Objective To investigate the role of the piriformcortex in regulating attentional behavior in mice.Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a 5-choice serial reaction time task(5-CSRTT).Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect expressions of cellular FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog protein(c-Fos)in the piriform cortex.The changes of attentional behavior in the 5-CSRTT test were explored following either stereotactic injection of diphtheria toxin A virus to specifically damage piriform cortex neurons or chemogenetical inhibition of the neuronal activity inthe piriform cortex.Results It was found that the expression of c-Fos in the 5-CSRTT-tested mice was significantly increased compared to the control.Both lesion and chemogenetic inhibition of piriform cortex neuronsreduced the accuracy of attention,but omission rates and premature responses remained unaffected in the 5-CSRTT test.Conclusion Piriform cortex neuronsmay play a critical role in modulating attentional processes in mice.

Objective To investigate the age-dependent modulatory effects of treadmill exercise on spatial learning and memory in mice and to elucidate the potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying these effects.Methods Male C57BL/6J mice at three distinct developmental stages were subjected to a controlled treadmill training protocol for a duration of four weeks.Cognitive performance was assessed in terms of spatial learning and memoryusing a series of behavioral tests.To examine exercise-induced neurogenesis,proliferating adult neural stem cells in the hippocampal region were labeled via intraperitoneal administration of BrdU.Meanwhile,physiological parameters,including body and muscle weight,were monitored throughout the experiment.Results The study revealed significant age-specific effects of treadmill training.In one-month-old mice,exercise intervention markedly enhanced spatial learning and memory,along with increased proliferation of hippocampal neural stem cells,but no significant alterations were observed in body or muscle weight.In six-month-old mice,treadmill training selectively improved spatial memory and led to increased muscle weight.Notably,three-month-old mice exhibited no significant exercise-induced changes in cognitive performance,hippocampal neurogenesis,or muscle weight.Conclusion These findings demonstrate that treadmill exercise exerts significant,age-dependent regulatory effects on spatial learning and memory,with the most pronounced and comprehensive improvements observed in one-month-old mice.The cognitive enhancements may be mediated,at least partially,through exercise-induced promotion of hippocampal neurogenesis.This study provides data for elucidation of the mechanistic basis of exercise-mediated cognitive enhancement and contributes to the potential applications of exercise interventions in cognitive optimization and neuroplasticity across different developmental stages.

The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) has garnered increasing attention for its role in regulating both mature behaviors and brain development. It has been established that OXTR mediates a range of effects that are region-specific or period-specific. However, the current studies of OXTR expression patterns in mice only provide limited help due to limitations in resolution. Therefore, our objective was to generate a comprehensive, high-resolution spatiotemporal expression map of Oxtr mRNA across the entire developing mouse brain. We applied RNAscope in situ hybridization to investigate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Oxtr in the brains of male mice at six distinct postnatal developmental stages (P7, P14, P21, P28, P42, P56). We provide detailed descriptions of Oxtr expression patterns in key brain regions, including the cortex, basal forebrain, hippocampus, and amygdaloid complex, with a focus on the precise localization of Oxtr⁺ cells and the variance of expression between different neurons. Furthermore, we identified some neuronal populations with high Oxtr expression levels that have been little studied, including glutamatergic neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus, Vgat⁺Oxtr⁺ cells in the basal forebrain, and GABAergic neurons in layers 4/5 of the cortex. Our study provides a novel perspective for understanding the distribution of Oxtr and encourages further investigations into its functions.
Animals ; Receptors, Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Male ; Brain/growth & development* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Animals, Newborn

Objective To investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)in hepatocyte regeneration after acet-aminophen(APAP)-induced injury in human normal liver cell(L02)and its possible mechanism.Methods L02 cells were cultured in vitro,and cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay.The optimal concentration and duration of APAP and the concentration of TLR4 inhibitor(TAK-242)were determined.The protein expression levels of nu-clear factor-κB(NF-κB),microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3),p62,receptor interacting protein kinase 1(RIP1),receptor interacting protein kinase 3(RIP3),signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),phosphorylation of STAT3(p-STAT3),proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)and Cyclin D1 were detected by Western blot.The mRNA expression levels of TLR4,NF-κB,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),inter-leukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1 β(IL-1 β),PCNA,Cyclin D1 and Ki67 were detected by qRT-PCR.Results Ac-cording to the results of CCK-8,L02 cells were treated with 5 mmol/L APAP for 24,36,48 h to simulate liver in-jury and regeneration model in vitro,and TAK-242 100 nmol/L was pretreated 2 ht before APAP to inhibit TLR4.Compared with the control group,the protein levels of NF-κB,RIP1,p-STAT3,PCNA,Cyclin D1 and the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-1 β and PCNA increased in the APAP 24 h group;the protein levels of NF-κB,RIP1,RIP3,p-STAT3,PCNA,Cyclin D1 and the mRNA levels of TLR4,NF-κB,TNF-α,IL-1 β,PCNA and Cyclin D1 in-creased in the APAP 36 h group;the protein levels of NF-κB,RIP1,p-STAT3,PCNA,Cyclin D1 and the mRNA levels of TLR4,NF-κB,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,PCNA,Cyclin D1 and Ki67 increased in the APAP 48 h group.The protein levels of NF-κB,RIP1,RIP3,p-STAT3,PCNA,Cyclin D1 and the mRNA levels of TLR4,NF-κB,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,PCNA,Cyclin D1,Ki67 significantly decreased in APAP+TAK-242 24 h and 48 h group than the APAP group at the same time point;the protein levels of NF-κB,PCNA and the mRNA levels of TLR4,NF-κB,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,PCNA and Ki67 in APAP+TAK-242 36 h group were also significantly lower than those in APAP 36 h group.Compared with the control group,autophagy was activated in the APAP group,while autophagy was inhibited in the APAP+TAK-242 group.Conclusion TLR4 may affect the TLR4/NF-κB pathway,up-regulate the levels of inflammatory factors and autophagy,and promote hepatocyte regeneration after APAP-in-duced liver injury in L02 cells.

Objective To investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)combined with immunosuppressants(IS)on immune rejection in a rat model of liver transplantation.Methods F344 rats were divided into Normal group(without any intervention),PS group(injected with an equal volume of normal saline),MSC group(injected with MSC),IS group(injected with IS),and MSC+IS group(injected with MSC and IS),with 8 rats in each group.For all rats except those in the Normal group,the Kamada's double-cuff method was used to establish a model of orthotopic liver transplantation,without reconstruction of the hepatic artery.HE staining and Masson staining were performed for rat liver tissue,and the degree of liver fibrosis was analyzed;immunohistochemical experiments were used to measure the infiltration of T cells and NK cells,and immunofluorescence assay was used to analyze macrophage M2 polarization.A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves,and the log-rank test was used for survival analysis.Results Compared with the PS group,the MSC+IS group had a significantly prolonged survival time(P＜0.01),and the MSC group,the IS group,and the MSC+IS group had a significant improvement in the histological structure of the liver and a significant reduction in the degree of liver fibrosis(all P＜0.000 1),as well as a significant reduction in the infiltration of NK and T cells(all P＜0.000 1)and a significant increase in the degree of macrophage M2 polarization(all P＜0.000 1).The MSC+IS group had a significantly better effect than the MSC group and the IS group.Conclusion MSCs combined with IS can improve liver histopathology,reduce inflammatory cell infiltration,promote macrophage M2 polarization,and exert an immunosuppressive effect in rats after liver transplantation.

Objective: To explore the effects of protein powder on the bioavailability of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in blood and kidneys of rats and renal function change. Methods: Twenty-four rats of the SD strain were randomly divided into the negative control group, PFASs group and protein powder group, with 8 rats (half males and half females) in each group. PFASs included 13 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and 8 perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs), and the mixture was used as a test subject for intervention. The rats in the negative control group were given deionized water at doses of 20 mL/kg·bw, in the PFASs group were given 5 mL/kg·bw of PFASs mixtures and 15 mL/kg·bw of deionized water, and in the protein powder group were given 5 mL/kg·bw of PFASs mixtures and 15 mL/kg·bw of protein powder (0.258 g/mL). After intervention for 28 successive days, body weight and kidney mass were weighed, and the kidney volume index was calculated. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The PFCAs, PFSAs and PFASs contents were quantified in blood and kidney using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry, and the bioavailability was estimated. Results: There was no significant differences in kidney mass, kidney volume index, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen among the negative control group, PFASs group and protein powder group (all P>0.05). The bioavailability of blood PFCAs, PFSAs and PFASs in the protein powder group was not significantly different from the PFASs group (all P>0.05). Compared with the PFASs group, the bioavailability of PFCAs, PFSAs and PFASs were significantly increased in kidneys of male rats in the protein powder group (all P<0.05), while were not significant different in those of female rats (all P>0.05). Conclusion Protein powder at the dose of this study can significantly improve the bioavailability of PFASs in kidneys of male rats, while there no obvious effects on the bioavailability of blood PFASs and renal function.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are common clinical conditions. The number of patients with TMJ diseases is large, and the etiology, epidemiology, disease spectrum, and treatment of the disease remain controversial and unknown. To understand and master the current situation of the occurrence, development and prevention of TMJ diseases, as well as to identify the patterns in etiology, incidence, drug sensitivity, and prognosis is crucial for alleviating patients′suffering.This will facilitate in-depth medical research, effective disease prevention measures, and the formulation of corresponding health policies. Cohort construction and research has an irreplaceable role in precise disease prevention and significant improvement in diagnosis and treatment levels. Large-scale cohort studies are needed to explore the relationship between potential risk factors and outcomes of TMJ diseases, and to observe disease prognoses through long-term follw-ups. The consensus aims to establish a standard conceptual frame work for a cohort study on patients with TMJ disease while providing ideas for cohort data standards to this condition. TMJ disease cohort data consists of both common data standards applicable to all specific disease cohorts as well as disease-specific data standards. Common data were available for each specific disease cohort. By integrating different cohort research resources, standard problems or study variables can be unified. Long-term follow-up can be performed using consistent definitions and criteria across different projects for better core data collection. It is hoped that this consensus will be facilitate the development cohort studies of TMJ diseases.

AIM:To explore the effect of the peripheral defocus spectacle lenses and orthokeratology(OK)on the control of myopia progression and the impact on vision related quality of life in children and adolescents.METHODS:Prospective study. A total of 237 children initially diagnosed with myopia in the ophthalmology department of Huzhou Central Hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected and divided into two groups according to different correction methods: peripheral defocus spectacle lenses group(105 cases, 105 eyes)and OK lens group(132 cases, 132 eyes). The Vision Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Primary and Secondary School Students was used to follow up the both groups of myopic children, and the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), spherical equivalent(SE), and axial length(AL)were recorded at the first visit and 1 a of follow-up.RESULTS:After wearing lenses for 1 a, both the peripheral defocus spectacle lenses group and OK lens group showed an increase in SE and AL, but there was no statistical difference between two groups(P>0.05). The changes in SE and AL in the peripheral defocus spectacle lenses group were greater than those in the OK lens group(all P=0.001). After 1 a of follow-up, in the emotional dimension scores, the peripheral defocus spectacle lenses group of children's vision-related quality of life scales scored higher than in the OK lens group(P<0.05). Compared with the baseline value, the change in the emotional dimension scores of the OK lens group was greater than that in the peripheral defocus spectacle lens group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:OK lenses are superior to peripheral defocus spectacle lenses in controlling the progression of myopia in children and adolescents. Both correction methods can significantly improve myopic children's vision-related quality of life, with OK lenses being better at improving the emotional dimension of vision-related quality of life.

Modulating Tankyrases (TNKS), interactions with USP25 to promote TNKS degradation, rather than inhibiting their enzymatic activities, is emerging as an alternative/specific approach to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Here, we identified UAT-B, a novel neoantimycin analog isolated from Streptomyces conglobatus, as a small-molecule inhibitor of TNKS-USP25 protein-protein interaction (PPI) to overcome multi-drug resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). The disruption of TNKS-USP25 complex formation by UAT-B led to a significant decrease in TNKS levels, triggering cell apoptosis through modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Importantly, UAT-B successfully inhibited the CRC cells growth that harbored high TNKS levels, as demonstrated in various in vitro and in vivo studies utilizing cell line-based and patient-derived xenografts, as well as APC^min/+ spontaneous CRC models. Collectively, these findings suggest that targeting the TNKS-USP25 PPI using a small-molecule inhibitor represents a compelling therapeutic strategy for CRC treatment, and UAT-B emerges as a promising candidate for further preclinical and clinical investigations.

Objective To evaluate the regulatory effects of psilocybin on social behavior of male C57BL/6J mice.Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with psilocybin(0.2,1 and 5 mg/kg,i.p.),and the effects of psilocybin on prosocial behavior were evaluated by the three-chamber test.Stressed mice undergoing chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)were given acute intraperitoneal injection of psilocybin(1 mg/kg)to evaluate the moderation of social novelty preference behavior using the modified two-chamber test.Results Intraperitoneal injection of psilocybin(1 mg/kg)promoted prosocial behavior and prolonged social time(P＜0.01),while intraperitoneal injection of psilocybin(0.2 mg/kg)had no apparent effect on the prosocial behavior of mice,and intraperitoneal injection of psilocybin(5 mg/kg)inhibited prosocial behavior before promoting it.Further studies showed that intraperitoneal injection of psilocybin(1 mg/kg)increased the social novelty exploration time in stressed mice undergoing CSDS.Conclusion This study shows that 1 mg/kg dose of psilocybin can promote the prosocial behavior in mice,and potentially ameliorate the deficit of social novelty preference behavior in CSDS mice.