Objective To investigate the effects of acute sleep deprivation on the behavior and synaptic protein expression of rats.Methods Seventy healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups,a Control group and sleep deprivation groups(24,48,72,96,120 and 144 hours).The sleep deprivation rat model was established by the modified multiplatform water environment sleep deprivation method.Spatial learning and memory were assessed by the Morris water maze.Anxiety was assessed by the open field test.The morphology and quantity of hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining.Western blot and Real-time PCR were used to determine the expression of synaptophysin(SYN),post-synaptic density protein-95(PSD-95),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in rats.Results Compared with the Control group,the numbers of standing and modification were significantly increased by prolongation of the sleep deprivation time(P＜0.05).The escape latency and path length were significantly increased in 120 and 144 h groups(P＜0.05),whereas the number of platform crossings and the percentage of the target quadrant time were significantly decreased(P＜0.01)and negatively correlated to the sleep deprivation time.The expression levels of BDNF,SYN,and PSD-95 were significantly decreased with the prolongation of sleep deprivation time(P＜0.01).Conclusions With the increase in sleep deprivation time,cognitive dysfunction and anxiety gradually deteriorated,which may be related to decreases in the expression of synaptic biomarkers.

Objective To investigate the effects of abdominal massage combined with electroacupuncture point-through-point method on the expressions of circadian clock genes of Clock,BMAL1,PER1 and neurotransmitters contents of ACh and Glu in insomnia rats and its possible mechanism.Methods Totally 50 SD male rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,abdominal massage group,electroacupuncture point-through-point group and combination group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,an insomnia rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine.Abdominal massage group received abdominal massage;electroacupuncture point-through-point group was treated with flat acupuncture,"Baihui"through"Shenting","Sanyinjiao"through"Yinlingquan"(bilateral),"Shenmen"through"Neiguan"(bilateral),the electroacupuncture instrument dilatational wave,frequency of 1 Hz/20 Hz was connected;the combination group was treated with electroacupuncture through acupoints after abdominal massage;1 time/d for each treatment group,a total of 7 days.The normal group and model group were not intervened.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of neurons in hypothalamic tissue,the expression of Clock,BMAL1 and PER1 mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR,the expressions of Clock,BMAL1 and PER1 in hypothalamic tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining,the expression of Clock,BMAL1 and PER1 protein in hypothalamic tissue were detected by Western blot,the contents of ACh and Glu in serum were detected by ELISA.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group rats had a longer sleep latency,shorter sleep duration,severe damage to the cellular structure of the hypothalamic tissue,and a vacuolar like change,with a decrease in the number of neuronal cells,the expressions of Clock and BMAL1 mRNA and protein in hypothalamic tissue increased,while the expressions of PER1 mRNA and protein decreased;the contents of serum ACh and Glu increased,with statistical significance(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the abdominal massage group,electroacupuncture point-through-point group,and combination group could all shorten the sleep latency,prolong sleep duration,and improve the morphology of hypothalamic neurons,reduce the expressions of Clock and BMAL1 mRNA and protein in hypothalamic tissue,up-regulate the expressions of PER1 mRNA and protein,and reduce the contents of serum ACh and Glu,with statistical significance(P<0.05),the combination group showed the most obvious effects(P<0.05).Conclusion Abdominal massage combined with electroacupuncture point-through-point method can improve insomnia.Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of circadian clock genes Clock,BMAL1,PER1 mRNA and protein expression,as well as neurotransmitter content.

Objective:To assess the long-term outcome and influencing factors of laparoscopic Heller myotomy plus Dor fundoplication(LHM+ Dor) for achalasia by a single operator.Methods:Fifty-four patients who underwent LHM+ Dor consecutively from January 2011 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Those who had already undergone surgical or endoscopic myotomy and who were complicated with cancer were ruled out. Symptom inquiry and esophagogram were conducted both before and after surgery for assessing surgical results. Esophagoscopy, esophageal manometry and 24 h pH monitoring were performed before surgery, and the effects of these preoperative factors on the long-term outcome were analyzed.Results:All patients had dysphagia for average 6.5 years, ranging from 0.5-30.0 years. Intra-operative mucosal perforation occurred in 4(7.4%) patients, and there were no postoperative morbidity and mortality. At a median follow-up of 5.2 years, the morbidity of dysphagia decreased from 100% before surgery to 5.5% after surgery( P<0.001), Eckardt scores from 4.85±1.64 to 0.71±1.08( P=0.000). After surgery, 94.4% of patients had excellent and good relief of symptoms and good control of gastroesophageal reflux, the morbidity of heartburn being 3.7%. At 5 years after surgery, the probability of being symptoms free(Eckardt score≤1) was 91.7% in patients without preoperative night cough, compared to 54.6% in those with preoperative night cough( P=0.047). The probability was 92.3% in patients with grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ dilation of the esophagus and 79.0% in patients with grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ dilation( P=0.027). At multivariate analysis, heavier esophageal dilation was the independent predicator for poor symptom control after surgery. Conclusion:LHM+ Dor can be safely performed and durably relieve achalasia symptoms. Severe esophageal dilation before surgery is an independent predictor of a poor response to surgery.

The 30th International Symposium on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Motor Neuron Disease was held in Perth, Australia from December 4 to 6, 2019. This article mainly introduces the clinical research of this meeting, including epidemiology, non-motor symptoms, auxiliary examinations and biomarkers, etc., while the basic research includes genomics and genetics, protein metabolism abnormalities, neuroimmunity and inflammation, synapse pathology and preclinical treatment strategies,

Objective:To explore the effects of different doses of Ethephon on testes of male pups.Methods:Thirty-two 45-day-old healthy female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the control group and the low dose, middle dose and high dose Ethephon groups by the random figure table.The female rats in the low dose, middle dose and high dose Ethephon groups were given 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg Ethephon solution, respectively.The control group was treated with 9 g/L saline.After the birth of the offspring, the mother rats were not administrated with any medications, and the male offspring rats were given Ethephon solution instead.Twelve offspring male rats were randomly selected from each group and killed at the age of 0, 14 and 28 days after birth.Fresh testicular tissues were stained with hematoxylin eosin (HE), and the morphological changes of testicular tissues were observed under light microscope.The apoptotic cells were labeled by terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and the apoptosis index (AI) of spermatogenic cells was detected by fluorescence microscope.Results:(1) Compared with the newborn rats in the middle dose group, low dose group and control group, se-miniferous tubules in the newborn rats of the high dose group were slightly thicker, and seminiferous cells were arranged slightly in disorder.The AI of the newborn rats in high dose group was significantly higher than that in the control group (1.00±0.06 vs.0.41±0.03, P<0.01). The AI of the newborn rats in the middle dose group was not significantly different from that in the control group and the low dose group ( P>0.05). (2) The seminiferous tubules of the 14-day-old rats in the low dose, middle dose and high dose Ethephon groups were significantly thicker and arranged more loosely than those in the control group.Compared with the control group, there were very few seminiferous cells, which were arranged disorderly in the low dose, middle dose and high dose Ethephon groups.The AI of the 14-day-old rats in the low dose, middle dose and high dose Ethephon groups was (2.13±0.10), (2.18±0.10) and (3.90±0.23), respectively, which were significantly higher than that in the control group (1.00±0.02) ( F=2 508.36, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the AI between the middle dose and low dose groups ( P>0.05). (3) Compared with the control group, the seminiferous tubules of the 28-day-old rats in the low dose, middle dose and high dose groups were significantly thicker and arranged much more loosely, and spermatogenic cells were even less and arranged in a severely disordered way.The AI of 28-day-old rats in the low dose group (5.52±0.13), the middle dose group (9.44±0.07) and the high dose group (14.56±0.27) was significantly higher than that in the control group (3.11±0.13) ( F=10 784.69, P<0.01). Conclusions:Ethephon can thicken the seminiferous tubules of newborn and young rats, cause the germ cells to arrange disorderly, promote the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduce the ability of spermatogenesis.Moreover, a longer exposure of the rats to a higher concentration of Ethephon will result in more serious damage to testicular tissues.

The 29th International Symposium on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?Motor Neuron Disease was held in Glasgow from December 7 to 9, 2018. The symposium was divided into 23 topics, with 109 special reports and paper′s exchange and 515 posters exchange. This article briefly introduces some topics of the symposium, involving basic researches, clinical researches and clinical trials. Among these, basic researches include genetics and genomics, axonal degeneration, disease models, and preclinical therapeutic strategies; Clinical researches include epidemiology, clinical progression, cognitive and psychological change, neuropathology, neurophysiology, neuroimaging and biomarkers.

The 29th International Symposium on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-Motor Neuron Disease was held in Glasgow from December 7 to 9, 2018. The symposium was divided into 23 topics, with 109 special reports and paper′s exchange and 515 posters exchange. This article briefly introduces some topics of the symposium, involving basic researches, clinical researches and clinical trials. Among these, basic researches include genetics and genomics, axonal degeneration, disease models, and preclinical therapeutic strategies; Clinical researches include epidemiology, clinical progression, cognitive and psychological change, neuropathology, neurophysiology, neuroimaging and biomarkers.

The 28th International Conference on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-Motor Neuron Disease was held in Boston from December 8 to 10, 2017. The conference covered 23 topics, 102 special topics and 446 papers. This article briefly introduces some topics of the conference, involving basic research, clinical research and clinical trials. Among these, basic studies include genetics, cell biology and pathology, and superoxide dismutase1 gene ALS related pathology; clinical studies include the progression of ALS disease, cognitive behavioral disorders, and biological markers.

Objective To explore the interaction between tryptophan hydroxylase 2(TPH2) gene polymorphisms (rs4570625,rs11178997) and serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1A) gene polymorpbisms (rs878567,rs1364043,rs6265) and the association with major depressive disorder (MDD) in a Chinese Han population.Methods The DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples of 288 MDD patients 288 healthy subjects was detected by single base primer extension assay (Snapshot).The generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) method was used to analyze the gene-gene interaction.Results Significant differences were found in the genotype (patients (TT:27,TA:152,AA:109),controls (TT:82,TA:105,AA:101),P＜0.01) and allele(patients (T:206,A:370),controls (T:269,A:307),P＜0.01) frequencies of rs1 1178997 within TPH2 between MDD patients and controls.Statistically,a greater risk of developing MDD was found in individuals with an rs1 1178997 A-allele(OR=1.574,95％CI=1.243-1.993).The interaction between TPH2 (rs4570625,rs1 1178997) and 5-HT1A (rs878567,rs1364043,rs6265) was considered as the best multi-locus model,and this showed a testing accuracy of 57.67％ and a CV consistency of 10/10.And this interaction had a significant effect on the risk of MDD (P=0.0107).Conclusion There may be an association between the interaction of TPH2 and 5-HT1A polymorphisms and MDD.

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of induced membrane technique in the treatment of traumatic segmental bone defects.Methods From May 2011 to January 2016,we treated 10 patients with traumatic segmental bone defect of the lower limb.They were 7 men and 3 women,with an average age of 41.6 years (from 18 to 61 years.The bone defects involved 8 tibias and 2 femurs;the mean length of the bone defects was 5.1 cm (from 2 to 15 cm).All the segmental bone defects were teated by induced membrane technique.At the first stage,the bone defects were filled with antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer after thorough debridement,the limb was fixated with external fixtor,and soft tissue repair was performed in 5 patients.On average all the patients received emergency treatment at the first stage 8.1 hours (from 4 to 13 hours) after trauma.At the second stage,after the cement was removed,the bone defects were filled with cancellous autografts.An allograft was used when the autograft was not adequate enough.The external fixtor was exchanged by internal fixation in one patient according to his soft tissue condition and will;the exteranl fixation was retained in the other 9 patients.Results The average follow-up was 2.8 years (from 1.0 to 5.5 years).Bone healing was achieved in 9 patients after an average of 7.1 months (from 5 to 9 months),and nonunion happened in one patient whose bone graft had been not sufficient enough.Stress fracture occurred in one patient 7 months after bone healing,but it responded to conservative management.One patient reported numbness on the anterolateral thigh of the donor site.Pin tract infection occurred in 3 patients.Follow-ups revealed no limb length discrepancy or deep infection.Conclusion Induced membrane technique is a simple and reliable technique for the treatment of traumatic segmental bone defects.