d-Galactose induces the senescence and phenotype switch of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells.

Studies regarding age-related erectile dysfunction (ED) based on naturally aging models are limited by their high costs, especially for the acquisition of primary cells from the corpus cavernosum. Herein, d-galactose ( d-gal) was employed to accelerate cell senescence, and the underlying mechanism was explored. As predominant functional cells involved in the erectile response, corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) were isolated from 2-month-old rats. Following this, d-gal was introduced to induce cell senescence, which was verified via ß-galactosidase staining. The effects of d-gal on CCSMCs were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleoitidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, western blot, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, RNA interference (RNAi) was carried out for rescue experiments. Subsequently, the influence of senescence on the corpus cavernosum was determined via scanning electron microscopy, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, and Masson stainings. The results revealed that the accelerated senescence of CCSMCs was promoted by d-gal. Simultaneously, smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha-SMA) expression was inhibited, while that of osteopontin (OPN) and Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), as well as fibrotic and apoptotic levels, were elevated. After knocking down KLF4 expression in d-gal-induced CCSMCs by RNAi, the expression level of cellular alpha-SMA increased. Contrastingly, the OPN expression, apoptotic and fibrotic levels declined. In addition, cellular senescence acquired partial remission. Accordingly, in the aged corpus cavernosum, the fibrotic and apoptotic rates were increased, followed by downregulation in the expression of alpha-SMA and the concurrent upregulation in the expression of OPN and KLF4. Overall, our results signaled that d-gal-induced accelerated senescence of CCSMCs could trigger fibrosis, apoptosis and phenotypic switch to the synthetic state, potentially attributed to the upregulation of KLF4 expression, which may be a multipotential therapeutic target of age-related ED.

Grim-19 plays a key role in mitochondrial steroidogenic acute regulatory protein stability and ligand-binding properties in Leydig cells.

Grim-19 (gene associated with retinoid-IFN-induced mortality 19), the essential component of complex I of mitochondrial respiratory chain, functions as a noncanonical tumor suppressor by controlling apoptosis and energy metabolism. However, additional biological actions of Grim-19 have been recently suggested in male reproduction. We investigated here the expression and functional role of Grim-19 in murine testis. Testicular Grim-19 expression was detected from mouse puberty and increased progressively thereafter, and GRIM-19 protein was observed to be expressed exclusively in interstitial Leydig cells (LCs), with a prominent mitochondrial localization. In vivo lentiviral vector-mediated knockdown of Grim-19 resulted in a significant decrease in testosterone production and triggered aberrant oxidative stress in testis, thus impairing male fertility by inducing germ cell apoptosis and oligozoospermia. The control of testicular steroidogenesis by GRIM-19 was validated using the in vivo knockdown model with isolated primary LCs and in vitro experiments with MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. Mechanistically, we suggest that the negative regulation exerted by GRIM-19 deficiency-induced oxidative stress on steroidogenesis may be the result of two phenomena: a direct effect through inhibition of phosphorylation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and subsequent impediment to StAR localization in mitochondria and an indirect pathway that is to facilitate the inhibiting role exerted by the extracellular matrix on the steroidogenic capacity of LCs via promotion of integrin activation. Altogether, our observations suggest that Grim-19 plays a potent role in testicular steroidogenesis and that its alterations may contribute to testosterone deficiency-related disorders linked to metabolic stress and male infertility.

Antimicrobial peptides as promising antibiotic adjuvants to combat drug-resistant pathogens.

The widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR) calls for the development of new antimicrobial strategies. Antibiotic adjuvant rescues antibiotic activity and increases the life span of the antibiotics, representing a more productive, timely, and cost-effective strategy in fighting drug-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from synthetic and natural sources are considered new-generation antibacterial agents. Besides their direct antimicrobial activity, growing evidence shows that some AMPs effectively enhance the activity of conventional antibiotics. The combinations of AMPs and antibiotics display an improved therapeutic effect on antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and minimize the emergence of resistance. In this review, we discuss the value of AMPs in the age of resistance, including modes of action, limiting evolutionary resistance, and their designing strategies. We summarise the recent advances in combining AMPs and antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant pathogens, as well as their synergistic mechanisms. Lastly, we highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with the use of AMPs as potential antibiotic adjuvants. This will shed new light on the deployment of synergistic combinations to address the AMR crisis.

Enhanced recovery management in pediatric pyeloplasty: outcomes in a single institution and tips for improvement.

OBJECTIVE: We report the application of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) regimens to pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP), aiming to guide the practice of ERAS in pediatric LP. METHODS: From October 2018, we prospectively implemented a twenty-point ERAS regimen, including a modified LP procedure, for pediatric UPJO patients in a single institution. Data from 2018 to 2021 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The variables gathered included: demographics, preoperative details and recovery elements. Outcomes were postoperative length of stay (POS), readmission rate, operation time and blood loss. RESULTS: A total of 75 pediatric patients (0-14 years) were included. The mean POS was 2.4 ± 1.4 days, shorter than that in recent studies in China (3.3 ± 1.4 days, 6 (3-16) days). None were redo, and six restenosis (8%) were improved after treatment with ureteral balloon dilatation. The mean operation time was 257.9 ± 54.4 min, and blood loss was 11.8 ± 10.0 ml. In the univariable analysis and multivariable analysis, no external drainage, sacral anesthesia, and withdrawal of the catheter on day one were independently associated with a POS of ≤ 2 d (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The implementation of this ERAS protocol for pediatric LP has resulted in a shorter length of stay without a higher readmission rate. Surgery techniques, drainage management and analgesia are the key to further improvement. ERAS for pediatric pyeloplasty should be encouraged.

Laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal orchiopexy versus traditional orchiopexy for inguinal cryptorchidism: a retrospective study based on 154 patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal orchiopexy versus traditional orchiopexy for inguinal cryptorchidism. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of cryptorchidism patients who were admitted to our hospital from July 2018 to July 2021. The patients were divided into the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group (n = 76) and the traditional surgery group (n = 78) according to the surgical method. RESULTS: All patients were successfully operated. There was no significant difference in operation time between the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal group and the traditional group (P>0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the postoperative hospital stay between the two groups, the time of postoperative hospital stay of the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group was lower than that in the traditional surgery group (P = 0.062). Additionally, there was no significant difference in discharge rate on the first day after surgery between the two groups, but the discharge rate on the first day after surgery was more than 90% in both groups. In terms of postoperative complications, there were no cases of testicular retraction, testicular atrophy, inguinal hernia, or hydrocele that occurred in both groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of scrotal hematoma between the two groups(P>0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of poor wound healing between the two groups(P>0.05), the incidence in the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group was lower than that in the traditional surgery group (2.6% vs. 6.4%). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery is as safe and effective method as traditional surgery for patients with inguinal cryptorchidism, and could also provide a good appearance.

Serotonergic afferents from the dorsal raphe decrease the excitability of pyramidal neurons in the anterior piriform cortex.

The olfactory system receives extensive serotonergic inputs from the dorsal raphe, a nucleus involved in control of behavior, regulation of mood, and modulation of sensory processing. Although many studies have investigated how serotonin modulates the olfactory bulb, few have focused on the anterior piriform cortex (aPC), a region important for olfactory learning and encoding of odor identity and intensity. Specifically, the mechanism and functional significance of serotonergic modulation of the aPC remain largely unknown. Here we used pharmacologic, optogenetic, and fiber photometry techniques to examine the serotonergic modulation of neural activity in the aPC in vitro and in vivo. We found that serotonin (5-HT) reduces the excitability of pyramidal neurons directly via 5-HT2C receptors, phospholipase C, and calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels. Furthermore, endogenous serotonin attenuates odor-evoked calcium responses in aPC pyramidal neurons. These findings identify the mechanism underlying serotonergic modulation of the aPC and shed light on its potential role.

Gambogenic acid induces apoptosis and autophagy through ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress via JNK pathway in prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor in males, which frequently develops into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with limited therapies. Gambogenic acid (GNA), a flavonoids compound isolated from Gamboge, exhibits anti-tumor capacity in various cancers. Our results showed that GNA revealed not only antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities but also the induction of autophagy in PCa cells. In addition, autophagy inhibitor chloroquine enhanced the pro-apoptosis effect of GNA. Moreover, the activation of JNK pathway and the induction of apoptosis and autophagy triggered by GNA were attenuated by JNK inhibitor SP600125. We also found that GNA significantly promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Meanwhile, suppressing ER stress with 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) markedly blocked the activation of JNK pathway induced by GNA. Further research indicated that ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) effectively abrogated ER stress and JNK pathway activation induced by GNA. Furthermore, NAC and 4-PBA significantly reversed GNA-triggered apoptosis and autophagy. Finally, GNA remarkably suppressed prostate tumor growth with low toxicity in vivo. In conclusion, the present study revealed that GNA induced apoptosis and autophagy through ROS-mediated ER stress via JNK signaling pathway in PCa cells. Thus, GNA might be a promising therapeutic drug against PCa.

Partial Substitution of Fish Meal with Soy Protein Concentrate on Growth, Liver Health, Intestinal Morphology, and Microbiota in Juvenile Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

The present study investigated the growth performance, feed utilization, intestinal morphology, and microbiota communities of juvenile large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) fed diets containing different proportions of soy protein concentrate (SPC) (0, 15%, 30%, and 45%, namely FM, SPC15, SPC30, and SPC45) as a substitute for fish meal (FM) for 8 weeks. The weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) in fish fed SPC45 were significantly lower than those fed FM and SPC15 but not differ with these fed SPC30. The feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) decreased sharply when the dietary SPC inclusion level was higher than 15%. The activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and expression of alt and aspartate aminotransferase (ast) were significantly higher in fish fed SPC45 than those fed FM. The activity and mRNA expression of acid phosphatase were opposite. The villi height (VH) in distal intestine (DI) showed a significant quadratic response to increasing dietary SPC inclusion levels and was highest in SPC15. The VH in proximal intestine, middle intestine decreased significantly with increasing dietary SPC levels. The 16S rRNA sequences in intestine revealed that fish fed SPC15 had higher bacterial diversity and abundance of Phylum Firmicutes such as order Lactobacillales and order Rhizobiaceae than those fed other diets. Genus vibrio, family Vibrionaceae and order Vibrionales within phylum Proteobacteria were enriched in fish fed FM and SPC30 diets. Tyzzerella and Shewanella that belongs to phylum Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, respectively, were enriched in fish fed SPC45 diet. Our results indicated that SPC replacing more than 30% FM could lead to lower quality diet, retard growth performance, ill health, disordered intestine structure, and microbiota communities. Tyzzerella could be the bacteria indicator of intestinal in large yellow croaker fed low quality diet due to high SPC content. Based on the quadratic regression analysis of WG, the best growth performance could be observed when the replacement of FM with SPC was 9.75%.

Effects of Dietary Fish Meal Replaced by Fish Steak Meal on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Intestinal Health and Microflora, Inflammatory Response, and Protein Metabolism of Large Yellow Croaker Larimichthys crocea.

Although fish steak meal (FSM) is a potentially available protein source, its efficiency as a fish meal (FM) substitute remains unclear to date. To this end, this study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary FM replaced by FSM on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, intestinal health and microflora, inflammatory response, and protein metabolism of large yellow croaker. Five isolipidic and isonitrogenous diets were formulated by substituting FM with FSM at levels of 0% (FSM0, control diet), 25% (FSM25), 50% (FSM50), 75% (FSM75), and 100% (FSM100), and were fed to juvenile large yellow croaker for 8 weeks. Compared with the control diet, the replacement of 25% dietary FM with FSM did not markedly alter the weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR). When the FM substitution level was over 25%, WG and SGR markedly reduced. The intestinal structure observation found that the FSM75 and FSM100 diets markedly decreased villus height, villus width, and muscle thickness of the anterior intestine. The FSM75 and FSM100 diets significantly decreased enzyme activities of amylase (AMS), lipase (LPS), trypsin, catalase (CAT), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the liver of large yellow croaker. The mRNA expression levels of intestinal barrier and inflammatory response-related genes suggested that the FSM50, FSM75, and FSM100 diets significantly decreased the mRNA abundances of intestinal barrier-related genes and anti-inflammatory response-related genes, and increased the mRNA abundances of proinflammatory gene il-6 in the anterior intestine. The compositions of intestinal microflora displayed that the FSM50, FSM75, and FSM100 diets decreased relative abundances of Firmicutes phylum and increased relative abundances of Proteobacteria phylum. In addition, the results of protein expression levels showed that the phosphorylation level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in FSM75 and FSM100 groups were markedly reduced. In conclusion, FSM can replace up to 25% dietary FM without compromising the growth performance, intestinal health, and protein metabolism of the large yellow croaker.

Gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy for the treatment of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stricture in an infant with a self-made bite block.

Gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) is reported to be a promising treatment for refractory gastroparesis, on the other hand, it is also an effective treatment for congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (CHPS). Here, we want to report a case in which G-POEM was performed in an infant with CHPS.

Task-Demand-Dependent Neural Representation of Odor Information in the Olfactory Bulb and Posterior Piriform Cortex.

In awake rodents, the neural representation of olfactory information in the olfactory bulb is largely dependent on brain state and behavioral context. Learning-modified neural plasticity has been observed in mitral/tufted cells, the main output neurons of the olfactory bulb. Here, we propose that the odor information encoded by mitral/tufted cell responses in awake mice is highly dependent on the behavioral task demands. We used fiber photometry to record calcium signals from the mitral/tufted cell population in awake, head-fixed male mice under different task demands. We found that the mitral/tufted cell population showed similar responses to two distinct odors when the odors were presented in the context of a go/go task, in which the mice received a water reward regardless of the identity of the odor presented. However, when the same odors were presented in a go/no-go task, in which one odor was rewarded and the other was not, then the mitral cell population responded very differently to the two odors, characterized by a robust reduction in the response to the nonrewarded odor. Thus, the representation of odors in the mitral/tufted cell population depends on whether the task requires discrimination of the odors. Strikingly, downstream of the olfactory bulb, pyramidal neurons in the posterior piriform cortex also displayed a task-demand-dependent neural representation of odors, but the anterior piriform cortex did not, indicating that these two important higher olfactory centers use different strategies for neural representation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The most important task of the olfactory system is to generate a precise representation of odor information under different brain states. Whether the representation of odors by neurons in olfactory centers such as the olfactory bulb and the piriform cortex depends on task demands remains elusive. We find that odor representation in the mitral/tufted cells of the olfactory bulb depends on whether the task requires odor discrimination. A similar neural representation is found in the posterior piriform cortex but not the anterior piriform cortex, indicating that these higher olfactory centers use different representational strategies. The task-demand-dependent representational strategy is likely important for facilitating information processing in higher brain centers responsible for decision making and encoding of salience.

Numb deficiency in cerebellar Purkinje cells impairs synaptic expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor and motor coordination.

Protein Numb, first identified as a cell-fate determinant in Drosophila, has been shown to promote the development of neurites in mammals and to be cotransported with endocytic receptors in clathrin-coated vesicles in vitro. Nevertheless, its function in mature neurons has not yet been elucidated. Here we show that cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) express high levels of Numb during adulthood and that conditional deletion of Numb in PCs is sufficient to impair motor coordination despite maintenance of a normal cerebellar cyto-architecture. Numb proved to be critical for internalization and recycling of metabotropic glutamate 1 receptor (mGlu1) in PCs. A significant decrease of mGlu1 and an inhibition of long-term depression at the parallel fiber-PC synapse were observed in conditional Numb knockout mice. Indeed, the trafficking of mGlu1 induced by agonists was inhibited significantly in these mutants, but the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits and of mGlu1-associated proteins was not affected by the loss of Numb. Moreover, transient and persistent forms of mGlu1 plasticity were robustly induced in mutant PCs, suggesting that they do not require mGlu1 trafficking. Together, our data demonstrate that Numb is a regulator for constitutive expression and dynamic transport of mGlu1.

Identification of endonuclease domain-containing 1 as a novel tumor suppressor in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endonuclease domain containing 1 (ENDOD1) is implicated in tumorigenesis and aggressiveness of multiple tumors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of ENDOD1 in prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry were performed in 30 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 50 cases of PCa to identify its association with clinicopathological characteristics. Real-time PCR and western blot were used to detect ENDOD1 mRNA and protein expression in normal prostatic epithelial and PCa cell lines. MTT assays were employed to determine the effect of cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to explore the cell cycle distribution and apoptotic effects. Transwell migration and invasion assays were done to evaluate changes in the ability of cell migration and invasion. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity scores of ENDOD1 showed no statistical difference between BPH and low-grade PCa, whereas lower immunostaining scores were observed in high-grade compared with low-grade PCa. Real-time PCR data indicated that ENDOD1 mRNA expression was markedly increased in LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells and decreased in PC3 and DU145 cells compared to the normal epithelial cells RWPE1. Western blot showed that androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells had the highest protein expression level of ENDOD1, whereas castration-resistant PCa cell lines PC3 and DU145 had significantly lower protein levels. Meanwhile, overexpression of ENDOD1 suppressed cell proliferation, induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell migration and invasion. Conversely, siRNA-mediated silencing of ENDOD1 promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion. No apoptotic effects occurred upon manipulation of ENDOD1 expression. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that ENDOD1 is a novel tumor suppressor in PCa, which may be employed as a new drug target of preventing progression to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Downregulation of Glutamate Transporter EAAT4 by Conditional Knockout of Rheb1 in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells.

Excitatory amino acid transporter 4 (EAAT4) is believed to be critical to the synaptic activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells by limiting extracellular glutamate concentrations and facilitating the induction of long-term depression. However, the modulation of EAAT4 expression has not been elucidated. It has been shown that Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling plays essential roles in the regulation of protein translation, cell size, and cell growth. In addition, we previously found that a cascade including mTOR suppression and Akt activation induces increased expression of EAAT2 in astrocytes. In the present work, we explored whether Rheb/mTOR signaling is involved in the regulation of EAAT4 expression using conditional Rheb1 knockout mice. Our results demonstrated that Rheb1 deficiency resulted in the downregulation of EAAT4 expression, as well as decreased activity of mTOR and increased activity of Akt. The downregulation of EAAT4 was also confirmed by reduced EAAT4 currents and slowed kinetics of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor-mediated currents. On the other hand, conditional knockout of Rheb1 did not alter the morphology of Purkinje cell layer and the number of Purkinje cells. Overall, our findings suggest that small GTPase Rheb1 is a modulator in the expression of EAAT4 in Purkinje cells.

Long-term potentiation at cerebellar parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses requires presynaptic and postsynaptic signaling cascades.

Long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) at cerebellar parallel fiber-Purkinje cell (PF-PC) synapses play critical roles in motor learning. The 1 Hz stimulation at PF-PC synapses induces a postsynaptically expressed LTP that requires a postsynaptic Ca(2+) transient, phosphatases, and nitric oxide (NO). However, the mechanism underlying 1 Hz PF-LTP remains unclear because none of the known events is related to each other. Here, we demonstrated that 1 Hz PF-LTP requires postsynaptic cytosolic phospholipase A2 α (cPLA2α)/arachidonic acid (AA) signaling and presynaptic endocannabinoid receptors. Using patch-clamp recording in cerebellar slices, we found that 1 Hz PF-LTP was abolished in cPLA2α-knock-out mice. This deficit was effectively rescued by the conjunction of 1 Hz PF stimulation and the local application of AA. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol and the retrograde activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) were also involved in 1 Hz LTP because it was blocked by the hydrolysis of 2-AG or by inhibiting CB1Rs. The amount of NO released was detected using an NO electrode in cultured granule cells and PF terminals. Our results showed that the activation of CB1Rs at PF terminals activated NO synthetase and promoted NO production. The 1 Hz PF-stimuli evoked limited NO, but 100 Hz PF stimulation generated a large amount. Therefore, 1 Hz PF-LTP, distinct from classical postsynaptically expressed plasticity, requires concurrent presynaptic and postsynaptic activity. In addition, NO of sufficient amplitude decides between the weakening and strengthening of PF-PC synapses.

Repair of urethral defects with polylactid acid fibrous membrane seeded with adipose-derived stem cells in a rabbit model.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the capacity of polylactid acid (PLA) fibrous membrane seeded with allogeneic rabbit adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to repair urethral defects in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbit ADSCs were harvested and phenotypically characterized. Twenty-four New Zealand male rabbits with 5-mm urethral mucosal defects were randomly divided into two groups. They underwent urethroplasty either with PLA fibrous membrane seeded with ADSCs (group A) or blank PLA fibrous membrane (group B). At 4 and 6 weeks after urethroplasty, the urethral grafts were collected and analyzed grossly and histologically. The incidence rate of urethrostenosis was measured. RESULTS: The adipose tissue-derived cells in monolayer culture showed a typical morphology of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). They were positive for the MSC marker CD44 but negative for lineage markers CD45 and CD105. Six weeks after surgery, the incidence rate of urethrostenosis in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (p < 0.05). In group A, the ADSC-seeded grafts showed a normal urethral architecture with a thickened muscle layer. In contrast, the newly developed urethra in group B demonstrated a fewer number of urothelial layers and scarce or no smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSION: The PLA scaffold seeded with ADSCs is effective in urethral regeneration in a rabbit model. ADSCs may represent a promising source of seed cells for urethral tissue engineering.

Serotonergic input from the dorsal raphe nucleus shapes learning-associated odor responses in the olfactory bulb.

AIM: Neural activity in the olfactory bulb (OB) can represent odor information during different brain and behavioral states. For example, the odor responses of mitral/tufted (M/T) cells in the OB change during learning of odor-discrimination tasks and, at the network level, beta power increases and the high gamma (HG) power decreases during odor presentation in such tasks. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these observations remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate whether serotonergic modulation from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) to the OB is involved in shaping activity during the learning process in a go/no-go task in mice. METHODS: Fiber photometry was used to record the population activity of DRN serotonergic neurons during a go/no-go task. In vivo electrophysiology was used to record neural activity (single units and local field potentials) in the OB during the go/no-go task. Real-time place preference (RTPP) and intracranial light administration in a specific subarea (iClass) tests were used to assess the ability of mice to encoding reward information. RESULTS: Odor-evoked population activity in serotonergic neurons in the DRN was shaped during the learning process in a go/no-go task. In the OB, neural activity from oscillations to single cells showed complex, learning-associated changes and ability to encode information during an odor discrimination task. However, these properties were not observed after ablation of DRN serotonergic neurons. CONCLUSION: The activity of neural networks and single cells in the OB, and their ability to encode information about odor value, are shaped by serotonergic projections from the DRN.

Pedicled flaps reconstruction of hypopharynx and laryngeal defects: Successful preservation of laryngeal function in patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Preserving laryngeal function and reconstructing the hypopharynx in advanced hypopharyngeal cancer pose significant challenges for head and neck surgeons. METHODS: A 48-year-old male patient was diagnosed with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer originating from the left pyriform sinus. The tumor extended into the hypopharynx, left vocal cord, ventricular fold, partial aryepiglottic fold, and a segment of the cervical esophagus. A curative tumor resection was performed, and a well-thought-out strategy was employed for hypopharyngeal repair and laryngeal reconstruction. RESULTS: Following the surgery, the patient demonstrated exceptional flap survival, and the tracheostomy tube was removed at the 6-month mark. No surgery-related complications were observed, and both swallowing and vocal functions exhibited a robust recovery. CONCLUSION: Our reconstruction strategy proves effective in preserving laryngeal function among patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.

Interfascial planes as surgical landmarks for laparoscopic upper retroperitoneal surgery: a cadaveric and retrospectively clinical study.

Background: Radiologists currently accept the concept of "interfascial plane (IFP)" to understand retroperitoneal anatomy, replacing Meyers' classic tricompartmental theory. Despite much research on retroperitoneal anatomy, its anatomical structure, embryonic origin and developmental process still require further exploration to guide the optimization of surgical process. This study aims to explore the anatomical basis of IFP related to laparoscopic upper retroperitoneal surgery (LURS) and to compare the clinical outcomes of trans-interfascial plane procedures for LURS (TIFP-LURS) with conventional LURS (Con-LURS). Methods: The study consisted of two parts: cadaveric and clinical study. The cadaveric study involved dissecting and observing the retroperitoneal fasciae and IFP in 32 cadavers using gross anatomical and histological methods. This retrospective clinical study compared the perioperative data and complications of 229 patients who underwent TIFP-LURS and 121 patients who underwent Con-LURS for upper retroperitoneal lesions at our center. Results: The cadaveric study revealed that the retroperitoneal space was composed of multilaminar fasciae that formed potential bloodless spaces among them, that could be used as surgical landmarks and operating planes. The clinical study showed that TIFP-LURS had a significantly less estimated blood loss, lower intraoperative complication rate, lower postoperative complication rate, shorter hospital-stay and lower long-term postoperative complications rate than Con-LURS. Multivariate analysis indicated that the TIFP procedure was an independent protective factor for decreasing the risk of postoperative complications. Conclusions: The IFP are potential avascular spaces that can be used during laparoscopic surgery, and TIFP-LURS is a novel surgical approach that can improve the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for upper retroperitoneal lesions.

Poly-L-lactic acid/gelatin electrospun membrane-loaded bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate erectile dysfunction caused by cavernous nerve injury.

Radical prostatectomy (RP) can cause neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), which negatively affects the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer. Currently, there is a dearth of effective therapeutic strategies. Although stem cell therapy is promising, direct cell transplantation to injured cavernous nerves is constrained by poor cell colonization. In this study, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)/gelatin electrospun membranes (PGEM) were fabricated to load bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) as a patch to be placed on injured nerves to alleviate ED. This study aimed to establish a promising and innovative approach to mitigate neurogenic ED post-RP and lay the foundation for modifying surgical procedures. Electrospinning and molecular biotechnology were performed in vitro and in vivo, respectively. It was observed that PGEM enhanced the performance of BM-MSCs and Schwann cells due to their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The transplanted PGEM and loaded BM-MSCs synergistically improved bilateral cavernous nerve injury-related ED and the corresponding histopathological changes. Nevertheless, transplantation of BM-MSCs alone has been verified to be ineffective. Overall, PGEM can serve as an ideal carrier to supply a more suitable survival environment for BM-MSCs and Schwann cells, thereby promoting the recovery of injured cavernous nerves and erectile function.