Astrocytes in preoptic area regulate acute nociception-induced hypothermia through adenosine receptors.

AIMS: The preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus, crucial in thermoregulation, has long been implicated in the pain process. However, whether nociceptive stimulation affects body temperature and its mechanism remains poorly studied. METHODS: We used capsaicin, formalin, and surgery to induce acute nociceptive stimulation and monitored rectal temperature. Optical fiber recording, chemical genetics, confocal imaging, and pharmacology assays were employed to confirm the role and interaction of POA astrocytes and extracellular adenosine. Immunofluorescence was utilized for further validation. RESULTS: Acute nociception could activate POA astrocytes and induce a decrease in body temperature. Manipulation of astrocytes allowed bidirectional control of body temperature. Furthermore, acute nociception and astrocyte activation led to increased extracellular adenosine concentration within the POA. Activation of adenosine A1 or A2A receptors contributed to decreased body temperature, while inhibition of these receptors mitigated the thermo-lowering effect of astrocytes. CONCLUSION: Our results elucidate the interplay between acute nociception and thermoregulation, specifically highlighting POA astrocyte activation. This enriches our understanding of physiological responses to painful stimuli and contributes to the analysis of the anatomical basis involved in the process.

The Relationship Between Family Functioning and Defending Behaviors Among Junior High School Students: The Mediating Effect of Empathy and Moderating Effect of Gender.

Bystanders play a role in school bullying; more specifically, the defending behaviors of bystanders play an important role in stopping bullying. This study explores the relationship between defending behaviors and family functioning in the context of school bullying from a family perspective. The role played by individual characteristics (empathy and gender) in this relationship was also focused on. The participants were 994 adolescents (average age = 13.34 ± 0.92 years) from the east of China. They completed the McMaster Family Assessment Device, the Basic Empathy Scale, and the Defending Behaviors subscale of the Participant Role Questionnaire. After controlling for residence and age, we found that family functioning significantly and positively influenced defending behaviors, and cognitive empathy rather than affective empathy mediated the relationship between family functioning and defending behaviors. In addition, family functioning influenced defending behaviors in boys more strongly than in girls. This study may increase the likelihood that bystanders will engage in defending behaviors by informing interventions for school bullying.

Morphological Tracing and Functional Identification of Monosynaptic Connections in the Brain: A Comprehensive Guide.

Behavioral studies play a crucial role in unraveling the mechanisms underlying brain function. Recent advances in optogenetics, neuronal typing and labeling, and circuit tracing have facilitated the dissection of the neural circuitry involved in various important behaviors. The identification of monosynaptic connections, both upstream and downstream of specific neurons, serves as the foundation for understanding complex neural circuits and studying behavioral mechanisms. However, the practical implementation and mechanistic understanding of monosynaptic connection tracing techniques and functional identification remain challenging, particularly for inexperienced researchers. Improper application of these methods and misinterpretation of results can impede experimental progress and lead to erroneous conclusions. In this paper, we present a comprehensive description of the principles, specific operational details, and key steps involved in tracing anterograde and retrograde monosynaptic connections. We outline the process of functionally identifying monosynaptic connections through the integration of optogenetics and electrophysiological techniques, providing practical guidance for researchers.

NCAPD3 exerts tumor-promoting effects in prostatic cancer via dual impact on miR-30a-5p by STAT3-MALAT1 and MYC.

Non-SMC condensin II complex subunit D3 (NCAPD3) is a subunit of the non-structural maintenance of chromosomes condensin II complex, which involves chromosome condensation and segregation during mitosis. NCAPD3 has recently been demonstrated as a crucial oncogenic factor. However, the underlying mechanism of NCAPD3 in prostate cancer (PCa) remains not completely clear. In this study, we confirmed that lncRNA MALAT1 was induced by NCAPD3-STAT3, and the expression of miR-30a-5p was controlled by NCAPD3 in PCa cells by miRNA-seq. Through quantitative real-time PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry assay, we demonstrated that miR-30a-5p was lowly expressed in PCa cells and tissues compared to the controls, which was contrary to NCAPD3 expression and markedly downregulated by NCAPD3. Then, MALAT1 was analyzed for the complementary sequence in the potential interaction with miR-30a-5p by using the predicted target module of public databases. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation were carried out to verify that MALAT1 functioned as a sponge for miR-30a-5p to reduce miR-30a-5p expression. Meanwhile, MYC acted as a transcriptional repressor to directly bind the promoter of the miR-30a-5p located gene and repress the miR-30a-5p expression. Furthermore, the upregulation of NCAPD3 on cell viability and migration was significantly attenuated in PC-3 cells when miR-30a-5p was overexpressed. NCAPD3 overexpression also accelerated tumor growth in the xenograft mouse model and repressed miR-30-5p. In summary, this work elucidates NCAPD3 inhibits miR-30a-5p through two pathways: increasing STAT3-MALAT1 to sponge miR-30a-5p and increasing MYC to directly inhibit miR-30a-5p transcription, which could serve as potential therapeutic targets for prostate cancer.

Transpancreatic Sphincterotomy After Double Guidewire Technique Was Noninferior to Primary Transpancreatic Sphincterotomy in Difficult Biliary Cannulation.

BACKGROUND: When unintentional pancreatic duct access occurs during difficult biliary cannulation, the double guidewire (DGW) or transpancreatic sphincterotomy (TPS) may be utilized. DGW can be easily switched to TPS due to the existing guidewire in the pancreatic duct. However, the efficacy of TPS after DGW, named sequential DGW-TPS technique, versus primary TPS has not been assessed. AIMS: Our aim was to compare the benefits and adverse events of sequential DGW-TPS technique and primary TPS. METHODS: We performed a comparative retrospective cohort study that enrolled a total of 117 patients with native papillae. The patients were divided into one of 2 groups according to the primary bile duct access technique (sequential DGW-TPS or primary TPS), both with pancreatic stenting. RESULTS: Between November 2017 and May 2023, a total of 84 patients were grouped into sequential DGW-TPS and 33 into primary TPS. The overall post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) rate was 4.3% in the entire cohort, with no statistical differences were observed between the groups in terms of PEP rates (P = 0.927), PEP severity (P = 1.000), first biliary cannulation success (P = 0.621), overall cannulation success (P = 1.000), hyperamylasemia incidence (P = 0.241), elevated amylase levels (P = 0.881), and postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.185). Furthermore, these results remained consistent in multivariable regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The sequential DGW-TPS technique showed a comparable safety and biliary cannulation success rate to primary TPS in difficult biliary cannulation. Given the potential long-term complications associated with TPS, DGW should be first if inadvertent pancreatic access occurs, with TPS serving as second only if DGW fails.

Health impact assessment of PM2.5 from uncovered coal trains in the San Francisco Bay Area: Implications for global exposures.

Coal generates almost 40% of the world's electricity with 80 countries throughout the world using coal power. An inherent part of this generation is the rail transport of coal in uncovered cars, often up to a mile long. Existing studies document the subsequent increments of PM2.5 to the near-rail populations, which typically include a large number of economically disadvantaged residents and/or people of color. However, to date there is no assessment of the health implications of this stage in the use of coal. The present study quantifies such impacts on a region in the San Francisco Bay Area. The analysis shows important effects on mortality, hospitalization for cardiovascular and respiratory disease, asthma exacerbation, work loss, and days of restricted activity. Several of these outcomes exhibited a one to six percent increase over baseline. As such, it delineates the implications for the global effects of the transport of coal.

The Enrichment of Docosahexaenoic Acid from Microalgal Oil by Urea Complexation via Rotary-evaporation Crystallization.

Urea complexation is a widely used method for enriching polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cooling is the traditional approach for urea crystallization. This study aimed to investigate the potential of rotary-evaporation under vacuum as an alternative method for urea crystallization in urea complexation to enrich docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA-containing microalgal oil was converted to ethyl esters (EE) as the raw material. In comparison to cooling, rotary-evaporation crystallization, as a post-treatment method for urea complexation, led to higher DHA contents in the non-urea included fractions. The ratios of urea to EE converted from DHA-containing microalgal oil was found to be the primary factors influencing urea complexation when using rotary-evaporation crystallization. Through an orthogonal test, optimal process conditions were determined, including a urea/EE ratio of 2, an ethanol/urea ratio of 7, and a rotary-evaporation temperature of 75℃. Under these conditions, a concentrate containing more than 90% DHA could be obtained.

Alteration in gut microbiota is associated with immune imbalance in Graves' disease.

Background: Graves' disease (GD), characterized by immune aberration, is associated with gut dysbiosis. Despite the growing interest, substantial evidence detailing the precise impact of gut microbiota on GD's autoimmune processes remains exceedingly rare. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the influence of gut microbiota on immune dysregulation in GD. Methods: It encompassed 52 GD patients and 45 healthy controls (HCs), employing flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to examine lymphocyte and cytokine profiles, alongside lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Gut microbiota profiles and metabolic features were assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and targeted metabolomics. Results: Our observations revealed a disturbed B-cell distribution and elevated LPS and pro-inflammatory cytokines in GD patients compared to HCs. Significant differences in gut microbiota composition and a marked deficit in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, including ASV263(Bacteroides), ASV1451(Dialister), and ASV503(Coprococcus), were observed in GD patients. These specific bacteria and SCFAs showed correlations with thyroid autoantibodies, B-cell subsets, and cytokine levels. In vitro studies further showed that LPS notably caused B-cell subsets imbalance, reducing conventional memory B cells while increasing naïve B cells. Additionally, acetate combined with propionate and butyrate showcased immunoregulatory functions, diminishing cytokine production in LPS-stimulated cells. Conclusion: Overall, our results highlight the role of gut dysbiosis in contributing to immune dysregulation in GD by affecting lymphocyte status and cytokine production.

Air enema reduction versus hydrostatic enema reduction for intussusceptions in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety of fluoroscopy-guided air enema reduction (FGAR) and ultrasound-guided hydrostatic enema reduction (UGHR) for the treatment of intussusception in pediatric patients. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on retrospective studies obtained from various databases, including PUBMED, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, and VIP Database. The search included publications from January 1, 2003, to March 31, 2023, with the last search done on Jan 15, 2023. RESULTS: We included 49 randomized controlled studies and retrospective cohort studies involving a total of 9,391 patients, with 4,841 in the UGHR and 4,550 in the FGAR. Specifically, UGHR exhibited a significantly shorter time to reduction (WMD = -4.183, 95% CI = (-5.402, -2.964), P < 0.001), a higher rate of successful reduction (RR = 1.128, 95% CI = (1.099, 1.157), P < 0.001), and a reduced length of hospital stay (WMD = -1.215, 95% CI = (-1.58, -0.85), P < 0.001). Furthermore, UGHR repositioning was associated with a diminished overall complication rate (RR = 0.296, 95% CI = (0.225, 0.389), P < 0.001) and a lowered incidence of perforation (RR = 0.405, 95% CI = (0.244, 0.670), P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: UGHR offers the benefits of being non-radioactive, achieving a shorter reduction time, demonstrating a higher success rate in repositioning in particular, resulting in a reduced length of postoperative hospital stay, and yielding a lower overall incidence of postoperative complications, including a reduced risk of associated perforations.

A midbrain GABAergic circuit constrains wakefulness in a mouse model of stress.

Enhancement of wakefulness is a prerequisite for adaptive behaviors to cope with acute stress, but hyperarousal is associated with impaired behavioral performance. Although the neural circuitries promoting wakefulness in acute stress conditions have been extensively identified, less is known about the circuit mechanisms constraining wakefulness to prevent hyperarousal. Here, we found that chemogenetic or optogenetic activation of GAD2-positive GABAergic neurons in the midbrain dorsal raphe nucleus (DRNGAD2) decreased wakefulness, while inhibition or ablation of these neurons produced an increase in wakefulness along with hyperactivity. Surprisingly, DRNGAD2 neurons were paradoxically wakefulness-active and were further activated by acute stress. Bidirectional manipulations revealed that DRNGAD2 neurons constrained the increase of wakefulness and arousal level in a mouse model of stress. Circuit-specific investigations demonstrated that DRNGAD2 neurons constrained wakefulness via inhibition of the wakefulness-promoting paraventricular thalamus. Therefore, the present study identified a wakefulness-constraining role DRNGAD2 neurons in acute stress conditions.

DEAD-Box Helicase 17 exacerbates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis via transcriptional repression of cyp2c29, inducing hepatic lipid metabolism disorder and eliciting the activation of M1 macrophages.

OBJECTIVE: Our study was to elucidate the role of RNA helicase DEAD-Box Helicase 17 (DDX17) in NAFLD and to explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: We created hepatocyte-specific Ddx17-deficient mice aim to investigate the impact of Ddx17 on NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) as well as methionine and choline-deficient l-amino acid diet (MCD) in adult male mice. RNA-seq and lipidomic analyses were conducted to depict the metabolic landscape, and CUT&Tag combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays were conducted. RESULTS: In this work, we observed a notable increase in DDX17 expression in the livers of patients with NASH and in murine models of NASH induced by HFD or MCD. After introducing lentiviruses into hepatocyte L02 for DDX17 knockdown or overexpression, we found that lipid accumulation induced by palmitic acid/oleic acid (PAOA) in L02 cells was noticeably weakened by DDX17 knockdown but augmented by DDX17 overexpression. Furthermore, hepatocyte-specific DDX17 knockout significantly alleviated hepatic steatosis, inflammatory response and fibrosis in mice after the administration of MCD and HFD. Mechanistically, our analysis of RNA-seq and CUT&Tag results combined with ChIP and luciferase reporter assays indicated that DDX17 transcriptionally represses Cyp2c29 gene expression by cooperating with CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) and DEAD-Box Helicase 5 (DDX5). Using absolute quantitative lipidomics analysis, we identified a hepatocyte-specific DDX17 deficiency that decreased lipid accumulation and altered lipid composition in the livers of mice after MCD administration. Based on the RNA-seq analysis, our findings suggest that DDX17 could potentially have an impact on the modulation of lipid metabolism and the activation of M1 macrophages in murine NASH models. CONCLUSION: These results imply that DDX17 is involved in NASH development by promoting lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, inducing the activation of M1 macrophages, subsequent inflammatory responses and fibrosis through the transcriptional repression of Cyp2c29 in mice. Therefore, DDX17 holds promise as a potential drug target for the treatment of NASH.

S100A8 is a prognostic signature and associated with immune response in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Background: S100A8, a calcium-binding protein belonging to the S100 family, is involved in immune responses and multiple tumor pathogens. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the most common types of B-cell lymphoma and remains incurable in 40% of patients. However, the role of S100A8 and its regulation of the immune response in DLBCL remain unclear. Methods: The differential expression of S100A8 was identified via the GEO and TCGA databases. The prognostic role of S100A8 in DLBCL was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier curve. The function enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was explored through GO, KEGG, GSEA, and PPI analysis. In our cohort, the expression of S100A8 was verified. Meanwhile, the biological function of S100A8 was applied after the inhibition of S100A8 in an in vitro experiment. The association between S100A8 and immune cell infiltration and treatment response in DLBCL was analyzed. Results: S100A8 was significantly overexpressed and related to a poor prognosis in DLBCL patients. Function enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway. Our cohort also verified this point. In vitro experiments suggested that inhibition of S100A8 should promote cell apoptosis and suppress tumor growth. Single-cell RNA sequence analysis indicated that S100A8 might be associated with features of the tumor microenvironment (TME), and immune infiltration analyses discovered that S100A8 expression was involved in TME. In terms of drug screening, we predicted that many drugs were associated with preferable sensitivity. Conclusion: Elevated S100A8 expression is associated with a poor prognosis and immune infiltration in DLBCL. Inhibition of S100A8 could promote cell apoptosis and suppress tumor growth. Meanwhile, S100A8 has the potential to be a promising immunotherapeutic target for patients with DLBCL.

Cerebellar Purkinje cell firing promotes conscious recovery from anesthesia state through coordinating neuronal communications with motor cortex.

Background: The neurobiological basis of gaining consciousness from unconscious state induced by anesthetics remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the involvement of the cerebello-thalamus-motor cortical loop mediating consciousness transitions from the loss of consciousness (LOC) induced by an inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane in mice. Methods: The neural tracing and fMRI together with opto-chemogenetic manipulation were used to investigate the potential link among cerebello-thalamus-motor cortical brain regions. The fiber photometry of calcium and neurotransmitters, including glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and norepinephrine (NE), were monitored from the motor cortex (M1) and the 5th lobule of the cerebellar vermis (5Cb) during unconsciousness induced by sevoflurane and gaining consciousness after sevoflurane exposure. Cerebellar Purkinje cells were optogenetically manipulated to investigate their influence on consciousness transitions during and after sevoflurane exposure. Results: Activation of 5Cb Purkinje cells increased the Ca2+ flux in the M1 CaMKIIα+ neurons, but this increment was significantly reduced by inactivation of posterior and parafascicular thalamic nucleus. The 5Cb and M1 exhibited concerted calcium flux, and glutamate and GABA release during transitions from wakefulness, loss of consciousness, burst suppression to conscious recovery. Ca2+ flux and Glu release in the M1, but not in the 5Cb, showed a strong synchronization with the EEG burst suppression, particularly, in the gamma-band range. In contrast, the Glu, GABA and NE release and Ca2+ oscillations were coherent with the EEG gamma band activity only in the 5Cb during the pre-recovery of consciousness period. The optogenetic activation of Purkinje cells during burst suppression significantly facilitated emergence from anesthesia while the optogenetic inhibition prolonged the time to gaining consciousness. Conclusions: Our data indicate that cerebellar neuronal communication integrated with motor cortex through thalamus promotes consciousness recovery from anesthesia which may likely serve as arousal regulation.

Effects of Manganese and Iron, Alone or in Combination, on Apoptosis in BV2 Cells.

The aim of study was to address the effects of manganese and iron, alone and in combination, on apoptosis of BV2 microglia cells, and to determine if combined exposure to these metals augments their individual toxicity. We used a murine microglial BV2 cell line. Cell cytotoxicity was analyzed by propidium iodide (PI) exclusion assay. Cell ROS production was analyzed by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe staining. Pro-inflammatory cytokine production was monitored by ELISA. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by PE Annexin V/7-AAD staining. Mitochondrial membrane integrity was analyzed by flow cytometry. We used immunoblotting to analyze the effect of manganese, iron alone, or their combined exposure on the activation of caspase9, P53, Bax, and Bcl2 apoptosis signaling pathways. Caspase3 activity was determined using a Colorimetric. Manganese, iron, and their combined exposure for 24 h induced the activation of BV2 microglia cells and increased ROS production and the expression of the inflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß and TNF-α. And we also found that the apoptosis rate increased, mitochondrial membrane potential decreased, apoptosis-related proteins caspase9, P53, Bax, and Bcl2 expression increased, and caspase3 activity increased. Furthermore, we found that combined manganese-iron cytotoxicity was lower than that induced by manganese exposure alone. Manganese, iron alone, or their combination exposure can induce apoptosis in glial cells. Iron can reduce the toxicity of manganese, and there is an antagonistic effect between manganese and iron.

Extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumors in children: high mortality even with the help of an aggressive clinical approach.

This paper aims to explore the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumors (eMRTs) in children. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published in PUBMED, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was conducted. The search was limited to studies published between Jan 1, 1990 to Dec 31, 2022, with the last search done on Jan 31, 2023. We identified 496 papers through the literature search, and 12 retrospective cohort studies with 398 patients were included. The pooled age at diagnosis for malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK) was 10.009 months (95%CI (7.542-12.476)), while extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumor (EERT) was 25.917 months (95%CI (17.304-34.530)). Among the 398 patients with eMRTs, chemotherapy treatment rate (86.8% (95%CI (74.4-96.0%))) was more frequently than radiotherapy treatment (45.4% (95%CI (38.1-52.6%))). The rate of metastasis in all patients was 41.4% (95%CI (33.9-48.9%)), in which the lung metastasis was occupied 70.4% (95%CI (58.0-81.6%)). SMARCB1/INI1 mutation was up to 93.2% (95%CI (81.3-99.8%)). The rate of total surgical resection was 50.4% (95%CI (35.2-65.6%)), while pooled proportion of death in all patients was 68.7% (95%CI (56.9-79.5%)).     Conclusion: EMRTs are highly malignant tumors associated with high mortality rates. The loss of SMARCB1/INI1 gene and the protein expression is observed in the vast majority of eMRTs patients. Patients that suffered MRTK are younger than patients with extrarenal EERT and are more prone to lung metastasis, but there is no significant difference in overall survival, possibly due to the higher rate of R0 resection of primary tumors in MRTK.     Trial registration: The study was registered on PROSPERO with registration number CRD42023400985. What is Known: • Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a rare and highly malignant tumor that may originate from embryonic stem cells. The incidence of MRT is exceptionally low, estimated at 0.00006%. • Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK) and extrarenal extra-cranial malignant rhabdoid tumor (EERT) tend to manifest between 11 to 18 months of age, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 17%-36%. What is New: • There is no comprehensive meta-analysis or large-scale case series that reported to systematically introduce the eMRTs clinic outcome and prog-nosis based on largely pooled data. • This study performed a meta-analysis through an extensive literature search and clinical data analysis in order to mainly explore the clinical characteris-tics and prognosis of eMRTs, improving the understanding of eMRTs in children..

Clinical case analysis of 32 children aged 0-6 years with lead poisoning in Nanning, China.

Lead is one of the heavy metals that is toxic and widely distributed in the environment, and children are more sensitive to the toxic effects of lead because the blood-brain barrier and immune system are not yet well developed. The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of lead poisoning in children aged 0∼6 years in a hospital in Guangxi, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of lead poisoning. We collected and analyzed the clinical data of 32 children with lead poisoning admitted to a hospital in Guangxi from 2010 to 2018. The results showed that most of the 32 cases presented with hyperactivity, irritability, poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation. The hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpusular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and hematocrit (HCT) of the lead-poisoned children were all decreased to different degrees and were below normal acceptable levels. Urinary ß2-microglobulin was increased. Blood lead levels (BLL) decreased significantly after intravenous injection of the lead chelator, calcium disodium edetate (CaNa2-EDTA). In addition, HGB returned to normal levels, while MCV, MCH, and HCT increased but remained below normal levels. Urinary ß2-microglobulin was reduced to normal levels. Therefore, in this cohort of children, the high-risk factors for lead poisoning are mainly Chinese medicines, such as baby powder. In conclusion, lead poisoning caused neurological damage and behavioral changes in children and decreased erythrocyte parameters, leading to digestive symptoms and renal impairment, which can be attenuated by CaNa2-EDTA treatment.

Association between aspirin use and risk of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pose significant challenges to public health globally with no effective treatment strategies available. Therefore, the research focuses on developing effective prophylaxis to prevent the onset of these diseases. Recent studies have suggested that low-dose aspirin may help reduce the risk of dementia. Nonetheless, evidence regarding the correlation between aspirin consumption and the onset of dementia and AD is limited. This review aims to provide an up-to-date summary of the existing evidence and evaluate the association between aspirin and the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases was conducted to find eligible studies published until April 2023. A random-effects meta-analysis of the eligible studies was then performed to assess the link between aspirin use and the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, we conducted subgroup analyses to evaluate the overall effect of low-dose (75-100 mg) aspirin consumption on the onset of dementia and AD. RESULTS: A total of 875 studies were identified, with only 22 meeting the inclusion criteria. There was no statistically significant impact of aspirin consumption on the onset of dementia (HR 1.13, 11 studies) or Alzheimer's disease (HR 0.91, 3 studies). Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that taking low doses of aspirin (75-100 mg) did not significantly affect the onset of either dementia (HR 0.96, 13 studies) or Alzheimer's disease (HR 0.85, 2 studies). CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin use does not decrease the risk of dementia or AD, even when taken in low doses. However, the quality of the studies analyzed was inadequate, with only three randomized controlled trials included in the review. Future high-quality studies are needed to assess the effect of aspirin consumption on these diseases. These findings may assist clinicians in selecting appropriate prophylactic strategies for patients at risk of developing dementia and AD.

Allelic variations of WAK106-E2Fa-DPb1-UGT74E2 module regulate fibre properties in Populus tomentosa.

Wood formation, intricately linked to the carbohydrate metabolism pathway, underpins the capacity of trees to produce renewable resources and offer vital ecosystem services. Despite their importance, the genetic regulatory mechanisms governing wood fibre properties in woody plants remain enigmatic. In this study, we identified a pivotal module comprising 158 high-priority core genes implicated in wood formation, drawing upon tissue-specific gene expression profiles from 22 Populus samples. Initially, we conducted a module-based association study in a natural population of 435 Populus tomentosa, pinpointing PtoDPb1 as the key gene contributing to wood formation through the carbohydrate metabolic pathway. Overexpressing PtoDPb1 led to a 52.91% surge in cellulose content, a reduction of 14.34% in fibre length, and an increment of 38.21% in fibre width in transgenic poplar. Moreover, by integrating co-expression patterns, RNA-sequencing analysis, and expression quantitative trait nucleotide (eQTN) mapping, we identified a PtoDPb1-mediated genetic module of PtoWAK106-PtoDPb1-PtoE2Fa-PtoUGT74E2 responsible for fibre properties in Populus. Additionally, we discovered the two PtoDPb1 haplotypes that influenced protein interaction efficiency between PtoE2Fa-PtoDPb1 and PtoDPb1-PtoWAK106, respectively. The transcriptional activation activity of the PtoE2Fa-PtoDPb1 haplotype-1 complex on the promoter of PtoUGT74E2 surpassed that of the PtoE2Fa-PtoDPb1 haplotype-2 complex. Taken together, our findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of fibre properties in Populus, orchestrated by PtoDPb1, and offer a practical module for expediting genetic breeding in woody plants via molecular design.

A qualitative study on the caregiver burden experience in home reflux enema management of infants with congenital megacolon.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the caregiver burden experience in the care of infants with congenital megacolon undergoing home reflux enema. The findings will provide a basis for developing targeted and effective nursing interventions. METHODS: A phenomenological research approach was employed. From October 2022 to January 2023, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 caregivers of infants with congenital megacolon undergoing home reflux enema in a tertiary paediatric hospital in Fujian Province. The collected data were analysed and organized using the Colaizzi's 7-step analysis method, leading to the identification of key themes. RESULTS: The analysis yielded three major themes concerning the caregiver burden experience in the care of infants with congenital megacolon undergoing home reflux enema: inadequate disease-related knowledge, presence of multiple pressures during the caregiving process, and a desire for greater support. CONCLUSIONS: This study employed qualitative interviews with the caregivers of 12 children with congenital Hirschsprung's disease undergoing home reflux enema, and the feelings of caregivers of children with reflux enema at home after discharge were deeply understood. It is recommended to implement positive psychological interventions based on the PERMA model and incorporate "Internet + collaborative nursing" to provide caregivers with professional knowledge, address their pressures and needs, and promote their well-being while enhancing nursing abilities.