Effects of ant nests on soil CH4 emissions from Syzygium oblatum communities of a secondary tropical forest.

Exploring the effects of ant nests on soil CH4 emissions in the secondary tropical forests is of great scientific significance to understand the contribution of soil faunal activities to greenhouse gas emissions. With static chamber-gas chromatography method, we measured the dry-wet seasonal dynamics of CH4 emissions from ant nests and control soils in the secondary forest of Syzygium oblatum communities in Xishuangbanna. We also examined the linkages of ant-mediated changes in functional microbial diversity and soil physicochemical properties with CH4 emissions. The results showed that: 1) Ant nests significantly accelerated soil CH4 emissions, with average CH4 emissions in the ant nests being 2.6-fold of that in the control soils. 2) The CH4 emissions had significant dry-wet seasonal variations, which was a carbon sink in the dry seasons (from -0.29±0.03 to -0.53±0.02 µg·m-2·h-1) and a carbon source in the wet seasons (from 0.098±0.02 to 0.041±0.009 µg·m-2·h-1). The CH4 emissions were significantly higher in ant nests than in control soils. The CH4 emissions from the ant nests had smaller dry-wet seasonal variation (from -0.38±0.01 to 0.12±0.02 µg·m-2·h-1) than those in the control soils (from -0.65±0.04 to 0.058±0.006 µg·m-2·h-1). 3) Ant nests significantly increased the values (6.2%-37.8%) of soil methanogen diversity (i.e., Ace and Shannon indices), temperature and humidity, carbon pools (i.e., total, easily oxidizable, and microbial carbon), and nitrogen pools (i.e., total, hydrolyzed, ammonium, and microbial biomass nitrogen), but decreased the diversity (i.e., Ace and Chao1 indices) of methane-oxidizing bacteria by 21.9%-23.8%. 4) Results of the structural equation modeling showed that CH4 emissions were promoted by soil methanogen diversity, temperature and humidity, and C and N pools, but inhibited by soil methane-oxidizing bacterial diversity. The explained extents of soil temperature, humidity, carbon pool, nitrogen pool, methanogen diversity, and methane-oxidizing bacterial diversity for the CH4 emission changes were 6.9%, 21.6%, 18.4%, 15.2%, 14.0%, and 10.8%, respectively. Therefore, ant nests regulated soil CH4 emission dynamics through altering soil functional bacterial diversities, micro-habitat, and carbon and nitrogen pools in the secondary tropical forests.

MiR-548t-5p regulates pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma metastasis through an IL-33-dependent crosstalk between cancer cells and M2 macrophages.

IL-33 has been associated with pro- and anticancer functions in cancer. However, its role in pancreatic cancer metastasis remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of miR-548t-5p/IL-33 axis in the metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Luciferase activity assay, qRT-PCR, Western blot and ELISA were performed to prove whether IL-33 is the target of miR-548t-5p. In vivo metastasis assay and cellular transwell assay were performed to explore the role of miR-548t-5p/IL-33 axis in the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Co-culture experiments and immunohistochemistry were performed to observe whether IL-33 affects cell invasion and metastasis dependent on the involvement of M2 macrophages. THP-1 cell induction experiment and flow cytometry were performed to explore the effect of IL-33 on macrophage polarization. CCK-8, colony formation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, cell wound healing and transwell assay were performed to investigate the effect of IL-33 induced M2 macrophages on cell malignant biological behavior by coculturing pancreatic cancer cells with the conditioned medium (CM) from macrophages. We found that miR-548t-5p regulated the expression and secretion of IL-33 in pancreatic cancer cells by directly targeting IL-33 mRNA. IL-33 secreted by cancer cells promoted the recruitment and activation of macrophages to a M2-like phenotype. In turn, IL-33 induced M2 macrophages promoted the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Moreover, IL-33 affected pancreatic cancer cell invasion dependent on the involvement of M2 macrophages in the co-culture system. Thus, our study suggested that manipulation of this IL-33-dependent crosstalk has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of pancreatic cancer metastasis.

Effects of ant nesting on seasonal dynamics of soil N2O emission in a secondary tropical forest.

We assessed the seasonal dynamics of N2O emission in ant nests soils in secondary tropical Millettia leptobotrya forest of Xishuangbanna by using the static chamber-gas chromatography method, and determined the lin-kages between ant-mediated changes in soil properties (e.g., carbon pool, nitrogen pool, and temperature and humidity) and N2O emission. The results showed that ant nesting significantly affected soil N2O emission. The ave-rage soil N2O emission (0.67 mg·m-2·h-1) in ant nests was 40.2% higher than that in the control (0.48 mg·m-2·h-1). N2O emission in ant nests and the control showed substantial seasonal variation, with higher rate in June (0.90 and 0.83 mg·m-2·h-1, respectively) than that in March (0.38 and 0.19 mg·m-2·h-1, respectively). Ant nesting significantly increased the values (7.1%-74.1%) of moisture, temperature, organic carbon, total nitrogen, hydrolytic nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and microbial biomass carbon, but decreased pH (9.9%) compared with the control. Results of structural equation model showed that soil N2O emission was promoted by soil C and N pool, temperature, and humidity, but was inhibited by soil pH. The explained extents of soil nitrogen pool, carbon pool, temperature and humidity, and pH for N2O emission changes were 37.2%, 27.7%, 22.9% and 9.4%, respectively. Therefore, ant nesting regulated N2O emission dynamics by changing nitrification and denitrification substrates (e.g., nitrate and ammoniacal nitrogen), carbon pool, and micro-habitat (temperature and moisture) of soil in the secondary tropical forest.

Comparing the clinical application values of the Degree of Ulcerative Colitis Burden of Luminal Inflammation (DUBLIN) score and Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: The significance of endoscopic evaluation in the diagnosis and management of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been widely recognized. Over the years, scholars have established several endoscopic scores. Herein, we assessed the clinical application value of the Mayo Endoscopic Subscore (Mayo ES), the Degree of Ulcerative Colitis Burden of Luminal Inflammation (DUBLIN) score, and the Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) score in UC patients, by comparing their correlation with disease activity and their predictive potential for treatment response and clinical outcomes. METHODS: UC patients hospitalized from September 2015 to September 2019 were retrospectively analysed. We employed Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to assess the linear association of the assessed endoscopic scores with the clinical parameters. The receiver-operating characteristic curve was applied to evaluate the predictive capabilities of the endoscopic scores for treatment escalation and 1-year readmission. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients were enrolled; most of them (82%) suffered moderate or severe colitis. Among them, 48 (27%) patients received treatment escalation and 59 (33%) were readmitted within 1 year. The DUBLIN and UCEIS scores demonstrated higher correlations with clinical parameters than the Mayo ES. The DUBLIN scores significantly differed between patients with mild, moderate, and severe colitis (all P < 0.001). The UCEIS scores demonstrated the best predictabilities for treatment escalation and 1-year readmission with an area under the curve of 0.88 and 0.75, respectively. Compared to the UCEIS and DUBLIN scores, the predictive capabilities of the Mayo ES for treatment escalation (both P < 0.001) and 1-year readmission (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) were lower. The UCEIS scores exhibited a significant difference between the steroid-responsive group and the steroid-dependent or steroid-refractory group (both P < 0.001), while no significant differences in the Mayo ES and DUBLIN scores were found among the three groups (both P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that both the DUBLIN and UCEIS scores outperform the Mayo ES in assessing disease severity and predicting treatment response and clinical outcomes in UC patients.

The complete plastid genome of cherry plants Prunus sargentii (Rosaceae) and its phylogenetic implication.

Prunus sargentii is an ornamental flowering cherry species, spread in Japan, Korea, Russia, and Northeast China. Little information is available regarding its genomic, with limited phylogenetic relationship study performed on P. sargentii until now. In this research, we reported the complete plastid genome of P. sargentii. The complete chloroplast of this species is 158,138 bp in length, including a pair of invert repeat regions (IR) (26,463bp) that is divided by a large single-copy region (LSC) (85,959bp) and a small single-copy region (SSC) (19,253bp). The plastid genome contained a total of 128 genes, including 84 coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 36 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that P. sargentii has a closer relationship with P. kumanoensis.

Effect of long-term exercise training on static postural control in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

We examined the effects of long-term exercise on age-related decline in static balance control through centre-of-pressure (CoP) measurements of four groups of participants: older controls, younger controls, older Tai Chi exercisers and older joggers. The participants stood quietly in a tandem stance on a force platform for 30 s with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). The older controls showed remarkably larger CoP and EC/EO ratios than younger controls and older Tai Chi exercisers. The EC/EO ratios of velocity in the mediolateral direction of older joggers were significantly smaller than those of older controls. Results suggest that the static balance of older controls showed a significant decline caused by age-related changes. Long-term Tai Chi and jogging, particularly the former, contributed to static balance control in older people. Older adults relied more on visual information in static postural control than young people. Tai Chi would be an ideal exercise for improving static balance in older people.

[Effects of ant colonization on spatiotemporal variation of organic carbon mineralization in Xishuangbanna tropical forest soils]. / 蚂蚁筑巢对西双版纳热带森林土壤碳矿化动态的影响.

Ants as ecosystem engineers can increase the input of soil organic matter, change soil physicochemical properties, and stimulate microbial activities through their colonization, thus affecting the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil organic carbon mineralization. We explored the spatiotemporal characteristics of carbon mineralization rates in ant nests and the adjacent soils in Syzygium oblatum community of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. We analyzed the association of the variation in carbon mineralization rates with soil physicochemical properties. We found that ant colonization had a significant effect on soil organic carbon mineralization. The mean carbon mineralization rate was 19.2% higher in nest soils than that in the surrounding soils. The monthly carbon mineralization rate in nest soils and the reference soils was ranked as June ＞ September ＞ March ＞ December. The highest increase of carbon mineralization rate in ant nests was observed in 10-15 cm soil layer, while that in the reference soils was in 0-5 cm soil depth. Ant colonization had a significant effect on soil physicochemical properties. Compared with reference soils, soil temperature, soil water, soil organic carbon,soil microbial carbon, total nitrogen, hydrolytic nitrogen, nitrate, and ammonium increased by 7.6%, 5.4%, 9.9%, 14.8%, 13.4%, 9.9%, 24.1%, 6.6% and 19.4%, respectively. In contrast, soil bulk density and soil pH were decreased by 1.4% and 2.5%, respectively. Results from correlation coefficients and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that soil organic carbon and soil microbial carbon were the key factors controlling the mineralization of soil organic carbon, followed by total nitrogen, hydrolyzed nitrogen, ammonium, nitrate, temperature, and soil moisture. We conclude that ant colonization mainly alter the substrate components (i.e., soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon) of soil organic carbon mineralization and thus affect its spatio-temporal dynamics in Xishuangbanna tropical forests.

[Effects of ant nesting on soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient in tropical forest of Xishuangbanna.] / 蚂蚁筑巢对西双版纳热带森林土壤微生物生物量碳及熵的影响.

Ant nesting can modify soil physicochemical conditions in the tropical forest, exerting a crucial effect on spatiotemporal variation in soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient. In this study, the chloroform fumigation method was used to measure the spatiotemporal dynamics of microbial biomass carbon and quotient in ant nests and the reference soils in Syzygium oblatum community of tropical Xishuangbanna. The results were as following: 1) Microbial biomass carbon and quotient were significantly higher in ant nests (1.95 g·kg-1, 6.8%) than in the reference soils (1.76 g·kg-1, 5.1%). The microbial biomass carbon in ant nests and the reference soils showed a signifi-cantly unimodal temporal variation, whereas the temporal dynamics of microbial biomass quotient presented a distribution pattern of "V" type. 2) The microbial biomass carbon and quotient showed significant vertical changes in ant nests and the reference soils. The microbial biomass carbon decreased, and microbial biomass quotient increased significantly along the soil layers. The vertical variations in microbial biomass carbon and quotient were more significant in ant nests than in refe-rence soils. 3) Ant nesting significantly changed the spatiotemporal distributions of soil water and temperature in ant nests, which in turn affected spatiotemporal dynamics of soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient. Soil water content could explain 66%-83% and 54%-69% of the variation of soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient, respectively. Soil temperature could explain 71%-86% and 67%-76% of the variation of soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient in ant nests and the reference soils, respectively. 4) Changes in soil physicochemical properties induced by ant nesting had significant effect on the soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient. There were positive correlations of soil microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon, soil temperature, total nitrogen and soil water content, and to bulk density, nitrate nitrogen and hydrolyzed nitrogen; whereas a negative correlation of them was observed with soil pH. Soil pH was positively and other soil physicochemical properties were negatively correlated with microbial biomass quotient. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen and soil temperature had greater contribution to microbial biomass carbon, while total organic carbon and total nitrogen had the least negative effect on microbial biomass quotient. Therefore, ant nesting could modify microhabitats (e.g., soil water and soil temperature) and soil physicochemical properties (e.g., total organic carbon and total nitrogen), thereby regulating the spatiotemporal variation in soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient in tropical forests.

[Effects of ant nesting on the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil easily oxidized organic carbon in Xishuangbanna tropical forests, China]. / 蚂蚁筑巢对西双版纳热带森林土壤易氧化有机碳时空动态的影响.

Ant nesting can form microhabitat and soil nutrient condition in their nests that is diffe-rent from the surrounding environment, thus having a crucial effect on the variation of soil easily oxidized organic carbon (EOC). In this study, the Mallotus paniculatus communities in Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden of Xishuangbanna, Chinese Academy of Sciences was taken as the research object. We compared the spatiotemporal distribution of soil EOC in ant nests and the refe-rence soils, and analyzed the relationship of the variation in soil EOC to the changes in soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that soil EOC in ant nests and the reference soils had a unimodal change trend with months. The order was ranked as June>September>March>December. The soil EOC decreased with the soil layers. The EOC was higher in 0-5 cm nest soils than in the refe-rence soils, while it was not significantly different in the 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm soil layers. Ant nesting increased soil temperature, soil organic carbon, soil easily oxidized organic carbon, soil microbial biomass carbon, total nitrogen, soil nitrate nitrogen and hydrolysis nitrogen, but reduced the soil water content and bulk density. The impacts of ant nesting on soil ammonium and pH was not significant. The soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon had crucial roles in regulating the spatiotemporal variation in EOC in ant nests and the reference soils, whereas the effects of soil temperature, soil water content, total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen ranked the second. The ant nesting had a crucial effect on the spatiotemporal variations in easily oxidized organic carbon, mainly through changing the microhabitat (e.g., soil temperature and moisture) and soil nutrients (e.g., soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon) in Xishuangbanna tropical forests.

MicroRNA-125b protects hyperglycemia-induced, human retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) from death by targeting hexokinase 2.

Diabetic retinal disease (DR) is the main cause of visual disability and blindness in adults with diabetes mellitus. Currently, efficient prevention and treatment are still under investigation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are groups of short, non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally control their target genes' expression through complementary binding to the 3'UTR region. MiRNAs have been reported to play important roles in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. However, the roles of miR-125b in DR are still unclear. In this study, we exposed human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to high glucose levels to mimic DR progression. Hyperglycemia induced RPE cell death in 1, 3 and 5 days. Meanwhile, we observed that miR-125b expressions were significantly downregulated by the high glucose treatments. We demonstrated elevated cellular glycolysis rates of RPE cells under hyperglycemia. The glycolysis key enzymes, GLUT1, Hexokinase 2 (HK2) and LDHA were upregulated by high glucose. Moreover, treatments of RPE cells with low-toxic dosages of the glycolysis inhibitor, 2-DG or Oxamate, rescued the high glucose-induced cell from death. We identified hexokinase 2 as a direct target of miR-125b in RPE cells by showing the binding of the miR-125b seed region to HK2 mRNA 3'UTR. Notably, we demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-125b significantly attenuated hyperglycemia-induced RPE cell death. This study reveals a new mechanism for miRNA-mediated cellular protection against RPE cell death, representing an effective DR-treatment approach.

Involvement of RNA helicase p68 in skin wound healing process in rats.

PURPOSE: RNA helicase p68 plays an important role in organ development and maturation through tuning cell proliferation. However, the character and role of p68 in the whole wound healing process need more study. METHODS: First, we characterize expression of p68 in normal rat skin development postnatal. Then, we assayed dynamic change of p68 in rat skin from different stage after injury, and explored the role of p68 in proliferation and migration of three types of wound healing related cells. RESULTS: p68 was down-regulated during skin developmental and maturation process, up-regulated after wound, peaked on day 14 and then significantly decreased. Wound fluid enhanced wound healing related cell proliferation and up-regulated expression of p68. Conversely, reducing p68 expression by RNA interference resulted in significantly slower proliferation and migration. CONCLUSION: Our results define an important role of RNA helicase p68 in skin wound healing process.

Effects of regular Tai Chi practice and jogging on neuromuscular reaction during lateral postural control in older people.

This study examined the effects of regular Tai Chi practice and jogging on the neuromuscular activity of the trunk, hip, and ankle joint muscles of older people during lateral postural perturbation. A total of 42 older people participated in the study and formed the Tai Chi, jogging, and sedentary control groups. Electromyography signals were collected from the peroneus longus, anterior tibialis, gluteus medius, and erector spinae during unpredictable mediolateral perturbation. The Tai Chi group exhibited significantly faster latencies of the tibialis anterior and erector spinae than the control group. The jogging group showed a significantly shorter neuromuscular reaction time of the erector spinae than the control group. No significant difference was observed between the Tai Chi and jogging groups. Long-term regular Tai Chi practice enhanced the neuromuscular reaction of the erector spinae and tibialis anterior to lateral perturbation and will help timely posture correction when lateral postural distributions occur.

[Study on Chemical Constituents of Stalk from Pottsia laxifora].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of stalk form Pottsia laxifora. Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated by various chromatography methods,and the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods,physical and chemical properties. Results: Twelve compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as ß-sitosterol( 1),salicylic acid( 2),resorcinol( 3),4-hydroxybenzoic acid( 4),protocatechuic acid( 5),vanillic acid( 6),syringic acid( 7),scopoletin( 8),cleomiscosin D( 9),( +)-lyoniresinol( 10),(-)-loliolide( 11) and daucosterol( 12). Conclusion: Compounds 1 ~ 11 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Acupoint Specificity on Colorectal Hypersensitivity Alleviated by Acupuncture and the Correlation with the Brain-Gut Axis.

This project was focused on the study of the effect of the different acupoints on visceral hypersensitivity and the correlation with the brain-gut axis. By using a mouse model of zymosan-induced colorectal hypersensitivity, and observing the response of hypersensitivity model to colorectal distension stimulation in acupuncture at different acupoints, we selected the specific acupoints. With immunohistochemical staining method, we observed c-fos expression, distribution and changes after acupuncture on sensory pathway, including colorectum, spinal dorsal horn and different regions of brain center in the model with colorectal distension stimulation, and evaluated the acupuncture effect on brain-gut axis. The results revealed that the effectiveness of acupuncture for alleviating visceral hypersensitivity was different at individual acupoint, meaning Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37) > Quchi (LI11) and Dachangshu (BL25) > Ciliao (BL32). C-fos expression was concentrated in anterior cingulate cortex, hypothalamus, spinal dorsal horn and colorectum in model of zymosan-induced colorectal hypersensitivity and it was down-regulated after acupuncture. The results demonstrates that the acupoint specificity presents in acupuncture for relieving visceral hypersensitivity and the effects are more predominated at the acupoints on stomach meridian innervated by the same or adjacent spinal ganglion segments. The model of zymosan-induced colorectal hypersensitivity can be the animal model simulating brain-gut interaction.

The value of single-incision laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer: a systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, single-incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC) for colorectal malignancy is rapidly becoming the central issue for explorers of minimally invasive surgery worldwide. The aim of this systematic review was to establish the safety and efficacy of SILC for colorectal malignancy when implemented by experienced surgeons. METHODOLOGY: PubMed, WHO international trial register and Embase were searched for publications concerning SILC and MLC from 2000 to 2013, with the last search on September 10, 2013. Only pure single-incision laparoscopic colonic surgery for malignant disease was included. Primary outcomes were the early postoperative complication profiles of SILC. Secondary outcomes were duration of operation time, blood loss, lymph node yields, conversion rate, distal margin of the resected tumor, and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: Eight studies involving 547 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared with multiport laparoscopic colectomy (MLC), SILC has less postoperative complication and bleeding. The conversion, the median lymph node retrieval, proximal margin of the resected tumor and distal margin of the resected tumor for malignant disease achieved with SILC was acceptable. There was no significant reduction in length of hospital stay with SILC. CONCLUSION: SILC is a technically reliable and realistic approach with short-term results similar to those obtained with the MLC procedure.

Acupoint specificity on acupuncture regulation of hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal cortex axis function.

BACKGROUND: The hypothalamus is an essential part of the brain that responds to a variety of signaling including stressful stimulations and acupuncture signals. It is also the key element of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis(HPAA). The effect of acupuncture is transmitted into the brain from the distance sensory receptor around the acupoints via peripheral nerves and body fluid. In vivo recording the activities of stress reaction neurons (SRNs, CRH-like neurons) in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in response to the stimulations from different acupoints could therefore objectively reflect the acupuncture afferent effect. METHODS: In this study, the electrophysiological method was adopted to record synchronously the activities of 43 CRH-like neurons after acupuncture stimulations at 33 acupoints located at the different regions. The acupoints that specifically activate certain CRH-like neurons (specificity acupoints) were selected. Furthermore, we investigated in a rat model of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) whether these specificity acupoints regulate HPAA function. The endpoints of measurement include corticosterone (CORT) level in peripheral blood, the expressions of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein in PVN and the animal behavioral performance. RESULTS: Our results reveal that Shenshu (BL23), Ganshu (BL18), Qimen (LR14), Jingmen (GB25), Riyue (GB24), Zangmen (LR13), Dazui (DU14) and auricular concha region (ACR) are the specificity acupoints; and Gallbladder, Liver and Du Channels were the specificity Channels. The acupoints on Gallbladder Channel and the acupoints innervated by the same spinal cord segments as the adrenal gland demonstrated dramatic effects. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a new platform to further explore acupoints specificity in the regulation of HPAA activities.

Effect of optogenetic stimulus on the proliferation and cell cycle progression of neural stem cells.

Modulation of stem cell proliferation is a crucial aspect of neural developmental biology and regenerative medicine. To investigate the effect of optical stimulation on neural stem cell proliferation, cells transduced with channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) were used to analyze changes in cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution after light stimulation. Blue light significantly inhibited cell proliferation and affected the cell cycle, which increased the percentage of cells in G1 phase and reduced the percentage in S phase. It is likely that the influence of blue light on cell proliferation and the cell cycle was mediated by membrane depolarization, which induced accumulation of p21 and p27 proteins. Our data provide additional specific evidence that membrane depolarization may inhibit neural stem cell proliferation.

Acupuncture Relieves the Excessive Excitation of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Cortex Axis Function and Correlates with the Regulatory Mechanism of GR, CRH, and ACTHR.

It had been indicated in the previous studies that acupuncture relieved the excessive excitation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis (HPAA) function induced by stress stimulation. But the changes in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) induced by acupuncture have not been detected clearly. The objective of the study was to observe the impacts of acupuncture on the protein expressions of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor (ACTHR), and GR under the physiological and stress states. The results showed that under the stress state, acupuncture upregulated the protein expression of GR in the hippocampus, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and pituitary gland, downregulated the protein expression of GR in the adrenal cortex, and obviously reduced the protein expressions of CRH and ACTHR. Under the physiological state, acupuncture promoted GR protein expression in the hippocampus and CRH protein expression in the hippocampus and PVN. The results explained that acupuncture regulated the stress reaction via promoting the combination of glucocorticoids (GC) with GR, and GR protein expression. The increase of GR protein expression induced feedback inhibition on the overexpression of CRH and ACTHR, likely decreased GC level, and caused the reduction of GR protein expression in the adrenal cortex.

Kinetics of badminton lunges in four directions.

The lunge is the most fundamental skill in badminton competitions. Fifteen university-level male badminton players performed lunge maneuvers in four directions, namely, right-forward, left-forward, right-backward, and left-backward, while wearing two different brands of badminton shoes. The test compared the kinetics of badminton shoes in performing typical lunge maneuvers. A force plate and an insole measurement system measured the ground reaction forces and plantar pressures. These measurements were compared across all lunge maneuvers. The left-forward lunge generated significantly higher first vertical impact force (2.34 ± 0.52 BW) than that of the right-backward (2.06 ± 0.60 BW) and left-backward lunges (1.78 ± 0.44 BW); higher second vertical impact force (2.44 ± 0.51 BW) than that of the left-backward lunge (2.07 ± 0.38 BW); and higher maximum anterior-posterior shear force (1.48 ± 0.36 BW) than that of the left-backward lunge (1.18 ± 0.38 BW). Compared with other lunge directions, the left-forward lunge showed higher mean maximum vertical impact anterior-posterior shear forces and their respective maximum loading rates, and the plantar pressure at the total foot and heel regions. Therefore, the left-forward lunge is a critical maneuver for badminton biomechanics and related footwear research because of the high loading magnitude generated during heel impact.

Inhibition of HCN channels within the periaqueductal gray attenuates neuropathic pain in rats.

Peripheral and spinal hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channels play important roles in neuropathic pain by regulating neuronal excitability. However, the participation of HCN channels in the ventral-lateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) during neuropathic pain states has not been clarified. To investigate the role of vlPAG HCN channels in neuropathic pain, the authors developed a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. By using western blot analysis, they detected the upregulation of HCN1 and HCN2 channel expression at vlPAG 14 days post-CCI surgery. Subsequently, the function of these upregulated channels was verified by the intravlPAG infusion of ZD7288, a specific HCN blocker, which significantly relieved mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CCI animals. These results suggest that the upregulation of vlPAG HCN channels plays an important role in pain maintenance and might be a target for attenuating pain.