Voluntary exercise prior to traumatic brain injury alters miRNA expression in the injured mouse cerebral cortex

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may be important mediators of the profound molecular and cellular changes that occur after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the changes and possible roles of miRNAs induced by voluntary exercise prior to TBI are still not known. In this report, the microarray method was used to demonstrate alterations in miRNA expression levels in the cerebral cortex of TBI mice that were pretrained on a running wheel (RW). Voluntary RW exercise prior to TBI: i) significantly decreased the mortality rate and improved the recovery of the righting reflex in TBI mice, and ii) differentially changed the levels of several miRNAs, upregulating some and downregulating others. Furthermore, we revealed global upregulation of miR-21, miR-92a, and miR-874 and downregulation of miR-138, let-7c, and miR-124 expression among the sham-non-runner, TBI-non-runner, and TBI-runner groups. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction data (RT-qPCR) indicated good consistency with the microarray results. Our microarray-based analysis of miRNA expression in mice cerebral cortex after TBI revealed that some miRNAs such as miR-21, miR-92a, miR-874, miR-138, let-7c, and miR-124 could be involved in the prevention and protection afforded by voluntary exercise in a TBI model.

[The efficacy of postcoital oral levonorgestrel administration in the peri-ovulatory phase of menstrual cycle].

PIP: The postcoital contraceptive is a remedial measure used when other contraceptive devices fail or no contraceptive measure was taken. 50 healthy women, aged 21 - 40, participated in a clinical study of the contraceptive efficacy and acceptibility of 0.75 mg levonogestrel taken within 8 hours after coitus in the preovulatory cycle. The subjects agreed to use condoms or a cervical cap during the experiment, but a few days before and after ovulation, only post-coital pills were used. The study lasted through 4 menstrual cycles. The 1st and 2nd cycles were used to determine basal body temperature (BBT), the 3rd cycle was the treatment period, and the 4th was the posttreatment period. During each period, the BBT was taken. 3 days before and after ovulation during the 7-day administration period, only levonogestrel was used for contraception. After each coitus, 1 pill containing 0.75 mg levonogestrel was administered within 8 hours. In the 24 hours after the 1st administration, 1 pill was administered with or without coitus. Thereafter, the participants took 1 pill after each coitus, so that the maximum number of pills did not exceed 7 in the 7 day period. Among the 50 cases, 7 took 3 pills, and 43 took 4 pills. 1 of the 7 cases failed; all the other cases succeeded. 12 subjects had side effects including nausea, dizziness, somnolence, fatigue, abdominal swelling and breast distension, but they were not serious and did not affect daily activities. 15 of the 49 participants reported an effect on their menstrual cycle, including shortened menstrual cycle (9 cases), prolonged menstrual cycle (3 cases) and breakthrough bleeding (3 cases). 41 participants reported a normal flow; 3 reported a heavier flow than usual; and 3, a lighter flow. 80% of the participants intended to use the pill again.^ieng