Atorvastatin enhances kainate‐induced gamma oscillations in rat hippocampal slices

Atorvastatin has been shown to affect cognitive functions in rodents and humans. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Because hippocampal gamma oscillations (γ, 20–80 Hz) are associated with cognitive functions, we studied the effect of atorvastatin on persistent kainate‐induced γ oscillation in the CA3 area of rat hippocampal slices. The involvement of NMDA receptors and multiple kinases was tested before and after administration of atorvastatin. Whole‐cell current‐clamp and voltage‐clamp recordings were made from CA3 pyramidal neurons and interneurons before and after atorvastatin application. Atorvastatin increased γ power by ~ 50% in a concentration‐dependent manner, without affecting dominant frequency. Whereas atorvastatin did not affect intrinsic properties of both pyramidal neurons and interneurons, it increased the firing frequency of interneurons but not that of pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, whereas atorvastatin did not affect synaptic current amplitude, it increased the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory post‐synaptic currents, but did not affect the frequency of spontaneous excitatory post‐synaptic currents. The atorvastatin‐induced enhancement of γ oscillations was prevented by pretreatment with the PKA inhibitor H89, the ERK inhibitor U0126, or the PI3K inhibitor wortmanin, but not by the NMDA receptor antagonist D‐AP5. Taken together, these results demonstrate that atorvastatin enhanced the kainate‐induced γ oscillation by increasing interneuron excitability, with an involvement of multiple intracellular kinase pathways. Our study suggests that the classical cholesterol‐lowering agent atorvastatin may improve cognitive functions compromised in disease, via the enhancement of hippocampal γ oscillations.     

Differences in spatial and temporal frequency interactions between central and peripheral parts of the feline area 18

The visual system demonstrates significant differences in information processing abilities between the central and peripheral parts of the visual field. Optical imaging based on intrinsic signals was used to investigate the difference in stimulus spatial and temporal frequency interactions related to receptive field eccentricity in the cat area 18. Changing either the spatial or the temporal frequency of grating stimuli had a significant impact on responses in the cortical areas corresponding to the centre of the visual field and more peripheral parts at 10 degrees eccentricity. The cortical region corresponding to the centre of the gaze was tuned to 0.4 cycles per degree (c/deg) for spatial frequency and 2 Hz for temporal frequency. In contrast, the cortical region corresponding to the periphery of the visual field was tuned to a lower spatial frequency of 0.15 c/deg and a higher temporal frequency of 4 Hz. Interestingly, when we simultaneously changed both the spatial frequency and the temporal frequency of the grating stimuli, the responses were significantly different from those estimated with an assumption of independence between the spatial and temporal frequency in the cortical region corresponding to the periphery of the visual field. However, in the cortical area corresponding to the centre of the gaze, spatial frequency showed significant independence from temporal frequency. These properties support the notion of relative specialization of visual information processing for peripheral representations in cortical areas.     

Effect of rs1063843 in the CAMKK2 gene on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the CAMKK2 gene (rs1063843) was found to be associated with lower expression of the gene in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and with schizophrenia (SCZ) and deficits in working memory and executive function. However, the brain mechanism underlying this association is poorly understood. A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study (N = 84 healthy volunteers) involving multiple cognitive tasks, including a Stroop task (to measure attentional executive control), an N‐back task (to measure working memory), and a delay discounting task (to measure decision making) to identify the brain regions affected by rs1063843 was performed. Across all three tasks, it was found that carriers of the risk allele consistently exhibited increased activation of the left DLPFC. In addition, the risk allele carriers also exhibited increased activation of the right DLPFC and the left cerebellum during the Stroop task and of the left caudate nucleus during the N‐back task. These findings helped to elucidate the role of CAMKK2 in cognitive functions and in the etiology of SCZ. Hum Brain Mapp 37:2398–2406, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .     

Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and migraine: a meta-analysis

Background: Many studies investigated the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and migraine, with controversial results. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to better evaluate the correlation of this polymorphism and migraine. Methods: We retrieved studies published up to September 2014 about the ACE gene polymorphism and migraine from electronic database. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to examine the strength of association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and migraine, using random-effects models. Results: We identified 14 separate studies, in which 7334 migraineurs and 22 990 healthy controls were eligible for the meta-analysis. The results showed no relationship between the ACE I/D polymorphism and any migraine. Stratification revealed a protective effect in the Turkish population against migraine with aura for the II genotype model (II vs. DD: pooled OR = 0.366, 95% CI = 0.137–0.980; II vs. DI + DD: pooled OR = 0.370, 95% CI = 0.145–0.945). Similar results were obtained for Turkish people with migraine without aura (II vs. DD: pooled OR = 0.386; 95% CI = 0.166–0.900; II vs. DI + DD: pooled OR = 0.347; 95% CI = 0.156–0.773). Conclusions: The data suggest that the ACE II genotype could exert a protective effect against migraine with aura and without aura at least in the Turkish population.     

Wnt/β‐catenin signaling mediates the seizure‐facilitating effect of postischemic reactive astrocytes after pentylenetetrazole‐kindling

Ischemia not only leads to tissue damage, but also induces seizures, which in turn worsens the outcome of ischemia. Recent studies have revealed the impaired homeostatic functions of reactive astrocytes, which were thought to facilitate the development of seizures. However, how this phenotype of reactive astrocytes is regulated remains unclear. Here, using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)‐kindling model, we investigated the roles of reactive astrocytes and their intracellular Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in the ischemia‐increased seizure susceptibility. Our data showed that somatosensory cortical ischemia significantly increased the susceptibility to PTZ‐induced seizure. Genetic ablation of Nestin‐positive reactive astrocytes significantly decreased the incidence and severity of seizures. By using a Wnt signaling reporter mice line Topgal mice, we found that Wnt/β‐catenin signaling was upregulated in reactive astrocytes after ischemia. Depletion of β‐catenin in reactive astrocytes significantly decreased the susceptibility of seizures and the expression of c‐Fos induced by PTZ in the ischemic cortex. Overexpression of β‐catenin in reactive astrocytes, in contrast, significantly increased seizure susceptibility and the expression of c‐Fos. Furthermore, the expression of aquaporin‐4 (AQP‐4) and inwardly rectifying K⁺ channel 4.1 (Kir4.1), two molecules reportedly associated with seizure development, was oppositely affected in reactive astrocytes with β‐catenin depletion or overexpression. Taken together, these data indicated that astrocytic Wnt/β‐catenin signaling accounts, at least partially, for the ischemia‐increased seizure susceptibility. Inhibiting Wnt/β‐catenin signaling may be utilized in the future for preventing postischemic seizures. GLIA 2016;64:1083–1091     

基于剂量预测的个性化放射治疗计划质量的定量评价方法

目的:提出一种基于剂量预测的放射治疗计划质量定量评价方法,并验证该方法的临床可行性和临床价值。方法:基于45例5年以上从业经验的物理师制定的直肠癌病例,训练3D U-Net网络。利用3D U-Net网络预测得到三维剂量分布后,基于剂量预测的剂量-体积直方图(DVH)指标,建立调强放射治疗(IMRT)直肠癌计划质量评估标...     

敲除BRCC3加重异基因造血干细胞移植受体小鼠急性移植物抗宿主病

目的研究BRCC3的缺失对急性移植物抗宿主病(aGVHD)的影响, 并初步探讨其机制。方法 12只C57BL/6J小鼠作为受体, 分为野生型(WT组)和BRCC3-/-型(KO组), 每组6只。采用两次4.5 Gy60Co全身照射(TBI), 两次照射间隔30 min, 6 h后通过尾静脉输注BABL/c小鼠1×107骨髓细胞和8×106脾脏细胞建立aGVHD小鼠模型。在aGVHD小鼠模型中特异性敲除BRCC3, 通过组织病理学检测靶器官损伤;酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和细胞因子微球检测技术(CBA)检测小鼠血清中细胞因子的水平;移植后第9天分离脾脏、肝脏和小肠淋巴细胞, 运用流式细胞术检测靶器官中T细胞的浸润和活化。结果受体小鼠BRCC3的缺失可导致aGVHD小鼠生存期明显缩短(P<0.05);靶器官肝脏损伤明显加重;脾脏中CD8+ T细胞和CD8+CD25+ T细胞的比例明显升高(t=6.53、5.52, P<0.05);肝脏中CD8+ T细胞和CD8+CD25+ T细胞的比例明显升高(t=3.74、3.19, P<0.05)以及小肠中CD8+ T细胞、CD8...     

千岛湖供水对杭州市主城区饮用水中总放射性水平的影响

目的调查分析千岛湖成为杭州市主城区水源前后, 杭州市饮用水中的总放射性水平。方法自2012年起, 每年分别在丰水期和枯水期采集杭州市主城区的水源水、出厂水和末梢水, 测定总α总β放射性活度浓度并进行比较分析。结果 2012—2020年杭州主城区3类水样总放射性活度浓度均低于《生活饮用水卫生标准》(GB 5749-2006)规定的限值, 3类水样在丰水期和枯水期监测结果比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);千岛湖湖水中总α(0.008±0.000)、总β(0.034±0.013)放射性活度浓度均小于钱塘江下游段和东笤溪, 差异具有统计学意义(Z=-3.235, -4.058, -2.181, -4.577, P<0.05);千岛湖供水前后, 杭州市主城区的出厂水和末梢水中总α总β放射性活度浓度差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 2012—2020年, 杭州市主城区饮用水中总放射性水平较低, 处于安全水平。千岛湖水总放射性水平低于钱塘江下游段和东苕溪, 千岛湖成为主要水源后, 未对杭州市主城区饮用水中总放射性产生影响。     

低频超声辐照载5-氟尿嘧啶的纳泡靶向治疗裸鼠射频消融后残留肝癌的效果

目的 探讨低频超声辐照载5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)的纳泡对射频消融治疗后裸鼠残留肝癌的治疗效果.方法 取6～8周龄BALB/c裸鼠60只,用人肝癌HepG2细胞构建裸鼠肝癌模型,经射频消融约80％后,将其随机分为生理盐水组、载5-FU的纳泡(5-FU)组、非低频超声辐照载5-FU的纳泡(非低频超声+5-FU)组、低频超声...