Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is marked by early-onset neurodevelopmental anomalies, yet the temporal dynamics of genetic contributions to these processes remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to elucidate the role of the Shank3 gene, known to be associated with monogenic causes of autism, in early developmental processes to inform the timing and mechanisms for potential interventions for ASD. Utilizing the Shank3B knockout (KO) mouse model, we examined Shank3 expression and its impact on neuronal maturation through Golgi staining for dendritic morphology and electrophysiological recordings to measure synaptic function in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) across different postnatal stages. Our longitudinal analysis revealed that, while Shank3B KO mice displayed normal neuronal morphology at one week postnatal, significant impairments in dendritic growth and synaptic activity emerged by two to three weeks. These findings highlight the critical developmental window during which Shank3 is essential for neuronal and synaptic maturation in the ACC.
Animals ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism* ; Mice, Knockout ; Dendrites/metabolism* ; Mice ; Synapses/metabolism* ; Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics* ; Microfilament Proteins

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 effects of specialist nurse sharing of Respiratory Medicine Department in transitional care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) under medical integration mode.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 134 COPD patients who were hospitalized in Respiratory Department of Xinxiang Central Hospital were selected from October 2018 to October 2019. They were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, with 67 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were given routine management after they were discharged from the hospital, while patients in the observation group were given specialist nurse sharing of Respiratory Medicine Department under medical integration mode for a period of 1 year after they were discharged from the hospital. BODE index, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scale score, readmission rate and average length of hospital stay within 1 year were compared between the two groups.Results:After intervention, percent predicted of forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1% Predicted) and Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group and higher than those before the intervention, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . After the intervention, mMRC score, BODE index and CAT score of the observation group were lower than those of the control group and were lower than those before the intervention, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . The readmission rate within 1 year of the observation group and the control group were respectively 23.88% and 49.25%, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P<0.05) . The average length of hospital stay within a year in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Transitional care for COPD patients using specialist nurse sharing of Respiratory Medicine Department under medical integration mode can effectively alleviate the condition, improve quality of life, reduce the readmission rate and shorten the average length of hospital stay.