Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation promotes neurological functional recovery in rats with traumatic brain injury by upregulating synaptic plasticity-related proteins.

Studies have shown that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can enhance synaptic plasticity and improve neurological dysfunction. However, the mechanism through which rTMS can improve moderate traumatic brain injury remains poorly understood. In this study, we established rat models of moderate traumatic brain injury using Feeney's weight-dropping method and treated them using rTMS. To help determine the mechanism of action, we measured levels of several important brain activity-related proteins and their mRNA. On the injured side of the brain, we found that rTMS increased the protein levels and mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 1, and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein, which are closely associated with the occurrence of long-term potentiation. rTMS also partially reversed the loss of synaptophysin after injury and promoted the remodeling of synaptic ultrastructure. These findings suggest that upregulation of synaptic plasticity-related protein expression is the mechanism through which rTMS promotes neurological function recovery after moderate traumatic brain injury.

The influence of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on endogenous estrogen in patients with disorders of consciousness.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed as a promising therapeutic intervention for neurological disorders. However, the precise mechanisms of rTMS in neural excitability remains poorly understood. Estradiol is known to have strong influence on cortical excitability. This study aimed to determine whether high-frequency (HF) rTMS influences endogenous estradiol in male patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with a total of 57 male patients with DOC. Eventually, 50 patients completed the study. Twenty-five patients underwent real rTMS, and 25 patients underwent sham rTMS, which were delivered over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The primary outcome measure was the change in serum estradiol from baseline to after 10 sessions of HF-rTMS. The improvement in the total score of the JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) was also assessed. RESULTS: Changes in estradiol levels and CRS-R scores from pre-to post-treatment were significantly different between the active rTMS and sham stimulation conditions. A significant enhancement of CRS-R scores in the patients receiving rTMS stimulation was observed compared to the sham group. Serum estradiol levels in patients following HF-rTMS were significantly higher than their baseline levels, whereas no significant changes were found in the sham group from pre-to post-stimulation. The rise in estradiol levels was greater in responders than in non-responders. The changes in estradiol levels were significantly positively correlated with the improvement in CRS-R scores. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings indicate that serum estradiol levels are affected by HF-rTMS and positively related to clinical responses in male patients with DOC. The elevation of estradiol levels may lay a physiological foundation for successful rTMS treatment for DOC patients by increasing cortical excitability.

[Effects of dissolved organic matter on napropamide adsorption and transport in soil system].

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) can affect the environmental behaviors of herbicides in soil. Batch adsorption and column experiments were conducted to measure the sorption and leaching of napropamide in soils in the presence of DOM derived from green manure (GM) and sewage sludge (SS). DOM reduced sorption of napropamide significantly onto the tested soils, consequently which facilitated the transport of napropamide exhibited by soil column experiment. The sorption inhibition and the increased mobility of napropamide caused by DOM of GM origin were more significant than that of SS origin for the same soil. Within the selected concentration range of the napropamide and DOM in this study napropamide sorption isotherm could be described well by the Freundlich equation. In comparison with the control, DOM of GM and SS origins could reduce napropamide adsorption by 22.9% and 11.3% in the yellow-brown soil and 9.5% and 6.5% in the calcareous soil, respectively. Correspondingly, in the presence of DOM the leaching losses of napropamide in soil column increased by 73.42% and 26.87% in the yellow-brown soil and 43.54% and 28.29% in the calcareous soil, respectively.