Photoacoustic treatment mitigates cognitive dysfunction in a model of sleep-wake rhythm disturbance

Sleep-wake rhythm disturbances,which are characterized by abnormal sleep timing or duration,are associated with cognitive dysfunction.Photoacoustic treatments including light and sound stimulation have been found to be effective in modulating sleep patterns and improving cognitive behavior in abnormal sleep-wake pattern experiments.In this study,we examined whether light and sound interventions could reduce sleep-wake pattern disturbances and memory deficits in a sleep rhythm disturbance model.We established a model of sleep rhythm disturbance in C57 BL/6 J mice via a sleep deprivation method involving manual cage tapping,cage jostling,and nest disturbance.We used a Mini Mitter radio transmitter device to monitor motor activity in the mice and fear conditioning tests to assess cognitive function.Our results indicated that an intervention in which the mice were exposed to blue light(40-Hz flickering frequency)for 1 hour during their subjective daytime significantly improved the 24-hour-acrophase shift and reduced the degree of memory deficit induced by sleep deprivation.However,interventions in which the mice were exposed to a 40-Hz blue light at offset time or subjective night time points,as well as 2 Hz-blue light at 3 intervention time points(subjective day time,subjective night time,and offset time points),had no positive effects on circadian rhythm shift or memory deficits.Additionally,a 2000-Hz sound intervention during subjective day time attenuated the24-hour-acrophase shift and memory decline,while 440-Hz and 4000-Hz sounds had no effect on circadian rhythms.Overall,these results demonstrate that photoacoustic treatment effectively corrected abnormal sleep-wake patterns and cognitive dysfunction associated with sleep-deprivation-induced disturbances in sleep-wake rhythm.All animal experiments were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to the Medical College of Nanjing University,China(approval No.20171102)on November20,2017.     

Curcumin attenuates spatial memory impairment by anti-oxidative,anti-apoptosis,and anti-inflammatory mechanism against methamphetamine neurotoxicity in male Wistar rats: Histological and biochemical changes

ObjectiveMethamphetamine is used extensively around the world as a psychostimulant. The complications related to methamphetamine include methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity, mainly involving intraneuronal processes, such as oxidative stress and excitotoxicity. Curcumin is effective against neuronal injury due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we examined the protective effects of curcumin against methamphetamine neurotoxicity.MethodsSixty male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: control (n = 12), DMSO (n = 12), methamphetamine (n = 12), and methamphetamine + curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively, intraperitoneal [IP]; n = 12). Neurotoxicity was induced by 40 mg/kg of methamphetamine administrated through 4 injections (4 × 10 mg/kg, q2h, IP). Curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg) was administered at 7 days after the last methamphetamine injection. By using a Morris water maze task, the hippocampus-dependent memory and spatial learning were evaluated 1 day after the last curcumin injection. Then, the animal brains were isolated for biochemical measurements, as well as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adaptor protein-1(Iba-1) and caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining.ResultsThe current study demonstrated that administration of curcumin significantly attenuates spatial memory impairment (P < 0.01) following methamphetamine neurotoxicity. Curcumin caused a significant increase in the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05). However, it decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) (P < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (P < 0.01) levels as compared to the methamphetamine group. Also, curcumin significantly reduced Iba-1 (P < 0. 01), GFAP and caspase-3 positive cells in the hippocampus (P < 0.001).ConclusionCurcumin exerted neuroprotective effects on methamphetamine neurotoxicity because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.     

间接测热法和反向Fick氏法测定心脏手术病人术后氧耗量的比较

目的 采用反向Fick氏法和间接测热法测定心脏手术后病人的全身氧耗,并比较两种测量方法的相关性和准确性。方法8例心脏手术术后病人,分别在入ICU后2h和6h时同时采用反向Fick氏和间接测热法测定病人的全身氧耗量。结果 间接测热法和反向Fick法测得氧耗分别是(16±30)ml·min-1·m-2和(127±23)ml·min-1·m-2,前者的测定结果显著高于后者(P<0.01)。相关分析显示两者有较好的相关性(r=0.92,P<0.01)。采用Bland和Altman统计分析提示两种测定结果的平均偏离值为(35.5±13.4)ml·min-1·m-2,其95％的分布范围是(9～62)ml·min-1·m-2,提示两种测量结果间的一致性较差。结论 两种方法测定心脏病人术后全身氧耗的结果有明显差异,其中反向Fick氏法的测定结果误差大、准确性差,而间接测热法是较好的临床选择。     

大黄对兔内毒素性急性肺损伤胃肠粘膜pH值的影响

目的　研究大黄对兔内毒素性急性肺损伤 (ALI)胃肠粘膜 pH值 (i pH)的影响。 方法　 12只雄性新西兰兔 ,体重为 2 0～ 2 5kg ,随机分为生理盐水对照组 (CON组 ,n =6 )和内毒素组(LPS组 ,n =6 ) ,静注内毒素复制ALI模型。动物在注入LPS后 (2 0 5± 1 0 5 )h ,氧合指数 (PaO2 /FIO2 )≤ 30 0。此时为ALI,肺组织学可见肺泡水肿 ,肺泡壁淤血 ,肺泡内可见中性粒细胞浸润。另取12只雄性新西兰兔 ,待ALI模型成功 ,动物随机分为两组 :大黄组 (D组 ,n =6 )和对照组 (NS组 ,n =6 )。D组从胃管内注入大黄 2 0g/kg ,NS组从胃管中注入生理盐水 2 0 g/kg ,作为对照。观察各时点i pH的变化 (时点分为 :基础值时、ALI时、ALI后 1、2、3、4、5及 6h)。 结果　NS组i pH在ALI后 4、5及 6h较基础值时降低 (P <0 0 5 ) ,在ALI后 5h及 6h较ALI时降低 (P <0 0 5 ) ;D组i pH在ALI后 4h及 5h较NS组升高 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而在ALI后 6h较NS组同时点显著升高 (P <0 0 1)。结论　大黄可提高LPS性兔ALI胃肠粘膜pH值 ,因而对兔胃肠粘膜有保护作用     

心磷脂与缺血/再灌注损伤

心磷脂（CL）是维持线粒体能量代谢所必需的一种磷脂，参与了众多重要生理过程。此文对CL的结构、合成和转化；在维持线粒体正常功能中的作用；缺血／再灌注（I／R）损伤中的改变以及和线粒体功能的关系等作了逐一阐述，说明CL与I／R损伤导致的细胞死亡关系密切，CL量或性质的改变在细胞凋亡中处于中心地位。     

miR-146a-5p regulates autophagy and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in epithelial barrier damage in the in vitro cell model of ulcerative colitis through the RNF8/Notch1/mTORC1 pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the colon that can be influenced by microRNAs (miRNAs). This study aims to investigate the impact of miR-146a-5p on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Caco-2/HT-29 cell autophagy and NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the underlying mechanism, with the aim of identifying potential therapeutic targets. We used LPS to establish Caco-2/HT-29 cell models and measured cell viability by CCK-8. The levels of miR-146a-5p, RNF8, markers of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and autophagy, proteins involved in the Notch1/mTORC1 pathway, and inflammatory factors were assessed by RT-qPCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Intestinal epithelial barrier function was evaluated by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance. Autophagic flux was measured using tandem fluorescent-labeled LC3. miR-146a-5p was highly-expressed in LPS-induced Caco-2/HT-29 cells, and autophagy flux was blocked at the autolysosomal stage after LPS induction. Inhibition of miR-146a-5p suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reduced intestinal epithelial barrier damage, and facilitated autophagy inhibition in LPS-induced Caco-2/HT-29 cells. The autophagy inhibitor NH4Cl partially nullified the inhibitory effects of miR-146a-5p inhibition on NLRP3 inflammation activation. miR-146a-5p targeted RNF8, and silencing RNF8 partly abrogated the action of miR-146a-5p inhibition on promoting autophagy and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. miR-146a-5p inhibition suppressed the Notch1/mTORC1 pathway activation by upregulating RNF8. Inhibition of the Notch1/mTORC1 pathway partially nullified the function of silencing RNF8 on inhibiting autophagy and bolstering NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In conclusion, miR-146a-5p inhibition may be a potential therapeutic approach for UC, as it facilitates autophagy of LPS-stimulated Caco-2/HT-29 cells, inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces intestinal epithelial barrier damage by upregulating RNF8 and suppressing the Notch1/mTORC1 pathway.     

Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy as phospholipids did not improve the incorporation of this fatty acid into rat fetal brain compared with the triglyceride form

Prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supply is important to ensure an adequate infant neurodevelopment. Several fat supplements with DHA under different chemical structures are available. There is an increased placental phospholipase activity at the end of pregnancy. The hypothesis of this study was to discern whether DHA consumption during pregnancy as phospholipids (PLs) could be more available for placental DHA uptake and fetal accretion than triglycerides (TGs) form. We aimed to evaluate maternofetal DHA status in pregnant rats fed with DHA as PL from egg yolk or TG from algae oil to determine which source might be most effective during pregnancy. Three experimental diets were tested: 2.5% DHA-TG (n = 10), 2.5% DHA-PL (n = 9), and 9% DHA-PL (n = 9). The total PL content of these diets was 2%, 12%, and 38%, respectively. We determined dietary fat absorption and quantified fatty acids by gas chromatography in maternal and fetal tissues. Dietary PL enhanced significantly dietary fat absorption. However, animals fed the highest PL-content diet (38% PL and 9% DHA-PL) stored most of the absorbed fat in maternal liver, promoting hepatic steatosis, which was not observed in the lower PL-content diets (12% and 2%). Despite higher fat absorption of PL-containing diets, maternal and fetal tissues (including fetal brain) did not show major differences in DHA content between the 2.5% DHA-PL and 2.5% DHA-TG–fed groups. We conclude that the chemical form of DHA consumed by the rat during gestation (PL or TG) does not differentially affect DHA accretion into fetal brain, and both lipid sources can be equally used for maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy.     

Cholecystokinin protects mouse liver against ischemia and reperfusion injury

BackgroundCholecystokinin (CCK), as a gastrointestinal hormone, has an important protective role against sepsis or LPS-induced endotoxic shock. We aim to address the role of CCK in hepatic ischemia followed by reperfusion (I/R) injury.Materials and methodsA murine model of 60 min partial hepatic ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion was used in this study. CCK and CCKAR Levels in blood and liver were detected at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after reperfusion. Then the mice were treated with CCK or proglumide, a nonspecific CCK-receptor (CCK-R) antagonist. Mice were randomly divided into four groups as follows: (1) sham group, in which mice underwent sham operation and received saline; (2) I/R group, in which mice were subjected to hepatic I/R and received saline; (3) CCK group, in which mice were subjected to hepatic I/R and treated with CCK (400 μg/kg); (4) proglumide group (Pro), in which mice underwent hepatic I/R and treated with proglumide (3 mg/kg); CCK and proglumide were administrated via tail vein at the moment of reperfusion. Serum AST (sAST) and serum ALT (sALT) were determined with a biochemical assay and histological analysis were performed with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E). Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α) expressions in blood were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The MPO (myeloperoxidase) assay were used to measure neutrophils' infiltration into the liver. The apoptotic index (TUNEL-positive cell number / total liver cell number × 100%) was calculated to assess hepatocelluar apoptosis. Finally, activation of NF-κB and phosphor-p38 expression in liver homogenates were analyzed with Western Blot (WB).ResultsOur findings showed that 1) CCK and CCK-AR were upregulated in our experimental model over time; 2) Treatment with CCK decreased sAST/sALT levels, inflammatory hepatic injury, neutrophil influx and hepatocelluar apoptosis, while proglumide aggravated hepatic injury.ConclusionThese findings support our hypothesis and suggest that CCK played a positive role in the ongoing inflammatory process leading to liver I/R injury.