The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has recently been proposed as a key player in the representation of itch stimuli. However, to date, little is known about the contribution of specific ACC interneuron populations to itch processing. Using c-Fos immunolabeling and in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging, we reported that both histamine and chloroquine stimuli-induced acute itch caused a marked enhancement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing interneuron activity in the ACC. Behavioral data indicated that optogenetic and chemogenetic activation of these neurons reduced scratching responses related to histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Similar neural activity and modulatory role of these neurons were seen in mice with chronic itch induced by contact dermatitis. Together, this study highlights the importance of ACC VIP⁺ neurons in modulating itch-related affect and behavior, which may help us to develop novel mechanism-based strategies to treat refractory chronic itch in the clinic.
Animals ; Pruritus/physiopathology* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism* ; Interneurons/metabolism* ; Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Histamine ; Chloroquine ; Optogenetics ; Mice, Transgenic

Objective:To explore the application effect of coaching technique in respiratory function exercise of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in stable stage.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 40 COPD patients in stable stage who were treated in Geriatric and Respiratory Departments of 3 provincial hospitals in Hangzhou were selected as the research objects from August 2018 to June 2019. They were given a six-month breathing intervention based on coaching techniques by trained health coaches. COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) were used to evaluate self-efficacy and quality of life of patients before and after intervention. The awareness and implementation of respiratory function exercise were compared before and after intervention.Results:After6 months of intervention, compared with those before intervention, the score of awareness and implementation of respiratory function exercise of patients increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . After the intervention, the score of CSES increased and the scores of CAT decreased, and the differences were statistically significant compared with those before the intervention ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The application of coaching technique in the respiratory function exercise of COPD patients in stable period has a certain effect, which can improve the awareness and implementation of patients with respiratory function exercise and improve their sense of self-efficacy and quality of life.

This study was aimed to explore five Chinese medicine components or ingredients from Qu-Shi Hua-Y u Decoction (QSHYD) with uniform design method and screen ingredients assembling of Chinese medicine BZL pre-scription in order to verify its therapeutic effect on experimental fatty liver rats. High-fat diet was used in the estab-lishment of fatty liver rat models. Five effective ingredients (i.e., chlorogenic acid, geniposide, curcumin, polydatin and polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz) of QSHYD were used as study subjects. Uniform design was applied in the grouping design. The intragastric administration was given for four weeks. The screening index was the content of liver triglyceride (TG). The ingredients assembling of Chinese medicine BZL prescription was screened through uniform design and regression analysis. The same fatty liver animal model was used in the comparison be-tween QSHYD and rosiglitazone. The TG content in liver tissues of rats and serum ALT activity were detected. The pathological changes of liver tissues were observed (HE stain and oil red O stain) with Ridit analysis to verify its therapeutic effect. The results showed that through screening, the regression equation was Y = 15.083X1 + 5.321X2- 5.186X3 - 16.157X4 + 9.35X5 + 17.667X3X4 - 8.422X1X2 - 6.617X3X5 + 16.571 (X1: chlorogenic acid, X2:polydatin, X3: polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz, X4: geniposide, X5: curcumin). According to this equation, the best TG reducing effect occurred when the chlorogenic acid (X1), polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (X3), and geniposide (X4) were the maximum dosage. It showed that the best combination in inhibiting TG content in liver tissues was X3, X4 and X1 (i.e. BLZ prescription). Among fatty liver rat mod-els induced with same high-fat diet, the screened Chinese medicine ingredient BZL prescription can obviously reduce its TG content in liver tissues and serum ALT activity ( P < 0 . 01 ) . It obviously improved the fatty degen-eration of rat's liver. It was concluded that ingredients assembling of Chinese medicine BZL prescription screened through uniform design can obviously prevent and treat fat deposition and injury of the liver among rat models induced by high-fat diet .

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of stress on myocardial apoptosis in ischemic preconditioning group (IPC). METHODS: Twenty-four Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6): an etomidate group (the Etom group) of depressed stress established by intravenous etomidate, an IPC group, an ischemic reperfusion group (the IR group) and a methylprednisolone group (the MP group). Myocardial apoptosis was examined by DNA-laddering, in situ nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and Hoechst dyeing. RESULTS: The DNA ladder increased in the Etom group. The percentage of apoptosis by TUNEL method was 1.7%±0.2% in the IPC group, 2.3%±0.8% in the MP group, 3.8%±1.3% in the IR group and 3.0%±0.4% in the Etom group. Hoechst dying was 4.1%±0.9% in the IPC group, 3.5%±0.4% in the MP group, 6.2%±1.6% in the IR group and 7.6%±0.4% in the Etom group. There was significant difference between the IPC group and the Etom group or IR group, and also between the MP group and the IR group. CONCLUSION A depressed stress response impairs the inhibition on myocardial apoptosis in ischemic preconditioning. Methylprednisolone may inhibit myocardial apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Etomidate ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; Methylprednisolone ; pharmacology ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Rabbits

Objective:To determine the role of stress in myocardial protection of ischemic preconditioning (IPC).
Methods:hTirty rabbits were randomly divided into an IPC group, an etomidate (Etom) group, an ischemic/reperfusion (IR) group, a methylprednisolone (MP) group and a sham group. hTe ratio of infarction size versus risk area (infarct/risk) was calculated. hTe elevations of the serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations as well as the serum cortisol concentrations were measured.
Results:hTe percentages of infarct/risk in the IPC group, the MP group, the IR group, and the Etom group were (5.86±2.81)%, (11.28±3.62)%, (26.79±4.53)%, and (18.19±3.72)%, respectively. The elevations of the serum CK activity in the IPC group, the MP group, the IR group, and the Etom group were (255±89), (314±160), (855±371), and (768±404) U/L, respectively. hTe elevations of serum cTnI concentrations in the IPC group, the MP group, the IR group, and the Etom group were (3.6±0.6),(6.1±2.2), (8.1±3.6), and (6.4±1.6)μg/L, respectively. Those indicators among the groups were signiifcantly different (P<0.05). Cortisol reaction was markedly diminished in the Etom group.
Conclusion: A blunted cortisol reaction can markedly reduce the benefit of IPC while methylprednisolone shows cardioprotective effects, suggesting that stress might be involved in the myocardial protection of IPC.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the degree, mechanism and clinical significance of three-dimensional tumor microvascular architecture phenotype heterogeneity (3D-TMAPH) in non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC). METHODS: Twenty-one samples of solitary pulmonary nodules were collected integrally. To establish two-dimensional tumor microvascular architecture phenotype (2D-TMAP) and three-dimensional tumor microvascular architecture phenotype (3D-TMAP), five layers of each nodule were selected and embedded in paraffin. Test indices included the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), EphB4, ephfinB2 and microvascular density marked by anti-CD34 (CD34-MVD). The degrees of 3D-TMAPH were evaluated by the coefficient of variation and extend of heterogeneity. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationships between 2D-TMAP, 3D-TMAP and clinicopathological features. RESULTS: 3D-TMAPH showed that 2D-TMAP heterogeneity was expressed in the tissues of NSCLC. The heterogeneities in the malignant nodules were significantly higher than those in the active inflammatory nodules and tubercular nodules. In addition, different degrees of heterogeneity of CD34-MVD and PCNA were found in NSCLC tissues. The coefficients of variation of CD34- MVD and PCNA were positively related to the degree of differentiation (all P<0.05), but not related to the P-TNM stages, histological type or lymphatic metastasis (all P>0.05). The level of heterogeneity of various expression indexes (ephrinB2, EphB4, VEGF) in NSCLC tissues were inconsistent, but there were no significant differences in heterogeneity in NSCLC tissues with different histological types (P>0.05). CONCLUSION 3D-TMAPH exists widely in the microenvironment during the genesis and development of NSCLC and has a significant impact on its biological complexity.
Adult ; Aged ; Capillaries ; ultrastructure ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; blood supply ; Ephrin-B2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Phenotype ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects of ischemic postconditioning on non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) in rat NHBD lung transplantation model. METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into the ischemic postconditioning group (IPO group) and the control group (C group), 10 pairs in each group in which left lung orthotopic transplantations from NHBDs were done with " two-cuff-one-stent technique". In the C group, perfusion was resumed by declamping pulmonary artery immediately after transplantation, whereas in the IPO group, 5 cycles of 1-min reperfusion and 1-min reocclusion of pulmonary artery were applied as postcontioning before full recovery of perfusion. RESULTS: Compared with the C group, water content of donor lungs was lower and pathological changes were milder in the IPO group, meanwhile compliance, structure and function of donor lungs were better preserved. Furthermore, the expression of cell apoptosis and MDA content in donor lungs were lower in the IPO group, while SOD content was higher. CONCLUSION Ischemic postconditioning can reduce ischemic reperfusion injury of NHBD lung transplantation and preserve the structure and function of donor lungs. It can inhibit lipid peroxidation and cell apoptosis in NHBD lungs after transplantation.
Animals ; Heart Arrest ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lung Transplantation ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the telephone follow-up of surgery patients with lung cancer and to analyze the prognosis factors. METHODS: From October 2011 to January 2012, 1635 post-surgery lung cancer patients from January 2002 to August 2011 were followed up by telephone interview. The data from follow-up and clinical characteristics were collected and analyzed. Among these patients, 116 patients with complete and reliable clinical data were further analyzed to determine the effective factors of lung cancer metastasis and long-term survival. RESULTS: The average response rate in the follow-up was 36.1%, and the response rate was related to the interval time after the operations. The shorter the interval, the higher the response rate. The response rate in female patients was higher than that in male patients (P<0.001).The response rate was higher in patients younger than 40 (56 %) than that in the patients aged between 50-59 and over 60 (39% and 24% respectively, P<0.001). There was no statistical difference between patients from urban and rural areas (P=0.844). In the 116 patients with complete and reliable clinical data, statistical analysis confirmed that the metastasis and high lymph node staging were factors to increase patients' risk of death (with odd ratio 0.212 and 1.818 respectively, P<0.001). The adenocarcinoma grade, high lymph node staging and advanced age were related to the metastasis risk (odds ratio 2.353, 2.181 and 2.908, respectively). CONCLUSION Time, gender and age are the influencing factors in the telephone follow-up. Metastasis, lymph node metastasis, pathologic type and age are related to the lung cancer prognosis in the small-scale sample.
Adenocarcinoma ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Telephone ; Young Adult

Objective Stress effect plays an important role in the development of some myocardial diseases. We hypothesized it was important nosogenesis to myocardial damage and cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Methods The transplanted hearts from Lewis to Wister rats served as allografts and from Lewis to Lewis rats as isografts based Ono's model. The differential proteins in the transplanted hearts were separated by comparative proteome, and then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and searched by Matrix Science software system.Results All transplanted hearts were characterized by lumen loss [(total vessel area-luminal area)/total vessel area] in the coronary artery 2 weeks after the operation [(2.07%±0.93%) vs. (27.58%±11.14%), P＜0.01], but more predominant after 8 weeks [(2.34%±1.06%) vs. (72.29%±20.57%), P＜0.01]. All samples of the left ventricle were analyzed by proteomic techniques and 37 distinct proteins involving their respective isoforms and subunits were identified. Nine proteins were correlated to endoplasmic reticulum stress effect and myocardial damage, and 2 proteins were verified by Western blot.Conclusion Stress plays an important role in cardiac allograft damage and the development of rat cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effect of noninvasive limb ischemic preconditioning (N-LIP) on acute lung injury (ALT) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. METHODS: Fifteen female SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, an acute lung injury group (ALI group), an acute lung injury and noninvasive limb ischemic preconditioning group (ALI+N-LIP group). After ALI rats were treated with N-LIP, the changes of airway resistance (AR) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) were tested by invasive pulmonary function system and recorded. Blood samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected, the amounts of white blood cell (WBC) in BALF were counted by cytometry, and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in BALF was also examined by automatic biochemistry analyzer. The level of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyd (MDA) was examined by chromatometry. The lung tissues were acquired to observe the expression of pulmonary surfactant-associated protein-A (SP-A) and pathological changes. RESULTS: After being stimulated by methacholine (Mch), the increasing rate of AR and decreasing rate of Cdyn in the ALI+N-LIP group were less than those in the ALI group (P<0.01). The levels of WBC and LDH in BALF in the ALI+N-LIP group were much lower than those in the ALI group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the activity of serum SOD in the ALI+N-LIP group was higher, and the level of serum MDA was lower than that in the ALI group (P<0.05). The expression of SP-A in the lung tissue in the ALI+N-LIP group was the highest in the 3 groups, while that in the ALI group was the weakest (P<0.01). Injury of the lung tissue in the ALI+N-LIP group was less than that in the ALI group, but more severe than that in the control group. CONCLUSION N-LIP has protective effect on acute lung injury induced by LPS in rats. The possible mechanism is related to improving the secretion of SP-A and antioxidation.
Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; complications ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Female ; Ischemia ; complications ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley