ErbB4 deficiency exacerbates olfactory dysfunction in an early-stage Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

Olfactory dysfunction is increasingly recognized as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aberrations in GABAergic function and the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance within the olfactory bulb (OB) have been implicated in olfactory impairment during the initial stages of AD. While the neuregulin 1 (NRG1)/ErbB4 signaling pathway is known to regulate GABAergic transmission in the brain and is associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders, its specific role in early AD-related olfactory impairment remains incompletely understood. This study demonstrated that olfactory dysfunction preceded cognitive decline in young adult APP/PS1 mice and was characterized by reduced levels of NRG1 and ErbB4 in the OB. Further investigation revealed that deletion of ErbB4 in parvalbumin interneurons reduced GABAergic transmission and increased hyperexcitability in mitral and tufted cells (M/Ts) in the OB, thereby accelerating olfactory dysfunction in young adult APP/PS1 mice. Additionally, ErbB4 deficiency was associated with increased accumulation of Aß and BACE1-mediated cleavage of APP, along with enhanced CDK5 signaling in the OB. NRG1 infusion into the OB was found to enhance GABAergic transmission in M/Ts and alleviate olfactory dysfunction in young adult APP/PS1 mice. These findings underscore the critical role of NRG1/ErbB4 signaling in regulating GABAergic transmission and E/I balance within the OB, contributing to olfactory impairment in young adult APP/PS1 mice, and provide novel insights for early intervention strategies in AD. This work has shown that ErbB4 deficiency increased the burden of Aß, impaired GABAergic transmission, and disrupted the E/I balance of mitral and tufted cells (M/Ts) in the OB, ultimately resulting in olfactory dysfunction in young adult APP/PS1 mice. NRG1 could enhance GABAergic transmission, rescue E/I imbalance in M/Ts, and alleviate olfactory dysfunction in young adult APP/PS1 mice. OB: olfactory bulb, E/I: excitation/inhibition, Pr: probability of release, PV: parvalbumin interneurons, Aß: ß-amyloid, GABA: gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Deep learning assists detection of esophageal cancer and precursor lesions in a prospective, randomized controlled study.

Endoscopy is the primary modality for detecting asymptomatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and precancerous lesions. Improving detection rate remains challenging. We developed a system based on deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for detecting esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions [high-risk esophageal lesions (HrELs)] and validated its efficacy in improving HrEL detection rate in clinical practice (trial registration ChiCTR2100044126 at www.chictr.org.cn). Between April 2021 and March 2022, 3117 patients ≥50 years old were consecutively recruited from Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang Province, and randomly assigned 1:1 to an experimental group (CNN-assisted endoscopy) or a control group (unassisted endoscopy) based on block randomization. The primary endpoint was the HrEL detection rate. In the intention-to-treat population, the HrEL detection rate [28 of 1556 (1.8%)] was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group [14 of 1561 (0.9%), P = 0.029], and the experimental group detection rate was twice that of the control group. Similar findings were observed between the experimental and control groups [28 of 1524 (1.9%) versus 13 of 1534 (0.9%), respectively; P = 0.021]. The system's sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting HrELs were 89.7, 98.5, and 98.2%, respectively. No adverse events occurred. The proposed system thus improved HrEL detection rate during endoscopy and was safe. Deep learning assistance may enhance early diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer and may become a useful tool for esophageal cancer screening.

Experience of copy number variation sequencing applied in spontaneous abortion.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the value of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and quantitative fluorescence (QF)-PCR for analyzing chromosomal abnormalities (CA) in spontaneous abortion specimens. METHODS: A total of 650 products of conception (POCs) were collected from spontaneous abortion between April 2018 and May 2020. CNV-seq and QF-PCR were performed to determine the characteristics and frequencies of copy number variants (CNVs) with clinical significance. The clinical features of the patients were recorded. RESULTS: Clinically significant chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 355 (54.6%) POCs, of which 217 (33.4%) were autosomal trisomies, 42(6.5%) were chromosomal monosomies and 40 (6.2%) were pathogenic CNVs (pCNVs). Chromosomal trisomy occurs mainly on chromosomes 15, 16, 18, 21and 22. Monosomy X was not associated with the maternal or gestational age. The frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in miscarriages from women with a normal live birth history was 55.3%; it was 54.4% from women without a normal live birth history (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences among women without, with 1, and with ≥ 2 previous miscarriages regarding the rate of chromosomal abnormalities (P > 0.05); CNVs were less frequently detected in women with advanced maternal age than in women aged ≤ 29 and 30-34 years (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chromosomal abnormalities are the most common cause of pregnancy loss, and maternal and gestational ages are strongly associated with fetal autosomal trisomy aberrations. Embryo chromosomal examination is recommended regardless of the gestational age, modes of conception or previous abortion status.

Application of Femtosecond Laser + Piggyback Multifocal Intraocular Lens Implantation in Patients with Super-High Myopia Complicated with Cataract.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of piggyback multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in treating patients with high myopia complicated with cataract. METHODS: This was a prospective controlled study. We compared 32 eyes of 32 patients who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with piggyback IOL implantation (two IOLs were implanted into the capsule) with 32 eyes of 32 patients who also underwent the same surgery (one IOL implanted into the capsule) due to high myopia complicated with cataract at the Wuhan Aier Eye Expert Hospital between January 2019 and October 2020. All patients were followed up for three months after surgery. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UCIVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA), best-corrected distance visual acuity, distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (DCIVA), distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA), postoperative spectacle independence, postoperative visual interference, equivalent spherical lens, defocus curve, and IOL tilt and eccentricity were evaluated. RESULTS: Three months after surgery, the patients' UCIVA, UCNVA, DCIVA, and DCNVA were 0.49 ± 0.07, 0.38 ± 0.15, 0.47 ± 0.09, and 0.36 ± 0.12, respectively, in the research group and 0.56 ± 0.18, 0.72 ± 0.22, 0.55 ± 0.13, and 0.69 ± 0.15, respectively, in the control group; the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < .05). The spectacle independence rate was higher in the research group (93%) than in the control group (13%). The overall satisfaction regarding postoperative visual quality was also higher in the research group than in the control group. The absolute mean value of the spherical equivalents was 0.48 ± 0.28 D in the research group and 0.62 ± 0.33 D in the control group; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Piggyback multifocal IOL implantation can expand the multifocal IOL application range, and satisfy the desire of patients with high myopia complicated with cataract to see both near and far.

East‒West genetic differentiation across the Indo-Burma hotspot: evidence from two closely related dioecious figs.

BACKGROUND: Understanding biodiversity patterns and their underlying mechanisms is of interest to ecologists, biogeographers and conservationists and is critically important for conservation efforts. The Indo-Burma hotspot features high species diversity and endemism, yet it also faces significant threats and biodiversity losses; however, few studies have explored the genetic structure and underlying mechanisms of Indo-Burmese species. Here, we conducted a comparative phylogeographic analysis of two closely related dioecious Ficus species, F. hispida and F. heterostyla, based on wide and intensive population sampling across Indo-Burma ranges, using chloroplast (psbA-trnH, trnS-trnG) and nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) markers, as well as ecological niche modeling. RESULTS: The results indicated large numbers of population-specific cpDNA haplotypes and nSSR alleles in the two species. F. hispida showed slightly higher chloroplast diversity but lower nuclear diversity than F. heterostyla. Low-altitude mountainous areas of northern Indo-Burma were revealed to have high genetic diversity and high habitat suitability, suggesting potential climate refugia and conservation priority areas. Strong phylogeographic structure and a marked east‒west differentiation pattern were observed in both species, due to the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors. Interspecific dissimilarities at fine-scale genetic structure and asynchronized historical dynamics of east‒west differentiation between species were also detected, which were attributed to different species-specific traits. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm hypothesized predictions that interactions between biotic and abiotic factors largely determine the patterns of genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of Indo-Burmese plants. The east‒west genetic differentiation pattern observed in two targeted figs can be generalized to some other Indo-Burmese plants. The results and findings of this work will contribute to the conservation of Indo-Burmese biodiversity and facilitate targeted conservation efforts for different species.

Amelioration of olfactory dysfunction in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease via enhancing GABAergic signaling.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory dysfunction is among the earliest non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). As the foremost pathological hallmark, α-synuclein initiates the pathology in the olfactory pathway at the early stage of PD, particularly in the olfactory epithelium (OE) and olfactory bulb (OB). However, the local neural microcircuit mechanisms underlying olfactory dysfunction between OE and OB in early PD remain unknown. RESULTS: We observed that odor detection and discrimination were impaired in 6-month-old SNCA-A53T mice, while their motor ability remained unaffected. It was confirmed that α-synuclein increased and accumulated in OB but not in OE. Notably, the hyperactivity of mitral/tufted cells and the excitation/inhibition imbalance in OB were found in 6-month-old SNCA-A53T mice, which was attributed to the impaired GABAergic transmission and aberrant expression of GABA transporter 1 and vesicular GABA transporter in OB. We further showed that tiagabine, a potent and selective GABA reuptake inhibitor, could reverse the impaired olfactory function and GABAergic signaling in OB of SNCA-A53T mice. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings demonstrate potential synaptic mechanisms of local neural microcircuit underlying olfactory dysfunction at the early stage of PD. These results highlight the critical role of aberrant GABAergic signaling of OB in early diagnosis and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for early-stage PD.

Progress in clinical characteristics of high myopia with primary open-angle glaucoma.

High myopia (HM) is a significant risk factor for the occurrence and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Identification with POAG in the HM population is an emergent challenge. Patients with HM have a significantly higher probability of complicating POAG than those without HM. When HM is associated with POAG, the changes to the fundus caused by both of them are confused with each other, making the diagnosis of early glaucoma difficult. This article reviews available researches on HM with POAG, summarizing the characteristics of the fundus structure such as epidemiology, intraocular pressure, optic disc, ganglion cell layer, retinal nerve fiber layer, vascular density, and visual field.

Comparison of the actual diameter of capsulotomy and predicted diameter of capsulotomy after femtosecond laser-assisted capsulotomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the consistency between the actual diameter of capsulotomy (ADC) and the predicted diameter of capsulotomy (PDC) in femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and analyze the factors that influence the deviation of the diameter of capsulotomy (DDC) between the actual and predicted. SETTING: Aier Eye Hospital of Wuhan University, China. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. METHODS: Patients who underwent FLACS from March 2020 to March 2021 were reviewed. The ADC in FLACS was measured and compared with the PDC. The effects of age, sex, and biometrics on DDC were analyzed. RESULTS: 412 eyes of 336 patients were included. The mean age was 53.0 ± 0.91 years (range 3 to 91 years). When the PDC was set to 4.50 mm, the results showed that the ADC was 5.21 ± 0.21 mm with a significant difference between them ( P &lt; .05). However, when the PDC was set to 5.2 mm, the ADC was 5.10 ± 0.38 mm without a significant difference between them ( P &gt; .05). No correlation ( P &gt; .05) was found between the DDC and the axial length, the DDC and the anterior chamber depth (ACD), and the DDC and the mean keratometry (Km), but a negative correlation was found between the DDC and the lens thickness (LT) ( r = -0.21; P &lt; .05) and the DDC with age ( r = -0.70; P &lt; .05). Using curvilinear regression analysis, a development of an age-depending correction formula was predicted: ADC = PDC + 1.23 - 0.30 ln (x) (x = age ≥3) ( R2 = 0.65; F = 752.39; P = .00). CONCLUSIONS: The consistency of the ADC and PDC was influenced by age and LT. For patients aged 40 years or younger, the younger the patient, the wider the DDC; for patients older than 40 years, the DDC was small. The thicker the LT, the smaller the DDC.

Response of four evergreen savanna shrubs to an incidence of extreme drought: high embolism resistance, branch shedding and maintenance of nonstructural carbohydrates.

Extreme drought events are becoming frequent globally, resulting in widespread plant mortality and forest dieback. Although savanna vegetation cover ~20% of the earth's land area, their responses to extreme drought have been less studied than that of forests. Herein, we quantified branch dieback, individual mortality and the associated physiological responses of four evergreen shrubs (Tarenna depauperate Hutch., Maytenus esquirolii (H. Lév.) C.Y. Cheng, Murraya exotica L., Jasminum nudiflorum Lindl.) in a savanna ecosystem in Southwest China to an incidence of extreme drought during 2019 and 2020. We found that 80-100% of the individuals of these species exhibited branch dieback, whereas individual mortality was only found in T. depauperate (4.5%). All species showed high resistance to stem embolism (P50, water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity ranged from -5.62 to -8.6 MPa), whereas the stem minimum water potentials reached -7.6 to ca -10.0 MPa during the drought. The low water potential caused high native embolism levels (percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) 23-65%) in terminal branches, and the remaining stems maintained 15-35% PLC at the end of the drought. Large within-individual variations in stem vulnerability to embolism were detected, and shedding of vulnerable branches could be a mechanism for shrubs to reduce water and carbon consumption. Overall, the content of total nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and their components in the stem were generally comparable to or higher than those in the rainy season in three of the four species. Because the leaves were turgor-less for most time during the drought, high NSC levels during the drought could be due to recycling of NSC from dead branches or translocation from roots. Our results suggest high tolerance of savanna shrub species to extreme drought, which could be facilitated by high embolism resistance in some stems and shedding of vulnerable branches to maintain individual water and carbon balance.

APA scoring system: a novel predictive model based on risk factors of pregnancy loss for recurrent spontaneous abortion patients.

The aim of this study was to analyse the risk factors of pregnancy loss of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and develop a scoring system to predict RSA. Clinical data of 242 cases, with RSA who were treated at Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's Hospital, were selected. The factors of pregnancy loss for RSA patients were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. There were 242 RSA patients, of whom 34 (14.0%) developed pregnancy loss. A multivariate analysis showed the following adverse risk factors for RSA: antinuclear antibody spectrum, protein s deficiency and antiphospholipid antibodies. The pregnancy loss rates of antinuclear antibody spectrum group, protein S deficiency group and antiphospholipid antibodies group were 25.0%, 22.5% and 19.4%, respectively. Each of these factors contributed 1 point to the risk score. The pregnancy loss rates were 6.3%, 24.6%, 50% for the low-, intermediate- and high-risk categories, respectively (p < .001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the score of RSA was .733. Our findings suggest that this validated and simple scoring system could accurately predict the risk of pregnancy loss of RSA patients. The score might be helpful in the selection of risk-adapted interventions to decrease the incidence. Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? The live birth rate increases to 80%-90% after anticoagulant and/or immunosuppressive treatment in patients with RSA. However, there is still a high rate of re-abortion even after active treatment.What do the results of this study add? Antinuclear antibody spectrum, protein s deficiency and antiphospholipid antibodies were independent risk factors for pregnancy loss. A novel predictive model based on these factors was then established and validated.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The newly developed score might be helpful in the selection of risk-adapted interventions to decrease the incidence. For patients in the intermediate-risk and high-risk groups, we should conduct more targeted studies and formulate corresponding therapies to improve the success rate of treatment.

The Protective Effects of Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers. Against Acute Liver Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Mice.

Background: Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers. (ZDP) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used for several decades to treat patients with liver diseases. Whether ZDP is best administered as a single agent or adjunctive therapy has yet to be determined as does the mechanism whereby it exerts its effects on antagonizing acute liver injury (ALI). Aim of the study: To investigate the protective effects of ZDP on ALI induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and the potential underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Sixty adult mice were randomized into six study groups (n = 10/group). Three groups were treated with different concentrations of ZDP (2.5, 1.25, 0.625 g/kg), one with bifendate (0.0075 g/kg) alone (positive control) and one with physiologic saline (normal, negative control). All groups were treated for 14 days. Two hours after the last administration, the normal group received an intraperitoneal injection of peanut oil, and the other five groups received an intraperitoneal injection of an equal dose of CCl4 peanut oil solution. At 24 h, the liver index, histology and serum or tissue levels and/or protein expression of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), Akt, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65), inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκB-α), interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), E-cadherin and vimentin were determined. Results: Compared to the model controls, the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocyte injury of liver tissue was relieved in the bifendate and three ZDP groups; liver index in the ZDP (2.5, 1.25 g/kg) groups and serum liver function indices in the ZDP (2.5, 1.25 and 0.625 g/kg) groups were decreased; antioxidants SOD, CAT and GSH in liver tissue were increased but the lipid peroxidation index MDA was decreased; protein expression of inflammatory cytokines Akt, p-Akt, NF-κB p65, IκB-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the liver was ameliorated, and E-cadherin expression was increased. The results of liver histopathology also showed that ZDP had a significant effect on ALI. Conclusion: ZDP has obvious protective effects on CCl4-induced ALI as a single therapy and appears to act by inhibiting oxidation, reducing the release of inflammatory factors and promoting hepatocyte repair.

[Screening biomarkers for hypertensive heart disease: Analysis based on data from 7 medical institutions].

Objective: To screen the influencing factors of hypertensive heart disease (HHD), establish the predictive model of HHD, and provide early warning for the occurrence of HHD. Methods: Select the patients diagnosed as hypertensive heart disease or hypertensionfrom January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019, in the medical data science academy of a medical school. Influencing factors were screened through single factor and multi-factor analysis, and R software was used to construct the logistics model, random forest (RF) model and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model. Results: Univariate analysis screened 60 difference indicators, and multifactor analysis screened 18 difference indicators (P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of Logistics model, RF model and XGBoost model are 0.979, 0.983 and 0.990, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the three HHD prediction models established in this paper are stable, and the XGBoost prediction model has a good diagnostic effect on the occurrence of HHD.

LZAP promotes the proliferation and invasiveness of cervical carcinoma cells by targeting AKT and EMT.

Objective: To explore the relationship and mechanism of LZAP in the occurrence and development of cervical cancer and to provide a new target and intervention method for the treatment of cervical cancer. Methods: Data mining and analysis of LZAP expression levels were performed using several online databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). A cervical cancer cell line that stably overexpresses LZAP was established, and the effect of LZAP overexpression on cell proliferation, invasion, migration and tumor formation in vivo as well as its mechanism were explored. Results: Our study shows that the expression of LZAP is upregulated in cervical cancer. The overexpression of LZAP can significantly promote the proliferation, colony formation, and invasion and migration abilities of cervical cancer cells. The tumorigenesis test in nude mice showed that overexpression of LZAP could promote the tumorigenicity of cervical cancer cells in vivo. LZAP could also promote the phosphorylation of AKT at position 473 and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Conclusion: The expression of LAZP is increased in cervical cancer, which can enhance the invasion, metastasis, and EMT in cervical cancer cells by promoting AKT phosphorylation.

Factors of Retinal Re-detachment and Visual Outcome after Intraocular Silicone Oil Removal in Silicone Oil-filled Eyes.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the risk factors of retinal re-detachment and visual outcome after silicone oil removal (SOR) in silicone oil-filled eyes.Methods: A total of 57 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and silicone oil injection for retinal detachment (RD), and subsequently underwent a silicone oil removal procedure. Pre-operative examinations were performed to determine the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using the Snellen chart, while Icare was used to determine the intraocular pressure (IOP). In addition, slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment and lens, fundus pre-set lens examination for the posterior segment, color fundus photography, anterior segment photography and type B-ultrasonic scans were performed.Results: In five of 57 patients (8.77%), the retina re-detached following the removal of silicone oil. The factors for re-detachment were proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (two cases), the formation of new retinal breaks (two cases), and incomplete membrane peeling (one case). The rate of retinal re-detachment (reRD) was statistically independent of the duration of silicone oil endotamponade (P = .810). BCVA significantly improved following the removal of silicone oil (P = .001). The duration of the silicone oil tamponade was significant in the development of cataract (27 eyes, 47.3%; P = .0008), emulsified oil in the anterior chamber (13 eyes, 22.8%; P = .009), and glaucoma (seven eyes, 12.2%).Conclusion: The improvement of visual acuity was discovered following the removal of the intraocular silicone oil. Although the duration of the intraocular silicone oil endotamponade had no effect on the rate of retinal attachment, a longer duration of silicone oil endotamponade can lead to the development of complications, such as cataract, emulsified oil in the anterior chamber and glaucoma, suggesting that the earlier removal of oil should be performed.

[Degradation Mechanism of Tetracycline Using Fe/Cu Oxides as Heterogeneous Activators of Peroxymonosulfate].

A green, highly efficient, and porous copper-ferrite heterogeneous catalyst (Fe-Cu-400) with good magnetism was synthesized via a coprecipitation method. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, BET, FESEM, and EDS. The performance of Fe-Cu-400 as a catalyst was evaluated by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for degradation of tetracycline (TC) in aqueous solution and investigating the influence of several water parameters. The Fe-Cu-400/PMS system showed a greater TC degradation ability, and the degradation rate of TC was enhanced with an increase in the PMS concentration and the initial pH of the coupled Fe-Cu-400/PMS system. Anions including H2PO4-, HCO3-, and Cl- promoted TC degradation, whereas NO3- showed a low inhibitory influence. In addition, Fe-Cu-400 exhibited excellent reusability towards activating PMS for TC degradation after five runs of tests. Possible mechanisms of the activation of PMS by Fe-Cu-400 and the main reactive species were proposed based on radical identification tests and XPS analysis. Furthermore, a potential degradation pathway was proposed that included hydrolysis and sequential removal of N-methyl, hydroxyl, and amine functional groups according to the results of LC-MS and TOC detections.

Identification of Four C40 Isomers by Means of a Theoretical XPS/NEXAFS Spectra Study.

XPS and NEXAFS spectra of four stable C40 isomers [29( C2), 31( C s), 38( D2), and 39( D5 d)] have been investigated theoretically. We combined density functional theory and the full core hole potential method to simulate C 1s XPS and NEXAFS spectra for nonequivalent carbon atoms of four stable C40 fullerene isomers. The NEXAFS showed obvious dependence on the four C40 isomers, and XPS spectra are distinct for all four isomers, which can be employed to identify the four stable structures of C40. Furthermore, the individual components of the spectra according to different categories have been investigated, and the relationship between the spectra and the local structures of C atoms was also explored.

Ginsenoside Rb1 confers neuroprotection via promotion of glutamate transporters in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Ginsenoside Rb1 has been demonstrated to protect dopaminergic (DA) neurons from death in vitro. However, the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanism of Rb1 in treating Parkinson's disease (PD) remain uncharacterized. In this study, we explored the effects of Rb1 on the movement disorder and the underlying mechanisms based on the glutamatergic transmission and excitotoxicity in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD. Here, for the first time, we report that Rb1 treatment ameliorates motor deficits, prevents DA neuron death, and suppresses α-synuclein expression and astrogliosis in the MPTP mouse model of PD. Rb1 attenuates glutamate excitotoxicity by upregulating glutamate transporter expression and function, and modulating the nigrostriatal and cortico-nigral glutamatergic transmission pathways. Our results demonstrate that Rb1 increases glutamate transporter expression via nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B, regulates glutamate receptor expression and promotes synaptic protein expression. These results indicate that Rb1 suppresses glutamate excitotoxicity and modulates synaptic transmission to improve the impairments in motor functions of the MPTP model of PD, suggesting that Rb1 may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for PD.

QiShenYiQi pill attenuates atherosclerosis by promoting regulatory T cells, inhibiting T helper 17 cells and accelerating cholesterol excretion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore potential immunoregulatory mechanisms underlying the suppressive effect on atherosclerosis of QiShenYiQi pill (QSYQ). METHODS AND RESULTS: Male ApoE-/- mice were maintained on a Western-type diet and QSYQ treatment for eight weeks. Determination of atherosclerosis demonstrated that QSYQ attenuated plaque formation and decreased the level of blood low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol. QSYQ treatment did not affect body weight but reduced the ratio of liver weight and body weight. Western blots of liver showed that QSYQ increased the expression of liver X receptor alpha and ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 5. Western blots of atherosclerotic aorta revealed that QSYQ inhibited the expression of cluster of differentiation 36, promoted the expression of forkhead box P3 and decreased interleukin-17A expression. Western blots of spleen showed that QSYQ decreased the expression of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2/3 and forkhead box P3, as well as attenuated the expression of spleen interleukin-6, RAR-related orphan receptor gamma and interleukin-17A. CONCLUSIONS: QSYQ exerted an anti-atherosclerosis effect by promoting regulatory T cells in atherosclerotic lesion, inhibiting T helper 17 cells in plaque and spleen and accelerating liver cholesterol excretion.