Activation of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors improve stress adaptation

Rationale

Serotonin-1A (5-HT_1A) receptors modulate the stress response and have been implicated in the etiology and treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. A reduction in postsynaptic 5-HT_1A receptor function in limbic areas has consistently been observed following exposure to chronic stress.

Objectives

To investigate the hypothesis that increased activation of 5-HT_1A receptors in rats having reduced 5-HT function may improve stress adaptation and the behavioral sequelae commonly associated with chronic stress.

Methods

One hundred forty-four Sprague–Dawley rats received injections of para-chlorophenylalanine to partially deplete 5-HT then were given daily systemic pretreatment with the 5-HT_1A receptor agonist, 8-hydroxy-2- (di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), the antagonist, WAY 100635, or vehicle prior to either restraint stress (6 h/day for 10 daily sessions) or control conditions. Anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors were then assessed using the open field and sucrose preference tests. Protein level of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptors was detected by immunohistochemistry and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was determined by in situ hybridization.

Results

8-OH-DPAT pretreatment prior to stress exposure attenuated later stress-induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and increased GR and BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus relative to vehicle- and WAY 100635-pretreated, stressed animals.

Conclusion

The stress-related impairments associated with 5-HT deficiency can be improved by 8-OH-DPAT pretreatment prior to stress exposure and are associated with an augmentation of GR-like immunoreactivity and BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus. It suggested that selective activation of 5-HT_1A receptors may be a potential treatment strategy for stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.     

Low Blood Zinc,Iron, and Other Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Behavior Problems in Preschoolers

Previous research supports the link among malnutrition, cognitive dysfunction, and behavioral outcomes; however, less research has focused on micronutrient deficiencies. This study investigates whether micronutrient deficiencies, specifically blood zinc and iron levels, will be associated with increased behavior problem scores, including internalizing and externalizing behaviors. 1314 Children (55% boys and 45% girls) from the Jintan Preschool Cohort in China participated in this study. Venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for zinc and iron when the children were 3–5 years old. Behavior problems were measured with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), which was completed by the parents when children were in their last months of preschool (mean age 5.6 years). General linear multivariate modeling was used, with adjustment for important sociodemographic variables. The results indicate that low zinc levels alone (p = 0.024) and combined low zinc and iron levels (p = 0.022) are significantly associated with increased reports of total behavior problems. We did not find an association between low iron and behavior problems. With regards to sociodemographics, living in the suburbs is associated with increased internalizing problems, while higher mother’s education and being female were associated with decreased externalizing problems. This study suggests that micronutrient deficiencies and sociodemographic facts are associated with behavior problems in preschoolers.     

Evaluation of the toxicity of food additive silica nanoparticles on gastrointestinal cells

Silica nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely used in food products as an additive; however, their toxicity and safety to the human body and the environment still remain unclear. As a food additive, silica NPs firstly enter the human gastrointestinal tract along with food, thus their gastrointestinal toxicity deserves thorough study. Herein, we evaluated the toxicity of food additive silica NPs to cells originating from the gastrointestinal tract. Four silica NP samples were introduced to human gastric epithelial cell GES‐1 and colorectal adenocarcinoma cell Caco‐2 to investigate the effect of silica sample, exposure dose and exposure period on the morphology, viability and membrane integrity of cells. The cell uptake, cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, cell cycle and apoptosis were determined to reveal the toxicity mechanism. The results indicate that all four silica NPs are safe for both GES‐1 and Caco‐2 cells after 24‐h exposure at a concentration lower than 100 µg ml^–1. At a higher concentration and longer exposure period, silica NPs do not induce the apoptosis/necrosis of cells, but arrest cell cycle and inhibit the cell growth. Notably, silica NPs do not pass through the Caco‐2 cell monolayer after 4‐h contact, indicating the low potential of silica NPs to cross the gastrointestinal tract in vivo. Our findings indicate that silica NPs could be used as a safe food additive, but more investigations, such as long‐term in vivo exposure, are necessary in future studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The synthesis of 14C‐labeled N‐succinimidyl‐3‐maleimidopropionate,a linker molecule for PEGylated biologics

Carbon‐14 labeled linker molecule, N‐succinimidyl‐3‐maleimidopropionate was prepared for disposition studies of PEGylated biologics. Our new route started with 100 mCi of carbon‐14 labeled Potassium cyanide (KCN) to prepare 55 mCi of [1‐¹⁴C]N‐succinimidyl‐3‐maleimidopropionate, 6 in five steps. This represents a multiple of 5.5× improvement in the yield of the desired labeled product compared with our previous synthesis.     

The protective effect of autophagy on mouse spermatocyte derived cells exposure to 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation

The increasing exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted from mobile phone use has raised public concern regarding the biological effects of RF exposure on the male reproductive system. Autophagy contributes to maintaining intracellular homeostasis under environmental stress. To clarify whether RF exposure could induce autophagy in the spermatocyte, mouse spermatocyte-derived cells (GC-2) were exposed to 1800 MHz Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) signals in GSM-Talk mode at specific absorption rate (SAR) values of 1 w/kg, 2 w/kg or 4 w/kg for 24 h, respectively. The results indicated that the expression of LC3-II increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner with RF exposure, and showed a significant change at the SAR value of 4 w/kg. The autophagosome formation and the occurrence of autophagy were further confirmed by GFP-LC3 transient transfection assay and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Furthermore, the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II was enhanced by co-treatment with Chloroquine (CQ), indicating autophagic flux could be enhanced by RF exposure. Intracellular ROS levels significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner after cells were exposed to RF. Pretreatment with anti-oxidative NAC obviously decreased the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and attenuated the degradation of p62 induced by RF exposure. Meanwhile, phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) significantly increased after RF exposure at the SAR value of 2 w/kg and 4 w/kg. Moreover, we observed that RF exposure did not increase the percentage of apoptotic cells, but inhibition of autophagy could increase the percentage of apoptotic cells. These findings suggested that autophagy flux could be enhanced by 1800 MHz GSM exposure (4 w/kg), which is mediated by ROS generation. Autophagy may play an important role in preventing cells from apoptotic cell death under RF exposure stress.     

止痛顺气胶囊的薄层色谱鉴别简

目的建立止痛顺气胶囊的薄层色谱鉴别方法。方法采用薄层色谱法对处方中的黄柏、陈皮、肉桂进行定性鉴别。结果薄层色谱法可鉴别出处方中的黄柏、陈皮、肉桂。结论该方法专属性强、重现性好,可用于止痛顺气胶囊的质量控制。     

统计技术在原子吸收分光光度法检测过程控制中的应用简

目的应用统计技术对原子吸收分光光度法测定进行过程控制。方法以控制图法分析评价铬元素检测过程,通过检查测量数据是否失控,是否存在异常模式或趋势,判断该检测过程是否处于控制状态。结果与结论在铬检测中用统计技术对过程进行质量控制,能够及时发现和排除检测过程中的异常因素,有效控制检测质量,保证检测数据准确、可靠。     

心脉隆注射液对老年慢性心力衰竭患者脑钠肽前体及肌钙蛋白Ⅰ的影响

目的：探讨心脉隆注射液对老年慢性心力衰竭（ CHF ）患者脑钠肽前体（ proBNP ）及肌钙蛋白I （ CTnⅠ）的影响。方法收集医院70岁以上CHF住院患者92例,随机分为两组。对照组43例予CHF常规治疗;心脉隆组49例在CHF常规治疗基础上加用心脉隆注射液300 mg/d静脉滴注治疗14 d。治疗前后分别检测患者proBNP及CTnⅠ水平、6 min步行试验（6MWT ）距离。结果92例患者中,随着NYHA心功能分级增加,患者proBNP及CTnⅠ水平均上升,而6MWT距离下降;治疗14 d后,两组患者proBNP及CTnⅠ水平均较治疗前降低,6MWT距离较治疗前增加;治疗后心脉隆组患者较对照组患者proBNP更低[（410.97±74.56） pg/mL比（476.75±80.21）pg/mL, P=0.000],CTnⅠ亦更低[（0.06±0.03） ng/mL比（0.08±0.04） ng/mL,P=0.008],而6MWT距离[（431.78±42.58） m比（406.25±46.31）m,P=0.007]较对照组增高。结论心脉隆注射液能改善老年CHF患者的心功能。