Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rapid ejaculator rats: A further study

Limited evidence has indicated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be involved in the neurobiology of premature ejaculation (PE). This study aimed to investigate BDNF levels in the central and peripheral nervous systems of a rapid ejaculation model. Eighteen male rats were selected and classified as ‘sluggish’, ‘normal’ and ‘rapid’ ejaculators on the basis of ejaculation frequency during copulatory behavioural tests. BDNF levels in specific brain regions, spinal cord and serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Consistent with the results in PE patients, the concentration of serum BDNF decreased significantly from the sluggish rats to normal and rapid rats. Besides, in both brain regions and spinal cord, the sluggish group had the highest BDNF levels, while the rapid group had the lowest BDNF levels. Regression analyses of the expression of BDNF presented positive correlations between serum and brain (r = 0.958, p < .001), and between serum and spinal cord (r = 0.967, p < .001) respectively. Our findings suggested insufficient BDNF in the nervous system and serum may lead to rapid ejaculation. The current study adds to the evidence that BDNF is involved in the regulation of ejaculation.     

Systematic review and network meta-analysis assess the comparative efficacy and safety of transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumor

Neurosurgical Review - To quantitatively synthesize the comparative efficacy and safety of the most common surgical approaches including endonasal transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery (ETES),...     

Activation of Nrf2 Pathway by Dimethyl Fumarate Attenuates Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

BackgroundDimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a novel antioxidant that selectively reduces hydroxyl radicals. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of DMF in the pathogenesis of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and the mechanisms involved.MethodsC57BL/6 wild-type mice were treated with DMF or a vehicle. Subsequently, renal IRI was induced in mice by a model of right kidney nephrectomy and left renal ischemia for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for 24 hours. Sham operation and phosphate-buffered saline were used as controls. Serum and renal tissues were collected at 24 hours after IRI to evaluate the influence of DMF on the recovery of renal function after IRI. Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were measured. Kidney cell apoptosis was evaluated using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive staining. Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α cytokines in the kidney tissues were measured. Indicators of oxidative stress in the kidneys were detected. Finally, Nrf2-deficient mice were used to determine the protective role of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1) signaling pathways induced by DMF using western blot assay.ResultsDMF significantly attenuated renal dysfunction in mice and showed reductions in the severity of renal tubular injury, cell necrosis, and apoptosis. Moreover, DMF significantly reduced the amount of key inflammatory mediators. Additionally, DMF attenuated the malondialdehyde levels 24 hours after IRI but upregulated the superoxide dismutase activities. Western blot assay showed that DMF significantly increased the protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1. Importantly, these DMF-mediated beneficial effects were not observed in Nrf2-deficient mice.ConclusionsDMF attenuates renal IRI by reducing inflammation and upregulating the antioxidant capacity, which may be through Nrf2/HO-1and NQO1 signaling pathway.     

Construction and evaluation of an alcohol vapor chamber system

An increasing number of studies demonstrated that alcohol vapor chamber is an effective way to model physical signs of alcohol use disorders. Although researchers are developing different vapor chambers to study chronic alcohol exposure model worldwide, few studies build and modify their own vapor chambers in China. Here, we designed and established an alcohol vapor chamber system for small animals. We described a paradigm showing how to control and monitor alcohol concentration in whole system. The vapor chamber system with several advantages including accommodating up to ten standard mouse cages. Furthermore, the system was tested by evaluating the blood alcohol concentration and neuron injury in mice. Importantly, the alcohol withdrawal after vapor exposure caused motor coordination impairment, anxiolytic- and depression-like behavior. Finally, the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated glutamatergic transmissions in the medial prefrontal cortex was changed after alcohol vapor exposure-induced behaviors. The frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents between control and alcohol groups were not different, suggesting that alcohol exposure-induced behaviors are associated with the change in NMDAR response. Taken together, the new alcohol vapor chamber system was constructed, which would help to research the relationship between the stable alcohol exposure and withdrawal behaviors and to study chronic alcohol exposure-induced disorders in China.     

Guidelines for the diagnosis,treatment, prevention and control of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli

The dissemination of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CRGNB) is a global public health issue. CRGNB isolates are usually extensively drug-resistant or pandrug-resistant, resulting in limited antimicrobial treatment options and high mortality. A multidisciplinary guideline development group covering clinical infectious diseases, clinical microbiology, clinical pharmacology, infection control, and guideline methodology experts jointly developed the present clinical practice guidelines based on best available scientific evidence to address the clinical issues regarding laboratory testing, antimicrobial therapy, and prevention of CRGNB infections. This guideline focuses on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriales (CRE), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA). Sixteen clinical questions were proposed from the perspective of current clinical practice and translated into research questions using PICO (population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes) format to collect and synthesize relevant evidence to inform corresponding recommendations. The grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to evaluate the quality of evidence, benefit and risk profile of corresponding interventions and formulate recommendations or suggestions. Evidence extracted from systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was considered preferentially for treatment-related clinical questions. Observational studies, non-controlled studies, and expert opinions were considered as supplementary evidence in the absence of RCTs. The strength of recommendations was classified as strong or conditional (weak). The evidence informing recommendations derives from studies worldwide, while the implementation suggestions combined the Chinese experience. The target audience of this guideline is clinician and related professionals involved in management of infectious diseases.     

Risk factors for sleep disturbance in patients with cervical myelopathy and its clinical significance: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND CONTEXTSleep disturbance is highly prevalent in patients with spinal cord injury and is one of the most important clinical issues affecting their quality of life. However, it has not been properly measured or treated in patients with cervical myelopathy (CM), although most typical or atypical symptoms of CM are known to be risk factors for sleep disturbance. In addition, previous studies identified that the presence of sleep disturbance is unintentionally missed under the current evaluation process for degenerative spinal disease without direct investigation using validated tools for sleep. Therefore, studies about sleep disturbances in patients with CM are essential.PURPOSEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep disturbance in patients with CM using validated tools and to understand its mechanism by identifying high-risk patients.STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGCross-sectional study.PATIENT SAMPLEConsecutive patients diagnosed with CM.OUTCOME MEASURESPittsburgh sleep quality index.METHODSThis study was performed on patients diagnosed with CM. Sleep disturbance was determined using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. Variables associated with sleep disturbance including demographics, lifestyle, medical history, and radiologic parameters were investigated. Independent risk factors related to sleep disturbance were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.RESULTSA total of 203 patients with CM were included in our study. Among them, 126 patients (62.1%) were men, and the mean age was 63.0 years. Despite male predominance, sleep disturbance was identified in 71.4% of patients (145 of 203). Multivariate analysis identified a worse depression scale score, a lower modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score, chronic shoulder joint pain, smaller spinal cord area, and decreased cervical range of motion as independent risk factors for sleep disturbance.CONCLUSIONSIn patients with CM, sleep disturbance was associated with a more severe type of myelopathy. Further studies including polysomnography and measurement of melatonin will be helpful to identify the mechanisms of the sleep disturbance in patients with CM and to improve their quality of life and clinical outcomes.     

Relationships between anthropometric adiposity indexes and bone mineral density in a cross-sectional Chinese study

Background ContextPrevious studies have reported conflicting results for the relationships between anthropometric adiposity indexes and bone mineral density, based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, few studies were published based on quantitative computed tomography (QCT), especially for Chinese population.PurposeTo evaluate the associations of spine bone mineral density (BMD) with body mass index (BMI), waist circumstance (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and a body shape index (ABSI) using QCT.Study Design/SettingA Cross-sectional study.Patient SampleAround 3,457 participants in multiple communities across 7 administrative regions of China.Outcome MeasuresSpine BMD was measured using QCT, and the classification of osteoporosis was defined as follows: 1) osteoporosis if BMD <80mg/cm³, 2) osteopenia if BMD 80–119 mg/cm³, and 3) normal bone mass if BMD≥120 mg/cm³.MethodsThis study was conducted using convenient sampling between 2013 and 2017. Multivariable linear regression model and logistic regression models were used for the associations of continuous and categorical BMD, respectively.ResultsAround 3,405 participants were included in the final analyses, including 1,272 males and 2,133 females, with spine BMD of 111.00±35.47 mg/cm³ and 99.38±40.60 mg/cm³, respectively. Spine BMD decreased significantly with the increase of ABSI in females (adjusted β, ?5.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], ?8.50 to ?2.98), and this trend also was kept in females aged at less than 60 years (adjusted β, ?14.54; 95% CI, ?20.40 to ?8.68), and females with age ≥60 years (adjusted β, ?7.59; 95% CI, ?10.91 to ?4.28). However, this inverse association was observed only in males with age ≥ 60 years (adjusted β, ?5.19; 95% CI, ?10.08 to ?0.29). Except ABSI, negative associations of Spine BMD with WC (adjusted β, ?0.46; 95% CI, ?0.77 to ?0.15), WHR (adjusted β, ?6.25; 95% CI, ?10.63 to ?1.86), WHtR (adjusted β, ?6.80; 95% CI, ?11.63 to ?1.97) were shown in females aged at <60 years, and positive association with BMI in males with age ≥60 years (adjusted β, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.29–1.55).ConclusionsABSI had more remarkable association with spine BMD, compared with the other four indexes.