Synaptic Properties of a PbHfO3 Ferroelectric Memristor for Neuromorphic Computing.

The conventional von Neumann architecture has proven to be inadequate in keeping up with the rapid progress in artificial intelligence. Memristors have become the favored devices for simulating synaptic behavior and enabling neuromorphic computations to address challenges. An artificial synapse utilizing the perovskite structure PbHfO3 (PHO) has been created to tackle these concerns. By employing the sol-gel technique, a ferroelectric film composed of Au/PHO/FTO was created on FTO/glass for the purpose of this endeavor. The artificial synapse is composed of Au/PHO/FTO and exhibits learning and memory characteristics that are similar to those observed in biological neurons. The recognition accuracy for both MNIST and Fashion-MNIST data sets saw an increase, reaching 92.93% and 76.75%, respectively. This enhancement resulted from employing a convolutional neural network architecture and implementing an improved stochastic adaptive algorithm. The presented findings showcase a viable approach to achieve neuromorphic computation by employing artificial synapses fabricated with PHO.

Correlation between symptoms and cognitive function changes in patients with primary insomnia and pathways in gut microbiota.

Background: Primary insomnia (PI) refers to syndromes of difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep quality, early awakening, and difficulty falling asleep after waking up. Although there have been numerous studies, the specific etiology and pathogenesis of PI are still misunderstanding. In recent years, the gut microbiota has been proved to be involved in the metabolism of many mental disorders. But the specific mechanisms of its involvement in PI have not been fully elucidated. This study aims to explore the relationship between the gut microbiota and the symptoms, cognitive function changes in PI. Methods: In this study, the gut microbiota of PI patients and healthy controls was profiled by performing stool 16s rRNA gene sequencing. The co-occurrence network was constructed by using Weight Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) algorithm. The correlation between gut microbiota associated pathways and traits in PI were predicted. Results: WGCNA results demonstrated several Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) modules are correlated to symptoms. By using PICRUSt2 software, we predicted the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of microbiota in modules. For instance, sleep efficiency may be correlated with the presence of Insulin signaling pathway, Flavonoid biosynthesis, Ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, Nitrotoluene degradation, Biotin metabolism, RNA polymerase and Chlorocyclohexane and chlorobenzene degradation. Total sleep time may be correlated with the presence of Tyrosine metabolism, Propanoate metabolism, Carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes, Carotenoid biosynthesis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Nitrotoluene degradation and Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. The severity of insomnia may be correlated with Insulin signaling pathway, Flavonoid biosynthesis, Ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, Nitrotoluene degradation, Biotin metabolism and RNA polymerase. Change of name score in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) may be correlated with Tyrosine metabolism, Propanoate metabolism, Carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes, Carotenoid biosynthesis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Nitrotoluene degradation, Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, Apoptosis, Steroid hormone biosynthesis, Geraniol degradation, Protein digestion and absorption and Bisphenol degradation in Gut Microbiota (GM). Conclusion: This study revealed the potential relationships between gut microbiota and PI. By using pathway prediction and enrichment analysis, we concluded many metabolic pathways may associated with some important traits of insomnia patients, including sleep efficiency, severe insomnia, total sleep time and change of name score in MoCA. The metabolic pathways include Insulin signaling pathway, Flavonoid biosynthesis, Ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, Nitrotoluene degradation, Biotin metabolism, RNA polymerase and Chlorocyclohexane, chlorobenzene degradation, Tyrosine metabolism, Propanoate metabolism, Carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes, Carotenoid biosynthesis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, Apoptosis, Steroid hormone biosynthesis, Geraniol degradation, Protein digestion and absorption and Bisphenol degradation.Our study demonstrated that PI patients demonstrate significant changes in gut microbiota, which will help delineate the relationship between gut microbiota and syndromes of PI.

Advancement in Therapeutic Intervention of Prebiotic-Based Nanoparticles for Colonic Diseases.

Intestinal flora has become a therapeutic target for the intervention of colonic diseases (CDs) with better understanding of the interplay between microbiota and CDs. Depending on unique properties and prominent ability of regulating the intestinal flora, prebiotics can not only achieve a colon-specific drug delivery but also maintain the intestinal homeostasis, thus playing a positive role in the intervention of CDs. Currently, different studies on prebiotic-based nanoparticles have been contrived for colonic drug delivery and have shown great potential in curing various CDs, such as colitis and colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, there is a lack of systematic survey on the use of prebiotic nanoparticles for the treatment of CDs. This review aims to generalize the state-of-the-art of prebiotic nanomedicines specific for CDs. The species and function of intestinal flora and various kinds of prebiotics available as well as their regulating effects on intestinal flora were expounded. A variety of prebiotic nanoparticles pertinent to colon-targeted drug delivery systems were illustrated with particular emphasis on their curative activities on CDs. The efficacy and safety of prebiotic-based colonic drug delivery systems (p-CDDs) were also analyzed. In conclusion, the synergy between prebiotic nanoparticles and their cargos may hold promise for the treatment and intervention of CDs.

Nanovesicles-Mediated Drug Delivery for Oral Bioavailability Enhancement.

Bioavailability is an eternal topic that cannot be circumvented by peroral drug delivery. Adequate blood drug exposure after oral administration is a prerequisite for effective treatment. Nanovesicles as pleiotropic oral vehicles can solubilize, encapsulate, stabilize an active ingredient and promote the payload absorption via various mechanisms. Vesicular systems with nanoscale size, such as liposomes, niosomes and polymersomes, provide a versatile platform for oral delivery of drugs with distinct nature. The amphiphilicity of vesicles in structure allows hydrophilic and lipophilic molecule(s) either or both to be loaded, being encapsulated in the aqueous cavity or the inner core, respectively. Depending on high oral transport efficiency based on their structural flexibility, gastrointestinal stability, biocompatibility, and/or intestinal epithelial affinity, nanovesicles can markedly augment the oral bioavailability of various poorly absorbed drugs. Vesicular drug delivery systems (VDDSs) demonstrate a lot of preferences and are becoming more prominent of late years in biomedical applications. Equally, these systems can potentiate a drug's therapeutic index by ameliorating the oral absorption. This review devotes to comment on various VDDSs with special emphasis on the peroral drug delivery. The classification of nanovesicles, preparative processes, intestinal transport mechanisms, in vivo fate, and design rationale were expounded. Knowledge on vesicles-mediated oral drug delivery for bioavailability enhancement has been properly provided. It can be concluded that VDDSs with many merits will step into an energetic arena in oral drug delivery.

Progressive gray matter hypertrophy with severity stages of insomnia disorder and its relevance for mood symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gray matter (GM) alterations in patients with insomnia disorder (ID) at different severity stages and the relationship between GM alterations and sleep, mood, and cognitive measures. METHODS: One hundred one ID patients and 63 healthy controls (HC) were included. Each patient underwent structural MRI and completed sleep-, mood-, and cognitive-related questionnaires. The ID patients were further grouped into subthreshold insomnia (SI) group and clinical insomnia (CI) group. We investigated changes in GM volumes in ID patients via diffeomorphic anatomical registration through exponentiated lie algebra voxel-based morphometry (DARTEL-VBM). We first compared voxel-wise differences in GM volumes between the HC group and the ID group. Analysis of variance was performed on individual GM maps in the SI, CI, and HC groups to further investigate the effects of different stages of ID severity on GM volumes. Multiple regression was used to model the relationship between altered GM volumes in SI and CI groups and clinical measures. RESULTS: GM hypertrophies in the left anterior and middle cingulate gyrus, right middle and inferior temporal gyrus, and right cerebellum Crus II were detected in ID. Increased GM volume in the right middle temporal gyrus was detected in the SI group, whereas all three regions in the CI group. Regression analysis showed that mood- and cognitive-related measures had a positive correlation with GM volumes, while sleep-related measures had a negative correlation with GM volumes in the CI group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of the progressively increased GM volumes in ID suggest that a hypertrophic cortical morphological mechanism may underlie the altered neuroanatomy induced by insomnia. KEY POINTS: • Insomnia-induced GM hypertrophies in the cingulate gyrus, temporal gyrus, and cerebellum Crus II. • The middle temporal gyrus was early detectable in the SI group. • The increased GM volumes in the CI group were correlated with clinical measures.

Rosanortriterpenes A-B, two new nortriterpenes from the fruits of Rosa laevigata var. leiocapus.

One new oleanane-type nortriterpene, rosanortriterpene A (1), and one new ursane-type nortriterpene, rosanortriterpene B (2), were isolated from the fruits of Rosa laevigata var. leiocapus. The structures of 1-2 were fully characterised on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including IR, HRESIMS, as well as 1D and 2D NMR spectral data (HSQC, 1H-1H COSY, and HMBC). To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first study on the chemical constituents of R. laevigata var. leiocapus. Compounds 1-2 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values of 29.29 ± 3.64 and 14.28 ± 1.20 µM, respectively.

Glycyrrhizin Ameliorates Radiation Enteritis in Mice Accompanied by the Regulation of the HMGB1/TLR4 Pathway.

Radiation enteritis is a common side effect of radiotherapy for abdominal and pelvic malignancies, which can lead to a decrease in patients' tolerance to radiotherapy and the quality of life. It has been demonstrated that glycyrrhizin (GL) possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity. However, little is known about its anti-inflammatory effect in radiation enteritis. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of GL on radiation enteritis and elucidate the possible underlying molecular mechanisms involved. The C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 6.5 Gy abdominal X-ray irradiation to establish a model of radiation enteritis. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to analyze the pathological changes in the jejunum. The expression of TNF-α in the jejunum was analyzed by immunochemistry. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and HMGB1 in the serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The intestinal absorption capacity was tested using the D-xylose absorption assay. The levels of HMGB1 and TLR4 were analyzed by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. We found that GL significantly alleviated the intestinal damage and reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and HMGB1 levels. Furthermore, the HMGB1/TLR4 signaling pathway was significantly downregulated by GL treatment. In conclusion, these findings indicate that GL has a protective effect against radiation enteritis through the inhibition of the intestinal damage and the inflammatory responses, as well as the HMGB1/TLR4 signaling pathway. Thereby, GL might be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of radiation enteritis.

Rosanortriterpene C, a 3,24-Dinor-2,4-seco-ursane Triterpene from the Fruits of Rosa laevigata var. leiocapus.

One new 3,24-dinor-2,4-seco-ursane triterpene, rosanortriterpene C (1), together with four known compounds including 24-norursane-type nortriterpenes (2-3), 24-noroleanane-type nortriterpene (4), ursane-type triterpene (5), was isolated from the fruits of Rosa laevigata var. leiocapus. The new structure was elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including one dimensional (1D) and 2D NMR data, as well as electrospray ionization high resolution (HR-ESI) MS and IR spectrometry. Compounds 1-5 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activities against the production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with IC50 values of 10.35 ± 0.92, 14.28 ± 1.20, 5.04 ± 1.43, 29.29 ± 3.64, and 14.37 ± 0.59 µM, respectively.

[Tetramethylpyrazine promotes bone marrow repair in a C57 mouse model of X-rayinduced immune-mediated bone marrow failure].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of tetramethylpyrazine on immune-mediated bone marrow failure (BMF) induced by different doses of X-ray exposure in C57 mice. METHODS: C57BL6 mice were randomized into 4 groups, including a blank control group and 3 X-ray exposure groups with X-ray exposure at low (5.0 Gy), moderate (5.75 Gy), and high (6.5 Gy) doses. After total body irradiation with 0.98 Gy/min X-ray. The mice as recipient received injections of 4×106 lymphocytes from DBA/2 mice via the tail vein within 4 h. The survival rate of the recipient mice, peripheral blood cell counts, bone marrow nucleated cell count, and bone marrow pathology were examined at 14 days after the exposure. In the subsequent experiment, C57 mice were exposed to 5.0 Gy X-ray and treated with intraperitoneal injection of tetramethylpyrazine at the low (5 mg/mL), moderate (10 mg/mL), or high (20 mg/mL) doses (12 mice in each group) for 14 consecutive days, and the changes in BMF were observed. RESULTS: X-ray exposure, especially at the high dose, resulted in significantly lowered survival rate in the mouse models of BMF at 14 days. As the X-ray dose increased, the mice showed significantly reduced peripheral blood counts of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and lowered bone marrow nucleated cell counts with obvious bone marrow congestion and reduction of nucleated cells (P < 0.05 or 0.001). In the mice exposed to 5.0 Gy X-ray, tetramethylpyrazine at the high dose most obviously increased bone marrow nucleated cells (P < 0.01) and red blood cells (P < 0.001), and even at the low dose, tetramethylpyrazine significantly increased the counts of white blood cells (P < 0.05) and platelets (P < 0.01) following the exposure. Tetramethylpyrazine dose-dependently alleviated bone marrow hyperemia, increased bone marrow nucleated cell counts, and lowered Fas protein expression in the bone marrow. CONCLUSIONS: X-ray irradiation at 5.0 Gy is suitable for establish mouse models of immune-mediated BMF. Tetramethylpyrazine promotes bone marrow repair by regulating Fas cell apoptosis signals, which further expands the traditional Chinese medicine theory of "removing blood stasis to create new."

Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) promotes tumor growth via Akt-phosphorylation and independently of Wnt-axis in Barrett's associated esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is still associated with poor prognosis, despite modern multi-modal therapies. New molecular markers, which control cell cycle and promote lymph node metastases or tumor growth, may introduce novel target therapies. Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is a secreted glycoprotein that blocks the oncogenic Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and its aberrant expression has been observed in many malignancies, including EAC. In this study, we investigated the biological role of DKK1 in EAC. Analysis of DKK1 and active ß-catenin expression in human esophageal tissues confirmed a simultaneous DKK1-overexpression together with aberrant activation of ß-catenin signaling in EAC in comparison with Barrett's and healthy mucosa. To elucidate the molecular role of DKK1, the OE33 adenocarcinoma cells, which were found to overexpress DKK1, were subjected to functional and molecular assays following siRNA-mediated DKK1-knockdown. At the functional level, OE33 cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion were significantly attenuated by the absence of DKK1. At the molecular level, neither DKK1-knockdown nor application of exogenous recombinant DKK1 were found to alter the baseline ß-catenin signaling in OE33 cells. However, DKK1-knockdown significantly abrogated downstream Akt-phosphorylation. On the other hand, the Wnt-agonist, Wnt3a, restored the Akt-phorphorylation in the absence of DKK1, without, however, being able to further stimulate ß-catenin transcription. These findings suggest that the ß-catenin transcriptional activity in EAC is independent of Wnt3a/DKK1 site-of-action and define an oncogenic function for DKK1 in this type of malignancy via distinct activation of Akt-mediated intracellular pathways and independently of Wnt-axis inhibition. Taken together, DKK1 may present a novel therapeutic target in EAC.

Two new ent-kaurane diterpenes from the stems of Eurya chinensis.

Two new ent-kaurane diterpenes (1-2), together with five known analogs, were isolated from the stems of Eurya chinensis. The structures of new compounds were established by extensive analysis of mass spectrometric and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Compound 3 exhibited noticeable anti-inflammatory activity as denoted by inhibiting LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells with an IC50 value of 7.82 µM. Compound 4 showed potent cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines NCI-H46, HepG2 and SW480 with IC50 values ranging from 7.45 to 8.54 µM.

Three new kavalactone dimers from Piper methysticum (kava).

Three new dimeric kavalactones, designated as diyangonins A-C (1-3), along with two known analogs were isolated from the roots of Piper methysticum. Their structures were elucidated by means of extensive analysis of their 1D, 2D NMR, and mass spectroscopic data. All these dimers possess a skeleton featuring a cyclobutane ring connecting two kavalactone units in head-to-tail or head-to-head mode. Compounds 1-5 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human tumor cell lines.

A new ent-kaurane diterpene derivative from the stems of Eurya chinensis R.Br.

One new ent-kaurane diterpene derivative (1), along with four known diterpenes, was isolated from the stems of Eurya chinensis R.Br. The structure of the new compound was established by extensive analysis of mass spectrometric and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Compound 1 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activities with IC50 value of 8.12 µM. This is the first example of diterpenoids with 4-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-hydroxyl-cyclohexanoyl substituent.

Non-invasive Amide Proton Transfer Imaging and ZOOM Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Differentiating Benign and Malignant Thyroid Micronodules.

Background: Pre-operative non-invasive differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules is difficult for doctors. This study aims to determine whether amide proton transfer (APT) imaging and zonally oblique multi-slice (ZOOM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can provide increased accuracy in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board and included 60 thyroid nodules in 50 patients. All of the nodules were classified as malignant (n = 21) or benign (n = 39) based on pathology. It was meaningful to analyze the APT and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the two groups by independent t-test to identify the benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The relationship between APT and ZOOM DWI was explored through Pearson correlation analysis. The diagnostic efficacy of APT and ZOOM DWI in determining if thyroid nodules were benign or malignant was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The mean APTw value of the benign nodules was 2.99 ± 0.79, while that of the malignant nodules was 2.14 ± 0.73. Additionally, there was a significant difference in the APTw values of the two groups (P < 0.05). The mean ADC value of the benign nodules was 1.84 ± 0.41, and was significantly different from that of the malignant nodules, which was 1.21 ± 0.19 (P < 0.05). Scatter point and Pearson test showed a moderate positive correlation between the APT and ADC values (P < 0.05). The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value of ZOOM DWI (AUC = 0.937) was greater than that of APT (AUC = 0.783) (P = 0.028). Conclusion: APT and ZOOM DWI imaging improved the accuracy of distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. ZOOM DWI is superior to APTw imaging (Z = 2.198, P < 0.05).

MicroRNA-mediated downregulation of potassium-chloride-cotransporter and vesicular γ-aminobutyric acid transporter expression in spinal cord contributes to neonatal cystitis-induced visceral pain in rats.

Loss of GABAergic inhibition in pain pathways has been considered to be a key component in the development of chronic pain. In the present study, we intended to examine whether miR-92b-mediated posttranscriptional dysregulation of spinal potassium chloride cotransporter (KCC2) and vesicular γ-aminobutyric acid transporter (VGAT) plays a major role in the development and maintenance of long-term visceral hyperalgesia in neonatal zymosan-treated rats. Neonatal cystitis was induced by transurethral zymosan administration from postnatal (P) days 14 to 16 (protocol 1). Two other zymosan protocols were also used: adult rechallenge on P57 to 59 following neonatal P14 to 16 exposures (protocol 2), and adult zymosan exposures on P57 to 59 (protocol 3). Both neonatal and adult bladder inflammation protocols demonstrated an increase in spinal miR-92b-3p expression and subsequent decrease in KCC2 and VGAT expression in spinal dorsal horn neurons. In situ hybridization demonstrated a significant upregulation of miR-92b-3p in the spinal dorsal horn neurons of neonatal cystitis rats compared with saline-treated controls. In dual in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry studies, we further demonstrated coexpression of miR-92b-3p with targets KCC2 and VGAT in spinal dorsal horn neurons, emphasizing a possible regulatory role both at pre- and post-synaptic levels. Intrathecal administration of lentiviral pLSyn-miR-92b-3p sponge (miR-92b-3p inhibitor) upregulated KCC2 and VGAT expression in spinal dorsal horn neurons. In behavioral studies, intrathecal administration of lentiviral miR-92b-3p sponge attenuated an increase in visceromotor responses and referred viscerosomatic hypersensitivity following the induction of cystitis. These findings indicate that miR-92b-3p-mediated posttranscriptional regulation of spinal GABAergic system plays an important role in sensory pathophysiology of zymosan-induced cystitis.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 deficiency attenuates CCl4-induced fibrosis through Th17 cells down-regulation and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase compensation.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is an intracellular rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolism of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway, subsequently mediating the immune response; however, the role of IDO1 in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of IDO1 in the development of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Patients with hepatitis B virus-induced cirrhosis and healthy volunteers were enrolled. For animals, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was used to establish liver fibrosis in wild-type and IDO1 knockout mice. Additionally, an IDO1 inhibitor (1-methyl-D-tryptophan) was administered to WT fibrosis mice. Liver lesions were positively correlated with serum IDO1 levels in both the clinical subjects and hepatic fibrosis mice. A positive correlation between serum IDO1 levels and liver stiffness values was found in the cirrhosis patients. Notably, IDO1 knockout mice were protected from CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, as reflected by unchanged serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels and lower collagen deposition, α-smooth muscle actin expression and apoptotic cell death rates. On the other hand, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), another systemic tryptophan metabolism enzyme, exhibited a compensatory increase as a result of IDO1 deficiency. Moreover, hepatic interleukin-17a, a characteristic cytokine of T helper 17 (Th17) cells, and downstream cytokines' mRNA levels showed lower expression in the IDO1-/- model mice. IDO1 appears to be a potential hallmark of liver lesions, and its deficiency protects mice from CCl4-induced fibrosis mediated by Th17 cells down-regulation and TDO compensation.

Yangonindimers A-C, three new kavalactone dimers from Piper methysticum (kava).

Three new kavalactone dimers, designated as yangonindimers A-C (1-3), along with one known analogue were isolated from the roots of Piper methysticum. Their structures were elucidated via extensive analysis of their 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic data. All these dimers possess a skeleton featuring a cyclobutane ring connecting two kavalactone units. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human tumour cell lines NCI-H46, SW480 and HepG2, but none showed significant activity.

[Effect of rhynchophylline on behaviors of methamphetamine-dependent zebrafish and the mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of rhynchophylline on methamphetamine-dependent zebrafish and explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: Zebrafish were divided into control group, amphetamine group, low- (50 mg/kg) and high (100 mg/kg)-dose rhynchophylline groups, and ketamine (150 mg/kg) group. Conditioned place preference (CPP) was induced in zebrafish with methamphetamine, and the staying time in the drug box and the tracking map of the zebrafish were observed with Noldus Ethovision XT system. The protein expressions of TH, NR2B and GLUR2 in the brain of zebrafish with CPP were detected with Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, zebrafish in methamphetamine group showed significant variations in the staying time and swimming distance in the drug box after conditioning (P<0.05) with obvious alterations of NR2B, TH and GLUR2 expressions in the brain (P<0.05). Treatment of methamphetamine-dependent zebrafish with high-dose rhynchophylline significantly reduced the variations in the staying time and swimming distance in the drug box (P<0.05) and in the expressions of NR2B, TH and GLUR2 in the brain (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rhynchophylline can inhibit methamphetamine dependence in zebrafish, the mechanism of which may involve the expressions of TH, NR2B and GLUR2 proteins in the brain.

Dysregulation of WNT5A/ROR2 Signaling Characterizes the Progression of Barrett-Associated Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

UNLABELLED: The mechanism underlying the progression of normal esophageal mucosa to esophageal adenocarcinoma remains elusive. WNT5A is a noncanonical WNT, which mainly functions via the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2), and has an unclear role in carcinogenesis. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of WNT5A/ROR2 signaling in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Analysis of WNT5A and ROR2 expression patterns in healthy controls, Barrett and esophageal adenocarcinoma patients' esophageal clinical specimens as well as in various esophageal cell lines demonstrated a ROR2 overexpression in esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues compared with Barrett and healthy mucosa, whereas WNT5A expression was found significantly downregulated toward esophageal adenocarcinoma formation. Treatment of esophageal adenocarcinoma OE33 cells with human recombinant WNT5A (rhWNT5A) significantly suppressed proliferation, survival, and migration in a dose-dependent fashion. rhWNT5A was found to inhibit TOPflash activity in ROR2 wild-type cells, whereas increased TOPflash activity in ROR2-knockdown OE33 cells. In addition, ROR2 knockdown alone abolished cell proliferation and weakened the migration properties of OE33 cells. These findings support an early dysregulation of the noncanonical WNT5A/ROR2 pathway in the pathogenesis of esophageal adenocarcinoma, with the loss of WNT5A expression together with the ROR2 overexpression to be consistent with tumor promotion. IMPLICATIONS: The dysregulation of WNT5A/ROR2 noncanonical WNT signaling in Barrett-associated esophageal adenocarcinoma introduces possible prognostic markers and novel targets for tailored therapy of this malignancy. Mol Cancer Res; 14(7); 647-59. ©2016 AACR.

Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling Activation beyond Robust Nuclear ß-Catenin Accumulation in Nondysplastic Barrett's Esophagus: Regulation via Dickkopf-1.

INTRODUCTION: Wnt/ß-catenin signaling activation has been reported only during the late steps of Barrett's esophagus (BE) neoplastic progression, but not in BE metaplasia, based on the absence of nuclear ß-catenin. However, ß-catenin transcriptional activity has been recorded in absence of robust nuclear accumulation. Thus, we aimed to investigate the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in nondysplastic BE. METHODS: Esophageal tissues from healthy and BE patients without dysplasia were analyzed for Wnt target gene expression by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Esophageal squamous (EPC1-& EPC2-hTERT), BE metaplastic (CP-A), and adenocarcinoma (OE33) cell lines were characterized for Wnt activation by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and luciferase assay. Wnt activity regulation was examined by using recombinant Wnt3a and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1) as well as Dkk1 short interfering RNA. RESULTS: Wnt target genes (AXIN2, c-MYC, Cyclin D1, Dkk1) and Wnt3a were significantly upregulated in nondysplastic BE compared with squamous mucosa. Elevated levels of dephosphorylated ß-catenin were detected in nondysplastic BE. Nuclear active ß-catenin and TOPflash activity were increased in CP-A and OE33 cells compared with squamous cells. Wnt3a-mediated ß-catenin signaling activation was abolished by Dkk1 in CP-A cells. TOPFlash activity was elevated following Dkk1 silencing in CP-A but not in OE33 cells. Dysplastic and esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues demonstrated further Dkk1 and AXIN2 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the absence of robust nuclear accumulation, ß-catenin is transcriptionally active in nondysplastic BE. Dkk1 overexpression regulates ß-catenin signaling in BE metaplastic but not in adenocarcinoma cells, suggesting that early perturbation of Dkk1-mediated signaling suppression may contribute to BE malignant transformation.