OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of prenatal fear stress on placental amino acid transport and emotion and cognition development in offspring rats. METHODS: Thirty pregnant Wistar rats were randomized equally into control and fear stress (induced using an observational foot shock model) groups. In each group, placental and serum samples were collected from 6 dams on gestational day 20, and the remaining rats delivered naturally and the offspring rats were raised under the same conditions until 8 weeks of age. Emotional and cognitive outcomes of the offspring rats were assessed with behavioral tests, and placental structure was examined using HE staining. Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify differentially expressed placental transporter genes under fear stress. The expressions of system A and system L amino acid transporters, along with other specialized transporters, were detected using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Fetal serum amino acid concentrations were determined by HPLC. The correlations between fetal amino acid levels and behavioral outcomes of the offspring rats were analyzed. RESULTS: The dams with fear stress showed reduced open-field activity and increased freezing behavior with significantly decreased placental weight, fetal weight, and fetal-to-placental ratio. Bioinformatics analysis revealed 28 differentially expressed transporter genes involved mainly in amino acid transport. In the fear stress group, fetal serum amino acid levels were significantly lowered and Slc38a1, Slc43a1, Slc43a2, Slc7a8, Slc6a6, Slc1a1 and Slc6a9 mRNA and protein expressions were all downregulated. The offspring rats in fear stress group exhibited decreased novel object preference and spontaneous alternation with reduced open arm exploration and increased immobility in emotional tests. Lower early-life amino acid levels was found to correlate with impaired adult cognition. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal fear stress in rats impairs placental amino acid transporter expression and reduces fetal serum amino acid levels, potentially contributing to long-term cognitive deficits in the offspring rats.
Animals ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Placenta/metabolism* ; Fear ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Cognition ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Stress, Psychological ; Amino Acids/blood* ; Amino Acid Transport Systems/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the effect of temperature on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation inhibition of preosteoblast induced by hydrogen peroxide(H2 O2).Methods The MC3T3-E1 cells in the logarithmic phase were randomly divided into 0,450,500,550,600,650 μmol·L-1 H2O2 intervention groups and incubated with 0,450,500,550,600,650 μmol·L-1 H2O2 for 2 h,respectively.Other MC3T3-E1 cells in the logarithmic phase were selected and randomly divided into the control group,model group,low-temperature group,and high-temperature group.Cells in the control group were cul-tured in an incubator with 5％CO2 for 24 h at 37 ℃;cells in the model group were incubated with H2O2 for 2 h and cultured in an incubator with 5％CO2 for 24 h at 37 ℃;cells in the low-temperature group were incubated with H2O2 for 2 h and cultured in an incubator with 5％CO2 for 24 h at 32 ℃;cells in the high-temperature group were incubated with H2O2 for 2 h and cultured in an incubator with 5％CO2 for 24 h at 40 ℃.The cell proliferation in all groups was detected by cell counting kit-8.The expression levels of Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2),osteopontin(OPN)and osteocalcin(OC)mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitave polymerase chain reaction;and the expression levels of RUNX2,OPN and OC protein were detected by Western blot.Results There was no statistically significant difference in cell proliferation among the 0,450 and 500 μmol·L-1 H2O2 intervention groups(P＞0.05);the cell proliferation rate in the 550,600 and 650 μmol·L-1 H2O2 intervention groups was significantly lower than that in the 0,450 and 500 μmol·L-1 H2O2 intervention groups,showing a significant decrease in cell proliferation with the increase of H2O2 concentrations(P＜0.05).In order to ensure that there were enough cells to perform the following experiments,550 μmol·L-1 H2 O2 was chosen.The cell proliferation rate in the model group and the low-temperature group was significantly lower than that in the control group and high-temperature group(P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the cell proliferation rate between the control group and high-temperature group(P＞0.05).The relative expression of RUNX2 mRNA in the model group and high-temperature group were significantly higher than that in the control group and low-temperature group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of RUNX2 mRNA in the low-temperature group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the relative expression of RUNX2 mRNA between the model group and high-temperature group(P＞0.05).The relative expression of OPN mRNA in the model group,low-temperature group and high-temperature group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of OPN mRNA in the low-temperature group and high-temperature group was significantly higher than that in the model group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of OPN mRNA in the low-tem-perature group was significantly higher than that in the high-temperature group(P＜0.05).The relative expression of OC mRNA in the model group,low-temperature group and high-temperature group was significantly than that in the control group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of OC mRNA in the low-temperature group and high-temperature group was significantly higher than that in the model group(P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the relative expression of OC mRNA between the low-temperature group and high-temperature group(P＞0.05).The relative expressions of RUNX2,OPN and OC protein the model group,low-temperature group and high-temperature group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05);the relative expressions of RUNX2 and OPN protein in the low-temperature group were significantly lower than those in the model group and high-temperature group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of OC protein was significantly lower than that in the high-temperature group(P＜0.05);and there was no siqnificantly difference in the relatiwe experesson of OC protein between the low-temperature group and model group(P＞0.05);the relative expressions of RUNX2,OPN and OC protein in the high-temperature group were significantly higher than those in the model group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The inhibitory effects of H2O2 on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation are observed in MC3T3-E1 cells;low-tempera-ture incubation can enhance the inhibition of H2O2 on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells,while high-temperature incubation can relieve its inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.RUNX2,OPN and OC protein might play an important role in cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation mediated by temperature.

Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Constipation/therapy* ; Probiotics/therapeutic use* ; Patients

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of multiparametric myocardial imaging using a dual-layer detector spectral CT in the non-invasive preoperative assessment of patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:The clinical and imaging data of 90 patients who underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with dual-layer spectral detector CT and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) within 30 days at the Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University from January 2021 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 189 coronary arteries were included in the study cohort. The patients were divided into PCI ( n=44) and non-PCI groups ( n=46) according to whether they received PCI after evaluation with ICA. The diameter stenosis rate of the coronary arteries, myocardial iodine concentration (IC) and effective atomic number (Z eff) values were obtained from CCTA conventional and spectral images. The IC values and Z eff values of the myocardium in the areas with abnormal perfusion were compared with those in the areas with normal perfusion. The diagnostic performance of these parameters, as well as their combined model, was evaluated and compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) in the pre-PCI assessment of patients with CHD. Results:Baseline patient data did not show statistically significant differences between the PCI and non-PCI groups (all P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in IC values [(0.42±0.28) and (2.26±0.48) mg/ml] and Z eff values (7.39±0.33 and 8.50±0.25) between the myocardium areas with abnormal perfusion and the myocardium areas with normal perfusion in all patients (all P<0.001). The AUC for assessing whether patients with CHD need PCI treatment using myocardial IC and Z eff values were 0.865 and 0.853, respectively, which were significantly higher than assessment based only on lumen diameter stenosis rate (AUC=0.726, P<0.001). Conclusions:The IC and Z eff derived from myocardial spectral images can be used to diagnose myocardial perfusion abnormalities in patients with CHD. The spectral myocardial multi-parameters imaging shows promising potentials in pre-PCI assessment of patients with CHD, which can improve the efficiency of evaluation and may help to avoid unnecessarily invasive procedures.

Objective To establish a weightlessness simulation animal model using miniature pigs, leveraging the characteristic of multiple systems’ tissue structures and functions similar to those of humans, and to observe pathophysiological changes, providing a new method for aerospace research. Methods Nine standard-grade miniature pigs were selected and randomly divided into an experimental group (n=7) and a control group (n=2). The experimental group was fixed using customized metal cages, with canvas slings suspending their hind limbs off the ground, and the body positioned at a -20° angle relative to the ground to simulate unloading for 30 days (24 hours a day). Data on body weight, blood volume, and blood biochemistry indicators were collected at different time points for statistical analysis of basic physiological changes. After the experiment, the miniature pigs were euthanized and tissue samples were collected for histopathological observation of the cardiovascular, skeletal and muscle systems HE and Masson staining. Statistical analysis was also conducted on the thickness of arterial vessels and the diameter of skeletal muscle fibers. Additionally, western blotting was employed to detect the expression levels of skeletal muscle atrophy-related proteins, including muscle-specific RING finger protein 1 (MuRf-1) and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx, as known as Atrogin-1), while immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an indicator of astrocyte activation in the brain, reflecting the pathophysiological functional changes across systems. Results After hindlimb unloading, the experimental group showed significant decreases in body weight (P<0.001) and blood volume (P<0.01). During the experiment, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell count levels significantly decreased (P<0.05) but gradually recovered. The expression levels of alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyltransferase initially decreased (P<0.05) before rebounding, while albumin significantly decreased (P<0.001) and globulin significantly increased (P<0.01). Creatinine significantly decreased (P<0.05). The average diameter of gastrocnemius muscle fibers in the experimental group significantly shortened (P<0.05), with a leftward shift in the distribution of muscle fiber diameters and an increase in small-diameter muscle fibers. Simultaneously, Atrogin-1 expression in the gastrocnemius and paravertebral muscles significantly increased (P<0.05). These changes are generally consistent with the effects of weightlessness on humans and animals in space. Furthermore, degenerative changes were observed in some neurons of the cortical parietal lobe, frontal lobe, and hippocampal regions of the experimental group, with a slight reduction in the number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellar region, and a significant enhancement of GFAP-positive signals in the hippocampal area (P<0.05). Conclusion Miniature pigs subjected to a -20° angle hind limb unloading for 30 days maybe serve as a new animal model for simulating weightlessness, applicable to related aerospace research.

The DRG payment has a significant impact on controlling the escalation of medical expenses and enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare.Ensuring the accuracy of diagnostic coding is the fundamental requirement for the DRG payment to be enforced.Based on the lens model,dual-system theory and prospect theory of behavioral economics,the cognition and motivation logic behind the coding of medical institutions under DRG are analyzed.It puts forward the corresponding suggestions,so as to provide a new theoretical perspective for improving the accuracy of DRG coding and advancing the implementation of the DRG payment reform.

The DRG payment has a significant impact on controlling the escalation of medical expenses and enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare.Ensuring the accuracy of diagnostic coding is the fundamental requirement for the DRG payment to be enforced.Based on the lens model,dual-system theory and prospect theory of behavioral economics,the cognition and motivation logic behind the coding of medical institutions under DRG are analyzed.It puts forward the corresponding suggestions,so as to provide a new theoretical perspective for improving the accuracy of DRG coding and advancing the implementation of the DRG payment reform.

The DRG payment has a significant impact on controlling the escalation of medical expenses and enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare.Ensuring the accuracy of diagnostic coding is the fundamental requirement for the DRG payment to be enforced.Based on the lens model,dual-system theory and prospect theory of behavioral economics,the cognition and motivation logic behind the coding of medical institutions under DRG are analyzed.It puts forward the corresponding suggestions,so as to provide a new theoretical perspective for improving the accuracy of DRG coding and advancing the implementation of the DRG payment reform.

The DRG payment has a significant impact on controlling the escalation of medical expenses and enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare.Ensuring the accuracy of diagnostic coding is the fundamental requirement for the DRG payment to be enforced.Based on the lens model,dual-system theory and prospect theory of behavioral economics,the cognition and motivation logic behind the coding of medical institutions under DRG are analyzed.It puts forward the corresponding suggestions,so as to provide a new theoretical perspective for improving the accuracy of DRG coding and advancing the implementation of the DRG payment reform.

The DRG payment has a significant impact on controlling the escalation of medical expenses and enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare.Ensuring the accuracy of diagnostic coding is the fundamental requirement for the DRG payment to be enforced.Based on the lens model,dual-system theory and prospect theory of behavioral economics,the cognition and motivation logic behind the coding of medical institutions under DRG are analyzed.It puts forward the corresponding suggestions,so as to provide a new theoretical perspective for improving the accuracy of DRG coding and advancing the implementation of the DRG payment reform.