Positive effects of brisk walking and Tai Chi on cognitive function in older adults: An fNIRS study.

Exercise has shown to have beneficial effects on cognition in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cortical hemodynamic responses during the word-color Stroop test (WCST) prior and after acute walking and Tai Chi exercise by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty participants (9 males, mean age 62.8 ± 5.2), first underwent a baseline WCST test, after which they took three WCST tests in a randomized order, (a) after sitting rest (control), (b) after 6 minutes performing Tai Chi Quan, and (c) after a bout of 6 minutes brisk walking. During these four WCST tests cortical hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal area were monitored with fNIRS. Both brisk walking and Tai Chi enhanced hemodynamic activity during the Stroop incongruent tasks, leading to improved cognitive performance (quicker reaction time). Brisk walking induced a greater hemodynamic activity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) area, whereas Tai Chi induced a greater bilateral hemodynamic activity in the DLPFC and VLPFC areas. The present study provided empirical evidence of enhanced hemodynamic response in task- specific regions of the brain that can be achieved by a mere six minutes of brisk walking or Tai Chi in older adults.

Prefrontal cortical hemodynamics and functional network organization during Tai Chi standing meditation: an fNIRS study.

Introduction: Tai Chi standing meditation (Zhan Zhuang, also called pile standing) is characterized by meditation, deep breathing, and mental focus based on theories of traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of the present study was to explore prefrontal cortical hemodynamics and the functional network organization associated with Tai Chi standing meditation by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods: Twenty-four channel fNIRS signals were recorded from 24 male Tai Chi Quan practitioners (54.71 ± 8.04 years) while standing at rest and standing during Tai Chi meditation. The general linear model and the SPM method were used to analyze the fNIRS signals. Pearson correlation was calculated to determine the functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortical sub-regions. The small world properties of the FC networks were then further analyzed based on graph theory. Results: During Tai Chi standing meditation, significantly higher concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin were observed in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), frontal eye field (FEF), and pre-motor cortex (PMC) compared with the values measured during standing rest (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, significant decreases in deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration were observed in left VLPFC, right PMC and DLPFC during Tai Chi standing meditation than during standing rest (p < 0.05). Functional connectivity between the left and right PFC was also significantly stronger during the Tai Chi standing meditation (p < 0.05). The functional brain networks exhibited small-world architecture, and more network hubs located in DLPFC and VLPFC were identified during Tai Chi standing meditation than during standing rest. Discussion: These findings suggest that Tai Chi standing meditation introduces significant changes in the cortical blood flow and the brain functional network organization.

Exchange-biased hybrid γ-Fe2O3/NiO core-shell nanostructures: three-step synthesis, microstructure, and magnetic properties.

A two-step solvothermal method combining a calcination process was conducted to synthesize γ-Fe2O3/NiO core-shell nanostructures with controlled microstructure. The formation mechanism of this binary system has been discussed, and the influence of microstructures on magnetic properties has been analyzed in detail. Microstructural characterizations reveal that the NiO shells consisted of many irregular nanosheets with disordered orientations and monocrystalline structures, packed on the surface of the γ-Fe2O3 microspheres. Both the grain size and NiO content of nanostructures increase with the increasing calcination temperature from 300 °C to 400 °C, accompanied by an enhancement of the compactness of NiO shells. Magnetic studies indicate that their magnetic properties are determined by four factors: the size effect, NiO phase content, interface microstructure, i.e. contact mode, area, roughness and compactness, and FM-AFM (where FM and AFM denote the ferromagnetic γ-Fe2O3 and the antiferromagnetic NiO components, respectively) coupling effect. At 5 K, the γ-Fe2O3/NiO core-shell nanostructures display certain exchange bias (HE = 60 Oe) and enhanced coercivity (HC = 213 Oe).

Mastl overexpression is associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition and predicts a poor clinical outcome in gastric cancer.

Microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase like (Mastl) is deregulated in a number of types of human malignancy and may be a kinase target for cancer treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine the Mastl expression in gastric cancer and to clarify its clinical and prognostic significance. Immunohistochemistry was performed on a cohort of 126 postoperative gastric cancer samples to detect the expression of Mastl and two epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, epithelial-cadherin and Vimentin. The χ2 test, Kaplan-Meier estimator analysis and Cox's regression model were used to analyze the data. Upregulated Mastl protein expression was observed in the gastric cancer tissues compared with that in the adjacent non-cancerous gastric tissues. Increased Mastl expression was identified in 54/126 (42.9%) gastric cancer samples, and was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor relapse, EMT status and poor overall survival. Additional analysis demonstrated that the Mastl expression level stratified the patient outcome in stage III, but not stage II tumor subgroups. Cox's regression analysis revealed that increased Mastl expression was an independent prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer. Mastl expression may be a valuable prognostic marker and a potential target for patients with gastric cancer.

[Xuefu zhuyu decoction containing serum in vitro induced expressions of desmin and alpha-actin: an experimental research].

OBJECTIVE: To observe whether Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XZD) could induce the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into cardiac myoid cells, thus seeking for safe and effective inducers. METHODS: The serum pharmacological method was used to induce. XZD containing serum was prepared. MSCs were isolated and cultured. The serum cytotoxicity was detected by MTT. The third generation of favorably grown cells was selected in this experiment. Cells were divided into three groups, i.e., the vehicle control group, the XZD containing serum induced group, and the 5-azacytidine induced group. Expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin were detected by immunocytochemical staining method. RESULTS: Before induction protein expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin were negative, and few was weakly positive. There was no statistical difference in the weak positive expression rate among the 3 groups (P > 0.05). After induction protein expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin were negative, and few was weakly positive in the vehicle control group. Protein expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin were positive in the XZC containing serum induced group and the 5-azacytidine induced group. There was statistical difference in the positive expression rate when compared with the vehicle control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: XZD played a role in in vitro inducing differentiation MSCs to cardiac myoid cells. It might participate in expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin.

Selenoprotein S expression in the rat brain following focal cerebral ischemia.

Recent studies on cerebral ischemic stroke have demonstrated the importance of the inflammatory response. Ongoing inflammatory insults have been implicated as a secondary mechanism underlying neuronal injury induced by ischemia, and anti-inflammatory strategies have gained considerable interest. Selenoprotein S (SelS), which is an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein, is known to promote cell survival by regulating inflammation. Moreover, SelS has been shown to be responsive to ischemia in cultured astrocytes. A Finnish report revealed that a variation in the SelS gene locus is associated with a higher predisposition to ischemic stroke in humans, suggesting a crucial role for SelS in protection against brain ischemia. However, the time-course of SelS expression following cerebral ischemia in vivo remains unknown. In the present study, we show, for the first time, differential SelS expression from 3 h to 7 days after reperfusion in rats with transient focal cerebral ischemia induced by a 1-h middle cerebral artery occlusion. We found that the SelS protein level decreased in the ischemic core 3-7 days after reperfusion. Furthermore, SelS expression was upregulated in the ischemic penumbra adjacent to the ischemic core 3-7 days after reperfusion and is matched by reactive astrogliosis. Thus, we propose that the upregulation of Sels represents a reaction of astrocytes against inflammatory stimuli, and the findings of this study open a new chapter in the research of the interrelationships between SelS and cerebral ischemic stroke.

Activity of heme oxygenase-1 affects expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 gene in vitro.

BACKGROUND: One effect of solid tumors is severe hypoxia of local tissues. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is highly expressed in a variety of human tumor tissues; its induction and activity are closely related to growth of solid tumors. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that regulates hypoxia signal transduction and plays a central role in tumor hypoxia regulation. However, whether and how changes in HO-1 activity affect HIF-1 gene expression has not been reported previously. METHODS: Hypoxia-inducible models were established using gastric cancer cell lines (SGC-7901) in a hypoxia incubator. Cells were placed in four groups: Group A, transfected by plasmid harboring HO-1 shRNA; Group B, transfected with scrambled shRNA vector; Group C, treated with hemin; and Group D, exposed to hypoxia only. Expressions of HO-1 and HIF-1 mRNAs were quantified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Expressions of HO-1 and HIF-1 proteins were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: mRNA and protein levels of HO-1 and HIF-1 in the control group were significantly higher than in Group A (P < 0.01), but lower than in Group C (P < 0.01). Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that HIF-1 was identified as the direct HO-1 target gene. CONCLUSION: While affected by HIF-1, HO-1 up-regulation promotes the expression of HIF-1 and the down-regulation of HO-1 suppresses the expression of HIF-1 gene.

[Analysis of light scatter changes and relevant factors after laser refractive surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes and relevant factors of forward scatter after Epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis (Epi-LASIK)and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: It was a prospective clinical comparative study. 45 patients (45 eyes) were scheduled for Epi-LASIK and 42 patients (42 eyes) for LASIK. Straylight examinations were performed using the C-Quant straylight meter before and 1, 4, 10 months after surgery. The data was analyzed for statistical significance by one-way ANOVA and the correlation was tested by Pearson's test by using SPSS 13.0 software. RESULTS: The straylight values were (0.91 ± 0.17), (1.03 ± 0.15), (1.11 ± 0.13), (1.01 ± 0.16) of Epi-LASIK group and (0.96 ± 0.14), (1.05 ± 0.12), (1.10 ± 0.12), (0.98 ± 0.15) of LASIK group preoperatively and 1, 4, 10 months postoperatively respectively, which there were significant increase postoperatively in both groups (F = 12.29, 8.11; P < 0.05). Compared with preoperative values, the changes in straylight values at 1, 4 and 10 months postoperatively were (0.12 ± 0.18), (0.19 ± 0.20), (0.08 ± 0.16) of Epi-LASIK group and (0.09 ± 0.13), (0.15 ± 0.17), (-0.01 ± 0.17) of LASIK group. In Epi-LASIK group, the preoperative refractive error, RBT/CCT, and ablation ratio have significant relevance with straylight values at 4 months postoperatively (r = -0.344, -0.361, 0.361; P < 0.05), no such correlation was found in LASIK group (r = 0.186, 0.162, -0.206; P > 0.05). For corneal haze which was found from 1 to 4 months after Epi-LASIK, grade 2, 1, 0.5 appeared in 1, 2, 4 eyes respectively and the changes of straylight values were 0.52, (0.37, 0.42), (0.06, 0.09, 0.07, 0.17) at 4 months postoperatively. 10 months postoperatively, the increases of straylight values for the eye with grade 2 haze declined from 0.52 to 0.11 after the haze disappeared. CONCLUSION: Straylight values increase significantly at early time after Epi-LASIK and LASIK, but decrease partially as time going. Corneal wound healing response may be the reasons induced the increases of light scatter after Epi-LASIK. For LASIK, flap interface factors may be the reasons. Corneal haze especially above mild grade, can affect the straylight obviously.

Increased expression of annexin A7 in temporal lobe tissue of patients with refractory epilepsy.

Annexin A7 is a member of the family of annexins, which are thought to function in the regulation of calcium homeostasis and the fusion of vesicles. Refractory epilepsy may be related to the imbalance of calcium homeostasis. Our aims are to investigate the expression of Annexin A7 in epileptic brains in comparison with human controls and to explore Annexin A7's possible role in refractory epilepsy. We examined the expression of Annexin A7 via immunohistochemistry, double-label immunofluorescence and western blot. The expression of Annexin A7 was shown to be significantly increased in patients with refractory epilepsy. Double-label immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy disclosed Annexin A7 immunoreactivity in the neurons, which were recognized by the antibody of neuron specific enolase (NSE). The result showed that Annexin A7 may be involved in the pathophysiology of refractory epilepsy and may play a role in developing and maintaining the epilepsy.

Expression and localization of annexin A7 in the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of acquired epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Annexin A7 (synexin, ANXA7) is a member of annexins, which plays an essential role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis. Considerable evidence shows that the pathogenetic mechanism of acquired epilepsy (AE) has been related to the imbalance of calcium homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate ANXA7 expression and cellular localization in the cortex and hippocampus in the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of AE. METHODS: Totally 81 adult healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 9) and experimental group (n = 72), the experimental group contained eight subgroups according to sacrifice time (n = 9) (6-hour, 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, 7-day, 15-day, 1-month, and 2-month). In the experimental group, rats were intraperitoneally injected by lithium-pilocarpine to induce AE model. We examined the expression and localization of ANXA7 via immunohistochemistry, double-label immunofluorescence with the use of neuron specific enolase (NSE) antibody, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody and propidium iodide (PI), respectively. The data of optical density value were analyzed by analysis of variance. RESULTS: ANXA7 expression increased significantly in the experimental groups especially in the acute period (6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after the onset of seizure) using immunohistochemistry. Double-label immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy disclosed that ANXA7 localized in the neurons but not in astrocytes and did not localize in the nucleus, which were performed with anti-NSE, anti-GFAP and PI respectively. CONCLUSION: ANXA7 may play a potential role in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of AE.

[Studies on in vitro capacitation of goat spermatozoa by heparin treatment].

Systematical studies are lacking on the influencing factors and mechanisms of the heparin enhanced sperm capacitation, although many studies have shown that heparin enhanced sperm capacitation. The effect of heparin concentration and exposure time, incubation temperature and co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells or cumulus cells on goat sperm capacitation were investigated in this study. The motility, membrane and acrosome integrity and capacitated percentage of goat spermatozoa were assessed after different heparin treatments, and rates of fertilization and embryo cleavage were compared after in vitro insemination of oocytes with spermatozoa capacitated by different heparin treatments. The major results are summarized as follows: 1) When spermatozoa were capacitated with heparin at 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 microg/mL for 45 min, 50 and 100 microg/mL heparin treatments produced the highest capacitated percentages of 55% and 56%, respectively, but the percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in the 100 microg/mL heparin treatment decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in comparison with that in the control group, indicating that the optimal heparin concentration for goat sperm capacitation would be 50 microg/mL. 2) Capacitated percentage of spermatozoa increased with extension of treatment time when goat sperm were treated with 50 microg/mL heparin for 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 or 120 min. Although heparin treatments for 45 to 120 min did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in capacitated sperm percentages, sperm motility and membrane integrity decreased significantly when treated with heparin for 120 min. This suggested that the optimal exposure time of heparin at 50 microg/mL for goat sperm capacitation would be 45 to 60 min. 3) Significantly higher capacitated percentages of spermatozoa were obtained when goat sperm were treated at 42 and 38.5 degrees C than at 15 and 37 degrees C, but sperm motility and acrosome integrity were significantly lower when spermatozoa were treated at 42 degrees C than they were treated at other temperatures. Temperature of 38.5 degrees C would, therefore, be the optimal temperature for goat sperm capacitation. 4) The capacitated percentage of spermatozoa was significantly higher when goat sperm were co-cultured with oviductal epithelial cells than when treated with heparin alone or co-cultured with cumulus cells, but sperm motility and membrane and acrosome integrity did not differ significantly among the three treatments. Rates of fertilization (91.3%) and cleavage (72.2%) were significantly higher in the oviductal epithelial cell co-culture group than those in the heparin alone group. This indicated that co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells significantly enhanced goat sperm capacitation by heparin treatment.

[Effects of sperm and oocyte quality control on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in goats].

ABSTRACT Effects of sperm and oocyte quality control on the efficiency of ICSI of in vitro matured goat oocytes were studied in this paper. The results showed that when injected intracytoplasmically, spermatozoa from caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis resulted in similar rates of fertilization, cleavage and morulae/blastocysts, but when injected subzonally, spermatozoa from caput and corpus gave rise to significantly lower rates of fertilization and embryo development than spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis and ejaculates. When dead spermatozoa collected from semen that had been preserved in different ways were used for ICSI, those dead from liquid storage at 20 degrees C for 24 h gave rise to the best, but those dead from liquid storage at 5 degrees C for 15 days produced the poorest fertilization and embryo development. When spermatozoa were treated with different concentrations of Triton X-100 before ICSI, significantly higher rates of fertilization, cleavage and morulae/blastocysts were obtained with 0.0005% Triton X-100 than with other concentrations and manual immobilization. Oocytes were classified as of good and poor qualities by treatment in hypertonic sucrose solution, and rates of fertilization and embryo development were significantly higher in the good than in the poor oocytes after ICSI. Post-injection activation of oocytes with either A23187 or ionomycin/6-DMAP significantly increased the rates of fertilization, cleavage and morulae/blastocysts after ICSI. It is therefore concluded that (i) epididymal maturation mainly endowed spermatozoa with the capacity to fuse with the egg plasma membrane; (ii) different methods of semen storage caused different impairment of sperm fertilizing capacity; (iii) pre-injection treatment of spermatozoa with proper concentrations of Triton X-100 might be used to replace manual immobilization for ICSI; (iv) oocyte quality was a major factor influencing the efficiency of ICSI; (v) post-injection activation treatment of oocytes improved fertilization and embryo development after ICSI.