The effect of illness perception on psychosocial adjustment of patients with breast cancer and their spouses: actor-partner independence model.

OBJECTIVE: With the increase in the prevalence rate and improvements in the survival of breast cancer patients, there is a growing interest in understanding the level of psychosocial adjustment in these patients. The study aimed to describe the illness perception and psychosocial adjustment levels of both breast cancer patients and their spouses, to use the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to clarify the actor-partner relationships between spouses, and to explore the impact of illness perception on psychosocial adjustment to the disease within the joint actions of both spouses. METHODS: A total of 216 female patients with breast cancer and their spouses participated in the study. They were selected from two tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province, China from October 2022 to May 2023 using a convenience sampling method. The participants were assessed using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale to examine the relationship between illness perception and psychosocial adjustment. AMOS24.0 was used to test and analyze the actor-partner interdependence model. RESULTS: The illness perception score (57.75 ± 10.91) was slightly higher than that of the spouse (57.10 ± 11.00), and the psychosocial adjustment score (64.67 ± 6.33) was slightly lower than that of the spouse (64.76 ± 7.49). The results of the actor-partner interdependence model indicated that there was a couple partner between breast cancer patients and their spouses: the spouse's illness perception significantly affected the patient's psychosocial adjustment (ß = 0.095, p = 0.015); the patient's illness perception also significantly affected the spouse's psychosocial adjustment (ß = 0.106, p = 0.033). Among them, the patient's psychosocial adjustment was found to be related to the patient's illness comprehensibility or coherence of illness (ß = 0.433, p = 0.009), the spouse's emotional illness representation (ß = 0.218, p = 0.037), and the spouse's illness comprehensibility or coherence of illness (ß = 0.416, p = 0.007), while the spouse's psychosocial adjustment was only related to the spouse's illness comprehensibility or coherence of illness (ß = 0.528, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The psychosocial adjustment of breast cancer patients is affected by both their own and spouse's illness perception. Therefore, in the future, the healthcare staff can implement early psychological interventions for patients diagnosed with breast cancer and their spouses as a unit to promote the psychosocial adjustment of them.

Toxicity of Beauveria bassiana to Bactrocera dorsalis and effects on its natural predators.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are economical and environmentally friendly, forming an essential part of integrated pest management strategies. We screened six strains of Beauveria bassiana (B1-B6) (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), of which B4 was the most virulent to Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae). We further assessed the biological characteristics of strain B4 and the environmental factors influencing its ability to infect B. dorsalis. We also evaluated the effects of B4 on two of the natural predators of B. dorsalis. We found that strain B4 was the most virulent to 3rd instar larvae, pupae, and adult B. dorsalis, causing mortality rates of 52.67, 61.33, and 90.67%, respectively. B4 was not toxic to B. dorsalis eggs. The optimum B4 effects on B. dorsalis were achieved at a relative humidity of 91-100% and a temperature of 25°C. Among the six insecticides commonly used for B. dorsalis control, 1.8% abamectin emulsifiable concentrate had the strongest inhibitory effect on B4 strain germination. B4 spraying affected both natural enemies (Amblyseius cucumeris and Anastatus japonicus), reducing the number of A. cucumeris and killing A. japonicus adults. We found a valuable strain of EPF (B4) that is virulent against many life stages of B. dorsalis and has great potential for the biological control of B. dorsalis. We also provide an important theoretical and practical base for developing a potential fungicide to control B. dorsalis.

Characterization of an agmatine N-acetyltransferase from Bactrocera dorsalis that modulates ovary development.

Agmatine N-acetyltransferase (AgmNAT), which catalyzes the formation of N-acetylagmatine from acetyl-CoA and agmatine, is a member of the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase family. So far, knowledge of the physiological roles of AgmNAT in insects is limited. Here, we identified one gene encoding protein homologous to that of Drosophila AgmNAT using sequence information from an activity-verified Drosophila AgmNAT in a BLAST search of the Bactrocera dorsalis genome. We expressed and purified B. dorsalis AgmNAT in Escherichia coli and used the purified enzyme to define the substrate specificity for acyl-CoA and amine substrates. Our application of the screening strategy to BdorAgmNAT led to the identification of agmatine as the best amine substrate for this enzyme, with the highest kcat/Km value. We successfully obtained a BdorAgmNAT knockout strain based on a wild-type strain (WT) using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. The ovary development of the BdorAgmNAT knockout mutants was delayed for 10 days compared with the WT specimens. Moreover, mutants had a much smaller mature ovary size and laid far fewer eggs than WT. Loss of function of BdorAgmNAT caused by RNAi with mature WT females did not affect their fecundity. These findings indicate that BdorAgmNAT is critical for oogenesis. Our data provide the first evidence for AgmNAT in regulating ovary development.

Reproductive behavior of fruit flies: courtship, mating, and oviposition.

Many species of the Tephritidae family are invasive and cause huge damage to agriculture and horticulture, owing to their reproductive characteristics. In this review, we have summarized the existing studies on the reproductive behavior of Tephritidae, particularly those regarding the genes and external factors that are associated with courtship, mating, and oviposition. Furthermore, we outline the issues that still need to be addressed in fruit fly reproduction research. The review highlights the implications for understanding the reproductive behavior of fruit flies and discusses methods for their integrated management and biological control. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Efficacy and safety of electrical acupoint stimulation for postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting are typical postsurgical complications. Drug therapy is only partially effective. The goal of our meta-analysis is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of electrical acupoint stimulation for postoperative nausea and vomiting and to score the quality of evidence supporting this concept. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to March 19, 2020. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies (2064 patients) were included. Compared with control treatment, electrical acupoint stimulation reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.57, P < 0.001), postoperative nausea (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.64, P < 0.001) and postoperative vomiting (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.70, P < 0.001). Electrical acupoint stimulation also reduced the number of patients requiring antiemetic rescue (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.85, P = 0.004). No differences in adverse events were observed. Subgroup analysis showed that both electroacupuncture (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.74, P < 0.001) and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.58, P < 0.001) had significant effects. Electrical acupoint stimulation was effective whether administered preoperatively (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.60, P < 0.001), postoperatively (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.76, P < 0.001), or perioperatively (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.67, P < 0.001). The quality of evidence was moderate to low. CONCLUSIONS: Electrical acupoint stimulation probably reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, postoperative nausea, postoperative vomiting, and reduce the number of patients requiring antiemetic rescue, with few adverse events.

Metabolic rewiring in keratinocytes by miR-31-5p identifies therapeutic intervention for psoriasis.

Besides genetic alterations, the cellular environment also determines disease onset and progression. When different cell types contribute to disease outcome, this imposes environmental challenges as different cell types likely differ in their extracellular dependencies. Hsa-microRNA-31-5p (miR-31) is highly expressed in keratinocytes of psoriatic skin, and we show that expression in keratinocytes is induced by limited glucose availability and enables increased survival under limiting glucose conditions by increasing glutamine metabolism. In addition, miR-31 expression results in not only secretion of specific metabolites (aspartate and glutamate) but also secretion of immunomodulatory factors. We show that this miR-31-induced secretory phenotype is sufficient to induce Th17 cell differentiation, a hallmark of psoriasis. Inhibitors of miR31-induced metabolic rewiring and metabolic crosstalk with immune cells alleviate psoriasis pathology in a mouse model of psoriasis. Together our data illustrate an emerging concept of metabolic interaction across cell compartments that characterizes disease development, which can be employed to design effective treatment options for disease, as shown here for psoriasis.

Pain Trajectory after Short-Stay Anorectal Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

The evolution of pain after anorectal surgery has not been well characterized. The main objective of this study is to evaluate patterns in acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing short-stay anorectal surgery. A total of 217 patients were included in the study, which used group-based trajectory modeling to estimate postoperative pain and then examined the relationships between sociodemographic or surgical factors and pain trajectories. Three distinct postoperative pain trajectories were determined: hemorrhoidectomy (OR, 0.15), higher anxiety (OR, 3.26), and a higher preoperative pain behavior score (OR, 3.15). In multivariate analysis, they were associated with an increased likelihood of being on the high pain trajectory. The pain trajectory group was related to postoperative analgesic use (p < 0.001), with the high-low group needing more nonsteroidal analgesics. The study showed that there were three obvious pain trajectories after anorectal surgery, including an unreported low-moderate-low type. More than 60% of patients maintained moderate to severe pain within 7 days after the operation. These postoperative pain trajectories were predominantly defined by surgery factors and patient factors.

Lethal and sublethal effects of broflanilide on four tephritid pests (Diptera: Tephritidae).

BACKGROUND: Fruit flies are internationally important quarantine or invasive pests of many fruits and vegetables and can cause serious economic losses. Long-term reliance on insecticides for controlling these pests has led to increasing resistance to multiple insecticides; hence, a new agent is needed. In this study, the acute toxicity and sublethal effects of the novel insecticide broflanilide on four adult fruit fly species, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera tau, and Bactrocera correcta, were evaluated. RESULTS: Broflanilide was effective against B. dorsalis and B. correcta, with lethal concentration values (amount required to kill 50% of animals; LC50 ) of 0.390 and 1.716 mg/L. However, for B. cucurbitae (19.673 mg/L) and B. tau (24.373 mg/L), the LC50 was 50-60 times higher than that of B. dorsalis. The survival rates of B. correcta and B. cucurbitae were significantly lower under LC50 treatment than those of the control (corrected for mortality rate). Sublethal concentrations of broflanilide stimulated fecundity in all species except B. tau. The hatching rate at LC50 was significantly lower for B. correcta and B. tau compared with the control and even more so for B. correcta, which was zero. CONCLUSION: Broflanilide is potentially an effective insecticide for controlling B. dorsalis and B. correcta. However, the variation in toxicity of broflanilide to the four fruit flies suggests that species variation needs to be carefully considered. Our results highlight the importance of clarifying the sublethal effects of insecticides on target insects to ensure the comprehensive evaluation and rational use of insecticides. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Peroxiredoxin 2 Is a Potential Objective Indicator for Severity and the Clinical Status of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients.

Purpose: We have demonstrated that peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2) released from lytic erythrocytes and damaged neurons into the subarachnoid space could activate microglia and then result in neuronal apoptosis. In this study, we tested the possibility of using Prx2 as an objective indicator for severity of the subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the clinical status of the patient. Materials and Methods: SAH patients were prospectively enrolled and followed up for 3 months. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples were collected 0-3 and 5-7 days after SAH onset. The levels of Prx2 in the CSF and the blood were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We used Spearman's rank coefficient to assess the correlation between Prx2 and the clinical scores. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for Prx2 levels to predict the outcome of SAH by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Unpaired Student's t-test was used to analyze the differences in continuous variables across cohorts. Results: Prx2 levels in the CSF increased after onset while those in the blood decreased. Existing data showed that Prx2 levels within 3 days in the CSF after SAH were positively correlated with the Hunt-Hess score (R = 0.761, P < 0.001). Patients with CVS had higher levels of Prx2 in their CSF within 5-7 days after onset. Prx2 levels in the CSF within 5-7 days can be used as a predictor of prognosis. The ratio of Prx2 in the CSF and the blood within 3 days of onset was positively correlated with the Hunt-Hess score and negatively correlated with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS; R = -0.605, P < 0.05). Conclusion: We found that the levels of Prx2 in the CSF and the ratio of Prx2 in the CSF and the blood within 3 days of onset can be used as a biomarker to detect the severity of the disease and the clinical status of the patient.

[Myrislignan Induces Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer Cell Line Through PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway].

Objective: To investigate the effect of myrislignan (MYR) on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cell line and its relationship with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. Methods: The gastric cells (SGC-7901) were treated with MYR at different concentrations, i.e., 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µmol/L, for 48 h and 72 h and the effect of MYR on the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay. Then, SGC-7901 cells were treated with different concentrations of MYR at 50, 100, and 200 µmol/L for 48 h. Meanwhile, a normal control group and a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent control group (0.1% DMSO) were established. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis rate of SGC-7901 cells. The protein expression levels of PI3K, AKT, Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX), cysteine-dependent aspartate-specifc protease-3 (Caspase-3), and Caspase-9 were determined by Western blot. Then, PI3K activator (20 µmol/mL) was used to treat SGC-7901 cells for 48 h in 4 groups, the control group, 0.1% DMSO group, MYR group, and MYR+PI3K activator group, and the effect on MYR's induction of apoptosis and regulation of the protein expression levels of PI3K, AKT, BAX, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 in SGC-7901 cells. Results: Compared with the control group, MYR at 50, 100 and 200 µmol/L inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, increased the apoptosis rate, down-regulated the protein expression levels of PI3K and AKT, and up-regulated the protein expression levels of BAX, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 in a dose-dependent manner ( P<0.05). However, PI3K activator attenuated MYR-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells and MYR's regulation of PI3K, AKT, BAX, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 protein expression ( P<0.05). Conclusion: MYR induces the expression of BAX, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 proteins by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby promoting the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.

Gut Microbiome Composition of the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta: an Integrated Analysis of Host Genotype and Geographical Distribution.

Gut symbiotic bacteria are known to be closely related to insect development, nutrient metabolism, and disease resistance traits, but the most important factors leading to changes in these communities have not been well clarified. To address this, we examined the associations between the gut symbiotic bacteria and the host genotype and geographical distribution of Solenopsis invicta in China, where it is invasive and has spread primarily by human-mediated dispersal. Thirty-two phyla were detected in the gut symbiotic bacteria of S. invicta. Proteobacteria were the most dominant group among the gut symbiotic bacteria. Furthermore, the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices of the gut symbiotic bacteria were significantly positively correlated with the geographical distance between the host ant colonies, but this relationship was affected by the social form. The distance between monogyne colonies had a significant effect on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices of gut symbiotic bacteria, but the distance between polygyne colonies did not. Moreover, the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices were positively correlated with Nei's genetic distance of the host but were not correlated with the COI-based genetic distance. This study provides a scientific basis for further understanding the ecological adaptability of red imported fire ants during invasion and dispersal. IMPORTANCE We demonstrated that gut microbiota composition and diversity varied among populations. These among-population differences were associated with host genotype and geographical distribution. Our results suggested that population-level differences in S. invicta gut microbiota may depend more on environmental factors than on host genotype.

Activation of P2X4 receptors in midbrain cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nucleus leads to mechanical hyperalgesia in chronic constriction injury rats.

Neuropathic pain is a refractory pain state, and its mechanism is still not clear. Previous studies have shown that the purine receptor P2X4R expressed on hyperactive microglia in the spinal cord is essential for the occurrence and development of neuropathic pain. The cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nucleus (CSF-contacting nucleus) in the midbrain has been found to play an important role in the descending inhibition system of modulation. However, there have been no studies on P2X4R in the CSF-contacting nucleus involved in neuropathic pain. To investigate whether P2X4R is expressed in the CSF-contacting nucleus and whether its expression in the CSF-contacting nucleus is involved in the regulation of neuropathic pain, we used a model of chronic sciatic nerve ligation injury (CCI) to simulate neuropathic pain conditions. Immunohistochemistry experiments were conducted to identify the expression of P2X4R in the CSF-contacting nuclei in CCI rats, and western blot analysis showed a significant increase in P2X4R levels 7 days after modeling. Then, we packaged a P2rx4 gene-targeting shRNA in scAAV9 to knock down the P2X4R level in the CSF-contacting nucleus, and we found that CCI-induced mechanical hyperalgesia was reversed. In conclusion, P2X4R expressed in the CSF-contacting nucleus is involved in the process of neuropathic pain, and downregulating P2X4R protein in the CSF-contacting nucleus can reverse the occurrence and development of hyperalgesia, which could represent a potent therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain.

Melatonin ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via activating NRF2 and inhibiting galectin-3 expression.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease with no effective therapies. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a marker of oxidative stress, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of PF. Fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation (FMD) is an important source of fibrotic cells in PF. Previous studies showed that melatonin (MT) exerted anti-fibrotic effect in many diseases including PF through its antioxidant activity. In the present study we investigated the relationships among Gal-3, NRF2, ROS in FMD and their regulation by MT. We established an in vitro model of FMD in TGF-ß1-treated human fetal lung fibroblast1 (HFL1) cells and a PF mouse model via bleomycin (BLM) intratracheal instillation. We found that Gal-3 expression was significantly increased both in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of Gal-3 in HFL1 cells markedly attenuated TGF-ß1-induced FMD process and ROS accumulation. In TGF-ß1-treated HFL1 cells, pretreatment with NRF2-specific inhibitor ML385 (5 µM) significantly increased the levels of Gal-3, α-SMA and ROS, suggesting that the expression of Gal-3 was regulated by NRF2. Treatment with NRF2-activator MT (250 µM) blocked α-SMA and ROS accumulation accompanied by reduced Gal-3 expression. In BLM-induced PF model, administration of MT (5 mg·kg-1·d-1, ip for 14 or 28 days) significantly attenuated the progression of lung fibrosis through up-regulating NRF2 and down-regulating Gal-3 expression in lung tissues. These results suggest that Gal-3 regulates TGF-ß1-induced pro-fibrogenic responses and ROS production in FMD, and MT activates NRF2 to block FMD process by down-regulating Gal-3 expression. This study provides a useful clue for a clinical strategy to prevent PF. Graphic abstract of the mechanisms. MT attenuated BLM-induced PF via activating NRF2 and inhibiting Gal-3 expression.

Analysis on the influencing factors for re-positive nucleic acid test result in discharged COVID-19 patients in Chengdu / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To analyze the influencing factors for re-positive nucleic acid test in discharged corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and to provide data support for the epidemics prevention and control. Methods    The clinical data of 660 discharged COVID-19 patients from January 23, 2020 to February 28, 2021 in our center were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the reexamination of virus nucleic acid, including a negative group [549 patients, including 428 males and 121 females with a median age of 33.0 (28.0, 48.0) years] and a positive group [111 patients, including 76 males and 35 females with a median age of 39.0 (28.0, 51.0) years]. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. Results     The re-positive rate of the discharged patients was 16.82%. Univariate analysis showed that the re-positive rate of females was higher than that of males (χ2=4.608, P=0.032). The re-positive rate of confirmed patients was higher than that of asymptomatic infected patients (χ2=8.140, P=0.004). The re-positive rate of domestic patients was higher than that of imported patients (χ2=9.178, P=0.002). The counts of CD3+ (P=0.038), CD4+ (P=0.048) and CD8+ (P=0.040) T lymphocytes in the negative group were higher than those in the positive group. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that the clinical classification and CD8+ T lymphocyte count were independent risk factors affecting the recurrence of virility. Conclusion    The gender, origin, T lymphocyte subsets count and clinical type are the influencing factors for re-positive result, and clinical type and CD8+ T lymphocyte count are the independent influencing factors for re-positive result. Therefore, improving the immunity of infected patients, as well as early detection and timely treatment are effective means to reduce the re-positive occurrence.

Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 gene (AANAT1) regulates cuticle pigmentation and ovary development of the adult oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis.

The arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) enzymes catalyze the acetyl-CoA-dependent acetylation of an amine or arylalkylamine, which is involved in important biological processes of insects. Here, we carried out the molecular and biochemical identification of an arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) from the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. Using a bacterial expression system, we expressed and purified the encoded recombinant BdorAANAT1-V3 protein. The purified recombinant protein acts on a wide range of substrates, including dopamine, tyramine, octopamine, serotonin, methoxytryptamine, and tryptamine, and shows similar substrate affinity (i.e., Km values: 0.16-0.26 mM) except for serotonin (Km = 0.74 mM) and dopamine (Km = 0.84 mM). Transcriptional profile analysis of BdorAANAT1 revealed that this gene is most prevalent in adults and abundant in the adult brain, gut, and ovary. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, we successfully obtained a BdorAANAT1 knockout strain based on a wild-type strain (WT). Compared with the WT, the cuticle color of larvae and pupae is normal; however, in adult mutants, the yellow region of their thorax is darkly pigmented, and two black spots were evident at the abdomen's end. Moreover, the female BdorAANAT1 knockout mutant had a smaller ovary than the WT, and laid far fewer eggs. Loss of function of BdorAANAT1 caused by RNAi with mature adult females in which the reproductive system is fully developed had no effect on their fecundity. Altogether, these results indicate that BdorAANAT1 regulates ovary development. Our findings provide evidence for the insect AANAT1 modulating adult cuticle pigmentation and female fecundity.

Alpha-Ketoglutarate Alleviates Neuronal Apoptosis Induced by Central Insulin Resistance through Inhibiting S6K1 Phosphorylation after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Neuronal apoptosis after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is believed to play an important role in early brain injury after SAH. The energy metabolism of neuron is closely related to its survival. The transient hyperglycemia caused by insulin resistance (IR) after SAH seriously affects the prognosis of patients. However, the specific mechanisms of IR after SAH are still not clear. Studies have shown that α-KG takes part in the regulation of IR and cell apoptosis. In this study, we aim to investigate whether α-KG can reduce IR after SAH, improve the disorder of neuronal glucose metabolism, alleviate neuronal apoptosis, and ultimately play a neuroprotective role in SAH-induced EBI. We first measured α-KG levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with SAH. Then, we established a SAH model through hemoglobin (Hb) stimulation with HT22 cells for further mechanism research. Furthermore, an in vivo SAH model in mice was established by endovascular perforation. Our results showed that α-KG levels in CSF significantly increased in SAH patients and could be used as a potential prognostic biomarker. In in vitro model of SAH, we found that α-KG not only inhibited IR-induced reduction of glucose uptake in neurons after SAH but also alleviated SAH-induced neuronal apoptosis. Mechanistically, we found that α-KG inhibits neuronal IR by inhibiting S6K1 activation after SAH. Moreover, neuronal apoptosis significantly increased when glucose uptake was reduced. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that α-KG could also alleviate neuronal apoptosis in vivo SAH model. In conclusion, our study suggests that α-KG alleviates apoptosis by inhibiting IR induced by S6K1 activation after SAH.

High Expression of PDK4 Could Play a Potentially Protective Role by Attenuating Oxidative Stress after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), a key enzyme on the mitochondrial outer membrane, has been found to decrease activity notably in early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It has been demonstrated that PDH is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. Hence, in this study, we aimed to determine the cause of the decreased PDH activity and explore the potential role of PDH in EBI. We investigated the expression changes of PDH and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) in vivo and in vitro. Then, we explored the possible effects of PDH and ROS after SAH. The results showed that early overexpression of PDK4 promoted the phosphorylation of PDH, inhibited PDH activity, and may play a protective role after SAH in vivo and in vitro. Finally, we investigated the levels of PDK4 and pyruvate, which accumulated due to decreased PDH activity, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 34 patients with SAH. Statistical analysis revealed that PDK4 and pyruvate expression was elevated in the CSF of SAH patients compared with that of controls, and this high expression correlated with the degree of neurological impairment and long-term outcome. Taken together, the results show that PDK4 has the potential to serve as a new therapeutic target and biomarker for assisting in the diagnosis of SAH severity and prediction of recovery.

[Tianma Gouteng Decoction regulates MFN2 expression to delay vascular aging in spontaneously hypertensive rats].

We studied the effect of Tianma Gouteng Decoction on vascular aging in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs) to explore the molecular mechanism of the decoction in improving arterial vascular aging by regulating the expression of mitofusin 2(MFN2).Twenty 64-weeks-old SHRs were randomly assigned into the aging group and the treatment group(Tianma Gouteng Decoction 5.48 mg·kg~(-1)).Wistar-Kyoto(WKY) rats of 64 weeks old were taken as the normal group and SHR rats of 14 weeks old as the young group.The intervention with Tianma Gouteng Decoction lasted for 12 weeks.We then employed HE staining and Masson staining to observe the morphology of thoracic aorta under an electron microscope and measured the malondialdehyde(MDA) content, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity, respiratory chain complex Ⅲ level, and thioredoxin peroxidase(TPX) activity.The vascular aging was detected via the biomarker senescence-associated beta-galactosidase(SA-ß-Gal).The expression levels of MFN2 and aging marker proteins silent information regulator 1(SIRT1), Klotho, p21, and p53 in thoracic aorta were detected by immunohistochemistry/fluorescence, qRT-PCR, and Western blot.Compared with the young group and the normal group, the aging group had risen blood pressure, lumen stenosis caused by thickened intima of blood vessels, decreased SOD and TPX activities, increased MDA and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex Ⅲ levels, down-regulated expression of MFN2, SIRT1, and Klotho, and up-regulated expression of p21 and p53(P<0.01 or P<0.05).The treatment with Tianma Gouteng Decoction significantly lowered blood pressure, mitigated vascular intimal thickening, increased SOD and TPX activities, and decreased MDA and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex Ⅲ levels, thus alleviating vascular aging.At the same time, the decoction up-regulated the expression of MFN2, SIRT1, and Klotho, while down-regulated that of p21 and p53(P<0.01 or P<0.05).In summary, Tianma Gouteng Decoction can significantly delay the vascular aging in hypertension.Specifically, it may up-regulate the expression of MFN2 and regulate the expression of aging-related proteins to alleviate oxidative stress.

The progress in the classification and treatment of scaphoid nonunion.

Scaphoid fracture is the most common carpal fracture, accounting for 50%-80% of all carpal fractures in the Youngers and manual workers. The nonunion rate of scaphoid fractures was approximately 10-15%. Scaphoid nonunion can lead to wrist deformity, wrist collapse, ischemic necrosis, and traumatic osteoarthritis resulting in the loss of wrist function and seriously influence the patients' lives. Achieving bony union is essential for the treatment of scaphoid nonunion. Although many surgical procedures including various forms of bone grafting have been developed to improve bony union, there is no conclusion about which method is the most effective and optimal. In this review, we provide an overview of the diagnostic, classification and progress in the treatments of scaphoid nonunion fractures.