Two-dimensional displacement estimation of one-dimensional laser speckle images for detection of acoustic vibration.

Detection and recovery of audio signals using optical methods is an appealing topic. Observing the movement of secondary speckle patterns is a convenient method for such a purpose. In order to have less computational cost and faster processing, one-dimensional laser speckle images are captured by an imaging device, while it sacrifices the ability to detect speckle movement along one axis. This paper proposes a laser microphone system to estimate the two-dimensional displacement from one-dimensional laser speckle images. Hence, we can regenerate audio signals in real time even as the sound source is rotating. Experimental results show that our system is capable of reconstructing audio signals under complex conditions.

Functional analysis of UDP-glycosyltransferase genes conferring indoxacarb resistance in Spodoptera litura.

UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) is the major detoxification enzymes of phase II involved in xenobiotics metabolism, which potentially mediates the formation of insect resistance. Previous transcriptome sequencing studies have found that several UGT genes were upregulated in indoxacarb resistant strains of Spodoptera litura, but whether these UGT genes were involved in indoxacarb resistance and their functions in resistance were unclear. In this study, the UGTs inhibitor, 5-nitrouracil, enhanced the toxicity of indoxacarb against S. litura, preliminarily suggesting that UGTs were participated in indoxacarb resistance. Two UGT genes, UGT33J17 and UGT41D10 were upregulated in the resistant strains and could be induced by indoxacarb. Alignment of UGT protein sequences revealed two conserved donor-binding regions with several key residues that interact with catalytic sites and sugar donors. Further molecular modeling and docking analysis indicated that two UGT proteins were able to stably bind indoxacarb and N-decarbomethoxylated metabolite (DCJW). Furthermore, knockdown of UGT33J17 and UGT41D10 decreased viability of Spli-221 cells and enhanced susceptibility of larvae to indoxacarb. Transgenic overexpression of these genes reduced the toxicity of indoxacarb in Drosophila melanogaster. This work revealed that upregulation of UGT genes significantly contributes to indoxacarb resistance in S. litura, and is of great significance for the development of integrated and sustainable management strategies for resistant pests in the field.

The burden and sexual dimorphism with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Asian children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite substantial attention paid to the epidemic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults, data on the burden and sexual dimorphism of NAFLD in Asian children have not yet been synthesized. METHODS: We conducted a literature search of 735 references up to April 2021. Pooled analyses, stratified analyses and meta-regression were all performed. RESULTS: Thirty-three study populations were finally included. Nine of them comprising 20 595 children showed an overall NAFLD prevalence of 5.53% (95% CI 3.46%-8.72%), in which, 36.64% (95% CI, 27.99%-46.26%) NAFLD subjects had elevated levels of ALT. The prevalence rate of NAFLD increased about 1.6-fold from 2004 to 2010 to the last decade. Male predominant trends were observed in paediatric NAFLD (boys: 8.18%, 95% CI 4.93%-13.26%; girls: 3.60%, 95% CI 1.60%-7.87%). Moreover, meta-analysis showed that after 10 years of age, boys were more prone to have NAFLD than girls (OR = 1.75; P = .0012). In addition, the pooled prevalence of NAFLD increased sequentially in normal-weight (1.49%, 95% CI 0.88%-2.51%, n = 2610), overweight (16.72%, 95% CI 7.07%-34.65%, n = 1265) and obese children (50.13%, 95% CI 41.99%-58.27%, n = 6434 individuals). After full covariate adjustment, the multivariate meta-regression also showed that boy percentage (P = .0396) and body mass index (P < .0001) were positively correlated with prevalent NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: In Asia, paediatric NAFLD is becoming prevalent over the recent decades, particularly among obese children and boys after 10 years old. The hormonal and chromosomal origins of paediatric NAFLD dimorphism need further investigation.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of (+)-5-epi-Schisansphenin B and the Proposed Structure of (+)-15-Hydroxyacora-4(14),8-diene.

The asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-5-epi-schisansphenin B and the proposed structure of (+)-15-hydroxyacora-4(14),8-diene have been accomplished from 1,3-cyclopentadione (10) in eight synthetic steps. The enantioselective palladium-catalyzed redox-relay Heck alkenylation, the intramolecular Stetter reaction, and the regioselective Tiffeneau-Demjanov-type ring expansion were the pivotal steps in these syntheses.

An interlaboratory evaluation of the variability in arsenic and lead relative bioavailability when assessed using a mouse bioassay.

Animal bioassays have been developed to estimate oral relative bioavailability (RBA) of metals in soil, dust, or food for accurate health risk assessment. However, the comparability in RBA estimates from different labs remains largely unclear. Using 12 soil and soil-like standard reference materials (SRMs), this study investigated variability in lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) RBA estimates employing a mouse bioassay in 3 labs at Nanjing University, University of Jinan, and Shandong Normal University. Two performances of the bioassay at Nanjing University in 2019 and 2020 showed reproducible Pb and As RBA estimates, but increasing the number of mouse replicates in 2020 produced more precise RBA measurements. Although there were inter-lab variations in diet consumption rate and metal accumulation in mouse liver and kidneys following SRM ingestion due to differences in diet composition, bioassays at 3 labs in 2019 yielded overall similar Pb and As RBA estimates for the 12 SRMs with strong linear correlations between each 2 of the 3 labs for Pb (R2 = 0.95-0.98 and slope = 0.85-1.02) and As RBA outcomes (R2 = 0.46-0.86 and slope = 0.56-0.79). The consistency in RBA estimates was attributed to the relative nature of the final bioavailability outcome, which might overcome the inter-lab variation in diet consumption and metal uptake in mice. These results increased the confidence of use of mouse bioassays in bioavailability studies.

Combining the oncolytic peptide LTX-315 with doxorubicin demonstrates therapeutic potential in a triple-negative breast cancer model.

BACKGROUND: Immunochemotherapy, the combined use of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, has demonstrated great promise in several cancers. LTX-315 is an oncolytic peptide with potent immunomodulatory properties designed for the local treatment of solid tumors. By inducing rapid immunogenic cell death through the release of danger-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs), LTX-315 is capable of reshaping the tumor microenvironment, turning "cold" tumors "hot" through a significant increase in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. METHODS: We investigated the potential of LTX-315 to be used in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy (doxorubicin, brand name CAELYX®) against triple-negative breast cancer in an orthotopic 4 T1 mammary fat pad model. Tumor growth curves were compared using one-way ANOVA analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparisons test, and animal survival curves were compared using the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test. We considered p values ≤0.05 to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: We found that LTX-315 displayed a strong additive antitumoral effect when used in combination with CAELYX®, and induced immune-mediated changes in the tumor microenvironment, followed by complete regression in the majority of animals treated. Furthermore, imaging techniques and histological examination showed that the combination induced strong local necrosis, followed by an increase in the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ immune cells into the tumor parenchymal tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that LTX-315 is a promising combination partner with CAELYX® for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.

Covered Stent-Assisted Open Surgery in the Treatment of an Extracranial Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm.

Extracranial carotid artery pseudoaneurysms (ECAPs) are rare vascular lesions that, if untreated, can lead to severe neurologic deficits and significant mortality. Although conservative therapy, surgical ligation or reconstruction, and endovascular techniques can be curative, the literature demonstrates that the best therapy remains controversial and consensus is lacking. We report a case of a 53-year-old patient who developed a giant ECAP on the left side of her neck, which had been presented for 10 years and was successfully treated by covered stent-assisted open surgery. During the 6 months of follow-up, computed tomography angiography confirmed complete occlusion of the ECAP and patency of the carotid artery. In addition to this report, a brief review of the literature is presented.

Real-Time Vital Mineralization Detection and Quantification during In Vitro Osteoblast Differentiation.

BACKGROUND: In vitro studies of osteoblasts traditionally use Alizarin Red as a golden standard for the detection and quantification of mineralization, which is a marker of osteoblast differentiation. However, this method presents a number of drawbacks, including the need to fix cells, which prevents additional measurements. Years ago, Calcein Green was proposed as an alternative to Alizarin Red, with the advantage to be directly detectable in live cells. However, the protocol was still time-consuming, and it never managed to replace Alizarin Red. Now, with more efficient imaging systems, we present a protocol using Calcein Green which provides significant advantages. RESULTS: The osteoblast mineralization was efficiently detected and accurately quantified in real time at any desired time point across the entire differentiation period, with a minimum time expenditure. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of Calcein Green and the real-time imaging station IncuCyte ZOOM can efficiently replace the Alizarin Red method, and allows very accurate and time-saving assessment of the level and the dynamics of matrix mineralization.

A novel rat fibrosarcoma cell line from transformed bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells with maintained in vitro and in vivo stemness properties.

Increasing evidence suggests a possible relationship between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and sarcoma. MSCs are hypothesized to be the cells initiating sarcomagenesis, and cancer stem cells (CSCs) sharing features of MSCs have been identified in sarcomas. Here, we report on the characteristics of a bone marrow-derived rat mesenchymal stem cell line that spontaneously transformed in long-term culture. The rat transformed mesenchymal stem cells (rTMSCs) produced soft-tissue fibrosarcomas in immunocompromised mice and immunocompetent rats. In vitro, the rTMSCs displayed increased proliferation capacity compared to the untransformed cell line. The transformed MSCs maintained the mesenchymal phenotype by expression of the stem cell marker CD 90 and the lack of hematopoietic and endothelial markers. Cytogenetic analysis detected trisomy 6 in the rTMSCs. Side population (SP) isolation and tumorsphere cultivation of the transformed cells confirmed the presence of CSCs among the rTMSCs. Importantly, the rTMSCs retained their differentiation capacity towards osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. This transformed MSC-based cell line may be valuable in examining the balance in a mixed cell population between cancer stem cell properties and the ability to differentiate to specific non-transformed cell populations. Moreover, it may also be a useful tool to evaluate the efficacy of novel targeted immunotherapies in vivo.

HIRA is essential for the development of gibel carp.

HIRA is one of the chaperones of histone H3.3. Mutation of Hira results in embryonic lethality in mice, suggesting a critical role in embryogenesis. However, Hira-mutated Drosophila may survive to adults, indicating that it is dispensable in Drosophila development. The role of Hira in fish development is unknown. In this study we first investigated the expression of Hira during embryogenesis of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) by whole-mount in situ hybridization. We found that Hira signal appeared ubiquitously in the early embryos. After gastrulation, it appeared mainly along the anterior-posterior axis, including the tail bud. In hatching period, the signal was detected in head, heart, and the endoderm region on the back of yolk. Then by microinjection with morpholino-HIRA at the beginning of development, we observed delayed gastrulation and abnormal somitogenesis in gibel carp embryos. The HIRA morphants exhibited short trunk, limited yolk extension, and twisted tail. Most of the mutants died during embryogenesis or shortly after hatching. The rest of the HIRA morphants could survive to larvae but with severe defects in organogenesis. These data suggest that HIRA may be essential for the development of gibel carp, and this function is conserved in vertebrates.

Multidirectional Intervention of Chinese Herbal Medicine in the Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis: From Endothelial Protection to Immunomodulation.

Atherosclerosis is a significant risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease and a leading cause of death worldwide. The occurrence of atherosclerosis is closely related to factors such as endothelial injury, lipid deposition, immunity, and inflammation. Conventional statins, currently used in atherosclerosis treatment, have numerous adverse side effects that limit their clinical utility, prompting the urgent need to identify safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives. Growing evidence indicates the significant potential of Chinese herbs in atherosclerosis treatment. Herbal monomer components, such as natural flavonoid compounds extracted from herbs like Coptis chinensis and Panax notoginseng, have been utilized for their lipid-lowering and inflammation-inhibiting effects in atherosclerosis treatment. These herbs can be used as single components in treating diseases and with other Chinese medicines to form herbal combinations. This approach targets the disease mechanism in multiple ways, enhancing the therapeutic effects. Thus, this review examines the roles of Chinese herbal medicine monomers and Chinese herbal compounds in inhibiting atherosclerosis, including regulating lipids, improving endothelial function, reducing oxidative stress, regulating inflammation and the immune response, and apoptosis. By highlighting these roles, our study offers new perspectives on atherosclerosis treatment with Chinese herbs and is anticipated to contribute to advancements in related research fields.

Mediating the Role of Perceived Social Support Between Frailty and Self-Perceived Burden in Elderly Patients with Diabetes.

Objective: To explore the mediating effects of perceived social support between frailty and self-perceived burden (SPB) in elderly patients with diabetes and to provide a theoretical basis for reducing that burden. Methods: A total of 169 elderly patients with diabetes who were hospitalised in the endocrinology department of a third-class hospital in Wuxi between May 2020 and July 2022 were included in this study using the convenience sampling method. Patients were assessed by the general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Tilburg frailty inventory (TFI), the Self-Perceived Burden Scale (SPBS) and the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). The SPSS 22.0 software was used for Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Model four of the SPSS PROCESS was used for mediating the effect analysis. Results: The SPBS of elderly patients with diabetes was positively correlated with the TFI (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with the PSSS (P < 0.01). The results of the Bootstrap test showed that the mediating effect of the PSSS on the relationship between the TFI and the SPBS in elderly patients with diabetes was 0.296 (95% CI: 0.007, 0.066), and the mesomeric effect accounted for 17.3% of the total effect. Conclusion: The debilitation of elderly patients with diabetes can be reduced by decreasing their SPB through perceived social support. This can be achieved through comprehensive interventions by nurses.

Effects of different extraction methods on the structural and biological properties of Hericium coralloides polysaccharides.

In current study, polysaccharides from Hericium coralloides were extracted by heat reflux, acid-assisted, alkali-assisted, enzyme-assisted, ultrasonic-assisted, cold water, pressurized hot water, hydrogen peroxide/ascorbic acid system and acid-chlorite delignification methods, which were named as HRE-P, ACE-P, AAE-P, EAE-P, UAE-P, CWE-P, PHE-P, HAE-P, and ACD-P, respectively. Their physicochemical properties, structural characteristics, and antioxidant activities were investigated and compared. Experimental outcomes indicated notable variations in the extraction yields, chemical compositions, monosaccharide constituents and molecular weights of the obtained nine polysaccharides. HRE-P demonstrated the highest activity against ABTS and OH radicals, CWE-P against ABTS, DPPH, and superoxide radicals, and UAE-P against DPPH radicals. In addition, UAE-P, CWE-P, and HAE-P exhibited better protective effects on L929 cells, when compared to the other obtained polysaccharides. Additionally, correlation analysis indicated that monosaccharide composition and total polyphenol content were two prominent variables influencing the bioactivity of H. coralloides polysaccharides.

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant sintilimab in combination with FLOT chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: an investigator-initiated, single-arm, open-label, phase II study.

BACKGROUND: The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in operable advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer aroused wide interest. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant sintilimab, a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, in combination with fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) chemotherapy for HER2-negative locally advanced G/GEJ cancer. METHODS: Eligible patients with clinical stage cT4 and/or cN+M0 G/GEJ cancer were enroled in this phase II study. Patients received neoadjuvant sintilimab (200 mg every 3 weeks) for three cycles plus FLOT (50 mg/m 2 docetaxel, 80 mg/m 2 oxaliplatin, 200 mg/m 2 calcium levofolinate, 2600 mg/m 2 5-fluorouracil every 2 weeks) for four cycles before surgery, followed by four cycles of adjuvant FLOT with same dosages after resection. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were enroled between August 2019 and September 2021, with a median follow-up of 34.8 (95% CI, 32.8-42.9) months. Thirty-two (100%) patients received neoadjuvant therapy, and 29 underwent surgery with an R0 resection rate of 93.1%. The pCR (TRG0) was achieved in 5 (17.2%; 95% CI, 5.8-35.8%) patients, and the major pathological response was 55.2%. Twenty-three (79.3%) patients had T downstaging, 21 (72.4%) had N downstaging, and 19 (65.5%) had overall TNM downstaging. Six (20.7%) patients experienced recurrence. Patients achieving pCR showed better event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) than non-pCR. The estimated 3-year EFS rate, 3-year DFS rate, and 3-year OS rate were 71.4% (95% CI, 57.2-89.2%), 78.8% (95% CI, 65.1-95.5%), and 70.9% (95% CI, 54.8-91.6%), respectively. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 84.4% (95% CI, 68.3-93.1%) and 96.9% (95% CI, 84.3-99.5%), respectively. Twenty-five (86.2%) received adjuvant therapy. The main grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were lymphopenia (34.4%), neutropenia (28.1%), and leukopenia (15.6%). no patients died from TRAE. The LDH level exhibited a better predictive value to pathological responses than PD-L1 and MSI status. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated an encouraging efficacy and manageable safety profile of neoadjuvant sintilimab plus FLOT in HER2-negative locally advanced G/GEJ cancer, which suggested a potential therapeutic option for this population.

Pedobacter hainanensis sp. nov., isolated from seaside soil.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated 13-Q(T), was isolated from seaside soil under the stacks of the red algae in Hainan province in China. Identification was carried out on the basis of polyphasic taxonomy. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 13-Q(T) belonged to the genus Pedobacter, and the highest similarity was 94.4 % with Pedobacter terricola KCTC 12876(T). Strain 13-Q(T) was able to grow at 10-40 °C, in pH 5.0-10.0, in the presence of 0-2.0 % NaCl. The major fatty acids were iso-C(15:0) (40.4 %), summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C(15:0) 2-OH and/or C(16:1) ω7c) (18.9 %) and iso-C(17:0) 3-OH (18.4 %). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.7 mol%. Strain 13-Q(T) could be distinguished from the nearest phylogenetic neighbors by various chemotaxonomic and phenotypic properties. The results of the polyphasic analyses suggested that strain 13-Q(T) should be considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter hainanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 13-Q(T) (=CCTCC AB 2012076(T) = NRRL B-59850(T)).

Limited role for hyperammonemia in the progression of diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether hyperammonemia has a direct impact on steatohepatitis in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups receiving either chow diet or HFD. After 12-week NASH modeling, hyperammonemia was induced by intragastric administration of ammonium chloride solution (NH4 Cl) or liver-specific carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (Cps1) knockdown. In vitro experiments were performed in HepG2 cells induced by free fatty acid (FFA) and NH4 Cl. RESULTS: NH4 Cl administration led to increased levels of plasma and hepatic ammonia in NASH mice. NH4 Cl-induced hyperammonemia did not influence liver histological changes in mice fed with HFD; however, elevated plasma cholesterol level, and an increasing trend of liver lipid content were observed. No significant effect of hyperammonemia on hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in NASH mice was found. In vitro cell experiments showed that NH4 Cl treatment failed to increase the lipid droplet content and the expressions of de novo lipogenesis genes in HepG2 cells induced by FFA. The knockdown of Cps1 in HFD-fed mice resulted in elevated plasma ammonia levels but did not cause histological change in the liver. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a limited role of ammonia in aggravating the progression of NASH. Further studies are needed to clarify the role and mechanism of ammonia in NASH development.

[Characteristics of acidification and the distribution of available phosphorus along soil depths in heavy clay soils in southern Henan Province, China]. / è±«å—é»æ¿åœŸå£¤åˆ†å±‚é ¸åŒ–å’Œè€•å±‚é€Ÿæ•ˆç£·åˆ†å¸ƒç‰¹å¾.

The acidification of agricultural soil in the southern part of the North China Plain has become more obvious, which is particularly true for the heavy clay soil types, such as yellow-cinnamon and lime concretion black soils. To understand the spatial variability of the pH value and nutrients on the vertical agricultural soil profile of heavy clay soils in this area, we measured pH values and available phosphorus (AP) in 63 farmland sample points from Xiping County in the southern Henan Province. Geostatistical methods and ArcGIS technology were used to map soil pH values along three soil depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) and the spatial distribution of soil AP in the tillage layer (0-20 cm). Furthermore, the correlation between pH and AP was analyzed. The results showed that mean pH values of typical yellow-cinnamon and typical fluvo-aquic soils from three soil layers were 4.98, 4.93, 5.31, and 5.46, 5.81, 6.26, respectively, which gradually increased with soil depths. However, there was no significant difference among the three soil layers. Mean pH values of typical lime concretion black soil from the three soil layers were 5.23, 5.43 and 6.03, respectively, and that of the 20-30 cm soil layer was significantly higher than that of the 0-10 cm (by 0.8-1 pH unit) and the 10-20 cm layers. The pH of the 20-30 cm soil layer of the calcareous lime concretion black and moist soils were also significantly higher than that of the 0-10 and 10-20 cm soil layers. The AP contents of the typical yellow-cinnamon, typical lime concretion black, moist, typical fluvo-aquic and calcareous lime concretion black soils in 0-20 cm soil layer were 8.85-54.75, 4.27-37.49, 8.22-51.80, 6.07-34.82, and 13.22-22.85 mg·kg-1, respectively. The results of the map indicated that the areas with low AP were distributed in the middle of the study area in blocks, and the areas with high AP were distributed around the study area in dots and flakes. The pH values of the typical yellow-cinnamon, typical lime concretion black, and moist soils positively correlated with the content of AP in the 0-20 cm soil layer. In conclusion, the heavy clay soil in southern Henan Province became stratified acidification, which slowed down along the soil depth. Soil AP contents in the tillage layer were distributed unevenly in the study area, and were affected by soil types and soil pH. These results would be useful for the improvement of heavy clay soil acidification in the southern part of the North China Plain.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on BNDF/mTORC1 signaling pathway and synaptic plasticity in prefrontal cortex of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of related proteins in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway and synapse-associated proteins and the density of dendrite spines in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of depression model rats, and to reveal the underlying mechanism by which EA regulates the synaptic plasticity to improve depressive symptoms. METHODS: Thirty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, EA group, and scopolamine (SCOP) group, with 9 in each group. The depression model was established by exposing rats to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) combined with isolated feeding. Rats in the EA group were treated with EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1-1.2 mA) at "Baihui" (GV20), "Yintang" (EX-HN3), "Hegu" (LI4), and "Taichong" (LR3), 20 min each time, once per day, for 14 d, while those in the SCOP group treated with intraperitoneal injection of 25 µg/kg SCOP, once every 16 h, for 14 d. The sucrose preference and feeding latency of rats in each group were observed in the sucrose preference test (SPT) and novelty-suppressed feeding test. The expression levels of proteins in the BDNF/mTORC1 signaling pathway and synapse-associated proteins PSD95, Synapsin Ⅰ, and GluR1 were assayed by Western blot. Golgi-Cox staining was conducted for exploring the total density of dendritic spines on the apical dendrites of layer Ⅴ pyramidal neurons in PFC as well as the densities of mature, immature, and filopodial-like dendritic spines. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited significantly decreased sucrose preference (P<0.001), prolonged feeding latency (P<0.001), down-regulated BDNF, mTORC1, phosphorylated mTORC1 (p-mTORC1), PSD95, Synapsin Ⅰ, and GluR1 expression (P<0.001，P<0.01), and diminished total, mature, and immature spine dendritic densities (P<0.001). Compared with the model group, both EA and SCOP remarkably increased the sucrose preference (P<0.001), shortened the feeding latency (P<0.001), up-regulated the BDNF, mTORC1, p-mTORC1, PSD95, Synapsin Ⅰ, and GluR1 expression in PFC(P<0.05，P<0.01，P<0.001), and elevated the total and immature spine dendritic densities (P<0.001,P<0.01). The density of filopodial-like dendritic spine in the EA group was obviously enhanced (P<0.01), whereas the mature dendritic spine density in the SCOP group rose sharply (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the EA group and SCOP group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA alleviates the depressive symptoms of CUMS model rats possibly by up-regulating the expression of proteins in the BDNF/mTORC1 signaling pathway and synapse-asso-ciated proteins PSD95, Synapsin Ⅰ, and GluR1, increasing the dendritic spine density, and enhancing the synaptic plasticity in PFC.

Ammonia Scavenger Restores Liver and Muscle Injury in a Mouse Model of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis With Sarcopenic Obesity.

Recent studies have revealed that sarcopenia is closely associated with obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, few attempted to explore the cause-and-effect relationship between sarcopenic obesity and NASH. In this study, we investigated muscular alterations in a rodent NASH model to elucidate their intrinsic relations and explore the potential therapeutic target. Forty-six 8-week-old and twenty 42-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (defined as young and middle-aged mice, respectively) were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 or 20 weeks. A subset of young mice was subjected to ammonia lowering treatment by L-ornithine L-aspartate (LOLA). We examined body composition and muscle strength by nuclear magnetic resonance and grip strength meter, respectively. At the end of the 12th week, all HFD-fed mice developed typical steatohepatitis. Meanwhile, sarcopenia occurred in HFD-fed middle-aged mice, whereas young mice only demonstrated decreased grip strength. Until the end of week 20, young mice in the HFD group exhibited significant sarcopenia and obesity phenotypes, including decreased lean body mass and grip strength, and increased body fat mass and percentage body fat. Additionally, plasma ammonia level was markedly increased in HFD-fed mice of both ages at week 20. Plasma ammonia level was negatively associated with muscle strength and myofiber diameter in young mice. LOLA can significantly reduce plasma levels of ammonia, alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase, and cholesterol in mice fed an HFD. Hepatic infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen deposition area were significantly decreased in HFD group by LOLA treatment. Meanwhile, LOLA significantly increased lean body mass, grip strength, and average muscle fiber diameter of HFD-fed mice. These findings suggest that the occurrence of NASH precedes sarcopenia in HFD mice, and the steatohepatitis-related hyperammonemia might contribute to the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. LOLA might be an effective drug for both steatohepatitis and sarcopenic obesity.

Cadmium oral bioavailability is affected by calcium and phytate contents in food: Evidence from leafy vegetables in mice.

To test high cadmium (Cd) concentration may not be high in health risk when considering Cd bioavailability, we assessed variation of Cd relative bioavailability (RBA, relative to CdCl2) using a mouse assay for 14 vegetables of water spinach, amaranth, and pakchoi. Cadmium concentration varied from 0.13 ± 0.01-0.37 ± 0.00 µg g-1 fw. Cadmium-RBA also varied significantly from 22.9 ± 2.12-77.2 ± 4.46%, however, the variation was overall opposite to that of Cd concentration, as indicated by a strong negative correlation between Cd-RBA and Cd concentration (R2 = 0.43). Based on both Cd concentration and bioavailability, the identified high-Cd pakchoi variety resulted in significantly lower Cd intake than the high-Cd varieties of water spinach and amaranth (4.74 ± 0.05 vs. 10.1 ± 0.54 and 8.03 ± 0.04 µg kg-1 bw week-1) due to significantly lower Cd-RBA (22.9 ± 2.12 vs. 77.2 ± 4.46 and 51.3 ± 2.93%). The lower Cd-RBA in pakchoi was due to its significantly higher Ca and lower phytate concentrations, which facilitated the role of Ca in inhibiting intestinal Cd absorption. This was ascertained by observation of decreased Cd-RBA (90.5 ± 12.0% to 63.5 ± 5.53%) for a water spinach when elevating its Ca concentration by 30% with foliar Ca application. Our results suggest that to assess food Cd risk, both total Cd and Cd bioavailability should be considered.