Glutamatergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus participate in the regulation of visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer in mice.

Background: Visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer seriously affects patients' quality of life, and there is no effective treatment, because the mechanism of its neural circuit is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the main neural circuit mechanism regulating visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer in mice. Methods: The mouse model of pancreatic cancer visceral pain was established on C57BL/6N mice by pancreatic injection of mPAKPC-luc cells. Abdominal mechanical hyperalgesia and hunch score were performed to assess visceral pain; the pseudorabies virus (PRV) was used to identify the brain regions innervating the pancreas; the c-fos co-labeling method was used to ascertain the types of activated neurons; in vitro electrophysiological patch-clamp technique was used to record the electrophysiological activity of specific neurons; the calcium imaging technique was used to determine the calcium activity of specific neurons; specific neuron destruction and chemogenetics methods were used to explore whether specific neurons were involved in visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer. Results: The PRV injected into the pancreas was detected in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the majority of c-fos were co-labeled with glutamatergic neurons in the PVN. In vitro electrophysiological results showed that the firing frequency of glutamatergic neurons in the PVN was increased. The calcium imaging results showed that the calcium activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PVN was enhanced. Both specific destruction of glutamatergic neurons and chemogenetics inhibition of glutamatergic neurons in the PVN alleviated visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer. Conclusions: Glutamatergic neurons in the PVN participate in the regulation of visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer in mice, providing new insights for the discovery of effective targets for the treatment of pancreatic cancer visceral pain.

Neuroinflammation in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus precipitates visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer in mice.

Background: Given the pivotal role of neuroinflammation in chronic pain and that the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) is a crucial brain region involved in visceral pain regulation, we sought to investigate whether the targeted modulation of microglia and astrocytes in the PVN could ameliorate pancreatic cancer-induced visceral pain (PCVP) in mice. Methods: Using a mouse model of PCVP, achieved by tumor cell injection at the head of the pancreas, we measure the number of glial cells, and at the same time we employed minocycline to inhibit microglia and chemogenetic methods to suppress astrocytes in order to investigate the respective roles of microglia and astrocytes within the PVN in PCVP. Results: Mice exhibited visceral pain at 12, 15 and 18 days post-tumor cell injection. We observed a significant increase in the population of both microglia and astrocytes. Inhibition of microglial activity through minocycline microinjection into the PVN resulted in alleviation of visceral pain within 30 and 60 min. Similarly, chemogenetic inhibition of astrocyte function at 14 and 21 days post-injection also led to relief from visceral pain. Conclusions: This study found that PVN microglia and astrocytes were involved in regulating PCVP. Our results suggest that targeting glia may be a potential approach for alleviating visceral pain in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Inhibition of GABAergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus precipitates visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer in mice.

Background: For patients with pancreatic cancer, visceral pain is a debilitating symptom that significantly compromises their quality of life. Unfortunately, the lack of effective treatment options can be attributed to our limited understanding of the neural circuitry underlying this phenomenon. The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms governing visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer in murine models. Methods: A mouse model of pancreatic cancer visceral pain was established in C57BL/6N mice through the intrapancreatic injection of mPAKPC-luc cells. Abdominal mechanical hyperalgesia and hunch score were employed to evaluate visceral pain, whereas the in vitro electrophysiological patch-clamp technique was utilized to record the electrophysiological activity of GABAergic neurons. Specific neuron ablation and chemogenetics methods were employed to investigate the involvement of GABAergic neurons in pancreatic cancer-induced visceral pain. Results: In vitro electrophysiological results showed that the firing frequency of GABAergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) was decreased. Specific destruction of GABAergic neurons in the PVN exacerbated visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer. Chemogenetics activation of GABAergic neurons in the PVN alleviated visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer. Conclusions: GABAergic neurons located in PVN play a crucial role in precipitating visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer in mice, thereby offering novel insights for identifying effective targets to treat pancreatic cancer-related visceral pain.

Sustainable removal of soil arsenic by naturally-formed iron oxides on plastic tubes.

Arsenic (As) pollution in paddy fields is a major threat to rice safety. Existing As remediation techniques are costly, require external chemical addition and degrade soil properties. Here, we report the use of plastic tubes as a recyclable tool to precisely extract As from contaminated soils. Following insertion into flooded paddy soils, polyethylene tube walls were covered by thin but massive Fe coatings of 76.9-367 mg Fe m-2 in 2 weeks, which adsorbed significant amounts of As. The formation of tube-wall Fe oxides was driven by local Fe-oxidizing bacteria with oxygen produced by oxygenic phototrophs (e.g., Cyanobacteria) or diffused from air through the tube wall. The tubes with As-bound Fe oxides can be easily separated from soil and then washed and reused. We tested the As removal efficiency in a pot experiment to remove As from ~ 20 cm depth/40 kg soils in a 2-year experiment and achieved an overall removal efficiency of 152 mg As m-2 soil year-1, comparable to phytoremediation with the As hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata. The cost of Fe hooks was estimated at 8325 RMB ha-1 year-1, and the profit of growing rice (around 16080 RMB ha-1 year-1 can be still maintained. The As accumulated in rice tissues was markedly decreased in the treatment (>11.1 %). This work provides a low-cost and sustainable soil remediation method for the targeted removal of As from soils and a useful tool for the study and management of the biogeochemical Fe cycle in paddy soils.

Voice parameters for difficult mask ventilation evaluation: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Mask ventilation (MV) is an essential component of airway management. Difficult mask ventilation (DMV) is a major cause for perioperative hypoxic brain injury; however, predicting DMV remains a challenge. This study aimed to determine the potential value of voice parameters as novel predictors of DMV in patients scheduled for general anesthesia. METHODS: We included 1,160 adult patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia. The clinical variables usually reported as predictors of DMV were collected before surgery. Voice sample of phonemes ([a], [o], [e], [i], [u], [ü], [ci], [qi], [chi], [le], [ke], and [en]) were recorded and their formants (f1-f4) and bandwidths (bw1-bw4) were extracted. The definition of DMV was the inability of an unassisted anesthesiologist to ensure adequate ventilation during MV under general anesthesia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between voice parameters and DMV. The predictive value of the voice parameters was evaluated by assessment of area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of a stepwise forward model. RESULTS: The prevalence of DMV was 218/1,160 (18.8%). The AUC of the stepwise forward model (including o_f4, e_bw2, i_f3, u_pitch, u_f1, u_f4, ü_bw4, ci_f1, qi_f1, qi_f4, qi_bw4, chi_f1, chi_bw2, chi_bw4, le_pitch, le_bw3, ke_bw2, en_pitch, and en_f2, en_bw4) attained a value of 0.779. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 75.0% and 71.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Voice parameters may be considered as alternative predictors of DMV, but additional studies are needed to confirm the initial findings.

Tracing the Dynamic Changes of Element Profiles by Novel Soil Porewater Samplers with Ultralow Disturbance to Soil-Water Interface.

In flooded soils, soil-water interface (SWI) is the key zone controlling biogeochemical dynamics. Chemical species and concentrations vary greatly at micro- to cm-scales. Techniques able to track these changing element profiles both in space and over time with appropriate resolution are rare. Here, we report a patent-pending technique, the Integrated Porewater Injection (IPI) sampler, which is designed for soil porewater sampling with minimum disturbance to saturated soil environment. IPI sampler employs a single hollow fiber membrane tube to passively sample porewater surrounding the tube. When working, it can be integrated into the sample introduction system, thus the sample preparation procedure is dramatically simplified. In this study, IPI samplers were coupled to ICP-MS at data-only mode. The limits of detection of IPI-ICP-MS for Ni, As, Cd, Sb, and Pb were 0.12, 0.67, 0.027, 0.029, and 0.074 µg·L-1, respectively. Furthermore, 25 IPI samplers were assembled into an SWI profiler using 3D printing in a one-dimensional array. The SWI profiler is able to analyze element profiles at high spatial resolution (∼2 mm) every ≥24 h. When deployed in arsenic-contaminated paddy soils, it depicted the distributions and dynamics of multiple elements at anoxic-oxic transition. The results show that the SWI profiler is a powerful and robust technique in monitoring dynamics of element profile in soil porewater at high spatial resolution. The method will greatly facilitate studies of elements behaviors in sediments of wetland, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Clinical observation on treatment of post-craniocerebral traumatic mental disorder by integrative medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of integrative medical therapy in treating post-craniocerebral traumatic mental disorder (PCT-MD). METHODS: Sixty patients with confirmed diagnosis of PCT-MD were randomly assigned to the treated group and the control group equally. All were treated by conventional comprehensive Western medicine, but to patients in the treated group, modified Xufu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZY) was additionally given and the therapeutic course for both groups was 20 days. Changes in mental symptoms were observed and recorded on the 10th and 20th day and clinical efficacy as well as cranial CT image was estimated after termination of the treatment. RESULTS: The clinical effective rate in the treated group and the control group was 96.67% and 83.30% respectively. Comparison between them showed significant difference (P<0.05). Significant differences were also shown in the comparisons between the two groups in improving mental symptoms, either on the 10th or on the 20th day (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively), and in post-treatment cranial CT image (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Better efficacy could be obtained by integrative medical therapy in treating PCT-MD.

[Clinical obervation of Jiedu Tongluo Lishi decoction on treating reactive rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical curative effect and safety of Jiedu Tongluo Lishi decoction on treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: 106 cases of RA in active period were randomly divided into the integrated Chinese and western medicine group (n=54) and western medicine contrast group (n=52). The former group were treated by Jiedu Tongluo Lishi decoction combined with SASP, the latter by MTX combined with SASP. The arthritis morning stiffness time, ache indexes, tumidness indexes, function indexes, hands grip, 20-m walking time and experimental indexes including ESR, RF, CRP, C3, immune globin of both groups were observed and compared. RESULT: The obviously clinical effective ratio and the total clinical effective ratio in the former group were 77.78% and 90.74% respectively, which are better than those in the latter group (59.62% and 71.15% respectively) (P < 0.01). The arthritis morning stiffness time, ache indexes, tumidness indexes, function indexes, hands grip and 20-m walking time in both groups were obviously released after treatment (P < 0.01). The clinical release in the former group was better than that in the latter group (P < 0.05). ESR, RF and CRP in both groups were markedly improved (P < 0.05). The improvement of ESR, RF, CRP, C3 and IgA in the former group were better than those in the latter group (P < 0.05). The side effect includes gastroenteric tract reaction, decrease of leucocyte, abnormity of liver function, tetter and catamenia maladjustment. The occurent ratio in the former group was 7.41%, which was obviously lower than that in the latter group (15.38%) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The compositively clinical curative effect of Jiedu Tongluo Lishi decoction combined with MTX on treating RA is obviously better than that of western medicine only such as MTX and SASP, with less side effect and higher safety, which is worth applying in clinics extensively.

[Study on the function of decoction for invigorating the kidney and improving blood circulation to thrombosis on rabbit blood stasis model].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of decoction for invigorating the kidney and improving blood circulation to thrombosis and pathology on rabbit blood stasis model. METHOD: Thirty rabbits were ramdomly divided into normal group, model group, high dose group, low dose group and Xue Shuan Ning group. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), fibrinogen (Fbg) and D-dimer (DD) were investigated after those rabbits had been treated. One rot was solected randomly from each group to observe pathological changes. RESULT: There were significant differences in t-PA, PAI, Fbg and DD between normal group and other groups is very obvious (P < 0.01) . Between groups of high dose low dose Xue Shuan Ning and model, the statistical differeces were significant, as well as between groups of high dose, low dose and Xue Shuan Ning groups (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between high dose group and high dose group (P > 0.05). The pathological changes in model group were most serious, those in Xue Shuan Ning were less serious. There were slight pathological changes in high dose group and low dose group. CONCLUSION: Models ware made successfully. High dose group and low dose group have stronger effect on thrombosis than Xue Shuan Ning group.

[Study on function of decoction for invigorating the kidney and improving blood circulation on rabbits blood stasis model].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of decoction for invigorating the kidney and improving blood circulation to thrombosis on rabbits blood stasis model. METHOD: Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, model group, heavy dose group, slight dose group and xue shuan ning group. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), fibrinogen (Fbg) and D-dimer (DD) were investigated after those rabbits had been treated. One was selected randomly from each group to observe pathological changes. RESULT: There was significant difference in t-PA, PAI, Fbg and DD between normal group and other groups (P < 0.01). Among groups of heavy dose, slight dose, xue shuan ning and model, the statistical differences were significant, as well as among groups of heavy dose, slight dose and xue shuan ning (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between heavy dose group and slight dose group (P > 0.05). The pathological changes in model group were most serious, and those in xue shuan ning were less serious. There were slight pathological change in heavy dose group and light dose group. CONCLUSION: Models were made successfully. Heavy dose group and slight dose group have stronger effect on thrombosis than xue shuan ning group.