The Influence of the Gut Microbiota on Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that tends to occur in the elderly. The main symptom is hypomnesia. More and more older people are suffering from this disease worldwide. By 2050, 152 million people worldwide are expected to have AD. It is thought that the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptides and hyper-phosphorylated tau tangles contribute to AD. The microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis appears as a new concept. The MGB axis is a collection of microbial molecules produced in the gastrointestinal tract that influence the physiological function of the brain. In this review, we discuss how the gut microbiota (GM) and its metabolites affect AD in different ways. Dysregulation of the GM has been shown to be involved in various mechanisms involved in memory and learning functions. We review the current literature on the role of the entero-brain axis in the pathogenesis of AD and its potential role as a future therapeutic target in the treatment and/or prevention of AD.

Corresponding risk factors between cognitive impairment and type 1 diabetes mellitus: A narrative review.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a type of diabetes caused by the destruction of pancreatic ß cells and the absolute lack of insulin secretion. T1DM usually starts in adolescence or develops directly as a severe disease state of ketoacidosis. T1DM and its complications make many people suffer and have psychological problems, which make us have to pay more attention to the prevention and early control of T1DM. Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the major complications of T1DM. It can further develop into Alzheimer's disease, which can seriously affect the quality of life of the elderly. Furthermore, the relationship between T1DM and CI is unclear. Hence, we conducted a narrative review of the existing literature through a PubMed search. We summarized some risk factors that may be associated with the cognitive changes in T1DM patients, including onset age and duration, education and gender, glycemic states, microvascular complications, glycemic control, neuropsychology and emotion, intestinal flora, dyslipidemia, sleep quality. We aimed to provide some content related to CI in T1DM, and hoped that it could play a role in early prediction and treatment to reduce the prevalence.

Scorpion Venom Heat-Resistant Peptide is Neuroprotective against Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Association with the NMDA-MAPK Pathway.

Scorpion venom heat-resistant peptide (SVHRP) is a component purified from Buthus martensii Karsch scorpion venom. Our previous studies have shown that SVHRP is neuroprotective in models of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The present study aimed to explore the potential neuroprotective effects of SVHRP on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, using a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) and a cellular model of oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). Our results showed that SVHRP treatment decreased the neurological deficit scores, edema formation, infarct volume and neuronal loss in the MCAO/R mice, and protected primary neurons against OGD/R insult. SVHRP pretreatment suppressed the alterations in protein levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and phosphorylated p38 MAPK as well as some proinflammatory factors in both the animal and cellular models. These results suggest that SVHRP has neuroprotective effects against cerebral I/R injury, which might be associated with inhibition of the NMDA-MAPK-mediated excitotoxicity.

Pathological and cognitive changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and comorbid MCI and protective hypoglycemic therapies: a narrative review.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is becoming a significant health issue worldwide. Many studies support the hypothesis that patients with T2DM have a higher-than-expected incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than individuals without diabetes. Based on the results from recent studies, MCI might be associated with the effects of T2DM on glucose metabolism and brain atrophy. As a narrative review, we will illuminate pathological and cognitive changes in patients with T2DM and comorbid MCI and protective hypoglycemic therapies. The early abnormal signs of cognition must be elucidated, and extensive investigations are needed to develop improved therapies for use in the clinic.

[Transurethral holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients with a history of transrectal prostate biopsy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of transurethral holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of BPH in patients with a history of transrectal prostate biopsy (TRPB). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 102 cases of BPH treated by HoLEP in our hospital between November 2015 and May 2017, of which 42 had received TRPB prior to HoLEP (the PB group) but not the other 60 (the non-TRPB ï¼»NPBï¼½ group). We compared the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative follow-up data between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the mean age, prostate volume, and preoperative post-void residual urine volume (PVR), IPSS, quality of life (QOL) score and maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) between the two groups of patients. The preoperative PSA level was significantly higher in the PB than in the NPB group (ï¼»10.30 ± 3.62ï¼½ vs ï¼»2.62 ± 1.75ï¼½ µg/L, P < 0.01), and the operation time markedly longer in the former than in the latter (ï¼»78.00 ± 18.25ï¼½ vs ï¼»67.93 ± 15.89ï¼½ min, P < 0.01), particularly in the patients with an interval of <2 weeks between HoLEP and TRPB than in those with an interval of ≥2 weeks (ï¼»91.17 ± 16.51ï¼½ vs ï¼»68.13 ± 12.45ï¼½ min, P < 0.01). Statistically significant differences were not found in the postoperative hemoglobin level, continuous bladder irrigation duration, catheter-indwelling time and hospital stay, nor in the incidence rate of transient urinary incontinence between the PB and NPB groups (47.62% vs 45%, P = 0.794). There were no transurethral resection syndrome, bladder or rectal injury, or blood transfusion in either group, nor statistically significant differences in PVR, Qmax, IPSS and QOL score between the two groups of patients at 3, 6 or 12 months after operation. CONCLUSIONS: HoLEP is a safe and effective surgical treatment of BPH for patients with a history of TRPB, which can reduce the time and increase the safety of operation when performed at ≥2 weeks after TRPB.

Mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus and related risk factors: a review.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global epidemic disease and has become a significant health problem. Many studies have raised concern about the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with T2DM and even the Alzheimer's disease patients with T2DM. The incidence of MCI is higher in individuals with T2DM than those without diabetes. Cognitive changes might affect everyday activities depending on the work and situation. Although the exact pathophysiology of MCI in T2DM is unclear, many studies suggest that the alterations in pathoglycemia, diabetic complications, related end products, and physical/psychological status are significant risk factors. In this article, we systematically overview the studies to illustrate the related risk factors of cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM. Further high quality studies and treatment need to be initiated and it will become incumbent on clinicians to identify and cure the earliest signs of clinical impairment.

[Species composition, structure and spatial distribution of secondary cold-temperate Picea forest in Guandi Mountain, China]. / å ³å¸å±±å¯’æ¸©æ€§äº‘æ‰æ¬¡ç”Ÿæž—æ ·åœ°æ ‘ç§ç»„æˆã€ç»“æž„å’Œç©ºé—´åˆ†å¸ƒ.

The secondary Picea forest is one of the dominant vegetation types in Guandi Mountain. It's also the representative type of evergreen cold-temperate coniferous forests in subalpine region of north China. A 4 hm2 fixed monitoring Picea forest plot was established in Pangquangou Nature Reserve, Guandi Mountain (GDS plot) to better understand the basic characteristics such as species composition, community structure and its potential ecological process and mechanisms. We analyzed species composition, structure and spatial distribution of sample forest based on the first background survey data in this paper. The results showed that a total of 30 woody plant species existed in the sample area, which belonged to 11 families, 22 genera. The total individual number (including branches) was 26218 (independent individual number was 10266). Floristic composition in the region was defined as north temperate elements. Big differences of individual number, average diameter at breast height (DBH) and basal area among different species caused significant community layering effect, and the dominant species in each layer was obvious. Size-class structure of species showed bimodal skewed normal distribution at the canopy layer, approximate normal distribution at the subtree layer, and 'L' type distribution at the shrub layer. Spatial distribution of the dominant tree species such as Picea wilsonii and Larix principis-rupprechtii showed different pattern features with the changing size class, whether in individual number or in aggregation degree. Compared with the above two species with the same size class, a large number of L. principis-rupprechtii with DBH≥30 cm aggregated in the center of sample plot, but few P. wilsonii individuals with DBH≥30 cm occurred in the plot and had no clustering distribution. Only a few L. principis-rupprechtii with DBH≤10 cm occurred in the plot with a scattering distribution, and a large number of P. wilsonii with DBH≤10 cm aggregated in the center of the plot. There were also many P. wilsonii individuals with DBH≤10 cm distributed in the northwest area of the plot, but Betula albo-sinensis individuals with DBH≤10 cm mostly distributed in the southeast area of the plot. Shrub species such as Cotoneaster acutifolius, Spiraea pubescens and Lonicera szechuanica also showed heterogeneous spatial distribution. Species distribution pattern was affected by habitat conditions, and related to its own development, regeneration traits and ecological habits.

Correlation between chronic headaches and the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle: A comparative analysis of cross-sectional trail.

Objective We aimed to investigate the morphological changes and potential correlation between chronic headaches and the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle (RCPmi). Methods Comparison of RCPmi between patients with chronic headaches and healthy adult volunteers were collected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Mimics software. Results Among the 235 MRI images analyzed, the data between the two groups were considered statistically significant. The number of males was larger than that of females ( p < 0.001) and the headache group showed greater hypertrophy than the control group in both males ( p < 0.001) and females ( p = 0.001). Conclusions Chronic headaches were correlated with the RCPmi. Patients with chronic headaches suffered from more obvious hypertrophy than that of the control group. Additionally, it was supposed that RCPmi hypertrophy may be one pathogenesis of the chronic headaches.

Contribution of AM inoculation and cattle manure to lead and cadmium phytoremediation by tobacco plants.

Lead and cadmium are both highly toxic pollutants and pose potential risks to the environment and human health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation and organic amendments may make a potential contribution to phytoremediation of these toxic metals, but their effects remain unclear. We conducted a pot culture experiment to study the contribution of AM inoculation and/or cattle manure to phytoremediation of two soils artificially polluted with 0, 350, 500 and 1000 mg Pb per kg soil or 0, 1, 10, 100 mg Cd per kg soil using tobacco plants. Results showed that AM colonization was greatly reduced when exposed to more heavy metals especially Cd, whereas organic amendment alleviated metal stress and showed protective effects. In general, AM inoculation and cattle manure, singly or in combination, all significantly increased tobacco growth and Pb and Cd accumulation in shoots and roots, while decreased DTPA-extractable Pb and Cd concentrations in soil, and combination treatments (MN) produced the most pronounced positive effects. Improved plant P nutrition, higher soil pH and lower available metal concentrations contributed by AM inoculation and/or organic amendment may be the main strategies to alleviate metal toxicity and enhance phytoremediation efficiency. Our results indicate that AM fungi and organic manure play a synergistic positive role both in phytoextraction and phytostabilization of Cd and Pb.

The effect of erbium on the adsorption and photodegradation of orange I in aqueous Er3+-TiO2 suspension.

Pure TiO(2) and erbium ion-doped TiO(2) (Er(3+)-TiO(2)) catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method were characterized by means of XRD and diffusive reflectance spectra (DRS). The XRD results showed that erbium ion doping could enhance the thermal stability of TiO(2) and inhibit the increase of the crystallite size, and the DRS results showed that the optical absorption edge slightly shifted to red direction owing to erbium ion doping and the Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts had three typical absorption peaks located at 490, 523 and 654 nm owing to the transition of 4f electron from (4)I(15/2) to (4)F(7/2), (2)H(11/2) and (4)F(9/2). With a purpose of azo dyes degradation, orange I was used as a model chemical. And the adsorption isotherm, degradation and mineralization of orange I were investigated in aqueous suspension of pure TiO(2) or Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts. The results showed that Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts had higher adsorption equilibrium constants and better adsorption capacity than pure TiO(2). The adsorption equilibrium constants (K(a)) of Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts were about twice of that of pure TiO(2). The maximum adsorption capacity (Q(max)) of 2.0% Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst was 13.08x10(-5)mol/g, which was much higher than that of pure TiO(2) with 9.03x10(-5)mol/g. Among Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts, 2.0% Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst achieved the highest Q(max) and K(a) values. The kinetics of the orange I degradation using different Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts were also studied. The results demonstrated that the degradation and mineralization of orange I under both UV radiation and visible light were more efficient with Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst than with pure TiO(2), and an optimal dosage of erbium ion at 1.5% achieved the highest degradation rate. The higher photoactivity under visible light might be attributable to the transitions of 4f electrons of Er(3+) and red shifts of the optical absorption edge of TiO(2) by erbium ion doping.