Temporal dynamics of anxiety phenotypes in a dental pulp injury model.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating clinical and preclinical evidence indicates that chronic pain is often comorbid with persistent low mood and anxiety. However, the mechanisms underlying pain-induced anxiety, such as its causality, temporal progression, and relevant neural networks are poorly understood, impeding the development of efficacious therapeutic approaches. RESULTS: Here, we have identified the sequential emergence of anxiety phenotypes in mice subjected to dental pulp injury (DPI), a prototypical model of orofacial pain that correlates with human toothache. Compared with sham controls, mice subjected to DPI by mechanically exposing the pulp to the oral environment exhibited significant signs of anxiogenic effects, specifically, altered behaviors on the elevated plus maze (EPM), novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) tests at 1 but not 3 days after the surgery. Notably, at 7 and 14 days, the DPI mice again avoided the open arm, center area, and novelty environment in the EPM, open field, and NSF tests, respectively. In particular, DPI-induced social phobia and increased repetitive grooming did not occur until 14 days after surgery, suggesting that DPI-induced social anxiety requires a long time. Moreover, oral administration of an anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, or an analgesic agent, ProTx-II, which is a selective inhibitor of NaV1.7 sodium channels, both significantly alleviated DPI-induced avoidance in mice. Finally, to investigate the underlying central mechanisms, we pharmacologically blocked a popular form of synaptic plasticity with a GluA2-derived peptide, long-term depression, as that treatment significantly prevented the development of anxiety phenotype upon DPI. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these results suggest a temporally progressive causal relationship between orofacial pain and anxiety, calling for more in-depth mechanistic studies on concomitant pain and anxiety disorders.

[Onyx embolization for treatment of dural arteriovenous fistula: comparison of long- distance versus routine injection method].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy, clinical characteristics, safety, injection time and radiation exposure of Onyx embolization using a long-distance injection method and routine injection method for management of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). METHODS: The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed in 59 patients with DAVF treated with Onyx embolization using long-distance injection method (28 patients) and routine injection method (31 patients). The efficacy, safety, injection time and radiation exposure during Onyx embolization were compared between the two injections methods. RESULTS: The average radiation dose exposure to the surgeon per procedure was significantly lower in the long-distance injection group than in the routine group. The injection time (P=0.53), injection volume (P=0.78), number of supply arteries (P=0.80), Cognard types (P=0.67), and effect of embolization (P=0.88) were all similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Endovaseular treatment of intracranial DAVF with Onyx embolization using the long-distance injection method is feasible, safe and effective and can reduce the radiation exposure to the surgeon.

Improved oral bioavailability of breviscapine via a Pluronic P85-modified liposomal delivery system.

OBJECTIVES: Breviscapine, a hydrophobic drug used for treating cardiovascular disease, was encapsulated in liposomes to improve its pharmaceutical characteristics. This study describes a novel liposome composition approach to specifically inhibit the P-glycoprotein efflux system. METHODS: Breviscapine-loaded Pluronic P85-coated liposomes were prepared by the thin film hydration technique. The particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of the formulations were characterized. In-vitro drug release and permeability of Caco-2 cells were investigated. In-vitro characteristics and pharmacokinetics of the liposomes were evaluated in rat studies. KEY FINDINGS: The Pluronic P85-modified liposomes dispersed individually and had an approximate diameter of 118.8 ± 4.9 nm and a zeta potential of -35.4 ± 1.5 mV. Encapsulation efficiency was more than 90%. The use of the P85-coated liposomes resulted in significantly (P<0.05) increased absorption of breviscapine in Caco-2 cells and in 5.6-fold enhancement in its oral bioavailability in rats. CONCLUSION: The P85-modified liposomes for the oral delivery of breviscapine were prepared using l-α-phosphatidylcholine (soy-hydrogenated) and cholesterol with a narrow size distribution. This method seems to effectively enhance the bioavailability of breviscapine in rats.

[Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal by gas-water alternative membrane bioreactor].

A bench-scale comparative study between gas-water alternative membrane bioreactor (AMBR) and traditional submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) treating synthetic municipal wastewater was conducted with respect to the effects of carbon and nitrogen removal and membrane fouling. The results showed that both the AMBR and the SMBR had very good removal in COD and NH4+ -N of more than 96%. In SMBR, carbon and nitrogen removal was enabled by biomass in bulk liquid, while in AMBR, it was supposed to be functioned mainly by the biofilm attached to the surface of hollow fiber membrane since little sludge was found in the bulk liquid. However, TN removal was 76.94% in AMBR and 52.41% in SMBR, showing a more effective denitrification in AMBR compared to SMBR. Also, AMBR was found to be more effective in membrane fouling alleviation than SMBR through long time investigation of trans-membrane pressure.

[Membrane fouling alleviation characteristics of sludge/water pre-separation MBR].

A long-term operation was conducted to investigate the alleviation of membrane fouling by sludge/water pre-separation membrane bioreactor (S/W-MBR). The variation of trans-membrane pressure (TMP), concentration of sludge and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on S/W-MBR and submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) was also studied. The results showed that the sludge concentration in S/W-MBR was basically identical with that of SMBR's biotic area, while the sludge concentration was significantly decreased in S/W-MBR's membrane area than that of SMBR's. The concentration of EPS was increased with operation time in both two MBRs' biotic area, but it was lower and basically maintained at the level of 15 mg/g in S/W-MBR's membrane area. The S/W-MBR was more capable of alleviating membrane fouling, and it had been cleaned only 2 times while the SMBR who had been cleaned 5 times during the period of about 90 days laboratory performance.