Livin is protective in UVB-induced skin photodamage by regulating keratinocyte activation and inflammatory responses.

UVB radiation can lead to skin photodamage, which might arise from keratinocyte (KC) activation. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) assumes an essential function in the context of UVB-triggered skin photodamage. Initiating the NF-κB cascade leads to the release of inflammatory factors from KCs. Livin can modulate both KC activation and function, yet it remains uncertain whether and how Livin regulates KC activation induced by UVB. To explore the involvement of Livin in UVB-triggered skin photodamage and its impact on skin damage through NF-κB activation. Immunofluorescence staining was used to analyse the expression of Livin in individuals with skin photodamage and in mice treated with UVB radiation. KC-specific Livin knockout (LivinΔKC ) mice and HaCaT cells with Livin knockdown were employed to examine the function of Livin in regulating KC activation induced by UVB radiation. Additionally, the impact of Livin on the NF-κB cascade during KC activation was confirmed via western blot analysis. In patients with skin photodamage, UVB-treated mice and HaCaT cells, Livin expression was reduced in KCs. LivinΔKC mice displayed heightened sensitivity to UVB radiation, resulting in more pronounced skin damage and inflammatory responses compared to the control Livinfl/fl mice. Following UVB exposure, both LivinΔKC mice and Livin-knockdown HaCaT cells released elevated levels of cytokines compared to their respective controls. Moreover, the UVB-induced activation of NF-κB in HaCaT cells was significantly enhanced following Livin knockdown. Our findings propose that Livin within KCs could contribute to reducing UVB-induced skin photodamage by regulating the NF-κB pathway.

Near-Barrierless CO Oxidation Using Phosphotungstic Acid-Supported Single-Atom Catalysts.

Efficient CO oxidation at ambient or low temperatures is essential for environmental purification and selective CO oxidation in H2, yet achieving this remains a challenge with current methodologies. In this research, we extensively evaluated the catalytic performance of phosphotungstic acid (PTA)-supported 11 M1/PTA single-atom catalysts (SACs) using density functional theory calculations across both gas phase and 12 common solvents. The Rh1/PTA, Pd1/PTA, and Pt1/PTA systems exhibit moderate CO adsorption energies, facilitating the feasibility of oxygen vacancy formation. Remarkably, the Pd1/PTA and Pt1/PTA catalysts exhibited negligible energy barriers and demonstrated exceptionally high catalytic rates, with values reaching up to (1 × 1010)11, markedly exceeding the threshold for room temperature reactions, set at 6.55 × 108. This phenomenon is attributed to a transition from the high-energy barrier processes of oxygen dissociation in O2 and N-O bond dissociation in N2O to the more efficient dissociation of H2O2. Orbital analysis and charge variations at metal sites throughout the reaction process provide deeper insights into the role of the three metal catalytic sites in CO activation. Our findings not only reveal key aspects of SACs in facilitating CO oxidation at low temperatures but also provide valuable insights for future catalytic reaction mechanism studies and environmental applications.

Livin expression promotes keratinocyte release of inflammatory mediators in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a prevalent, long-term skin condition characterized by inflammation. Keratinocytes (KCs) are important effector cells that release inflammatory factors and chemokines to promote the inflammatory cascade in psoriasis. However, the mechanisms underlying the activation of KCs in psoriasis remain unclear. Livin suppresses apoptotic proteins and directly affects the growth and spread of cancer cells. Livin expression reportedly increases significantly in lesions of patients with psoriasis; however, its specific role in KC activation remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the impact of Livin on KC activation and the subsequent release of inflammatory mediators. METHODS: Immunofluorescence staining, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and western blotting were used to assess Livin expression in patients with psoriasis, an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model, and M5-treated HaCaT cells. To investigate the role of Livin in KCs, we performed RNA sequencing and proteomic analysis of Livin-knockdown (knockdown-HaCaT) and negative control (NC-HaCaT) cells. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were used for enrichment analyses. Moreover, the effect of Livin expression on the release of inflammatory mediators in KCs was verified using ELISA. RESULTS: Livin expression was higher in KCs of patients with psoriasis than in those healthy controls. Livin expression in HaCaT cells treated with M5 increased significantly over time. Livin expression was higher in the skin lesions of the IMQ mouse model than in the control group. Proteomic analysis and RNA sequencing used to investigate the function of Livin in HaCaT cells revealed its potential role in mediating KC activation and inflammatory mediator release, which affected the pathology of psoriasis. CONCLUSIONS: Livin expression played an effect on KCs activation, which induced release of inflammatory mediators and up-regulation of keratin. This study provides a new effector molecule for the mechanism of inflammatory response in psoriasis.

Establishment of a modified Kyoto classification scoring model and its significance in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori current infection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We aimed to establish a modified model of the Kyoto classification score and verify its accuracy for predicting Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection during endoscopy. METHODS: Patients who underwent gastroscopy from June 2020 to March 2021 were included in this study. Atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, hypertrophy of the gastric fold, nodularity, diffuse redness, sticky mucus, spotty redness, xanthoma, map-like redness, fundic gland polyp, and regular arrangement of collecting venules (RAC) were recorded according to the Kyoto classification of gastritis. The HP infection status of participants was determined by a 13C breath test, anti-HP antibody, and histopathologic hematoxylin and eosin staining. The modified Kyoto classification scoring model was established based on univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis. The modified scoring model was used to judge the status of HP infection in patients undergoing gastroscopy from July to September 2021 and to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction. RESULTS: Of 667 participants in the derivation dataset, 326 cases had HP infection and 341 cases did not. Atrophy, hypertrophy of the gastric fold, nodularity, diffuse redness, sticky mucus, and spotty redness were associated with HP current infection. Thus, a new scoring model, termed the modified Kyoto classification scoring model, was constructed that included atrophy, hypertrophy of the gastric fold, nodularity, diffuse redness, sticky mucus, spotty redness, fundic gland polyp, and RAC as indicators. To test the model, 808 subjects, including 251 HP-positive patients, comprised the validation dataset. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Kyoto classification scoring model improved the accuracy of endoscopic determination of HP current infection and has clinical application potential in the Chinese population.

Bifico relieves irritable bowel syndrome by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis and inflammatory cytokines.

PURPOSE: Gut microbiota dysbiosis, a core pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is closely related to immunological and metabolic functions. Gut microbiota-based therapeutics have been recently explored in several studies. Bifico is a probiotic cocktail widely used in gastrointestinal disorders which relate to the imbalance of gut microbiota. However, the efficacy and potential mechanisms of Bifico treatment in IBS remains incompletely understood. METHODS: Adopting a wrap restraint stress (WRS) -induced IBS mice model. Protective effect of Bifico in IBS mice was examined through abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores. 16S rDNA, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and western blot assays were performed to analyze alterations of gut microbiota, microbiome metabolites and inflammatory cytokines, respectively. RESULTS: Bifico could decrease intestinal visceral hypersensitivity. Although gut microbiota diversity did not increase, composition of gut microbiota was changed after treatment of Bifico, which were characterized by an increase of Proteobacteria phylum and Actinobacteria phylum, Muribaculum genus, Bifidobacterium genus and a decrease of Parabacteroides genus, Sutterella genus and Lactobacillus genus. Moreover, Bifico elevated the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and reduced protein levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). From further Spearman's correlation analysis, Bifidobacterium genus were positively correlated with SCFAs including propionate, butyrate, valerate and negatively correlated with IL-6 and TNF-α. CONCLUSION: Bifico could alleviate symptoms of IBS mice through regulation of the gut microbiota, elevating production of SCFAs and reducing the colonic inflammatory response.

The association of myopia progression with the morphological changes of optic disc and ß-peripapillary atrophy in primary school students.

PURPOSE: To study the association of myopia progression with the morphological changes of optic disc and ß-peripapillary atrophy (ß-PPA) in 8-11 years old primary school students. METHODS: This study was a prospective, school-based investigation. This study included 610 children (1008 eyes) who were continuously observed and had data available from 2016 to 2017 in the Sanhe Cohort Study of the Risk Factors for Myopia (SCSRFM). The children underwent a comprehensive eye examination including measurement of visual acuity, autorefractometry, and posterior segment of the eye. ß-PPA regions and optic disc ovality index were identified and measured on the fundus photographs. RESULTS: The prevalence of myopia was 72.62% (732/1008) in 2016. In myopic children, the prevalence of the vertical ß-PPA, the horizontal ß-PPA, and the oval optic disc were 75.68% (554/732), 75.96% (556/732) and, 11.61% (85/732) respectively. From 2016 to 2017, with the progression of vertical ß-PPA, horizontal ß-PPA, area of ß-PPA, and optic disc ovality index, the myopic diopter and the axial length (AL) were increased. The progression of horizontal ß-PPA was significantly correlated with the progression of myopic diopter and AL (all p < 0.05). The analysis on the distribution of progression rate of parameters in different groups found that the progression rate of horizontal ß-PPA, area of ß-PPA, and optic disc ovality index increased with the increase of the progression of diopter and AL. The progression of horizontal ß-PPA, area of ß-PPA, optic disc ovality index, and diopter in girls were greater than that in boys, and the progression of optic disc ovality index and diopter had a statistical significance (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 1-year follow-up study of the third-grade primary school students showed that with the progression of myopia and the growth of AL, ß-PPA and optic disc ovality index also changed. There was a positive correlation between the change of ß-PPA and optic disc ovality index and the progression of myopia diopter and AL.

Reciprocal Antagonism between MicroRNA-138 and SIRT1 and Its Implications for the Angiogenesis of Endothelial Cells.

MicroRNAs and sirtuins are important epigenetic regulators of gene expression and both contribute significantly to postnatal vascular development. However, the crosstalk between miRNAs and sirtuins in the modulation of angiogenesis has rarely been discussed. Here, we investigated the interactions between miR-138 and sirtuins in the process of angiogenesis. We found that overexpression of miR-138 markedly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and tube-forming capacities of the endothelial cells. And, miR-138 inhibitor-treated endothelial cells showed a reversed phenotype. Furthermore, miR-138 plays a negative role in vascular development in vivo. Western blot and qPCR assays demonstrated that SIRT1 was silenced by miR-138, and a luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-138 bound to the 3'-UTR of SIRT1. The re-expression of SIRT1 alleviated miR-138-mediated suppression of angiogenesis. Furthermore, silencing SIRT1 could boost the level of miR-138. And, upon miR-138 inhibitor treatment, SIRT1 silencing no longer reduced the angiogenic ability of endothelial cells significantly. These results demonstrated that the circuitry involving miR-138 and SIRT1 may participate in vascular homeostasis and also offered the possibility of identifying a new approach in the treatment of angiogenic diseases.

CuInS/ZnS quantum dots modified intraocular lens for photothermal therapy of posterior capsule opacification.

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery is one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. The cause of PCO is the capsule fibrosis developed on implanted Intraocular Lens (IOLs) by the de-differentiation of Lens Epithelial Cells (LECs) undergoing epithelial mesenchymal transition. How to prevent PCO has been a challenge to scientists and ophthalmologists for decades. Here we demonstrated the use of carboxylated CuInS/ZnS quantum dots (ZCIS QDs), which are free of toxic heavy metals and are more biocompatible, as photothermal nanomedicines. The ZCIS QDs are modified onto the non-optical section of IOLs by a facial activation-immersion method. Under mild NIR laser irradiation, ZCIS QDs modified IOLs (QDs-IOLs) will generate localized heat and prevent the proliferation of LECs onto the surface of QDs-IOLs. Our findings provide experimental evidence for further application of combined nanotechnology and photothermal therapy for the clinical treatment of PCO.

Elevated miR-29a Contributes to Axonal Outgrowth and Neurological Recovery After Intracerebral Hemorrhage via Targeting PTEN/PI3K/Akt Pathway.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a clinical challenge with high disability and lacks an effective treatment. miR-29a strongly expressed in the brain has been implicated in various neurological disorders. In this study, we investigated the biological roles of miR-29a in axonal outgrowth and neurological outcomes after ICH and relevant molecular mechanism. The rat model of ICH was established by injection of autologous whole blood into the right basal ganglia. First, a significant decrease in miR-29a level was found in perihematomal brain tissues and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after ICH in vivo and hemin-treated neurons in vitro. Further study documented that lentivirus-mediated miR-29a overexpression could remarkably attenuate hemorrhagic brain injury, promoted regenerative outgrowth of injured axons and improved neurobehavioral and cognitive impairments after ICH in rats. In addition, we also identified that overexpression of miR-29a obviously alleviated neuronal damage and mitochondrial dysfunctions, and facilitated neurite outgrowth in cultured neurons exposed to hemin in vitro. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-29a directly targeted the 3'-UTR region of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) mRNA and negatively regulated its expression. More importantly, pharmacological inhibition of PTEN has similar neuroprotective effects as miR-29a overexpression involving activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway after hemorrhagic stroke. Collectively, these results suggested that elevated miR-29a could contribute to axonal outgrowth and neurological recovery through targeting PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway after ICH, thereby providing a potential therapeutic target for patients with ICH.

Effect of Inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway on the Th17/IL-17 Axis in Acute Cellular Rejection After Heart Transplantation in Mice.

ABSTRACT: Acute immune rejection is one of the most serious complications of heart transplantation, and its mechanism has always been a hot spot. Th17 cells and cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) have been proved to be involved in acute immune rejection, and the signaling pathway mechanism has attracted our interest. It has been confirmed that the Janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway is involved in the differentiation of CD4+ T cells, so we focus on whether the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is involved in the occurrence of acute immune rejection by regulating the Th17/IL-17 axis. In this study, we used Bagg's Albino c mice and C57BL/6 mice to construct heterotopic heart transplantation models, which were divided into the acute rejection group and AG490-treated group (n = 5), and donor tissue and serum were collected in 3 experimental days from the recipient mice for H&E staining analysis of paraffin sections and ELISA, Western blot, flow cytometry, and real time-polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the acute rejection rating of the heart decreased, and the expression of related factors decreased significantly after using the inhibitor AG490, suggesting that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway regulates expression of the Th17/IL-17 axis in cardiac allograft rejection.

Long-term chemogenetic activation of M1 glutamatergic neurons attenuates the behavioral and cognitive deficits caused by intracerebral hemorrhage.

Acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a life-threatening disease. It is often accompanied by severe neurological sequelae largely caused by the loss of integrity of the neural circuits. However, these neurological sequelae have few strong medical interventions. Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are important chemogenetic tools capable of precisely modulating the activity of neural circuits. They have been suggested to have therapeutic effects on multiple neurological diseases. Despite this, no empirical research has explored the effects of DREADDs on functional recovery after ICH. We aimed to explore whether the long-term excitation of glutamatergic neurons in primary motor cortex (M1) by DREADD could promote functional recovery after ICH. We used CaMKII-driven Gq/Gi-DREADDs to activate/inhibit M1 glutamatergic neurons for 21 consecutive days, and examined their effects on behavioral and cognitive deficits caused by ICH in a mouse model of ICH targeting striatum. Long-term chemogenetic activation of the M1 glutamatergic neurons increased the spatial memory and sensorimotor ability of mice suffering from ICH. It also attenuated the mitochondrial dysfunctions of striatal neurons by raising the ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential while decreasing the 8-OHdG levels. These results strongly suggest that selective stimulation of the M1 glutamatergic neurons contributes to functional recovery after ICH presumably through alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunctions.

Resveratrol Attenuates Aortic Dissection by Increasing Endothelial Barrier Function Through the SIRT1 Pathway.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a serious condition and a health issue on a global scale. ß-Aminopropionitrile-induced AD in mice is similar to the pathogenesis of AD in humans. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenolic substance that provides anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular effects, but the role of RSV in AD is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of RSV on ß-aminopropionitrile-induced AD in mice. Our results indicate that RSV can prevent the occurrence of AD. More meaningfully, we found that the protective effect comprises an increase in sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression in endothelial cells for the reconstruction of their structure, reducing the recruitment of inflammatory cells by endothelial cells and inhibiting the inflammation response, thereby suppressing the occurrence of AD.

Polydatin ameliorates chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (chemobrain) by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis in rats.

Most breast cancer survivors receiving chemotherapy have severe cognitive impairment, often referred to as "chemobrain." Polydatin (PLD) is known to have many biological activities. Thus, this study aimed to determine whether symptoms of chemobrain can be prevented or relieved by PLD. The chemobrain models were established by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (DOX, 2 mg/kg) in rats once a week for 4 weeks (DOX group and DOX+PLD group). In the PLD group and DOX+PLD group, PLD (50 mg/kg) was administered orally to rats every day. We found that PLD treatment significantly protected against DOX-induced learning and memory impairment, restored hippocampal histopathological architecture. Furthermore, PLD suppressed DOX-induced oxidative stress through up-regulating Nrf2, inhibited inflammatory response by activating the NF-κB pathway, and reduced hippocampal apoptosis. Therefore, the present study indicated that PLD offered neuroprotection against DOX-induced chemobrain. PLD may assist in preventing chemobrain after chemotherapy in patients with cancers.

Lipoxin A4 Methyl Ester Reduces Early Brain Injury by Inhibition of the Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB)-Dependent Matrix Metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) Pathway in a Rat Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with inflammation and disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Lipoxin A4 methyl ester (LXA4 ME), is a stable synthetic analog of lipoxin with anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of LXA4 ME in a rat model of ICH. MATERIAL AND METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=120), between 12-13 weeks of age, were divided into the sham group (sham-operated), the vehicle-treated group (ICH+vehicle), the LXA4 ME-L group (ICH+low-dose LXA4 ME, 10 ng/d), and the LXA4 ME-H group (ICH+high-dose LXA4 ME, 100 ng/d). The ICH model was created by injection of autologous blood into the right basal ganglia. LXA4 ME was injected into the ventricle 10 min after the development of ICH. A modified neurological severity score (mNSS), rotarod latencies, and brain water content were used to evaluate the rats. The TUNEL assay measured neuronal cell death. Western blot was used to measure protein expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and claudin-5. RESULTS In the rat model of ICH, treatment with LXA4 ME reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, improved neurologic function, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and reduced cerebral edema associated with damage to the BBB, and reduced the expression levels of NF-kB, MMP-9, ZO-1, and claudin-5. CONCLUSIONS In a rat model of ICH, treatment with LXA4 reduced early brain injury and protected the BBB by inhibiting the NF-kappaB-dependent MMP-9 pathway.

Recombinant Osteopontin Improves Neurological Functional Recovery and Protects Against Apoptosis via PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß Pathway Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the potential neuroprotective effect of recombinant osteopontin (r-OPN) on apoptotic changes via modulating phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß) signaling in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). MATERIAL AND METHODS We subjected 10-12-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats (n=120) to injection of autologous blood into the right basal ganglia to induce ICH or sham surgery. ICH animals received vehicle administration, r-OPN (4 µL/pup), or r-OPN combined with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin (86 ng/pup) at 30 min after injury. Neurological scores and rotarod latencies were evaluated on days 1-5 post-ICH. Brain water content was evaluated on days 1-3 post-ICH. The number of apoptotic cells changes were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2-deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and hematoxylin staining. Apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 (CC3), and the phosphorylation levels of Akt and GSK-3b were assayed by Western blot. RESULTS Neurological deficits, rotarod latencies, and brain water content following ICH were reduced in the r-OPN group compared to the vehicle group. r-OPN also attenuated cell death in ICH. Furthermore, treatment with r-OPN significantly increased p-Akt expression and decreased p-GSK-3ß. These effects were associated with a decrease in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the suppression of CC3 at 24 h after ICH. Importantly, all the beneficial effects of r-OPN in ICH were abrogated by the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin. CONCLUSIONS r-OPN may provide a wide range of neuroprotection by suppressing apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß signaling pathway after ICH.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Increases GAP-43 Expression via ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt Pathways in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) occurs in hypertensive patients and results in high rates of mortality and disability. This study determined whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation affects axonal regeneration and examined the underlying mechanisms after the administration of PD98059 (p-ERK1/2 inhibitor) or/ and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor). The hypothesis that was intended to be tested was that BMSC transplantation regulates the expression of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) via the ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. METHODS: Seventy-five male rats (250-280 g) were subjected to intracerebral blood injection and then randomly received a vehicle, BMSCs, PD98059 or LY294002 treatment. Neurological deficits were evaluated prior to injury and at 1, 3 and 7 days post-injury. The expression of GAP-43, Akt, p-Akt, ERK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 proteins was measured by western blot analysis. RESULTS: BMSC transplantation attenuated neurological deficits 3-7 days post-ICH. The expression of GAP-43 was increased 3 days following BMSC transplantation. However, this increase was inhibited by either PD98059 or LY294002 treatment. Treatment with both PD98059 and LY294002 was more effective than was treatment with an individual compound. CONCLUSION: BMSC transplantation could attenuate neurological deficits and activate axonal regeneration in this rat ICH model. The protective effects might be associated with increased GAP-43 expression by activating both the ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Induction of the Vitamin D Receptor Attenuates Autophagy Dysfunction-Mediated Cell Death Following Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem in the world and causes high rates of mortality and disability. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D (VD) has neuroprotective actions and can promote function recovery after TBI. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that autophagy could be enhanced following supplementation with an active metabolite of VD (calcitriol). However, it is unclear whether autophagy participates in the protective effects of calcitriol after TBI. To test this hypothesis, we examined the protective effects of calcitriol on TBI-induced neurological impairment and further investigated whether calcitriol could modulate autophagy dysfunction-mediated cell death in the cortex region of rat brain. METHODS: Eighty-five male rats (250-280 g) were randomly assigned to sham (n=15), TBI model (TBI, n=35) and calcitriol treatment (calcitriol, n=35) groups. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with calcitriol (1 µg/kg) at 30 min, 24 h and 48 h post-TBI in the calcitriol group. The lysosomal inhibitor, chloroquine (CQ), was used to evaluate autophagic flux in the TBI and calcitriol groups. Neurological functions were evaluated via the modified neurological severity score test at 1-7 days after TBI or sham operation, and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated FITC-dUTP nick-end labeling method was used to evaluate the ability of calcitriol to inhibit apoptosis. The expression of VDR, LC3 and p62 proteins was measured by western blot analysis at 1, 3 and 7 days post-injury Results: Calcitriol treatment attenuated mNSS at 2-7 days post-TBI (P < 0.05 versus TBI group). Calcitriol dramatically increased VDR protein expression compared with the untreated counterparts at 1, 3 and 7 days post-TBI (P < 0.05). The rate of apoptotic cells in calcitriol-treated rats was significantly reduced compared to that observed in the TBI group (P < 0.05). The LC3II/LC3I ratio was decreased in the cortex region at 1, 3 and 7 days post-TBI in rats treated with calcitriol (p < 0.05 versus TBI group), and the p62 expression was also attenuated (p < 0.05 versus TBI group). The LC3II/LC3I ratio in the calcitriol group was significantly increased when pretreated with CQ (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Calcitriol treatment activated VDR protein expression and attenuated neurological deficits in this rat TBI model. The protective effects might be associated with the restoration of autophagy flux and the decrease in apoptosis in the cortex region of rat brain.

Neuroprotective effect of ceftriaxone in a rat model of traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and disability in children and young adults worldwide. Neurologic impairment is caused by both immediate brain tissue disruption and post-injury cellular and molecular events that worsen the primary neurologic insult. The ß-lactam antibiotic ceftriaxone (CTX) has been reported to induce neuroprotection in animal models of diverse neurologic diseases via up-regulation of GLT-1. However, no studies have addressed the neuroprotective role of CTX in the setting of TBI, and whether the mechanism is involved in the modulation of neuronal autophagy remains totally unclear. The present study was designed to determine the hypothesis that administration of CTX could significantly enhance functional recovery in a rat model of TBI and whether CTX treatment could up-regulate GLT-1 expression and suppress post-TBI neuronal autophagy. The results demonstrated that daily treatment with CTX attenuated TBI-induced brain edema and cognitive function deficits in rats. GLT-1 is down-regulated following TBI and this phenomenon can be reversed by treatment of CTX. In addition, we also found that CTX significantly reduced autophagy marker protein, LC3 II, in hippocampus compared to the TBI group. These results suggest that CTX might provide a new therapeutic strategy for TBI and this protection might be associated with up-regulation of GLT-1 and suppression of neuronal autophagy.

The effects of BMSCs transplantation on autophagy by CX43 in the hippocampus following traumatic brain injury in rats.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can initiate a series of complicated pathological events, and induce various types of neuronal cell death including autophagy and apoptosis. Currently, the treatment of TBI is one of the main challenges in neurobiology. In this regard, the administration of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) represents a novel treatment modality for TBI. However, the protective mechanism of BMSCs was unknown in the TBI. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of BMSCs on connexin 43(CX43) and autophagy in the hippocampus following TBI in rats. A rat model of TBI was created using a modified weight-drop device. Double-membrane structures in the process of autophagy formation were frequently observed in injured brain by electron microscopy. The levels of autophagic pathway associated proteins and CX43 were also detected by western blot analysis. Specifically, immunoblotting results showed that BMSCs treatment after TBI could down-regulate light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin-1 and CX43 expression in the hippocampus. Taken together, our results demonstrated that BMSCs were able to significantly suppress TBI-induced autophagy activity, and the potential mechanism by regulating CX43 levels.

Global burden and future trends in psoriasis epidemiology: insights from the global burden of disease study 2019 and predictions to 2030.

BACKGROUND: Millions of people worldwide are affected by psoriasis, one of the most prevalent skin conditions. Currently, there is a lack of high-quality epidemiological reports on psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to reveal trends in psoriasis epidemiology in 1990-2019. METHODS: Using data from the GBD study 2019, we examined psoriasis epidemiology globally and across regions defined by the social-demographic index (SDI). Trends in incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates were assessed using estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC)s. Age-period-cohort analysis examined risk variations, and decomposition analysis identified factors impacting the psoriasis burden. A Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort model predicted future incidence. Frontier analysis associated psoriasis outcomes with socio-demographic development. RESULTS: In 2019, the global psoriasis burden included 4,622,594 incidence, 40,805,386 prevalence, and 3,505,736 DALY cases. Despite variations in SDI regions, the overall trend showed a decline in psoriasis rates from 1990 to 2019 (EAPC = - 0.76). The age-specific analysis indicated that the highest incidence of psoriasis was observed among individuals aged 40-64 years (global, 1,606,429). Epidemiological shifts contributed negatively to global incidence and DALYs by - 80.52% and - 103.06%, respectively. Countries like San Marino and Spain displayed the highest effective differences in the decomposition analysis. By 2030, while incidence cases per 10,000 might rise (487.36, 423.62 to 551.10), age-standardized incidence rates per 100,000 were predicted to decline (53.67, 0.00 to 259.99). CONCLUSION: This research revealed a global decline in psoriasis incidence rate from 1990 to 2019, with predictions suggesting this trend continues through 2030. Geographic disparities underscore the importance of tailored healthcare policies.