Objective To explore the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)in high-glucose microglia and to investigate the role of TREM2 in the proliferation,migration and phagocytosis of high-glucose microglia.Methods Microglia cells were divided into control group and high-glucose treatment group(67.5 mmol/L glucose,24 h).The microglia cells were counted and the expression of Iba1 and TREM2 was de-tected.TREM2 siRNA was transfected to detect the proliferation and migration of microglia.The amyloid β-peptide(Aβ)with a fluorescent tag was added to observe the phagocytosis of Aβ by microglia.Results Compared to normal microglia,the number of microglia significantly decreased after high-glucose treatment(P＜0.001),while the ex-pression of TREM2 and Iba1 markedly increased(P＜0.001).High glucose and TREM2 did not affect the prolifer-ation of microglia.Compared to the normal group,the migration of microglia significantly decreased after high-glu-cose treatment(P＜0.05)and TREM2 did not affect the migration ability of high-glucose microglia.Compared to the normal group,the phagocytosis of Aβ by microglia significantly decreased in the high-glucose treated group(P＜0.001).Furthermore,TREM2 knockdown further decreased the phagocytosis of Aβ by high-glucose microglia(P＜0.001).Conclusions The expression of TREM2 in microglia significantly increases after high-glucose treat-ment,which significantly affects phagocytosis of Aβ by microglia.

Objective:Based on the principle that the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probe 6PD-DPAN could bind and aggregate with bacteria, and the fluorescence intensity could reflect the quantity of bacteria, a new method for rapid, convenient, and accurate bacterial drug sensitivity testing was established, which provided a basis for rapid and accurate clinical drug use.Methods:This was a methodological evaluation study. A total of 107 clinical isolates were collected from Houjie Hospital of Dongguan City from January to December 2022, among which 46 isolates were used for the establishment of the new method, and 61 isolates were used for methodological validation. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determined by broth microdilution method was used as the gold standard, and three antibacterial drugs, gentamicin, levofloxacin, and cefotaxime, were used as experimental drugs. The AIE plate was incubated for 4 hours, and the fluorescence intensity was measured every half an hour to draw a fluorescence change curve. The MIC results were compared with the CLSI breakpoints to determine the bacteria as sensitive, intermediate, or resistant. To simplify the detection process, the ratio of fluorescence intensity at 4 hours(R) was calculated, and the ROC curve was used to analyze the efficacy of R in determining bacterial growth and establish its cutoff value. The new method was used to determine the MIC of 61 clinical isolates, with broth microdilution method as the gold standard. The basic consistency, categorical consistency, very major errors, and major errors of the new method were analyzed, and the consistency between the two methods was determined by the Kappa test.Results:ROC curve analysis of the R after 4 hours of culture: The cut-off value was 3.0, with both sensitivity and specificity for determining bacterial growth being 100%. The median (interquartile) R for bacterial growth inhibition was 11.1 (8.6, 14.4); the median R-value for bacterial growth was 1.1 (1.0, 1.2). Compared to the gold standard, the newly established method showed 100% (61/61) essential agreement in detecting MICs of 61 clinical isolates, with a categorical agreement of 96.7% (59/61). There were no very major or major errors, and the Kappa value was 0.94, indicating good consistency between the newly established method and the microbroth dilution method.Conclusions:This study successfully established a new method for bacterial drug sensitivity testing based on AIE technology, which could obtain satisfactory results within 5 hours, providing a basis for early precision drug treatment in clinical practice.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a growing global health concern, and its early pathogenesis includes steatosis and steatohepatitis. Inhibiting lipid accumulation and inflammation is a crucial step in relieving ALD. Evidence shows that puerarin (Pue), an isoflavone isolated from Pueraria lobata, exerts cardio-protective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities. However, the therapeutic potential of Pue on ALD remains unknown. In the study, both the NIAAA model and ethanol (EtOH)-induced AML-12 cell were used to explore the protective effect of Pue on alcoholic liver injury in vivo and in vitro and related mechanism. The results showed that Pue (100 mg·kg^-1) attenuated EtOH-induced liver injury and inhibited the levels of SREBP-1c, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, compared with silymarin (Sil, 100 mg·kg^-1). In vitro results were consistent within vivo results. Mechanistically, Pue might suppress liver lipid accumulation and inflammation by regulating MMP8. In conclusion, Pue might be a promising clinical candidate for ALD treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the role of autophagy in morphine preconditioning-induced reduction of oxygen-glucose deprivation and restoration (OGD/R) injury in primary cortical neurons of mice and the relationship with c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).Methods:Primary cortical neurons extracted from C57BL/6 neonatal mice within 24 h after birth were divided into 9 groups ( n=24 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), OGD/R group, morphine preconditioning group (M group), autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) group (3-MA group), 3-MA+ morphine preconditioning group (3-MA+ M group), autophagy inhibitor chloroquine group (Ch group), chloroquine + morphine preconditioning group (Ch+ M group), JNK inhibitor SP600125 group (SP group) and SP600125 + morphine preconditioning group (SP+ M group). Morphine preconditioning: morphine was added at a final concentration of 3 μmol/L before OGD/R, and the cells were incubated for 2 h in OGD/R group. In 3-MA, Ch and SP groups, 3-MA 5 mmol/L, chloroquine 50 μmol/L and SP600125 25 μmol/L were added, respectively, and the cells were incubated for 150 min. In 3-MA+ M, Ch+ M and SP+ M groups, 3-MA 5 mmol/L, chloroquine 50 μmol/L and SP600125 25 μmol/L were added, respectively, at 30 min before morphine preconditioning. Then the cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation for 1 h followed by restoration of oxygen-glucose supply for 24 h. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the neuronal viability. The expression of JNK, phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), p62, Beclin1, caspase-3, and cleaved-caspase-3 was determined by Western blot. The autophagosomes and autolysosomes were counted using LC3-double fluorescent adenovirus transfection, and the neuronal apoptosis rate was determined by TUNEL staining. Results:Compared with C group, the neuronal viability was significantly decreased, the expression of Beclin1 was up-regulated, the expression of p62 was down-regulated, and the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio, p-JNK/JNK ratio, the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 ratio and neuronal apoptosis rate were increased in OGD/R group ( P<0.001). Compared with OGD/R group, the neuronal viability, p-JNK/JNK ratio, LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio and the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes were significantly increased, the expression of Beclin1 was up-regulated, and the expression of p62 was down-regulated in M group, the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio was significantly decreased, and the expression of p62 was down-regulated in 3-MA group, the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio was significantly increased, and the expression of p62 was up-regulated in Ch group ( P<0.001), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in SP600125 group ( P>0.05). Compared with M group, the neuronal viability was significantly decreased, the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio was decreased, and the expression of p62 was up-regulated in M+ 3-MA group, the neuronal viability was significantly decreased, the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio was increased, and the expression of p62 was up-regulated in M+ Ch group, and the neuronal viability, LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio and p-JNK/JNK ratio were significantly decreased, the expression of p62 was up-regulated, the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes was decreased, the expression of Beclin1 was down-regulated, and the cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 ratio and neuronal apoptosis rate were increased in M+ SP group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Morphine preconditioning can attenuate OGD/R injury by activating JNK, enhancing autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis in primary cortical neurons of mice.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)-induced cognitive dysfunction is common, but its underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we found that knockout of conventional protein kinase C (cPKC)γ significantly increased the phosphorylation of Tau at Ser214 and neurofibrillary tangles, but did not affect the activities of GSK-3β and PP2A in the hippocampal neurons of T1DM mice. cPKCγ deficiency significantly decreased the level of autophagy in the hippocampal neurons of T1DM mice. Activation of autophagy greatly alleviated the cognitive impairment induced by cPKCγ deficiency in T1DM mice. Moreover, cPKCγ deficiency reduced the AMPK phosphorylation levels and increased the phosphorylation levels of mTOR in vivo and in vitro. The high glucose-induced Tau phosphorylation at Ser214 was further increased by the autophagy inhibitor and was significantly decreased by an mTOR inhibitor. In conclusion, these results indicated that cPKCγ promotes autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, thus reducing the level of phosphorylated Tau at Ser214 and neurofibrillary tangles.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Animals ; Autophagy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Glucose ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism* ; Mice ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase C/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; tau Proteins/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate any change in the effective connectivity between the bilateral anterior central gyruses after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).Methods:Twenty-one healthy subjects were examined using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) before and after receiving continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS). The brain atlas of the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was used for fine partitioning of the bilateral anterior central gyruses. Granger causality analysis was used to compare any changes in the effective connectivity between them.Results:After the cTBS inhibited the right M1 area, significant changes in effective connectivity among the sub-regions of the bilateral M1 area were observed. The effective connectivity of the right upper limb to the left upper limb and the left head to face were weakened, while that of the left upper limb to the right head, as well as of the face to the right upper limb was enhanced.Conclusion:For people whose right M1 area has been inhibited by cTBS, the effective connectivity changes in both upper limb functional areas of the M1 region reflect inter-hemispheric inhibition. Opposite changes were found in the trunk and upper limbs.

Objective:To explore the effect of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) of the cerebellum on the excitability of the M1 zone in the bilateral motor cortex and the duration of any effect.Methods:Twenty healthy youths were randomly assigned to a left or a right cerebellum iTBS group, each of 10. The resting motor threshold and motor evoked potential (MEP) of the motor cortex were determined before giving 600 pulses of iTBS. Then MEP was measured at the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th and 40th minute after the intervention ended. Any changes in MEP amplitude were also analyzed.Results:①The average MEP amplitude in the right motor cortex had increased significantly in the left cerebellum iTBS group from the 5th to the 15th minute. The increase lasted at least 10 minutes. Then it had returned to the baseline value at the 35th minute. ②The MEP amplitude in the left motor cortex decreased slightly after iTBS of the left cerebellum began, but there were no significant changes. ③The MEP amplitude in the left motor cortex had a tendency to decrease after iTBS was administered to the right cerebellum, but that change too was not significant. ④The MEP amplitude of the right motor cortex decreased significantly only for the first 30 minutes.Conclusions:iTBS of the cerebellum can increase the excitability of the contralateral motor cortex. The effect can last 25 minutes. It can also decrease the excitability of the ipsilateral motor cortex for 30 minutes.

Stroke is an acute cerebro-vascular disease with high incidence and poor prognosis, most commonly ischemic in nature. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to inflammatory reactions as symptoms of a stroke. However, the role of inflammation in stroke and its underlying mechanisms require exploration. In this study, we evaluated the inflammatory reactions induced by acute ischemia and found that pyroptosis occurred after acute ischemia both in vivo and in vitro, as determined by interleukin-1β, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, and caspase-1. The early inflammation resulted in irreversible ischemic injury, indicating that it deserves thorough investigation. Meanwhile, acute ischemia decreased the Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) protein levels, and increased the TRAF6 (TNF receptor associated factor 6) protein and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In further exploration, both Sirt1 suppression and TRAF6 activation were found to contribute to this pyroptosis. Reduced Sirt1 levels were responsible for the production of ROS and increased TRAF6 protein levels after ischemic exposure. Moreover, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an ROS scavenger, suppressed the TRAF6 accumulation induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation via suppression of ROS bursts. These phenomena indicate that Sirt1 is upstream of ROS, and ROS bursts result in increased TRAF6 levels. Further, the activation of Sirt1 during the period of ischemia reduced ischemia-induced injury after 72 h of reperfusion in mice with middle cerebral artery occlusion. In sum, these results indicate that pyroptosis-dependent machinery contributes to the neural injury during acute ischemia via the Sirt1-ROS-TRAF6 signaling pathway. We propose that inflammatory reactions occur soon after oxidative stress and are detrimental to neuronal survival; this provides a promising therapeutic target against ischemic injuries such as a stroke.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of evaluating voice disorders in dysarthria patients after brain injury using speech production measurements and analyze their phonics characteristics.Methods:Twenty-nine patients were divided into a severe dysarthria group ( n=19) and a mild dysarthria group ( n=10) through the subjective evaluation of their speech, and then evaluated using a computer speech monitor. The maximum phonation time (MPT), maximum counting ability (MCA), basic frequency (F0), standard deviation of F0 (F0SD), F0 range, intensity, formant, and the distance of jaw and tongue movements were recorded. Results:All of the patients displayed abnormal MPTs and MCAs, with the average MPT and MCA of the severe dysarthria group significantly lower than the mild group′s averages. In the severe dysarthria group, the abnormal F0s, F0SDs, F2(i)s and tongue movement distances were significantly greater than in the mild group.Conclusions:Speech production measurements can be applied to evaluate the speech dysarthria patients after brain injury. It is very common for such patients to have impaired speech and respiratory function, so this is worthy of attention.

Objective:To assess the interobserver and inter-modalities agreement with two non-invasive diagnostic modalities of hepatocellular carcinoma in high-risk patients: contrast-enhanced ultrasound liver imaging reporting and data system (CEUS LI-RADS) and magnetic resonance imaging liver imaging reporting and data system (MRI LI-RADS).Methods:From August 2017 to August 2019, the CEUS and MRI data of patients at high risk for HCC from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 217 lesions in 173 patients were classified according to CEUS LI-RADS v. 2017 or MRI LI-RADS v. 2018, by 4 blinded independent observers with more than 10 years of experience of CEUS or MRI. Interobserver and inter-modalities agreement was assessed with Cohen′s kappa.Results:The interobserver agreement was moderate and comparable for CEUS/MRI LI-RADS category (κ=0.606/0.603), the inter-modalities agreement was moderate for CEUS and MRI LI-RADS category (κ=0.564), LI-RADS 3, M, 4 and 5 by two imaging methods showed that the Kappa values were 0.739, 0.551, 0.734 and 0.592, respectively.Conclusions:The total inter-modalities agreement between CEUS and MRI LI-RADS categories is moderate, while the agreements of LI-RADS 3, 4 are strong, and LI-RADS M, 5 are moderate.