Objective:To evaluate the role of silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in mitochondrial dysfunction in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced brain injury.Methods:Eighty clean-grade male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, were divided into 4 groups ( n=20 each) by the random number table method: control group (group C), LPS-induced brain injury group (LPS group), LPS-induced brain injury plus SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 group (LPS+ E group), and LPS-induced brain injury plus SIRT1 agonist SRT1720 group (LPS+ S group). Brain injury was induced by intravenous injection of LPS 10 mg/kg. EX527 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 72 h before LPS injection in group LPS+ E, and the equal volume of dimethyl sulfoxide was intraperitoneally injected instead in the other three groups. SRT1720 100 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before LPS injection in group LPS+ S, and the equal volume of dimethyl sulfoxide was intraperitoneally injected instead in the other three groups. The novel object recognition test was performed at 24 h after LPS injection, then the mice were sacrificed, and hippocampal tissues were harvested for determination of the number of the normal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area, ATP content and activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ (by spectrophotometry), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) (by Jc-1 staining) and for microscopic examination of pathological changes (by Nissl staining) and ultrastructure of neuronal mitochondria (with a transmission electron microscope). Results:Compared with group C, the preference index in novel object recognition, normal neuron count, activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ, MMP and ATP content were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), damage to hippocampal neurons was found, mitochondrial swelling was observed and cristae structure ruptured in LPS, LPS+ S and LPS+ E groups. Compared with group LPS, the preference index in novel object recognition, activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, MMP and ATP content were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), neuronal damage was aggravated, the mitochondrial swelling and fracture of crista structure were accentuated in group LPS+ E; the preference index in novel object recognition, activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, MMP and ATP content were significantly increased ( P<0.05), neuronal damage was alleviated, and the mitochondrial swelling and fracture of crista structure were ameliorated in group LPS+ S. Conclusions:Activation of SIRT1 can improve mitochondrial dysfunction and alleviate LPS-induced brain injury in mice.

Objective:To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on calcium homeostasis in hippocampal neurons of mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE).Methods:Twenty-four healthy male C57BL/6J mice, weighing 18-22 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), SAE group, SAE plus electroacupuncture group (SAE+ EA group), and SAE plus sham electroacupuncture group (SAE+ SEA group). The virus carrying calcium ion (Ca 2+ ) fluorescent probes was injected and then an optical fiber was implanted into the hippocampal CA1 area to record the fluorescence signals of Ca 2+ . SAE was induced by cecal ligation and puncture in anesthetized mice at 3 weeks after administration. Starting from 3 days before surgery, Baihui and bilateral Quchi and bilateral Zusanli acupoints were stimulated for 30 min per day for 7 consecutive days in SAE+ EA group. In SAE+ SEA group, electroacupuncture was performed at the points 0.2 mm lateral to the corresponding acupoints without electrical stimulation. Open field tests were conducted at 5 days after surgery to record the number of rearing and changes in related Ca 2+ signals in hippocampal CA1 neurons. Novel object recognition tests were conducted at 6-7 days after surgery to record the recognition time and changes in related Ca 2+ signals in hippocampal CA1 neurons. Mice were sacrificed after the end of behavioral testing on 7 days after surgery, and brain tissues ipsilateral to the optical fiber implant were obtained and the fluorescence intensity of Ca 2+ in the hippocampal CA1 neurons was acquired using a fluorescent microscope. Results:Compared with Sham group, the number of rearing and amplitudes of related Ca 2+ signals in hippocampal CA1 neurons while rearing were significantly decreased in SAE group and SAE+ SEA group ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in SAE+ EA group ( P>0.05), and the recognition index and amplitudes of related Ca 2+ signals while recognizing were significantly deceased, and the fluorescence intensity of Ca 2+ in hippocampal CA1 neurons was increased in SAE, SAE+ EA and SAE+ SEA groups ( P<0.05). Compared with SAE group and SAE+ SEA group, the number of rearing and amplitudes of related Ca 2+ signals in hippocampal CA1 neurons while rearing were significantly increased, the recognition index and amplitudes of related Ca 2+ signals in hippocampal CA1 neurons while recognizing were increased, and the fluorescence intensity of Ca 2+ in hippocampal CA1 neurons was decreased in SAE+ EA group ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the parameters mentioned above between SAE group and SAE+ SEA group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which electroacupuncture alleviates SAE may be related to regulation of Ca 2+ homeostasis in hippocampal neurons of mice.

Presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging is a useful method for the diagnosis of parkinsonism. Based on the expert consensus on operation and clinical application of dopamine transporter brain PET imaging technology published in 2020, this paper further recommends the relevant elements of result interpretation of presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) during alveolar macrophage polarization in a mouse model of endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI).Methods:Thirty clean-grade male C57BL/6 mice (24 wide-type mice and 6 HO-1 knockout mice), aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were studied.Wide-type mice were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), ALI group, ALI+ HO-1 agonist hemin group (ALI+ H group), and ALI+ hemin+ PPARγ antagonist T0070907 group (ALI+ H+ T group).HO-1 knockout mice in which the ALI model was developed served as ALI+ HO-1 -/- group.ALI model was developed by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 15 mg/kg via the tail vein in anesthetized animals.T0070907 1.5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before LPS administration in ALI+ H+ T group, and hemin 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before LPS administration in ALI+ H group and ALI+ H+ T group.Mice were sacrificed at 12 h after LPS administration, and lung tissues were obtained to measure the wet to dry weight ratio (W/D ratio), to observe pathological changes which were scored, and to determine the F4/80+ /CD86+ labeled M1 alveolar macrophages and the F4/80+ /CD206+ labeled M2 alveolar macrophages (by flow cytometry), contents of M1 macrophage-related genes inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and M2 macrophage-related genes Arginase-1 (Arg-1) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and the expression of HO-1 and PPARγ (by Western blot). Results:Compared with C group, the lung injury score, W/D ratio, levels of CD86 and CD206, and contents of iNOS and Arg-1 were significantly increased, and PPARγ expression was up-regulated in the other four groups ( P<0.05), and HO-1 protein expression was up-regulated in ALI, ALI+ H and ALI+ H+ T groups ( P<0.05).Compared with ALI group, the lung injury score, W/D ratio, and levels of CD86 and iNOS were significantly increased, the levels of CD206 and Arg-1 were decreased, and the expression of HO-1 and PPARγ was down-regulated in ALI+ HO-1 -/- group, the lung injury score, W/D ratio and levels of CD86 and iNOS were significantly decreased, the levels of CD206 and Arg-1 were increased, and the expression of HO-1 and PPARγ was up-regulated in ALI+ H group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in ALI+ H+ T group ( P>0.05).Compared with ALI+ H group, the lung injury score, W/D ratio and levels of CD86 and iNOS were significantly increased, the levels of CD206 and Arg-1 were decreased, the expression of PPARγ was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the expression of HO-1 in ALI+ H+ T group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:HO-1 can up-regulate the expression of PPARγ, inhibit the polarization of alveolar macrophages toward M1 phenotype and promote the polarization toward M2 phenotype, thus playing an endogenous protective role in endotoxin-induced ALI in mice.

Abstract In order to achieve the goal of reducing the smoking rate among Chinese adults at ages of 15 years and above to below 20% by 2030, smoking cessation services require to be reinforced. The current Chinese smoking cessation service system includes short-term smoking cessation interventions and smoking cessation hotlines at the population level, and smoking cessation clinics at the individual level; however, these smoking cessation services suffer from problems of low awareness, low accessibility and low utilization rate. Based on the publications pertaining to smoking cessation services and released policy documents in China until June 2022, this review analyzes the current status, problems and causes of smoking cessation services, and proposes suggestions for improving the smoking cessation service system construction in China.

Objective: To investigate parent-child conflict among primary and secondary school students and their parents, and to promote family harmony and mental health of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An anonymous online survey was completed by 12 711 parents of primary and middle school students during mid-March, 2020. Emotional translation, coping style, parent-child conflict were collected and analyzed by grade. Results: The incidence of parent-child conflict was emotional opposition (62.3%), verbal conflict (52.6%) and physical conflict (20.5%), respectively. About 38.1% of parents and 23.6% of students experienced negative emotions, such as anxiety and anger, and the students used coping styles that were more uniform than those of their parents. About 77.9% of families reported that they experienced different levels of parent-child conflict, which was mainly caused by child learning difficulties(45.6%), daily arrangements(22.1%), and the use of electronic devices(10.2%); compared with the previous year, about 31.4% of families reported an increase in the frequency of parent-child conflicts in the last month. Conclusion Parent-child conflict is highly prevalent in the families of primary and middle school students, and such conflicts were affected by stress-related factors, which included COVID-19. It s necessary to improve the provision of relevant mental health education and psychological assistance.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenesis of two siblings (including a fetus) from a pedigree affected with Joubert syndrome. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples of the proband and his parents as well as amniotic fluid and abortion tissues of the fetus were collected. Part of the samples were used for the extraction of DNA, and whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out to screen potential variants in the proband and his parents. Suspected variants were subjected to bioinformatics analysis with consideration of the clinical phenotype, and were verified by Sanger sequencing of the proband, fetus and their parents.The remainders were used for the extraction of RNA, and the mechanism of splicing variant was validated by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). RESULTS: WES showed that both patients have carried c.175C>T (p.R59X) and c.553+1G>A compound heterozygous variants of the TMEM237 gene. Among these, c.175C>T was a nonsense mutation inherited from the asymptomatic mother, while c.553+1G>A was an alternative splicing mutation inherited from the asymptomatic father. RT-PCR showed that this variant has resulted in aberrant splicing by exon skipping. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of the TMEM237 gene probably underlay the etiology of Joubert syndrome in this pedigree. Above finding has enriched the phenotype and variant spectrum of the TMEM237 gene, and facilitated genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the family.
Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics* ; Cerebellum/abnormalities* ; Eye Abnormalities ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Retina/abnormalities*

Objective:To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on synaptic damage to hippocampal neurons in rats with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE).Methods:A total of 48 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), SAE group, SAE+ EA group and SAE+ sham EA group (SAE+ SEA group). SAE was induced by cecal ligation and puncture in anesthetized rats.Baihui, Quchi and Zusanli acupoints were stimulated with constant voltage (2/15 Hz) and disperse-dense waves for 30 min once a day for 10 consecutive days, and the stimulation intensity was defined as less than 1.5 mA causing slight muscle contraction at 2 days before operation in group SAE+ EA.In group SAE+ SEA, stimulating electrodes were placed at the points 5 mm lateral to the corresponding acupoints, but no electrical stimulation was applied.On day 14 after operation, the rats were sacrificed, and hippocampal tissues were obtained and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for examination of the pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region, for determination of the expression of synaptophysin (SYN) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) (by Western blot), and for calculation of dendritic spine density of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area (using Golgi staining) and pyramidal neurons counts. Results:Compared with Sham group, the expression of SYN and PSD-95 in hippocampus was significantly decreased, and the basal and apical dendrite spine density of neurons in hippocampal CA1 area was decreased in SAE group, the expression of PSD-95 was decreased, and the apical dendrite spine density of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area was increased in SAE+ EA group, and the pyramidal neuron counts in the hippocampal CA1 area were reduced in SAE, SAE+ EA and SAE+ SEA groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group SAE, the expression of SYN and PSD-95 was significantly up-regulated, the basal and apical dendrite spine density of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area was increased and the pyramidal neuron counts were increased in group SAE+ EA ( P<0.05), the pathological damage of hippocampal CA1 area was alleviated and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group SAE+ SEA ( P>0.05). Compared with group SAE+ EA, the expression of SYN and PSD-95 was down-regulated, the basal and apical dendrite spine density of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area was decreased, and the pyramidal neuron counts were reduced in SAE+ SEA group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism by which EA alleviates SAE may be related to reducing synaptic damage to hippocampal neurons in rats.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on oxidative stress response of hippocampus in rats with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) and the relationship with nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathway.Methods:A total of 64 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=16 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), SAE group, SAE+ EA group and SAE plus sham EA group (SAE+ SEA group). In SAE+ EA group, Baihui, Quchi and Zusanli acupoints were stimulated for 30 min once a day for 5 consecutive days.Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture immediately after the end of the last EA.At 1 and 7 days after establishment of the model, the hippocampal malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the expression of hippocampal Nrf2 mRNA was detected using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was determined by Western blot.At 3-7 days after establishment of the model, cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze test, and the escape latency and the target quadrant exploration time were recorded. Results:Compared with Sham group, the content of MDA was significantly increased and the activity of SOD was decreased at 1 and 7 days after establishment of the model, the expression of Nrf2 protein and mRNA and HO-1 was down-regulated at day 7 after establishment of the model, the escape latency was prolonged, and the target quadrant exploration time was shortened in SAE group ( P<0.05). Compared with SAE group, the content of MDA was significantly decreased and the activity of SOD was increased at 1 and 7 days after establishment of the model, the expression of Nrf2 protein and mRNA and HO-1 was up-regulated at day 7 after establishment of the model, the escape latency was shortened, and the target quadrant exploration time was prolonged in group SAE+ EA ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group SAE+ SEA ( P>0.05). Conclusion:EA pretreatment can reduce oxidative stress response of hippocampus in rats with SAE, and the mechanism may be related to activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Radiotherapy is the most common treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and the radiotherapy technique is essential for the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Due to the complexity of the structure of the intensity-modulated device and the accuracy of the clinical requirements of radiotherapy, it is inevitable that higher requirements will be imposed on the process of intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Currently, gaps exist in the radiotherapy equipment and personnel qualification among radiotherapy units, and thus the homogenization in the radiotherapy remains to be strengthened in China. With the application of radiotherapy information management system, digital medicine and artificial intelligence technologies in the field of radiotherapy, the original process fails to meet the application needs of the new precise radiotherapy technology. Therefore, this process is designed based on the existing radiotherapy procedures for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in combination with the latest developments in the field of radiotherapy, aiming to establish a novel standard process recommendation, ensuring the standardization and homogenization of radiotherapy and achieve the individualized intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.