With the advance of modern neonatal management, the increase of survival of infants born with ELBW has resulted in collateral increase in incidence of infants with serious chronic lung disease, typically brnchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Long-term sensory, motor and cognitive impairments are common outcomes in survivals with moderate and severe BPD and may persist during school years and adolescence. Increasing evidence suggest that BPD exerts a significant effect on brain growth and development and may be associated with chronic sublethal hypoxia which compond the risk of extended brain injury and NS complications such as cerebral palsy. Animal studies have demonstrated progressive gliosis and cerebral ventriculomegaly, injured subcortical white matter and corpus callosum, dysynchrony synaptic development and disrupted neurotransmitssion in the hypoxia newborn brain. In this literature we built upon the review of neurogical and congnitive outcome in preterm infants with BPD and structural, functional and neurochemical alterations in ainimals following clinical and experimental hypoxia respectively, which may underlie the primary or potential mle for chronic sublethal hypoxia on premature brain development.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1),ATP-binding cassette transporter G1(ABCG1),and class B type Ⅰ scavenger receptor(SR-B Ⅰ)genes and proteins in peritoneal macrophages of atherosclerotic rabbits.The study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying the treatment of atherosclerosis(AS)with electroacupuncture.Methods Twenty-six male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the negative control group(n=7)and the modeling group(n=19)using a random number table method.The negative control group rabbits were fed a regular diet,while the modeling group was induced with a combination of high-fat feed and common carotid artery balloon injury surgery to create an AS model.After successful modeling,the rabbits in the modeling group were further divided into the model group,the electroacupuncture group,and the atorvastatin group,with 6 rabbits in each group.The rabbits in the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at"'Neiguan'(PC6)","'Zusanli'(ST36)",and"'Guanyuan'(ST25)"acupoints,using a density wave,a current of 1 mA,and a frequency of 4 Hz/20 Hz,once a day.The needle was retained for 20 minutes each time,and a total of 4 courses of treatment were conducted,with 6 days per course.The rabbits in the atorvastatin group were administered atorvastatin calcium tablet suspension(1 mg/kg)orally once a day,for 6 days per course,with a total of 4 courses.After the interventions,HE staining was performed to observe the morphological changes in the common carotid artery tissue of the rabbits.Peritoneal macrophages were collected from the rabbits,and the mRNA expression levels of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ were measured using real-time fluorescence PCR.The protein expression levels of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ were detected using Western blotting.Results The negative control group exhibited smooth intima of common carotid artery in rabbits,while the model group displayed damaged intima of common carotid artery,thickened artery walls,and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.The electroacupuncture group and atorvastatin group showed significant improvements in wall thickening and a reduction in plaque area.Compared with the negative control group,the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ in peritoneal macrophages of rabbits in the model group were reduced(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group and atorvastatin group exhibited increased mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ in abdominal macrophages of rabbits(P＜0.01).Furthermore,the atorvastatin group demonstrated increased mRNA levels of ABCG1 and SR-B Ⅰ,as well as increased protein expressions of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ in peritoneal macrophages of rabbits,in comparison to the electroacupuncture group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can enhance the expressions of ABCA1,ABCG1,and SR-B Ⅰ mRNA and protein in abdominal macrophages of AS rabbits,thereby promoting the process of cholesterol reverse transport.This may be one of the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of AS.

Melanogenesis is a biosynthetic pathway to produce melanin pigment in melanocyte, involving a series of intricate enzymatic and chemical catalyzed reactions. Melanogenesis involves five signaling pathways that converge on microphthalmia-associated transcription factor. In addition, many cytokines, involved in the regulation of melanogenesis, play an important role in the development, proliferation, differentiation and migration of melanocytes. Polyoxometalate can be used as a potential inhibitor of melanin production. Hence, this paper reviews the signaling pathways of melanogenesis and their regulatory mechanism, to apply polyoxometalates in the melanin production pathway, and briefly introduces the regulatory factors of related pathways.
Cell Differentiation ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor ; Signal Transduction