In this month’s roundup of Top Pick articles published across MDPI’s Open Access journals, we learn about the importance of the circadian rhythm for fat metabolism as well as seizure activity in mice. Furthermore, we explore a clinical trial testing the effects of daily salmon oil supplementation in adults with type 2 asthma, and introduce the theory of time perspective in mediating post traumatic stress symptoms.

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The Acute Effects of Morning Bright Light on the Human White Adipose Tissue Transcriptome: Exploratory Post Hoc Analysis

Published in Clocks & Sleep

Sleep is a critical component for health and wellbeing, influencing key aspects of biological function including healing and metabolic, hormonal and emotional regulation. The circadian rhythm is the natural internal clock of the brain, determining the sleep–wake cycle. It is controlled by a part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, located in the hypothalamus, and is synchronised by light. Hence, different levels of light can impact the circadian rhythm and, therefore, other important biological functions.

A study published in Clocks & Sleep by researchers from the Netherlands and the US explored the impact of morning bright light on fat tissue. Specifically, they tested whether bright morning light impacted the genetic expression profile, otherwise known as the transcriptome, of white adipose tissue (WAT). Elevated levels of WAT are associated with an increased risk of developing disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).

Here, the authors highlight the main findings of the study:

“Now in this exploratory post hoc analysis of adipose tissue samples collected in the above initial study, the authors hypothesized that light exposure may acutely affect the human WAT transcriptome. Using RNA sequencing, they have shown that exposure to bright light (compared to dim light) affects the WAT transcriptome.

The effects were different between lean men and men with obesity and DM2. For example, genes that are involved in energy metabolism showed the opposite response between lean men and men with DM2.

Taken together, these data provide more insight into the metabolic effects of light and provide a potential basis for understanding the epidemiological associations between light pollution and the incidence of obesity and DM2.”

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Post-Traumatic Stress in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of Time Perspective Between Trauma Exposure, PTSD Symptoms, and Cannabis Use

Published in: European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (EJIHPE)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are experienced by people who have encountered extremely stressful or traumatic events. These events cause emotional distress, which manifest in numerous ways both physically and mentally.

Adolescence is a delicate stage of growth which is exceedingly sensitive to dysregulation caused by external factors and life events. There are significant neurodevelopmental impacts in teenagers who experience PTSD.

PTSD in teenagers has been linked to unhealthy substance use, like cannabis. It is also linked to altered time perspective. The time perspective theory, established in 1999, is a questionnaire designed to explain how different perspectives of time alter people’s perception of their past, present and future as well as their overall behavior.

The theory analyzes five different time perspectives, in which scores are received for each one. Furthermore, the theory suggests that specific personality traits and behaviors are associated with different time perspective profiles.

The majority of previous studies carried out on PTSD and its neurological implications have focused on adults. This study published in EJIHPE explores the relationship between traumatic experience exposure, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and time perspective, and their effects on cannabis use in adolescents.

The results of the study showed that higher potential exposure to a traumatic experience was associated with higher levels of post traumatic experiences, but that time perspective mediated these symptoms. Furthermore, PTSS determined the frequency of cannabis use.

The study therefore highlights the potential benefit of using time perspective as a mediating factor in treating substance abuse in adolescents struggling with PTSD, or those struggling with PTSS.

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The Efficacy of Daily Salmon Oil for Adult Type 2 Asthma: An Exploratory Randomized Double-Blind Trial

Published in Marine Drugs

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory condition. Type 2 asthma is a type of asthma characterised by the elevated presence of eosinophils—a type of white blood cell that is usually present during allergic reactions and to fight infection.

This type of asthma causes symptoms ranging in severities such as chest tightness, increased mucus production, coughing and wheezing. It is prevalent in around 50–70% of people with asthma globally.

Salmon oil is a type of fat found in the salmon fish primarily composed of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and is associated with various health benefits.

A study published in Marine Drugs by researchers from Norway evaluated the impact of salmon oil on individuals suffering with type 2 asthma.

Here, the authors provide an insight into their research findings:

“This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of salmon oil supplementation in adults with type 2 asthma. While no significant differences in exacerbation rates were observed between the intervention and placebo groups, a potential difference in the time to first exacerbation event was noted, suggesting an area for further investigation.

These results underscore the complexity of nutritional interventions in asthma management and highlight the need for additional research to determine their impact on disease trajectory and patient outcomes. The findings may inform the design of future clinical trials and support evidence-based discussions with patients considering complementary approaches to asthma care”

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Astrocyte FABP7 Modulates Seizure Activity-Dependent Protein Expression in Mouse Brain

Published in Neuroglia

Glial cells are types of brain cells involved in various key neurological processes. Studies have shown that glial cells may be involved in the manifestation of epilepsy—a neurological condition characterised by recurring seizures and other cognitive and behavioural abnormalities. Patients with epilepsy experience seizures that change with sleep–wake cycles. Therefore, intensities of seizures are often determined by time of day and the body’s circadian rhythm.

The study published in the journal Neuroglia explores the molecular mechanisms linked to seizure activity. Specifically, they analysed the role of an intracellular protein called Fabp7 present in astrocytes, in seizure activity in mice. The authors found that the expressions of key proteins were altered after knocking out Fabp7 in the mice, suggesting that that Fabp7 may be critical in regulating essential cellular pathways, which may in turn be involved in neural excitability seen in seizures.

Dr. Jason Gerstner, one of the authors of the study, describe the findings and importance of the research:

“This preclinical study demonstrates that astrocyte-enriched FABP7 plays a critical role in modulating seizure susceptibility and activity-dependent protein expression in the mouse brain.

Through integrated behavioral and proteomic analyses, it reveals that FABP7 regulates neural excitability via mitochondrial function, proteasomal activity, and lipid signaling.

These findings underscore the contribution of glial cells to epilepsy and identify novel therapeutic targets, including proteasomal components and secretory granule proteins. Overall, our results highlight the importance of astrocytes in maintaining neural network stability and offer new molecular insights for treating drug-resistant epilepsy.”

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