Objective:To evaluate the role of spinal cord neuron Src-associated-in-mitosis-68-kDa (SAM68)-transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 channel (TRPV1) signaling pathway in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) in mice.Methods:Forty SPF male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were used in this study. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal streptozotocin 0.12 mg/g, and successful DNP model was defined as decrease in the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) of the hind limb≥50% of the baseline value. Twenty-four mice with DNP at 4 weeks after developing the model were divided into 3 groups ( n=8 each) using a simple random sampling: DNP group, SAM68 knocked down group (KD group) and virus control group (VC group). Eight diabetic mice with decrease in MWT <50% were randomly selected as non-DNP group (ND group), and 8 normal mice were randomly selected as control group (NC group). At 4 weeks after developing the diabetes mellitus model, SAM68 gene silencing virus and empty virus were injected into the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord in KD group and VC group, respectively. MWT was measured before developing the diabetes mellitus model and at 4 and 6 weeks after developing the diabetes mellitus model. The mice were sacrificed after the end of MWT measurement at week 6 after developing the model, spinal cord tissues were collected and the expression of SAM68 and TRPV1 was detected by Western blot, and their localization in the spinal cord was observed by immunofluorescence. Results:Compared with NC and ND groups, the MWT was significantly decreased at 4 and 6 weeks after developing the model, and the expression of SAM68 and TRPV1 in spinal cord tissues was up-regulated in DNP group ( P<0.05). Compared with DNP group, the MWT was significantly increased at 6 weeks after developing the model, the expression of SAM68 and TRPV1 in spinal cord tissues was down-regulated, and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in VC group ( P>0.05). SAM68 and TRPV1 were expressed in neurons in the same region of the spinal cord. Conclusions:Activation of SAM68-TRPV1 signaling pathway in spinal cord neurons is involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of DNP in mice.

Objective:To evaluate the role of lactate-induced mitochondrial division of spinal cord neurons in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) in mice.Methods:Thirty-six SPF-grade healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice, aged 2 months, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: control group (CON group), DNP group, and DNP+ sodium oxalate group (OXA group). The diabetic model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 130 mg/kg. After the diabetic model was successfully established, sodium oxalate 750 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 4 consecutive weeks to inhibit lactate production in OXA group, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead at the same time in C group and DNP group. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) of the left hindpaw was measured before developing the model and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after developing the model. After completing the last behavioral testing, the spinal cord tissue of the lumbar segment (L 4-6) was taken for determination of the levels of lactate in serum and spinal cord tissues (by the colorimetric method), expression of the mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content (using JC-1 or DHE probes), expression of mitochondrial dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and mitochondrial protein mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) (by Western blot), and co-expression of Drp1 and neuronal neuronal marker neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN) (by immunofluorescence double labeling) and for examination of the structure and the number of mitochondria (with a transmission electron microscope). Results:Compared with C group, the MWT was significantly decreased after developing the model, the levels of lactate in serum and spinal cord tissues and ROS content in the spinal cord were increased, the mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased, the Drp1 expression was up-regulated, the Mfn2 expression was down-regulated, the number of mitochondria was increased, the area was reduced ( P<0.05), and the co-expression of Drp 1 and NeuN was increased in DNP group and OXA group. Compared with DNP group, the MWT was significantly increased after developing the model, the levels of lactate in serum and spinal cord tissues and ROS content in the spinal cord were decreased, the mitochondrial membrane potential was increased, the Drp1 expression was down-regulated, the Mfn2 expression was up-regulated, the number of mitochondria was decreased, the area was increased ( P<0.05), and the co-expression of Drp 1 and NeuN was decreased in OXA group. Conclusions:Lactate-induced excessive mitochondrial division of spinal cord neurons can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, which may be involved in the maintenance mechanism of DNP in mice.

Objective:To evaluate the role of lactate dehydrogenase in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) and the relationship with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) in mice.Methods:SPF-grade healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were used to establish diabetes mellitus model by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) 120 mg/kg. Twenty-four mice with diabetes mellitus were divided into 2 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: DNP group and DNP + oxamate group (OXA group). Another 12 SPF-grade healthy male C57BL/6J mice were selected as control group (C group). In OXA group, oxamate 750 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 28 consecutive days. The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in C group and DNP group. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT), blood glucose and body weight were measured at 3 days before STZ injection and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after STZ injection (T 0-4). After the last behavioural test was completed, blood samples were collected from the posterior orbits of anesthetized mice for determination of serum lactate concentrations. The animals were then sacrificed and the tissues from the prefrontal cortex of the brain were taken for determination of lactate content, mitochondrial membrane potential (by the JC-1), content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (using dihydroethidium probes), and level of histone lactylation and expression of PGC-1α (by Western blot). Results:Compared with C group, the MWT was significantly decreased at T 2-4, the serum lactate concentrations, contents of lactate and ROS and level of histone lactylation were increased, the mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased, and the expression of PGC-1α was down-regulated in DNP and OXA groups ( P<0.05). Compared with DNP group, no significant change was found in blood glucose and body weight ( P>0.05), the MWT was significantly increased at T 2-4, the serum lactate concentrations, contents of lactate and ROS and level of histone lactylation were decreased, the mitochondrial membrane potential was increased, and the expression of PGC-1α was up-regulated in OXA group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Lactate dehydrogenase promotes the development of DNP, and the mechanism is related to promotion of increase in histone lactfication and down-regulation of PGC-1α expression in the prefrontal cortex of mice.

Capsule endoscopy is one of the main diagnostic methods of small bowel diseases. In small bowel capsule endoscopy, the main factors that influence the diagnostic rate of diseases include gastrointestinal examination completion rate and intestinal preparation, etc. The upper gastrointestinal transit time is one of the main influence factors of examination completion rate. This article reviewed risk factors and clinical management of prolonged upper gastrointestinal transit time in capsule endoscopy.

Objective:To evaluate the role of spinal cord mitochondrial autophagy in alleviation of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) by curcumin in mice.Methods:SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 2 months, weighing 20-25 g, in which DNP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) 130 mg/kg, were used in this study.A total of 36 mice with successfully established DNP model were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using the random number table method: DNP group, DNP + curcumin group (DPR group), and DNP + curcumin + cyclosporine A group (DRC group). Another 12 C57BL/6 mice were selected and served as normal control group (NC group), and the equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected.In group DPR, curcumin 200 mg/kg was administered by intragastric gavage, once a day, for 7 consecutive days.In group DRC, the mitochondrial autophagy inhibitor cyclosporine A 10 mg/kg was intrathecally injected once a day for 7 consecutive days before each administration of curcumin.The equal volume of normal saline was administered by intragastric gavage at the same time point, once a day, for 7 consecutive days in group NC and group DNP.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured before intragastric gavage and at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after intragastric gavage.After the last behavioral testing, the L 4-6 spinal cord tissues were removed for determination of the mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS content (by JC-1 and DCFH-DA combined with flow cytometry), expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin1 and P62 (by Western blot), and mitochondrial autophagosomes (by transmission electron microscopy) and for microscopic examination of the co-expression of LC3-Ⅱwith mitochondrial translocase outer membrane protein 20 (TOM20) (using immunofluorescence double-labeling technique). Results:Compared with group NC, the MWT and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly decreased, the ROS content and LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio were increased, the expression of Beclin1 was up-regulated, the expression of P62 was down-regulated ( P<0.05), the number of mitophagosomes developed was increased, and the co-expression of LC3-Ⅱwith TOM20 was increased in group DNP.Compared with group DNP, the MWT and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly increased, the ROS content was decreased, and LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio was increased, the expression of Beclin1 was up-regulated, the expression of P62 was down-regulated ( P<0.05), the number of mitophagosomes developed was increased, and the co-expression of LC3-Ⅱwith TOM20 was increased in group DPR.Compared with group DPR, the MWT and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly decreased, the ROS content was increased, LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio was decreased, the expression of Beclin1 was down-regulated, the expression of P62 was up-regulated ( P<0.05), the number of mitophagosomes developed was decreased, and the co-expression of LC3-Ⅱ with TOM20 was decreased in group DRC. Conclusions:The mechanism by which curcumin reduces DNP may be related to the up-regulation of mitochondrial autophagy in the spinal cord and improvement in mitochondrial function in mice.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of intrathecal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (NP) in mice.Methods:Forty clean-grade healthy male C57 mice, aged 7-9 weeks, weighing 22-24 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), chemotherapy-induced NP group (group CIPN), low-dose IGF-1 group (group I1) and high-dose IGF-1 group (group I2). In CIPN, I1 and I2 groups, oxaliplatin 5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected for 5 consecutive days to establish chemotherapy-induced NP model.Normal saline 0.2 ml was given in group C. After measurement of the pain threshold at 10 days after establishment of the model, IGF-1 0.5 and 1.0 μg were intrathecally injected in group I1 and group I2, respectively.Normal saline 5 μl was intrathecally injected in C and CINP groups.Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured at 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15 days after establishment of the model.After measurement of the pain threshold at 15 days after establishment of the model, the expression of spinal IGF-1, IGF-1receptor (IGF-1R), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was detected, and IGF-1 positive cells were counted using immunofluorescence. Results:Compared with group C, MWT was significantly decreased, the expression of spinal IGF-1 was down-regulated, the count of IGF-1 positive cells was decreased, and expression of IL-17A, IL-1β and TNF-α was up-regulated at 3-25 days after establishment of the model in CINP, I1 and I2 groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group CIPN, MWT was significantly increased at 15 days after establishment of the model in group I1, and MWT was increased, the expression of spinal IGF-1 was up-regulated, the count of IGF-1 positive cells was increased, and expression of IL-17A, IL-1β and TNF-α was down-regulated at 13 and 15 days after establishment of the model in group I2 ( P<0.05). Compared with group I1, the count of IGF-1 positive cells in spinal dorsal horn was increased in group I2 ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of spinal IGF-1R among the 4 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Intrathecal IGF-1 can alleviate chemotherapy-induced NP, and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting the inflammatory responses in spinal cord of mice.

Leukemia is a common and harmful disease for humans. Chemotherapy is the main treatment method. During the decades of experience, the clinicians have found that these drugs work well, but obvious individual differences occur in different patients. Some concerns of the clinicians exist such as how to learn more about the factors that may induce drug resistance and adverse reactions, and how to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs, reduce drug resistance and side effects. This paper reviews the effect of genetic factors of commonly-used chemotherapeutic drugs for acute leukemia, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for personalized administration of these chemotherapeutic drugs.

Objective To explore the effect of Clostridium butyricum ( C. butyricum ) and its metabolite butyrate on the function of intestinal mucosal barrier and intestinal flora in acute necrotizing pancreatitis ( ANP) rats with intra-abdominal hypertension ( IAH) . Methods Eighty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (A group, n=20), ANP with IAH group(B group, n=20), ANP with IAH and C. butyricum treated group ( C group, n=20 ) , ANP with IAH and sodium butyrate treated group ( D group, n=20). Rats of C and D group were given intragastric administration of C. butyricum 1 × 109 CFU once a day or 100 mg/kg sodium butyrate once a day from 10 days before modeling. Sodium taurocholate injection method via pancreatobiliary ducts was used to establish ANP with IAH rat model, and the intra-abdominal pressure was measured by direct puncture of left lower belly 24 h after modeling. Blood samples were collected for detecting serum amylase(AMY), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), diamine oxidase( DAO ) , lipopolysaccharide ( LPS ) and D-Lactate, and the pathological changes of terminal ileum was observed. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the populations of 6 bacteria in ileum mucosa. Results The levels of AMY, TNF-α, LPS,DAO, D-Lactate and ileum mucosa score were obviously higher in B, C and D group than those in A group, but the number of piobiotic flora in ileum mucosa was lower than that in A group, while the number of pathogenic bacteria was higher than that in A group. The levels of LPS, DAO, D-Lactate and ileum mucosa pathological score were lower in C group and D group than those in B group, but the number of piobiotic flora in ileum mucosa was lower than that in B group, while the number of pathogenic bacteria was higher than that in B group. All the differences above were statistically different (P<0.05). Conclusions C. butyricum and butyrate can maintain the function of intestinal mucosal barrier in ANP rats with IAH, and also readjust the imbalance of intestinal flora.

Objective To evaluate the role of spinal cord tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)signaling pathway in the development of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP)in rats.Methods Clean-grade healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 2 months,weighing 180-230 g,in which IT catheters were implanted,were used in this study.Streptozotocin 60 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected after IT catheterization to establish the model of DNP.Twelve DNP rats were divided into 2 groups (n =6 each) by a random number table method:DNP group and DNP plus TRAF6 inhibitor group (group DTR).Another 6 age-matched Sprague-Dawley rats were used as normal control group (group NC).The rats in group DC and group DTR received IT injection of dimethyl sulfoxide 10 μl and TRAF6 inhibition 10 μg,respectively,once a day for 7 consecutive days starting from day 21 after establishing the model.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was determined before establishing the model (T1),on 7,14 and 21 days after establishing the model (T2-4),and on 1,4 and 7 days after IT injection (T5-7).The rats were sacrificed after the last MWT measurement,and the L3-5 segments of the spinal cord were removed for determination of the expression of TRAF6 and NFκB p65 by Western blot.Results Compared with group NC,the MWT at T3-7 in group DC and at T3-6 in group DTR was significantly decreased,and the expression of spinal TRAF6 and NF-κB p65 was up-regulated in DC and DTR groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group DC,the MWT was significantly increased at T6-7,and the expression of spinal TRAF6 and NF-κB p65 was down-regulated in group DTR (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Spinal cord TRAF6/NF-κB signaling pathway is involved in the development of DNP in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) on the phenotypic transformation of the lumbar sympathetic ganglion (LSG) in the rats with diabetic neuropathic pain (PDN).Methods Twenty-four clean-grade healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 2 months,weighing 180-220 g,were divided into 4 groups (n =6 each) according to the method of random number table:control group (group C),group PDN,group PRF,and PRF control group (group PC).The PDN model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 60 mg/kg in anesthetized rats.Citrate-sodium citrate buffer 6 ml/kg was intraperitoneally injected in group C.Group PC only received radiofrequency needle puncture.PRF was performed on the right L3 LSG in group PRF.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) to yon Frey filament stimulation was measured before intraperitoneal injection (baseline,T0),before PRF and at 1,3,5,7 and 14 days after PRF.The rats were then sacrificed,and ipsilateral L3 LSGs were removed for determination of the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and vesicle glutamate transporter2 (VGLUT2) in LSGs (by double immunofluorescent staining) and for examination of pathological changes (with a light microscope).The number of neurons expressing VGLUT2 was counted.Results Compared with group C,the MWT was significantly decreased at T1-6,and the number of neurons expressing VGLUT2 was increased at T6 in PDN,PC and PRF groups (P＜0.05).Compared with PDN and PC groups,the MWT was significantly increased at T2-6,and the number of neurons expressing VGLUT2 was decreased at T6 in group PRF (P＜0.05).TH expression in LSGs was found,and no VGLUT2 expression in LSGs was observed in group C,the expression of TH and VGLUT2 in LSGs was found in the other three groups,especially in PDN and PC groups,and most of the neurons expressing VGLUT2 expressed TH simultaneously.Conclusion The mechanism by which PRF mitigates PDN is related to inhibiting the phenotypic transformation of LSGs in the rats.