“Runner’s high” refers to a momentary sense of pleasure that suddenly appears during running or other exercise activities, characterized by anti-anxiety, pain relief, and other symptoms. The neurobiological mechanism of “runner’s high” is unclear. This review summarizes human and animal models for studying “runner’s high”, analyzes the neurotransmitters and neural circuits involved in runner’s high, and elucidates the evidence and shortcomings of researches related to “runner’s high”. This review also provides prospects for future research. Research has found that exercise lasting more than 30 min and with an intensity exceeding 70% of the maximum heart rate can reach a “runner’s high”. Human experiments on “runner’s high” mostly use treadmill exercise intervention, and evaluate it through questionnaire surveys, measurement of plasma AEA, miRNA and other indicators. Animal experiments often use voluntary wheel running intervention, and evaluate it through behavioral experiments such as conditional place preference, light dark box experiments (anxiety), hot plate experiments (pain sensitivity), and measurement of plasma AEA and other indicators. Dopamine, endogenous opioid peptides, endogenous cannabinoids, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and other substances increase after exercise, which may be related to the “runner’s high”. However, attention should be paid to the functional differences of these substances in the central and peripheral regions, as well as in different brain regions. Moreover, current studies have not identified the targets of the neurotransmitters or neural factors mentioned above, and further in-depth researches are needed. The mesolimbic dopamine system, prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens projection, ventral hippocampus-nucleus accumbens projection, red nucleus-ventral tegmental area projection, cerebellar-ventral tegmental area projection, and brain-gut axis may be involved in the regulation of runner’s high, but there is a lack of direct evidence to prove their involvement. There are still many issues that need to be addressed in the research on the neurobiological mechanisms of “runner’s high”. (1) Most studies on “runner’s high” involve one-time exercise, and the characteristics of changes in “runner’s high” during long-term exercise still need to be explored. (2) The using of scales to evaluate subjects lead to the lacking of objective indicators. However, some potential biomarkers (such as endocannabinoids) have inconsistent characteristics of changes after one-time and long-term exercise. (3) The neurotransmitters involved in the formation of the “runner’s high” all increase in the peripheral and/or central nervous system after exercise. Attention should be paid to whether peripheral substances can enter the blood-brain barrier and the binding effects of neurotransmitters to different receptors are completely different in different brain regions. (4) Most of the current evidence show that some brain regions are activated after exercise. Is there a functional circuit mediating “runner’s high” between these brain regions? (5) Although training at a specific exercise intensity can lead to “runner’s high”, most runners have not experienced “runner’s high”. Can more scientific training methods or technological means be used to make it easier for people to experience the “runner’s high” and thus be more willing to engage in exercise? (6) The “runner’s high” and “addiction” behaviors are extremely similar, and there are evidences that exercise can reverse addictive behaviors. However, why is there still a considerable number of people in the sports population and even athletes who smoke or use addictive drugs instead of pursuing the “pleasure” brought by exercise? Solving the problems above is of great significance for enhancing the desire of exercise, improving the clinical application of neurological and psychiatric diseases through exercise, and enhancing the overall physical fitness of the population.

Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T _NANC), time to symptom improvement (T _SI), and time of hospital stay (T _HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T _NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.

A biosynthetic gene cluster for the bioactive fungal sesterterpenoids variecolin ( 1) and variecolactone ( 2) was identified in Aspergillus aculeatus ATCC 16872. Heterologous production of 1 and 2 was achieved in Aspergillus oryzae by expressing the sesterterpene synthase VrcA and the cytochrome P450 VrcB. Intriguingly, the replacement of VrcB with homologous P450s from other fungal terpenoid pathways yielded three new variecolin analogues ( 5- 7). Analysis of the compounds' anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo revealed that although 5 and 1 had comparable activities, 5 was associated with significantly reduced toxic side effects in cancer-bearing mice, indicating its potentially broader therapeutic window. Our study describes the first tests of variecolin and its analogues in animals and demonstrates the utility of synthetic biology for creating molecules with improved biological activities.

Objective·To evaluate the effects of anterior maxillary segmental distraction osteogenesis(AMSDO)in treating sagittal maxillary hypoplasia in cleft lip and palate(CLP)patients and to report a 3D-printed surgical guide to facilitate the osteotomy.Methods·Twelve patients with CLP who underwent AMSDO were included in this study.Virtual osteotomy was performed in a 3-dimensional model and the osteotomy line were fabricated into a tooth-borne surgical guide by using 3D-printing technique.Lateral cephalograms taken before surgery(T0),at the end of consolidation(T1)and six months after consolidation(T2)were used to evaluate the effects of AMSDO.The accuracy of the osteotomy guide was measured by superimposing the postoperative CT data to virtual planning.Results·All the patients went through surgery without serious complications.SNA and overjet changed significantly both from T0 to T1 and from T0 to T2.ANB,facial convexity,and palatal length changed without significance from T0 to T1 and from T0 to T2.SNB remained stable.All the variables remained relatively stable from T1 to T2.The anteroposterior linear root-mean-square deviation(RMSD)between planning and actual results was 0.90 mm,while the angular RMSD in the sagittal plane was 5.07°.Conclusion·AMSDO is an effective treatment for maxillary hypoplasia secondary to CLP.The accuracy of this 3D-printed osteotomy guide is clinically acceptable,and this can simplify the surgery with fewer complications.

Objective:To investigate impacts of usnic acid(UA)on malignant behavior of gastric cancer cells by regulating the chemokine(C-C motif)ligand 2(CCL2)-CCL2 receptor(CCR2)signal axis.Methods:SGC-7901 cells,a well growing human gastric cancer cell line,were treated with different concentrations of UA,which were grouped into low concentration(UA-L)group(62.5 μmol/L UA),medium concentration(UA-M)group(125 μmol/L UA)and high concentration(UA-H)group(250 μmol/L UA);meantime,the cells were transfected with CCL2 overexpression vector(pc DNA3.1 CCL2),empty vector(pc DNA3.1),silenced CCL2(si CCL2)and negative control(si control),and SGC-7901 cells were treated with 250 μmol/L UA,labeled as UA-H+pc DNA3.1 CCL2 group,UA-H+pc DNA3.1 group,UA-H+si control group and UA-H+si CCL2 group,another untreated SGC-7901 cells were taken as the control group.Flow cytometry,MTT and qRT-PCR were applied to detect cell apoptosis,proliferation,and expres-sion levels of CCL2 and CCR2 mRNA;Western blot was applied to detect expression levels of PD-L1,apoptotic protein(Bax),proli-ferative protein(CyclinD1,CCL2,CCR2)and immune escape related protein(B7H1);after co-culturing with CD8+T cells isolated and cultured in vitro,ELISA was applied to detect levels of IL-4,IFN-γ and IL-10 in the supernatant.Gastric cancer cells in each group were co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)1∶1 for 72 hours,and the sensitivity of gastric can-cer cells in each group to T-cell-mediated killing was compared.Results:Compared with control group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 and B7H1 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-L group,UA-M group and UA-H group were obviously reduced,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels,Bax protein expression were obviously increased(P<0.05);compared with UA-H+pc DNA3.1 group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-H+pc DNA3.1 CCL2 group were obviously increased,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels,and Bax protein ex-pression were obviously reduced(P<0.05);compared with UA-H+si control group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 and B7H1 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-H+si CCL2 group were obviously reduced,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels and Bax protein expression were obviously increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:UA can inhibit gastric cancer cells proliferation,immune escape,and induce apoptosis,which may be related to the inhibition of the CCL2-CCR2 signaling axis.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum periostin (POSTN) level and bone mineral density in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods Ninety-five patients who had received MHD treatment for more than 3 months in the Hemodialysis Center of Qingdao Municipal Hospital from October 2022 to October 2023 were enrolled as experimental group. Meanwhile, 50 healthy individuals undergoing health examinations in the Physical Examination Center of the same hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. Clinical data such as gender and age were collected for both groups. Fasting venous blood samples were collected before dialysis to measure parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and other indicators. Serum POSTN levels in MHD patients and healthy individuals were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between serum POSTN levels and bone mineral density in MHD patients was explored. Univariate and multivariate binary Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for low bone mineral density in MHD patients and assess the clinical value of serum POSTN level in predicting low bone mineral density in these patients. Results The serum POSTN level in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). These patients were divided into two groups based on T-values: normal bone mass group(47 cases, T value >-1.0) and low bone mineral density (48 cases, T value≤-1.0). The low bone mineral density group had significantly higher serum POSTN levels, dialysis vintage, PTH, ALP, serum phosphorus, β₂-microglobulin levels, and a higher proportion of females compared to the normal bone mass group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed negative correlations of bone mineral density T values with serum POSTN, dialysis vintage, C-reactive protein, PTH, ALP, serum phosphorus, and β₂-microglobulin in MHD patients (r=-0.695, -0.688, -0.246, -0.528, -0.216, -0.309, -0.293; P < 0.05). Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors such as dialysis vintage, PTH, and ALP, high serum POSTN level was an independent risk factor for low bone mineral density in MHD patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) for serum POSTN level in predicting low bone mineral density in MHD patients was 0.901, with a cut-off value of 29.66 ng/L. Conclusion MHD patients have higher serum POSTN levels than healthy individuals, and this marker is associated with low bone mineral density in MHD patients.

Cerebral hypoxia often brings irreversible damage to the central nervous system, which seriously endangers human health. It is of great significance to further explore the mechanism of hypoxia-associated brain injury. As a programmed cell death, ferroptosis mainly manifests as cell death caused by excessive accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxides. It is associated with abnormal glutathione metabolism, lipid peroxidation and iron metabolism, and is involved in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Studies have found that ferroptosis plays an important role in hypoxia-associated brain injury. This review summarizes the mechanism of ferroptosis, and describes its research progress in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury, neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, obstructive sleep apnea-induced brain injury and high-altitude hypoxic brain injury.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Ferroptosis ; Apoptosis ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Iron ; Reperfusion Injury

Aim To investigate the effect of microinjection of EX527, a selective SIRT1 antagonist, into the ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO) on morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), and to explore the role of CREB/BDNF in it. Methods The cannulas were implanted bilaterally in the VLO of rats by brain stereotaxis surgery, and the model of morphine-induced CPP was established. The behavioral experiment consisted of four stages:habituation (d 1), pre-test (d 2-4), conditioning training (d 5-14) and test (d 15). At the stage of conditioning training, EX527 (1 μL, 5 g·L

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact in Asia and has placed significant burden on already stretched healthcare systems. We examined the impact of COVID-19 on the safety attitudes among healthcare workers (HCWs), as well as their associated demographic and occupational factors, and measures of burnout, depression and anxiety. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study utilising snowball sampling was performed involving doctors, nurses and allied health professions from 23 hospitals in Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia between 29 May 2020 and 13 July 2020. This survey collated demographic data and workplace conditions and included three validated questionnaires: the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ), Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We performed multivariate mixed-model regression to assess independent associations with the SAQ total percentage agree rate (PAR). RESULTS: We obtained 3,163 responses. The SAQ total PARs were found to be 35.7%, 15.0%, 51.0% and 3.3% among the respondents from Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia, respectively. Burnout scores were highest among respondents from Indonesia and lowest among respondents from India (70.9%-85.4% vs. 56.3%-63.6%, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that meeting burnout and depression thresholds and shifts lasting ≥12 h were significantly associated with lower SAQ total PAR. CONCLUSION Addressing the factors contributing to high burnout and depression and placing strict limits on work hours per shift may contribute significantly towards improving safety culture among HCWs and should remain priorities during the pandemic.
Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Pandemics ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Burnout, Psychological ; Health Personnel