Neuronal and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Chronic Pain and Depression Comorbidity in the Paraventricular Thalamus.

Patients with chronic pain often develop comorbid depressive symptoms, which makes the pain symptoms more complicated and refractory. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly known. Here, in a repeated complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) male mouse model, we reported a specific regulatory role of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) glutamatergic neurons, particularly the anterior PVT (PVA) neurons, in mediating chronic pain and depression comorbidity (CDC). Our c-Fos protein staining observed increased PVA neuronal activity in CFA-CDC mice. In wild-type mice, chemogenetic activation of PVA glutamatergic neurons was sufficient to decrease the 50% paw withdrawal thresholds (50% PWTs), while depressive-like behaviors evaluated with immobile time in tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) could only be achieved by repeated chemogenetic activation. Chemogenetic inhibition of PVA glutamatergic neurons reversed the decreased 50% PWTs in CFA mice without depressive-like symptoms and the increased TST and FST immobility in CFA-CDC mice. Surprisingly, in CFA-CDC mice, chemogenetically inhibiting PVA glutamatergic neurons failed to reverse the decrease of 50% PWTs, which could be restored by rapid-onset antidepressant S-ketamine. Further behavioral tests in chronic restraint stress mice and CFA pain mice indicated that PVA glutamatergic neuron inhibition and S-ketamine independently alleviate sensory and affective pain. Molecular profiling and pharmacological studies revealed the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1D (Htr1d) in CFA pain-related PVT engram neurons as a potential target for treating CDC. These findings identified novel CDC neuronal and molecular mechanisms in the PVT and provided insight into the complicated pain neuropathology under a comorbid state with depression and related drug development.

The Saggy Ink Cap Medicinal Mushroom, Coprinus comatus (Agaricomycetes), Protein Attenuates Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury in Association with Changes in the Gut Microbiota of Mice.

This study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Coprinus comatus protein (CCP) in a mouse model of acute alcoholic liver injury by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis. Mice were divided into four groups, including the control group (CG), alcohol group (AG), biphenyldicarboxylate group (BG), and protein group (PG). The results showed that alcohol can increase the liver organ index, which could be adjusted by CCP. At the same time, analysis of serum biochemical indexes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) and liver oxidative stress levels (glutathione) revealed that CCP significantly alleviated alcohol-induced hepatic inflammation. Sequencing of 16S rRNA showed that gut microbiota composition was changed significantly by alcohol treatment. However, CCP could mitigate dysbiosis of gut microbiota, such as increasing the proportion of Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Lactobacillaceae and reducing the proportion of Burkholderiaceae, Deferribacteraceae, Enterococcaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae. In conclusion, CCP can maintain gut microbiota stability to improve liver injury and is potentially a good candidate for dietary supplements against acute alcoholic liver injury.

Adjuvant Therapy: YiqiDitanTongfu Decoction With External Diaphragm Pacer for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients With Difficulty Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation.

CONTEXT: Global morbidity from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is high worldwide. Diaphragm pacing (DP) can maintain the natural, negative pressure breathing of COPD patients with diaphragmatic muscle dysfunction. The YiqiDitanTongfu (YDTF) decoction has been used clinically with COPD patients to help them to wean from mechanical ventilation, with their ventilation functions being improved and the success rate of weaning being largely increased. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to investigate the combined therapeutic effects of external DP and the YDTF decoction for COPD patients who have had difficulty weaning from mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: This study was a retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The study occurred at the Hebei General Hospital and Hebei Province Chest Hospital (Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 90 patients with COPD + type 1 respiratory failure, 101 patients with COPD + Type 2 respiratory failure, and 96 patients with COPD at the compensated stage. INTERVENTION: The participants were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) traditional treatment (control group), (2) traditional treatment plus treatment with a diaphragm pacemaker (DP group), and (3) traditional treatment plus treatment with a DP and a YDTF decoction (DP + YDTF group). All treatments occurred for 12 d. OUTCOME MEASURES: Relevant outcomes were measured and compared at baseline and postintervention, including the rapid shallow breathing index, tidal volume, maximum inspiratory pressure, degree of diaphragmatic muscle activity, maximum expiratory pressure, the successful rates of weaning from mechanical ventilation, the potential of hydrogen, the partial pressure of oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and oxygen saturation. RESULTS: The patients treated with the DP plus the YDTF decoction were more successful in weaning from mechanical ventilation than those treated with DP. Of the patients with COPD + type 1 respiratory failure, 86.67% succeeded vs 70.00% of the DP patients. Of patients with COPD + type 2 respiratory failure, 87.88% succeeded vs 79.41% of the DP patients. CONCLUSION: The DP plus the YDTF concoction acted as a successful treatment for heart failure caused by CPOD in comparison with the DP or YDTF alone, providing evidence that the DP + YDTF concoction can serve as a competitive method for helping COPD patients to wean from mechanical ventilation.