OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of the calcium/calmodulin (CaM)-mediated activation of calcineurin (CN)-nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathway in mediating the regulatory effect of hyperforin (HY) on stress-induced depression-like disorder (DP) in mice. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, DP model group, and hyperforin treatment group (n=15). Behavioral changes of the mice were assessed using open field test (OFT), sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST), light/dark box test (LDB), and novel object suppression test (NSFT). Immunohistochemistry was used to detect tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, and serum serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NA) levels were detected with ELISA. Western blotting was used to analyze the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, and CN-NFAT pathway proteins. In cultured BV-2 microglial cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, the effects of hyperforin and CN inhibitor (CNIS) on expressions of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA-1), 5-HT, NA, inflammatory cytokines and CN-NFAT pathway proteins were examined using immunofluorescence assay, ELISA or Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the control mice, the mice in DP group showed significantly reduced activity in OFT, decreased sucrose consumption in SPT, reduced shuttle crossing in LDB, and lowered food intake in NSFT with significantly increased immobility in TST. The mice with DP showed significantly decreased TH-positive neurons, lowered 5-HT and NA levels, and increased expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2 and CaM-CN-NFAT pathway proteins. In cultured BV-2 cells, LPS stimulation strongly increased cellular IBA-1 expression, decreased the levels of neurotransmitters (5-HT and NA), and increased the levels of inflammatory cytokines and CN-NFAT signaling, and these changes were effectively reversed by treatment with hyperforin or CNIS. CONCLUSIONS Hyperforin improves stress-induced depression-like behaviors in mice and activated BV-2 cells by targeting the CN-NFAT signaling pathway.
Animals ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Microglia/drug effects* ; Depression/etiology* ; Perylene/pharmacology* ; Calcineurin/metabolism* ; NFATC Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Calcium Signaling/drug effects* ; Stress, Psychological ; Phloroglucinol/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction ; Male ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects* ; Terpenes

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD)is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by prions,with certain infectivity and iatrogenic transmission risks.With the rapid progress and application of new dia-gnostic biomarkers and detection methods,as well as the construction and improvement of surveillance and reporting systems,the detection of CJD in patients domestically and internationally has shown an increasing trend year by year.Due to its long incubation period and heterogeneity of early symptoms,early identification and diagnosis of the disease is difficult,increasing the risk of transmission within medical institutions.Currently,there is a lack of con-sensus on the infection prevention and control of CJD.In order to timely identify and diagnose CJD as well as effec-tively block its transmission in medical institutions,this consensus summarizes 15 clinical concerns and formulates 24 specific recommendations based on the latest domestic and international research findings and clinical evidence,as well as combines with clinical practice,aiming to standardize healthcare-associated infection prevention and control measures for CJD and reduce its transmission risk in medical institutions.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD)is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by prions,with certain infectivity and iatrogenic transmission risks.With the rapid progress and application of new dia-gnostic biomarkers and detection methods,as well as the construction and improvement of surveillance and reporting systems,the detection of CJD in patients domestically and internationally has shown an increasing trend year by year.Due to its long incubation period and heterogeneity of early symptoms,early identification and diagnosis of the disease is difficult,increasing the risk of transmission within medical institutions.Currently,there is a lack of con-sensus on the infection prevention and control of CJD.In order to timely identify and diagnose CJD as well as effec-tively block its transmission in medical institutions,this consensus summarizes 15 clinical concerns and formulates 24 specific recommendations based on the latest domestic and international research findings and clinical evidence,as well as combines with clinical practice,aiming to standardize healthcare-associated infection prevention and control measures for CJD and reduce its transmission risk in medical institutions.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the method and experience of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with vacuum-assisted venous drainage technology (VAVD) in the minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS).

METHODS35 cases of patients undergoing MICS were achieved femoral arterial cannula and femoral venous cannula. During the course of the CPB, we used the VAVD technology. At the same time, we selected 35 cases as control group.The time of the CPB, mechanical ventilation and ICU, and the amount of the urine, blood products, and chest drainage were recorded.

RESULTSThe time of mechanical ventilation and ICU staying, the volume of the blood products and the volume drainage within 48 h postoperatively in the MICS group were significantly shorter and less than that in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe use of VAVD in the MICS can increase the vena cava drainage effectively, and ensure the surgery safe and successful.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Vacuum ; Veins ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) in the pathogenesis of steroid-resistant (SR) asthma.Methods Fifteen patients with SR asthma and 15 patients with steroid-sensitive (SS) asthma were selected based on their clinical responses to prednisone therapy. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained and incubated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro for 48 h in the presence or absence of dexamethasone (10-7 mol/L). Expressions of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA in PBMCs were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and mRNA positive PBMCs for IL-4 and IL-5 were measured with in situ hybridization using digoxin-labeled cDNA probes.Results In the absence of dexamethasone, there was no significant difference in the expressions of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA between SR and SS asthmatics, and the numbers of mRNA positive cells for IL-4 and IL-5 were also similar between these two groups, however, in the presence of dexamethasone (10-7 mol/L), expressions of IL-4 mRNA (P<0.01) and IL-5 mRNA (P<0.05) were significantly inhibited in SS asthmatics, but not in SR asthmatics (P>0.05). The numbers of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA positive cells decreased from 5.50±1.60 to 2.27±0.98 (P<0.01) and from 5.03±1.29 to 1.67±0.70 (P<0.01), respectively in SS asthmatics, but in the patients with SR asthma, there was no significant change in the number of cells expressing mRNA for IL-4 or IL-5.Conclusion The gene expression of IL-4 and IL-5 in SR asthma was not inhibited by dexamethasone at the concentration of 10-7 mol/L. It is suggested that the relative unresponsiveness of T cells to glucocorticoids and persistent production of cytokines may be one of the mechanisms of steroid resistance in asthma.

Objective To study on bioactive chemical compounds against ultraviolet irradiation in antarctic ice microalgae.Methods Four kinds of Antarctic ice microalgae were cultured under the conditions of low temperature,illumination,UV-A and UV-B irradiation.The chemical compounds were extracted by methanol and analyzed by spectrophotometer and HPLC/MS.The molecular structures were elucidated according to these data.The chemical compounds were irradated by sunshine to observe the speed of degradation and to estimate the bioactivity.Results There were five active compounds in Chlorophyceae L-4 and 7 active compounds in Diatom HF-9,in which 6 compounds belong to MAAs(mycosporine-like amino acids) and were of more bioactivity against ultraviolet irradiation.Conclusion MAAs from of Antarctic ice microalgae play an important role in resisting ultraviolet irradiation.