Patient delay of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Yantai, China, 2013 to 2022: Analysis of a case series.

Patient delay increases the morbidity and mortality due to tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to assess patient delay among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Yantai from 2013 to 2022, and to analyze factors related to patient delay. Data of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Yantai City from 2013 to 2022 were obtained from the Tuberculosis Management Information System of the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control System. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS.26.0 software. The trend in patient delay rate was tested using the chi-square trend test. Univariate analyses were performed using the chi-square test, and factors with statistically significant differences in the univariate analysis were included in the binary logistic regression analysis to identify the factors affecting patient delay. Patient delay was defined as an interval of more than 14 days between the onset of clinical symptoms and the patient first visit to a healthcare facility. From 2013 to 2022, the median delay time for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Yantai was 28 ±â€…52 days and the patient delay rate was 69.5%. There was an overall increasing trend in the rate of patient delay as the number of years increased. Univariate analyses revealed statistically significant differences in patient delay in terms of age, occupation, patient source, domicile, pathogenetic results, and the presence of comorbidities (all P < .05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the age was 20 to 39, 40 to 59, and ≥ 60 years (OR = 1.365, 95%CI: 1.156-1.612; OR = 1.978, 95%CI: 1.660-2.356; OR = 1.767, 95%CI: 1.480-2.110), occupation was domestic and un-employed (OR = 1.188, 95%CI: 1.071-1.317), domicile as mobile population (OR = 1.212, 95%CI: 1.099-1.337), and positive pathogenic results (OR = 1.242, 95%CI: 1.015-1.520) were risk factors for patient delay. Patient delays were serious among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Yantai City, 2013 to 2022, and patient delay was related to factors such as age, occupation, domicile, patient source, and pathogenetic results.

Synchronization of inspiratory burst onset along the ventral respiratory column in the neonate mouse is mediated by electrotonic coupling.

Breathing is a singularly robust behavior, yet this motor pattern is continuously modulated at slow and fast timescales to maintain blood-gas homeostasis, while intercalating orofacial behaviors. This functional multiplexing goes beyond the rhythmogenic function that is typically ascribed to medullary respiration-modulated networks and may explain lack of progress in identifying the mechanism and constituents of the respiratory rhythm generator. By recording optically along the ventral respiratory column in medulla, we found convergent evidence that rhythmogenic function is distributed over a dispersed and heterogeneous network that is synchronized by electrotonic coupling across a neuronal syncytium. First, high-speed recordings revealed that inspiratory onset occurred synchronously along the column and did not emanate from a rhythmogenic core. Second, following synaptic isolation, synchronized stationary rhythmic activity was detected along the column. This activity was attenuated following gap junction blockade and was silenced by tetrodotoxin. The layering of syncytial and synaptic coupling complicates identification of rhythmogenic mechanism, while enabling functional multiplexing.

Perinatal methadone exposure attenuates myelination and induces oligodendrocyte apoptosis in neonatal rat brain.

Methadone (MTD) is a commonly prescribed treatment for opioid use disorder in pregnancy, despite limited information on the effects of passive exposure on fetal brain development. Animal studies suggest a link between perinatal MTD exposure and impaired white matter development. In this study, we characterized the effect of perinatal MTD exposure through the evaluation of oligodendrocyte development and glial cell activation in the neonatal rat brain. Six pregnant Sprague Dawley rat dams were randomized to MTD (0.2 mL/L) or untreated drinking water from embryonic day 7. Pups were terminated at postnatal day 7 and tissue sections were harvested from six randomly selected pups (one male and one female per litter) of each experimental group for immunohistochemistry in areas of corpus callosum (CC), lateral CC, external capsule (EC), and cerebellar white matter. In the MTD-exposed rat pups, myelination was significantly decreased in the CC, lateral CC, EC, and arbor vitae compared with the controls. The increased density and percentage of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were observed in the CC and cerebellar white matter. The highly active proliferation of OPCs as well as decreased density and percentage of differentiated oligodendrocytes were found in the cerebellum but no differences in the cerebrum. Apoptotic activities of both differentiated oligodendrocytes and myelinating oligodendrocytes were significantly increased in all regions of the cerebrum and cerebellum after MTD exposure. There was no quantitative difference in astrocyte, however, cell density and/or morphologic difference consistent with activation were observed in microglia throughout MTD-exposed CC and cerebellum. Taken together, perinatal MTD exposure reveals global attenuation of myelination, accelerated apoptosis of both differentiated and myelinating oligodendrocytes, and microglia activation, supporting an association between antenatal MTD exposure and impaired myelination in the developing brain.

Dynamic glial response and crosstalk in demyelination-remyelination and neurodegeneration processes.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. It is characterized by blood-brain barrier dysfunction throughout the course of multiple sclerosis, followed by the entry of immune cells and activation of local microglia and astrocytes. Glial cells (microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte lineage cells) are known as the important mediators of neuroinflammation, all of which play major roles in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Network communications between glial cells affect the activities of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and influence the demyelination-remyelination process. A finely balanced glial response may create a favorable lesion environment for efficient remyelination and neuroregeneration. This review focuses on glial response and neurodegeneration based on the findings from multiple sclerosis and major rodent demyelination models. In particular, glial interaction and molecular crosstalk are discussed to provide insights into the potential cell- and molecule-specific therapeutic targets to improve remyelination and neuroregeneration.

A modified protocol for the isolation, culture, and cryopreservation of rat embryonic neural stem cells.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are characterized by their potential for self-renewal and ability to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. They are of great value to scientific studies and clinical applications. Culturing NSCs in vitro is important for characterizing their properties under controlled environmental conditions that may be modified and monitored accurately. The present study explored a modified, detailed and efficient protocol for the isolation, culture and cryopreservation of rat embryonic NSCs. In particular, the viability, nestin expression, and self-renewal and multi-differentiation capabilities of NSCs cryopreserved for various periods of time (7 days, or 1, 6 or 12 months) were characterized and compared. Rat embryonic NSCs were successfully obtained and maintained their self-renewal and multipotent differentiation capabilities even following long-term cryopreservation (for up to 12 months).

Platelet-Activating Factor Deteriorates Lysophosphatidylcholine-Induced Demyelination Via Its Receptor-Dependent and -Independent Effects.

Accumulating evidence suggests that platelet-activating factor (PAF) increases the inflammatory response in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. However, PAF receptor (PAFR) antagonists do not show therapeutic efficacy for MS, and its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of PAF on an ex vivo demyelination cerebellar model following lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC, 0.5 mg/mL) application using wild-type and PAFR conventional knockout (PAFR-KO) mice. Demyelination was induced in cerebellar slices that were cultured with LPC for 18 h. Exogenous PAF (1 µM) acting on cerebellar slices alone did not cause demyelination but increased the severity of LPC-induced demyelination in both wild-type and PAFR-KO mice. LPC inhibited the expression of PAF-AH, MBP, TNF-α, and TGF-ß1 but facilitated the expression of IL-1ß and IL-6 in wild-type preparations. Of note, exogenous PAF stimulated microglial activation in both wild-type and PAFR-KO mice. The subsequent inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1ß, and IL-6 as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-ß1 demonstrated a diverse transcriptional profile with or without LPC treatment. PAF promoted TNF-α expression and suppressed TGF-ß1 expression indiscriminately in wild-type and knockout slices; however, transcription of IL-1ß and IL-6 was not significantly affected in both slices. The syntheses of IL-1ß and IL-6 were significantly increased in LPC-induced demyelination preparations without PAF but showed a redundancy in PAF-treated wild-type and knockout slices. These data suggest that PAF can play a detrimental role in LPC-induced demyelination probably due to a redundant response of PAFR-dependent and PAFR-independent effects on inflammatory cytokines.

Diverse changes in myelin protein expression in rat brain after perinatal methadone exposure.

The national incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome has dramatically increased over the last decade due to an increase in antenatal opioid exposure. Recent human and animal studies suggest that antenatal opioid exposure impacts the developing brain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of perinatal methadone exposure on myelination in multiple regions in the developing rat brain. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three experimental groups and subsequently exposed to drinking water alone or drinking water containing methadone from 7 days post coitum through day 7 or through day 19 after delivery. Two male neonatal rats were randomly selected from each litter and terminated at day 19. The cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem were dissected and analyzed for three myelin specific proteins - CNP, PLP, and MBP - by Western blot analysis. All pups with exposure to methadone demonstrated decreased expression of CNP, PLP, and MBP in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In the cerebellum, PLP expression was down­regulated without apparent alteration of CNP and MBP expression. PLP and MBP expression, but not CNP expression, were significantly inhibited in the brainstem. Compared to the pups with postnatal methadone exposure via maternal milk through day 7, partial recovery of CNP and PLP expression only occurred in the cerebral cortices of the pups exposed through day 19. The findings show that antenatal opioid exposure in rat pups is associated with regionally­specific alterations in brain myelination that diversely affects myelin proteins.

Dynamic response of microglia/macrophage polarization following demyelination in mice.

BACKGROUND: The glial response in multiple sclerosis (MS), especially for recruitment and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), predicts the success of remyelination of MS plaques and return of function. As a central player in neuroinflammation, activation and polarization of microglia/macrophages (M/M) that modulate the inflammatory niche and cytokine components in demyelination lesions may impact the OPC response and progression of demyelination and remyelination. However, the dynamic behaviors of M/M and OPCs during demyelination and spontaneous remyelination are poorly understood, and the complex role of neuroinflammation in the demyelination-remyelination process is not well known. In this study, we utilized two focal demyelination models with different dynamic patterns of M/M to investigate the correlation between M/M polarization and the demyelination-remyelination process. METHODS: The temporal and spatial features of M/M activation/polarization and OPC response in two focal demyelination models induced by lysolecithin (LPC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were examined in mice. Detailed discrimination of morphology, sensorimotor function, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), inflammation-relevant cytokines, and glial responses between these two models were analyzed at different phases. RESULTS: The results show that LPC and LPS induced distinctive temporal and spatial lesion patterns. LPS produced diffuse demyelination lesions, with a delayed peak of demyelination and functional decline compared to LPC. Oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and M/M were scattered throughout the LPS-induced demyelination lesions but were distributed in a layer-like pattern throughout the LPC-induced lesion. The specific M/M polarization was tightly correlated to the lesion pattern associated with balance beam function. CONCLUSIONS: This study elaborated on the spatial and temporal features of neuroinflammation mediators and glial response during the demyelination-remyelination processes in two focal demyelination models. Specific M/M polarization is highly correlated to the demyelination-remyelination process probably via modulations of the inflammatory niche, cytokine components, and OPC response. These findings not only provide a basis for understanding the complex and dynamic glial phenotypes and behaviors but also reveal potential targets to promote/inhibit certain M/M phenotypes at the appropriate time for efficient remyelination.

Erratum: Angiopoietin-2 induces the neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic NSCs via phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-Akt pathway-mediated phosphorylation of mTOR.

[This corrects the article on p. 1895 in vol. 11, PMID: 30972213.].

Correction to: c-Jun Amino-Terminal Kinase is Involved in Valproic Acid-Mediated Neuronal Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic NSCs and Neurite Outgrowth of NSC-Derived Neurons.

In the original version of this article, unfortunately, the images in Fig. 4 and 7 are mixed. The correct version of the Fig.4 and 7 is given below.

Angiopoietin-2 induces the neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic NSCs via phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-Akt pathway-mediated phosphorylation of mTOR.

The fate of neural stem cells (NSCs) is decided by numerous growth factors. Among these factors, the well-known angiogenic factor angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) has been revealed to participate in neurogenesis separate from its role in angiogenesis. However, the effect of Ang-2 on the fate determination of mouse embryonic NSCs and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. This result of this study indicated that treatment of mouse embryonic NSCs with 200 ng/ml Ang-2 significantly promoted neuronal differentiation without affecting glial differentiation, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was phosphorylated in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-dependent manner during this process. Rapamycin, a specific mTOR inhibitor, suppressed the increase in neuronal differentiation stimulated by Ang-2, and this suppression did not result from an effect of Ang-2 or rapamycin on the apoptosis of differentiated NSCs. Collectively, our research demonstrates that PI3K/Akt pathway-mediated mTOR phosphorylation plays an important role in the Ang-2-enhanced neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic NSCs.

Identification of differentially expressed proteins in rats with spinal cord injury during the transitional phase using an iTRAQ-based quantitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disease associated with high disability and mortality rates. The transitional phase from subacute phase to intermediate phase may play a major role in the process of secondary injury. Changes in protein expression levels have been shown to play key roles in many central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Nevertheless, the roles of proteins in the transitional phase of SCI are not clear. METHODS: We examined protein expression in a rat model 2 weeks after SCI and identified differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) using isobaric tagging for relative and absolute protein quantification (iTRAQ). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of DEPs were performed. Furthermore, we constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and the top 10 high-degree core nodes were identified. Meanwhile, we validated protein level changes of five high-degree core regulated proteins using Western blots. RESULTS: A total of 162 DEPs were identified between the injury group and the control, of which 101 (62.35%) were up-regulated and 61 (37.65%) were down-regulated in the transitional phase of SCI. Key molecular function, cellular components, biological process terms and pathways were identified and may be important mechanisms in the transitional phase of SCI. Alb, Calm1, Vim, Apoe, Syp, P4hb, Cd68, Eef1a2, Rab3a and Lgals3 were the top 10 high-degree core nodes. Western blot analysis performed on five of these proteins showed the same trend as iTRAQ results. CONCLUSION: The current study may provide novel insights into how proteins regulate the pathogenesis of the transitional phase after SCI.

Pathophysiological and behavioral deficits in developing mice following rotational acceleration-deceleration traumatic brain injury.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of death from trauma in infants and young children. An AHT animal model was developed on 12-day-old mice subjected to 90° head extension-flexion sagittal shaking repeated 30, 60, 80 and 100 times. The mortality and time until return of consciousness were dependent on the number of repeats and severity of the injury. Following 60 episodes of repeated head shakings, the pups demonstrated apnea and/or bradycardia immediately after injury. Acute oxygen desaturation was observed by pulse oximetry during respiratory and cardiac suppression. The cerebral blood perfusion was assessed by laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) using a PeriCam PSI system. There was a severe reduction in cerebral blood perfusion immediately after the trauma that did not significantly improve within 24 h. The injured mice began to experience reversible sensorimotor function at 9 days postinjury (dpi), which had completely recovered at 28 dpi. However, cognitive deficits and anxiety-like behavior remained. Subdural/subarachnoid hemorrhage, damage to the brain-blood barrier and parenchymal edema were found in all pups subjected to 60 insults. Proinflammatory response and reactive gliosis were upregulated at 3 dpi. Degenerated neurons were found in the cerebral cortex and olfactory tubercles at 30 dpi. This mouse model of repetitive brain injury by rotational head acceleration-deceleration partially mimics the major pathophysiological and behavioral events that occur in children with AHT. The resultant hypoxia/ischemia suggests a potential mechanism underlying the secondary rotational acceleration-deceleration-induced brain injury in developing mice.

CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 Chemokine Axis in the Central Nervous System: Therapeutic Targets for Remyelination in Demyelinating Diseases.

The chemokine CXCL12 plays a vital role in regulating the development of the central nervous system (CNS) by binding to its receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7. Recent studies reported that the CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 axis regulates both embryonic and adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in their proliferation, migration, and differentiation. The changes in the expression and distribution of CXCL12 and its receptors are tightly associated with the pathological process of demyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting that modulating the CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 axis may benefit myelin repair by enhancing OPC recruitment and differentiation. This review aims to integrate the current findings of the CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 signaling pathway in the CNS and to highlight its role in oligodendrocyte development and demyelinating diseases. Furthermore, this review provides potential therapeutic strategies for myelin repair by analyzing the relevance between the pathological changes and the regulatory roles of CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 during MS.

c-Jun Amino-Terminal Kinase is Involved in Valproic Acid-Mediated Neuronal Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic NSCs and Neurite Outgrowth of NSC-Derived Neurons.

Valproic acid (VPA), an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, can induce neuronal differentiation, promote neurite extension and exert a neuroprotective effect in central nervous system (CNS) injuries; however, comparatively little is known regarding its action on mouse embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) and the underlying molecular mechanism. Recent studies suggested that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is required for neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation during neuronal development. In the present study, we cultured mouse embryonic NSCs and treated the cells with 1 mM VPA for up to 7 days. The results indicate that VPA promotes the neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic NSCs and neurite outgrowth of NSC-derived neurons; moreover, VPA induces the phosphorylation of c-Jun by JNK. In contrast, the specific JNK inhibitor SP600125 decreased the VPA-stimulated increase in neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic NSCs and neurite outgrowth of NSC-derived neurons. Taken together, these results suggest that VPA promotes neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic NSCs and neurite outgrowth of NSC-derived neurons. Moreover, JNK activation is involved in the effects of VPA stimulation.

Current Understanding of Platelet-Activating Factor Signaling in Central Nervous System Diseases.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a bioactive lipid mediator which serves as a reciprocal messenger between the immune and nervous systems. PAF, a pluripotent inflammatory mediator, is extensively expressed in many cells and tissues and has either beneficial or detrimental effects on the progress of inflammation-related neuropathology. Its wide distribution and various biological functions initiate a cascade of physiological or pathophysiological responses during development or diseases. Current evidence indicates that excess PAF accumulation in CNS diseases exacerbates the inflammatory response and pathological consequences, while application of PAF inhibitors or PAFR antagonists by blocking this signaling pathway significantly reduces inflammation, protects cells, and improves the recovery of neural functions. In this review, we integrate the current findings of PAF signaling in CNS diseases and elucidate topics less appreciated but important on the role of PAF signaling in neurological diseases. We propose that the precise use of PAF inhibitors or PAFR antagonists that target the specific neural cells during the appropriate temporal window may constitute a potential therapy for CNS diseases.

Identification of microRNAome in rat bladder reveals miR-1949 as a potential inducer of bladder cancer following spinal cord injury.

The costs of spinal cord injury and its complications are high in personal, social and financial terms. Complications include bladder cancer, for which the risk is 16-28 times higher than that of the general population, There is currently little consensus regarding the cause of this discrepancy. As microRNAs are stable biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets of cancer, the present study aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon by examining changes in the microRNAome. Rats were used to produce models of spinal cord injury. Microarrays and bioinformatics were used to investigate the cancer-associated microRNAs that are upregulated in rat bladders following spinal cord injury. In order to validate the results, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed. The expression of miR-1949 was found to be deregulated and abundant in the rat bladder following spinal cord injury. Bioinformatics demonstrated that retinoblastoma 1, which is involved in tumorigenesis, is a target gene of miR-1949. qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry confirmed the results of the microarray analysis. In addition, it was shown that miR-1949 expression was not influenced by aging. Furthermore, the expression of miR-1949 was stable until the third month following spinal cord injury, after which it significantly increased. If this increase was prolonged, the expression of retinoblastoma 1 may decline to a carcinogenic level. The present study suggests a role for miR-1949 in the translational regulation of retinoblastoma 1 and in subsequent bladder tumorigenesis following spinal cord injury.

In vitro characteristics of valproic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid and their combined use in promoting neuronal differentiation while suppressing astrocytic differentiation in neural stem cells.

Multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) are currently under investigation as a candidate treatment for central nervous system (CNS) injury because of their potential to compensate for neuronal damage and to reconstruct disrupted neuronal connections. To maximize the regenerative effect of the derived neurons and to minimize the side effects of the derived astrocytes, it is necessary to regulate the fate determination of NSCs to produce more neurons and fewer astrocytes. Both valproic acid (VPA) and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), two clinically established drugs, induce neuronal differentiation and facilitate neurite outgrowth at the expense of astrocytic differentiation in NSCs. However, the time-dependent activities and the long-term treatment effects of these drugs have not been explored in NSCs. More importantly, the efficacies of VPA and ATRA in neuronal promotion and astrocytic suppression remain unclear. In this study, we compare the time-dependent characteristics of VPA and ATRA in NSC differentiation and neurite outgrowth in vitro and, for the first time, demonstrate the improved efficacy of their combined application in neuronal induction and astrocytic suppression. These significant effects are closely coupled to the altered expression of a neurogenic transcription factor, a Wnt signaling component, a cell cycle regulator and a neural growth factor, indicating an underlying cross-talk between the mechanisms of action of ATRA and VPA. These findings indicate that a novel strategy combining these two therapeutic drugs may improve the restorative effect of NSC transplantation by altering the expression of their interconnected targets for fate determination.

shRNA against PTEN promotes neurite outgrowth of cortical neurons and functional recovery in spinal cord contusion rats.

AIM: To explore neurite growth/regeneration and spinal cord injury repair after PTEN silencing via lentivirus-mediated RNAi. MATERIALS & METHODS: Cortical neurons were seeded on or adjacent to chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. The length, number and crossing behavior of neurites were calculated. Lentivirus was locally injected into spinal cord contusion rats. The functional recovery and immunohistochemical staining were analyzed. RESULTS: Neurites with PTEN silencing exhibited significant enhancements in elongation, initiation and crossing ability when they encountered chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in vitro. In vivo PTEN silencing improved functional recovery significantly, and promoted axon and synapse formation, but not scar formation. CONCLUSIONS: PTEN silencing may be promising for spinal cord injury repair.