Electroacupuncture activates AMPKα1 to improve learning and memory in the APP/PS1 mouse model of early Alzheimer's disease by regulating hippocampal mitochondrial dynamics.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) can alleviate cognitive impairments from Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating the expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), but the specific mechanism involved remains to be elucidated. Therefore, this study explores the potential mechanism by which EA improves cognitive function from the perspective of mitochondrial dynamics. METHODS: The four-month-old transgenic mice with amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) and AMPKα1-subunit conditional knockout (AMPKα1-cKO) were used for experiments. To evaluate the effects of EA treatment on cognitive function, the T-maze and Morris water maze were used. In addition, chemical exchange saturation transfer, thioflavin staining, transmission electron microscopy, mitochondrial membrane potential, and Western blotting were used to examine the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of EA on APP/PS1 mice. RESULTS: Both APP/PS1 mice and AMPKα1-cKO mice exhibited dysfunction in mitochondrial dynamics accompanied by learning and memory impairment. Inactivation of the AMPK/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) pathway increased pathological amyloid-ß (Aß) deposition and aggravated the dysfunction in mitochondrial dynamics. In addition, EA rescued learning and memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice by activating the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway, specifically by reducing pathological Aß deposition, normalizing energy metabolism, protecting the structure and function of mitochondria, increasing the levels of mitochondrial fusion proteins, and downregulating the expression of fission proteins. However, the therapeutic effect of EA on cognition in APP/PS1 mice was hindered by AMPKα1 knockout. CONCLUSION: The regulation of hippocampal mitochondrial dynamics and reduction in Aß deposition via the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway are critical for the ability of EA to ameliorate cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice. Please cite this article as: Jia WW, Lin HW, Yang MG, Dai YL, Ding YY, Xu WS, Wang SN, Cao YJ, Liang SX, Wang ZF, Chen C, Liu WL. Electroacupuncture activates AMPKα1 to improve learning and memory in the APP/PS1 mouse model of early Alzheimer's disease by regulating hippocampal mitochondrial dynamics. J Integr Med. 2024; Epub ahead of print.

The Association Between Dietary Magnesium Intake with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Function in US Population: a Cross-sectional Study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is now considered among the top three contributors to mortality globally. There is limited understanding surrounding the contribution of magnesium to the progression of COPD. This survey aims to evaluate the connection between dietary magnesium intake and both lung function and COPD prevalence among the US population. The research comprised 4865 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) program conducted from 2007 to 2012. To evaluate the association between dietary magnesium intake and lung function as well as COPD, the study conducted multiple regression analyses, stratified analyses, and smoothed curves. In this study, we explored the relationship between higher magnesium intake and higher FEV1 [ß = 0.21 (95% CI 0.12, 0.30)] and FVC [ß = 0.25 (95% CI 0.14, 0.36)] after accounting for all potential confounding factors. We demonstrated a relationship between increased magnesium intake and reduced odds of developing COPD [OR = 0.9993 (95% CI 0.9987, 1.0000)]. The results of stratified analyses further indicated that the relationship between magnesium intake and the risk of COPD is more pronounced in the 40-60 age group and males. The study demonstrated positive associations between the intake of dietary magnesium and both FEV1 and FVC. Additionally, an adverse relationship between magnesium intake and the prevalence of COPD was also observed, suggesting that supplementation with magnesium may be a practical approach to preventing and managing COPD.

Emerging blood exosome-based biomarkers for preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Blood exosomes, which are extracellular vesicles secreted by living cells into the circulating blood, are regarded as a relatively noninvasive novel tool for monitoring brain physiology and disease states. An increasing number of blood cargo-loaded exosomes are emerging as potential biomarkers for preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review of molecular biomarkers derived from blood exosomes to comprehensively analyze their diagnostic performance in preclinical Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. We performed a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library from their inception to August 15, 2020. The research subjects mainly included Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and preclinical Alzheimer's disease. We identified 34 observational studies, of which 15 were included in the quantitative analysis (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score 5.87 points) and 19 were used in the qualitative analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that core biomarkers including Aß1-42, P-T181-tau, P-S396-tau, and T-tau were increased in blood neuron-derived exosomes of preclinical Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease patients. Molecules related to additional risk factors that are involved in neuroinflammation (C1q), metabolism disorder (P-S312-IRS-1), neurotrophic deficiency (HGF), vascular injury (VEGF-D), and autophagy-lysosomal system dysfunction (cathepsin D) were also increased. At the gene level, the differential expression of transcription-related factors (REST) and microRNAs (miR-132) also affects RNA splicing, transport, and translation. These pathological changes contribute to neural loss and synaptic dysfunction. The data confirm that the above-mentioned core molecules and additional risk-related factors in blood exosomes can serve as candidate biomarkers for preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease. These findings support further development of exosome biomarkers for a clinical blood test for Alzheimer's disease. This meta-analysis was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (Registration No. CRD4200173498, 28/04/2020).

Acute Effects of Nicotine on Physiological Responses and Sport Performance in Healthy Baseball Players.

There is interest in whether nicotine could enhance attention in sporting performance, but evidence on the acute effect of nicotine on physical response and sports performance in baseball players remains scant. This was an observational study to examine whether nicotine gum chewed before exercise could provide acute effects on physiological responses and sport performance. Accordingly, heart rate variability (HRV), saliva cotinine concentration and α-amylase activity, cognitive function, muscle strength, and baseball-hitting performance were measured. Thirteen healthy male non-smoker baseball players were recruited. Conducting two sequences with 7-day intervals, they chewed nicotine gum (nicotine group) or flavor-matched placebo gum (placebo group) for 30 min. HRV and saliva analyses were conducted before gum consumption (S1), after gum consumption (S2), and after test completion (S3). Cognitive, muscle strength, and baseball-hitting performance tests were performed after nicotine or placebo gum chewing. The outcomes of all assessed variables were compared within and between the groups. Significant changes in HRV, α-amylase, testosterone, and cortisol were observed in the nicotine group at S2 and S3 (p < 0.05). Compared with the placebo group, the nicotine group exhibited enhanced motor reaction times, grooved pegboard test (GPT) results on cognitive function, and baseball-hitting performance, and small effect sizes were noted (d = 0.47, 0.46 and 0.41, respectively). Nicotine could induce changes in endocrine and sympathetic nerve activity and enhance cognitive function and baseball-hitting performance. However, no increase in muscle strength was observed after nicotine intake.

[The application of ultrasonic knife in open submandibular gland surgery].

PURPOSE: To study the value of ultrasonic knife in submandibular gland surgery. METHODS: Randomized controlled clinical trial was adopted. Forty cases collected from October 2013 to July 2014 who underwent submandibular gland surgery were divided into experimental group and control group. All cases were operated by the same surgical team. Ultrasonic knife was used in the experimental group, while electric knife was used in the control group. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications and 24 h and 48 h postoperative drainage volume were recorded and compared between the 2 groups. SPSS 10.0 software package was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age, gender, mass size and disease type between the 2 groups (P>0.05). With the same operative procedure, there was no significant difference in postoperative complications (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the operation time, intraoperative blood loss and 24 h and 48 h postoperative drainage volume were significantly decreased in the experimental group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using ultrasonic knife in submandibular gland surgery is safe and reliable, with distinct advantages over electric knife. The tissue damage is less, and postoperative complications are minimal. It is worth of wide application in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

A flexible proximity sensor fully fabricated by inkjet printing.

A flexible proximity sensor fully fabricated by inkjet printing is proposed in this paper. The flexible proximity sensor is composed of a ZnO layer sandwiched in between a flexible aluminum sheet and a web-shaped top electrode layer. The flexible aluminum sheet serves as the bottom electrode. The material of the top electrode layer is nano silver. Both the ZnO and top electrode layers are deposited by inkjet printing. The fully inkjet printing process possesses the advantages of direct patterning and low-cost. It does not require photolithography and etching processes since the pattern is directly printed on the flexible aluminum sheet. The prototype demonstrates that the presented flexible sensor is sensitive to the human body. It may be applied to proximity sensing or thermal eradiation sensing.