痛情绪相关神经递质及神经环路研究进展＊

痛情绪是指因疼痛引发的情绪和情感体验，是疾病过程中最常见的一种情绪。痛情绪相关神经机制非常复杂，但主要与单胺类神经递质、神经肽和某些神经环路有关，笔者将结合目前研究现状分别从以上两方面展开，就痛情绪相关单胺类神经递质和神经肽在受体分类、脑区通路、共疾病以及各神经递质之间的联系和痛情绪相关神经环路中各个蛋白的作用机制等方面进行探讨。     

The role of peer networks in adolescent pornography use and sexting in Croatia

ABSTRACT

Although communication about sexuality is a significant pathway through which peers influence adolescent sexual development, little research has examined the role of peer networks in the use of sexualized media. We applied a social network approach to assess the role of close peers in adolescent pornography use and sexting in a sample of Croatian high school students. Sexual conversation networks’ characteristics did not correlate with pornography use. In contrast, sexting was associated with the proportion of same gender peers, the proportion of older peers and the proportion of sexually experienced peers in the network – pointing to the role of peer influence. Participants’ gender did not moderate these associations. Specific mechanisms underlying the observed associations and the role of peer selection remain important tasks for future research.     

A new approach to prevent HIV transmission: Project Protect intervention for recently infected individuals

Past research suggests that as many as 50% of onward human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmissions occur during acute and recent HIV infection. It is clearly important to develop interventions which focus on this highly infectious stage of HIV infection to prevent further transmission in the risk networks of acutely and recently infected individuals. Project Protect tries to find recently and acutely infected individuals and prevents HIV transmission in their risk networks. Participants are recruited by community health outreach workers at community-based HIV testing sites and drug users' community venues, by coupon referrals and through referrals from AIDS clinics. When a network with acute/recent infection is identified, network members are interviewed about their risky behaviors, network information is collected, and blood is drawn for HIV testing. Participants are also educated and given prevention materials (condoms, syringes, educational materials); HIV-infected participants are referred to AIDS clinics and are assisted with access to care. Community alerts about elevated risk of HIV transmission are distributed within the risk networks of recently infected. Overall, 342 people were recruited to the project and screened for acute/recent HIV infection. Only six index cases of recent infection (2.3% of all people screened) were found through primary screening at voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) sites, but six cases of recent infection were found through contact tracing of these recently infected participants (7% of network members who came to the interview). Combining screening at VCT sites and contact tracing the number of recently infected people we located as compared to VCT screening alone. No adverse events were encountered. These first results provide evidence for the theory behind the intervention, i.e., in the risk networks of recently infected people there are other people with recent HIV infection and they can be successfully located without increasing stigma for project participants.     

Role of optical coherence tomography angiography in the characterization of vascular network patterns of ocular surface squamous neoplasia

PurposeTo visualize and quantify vascular networks in individuals with ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) through optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).MethodCross-sectional study of OSSN patients. Vascular networks were measured by OCTA in the epithelium and sub-epithelial space in the tumors, adjacent tissue, and in the contralateral eye. Vessel area density (VAD, percent of blood vessels within 2.14 mm²), was calculated for each location. Total tumor density (TTD, percent of blood vessels within the entire tumor) was calculated. VAD was assessed separately for corneal and conjunctival locations and compared.ResultsFifteen patients with OSSN were included. The mean age was 61 ± 12 years and the majority were male (80%). The mean tumor area, volume, depth, and TTD were 28.0 ± 9.0 mm² (range, 10.9–39.7), 9.1 ± 4.1 mm³ (range, 3.4–18.8), 334 ± 125 μm (range, 177–571), and 33.2% ± 11.0% (range, 18.7–58.8), respectively. The VAD was highest within the tumor (28.9% ± 8.7%) followed by the adjacent sub-epithelial tissue and the tissue underneath the conjunctival component of tumor. These densities were higher than the VAD in the tissues of the non-involved eye (all P < 0.05). The VAD within conjunctival component of tumor was significantly higher than those with corneal component (29.8% ± 9.5% vs. 21.1% ± 5.5%, p = 0.006). The VAD under conjunctival tumor was also significantly higher than under corneal component (24.1% ± 7.8% vs. 17.0% ± 6.1%, p = 0.024).ConclusionsOCTA imaging allowed for visualization and quantification of vessel structure and density within, under, and surrounding OSSN.     

Putting age-related task activation into large-scale brain networks: A meta-analysis of 114 fMRI studies on healthy aging

Normal aging is associated with cognitive decline and underlying brain dysfunction. Previous studies concentrated less on brain network changes at a systems level. Our goal was to examine these age-related changes of fMRI-derived activation with a common network parcellation of the human brain function, offering a systems-neuroscience perspective of healthy aging. We conducted a series of meta-analyses on a total of 114 studies that included 2035 older adults and 1845 young adults. Voxels showing significant age-related changes in activation were then overlaid onto seven commonly referenced neuronal networks. Older adults present moderate cognitive decline in behavioral performance during fMRI scanning, and hypo-activate the visual network and hyper-activate both the frontoparietal control and default mode networks. The degree of increased activation in frontoparietal network was associated with behavioral performance in older adults. Age-related changes in activation present different network patterns across cognitive domains. The systems neuroscience approach used here may be useful for elucidating the underlying network mechanisms of various brain plasticity processes during healthy aging.     

Engraftable neural crest stem cells derived from cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cells

Neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), a population of multipotent cells that migrate extensively and give rise to diverse derivatives, including peripheral and enteric neurons and glia, craniofacial cartilage and bone, melanocytes and smooth muscle, have great potential for regenerative medicine. Non-human primates provide optimal models for the development of stem cell therapies. Here, we describe the first derivation of NCSCs from cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cells (CmESCs) at the neural rosette stage. CmESC-derived neurospheres replated on polyornithine/laminin-coated dishes migrated onto the substrate and showed characteristic expression of NCSC markers, including Sox10, AP2α, Slug, Nestin, p75, and HNK1. CmNCSCs were capable of propagating in an undifferentiated state in vitro as adherent or suspension cultures, and could be subsequently induced to differentiate towards peripheral nervous system lineages (peripheral sympathetic neurons, sensory neurons, and Schwann cells) and mesenchymal lineages (osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and smooth muscle cells). CmNCSCs transplanted into developing chick embryos or fetal brains of cynomolgus macaques survived, migrated, and differentiated into progeny consistent with a neural crest identity. Our studies demonstrate that CmNCSCs offer a new tool for investigating neural crest development and neural crest-associated human disease and suggest that this non-human primate model may facilitate tissue engineering and regenerative medicine efforts.     

Exploration and validation of the effects of robust co-expressed immune-related genes on immune infiltration patterns and prognosis in laryngeal cancer

ObjectivesLaryngeal cancer is a common malignant tumor that originates from the larynx, yet its molecular mechanisms have not been thoroughly explored. The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate immune-related genes in laryngeal cancer through gene co-expression networks, which may serve as biomarkers for its immunotherapy.MethodsWe applied ESTIMATE to evaluate the immune-infiltration landscape of tumor microenvironment. The co-expression networks were constructed by weighted gene co expression network analysis (WGCNA) and compared with the existing human immune related genes (IRGs) to determine the co-expressed IRGs. GSVA combined with CIBERSORT and ssGSEA illustrated the correlation of hub genes and immune infiltration patterns. TIDE algorithm and Subclass mapping evaluated the function of hub genes in predicting immune function and immunotherapeutic sensitivity. The pRRophetic was employed in the sensitivity prediction of chemotherapeutic drugs.ResultsA total of 23 co-expressed IRGs were identified and showed robust expression characteristics. These genes were significantly related to immune infiltration patterns, immune function and sensitivity prediction of immunotherapy and chemotherapeutic drugs for laryngeal cancer patients. Genetic alteration in somatic mutation level and related pathways were also revealed.ConclusionThe 23 co-expressed IRGs may act as immunotherapeutic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for laryngeal cancer with certain expression robustness. The molecular mechanisms deserve further investigation, which will guide clinical treatment in the future.     

Management of major trauma

Trauma is one of the leading cause of deaths in those <35 years old in the UK. It also has a significant morbidity burden with a subsequent economic impact. There is also a realisation that trauma is having an increasing impact in the elderly population. In the last two decades there have been changes in both the structure of trauma care across the UK, and also in clinical aspects from pre-hospital care to rehabilitation. This article will review the changes that have occurred, including the reasons, and give a broad overview of the immediate management of the critically ill trauma patient.