Objective To investigate the contribution of microglia in the basolateral amygdala(BLA)to pain hypersensitivity and pain-related aversion in knee-joint monoarthritis mice.Methods A total of 61 mice were used for behavioral tests(14 mice in the control group and 47 mice in the model group),and other 6 mice were used for cell morphology(3 mice in each group).An animal model of knee-joint monoarthritis was established by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA)into the knee-joint cavity of mice.The von Frey and Hargreaves tests were used to examine mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in mice,respectively.The place escape/avoidance paradigm test was used to examine pain-related aversion.Open field test and elevated plus maze test were used to examine anxiety-like behaviors in mice.Morphological changes of microglia in the BLA area after CFA injection were assessed by 3D reconstruction of microglia in the BLA brain region using immunofluorescence staining and Imaris software.Results Compared with the control group,CFA-arthritic mice produced significant mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in the ipsilateral hindpaw and maintained for at least 12 and 19 days,respectively.Meanwhile,CFA injection induced pain-related aversion and anxiety-like behaviors in mice,accompanied by significant activation of BLA microglia.Inhibition of BLA microglia activation alleviated CFA-induced hyperalgesia and aversive behaviors but had no significant effects on anxiety-like behaviors.Conclusion CFA-arthritic mice produce hyperalgesia,pain-related aversion,and anxious behavior,in which hyperalgesia and pain-related aversion may be mediated by the activation of microglia in BLA.

AIM To investigate the effects of stir-frying,processing with butter and carbonizing by stir-frying on oil components in Gleditsiae sinensis Fructus and Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis.METHODS The volatile oils and fatty oils were extracted by steam distillation method and Soxhlet extraction method,respectively,after which the extraction rates were determined.GC-MS was applied to analyzing the kinds and relative contents of oil components,after which cluster analysis was performed.RESULTS After the processing,the two medicinal materials demonstrated increased extraction rates of fatty oils and decreased extraction rates of volatile oils(except for processing with butter),the extraction rates of oil components in Gleditsiae sinensis Fructus were higher than those in Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis,and the reduced relative contents of toxic olefin benzene components were observable.CONCLUSION The kinds and relative contents of oil components in Gleditsiae sinensis Fructus and Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis exist obvious differences,the former displays better medicinal quality,whose processing mechanism in alleviating dryness and strength may contribute to the reduction of relative contents of toxic olefin benzene components.

Objectives: To investigate the factors influencing the height of anterior peritoneal reflection (APR) for patients with rectal cancer, and to analyze the relationship between the APR and the lateral lymph node metastasis. Methods: Clinical data of 432 patients with tumor located within and below APR were retrospectively collected from the rectal cancer database at the Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2020 to September 2022. Ninty-eight non-rectal cancer patients were also enrolled as a control group. There were 308 males and 124 females in the tumor group, aged (M(IQR)) 62 (16) years (range: 24 to 85 years) and 53 males and 45 females in the control group, aged 60 (22) years (range: 27 to 87 years). The APR height, pelvis, and tumor-related parameters were measured by MRI. A multifactor linear regression model was established to analyze the dependent correlation factors of APR height. These factors of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching and their APR heights were compared after matching. An ordinal Logistic regression model was established to explore the relationship between APR-related parameters and radiographic lateral lymph node metastasis. Results: The APR height of the tumor group was (98.7±14.4) mm (range: 43.3 to 154.0 mm) and the control group was (95.1±12.7) mm (range: 68.0 to 137.9 mm). Multivariable linear regression revealed that the greater the weight (B=0.519, 95%CI: 0.399 to 0.640, P<0.01), the anterior pelvic depth (B=0.109, 95%CI: 0.005 to 0.213, P=0.039) and the smaller the bi-ischial diameter (B=-0.172, 95%CI:-0.294 to -0.049, P=0.006), the higher the APR height. The tumor group had a higher APR height than the control group after propensity score matching ((98.3±14.2) mm vs. (95.1±12.7) mm, t=-1.992, P=0.047). Ordinal Logistic regression indicated that the longer segment of the tumor invade the nonperitoneal rectum was an independent influencing factor of radiographic lateral lymph node metastasis (OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.002 to 1.030, P=0.021), while the distance between the anal verge and the tumor was not (OR=0.986, 95%CI: 0.972 to 1.000, P=0.058). Conclusions: The higher the weight, the deeper and narrower the pelvis, the higher the APR height. There is a certain relationship between APR and lateral lymph node metastasis on imaging.

Deficits in the clearance of amyloid β protein (Aβ) by the peripheral system play a critical role in the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Impaired uptake of Aβ by dysfunctional monocytes is deemed to be one of the major mechanisms underlying deficient peripheral Aβ clearance in AD. In the current study, flow cytometry and biochemical and behavioral techniques were applied to investigate the effects of polysaccharide krestin (PSK) on AD-related pathology in vitro and in vivo. We found that PSK, widely used in therapy for various cancers, has the potential to enhance Aβ uptake and intracellular processing by human monocytes in vitro. After administration of PSK by intraperitoneal injection, APP/PS1 mice performed better in behavioral tests, along with reduced Aβ deposition, neuroinflammation, neuronal loss, and tau hyperphosphorylation. These results suggest that PSK holds promise as a preventive agent for AD by strengthening the Aβ clearance by blood monocytes and alleviating AD-like pathology.
Alzheimer Disease/pathology* ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism* ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism* ; Animals ; Cognition ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Monocytes/pathology* ; Polysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; Proteoglycans

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined. RESULTS: The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.
Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection in wild mice in Shitai County, Anhui Province, so as to provide insights into precise control of the source of S. japonicum infections. Methods Wild mice were captured using the trapping method for three successive nights at snail-infested settings from Jitan Village of Jitan Township, and Shiquan Village and Xibai Village of Dingxiang Township, Shitai County, Anhui Province in June and October, 2018. All trapped wild mice were sacrificed and liver and mesenteric vein specimens were collected for detection of S. japonicum eggs using microscopy, while the fecal samples in mouse intestines were collected for identification of S. japonicum infections using Kato-Katz technique. In addition, the population density of trapped wild mice was estimated and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection was calculated in trapped wild mice. Results A total of 376 wild mice were trapped from three villages in Shitai County. The population density of trapped wild mice was 9.1% (376/4 124), and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection was 24.2% (91/376) in trapped wild mice. The highest prevalence of S. japonicum infection was detected in Shiquan Village of Dingxiang Township (30.1%), and the lowest prevalence was seen in Xibai Village of Dingxiang Township; however, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in trapped wild mice among three villages (χ²= 4.111, P > 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in wild mice captured between on June (26.8%, 34/127) and October (22.9%, 57/249) (χ² = 0.690, P = 0.406). The trapped wild mice included 6 species, including Rattus norvegicus, Niviventer niviventer, R. losea, Apodemus agrarius, Mus musculus and N. coning, and the two highest prevalence of S. japonicum infection was detected in R. losea (34.9%, 22/63) and R. norvegicus (31.2%, 44/141). Conclusions The prevalence of S. japonicum infections is high in wild mice in Shitai County, and there is a natural focus of schistosomiasis transmission in Shitai County.

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), the main H

The autonomic nervous system controls various internal organs and executes crucial functions through sophisticated neural connectivity and circuits. Its dysfunction causes an imbalance of homeostasis and numerous human disorders. In the past decades, great efforts have been made to study the structure and functions of this system, but so far, our understanding of the classification of autonomic neuronal subpopulations remains limited and a precise map of their connectivity has not been achieved. One of the major challenges that hinder rapid progress in these areas is the complexity and heterogeneity of autonomic neurons. To facilitate the identification of neuronal subgroups in the autonomic nervous system, here we review the well-established and cutting-edge technologies that are frequently used in peripheral neuronal tracing and profiling, and discuss their operating mechanisms, advantages, and targeted applications.
Animals ; Autonomic Nervous System ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Lineage ; physiology ; Homeostasis ; physiology ; Humans ; Nervous System ; growth & development ; Neurons ; physiology

Objective: To evaluate the antidiabetic effect of Callicarpa nudiflora extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: The chemical constituents in Callicarpa nudiflora extract were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Callicarpa nudiflora extract (0.15 and 0.3 g/kg) was orally administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 42 d. The effects of Callicarpa nudiflora extract on body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C and HDL-C were investigated, and its effect on liver and pancreatic pathology was assessed by histopathological analysis. Moreover, the expression levels of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), phospho-AMPK/AMPK, and p-acetyl-coA carboxylase (P-ACC)/ACC in the skeletal muscles and liver were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Results: A total of 34 compounds, including 8 iridoids, 14 phenylpropanoids, and 12 flavonoids, were identified from Callicarpa nudiflora extract. Callicarpa nudiflora extract significantly reduced blood glucose and significantly restored all other biochemical parameters to near normal levels, including serum insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, and HDL-C. Callicarpa nudiflora extract improved insulin resistance and reversed the damage in the liver and pancreas caused by diabetes. Furthermore, Callicarpa nudiflora extract increased the expression levels of phospho-AMPK, GLUT4, P-ACC, and insulin receptor substrate-1 and decreased the expression level of PPAR毭 in diabetic rats.Conclusions: Callicarpa nudiflora extract improved oral glucose tolerance, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and reversed the diabetes-related damage in the liver and pancreas by activating the AMPK-ACC pathway.

Objective To compare the approaches used for the assessment of disability adjust life years (DALYs) for advanced schistosomiasis japonica, so as to provide scientific evidence for accurate assessment of the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica. Methods The patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica receiving treatment and assistance programs in Hunan Province in 2017 were enrolled, and the years lived with disability (YLD) for the patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica was calculated using the common global burden of disease (GBD) estimation method, the modified GBD method with addition of common syndromes of advanced schistosomiasis japonica, and the quality of life assessment method. Results The YLDs of patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica, the mean YLDs per capita, and the percentages of YLD were 673.94, 728.77 person-years and 1 761.99 person-years; 0.181, 0.196 person-years and 0.474 person-years; and 10.61, 11.48 person-years per 100 thousand persons and 27.75 person-years per 100 thousand persons with the common GBD method, modified GBD method and the quality of life method, respectively. The YLDs of the patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica in Hunan Province estimated with the modified GBD method and the quality of life method were 8.14% and 2.61 times higher than that with the common GBD method. Of the major symptoms included in the calculation, the 5 symptoms with the greatest contribution to the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica included ascites, moderate anemia, severe anemia, diarrhea and hematochezia. Conclusion The quality of life method may more comprehensively assess the YLDs in patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica than the common and modified GBD methods.