Recycling and reuse of waste agricultural plastics with hydrothermal pretreatment and low-temperature pyrolysis method.

Recycling and reuse of agricultural plastics is an urgent worldwide issue. In this work, it is shown that low-density polyethylene (PE) typically used in mulch films can be converted into high-capacity P and N adsorbents through a two-step method that uses hydrothermal pretreatment (180 °C, 24 h) followed by pyrolysis at 500 °C with Ca(OH)2 additive. CaPE@HC500 materials prepared with the proposed two-step method were found to have high adsorption capacities for phosphate (263.6 mg/g) and nitrogen (200.7 mg/g) over wide ranges of pH (3-11). Dynamic adsorption of phosphate by CaPE@HC500 material in a packed-bed had a half-time breakthrough of 210 min indicating the feasibility of continuous systems. Material stability, cost, environmental-friendliness, and recyclability of the CaPE@HC500 material were determined to be superior to literature-proposed Ca-containing adsorbents. The two-step method for converting waste agricultural plastic mulch films into adsorbents is robust and highly-applicable to industrial settings.

NAT1 inhibits liver metastasis of colorectal cancer by regulating EMT and glycolysis.

Metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths, and colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis is a major poor prognostic factor in CRC. NAT1 (N-acetyltransferase 1) plays a crucial role in the invasive and metastatic processes of colorectal cancer. The role and molecular mechanism of NAT1 on tumor cells were verified by establishing a cell model of overexpression and knockdown of NAT1, and further verified by establishing a liver metastasis model of colorectal cancer for animal experiments. In vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that overexpression of NAT1 reduces the ability of metastasis and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. NAT1 overexpression inhibits the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby suppressing the EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) process and glycolytic ability of tumor cells. Additionally, decreased glycolytic ability results in reduced VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) expression in colorectal cancer cells. The decreased VEGF expression leads to decreased angiogenesis and vascular permeability in liver metastases, ultimately reducing the occurrence of liver metastasis. Our findings highlight that overexpression of NAT1 significantly inhibits the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby suppressing EMT, glycolytic ability, and VEGF expression in colorectal cancer cells, collectively preventing the development of liver metastasis.

Differences in environmental microbial community responses under rice-crab co-culture and crab monoculture models under cyanobacterial bloom.

Cyanobacterial blooms (CBs) present significant challenges to Chinese mitten crab (CMC) culture, posing hazards to the aquatic microbial ecology. However, the current focus on the microbial ecological changes within the CMC culture system under the influence of CBs is somewhat insufficient. There's an urgent need to analyze the microbial ecosystem of the CMC culture system under CBs. This study employed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to investigate the dynamics of the environmental microbial community in both the rice-crab co-culture (RC) and crab monoculture (CM) models. The results revealed that cyanobacteria reached high levels in the CM water in July, while they began to increase in the RC water in August. Notably, OTU147 (uncultured bacterium g_Planktothrix NIVA-CYA 15), identified as the dominant taxon associated with CBs, showed a significant linear relationship with TP, NO2 --N, and the N:P ratio. TP, TN, NO2 --N, and CODMn had a more pronounced impact on the structure of bacterial communities and cyanobacterial taxa in the water. The bacterial community structure involved in carbon metabolism displayed temporal succession in the water. The co-occurrence network of the bacterial community primarily consisted of Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria, and Firnicutes in the sediment, and Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidota in the water. In contrast, the co-occurrence network included different peripheral species in the sediment and water. Keystone species were predominantly represented by OTU22 (uncultured actinobacterium g_ hgcI clade) and OTU12 (uncultured Opitutae bacterium g_ norank) in the RC water, and by OTU25 (uncultured bacterium g_ Limnohabitans) in the CM water. TP, TN, NO2 --N, and CODMn were identified as the primary environmental factors influencing these keystone taxa within the culture water. In conclusion, this study on the microbial ecology of the CMC culture system under the influence of CBs provides valuable insights that can be instrumental in subsequent management efforts.

Developing high resistant starch content rice noodles with superior quality: A method using modified rice flour and psyllium fiber.

The effects of high-resistant starch (RS) content rice flour, psyllium husk powder (PHP), and psyllium powder (PP) on the edible quality and starch digestibility of rice noodles were investigated in this study. High-RS rice noodles showed lower digestibility but poor edible quality. With the addition of PHP and PP, high-RS rice noodles' cooking and texture quality were improved significantly, especially the breakage rates, cooking losses, and chewiness (P < 0.05). Compared to traditional white rice noodle's estimated glycemic index (eGI) of 86.69, the eGI values for 5PHP-RN and 5PHP-2PP-RN were significantly decreased to 66.74 and 65.77, achieving a medium GI status (P < 0.05). This resulted from the high amylose and lipid content in the modified rice flour and psyllium, leading to increase of starch crystallinity. Besides, based on the analysis of Pearson's correlation, it can be found that PHP rich in insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) could improve high-RS noodle cooking and texture quality better, while PP rich in soluble dietary fiber (SDF) can further reduce the RDS content and its starch digestibility. Therefore, utilizing modified rice flour with an appropriate addition of PHP and PP can be considered an effective strategy for producing superior-quality lower glycemic index rice noodles.

Nociceptor-immune interactomes reveal insult-specific immune signatures of pain.

Inflammatory pain results from the heightened sensitivity and reduced threshold of nociceptor sensory neurons due to exposure to inflammatory mediators. However, the cellular and transcriptional diversity of immune cell and sensory neuron types makes it challenging to decipher the immune mechanisms underlying pain. Here we used single-cell transcriptomics to determine the immune gene signatures associated with pain development in three skin inflammatory pain models in mice: zymosan injection, skin incision and ultraviolet burn. We found that macrophage and neutrophil recruitment closely mirrored the kinetics of pain development and identified cell-type-specific transcriptional programs associated with pain and its resolution. Using a comprehensive list of potential interactions mediated by receptors, ligands, ion channels and metabolites to generate injury-specific neuroimmune interactomes, we also uncovered that thrombospondin-1 upregulated by immune cells upon injury inhibited nociceptor sensitization. This study lays the groundwork for identifying the neuroimmune axes that modulate pain in diverse disease contexts.

Modulation of glycolipid metabolism in T2DM rats by Rubus irritans Focke extract: Insights from metabolic profiling and ERK/IRS-1 signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) plays a crucial role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, influencing apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation. It connection to the insulin (INS) signaling cascade and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been established. Rubus irritans Focke, an indispensable herb in Chinese Tibetan medicine for diabetes mellitus treatment, lacks a comprehensive understanding of its effects and pharmacological mechanisms in T2DM. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of Rubus irritans Focke extract (Rife) on a T2DM rat model, exploring its impact on glycemic and lipid metabolism, histopathological changes, and its potential targeting of the extracellular regulated protein kinase/insulin receptor substrate-1 (ERK/IRS-1) signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A T2DM rat model was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection (40 mg/kg) in high-fat diet-fed (HFD) male Wistar rats. Rife and metformin (Met) were administered for 4 weeks, and glycemic, lipid metabolism indices, and histopathological changes were assessed. Protein expression of ERK, IRS-1 in rat liver tissues was examined to evaluate the impact on the ERK/IRS-1 pathway. RESULTS: Rife reducing hepatic ERK and IRS-1 protein expression in T2DM rats. Untargeted metabolomics identified 13 potential biomarkers and 4 differential metabolic pathways related to glycolipid metabolism disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Rife demonstrated improved glycolipid metabolism in T2DM rats by inhibiting the ERK/IRS-1 related signaling pathway and influencing multiple metabolic pathways. This study provides valuable insights into the potential therapeutic mechanisms of Rife in the context of T2DM.

[A new cucurbitane glycoside from Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora].

Chemical constituents from the ethanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora were isolated and purified by column chromatography. Their structures were identified by HR-MS, 1D and 2D-NMR, and their cytotoxicity was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Four compounds were isolated and identified as follows: 2ß-D-glucosyloxy-3ß,16α,20ß-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosterol-5,25-diene-22-one(1), 2ß-D-glucosyloxy-3ß,16α,20ß-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,24-diene-22-one(2), 25-acetoxy-2ß-glucosyloxy-3ß,16α,20ß-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5-ene-22-one(3) and 25-acetoxy-2ß-glucosyloxy-3ß,16α,20ß-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,23-(E)-diene-22-one(4). Compound 1 represents a new cucurbitane glycoside. The half inhibitory concentrations of the 4 compounds exceeded 100 µmol·L~(-1) against four tumor cell lines, indicating no significant cytotoxicity.

Effect of Chitosan and Hyperbranched Poly-L-Lysine Treatment on Quality of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) during Storage.

To enhance the storage time of cucumbers, this research investigated the impact of chitosan (CS) and hyperbranched poly-L-lysine (HBPL) on the quality and nutritional attributes of cucumbers when stored at a temperature of 25 °C. The results demonstrated that sensory evaluation scores for cucumbers treated with a CS-HBPL combination were significantly higher than the control (CK), CS, and HBPL groups. On the 18th day of storage, cucumbers in the CK group exhibited significant decay and softening; however, there was a decrease in hardness observed in the CS-HBPL group and no decay or noticeable sour taste was detected. Furthermore, compared to the CK group, treatment with CS-HBPL effectively delayed cucumber decay and weight loss rate while significantly inhibiting decreases in cucumber hardness and growth of surface microorganisms. Additionally, it substantially reduced losses of soluble protein content as well as vitamin C (Vc), reducing sugars, and total phenolic compounds within cucumbers, which were 4.7 mg/g, 4.7 mg/g, 0.94 mg/g, and 0.52 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, compared to the CK group, combined treatment with CS-HBPL significantly inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and reducing relative electrolyte permeability within cucumbers, which were 1.45 µmol·g-1FW and 29.82%. Furthermore, it notably enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), while exerting a significant inhibitory effect on polyphenol oxidase (PPO). In summary, the combined CS-HBPL treatment successfully prolonged cucumber shelf life at room temperature, enabling new possibilities for extending cucumber shelf life.

The role of C18 fatty acids in improving the digestion and retrogradation properties of highland barley starch.

In this study, five C18 fatty acids (FA) with different numbers of double bonds and configurations including stearic acid (SA), oleic acid (OA), elaidic acid (EA), linoleic acid (LA), and α-linolenic acid (ALA), were selected to prepare highland barely starch (HBS)-FA complexes to modulate digestibility and elaborate the underlying mechanism. The results showed that HBS-SA had the highest complex index (34.18 %), relative crystallinity (17.62 %) and single helix content (25.78 %). Furthermore, the HBS-C18 FA complexes were formed by EA (C18 FA with monounsaturated bonds) that had the highest R1047/1022 (1.0509) and lowest full width at half-maximum (FWHM, 20.85), suggesting good short-range ordered structure. Moreover, all C18 FAs could form two kinds of V-type complexes with HBS, which can be confirmed by the results of CLSM and DSC measurements, and all of them showed significantly lower digestibility. HBS-EA possessed the highest resistant starch content (20.17 %), while HBS-SA had the highest slowly digestible starch content (26.61 %). In addition, the inhibition of HBS retrogradation by fatty acid addition was further proven, where HBS-SA gel firmness (37.80 g) and aging enthalpy value were the lowest, indicating the most effective. Overall, compounding with fatty acids, especially SA, could be used as a novel way to make functional foods based on HBS.

Tailoring atomically local electric field of NiFe layered double hydroxides with Ag dopants to boost oxygen evolution kinetics.

The demand for clean energy sources has driven focus towards advanced electrochemical systems. However, the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) constrain the energy conversion efficiency of relevant devices. Herein, a one-step method is reported to grow oxygen vacancies (Vo) rich NiFeAg layered double hydroxides nanoclusters on carbon cloth (Vo-NiFeAg-LDH/CC) for serving as the self-supporting electrode to catalyze OER. The OER performance of Vo-NiFeAg-LDH/CC has been remarkably enhanced through Ag and Vo co-modification compared with pristine NiFe-LDH, achieving a low Tafel slope of 49.7 mV dec-1 in 1 m KOH solution. Additionally, the current density of Vo-NiFeAg-LDH/CC is 3.23 times higher than that of the state-of-art IrO2 at 2 V under an alkaline flow electrolyzer setup. Theoretical calculations and experimental results collectively demonstrate that Ag dopant and Vo strengthen the O* adsorption with active sites, further promoting the deprotonation step from OH* to O* and accelerating the catalytic reaction. In a word, this work clarifies the structural correlation and synergistic mechanism of Ag dopant and Vo, providing valuable insights for the rational design of catalyst for renewable energy applications.

Age-dependent coupling characteristics of bilateral frontal EEG during desflurane anesthesia.

Objectives.The purpose of this study is to investigate the age dependence of bilateral frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) coupling characteristics, and find potential age-independent depth of anesthesia monitoring indicators for the elderlies.Approach.We recorded bilateral forehead EEG data from 41 patients (ranged in 19-82 years old), and separated into three age groups: 18-40 years (n= 12); 40-65 years (n= 14), >65 years (n= 15). All these patients underwent desflurane maintained general anesthesia (GA). We analyzed the age-related EEG spectra, phase amplitude coupling (PAC), coherence and phase lag index (PLI) of EEG data in the states of awake, GA, and recovery.Main results.The frontal alpha power shows age dependence in the state of GA maintained by desflurane. Modulation index in slow oscillation-alpha and delta-alpha bands showed age dependence and state dependence in varying degrees, the PAC pattern also became less pronounced with increasing age. In the awake state, the coherence in delta, theta and alpha frequency bands were all significantly higher in the >65 years age group than in the 18-40 years age group (p< 0.05 for three frequency bands). The coherence in alpha-band was significantly enhanced in all age groups in GA (p< 0.01) and then decreased in recovery state. Notably, the PLI in the alpha band was able to significantly distinguish the three states of awake, GA and recovery (p< 0.01) and the results of PLI in delta and theta frequency bands had similar changes to those of coherence.Significance.We found the EEG coupling and synchronization between bilateral forehead are age-dependent. The PAC, coherence and PLI portray this age-dependence. The PLI and coherence based on bilateral frontal EEG functional connectivity measures and PAC based on frontal single-channel are closely associated with anesthesia-induced unconsciousness.

A benzimidazole-appended double-armed salamo type fluorescence and colorimetric bifunctional sensor for identification of MnO4- and its applications in actual water samples.

The symmetrically double-armed salamo type fluorescent sensor BMS, incorporating benzimidazole units, was designed and synthesized. Showcasing remarkable specificity and responsiveness to MnO4- within a DMSO:H2O (V/V = 9:1, pH = 7.2) Tris-HCl buffer medium, it enabled dual-channel detection of MnO4- through fluorescent and colorimetric changes. Critical experimental parameters, including detection and quantification thresholds (LOD and LOQ) along with binding affinity constants (Ka), were calculated using the Origin software. A rational interaction mechanism between BMS and MnO4- was deduced, based on fluorescence titration, Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS), Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Stern-Volmer plots, and Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations. Additionally, the sensor BMS was applied to monitor MnO4- in real water samples. Advancing its practical utility, BMS was fabricated into test strips for the selective detecting of MnO4-.

Causes and impact of delays during the COVID-19 pandemic on head and neck cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The causes for delays during the COVID19 pandemic and their impact on head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and staging are not well described. METHODS: Two cohorts were defined a priori for review and analysis-a Pre-Pandemic cohort (June 1 to December 31, 2019) and a Pandemic cohort (June 1 to December 31, 2020). Delays were categorized as COVID-19 related or not, and as clinician, patient, or policy related. RESULTS: A total of 638 HNC patients were identified including 327 in the Pre-Pandemic Cohort and 311 in the Pandemic Cohort. Patients in the Pandemic cohort had more N2-N3 category (41% vs. 33%, p = 0.03), T3-T4 category (63% vs. 50%, p = 0.002), and stage III-IV (71% vs. 58%, p < 0.001) disease. Several intervals in the diagnosis to treatment pathway were significantly longer in the pandemic cohort as compared to the Pre-Pandemic cohort. Among the pandemic cohort, 146 (47%) experienced a delay, with 112 related to the COVID-19 pandemic; 80 (71%) were clinician related, 15 (13%) were patient related, and 17 (15%) were policy related. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in the Pandemic cohort had higher stage disease at diagnosis and longer intervals along the diagnostic pathway, with COVID-19 related clinician factors being the most common cause of delay.

Flavonoid Compounds in Hippophae rhamnoides L. Protect Endothelial Cells from Oxidative Damage Through the PI3K/AKT-eNOS Pathway.

Sea buckthorn, a traditional medicinal plant, has been used for several years in China for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, a practice closely associated with its significant antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of sea buckthorn flavonoids on vascular endothelial cells in an oxidative stress environment. We isolated and extracted active compounds from sea buckthorn and investigated their impact on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity through the PI3K/AKT-eNOS signaling pathway through a combination of network pharmacology and cellular experiments, elucidating the regulatory effects of these compounds on endothelial cell functions. Three flavonoids, named Fr.4-2-1, Fr.4-2-2 and Fr.4-2-3, were obtained from sea buckthorn. The results of network pharmacology indicated that they might exert their effects by regulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. In vitro results showed that all three flavonoids were effective in alleviating the degree of oxidative stress in cells, among which Fr.4-2-1 exerted its antioxidant effects by modulating the PI3K/AKT-eNOS pathway. Flavonoids in sea buckthorn can effectively inhibit oxidative stress-induced cellular damage, preserving the integrity and functionality of endothelial cells, which is crucial for maintaining vascular health and function.

Prediction of image interpretation cognitive ability under different mental workloads: a task-state fMRI study.

Visual imaging experts play an important role in multiple fields, and studies have shown that the combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging and machine learning techniques can predict cognitive abilities, which provides a possible method for selecting individuals with excellent image interpretation skills. We recorded behavioral data and neural activity of 64 participants during image interpretation tasks under different workloads. Based on the comprehensive image interpretation ability, participants were divided into two groups. general linear model analysis showed that during image interpretation tasks, the high-ability group exhibited higher activation in middle frontal gyrus (MFG), fusiform gyrus, inferior occipital gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, inferior parietal gyrus, and insula compared to the low-ability group. The radial basis function Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm shows the most excellent performance in predicting participants' image interpretation abilities (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.54, R2 = 0.31, MSE = 0.039, RMSE = 0.002). Variable importance analysis indicated that the activation features of the fusiform gyrus and MFG played an important role in predicting this ability. Our study revealed the neural basis related to image interpretation ability when exposed to different mental workloads. Additionally, our results demonstrated the efficacy of machine learning algorithms in extracting neural activation features to predict such ability.

Prelimbic cortical pyramidal neurons to ventral tegmental area projections promotes arousal from sevoflurane anesthesia.

AIMS: General anesthesia has been used in surgical procedures for approximately 180 years, yet the precise mechanism of anesthetic drugs remains elusive. There is significant anatomical connectivity between the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the prelimbic cortex (PrL). Projections from VTA dopaminergic neurons (VTADA ) to the PrL play a role in the transition from sevoflurane anesthesia to arousal. It is still uncertain whether the prelimbic cortex pyramidal neuron (PrLPyr ) and its projections to VTA (PrLPyr -VTA) are involved in anesthesia-arousal regulation. METHODS: We employed chemogenetics and optogenetics to selectively manipulate neuronal activity in the PrLPyr -VTA pathway. Electroencephalography spectra and burst-suppression ratios (BSR) were used to assess the depth of anesthesia. Furthermore, the loss or recovery of the righting reflex was monitored to indicate the induction or emergence time of general anesthesia. To elucidate the receptor mechanisms in the PrLPyr -VTA projection's impact on anesthesia and arousal, we microinjected NMDA receptor antagonists (MK-801) or AMPA receptor antagonists (NBQX) into the VTA. RESULTS: Our findings show that chemogenetic or optogenetic activation of PrLPyr neurons prolonged anesthesia induction and promoted emergence. Additionally, chemogenetic activation of the PrLPyr -VTA neural pathway delayed anesthesia induction and promoted anesthesia emergence. Likewise, optogenetic activation of the PrLPyr -VTA projections extended the induction time and facilitated emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia. Moreover, antagonizing NMDA receptors in the VTA attenuates the delayed anesthesia induction and promotes emergence caused by activating the PrLPyr -VTA projections. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that PrLPyr neurons and their projections to the VTA are involved in facilitating emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia, with the PrLPyr -VTA pathway exerting its effects through the activation of NMDA receptors within the VTA.

Inhibition of UBA52 induces autophagy via EMC6 to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis and progression.

Ubiquitin A-52 residue ribosomal protein fusion product 1 (UBA52) has a role in the occurrence and development of tumours. However, the mechanism by which UBA52 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumorigenesis and progression remains poorly understood. By using the Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8), colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, we assessed the effects of UBA52 knockdown and overexpression on the proliferation and migration of HCC cells in vitro. By establishing subcutaneous and metastatic tumour models in nude mice, we evaluated the effects of UBA52 on HCC cell proliferation and migration in vivo. Through bioinformatic analysis of data from the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, we discovered that UBA52 is associated with autophagy. In addition, we discovered that HCC tissues with high UBA52 expression had a poor prognosis in patients. Moreover, knockdown of UBA52 reduced HCC cell growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, knockdown of UBA52 induced autophagy through EMC6 in HCC cells. These findings suggest that UBA52 promoted the proliferation and migration of HCC cells through autophagy regulation via EMC6 and imply that UBA52 may be a viable novel treatment target for HCC patients.

Effects of Four Highland Barley Proteins on the Pasting Properties and Short-Term Retrogradation of Highland Barley Starch.

This study evaluated the effects of four highland barley proteins (HBPs), namely, albumin, globulin, gliadin and glutenin, on the short-term retrogradation of highland barley starch (HBS). The findings reveal that HBPs could reduce the viscosity, storage modulus and hardness of HBS, with albumin and globulin showing more prominent effects. Furthermore, with the addition of HBPs, the loss tangent (tan δ) of HBS loss increased from 0.07 to 0.10, and the enthalpy of gelatinization decreased from 8.33 to 7.23. The degree of retrogradation (DR%) of HBS was 5.57%, and the DR% decreased by 26.65%, 38.78%, 11.67% and 20.29% with the addition of albumin, globulin, gliadin and glutenin, respectively. Moreover, the relative crystallinity (RC) and the double helix structures were inhibited with the HBPs' incorporation. Meanwhile, the HBPs also could inhibit water migration and improve the structure of HBS gels. In summary, HBPs could inhibit the retrogradation behavior of HBS, which provides new theoretical insights for the production studies of highland barley foods.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Ultrasound-Guided Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block Treatment for Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Clinical Study of 43 Cases.

Background: Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a rare chronic neuropathic pain disorder that significantly impacts quality of life. Ultrasound-guided glossopharyngeal nerve blocks (UGPNB) have gained popularity due to their various advantages. However, there have been no studies reporting the long-term outcomes of UGPNB in a larger cohort of GPN patients. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of UGPNB in patients with GPN. Methods: We reviewed the electronic medical records of patients with GPN who received UGPNB at the Department of Pain Medicine of the First Medical Center, PLA General Hospital between June 1, 2011, and June 1, 2022. The effect of UGPNB was evaluated using the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) scale. Improvement was defined as a reduction in pain category by comparing pain categories before and after therapy. Recovery was defined as achieving BNI I after treatment. Patients who responded to treatment but then regressed to the category before therapy were considered to have experienced pain relapse. Results: A total of 43 patients with GPN who received UGPNB were included in the analysis. At discharge, 35 (81.4%) patients experienced pain improvement after treatment, and among them, 13 (30.2%) patients achieved recovery. After discharge, 13 patients (37.1%) out of the 35 effective patients experienced pain relapse at different time intervals: 0.5, 0.7, 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 12, 15, 36, 45, 63, and 96 months. The cumulative recurrence-free survival rates were 88.85% at month 1, 82.83% at month 3, 77.04% at month 12, 70.31% at month 36, and 54.66% at month 120. Among the 13 patients who experienced relapse, four patients received a second UGPNB treatment, and pain improved in two patients (50%). No severe adverse reactions were documented. Conclusion: UGPNB is an effective, repeatable, safe, and minimally invasive treatment for patients with GPN. It may be preferable to consider UGPNB before undergoing invasive intracranial surgery or neurodestructive methods.

Sevoflurane exerts antidepressant-like effects via the BDNF-TrkB pathway.

Depression has emerged as the predominant psychiatric affliction affecting individuals. Prior research has substantiated the antidepressant properties exhibited by numerous anesthetics. Sevoflurane, a widely utilized inhalant anesthetic in clinical practice, remains relatively uncharted in terms of its specific antidepressant effects. In this study, we used open field test, forced swimming test and novelty-suppressed feeding test to investigate the anxiety and depression-like behaviors in C57BL/6 mice following the inhalation of sevoflurane. We then used western blotting to scrutinized the expression levels of proteins associated with the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tryosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) pathway in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. To further investigate whether sevoflurane exerts antidepressant-like effects via the BDNF-TrkB pathway, we downregulated TrkB expression by administering siRNA into the lateral ventricle. We found that the inhalation of 2.5 % sevoflurane exerted a significant antidepressant-like effect, accompanied by an elevation in p-TrkB expression levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Intriguingly, this antidepressant-like effect was abrogated following the downregulation of TrkB expression through the microinjection of siRNA into the lateral ventricle. In conclusion, this study provides evidence supporting the notion that sevoflurane exerts its antidepressant-like effect via the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway.