Basal Forebrain to Ventral Tegmental Area Glutamatergic Pathway Promotes Emergence from Isoflurane Anesthesia in Mice.

Recent evidence highlights the importance of glutamatergic neurons in the basal forebrain (BF) in promoting cortical activity; however, whether BF glutamatergic neurons are involved in regulating general anesthesia and the underlying neural circuits remains unclear. Here, we showed that the activity of BF glutamatergic neurons decreased during the induction of isoflurane anesthesia and restored during the emergence in mice. Optogenetic activation of these neurons significantly enhanced cortical activation, accelerated behavioral emergence, and improved physiological indicators in both male and female mice under isoflurane anesthesia.

The role of the supramammillary nucleus-medial septum glutamatergic pathway in mediating the effects of isoflurane anesthesia.

Background: Glutamatergic neurons in the supramammillary nucleus (SuM) have been recently identified as a key node in arousal system, yet their role in regulating general anesthesia remains unclear. The aim of the current study is to study the role of the glutamatergic supramammillary neurons and their projections to the medial septum in mediating the effects of isoflurane anesthesia.

Methods: Fiber photometry recording was used to determine the changes in calcium signals of glutamatergic neurons in the SuM during isoflurane anesthesia.

The Impact of Omicron-related Stress on Mental Health in the General Population of China.

Background: Outbreaks of infectious disease represent unique stressors for the general population. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of mental health symptoms and associated risk factors in the general population of China during the Omicron wave.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional and large sample online survey during the surge of Omicron cases between 17 December 2022 and 8 January 2023 among Chinese citizens.

Neuroprotective effect of glycosides in MPTP-Induced Parkinson's disease mouse model involves Nrf2 activation.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) a progressive neurodegenerative disorder is attributed to dopaminergic neuronal cell loss in the mid-brain substantia nigra pars compacta. A major risk factors associated with PD development is presence of excess oxidative stress. Previously, glycosides derived from were reported to play a key role in counteracting PD; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be determined.

The Elabela-APJ axis attenuates sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction by reducing pyroptosis by balancing the formation and degradation of autophagosomes.

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening severe inflammatory reaction caused by the host's dysregulated response to infection. Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) has been confirmed to occur in 50 % of patients with septic shock. Currently, the pathophysiological mechanism of SIMD is complex, and there is no targeted treatment.

"A diamond-shaped" penoplasty technique with or without concurrent suprapubic liposuction for adult-acquired buried penis: clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction rates.

Various techniques have been described for reconstructing the skin of the penile shaft; however, no universally accepted standard exists for correcting buried penis in adults. We aimed to describe a new technique for correcting an adult-acquired buried penis through a diamond-shaped incision at the penopubic junction. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients treated with our technique between March 2019 and June 2023 in the Department of Andrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (Nanjing, China).

Association of glycogen synthase kinase-3β with cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes patients: a six-year follow-up study.

Background: Our previous multicenter case-control study showed that aging, up-regulation of platelet glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), impaired olfactory function, and ApoE ϵ4 genotype were associated with cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. However, the causal relationship between these biomarkers and the development of cognitive decline in T2DM patients remains unclear.

Methods: To further investigate this potential relationship, we designed a 6-year follow-up study in 273 T2DM patients with normal cognitive in our previous study.

Predictors of mortality and poor outcome for patients with severe infectious encephalitis in the intensive care unit: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There are few thorough studies assessing predictors of severe encephalitis, despite the poor prognosis and high mortality associated with severe encephalitis. The study aims to evaluate the clinical predictors of mortality and poor outcomes at hospital discharge in patients with severe infectious encephalitis in intensive care units.

Method: In two Chinese hospitals, a retrospective cohort study comprising 209 patients in intensive care units suffering from severe infectious encephalitis was carried out.

Modes of Nanodroplet Formation and Growth on an Ultrathin Water Film.

Using nanobubbles as geometrical confinements, we create a thin water film (∼10 nm) in a graphene liquid cell and investigate the evolution of its instability at the nanoscale under transmission electron microscopy. The breakdown of the water films, resulting in the subsequent formation and growth of nanodroplets, is visualized and generalized into different modes. We identified distinct droplet formation and growth modes by analyzing the dynamic processes involving 61 droplets and 110 liquid bridges within 31 Graphene Liquid Cells (GLCs).

Structurally diverse cucurbitane-type triterpenoids from the tubers of Hemsleya chinensis with cytotoxic activity.

Ten previously undescribed cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, namely hemslyencins A-F (1-6) and hemslyencosides A-D (7-10), together with twenty previously reported compounds (11-30), were isolated from the tubers of Hemsleya chinensis. Their structures were elucidated by unambiguous spectroscopic data (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR data). Hemslyencins A and B (1 and 2) possessing unique 9, 11-seco-ring system with a six-membered lactone moiety, were the first examples among of the cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, and hemslyencins C and D (3 and 4) and hemslyencoside D (10) are the infrequent pentacyclic cucurbitane triterpenes featuring a 6/6/6/5/6 fused system.

Yin Yang 1 promotes the neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells via the non-canonical WNT pathway (FYN/STAT3).

Background: A growing number of studies have shown that Yin Yang 1 (YY1) promotes the development of multiple tumours. The purpose of the current study was to determine the mechanism by which YY1 mediates neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer (NEPC) cells undergoing cellular plasticity.

Methods: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, we bioinformatically analyzed YY1 expression in prostate cancer (PCa).

Identification of a novel splice site mutation in the DNAAF4 gene of a Chinese patient with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare hereditary orphan condition that results in variable phenotypes, including infertility. About 50 gene variants are reported in the scientific literature to cause PCD, and among them, dynein axonemal assembly factor 4 ( DNAAF4 ) has been recently reported. DNAAF4 has been implicated in the preassembly of a multiunit dynein protein essential for the normal function of locomotory cilia as well as flagella.

Five New C -Steroidal Sapogenins from the Acid Hydrolysate of Cynanchum otophyllum Roots.

Five new C -steroidal sapogenins (1-5) named cynotogenins J-N, were isolated from the acid hydrolysate of Cynanchum otophyllum roots. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, and NMR). Most notably, compounds 1-3 harboring a rare 5β,6β-epoxy group in the C -steroidal skeleton of Cynanchum plants.

Dietary metal intake and the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in US men: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2004.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) mainly affects men over 40 years of age and is a common clinical condition. In addition to hypertension and diabetes, environment, and lifestyle are also significantly associated with erectile dysfunction. The relationship between dietary trace metal intake and ED has not been studied.

The Predictive Significance of Prognostic Nutritional Index and Serum Albumin/Globulin Ratio on the Overall Survival of Penile Cancer Patients Undergoing Penectomy.

To assess the value of using the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and serum albumin/globulin ratio (AGR) in predicting the overall survival (OS) of patients with penile cancer (PC) undergoing penectomy. A retrospective analysis of 123 patients who were admitted to our hospital due to PC from April 2010 to September 2021 and who underwent penectomy were included in the study. The optimal cut-off value of the PNI and AGR was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

The application of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in selective dorsal neurotomy for primary premature ejaculation: a prospective single-center study.

Selective dorsal neurotomy (SDN) is a surgical treatment for primary premature ejaculation (PE), but there is still no standard surgical procedure for selecting the branches of the dorsal penile nerves to be removed. We performed this study to explore the value of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) of the penile sensory-evoked potential (PSEP) for standard surgical procedures in SDN. One hundred and twenty primary PE patients undergoing SDN were selected as the PE group and 120 non-PE patients were selected as the normal group.

BAP1-Related ceRNA (NEAT1/miR-10a-5p/SERPINE1) Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Kidney Cancer Cells.

Background: is an important tumor suppressor involved in various biological processes and is commonly lost or inactivated in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, the role of the BAP1-deficient tumor competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network involved in ccRCC remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to investigate the prognostic BAP1-related ceRNA in ccRCC.

Human defensin-inspired discovery of peptidomimetic antibiotics.

SignificanceWe report the development of peptidomimetic antibiotics derived from a natural antimicrobial peptide, human α-defensin 5. By engaging multiple bacterial targets, the lead compound is efficacious in vitro and in vivo against bacteria with highly inducible antibiotic resistance, promising a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Modulation of SIRT1 expression improves erectile function in aged rats.

Silent information regulator 2-related enzyme 1 (SIRT1) is an aging-related protein activated with aging. Herein, we evaluated the role of SIRT1 in aging-related erectile dysfunction. The expression of SIRT1 was modulated in aged Sprague-Dawley rats following intragastric administration of resveratrol (Res; 5 mg kg), niacinamide (NAM; 500 mg kg) or Res (5 mg kg) + tadalafil (Tad; phosphodiesterase-5 [PDE5] inhibitor; 5 mg kg) for 8 weeks.

[Up-regulated expression of miR-576 inhibits ALK4 expression, regulates JAK/STAT signaling pathway and promotes proliferation and migration of prostatic cancer cells].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of the action of the miR-576/ALK4 axis on the progression of prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: PCa cells were transfected with miR-576 mimics/inhibitor, the proliferation and migration distance of the cells were detected by MTT and scratch wound healing assay, respectively. The targeted regulation effect of miR-576 on ALK4 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Characterization of an Autophagy-Immune Related Genes Score Signature and Prognostic Model and its Correlation with Immune Response for Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: The study aimed to identify an autophagy-related molecular subtype and characterize a novel defined autophagy-immune related genes score (AI-score) signature and prognosis model in bladder cancer (BLCA) patients using public databases.

Methods: The transcriptome cohorts downloaded from TCGA and GEO database were carried out with genomic analysis and unsupervised methods to obtain autophagy-related molecular subtypes. The single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was utilized to perform immune subtype clustering.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3β-O-neoglycosides of caudatin and its analogues as potential anticancer agents.

In order to study the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of C-steroidal glycosides toward human cancer cell lines and explore more potential anticancer agents, a series of 3β-O-neoglycosides of caudatin and its analogues were synthesized. The results revealed that most of peracetylated 3β-O-monoglycosides demonstrated moderate to significant antiproliferative activities against four human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT-116, HeLa, and HepG2). Among them, 3β-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-β-L-glucopyranosyl)-caudatin (2k) exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity aganist HepG2 cells with an IC value of 3.

The prognostic nutritional index predicts the biochemical recurrence of patients treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in predicting the biochemical recurrence (BCR) of patients treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP).

Methods: The clinical data of 136 patients treated with RALP in the Department of Urology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were retrospectively analyzed. The endpoint of observation was BCR.

Protective effect of -containing probiotics on intestinal mucosa of rats experiencing traumatic hemorrhagic shock.

This study was conducted to assess whether -containing probiotics could protect intestinal mucosa in rats during traumatic hemorrhagic shock and to determine its underlying mechanisms. Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (300 ± 20 g) were randomly divided into four groups. During the study, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and hematoxylin and eosin methods were used.