Luteolin-7-O-Glucuronide Improves Depression-like and Stress Coping Behaviors in Sleep Deprivation Stress Model by Activation of the BDNF Signaling.

Stress exposure is a major risk factor for mental disorders such as depression. Because of the limitations of classical antidepressants such as side effects, low efficacy, and difficulty in long-term use, new natural medicines and bioactive molecules from plants with greater safety and efficacy have recently attracted attention. Luteolin-7-O-glucuronide (L7Gn), a bioactive molecule present in Perilla frutescens, is known to alleviate severe inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in macrophages. However, its antistress and antidepressant effects have not been elucidated. The present study aims to explore the antidepressant the effect of L7Gn on stress-induced behaviors and the underlying mechanism in a mouse sleep deprivation (SD) model. L7Gn treatment improved depression-like and stress coping behaviors induced by SD stress, as confirmed by the tail suspension test and forced swimming test. Furthermore, L7Gn treatment reduced the blood corticosterone and hippocampal proinflammatory cytokine levels which were increased by SD stress, and L7Gn also increased the mRNA and protein levels of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which were reduced by SD stress. Additionally, treatment with L7Gn resulted in increases in the phosphorylation of tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), which are downstream molecules of BDNF signaling. These findings suggest that L7Gn have therapeutic potential for SD-induced stress, via activating the BDNF signaling.

The Anti-Inflammatory and the Antinociceptive Effects of Mixed Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Extract.

Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint. Previously, we reported that the mixture extract (ME) from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. (AP) and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) could ameliorate gout arthritis. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of ME and characterize the mechanism. We compared the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of a positive control, Perna canaliculus powder (PC). The results showed that one-off and one-week treatment of ME reduced the pain threshold in a dose-dependent manner (from 10 to 100 mg/kg) in the mono-iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA) model. ME also reduced the plasma TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP levels. In LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, ME inhibited the release of NO, PGE2, LTB4, and IL-6, increased the phosphorylation of PPAR-γ protein, and downregulated TNF-α and MAPKs proteins expression in a concentration-dependent (from 1 to 100 µg/mL) manner. Furthermore, ME ameliorated the progression of ear edema in mice. In most of the experiments, ME-induced effects were almost equal to, or were higher than, PC-induced effects. Conclusions: The data presented here suggest that ME shows anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, indicating ME may be a potential therapeutic for arthritis treatment.

Long-term Fate of Denervated Skeletal Muscle After Microvascular Flap Transfer.

BACKGROUND: Muscle flap is a valuable option in soft tissue reconstruction. Denervated skeletal muscle is known to undergo degeneration. However, information regarding histological and genetic changes in muscle free flap without reinnervation over long-term follow-up remains unclear. METHODS: We collected flap muscles obtained during secondary exploration surgery after more than 15 years of previous muscle free flap without reinnervation. Compared with normal muscle and fat, histomorphometric and gene expression analysis of flap muscle were performed. RESULTS: During the study period, we collected 5 samples of previous muscle free flap. The mean ± SD postoperative duration after free flap was 18.6 ± 4.0 years. All flap muscles were replaced with adipose tissue based on gross and histological findings. In flap muscle, the expression of gene related to muscle-specific MYH2 gene was downregulated, whereas the expression of genes related to adipose, fibroadipogenic progenitor, and blood vessel was upregulated compared with that of normal muscle. Vascular density and pattern were also similar to those in normal fat. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that muscle free flap without reinnervation eventually converts into adipose tissue regardless of spontaneous reinnervation during muscle regeneration. The long-term findings of the present study will be valuable for muscle flap selection and prognosis.

An Aberrant Abductor Digiti Minimi Muscle Crossing Guyon's Canal.

Anomalous hypothenar muscles in the wrist are relatively common with 47% prevalence, and their possible consequences associated with Guyon's canal are well known. The accessory of the abductor digiti minimi muscle (ADM) is known to be one of the causes of ulnar tunnel syndrome or ulnar artery thrombosis. A unique ADM was found in the volar wrist region of an 87-year-old male cadaver passing through Guyon's canal.

Idiopathic Synkinesis of the Facial Musculature: Oculo-Nasal, Oculo-Zygomatic, and Fronto-Nasal Synkinesis.

Facial synkinesis is the simultaneous contraction of the certain facial musculature accompanying a motion of designated muscle in the face. With the exception of rare afflictions that are congenital in origin, most patients develop as a sequel to facial nerve paralysis due to trauma, tumor, and surgical injury. As an idiopathic congenital form, oculo-nasal synkinesis which reveals co-contraction of orbicularis oculi and the compressor narium minor muscles which are innervated by separate branches of the facial nerve have been already reported. In addition to oculo-nasal synkinesis, the authors describe 2 more rare patients with facial synkinesis; oculo-zygomatic and fronto-nasal synkinesis with video documentation, which to the best of our knowledge, have not been reported previously in detail. This will help plastic surgeons prevent being involved in legal issues when they might neglect these rare phenomena in preoperative evaluation during cosmetic surgery.