1.The Neurobiological Mechanisms of Runner’s High
Yun-Teng WANG ; Jia-Qi LIANG ; Wan-Tang SU ; Li ZHAO ; Yan LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):358-373
“Runner’s high” refers to a momentary sense of pleasure that suddenly appears during running or other exercise activities, characterized by anti-anxiety, pain relief, and other symptoms. The neurobiological mechanism of “runner’s high” is unclear. This review summarizes human and animal models for studying “runner’s high”, analyzes the neurotransmitters and neural circuits involved in runner’s high, and elucidates the evidence and shortcomings of researches related to “runner’s high”. This review also provides prospects for future research. Research has found that exercise lasting more than 30 min and with an intensity exceeding 70% of the maximum heart rate can reach a “runner’s high”. Human experiments on “runner’s high” mostly use treadmill exercise intervention, and evaluate it through questionnaire surveys, measurement of plasma AEA, miRNA and other indicators. Animal experiments often use voluntary wheel running intervention, and evaluate it through behavioral experiments such as conditional place preference, light dark box experiments (anxiety), hot plate experiments (pain sensitivity), and measurement of plasma AEA and other indicators. Dopamine, endogenous opioid peptides, endogenous cannabinoids, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and other substances increase after exercise, which may be related to the “runner’s high”. However, attention should be paid to the functional differences of these substances in the central and peripheral regions, as well as in different brain regions. Moreover, current studies have not identified the targets of the neurotransmitters or neural factors mentioned above, and further in-depth researches are needed. The mesolimbic dopamine system, prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens projection, ventral hippocampus-nucleus accumbens projection, red nucleus-ventral tegmental area projection, cerebellar-ventral tegmental area projection, and brain-gut axis may be involved in the regulation of runner’s high, but there is a lack of direct evidence to prove their involvement. There are still many issues that need to be addressed in the research on the neurobiological mechanisms of “runner’s high”. (1) Most studies on “runner’s high” involve one-time exercise, and the characteristics of changes in “runner’s high” during long-term exercise still need to be explored. (2) The using of scales to evaluate subjects lead to the lacking of objective indicators. However, some potential biomarkers (such as endocannabinoids) have inconsistent characteristics of changes after one-time and long-term exercise. (3) The neurotransmitters involved in the formation of the “runner’s high” all increase in the peripheral and/or central nervous system after exercise. Attention should be paid to whether peripheral substances can enter the blood-brain barrier and the binding effects of neurotransmitters to different receptors are completely different in different brain regions. (4) Most of the current evidence show that some brain regions are activated after exercise. Is there a functional circuit mediating “runner’s high” between these brain regions? (5) Although training at a specific exercise intensity can lead to “runner’s high”, most runners have not experienced “runner’s high”. Can more scientific training methods or technological means be used to make it easier for people to experience the “runner’s high” and thus be more willing to engage in exercise? (6) The “runner’s high” and “addiction” behaviors are extremely similar, and there are evidences that exercise can reverse addictive behaviors. However, why is there still a considerable number of people in the sports population and even athletes who smoke or use addictive drugs instead of pursuing the “pleasure” brought by exercise? Solving the problems above is of great significance for enhancing the desire of exercise, improving the clinical application of neurological and psychiatric diseases through exercise, and enhancing the overall physical fitness of the population.
2.Two new flavonoid glycosides from Diphylleia sinensi
Hao-jie WANG ; Chen ZHAO ; Yan-jun SUN ; Jian-hong GONG ; Hong-yun BAI ; Hui CHEN ; Wei-sheng FENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(3):673-677
Five flavonoid glycosides were isolated from the methanol and ethyl acetate fractions of the ethanol extract of
3.The effects of gastrodin on TLR4 expression in microglia induced by ischemia and hypoxia
Shunda LI ; Yongqiang ZHAO ; Xueke YANG ; Shuyu CHEN ; Yan YANG ; Yun YUAN
Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy 2024;40(1):50-56
Objective:To determine the effect of gastrodin(GAS)on toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)expression in mi-croglia after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.Methods:Hypoxia-ischemic brain damage(HIBD)model was established in neonatal rat in vivo.Thirty 3 d SD rats of were randomly divided into there groups:Sham group,HIBD model group,HIBD model+gastrodin intervention group(HIBD+G).Oxygen glucose deprivation(OGD)model was established in BV2 cells in vitro,Control group(Control),oxygen glucose deprivation group(OGD),OGD+gastrodin intervention group(OGD+G)were randomly set in vitro.Both Western Blot and immunofluorescence staining techniques were used to detect the expression of TLR4 in cells of each group in vitro and in the left corpus callosum region in vivo.Results:The expression of TLR4 was significantly increased in OGD-induced microglia.After gastrodin intervention,TLR4 expression was decreased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion:GAS can inhibit the expression of TLR4 in activated microglia and thus play a neuroprotective role in HIBD.
4.Investigation on major cognition and major choice motivation of medical freshmen
Lizhi LÜ ; Huangda GUO ; Xiaowen LIU ; Lin XU ; Yuxuan ZHAO ; Yan WANG ; Yawen JIA ; Yun WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(3):353-358
Objective:To understand the major cognition, major choice motivation and the relationship between the two of medical students, and provide references and suggestions for the selection of talents in various majors of medical schools and the effective development of enrollment work.Methods:This study selected undergraduates of Batch 2019 from Peking University Health Science Center as the survey objects, conducted a questionnaire survey on their major cognition, major choice motivation and influencing factors, and used principal component analysis and Spearman rank correlation analysis.Results:The study found that the major cognition scores of 640 undergraduates of Batch 2019 from Peking University Health Science Center were clinical medicine (3.24±0.89) > stomatology (2.89±1.00) > basic medicine (2.66±1.02) > pharmacy (2.54±0.97) > preventive medicine (2.29±0.93) > nursing medicine (2.21±0.99) > medical laboratory (1.98±0.95) > medical English (1.95±0.93). Six major motivation factors for professional choice were school and professional strength, professional learning and job prospects, own factors, Peking University sentiments and the influence of others, medical factors, school policies, and the contribution rates were 34.60%, 12.97%, 7.42%, 6.00%, 5.59% and 5.37%, respectively. Major cognition scores and major choice motivation factors were positively correlated with each other to some extent.Conclusions:At present, students' major cognition level of medical majors still has a large room for improvement, and the motivational factors of major choice are more complicated, among which "the school and professional strength" and "the prospects of study and work" are important factors. Medical schools should focus on strengthening major publicity, improving students' major cognition, attracting aspiring students to apply for medical majors from many aspects, and improving the training quality of medical professionals.
5.Expression and correlation analysis of P53 and mTOR in pterygium
Fanglin ZHANG ; Xinrong ZHAO ; Huijuan WAN ; Yun HUA ; Yan CAI
International Eye Science 2024;24(9):1381-1386
AIM: To detect the expression of P53 and mTOR in pterygium tissues and healthy conjunctival tissues, and to explore the relationship between the expression of P53 and mTOR, and the relationship between the expression of P53 and mTOR and the important clinical features of pterygium.METHODS: The surgical specimens of 43 patients(43 eyes)who underwent pterygium excision and autologous conjunctival transplantation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University from November 2022 to May 2023 were collected. Healthy conjunctiva group was selected from the healthy conjunctival tissue that originated from the temporal conjunctiva of 13 patients. Totally 10 pterygium specimens and 6 normal conjunctival specimens were selected and the qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of P53 and mTOR in pterygium and normal conjunctival tissues. Another 33 cases of pterygium and 7 cases of normal conjunctival tissues were collected and the expression of P53 and mTOR in pterygium and normal conjunctival tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. IPP6.0 software was used to calculate the average optical density, the correlation between the expression levels of P53 and mTOR, and the correlation between the expression levels of P53 and mTOR and the important clinical features of pterygium were analyzed.RESULTS: According to qPCR results, the mRNA expression levels of TP53 and mTOR in the pterygium group were significantly higher than those in the healthy conjunctiva group(all P<0.05). According to the immunohistochemical staining results, the expression levels of P53 and mTOR proteins in the pterygium group were significantly higher than those in the healthy conjunctiva group(P<0.05). The expression of P53 was positively correlated with the expression of mTOR(r=0.417, P<0.05). The expression of P53 in the group of outdoor activity time > 3 h was higher than that in the group of outdoor activity time ≤3 h(P<0.05). The expression of P53 in the group of pterygium head invasive limbal distance > 2 mm was higher than that in the group of pterygium head invasive limbal distance ≤2 mm(P<0.05). There was no difference in the expression of pterygium between the two groups of patients aged > 40 years and ≤40 years(P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of mTOR between the groups of outdoor activity time > 3 h and ≤3 h, the group of pterygium head invasion distance > 2 mm and ≤2 mm, and the group of > 40 years old and ≤40 years old(all P>0.05). The expression of P53 was positively correlated with the duration of outdoor activities(r=0.484, P<0.01)and the distance of limbal invasion(r=0.479, P<0.01). The expression of mTOR was not correlated with age, duration of outdoor activities, and distance of limbus invasion(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: The overexpression of P53 and mTOR in pterygium showed a positive correlation, suggesting that the abnormal expression of P53 and mTOR may play a role in the pathogenesis of pterygium, which provides an experimental basis for further exploring the pathogenesis of pterygium; the expression of P53 is positively correlated with the time of outdoor activities and the distance of pterygium invasion. The P53 plays a role in evaluating the severity of pterygium, and provides new ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of pterygium.
6.TCM Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough in Children
Xi MING ; Liqun WU ; Ziwei WANG ; Bo WANG ; Jialin ZHENG ; Jingwei HUO ; Mei HAN ; Xiaochun FENG ; Baoqing ZHANG ; Xia ZHAO ; Mengqing WANG ; Zheng XUE ; Ke CHANG ; Youpeng WANG ; Yanhong QIN ; Bin YUAN ; Hua CHEN ; Lining WANG ; Xianqing REN ; Hua XU ; Liping SUN ; Zhenqi WU ; Yun ZHAO ; Xinmin LI ; Min LI ; Jian CHEN ; Junhong WANG ; Yonghong JIANG ; Yongbin YAN ; Hengmiao GAO ; Hongmin FU ; Yongkun HUANG ; Jinghui YANG ; Zhu CHEN ; Lei XIONG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(7):722-732
Following the principles of evidence-based medicine,in accordance with the structure and drafting rules of standardized documents,based on literature research,according to the characteristics of chronic cough in children and issues that need to form a consensus,the TCM Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough in Children was formulated based on the Delphi method,expert discussion meetings,and public solicitation of opinions.The guideline includes scope of application,terms and definitions,eti-ology and diagnosis,auxiliary examination,treatment,prevention and care.The aim is to clarify the optimal treatment plan of Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease,and to provide guidance for improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in children with Chinese medicine.
7.Analysis of the efficacy and prognosis of radiotherapy in acute leukemia with extramedullary infiltration
Wenbin LEI ; Hui LIU ; Yan ZHANG ; Yinghao LU ; Yi HUANG ; Ying CHEN ; Rui GAO ; Xiao CHAI ; Yun ZHAN ; Jie XIONG ; Lingyun WANG ; Lei LIU ; Jishi WANG ; Peng ZHAO
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(4):547-554
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,treatment methods,and prognosis of a-cute leukemia patients with extramedullary infiltration.Methods The clinical characteristics and treatment methods of 47 acute leukemia patients with extramedullary infiltration admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from April 2014 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Subgroup analysis was performed according to whether there was extramedullary infiltration before transplantation,and whether there was isolated extramedullary recurrence after transplantation.Based on this analysis,the patients were di-vided into the pre-transplantation radiotherapy group and pre-transplantation non-radiotherapy group,the post-transplantation radiotherapy group and post-transplantation non-radiotherapy group.According to the treatment methods of central nervous system leukemia(CNSL),the patients were divided into the intrathecal injection group(n=12)and combination of intrathecal injection and radiotherapy group(n=13).The local remission situation,survival duration,and toxic and side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy were com-pared.Results For acute leukemia patients with extramedullary infiltration,the overall survival time(OS)in the radiotherapy group was better than that in the non-radiotherapy group(median OS:706 d vs.151 d,P=0.015).Subgroup analysis showed that the OS of the pre-transplantation radiotherapy group was better than that of the pre-transplantation non-radiotherapy group(median OS:592 d vs.386 d,P=0.035).For CNSL,the combination of intrathecal injection and radiotherapy group had a better OS than the intrathecal injection group(median OS:547 d vs.388 d,P=0.045).The event-free survival time(EFS)of the radiotherapy group was better than that of the non-radiotherapy group(median EFS:175 d vs.50 d,P=0.005).The COX pro-portional-hazards model showed that treatment with or without radiotherapy had a significant impact on the OS of acute leukemia patients with extramedullary infiltration.The risk of death in the pre-transplantation non-radiotherapy group was 2.231 times higher than that in the pre-transplantation radiotherapy group(HR=3.231,95%CI:1.021-10.227,P=0.046).Compared with the non-radiotherapy group,the radiother-apy group had a higher local remission and a lower risk of haematological toxicity,infection,and haemorrhage.Conclusion Radiotherapy can rapidly alleviate the local symptoms of acute leukemia complicated with extr-amedullary infiltration,prolong the survival time of these patients,and reduce the risk of hematologic toxicity,infection,and haemorrhage.
8.Design, synthesis and antidepressant activity of novel genipin derivatives
Hong-yan CHENG ; Dan-hui WANG ; Wen-jie ZHAO ; Tian-cheng WANG ; Wen-xue XU ; Cai-yun ZHANG ; Ya-nan ZHAO ; Yan-chun ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(9):2564-2573
The pathogenesis of depression is complex, and some existing monoamine antidepressants have problems such as drug resistance or off-target failure. Traditional Chinese medicine has the characteristics of "multi-component and multi-target", and has been used in the treatment of depression in clinical practice. Yueju pill is effective in the treatment of depression. Geniposide and ligustrazine, the active ingredients of Gardeniae fructus and Ligusticum sinense 'Chuanxiong', play a key role in the treatment of depression. In this study, based on the neuroprotective activity of genipin and the rapid antidepressant activity of tetramethylpyrazine, a series of novel genipin derivatives were designed and synthesized through pharmacophore assembly principle, and their neuroprotective activity and antidepressant effect were investigated. The results showed that the novel genipin derivatives had well neuroprotective activity on the glutamate-induced HT-22 cell model, with compounds W-1 and W-3 showing better protective activity. In behavioral despair depression (BDD) model mice, compound W-3 was found to have better antidepressant activity than W-1 in tail suspension test and forced swimming test. Further study on the behavior of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model mice showed that W-3 could significantly improve the depression-like behavior of model mice. All animal experiments were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: AHUCM-mouse-2022027). The effects of the preferred compound W-3 on protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor,
9.Multimodal image fusion-assisted endoscopic evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage
Chao ZHANG ; Juan LI ; Ping-Li WANG ; Hua-Yun CHEN ; Yu-Hang ZHAO ; Ning WANG ; Zhi-Tao ZHANG ; Yan-Wei DANG ; Hong-Quan WANG ; Jun WANG ; Chu-Hua FU
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2024;27(6):340-347
Purpose::Although traditional craniotomy (TC) surgery has failed to show benefits for the functional outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, a minimally invasive hematoma removal plan to avoid white matter fiber damage may be a safer and more feasible surgical approach, which may improve the prognosis of ICH. We conducted a historical cohort study on the use of multimodal image fusion-assisted neuroendoscopic surgery (MINS) for the treatment of ICH, and compared its safety and effectiveness with traditional methods.Methods::This is a historical cohort study involving 241 patients with cerebral hemorrhage. Divided into MINS group and TC group based on surgical methods. Multimodal images (CT skull, CT angiography, and white matter fiber of MRI diffusion-tensor imaging) were fused into 3 dimensional images for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance of endoscopic hematoma removal in the MINS group. Clinical features, operative efficiency, perioperative complications, and prognoses between 2 groups were compared. Normally distributed data were analyzed using t-test of 2 independent samples, Nonnormally distributed data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Meanwhile categorical data were analyzed via the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. All statistical tests were two-sided, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results::A total of 42 patients with ICH were enrolled, who underwent TC surgery or MINS. Patients who underwent MINS had shorter operative time ( p < 0.001), less blood loss ( p < 0.001), better hematoma evacuation ( p =0.003), and a shorter stay in the intensive care unit ( p =0.002) than patients who underwent TC. Based on clinical characteristics and analysis of perioperative complications, there is no significant difference between the 2 surgical methods. Modified Rankin scale scores at 180 days were better in the MINS than in the TC group ( p =0.014). Conclusions::Compared with TC for the treatment of ICH, MINS is safer and more efficient in cleaning ICH, which improved the prognosis of the patients. In the future, a larger sample size clinical trial will be needed to evaluate its efficacy.
10.MR study based on ASL and IVIM in the ipsilateral thalamic diaschisis after unilateral supratentorial cerebral infarction
Na TIAN ; Qinghua ZHANG ; Lei ZHAO ; Yun YUE ; Chengxin YAN
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(8):1219-1223
Objective To explore the value of intravoxel incoherent motion(IVIM)parameters in the diagnosis of ipsilateral thalamic diaschisis(ITD)after unilateral supratentorial cerebral infarction via combination of arterial spin labeling(ASL)and IVIM.Methods A total of 111 patients with cerebral infarction were selected,including 61 patients in the acute stage(>6 h-3 d),50 patients in the subacute stage(>3 d-11 d).All patients were subjected to MRI examination,and the diffusion weighted imaging(DWI),ASL,and IVIM image data were uploaded to the GE workstation.The regions of interest(ROI)in the bilateral thalamus were selected,and the cerebral blood flow(CBF),D*,D,and f values were measured,and the asymmetry index(AI)was calculated.ITD was diagnosed according to AI>10%,and all patients were divided into ITD-positive and ITD-negative groups.The differences of each parameter between the two groups and their relationship with AI were analyzed.Results In acute stage and subacute stage cerebral infarction,the CBF,D*and D values of ipsilateral thalamus were lower than those of contralateral thalamus,while the f value was higher than those of contralateral thalamus.There was no statistical significance in D*,D and f values between ITD-positive and ITD-negative groups after acute stage cerebral infarction(P>0.05).There were significant differences in CBF,apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC),D and f values in ITD-positive group after subacute stage cerebral infarction(P<0.05),but no significant differences in D*value of ITD-positive group and CBF,D*,D,f values of ITD-negative group(P>0.05).AI-D*,AI-D and AI-ADC in subacute stage were positively correlated with AI-CBF,while AI-f was negatively correlated with AI-CBF.The area under the curve(AUC)of AI-D and AI-f in subacute stage were 0.749 and 0.699,respectively.Conclusion The combination of ASL and IVIM has confirmed the phenomenon of ITD after unilateral supratentorial cerebral infarction,with high diagnostic efficacy of quantitative parameters D value and f value.It can non-invasively evaluate the thalamic microstructural and perfusion changes in the early stage after cerebral infarction.

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