The ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus is a major target of the basal ganglia and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, the VA receives direct innervation from the hypothalamic histaminergic system. However, its role in PD remains unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of histamine to VA neuronal activity and PD motor deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced VA activity in PD patients. Optogenetic activation of VA neurons or histaminergic afferents significantly alleviated motor deficits in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. Furthermore, histamine excited VA neurons via H1 and H2 receptors and their coupled hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, inward-rectifier K⁺ channels, or Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. These results demonstrate that histaminergic afferents actively compensate for Parkinsonian motor deficits by biasing VA activity. These findings suggest that targeting VA histamine receptors and downstream ion channels may be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD motor dysfunction.
Animals ; Histamine/metabolism* ; Male ; Oxidopamine/toxicity* ; Rats ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Neurons/physiology* ; Humans ; Optogenetics

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined. RESULTS: The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.
Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: To explore the optimal maintenance dose of caffeine citrate for preterm infants requiring assisted ventilation and caffeine citrate treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 566 preterm infants (gestational age ≤34 weeks) who were treated and required assisted ventilation and caffeine citrate treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit of 30 tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province of China between January 1 and December 31, 2019. The 405 preterm infants receiving high-dose (10 mg/kg per day) caffeine citrate after a loading dose of 20 mg/kg within 24 hours after birth were enrolled as the high-dose group. The 161 preterm infants receiving low-dose (5 mg/kg per day) caffeine citrate were enrolled as the low-dose group. RESULTS: Compared with the low-dose group, the high-dose group had significant reductions in the need for high-concentration oxygen during assisted ventilation (P=0.044), the duration of oxygen inhalation after weaning from noninvasive ventilation (P<0.01), total oxygen inhalation time during hospitalization (P<0.01), the proportion of preterm infants requiring noninvasive ventilation again (P<0.01), the rate of use of pulmonary surfactant and budesonide (P<0.05), and the incidence rates of apnea and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.01), but the high-dose group had a significantly increased incidence rate of feeding intolerance (P=0.032). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the body weight change, the incidence rates of retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage or necrotizing enterocolitis, the mortality rate, and the duration of caffeine use (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS This pilot multicenter study shows that the high maintenance dose (10 mg/kg per day) is generally beneficial to preterm infants in China and does not increase the incidence rate of common adverse reactions. For the risk of feeding intolerance, further research is needed to eliminate the interference of confounding factors as far as possible.
Caffeine/therapeutic use* ; Citrates ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To explore the effects of Huatan Tongluo Decoction （HTTLD） on the morphology and function of brain tissues and intestine in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion based on the gut-brain axis. Method:Sixty SPF male rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group， a model group， high- （28.66 g·kg^-1）， medium- （14.33 g·kg^-1）， and low-dose （7.16 g·kg^-1） HTTLD groups， and an edaravone （4 g·kg^-1）+Clostridium butyricum （5.0×10⁸ cfu·mL^-1） group. The model was established by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats. The drugs were administered by gavage. The brain tissue injury was determined by neurological deficit score and 2，3，5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. The effect of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion on intestinal motility was assessed by the propulsion rate of small intestine. The intestinal mucosal cell damage was evaluated by the pathomorphological examination of the duodenal mucosa. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to determine the content of D-lactate （D-LAC）， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and bacterial endotoxin （lipopolysaccharide， LPS） in serum. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Occludin， Claudin-5， and zonula occludens 1 （ZO-1） in the duodenum. Result:After cerebral ischemia/reperfusion， rats developed neurological deficit symptoms. The neurological deficit score in the model group was higher than that in the sham operation group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high- and medium-dose HTTLD groups could relieve the symptoms of neurological deficits and lower neurological deficit scores （P<0.01）. The results of TTC staining showed that the model group presented obvious infarcts in brain tissues compared with the sham operation group （P<0.01）. The cerebral infarction volumes of HTTLD groups were reduced compared with that in the model group （P<0.01）， especially the high-dose HTTLD group， and the effect was dose-dependent. Furthermore， the propulsion rate of small intestine in the model group was significantly reduced compared with that in the sham operation group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， HTTLD groups could increase propulsion rates of small intestine （P<0.01）， especially the high-dose HTTLD group， and the effect was dose-dependent. After cerebral ischemia/reperfusion， obvious duodenal mucosal damage could be observed， which was relieved after the administration of HTTLD. Western blot results showed that the protein expression of ZO-1， Occludin， and Claudin-5 in the model group was reduced compared with that in the sham operation group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the HTTLD groups could up-regulate the expression of ZO-1， Occludin， and Claudin-5 to varying degrees （P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially the high-dose HTTLD group. ELISA showed that the serum D-LAC， DAO， and LPS of the model group were elevated compared with those in the sham operation group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the HTTLD groups showed reduced D-LAC and DAO （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the medium- and high-dose HTTLD groups showed reduced LPS （P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially the high-dose HTTLD group. Conclusion:After cerebral ischemia/reperfusion， the rats showed damaged brain tissues， neurological dysfunction， intestinal mucosal injury， weakened intestinal motility， and destroyed the intestinal mucosal barrier. HTTLD can protect against brain-gut axis injury after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by reducing the damage on brain tissues and gastrointestinal mucosa， relieving the symptoms of neurological deficits， promoting gastrointestinal motility， improving intestinal barrier function， and reducing the release of intestinal bacterial metabolites or poisons.

Objective To investigate the effects of heat shock protein Gp96 on alcoholic liver fibrosis in mice. Methods A total of 220 male healthy C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into four groups; normal control group (n = 10), saline+alcohol induced liver fibrosis group (n = 70), the injection of CRISPR expression Gp96-sgRNA3 by tail vein+ alcohol induced liver fibrosis group (n = 70), the intraperitoneal injection of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) inhibitors PDTC+alcohol induced liver fibrosis group (n = 70). The blood was got from eyeballs and the mice were killed after 8 weeks of ethanol induction. We detected the activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in mice of different groups. The pathological changes were detected by HE staining, sirius red staining and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining in the liver of mice. The expression of Gp96 and transforming growth factor βl ( TGF-βl ) were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the normal control group, the AST enzyme activity and liver fibrosis increased significantly, glycogen decreased significantly in other three groups (P<0.01). Compared with the saline+alcohol group, the AST enzyme activity and liver fibrosis increased more significantly, glycogen decreased more significantly, Gp96 expression decreased significantly and TGF-βl expression increased significantly in Gp96-sgRNA3+ alcohol group and NF-κB inhibitors PDTC+ alcohol group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion The injection of CRISPR expression plasmid Gp96-sgRNA3 by tail vein significantly inhibited the Gp96 expression, promoted the degree of alcoholic liver fibrosis in mice, and NF-κB signaling pathway played a certain role in regulating the expression of Gp96.

Objective: To investigate the effect of dodder total flavone on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rat models induced by letrozole. Method: Except the blank group, the other rats were given letrozole 1 mg·kg^-1 for 21 consecutive days to replicate PCOS animal model. On the 16^th day of the modeling, the estrous cycle was detected by vaginal smear, and rat with persistent keratinization of vaginal epithelial cells were selected as the PCOS model rat. The model rats were randomly divided into model group, Dacin-35 group, and high, middle, low-dose dodder total flavonoids groups. The corresponding drugs were given for 21 consecutive days. At the end of the administration, materials were collected to calculate ovary index, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure estrogen (E₂), testosterone (T), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels of serum. The right ovary of rats was stained with haematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the pathological changes were observed by optical microscope. Androgen receptor(AR) expressions in hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary were detected by mmunohistochemistry. Result: Compared with the blank group, serum T, GnRH and LH levels, ovarian index and LH/FSH ratio were significantly increased, while FSH and E₂ levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01). Ovarian tissue follicular atresia increased, and the cell layers of follicular membrane were thickened significantly. AR expressions in hypothalamus, pituitary and ovarian tissues were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, serum E₂, T, GnRH and LH levels, ovarian index and LH/FSH ratio were significantly decreased in high, middle and low-dose dodder total flavonoids groups (P<0.01); Serum E₂ level was significantly increased (P<0.01), and FSH level was obviously increased (P<0.05) in high and middle-dose dodder total flavonoids group. Serum E₂ level in PCOS model rats was obviously increased in low-dose dodder total flavonoids group (P<0.05). The pathological changes of ovarian tissue of cortical thickening and collagenization, atresia follicle increase and corpus luteum decrease of PCOS model rats were alleviated to different degrees in high, middle and low-dose dodder total flavonoids groups. Immunohistochemical results showed that high, middle and low-dose dodder total flavonoids groups could significantly reduce AR expressions in hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary (P<0.01). Conclusion: Dodder total flavonoids may play a protective role in PCOS model rats by regulating the secretion of estrogen and androgen and affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis pathway.

Objective To analyze the common causes of fatty liver in Chinese adults.Methods The CNKI, WANFANG database and VIP database were searched by computer , and the etiology of fatty liver was published from January 2008 to December 2017.Meta-analysis of pre-valence, influencing factors, and blood biochemical indicators were per-formed using R software and Stata software .Results Twenty-four stu-dies were finally included,with a total of 49,275 cases.Meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of fatty liver in the population were : total prevalence 19.31%, male prevalence 26.44%, female prevalence 15.31%.The prevalence rates at different ages were :＜30 years old 13.20%, 31-40 years old 16.73%, 41-50 years old 20.98%, 51-60 years old 21.85%,＞60 years old 17.46%.The risk ratio of influen-cing factors in patients with fatty liver compared with normal population was: high cholesterol 2.03, high triglyceride 3.02, aspartate transaminas increased 3.70, alanine transaminase increased 4.55, hyperglycemia 2.54, obesity 10.73 , greasy food 3.93, alcohol consumption 2.85, hy-pertension 2.06, quality index fat 2.52.The differences in mean blood biochemical results between patients with and without fatty liver were as follows: total cholestero 1.23,triglyceride 1.18,high-density lipoprotein -0.55,low-density lipoprotein 0.28, aspartate transaminase 1.09, alanine transaminase 1.45,total bilirubin 1.09, fasting blood glucose 1.16.Conclusion The preva-lence of fatty liver in Chinese men is higher than that in females ; common factors are high cholesterol , high triglycerides, elevated aspartate transaminase, elevated alanine transaminase, hyperglycemia, obesity, greasy food, hypertension, body mass index; patients with fatty liver fatty biochemical indicators than the normal population were abnormal.

Objective To study the dynamic changes of cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) in alcohol-induced liver injury in mice and its sig nificance.Methods Fifty male mice were randomly divided into modelgroup (n =40) and control group (n =10).The model of alcoholic liver injury was established by continuous infusion of 56 ° Erguotou at 10 mL · kg-1 for 4 weeks.At the time of 1,2,3,4 weeks,to take 10 mice,eye blood for serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity determina tion.Followed by cervical dislocation of mice,the number of CYP2E1positive cells in mice liver were detected by immunohistochemical SP method.Results The activity of hepatic AST enzyme in model group were (126 ±24),(967 ±30),(1010 ±35) and (206 ±23) U · L-1 in 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th weeks,respectively.Compared with the control group (112 ±22) U · L-1,the activity of hepatic AST enzyme in the model group increased continuouslyfrom 1st to 3rd weeks and reached the peak at 3rd week with significantly (P ＜ 0.01),which was decreased at the 4th week,but still higher than the control group with significantly (P ＜0.05).The number of CYP2E1 positive cells per square millimeter were (3.2 ±0.8),(8.4 ± 1.1),(13.2 ± 1.3),and (4.6±0.8) cell · mm-2 in 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th weeks.Compared with the control group (2.8 ±0.5) cell ·mm-2,the number were obviously increased in 1st,2nd and 3rd weeks and represented statistically significant (P ＜0.01)while the number of the 4th week decreased but still with statistically significant(P ＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of CYP2E1 was increased first and then decreased in alcohol-induced liver injury model,which was consistent with the trend of serum AST enzyme activity.The dynamic changes in expression may be associated with damage and repair of the hver.

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effects of different doses of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection on tiptoe deformation in children with cerebral palsy.

METHODSA total of 256 children with tiptoe deformation due to spastic cerebral palsy were classified into group A (muscle tension levels I-II, n=147) and group B (muscle tension levels III-IV, n=109). Group A was randomly divided into group A1 (injected with high-dose BTX-A, n=73) and group A2 (injected with low-dose BTX-A, n=74). Group B was randomly divided into group B1 (injected with high-dose BTX-A, n=55) and group B2 ( injected with low-dose BTX-A, n=54). The dose of BTX-A was 6 U/kg for groups A1 and B1 and was 3 U/kg for groups A2 and B2. Before the injection and at 1,2,6, and 12 months after injection, the muscle tension of limbs was evaluated with the modified Ashworth Scale, and the recovery of motor function of lower limbs was assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).

RESULTSBefore and after treatment, there were no significant differences in Ashworth and GMFM scores between groups A1 and A2 (P>0.05). After treatment, group B1 had a significantly reduced Ashworth score and a significantly increased GMFM score, and group B1 had a significantly lower Ashworth score and a significantly higher GMFM score compared with group B2 (P<0.05). For groups A and B, Ashworth score gradually declined post-treatment, reached the lowest point at 3 months after treatment, and returned to the level before treatment at 12 months after treatment; GMFM score gradually increased post-treatment and reached the peak level at 12 months after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe level of muscle tension should be considered when BTX-A injection is used for treating tiptoe deformation in children with cerebral palsy. It makes no difference to use high- or low-dose BTX-A when the muscle tension level is within I-II, but high-dose BTX-A has a better performance in reducing muscle tension and improving motor function when the muscle tension level is within III-IV.

Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; administration & dosage ; Cerebral Palsy ; complications ; drug therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections ; Male ; Muscle Tonus ; drug effects ; Toes ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo study the application of umbilical venous catheter (UVC) combined with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the VLBWIs in the neonatal intensive care unit who received UVC combined with PICC (catheter group, n=63) or did not receive the catheter treatment (non-catheter group, n=38) to compare the differences in nosocomial infection, weight gain, and length of hospital stay between the two groups.

RESULTSThe rate of nosocomial infection was 17% in the catheter group and 24% in the non-catheter group (P>0.05). Compared with the non-catheter group, the catheter group had a significantly higher weight gain (11.7±2.0 g/kg•d vs 10.6±2.3 g/kg•d; P<0.05) and a significantly shorter length of hospital stay (40±11 days vs 45±14 days; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with those not receiving catheter treatment, the VLBWIs receiving UVC combined with PICC have a markedly higher weight gain and a markedly shorter length of hospital stay and show a declining trend in the rate of nosocomial infection.

Catheterization, Peripheral ; adverse effects ; Central Venous Catheters ; Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Retrospective Studies ; Umbilical Veins