Studies have suggested that the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is implicated in the pathophysiology of major depression; however, the regulatory strategy that targets the NAc to achieve an exclusive and outstanding anti-depression benefit has not been elucidated. Here, we identified a specific reduction of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the subset of dopamine D1 receptor medium spiny neurons (D1-MSNs) in the NAc that promoted stress susceptibility, while the stimulation of cAMP production in NAc D1-MSNs efficiently rescued depression-like behaviors. Ketamine treatment enhanced cAMP both in D1-MSNs and dopamine D2 receptor medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) of depressed mice, however, the rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine solely depended on elevating cAMP in NAc D1-MSNs. We discovered that a higher dose of crocin markedly increased cAMP in the NAc and consistently relieved depression 24 h after oral administration, but not a lower dose. The fast onset property of crocin was verified through multicenter studies. Moreover, crocin specifically targeted at D1-MSN cAMP signaling in the NAc to relieve depression and had no effect on D2-MSN. These findings characterize a new strategy to achieve an exclusive and outstanding anti-depression benefit by elevating cAMP in D1-MSNs in the NAc, and provide a potential rapid antidepressant drug candidate, crocin.

Objective:To discuss the clinical manifestations and laboratory examination results of agranulocytosis and reactive plasmacytosis(RP)in the patient with Graves'disease(GD)after treated with methimazole(MMI),and to provide the basis for the clinicians to differentiate RP from multiple myeloma(MM).Methods:The clinical manifestations,laboratory examinations,diagnosis and treatment processes of one patient with GD agranulocytosis complicated with RP were analyzed,and the related literatures were reviewed.Results:The patient had a history of GD and abdominal infection.Upon admission,a complete blood count revealed a significant decrease in white blood cell count accompanied by neutropenia,and a smear re-examination showed suspicious plasma cells.The bone marrow cytology examination results showed the percentage of bone marrow plasma cells was 33％,and the percentage of plasma cells in peripheral blood was 4％;the serum immunoglobulin results showed polyclonal hyperplasia;the serum immunofixation electrophoresis results were negative;the flow cytometry analysis results indicated the immunophenotype of the plasma cells was normal.Based on the medical history and laboratory results,MM was largely excluded,supporting the diagnosis of RP.Neutropenia was considered to be related to medication,so MMI was discontinued,granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered to increase the number of white blood cells,and specialized GD treatment was conducted after controlling the abdominal infection.The patient had a good prognosis,and his blood count was normal upon re-examination 6 months later.Conclusion:Agranulocytosis complicated with RP in the GD patients is clinically rare.Serum immunofixation electrophoresis,blood cell morphology,and cell immunophenotype analysis are helpful for the accurate diagnosis.After actively treating the primary disease causing RP,the patient's prognosis is favorable.

Objective Exploring the mechanism of electroacupuncture's anti anxiety effect through methods such as hippocampal metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing.Methods Rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,electroacupuncture group,and diazepam group.A rat model of anxiety disorder was prepared using chronic restraint stress method.During the modeling period of the electroacupuncture group,simultaneous"Zusanli"acupoint electroacupuncture intervention was performed for 30 minutes each time,once a day,for 21 days.The diazepam group received daily gavage of diazepam for a total of 21 days.After the completion of modeling,open field experiments and elevated cross maze experiments were conducted to observe the behavior of rats.Subsequently,pathological staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus and colon of rats.Metabolomics detection of changes in metabolites in the hippocampus of rats.16S rRNA and short chain fatty acid analysis were used to detect changes in gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids in rats.Western blot detection of Occludin in the colon and TLR4,NF-κB P65 and NLRP3 in the hippocampus of rats.Immunofluorescence detection of IBA-1,NLRP3,and IL-1β in the hippocampus Protein expression.Result The results of the open field experiment showed that compared with the normal group,the total activity distance(P<0.001),central area activity distance(P<0.01),and average velocity(P<0.01)of the model group decreased.Compared with the model group,the total activity distance(P<0.05,P<0.001),central area activity distance(P<0.05,P<0.01),and average velocity(P<0.05,P<0.01)of the electroacupuncture group and diazepam group all increased.The results of the elevated cross maze experiment showed that compared with the normal group,the model group had a decrease in OE%(P<0.001)and OT%(P<0.001).Compared with the model group,both the electroacupuncture group and the diazepam group could increase OE%(P<0.05,P<0.001)and OT%(P<0.01,P<0.001).The HE staining results of the hippocampus showed that the CA1 area of the hippocampus in the normal group rats showed clear and hierarchical structures in various regions of the hippocampus.In the hippocampus of the model group,a small amount of neural cell nuclei in the CA1 area were observed to be wrinkled and deeply stained,with unclear cell boundaries and irregular arrangement,and the cytoplasm was vacuolate.The intervention of electroacupuncture and diazepam can alleviate the above pathological phenomena to varying degrees,respectively;The results of hippocampal metabolomics showed that electroacupuncture can improve hippocampal metabolic disorders caused by modeling,mainly involving taurine and low taurine metabolism,cysteine and methionine metabolism,and regulation of glycine,serine,and threonine metabolic pathways;The results of 16S rRNA sequencing and short chain fatty acid detection showed that electroacupuncture can improve the disturbance of intestinal microbiota caused by modeling,and can regulate serum LPS and levels of butyric acid,caproic acid,and valeric acid.HE staining and Western blot results showed that the model group had pathological damage to the intestine,and compared with the normal group,the expression of Occludin in the colon of the model group decreased(P<0.05).However,the intervention of electroacupuncture and diazepam could improve the pathological damage of the colon and upregulate the expression of Occludin(P<0.05,P<0.05).The immunofluorescence results showed that compared with the normal group,the expression levels of IBA-1,NLRP3,and IL-1β in the hippocampus of the model group increased(P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.01),while compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group and diazepam group could reduce the expression levels of IBA-1(P<0.05,P<0.05),NLRP3(P<0.05,P<0.05),and IL-1β(P<0.05,P<0.05).Western blot results showed that compared with the normal group,the expression levels of TLR4,NF-κB P65,and NLRP3 proteins in the hippocampus of the model group increased(P<0.05,P<0.001,P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group and diazepam group were able to downregulate the expression levels of NF-κB P65(P<0.01,P<0.001)and NLRP3(P<0.05,P<0.05)proteins.Conclusion The anxiolytic of electroacupuncture involves the regulation of the"microbiota-gut-brain"axis.

Objective:To reduce the immunogenicity of vaccinia virus vector by replacing the D8L region, which is a neutralizing antibody epitope in vaccinia virus, with an exogenous gene.Methods:A gene fragment encoding influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) was inserted into the D8L region to replace it using homologous recombination technique. Then, a recombinant vaccinia virus influenza vaccine was constricted. A recombinant vaccinia virus vaccine with the TK region expressing HA was used as a control. The expression of HA was validated by Western blot. BALB/c mice were immunized with the vaccines and the serum antibody titers two weeks after each immunization were evaluated by ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition assay. The protective efficacy of the recombinant vaccinia virus was assessed through a challenge experiment.Results:Western blot confirmed the successful expression of HAD8L protein in the constructed recombinant vaccines. ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition assay showed that after the primary immunization, the anti-HA antibody titer induced by the recombinant vaccinia virus with D8L region mutation was slightly higher than that induced by the vaccine with TK region mutation, and the difference was statistically significant with the increase of immunization times ( P<0.05). The recombinant vaccinia virus with D8L region mutation showed significantly lower immunogenicity than the recombinant virus with TK region mutation after the primary immunization, but there was no significant difference between them with the increase of immunization times ( P>0.05). After H1N1pdm challenge, no virus was detected in the mice immunized with the recombinant vaccinia virus with D8L region mutation and the mice showed mild lung inflammation and less tissue damage. Conclusions:This study indicated that inserting exogenous genes into the D8L region of the neutralizing antibody epitope in the vaccinia virus vector could help to reduce the immunogenicity of the vector itself and enhance the immunogenicity of the exogenous genes. This provided a reference for the use of the vaccinia virus vector as a delivery tool in the field of vaccines or gene therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of occupational aluminum exposure on the blood of male workers. METHODS: A total of 249 male workers were selected as the research subjects by cluster sampling method in the electrolytic workshop of an aluminum plant. Blood samples were collected for determination of the blood aluminum concentration and blood routine. The subjects were divided into low-, medium-, and high-aluminuml groups based on the tertile of blood aluminum level(P_(33) is 13.9 μg/L, P_(67) is 37.7 μg/L). RESULTS: The red blood cell(RBC) count and hemoglobin level in patients of the high-aluminum group were lower than that of the low-aluminum group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference of the RBC count and hemoglobin level of patients in middle-aluminum group compared with that of the low-and high-aluminum groups(P>0.05). There was no statistical significant difference in white blood cell count and platelet count among the three groups(P>0.05). The results of the generalized linear regression model showed that the higher the blood aluminum level, the lower the RBC count and hemoglobin level of workers(P<0.05) after eliminating confounding factors such as age, length of service, education level, smoking, and drinking. CONCLUSION: Occupational aluminum exposure can cause a decrease of RBC count and hemoglobin level with a dose-effect relationship in workers.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between occupational aluminum exposure and fasting blood glucose level in workers. METHODS: A cluster sampling method was used to select 178 occupational aluminum-exposed workers as the exposure group, and 178 workers without occupational aluminum exposure as the control group in a large aluminum factory in Shanxi Province. Glucose oxidase method was used to measure the fasting blood glucose level, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure the plasma aluminum level in these workers. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the correlation between plasma aluminum exposure level and fasting blood glucose in these workers. RESULTS: The blood aluminum level of workers in the exposure group was higher than that of the control group [median: 39.58 vs 16.67 μg/L, P<0.01]. The fasting blood glucose level of workers in the exposure group was higher than that of the control group [(5.33±0.79) vs(5.15±0.41) mmol/L, P<0.01]. The results of the generalized linear model analysis showed that the blood aluminum level of workers was positively correlated with their fasting blood glucose level after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, drinking, exercise, family history of diabetes, and incidence of diabetes(P<0.05). There was a dose-response relationship between the blood aluminum level and fasting blood glucose level of workers in the groups of junior high school and below and high school(all P_(trend)<0.01). There was no correlation found between blood aluminum level and fasting blood glucose level in the group of college and above(P_(trend)>0.05). There was a dose-response relationship between the blood aluminum level and the fasting blood glucose level in the workers in the non-exercise group(P_(trend)<0.01). There was no correlation found between the blood aluminum level and the fasting blood glucose level in the exercise group(P_(trend)>0.05). CONCLUSION: The blood aluminum level of workers exposed to occupational aluminum is positively correlated with their fasting blood glucose level. Higher education level or exercise can moderately reduce the effect of blood aluminum level on fasting blood glucose.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway(UPP) in the degradation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in aluminum-induced mouse neuroblastoma N2 a cells. METHODS: N2 a cells in logarithmic growth period were randomly divided into control group and MG132 group. Cells in control group were exposed to concentrations of 0 or 1 mmol/L aluminum chloride for 24 hours. Cells in MG132 group were pretreated with MG132 at a concentration of 5 μmol/L for 6 hours, then exposed to concentrations of 0 or 1 mmol/L aluminum chloride for 24 hours. After exposure, the cells were collected. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression of tau-5, P-tau181, P-tau231, P-tau262, P-tau396, heat shock protein 70(Hsp70) and carboxyl terminus of the Hsp70-interacting protein(CHIP). The ubiquitin relative expression was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The results of factorial analysis showed that the relative expression of tau-5, P-tau231, P-tau262, P-tau396, CHIP, Hsp70 and ubiquitin in N2 a cells were statistically significant in the main effect and interaction effect of aluminum chloride and MG132 treatment(P<0.05). Both in the control group and MG132 group, the relative expression of tau-5, P-tau231, P-tau262, P-tau396, CHIP, Hsp70 and ubiquitin in N2 a cells exposed to 1 mmol/L aluminum chloride increased(P<0.05) when compared with the N2 a cells without exposed to aluminum chloride. No matter aluminum chloride exposed or not, the relative expression of tau-5, P-tau231, P-tau262, P-tau396, CHIP, Hsp70 and ubiquitin in N2 a cells of MG132 group was higher than that of control group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: UPP is involved in the regulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein by proteasome degradation in aluminum-induced N2 a cells. UPP mainly regulates P-tau231, P-tau262, and P-tau396 sites. CHIP and Hsp70 played an important role in the UPP pathway.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are adult mesenchymal stem cells, which are derived from adipose tissue. ADSCs have broad applications, due to the potential of multiple differentiation, easy sampling, wide sources and high proliferation capacity in vitro. Many researches demonstrated that ADSCs have significant effects on anti-aging. Its mechanism and therapeutic effects also become a hot topic in recent years. This review summarized the biological characteristics of ADSCs, the mechanism of skin aging, the anti-aging mechanism of ADSCs, so as to provide reference for the use of ADSCs for skin anti-aging in the future.

We constructed the CAP2NC prokaryotic expression vector of HIV-1 NL4-3 strain and obtained relatively pure CAP2NC protein by optimizing its purification conditions to explore its in vitro self-assembly conditions. Primers were designed according to the CAP2NC DNA sequence of HIV-1 NL4-3 strain. The target gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pTO-T7. Then the recombinant strain was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). IPTG induced protein expression, then the protein was purified by hydrophobic chromatography. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were performed to analyze the target protein, and the biological activity of the antigen was identified through ELISA. The self-assembly of CAP2NC protein was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and gel filtration chromatography. The protein had good reaction with the specific antibodies of p24 and formed different structures in various conditions. When 10% yeast RNA was added to the protein complex, the recombinant protein only formed into a tubular structure, which was similar to the self-assembled structure of the HIV-1 virus capsid. The results showed that the HIV-1 CAP2NC protein had in vitro self-assembly activity, and the RNA affected the structure of CAP2NC protein assembly. The protein can be used as a simple and effective molecular model to study its structure, and then it can provide a reference for the study of HIV immature virus particles.

Objective To establish the reference values and evaluate influence factors of turns-amplitude clouds for healthy Chinese.Methods We recruited 59 healthy subjects From July 2017 to December 2017 in Nanfang Hospital,Southern Medical University,including 34 males and 25 females,who were divided into young group (15-39 years old),middle-aged group (40-64 years old) and the elderly group (over 65 years),respectively.The number of turns (NT) and mean amplitude (MA) normative data of sternocleidomastoid muscle,deltoid muscle,biceps brachii muscle,extensor digitorum muscle,abductor digiti minimi muscle,quadriceps femoris muscle,tibialis anterior muscle,and gastrocnemius muscle were obtained by using concentric needle electrodes.A total of 20-30 records were collected from each muscle in different degree of contraction.A linear regression of lg(MA-100) versus lgNT was made and the slope,intercept,the 95％ confidence interval of intercept,the largest MA and largest NT were calculated for each muscle.The influence factors,such as gender,age,muscles,and dominant limbs on the shape of cloud were evaluated by using the Chow breakpoint test.Results Normal turns-amplitude clouds were obtained and presented in this article.Muscle and age were found to be the main influence factors affecting the shape of cloud,and gender may affect some clouds,while the dominant limbs had little influence on the shape of the cloud.Conclusion The reference values of turns-amplitude cloud based on muscle,gender and age are of practical significance in clinic.