Objective To explore the clinical diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound in detecting vibration-induced nerve and vascular injuries in patients with occupational hand-arm vibration disease (HAVD). Methods A total of 32 patients with mild occupational HAVD were enrolled as the case group, and 32 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group by the purposive sampling method. High-frequency ultrasound was used to observe the location, morphology, course and echogenic characteristics of the median nerve of the participants in both groups. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel inlet was measured. Color Doppler ultrasound was applied to observe the course of the proper palmar digital artery of the index finger, and hemodynamic parameters including peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) were evaluated. Results In the case group, the transverse section of the median nerve among participants appeared flattened, the "honeycomb-like" structure was mildly blurred, epineurial echogenicity was slightly increased, and the margins of hyperechoic fascicles on longitudinal sections were indistinct. The CSA of the median nerve at the pisiform level and the palmar digital RI of the index finger were increased among the participants in the case group compared with the control group (both P<0.01), while PSV and EDV of the proper palmar digital artery of the index finger were decreased (both P<0.01). Conclusion High-frequency ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound can detect morphological changes in the median nerve and hemodynamic alterations in finger vessels among patients with mild occupational HAVD, objectively reflecting neurovascular injury caused by hand-transmitted vibration and providing scientific and objective imaging evidence for the clinical diagnosis of occupational HAVD.

Objective To explore the T/NK cell-related differentially expressed genes(T/NK-DEGs)related to the prognosis of liver cancer based on the single-cell RNA-seq data,gene expression data and clinical information in the GEO and TCGA databases,and construct the prognostic model of liver cancer.Methods The single-cell RNA-seq data and gene expression matrices of liver cancer were obtained from the GEO database.The TCGA-LIHC cohorts,including mRNA expression data,clinical information,survival infor-mation,and somatic mutation data,were obtained from the TCGA database.Based on the two databases,the prognostic model of liver cancer patients was constructed by the bioinformatics method,and the performance of the model was predicted.Results Two T/NK-DEGs,PTTG1 and UBE2C,were identified to be associated with the prognosis of liver cancer and a prognostic model of liver cancer was constructed based on them.According to the risk score,the patients were divided into the high-risk score group and low-risk score group,in which the patients with high-risk score had a worse prognosis than those with low-risk score.The areas under the receiv-er operating characteristics(ROC)curve(AUCROC)of the prognostic model at 1-year,3-year and 5-year time points were 0.685,0.647 and 0.594,respectively.The higher risk score was correlated with the advanced pathological stage(Ⅰstage,Ⅱstage,andⅢstage)and T-stage(T1,T2,and T3)(P＜0.05).The prognostic model was able to predict the proportion of tumor infiltrating immune cells,and the sensitivity of immunotherapy and chemotherapy drugs in patients with liver cancer.Conclusion The constructed prog-nostic model in this study has an important role in the prediction of individualized survival and clinical treatment response of patients with liver cancer.

Objective:To evaluate the role of fibrinogen in perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) in aged mice.Methods:Sixty SPF healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 16-18 months, weighing 25-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), PND group (group P), urokinase group (group U) and PND+ urokinase group (group PU). Abdominal surgery was performed under 3% sevoflurane anesthesia to establish the mouse model of PND. In PU group, urokinase 20 000 U/kg was intraperitoneally administered at 1 h after surgery, once a day, for 5 consecutive days. In group U, urokinase was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 5 consecutive days without anesthesia and surgery. The cognitive function was assessed after operation using the novel object recognition test (discrimination index) and the Morris water maze test (frequency of crossing the original platform and percentage of the time spent in the target quadrant). The expression of occludin, claudin-5, fibrinogen and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) and CD11b in hippocampal tissues was detected using Western blot, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was measured and the morphology of microglia was observed using the immunofluorescence staining, and the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors (interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and inducible nitric oxide synthase), anti-inflammatory factors (interleukin-4 and arginase-1), and chemokines (chemokine 2 and chemokine ligand 10) in hippocampal tissues was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction after surgery. Results:Compared with group C, the parameters of cognitive function were significantly decreased, the expression of occludin and claudin-5 was down-regulated, the expression of fibrinogen was up-regulated, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was increased, the number of branches was decreased and the average process length was shortened in the microglia around fibrinogen deposits, the expression of Iba-1 and CD11b was up-regulated, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines was up-regulated, and the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factors was down-regulated in group PND ( P<0.05). Compared with group PND, the parameters of cognitive function were significantly increased, the expression of occludin and claudin-5 was up-regulated, the expression of fibrinogen was down-regulated, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was decreased, the number of branches was increased and the average process length was prolonged in the microglia around fibrinogen deposits, the expression of Iba-1 and CD11b was down-regulated, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines was down-regulated, and the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factors was up-regulated in group PU ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Fibrinogen deposits in the brain parenchyma through the damaged blood-brain barrier after anesthesia and surgery and participates in the development of PND, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the promotion of microglial activation and the induction of neuroinflammation in aged mice.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the mechanism of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) preventing sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and phosphorylated Tau glymphatic system clearance pathway in neonatal mice.Methods:Eighteen C57BL/6 pregnant mice were used in this study and subjected to 2 feeding regiments using the random number table method. Twelve mice were selected to receive a standard diet, and 6 mice were selected to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil (ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [300 mg was added to every 20 g of standard diet from the 2nd day of gestation to 14 days after parturition). The healthy neonatal mice of both sexes, aged 6 days, weighing 3-5 g, were selected after parturition. Forty-eight neonatal pups from 6 pregnant mice that were fed a standard diet were assigned to control group (C group), 48 neonatal pups from 6 pregnant mice that were fed a standard diet were assigned to sevoflurane group (S group), and 48 neonatal pups from pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS group) using the random number table method. All the offspring mice in all groups were breastfed until 21 days of birth and then were housed in separate cages from their mothers after 21 days of birth and provided with ad libitum access to standard food. S group and PS group inhaled 3% sevoflurane and 40% oxygen for 2 h daily on postnatal days 6, 7 and 8. C group inhaled only 40% oxygen at the same flow rate. Y maze test was performed at postnatal day 33 to assess the spatial memory and cognitive function. The rotarod test was performed at postnatal day 35 to assess the fine motor coordination. The influx and efflux functions of the glymphatic system were assessed through intracisternal tracer infusion with the fluorescent tracer at postnatal days 14 and 35. The influx function was evaluated by the percentage of the area of tracer penetration 30 min after injection, while the efflux function was determined by the percentage of the residual area of the tracer 90 min after injection. The mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal tissue was obtained at postnatal day 14 for determination of the expression of phosphorylated Tau protein at serine 202 site and threonine 205 site (Tau-PS202/PT205) and total Tau protein by Western blot. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected at postnatal day 14 for determination of the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal tissue was obtained at postnatal day 35 for determination of the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and cytochrome C (Cyt c) (by Western blot) and the apoptosis rate of neurons (by TUNEL).Results:Compared with C group, the time of staying at the new arm and in the rotarod test was significantly shortened, the percentage of new arm movement distance was decreased, the percentage of tracer penetration area was decreased at postnatal day 14, the percentage of residual tracer area was increased at postnatal day 14, the expression of Tau-PS202/PT205 in the hippocampus was up-regulated at postnatal day 14, the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein in CSF was reduced at postnatal day 14, the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons was increased at postnatal day 35 ( P<0.05), and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Cyt c in the hippocampus was up-regulated at postnatal day 35 in S group ( P<0.05). Compared with S group, the time of staying at the new arm and in the rotarod test was significantly prolonged, the percentage of new arm movement distance was increased, the percentage of tracer penetration area was increased at postnatal day 14, the percentage of residual tracer area was decreased at postnatal day 14, the expression of Tau-PS202/PT205 in the hippocampus was down-regulated at postnatal day 14, the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein in CSF was increased at postnatal day 14, the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons was decreased at postnatal day 35, and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Cyt c in the hippocampus was down-regulated at postnatal day 35 in PS group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which ω-3 PUFAs prevents cerebral neurotoxicity induced by repeated neonatal sevofurane exposure may be related to the enhancement of phosphorylated Tau protein clearance via the glymphatic system.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the mechanism of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) in preventing brain neurotoxicity caused by multiple sevoflurane anesthesia and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) signaling pathway in neonatal mice.Methods:This study was performed in 2 parts. Part Ⅰ Using a random number table method, 6 C57BL/6 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a standard diet, 3 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil from day 2 of gestation to day 14 after parturition (ω-3 PUFAs 300 mg were added to every 20 g of conventional diet). Healthy C57BL/6 mice of both sexes, aged 6 days, weighing 3-5 g, were selected after parturition. Seventeen neonatal pups from 3 pregnant mice that were fed a conventional diet were assigned to control group (C group), 17 neonatal pups from 3 pregnant mice that were fed a conventional diet were assigned to sevoflurane group (S group), and 17 neonatal pups from pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS1 group) using the random number table method. Part Ⅱ Four C57BL/6 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil from day 2 of gestation to day 14 after parturition. After parturition, 12 neonatal pups from 2 pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS2 group), and 12 neonatal pups from 2 pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 plus sevoflurane group (PGS group) using a random number table method. GW9662 (2 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before exposure to sevoflurane in PGS group. All offspring mice were breastfed until 21 days of age, after which they were housed separately from the mother and allowed ad libitum access to a conventional diet. S, PS1, PS2 and PGS groups inhaled 3% sevoflurane in 40% oxygen for 2 h daily on postnatal days 6, 7 and 8. C group inhaled only 40% oxygen instead. Y maze test was performed on days 33 after birth. The rotarod test was performed on day 35 after birth. After the behavioral testing, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, mitofusin-1 (MFN1), MFN2, dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by Western blot, the ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampal neurons was observed with a transmission electron microscope, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and content of ATP were determined.Results:Part Ⅰ Compared with C group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly shortened, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was decreased, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, MFN1 and MFN2 in the hippocampus was down-regulated, the expression of DRP1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus was up-regulated, the MMP and content of ATP were decreased, and the level of ROS was increased in S group ( P<0.05). Compared with S group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly prolonged, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was increased, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, MFN1 and MFN2 in the hippocampus was up-regulated, the expression of DRP1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus was down-regulated, the MMP and content of ATP were increased, and the level of ROS was decreased in PS1 group ( P<0.05). Part Ⅱ Compared with PS2 group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly shortened, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was decreased, the MMP and content of ATP were decreased, the level of ROS was increased, and the expression of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α was up-regulated ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which ω-3 PUFAs prevent brain neurotoxicity caused by multiple sevoflurane anesthesia is related to the activation of the PPARγ/PGC1α signaling pathway and alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation in neonatal mice.

Objective:To evaluate the role of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in long-term cognitive impairment after multiple sevoflurane anesthesia in newborn mice.Methods:Clean-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6 days, were used in this study. Ten mice were divided into 2 groups ( n=5 each) by the random number table method: control group (group C) and sevoflurane group (group S). The animals inhaled 3% sevoflurane for 2 h at 6, 7 and 8 days after birth. The DHA content was detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry at 9 days of age. Fifty-two mice were selected and divided into 4 groups ( n=13 each) by a random number table method: control+ normal saline group (group C+ S), sevoflurane anesthesia + normal saline group (group S+ S), control+ DHA group (group C+ D), and sevoflurane anesthesia+ DHA group (group S+ D). The sevoflurane anesthesia method was the same as the one mentioned above. DHA 50 mg/kg was administered by intragastric gavage from postnatal days 6-19 (at 6, 7 and 8 days after birth, 2 h before anesthesia) in C+ D and S+ D groups. The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in C+ S group and S+ S group. The novel object recognition test was conducted at 37 days of age, and the Morris water maze test was performed at 42 days of age. The corpus callosum and hippocampal tissues were isolated at 47 days of age for examination of the ultrastructure of myelin (with a transmission electron microscope) and for determination of the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) in hippocampal tissues (by Western blot). The G-ratio was calculated. Results:Compared with group C, the content of DHA in hippocampal tissues was significantly decreased in group S ( P<0.05). Compared with group C+ S, the discrimination index was significantly decreased, the percentage of duration of staying at the target platform quadrant and the number of crossing the original platform were decreased, the expression of MBP was down-regulated, and the G-ratio in the original platform and hippocampus was increased in S+ S group ( P<0.05). Compared with group S+ S, the discrimination index was significantly increased, the percentage of duration of staying at the target platform quadrant and the number of crossing the original platform were increased, the expression of MBP was up-regulated, and the G-ratio in the original platform and hippocampus was decreased in S+ D group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism of long-term cognitive impairment following multiple sevoflurane anesthesia may be related to a decrease in the content of DHA, which subsequently leads to myelin structural damage in neonatal mice.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between preoperative gut microbiota and post-operative ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.Methods:This was a secondary analysis of a previous research project study. Patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation treatment after elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from April to September 2023 were selected and divided into VAP group and non-VAP group based on whether VAP occurred after surgery. Fecal samples were collected from patients before surgery, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the characteristics of preoperative gut microbiota in the two groups. The differences in the diversity of gut microbiota between the two groups were compared. The linear discriminant analysis was used to identify the gut microbiota with significant differences between groups (differential bacteria), and logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between differential bacteria and VAP. Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn to analyze the predictive value of the differential bacteria for VAP.Results:A total of 79 patients were finally included, with 25 in VAP group and 54 in non-VAP group. The Beta diversity analysis showed statistically significant differences between VAP group and non-VAP group (pseudo- F=2.00, P=0.002). The linear discriminant analysis indicated that Bifidobacterium, Blautia and Megamonas were enriched in non-VAP group, while Klebsiella was enriched in VAP group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was a protective factor for postoperative VAP ( OR=0.32, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.15-0.71, P=0.005), and the relative abundance of Klebsiella was a risk factor for postoperative VAP ( OR=2.49, 95% CI 1.143-5.43, P=0.022). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium for predicting VAP was 0.80 (95% CI 0.69-0.90, P<0.001) and of the relative abundance of Klebsiella was 0.70 (95% CI 0.57-0.83, P=0.005). Conclusions:Bifidobacterium is a protective factor, while Klebsiella is a risk factor for postoperative VAP in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, and the relative abundance of both bacteria has a certain predictive value for VAP.

Objective:To evaluate the role of fibrinogen in perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) in aged mice.Methods:Sixty SPF healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 16-18 months, weighing 25-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), PND group (group P), urokinase group (group U) and PND+ urokinase group (group PU). Abdominal surgery was performed under 3% sevoflurane anesthesia to establish the mouse model of PND. In PU group, urokinase 20 000 U/kg was intraperitoneally administered at 1 h after surgery, once a day, for 5 consecutive days. In group U, urokinase was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 5 consecutive days without anesthesia and surgery. The cognitive function was assessed after operation using the novel object recognition test (discrimination index) and the Morris water maze test (frequency of crossing the original platform and percentage of the time spent in the target quadrant). The expression of occludin, claudin-5, fibrinogen and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) and CD11b in hippocampal tissues was detected using Western blot, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was measured and the morphology of microglia was observed using the immunofluorescence staining, and the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors (interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and inducible nitric oxide synthase), anti-inflammatory factors (interleukin-4 and arginase-1), and chemokines (chemokine 2 and chemokine ligand 10) in hippocampal tissues was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction after surgery. Results:Compared with group C, the parameters of cognitive function were significantly decreased, the expression of occludin and claudin-5 was down-regulated, the expression of fibrinogen was up-regulated, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was increased, the number of branches was decreased and the average process length was shortened in the microglia around fibrinogen deposits, the expression of Iba-1 and CD11b was up-regulated, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines was up-regulated, and the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factors was down-regulated in group PND ( P<0.05). Compared with group PND, the parameters of cognitive function were significantly increased, the expression of occludin and claudin-5 was up-regulated, the expression of fibrinogen was down-regulated, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was decreased, the number of branches was increased and the average process length was prolonged in the microglia around fibrinogen deposits, the expression of Iba-1 and CD11b was down-regulated, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines was down-regulated, and the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factors was up-regulated in group PU ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Fibrinogen deposits in the brain parenchyma through the damaged blood-brain barrier after anesthesia and surgery and participates in the development of PND, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the promotion of microglial activation and the induction of neuroinflammation in aged mice.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the mechanism of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) preventing sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and phosphorylated Tau glymphatic system clearance pathway in neonatal mice.Methods:Eighteen C57BL/6 pregnant mice were used in this study and subjected to 2 feeding regiments using the random number table method. Twelve mice were selected to receive a standard diet, and 6 mice were selected to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil (ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [300 mg was added to every 20 g of standard diet from the 2nd day of gestation to 14 days after parturition). The healthy neonatal mice of both sexes, aged 6 days, weighing 3-5 g, were selected after parturition. Forty-eight neonatal pups from 6 pregnant mice that were fed a standard diet were assigned to control group (C group), 48 neonatal pups from 6 pregnant mice that were fed a standard diet were assigned to sevoflurane group (S group), and 48 neonatal pups from pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS group) using the random number table method. All the offspring mice in all groups were breastfed until 21 days of birth and then were housed in separate cages from their mothers after 21 days of birth and provided with ad libitum access to standard food. S group and PS group inhaled 3% sevoflurane and 40% oxygen for 2 h daily on postnatal days 6, 7 and 8. C group inhaled only 40% oxygen at the same flow rate. Y maze test was performed at postnatal day 33 to assess the spatial memory and cognitive function. The rotarod test was performed at postnatal day 35 to assess the fine motor coordination. The influx and efflux functions of the glymphatic system were assessed through intracisternal tracer infusion with the fluorescent tracer at postnatal days 14 and 35. The influx function was evaluated by the percentage of the area of tracer penetration 30 min after injection, while the efflux function was determined by the percentage of the residual area of the tracer 90 min after injection. The mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal tissue was obtained at postnatal day 14 for determination of the expression of phosphorylated Tau protein at serine 202 site and threonine 205 site (Tau-PS202/PT205) and total Tau protein by Western blot. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected at postnatal day 14 for determination of the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal tissue was obtained at postnatal day 35 for determination of the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and cytochrome C (Cyt c) (by Western blot) and the apoptosis rate of neurons (by TUNEL).Results:Compared with C group, the time of staying at the new arm and in the rotarod test was significantly shortened, the percentage of new arm movement distance was decreased, the percentage of tracer penetration area was decreased at postnatal day 14, the percentage of residual tracer area was increased at postnatal day 14, the expression of Tau-PS202/PT205 in the hippocampus was up-regulated at postnatal day 14, the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein in CSF was reduced at postnatal day 14, the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons was increased at postnatal day 35 ( P<0.05), and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Cyt c in the hippocampus was up-regulated at postnatal day 35 in S group ( P<0.05). Compared with S group, the time of staying at the new arm and in the rotarod test was significantly prolonged, the percentage of new arm movement distance was increased, the percentage of tracer penetration area was increased at postnatal day 14, the percentage of residual tracer area was decreased at postnatal day 14, the expression of Tau-PS202/PT205 in the hippocampus was down-regulated at postnatal day 14, the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein in CSF was increased at postnatal day 14, the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons was decreased at postnatal day 35, and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Cyt c in the hippocampus was down-regulated at postnatal day 35 in PS group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which ω-3 PUFAs prevents cerebral neurotoxicity induced by repeated neonatal sevofurane exposure may be related to the enhancement of phosphorylated Tau protein clearance via the glymphatic system.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the mechanism of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) in preventing brain neurotoxicity caused by multiple sevoflurane anesthesia and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) signaling pathway in neonatal mice.Methods:This study was performed in 2 parts. Part Ⅰ Using a random number table method, 6 C57BL/6 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a standard diet, 3 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil from day 2 of gestation to day 14 after parturition (ω-3 PUFAs 300 mg were added to every 20 g of conventional diet). Healthy C57BL/6 mice of both sexes, aged 6 days, weighing 3-5 g, were selected after parturition. Seventeen neonatal pups from 3 pregnant mice that were fed a conventional diet were assigned to control group (C group), 17 neonatal pups from 3 pregnant mice that were fed a conventional diet were assigned to sevoflurane group (S group), and 17 neonatal pups from pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS1 group) using the random number table method. Part Ⅱ Four C57BL/6 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil from day 2 of gestation to day 14 after parturition. After parturition, 12 neonatal pups from 2 pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS2 group), and 12 neonatal pups from 2 pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 plus sevoflurane group (PGS group) using a random number table method. GW9662 (2 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before exposure to sevoflurane in PGS group. All offspring mice were breastfed until 21 days of age, after which they were housed separately from the mother and allowed ad libitum access to a conventional diet. S, PS1, PS2 and PGS groups inhaled 3% sevoflurane in 40% oxygen for 2 h daily on postnatal days 6, 7 and 8. C group inhaled only 40% oxygen instead. Y maze test was performed on days 33 after birth. The rotarod test was performed on day 35 after birth. After the behavioral testing, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, mitofusin-1 (MFN1), MFN2, dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by Western blot, the ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampal neurons was observed with a transmission electron microscope, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and content of ATP were determined.Results:Part Ⅰ Compared with C group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly shortened, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was decreased, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, MFN1 and MFN2 in the hippocampus was down-regulated, the expression of DRP1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus was up-regulated, the MMP and content of ATP were decreased, and the level of ROS was increased in S group ( P<0.05). Compared with S group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly prolonged, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was increased, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, MFN1 and MFN2 in the hippocampus was up-regulated, the expression of DRP1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus was down-regulated, the MMP and content of ATP were increased, and the level of ROS was decreased in PS1 group ( P<0.05). Part Ⅱ Compared with PS2 group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly shortened, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was decreased, the MMP and content of ATP were decreased, the level of ROS was increased, and the expression of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α was up-regulated ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which ω-3 PUFAs prevent brain neurotoxicity caused by multiple sevoflurane anesthesia is related to the activation of the PPARγ/PGC1α signaling pathway and alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation in neonatal mice.