry errors. A comprehensive image processing technique helps to detect spatial misalignment information. Accordingly, the first processing step employs a modified projection matrix‐based calibration algorithm to estimate the relevant geometric parameters. Predicted parameters are then fine‐tuned in a second processing step by an iterative strategy based on the symmetry property of the sum of projections. Virtual projections calculated from the parameters after two‐step processing compensate for the scanning errors and are used for CT reconstruction. Experiments on phantom and mouse imaging data were performed to validate the calibration algorithm. Results: Once system correction was conducted, CBCT of a CT bar phantom and a cohort of euthanized mice were analyzed. No obvious structure error or spatial artifacts were observed, validating the accuracy of the proposed geometry calibration method. Digital phantom simulation indicated that compared with the preset spatial values, errors in the final estimated parameters could be reduced to 0.05° difference in dominant angle and 0.5‐pixel difference in dominant axis bias. The in‐plane resolution view of the CT‐bar phantom revealed that the resolution approaches 150 μ$\umu$m. Conclusions: A constrained two‐step online geometry calibration algorithm has been developed to calibrate an integrated X‐ray imaging system, defined by a first‐step analytical estimation and a second‐step iterative fine‐tuning. Test results have validated its accuracy in system correction, thus demonstrating the potential of the described system to be modified and adapted for preclinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bright iridescent chaetae of Aphrodita species have fascinated scientists for decades. The particular nanoscale substructure of these chitinous bristles resembles photonic crystals and manipulates the incident light in a way that results in spectacular structural coloration. Even though Aphrodita's chaetae have garnered great attention from the field of biomimetics, the few previous ultrastructural studies primarily focused on acicular chaetae that are much less iridescent than the thin capillary notochaetae. In this paper, we present new ultrastructural data on the chaetae of two species of Aphrodita and illustrate their formation process. Our results allow us to specify the prerequisite for iridescent chaetae. Aphrodita species are dorsally covered with a matted felt of intertwined chaetae, and we further discuss the evolution of feltage chaetae in Aphroditiformia. In addition to iridescent feltage chaetae, we also provide new insights into the chaeotogenesis of pilose chaetae. For the first time, our study shows that the hairy tips and ornamentation of the chaetae is formed by follicle cells alone and thus attribute a further role to this type of cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons in the hippocampus fire in consistent sequence over the timescale of seconds during the delay period of some memory experiments. For longer timescales, the firing of hippocampal neurons also changes slowly over minutes within experimental sessions. It was thought that these slow dynamics are caused by stochastic drift or a continuous change in the representation of the episode, rather than consistent sequences unfolding over minutes. This paper studies the consistency of contextual drift in three chronic calcium imaging recordings from the hippocampus CA1 region in mice. Computational measures of consistency show reliable sequences within experimental trials at the scale of seconds as one would expect from time cells or place cells during the trial, as well as across experimental trials on the scale of minutes within a recording session. Consistent sequences in the hippocampus are observed over a wide range of time scales, from seconds to minutes. The hippocampal activity could reflect a scale‐invariant spatiotemporal context as suggested by theories of memory from cognitive psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting about 2–3% of the worldwide population. More of the knowledge of psoriasis is due to the in vitro and in vivo models tried to reproduce the disease and to know the mechanisms of pathogenesis, as well as to develop new therapies. One of the more simple, cheap and more used models is the imiquimod model based on the application of imiquimod in the depilated skin of mice. Several studies describing the methodology employed to develop an animal disease model does not present all the details about the model more especially related to the use of one sex or another and other methodological aspects that are relevant for researchers and to consider the accuracy of the study. In this review, we have selected 100 papers published in the last five years using the imiquimod psoriatic model recording different data such as animal, strain, sex, dose of imiquimod, area of administration, housing information, anaesthesia/euthanasia information, number of animals per group and control details among others. Our results revealed several methodological shortcomings in the models of imiquimod to study psoriasis namely sex bias and discrepancies in dose applied or time of imiquimod application among others. As long as these discrepancies exist in animal methodologies, there will be a poor translation from animal studies to clinical applications in dermatology and in other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Marijuana and alcohol are both substances that, when used during pregnancy, may have profound effects on the developing fetus. There is evidence to suggest that both drugs have the capacity to affect working memory, one function of the hippocampal formation; however, there is a paucity of data on how perinatal exposure to alcohol or cannabis impacts the process of adult neurogenesis. Methods: This systematic review examines immunohistochemical data from adult rat and mouse models that assess perinatal alcohol or perinatal marijuana exposure. A comprehensive list of search terms was designed and used to search 3 separate databases. All results were imported to Mendeley and screened by 2 authors. Consensus was reached on a set of final papers that met the inclusion criteria, and their results were summarized. Results: Twelve papers were identified as relevant, 10 of which pertained to the effects of perinatal alcohol on the adult hippocampus, and 2 pertained to the effects of perinatal marijuana on the adult hippocampus. Cellular proliferation in the dentate gyrus was not affected in adult rats and mice exposed to alcohol perinatally. In general, perinatal alcohol exposure did not have a significant and reliable effect on the maturation and survival of adult born granule neurons in the dentate gyrus. In contrast, interneuron numbers appear to be reduced in the dentate gyrus of adult rats and mice exposed perinatally to alcohol. Perinatal marijuana exposure was also found to reduce inhibitory interneuron numbers in the dentate gyrus. Conclusions: Perinatal alcohol exposure and perinatal marijuana exposure both act on inhibitory interneurons in the hippocampal formation of adult rats. These findings suggest simultaneous perinatal alcohol and marijuana exposure (SAM) may have a dramatic impact on inhibitory processes in the dentate gyrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents are used extensively as animal models for the preclinical investigation of microvascular‐related diseases. However, motion artifacts in currently available imaging methods preclude real‐time observation of microvessels in vivo. In this paper, a pixel temporal averaging (PTA) method that enables real‐time imaging of microvessels in the mouse brain in vivo is described. Experiments using live mice demonstrated that PTA efficiently eliminated motion artifacts and random noise, resulting in significant improvements in contrast‐to‐noise ratio. The time needed for image reconstruction using PTA with a normal computer was 250 ms, highlighting the capability of the PTA method for real‐time angiography. In addition, experiments with less than one‐quarter of photon flux in conventional angiography verified that motion artifacts and random noise were suppressed and microvessels were successfully identified using PTA, whereas conventional temporal subtraction and averaging methods were ineffective. Experiments performed with an X‐ray tube verified that the PTA method could also be successfully applied to microvessel imaging of the mouse brain using a laboratory X‐ray source. In conclusion, the proposed PTA method may facilitate the real‐time investigation of cerebral microvascular‐related diseases using small animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle has a remarkable regeneration capacity to recover its structure and function after injury, except for the traumatic loss of critical muscle volume, called volumetric muscle loss (VML). Although many extremity VML models have been conducted, craniofacial VML has not been well‐studied due to unavailable in vivo assay tools. Here, this paper reports a wireless, noninvasive nanomembrane system that integrates skin‐wearable printed sensors and electronics for real‐time, continuous monitoring of VML on craniofacial muscles. The craniofacial VML model, using biopsy punch‐induced masseter muscle injury, shows impaired muscle regeneration. To measure the electrophysiology of small and round masseter muscles of active mice during mastication, a wearable nanomembrane system with stretchable graphene sensors that can be laminated to the skin over target muscles is utilized. The noninvasive system provides highly sensitive electromyogram detection on masseter muscles with or without VML injury. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the wireless sensor can monitor the recovery after transplantation surgery for craniofacial VML. Overall, the presented study shows the enormous potential of the masseter muscle VML injury model and wearable assay tool for the mechanism study and the therapeutic development of craniofacial VML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motor impairments are a common feature of many neurodevelopmental disorders; in fact, over 50% of children with Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorder may have a co‐occurring diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). DCD is a neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology that affects motor coordination and learning, significantly impacting a child's ability to carry out everyday activities. Animal models play an important role in scientific investigation of behaviour and the mechanisms and processes that are involved in control of motor actions. The purpose of this paper is to present an approach in the mouse directed to gain behavioral and genetic insights into DCD that is designed with high face validity, construct validity and predictive validity. Pre‐clinical and clinical expertise is used to establish a set of scientific criteria that the model will meet in order to investigate the potential underlying causes of DCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sirtuin 6 (Sirt6), a NAD+‐dependent protein deacetylase, is involved in hepatic glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, which impact metabolic homeostasis. In this paper, we discover that Sirt6 affects the insulin sensitivity of mice in a gender‐dependent manner; few studies have been conducted on this issue. Based on reports revealing the influences of sex hormones on insulin signaling, this investigation explores the mechanism by which Sirt6 regulates the estrogen pathway and disrupts insulin signal transduction. Hepatocyte‐specific Sirt6 knockout (Sirt6HKO) mice were generated to investigate the function of Sirt6 in hepatocytes. Mice were castrated or spayed to eliminate sex hormones. Insulin sensitivity was assessed via an insulin tolerance test (ITT) in vivo. The interaction of Sirt6 with the estrogen pathway and their impacts on insulin signal transduction were revealed by immunoblot and immunoprecipitation. Sirt6 deletion in hepatocytes significantly enhanced insulin sensitivity and signal transduction in female mice but not in male or spayed female mice as demonstrated by ITT and the phosphorylation level of Akt in the liver. We also identified upregulation of p300, ERα, and interaction of ERα with p85 in the liver of female Sirt6HKO mice. Additionally, Sirt6 was found to inhibit ERα protein stability in a p300‐dependent manner without interacting directly with ERα. Our findings show that hepatic Sirt6 downregulates the ERα protein level in a p300‐dependent manner and thus disturbs estrogen‐induced improvement in insulin sensitivity in the liver, which may partially explain the gender difference in insulin sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodent survival-sacrifice experiments are routinely conducted to assess the tumor-inducing potential of a certain exposure or drug. Because most tumors under study are impalpable, animals are examined at death for evidence of tumor formation. In some studies, the cause of death is ascertained by a pathologist to account for possible correlation between tumor development and death. Existing methods for survival-sacrifice data with cause-of-death information have been restricted to multi-group testing or one-sample estimation of tumor onset distribution and thus do not provide a natural way to quantify treatment effect or dose-response relationship. In this paper, we propose semiparametric regression methods under the popular proportional hazards model for both tumor onset and tumor-caused death. For inference, we develop a maximum pseudo-likelihood estimation procedure using a modified iterative convex minorant algorithm, which is guaranteed to converge to the unique maximizer of the objective function. Simulation studies under different tumor rates show that the new methods provide valid inference on the covariate-outcome relationship and outperform alternative approaches. A real study investigating the effects of benzidine dihydrochloride on liver tumor in mice is analyzed as an illustration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxaliplatin is a third‐generation, platinum‐based derivative used to treat advanced colorectal cancer. Within the patient population on oxaliplatin therapy, a lower incidence of hematological adverse effects and gastrointestinal toxicity is noted, but severe neuropathic pain episodes characterized by increased cold and tactile hypersensitivity are present in ~95% of patients. This drug is also used to induce a rodent model of chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)‐related neuropathic pain which is widely used in the search for novel therapies for CIPN prevention and treatment. This paper provides a step‐by‐step, detailed description of the prevention and intervention protocols used in our laboratory for the assessment of oxaliplatin‐induced cold allodynia in mice. To establish cold sensitivity in mice, the cold plate test was used. Latencies to pain reaction in response to cold stimulus (2.5°C) for vehicle‐treated non‐neuropathic mice, vehicle‐treated mice injected with oxaliplatin (neuropathic control), and oxaliplatin‐treated mice treated additionally with duloxetine are compared. Duloxetine is a serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor which was found to produce significant pain relief in patients with CIPN symptoms. In our present study, duloxetine administered intraperitoneally at the dose of 30 mg/kg served as a model antiallodynic drug which attenuated or partially prevented cold allodynia caused by oxaliplatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence imaging enables visualization and quantification of microscopic distributions of elements. This versatile technique has matured to the point where it is used in a wide range of research fields. The method can be used to quantitate the levels of different elements in the image on a pixel‐by‐pixel basis. Two approaches to X‐ray fluorescence image analysis are commonly used, namely, (i) integrative analysis, or window binning, which simply sums the numbers of all photons detected within a specific energy region of interest; and (ii) parametric analysis, or fitting, in which emission spectra are represented by the sum of parameters representing a series of peaks and other contributing factors. This paper presents a quantitative comparison between these two methods of image analysis using X‐ray fluorescence imaging of mouse brain‐tissue sections; it is shown that substantial errors can result when data from overlapping emission lines are binned rather than fitted. These differences are explored using two different digital signal processing data‐acquisition systems with different count‐rate and emission‐line resolution characteristics. Irrespective of the digital signal processing electronics, there are substantial differences in quantitation between the two approaches. Binning analyses are thus shown to contain significant errors that not only distort the data but in some cases result in complete reversal of trends between different tissue regions. With scientific advances, X‐ray fluorescence imaging has rapidly been adopted in multidisciplinary research investigating disease‐induced changes in the metallome. This, with the apparent lack of prior literature comparing binning (described as a crude but fast approach for visualizing data 'on the fly' during collection) with fitting (a refined approach which deconvolutes overlapping emission lines), has created a need to document the differences between both and highlight unfortunate errors and artifacts in interpretation that can arise when the binned answers from data collection are accepted without further refinement by fitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF‐1) as the primary factor mediating gene‐dependent cellular responses to hypoxia represents an attractive target for the therapeutic interventions. The current Editorial comments on an as yet underestimated facet of HIF‐1–related research. The activity of HIF‐1 is being regulated by the availability of its α‐subunit HIF‐1α, which undergoes quick degradation. The process of degradation is initiated by prolyl 4‐hydroxylase (PHD). PHD is an oxygen‐dependent enzyme and therefore is inactivated in hypoxia, in turn resulting in HIF‐1α stabilization, its dimerization with HIF‐1β subunit thereby producing the transcriptionally active factor. It has been suggested that pharmacological inhibition of PHD activity might give the same results. Indeed, a large body of evidence on beneficial effects of PHD inhibitors has been accumulated in multiple laboratory and clinical trials. In addition to them, a paper by Li and colleagues published in this issue of Journal of Neurochemistry also reports that inhibition of PHD by adaptaquin reduces hypoxic‐ischemic brain injury in a neonatal mouse model. When dissecting the underlying molecular mechanisms, Li and colleagues surprisingly found that the observed effects appear to be independent of HIF‐1. These findings draw attention back to the question about possible HIF‐1 effects independent of PHD inhibitors, which has been raised several years ago but has not received sufficient attention so far, and is being discussed in this Editorial. One of the possible mechanisms might be ascribed to the ferroptosis pathway affected by PHD inhibitors but this question needs further careful studies, as well as clarification of other mechanisms possibly involved. Even if they represent a prospective therapeutic strategy, the lack of current knowledge about endogenous targets of PHD inhibitors, except for PHD, calls for a careful and balanced approach toward their clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is produced as inactive proIL-1β and then processed by caspase-1 to become active. In 2002, it was demonstrated that the intracellular multiprotein complex known as the inflammasome functions as a molecular platform to trigger activation of caspase-1. Inflammasomes are known to function as intracellular sensors for a broad spectrum of various pathogen-associated and damage-associated molecular patterns. In 1985, it was demonstrated that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a representative bacterium causing chronic periodontitis, induces IL-1 production by murine peritoneal macrophages. Since then, many studies have suggested that IL-1, particularly IL-1β plays key roles in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. However, the term "inflammasome" was not used until the involvement of inflammasomes in periodontal disease was suggested in 2009. Several subsequent studies on the roles of the inflammasome in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases have been published. Interestingly, two contradictory reports on the modulation of inflammasomes by P. gingivalis have been published. Some papers have described how P. gingivalis activates the inflammasome to produce IL-1β whereas some stated that P. gingivalis inhibits inflammasome activation to subvert immune responses. Several lines of evidence have suggested that the inflammasome activation is modulated by periodontopathic bacteria other than P. gingivalis. Hence, studies on the roles of inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases began only 8 years ago and many pathological roles of inflammasomes remain to be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In our companion paper, we reported that the phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor apremilast reduced ethanol (EtOH) intake and preference in different drinking models in male and female C57BL/6J mice. In this study, we measured the effects of apremilast on other behaviors that are correlated with EtOH consumption. Methods: The effects of apremilast (20 mg/kg) on the following behaviors were studied in male and female C57BL/6J mice: locomotor response to a novel situation; EtOH‐ and lithium chloride (LiCl)‐induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA) to saccharin; conditioned place preference (CPP) and conditioned place avoidance (CPA) to EtOH; severity of handling‐induced convulsions after EtOH administration; EtOH‐induced anxiolytic‐like behavior in the elevated plus maze; duration of EtOH‐induced loss of righting reflex (LORR); recovery from EtOH‐induced motor impairment on the rotarod; and acute functional tolerance (AFT) to EtOH's ataxic effects. Results: Apremilast did not change the acquisition of EtOH‐induced CPP, severity of acute withdrawal from EtOH, or EtOH's anxiolytic‐like effect. Apremilast did not alter the extinction of EtOH‐ or LiCl‐induced CTA, but may interfere with acquisition of CTA to EtOH. Apremilast increased the acquisition of CPA to EtOH, reduced locomotor responses to a novel situation, and prolonged the duration of LORR and the recovery from acute motor incoordination induced by EtOH. The longer recovery from the ataxic effect may be attributed to reduced development of AFT to EtOH. Conclusions: Our results suggest that apremilast increases the duration of EtOH intoxication by reducing AFT. Apremilast also reduces some aspects of general reward and increases EtOH's aversive properties, which might also contribute to its ability to reduce EtOH drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retraction: [Qun Li, The protease inhibitor UCF‐101 ameliorates streptozotocin‐induced mouse cardiomyocyte contractile dysfunction in vitro: role of AMP‐activated protein kinase, Experimental Physiology 2009, 94(9), pp. 984–994. (https://doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2009.049189)]. The above article, published online on 14 August 2009 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the corresponding author, the journal Editor‐in‐Chief Professor Mike Tipton, The Physiological Society, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed following an institutional investigation by the University of Wyoming. This investigation cited data irregularities, image reuse, and manipulation in a number of figures, specifically: Re‐use of α‐tubulin blot of Figure 7A in 7C, as well as reuse of α‐tubulin blot of Figure 7B in 7D.Re‐sizing and re‐use of α‐tubulin bands of Figure 3A in Figure 5A.α‐tubulin reported within two distinct sets of AMPK and pAMPK data in Figure 5A. These concerns were put to the corresponding author, who confirmed that loading controls had been reused inappropriately throughout the manuscript, albeit accidentally. The corresponding author resupplied Western blot images and data, but these could not be verified. The extent of image reuse and inappropriate use of controls significantly undermined confidence in the paper's data and subsequent conclusions. This retraction includes the corrigendum published online on 04 February 2016 (https://doi.org/10.1113/EP085709). Corresponding author JR agreed to this retraction. QL and LKH could not be reached. REFERENCES Li, Q., Hueckstaedt, L. K., & Ren, J. (2009). The protease inhibitor UCF‐101 ameliorates streptozotocin‐induced mouse cardiomyocyte contractile dysfunction in vitro: role of AMP‐activated protein kinase. Experimental Physiology, 94(9), 984–994. https://doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2009.049189 (2016). Corrigendum. Experimental Physiology, 101(3), 451–451. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP085709 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calorie restriction (CR) has been repeatedly shown to prevent cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other age-related diseases in a wide range of animals, including non-human primates and humans. In rodents, CR also increases lifespan and is a powerful tool for studying the aging process. Recently, it has been reported in mice that dietary fat plays an important role in determining lifespan extension with 40% CR. In these conditions, animals fed lard as dietary fat showed an increased longevity compared with mice fed soybean or fish oils. In this paper, we study the effect of these dietary fats on structural and physiological parameters of kidney from mice maintained on 40% CR for 6 and 18 months. Analyses were performed using quantitative electron microcopy techniques and protein expression in Western blots. CR mitigated most of the analyzed age-related parameters in kidney, such as glomerular basement membrane thickness, mitochondrial mass in convoluted proximal tubules and autophagic markers in renal homogenates. The lard group showed improved preservation of several renal structures with aging when compared to the other CR diet groups. These results indicate that dietary fat modulates renal structure and function in CR mice and plays an essential role in the determination of health span in rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Prenatal alcohol exposure can kill developing neurons, leading to microencephaly and mental retardation. However, not all fetuses are equally vulnerable to alcohol's neurotoxic effects. While some fetuses are severely affected and are ultimately diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), others have no evidence of neuropathology and are behaviorally normal. These widely different outcomes among alcohol-exposed fetuses are likely due, in part, to genetic differences. Some fetuses possess genotypes that make them much more vulnerable than others to alcohol's teratogenic effects. However, to date, only 1 gene has been identified whose mutation can worsen alcohol-induced behavioral deficits in an animal model of FAS. That gene is neuronal nitric oxide synthase ( nNOS). The purpose of this study was to determine whether mutation of nNOS can likewise worsen alcohol-induced microencephaly and lead to permanent neuronal deficits. Methods Wild-type and nNOS−/− mice received alcohol (0.0, 2.2, or 4.4 mg/g) daily over postnatal days (PDs) 4 to 9. Beginning on PD 85, the mice underwent a series of behavioral tests; the results of which are reported in the companion paper. The brains were then weighed, and stereological cell counts were performed on the cerebral cortex and hippocampal formation, which are the brain regions that mediate the aforementioned behavioral tasks. Results Alcohol caused dose-dependent microencephaly, but only in the nNOS−/− mice and not in wild-type mice. Alcohol-induced neuronal losses were more severe in the nNOS−/− mice than in the wild-type mice in all of the brain regions examined, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampal CA3 subregion, hippocampal CA1 subregion, and dentate gyrus. Conclusions Targeted mutation of the nNOS gene increases the vulnerability of the developing brain to alcohol-induced growth restriction and neuronal losses. This increased neuropathology is associated with worsened behavioral dysfunction. The results demonstrate the critical importance of genotype in determining the outcome of developmental alcohol exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recently published paper in The Journal of Physiology, McKie et al. ([2]) undertook a detailed description of the importance of housing temperature in exercise training-induced adaptations of adipose tissue in mice. Several studies in rodents have shown that both a single exercise-bout and chronic exercise training can induce browning of, particularly, subcutaneous white adipose tissue. Differences in running volume and intensity could be critical for data interpretation, as duration of training interventions with VWR has been shown to affect exercise training-induced adaptations of skeletal muscle. [Extracted from the article]

It has now been corrected with a correct miR-128C image, and the corrected version of the image is shown below: The conclusions of the article are unaltered. I Aging Cell i , B 19 b , 2020, e13144. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13144 Manfei Deng, Qingping Zhang, Zhuoze Wu, Tian Ma, Aodi He, Tongmei Zhang, Xiao Ke, Quntao Yu, Yunyun Han, Youming Lu In the article, "Mossy cell synaptic dysfunction causes memory imprecision via miR128 inhibition of STIM2 in Alzheimer's disease mouse model", the authors noticed an error in Figure 6A on page 9 of this paper. [Extracted from the article]

The authors of the article by Patel et al. (2021) noticed an error in the funding information. However, the correct information should read as: Funding information: This work was supported in part by US Public Health Service Grant DK-20478 (MSP). The presently listed information in the paper is: Funding information: This work was supported in part by US Public Health Service Grant NS093264 (MSP). [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, a human–machine interface for disabled people with spinal cord injuries is proposed. The designed human–machine interface is an assistive system that uses head movements and blinking for mouse control. In the proposed system, by moving one's head, the user moves the mouse pointer to the required coordinates and then blinks to send commands. The considered head mouse control is based on image processing including facial recognition, in particular, the recognition of the eyes, mouth, and nose. The proposed recognition system is based on the convolutional neural network, which uses the low‐quality images that are captured by a computer's camera. The convolutional neural network (CNN) includes convolutional layers, a pooling layer, and a fully connected network. The CNN transforms the head movements to the actual coordinates of the mouse. The designed system allows people with disabilities to control a mouse pointer with head movements and to control mouse buttons with blinks. The results of the experiments demonstrate that this system is robust and accurate. This invention allows people with disabilities to freely control mouse cursors and mouse buttons without wearing any equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]