Association of previous stillbirth with subsequent perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the relationship between stillbirth and various perinatal outcomes in subsequent pregnancy. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI databases were searched up to July 2023. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Cohort studies that reported the association between stillbirth and perinatal outcomes in subsequent pregnancies were included. METHODS: We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using R and Stata software. We used random-effects models to pool each outcome of interest. We performed a meta-regression analysis to explore the potential heterogeneity. The certainty (quality) of evidence assessment was performed using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Nineteen cohort studies were included, involving 4,855,153 participants. From these studies, we identified 28,322 individuals with previous stillbirths who met the eligibility criteria. After adjusting for confounders, evidence of low to moderate certainty indicated that compared with women with previous live births, women with previous stillbirths had higher risks of recurrent stillbirth (odds ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 2.01-3.56), preterm birth (odds ratio, 3.15; 95% confidence interval, 2.07-4.80), neonatal death (odds ratio, 4.24; 95% confidence interval, 2.65-6.79), small for gestational age/intrauterine growth restriction (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.8), low birthweight (odds ratio, 3.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-7.52), placental abruption (odds ratio, 3.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-8.98), instrumental delivery (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-3.11), labor induction (odds ratio, 4.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.88-8.88), cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 2.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-4.73), elective cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.82-3.23), and emergency cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.81-3.06) in subsequent pregnancies, but had a lower rate of spontaneous labor (odds ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.36). However, there was no association between previous stillbirth and preeclampsia (odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-4.70) in subsequent pregnancies. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review and meta-analysis provide a more comprehensive understanding of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with previous stillbirth. These findings could be used to inform counseling for couples who are considering pregnancy after a previous stillbirth.

Sexual needs of people with schizophrenia: a descriptive phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Sexual health is one of the main areas of health and basic human rights which has been paid less attention in schizophrenia. Most studies have focused on sexual dysfunction rather than the sexual needs of people with schizophrenia. This study explores the sexual needs of people with schizophrenia and identify factors hindering sexual activities. METHODS: We carried out a qualitative study using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data were collected at a psychiatric hospital in China. In total, 20 patients with schizophrenia were recruited through purposive sampling. Face to face semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with them. Interview recordings were transcribed by the research team, and transcripts were analyzed by two independent coders with Colaizzi's descriptive analysis framework by using NVivo 11 software. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist was used for reporting. RESULTS: The data analysis revealed 10 subthemes categorized into 3 macro themes: (1) multiple barriers hinder sexual activity; (2) significance of sex; and (3) conditions for fulfilling sexual needs. CONCLUSION: A poor sexual quality of life may be found in patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, people with schizophrenia did not lose interest in maintaining an active sex life. Mental health services should address this issue in three areas: sexual knowledge, sexual space, and sexual objects.

The effect of embryo selection using time-lapse monitoring on IVF/ICSI outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To explore the effect of embryo selection using the time-lapse monitoring (TLM) system compared with conventional morphological selection (CMS) on in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Ovid-Embase, and The Cochrane Library for the following studies: At Comparison 1, embryo selection using TLM images in a TLM incubator based on morphology versus embryo selection using CMS in a conventional incubator based on morphology; at Comparison 2, embryo selection using TLM based on morphokinetics versus embryo selection using CMS based on morphology. The primary outcomes were the live birth rate (LBR), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), and implantation rate (IR), and the secondary outcome was the miscarriage rate (MR). RESULTS: A total of 14 randomized control trials (RCTs) were included. Both based on morphology, TLM incubators increased the IR (risk ratio [RR]: 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.18; I2 = 0%, moderate-quality evidence) compared to conventional incubators. Low- to moderate-quality evidence suggests that TLM incubators did not improve LBR, OPR, CPR, and MR compared to conventional incubators. In addition, low- to moderate-quality evidence indicates that embryo selection using TLM based on morphokinetics did not improve LBR, OPR, CPR, IR, or MR compared to CMS based on morphology. CONCLUSIONS: Low- to moderate-quality evidence suggests that neither TLM incubators nor embryo selection using TLM based on morphokinetics improved clinical outcomes (LBR, OPR, CPR, and MR) compared with CMS based on morphology. TLM is still an investigational procedure for IVF/ICSI practice.

Retroperitoneal versus transperitoneal approach for elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: There has been extensive debate in the surgical literature regarding the optimum surgical access approach to the infrarenal abdominal aorta during an operation to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The published trials comparing retroperitoneal (RP) and transperitoneal (TP) aortic surgery show conflicting results. This is an update of the review first published in 2016. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of the retroperitoneal versus transperitoneal approach for elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair on mortality, complications, hospital stay and blood loss. SEARCH METHODS: The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL databases and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and the ClinicalTrials.gov trials registers to 30 November 2020. The review authors searched the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and handsearched reference lists of relevant articles to identify additional trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the RP approach versus the TP approach for elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. There were no restrictions on language or publication status. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data from the included trials. We resolved any disagreements through discussion with a third review author. Two review authors independently assessed the risk of bias in included trials with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. For dichotomous outcomes, we calculated the odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). For continuous data, we calculated a pooled estimate of treatment effect by calculating the mean difference (MD) and standard deviation (SD) with corresponding 95% CIs. We pooled data using a fixed-effect model, unless we identified heterogeneity, in which case we used a random-effects model. We used GRADE to assess the overall certainty of the evidence. We evaluated the outcomes of mortality, complications, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, hospital stay, blood loss, aortic cross-clamp time and operating time. MAIN RESULTS: We identified no new studies from the updated searches. After reassessment, we included one study which had previously been excluded. Five RCTs with a combined total of 152 participants are included. The overall certainty of the evidence ranged from low to very low because of the low methodological quality of the included trials (unclear random sequence generation method and allocation concealment, and no blinding of outcome assessors), small sample sizes, small number of events, high heterogeneity and inconsistency between the included trials, no power calculations and relatively short follow-up. There was no evidence of a difference between the RP approach and the TP approach regarding mortality (odds ratio (OR) 0.32, 95% CI 0.01 to 8.25; 3 studies, 110 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Similarly, there was no evidence of a difference in complications such as hematoma (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.13 to 6.48; 2 studies, 75 participants; very low-certainty evidence), abdominal wall hernia (OR 10.76, 95% CI 0.55 to 211.78; 1 study, 48 participants; very low-certainty evidence), or chronic wound pain (OR 2.20, 95% CI 0.36 to 13.34; 1 study, 48 participants; very low-certainty evidence) between the RP and TP approaches in participants undergoing elective open AAA repair. The RP approach may reduce ICU stay (mean difference (MD) -19.02 hours, 95% CI -30.83 to -7.21; 3 studies, 106 participants; low-certainty evidence); hospital stay (MD -3.30 days, 95% CI -4.85 to-1.75; 5 studies, 152 participants; low-certainty evidence); and blood loss (MD -504.87 mL, 95% CI -779.19 to -230.56; 4 studies, 129 participants; very low-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of a difference between the RP approach and the TP approach regarding aortic cross-clamp time (MD 0.69 min, 95% CI -7.23 to 8.60; 4 studies, 129 participants; very low-certainty evidence) or operating time (MD -15.94 min, 95% CI -34.76 to 2.88; 4 studies, 129 participants; very low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Very low-certainty evidence from five small RCTs showed no clear evidence of a difference between the RP approach and the TP approach for elective open AAA repair in terms of mortality, or for rates of complications including hematoma (very low-certainty evidence), abdominal wall hernia (very low-certainty evidence), or chronic wound pain (very low-certainty evidence). However, a shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay and shorter hospital stay was probably indicated following the RP approach compared to the TP approach (both low-certainty evidence). A possible reduction in blood loss was also shown after the RP approach (very low-certainty evidence). There is no clear difference between the RP approach and TP approach in aortic cross-clamp time or operating time. Further well-designed, large-scale RCTs assessing the RP approach versus TP approach for elective open AAA repair are required.

Surface hardness determination of 3D printed parts using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy was used to determine the relationship between the spectral line intensity and surface hardness of 3D printed 18Ni300 maraging steel. Research found that there is a linear relationship between the spectral intensity ratio of ion line to atomic line and the surface hardness of the samples. This linear relationship is closely related to the selected elements and spectral lines. The weak self-absorption spectrum of minor elements can obtain a better linear relationship. We study the effect of the number of laser pulses on the linear relationship. The results show that the ideal results can be obtained by using 100 pulses, which can minimize the damage to the sample.

Advances in intervention methods and brain protection mechanisms of in situ and remote ischemic postconditioning.

Ischemic postconditioning (PostC) conventionally refers to a series of brief blood vessel occlusions and reperfusions, which can induce an endogenous neuroprotective effect and reduce cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Depending on the site of adaptive ischemic intervention, PostC can be classified as in situ ischemic postconditioning (ISPostC) and remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC). Many studies have shown that ISPostC and RIPostC can reduce cerebral IS injury through protective mechanisms that increase cerebral blood flow after reperfusion, decrease antioxidant stress and anti-neuronal apoptosis, reduce brain edema, and regulate autophagy as well as Akt, MAPK, PKC, and KATP channel cell signaling pathways. However, few studies have compared the intervention methods, protective mechanisms, and cell signaling pathways of ISPostC and RIPostC interventions. Thus, in this article, we compare the history, common intervention methods, neuroprotective mechanisms, and cell signaling pathways of ISPostC and RIPostC.

Quality Evaluation and Characterization of Fractions with Biological Activity from Ephedra Herb Extract and Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract.

Previously, we reported that the c-Met inhibitory effect of Ephedra Herb extract (EHE) is derived from ingredients besides ephedrine alkaloids. Moreover, analgesic and anti-influenza activities of EHE and ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extract (EFE) have been reported recently. In this study, we examined the fractions containing c-Met kinase inhibitory activity from EHE and the fractions with analgesic and anti-influenza activities from EFE, and elucidated the structural characteristics of the active fractions. Significant c-Met kinase activity was observed in 30, 40, and 50% methanol (MeOH) eluate fractions obtained from water extract of EHE using Diaion HP-20 column chromatography. Similarly, 20 and 40% MeOH, and MeOH eluate fractions obtained from water extract of EFE were found to display analgesic and anti-influenza activities. Reversed phase-HPLC analysis of the active fractions commonly showed broad peaks characteristic of high-molecular mass condensed tannin. The active fractions were analyzed using 13C-NMR and decomposition reactions; the deduced structures of active components were high-molecular mass condensed tannins, which were mainly procyanidin B-type and partly procyanidin A-type, including pyrogallol- and catechol-type flavan 3-ols as extension and terminal units. HPLC and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analyses estimated that the ratio of pyrogallol- and catechol-type was approximately 9 : 2, and the weight-average molecular weight based on the polystyrene standard was >45000. Furthermore, GPC-based analysis was proposed as the quality evaluation method for high-molecular mass condensed tannin in EHE and EFE.

Potential Therapeutic Agents, Polymethoxylated Flavones Isolated from Kaempferia parviflora for Cataract Prevention through Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Lens Epithelial Cells.

Natural flavonoids have powerful antioxidant activity and have been reported to show promising protective effects against cataracts. The plant Kaempferia parviflora (K. parviflora) is indigenous to southeast Asia, including Thailand, and typically contains polymethoxylated flavones. The flavones in K. parviflora are reported to have various biological properties. Recently, polymethoxylated flavones of K. parviflora (KPMFs) were shown to have potent Sirtuin 1 enzyme-stimulating and anti-glycation activities that led to the suppression of cataract formation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are upregulated in several pathologic ocular diseases, including cataracts, and have been established as an attractive target for the prevention and/or treatment of specific cataract phenotypes, such as anterior subcapsular cataract (ASC) and posterior capsular opacification (PCO). In the present study, we investigated the effect of KPMFs on MMP (gelatinase) activity in the human lens epithelial cell line, SRA01/04. We demonstrated that KPMFs inhibited the phorbol ester-induced MMP-9 activity and the mRNA expression through the suppression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) phosphorylation in human lens epithelial cells; 5,7-dimethoxyflavone was found to exert the most potent inhibition, but 3,5,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone and 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone also resulted in considerable inhibition. Our results suggested that the consumption of PMFs isolated from K. parviflora, may be an effective strategy to delay the development of cataracts, such as ASC and PCO.

Analgesic Effects of Ephedra Herb Extract, Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract, Ephedrine, and Pseudoephedrine on Formalin-Induced Pain.

The analgesic effect of Ephedra Herb (EH) is believed to be derived from the anti-inflammatory action of pseudoephedrine (Pse). We recently reported that ephedrine alkaloids-free EH extract (EFE) attenuates formalin-induced pain to the same level as that achieved by EH extract (EHE), which suggests that the analgesic effect of EH may not be due to ephedrine alkaloids (EAs). To examine the contribution of EAs to the analgesic effect of EH, mice were injected with formalin to induce a biphasic pain reaction (first phase, 0-5 min; second phase, 10-45 min) at various time points after oral administration of the following test drugs: ephedrine (Eph), Pse, "authentic" EHE from Tsumura & Co. (EHE-Ts), EFE, and EHE that was used as the source of EFE (EHE-To). Biphasic pain was suppressed at 30 min after administration of Eph, EHE-Ts, and EHE-To. At 6 h after administration of EFE, EHE-To, and Pse-and at 4 to 6 h after administration of EHE-Ts-only second-phase pain was suppressed; however, the effect of Pse at 6 h was not significant. These results suggested that EHE has a biphasic analgesic effect against biphasic formalin-induced pain: in the first phase of analgesia (30 min after administration), biphasic pain is suppressed by Eph; in the second phase of analgesia (4-6 h after administration), second-phase pain is alleviated by constituents other than EAs, although Pse may partially contribute to the relief of second-phase pain.

Unavoidable Destroyed Exergy in Crude Oil Pipelines due to Wax Precipitation.

Based on the technological requirements related to waxy crude oil pipeline transportation, both unavoidable and avoidable destroyed exergy are defined. Considering the changing characteristics of flow pattern and flow regime over the course of the oil transportation process, a method of dividing station oil pipelines into transportation intervals is suggested according to characteristic temperatures, such as the wax precipitation point and abnormal point. The critical transition temperature and the specific heat capacity of waxy crude oil are calculated, and an unavoidable destroyed exergy formula is derived. Then, taking the Daqing oil pipeline as an example, unavoidable destroyed exergy in various transportation intervals are calculated during the actual processes. Furthermore, the influential rules under various design and operation parameters are further analyzed. The maximum and minimum unavoidable destroyed exergy are 381.128 kJ/s and 30.259 kJ/s. When the design parameters are simulated, and the maximum unavoidable destroyed exergy is 625 kJ/s at the diameter about 250 mm. With the increase of insulation layer thickness, the unavoidable destroyed exergy decreases continuously, and the minimum unavoidable destroyed exergy is 22 kJ/s at 30 mm. And the burial depth has little effect on the unavoidable destroyed exergy. When the operation parameters are simulated, the destroyed exergy increases, but it is less affected by the outlet pressure. The increase amplitude of unavoidable destroyed exergy will not exceed 2% after the throughput rises to 80 m3/h. When the outlet temperature increases until 65 °C, the loss increase range will not exceed 4%. Thus, this study provides a theoretical basis for the safe and economical transportation of waxy crude oil.

Region-specific expression of precursor and mature brain-derived neurotrophic factors after chronic alcohol exposure.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol abuse is a serious health problem worldwide that causes a variety of physical and mental disorders. Research has shown that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in alcohol addiction. The BDNF precursor (proBDNF) exhibits different actions than BDNF through separate receptors and pathways in the central nervous system. However, the effects of proBDNF and BDNF in alcohol addiction are not fully known. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to identify the expression patterns and effects of proBDNF and BDNF after chronic alcohol exposure. METHODS: A total of 40 male adult mice were studied. A mouse psychomotor sensitization (PS) model was established to explore the effects of BDNF and proBDNF treatment following chronic alcohol exposure. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to measure mRNA levels for BDNF, TrkB, P75NTR, and sortilin in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and dorsal striatum of Kunming mice after chronic alcohol exposure. RESULTS: In Kunming mice, chronic alcohol exposure up-regulated BDNF and TrkB mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex, but decreased sortilin and P75 mRNA levels in the dorsal striatum. No changes in mRNA levels were found in other measured brain regions in the alcohol and control groups. CONCLUSION: Chronic alcohol exposure induced the region-specific expression of BDNF and proBDNF and their respective receptors in the brain. These results suggest that BDNF and proBDNF signaling pathways may play major roles in alcohol preference and addiction.

BDNF promotes human neural stem cell growth via GSK-3ß-mediated crosstalk with the wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays important roles in neural stem cell (NSC) growth. In this study, we investigated whether BDNF exerts its neurotrophic effects through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in human embryonic spinal cord NSCs (hESC-NSCs) in vitro. We found an increase in hESC-NSC growth by BDNF overexpression. Furthermore, expression of Wnt1, Frizzled1 and Dsh was upregulated, whereas GSK-3ß expression was downregulated. In contrast, hESC-NSC growth was decreased by BDNF RNA interference. BDNF, Wnt1 and ß-catenin components were all downregulated, whereas GSK-3ß was upregulated. Next, we treated hESC-NSCs with 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (BIO), a small molecule inhibitor of GSK-3ß. BIO reduced the effects of BDNF upregulation/downregulation on the cell number, soma size and differentiation, and suppressed the effect of BDNF modulation on the Wnt signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that BDNF promotes hESC-NSC growth in vitro through crosstalk with the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and that this interaction may be mediated by GSK-3ß.

The effectiveness of a rehabilitation programme for Chinese cancer survivors: A pilot study.

Cancer survivors have experienced high stress which impairs psychological functioning and decreases quality of life (QOL). This study aims to assess the mediating effect of self-efficacy on mood disturbance and QOL, and determine the effectiveness of a 12 week rehabilitation programme to improve self-efficacy as well as improve mood disturbance and QOL in Chinese cancer survivors. A total of 47 cancer patients were randomly assigned into the experimental (n = 24) and control (n = 23) groups. The participants in the experimental group received cancer-related education, progressive muscle relaxation and emotional support. Self-reported questionnaires, including General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), Profile of Mood States Scale-Short Form (POMS-SF) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) were collected in pre- and post-intervention. Findings from this study indicated that self-efficacy was a complete mediator between mood disturbance and QOL, and the 12 week rehabilitation programme had a positive effect on self-efficacy, mood disturbance and QOL for Chinese cancer survivors.

The effect of Interaction Anxiousness Scale and Brief Social Phobia Scale for screening social anxiety disorder in college students: a study on discriminative validity.

BACKGROUND: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most prevalent mental health problems, but there is little research concerning the effective screening instruments in practice. METHODS: This study was designed to examine the discriminative validity of Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS) and Brief Social Phobia Scale (BSPS) for the screening of SAD through the compared and combined analysis. Firstly, 421 Chinese undergraduates were screened by the IAS and BSPS. Secondly, in the follow-up stage, 248 students were interviewed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used, and the related psychometric characters were checked. RESULTS: The results indicated that the ROC in these two scales demonstrated discrimination is in satisfactory level (range: 0.7-0.8). However, the highest agreement (92.17%) was identified when a cut-off point of 50 measured by the IAS and a cut-off point of 34 by the BSPS were combined, also with higher PPV, SENS, SPEC and OA than that reached when BSPS was used individually, as well as PPV, SPEC and OA in IAS. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the combination of these two scales is valid as the general screening instrument for SAD in maximizing the discriminative validity.

Dynamics of nonequilibrium carrier decay in AlGaN epitaxial layers with high aluminum content.

Carrier dynamics in high-Al-content AlGaN epilayers with different dislocation densities from 5 × 10(8) cm(-2) to 5 × 10(9) cm(-2) is studied by comparing the photoluminescence decay with the decay of carrier density. The carrier density decay was investigated using the light-induced transient grating technique. This comparison shows that the luminescence at the nonequilibrium carrier densities expected in operating light-emitting diodes depends on the recombination of free carriers and the localized exciton-like electron-hole pairs and localization-delocalization processes. In addition, a fraction of the nonequilibrium carriers is captured by the deep capture centers with extremely long lifetimes. These carriers have an insignificant contribution to the band-to-band radiative recombination. This capture is an important factor in decreasing the emission efficiency.

Expression pattern of NeuN and GFAP during human fetal spinal cord development.

PURPOSE: The development of the human embryonic spinal cord is very complicated, and many cell types are involved in the process. However, the morphological characteristics of neuronal and glial cells during the development of the human fetal spinal cord have not been described. We investigated the systemic distributions and expression pattern of the cell type-specific markers Neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) during the development of the human fetal spinal cord, in order to clarify the detailed developmental changes of neuronal and glial cells in chronological and spatial aspects. METHODS: A total of 35 fetuses, aged 3 weeks to 8 months of gestation (E3W-E8M), were studied. The markers used for immunohistochemical study were NeuN and GFAP. RESULTS: The intracellular makers NeuN and GFAP were widely detected expression in different structures and cells during the development of the human fetal spinal cord, including the following: central canal, neuroepithelial layer, internal limiting membrane, mantle layer, marginal layer, basal plate, alar plate, ependymal layer, gray matter, white matter, neuron, astrocytes, and nerve fibers. However, there was an absence of GFAP in astrocytes during early fetal spinal cord development until E9W, and the appearance of GFAP-positive reactivity was later than that of neurons. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that NeuN and GFAP can be used to identify neuronal and glial cells during the development of the human fetal spinal cord, and their distribution differs both chronologically and spatially. These characteristic expression patterns would give us a clue to better understand the developmental characteristics of the human spinal cord.

Influence of carrier localization on high-carrier-density effects in AlGaN quantum wells.

The influence of carrier localization on photoluminescence efficiency droop and stimulated emission is studied in AlGaN multiple quantum wells with different strength of carrier localization. We observe that carrier delocalization at low temperatures predominantly enhances the nonradiative recombination and causes the droop, while the main effect of the delocalization at elevated temperatures is enhancement of PL efficiency due to increasing contribution of bimolecular recombination of free carriers. When the carrier thermal energy exceeds the dispersion of the potential fluctuations causing the carrier localization, the droop is caused by stimulated carrier recombination.

Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil. improves lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-fed obese rats and suppresses intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via the AMPK-dependent and insulin signaling pathways.

Background: Obesity is closely associated with several chronic diseases, and adipose tissue plays a major role in modulating energy metabolism. Objective: This study aimed to determine whether Mate, derived from I. paraguariensis A.St.-Hil., ameliorates lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Design: 3T3-L1 adipocytes were cultured for 7 days, following which intracellular lipid accumulation and expression levels of lipid metabolism-related factors were examined. Dorsomorphin was used to investigate the potential pathways involved, particularly the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)- dependent pathway. Mate was administered to rat HFD-fed obese SD models for 8 consecutive weeks. The expression of lipid metabolism-related factors in the organs and tissues collected from dissected SD rats was evaluated. Results: Mate suppressed intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, increased the protein and gene expression levels of AMPK, hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), calmodulin kinase kinase (CaMKK), liver kinase B1 (LKB1), protein kinase A (PKA), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ß (C/EBPß), insulin receptor b (IRß), and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) (Tyr465), and decreased those of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1C (Srebp1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), peroxisome-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and IRS1 (Ser1101). Furthermore, an AMPK inhibitor abolished the effects exerted by Mate on intracellular lipid accumulation and HSL and FAS expression levels. Mate treatment suppressed body weight gain and improved serum cholesterol levels in HFD-fed obese SD rats. Treatment with Mate increased the protein and gene expression levels of AMPK, PKA, Erk1/Erk2 (p44/p42), and uncoupling protein 1 and reduced those of mammalian target of rapamycin, S6 kinase, Srebp1c, ap2, FAS, Il6, Adiponectin, Leptin, and Fabp4 in rat HFD-fed obese SD models. Discussion and conclusions: Mate suppressed intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and improved lipid metabolism in the epididymal adipose tissue of HFD-fed obese SD rats via the activation of AMPK-dependent and insulin signaling pathways.

Benfotiamine protects MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease mouse model via activating Nrf2 signaling pathway.

The pursuit of drugs and methods to safeguard dopaminergic neurons holds paramount importance in Parkinson's disease (PD) research. Benfotiamine (BFT) has demonstrated neuroprotective properties, yet its precise mechanisms in PD remain elusive. This study investigated BFT's potential protective effects against dopamine neuron damage in a PD animal model and the underlying mechanisms. The PD mouse model was induced by 5 consecutive MPTP injections, followed by BFT intervention for 28 days. Motor deficits were assessed via pole test, hang test, gait analysis, and open field test, while dopaminergic neuron damage was evaluated through Immunofluorescence, Nissl staining, and Western blot analysis of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) in the substantia nigra and striatum. High Performance Liquid Chromatography quantified dopamine (DA) levels and its metabolites. Genetic pathways were explored using RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis on substantia nigra tissues, confirmed by qPCR. Activation of the Nrf2 pathway was examined through nuclear translocation and expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes HO-1, GCLM, and NQO1 at mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, measurements of MDA content, GSH activity, and SOD activity were taken in the substantia nigra and striatum. BFT administration improved motor function and protected against dopaminergic neuron degeneration in MPTP mice, with partial recovery in TH expression and DA levels. RNA-seq analysis revealed distinct effects of BFT and the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 on Parkinson-related pathways and genes. Control of Nrf2 proved crucial for BFT, as it facilitated Nrf2 movement to the nucleus, upregulating antioxidant genes and enzymes while mitigating oxidative damage. This study elucidates BFT's neuroprotective effects in a PD mouse model via Nrf2-mediated antioxidant mechanisms and gene expression modulation, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic agent for PD.

Immortalization of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Lines from Sheep Umbilical Cord Tissue.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess significant differentiation potential, making them highly promising in medicine and immunotherapy due to their regenerative capabilities and exosome secretion. However, challenges such as limited cell divisions and complex testing hinder large-scale MSC production. In this study, we successfully established an immortalized MSC line by transfecting the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene into MSCs isolated from pregnant sheep umbilical cords. This approach effectively inhibits cell senescence and promotes cell proliferation, enabling the generation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) on a larger scale. Our findings demonstrate that these transfected TERT-UCMSCs exhibit enhanced proliferative capacity and a reduced aging rate compared to regular UCMSCs while maintaining their stemness without tumorigenicity concerns. Consequently, they hold great potential for medical applications requiring large quantities of functional MSCs.