Distinct circuits and molecular targets of the paraventricular hypothalamus decode visceral and somatic pain.

Visceral and somatic pain serve as protective mechanisms against external threats. Accumulated evidence has confirmed that the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) plays an important role in the perception of visceral and somatic pain, whereas the exact neural pathways and molecules distinguishing them remain unclear. Here, we report distinct neuronal ensembles within the PVH dedicated to processing visceral and somatic pain signals. An essential discovery is the distinct expression of P2X3R and VIPR2 in visceral and somatic pain-activated PVH neuronal ensembles. Furthermore, visceral pain- and somatic pain-responsive PVH neuronal ensembles project to specific downstream regions, the ventral part of the lateral septal nucleus (LSV) and the caudal part of the zona incerta (ZIC), respectively. These findings unveil that the PVH acts as a pain sorting center that distinctly processes visceral and somatic pain, identifying potential molecular targets for specific pain processing and providing a new framework for comprehending how the brain processes nociceptive information.

Deciphering the complex mechanics of atherosclerotic plaques: a hybrid hierarchical theory-microrheology approach.

Understanding the viscoelastic properties of atherosclerotic plaques at rupture-prone scales is crucial for assessing their vulnerability. Here, we develop a Hybrid Hierarchical theory-Microrheology (HHM) approach, enabling the analysis of multiscale mechanical variations and distribution changes in regional tissue viscoelasticity within plaques across different spatial scales. We disclose a universal two-stage power-law rheology in plaques, characterized by distinct power-law exponents (αshort and αlong), which serve as mechanical indexes for plaque components and assessing mechanical gradients. We further propose a self-similar hierarchical theory that effectively delineates plaque heterogeneity from the cytoplasm, cell, to tissue levels. Moreover, our proposed multi-layer perceptron model addresses the viscoelastic heterogeneity and gradients within plaques, offering a promising diagnostic strategy for identifying unstable plaques. These findings not only advance our understanding of plaque mechanics but also pave the way for innovative diagnostic approaches in cardiovascular disease management. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Our study pioneers a Hybrid Hierarchical theory-Microrheology (HHM) approach to dissect the intricate viscoelasticity of atherosclerotic plaques, focusing on distinct components including cap fibrosis, lipid pools, and intimal fibrosis. We unveil a universal two-stage power-law rheology capturing mechanical variations across plaque structures. The proposed hierarchical model adeptly captures viscoelasticity changes from cytoplasm, cell to tissue levels. Based on the newly proposed markers, we further develop a machine learning (ML) diagnostic model that sets precise criteria for evaluating plaque components and heterogeneity. This work not only reveals the comprehensive mechanical heterogeneity within plaques but also introduces a mechanical marker-based ML strategy for assessing plaque conditions, offering a significant leap towards understanding and diagnosing atherosclerotic risks.

Blueberry extract attenuates DSS-induced inflammatory bowel disease in mice through inhibiting ER stress-mediated colonic apoptosis in mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, debilitating condition with limited therapeutic options. Dietary components like blueberries have emerged as potential modulators of inflammation and tissue repair in gastrointestinal diseases. This study investigated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis mediated protective effects of blueberries in ameliorating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD. Firstly, a total of 86 anthocyanin compounds were identified in blueberry extract by LC-MS spectroscopy, including 35 cyanidin, 9 delphinidin, 14 malvidin, 10 peonidin, and 9 petunidin. Then, the animal study showed that blueberry supplementation notably ameliorated DSS-induced IBD symptoms, as evidenced by improved histopathological scores and a reduced disease activity index (DAI) score. Additionally, blueberries attenuated ER stress by inhibiting the colonic PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway. Furthermore, blueberries inhibited the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein, caspase-3, and decreased colonic apoptosis, as evidenced by TUNEL assay results. However, it did not affect the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, bcl-2 and bcl-xl. Finally, blueberries enhanced the intestinal barrier by upregulating ZO-1, claudin-1, occludin, and E-cadherin. In conclusion, blueberries demonstrate therapeutic potential against DSS-induced IBD-like symptoms in mice, possibly by regulating ER stress-mediated apoptosis pathways. These findings suggest that blueberries might be an effective dietary intervention for IBD management.

Transcriptional Regulation of De Novo Lipogenesis by SIX1 in Liver Cancer Cells.

De novo lipogenesis (DNL), a hallmark of cancer, facilitates tumor growth and metastasis. Therapeutic drugs targeting DNL are being developed. However, how DNL is directly regulated in cancer remains largely unknown. Here, transcription factor sine oculis homeobox 1 (SIX1) is shown to directly increase the expression of DNL-related genes, including ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), via histone acetyltransferases amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1) and lysine acetyltransferase 7 （HBO1/KAT7）, thus promoting lipogenesis. SIX1 expression is regulated by insulin/lncRNA DGUOK-AS1/microRNA-145-5p axis, which also modulates DNL-related gene expression as well as DNL. The DGUOK-AS1/microRNA-145-5p/SIX1 axis regulates liver cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. In patients with liver cancer, SIX1 expression is positively correlated with DGUOK-AS1 and SCD1 expression and is negatively correlated with microRNA-145-5p expression. DGUOK-AS1 is a good predictor of prognosis. Thus, the DGUOK-AS1/microRNA-145-5p/SIX1 axis strongly links DNL to tumor growth and metastasis and may become an avenue for liver cancer therapeutic intervention.

Non-invasive metabolic biomarkers in initial cognitive impairment in patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI), considered one of the most severe and commonly overlooked complications of diabetes, has shown inconsistent findings regarding the metabolic profiles in DCI patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify dysregulated metabolites as potential biomarkers for early DCI, providing valuable insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of four databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane, was conducted up to March 2024. Subsequently, a qualitative review of clinical studies was performed followed by a meta-analysis of metabolite markers. Finally, the sources of heterogeneity were explored through subgroup and sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: A total of 774 unique publications involving 4357 participants and the identification of multiple metabolites were retrieved. Of these, 13 clinical studies reported metabolite differences between the DCI and control groups. Meta-analysis was conducted for six brain metabolites and two metabolite ratios. The results revealed a significant increase in myo-inositol (MI) concentration and decreases in glutamate (Glu), Glx (glutamate and glutamine) and N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratios in DCI, which have been identified as the most sensitive metabolic biomarkers for evaluating DCI progression. Notably, brain metabolic changes associated with cognitive impairment are more pronounced in type 2 diabetes mellitus than in type 1 diabetes mellitus, and the hippocampus emerged as the most sensitive brain region regarding metabolic changes associated with DCI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MI, Glu, and Glx concentrations and NAA/Cr ratios within the hippocampus may serve as metabolic biomarkers for patients with early-stage DCI.

Static and temporal dynamic alterations of local functional connectivity in chronic insomnia.

Several studies have revealed altered intrinsic neural activity in chronic insomnia (CI). However, the temporal variability of intrinsic neural activity in CI is rarely mentioned. This study aimed to explore static and temporal dynamic alterations of regional homogeneity (ReHo) in CI and excavate the potential associations between these changes and clinical characteristics. Eighty-seven patients with CI and seventy-eight healthy controls (HCs) were included. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all subjects and both static and dynamic ReHo were used to detect local functional connectivity. We then tested the relationship between altered brain regions, disease duration, and clinical scales. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to reveal the potential capability of these indicators to screen CI patients from HCs. CI showed increased dynamic ReHo in the right precuneus and decreased static ReHo in the right cerebellum_6. The dynamic ReHo values of the right precuneus were negatively correlated with the self-rating depression score and the static ReHo values of the right cerebellum_6 were positively correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Naming score. In addition, the combination of the two metrics showed a potential capacity to distinguish CI patients from HCs, which was better than a single metric alone. The present study has revealed the altered local functional connectivity under static and temporal dynamic conditions in patients with CI, and found the relationships between these changes, mood-related scales, and cognitive-related scales. These may be useful in elucidating the neurological mechanisms of CI and accompanying symptoms.

Mo-Induced Surface Reconstruction in Ni/Co-OOH Prickly Flower Clusters for Improving the Hydrogen Production in Alkaline Seawater Splitting.

Seawater electrolysis is the most promising technology for hydrogen production, in which surface reconstruction on the interface of electrode/electrolyte plays a crucial role in activating the catalytic reactions with a low activation energy barrier. Herein, an efficient Mo modifying NiCoMo prickly flower clusters electrocatalyst supported on nickel foam (Mo-doped Ni/Co-OOH prickly flower clusters) is obtained, which serves as an eminently active and durable catalyst for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to the surface reconstruction during the alkaline seawater electrolysis with ultralow overpotentials. It just requires a cell voltage of 1.52 V to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm-2 for water electrolysis along with robust durability over 30 h. Mo doping effectively regulates the surface reconstruction of Ni/Co-OOH, which facilitates the adsorption of oxygen-containing intermediates on the active center, and the nonhomogeneous interface induces charge rearrangement for the catalytic process to improve efficiency, providing a new strategy for revealing the seawater electrolytic mechanism.

Coixol mitigates Toxoplasma gondii infection-induced liver injury by inhibiting the Toxoplasma gondii HSP70/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in hepatic macrophages.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Coix seed, the dry mature seed kernel of the gramineous plant coix (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf), is widely consumed as a traditional Chinese medicine and functional food in China and South Korea. We have previously demonstrated the protective effect of coixol, a polyphenolic compound extracted from coix, against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection-induced lung injury. However, the protective effect of coixol on hepatic injury induced by T. gondii infection have not yet been elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study explores the impact of coixol on T. gondii infection-induced liver injury and elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female BALB/c mice and Kupffer cells (KCs) were employed to establish an acute T. gondii infection model in vivo and an inflammation model in vitro. The study examined coixol's influence on the T. gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (T.g.HSP70)/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway in T. gondii-infected liver macrophages. Furthermore, a co-culture system of KCs and NCTC-1469 hepatocytes was developed to observe the impact of liver macrophages infected with T. gondii on hepatocyte injury. RESULTS: Coixol notably inhibited the proliferation of tachyzoites and the expression of T.g.HSP70 in mouse liver and KCs, and attenuated pathological liver injury. Moreover, coixol decreased the production of high mobility group box 1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and inducible nitric oxide synthase by suppressing the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Coixol also mitigated KCs-mediated hepatocyte injury. CONCLUSIONS: Coixol protects against liver injury caused by T. gondii infection, potentially by diminishing hepatocyte injury through the suppression of the inflammatory cascade mediated by the T.g.HSP70/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in KCs. These findings offer new perspectives for developing coixol as a lead compound for anti-T. gondii drugs.

Does cytomegalovirus infection and antiviral therapy affect prognosis of biliary atresia? A real-world retrospective cohort study.

To explore the impacts of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and antiviral treatment (AVT) on native liver survival (NLS) in biliary atresia (BA) infants. This retrospective cohort study included infants diagnosed as BA between January 2015 and December 2021 at Hunan Children's Hospital. CMV infection was defined by DNA polymerase chain reaction alone (DNA data set) and combination of DNA and immunoglobulin M (CMV data set). In the DNA data set of 330 patients, 234 patients (70.9%) survived with their native liver in 2 years, with 113 (73.9%) in the DNA- cohort, 70 (65.4%) in the DNA+ and AVT- cohort and 51 (72.9%) in the DNA+ and AVT+ cohort, without significant differences by log-rank tests. In patients administrated between 2015 and March 2019, there were 206 evaluable patients in the DNA data set, with rates of 5-year NLS of 68.3% in the DNA- cohort, similar to that in the DNA+ and AVT+ cohort (62.2%, p = 0.546), but significantly higher than that in the DNA+ and AVT- cohort (51.4%, p = 0.031). Similar trends were also observed in the CMV data set, although statistically insignificant. CMV infection before or on the day of HPE can reduce the rate of 5-year NLS and AVT was recommended for CMV-infected BA infants.

Impact of frailty on postoperative outcomes after hepatectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The impact of frailty on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing hepatectomy is still unclear. AIM: To study the influence of frailty on postoperative outcomes, such as mortality, rate of complications, and length of hospitalization, following hepatectomy. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases were searched for observational studies with adult (≥ 18 years) patients after planned/elective hepatectomy. A random-effects model was used for all analyses, and the results are expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD), relative risk (RR), or hazards ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Analysis of the 13 included studies showed a significant association of frailty with elevated risk of in-hospital mortality (RR = 2.76, 95%CI: 2.10-3.64), mortality at 30 d (RR = 4.60, 95%CI: 1.85-11.40), and mortality at 90 d (RR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.70-3.75) in the postoperative period. Frail patients had a poorer long-term survival (HR = 2.89, 95%CI: 1.84-4.53) and higher incidence of "any" complications (RR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.40-2.03) and major (grade III or higher on the Clavien-Dindo scale) complications (RR = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.85-3.92). Frailty was correlated with markedly lengthier hospital stay (WMD = 3.65, 95%CI: 1.45-5.85). CONCLUSION: Frailty correlates with elevated risks of mortality, complications, and prolonged hospitalization, which need to be considered in surgical management. Further research is essential to formulate strategies for improved outcomes in this vulnerable cohort.

Plantaginis Semen Ameliorates Hyperuricemia Induced by Potassium Oxonate.

Plantaginis semen is the dried ripe seed of Plantago asiatica L. or Plantago depressa Willd., which has a long history in alleviating hyperuricemia (HUA) and chronic kidney diseases. While the major chemical ingredients and mechanism remained to be illustrated. Therefore, this work aimed to elucidate the chemicals and working mechanisms of PS for HUA. UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS was applied to identify the main components of PS in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was conducted to explore the gene expression profile, and the genes involved were further confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). A total of 39 components were identified from PS, and 13 of them were detected in the rat serum after treating the rat with PS. The kidney tissue injury and serum uric acid (UA), xanthine oxidase (XOD), and cytokine levels were reversed by PS. Meanwhile, renal urate anion transporter 1 (Urat1) and glucose transporter 9 (Glut9) levels were reversed with PS treatment. RNA-seq analysis showed that the PPAR signaling pathway; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism signaling pathway; and fatty acid metabolism signaling pathway were significantly modified by PS treatment. Further, the gene expression of Slc7a8, Pck1, Mgll, and Bhmt were significantly elevated, and Fkbp5 was downregulated, consistent with RNA-seq results. The PPAR signaling pathway involved Pparα, Pparγ, Lpl, Plin5, Atgl, and Hsl were elevated by PS treatment. URAT1 and PPARα proteins levels were confirmed by Western blotting. In conclusion, this study elucidates the chemical profile and working mechanisms of PS for prevention and therapy of HUA and provides a promising traditional Chinese medicine agency for HUA prophylaxis.

Anthocyanins-rich cranberry extract attenuates DSS-induced IBD in an intestinal flora independent manner.

Cranberry is abundantly rich in anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid with potent antioxidant properties and the resistance against certain diseases. In this study, anthocyanin-rich cranberry extract was extracted, purified, and its components were analyzed. 92.18 % of anthocyanins was obtained and the total content of anthocyanins was 302.62 mg/g after AB-8 resin purification. Quantification analysis showed that the extract mainly contained cyanidin-3-galactoside, procyanidin B2 and procyanidin B4. Then we explored its effects on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice. The supplementation of cranberry extract resulted in an alleviation of IBD symptoms, evidenced by improvements in the disease activity index (DAI), restoration of colon length and colonic morphology. Cranberry extract reversed the elevated iron and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and restored glutathione (GSH) levels in IBD mice. Further analysis revealed that cranberry modulated ferroptosis-associated genes and reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although cranberry influenced the intestinal flora balance by reducing Proteobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella, and increasing Lactobacillus, as well as enhancing SCFAs content, these effects were not entirely dependent on intestinal flora modulation, as indicated by antibiotic intervention and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the beneficial impact of cranberry extract on IBD may primarily involve the regulation of colonic ferroptosis, independent of significant alterations in intestinal flora.

Enhanced cerebral blood flow similarity of the somatomotor network in chronic insomnia: Transcriptomic decoding, gut microbial signatures and phenotypic roles.

Chronic insomnia (CI) is a complex disease involving multiple factors including genetics, gut microbiota, and brain structure and function. However, there lacks a unified framework to elucidate how these factors interact in CI. By combining data of clinical assessment, sleep behavior recording, cognitive test, multimodal MRI (structural, functional, and perfusion), gene, and gut microbiota, this study demonstrated that enhanced cerebral blood flow (CBF) similarities of the somatomotor network (SMN) acted as a key mediator to link multiple factors in CI. Specifically, we first demonstrated that only CBF but not morphological or functional networks exhibited alterations in patients with CI, characterized by increases within the SMN and between the SMN and higher-order associative networks. Moreover, these findings were highly reproducible and the CBF similarity method was test-retest reliable. Further, we showed that transcriptional profiles explained 60.4 % variance of the pattern of the increased CBF similarities with the most correlated genes enriched in regulation of cellular and protein localization and material transport, and gut microbiota explained 69.7 % inter-individual variance in the increased CBF similarities with the most contributions from Negativicutes and Lactobacillales. Finally, we found that the increased CBF similarities were correlated with clinical variables, accounted for sleep behaviors and cognitive deficits, and contributed the most to the patient-control classification (accuracy = 84.4 %). Altogether, our findings have important implications for understanding the neuropathology of CI and may inform ways of developing new therapeutic strategies for the disease.

Cloning and expression profiling of voltage-gated sodium channel gene (VGSC) from Spodoptera frugiperda.

Spodoptera frugiperda is a long-distance migratory pest with strong dispersal ability, fast reproduction speed and destructive feeding, so it is difficult to prevent and control. Pyrethroid insecticides are commonly used in pest insects control, And since the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) serves as a major target of pyrethroids, it is important to study this gene for pest control. VGSC is an integral transmembrane protein consisting of approximately 2,000 amino acid residues found in neurons, myocytes, endocrine cells, and ovarian cells and involved in the initiation and propagation of excitable cellular action potentials. In this study, the cDNA sequence of the VGSC was identified from S. frugiperda by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) which contained an open reading frame of 6,261 bp encoding a protein of 2,086 amino acids. The molecular weight of this protein was predicted to be 236 kDa, and the theoretical isoelectric point was 5.21. A phylogenetic tree constructed based on lepidopteran insects showed that the VGSC of S. frugiperda was most closely relative to that of Spodoptera litura. VGSC is a highly conserved protein with Ion channel conserved structural domains of transmembrane proteins. qPCR showed that the VGSC gene was highly expressed in the epidermis of 2nd instar larvae, and its expression level was low in other tissues, such as the foregut and Malpighian tubules. In addition, VGSC was also detected in the prepupal stage, then gradually increased in abundance after entering the adult stage, peaked at the adult males on the 4th day of pupal stage, and decreased afterwards. The recombinant plasmid of pSumo-mut-VGSC was constructed and induced to express a His tag fused VGSC protein. Polyclonal antibodies were prepared from purified recombinant VGSC protein. The antibody was ELISA-titered, and the western blotting results showed that it specifically recognized VGSC, whether it was recombinant or endogenous protein. These results have laid the foundation for future studies on the physiological function of this gene in the growth and development of S. frugiperda.

[Orthopedic robot-assisted endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar disc herniation with lumbar instability].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and effectiveness of the robot-assisted system for transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with lumbar instability. METHODS: From October 2021 to March 2023, 26 patients with single-segment lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal instability were treated with robot-assisted system for transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative ambulation activity time, postoperative hospitalization time were record. The intervertebral space height and the lumbar lordosis angle before and after surgery were observed and compared. Pain level was evaluated using the visual analogue scale(VAS). The clinical efficacy was evaluated by Oswestry disability index(ODI). The interbody fusion was evaluated by Brantigan Steffee criteria. RESULTS: All patients successfully completed the operation, the operation time ranged form 105 to 109 min with an average of (150.8±24.1) min. Intraoperative blood loss ranged form 35 to 88 ml with an average of (55.5±16.4) ml. Incision length ranged form 1.4 to 3.5 cm with an average of (2.3±0.8) cm. Postoperative drainage volume ranged form 15 to 40 ml with an average of (28.5±7.8) ml. Postoperative ambulation time ranged form 15 to 30 h with an average of (22.8±4.5) h. Postoperative hospitalization time was 3 to 7 d with an average of (4.2±1.3) d. Total of 26 patients were followed up, the duration ranged from 12 to 16 months with an average of (14.0±1.3) months. The VAS and ODI at 1 week [(2.96±0.72) points, (41.63±4.79)%] and 12 months[(1.27±0.60) points, (13.11±2.45)%] were significantly different from those before surgery[(6.69±0.93) points, (59.12±5.92)%], P<0.01. The height of the intervertebral space (11.95±1.47) mm and lumbar lordosis (57.46±7.59)° at 12 months were significantly different from those before surgery [(6.67±1.20) mm, (44.08±7.79)°], P<0.01. At 12 months after surgery, all patients had no pedicle screw rupture or dislocation of the fusion cage, and the intervertebral fusion was successful. According to Brantigan-Steffee classification, 17 cases were grade D and 9 cases were grade E. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted system for transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic for the treatment of single-segment lumbar disc herniation with lumbar instability improved the accuracy and safety of the operation, and the clinical effect of early follow-up is accurate.

Role of ginsenoside Rb1 in attenuating depression-like symptoms through astrocytic and microglial complement C3 pathway.

Ginsenoside Rb1, known as gypenoside III, exerts antidepressant-like effects in previous studies. It has also been indicated that ginsenoside Rb1 regulated neuroinflammation via inhibiting NF-κB signaling. According to the evidence that astrocytes can regulate microglia and neuroinflammation by secreting complement C3, the present study aimed to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms underlying ginsenoside Rb1-induced antidepressant-like effects from the astrocytic and microglial complement C3 pathway. The complement C3 mediated mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 was investigated in mice exposed to chronic restraint stress (CRS). The results showed that ginsenoside Rb1 reversed the depressive-like behaviors in CRS. Treatment with ginsenoside Rb1 reduced both the number of astrocytes and microglia. In addition, ginsenoside Rb1 suppressed TLR4/NF-κB/C3 signaling in the astrocytes of the hippocampus. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rb1 attenuated the contents of synaptic protein including synaptophysin and PSD95 in microglia, suggesting the inhibition of microglia-mediated synaptic elimination caused by CRS. Importantly, ginsenoside Rb1 also maintained the dendritic spines in mice. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ginsenoside Rb1 produces the antidepressant-like effects by inhibiting astrocyte TLR4/NF-κB/C3 signaling to covert microglia from a pro-inflammatory phenotype (amoeboid) towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype (ramified), which inhibit the synaptic pruning in the hippocampus.

Combined traditional Chinese medicine therapy for the treatment of infertility with polycystic ovary syndrome: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) infertility has attracted great attention from researchers due to its high incidence. Numerous studies have shown that Chinese medicine is effective in treating this disease, but there is a wide variety of Chinese medicine therapies available, and there is a lack of comparative evaluation of the efficacy of various Chinese medicine combination therapies in the clinic, which requires further in-depth exploration. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a combined traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for the treatment of infertility with PCOS using network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS: In PubMed, web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China Knowledge Network, Wanfang Data, VIP Database, China Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed) databases, searchs were conducted for information about the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of combined TCM therapy for the treatment of infertility with PCOS. Quality evaluation was performed using the Cochrane 5.3 risk of bias assessment tool, and NMA using Stata 16.0. RESULTS: This study comprised 28 RCTs using 8 combined TCM therapies in total. The results of the NMA showed that moxibustion + herbal, fire acupuncture + herbal, acupuncture + herbal, electroacupuncture + herbal, and acupoint application + herbal improved the clinical pregnancy rate better than acupuncture, herbal, and western medicines monotherapy (P < .05). Additionally, ear point pressure + herbal enema + herbal, acupuncture and moxibustion + herbal, fire acupuncture + herbal, and acupuncture + herbal improved the ovulation rate better than acupuncture, herbal, and western medicines monotherapy (P < .05). Moxibustion + herbal, fire acupuncture + herbal, and acupuncture + herbal are the 3 most effective therapies for improving the clinical pregnancy rate. Fire acupuncture + herbal, acupuncture + herbal, and ear point pressure + herbal enema + herbal are the 3 most effective therapies for improving the ovulation rate. CONCLUSION: The combined TCM therapy demonstrated better efficacy for the treatment of infertility with PCOS compared to acupuncture, herbal, and western medicines monotherapy. However, the optimal treatment therapy varied depending on the outcome indicators. Further large sample, high-quality, and standardized RCTs are needed to verify these findings.

Harnessing Workplace Ostracism: Unleashing Proactive Behavior through Work Focus and Visionary Leadership.

Differing from prior studies which explored workplace ostracism's negative impacts, in this study, we try to explore ways to mitigate and harness workplace ostracism to encourage proactive behavior. By drawing on regulatory focus theory, we propose that workplace ostracism can increase proactive behavior via enhanced promotion focus and prevention focus. We collected questionnaire data at multiple time points from employees in private enterprises in China, and a structural equation model was primarily used to test the proposed model. The results of the study indicate that workplace ostracism positively relates to work focus, which, in turn, improves employees' proactive behavior. Visionary leadership only moderates the relationship between workplace ostracism and promotion focus. Employees who perceive high levels of visionary leadership exhibit an increase in promotion focus after experiencing workplace ostracism. This increase in promotion focus further enhances their proactive behavior. These research findings clarify the pathway and boundary conditions through which workplace ostracism positively influences proactive behavior. They also provide valuable insights for enterprises seeking to promote proactive behavior among employees.

Complete genome sequence of Kushneria phosphatilytica YCWA18T reveals the P-solubilizing activity of the genus Kushneria.

Kushneria phosphatilytica YCWA18T (= CGMCC 1.9149T = NCCB 100306T) was isolated from sediment collected in a saltern on the eastern coast of Yellow Sea in China. The genome was sequenced and comprised of one circular chromosome with the size of 3,624,619 bp and DNA G + C content of 59.13%. A total of 3267 protein-coding genes, 64 tRNA genes and 12 rRNA genes were obtained. Genomic annotation indicated that the genome of K. phosphatilytica YCWA18T had 34 genes involved in phosphorus (P) solubilization/metabolism, e.g., gdh, pqq, phoA, phoD and phoX, which products can convert insoluble P-containing compounds to more bio-available dissolved inorganic P. Comparative genomic analysis of Kushneria strains revealed that gdh, pqq, phoA, phoD and phoX were widely distributed in these strains, indicating the genus Kushneria may play an important role in the P cycle. Additionally, a multitude of salt tolerance genes were detected in the genome of K. phosphatilytica YCWA18T. This study and the genome sequence data will be available for further research and will provide insights into potential biotechnological and agricultural applications of Kushneria strains.