Fentanyl is a fully synthetic opioid with analgesic and anesthetic properties. It has become a primary driver of the deadliest opioid crisis in the United States and elsewhere, consequently imposing devastating social, economic, and health burdens worldwide. However, the neural mechanisms that underlie the behavioral effects of fentanyl and its analogs are largely unknown, and approaches to prevent fentanyl abuse and fentanyl-related overdose deaths are scarce. This review presents the abuse potential and unique pharmacology of fentanyl and elucidates its potential mechanisms of action, including neural circuit dysfunction and neuroinflammation. We discuss recent progress in the development of pharmacological interventions, anti-fentanyl vaccines, anti-fentanyl/heroin conjugate vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies to attenuate fentanyl-seeking and prevent fentanyl-induced respiratory depression. However, translational studies and clinical trials are still lacking. Considering the present opioid crisis, the development of effective pharmacological and immunological strategies to prevent fentanyl abuse and overdose are urgently needed.
Humans ; Fentanyl/therapeutic use* ; Opioid-Related Disorders/drug therapy* ; Drug Overdose/prevention & control* ; Analgesics, Opioid/adverse effects* ; Vaccines/therapeutic use* ; Brain

Objective To investigate the protective effects of stilbene glycoside(2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside,TSG) on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mice model of Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods Mice were randomly divided into the blank control group,the negative control group,the TSG high-dose group,the TSG low-dose group and the positive drug group(n=20 each).Mice were weighted daily to observe the changes of body weight,and mice motor and behavior function were tested by open field test.Level changes of α/β synuclein in brain cortex,cerebellum,midbrain,and hippocampal were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the blank control group,the negative control group showed that the body weight was decreased (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the negative control group,the body weight was increased in the TSG high-and low-dose groups and the positive drug group (P ＜ 0.05).The spontaneous behavior was impaired in the negative control group.Compared with the blank control group,the negative control group showed that the open field test showed traveled distance over a 10-min period was significantly shortened at 1 st,7th,28th days after testing(all P＜0.05).The trajectory of motor axons indicated that mice in the negative control group showed dyskinesia,but the groups of positive drug and high-and low-dose of TSG could reverse this dyskinesia.Compared with the blank control group,brain α/β synuclein protein levels were increased in the negative control group,and decreased in positive drug and TSG high-and low-dose groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions Stilbene glycosides exert neuroprotective effects in MPTP-induced mice model of PD.

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in China is increasing year by year, however, the efficacy and safety of commonly used therapeutic methods are limited.Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) is one of the effective methods for treatment of IBD used abroad, however, there is still lacking of such research in China.Aims: To investigate the efficacy and safety of GMA in IBD patients.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 21 cases of IBD patients [13 cases with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 8 with Crohn's disease (CD)] who accepted GMA treatment from May 2013 to July 2014 at the Shanghai Rui Jin Hospital.All the cases were poor responders to 5-aminosalycylic acid (5-ASA) or steroid-refractory.The clinical data were collected, and the clinical activity index (CAI), endoscopic activity index (EAI), laboratory parameters including serum albumin (Alb), hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocyte count and percentage of neutrophils, as well as the adverse effects before and two weeks after the end of GMA treatment were analyzed.Results: After GMA treatment, both CAI and EAI were decreased significantly in UC and CD groups as compared with those before treatment (P all <0.05).Among laboratory parameters, Alb was increased in UC group and CRP was decreased in both UC and CD groups after treatment (P all <0.05).No significant differences were found in other laboratory parameters in both UC and CD groups before and after treatment (P all >0.05).The treatment was well tolerated with no severe adverse effects.Conclusions: GMA is safe and effective for ameliorating clinical symptoms, attenuating intestinal mucosal injury and controlling active inflammation in IBD patient that has not responded to 5-ASA or steroid treatment.Prospective clinical studies with large samples are needed to confirm these findings.

AIM:To investigate the effects of peroxiredoxin 4 ( Prdx4) protein expression levels on the migra-tion and invasion of human cervical cancer HeLa cells.METHODS:The plasmid pcDNA3.0-HA-Prdx4 was transfected into HeLa cells.The HeLa cells were infected with LV-Prdx4 RNAi vector to establish stable Prdx4 shRNA HeLa cells. The change in the expression of Prdx4 protein was validated by Western blotting.The wound-healing assay, and Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to detect the migration and invasion of HeLa cells, respectively.RESULTS:The expression of Prdx4 protein was up-regulated in the HeLa cells after transfection with pcDNA3.0-HA-Prdx4 plasmid ( P<0.05), whereas it was down-regulated in the Prdx4 shRNA HeLa cells (P<0.05).The abilities of migration and inva-sion were significantly increased in Prdx4-overexpressing HeLa cells compared with non-transfected and mock plasmid trans-fected control groups ( P<0.01) .When Prdx4 was knocked down by shRNA, the migration and invasion of the HeLa cells were remarkably repressed compared with blank control group and negative control group ( P<0.01 ) .CONCLUSION:The up-regulation of Prdx4 expression facilitates the migration and invasion of HeLa cells, and the down-regulation of Prdx4 expression inhibits the migration and invasion of HeLa cells, indicating that Prdx4 may be a potential molecular target for cervical cancer therapy.

Objective To investigate the role of mucosal mast cells infiltration and degranulation with nerve growth factor (NGF)in development of visceral hypersensitivity in Sprague-Dawley (SD)rats. Methods The model of visceral hypersensitivity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)was established in 19 neonate SD rats with intestinal stimulation (rectalballon distention)on 8th,10th and 12th postnatal days. The other 19 neonate SD rats without colonic distention were assigned to the control group.After rats grew up (six to eight weeks old),the visceral sensitivity was tested by abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR)in 10 rats of each group.Mast cell infiltration and degranulation were observed with toluidine blue staining in colon tissue slides.The NGF level of intestinal tissues was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)methods in the left nine rats of each group.The culture system of dorsal root ganglias (DRG)from the neonatal rats was set up.The changes of electrophysilogical characters of DRG stimulated with NGF (100 ng/mL)for four days were recorded with patch-clamp.Paired t test was performed for comparison between groups.Results The results of AWR indicated that neonatal colonic stimulation could significantly increase visceral sensitivity after growing up.Under 20,40 and 60 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)distention pressure,visceral sensitivity scores of visceral hypersensitivity rats and rats of control group were 1 .00±0.50 vs 1 .67 ±0.50,1 .89 ±0.31 vs 2.89 ±0.34 and 2.89 ±0.33 vs 3.89±0.33,the differences were statistically significant (t=-2.83,-6.00 and -6.00,all P <0.05 ). The results of master cells staining in tissue slides showed colonic master cells infiltration was obvious in rats with visceral hypersensitivity,and part of mast cells were degranulation.The result of ELISA demonstrated that NGF level of visceral hypersensitivity rats was significantly higher than that of control group ((11.07±3.06)pg/mg vs (2.38 ±1.88)pg/mg,t =-6.93,P <0.05).The results of electrophysilogical tests of primary cultured DRG indicated that compared with blank control growp,the action potential threshold of neuron in NGF 100 ng/mL group significantly decreased ((-18.0±2.1 )mV vs (-29.0 ± 2.5 )mV,t = 12.26,P <0.05)and discharge frequency increased ((5 .0± 1 .4 )/800 ms vs (12.0 ± 3.2)/800 ms,t=-8.40,P <0.05 ).Meanwhile,neuron voltage-gated K+ current density remarkably decreased,most were sustained delayed rectifier K+ current (I K )decreasing ((279.0 ±48.0)pA/pF vs (203.0±39.0)pA/pF,t=6.18,P <0.05).Conclusion Colonic stimulation in neonatal rats could cause intestinal master cells infiltration and degranulation,which induced changes of neuron electrophysilogical characters and resulted in visceral hypersensitivity after growing up.

Objective:To determin the effect of PLGA microspheres loading with PTH(1 34)[PTH(1 34)/PLGA]on the differentiation of MC3T3E1 cells.Methods:MC3T3E1 cells were divided into control group,continuous or intermittent PTH(1 34)adminstration groups,PLGA microsphere group and PTH(1 34)/PLGA group.Osteogenesis differentiation was observed by alkaline phosphatase activity(ALP),alizarin red staining and RTPCR.Results:The PTH(1 34)/PLGA with 1 0 -9 mol/L final release concentration enhanced ALP activity and mineralization,increased the mRNA expression of RUNX2,ALP and VEGF.Conclusion:Controlledrelease of PTH(1 34)from PLGA microspheres can promote the osteogenesis differentiation of MC3T3E1 cells.

Objective:To prepare poly-L-lactic acid(PLLA)electrospun nanofibers carrying icariin(ICA)(ICA /PLLA)and to evaluate the effects of the ICA /PLLA on MC3T3-E1 cells.Methods:ICA solution was dispersed into PLLA solution,and electrospun fibers were fabricated by W/O emulsion method.The morphology of ICA /PLLA was observed by SEM.The in vitro release kinetics of ICA /PLLA was examined.The attachment of MC3T3-E1 cells on ICA /PLLA was examined by propidiumiodide(PI)labling and ob-served under fluorescent microscope.The proliferation of the cells was measured by MTT assay.The differentiation of the cells was ob-served by alkaline phosphatase (ALP)assay.Results:In vitro,ICA was effectively released from ICA /PLLA for 22 days,cells were attached well on the surface in all groups,ICA did not affect the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells(P >0.05),but increased the ALP activity(P <0.05)of the cells.Conclusion:ICA /PLLA can effectively control the release of ICA and promote the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of using high-fidelity simulator (HFS) in medical training of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Methods The randomized controlled trials (RCTs),quasi-randomized controlled trials (q-RCTs) about comparing HFS with traditional teaching methods in medical training of CPR were searched from Cochrane Library,Pubmed,Web of Knowledge,CNKI,CBM and Wanfang Data.The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed and the valid data were extracted.Meta-analysis was conducted with the Cochrane Collaboration RevMan 5.0.Results Ten q-RCTs and one RCT were included.The quality of the studies were relatively low.Meta-analysis showed that compared with the traditional teaching method,high-fidelity simulation in medical training of CPR had no statistically significant differences in mastering the theoretical knowledge,but had statistically significant differences in mastering the CPR skills.Conclusions HFS in medical training of CPR skills is positive and effective,superior to the traditional teaching methods,but in terms of theoretical knowledge and satisfaction,self-confidence,more researches still need to be further confirmed.

Objective To investigate the circulating microRNAs carrier in pancreatic cancer.Methods Pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990 and BxPC3 were routinely cultured and serum of 6 patients with pancreatic cancer and 6 healthy subjects (control group) were collected.Serum and pancreatic cancer cell line supernatant microvesicles (MV) were obtained by gradient centrifugation.The expression of Ago2,CD63 was detected by Western blotting,the expression of microRNA in microvesicle section and microvesicle-free section in serum was detected by using quantitative PCR method.Results The supernatant MV of pancreatic cancer cell lines expressed Ago2,CD63 protein,and these MV carried different microRNAs in different cell lines.In the serum of pancreatic cancer and control group,miR-20a,miR-21,miR-24,miR-25,miR-191,miR-483-5p were detected,but the quantity was relatively higher in MV section,and the expression of microRNAs in pancreatic cancer's MV was inconsistent with that of control group.The expression of miR-20a,miR-24,miR-191 in pancreatic cancer group was (2.93 ± 0.29),(2.73 ± 0.46),(2.39 ± 0.51) times as much as those in control group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (F =75.97,25.80,12.94,P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The main circulating microRNAs carrier in pancreatic cancer is microvesicle.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of UL-16 binding protein 2 (ULBP-2,macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) for pancreatic cancer.Methods The serum samples of 152pancreatic cancer patients,20 precursors of pancreatic cancer,91 chronic pancreatitis patients and 96 age/sexmatched healthy persons were collected.The serum ULBP-2 and MIC-1 levels were determined by using the ELISA kit and were compared with level of CA19-9.A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate their diagnostic values for pancreatic cancer.Results The serum levels of ULBP-2 in patients with pancreatic cancer,precursors of pancreatic cancer,chronic pancreatitis and healthy persons were (219.9 ± 182.5),(62.6 ± 11.4),(68.4 ± 36.8),(76.5 ± 40.9) μg/L,the corresponding values of MIC 1 were (3521.3±3903.4),(973.6±589.0),(959.6±879.0),(427.6±317.0) μg/L,while the corresponding values of CA19-9 were (1448.8 ± 3707.0),(12.0 ± 9.3),(38.2 ± 139.0),(7.7 ± 5.0)kU/L.The parameters in pancreatic cancer patients were significantly higher than those in control group (x2 =40.628,71.662,45.505,15.827,36.433,63.494,26.264,73.427,49.088,P ＜ 0.01).The area under ROC curves(AUC) of ULBP-2,MIC-1,CA19-9 were 0.909,0.864,0.818,and ULBP-2 was superior to CA19-9 and MIC-1,however the combined measurement of three markers produced the highest diagnostic yield(AUC =0.982).For early stage pancreatic diseases (precursors to pancreatic cancer and IA stage pancreatic cancer),AUC of ULBP-2,MIC-1,CA19-9 were 0.506,0.837,0.684,MIC-1 was superior to ULBP-2 and CA19-9,however the combined measurement of MIC-1 and CA19-9 produced the highest diagnostic yield(AUC =0.897).Conclusions Serum ULBP-2,MIC-1 levels are significantly elevated in pancreatic cancer patients.The combined measurement of ULBP-2,MIC-1 and CA 19-9 can increase the diagnostic yield for pancreatic cancer.