Description of Triplophysa luochengensis sp. nov. (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from a karst cave in Guangxi, China.

A new cave-dwelling fish Triplophysa luochengensis is described based on specimens collected from a karst cave in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, that is interconnected to the Hongshui River drainage. The species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters: eyes degenerated, anal fin with six branched rays, caudal fin with 16-17 branched rays, pectoral-fin length 72·4-95·8% of the distance between pectoral-fin origin and pelvic-fin origin, lateral head length 26·2-28·2% of standard length (LS ), eye diameter 7·5-8·6 of LS , body covered by sparse scales, lateral line complete and 7-8 pre-operculo-mandibular pores. Dark pigments irregularly present on dorsum of head, dorsum and flank.

[Association between daytime sleepiness and hypertension among patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome].

Objective: To assess the association between daytime sleepiness and hypertension among patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods: A total of 1 958 patients from Sleep Medicine Center of West China Hospital between January 2015 and January 2016 were included in the study. All subjects underwent one night polysomnography (PSG) and Epworth sleep scale (ESS) was estimated. The patients were divided into non-OSAHS group[apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)<5/h]and OSAHS group (AHI≥5/h) based on PSG, and then OSAHS group was further divided into those with and without daytime sleepiness groups according to ESS score (the cut point of ESS was 14). The association between blood pressure and risk of suffering from hypertension among patients with different degree of daytime sleepiness was explored by binary logistic regression. Results: There were 1 580 men and 378 women among the included patients, the mean age was (44.3±11.6) years old and the mean body mass index (BMI) was (26.4±3.8) kg/m2. Among these patients, there were 267 non-OSAHS and 1 691 OSAHS patients (1 275 without daytime sleepiness and 416 with daytime sleepiness). The prevalence of hypertension was higher among OSAHS patients (53.9%vs 28.8%) than non-OSAHS group, and OSAHS patients had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP)[(126.3±0.4) vs (116.3±4.9) mmHg], diastolic blood pressure (DBP)[(82.4±0.3) vs (78.1±3.7) mmHg]and mean arterial pressure (MAP)[(97.0±0.3) vs (90.9±3.9) mmHg]than non-OSAHS group. And OSAHS with daytime sleepiness also had elevated DBP[(84.5±0.6) vs (81.7±0.3) mmHg]and MAP[(98.8±0.6) vs (96.5±0.3) mmHg]than those without sleepiness (all P<0.05). After controlling for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, AHI and related sleep parameters, OSAHS combined with daytime sleepiness increased the odds of hypertension by 23% (OR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.01-1.65) compared to OSAHS without daytime sleepiness. Conclusion: The daytime sleepiness is an independent risk factor of hypertension in OSAHS patients.

The decolorisation capacity and mechanism of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 for methyl orange and acid yellow 199 under microaerophilic conditions.

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was found to reach 99.36% and 78.25% decolorisation for Methyl Orange and Acid Yellow 199 in solutions, respectively. The suitable pH range for decolorisation of Methyl Orange and Acid Yellow 199 by S. oneidensis MR-1 was 4.0-7.0 and 6.0-8.0, respectively, The azo dyes' removal by S. oneidensis MR-1 was slightly enhanced by addition of Mg(2+), but inhibited by Pb(2+), Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+) and Fe(2+). The enzyme activities of NADH-DCIP reductase and azoreductase were 2.67 and 3.0 times higher, and 1.92 and 2.48 times higher, respectively, in the Methyl Orange treatment and in the Acid Yellow 199 treatment as compared to the control treatment. These findings indicated that the azo dyes' decolorisation by S. oneidensis MR-1 was via reduction mechanism.

Effects of electroacupuncture on blood-brain barrier after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rat.

The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) was investigated in rats. The dye Evans Blue (EB) was used as a tracer for assessing the disruption of BBB. Fluorescence quantification of EB was performed to explore the temporal pattern of permeability of BBB after the cerebral I-R with a fluorescence spectrophotometer (HITACHI 650-60). Furthermore, the morphology of BBB opening was detected under confocal laser scanning microscopy system. It was found that the BBB opening after cerebral I-R was biphasic. A rare scattered extravasation of EB was detected 2 hours after cerebral I-R. The EB extravasation reached its first peak at 6 h then decreased at 24 h and increased again at the time-point of 48h after cerebral I-R. EA can attenuate the disruption of BBB after cerebral I-R. EA could not only limit the area of extravasation of EB, but also reduce the concentration of extravasation of EB in the rat brain after cerebral I-R. The results indicated that one of the mechanisms of curative effect of EA on the cerebral ischemia might be due to its function of protecting the integrity of BBB.

[Modulatory effect of orphanin FQ on the IL-1beta transcripts in hippocampus].

Using in situ hybridization and immuno-fluorescent double labeling method, we investigated the function of orphanin FQ on interlenkin-lbeta (IL-lbeta) transcripts in hippocampus. Intracerebroventricularly (icv) administrated IL-lbeta antibody reduced IL-l and TNF-alpha secreted from peritoneal macrophage. The high level of IL-lbeta transcript in hippocampus elicited by traumatic stress was blocked by icv injection of orphanin FQ (0.55 nmol), which was reversed by orphanin FQ receptor antagonist ([phe(1)Psi(CH(2)-NH)Gly(2)] nociceptin-(1-l3)-NH(2)). Opioid receptor-like receptor transcripts were found in neuron, astrocyte and microglia. Based on the results, we conclude that orphanin FQ functions as a neuroimmune modulator, and provokes immune response via mediation of IL-lbeta derived from neuron, astrocyte and microglia in hippocampus.

Effect of intrathecal morphine and electro-acupuncture on cellular immune function of rats and increment of mu-opioid receptor mRNA expression in PAG following intrathecal morphine.

The present study was to investigate the dynamic changes of cellular immune function of rats with intrathecal injection of (ith) morphine and the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture(EA) stimulation on "Zusanli" (St.36) and "Lanwei" (Extra 37) points. The results showed that ConA-induced rat spleen lymphocyte proliferation was significantly decreased on 2h, 4h, 8h, 12h, 24h, 48h after ith morphine(40microg/50microL). The proliferative response was recovered to nearly normal on 72h. EA on corresponding periods could prevent the decrease of lymphocyte proliferative response of rats induced by ith morphine. The same tendency was observed on the induction of IL-2 production. Further study continued to explore the mechanism of the potentiating effect of mu-opioid receptor in periaqueductal gray (PAG) and hippocampus on the immunosuppression induced by ith morphine at molecular level with in situ hybridization histochemistry technique. The results showed that ith morphine could increase the expression of mu-opioid receptor mRNA.

[Effect of enkephalin on glial neurotrophic function related to the reduction of nitric oxide production].

The effect of methionine-enkephalin (ME) on glial neurotrophic function was studied in rat cortical glial-neuronal coculture. The results showed that ME-treated glia enhanced neuronal survival by 28% (P < 0.05), and increased total neurite length per neuron by 11% (P < 0.05), while the expression of GAP-43 mRNA by 26% (P < 0.05). The effect of ME on NO production of glia was also studied in rat cortical glial culture. The result showed that different concentrations of ME (10(-12), 10(-10), 10(-8), 10(-6) mol/L) inhibited glial NO production. All the above show that the increase of glial neurotrophic ability by ME may be due to the inhibition of glial NO production.

Modulation of orphanin FQ or electroacupuncture (EA) on immune function of traumatic rats.

Orphanin FQ(OFQ) is a recently discovered 17-amino acid neuropeptide[1-2]. In present paper, influence of intracerebroventricular(ICV) administration of OFQ or electroacupuncture(EA) on the surgical trauma-induced inhibition of the splenic natural killer(NK) cell activity in rat was observed. The results showed that administration of 0.1 microgram(0.0055 nmol) and 1 microgram (0.055 nmol) OFQ had no effect on the NK cell activity, while 5 micrograms(2.75 nmol) OFQ reduced the NK cell activity in normal rats. However, 0.1 microgram, 1 microgram or 5 micrograms OFQ were found to antagonise the immune function depression caused by surgical trauma. The NK cell activity was reduced in normal rats after repeated ICV treatment with antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) complementary to bases of translated region of rat OFQ receptor mRNA to block the translation of OFQ receptor mRNA into protein. EA stimulation of Zusanli(St. 36) and Lanwei(Extra. 37) points also obviously improved the immunosuppression produced by trauma. OFQ combined with EA showed antagonism on the suppression, but there was no significant differences compared with OFQ(ICV) or EA alone. When blocking the translation of OFQ receptor mRNA with the ASO, the OFQ induced anti-immunosuppression effect was completely reversed, but EA still improved the inhibition on NK cell activity. The results suggested that the OFQ played a role in the regulation of immunosuppression. EA could modulate the suppression of NK cell activity induced by surgical trauma. The mechanisms of the modulation of OFQ or EA on the immunosuppression induced by surgical trauma need further study.

Modulation of intrathecal morphine-induced immunosuppression by microinjection of naloxone into periaqueductal gray.

AIM: To study the involvement of opioid receptor of periaqueductal gray (PAG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the effect of intrathecal morphine on immune function. METHODS: Rat splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined by a europium release assay; the concanavalin A-induced splenic IL-2 production, TNF-beta activity, and serum TNF-alpha level were determined by colorimetric thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and gentian violet assay, and serum corticotrophin (ACTH) level by radio-immunological method after intrathecal injection of morphine and PAG microinjection of naloxone. RESULTS: Intrathecal morphine inhibited splenic NK cell activity, IL-2 production, TNF-beta activity, and increased in serum ACTH level. Microinjection of naloxone 1 microgram into PAG partially antagonized the inhibition of NK cell activity and the elevation of serum ACTH level by morphine. CONCLUSION: The opioid receptor of PAG involved in the suppression of NK cell activity by intrathecal morphine, which was accompanied by an activation of HPA axis.

Naloxone and electroacunpunture (EA) improve the immune function of traumatized rats.

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of naloxone (an antagonist of opioid receptors) and electroacupuncture (EA) on the natural killer (NK) cell activity, lymphocyte proliferation and induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) production of spleen lymphocytes of surgically traumatized rats. The NK cell activity, the spleen lymphocyte proliferation and the induction of IL-2 production were all significantly inhibited following traumatization. Compared to the traumatic group, the inhibition of the NK cell activity and the induction of IL-2 production were antagonised by icv injection of naloxone. EA stimulation of Zusanli (St 36) and Lanwei (Extra 33) points reduced the immunosuppression produced by trauma. The above results show that the central endogenous opioid peptidergic system may play an important role in immunosuppression. It is suggested that the endogenous opioid peptidergic system might act as an important modulatory system between CNS and the immune system.

Projection angiograms of blood labeled by adiabatic fast passage.

A surface coil on the neck causes adiabatic fast passage in blood as it flows by through a magnetic field gradient. This allows separation of blood and stationary tissue images of the head. Coronal and sagittal images of a volunteer are presented showing the vertebral and common, internal and external carotid arteries in projection views.