Three thousand years of Hg pollution recorded in mangrove wetland sediments from South China.

Mercury (Hg) is known to affect aquatic, terrestrial ecosystems as well as human health, through biomagnification. Mangrove wetlands are potential Hg sinks because of their low tidal velocity, fast sedimentation rate, strong reducing condition and high organic matter content. The spatial and temporal distribution of Hg has been a hot topic of recent studies in mangrove wetlands. In this study, we investigated Hg concentration, accumulation rate and isotopes to reconstruct the Hg pollution history and to differentiate its potential sources in the Gaoqiao mangrove wetland (Guangdong province), which is part of the largest mangrove area in China. We reconstructed a first, continuous, high-resolution Hg pollution history over the last 3000 years in South China. Our findings show that mangrove wetland sediments are more enriched in Hg than the adjacent grasslands. The increased Hg concentration and δ202Hg in recent sediments mirror the enhanced anthropogenic impacts; Hg concentrations in areas with high levels of anthropogenic disturbance are up to 5× higher than the average background value (9.9 ± 1.2 µg kg-1). Compared to mangroves in coastal areas of South China and around the world, the Hg concentration in Gaoqiao is much lower. The significant increase of Hg since the 1950s and the major Hg peak since the 1980s were the evidence of the human activities influences and indicated the possible start date of Anthropocene. After 2007 CE, a decline in Hg pollution occurs due to the effective implementation of the mangrove protection policy. Three potential sources were identified by the Hg isotope traces including urban gaseous Hg, industrial Hg, and regional soil and leaf litter Hg input.

The influence of Life's Essential 8 on the link between socioeconomic status and depression in adults: a mediation analysis.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES) are at a higher risk of developing depression. However, evidence on the role of cardiovascular health (CVH) in this chain is sparse and limited. The purpose of this research was to assess the mediating role of Life's Essential 8 (LE8), a recently updated measurement of CVH, in the association between SES and depression according to a nationally representative sample of adults. METHODS: Data was drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2013-2018. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the association of SES (measured via the ratio of family income to poverty (FIPR), occupation, educational level, and health insurance) and LE8 with clinically relevant depression (CRD) (evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between SES and LE8. Mediation analysis was carried out to explore the mediating effect of LE8 on the association between SES and CRD. Moreover, these associations were still analyzed by sex, age, and race. RESULTS: A total of 4745 participants with complete PHQ-9 surveys and values to calculated LE8 and SES were included. In the fully adjusted model, individuals with high SES had a significantly higher risk of CRD (odds ratio = 0.21; 95% confidence interval: 0.136 to 0.325, P < 0.01) compared with those with low SES. Moreover, LE8 was estimated to mediate 22.13% of the total association between SES and CRD, and the mediating effect of LE8 varied in different sex and age groups. However, the mediating effect of LE8 in this chain was significant in different sex, age, and racial subgroups except for Mexican American (MA) individuals. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that LE8 could mediate the association between SES and CRD. Additionally, the mediating effect of LE8 in this chain could be influenced by the race of participants.

A baseline study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons distribution, source and ecological risk in Zhanjiang mangrove wetlands, South China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental contaminants and pose a severe threat to human health. Here, 38 surface sediment samples collected from the Gaoqiao mangrove wetland in Zhanjiang, south China, were analyzed to determine 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority PAHs. Total PAHs concentrations ranged from 33.5 µg/kg to 404.8 µg/kg with an average of 147.7 ± 77.7 µg/kg, inferring a moderate pollution level. Three and four-ring compounds dominated the PAHs composition patterns. Significant positive correlations were observed between the PAHs and the physicochemical properties of the sediments. According to the characteristic molecular ratio method, PAHs in sediments were mainly derived from combustion sources, including the incomplete combustion of liquid fossil fuels, grass, wood, and coal. The result based on the PMF model indicates that the primary combustion sources of PAHs are coal combustion, diesel-powered vehicles, biomass combustion and gasoline-powered vehicles, with a share of 39.01%, 25.21%, 12.72% and 10.48%, respectively. The petrogenic source contributes 12.58% PAHs to the sediments. The mean effects range median quotient (m-ERM-Q) and toxic equivalent method (TEQ) indicate a low comprehensive ecological risk of PAHs in the study area. Still, the evaluation results of effects range low (ERL) suggest that PAHs in the sediment would occasionally have adverse biological effects. Therefore, this situation demands attention and calls for protection strategies in the processes of urbanization and industrialization in south China.

A novel model to predict mental distress among medical graduate students in China.

BACKGROUND: Poor mental health was reported among medical graduate students in some studies. Identification of risk factors for predicting the mental health is capable of reducing psychological distress among medical graduate students. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify potential risk factors relating to mental health and further create a novel prediction model to calculate the risk of mental distress among medical graduate students. METHODS: This study collected and analyzed 1079 medical graduate students via an online questionnaire. Included participants were randomly classified into a training group and a validation group. A model was developed in the training group and validation of the model was performed in the validation group. The predictive performance of the model was assessed using the discrimination and calibration. RESULTS: One thousand and fifteen participants were enrolled and then randomly divided into the training group (n = 508) and the validation group (n = 507). The prevalence of severe mental distress was 14.96% in the training group, and 16.77% in the validation group. The model was developed using the six variables, including the year of study, type of student, daily research time, monthly income, scientific learning style, and feeling of time stress. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and calibration slope for the model were 0.70 and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.65 ~ 1.15) in the training group, respectively, and 0.66 and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.51 ~ 1.09) in the validation group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified six risk factors for predicting anxiety and depression and successfully created a prediction model. The model may be a useful tool that can identify the mental status among medical graduate students. TRIAL REGISTRATION: No. ChiCTR2000039574 , prospectively registered on 1 November 2020.

α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Mediates the Neuroprotection of Remote Ischemic Postconditioning in a Rat Model of Asphyxial Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPost) has been shown to reduce the ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart and brain. However, the protection mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. We have observed that RIPost could alleviate the brain injury after cardiac arrest (CA). The aim of this study was to explore whether α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) mediates the neuroprotection of RIPost in a rat model of asphyxial CA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Asphyxial CA model was induced by occlusion of the tracheal tube for 8 min and resuscitated later. RIPost produced by three cycles of 15-min occlusion and 15-min release of the right hind limb by a tourniquet was performed respectively at the moment and the third hour after restoration of spontaneous circulation. The α7nAChR agonist PHA-543613 and the antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) were used to investigate the role of α7nAChR in mediating neuroprotective effects. RESULTS: Results showed that α7nAChR was decreased in hippocampus and cortex after resuscitation, whereas RIPost could attenuate the reduction. The use of PHA-543613 provided neuroprotective effects against cerebral injury after CA. Furthermore, RIPost decreased the levels of neuron-specific enolase, inflammatory mediators, the number of apoptotic cells, and phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB while increased the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3. However, the above effects of RIPost were attenuated by α7nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroprotection of RIPost was related with the activation of α7nAChR, which could suppress nuclear factor-κB and activate signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 in a rat asphyxial CA model.

MicroRNA-16 Regulates Myeloblastosis Oncogene Expression to Affect Differentiation of Acute Leukemia Cells.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of micro-RNA-16 (miR-16)-regulated expression of myeloblastosis oncogene (MYB) on the differentiation of acute leukemia cells, the expressions of miR-16 and MYB mRNA, and protein in differently differentiated leukemia cells were detected by real-time PCR and western blot. METHODS: 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25 D3) induced monocytic differentiation of HL60 cells, and the resulting changes in miR-16 and MYB expressions were detected. Morphology of the cells induced by 1,25 D3, after being transfection with miR-16 mimics, was observed by Wright-Giemsa staining. The expression of mononuclear cell surface marker CD14 was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Minimum miR-16 was expressed in early-differentiation KG-1a cells, while late-differentiation U937 and THP-1 cells had higher expressions (p < 0.01). The expressions of MYB changed oppositely. During the monocytic differentiation of HL60 cells, miR-16 expression showed a time-dependent increase, but MYB expression gradually decreased. Overexpression of miR-16 in HL60 cells promoted 1,25 D3-induced morphological changes and CD14 expression (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MR-16 facilitated the monocytic differentiation of leukemia HL60 cells by negatively regulating MYB expression.

Spatial driving forces of dominant land use/land cover transformations in the Dongjiang River watershed, Southern China.

Information about changes in, and causes of, land use/land cover (LULC) is crucial for land use resource planning. We investigated the processes involved in LULC change (LUCC) in the Dongjiang Watershed, in Southern China, over a 15-year period to gain a better understanding of the causes of the main types of LUCC. Using a depth transition matrix and redundancy analysis (RDA), the major types and causes of LUCC for each LULC type over the past 15 years were identified. LUCC exhibited obvious net change, relatively low persistence, and high swap change. The swap changes in most LULC types were considered as a strong signal of LULC transformations. The driving forces behind swap changes were quantified and identified through RDA. The results showed that all driving forces played important roles in explaining swap changes of LULC, although the relative effects of these drivers varied widely with both LULC type and time period. Swap changes of the LULC types were generally classified into two categories. Some, e.g., built-up land and wetland, were affected mostly by landform and/or distance factors, while others, e.g., grassland and woodland, were modulated mostly by climate and/or socioeconomic factors. Selected spatial driving forces and local land use policies played important roles in explaining the dominant LUCC types, but on different timescales. These findings may improve understanding of the detailed processes involved in LUCC, landscape transformation, and the causes of LUCC in other areas with extensive LUCC and could help managers plan, design, and implement land resource management.

Human activity has increasingly affected recent carbon accumulation in Zhanjiang mangrove wetland, South China.

Mangrove wetlands are an important component of blue carbon (C) ecosystems, although the anthropogenic impact on organic C accumulation rate (OCAR) in mangrove wetlands is not yet clear. Three sediment cores were collected from Zhanjiang Gaoqiao Mangrove Reserve in Southern China, dated by 210Pb and 137Cs, and physico-chemical parameters measured. Results show that the OCARs in mangroves and grasslands have significantly increased by 4.4 and 1.3 times, respectively, since 1950, which is consistent with the transformation of organic C sources and the increase of sedimentation rate. This increment is due to increased soil erosion and nutrient enrichment caused by land use change and the discharge of fertilizer runoff and aquaculture wastewater. This study provides clear evidence for understanding the changes in organic C accumulation processes during the Anthropocene and is conducive to promoting the realization of C peak and neutrality targets.

Regional ventilation distribution before and after laparoscopic lung parenchymal resection.

Objective.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of one-sided pulmonary nodule and tumour on ventilation distribution pre- and post- partial lung resection.Approach.A total of 40 consecutive patients scheduled for laparoscopic lung parenchymal resection were included. Ventilation distribution was measured with electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in supine and surgery lateral positions 72 h before surgery (T1) and 48 h after extubation (T2). Left lung to global ventilation ratio (Fl), the global inhomogeneity index (GI), standard deviation of regional ventilation delay (RVDSD) and pendelluft amplitude (Apendelluft) were calculated to assess the spatial and temporal ventilation distribution.Main results.After surgery (T2), ventilation at the operated chest sides generally deteriorated compared to T1 as expected. For right-side resection, the differences were significant at both supine and left lateral positions (p< 0.001). The change of RVDSDwas in general more heterogeneous. For left-side resection, RVDSDwas worse at T2 compared to T1 at left lateral position (p= 0.002). The other EIT-based parameters showed no significant differences between the two time points. No significant differences were observed between supine and lateral positions for the same time points respectively.Significance.In the present study, we found that the surgery side influenced the ventilation distribution. When the resection was performed on the right lung, the postoperative ipsilateral ventilation was reduced and the right lung ratio fell significantly. When the resection was on the left lung, the ventilation delay was significantly increased.

Sodium hydrosulfide alleviates lung inflammation and cell apoptosis following resuscitated hemorrhagic shock in rats.

AIM: To investigate the protective effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) against inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis in a rat model of resuscitated hemorrhagic shock. METHODS: Hemorrhagic shock was induced in adult male SD rats by drawing blood from the femoral artery for 10 min. The mean arterial pressure was maintained at 35-40 mmHg for 1.5 h. After resuscitation the animals were observed for 200 min, and then killed. The lungs were harvested and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was prepared. The levels of relevant proteins were examined using Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses. NaHS (28 µmol/kg, ip) was injected before the resuscitation. RESULTS: Resuscitated hemorrhagic shock induced lung inflammatory responses and significantly increased the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Furthermore, resuscitated hemorrhagic shock caused marked oxidative stress in lung tissue as shown by significant increases in the production of reactive oxygen species H2O2 and ·OH, the translocation of Nrf2, an important regulator of antioxidant expression, into nucleus, and the decrease of thioredoxin 1 expression. Moreover, resuscitated hemorrhagic shock markedly increased the expression of death receptor Fas and Fas-ligand and the number apoptotic cells in lung tissue, as well as the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins FADD, active-caspase 3, active-caspase 8, Bax, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2. Injection with NaHS significantly attenuated these pathophysiological abnormalities induced by the resuscitated hemorrhagic shock. CONCLUSION: NaHS administration protects rat lungs against inflammatory responses induced by resuscitated hemorrhagic shock via suppressing oxidative stress and the Fas/FasL apoptotic signaling pathway.

Dynamics of the lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin, China, since late nineteenth century.

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin have the most representative and largest concentration of freshwater lakes in China. However, the size and number of these lakes have changed considerably over the past century due to the natural and anthropogenic impact. The lakes, larger than 10 km(2) in size, were chosen from relief maps and remotely sensed images in 1875, 1950, 1970, 1990, 2000, and 2008 to study the dynamics of lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin and to examine the causes and consequences of these changes. Results indicated that there was a dramatic reduction in lake areas, which decreased by 7,841.2 km(2) (42.64 %) during the study period (1875-2008), and the number of lakes in this region changed moderately. Meanwhile, a large number of lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin were directly converted into paddy fields, ponds, building lands, or other land-use types over the study period. Therefore, all kinds of lake reclamation should be identified as the major driving factors for the loss of lake in this region. Furthermore, flooding, soil erosion, and sedimentation were also the main factors which triggered lake changes in different periods. Some wetland conservation and restoration projects have been implemented since the 1970s, but they have not reversed the lake degradation. These findings were of great importance to managers involved in making policy for the conservation of lake ecosystems and the utilization of lake resources.

HDAC3 improves intestinal function of mice by regulating cGAS-Sting pathway of intestinal glial cells.

It is found that HDAC3 may be a potential therapeutic target for intestinal related diseases. At present, the role and mechanism of HDAC3 in the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) have not been reported, which needs to be further explored. The SAP mouse model was established and the expression of HDAC3 was detected by immunohistochemistry. H&E staining showed the intestinal pathological state of SAP mice. The expression of HDAC3 was measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RT qPCR) and Western blot. Apoptosis kit was used to determine cell apoptosis rate. The level of inflammatory factors was detected by ELISA kits. The expressions of HDAC3, cGAS and Sting were significantly increased in SAP patients and SAP mice. Silencing HDAC3 promoted the proliferation and adhesion of intestinal glial cells and inhibited the inflammation and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, silencing HDAC3 inhibited oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, silencing HDAC3 inhibited the activation of cGAS-Sting pathway in intestinal glial cells. More importantly, silencing HDAC3 alleviates intestinal barrier function in SAP mice. HDAC3 inhibition improves acute pancreatitis in mice by regulating cGAS-Sting pathway of intestinal glial cells.

Alterations of the gut microbial community structure modulates the Th17 cells response in a rat model of asphyxial cardiac arrest.

Th17 cells triggered inflammation is a critical element in cerebral ischemic injury, and the gut microbiota intricately impacts T lymphocytes. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the gut microbiota involves in cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA/CPR) induced-brain injury through Th17 cells. The present study investigated the interaction between gut microbiota and Th17 cells in a rat model. We observed that CA/CPR induced the alterations of the gut microbial community structure, and elevated the level of IL-17 in the serum, and a slight infiltration of Th17 cells into the brain. The Th17 cells were increased significantly in the peripheral blood, 28.33 ± 6.18% of these Th17 cells were derived from the Peyer's patches of small intestine. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from rats with CA/CPR induced Th17 cell response, promoting hippocampal cell apoptosis and declining learning ability and memory in recipient rats. Taken together, CA/CPR-induced alterations of the gut microbial community structure stimulated Th17 cell response which aggravated brain injury.

Dexmedetomidine Improves Anxiety-like Behaviors in Sleep-Deprived Mice by Inhibiting the p38/MSK1/NFκB Pathway and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.

(1) Background: Sleep deprivation (SD) triggers a range of neuroinflammatory responses. Dexmedetomidine can improve sleep deprivation-induced anxiety by reducing neuroinflammatory response but the mechanism is unclear; (2) Methods: The sleep deprivation model was established by using an interference rod device. An open field test and an elevated plus maze test were used to detect the emotional behavior of mice. Mouse cortical tissues were subjected to RNA sequence (RNA-seq) analysis. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of p38/p-p38, MSK1/p-MSK1, and NFκBp65/p- NFκBp65. Inflammatory cytokines were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); (3) Results: SD triggered anxiety-like behaviors in mice and was closely associated with inflammatory responses and the MAPK pathway (as demonstrated by transcriptome analysis). SD led to increased expression levels of p-p38, p-MSK1, and p-NFκB. P38 inhibitor SB203580 was used to confirm the important role of the p38/MSK1/NFκB pathway in SD-induced neuroinflammation. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) effectively improves emotional behavior in sleep-deprived mice by attenuating SD-induced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex, mainly by inhibiting the activation of the p38/MSK1/NFκB pathway; (4) Conclusions: Dex inhibits the activation of the p38/MSK1/NFκB pathway, thus attenuating SD-induced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex of mice.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for Preventing Postoperative Delirium: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for postoperative delirium (POD) in surgical patients. Methods: Based on database searches of the Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Chinese Biology Medicine (CBM), PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, relevant RCTs published before December 30, 2022, were extracted. Outcome indicators included the incidence of POD, changes in Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) scores, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, and the intraoperative consumption of anesthetics. Data were pooled and analyzed by Review Manager 5.3, and publication bias detection was conducted using Stata 17.0. Results: A meta-analysis containing 715 experimental and 717 control participants from 12 RCTs was performed. The overall results showed that TEAS had obvious superiority with a lower incidence of POD on any day during the postoperative 1 week. In subgroup analyses, the CAM scores on the third postoperative day were significantly lower in the TEAS group than in the control group (MD = -0.52, 95% CI: -1.02 to -0.03, P = 0.04), the VAS scores on the first postoperative day were significantly lower in the TEAS group than in the control group (MD = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.36 to -0.02, P = 0.03), the consumption of propofol and remifentanil were both significantly lower in the TEAS group compared with the control group (MD = -23.1, 95% CI: -37.27 to -8.94, P = 0.001; MD = -105.69, 95% CI: -174.20 to -37.19, P = 0.002). No serious adverse events of TEAS were reported in any of the referenced studies. Conclusion: TEAS has an obvious curative effect in preventing POD and pain in the earlier stage of surgical patients. It could be a promising assisted anesthesia technique in the future.

[Characteristics of Soil Microbial Community in Different Habitats in the Process of Ecological Restoration of Haifeng Wetland in Guangdong].

Soil microorganisms can respond to changes in wetland ecosystem quality and functional evolution sensitively. To explore the changes and response mechanisms of soil microorganisms under ecological restoration measures, the characteristics of the soil microbial community and their influencing factors were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology in four different habitats (revegetation area, native vegetation area, tidal creek, and tidal flat) during the ecological restoration process in Haifeng wetland in Guangdong. The results showed that:soil physicochemical properties of the four different habitats were significantly different; the contents of TC, TN, TOC, and TK in the tidal creek were significantly higher than those in the other habitats; and the contents of TC, TN, and TP in the revegetation restoration area were significantly higher than those in the tidal flat. The EC values in the tidal creeks and tidal flat were significantly higher than those in the revegetation area and the native vegetation area. The diversity index and abundance of soil bacteria in the tidal creek were the highest, and those in the vegetation restoration area were significantly higher than those in the bare flat. The archaea in the tidal creek were significantly more complex than those in the other three habitats, and the fungal community diversity index and abundance in the native vegetation area were significantly higher than those in the other areas, which had the most complex community structure. TN and TC were the main factors affecting the bacterial community, whereas TN and EC were the main factors affecting the archaea community, and pH, TN, and TP were the key factors affecting the fungal community. In conclusion, the planting of vegetation on the tidal flat increased the diversity and richness of the soil microbial community during the process of ecological restoration, indicating that it has resulted in positive feedback on ecological restoration so far. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the selection of ecological restoration strategies for the tidal flat.

The role of periodontitis in the link between alpha-tocopherol intake and cognitive performance: A mediation analysis in older adults.

Background: Epidemiological evidence on alpha (α)-tocopherol intake and cognitive performance in older individuals is controversial and the effect of periodontitis in this chain is sparse and limited. The goal of this study was to characterize the association between α-tocopherol intake and cognitive performance and the mediating role of periodontitis in a nationally representative sample of older adults. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2011-2014, were used. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association of α-tocopherol intake, periodontal measures (mean attachment loss [AL] and mean probing depth [PD]), and clinical periodontitis defined by the European Workshop in Periodontology with poor cognitive performance evaluated by Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD); the animal fluency test (AFT); and the Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST) and the correlation between α-tocopherol intake and clinical periodontitis. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between α-tocopherol intake and periodontal measures. Mediation analysis was used to test the effects of periodontal measures on the association between α-tocopherol intake and cognitive measures. Results: A total of 1,749 older participants (≥60 years of age) with complete periodontal diagnosis, dietary retrospective survey, and cognitive tests were included. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of CERAD score, AFT score and DSST score were 0.214 (0.137-0.327), 0.378 (0.241-0.585) and 0.298 (0.169-0.512) for the highest versus lowest tertile of α-tocopherol intake, respectively. And participants with clinical periodontitis were more likely to exhibit lower DSST score (OR = 1.689; 95 CI%: 1.018-2.771) than those without periodontitis. Mean AL (OR = 1.296; 95 CI%: 1.102-1.524) and PD (OR = 1.667; 95 CI%: 1.18-2.363) were negatively correlated with DSST, and were estimated to mediate 9.1 and 8.2% of the total association between α-tocopherol intake and cognitive performance, respectively. Conclusion: Finding of the present study suggested that participants with low α-tocopherol intake were at higher risk for developing cognitive decline. Moreover, periodontitis mediated the association between α-tocopherol intake and cognitive performance.

Tibial fracture surgery in elderly mice caused postoperative neurocognitive disorder via SOX2OT lncRNA in the hippocampus.

Increasing evidence indicates the major role of mitochondrial function in neurodegenerative disease. However, it is unclear whether mitochondrial dynamics directly affect postoperative neurocognitive disorder (PND). This study aimed to analyze the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics in the pathogenesis of PND. Tibial fracture surgery was performed in elderly mice to generate a PND model in vivo. Cognitive behavior was evaluated 3 days post-surgery using novel object recognition and fear conditioning. A gradual increase in the SOX2OT mRNA level and decrease in the SOX2 mRNA level were noted, with impaired cognitive function, in the mice 3 days after tibial surgery compared with mice in the sham group. To evaluate the role of SOX2OT in PND, SOX2OT knockdown was performed in vitro and in vivo using lentivirus transfection in HT22 cells and via brain stereotactic injection of lentivirus, respectively. SOX2OT knockdown reduced apoptosis, inhibited oxidative stress, suppressed mitochondrial hyperdivision, attenuated surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction, and promoted downstream SOX2 expression in elderly mice. Furthermore, Sox2 alleviated mitochondrial functional damage by inhibiting the transcription of mitochondrial division protein Drp1. Our study findings indicate that SOX2OT knockout alleviates surgery-induced mitochondrial fission and cognitive function defects by upregulating the expression of Sox2 in mice, resulting in the inhibition of drp1 transcription. Therefore, regulation of the SOX2/Drp1 pathway may be a potential mechanism for the treatment of patients with PND.

Microglial SLC25A28 Deficiency Ameliorates the Brain Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice by Restricting Aerobic Glycolysis.

The microglia overactivation-induced neuroinflammation is a significant cause of the brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Iron homeostasis is crucial for microglia activation, but the mechanism and causality still need further study. This study aimed to explore the roles and mechanism of the mitochondrial iron transporter SLC25A28 in microglia activation after ICH. Intrastriatal injection of autologous blood was used to establish ICH model, and the neuroinflammation, iron metabolism and brain injuries were assessed in wildtype or microglia-specific SLC25A28 knockout mice after ICH. Mitochondria iron levels and microglial function were determined in SLC25A28 overexpressed or deleted microglia. The extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), lactate production, and glycolytic enzyme levels were used to determine aerobic glycolysis. The results showed that ICH stimulated mitochondrial iron overload, and synchronously upregulated the SLC25A28 expression. In vitro, SLC25A28 overexpression increased mitochondrial iron levels in microglia. Interestingly, microglial SLC25A28 deficiency ameliorated neuroinflammation, brain edema, blood-brain barrier injury and ethological alterations in mice after ICH. Mechanically, SLC25A28 deficiency inhibited microglial activation by restricting the aerobic glycolysis. Moreover, zinc protoporphyrin could reduce SLC25A28 expression and mitigated brain injury. SLC25A28 plays crucial roles in mitochondrial iron homeostasis and microglia activation after ICH, and it might be a potential therapeutic target for ICH.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on postoperative cognitive function in older patients with lung cancer: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: This trial was to examine the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on postoperative cognitive function in older patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary resection. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. 128 patients scheduled for surgery were randomly assigned to the TEAS group and sham-TEAS group. A standardized intervention of TEAS or sham-TEAS on the acupoints of Baihui (DU20) and bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4), and Zusanli (ST36) from 30 min before anesthesia induction until the end of the surgery, combined with a general anesthetic protocol performed in the two groups respectively. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) assessed via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale at each time point. The secondary outcomes included the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) on pain and sleep, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC-QLQ-C30), and a chronic pain questionnaire at relative time points. Results: Participants who completed the 12-month trial of the two groups were well-matched in baseline demographic and clinical parameters. At postoperative day 1, day 7, and day 30 time points, the incidence of POCD in the sham-TEAS group was always significantly higher than in the TEAS group (65.4% vs 20%, 43.6% vs 7.3%, 40% vs 3.6%, all P < 0.001). Also, the TEAS group showed better scores of MMSE, sleep, and pain compared with the sham-TEAS group (all P < 0.001). At 6 and 12 months points, the global health scores of the TEAS group were still significantly higher than the sham-TEAS group, and the prevalence of chronic pain was significantly lower than the sham-TEAS group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: TEAS could effectively improve the postoperative cognitive function and long-term life quality of geriatric patients with lung cancer.