Cognitive Behavioral Research Articles

Slight and hidden hearing loss in young rats is associated with impaired recognition memory and reduced myelination in the corpus callosum.

Slight and hidden hearing loss in children have been linked to cognitive and social difficulties, and yet the neurobiological mechanisms behind these issues remain poorly understood. Most animal models focus on severe hearing loss, leaving the effects of hidden or slight hearing loss largely unexplored. To uncover the neural mechanisms connecting slight/hidden hearing loss to cognitive and social challenges, we induced hearing loss in young (4-week-old) Wistar rats through noise exposure. We then examined cognitive function (object recognition test) and social behavior (juvenile play behavior and social interaction). Changes in brain anatomy were assessed using cortical thickness and hippocampal size measurements, while (immuno)histochemical staining investigated neuronal circuitry maturation (myelin basic protein, parvalbumin, and perineuronal nets) and neurogenesis (doublecortin). Noise-exposed rats displayed slight high-frequency hearing loss (around 20 dB) and hidden hearing loss at other tested frequencies. This slight/hidden hearing loss was associated with impaired object recognition but did not alter social behavior. Slight/hidden hearing loss was associated with reduced myelin basic protein expression in the corpus callosum but no other alterations in cortical thickness, hippocampal size, or other markers of maturation and neurogenesis were found. These findings show that even slight/hidden hearing loss can lead to subtle brain alterations tied to cognitive deficits. This study emphasizes the need for further research to fully understand the brain changes associated with slight/hidden hearing loss and to pinpoint the mechanisms connecting these changes to behavioral deficits. This information is crucial to develop interventions to prevent the cognitive and social consequences of hearing loss. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A prediction analysis testing if internet-delivered cognitive-behaviour therapy is most suitable for the milder cases of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder

BackgroundCommon clinical sense would suggest that individuals with milder obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms should be the most suitable for guided internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), with more intensive forms of treatment reserved for more severe or complex cases.ResultsIn this secondary data analysis of a non-inferiority clinical trial comparing internet-delivered CBT with in-person CBT for young people with OCD (N = 152), we found that higher baseline symptom severity predicted worse treatment outcomes in the in-person group but not the internet-delivered CBT group. Additional analyses showed that among individuals with milder symptoms, internet-delivered CBT was associated with worse outcomes than in-person CBT.ConclusionsIf replicated, these results would question the axiom that internet-delivered CBT is most suitable for milder cases.Trial registrationThe original trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03263546. Date of registration 2017–08–28.

Neural correlates of trait anxiety in sensory processing and distractor filtering.

Evidence suggests that trait anxiety relates to cognitive processing and behavior. However, the relationships between trait anxiety and sensory processing, goal-directed performance and sensorimotor function are unclear, particularly in a multimodal context. This study used electroencephalography to evaluate whether trait anxiety influenced visual and tactile event-related potentials (ERPs), as well as behavioral distractor cost, in a bimodal sensorimotor task. Twenty-nine healthy young adults completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Participants were directed to focus on either tactile or visual stimuli while disregarding the other modality, responding to target stimulus amplitude with a proportional grip. Previous research suggests that somatosensory N70 and visual P2 ERPs serve as markers of attentional relevance, with attention also impacting the visual P3 ERP. It was hypothesized that trait anxiety would modulate the ERPs susceptible to attentional modulation (tactile N70, visual P2 and P3) and not affect behavioral performance. Trait anxiety showed a large, significant interaction with attention for visual P3 latency in response to unimodal visual stimuli, with a positive relationship between P3 latencies and trait anxiety when attending toward the stimulus and negative when attending away. A large, positive main effect of trait anxiety on visual N1 amplitude for bimodal stimuli was also detected. As predicted, trait anxiety related to ERPs but not behavioral distractor cost. These findings suggest that trait anxiety modulates visual but not somatosensory processing correlates based on attention. The absence of overt behavioral performance effects suggests compensatory mechanisms may offset underlying differences in sensory processing.

Impact of LEGO® Based Therapy on Skills Development and Quality of Life in People with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

This research sets out to evaluate the impact of LEGO® Based Therapy on the development of skills and quality of life for people with neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as for those close to them. Widely used in the United States and the United Kingdom for almost 20 years, LEGO® Based Therapy was developed by Daniel Le Goff, psychologist licensed in Florida and New Jersey who has practiced for over 20 years with children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities, including autism, Asperger's syndrome and congenital disabilities, as well as acquired and traumatic brain injuries. Daniel Le Goff has extensive experience as a consultant and expert witness, as well as in direct clinical services, including applied behaviour analysis, cognitive behaviour therapy and cognitive rehabilitation. In 2008, Gina Gómez de la Cuesta completed her PhD at the Centre for Autism Research at the University of Cambridge, where she led and evaluated LEGO®® Based Therapy under the supervision of Daniel LEGO®ff, Simon Baron-Cohen and Ayla Humphrey. She is a teacher and psychologist by training and has worked at the National Autistic Society as Head of Action Research. She founded Play Included in 2018, with support from the Cambridge Social Ventures incubator programme, University of Cambridge to support children's development through play and promote LEGO®Therapy. Initially designed to improve the social skills of people with autism spectrum disorders but no intellectual disabilities, its effectiveness has been demonstrated by studies targeting this specific population. However, no research has yet been carried out in France on its application to a wider population, including various forms of neurodevelopmental disorder. Furthermore, existing studies have not considered the impact on the quality of life of beneficiaries and their families, which this thesis sets out to examine.

The impact of children's access to public health insurance on their cognitive development and behavior

While a large literature examines the immediate and long-run effects of public health insurance, much less is known about the impacts of total program exposure on child developmental outcomes. This paper uses an instrumental variable strategy to estimate the effect of cumulative eligibility gain on cognitive and behavioral outcomes measured at three points during childhood. Our analysis leverages substantial variation in cumulative eligibility due to the dramatic public insurance expansions between the 1980s and 2000s. We find that increased eligibility improves child cognitive skills and present suggestive evidence on better behavioral outcomes. There are notable heterogeneous effects across the subgroups of interest. Both prenatal eligibility and childhood eligibility are important for driving gains in the test scores at older ages. Improved child health is found to be a mediator of the impact of increased eligibility.

Crucial role of Snf7-3 in synaptic function and cognitive behavior revealed by conventional and conditional knockout mouse models

Snf7-3 is a crucial component of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) pathway, playing a vital role in endolysosomal functions. To elucidate the role of Snf7-3 in vivo, we developed conventional-like and conditional Snf7-3 knockout (KO) mouse models using a “Knockout-first” strategy. Conventional-like Snf7-3 KO mice showed significantly reduced Snf7-3 mRNA expression, and older mice (25–40 weeks) exhibited impaired social recognition and increased miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). Similarly, conditional KO mice aged 8–24 weeks, with Snf7-3 specifically deleted in forebrain excitatory neurons, displayed impaired object location memory and elevated mEPSC frequency. Consistently, Snf7-3 knockdown in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons led to increased densities of pre- and postsynaptic puncta, supporting the observed increase in mEPSC frequency. In addition, enhanced dendritic complexity was observed in the medial prefrontal cortex of these mice, indicating early synaptic disturbances. Our findings underscore the critical role of Snf7-3 in maintaining normal cognitive functions and social behaviors. The observed synaptic and behavioral deficits in both conventional-like and conditional KO mice highlight the importance of Snf7-3 in specific neuronal populations, suggesting that early synaptic changes could precede more pronounced cognitive impairments.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescent Anxiety

Abstract Purpose of review Adolescent anxiety is a pressing and debilitating mental health concern. The gold standard treatment, traditional cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), often does not benefit all youth. Therefore, the present review discusses the available research on a nascent form of modern CBT, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), for anxiety in adolescents. There is a particular emphasis placed on the evidence base for DNAV, a developmentally adapted form of ACT where each letter of the acronym represents an ACT component: the Discoverer, Noticer, Advisor, and Values. Recent findings Across a range of studies, adolescents receiving ACT or DNAV reported improvements in anxiety, along with other relevant symptoms. Additionally, in the handful of comparisons to traditional CBT, ACT has resulted in similar outcomes. Summary The current state of research suggests that ACT and DNAV are promising interventions for youth anxiety worthy of further exploration. Future research should focus on understanding which components of ACT might be most beneficial for which youth, along with increasing sample diversity and utilizing more controlled formats.

A Group Parenting Intervention for Male Postpartum Depression

Male postpartum depression is prevalent across populations; however, there is limited evidence on strategies to address it, particularly in low-income settings. To evaluate the effectiveness of Learning Through Play Plus Dads (LTP + Dads), a nonspecialist-delivered psychosocial intervention, in improving symptoms of male postpartum depression compared to treatment as usual. This cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, between June 2018 and November 2019. Assessors were blind to treatment allocation. Participants were recruited from 2 large towns in the city of Karachi via basic health units. Fathers aged 18 years and older with a DSM-5 diagnosis of major depressive episode and a child younger than 30 months were recruited. Of 1582 fathers approached, 1527 were screened and 357 were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention or treatment as usual; 328 were included in the final analysis. Data were analyzed from April to June 2022. LTP + Dads is a manualized intervention combining parenting skills training, play therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy. The intervention was delivered by community health workers via 12 group sessions over 4 months. The primary outcome was change in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score at 4 months. Secondary outcomes included anxiety symptoms; parenting stress; intimate partner violence; functioning; quality of life; and child social, emotional, and physical health outcomes. Assessments were completed at baseline and 4 and 6 months postrandomization. Of the 357 fathers included (mean [SD] age, 31.44 [7.24] years), 171 were randomized to the intervention and 186 to treatment as usual. Participants randomized to the intervention demonstrated significantly greater improvements in depression (group difference ratio [GDR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.91; P < .001), anxiety (GDR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.81; P < .001), parenting stress (GDR, -12.5; 95% CI, -19.1 to -6.0; P < .001), intimate partner violence (GDR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.80 to 1.00; P = .05), disability (GDR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.97; P = .03), and health-related quality of life (GDR, 12.7; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.34; P < .001) at 4 months. The difference in depression and parenting stress was sustained at 6 months. Children of fathers randomized to the parenting intervention had significantly greater improvements in social-emotional development scores (mean difference, -20.8; 95% CI, -28.8 to -12.9; P < .001) at 6 months. The psychosocial parenting intervention in this study has the potential to improve paternal mental health and child development in Pakistan. Further studies in other populations and with longer follow-up are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03564847.

Improving affected victims and communitie reintegration of former Boko Haram terrorist defectors in Nigeria: a community-informed participatory action research

ABSTRACT Reintegrating defectors of terrorist groups into society is challenging due to community resistance and affected victims’ trauma. This article is the first to detail affected victims and community involvement in designing a trauma-informed cognitive behaviour therapy intervention to aid the reintegration of former Boko Haram members and defectors in Nigeria. Participants were recruited from Borno state, Nigeria. Informed by a participatory action research design and a social constructionist theoretical lens, we found that agonizing experiences, resentment towards incentives provided to former defectors limit successful reintegration, whilst using Trauma-informed intervention to address community needs could improve reintegration. It concludes that affected victims and community involvement in the design of reintegration programmes is crucial to its success.

Hypocretin-1/Hypocretin Receptor 1 Regulates Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Function through Hippocampal Lactate Homeostasis in Depressed Model.

Cognitive dysfunction is not only a common symptom of major depressive disorder, but also a more common residual symptom after antidepressant treatment and a risk factor for chronic and recurrent disease. The disruption of hypocretin regulation is known to be associated with depression, however, their exact correlation is remains to be elucidated. Hypocretin-1 levels are increased in the plasma and hypothalamus from chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model mice. Excessive hypocretin-1 conducted with hypocretin receptor 1 (HCRTR1) reduced lactate production and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), thus impairing adult hippocampal neuroplasticity, and cognitive impairment in CUMS model. Subsequently, it is found that HCRTR1 antagonists can reverse these changes. The direct effect of hypocretin-1 on hippocampal lactate production and cognitive behavior is further confirmed by intraventricular injection of hypocretin-1 and microPET-CT in rats. In addition, these mechanisms are further validated in astrocytes and neurons in vitro. Moreover, these phenotypes and changes in molecules of lactate transport pathway can be duplicated by specifically knockdown of HCRTR1 in hippocampal astrocytes. In summary, the results provide molecular and functional insights for involvement of hypocretin-1-HCRTR1 in altered cognitive function in depression.

Thalamus and its functional connections with cortical regions contribute to complexity-dependent cognitive reasoning

The thalamus is crucial for supporting various cognitive behaviors due to its extensive connectivity with multiple cortical regions. However, the role of the thalamus and its functional connections with cortical regions in cognitive reasoning remains unclear, since previous research has mainly focused on cortical regions when studying the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive reasoning. To fill this knowledge gap, we utilized 7 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the activation patterns of the thalamus and its functional connections with cortical regions during cognitive reasoning task, while also examining how the complexity of reasoning tasks affects thalamic activation and functional connections with cortical regions. Our findings showed that cognitive reasoning processes are related to increased activation of the thalamus and its functional connections with a specific set of cortical regions, consisting of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal sulcus, intraparietal sulcus, anterior cingulate cortex/presupplementary motor area, precuneus, and ventral medial prefrontal cortex. Moreover, the increase in relational complexity of the reasoning tasks led to a corresponding increase in thalamic activation and functional connectivity with cortical regions. Given the complex thalamus structure, including multiple distinct nuclei exhibiting specific functional connections with particular cortical regions, we used an atlas defined thalamic subdivisions based on its structural connectivity with different cortical regions. Our findings indicated that these different thalamic subregions not only exhibited distinct connectivity patterns with specific cortical regions during performance of cognitive reasoning, but also showed distinct connectivity patterns varied with task complexity. Overall, our study presents evidence of the thalamus’s role and its connections with cortical regions in supporting increasingly complex cognitive reasoning behavior, illuminating its contribution to higher-order cognitive functions, such as reasoning.

Maternal gut-microbiota impacts the influence of intrauterine environmental stressors on the modulation of human cognitive development and behavior

Maternal gut-microbiota impacts the influence of intrauterine environmental stressors on the modulation of human cognitive development and behavior

Effects of Korean red ginseng on auditory, cognitive, and liver functions in a naturally aged mouse model

BackgroundKorean Red Ginseng and ginsenosides have been studied for their efficacy against various diseases, including those related to aging. However, most aging studies use D-galactose to induce aging, which often does not accurately represent natural aging. This study aimed to verify improvements in auditory, cognitive, and liver function through administering red ginseng to an 18-month-old naturally aging mouse model. MethodsAuditory function was assessed using Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Auditory Middle Latency Response (AMLR). Cognitive function was evaluated electrophysiologically with P300 and mismatch negativity (MMN), and behaviorally using the Y-maze. Additionally, biochemical tests and histological analysis were conducted to assess liver function. The effects of red ginseng on gene expression regulation were also examined in the cochlea, auditory cortex, and liver, focusing on age-related disease processes. ResultsRed ginseng significantly decreased hearing thresholds and improved central auditory function. It also enhanced cognitive behavior and function in response to external stimulation. Furthermore, red ginseng regulated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin (Alb), and total protein (TP) levels, notably decreasing aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of liver tissue showed significant improvement in fat droplets. These effects appear to be mediated by the regulation of aging-related genes Dec, c-Jun, Stat5b, and Lims2. ConclusionThese results suggest that red ginseng improves auditory, cognitive, and liver functions in a naturally aged mouse model.

“A Study To Develop And Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Module On Cognitive Behavior Therapy In Terms Of Knowledge And Attitude Among Students Of Selected College Of Nursing, New Delhi”

Emotional experiences are ubiquitous in nature and important and perhaps even critical in academic settings, as emotion modulates virtually every aspect of cognition. Tests, examinations, homework, and deadlines are associated with different emotional states that encompass frustration, anxiety, and boredom. This is followed by the emotional-cognitive interactions in the various brain regions that are intimately involved in emotion and memory systems and influence behavior. A pre-experimental study was conducted with an aim to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of Module on cognitive behavior therapy in terms of knowledge and attitude among students of selected College of Nursing, New Delhi. Quantitative approach with one group pre-test post-test was adopted for the study. A module was developed and administered with certain activities and assignment to practice for the students. The module was based on the INC guidelines given for Cognitive Behavior Therapy included concepts, CBT model, development and tracking of automatic thoughts, biofeedback, Socratic questioning, behavior experiments, thought records and action plan components. The data was collected from 52 B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing students of Holy Family College of Nursing using Structured knowledge Questionnaire and structured attitude scale. The data was tabulated and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings shows that mean post-test knowledge score and attitude score 21.2127 and 38.7021 was higher than mean pre-test knowledge score and attitude score 13.8723 and 35.4680. The result also revealed that module on cognitive behavior therapy is effective in enhancing the level of knowledge and attitude among nursing students as the calculated t-value is greater than table value at 2.012 at p&lt;0.05 level of significance

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: A Case Series

Abstract Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), a recently described eating disorder categorized under DSM-5, has varied clinical presentations. The primary eating disorders have well-established practice parameters for management. However, there is no evidence-based first line of management for ARFID. There is a significant gap in this evolving construct and clinical practice. We present a case series from a tertiary care center in India, focusing on clinical management. Four adolescents with 3 girls and 1 boy between 12 and 17 years of age were included in the study. Diagnosis and management were delayed in all. Mean body mass index was 15.36 (5.26) kg/m2 at the time of diagnosis. Key drivers were dread of choking, sensory characteristics, and avoidance of unpleasant upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms. This series supports a culturally cognizant hypothesis, an evidence based, viable management model for ARFID in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). A combination of family-based treatment (FBT) and cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment model for India and other LMICs.

Treatment-Resistant Mood Disorders.

The objective of the study was to explore the presentation of symptoms in patients suffering from treatment-resistant mood disorder (TRMD), and associated clinical features, including age, gender, and comorbid conditions, that lead towards the development of treatment-resistant mood disorder. Furthermore, the study analyses the available psychotherapeutic treatment modalities and evidence-based non-medical treatment approaches for TRMD. The current study utilized a systematic review approach where 37 articles were studied and three articles were theoretically sampled to authenticate and signify the findings. PRISMA guidelines were followed and the review was conducted by searching social sciences databases and electronic libraries including Google Scholar, Sage Journal, and Science Direct (1990-2020). The results suggested that psychotherapeutic interventions including cognitive behavior therapy, mindful-based cognitive therapy; and interpersonal and social rhythm therapeutic interventions are efficacious modalities for treatment when in augmentation with psychopharmacological treatment. Bipolar diathesis and comorbid conditions of anxiety and personality disorders are possible causal factors in developing the condition of treatment resistance in mood disorders. The prevalence rate of TRMD is more common in females and in late adulthood. The analysis also suggests that there are numerous risk factors contributing to making a mood disorder treatment-resistant over a period of time; the most observed conditions were physical and psychological comorbidity, inaccurate diagnosis, lack of proper medical treatment, illness severity, and late age diagnosis. In evidence-based non-medical treatment approaches aerobics demonstrated promising results in improving the condition of complex mood disorders. It was concluded that psychotherapeutic interventions in augmentation with pharmacological modalities enhance the efficacy of treatment.

Development and psychometric properties of the Health Anxiety Behavior Inventory (HABI)

Abstract Background: Mainstream cognitive behavioural theory stipulates that clinically significant health anxiety persists over time at least partially due to negatively reinforced health-related behaviours, but there exists no broad and psychometrically valid measure of such behaviours. Aims: To draft and evaluate a new self-report scale – the Health Anxiety Behavior Inventory (HABI) – for the measurement of negatively reinforced health anxiety behaviours. Method: We drafted the HABI from a pool of 20 candidate items administered in a clinical trial at screening, and before and after cognitive behaviour therapy (n=204). A psychometric evaluation focused on factor structure, internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, test–retest reliability, and sensitivity to change. Results: Based on factor analysis, the HABI was completed as a 12-item instrument with a four-dimensional factor structure corresponding to the following scales: (i) bodily preoccupation and checking, (ii) information- and reassurance-seeking, (iii) prevention and planning, and (iv) overt avoidance. Factor inter-correlations were modest. The internal consistency (α=.73–.87) and 2-week test–retest reliability (r=.75–.90) of the scales was adequate. The bodily preoccupation and checking, and information- and reassurance-seeking scales were most strongly correlated with the cognitive and emotional components of health anxiety (r=0.41, 0.48), and to a lower extent correlated to depressive symptoms and disability. Change scores in all HABI scales correlated with improvement in the cognitive and emotional components of health anxiety during cognitive behaviour therapy. Conclusions: The HABI appears to reliably measure negatively reinforced behaviours commonly seen in clinically significant health anxiety, and might be clinically useful in the treatment of health anxiety.

A programmatic description of an early, intensive behavioral intervention program in Australia

AbstractThere is currently limited research on early, intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) within Australia. The purpose of this paper was to provide a programmatic description and preliminary findings of an intervention approach which provides a high level of intensity of intervention to preschool aged children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 154 children with autism participated in the program from 2011 to 2022. At the group level, children who received 27 hr per week of intervention showed significant gains on standardized cognitive and adaptive behavior measures during an average one year of intervention. Further examination of the response to intervention at an individual level demonstrated that 84% of children showed an acceleration in their rate of learning during intervention, with 52% more than doubling their rate of learning in this time. Age was determined to predict improvement in developmental trajectory, but intake cognitive abilities did not. In general, children who commenced intervention at a younger age made substantial improvements in their rate of learning, but children who commenced intervention at an older age made even greater improvements relative to their skills at commencement. The results as well as limitations given the exploratory nature of this paper are discussed, along with implications for addressing the needs of young autistic children in Australia.

The Alpha-7 Nicotinic Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulator PNU120596 Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors and Cognitive Impairment by Regulating the PPAR-α Signaling Pathway in Mice.

The brain α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) has a critical role in the pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) involving neuroinflammation. The α7 nAChR stimulation has been shown to modulate the anti-inflammatory effects of nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) via its endogenous ligands in the brain. The present study determined the effects of α7 nAChR modulator PNU120596 on PPAR-α, an inhibitor of κB (IκB) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) level in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in an inflammatory mouse model of MDD induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We also evaluated the combined effects of PNU120596 and GW6471, a PPAR-α antagonist, on depressive-like and cognitive deficit-like behaviors in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were treated with PNU120596, followed by systemic LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p.) administration. The effects of PNU120596 on the mRNA expression of PPAR-α and IκB were assessed in the hippocampus and PFC using qRT-PCR following LPS administration. Similarly, the effects of PNU120596 on the immunoreactivity of PPAR-α and NF-κB were measured in the hippocampus and PFC using an immunofluorescence assay. Furthermore, the effects of PNU120596 on pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β levels were measured in the hippocampus and PFC using ELISA. The combined effects of PNU120596 and GW6471 were also assessed against LPS-induced depressive-like and cognitive deficit-like behaviors using the Tail Suspension Test (TST), Forced Swim Test (FST), and Y-maze test. PNU120596 (4 mg/kg) significantly prevented LPS-induced dysregulation of PPAR-α, IκB, p-NF-κB p65, and IL-1β in the hippocampus and PFC. Pretreatment with PNU120596 showed significant antidepressant-like effects by reducing immobility time in the TST and FST. Similarly, pretreatment with PNU120596 significantly reduced cognitive deficit-like behavior in the Y-maze test. The antidepressant and pro-cognitive-like effects of PNU120596 were reversed by PPAR-α antagonist GW6471 (2 mg/kg). These results suggest that PNU120596 prevented LPS-induced MDD and cognitivelike behavior by regulating α7 nAChR/PPAR-α signaling pathway in the hippocampus and PFC.

An indirect treatment comparison meta-analysis of digital versus face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy for headache

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for headache disorders. However, it is unclear whether the emerging digital CBT is noninferior to face-to-face CBT. An indirect treatment comparison (ITC) meta-analysis was conducted to assess the relative effects between them using standard mean differences (SMDs). Effective sample size (ESS) and required sample size (RSS) were calculated to demonstrate the robustness of the results. Our study found that digital CBT had a similar effect on headache frequency reduction (SMD, 0.12; 95%CI, −2.45 to 2.63) compared with face-to-face CBT. The ESS had 84 participants, while the RSS had 466 participants to achieve the same power as a non-inferior head-to-head trial. Digital CBT is as effective as face-to-face CBT in preventing headache disorders. Due to the heterogeneity (I2 = 94.5%, τ2 = 1.83) and the fact that most of the included studies were on migraine prevention, further head-to-head trials are warranted.