[Research progress on the role of microglia in sepsis-associated encephalopathy].

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) refers to diffuse brain dysfunction caused by sepsis, which is characterized by decreased attention, directional impairment, being prone to irritation, and in severe cases the patient will experience drowsiness and coma. The pathogenesis of SAE mainly includes neuroinflammation, damage of blood-brain barrier, cerebral vascular dysfunction, and neurometabolic changes, among which neuroinflammation is the core pathological process. Microglia are considered to be important immune cells of the central nervous system and play an important role in neuroinflammation. This article systematically describes the role of microglia in the development of SAE, and discusses the phenotype and related signaling pathways of microglia, in order to clarify the role of microglia in SAE and provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of SAE.

Can institutional pressures serve as an efficacious catalyst for mitigating corporate carbon emissions?

Driving enterprises to implement carbon emission reduction actions and reduce carbon emissions is a crucial research topic in achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. As a significant external environment factor influencing corporate behavior, can institutional pressures effectively promote enterprises to reduce carbon emissions? This study aims to probe into the impact and mechanism of three institutional pressures, namely coercive, mimetic, and normative, on corporate carbon emissions, taking Chinese-listed companies as the research object. The results indicate that coercive pressure is positively associated with corporate carbon reduction, while normative pressure has no significant impact. Furthermore, mimetic pressure impedes corporate carbon emissions. The mechanism test shows that carbon reduction is a mediator in the influence exerted by three institutional pressures on corporate carbon emissions. In response to coercive pressure and mimetic pressure, enterprises tend to reduce their carbon emissions by cultivating concepts related to carbon emission reduction. Concepts related to carbon reduction play a more dominant role than carbon reduction actions when both are mediators, with the former even replacing the latter. This research provides a new perspective for improving corporate environmental performance and corporate sustainability.

Blocking salt-inducible kinases with YKL-06-061 prevents PTZ-induced seizures in mice.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, while over one third of adults with epilepsy still have inadequate seizure control. Although mutations in salt-inducible kinases (SIKs) have been identified in epileptic encephalopathy, it is not known whether blocking SIKs can prevent pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures. METHODS: We first determined the time course of SIKs (including SIK 1, 2, and 3) in the hippocampus of PTZ treated mice. And then, we evaluated the effects of anti-epilepsy drug valproate acid (VPA) on the expression of SIK 1, 2, and 3 in the hippocampus of PTZ treated mice. Next, we investigated the effect of different dose of SIKs inhibitor YKL-06-061 on the epileptic seizures and neuronal activation by determining the expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) in the PTZ treated mice. RESULTS: We found that PTZ selectively induced enhanced expression of SIK1 in the hippocampus, which was blocked by VPA treatment. Notably, YKL-06-061 decreased seizure activity and prevented neuronal overactivity, as indicated by the reduced expression of IEGs in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide the first evidence that SIK1 affects gene regulation in neuronal hyperactivity, which is involved in seizure behavior. Targeting SIK1 through the development of selective inhibitors may lead to disease-modifying therapies that reduce epilepsy progression.

Detection of 1.4 µg/m3 Na+ in aerosol at a 30 m distance using 1 kHz femtosecond laser filamentation in air.

An optimized remote material detection scheme based on the laser filament-induced plasma spectroscopy and light detection and ranging (FIPS-LIDAR) is proposed in this work. The elemental composition and concentration of aerosol are measured by FIPS-LIDAR. By focusing the femtosecond laser with a large aperture (Φ41 cm) concave mirror and coaxial fluorescence collection scheme, the remote detection of aerosol in air at µg/m3 level has been realized at a distance of 30 m. The limit of detection for Na+ in aerosol droplets is 8 ppm (3 µg/m3 in air), which is the lowest detection limit that has been reported using millijoule femtosecond laser pulse (4.4 mJ). Furthermore, using spectral preprocessing and optimization of the proposed significance of peak (SOP) algorithm, feature peak signals are extracted from weak signals and the limit of detection can be further decreased to 1.4 µg/m3.

Ranging performance model considering the pulse pileup effect for PMT-based photon-counting lidars.

Currently, the ranging performance model for a photomultiplier tube (PMT)-based photon-counting lidar assumes the dead time is a fixed value for simplicity. This assumption introduces a bias in evaluating the ranging performance for a given PMT-based lidar because the dead time of PMTs is actually changeably caused by the pulse pileup effect. In this paper, the changeable dead time is calculated by a new empirical equation based on the Monte Carlo simulation. The empirical equation of the dead time is then used to derive the ranging performance model for PMT-based PC lidar systems. The proposed model is verified by an experimental lidar system equipped with a PMT and utilized to quantitatively analyze the influence of factors, such as the noise rate, discrimination threshold, signal intensity, and receiving pulse width. The result indicates that the receiving pulse width has a major influence, and when it exceeds 10 ns, the pulse pileup effect will introduce biases of more than 5 cm if the conventional model (ignoring the pulse pileup effect) is used. For a spaceborne lidar at an altitude of several hundred kilometers, the receiving pulse width will be significantly stretched when lasers illuminate on sloping surfaces, e.g., for a sloping surface larger than 2 degrees, so the effect of pulse pileup effect will have to be taken into consideration.

Acquired cholesteatoma epithelial hyperproliferation: Roles of cell proliferation signal pathways.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To review the recent cell proliferation signal pathways in the etiopathogenesis of acquired middle ear cholesteatoma. DATA SOURCES: PubMed (to September 2015). REVIEW METHODS: Articles about cell proliferation signal pathways in the etiopathogenesis of acquired cholesteatoma and treatment advances were searched in the PubMed database, from which 73 were included in this review. RESULTS: The exact underlying cellular and molecular mechanism of acquired cholesteatoma still remains unknown. Recent research tends to regard the proliferation of cholesteatoma epithelial cells as the mechanism of cholesteatoma pathogenesis. Cell proliferation signal pathways including epidermal growth factor receptor/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signal pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway, interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signal pathway, inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation-1/nuclear factor-κB/cyclinD1 signal pathway, microRNA-mediated proliferation signal pathway, and keratinocyte growth factor/keratinocyte growth factor receptor signal pathway have been proven to play important roles in acquired middle ear cholesteatoma. CONCLUSIONS: This review outlines the main biological properties of certain cell proliferation signal pathways, aiming to facilitate the development of potential therapeutic targets for intratympanic drug therapy for the nonsurgical or complementary treatment of cholesteatoma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 126:1923-1930, 2016.

Primary thyroid diffuse large B-cell lymphoma coexistent with papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is uncommon, accounting for 2% to 5% of all thyroid malignancies. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most frequent thyroid cancer. The coexistence of PTL and PTC is very rare, and the preoperative diagnosis is rather difficult. METHODS: A 41-year-old male patient complaining of fast painless thyroid enlargement for 2 months and a cervical mass for half a month was presented. Imaging demonstrated an enlarged thyroid and a mass in the thyroid. RESULTS: Surgery was conducted, and the final diagnosis of coexistence of PTL and PTC was confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. The patient was then treated with cyclophosphamide, hydroxy doxorubicin, oncovin, prednisone (CHOP) chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After 2 months of follow-up, no recurrence or metastasis was noted. CONCLUSION: This rare case highlights the importance for physicians to keep PTL in mind for differential diagnosis in patients with sudden thyroid enlargement and who have clinical history of Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Activation of the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in human middle ear cholesteatoma epithelium.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the most important cytokines which has been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in middle ear cholesteatoma epithelium in an effort to determine the role of IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of IL-6 and p-STAT3 in 25 human middle ear cholesteatoma samples and 15 normal external auditory canal (EAC) epithelium specimens. We also analyzed the relation of IL-6 and p-STAT3 expression levels to the degree of bone destruction in cholesteatoma. We found that the expression of IL-6 and p-STAT3 were significantly higher in cholesteatoma epithelium than in normal EAC epithelium (p<0.05). In cholesteatoma epithelium, a significant positive association was observed between IL-6 and p-STAT3 expression (p<0.05). However, no significant relationships were observed between the degree of bone destruction and the levels of IL-6 and p-STAT3 expression (p>0.05). To conclude, our results support the concept that IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway is active and may play an important role in the mechanisms of epithelial hyper-proliferation responsible for cholesteatoma.

A huge nodular fasciitis in parapharygneal space in a 7-year-old girl: a case report and review of literature.

Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign and reactive fibroblastic growth extending from the superficial fascia into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle, with a morbidity of less than 20% in children. We report a case of a 7-year-old girl presented with a 3-month history of snore and mouth breathing. Image findings demonstrated a large soft-tissue mass in the right parapharyngeal space. The lesion was successfully eradicated by surgical removal. Pathological analysis established NF as the final diagnosis. Histopathological findings were notable for a reactive spindle-cell process composed of proliferative fibroblasts with extravasated red blood cells and interstitial edema. Immunohistochemical stains showed that the lesional cells were positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA), muscle-specific actin (HHF35), and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), and negative for S100 protein. No clinical evidence of recurrence was noticed after 2 months of follow-up. Being the first report of NF in the parapharyngeal space of a child, this rare pediatric case points out the importance for otolaryngologists to keep NF in mind for differential diagnosis to avoid unnecessary wide resection.

Features analysis on Traditional Chinese Medicine syndromes in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the features of the distribution and differentiation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndromes in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). METHODS: We collected clinical data on illness course, age, fasting blood glucose, saccharogenic hemoglobin, TCM syndromes, tongue, and pulse of 238 DPN patients. Differentiated main syndromes (Yin deficiency and exuberant heat, invasion of spleen by damp-heat, deficiency of both Qi and Yin, and deficiency of both Yin and Yang) and accompanying syndromes (blood stasis and phlegm-dampness) of diabetes were also recorded. The features of DPN syndromes were then analyzed. RESULTS: Among the fourmain syndromes of diabetes, deficiency of both Yin and Yang was the most common in the 238DPN patients, of which 89%-96 had blood stasis. CONCLUSION: The method of differentiating syndromes of diabetes can be applied to DPN patients. Deficiency of both Yin and Yang, often accompanied by blood stasis, is commonly seen.

Anatomical study to the vessels of the lower limb by using CT scan and 3D reconstructions of the injected material.

PURPOSE: To find out the advantages and insufficiency of the 3D reconstruction and traditional anatomy by comparing them with each other. METHODS: 1. Infused with the radio-opaque material from the arteries and veins, respectively, fresh lower extremity specimens were subjected to spiral CT scanning and then 3D reconstruction was conducted to obtain 3D vessels. 2. Anatomizing the specimens to show the vessel system. 3. Comparing the images of 3D reconstruction and photos of the dissected specimens. RESULTS: 3D software could dissect and reconstruct the bones, vessels, skin and muscles, and the reconstructed photos could be shown, respectively or combinedly. On the other hand, the course, distribution, and anastomoses of the vessels could be viewed from different aspects and different layers, but the results were not completely correct, so they were not suitable for data acquisition. While the vessel systems could be observed clearly on the dissected specimens, so could the origin, course, distribution and the anastomoses of any vessel. The data acquisition could be conducted. CONCLUSIONS: The method of angiography with 3D reconstruction is very good and has considerable advantages for observing the 3D state of human blood vessels, and their distribution at different angles and different levels, but it cannot totally represent or replace the traditional dissected specimens.