Microsaccade-inspired event camera for robotics.

Neuromorphic vision sensors or event cameras have made the visual perception of extremely low reaction time possible, opening new avenues for high-dynamic robotics applications. These event cameras' output is dependent on both motion and texture. However, the event camera fails to capture object edges that are parallel to the camera motion. This is a problem intrinsic to the sensor and therefore challenging to solve algorithmically. Human vision deals with perceptual fading using the active mechanism of small involuntary eye movements, the most prominent ones called microsaccades. By moving the eyes constantly and slightly during fixation, microsaccades can substantially maintain texture stability and persistence. Inspired by microsaccades, we designed an event-based perception system capable of simultaneously maintaining low reaction time and stable texture. In this design, a rotating wedge prism was mounted in front of the aperture of an event camera to redirect light and trigger events. The geometrical optics of the rotating wedge prism allows for algorithmic compensation of the additional rotational motion, resulting in a stable texture appearance and high informational output independent of external motion. The hardware device and software solution are integrated into a system, which we call artificial microsaccade-enhanced event camera (AMI-EV). Benchmark comparisons validated the superior data quality of AMI-EV recordings in scenarios where both standard cameras and event cameras fail to deliver. Various real-world experiments demonstrated the potential of the system to facilitate robotics perception both for low-level and high-level vision tasks.

Diaphragmatic breathing combined with abdominal drawing-in maneuver for walking function in post-stroke patients: a randomized controlled study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Patients with stroke frequently experience walking dysfunction. Core training can help improve balance and walking function in patients with stroke. However, core training movements in clinical practice are numerous and differently targeted. Therefore, this study will investigate the improvement of walking function in patients with combined diaphragmatic breathing maneuver (DBM) and draw-in breathing technique (ADIM) training. METHODS: This single-blind, randomized controlled preliminary will analyze the viability of DBM combined ADIM training versus routine rehabilitation therapy in patients with stroke with early to mid-stroke. Patients will be randomly assigned to either the DBM and ADIM training or the routine rehabilitation training. We will recruit 42 stroke inpatients from the Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai who meet the trial criteria and measure the balance and walking functions and improvement of that after 4 weeks of intervention. The primary outcome is the 10 m maximum walking test (10MWT). The secondary outcomes indices include the limits of stability test (LOS), Berg balance scale test (BBS), Functional Ambulation Categories test (FAC), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), trunk impairment scale test (TIS), ultrasound indicators of the diaphragm and transversus abdominis (UI), rhythmic weight shift test (RWS), walk across test (WA), Fugl-Meyer assessment of lower extremity (FMA-LE), and Barthel index of ADL test. DISCUSSION: The primary objective of this project was to investigate the effects of DBM combined with ADIM on balance capacity and walking function for patients with early to mid-stroke. The outcomes of this study will hold significant implications for future clinical applications in rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), ID: ChiCTR2100054897. Registered on 28 December 2021.

Prevalence and influencing factors of frailty in older patients with diabetes in China: a system review and meta-analysis.

Background and aims: To systematically evaluate the relevant literature to explore the prevalence and influencing factors of frailty in older patients with diabetes in China. Methods: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Proquest Central, Web of Science, SinoMed, CNKI, VIP and Wan fang Databases were searched to collect Chinese and English literatures about frailty in older diabetic patients. RevMan 5.4 software was used to extract data for systematic review. Results: Seventeen studies involving 23,070 older patients with diabetes were included. The results showed that the prevalence of frailty in older Chinese diabetic patients was 30%. The main influencing factors were HbA1c level, number of complications, age, depression, exercise, and nutritional status. Conclusion: The prevalence of frailty in Chinese elderly diabetic patients is high and there are many influencing factors. However, the quality of relevant literature is general and the number is limited, so high-quality prospective studies should be carried out in the future to further verify the conclusions.

Assessing intentions for a third child among Chinese adults: A nationwide online survey regarding China's 3-child policy.

Aging populations, along with low fertility rates, have become a pervasive world-wide problem. To address this challenge, China issued a universal 3-child policy on May 31, 2021. However, little is known regarding the intentions of childbearing-aged Chinese for a third child. The purpose of this study was to assess the fertility intentions of the Chinese as related to this third-child policy and identify risk factors for third-child refusal. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 2129 Chinese childbearing-aged participants were recruited nationwide from June 15 to July 22, 2021. Each participant was interviewed using questionnaires to establish their sociodemographic variables, psychosocial factors as related to third-child intentions, and reasons for third-child refusal. Finally, 2115 responses (866 men and 1249 women) were analyzed. IBM SPSS Statistical Software (version 19) was used for the statistical analyses. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess independent influences for third-child refusal. Approximately 30% of these participants reported an intention for having a third child. In those expressing a refusal for a third child, women showed a higher prevalence rate (74.1 vs 63.2%, P < .001). Results from multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that age (P = .033), unemployment (P = .045), and currently raising 2 children (P = .017) were risk factors for third-child refusal among men, while age (P < .001), >15 years of education (P = .017), current smokers (P = .005) and residing in Northern China (P = .035) were risk factors for women. Overall, increased demands upon time and energy (41.5%), as well as economic burdens (41.4%), were the most prevalent reasons for the refusal of a third child, while achieving mutual care among siblings (52.5%) and reducing child educational costs (33.3%) were the most effective persuasions. In response to the 3-child policy, Chinese childbearing-aged adults showed low rates of intention for a third child, with women showing a higher prevalence of third-child refusal. The identification of risk factors and the reasons for third-child refusal as revealed from the results of this study provide a foundation for the development of programs needed to aid in the implementation of this 3-child policy.

Association between self-reported sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life among infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: High sedentary behavior and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were common among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the association of sedentary behavior with HRQoL among infertile women with PCOS is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association of sedentary behavior with HRQoL among them. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 283 participants recruited from infertility outpatient clinic. A self-administered, structured questionnaire including the modified PCOS health-related QoL questionnaire (MPCOSQ), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was used. Anthropometric and laboratory indictors related to PCOS were also collected. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify the associations. Bonferroni correction was utilized for multiple testing correction. RESULTS: Sedentary behavior was associated with reduced HRQoL among this group. Specifically, over seven hours per day of sedentary behavior was strongly associated with total and several aspects of HRQoL (ß ranged from - 0.378 to - 0.141, all P < 0.0063) after adjusting for physical activity, anxiety and depression. In addition, elevated BMI (ß = - 0.407, P < 0.001) and anxiety (ß ranged from - 0.410 to - 0.245, all P < 0.0063) were associated with poor HRQoL, while physical activity and depression were not. CONCLUSION: Sedentary behavior is an important behavior among infertile women with PCOS as it was associated with poorer HRQoL. Future interventions seeking to improve HRQoL should be considered to reduce sedentary behavior and psychological burden as primary intervention targets.

Taurohyodeoxycholic acid alleviates trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced ulcerative colitis via regulating Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells balance.

AIMS: Taurohyodeoxycholic acid (THDCA), a natural 6α-hydroxylated bile acid, exhibits intestinal anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of THDCA on ulcerative colitis and to reveal its mechanisms of action. MAIN METHODS: Colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) to mice. Mice in the treatment group were gavage THDCA (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/day) or sulfasalazine (500 mg/kg/day) or azathioprine (10 mg/kg/day). The pathologic markers of colitis were comprehensively assessed. The levels of Th1-/Th2-/Th17-/Treg-related inflammatory cytokines and transcription factors were detected by ELISA, RT-PCR, and Western blotting. The balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells was analyzed by Flow cytometry. KEY FINDINGS: THDCA significantly alleviated colitis by improving the body weight, colon length, spleen weight, histological characteristics, and MPO activity of colitis mice. THDCA reduced the secretion of Th1-/Th17-related cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-22, and TNF-α) and the expressions of transcription factors (T-bet, STAT4, RORγt, and STAT3), but increase the production of Th2-/Treg-related cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-ß1) and the expressions of transcription factors (GATA3, STAT6, Foxp3, and Smad3) in the colon. Meanwhile, THDCA inhibited the expressions of IFN-γ, IL-17A, T-bet, and RORγt, but improved the expression of IL-4, IL-10, GATA3, and Foxp3 in the spleen. Furthermore, THDCA restored the proportion of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells, and balanced the Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg immune response of colitis mice. SIGNIFICANCE: THDCA can alleviate TNBS-induced colitis via regulating Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg balance, which may represent a promising treatment for patients with colitis.

The Low-Carbon Policy and Urban Green Total Factor Energy Efficiency: Evidence from a Spatial Difference-in-Difference Method.

In the post-epidemic background of the low-carbon economy and sustainable development, the low-carbon city pilot program (LCCP) is viewed as a practical method of improving energy efficiency. This study explores the spatial spillover effects of LCCP on green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE) by developing a spatial difference-in-difference (SDID) model. Furthermore, we apply the mediating effects model to verify whether the rational allocation of resources is an influential channel for the spillover effect of LCCP policies. The results indicate that the LCCP policy has not only improved the local GTFEE by approximately 1.8%, but it also has a profound impact on the surrounding regions as well, which is about 76.5% that of the pilot cities. Additionally, the estimated results of the mediating effect model indicate that optimizing labor force and capital allocations are two essential channels through which the LCCP policy may contribute to improving regional cities' GTFEE. Accordingly, the pilot cities should establish specific measures for rational resource allocation and promote the spatial spillover model of sustainable development.

Kinetics of thermal degradation of raw lacquer enhanced by formaldehyde urea prepolymer.

In this study, formaldehyde-urea prepolymer (FUP) were synthesized, which were used to modify the raw lacquer (RL) and this composition named LF, while the basic properties of the RL were tested. Thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the degradative characteristics and the surface morphology of RL before and after modification. The result indicated that FUP can significantly improve the performance of RL. The drying time of the LF is significantly shortened, the gloss, the pencil hardness, and the impact performance are significantly enhanced at the same time. TG analysis and thermal decomposition kinetics analysis illustrated that the thermal stability and the activation energy of LF2 were stronger than that of RL. In addition, SEM analysis illustrated that the surface smoothness of RL were also improved.

GDH promotes isoprenaline-induced cardiac hypertrophy by activating mTOR signaling via elevation of α-ketoglutarate level.

Numerous studies reveal that metabolism dysfunction contributes to the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. While the abnormal lipid and glucose utilization in cardiomyocytes responding to hypertrophic stimuli have been extensively studied, the alteration and implication of glutaminolysis are rarely discussed. In the present work, we provide the first evidence that glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), an enzyme that catalyzes conversion of glutamate into ɑ-ketoglutarate (AKG), participates in isoprenaline (ISO)-induced cardiac hypertrophy through activating mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. The expression and activity of GDH were enhanced in cultured cardiomyocytes and rat hearts following ISO treatment. Overexpression of GDH, but not its enzymatically inactive mutant, provoked cardiac hypertrophy. In contrast, GDH knockdown could relieve ISO-triggered hypertrophic responses. The intracellular AKG level was elevated by ISO or GDH overexpression, which led to increased phosphorylation of mTOR and downstream effector ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K). Exogenous supplement of AKG also resulted in mTOR activation and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. However, incubation with rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, attenuated hypertrophic responses in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, GDH silencing protected rats from ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy. These findings give a further insight into the role of GDH in cardiac hypertrophy and suggest it as a potential target for hypertrophy-related cardiomyopathy.

Circular RNA circPBX3 promotes cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer cells via interacting with IGF2BP2 to stabilize ATP7A mRNA expression.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with a unique covalently closed loop structure. Recent studies indicate that dysregulation of circRNAs acts a role in cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance via interacting with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Herein, we identified circPBX3 to be involved in cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer. In our study, two cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines were established, and transcriptome RNA-sequencing was performed and circPBX3 was identified as significantly upregulated circRNA in these cells. The characteristics of circPBX3 and potential function of circPBX3 were evaluated. We found that circPBX3 was upregulated in ovarian tumor tissues and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. CircPBX3 overexpression increased the half maximal inhibitory rate (IC50) of cisplatin, promoted colony formation and tumor xenografts growth, and reduced cell apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells under cisplatin treatment, while silencing circPBX3 showed opposite effects. Furthermore, circPBX3 could interact with the RNA-binding protein IGF2BP2, thus increased the stability of ATP7A mRNA and elevated ATP7A protein level. In addition, silencing ATP7A in ovarian cancer cells abrogated the effect of circPBX3 overexpression on cisplatin tolerance. Our findings provided a novel role of circPBX3 in cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer.

Epigenetic Reader Bromodomain Containing Protein 2 Facilitates Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy via Regulating the Expression of Citrate Cycle Genes.

The bromodomain and extra-terminal domain proteins (BETs) family serve as epigenetic "readers", which recognize the acetylated histones and recruit transcriptional regulator complexes to chromatin, eventually regulating gene transcription. Accumulating evidences demonstrate that pan BET inhibitors (BETi) confer protection against pathological cardiac hypertrophy, a precursor progress for developing heart failure. However, the roles of BET family members, except BRD4, remain unknown in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. The present study identified BRD2 as a novel regulator in cardiac hypertrophy, with a distinct mechanism from BRD4. BRD2 expression was elevated in cardiac hypertrophy induced by ß-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline (ISO) in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of BRD2 upregulated the expression of hypertrophic biomarkers and increased cell surface area, whereas BRD2 knockdown restrained ISO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In vivo, rats received intramyocardial injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding siBRD2 significantly reversed ISO-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, and cardiac function dysregulation. The bioinformatic analysis of whole-genome sequence data demonstrated that a majority of metabolic genes, in particular those involved in TCA cycle, were under regulation by BRD2. Real-time PCR results confirmed that the expressions of TCA cycle genes were upregulated by BRD2, but were downregulated by BRD2 silencing in ISO-treated cardiomyocytes. Results of mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and ATP production measurement demonstrated that BRD2 augmented cardiac metabolism during cardiac hypertrophy. In conclusion, the present study revealed that BRD2 could facilitate cardiac hypertrophy through upregulating TCA cycle genes. Strategies targeting inhibition of BRD2 might suggest therapeutic potential for pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Swarm of micro flying robots in the wild.

Aerial robots are widely deployed, but highly cluttered environments such as dense forests remain inaccessible to drones and even more so to swarms of drones. In these scenarios, previously unknown surroundings and narrow corridors combined with requirements of swarm coordination can create challenges. To enable swarm navigation in the wild, we develop miniature but fully autonomous drones with a trajectory planner that can function in a timely and accurate manner based on limited information from onboard sensors. The planning problem satisfies various task requirements including flight efficiency, obstacle avoidance, and inter-robot collision avoidance, dynamical feasibility, swarm coordination, and so on, thus realizing an extensible planner. Furthermore, the proposed planner deforms trajectory shapes and adjusts time allocation synchronously based on spatial-temporal joint optimization. A high-quality trajectory thus can be obtained after exhaustively exploiting the solution space within only a few milliseconds, even in the most constrained environment. The planner is finally integrated into the developed palm-sized swarm platform with onboard perception, localization, and control. Benchmark comparisons validate the superior performance of the planner in trajectory quality and computing time. Various real-world field experiments demonstrate the extensibility of our system. Our approach evolves aerial robotics in three aspects: capability of cluttered environment navigation, extensibility to diverse task requirements, and coordination as a swarm without external facilities.

Exploring the potential therapeutic effect of Eucommia ulmoides-Dipsaci Radix herbal pair on osteoporosis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.

Eucommia ulmoides-Dipsaci Radix (EU-DR) is a commonly used herbal pair for the treatment of osteoporosis (OP) in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism of EU-DR on OP through network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches. Combining data from multiple open-source databases and literature mining, the active compounds and potential targets of EU-DR were screened out. The OP related targets were identified from the interactive web tool GEO2R. The shared targets were obtained by intersecting the targets of EU-DR and OP. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed via the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were conducted using R 3.6.3 software with adjusted p-value < 0.05. Sybyl-x 2.1.1 and Autodock Vina 1.1.2 software were used to cross validate the affinity between active compounds and target proteins. Our results showed that a total of 50 active compounds were screened, corresponding to 895 EU-DR targets, 2202 OP targets and 144 shared targets. The flavonoids in EU-DR played an important role in anti-OP. The enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG suggested EU-DR exerted a therapeutic effect on OP mainly by regulating the osteoclast differentiation related signaling pathway. Meanwhile, molecular docking results showed that most active compounds in EU-DR had strong binding efficiency to the target proteins. In conclusion, this study elaborated the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway interaction mechanism of the EU-DR herbal pair in the treatment of OP for the first time, which also provided a pharmacological basis for treating OP.

PKC-ζ Aggravates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Inhibiting Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat a wide range of cancers, but its clinical application is limited due to its cardiotoxicity. Protein kinase C-ζ (PKC-ζ) is a serine/threonine kinase belonging to atypical protein kinase C (PKC) subfamily, and is activated by its phosphorylation. We and others have reported that PKC-ζ induced cardiac hypertrophy by activating the inflammatory signaling pathway. This study focused on whether PKC-ζ played an important role in Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. We found that PKC-ζ phosphorylation was increased by Dox treatment in vivo and in vitro. PKC-ζ overexpression exacerbated Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. Conversely, knockdown of PKC-ζ by siRNA relieved Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. Similar results were observed when PKC-ζ enzyme activity was inhibited by its pseudosubstrate inhibitor, Myristoylated. PKC-ζ interacted with ß-catenin and inhibited Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling by LiCl protected against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. The Wnt/ß-catenin inhibitor XAV-939 aggravated Dox-caused decline of ß-catenin and cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial damage. Moreover, activation of Wnt/ß-catenin suppressed aggravation of Dox-induced cardiotoxicity due to PKC-ζ overexpression. Taken together, our study revealed that inhibition of PKC-ζ activity was a potential cardioprotective approach to preventing Dox-induced cardiac injury.

Effectiveness of robotic surgery for endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Our current study was performed aimed at determining the efficacy and safety profile of robotic surgery (RS) compared to laparoscopic surgery (LPS) and laparotomy (LT) in the treatment of endometrial cancer on the basis of relevant studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted based on appropriate keywords, using the Embase, Cochrane library, as well as PubMed. Our studiers also reviewed the key pertinent sources among the publications and included associated literatures published by June 2021. Odds ratios (ORs), mean difference (MD), as well as 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for each study were measured for further assessment and synthesis of outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty studies involving a total of 12,025 patients were eventually included in the current meta-analysis. Compared with LPS, RS could significantly decrease the estimated blood loss, the incidence of intraoperative complications, the length of hospital stay, and the rate of conversion, and increased the rate of readmission. Compared with LT, RS significantly decreased the estimated blood loss, blood transfusion volume, the length of hospital stay, the rate of total, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and the rate of readmission and re-operation, and increased the operative time. CONCLUSION: Considering the effects and safety profile of RS in terms of treating endometrial cancer, our study suggest that RS exerts superior outcomes than that of LPS and LT.

Sodium Selenite Enhances Antibiotics Sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Deceases Its Pathogenicity by Inducing Oxidative Stress and Inhibiting Quorum Sensing System.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen, is commonly found in clinical settings and immuno-compromised patients. It is difficult to be eradicated due to its strong antibiotic resistance, and novel inactivation strategies have yet to be developed. Selenium is an essential microelement for humans and has been widely used in dietary supplement and chemoprevention therapy. In this study, the physiological and biochemical effects of sodium selenite on P. aeruginosa PAO1 were investigated. The results showed that 0~5 mM sodium selenite did not impact the growth of PAO1, but increased the lethality rate of PAO1 with antibiotics or H2O2 treatment and the antibiotics susceptibility both in planktonic and biofilm states. In addition, sodium selenite significantly reduced the expression of quorum sensing genes and inhibited various virulence factors of this bacterium, including pyocyanin production, bacterial motilities, and the type III secretion system. Further investigation found that the content of ROS in cells was significantly increased and the expression levels of most genes involved in oxidative stress were up-regulated, which indicated that sodium selenite induced oxidative stress. The RNA-seq result confirmed the phenotypes of virulence attenuation and the expression of quorum sensing and antioxidant-related genes. The assays of Chinese cabbage and Drosophila melanogaster infection models showed that the combination of sodium selenite and antibiotics significantly alleviated the infection of PAO1. In summary, the results revealed that sodium selenite induced oxidative stress and inhibited the quorum sensing system of P. aeruginosa, which in turn enhanced the antibiotic susceptibility and decreased the pathogenicity of this bacterium. These findings suggest that sodium selenite may be used as an effective strategy for adjunct treatment of the infections caused by P. aeruginosa.

The Association Between Hypoxia Improvement and Electroconvulsive Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of depression was related with a state of mild hypoxia for a long time. Hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) modulates the process from acute to chronic hypoxia, consequently regulating changes in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Increasing levels of iNOS combined with major depressive disorder (MDD) have been associated with the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which increase the severity of depression. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate whether depressive symptoms might be improved by regulating HIF-2α levels to decrease the degree of oxidative stress and inflammation using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). METHODS: In this observational study, 49 MDD patients were divided into the ECT group (n=32) and control group (n=17). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms of patients at enrollment and after 2 weeks of treatment. The levels of HIF-2α, NOS, IL-6, and TNF-α in plasma were analyzed accordingly. RESULTS: The total score in each dimension of HAMD decreased more efficiently in the ECT group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The plasma levels of IL-6 in the ECT group were notably decreased after the 2-week treatment (t = 3.596, p = 0.001). The decreased trend to statistical significance of HIF-2α was observed after treatment in the ECT group (p = 0.091). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the therapeutic effects of long-term ECT therapy for MDD may further benefit from and contribute to the improvement of MDD-associated chronic hypoxia.

Isorhapontigenin protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity via increasing YAP1 expression.

As an effective anticancer drug, the clinical limitation of doxorubicin (Dox) is the time- and dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) interacts with transcription factor TEA domain 1 (TEAD1) and plays an important role in cell proliferation and survival. However, the role of YAP1 in Dox-induced cardiomyopathy has not been reported. In this study, the expression of YAP1 was reduced in clinical human failing hearts with dilated cardiomyopathy and Dox-induced in vivo and in vitro cardiotoxic model. Ectopic expression of Yap1 significantly blocked Dox-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis in TEAD1 dependent manner. Isorhapontigenin (Isor) is a new derivative of stilbene and responsible for a wide range of biological processes. Here, we found that Isor effectively relieved Dox-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Administration with Isor (30 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally, 3 weeks) significantly protected against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity in mice. Interestingly, Isor increased Dox-caused repression in YAP1 and the expression of its target genes in vivo and in vitro. Knockout or inhibition of Yap1 blocked the protective effects of Isor on Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. In conclusion, YAP1 may be a novel target for Dox-induced cardiotoxicity and Isor might be a new compound to fight against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity by increasing YAP1 expression.

Imaging and Monitoring the Hydrogen Peroxide Level in Heart Failure by a Fluorescent Probe with a Large Stokes Shift.

Heart failure is the terminal stage of many cardiovascular diseases and is considered to be closely related to oxidative stress. Early understanding of pathogenesis can greatly improve the treatment and reduce the mortality of heart disease. In this work, based on the analysis of coumarin derivates by theoretical calculations, we designed and synthesized a fluorescent probe BCO with a large Stokes shift (107 nm) and excellent selectivity toward H2O2 in a living system. The distribution of H2O2 in the heart and thoracic aorta tissues was imaged with the aid of the probe BCO, which demonstrated that the cellular H2O2 level is upregulated in heart failure. This work provides a useful tool, BCO, for the evaluation of cellular oxidative stress and to further understand the pathophysiology process of heart disease.

Neuroprotective effects of the aerial parts of Polygala tenuifolia Willd extract on scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairments in mice.

Alzheimer's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment. Aerial parts of Polygala tenuifolia Willd (APT) is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of amnesia. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of APT on scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairments in mice. Scopolamine-induced mice were used to determine the effects of APT on learning and memory impairment. Mice were orally administered with APT (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) and piracetam (750 mg/kg) for 14 days, and intraperitoneally injected with scopolamine (2 mg/kg) from days 8 to 14. Morris water maze and step-down tests were performed to evaluate learning and memory. Levels of acetylcholine (ACh), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-10 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were measured by ELISA. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were measured via biochemical detection. The results demonstrated that APT ameliorated learning and memory impairment in scopolamine-induced mice. Correspondingly, APT significantly increased ACh and ChAT levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of scopolamine-induced mice. Additionally, treatment with APT significantly increased BDNF and IL-10 levels, and decreased IL-1ß and AChE levels in the same mice. Furthermore, APT significantly increased SOD activity and GSH content, and decreased MDA levels in brain tissue. These results indicated that APT may ameliorate learning and memory impairment by regulating cholinergic activity, promoting BDNF and inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.