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Many undergraduate students suffer from 'neurophobia,' which refers to a lack of knowledge or confidence in neurology, and this can influence their career choices. Various measures have been taken to address this issue, including the implementation of new technologies and methodologies. Significant advancements have been made in the development of blended learning, and the integration of student-centered learning modules, multimedia, and web-based devices has become a common teaching approach. Nonetheless, the optimal delivery form, as well as assessment for the selected learning format and teaching quality in both theory and clinical practice, are being investigated. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the current understanding of blended learning as well as innovative methods, technologies, and assessments of undergraduate neurology education. It aims to highlight opportunities for implementing a novel, comprehensive learning model with a suitable blended learning method within a framework of customized technology-assessment processes for future neurology classes, encompassing both theoretical and clinical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) pollution poses a growing threat to rice production in acidic paddies. In south China, a common agricultural practice involves the combined utilization of Chinese milk vetch (M) and rice straw (R). However, it is unclear how the addition of lime to these amendments affects Cd bioavailability and accumulation in soil. Control (CK), chemical fertilizer (F), Chinese milk vetch + rice straw + chemical fertilizer (MRF), and Chinese milk vetch + rice straw + chemical fertilizer + lime (MRFL) treatments were applied to develop a kind of green, efficient, and practical amendment for acidic paddies. We conducted a microplot experiment to explore Cd immobilization in paddy soil and the Cd content in rice grains with these treatments. The results showed that compared with F, the rice Cd in the MRF and MRFL treatments were significantly decreased by 51.7% and 65.2% in early rice and 23.0% and 43.3% in late rice, respectively. Both the MRF and MRFL treatments significantly reduced soil available Cd and weak acid-extractable cadmium (Aci-Cd) concentrations and increased soil organic matter (SOM), exchangeable cation concentrations, and pH, which converted Cd into a stable form in soil. In addition, the MRF and MRFL treatments increased soil pH value by reducing soil exchangeable hydrogen ion concentration (E-H). Additionally, recombination of Cd forms was the primary factor in the reduction in available Cd concentration according to partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis. The Cd concentration of rice grains was primarily associated with soil available Cd, soil pH value, and SOM. Overall, these results provide useful data and novel insights into reducing rice grain Cd in south China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent studies, stem cell-based therapy is a potential new approach in the treatment of stroke. The mechanism of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUMSC) transplantation as one of the new approaches in the treatment of ischemic stroke is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the traits of immune responses during stroke progression after treatment with human umbilical cord blood MSCs by bioinformatics, to predict potential prognostic biomarkers that could lead to sex differences, and to reveal potential therapeutic targets. The microarray dataset GSE78731 (mRNA profile) of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. First, two potentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using the Bioconductor R package. Ultimately, 30 specific DEGs were obtained (22 upregulated and 353 downregulated). Next, bioinformatic analysis was performed on these specific DEGs. We performed a comparison for the differentially expressed genes screened from between the hUMSC and MCAO groups. Gene Ontology enrichment and pathway enrichment analyses were then performed for annotation and visualization. Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation analysis shows that DEGs are mainly enriched in leukocyte migration, neutrophil activation, neutrophil degranulation, the external side of plasma membrane, cytokine receptor binding, and carbohydrate binding. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the first 5 enrichment pathways were cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signal pathway, viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and phagosome. The top 10 key genes of the constructed PPI network were screened, including Cybb, Ccl2, Cd68, Ptprc, C5ar1, Il-1b, Tlr2, Itgb2, Itgax, and Cd44. In summary, hUMSC is likely to be a promising means of treating IS by immunomodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect during the course of cancer treatment, which is mainly manifested as a series of sensory abnormalities. At present, there are no recommended prevention or treatment strategies, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The ketogenic diet (KD), a special diet that is high in fat and low in carbohydrate intake, shows good therapeutic potential in children with epilepsy. In this study, it was found that KD significantly prevented paclitaxel‐induced neuropathic nociception. Using the GSE113941 database, 281 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in an animal model of CIPN and controls. The DEGs were mainly enriched in peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) and oxidative phosphorylation signalling pathways. As a main regulatory pathway of lipid metabolism, the PPARγ signalling pathway was significantly upregulated in the KD model. In addition, KD also inhibited the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and the TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in paclitaxel‐treated rats. In vitro, rat primary DRG neurons were used to investigate the role of PPARγ in paclitaxel‐induced neurotoxicity. It was found that PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone significantly protected DRG neurons against cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species generation induced by paclitaxel administration. Therefore, KD is a prospective treatment option when applied as a dietary intervention in the prevention and treatment of paclitaxel‐induced neuropathic nociception, possibly through the activation of PPARγ and its neuroprotective functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral ischemia may cause irreversible neural network damage and result in functional deficits. Targeting neuronal repair after stroke potentiates the formation of new connections, which can be translated into a better functional outcome. Innate and adaptive immune responses in the brain and the periphery triggered by ischemic damage participate in regulating neural repair after a stroke. Immune cells in the blood circulation and gut lymphatic tissues that have been shaped by immune components including gut microbiota and metabolites can infiltrate the ischemic brain and, once there, influence neuronal regeneration either directly or by modulating the properties of brain-resident immune cells. Immune-related signalings and metabolites from the gut microbiota can also directly alter the phenotypes of resident immune cells to promote neuronal regeneration. In this review, we discuss several potential mechanisms through which peripheral and brain-resident immune components can cooperate to promote first the resolution of neuroinflammation and subsequently to improved neural regeneration and a better functional recovery. We propose that new insights into discovery of regulators targeting pro-regenerative process in this complex neuro-immune network may lead to novel strategies for neuronal regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by muscle weakness due to the degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons. Neuroinflammation is known as a prominent pathological feature of ALS. Although neuroinflammation cannot trigger ALS, activated central nervous system (CNS) microglia and astrocytes, proinflammatory periphery monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes, and infiltrated monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes, as well as the immunoreactive molecules they release, are closely related to disease progression. The crosstalk between the peripheral and CNS immune components mentioned above significantly correlates with survival in patients with ALS. This review provides an update on the role of this crosstalk between the CNS and peripheral immune responses in ALS. Additionally, we discuss changes in the composition of gut microbiota because these can directly or indirectly influence this crosstalk. These recent advances may well provide innovative ways for targeting the molecules associated with this crosstalk and breaking the current treatment impasse in ALS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke often leads to neuronal injury and neurological functional deficits. Whilst spontaneous neurogenesis and axon regeneration are induced by ischemic stroke, effective pharmacological treatments are also essential for the improvement of neuroplasticity and functional recovery after stroke. However, no pharmacological therapy has been demonstrated to be able to effectively improve the functional recovery after stroke. Bumetanide is a specific Na+-K+-Cl– co-transporter inhibitor which can maintain chloride homeostasis in neurons. Therefore, many studies have focused on this drug's effect in stroke recovery in recent years. Here, we first review the function of Na+-K+-Cl– co-transporter in neurons, then how bumetanide's role in reducing brain damage, promoting neuroplasticity, leading to functional recovery after stroke, is elucidated. Finally, we discuss current limitations of bumetanide's efficiency and their potential solutions. These results may provide new avenues for further exploring mechanisms of post-stroke functional recovery as well as promising therapeutic targets for functional disability rehabilitation after ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]