Lateral septum inputs to nucleus accumbens mediates stress induced suppression of natural reward seeking.

Stress alters the level of reward evaluation and seeking. However, the neural circuitry mechanisms underlying stress induced effects on natural reward seeking remain unclear. Here we report a septal-accumbens pathway that mediates the effects of acute stress on reward seeking suppression.

Dynamic Changes of Arc Expression in Dorsal Striatum of Mice After Self-Administration of Sucrose.

Region-specific plasticity in the striatal circuit plays an important role in the development and long-term maintenance of skills and sequential movement procedures. Studies investigating the molecular substrates that contribute to the plasticity changes during motor skill processes have documented a transition in expression from the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) to the dorsolateral striatum (DLS); however, few studies have explored the expression pattern of molecular substrates in the dorsal striatum during progression of instrumental learning. To address this issue, the activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) expressions in the subregional dorsal striatum were analyzed during the early and late learning phases of the 10-day sucrose self-administration process.

Mediator Med23 Regulates Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis.

Mammalian Mediator (Med) is a key regulator of gene expression by linking transcription factors to RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription machineries. The Mediator subunit 23 (Med23) is a member of the conserved Med protein complex and plays essential roles in diverse biological processes including adipogenesis, carcinogenesis, osteoblast differentiation, and T-cell activation. However, its potential functions in the nervous system remain unknown.

Induction chronomodulated chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A Phase II prospective randomized study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of induction chronomodulated chemotherapy in comparison with conventional induction chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Patients And Methods: Between 2003 and 2004, 60 patients with pathologically confirmed NPC were included and randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the chronomodulated chemotherapy group (n = 30, CC group) received cisplatin at 80 mg/m through intravenous infusion from 10:00 to 22:00 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at 1000 mg/m plus citrovorum factor at 200 mg/m from 22:00 to 10:00 each day for 3 days.

[Fast Start-up of ANAMMOX and the Spatial Distribution of EPS in ANAMMOX Granules].

An anaerobic sequencing batch reactor(ASBR) inoculated with activated sludge was employed to investigate the start-up of anaerobic ammonium oxidation(ANAMMOX) process and the spatial distribution of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS) in ANAMMOX granules. The results showed that the removal rates of NH-N and NO-N reached more than 99%. The removal rate of total nitrogen(TN) was 89.

[Comparison of Operating Performance of Partial Nitritation Systems with Two Different Inhibition Strategies].

Two SBRs which were under high ammonia loading[1 kg·(m·d)] and different dual inhibition with feed-batch were employed to study how to control the stability of partial nitritation system. The experimental result showed that the dual inhibition of FNA and DO or FA and DO could implement partial nitrification process at 35℃±1℃ and the ammonia concentration of 1000 mg·L. The effluent NO-N/NH-N ratio was about 1, and the effluent NO-N concentration was close to 0, which was suitable for the appropriate influent for the ANAMMOX.

Ethanolic Extract of Vitis thunbergii Exhibits Lipid Lowering Properties via Modulation of the AMPK-ACC Pathway in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits.

Vitis thunbergii (VT) is a wild grape that has been shown to provide various cardioprotective effects. The present study was designed to examine whether a VT extract could reduce serum lipid levels and prevent atherogenesis in a hypercholesterolemic rabbit model. At the end of an 8-week study, our results showed that a VT extract supplement markedly suppressed the serum levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, reduced lipid accumulation in liver tissues, and limited aortic fatty streaks.