[Experimental study on improvement of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease by different degrees of steaming and sunning of Polygoni Multiflori Radix based on fecal metabolomics].

The fecal metabolomics method was employed to investigate the cognitive improvement mechanism of Polygoni Multiflori Radix in Alzheimer's disease(AD) and examine the effects of different degrees of steaming and sunning on cognitive function in AD model mice. Additionally, the processing principle of Polygoni Multiflori Radix was discussed. Forty-eight 5-month-old APP/PS1 mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: model group, positive group, raw product group, three-steaming and three-sunning product group, six-steaming and six-sunning product group, and nine-steaming and nine-sunning product group. Seven negative control mice from the same litter were included as the blank group. After 150 days of intragastric administration, the learning and memory abilities of mice in each group were assessed by using the Barnes maze and dark avoidance tests. Fecal samples were collected for extensive targeted metabolomics testing. Principal component analysis(PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and other multivariate statistical methods were utilized to analyze metabolites in mouse feces. Comparison of behavioral results between the model group and different product groups demonstrated that the six-steaming and six-sunning product group exhibited significantly reduced latency in the Barnes maze positioning and navigation test(P<0.05), as well as a notable decrease in the number of errors in the space exploration experiment(P<0.05). Moreover, the latency of mice entering the dark box for the first time in the dark avoidance experiment was significantly prolonged(P<0.05), indicating the best overall improvement in the learning and memory ability of AD model mice. Metabolomics results revealed that compared with the model group, the differential metabolites in other groups in descending order were as follows: six-steaming and six-sunning product group > nine-steaming and nine-sunning product group > raw product group > three-steaming and three-sunning product group, encompassing 146, 120, 95, and 81 potential biomarkers, respectively. Among them, 16 differential metabolites were related to AD disease. Further comparisons based on the degree of processing indicated that the six-steaming and six-sunning product group exhibited the most significant adjustments in total metabolic pathways, particularly regulating the interconversion of pentose and glucuronic acid, as well as amino acid anabolism and other pathways. In summary, the mechanism of Polygoni Multiflori Radix after processing in enhancing the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice may be associated with improved amino acid metabolism and increased energy metabolism in the body. The six-steaming and six-sunning yielded the best outcomes.

Ampelopsin attenuates Staphylococcus aureus Alpha-Toxin-Induced Lung Injury.

Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent cause of lung infections in hospitals and communities, and can cause a wide spectrum of human infections. Due to the bottleneck caused by antibiotic resistance and substantial increases in morbidity and mortality, targeting the virulence factors released by S. aureus as an alternative prevention and treatment method has become a promising approach. Ampelopsin, a component of vine tea, has promising potential for treating S. aureus-induced acute lung injury. In this study, the effects of ampelopsin were investigated on a mouse model of acute lung injury established using S. aureus 8325-4 and the α-hemolysin (hla) silent strain DU1090. The hla silent strain did not cause mortality in mice, whereas lethal and sublethal concentrations of S. aureus 8325-4 caused high mortality. Notably, ampelopsin treatment protected against mortality stemming from S. aureus infection. Ampelopsin yielded enhancements in lung barrier function, decreased total protein leakage in the alveolar lavage fluid, and modulated inflammatory signaling pathway-related proteins, thereby reducing the release of pro-inflammatory factors and improving respiratory dysfunction. Moreover, ampelopsin prevented the upregulation of ADAM10 activity, leading to E-cadherin mucin cleavage. In conclusion, our findings establish the key role of alpha -toxin in infectious lung injury in S. aureus and provide support for ampelopsin as an effective therapeutic approach to improve lung injury.

Duck enteritis virus UL21 is a late gene encoding a protein that interacts with pUL16.

BACKGROUND: pUL21 is a conserved protein of Alphaherpesvirinae that performs multiple important functions. The C-terminus of pUL21 in other members of this subfamily has RNA-binding ability; this domain contributes to pseudorabies virus (PRV) retrograde axonal transport in vitro and in vivo and participates in newly replicated viral DNA packaging and intracellular virus transport. However, knowledge regarding duck enteritis virus (DEV) pUL21 is limited. RESULTS: We verified that DEV UL21 is a γ2 gene that encodes a structural protein. Moreover, we observed that pUL21 localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm. DEV pUL21 interacted with pUL16 and formed a complex in transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 T cells and DEV-infected duck embryo fibroblasts (DEFs). These results were further confirmed by CO-IP assays. CONCLUSIONS: The DEV UL21 gene is a late gene, and pUL21 localizes to the nucleus and cytoplasm. DEV UL21 is a virion component. In addition, pUL21 can interact with pUL16. These findings provide insight into the characteristics of UL21 and the interaction between pUL21 and its binding partner pUL16. Our study enhances the understanding of DEV pUL21.

Silencing long non-coding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 restricts secondary cerebral edema and neuron injuries after traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interaction of long non-coding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (lncRNA ZFAS1) in secondary cerebral edema (CE) and neuron injuries after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a mouse model. METHODS: TBI mouse models was established by free-fall strike. Adeno-associated virus-short hairpin-ZFAS1 was administrated into mice via intracerebral injection to downregulate lncRNA ZFAS1. LncRNA ZFAS1 in mouse brain was examined. Neurological severity score (NSS), cerebral water content (CWC) and lesion volume were measured. The number of TUNEL-positive cells in brain tissue was accessed. Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in brain tissues were measured by western blot analysis, and pro-inflammatory factor levels were detected. RESULTS: LncRNA ZFAS1 expression was upregulated in mouse brain tissues 3 days after TBI modelling. After the knockdown of lncRNA ZFAS1, NSS, CWC and lesion volume were decreased, apoptotic gene levels were decreased and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were reduced, suggesting that lncRNA ZFAS1 knockdown could alleviate TBI-induced brain injuries in mice. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that silencing lncRNA ZFAS1 inhibited TBI by quenching apoptosis, reducing inflammatory response and improving the recovery of neurological function in TBI mice. LncRNA ZFAS1 might function as a possible curative management in secondary CE and neuron injury in TBI mice.

Neurosurgical Clipping versus Endovascular Coiling for Patients with Intracranial Aneurysms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the efficacy and safety of neurosurgical clipping with those of endovascular coiling for patients with intracranial aneurysm (IA) stratified by country, publication year, study design, sample size, mean age, percentage of male patients, percentage of aneurysms located in the anterior circulation, and follow-up duration. METHODS: We identified 64 studies (7 randomized controlled trials, 21 prospective cohort studies, and 36 retrospective studies) of clipping versus coiling for IA from PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane Library up to September 2019. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the incidence of poor outcomes observed between clipping and coiling for patients with ruptured IAs. In contrast, the incidence of a poor outcome was significantly increased for unruptured IAs treated by clipping. Clipping was associated with a lower risk of mortality for ruptured IAs, although no significant differences were found between clipping and coiling for unruptured IAs. Clipping was associated with a lower risk of rebleeding for ruptured IAs and an increased risk of bleeding for unruptured IAs. When only randomized controlled trials were included in the analysis, patients with ruptured IAs treated by clipping had an increased incidence of poor outcomes compared with those treated by coiling. Clipping reduced the risk of hydrocephalus and incomplete occlusion and increased the rate of complete occlusion for ruptured IAs. No significant differences in the risk of ischemic infarct and vasospasm were found between clipping and coiling. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical clipping might be superior to endovascular coiling for ruptured IAs. However, clipping was associated with a greater incidence of poor outcomes and bleeding compared with coiling for unruptured IAs.

Extradural transcavernous approach to cavernous sinus cavernous hemangiomas.

OBJECTIVE: Cavernous sinus cavernous hemangioma (CSCH) is a rare extra-axial vascular lesion and is difficult to be removed due to their location, propensity for profuse bleeding during surgery, and relationship to complex neurovascular structures. The purpose of this study is to report our experience of the removal of CSCHs through a completely extradural transcavernous approach. METHODS: Twelve patients with CSCH, who were operated through a purely extradural approach, were retrospectively studied. Clinical symptoms and signs, radiographic characteristics, operative techniques and outcomes of these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Headache and visual impairment were the most common clinical symptoms, followed by facial hypesthesia and ptosis. Radiographically, CSCHs have a characteristic pattern. On computed tomography (CT) scans, CSCHs are isodense or minimally hyperdense, with an intense homogenous contrast administration. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans revealed well-demarcated and hypo- to isointense lesions on T1-weighted images and characteristically, markedly hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted images. The T2-weighted images showed a marked homogeneous and an intense enhancement after contrast administration. All CSCHs were treated by a completely extradural transcavernous approach. Gross total excision was achieved in all 12 patients. Post-operative complication included transient cranial nerve dysfunction for 2-3 months in eight patients, and three patients developed a permanent VI nerve palsy. The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 117 months (mean 62 months), and no patient had experienced tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: CSCHs are rare and challenging skull base tumors. The microsurgical resection, using an extradural transcavernous approach which allows complete tumor resection with an acceptable intraoperative and postoperative complications, should be considered as a favorable choice among all treatments.