[Characterization of electrophysiological properties and changes in gene expression in basket cells during the postnatal development of mouse prefrontal cortex].

This study aims to explore the electrophysiological properties and changes in gene expression of basket cells, a unique population of GABAergic interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV), during the postnatal development of mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC). Toward this goal, we took use of the G42 transgenic mouse line which specifically expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in basket cells. The brain slices of PFC were prepared from the postnatal 7 (P7), 14 (P14) and 21 days (P42) G42 mice and whole-cell patch clamp recording was performed in basket cells. In addition, we sorted the basket cells by flow cytometry and analyzed their transcription profiling on P7, P14, and P21 using RNA-seq technology. The results showed that the resting membrane potential and membrane input resistance decreased gradually from P7 to P21. The amplitude and duration of action potential of basket cells increased and decreased from P7 to P21, respectively. In contrast, the threshold of action potential of basket cells did not have a significant change from P7 to P21. The frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) of basket cells increased gradually, while the amplitudes of sEPSCs of basket cells remained constant from P7 to P21. RNA sequencing from basket cells revealed that the expression of 22 and 660 genes was upregulated and downregulated from P7 to P14, respectively. By contrast, the expression of 107 and 69 genes was upregulated and downregulated from P14 to P21, respectively. The differentially expressed genes in basket cells from P7 to P21 were significantly enriched in pathways such as neuron apoptotic process, mRNA processing, Golgi vesicle transport and axon guidance. Altogether, we characterized electrophysiological properties and changes in gene expression of basket cells during the postnatal development in mouse PFC. These results provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the development of basket cells in mouse cortex.

Dopamine D2 receptor regulates cortical synaptic pruning in rodents.

Synaptic pruning during adolescence is important for appropriate neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity. Aberrant synaptic pruning may underlie a variety of brain disorders such as schizophrenia, autism and anxiety. Dopamine D2 receptor (Drd2) is associated with several neuropsychiatric diseases and is the target of some antipsychotic drugs. Here we generate self-reporting Drd2 heterozygous (SR-Drd2+/-) rats to simultaneously visualize Drd2-positive neurons and downregulate Drd2 expression. Time course studies on the developing anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) from control and SR-Drd2+/- rats reveal important roles of Drd2 in regulating synaptic pruning rather than synapse formation. Drd2 also regulates LTD, a form of synaptic plasticity which includes some similar cellular/biochemical processes as synaptic pruning. We further demonstrate that Drd2 regulates synaptic pruning via cell-autonomous mechanisms involving activation of mTOR signaling. Deficits of Drd2-mediated synaptic pruning in the ACC during adolescence lead to hyper-glutamatergic function and anxiety-like behaviors in adulthood. Taken together, our results demonstrate important roles of Drd2 in cortical synaptic pruning.

[Advances on research of physical environment affecting stem cell differentiation in ligament tissue engineering].

Ligament tissue engineering is currently a novel approach to the treatment of ligament injury, which can replace the deficiency of autografts. Ligament tissue engineering consists of four basic elements:seed cells, nanoscaffolds, growth factors, and mechanical stimulation. At present, the main problem in ligament tissue engineering is how to control seed cells to ligament cells more controllly. The study found that each physical property of the natural bio ligament and mechanical stimulation (uniaxial stretching) plays an important role in the differentiation of stem cells into ligament cells. Therefore, the design of nanofiber scaffolds must consider the elastic modulus of the material and the material. Structure(material arrangement, porosity and diameter, etc.), elastic modulus and material structure in different ranges will guide cells to differentiate into different lineages. Considering that the ligament is the main force-bearing tissue of the human body, mechanical stimulation is also essential for stem cell differentiation, especially uniaxial stretching, which best meets the stress of the ligament in the body. A large number of studies have found the frequency and amplitude of stretching. And time will also lead the cells to differentiate in different directions. RhoA/ROCK plays a regulatory role in cytoskeletal remodeling and cell differentiation. It is also found that RhoA/ROCK protein participates in the process of nanofiber arrangement and uniaxial stretching to guide stem cells to differentiate into ligament cells, specifically how to influence stem cell differentiation. It is not clear at present that understanding the effects of physical properties on stem cell differentiation and understanding the mechanism of action of RhoA/ROCK protein will provide a new theoretical basis for further optimization of ligament tissue engineering.

[Recognition and thoughts for diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine].

The etiology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic criteria of chronic prostatitis were reviewed in this article. Based on clinical practice, the authors systematically discussed the thoughts and methods for the treatment of chronic prostatitis by integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Meanwhile, advice on disputed problems in clinical study of prostatits were given, such as curative effect estimation value of the number of leukocytes in expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) and bacterial culture in EPS, the opportunity and treatment course of antibiotics, National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index, classification of syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), TCM symptom score, and clinical study period.

[A clinical study on psycho-behavior therapy for premature ejaculation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of psycho-behavior therapy for premature ejaculation (PE). METHODS: A total of 58 PE patients that met the study criteria were treated by psycho-behavior therapy, 2-3 times a week, for a 6-time course. After the treatment, the therapeutic effect was assessed by observation of the changes in the patients' CIPE-5 scores. RESULTS: The rates of cure, effectiveness, ineffectiveness and overall effectiveness were 46.55% (27/58), 32.76% (19/58), 20.69% (12/58) and 79.31%, respectively. The CIPE-5 scores of the patients were elevated from 7.97 +/- 2.30 before the treatment to 22.50 +/- 6.64 after it, and the differences were statistically significant. The psycho-behavior therapy obviously prolonged the ejaculation latency of the patients, increased the sexual satisfaction of both the patients and their spouses, lessened the patients' sexual anxiety and nervousness, and decreased the difficulty in retarding ejaculation, with statistically significant differences from pretreatment. CONCLUSION: Psychobehavior therapy has remarkable therapeutic effect on premature ejaculation.

[Effect of danpu capsule on inflammatory factors in rat model of autoimmune prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the acting mechanism of Danpu Capsule (DPC) in treating chronic prostatitis by observing its effect on inflammatory factors in autoimmune prostatitis rat model. METHODS: The rat model was established by abdominal subcutaneous multiple points injection of rat's prostate tissue antigen. Thirty modeled rats were randamly divided into 3 groups, the DPC group, the Qianlietai Tablet (QLT) group and the model group. They were treated via gastrogavage respectively with DPC, Qianlietai Tablet and normal saline respectively. Besides, a control group was set up with 10 healthy rats. All animals were sacrificed 56 days after treatment. Pathologic change of prostatic tissue was observed by light microscopy, and the levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in blood serum and prostatic tissue were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the serum and prostatic levels of IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha, as well as the prostatic level of PGE2 in the model group were higher (P <0.05 or P <0.01). In the DPC group, the serum and prostatic levels of IL-8 was 3.07 +/- 0.61 ng/L and 7.32 +/- 2.44 ng/L respectively, which was lower than those in the model group (4.73 +/- 1.95 ng/L and 10.14 +/- 3.64 ng/L, respectively); that of TNF-alpha in the DPC group (85.34 +/- 19.20 ng/L and 87.01 +/- 15.4 ng/L) was also lower in the model group (111.48 +/- 31.57 ng/L and 119.88 +/- 14.13 ng/L); similar difference between the two groups was also shown in prostatic level of IL-10 (34.05 +/- 7.56 ng/L vs 47.20 +/- 15.97 ng/L), and so was PGE2 (603.97 +/- 114.62 ng/L vs 712.58 +/- 117.10 ng/L), all with statistical significance (P <0.05 or P <0. 01). CONCLUSION: DPC could reduce the prostatic inflammatory response of model rats, and regulate the local immune condition.

[Progress and prospect of integrative Chinese and Western urinary surgery].

Integrative traditional Chinese and Western urinary surgery is a subject with good prospect and special superiority of combined TCM with Western medicine. In the past decade, great achievements have been obtained by virtue of endeavor from the integrative urinary surgical workers, they set up a good foundation for the development and academic improvement of the cause in our nation.

[The observation of chronic prostatis patients using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index].

OBJECTIVES: The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was used to determine the chronic prostatitis syndrome in young men (from 20 to 48 years old) of clinical validity. METHODS: 227 patients with chronic prostatitis syndrome (CPS)/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and 32 patients with BPH were randomized to study using NIH-CPSI. RESULTS: 1. The main manifestations of CPS patients were pain or uncomfort. Those were more common in CPS than BPH. 2. 79.30% CPS patients had a sensation of not emptying bladder completely after finished urinating, 44.93% patients had to urinate again less than two hours after finished urinating. 3. 51.51% patients with CPS have more effect on work, 90.31% patients on free life, and 68.72% patients on quality of life than BPH. CONCLUSIONS: According NIH-CPSI, the main manifestations of CPS are pain or uncomfort. CPS patients have more effect on work and quality of life.