Biology subjects

Vuong, Q.

Publications and source records attributed to Vuong, Q..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Relationships between migraine and interoception: normal accuracy but altered sensibility and behaviour

BackgroundMigraine is typically precipitated by unaccustomed changes in ones internal state and/or external environment. Migraine symptoms largely involve increased, noxious, awareness of bodily changes and external stimuli. Links have been proposed between migraine and interoception (sensing and interpreting internal states), but direct evidence is limited. MethodsUnmedicated, otherwise healthy, age-matched female participants were grouped by migraine tendency: control (no unprovoked headaches, n=19); low-frequency (<=3 migraines/month, n=20); high-frequency (>=4 migraines/month, n=19). Interoception was assessed, interictally, with standardised questionnaires such as MAIA-2 and a widely used heartbeat counting task. ResultsThe notable significant questionnaire-based difference was in the noticing, not distracting domain of the MAIA-2; controls were least likely to continue activities despite experiencing physical discomfort, and high-frequency migraineurs most likely. Follow-up questioning clarified that this behaviour related predominantly to migraine-related symptoms. The heartbeat task found no differences in accuracy, but lower confidence in the low-frequency migraine group than the control and high-frequency groups. ConclusionsWe suggest that low interoceptive confidence is a risk factor for migraine, whilst amplification of interoceptive signals caused by migraine restores this confidence, but at the price of migraines disabling symptoms. Self-reported tendency to deliberately ignore physical discomfort, including that caused by migraine, may result in more migraine attacks.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Leptospermum extract (QV0) suppresses pleural mesothelioma tumour growth in vitro and in vivo by mitochondrial dysfunction associated apoptosis

Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a highly aggressive, fast-growing asbestos-induced cancer with limited effective treatments. There has been an interest in using naturally occurring anticancer agents derived from plant materials for the treatment of PM. However, it is unclear if aqueous extract from the Leptospermum polygalifolium (QV0) has activity against PM. Here we investigated the anti-cancer property of QV0 in vitro and in vivo. Animals treated with Defender(R) (QV0 dietary supply) exhibited a reduced tumour size over 30 days, which was associated with an average extended of seven days mouse life. There was no liver toxicity, nor increased blood glucose post-treatment in animals treated with Defender(R). Moreover, QV0 suppressed the growth of 13 cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, effective at concentrations as low as 0.02% w/v. This response was found to be associated with inhibited cell migration, proliferation, and colony formation, but without evident cell cycle alteration. We observed mitochondrial dysfunction post QV0 treatment, as evidenced by significantly decreased basal and maximal oxygen consumption rates. Significantly enhanced tumour apoptosis was observed in the Defender(R)-treated animals, correlating with mitochondrial dysfunction. To the best of our knowledge, this study constitutes the first demonstration of an improved host survival (without adverse effects) response in a QV0-treated PM mouse model, associated with an evident inhibition of PM cell growth and mitochondrial dysfunction-related enhancement of tumour apoptosis. ImportanceA major problem with cancer chemotherapy or immunotherapy is the severe adverse effects associated with normal tissue damage. PM is known to be treatment resistant and has poor a prognosis, therefore new therapeutic treatment options are urgently needed. In the present study, we explored the potential utility of a Leptospermum extract (QV0) as a treatment option for mesothelioma. We demonstrated for the first time that QV0 exhibits an anti-tumour response in mesothelioma, without any associated adverse effects observed in the PM mouse model. These findings provide a rationale for early-stage clinical trials. We anticipate that prospective translational research will lead to the clinical implementation of a novel QV0-based treatment strategy that will ultimately benefit PM patients.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Using EEG to understand how our brain elaborate information in stated choice experiments: Easy versus hard tasks in the choice of vehicles

In the current study, we aim to provide preliminary evidence that complex consumer choices depends on cognitive processes and executive functions that may not be fully captured by current stated choice (SC) approaches. To address this gap, here we combine the standard SC experiment with electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings while manipulating the cognitive demands of the task. Our study is applied to the choice context of a car purchase between a petrol and an electric vehicle. Respondents were asked to fill in a stated choice experiment online and a subsample of these respondents were then invited to participate in an EEG study during which they repeated the same SC experiment while we continuously recorded EEG signals from their scalp. We then modelled peoples choice behaviours in easy and hard decisions, and compared this analysis of their choice behaviour to their EEG responses in these two conditions. Our results confirm that hard decisions lead to higher cognitive demands and larger EEG responses in electrodes on the frontal part of the scalp and these demands can lead to choices inconsistent with the compensatory assumptions.

neuroscience↗