Medical Journal Club with Dr. Takuji Shirasawa

The CORAGENmay be understood as a complex biological preparation enriched withregenerative growth factors (GFs), cytokines (CKs), extracellularvesicles/exosomes, and regulatory microRNAs (miRs) that collectivelyexert cardiovascular, endothelial, anti-inflammatory, reparative, andpotentially indirect antithrombotic effects.

 Primary Sj¨ogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by the dryness of exocrine glands. Recent studies emphasizes the significant role of B cells in its pathogenesis. This review provides an overview of the functions of B cells in Sj¨ogren's syndrome and their impact on the nervous system. Current studies on the association between B cell-mediated immune responses and neurological symptoms are reviewed, aiming to offer new insights for diagnosing and treating. Understanding these connections is crucial for addressing the complex interplay between the immune system and neurological manifestations in affected individuals. A critical gap remains in determining whether B cell dysregulation initiates neuropathology or amplifies pre-existing neural inflammation, highlighting the need for mechanistic studies to guide targeted therapies. 

Glucocorticoid drivwn neural Rewiring

Glucocorticoid driven Neural Rewiring

Considering the problems associated with school attendance, school refusal is an adjustment problem that tends to become

increasingly prevalent. The present study identifies the patterns reported in the literature on school refusal and outlines the

structure and sub-components of school refusal. Therefore, the systematic review method was selected as the research method

for this study. The data sources of this study consist of 40 research articles that fell within the purview of WoS and were either

included or excluded according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using MAXQDA 2020, both content and

descriptive analyses were conducted in synthesizing the data sources. As a result of the analysis, the study year, method, data

collection tool, data collection procedure, data analysis, and sample were examined as descriptive characteristics. Analyzing

the content characteristics, five themes were identified: risk factors for school refusal, school refusal symptoms, school

refusal protective factors, approaches, and techniques for intervention in school refusal, and consequences of school refusal.

The findings are provided by discussing the related literature

ABSTRACT

The dentate gyrus, a “gate” that controls the flow of information into the hippocampus, is critical for learning, memory,

spatial navigation, and mood regulation. Several lines of evidence have demonstrated that deficits in dentate granule

cells (DGCs) (e.g., loss of DGCs or genetic mutations in DGCs) contribute to the development of various psychiatric

disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Whereas ventral DGCs are believed to be critical for mood

regulation, the functions of dorsal DGCs in this regard remain elusive. Here, we review the role of DGCs, in particular

the dorsal DGCs, in the regulation of mood, their functional relationships with DGC development, and the contributions

of dysfunctional DGCs to mental disorders.

Adult-born granule cells (abGCs) have been implicated in memory discrimination through a neural computation

known as pattern separation. Here, using in vivo Ca2+ imaging, we examined how chronic ablation or

acute chemogenetic silencing of abGCs affects the activity of mature granule cells (mGCs). In both cases,

we observed altered remapping of mGCs. Rather than broadly modulating the activity of all mGCs, abGCs

promote the remapping of place cells’ firing fields while increasing rate remapping of mGCs that represent

sensory cues. In turn, these remapping deficits are associated with behavioral impairments in animals’ ability

to correctly identify new goal locations. Thus, abGCs facilitate pattern separation through the formation of

non-overlapping representations for identical sensory cues encountered in different locations. In the

absence of abGCs, the dentate gyrus shifts to a state that is dominated by cue information, a situation

that is consistent with the overgeneralization often observed in anxiety or age-related disorders.

Adult neurogenesis is the creation of new neurons

which integrate into the existing neural circuit of the

adult brain. Recent evidence suggests that adult

hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) persists

throughout life in mammals, including humans.

These newborn neurons have been implicated to

have a crucial role in brain functions such as learning

and memory. Importantly, studies have also found

that hippocampal neurogenesis is impaired in

neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common

forms of dementia affecting millions of people.

Cognitive dysfunction is a common symptom of AD

patients and progressive memory loss has been

attributed to the degeneration of the hippocampus.

Therefore, there has been growing interest in

identifying how hippocampal neurogenesis is

affected in AD. However, the link between cognitive

decline and changes in hippocampal neurogenesis in

AD is poorly understood. In this review, we

summarized the recent literature on AHN and its

impairments in AD.

Abstract

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is a chronic, progressive liver disease characterized by the formation of scar tissue, ultimately resulting in liver failure. This condition is prevalent, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. In this case report, we present a case study of a 63-year-old male patient diagnosed with decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis, accompanied by significant complications such as massive ascites, massive pleural effusion, hyperammonemia, renal failure, cardiopulmonary failure, and repeated hepatic coma. The cytokine-induced liver regeneration process was achieved by means of a cytokine cocktail composed of porcine hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and FGF21. HGF and FGF21 has been shown to stimulate hepatocyte regeneration in murine models of fatty liver disease. Following a period of nine months during which the patient received cytokine treatment, there were indications of hepatic recovery. Concurrently, there was resolution of cardiopulmonary failure, cognitive dysfunction, renal failure, and hypercoagulability. This constitutes a novel strategy for the treatment of decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis, an incurable liver disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report providing evidence that cytokine-induced liver regeneration can ameliorate the symptoms of decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis. To definitively ascertain the efficacy of cytokine therapy in promoting liver regeneration as a treatment for cirrhosis, further case studies and a controlled clinical trial are imperative.

• Prioritize autoimmune diseases and genetic factors.
• Provide the clinical indicators necessary for differentiation from secondary adrenal insufficiency.
• Clearly explain the precautions for patients currently undergoing steroid therapy.
• Describe the emergency signs that suggest an adrenal crisis and the appropriate responses.
• Briefly explain the differences in pathophysiology between primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency.
• Propose specific disease examples and diagnostic procedures frequently encountered in actual outpatient practice.