Julianna Goenaga, Carmen Nanclares, Megan Hall
et al.
Abstract Accumulating evidence has revealed the existence of functional astrocyte-neuron communication based on the ability of astrocytes to respond to neurotransmitters and release gliotransmitters. However, little is known about how other signaling molecules, such as hormones, impact astrocyte function. Estradiol (E2) is an important hormone known to regulate neuronal activity, synaptic transmission, plasticity, and animal behavior. However, whether E2 specifically signals to astrocytes in situ and the functional consequences on astrocyte-neuron communication remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the impact of estradiol on astrocyte activity and astrocyte-neuron communication in the mouse hippocampus. Using an RNAscope approach, we determined that estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) are expressed in astrocytes in both female and male mice. In both sexes, confocal imaging of hippocampal slices determined that astrocytes respond to locally applied E2 with calcium elevations. In pyramidal neurons, slow inward currents (SICs) are mediated by the activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors and indicate gliotransmission. Electrophysiological recordings of hippocampal neurons determined that E2 increases the frequency, but not the amplitude, of SICs. We also recorded excitatory synaptic transmission evoked by Schaffer collateral stimulation. Here, only in females, did E2 produce a reduction in excitatory synaptic transmission. The E2-induced effects on the astrocyte calcium signal and gliotransmission were prevented by the broad estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. Taken together, these results demonstrate the existence of estradiol-mediated astrocyte-neuron communication in both female and male mice. They reveal that E2 can signal to astrocytes and, through this signaling, E2 may regulate neuronal activity and synaptic transmission.
As health systems incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into various aspects of patient care, there is growing interest in understanding how to ensure transparent and trustworthy implementation. However, little attention has been given to what information patients need about these technologies to promote transparency of their use. We conducted three asynchronous online focus groups with 42 patients across the United States discussing perspectives on their information needs for trust and uptake of AI, focusing on its use in cardiovascular care. Data were analyzed using a rapid content analysis approach. Our results suggest that patients have a set of core information needs, including specific information factors pertaining to the AI tool, oversight, and healthcare experience, that are relevant to calibrating trust as well as perspectives concerning information delivery, disclosure, consent, and physician AI use. Identifying patient information needs is a critical starting point for calibrating trust in healthcare AI systems and designing strategies for information delivery. These findings highlight the importance of patient-centered engagement when developing AI model documentation and communicating and provisioning information about these technologies in clinical encounters.
Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics
C.L. van Zyl, H.K. Eriksson, E.A.M. Bokkers
et al.
ABSTRACT: In cow-calf contact (CCC) systems breaking the maternal bond may induce stress for the cow, thereby affecting feed intake, milk yield, milk flow rate, and milk electrical conductivity. This study aimed to determine the consequences of weaning and separation strategies in CCC systems for feed intake and milking characteristics of the cow. In 2 experiments, Swedish Holstein and Swedish Red cows either had (experiment 1) whole-day CCC (CCC1, n = 12) for 8.5 ± 1.2 wk (mean ± SD) followed by 12 h of daytime CCC for 8 wk, before abrupt weaning and separation at 16.4 ± 1.2 wk, or (experiment 2) whole-day CCC for 16 ± 1.0 wk; thereafter half of the calves were weaned via nose flaps for 2 wk (NF, n = 10) before physical separation and half via nose flaps for 1 wk and fence-line contact for 1 wk (NFFL, n = 9). Cows were compared with conventionally managed cows (CONV1 or CONV2 in experiment 1 or 2) separated from their calves within 12 h postpartum. In experiment 1, the study period included the week before and after the system switch from whole-day to daytime CCC, and the week before and after separation. In experiment 2, the study period included the week before the start of weaning, during weaning, and 1 week after separation. All cows were milked in the same automatic milking unit. In experiment 1, feed intake of CCC1 cows at separation tended to be lower than CONV1 cows. In experiment 2, roughage intake of NF, NFFL, and CONV2 cows did not differ, but the concentrate intake of NF cows was lower than that of CONV2 cows. In experiment 1, the system switch did not affect milking characteristics. However, after separation, machine milk yield and milk electrical conductivity of CCC1 cows increased, remaining lower than CONV1 cows. In experiment 2, machine milk yield of NF and NFFL cows increased when calves were fitted with nose flaps, but remained lower than CONV2 cows. In the week after separation, milk yield of NFFL cows was similar to that of CONV2 cows, and the NF cows remained lower. In the week before weaning, milk flow rates of NF cows were lower than those of CONV2 cows, and the NFFL cows did not differ. Before weaning, milk electrical conductivity of NF and NFFL cows was lower than that of CONV2 cows, but not thereafter. In conclusion, machine milk yield of CCC cows remained lower either until the week of separation, for NFFL cows, or until 3 or 11 wk after weaning and separation for CCC1 and NF cows of experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Cow-calf contact reduced milk electrical conductivity, and milk and peak milk flow rates increased the week after separation of cow and calf. Not for experiment 2, but for experiment 1, cow roughage and concentrate intake decreased at separation and recovered within a week, indicating that abrupt separation exerted a greater impact on the cow than separation after nose flap weaning or fence-line contact. Future studies should compare both weaning strategies within the same experimental setup, also focusing on the consequences for calves.