Identifying potential imaging markers for diffusion property changes in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Application of the continuous time random walk model to ultrahigh b-value diffusion-weighted MR images of spinal cord tissue.

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) explores tissue microstructures by analyzing diffusion-weighted signal decay measured at different b-values. While relatively low b-values are used for most dMRI models, high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) techniques have gained interest given that the non-Gaussian water diffusion behavior observed at high b-values can yield potentially valuable information. In this study, we investigated anomalous diffusion behaviors associated with degeneration of spinal cord tissue using a continuous time random walk (CTRW) model for DWI data acquired across an extensive range of ultrahigh b-values. The diffusion data were acquired in situ from the lumbar level of spinal cords of wild-type and age-matched transgenic SOD1G93A mice, a well-established animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) featuring progressive degeneration of axonal tracts in this tissue. Based on the diffusion decay behaviors at low and ultrahigh b-values, we applied the CTRW model using various combinations of b-values and compared diffusion metrics calculated from the CTRW model between the experimental groups. We found that diffusion-weighted signal decay curves measured with ultrahigh b-values (up to 858,022 s/mm2 in this study) were well represented by the CTRW model. The anomalous diffusion coefficient obtained from lumbar spinal cords was significantly higher in SOD1G93A mice compared with control mice (14.7 × 10-5 ± 5.54 × 10-5  vs. 7.87 × 10-5 ± 2.48 × 10-5  mm2 /s, p = 0.01). We believe this is the first study to illustrate the efficacy of the CTRW model for analyzing anomalous diffusion regimes at ultrahigh b-values. The CTRW modeling of ultrahigh b-value dMRI can potentially present a novel approach for noninvasively evaluating alterations in spinal cord tissue associated with ALS pathology.

[Network Meta-analysis of 14 oral Chinese patent medicines combined with Azithromycin in treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children].

To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of 14 oral Chinese patent medicines combined with Azithromycin in the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children with network Meta-analysis. Computer retrieval was performed for such databases as CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, CBM, PubMed, EMbase and Cochrane Library to screen out randomized controlled trials of oral Chinese patent medicines combined with Azithromycin in the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children from the time of database establishment to September 2020. The included studies were evaluated by the Cochrane Risk Assessment tool. Stata 14.0 and Review Manager 5.3 software were used for data statistical analysis. A total of 60 RCTs were included in this study, involving 14 oral Chinese patent medicines. The efficacy ranking based on network Meta-analysis was as follows:(1)in terms of total effective rate, top five Chinese patent medicines in surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA) were Xiao'er Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liquid, Xiao'er Chiqiao Qingre Granules, Xiao'er Feike Granules, Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid and Lanqin Oral Liquid;(2)in terms of antifebrile time, top five Chinese patent medicines in SUCRA were Huaiqihuang Granules, Xiao'er Magan Granules, Xiao'er Kechuanling Granules/Oral Liquid, Shuanghuang-lian Oral Liquid for children and Xiao'er Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liquid;(3)in terms of cough disappearance time, top five Chinese patent medicines in SUCRA were Xiao'er Magan Granules, Huaiqihuang Granules, Xiao'er Chiqiao Qingre Granules, Xiao'er Feire Kechuan Oral Liquid and Xiao'er Kechuanling Granules/Oral Liquid;(4)in terms of rale disappearance time, top five Chinese patent medicines in SUCRA were Xiao'er Magan Granules, Huaiqihuang Granules, Xiao'er Feire Kechuan Oral Liquid, Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid for children and Yupingfeng Granules. The results showed that on the basis of the use of Azithromycin, combined administration with oral Chinese patent medicines could improve the overall clinical efficacy in the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children. However, due to the large differences in the quality and the number of included studies among various therapeutic measures, the ranking results of SUCRA of Chinese patent medicines need to be verified by high-quality multi-center, large-sample, randomized double-blind trials in the future.

Bursting interneurons in the deep dorsal horn develop increased excitability and sensitivity to serotonin after chronic spinal injury.

The loss of descending serotonin (5-HT) to the spinal cord contributes to muscle spasms in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Hyperexcitable motoneurons receive long-lasting excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), which activate their persistent inward currents to drive muscle spasms. Deep dorsal horn (DDH) neurons with bursting behavior could be involved in triggering the EPSPs due to loss of inhibition in the chronically 5-HT-deprived spinal cord. Previously, in an acutely transected preparation, we found that bursting DDH neurons were affected by administration of the 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist zolmitriptan, which suppressed their bursts, and by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), which enhanced their bursting behavior. Nonbursting DDH neurons were not influenced by these agents. In the present study, we investigate the firing characteristics of bursting DDH neurons following chronic spinal transection at T10 level in adult mice and examine the effects of replacing lost endogenous 5-HT with zolmitriptan. Terminal experiments using our in vitro preparation of the sacral cord were carried out ~10 wk postransection. Compared with the acute spinal stage of our previous study, DDH neurons in the chronic stage became more responsive to dorsal root stimulation, with burst duration doubling with chronic injury. The suppressive effects of zolmitriptan were stronger overall, but the facilitative effects of NMDA were weaker. In addition, the onset of DDH neuron activity preceded ventral root output and the firing rates of DDH interneurons correlated with the integrated long-lasting ventral root output. These results support a contribution of the bursting DDH neurons to muscle spasms following SCI and inhibition by 5-HT.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We investigate the firing characteristics of bursting deep dorsal horn (DDH) neurons following chronic spinal transection. DDH neurons in the chronic stage are different from those in the acute stage as noted by their increase in excitability overall and their differing responses serotonin (5-HT) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonists. Also, there is a strong relationship between DDH neuron activity and ventral root output. These results support a contribution of the bursting DDH neurons to muscle spasms following chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Acyloxyacyl hydrolase modulates pelvic pain severity.

Chronic pelvic pain causes significant patient morbidity and is a challenge to clinicians. Using a murine neurogenic cystitis model that recapitulates key aspects of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC), we recently showed that pseudorabies virus (PRV) induces severe pelvic allodynia in BALB/c mice relative to C57BL/6 mice. Here, we report that a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of PRV-induced allodynia in F2CxB progeny identified a polymorphism on chromosome 13, rs6314295 , significantly associated with allodynia (logarithm of odds = 3.11). The nearby gene encoding acyloxyacyl hydrolase ( Aoah) was induced in the sacral spinal cord of PRV-infected mice. AOAH-deficient mice exhibited increased vesicomotor reflex in response to bladder distension, consistent with spontaneous bladder hypersensitivity, and increased pelvic allodynia in neurogenic cystitis and postbacterial chronic pain models. AOAH deficiency resulted in greater bladder pathology and tumor necrosis factor production in PRV neurogenic cystitis, markers of increased bladder mast cell activation. AOAH immunoreactivity was detectable along the bladder-brain axis, including in brain sites previously correlated with human chronic pelvic pain. Finally, AOAH-deficient mice had significantly higher levels of bladder vascular endothelial growth factor, an emerging marker of chronic pelvic pain in humans. These findings indicate that AOAH modulates pelvic pain severity, suggesting that allelic variation in Aoah influences pelvic pain in IC.

The transformation of synaptic to system plasticity in motor output from the sacral cord of the adult mouse.

Synaptic plasticity is fundamental in shaping the output of neural networks. The transformation of synaptic plasticity at the cellular level into plasticity at the system level involves multiple factors, including behavior of local networks of interneurons. Here we investigate the synaptic to system transformation for plasticity in motor output in an in vitro preparation of the adult mouse spinal cord. System plasticity was assessed from compound action potentials (APs) in spinal ventral roots, which were generated simultaneously by the axons of many motoneurons (MNs). Synaptic plasticity was assessed from intracellular recordings of MNs. A computer model of the MN pool was used to identify the middle steps in the transformation from synaptic to system behavior. Two input systems that converge on the same MN pool were studied: one sensory and one descending. The two synaptic input systems generated very different motor outputs, with sensory stimulation consistently evoking short-term depression (STD) whereas descending stimulation had bimodal plasticity: STD at low frequencies but short-term facilitation (STF) at high frequencies. Intracellular and pharmacological studies revealed contributions from monosynaptic excitation and stimulus time-locked inhibition but also considerable asynchronous excitation sustained from local network activity. The computer simulations showed that STD in the monosynaptic excitatory input was the primary driver of the system STD in the sensory input whereas network excitation underlies the bimodal plasticity in the descending system. These results provide insight on the roles of plasticity in the monosynaptic and polysynaptic inputs converging on the same MN pool to overall motor plasticity.

A Case Report of Concurrent Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis, Renal Cell Carcinoma, and Papillary Thyroid Cancer After Renal Transplantation: A Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment option for eligible patients with end-stage renal disease. With advanced transplantation technology and novel immunosuppressive agents, kidney transplant recipients survive significantly longer. However, the chance of developing malignant tumors has increased, posing a serious challenge to the survival of transplanted kidneys and patients. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a male patient (the patient's informed consent has been obtained) who underwent kidney transplantation 23 years ago. Subsequently, he developed transplant renal artery stenosis, primary renal clear cell carcinoma, and papillary thyroid cancer. The narrowed blood vessels were dilated through percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, and the malignant tumor was removed surgically. Currently, antirejection drugs are regularly taken, and the transplanted kidney function is good. The patient is satisfied with his living conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension that is difficult to control after kidney transplantation should be suspected as a possibility of graft vascular stenosis. When B-ultrasound cannot accurately diagnose it, magnetic resonance angiography should be used as early as possible to clarify the diagnosis and relieve the stenosis before graft dysfunction. Transplantation patients have a high incidence of malignant tumors after surgery, and the risk increases with the prolongation of the disease course. The focus should be on symptomatic treatment of related diseases, and antirejection drugs can be reduced or not reduced as appropriate.

Integrating metabolomics and network pharmacology to assess the effects of quercetin on lung inflammatory injury induced by human respiratory syncytial virus.

Quercetin (QR) has significant anti-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) effects. However, its therapeutic mechanism has not been thoroughly explored. In this study, a lung inflammatory injury model caused by RSV was established in mice. Untargeted lung tissue metabolomics was used to identify differential metabolites and metabolic pathways. Network pharmacology was used to predict potential therapeutic targets of QR and analyze biological functions and pathways modulated by QR. By overlapping the results of the metabolomics and the network pharmacology analyses, the common targets of QR that were likely to be involved in the amelioration of RSV-induced lung inflammatory injury by QR were identified. Metabolomics analysis identified 52 differential metabolites and 244 corresponding targets, while network pharmacology analysis identified 126 potential targets of QR. By intersecting these 244 targets with the 126 targets, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT1), thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP), lactoperoxidase (LPO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and cytochrome P450 19A1 (CYP19A1) were identified as the common targets. The key targets, HPRT1, TYMP, LPO, and MPO, were components of purine metabolic pathways. The present study demonstrated that QR effectively ameliorated RSV-induced lung inflammatory injury in the established mouse model. Combining metabolomics and network pharmacology showed that the anti-RSV effect of QR was closely associated with purine metabolism pathways.

Metabolomics changes in brain-gut axis after unpredictable chronic mild stress.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder is a leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting up to 17 % of the general population. The neural mechanisms of depression, however, are yet to be uncovered. Recently, attention has been drawn to the effects of dysfunctional brain-gut axis on depression, and many substances have been suggested to be involved in the communication between the gut and brain, such as ghrelin. METHODS: We herein systematically examined the changes of metabolomics after unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)-induced depression-like behaviors in rats and compared the altered metabolites in the hippocampus and jejunum samples. RESULTS: Our results show that many metabolites significantly changed with UCMS both in the hippocampus and jejunum, such as L-glutamine, L-tyrosine, hydroxylamine, and 3-phosphoglyceric acid. Further studies suggested that these changes are the reasons for anxiety-like behaviors and depression-like behaviors in UCMS rats and also are the reasons for hippocampal neural plasticity. CONCLUSIONS: Coexistence of brain and gut metabolic changes in UCMS-induced depressive behavior in rats suggests a possible role of brain-gut axis in depression. This study provides insights into the neurobiology of depression.

Immune-related gene-based prognostic index for predicting survival and immunotherapy outcomes in colorectal carcinoma.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer shows high incidence and mortality rates. Immune checkpoint blockade can be used to treat colorectal carcinoma (CRC); however, it shows limited effectiveness in most patients. Methods: To identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors, we constructed an immune-related gene prognostic index (IRGPI) for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with CRC. Transcriptome datasets and clinical information of patients with CRC were used to identify differential immune-related genes between tumor and para-carcinoma tissue. Using weighted correlation network analysis and Cox regression analysis, the IRGPI was constructed, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate its predictive ability. We also analyzed the molecular and immune characteristics between IRGPI high-and low-risk subgroups, performed sensitivity analysis of ICI treatment, and constructed overall survival-related receiver operating characteristic curves to validate the IRGPI. Finally, IRGPI genes and tumor immune cell infiltration in CRC model mice with orthotopic metastases were analyzed to verify the results. Results: The IRGPI was constructed based on the following 11 hub genes: ADIPOQ, CD36, CCL24, INHBE, UCN, IL1RL2, TRIM58, RBCK1, MC1R, PPARGC1A, and LGALS2. Patients with CRC in the high-risk subgroup showed longer overall survival than those in the low-risk subgroup, which was confirmed by GEO database. Clinicopathological features associated with cancer progression significantly differed between the high- and low-risk subgroups. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis of immune infiltration showed that the increased infiltration of naïve B cells, macrophages M1, and regulatory T cells and reduced infiltration of resting dendritic cells and mast cells led to a worse overall survival in patients with CRC. The ORC curves revealed that IRGPI predicted patient survival more sensitive than the published tumor immune dysfunction and rejection and tumor inflammatory signature. Discussion: Thus, the low-risk subgroup is more likely to benefit from ICIs than the high-risk subgroup. CRC model mice showed higher proportions of Tregs, M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages and lower proportions of B cells, memory B cell immune cell infiltration, which is consistent with the IRGPI results. The IRGPI can predict the prognosis of patients with CRC, reflect the CRC immune microenvironment, and distinguish patients who are likely to benefit from ICI therapy.

The Involvement of CaV1.3 Channels in Prolonged Root Reflexes and Its Potential as a Therapeutic Target in Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in not only the loss of voluntary muscle control, but also in the presence of involuntary movement or spasms. These spasms post-SCI involve hyperexcitability in the spinal motor system. Hyperactive motor commands post SCI result from enhanced excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and persistent inward currents in voltage-gated L-type calcium channels (LTCCs), which are reflected in evoked root reflexes with different timings. To further understand the contributions of these cellular mechanisms and to explore the involvement of LTCC subtypes in SCI-induced hyperexcitability, we measured root reflexes with ventral root recordings and motoneuron activities with intracellular recordings in an in vitro preparation using a mouse model of chronic SCI (cSCI). Specifically, we explored the effects of 1-(3-chlorophenethyl)-3-cyclopentylpyrimidine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)-trione (CPT), a selective negative allosteric modulator of CaV1.3 LTCCs. Our results suggest a hyperexcitability in the spinal motor system in these SCI mice. Bath application of CPT displayed slow onset but dose-dependent inhibition of the root reflexes with the strongest effect on LLRs. However, the inhibitory effect of CPT is less potent in cSCI mice than in acute SCI (aSCI) mice, suggesting changes either in composition of CaV1.3 or other cellular mechanisms in cSCI mice. For intracellular recordings, the intrinsic plateau potentials, was observed in more motoneurons in cSCI mice than in aSCI mice. CPT inhibited the plateau potentials and reduced motoneuron firings evoked by intracellular current injection. These results suggest that the LLR is an important target and that CPT has potential in the therapy of SCI-induced muscle spasms.

Network Pharmacology-Based and Experimental Identification of the Effects of Paeoniflorin on Major Depressive Disorder.

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, the diagnosis and treatment of MDD are major clinical issues. However, there is a lack of effective biomarkers and drugs diagnosis and therapeutics of MDD. In the present study, bioinformatics analysis combined with an experimental verification strategy was used to identify biomarkers and paeoniflorin targets for MDD diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Based on network pharmacology, we obtained potential targets and pathways of paeoniflorin as an antidepressant through multiple databases. We then constructed a protein-protein interaction network and performed enrichment analyses. According to the results, we performed in vivo and in vitro experimental validation. Results: The results showed that paeoniflorin may exert an antidepressant effect by regulating cell inflammation, synaptic function, NF-κB signaling pathway, and intestinal inflammation. Conclusion: NPM1, HSPA8, HSPA5, HNRNPU, and TNF are the targets of paeoniflorin treatment. In addition, we demonstrated that paeoniflorin inhibits inflammatory cytokine production via the p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway and has neuroprotective effects on the synaptic structure. Our findings provide valuable evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of MDD.

Emotion Induced Monoamine Neuromodulator Release Affects Functional Neurological Disorders.

Functional neurologic disorders (FNDs), also called conversion disorder (previously called hysteria), can show almost all the symptoms of other neurological diseases, including both physical (for example, seizure, weakness, fatigue) and psychological (for instance, depression, anxiety) symptoms. In spite of our general knowledge about emotional processes and developmental defects in the formation of these somatic symptoms, there is still no systemic and comprehensive research on the effects of emotional developmental variables in FND. Recently, both experimental and theoretical emotion studies have been greatly increased, such as prediction error, conceptual act model, basic emotional theory, and monoamine neuromodulator based three primary emotions. In addition, a large amount of evidence has confirmed the role of psychosocial adversity (such as stressful life events, interpersonal difficulties) as an important risk factor for FND. Here, we review recent advances about emotional stress on FND, and pay special attention to the effects of monoamine neuromodulators, such as how norepinephrine and serotonin affect behaviors. Then, we discuss the significance of these changes for FND, which may contribute to clarifying the pathogenesis of FND, and thus provide potential therapeutic drug targets or psychological intervention methods in the future.

Electroacupuncture effects on the P2X4R pathway in microglia regulating the excitability of neurons in the substantia gelatinosa region of rats with spinal nerve ligation.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to treat neuropathic pain induced by peripheral nerve injury (PNI) by applying an electrical current to acupoints with acupuncture needles. However, the mechanisms by which EA treats pain remain indistinct. High P2X4 receptor (P2X4R) expression levels demonstrate a notable increase in hyperactive microglia in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn following PNI. In order to demonstrate the possibility that EA analgesia is mediated in part by P2X4R in hyperactive microglia, the present study performed mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) tests in male Sprague­Dawley rats that had undergone spinal nerve ligation (SNL). The expression levels of spinal P2X4R were determined using reverse transcription­quantitative PCR, western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) were recorded using whole­cell patch clamp to demonstrate the effect of EA on synaptic transmission in rat spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons. The results of the present study demonstrated that EA increased the MWT and TWL and decreased overexpression of P2X4R in hyperactive microglia in SNL rats. Moreover, EA attenuated the frequency of sEPSCs in SG neurons in SNL rats. The results of the present study indicate that EA may mediate P2X4R in hyperactive spinal microglia to inhibit nociceptive transmission of SG neurons, thus relieving pain in SNL rats.

Progressive changes in synaptic inputs to motoneurons in adult sacral spinal cord of a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive degeneration of motoneurons. One potential mechanism is excitotoxicity. We studied the behaviors of spinal neurons using an in vitro preparation of the sacral cord from the G93A SOD1 mouse model of ALS. Measurements were conducted at presymptomatic [approximately postnatal day 50 (approximately P50)], early (approximately P90), and late (>P120) stages of the disease. Short-latency reflexes (SRs) in ventral roots, presumably monosynaptic, were evoked by electrical stimulation of a dorsal root. The fraction of motoneurons capable of responding to this activation was evaluated by measuring the compound action potential [total motor activity (TMA)] evoked by antidromic stimulation of the distal ventral root. In mutant SOD1 (mSOD1) mice, both the SR and the TMA decreased with age compared with nontransgenic littermates, ruling out the SR as a source of increasing excitotoxicity. Spinal interneuron activity was assessed using the synchronized ventral root bursts generated by both bath application of blockers of inhibitory neurotransmitters (glycine, GABA(A)) and agonists of glutamate receptors (especially NMDA receptors). After symptom onset, a higher percentage of preparations from mSOD1 mice exhibited bursting, and these bursts exhibited more sub-bursts and a more disorganized pattern. In mSOD1 mice with clear muscle tremor, the ventral roots exhibited spontaneous synchronized bursts, which were highly sensitive to the blockade of NMDA receptors. These data suggest that although short-latency sensory input does not increase as symptoms develop, interneuron activity does increase and may contribute to excitotoxicity.

Early Life Stress Induced DNA Methylation of Monoamine Oxidases Leads to Depressive-Like Behavior.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is coming to be the regarded as one of the leading causes for human disabilities. Due to its complicated pathological process, the etiology is still unclear and the treatment is still targeting at the monoamine neurotransmitters. Early life stress has been known as a major cause for MDD, but how early life stress affects adult monoaminergic activity is not clear either. Recently, DNA methylation is considered to be the key mechanism of epigenetics and might play a role in early life stress induced mental illness. DNA methylation is an enzymatic covalent modification of DNA, has been one of the main epigenetic mechanisms investigated. The metabolic enzyme for the monoamine neurotransmitters, monoamine oxidases A/B (MAO A/MAO B) are the prime candidates for the investigation into the role of DNA methylation in mental disorders. In this review, we will review recent advances about the structure and physiological function of monoamine oxidases (MAO), brief narrative other factors include stress induced changes, early life stress, perinatal depression (PD) relationship with other epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, microRNA (miRNA). This review will shed light on the epigenetic changes involved in MDD, which may provide potential targets for future therapeutics in depression pathogenesis.

Multicomponent diffusion analysis reveals microstructural alterations in spinal cord of a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ex vivo.

The microstructure changes associated with degeneration of spinal axons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be reflected in altered water diffusion properties, potentially detectable with diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI. Prior work revealed the classical mono-exponential model fails to precisely depict decay in DW signal at high b-values. In this study, we aim to investigate signal decay behaviors at ultra-high b-values for non-invasive assessment of spinal cord alterations in the transgenic SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. A multiexponential diffusion analysis using regularized non-negative least squares (rNNLS) algorithm was applied to a series of thirty DW MR images with b-values ranging from 0 to 858,022 s/mm2 on ex vivo spinal cords of transgenic SOD1G93A and age-matched control mice. We compared the distributions of measured diffusion coefficient fractions between the groups. The measured diffusion weighted signals in log-scale showed non-linear decay behaviors with increased b-values. Faster signal decays were observed with diffusion gradients applied parallel to the long axis of the spinal cord compared to when oriented in the transverse direction. Multiexponential analysis at the lumbar level in the spinal cord identified ten subintervals. A significant decrease of diffusion coefficient fractions was found in the ranges of [1.63×10-8,3.70×10-6] mm2/s (P = 0.0002) and of [6.01×10-6,4.20×10-5] mm2/s (P = 0.0388) in SOD1G93A mice. Anisotropic diffusion signals persisted at ultra-high b-value DWIs of the mouse spinal cord and multiexponential diffusion analysis offers the potential to evaluate microstructural alterations of ALS-affected spinal cord non-invasively.

Effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for pediatric adenoid hypertrophy: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Chinese herbal medicine has been gradually used to treat pediatric adenoid hypertrophy. This meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of pediatric adenoid hypertrophy. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials involving Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of pediatric adenoid hypertrophy were identified from Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Database, Wanfang Database and VIP Information Database. The methodological quality of trials was evaluated with Cochrane Handbook criteria, and the Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 13 valid articles involving 1038 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that: Compared with western medicine treatment, Chinese herbal medicine significantly improved clinical efficacy (RR = 1.33, 95% CI [1.24,1.43]), and significantly decreased A/N ratio (MD = -0.04,95%CI [-0.05,-0.03]). Chinese herbal medicine also prominently improved the quality of life (MD = -4.77,95%CI [-8.35,-1.20]). Meanwhile, it dramatically improved snoring (MD = -0.46,95%CI [-0.62,-0.30]); mouth breathing (MD = -0.52,95%CI [-0.66,-0.39]); nasal obstruction (MD = -0.56,95%CI [-0.68,-0.45]). CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicine has good clinical efficacy and safety on pediatric adenoid hypertrophy, which need to be confirmed by high quality, multiple-centre, large sample randomized controlled trials.

Hyperexcitability in synaptic and firing activities of spinal motoneurons in an adult mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Hyperexcitability is hypothesized to contribute to the degeneration of spinal motoneurons (MNs) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Studies, thus far, have not linked hyperexcitability to the intrinsic properties of MNs in the adult ALS mouse model with the G93A-mutated SOD1 protein (mSOD1G93A). In this study, we obtained two types of measurements: ventral root recordings to assess motor output and intracellular recordings to assess synaptic properties of individual MNs. All studies were carried out in an in vitro preparation of the sacral spinal cords of mSOD1G93A mice and their non-transgenic (NT) littermates, both in the age range of 50-90days. Ventral root recordings revealed that maximum compound action potentials (coAPs) evoked by a short-train stimulation of corresponding dorsal roots were similar between the two types of mice. Although the progressive depression of coAPs was present during the train stimulation in all recordings, the coAP depression in mSOD1G93A mice was to a lesser extent, which suggests an increased firing tendency in mSOD1G93A MNs. Intracellular recordings showed no changes in fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in mSOD1G93A MNs. However, recording did show that oscillating EPSPs (oEPSPs) were induced by poly-EPSPs at a higher frequency and by less-intense electrical stimulation in mSOD1G93A MNs. These oEPSPs were dependent upon the activities of spinal network and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), and were subjected to riluzole modulation. Taken together, these findings revealed abnormal electrophysiology in mSOD1G93A MNs that could underlie ALS excitotoxicity.

The regulatory effect of electro-acupuncture on the expression of NMDA receptors in a SCI rat model.

BACKGROUND: In early spinal cord injury (SCI), glutamate receptors, including N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs), are over-stimulated by excessively released glutamate. The enhanced activity of NMDARs may cause cell death by overloading calcium (Ca2+) into cells based on their high permeability to Ca2+. Studies in SCI animals have shown that treatment with electro-acupuncture (EA) is able to reduce cell death and to improve functional recovery. One possible mechanism of this neuroprotective effect is that EA has regulatory effect on NMDARs. AIMS: To test whether EA could protect the spinal cord after SCI by decreasing the expression levels of NR1 and NR2A. MAIN METHODS: We conducted EA treatment on a rat SCI model produced with a New York University (NYU) Impactor and measured hindlimb locomotor function by Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale (BBB Scale). The expression of NR1 and NR2, the subunits of NMDARs, in the injured spinal cord was measured by Immunofluorescence stainings, western blot and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). KEY FINDING: Our results showed that two days after the SCI the expression of NR1 and NR2 were dramatically enhanced at both protein and mNRA levels, which were significantly reduced by EA treatment at two specific acupoints, Dazhui (DU14) and Mingmen (DU4). SIGNIFICANCE: EA is a potential therapeutic method for treating early SCI in human.

Parabrachial-lateral pontine neurons link nociception and breathing.

We investigated the role of the parabrachial complex in cutaneous nociceptor-induced respiratory stimulation in chloralose-urethane anesthetized, vagotomized rats. Noxious stimulation (mustard oil, MO) applied topically to a forelimb or hindlimb enhanced the peak amplitude of the integrated phrenic nerve discharge and, with forelimb application, increased phrenic nerve burst frequency. Bilateral inactivation of neural activity in the parabrachial complex with injection of the GABA agonist muscimol (3nl) markedly attenuated the response to MO application. Injection of the retrograde tracer FluoroGold within the medullary ventral respiratory column labeled neurons in dorsolateral pontine regions known to receive nociceptive inputs (i.e., Kolliker-Fuse, lateral crescent, and superior lateral subnuclei of the parabrachial complex). Extracellular recordings of 65 dorsolateral parabrachial neurons revealed about 15% responded to a noxious cutaneous pinch with either an increase or a decrease in discharge and approximately 40% of these exhibited a phasic respiratory-related component to their discharge. In conclusion, parabrachial pontine neurons contribute to cutaneous nociceptor-induced increases in breathing.