Objective : To investigate the selective activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus(DRN5-HT) of rats with insomnia induced by p-chlorophenylalanine(PCPA) using chemical genetics techniques, and to explore whether it has a regulatory effect on comorbidities of insomnia and anxiety. Methods : 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, PCPA model group(PCPA group), chemical activation group(hM3Dq+CNO group), and chemical control group(hM3Dq+Saline group). The anxiety level of experimental rats was evaluated through open field experiments and elevated cross maze experiments.In vivoelectroencephalography(EEG) was used to record propofol induced sleep and cortical EEG changes, and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe changes in c-Fos positive protein expression in 5-HT neurons. Results : The behavioral results showed that compared with the chemical control group, the anxiety level of the chemical activation group was significantly lower(P<0.05), and sleep duration was significantly prolonged(P<0.05). The expression level of c-Fos positive protein in DRN5-HT neurons in the chemical activation group was higher(P<0.05). The EEG results showed that the percentage of δ-band power between the chemical activation group and the chemical control group was higher(P<0.05), the power percentage in the α-band was relatively low(P<0.05). Conclusion Chemical activation of 5-HT neurons in the DRN region can improve anxiety levels and increase sleep duration in PCPA induced insomnia rats.

Objective: To observe the effects of apocynum venetum leaves extract(AVLE) on anxiety-like behavior caused by chronic restraint stress(CRS). Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, 5 per group: control group(equivalent physiological saline 0.2 ml/10 g), CRS model group(equivalent physiological saline 0.2 ml/10 g), AVLE treatment group(AVLE 120 mg/kg) and positive control group(paroxetine hydrochloride 3 mg/kg). The anxiety mouse model of chronic restraint stress was established, and the anxiety level of mice treated with apocynum venetum leaf extract was evaluated by open field test and elevated cross maze test. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the changes of serotonin receptor in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Chemogenetics combined with adeno-associated virus was used to detect the effect of hypothalamic oxytocin neurons on the anxiety regulation of AVLE. Results: Compared with the model group, apocynum venetum leaves extract could increase the total distance of open field exercise, the activity time, the time of mice entering the central area(P<0.05), and the activity distance and time of mouse elevated maze(P<0.05). The expression of serotonin 1A receptor in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus was enhanced after treatment with AVLE, and inhibition of serotonin 1A receptor and oxytocin neurons in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus could decrease activity level in mice(P<0.05). Conclusion AVLE can improve the anxiety state and activity ability of CRS mice, and its effect is related to serotonin receptor and oxytocin neurons in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.

Objective:To observe the effects of different courses of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on vulnerable carotid atherosclerotic (AS) plaque and related inflammatory factors in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and to explore its mechanism.Methods:A total of 176 patients with ACI treated in the Department of Neurology of Yantai Mountain Hospital and Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from January 30, 2018 to December 30, 2020 were selected and divided into control group ( n=86) and observation group ( n=90) according to the treatment methods. Doppler ultrasound was used to check whether ACI patients were complicated with carotid AS plaque. And the patients who died and lost contact during the observation period were excluded. Ultimately, there were 69 cases in the control group and 72 cases in the observation group. The control group was given conventional treatment, while the patients in the observation group were treated with HBO on the basis of the treatment in the control group when they were in stable conditions. Before treatment and after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the internal carotid artery (ICA) color Doppler ultrasound was performed to check the degree of sclerosis and stenosis, the reduction of vulnerable plaque, and the increase of stable plaque, and to measure the plaque thickness, intima-media thickness (IMT), and long diameter. Before treatment and after 2 and 4 courses of treatment, the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), C-reactive protein (CRP), endothelin (ET), and homocysteine (Hcy) were measured. Results:Compared with that before treatment, the degree of carotid atherosclerosis in the observation group was significantly reduced after 6 and 12 courses of treatment ( Z=-2.12, P<0.05; Z=-2.89, P<0.05); compared with those in the control group after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the degrees of carotid atherosclerosis at the same time points in the observation group were also significantly reduced ( Z=-2.01, P<0.05; Z=-2.58, P<0.05). Compared with that before treatment, the degree of carotid stenosis in the observation group was significantly reduced after 3 and 6 courses of treatment ( Z=-2.17, P<0.05; Z=-2.34, P<0.05); compared with those in the control group after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the degrees of carotid stenosis in the observation group were also significantly reduced ( Z=-2.00, P<0.05; Z=-2.17, P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the plaque thickness, the long diameter of plaque, and IMT in the observation group were decreased significantly after 6 and 12 courses of treatment ( P<0.05); compared with those in the control group at each time point of treatment, the plaque thickness, long diameter, and IMT in the observation group were decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the levels of CRP, MMP-9, ET, and Hcy in the observation group were decreased significantly after 2 and 4 courses of treatment ( P<0.05); compared with those in the control group at each time point of treatment, the levels of CRP, MMP-9, ET, and Hcy in the observation group were also decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Different courses of HBO combined with statins can improve the degree of carotid atherosclerosis and stenosis in patients with ACI, and turn vulnerable plaque into stable plaque. In addition, CRP and MMP-9 may be the potential serum markers expressing the stability of vulnerable plaques, and the stability is related to the levels of ET and Hcy after treatment.

Objective:To observe the effects of different courses of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on vulnerable carotid atherosclerotic (AS) plaque and related inflammatory factors in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and to explore its mechanism.Methods:A total of 176 patients with ACI treated in the Department of Neurology of Yantai Mountain Hospital and Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from January 30, 2018 to December 30, 2020 were selected and divided into control group ( n=86) and observation group ( n=90) according to the treatment methods. Doppler ultrasound was used to check whether ACI patients were complicated with carotid AS plaque. And the patients who died and lost contact during the observation period were excluded. Ultimately, there were 69 cases in the control group and 72 cases in the observation group. The control group was given conventional treatment, while the patients in the observation group were treated with HBO on the basis of the treatment in the control group when they were in stable conditions. Before treatment and after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the internal carotid artery (ICA) color Doppler ultrasound was performed to check the degree of sclerosis and stenosis, the reduction of vulnerable plaque, and the increase of stable plaque, and to measure the plaque thickness, intima-media thickness (IMT), and long diameter. Before treatment and after 2 and 4 courses of treatment, the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), C-reactive protein (CRP), endothelin (ET), and homocysteine (Hcy) were measured. Results:Compared with that before treatment, the degree of carotid atherosclerosis in the observation group was significantly reduced after 6 and 12 courses of treatment ( Z=-2.12, P<0.05; Z=-2.89, P<0.05); compared with those in the control group after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the degrees of carotid atherosclerosis at the same time points in the observation group were also significantly reduced ( Z=-2.01, P<0.05; Z=-2.58, P<0.05). Compared with that before treatment, the degree of carotid stenosis in the observation group was significantly reduced after 3 and 6 courses of treatment ( Z=-2.17, P<0.05; Z=-2.34, P<0.05); compared with those in the control group after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the degrees of carotid stenosis in the observation group were also significantly reduced ( Z=-2.00, P<0.05; Z=-2.17, P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the plaque thickness, the long diameter of plaque, and IMT in the observation group were decreased significantly after 6 and 12 courses of treatment ( P<0.05); compared with those in the control group at each time point of treatment, the plaque thickness, long diameter, and IMT in the observation group were decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the levels of CRP, MMP-9, ET, and Hcy in the observation group were decreased significantly after 2 and 4 courses of treatment ( P<0.05); compared with those in the control group at each time point of treatment, the levels of CRP, MMP-9, ET, and Hcy in the observation group were also decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Different courses of HBO combined with statins can improve the degree of carotid atherosclerosis and stenosis in patients with ACI, and turn vulnerable plaque into stable plaque. In addition, CRP and MMP-9 may be the potential serum markers expressing the stability of vulnerable plaques, and the stability is related to the levels of ET and Hcy after treatment.