The central amygdala (CeA) is a crucial modulator of emotional, behavioral, and autonomic functions, including cardiovascular responses. Despite its importance, the specific circuit by which the CeA modulates blood pressure remains insufficiently explored. Our investigations demonstrate that photostimulation of GABAergic neurons in the centromedial amygdala (CeM^GABA), as opposed to those in the centrolateral amygdala (CeL), produces a depressor response in both anesthetized and freely-moving mice. In addition, activation of CeM^GABA axonal terminals projecting to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) significantly reduces blood pressure. These CeM^GABA neurons form synaptic connections with NTS neurons, allowing for the modulation of cardiovascular responses by influencing the caudal or rostral ventrolateral medulla. Furthermore, CeM^GABA neurons targeting the NTS receive dense inputs from the CeL. Consequently, stimulation of CeM^GABA neurons elicits hypotension through the CeM-NTS circuit, offering deeper insights into the cardiovascular responses associated with emotions and behaviors.
Animals ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology* ; Male ; Central Amygdaloid Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Hypotension/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Solitary Nucleus/physiology* ; Photic Stimulation ; Neural Pathways/physiology*

Glucocorticoids play a critical role in initiating parturition in most mammals, including humans. In humans, their labor-promoting mechanisms primarily involve promoting estrogen and prostaglandin synthesis, inducing functional progesterone withdrawal, and facilitating membrane rupture. However, the administration of synthetic glucocorticoids—whether intramuscular, intravenous, or intra-amniotic—can variably trigger labor and may even contribute to the development of fetal programming of adult diseases. Clinically, synthetic glucocorticoids are primarily used in threatened preterm pregnant women to enhance fetal lung maturation and improve neonatal outcomes, rather than to intervene in the delivery process. Therefore, strict control over the timing and dosage of synthetic glucocorticoids is essential to balance their benefits for fetal lung development against the risks of unintended labor induction.

Objective:To compare the effect of different plane block under general anesthesia combined with ultrasound guidance in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Methods:A total of 160 patients with gastric cancer admitted to the Quzhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University from June 2022 to September 2023 were selected and divided into control group and observation group by random number table method, with 80 cases in each group. All participants underwent general anesthesia. On this basis, the control group combined with ultrasonic-guided vertical spinal plane block (ESPB). The observation group was combined with ultrasound-guided quadratus lumbar block (QLB). The hemodynamics, stress response, pain degree, postoperative recovery time, adverse events and quality of recovery from anesthesia were compared between the two groups.Results:The mean arterial pressure (MAP) level at the time of skin incision (T 1) and lesion resection (T 2) in observation group was lower than that in control group, and the heart rate (HR) at the time of T 1, T 2 and after surgery (T 3) was lower than that in control group (all P<0.05). The levels of cortisol (Cor) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the observation group were lower than those in control group after anesthesia induction, 10 min after skin resection, 24 h after surgery (all P<0.05). The scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at rest and exercise at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The time of awakening, getting out of bed and anal exhaust in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the observation group and the control group [11.25%(9/80) vs 16.25%(13/80), P>0.05]. The scores and total scores of 40-item Quality of Recovery Score (QoR-40) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with ultrasound-guided ESPB combined with general anesthesia, the application of ultrasound-guided QLB combined with general anesthesia in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer can achieve better perioperative analgesia effect, which is conducive to stabilizing the hemodynamics of patients and alleviating the stress response of the body, and the postoperative recovery time of patients is shorter, which can improve the quality of anesthesia recovery of patients.

Glucocorticoids play a critical role in initiating parturition in most mammals, including humans. In humans, their labor-promoting mechanisms primarily involve promoting estrogen and prostaglandin synthesis, inducing functional progesterone withdrawal, and facilitating membrane rupture. However, the administration of synthetic glucocorticoids—whether intramuscular, intravenous, or intra-amniotic—can variably trigger labor and may even contribute to the development of fetal programming of adult diseases. Clinically, synthetic glucocorticoids are primarily used in threatened preterm pregnant women to enhance fetal lung maturation and improve neonatal outcomes, rather than to intervene in the delivery process. Therefore, strict control over the timing and dosage of synthetic glucocorticoids is essential to balance their benefits for fetal lung development against the risks of unintended labor induction.

Objective:To compare the effect of different plane block under general anesthesia combined with ultrasound guidance in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Methods:A total of 160 patients with gastric cancer admitted to the Quzhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University from June 2022 to September 2023 were selected and divided into control group and observation group by random number table method, with 80 cases in each group. All participants underwent general anesthesia. On this basis, the control group combined with ultrasonic-guided vertical spinal plane block (ESPB). The observation group was combined with ultrasound-guided quadratus lumbar block (QLB). The hemodynamics, stress response, pain degree, postoperative recovery time, adverse events and quality of recovery from anesthesia were compared between the two groups.Results:The mean arterial pressure (MAP) level at the time of skin incision (T 1) and lesion resection (T 2) in observation group was lower than that in control group, and the heart rate (HR) at the time of T 1, T 2 and after surgery (T 3) was lower than that in control group (all P<0.05). The levels of cortisol (Cor) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the observation group were lower than those in control group after anesthesia induction, 10 min after skin resection, 24 h after surgery (all P<0.05). The scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at rest and exercise at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The time of awakening, getting out of bed and anal exhaust in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the observation group and the control group [11.25%(9/80) vs 16.25%(13/80), P>0.05]. The scores and total scores of 40-item Quality of Recovery Score (QoR-40) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with ultrasound-guided ESPB combined with general anesthesia, the application of ultrasound-guided QLB combined with general anesthesia in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer can achieve better perioperative analgesia effect, which is conducive to stabilizing the hemodynamics of patients and alleviating the stress response of the body, and the postoperative recovery time of patients is shorter, which can improve the quality of anesthesia recovery of patients.

BACKGROUND:Most balance disorders after total hip arthroplasty require a variety of rehabilitation methods to improve.Body weight support Tai Chi footwork can be used as a safe and effective balance training method. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of body weight support Tai Chi footwork on the balance function of patients after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS:Totally 74 subjects undergoing total hip arthroplasty were recruited and randomly divided into a control group(n=37)and a trial group(n=37).The control group received 30 minutes of body weight support walking training and 60 minutes of routine rehabilitation training;the trial group received 30 minutes of body weight support Tai Chi footwork training and 60 minutes of routine rehabilitation training,once a day,5 times a week,for 12 consecutive weeks.Before the intervention,4,8,and 12 weeks after intervention,the Berg balance scale and the dynamic balance ability test were used to evaluate the balance function.Harris score was used to evaluate the hip joint function,and the fall risk index was used to evaluate the fall risk. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The four observation indicators all showed significant time effects(P<0.001).(2)Berg balance scale,Harris score and fall risk index all had an interaction effect(P<0.001),and there was a significant inter-group difference after 12 weeks of intervention(P<0.001),and the effect of the trial group was better than that of the control group.(3)After 12 weeks of intervention,there was an interaction and group effect in the scores of the front and left directions of the dynamic balance test(P<0.001),and there were significant group differences in the scores of the overall,front,left and right directions(P<0.001).(4)The results showed that after 12 weeks of intervention,the balance functions of the trial group and the control group were improved,and the improvement effect of body weight support Tai Chi footwork training was better than body weight support walking training on patients after total hip arthroplasty.

The nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) is one of the morphologically and functionally defined centers that engage in the autonomic regulation of cardiovascular activity. Phenotypically-characterized NTS neurons have been implicated in the differential regulation of blood pressure (BP). Here, we investigated whether phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT)-expressing NTS (NTS^PNMT) neurons contribute to the control of BP. We demonstrate that photostimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons has variable effects on BP. A depressor response was produced during optogenetic stimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, lateral parabrachial nucleus, and caudal ventrolateral medulla. Conversely, photostimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla produced a robust pressor response and bradycardia. In addition, genetic ablation of both NTS^PNMT neurons and those projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla impaired the arterial baroreflex. Overall, we revealed the neuronal phenotype- and circuit-specific mechanisms underlying the contribution of NTS^PNMT neurons to the regulation of BP.
Solitary Nucleus/metabolism* ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/metabolism*

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived peptide hormone, has been shown to facilitate breathing. However, the central sites and circuit mechanisms underlying the respiratory effects of leptin remain incompletely understood. The present study aimed to address whether neurons expressing leptin receptor b (LepRb) in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) contribute to respiratory control. Both chemogenetic and optogenetic stimulation of LepRb-expressing NTS (NTS^LepRb) neurons notably activated breathing. Moreover, stimulation of NTS^LepRb neurons projecting to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) not only remarkably increased basal ventilation to a level similar to that of the stimulation of all NTS^LepRb neurons, but also activated LPBN neurons projecting to the preBötzinger complex (preBötC). By contrast, ablation of NTS^LepRb neurons projecting to the LPBN notably eliminated the enhanced respiratory effect induced by NTS^LepRb neuron stimulation. In brainstem slices, bath application of leptin rapidly depolarized the membrane potential, increased the spontaneous firing rate, and accelerated the Ca²⁺ transients in most NTS^LepRb neurons. Therefore, leptin potentiates breathing in the NTS most likely via an NTS-LPBN-preBötC circuit.
Leptin/pharmacology* ; Membrane Potentials ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Solitary Nucleus/metabolism*

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of ultra-low anastomosis for anal preservation in laparoscopic rectal can-cer surgery. Methods: The clinical data of 54 patients with low rectal cancer admitted to The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from July 2014 to June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The short-term effect and complications were analyzed. Results:All patients underwent successful operations; conversion to laparotomy or death was not observed in any of the patients. The mean operative time was (165 ± 31) minutes, and the intraoperative bleeding volume was (12 ± 5) mL. There was no prophylactic ileostomy in all patients. Postoperative anastomotic bleeding and anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 and 3 cases, respectively; these complica-tions were managed with conservative treatment. Postoperative urination and sexual functions of the patients remained good, and most patients were satisfied with their anal function 1 year post-operation. No local recurrences or deaths were noted after follow-up for more than 2 years. However, liver metastases were detected in 3 patients 1 year post-surgery. Conclusions: Laparoscopic transab-dominal ultra-low anastomosis for rectal cancer has a good short-term effect; however, the long-term effect remains to be evaluated.

The fetal membranes, consisting of amnion and chorion, cover approximately 70% of the uterine cavity. Accumulating evidence indicates that the fetal membranes are not mere degenerating tissues covering the amniotic fluid and the fetus, but one of the most important functional tissues during pregnancy. The fetal membranes not only protect the fetus, but also secrets a series of hormones and cytokines involved in pregnancy maintenance and fetal development as well as the initiation of labor. Early activation of fetal membranes such as chorioamnionitis will lead to preterm birth.