APOE4 Exacerbates Alzheimer-Like Pathologies and Cognitive Deficits Induced by Blood-Derived Aβ in a Mouse Model.

Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) is a significant risk for both familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) and sporadic AD with elusive mechanisms. Previous studies mainly focused on the role of APOE4 in familial AD, with less attention to sporadic AD. Our previous study demonstrated that blood cell-derived amyloid-β (Aβ) can enter the brain and induce AD-like pathologies, providing a novel animal model to study sporadic AD to a certain extent.

Association between self-reported multimorbidity and longitudinal brain Aβ deposition in Alzheimer's disease.

Multimorbidity is common in older adults. However, whether multimorbidity accelerates brain beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, the molecular driver of Alzheimer's disease (AD), in humans remains largely unknown. In this study, we selected 435 brain Aβ-positive participants with available longitudinal Aβ-PET data (mean duration 3.

Cataract Aggravates Alzheimer-Like Pathologies and Cognitive Deficits in an APP/PS1 Mouse Model.

Clinical investigations have suggested a potential link between cataracts and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether cataract has an impact on the progression of AD remains unclear. The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between cataracts and AD.

Associations of Plasma and CSF Osteocalcin Levels With CSF ATN Biomarkers and Cognitive Functions in Alzheimer's Disease.

Animal studies have shown that osteocalcin (OCN), a hormone derived from bone, plays a vital role in brain development and cognitive function. However, its potential connection to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in humans remains largely unexplored. This cross-section study included 238 cognitively unimpaired participants, 26 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, 54 AD dementia patients, and 32 patients with non-AD neurodegenerative diseases.

Roles of blood monocytes carrying TREM2 mutation in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and its therapeutic potential in APP/PS1 mice.

Introduction: The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) arginine-47-histidine (R47H) mutation is a significant risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with unclear mechanisms. Previous studies focused on microglial amyloid-β (Aβ) phagocytosis with less attention on the impact of TREM2 mutation on blood monocytes.

Methods: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) models were used to assess the contribution of blood monocytes carrying TREM2 mutation to AD.

Prophylactic phage aerosols for nosocomial infection control in an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation unit: A 4-year prospective study of temporospatially designed phage cocktails.

Phage-based decontamination has rarely been explored in real-world settings, particularly in the environments of patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This four-year prospective study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of aerosolized phage cocktails tailored to combat target antibiotic-resistant species of Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The decontamination procedure with phage aerosols was proactively implemented before the admission of ECMO patients based on a thorough analysis of phage typing results from bacterial species isolated from prospective patient areas during the preceding two months.

Impact of urinary PAHs on psoriasis risk in U.S. adults: Insights from NHANES.

Objective: Exposure to environmental pollutants is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for the development of psoriasis. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the air and might induce reactions such as oxidative stress. Nevertheless, it is still unclear if PAHs have any influence on the prevalence of psoriasis over the entire population of the United States.

Association between Serum Ferritin Levels and Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease in Adults: a Cross-sectional Study Based on the NHANES.

Objective: Ferritin, initially acting as an iron-storage protein, was found to be associated with metabolic diseases. Our study was designed to investigate the association between serum ferritin and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the United State of America.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling a total of 2145 participants from the NHANES in the 2017-2018 cycles.

Preoptimized phage cocktail for use in aerosols against nosocomial transmission of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: A 3-year prospective intervention study.

Using bacteriophages (phages) as environmental sanitizers has been recognized as a potential alternative method to remove bacterial contamination in vitro; however, very few studies are available on the application of phages for infection control in hospitals. Here, we performed a 3-year prospective intervention study using aerosolized phage cocktails as biocontrol agents against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infection in the hospital. When a CRAB-infected patient was identified in an intensive care unit (ICU), their surrounding environment was chosen for phage aerosol decontamination.

Serum NLRP3 Inflammasome and BDNF: Potential Biomarkers Differentiating Reactive and Endogenous Depression.

Background: The highly heterogeneous pathogenesis of depression and limited response to current antidepressants call for more objective evidence for depression subtypes. Reactive and endogenous depression are two etiologically distinct subtypes associated with different treatment responses. This study aims to explore the potential biomarkers that differentiate reactive and endogenous depressions.

A program to improve the quality of dental unit water in a medical center.

The water quality of dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) is associated with patient safety. No program for DUWL water quality improvement has been formulated since the time they were established 20 years ago. This study provides an improvement program for the quality of dental unit water.

Antidepressant effect of electroacupuncture on modulating the expression of c-Fos/AP-1 through the JNK signaling pathway.

The effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) for depression have been identified by abundant clinical trials and experimental findings. The c-Jun-NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is considered to be involved in the antidepressant mechanism of EA. However, the antidepressant effect of EA via modulating the expression of c-Fos/activator protein-1 (AP-1) under the condition of JNK inhibition remains unexplored.

[Progress of researches on acupuncture and moxibustion for treating post-traumatic stress disorder in the past five years].

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a kind of chronic mental disorder after severe traumatic events. In this paper, the author reviewed the development of clinical and mechanism research of acupuncture and moxibustion for treating PTSD in the past 5 years. Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture could alleviate the symptoms of PTSD, and is an effective therapy for PTSD.

Effects of moxibustion on symptoms of mild cognitive impairment: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered the intermediate phase between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Moxibustion has gained increased popularity for the management of MCI in China.This study aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of moxibustion on symptoms of MCI.

A simple and rapid protein purification method based on cell-surface display of SUMO-fused recombinant protein and Ulp1 protease.

The development of novel methods for highly efficient protein purification remains a research focus in the biotechnology field because conventional purification approaches, including affinity purification, gel filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography, require complex manipulation steps and are costly. Here, we describe a simple and rapid protein purification strategy in which the SUMO tag and Ulp1 protease are surface-displayed separately on Escherichia coli cells. After protein induction, the cells are harvested, resuspended in cleavage buffer, and incubated together for cleavage.

[Acupuncture improved depressive behavior by regulating expression of hippocampal apoptosis-related factors in psychological stress-induced depression rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of acupuncture on behavior changes and the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytochrome C, cysteine-containing aspartate-specific proteases-3 (caspase-3), apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) in the hippocampus of rats exposed to chronic restraint stress (CRS), so as to provide experimental evidence for the prevention and treatment of depression.

Methods: Thirty two male SD rats were equally randomized into control, model, acupuncture and medication (Fluoxetine) groups according to the random number table. The depression model was established by chronic psychological stress stimulation (fasting, water deprivation, chronic restraint combined with solitary raising for 28 days).

[Effect of Acupuncture Intervention on Depression Behavior and Expression of ERK 1/2 and BDNF in Prefrontal Cortex in Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Induced Depression Rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of acupuncture intervention on the depression behavior and expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK 1/2), p-ERK 1/2 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induced depression rats, so as to explore its antidepressant mechanism.

Methods: Sixty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, acupuncture, Fluoxetine, model ＋ Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), model ＋ PD 98059(an ERK pathway inhibitor), acupuncture ＋ PD 98059 and Fluoxetine ＋ PD 98059 groups (＝8 rats in each). The CUMS depression model was established by using chronic mild and unpredictable stress methods for 21 days.

[Effect of Acupuncture on Expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex and Serum Interleukin-10 in Chronic Restraint Stress Depression Rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex and the level of serum interleukin 10 (IL-10) in rats with depression, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of depression.

Methods: Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, model, acupuncture, and medication (Fluoxetine, Flu) (=8 rats in each). The depression model was established by using chronic restraint stress (constraint, fasting, water deprivation, etc.

The Risk Factors, Costs, and Survival Analysis of Invasive VRE Infections at a Medical Center in Eastern Taiwan.

Objective: To analyze 48 cases the risk factors of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections, the antibiotic costs after infection, and the survival conditions.

Design: 1:3 matched case-control study a medical center in the eastern Taiwan area. The case group, patients with VRE bacterial strains detected at the sterile sites, and the control group were randomly selected from invasive vancomycin-sensitive Enterococcus (VSE) infected patients at the nearest time point by taking the occurrence time of each VRE infection case as the reference time.

Use of a Sampling Area-Adjusted Adenosine Triphosphate Bioluminescence Assay Based on Digital Image Quantification to Assess the Cleanliness of Hospital Surfaces.

Contaminated surfaces play an important role in the transmission of pathogens. We sought to establish a criterion that could indicate "cleanliness" using a sampling area-adjusted adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay. In the first phase of the study, target surfaces were selected for swab sampling before and after daily cleaning; then, an aerobic colony count (ACC) plate assay of bacteria and antibiotic-resistant bacteria was conducted.

[Development of Researches on Mechanisms of Acupoint Combination for Some Disorders in Nerve-humoral-immunological Modulation].

Proper combination of acupoints is one of the core issues of acupuncturology, and is also one of the factors affecting clinical outcomes. In the present paper, the authors make a review on the development of researches on the underlying mechanisms of acupoint combination for some clinical disorders from nerve system, humoral factors and immunological regulation. The neural mechanism involves both the peripheral nervous system (mainly the segmental innervation) and central nervous system (spinal cord, brainstem, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex and cerebellum) , while the humoral factors chiefly contain neurotransmitters and hormones of the endocrine system.

Astragaloside IV controls collagen reduction in photoaging skin by improving transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling suppression and inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-1.

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light reduces levels of type I collagen in the dermis and results in human skin damage and premature skin aging (photoaging). This leads to a wrinkled appearance through the inhibition of transforming growth factor‑β (TGF‑β)/Smad signaling. UV irradiation increases type I collagen degradation through upregulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression.

In vitro study of the effects of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae extracts on apoptosis and dysfunction in the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

It has been hypothesized that blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection might be due to the apoptosis of the hosts' BBB cells. Here, we evaluated this hypothesis through several methods, all based on an in vitro mouse BBB model consisting of primary culture brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and brain astrocytic cells (BACs). In the present study, a four-hour percolation and HRP permeability experiment showed that A.

[Study on the virus-free technology of Pinellia temata].

Objective: To solve the degradation of production and quality of Pinellia caused by the virus accumulation, rapid propagation technical of virus-free Pinellia was researched.

Methods: Pinellia leaves,petioles as explants, technology of using high temperature (38 degrees C, 40d) and shoot tip culture producing virus-free Pinellia was explored.

Results: The results showed that leaves without virus spots was about 88.

[Analysis and strategy report on overseas large-scale systematic evaluation on clinical effectiveness of acupuncture].

In recent years, studies of large-scale systematic evaluation on clinical effectiveness of acupuncture were carried out in overseas. The literatures were conducted in Cochrane Library and overseas journals about systematic review of clinical effectiveness of acupuncture. The Cochrane Library contained a series of systematic reviews for the treatment of 67 kinds of diseases by acupuncture in 2009.