Effect of different combination of maternal and postnatal diet on adipose tissue morphology in male rat offspring

Purpose: Adipose tissue expansion can occur through several different ways and, under certain conditions, can be connected with chronic inflammation. TNF-α is one of the important cytokines involved in this process. Prolonged inflammation in obesity can lead to obesity-related insulin resistance and tissue dysfunction. The aim of our study was to investigate how different combination of maternal and postnatal diet affects offspring adipose tissue morphology and adipose tissue TNF-α expression.

Methods: Ten female Sprague Dawley rats, 9 weeks old, were randomly divided into two groups and fed either standard laboratory chow or food rich in saturated fatty acids during 6 weeks and then mated with the same male rat. After birth and lactation male rat offspring from both groups were divided into four subgroups depending on the diet they were fed until 22 weeks old. Samples of white adipose tissue were taken from the subcutaneous, epididymal, and perirenal fat pad. On tissue sections, histomorphometric analysis was conducted using CellProfiler program v 2.1.1, and immunohistochemical staining for TNF-α was performed.

Results: Greater mean surface area of subcutaneous and epididymal adipocytes was found in groups of male rat offspring with altered diet. In perirenal adipose tissue, the highest number of adipocytes was measured in the group where both mother and offspring were fed a high-fat diet. Adipocyte staining intensity for TNF-α did not differ significantly between the groups.

Conclusions: Together with our previously published data, our results lead to the conclusion that alteration of postnatal diet can lead to TNF-α and adipocyte morphology changes.     

Transforming brain signals related to value evaluation and self‐control into behavioral choices

The processes involved in value evaluation and self‐control are critical when making behavioral choices. However, the evidence linking these two types of processes to behavioral choices in intertemporal decision‐making remains elusive. As the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), striatum, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) have been associated with these two processes, we focused on these three regions. We employed functional magnetic resonance imaging during a delayed discounting task (DDT) using a relatively large sample size, three independent samples. We evaluated how much information about a specific choice could be decoded from local patterns in each brain area using multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA). To investigate the relationship between the dlPFC and vmPFC/striatum regions, we performed a psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis. In Experiment I, we found that the vmPFC and dlPFC, but not the striatum, could determine choices in healthy participants. Furthermore, we found that the dlPFC showed significant functional connectivity with the vmPFC, but not the striatum, when making decisions. These results could be replicated in Experiment II with an independent sample of healthy participants. In Experiment III, the choice‐decoding accuracy in the vmPFC and dlPFC was lower in patients with addiction (smokers and participants with Internet gaming disorder) than in healthy participants, and decoding accuracy in the dlPFC was related to impulsivity in addicts. Taken together, our findings may provide neural evidence supporting the hypothesis that value evaluation and self‐control processes both guide the intertemporal choices, and might provide potential neural targets for the diagnosis and treatment of impulsivity‐related brain disorders.     

基于中药质量标志物和传统用法的中药饮片标准汤剂传承发展研究思路与建议

中药汤剂(也称煎剂)是中医师最常用的中药复方剂型,也是中药历史上应用最久和最广的制剂。药材是饮片的原料,饮片是制备提取物、构成中医处方和中药制剂的原料,更体现了传承发展中药的重要性。基于中药饮片标准汤剂,科学认识汤剂质量,提高药典饮片和中成药质量评价研究理论和方法是科学发展的重要策略。开展以中医药理论为指导、临床应用为基础的中药饮片标准汤剂研究,基于中药质量标志物理论和研究方法探讨饮片和煎煮工艺的影响,形成标准汤剂的质量评价体系,既有利于确保中医处方用药的安全和疗效,也有利于认识标准汤剂在"药材-饮片-中成药"的质量及其标准的差异和价值,提升国家对中药饮片监管水平,保障人民用药安全和有效;还有利于认识标准汤剂在中药饮片生产、中药配方颗粒及经典名方的传承研发中的重要意义。     

Gastric volvulus and giant Bochdalek hernia in an adult patient that were safely repaired by endoscopic reduction and elective laparoscopic surgery

A Bochdalek hernia (BH) is a congenital abnormality with incomplete closure of the diaphragm. It is usually manifested in infants but rarely in adults. Here, we report an adult patient with gastric volvulus and giant BH that were safely repaired by endoscopic reduction and elective laparoscopic surgery, respectively. A 79-year-old woman presented with left upper abdominal pain but no history of trauma. CT revealed a giant BH with gastric volvulus. After emergency endoscopic reduction of the volvulus, elective laparoscopic repair of the BH was performed. The 8 × 8-cm defect was repaired with interrupted nonabsorbable sutures and a mesh. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and no complications or recurrence were observed in the 6 months that followed.     

Role of theories in school-based diabetes care interventions: A critical review

BACKGROUNDDiabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. School plays an essential role in the management of student diabetes, which reduces the risk of short- and long-term diabetes complications and ensures that students are well-positioned for optimal academic performance and growth.AIMThe aim of this review was to systematically identify and synthesize the literature concerning theory-based diabetes care interventions in K-12 schools in the United States. It critically assessed the specific role of theories and associated essential constructs in intervention design, implementation, outcome measurement, and evaluation.METHODSRelevant literature was identified by keyword searches of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science.RESULTSFour interventions met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Of those, two evaluated online diabetes education programs for school personnel and the other two assessed in-person interventions. Three studies adopted a one-group pre-post study design, and the remaining one adopted a one-shot case-study design. Three of the interventions adopted social cognitive theory, and the remaining one was guided by the diffusion of innovations theory. Three studies identified core constructs of a theory as predictors of behavioral change. Two used theory to select or develop intervention techniques. Two studies used theory to customize participant intervention techniques. Two studies discussed their findings in the context of theory. No study used theory to select potential intervention participants.CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, despite the value of theory in intervention design and evaluation, theory-based diabetes interventions at school remain scarce. Future research may seek ways to better integrate theory and empirical research.     

Ursolic acid promotes apoptosis,autophagy, and chemosensitivity in gemcitabine‐resistant human pancreatic cancer cells

Gemcitabine (GEM) resistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma mediated by the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has been demonstrated. Therefore, investigating the safety and the potential of new auxiliary methods for pancreatic cancer treatment is urgent. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid found in apple peels, rosemary, and thyme, has been reported to have anticancer capacity. This study aimed to reveal the underlying mechanisms of UA in cell death and drug enhancement, especially in GEM‐resistant pancreatic cancer cells. First, GEM‐resistant cells (MIA Paca‐2^GEMR cells) were established by incrementally increasing GEM culture concentrations. UA treatment reduced cell viability through cell cycle arrest and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, resulting in apoptosis and autophagy in a dose‐dependent manner in MIA Paca‐2 and MIA Paca‐2^GEMR cells. High RAGE expression in MIA Paca‐2^GEMR cells was suppressed by UA treatment. Interestingly, knocking down RAGE expression showed similar UA‐induced effects in both cell lines. Remarkably, UA had a drug‐enhancing effect by decreasing cell viability and increasing cell cytotoxicity when combined with GEM treatment. In conclusions, UA triggered ER stress, subsequently regulating apoptosis‐ and autophagy‐related pathways and increasing GEM chemosensitivity in pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of RAGE.