TGR5-mediated lateral hypothalamus-dCA3-dorsolateral septum circuit regulates depressive-like behavior in male mice.

Although bile acids play a notable role in depression, the pathological significance of the bile acid TGR5 membrane-type receptor in this disorder remains elusive. Using depression models of chronic social defeat stress and chronic restraint stress in male mice, we found that TGR5 in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) predominantly decreased in GABAergic neurons, the excitability of which increased in depressive-like mice. Upregulation of TGR5 or inhibition of GABAergic excitability in LHA markedly alleviated depressive-like behavior, whereas down-regulation of TGR5 or enhancement of GABAergic excitability facilitated stress-induced depressive-like behavior.

Predicting willingness to donate blood based on machine learning: two blood donor recruitments during COVID-19 outbreaks.

Machine learning methods are a novel way to predict and rank donors' willingness to donate blood and to achieve precision recruitment, which can improve the recruitment efficiency and meet the challenge of blood shortage. We collected information about experienced blood donors via short message service (SMS) recruitment and developed 7 machine learning-based recruitment models using PyCharm-Python Environment and 13 features which were described as a method for ranking and predicting donors' intentions to donate blood with a floating number between 0 and 1. Performance of the prediction models was assessed by the Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score in the full dataset, and by the accuracy in the four sub-datasets.

Propofol protects PC12 cells from cobalt chloride-induced injury by mediating miR-134.

Objective: Propofol (PRO) was reported to exert a neuroprotective effect by decreasing microRNA-134 (miR-134), a brain-specific miRNA, thus, the role of PRO against cobalt chloride (CoCl₂)-induced injury in rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) via mediating miR-134 was explored.

Methods: CoCl₂-induced PC12 cells treated with PRO were transfected with or without miR-134 negative control (NC)/ inhibitor/mimic, and the following detections were then performed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (Annexin V-FITC/PI) and Hoechst 33258 staining. Autophagy was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM).

IRF9 Affects the TNF-Induced Phenotype of Rheumatoid-Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes via Regulation of the SIRT-1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Objective: To discuss how IRF9 affects the fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in TNF-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via the SIRT-1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Methods: RA-FLS were isolated and divided into control, sh-IRF9, TNF, TNF + sh-Ctrl, TNF + sh-IRF9, TNF + sh-SIRT1, and TNF + sh-IRF9 + sh-SIRT1 groups. Biological features of FLS were evaluated by MTT, wound healing, and Transwell assays, respectively.

[Effects of EDTA on the Reductive Dechlorination of 2,4-D by Pd/Fe].

In Pd/Fe system, zero-valent iron (ZVI) passivation layer is easily formed on the particle surface during the catalytic reductive dechlorination of chlorinated organics, hindering further dechlorination of target contaminants. In this paper, the passivation layer on the Pd/Fe particle surfaces could be eliminated by the chelation of disodium edetate (EDTA) with Fe2+, Fe3+, making the reductive dechlorination continue. The experiment investigated the effects of EDTA addition manner and dosage, pH, Pd loading and temperature on dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) by Pd/Fe.

[Degradation of 2, 4-D by combined catalytic dechlorination and biological oxidation].

In this paper, Pd/Fe nanoparticles were used to degrade 2,4-D. Then the resulted solution of 2,4-D dechlorination was biological oxidized by activated sludge. And the effects of initial pH, activated sludge volume, initial contaminant concentration and temperature on the removal of PA were studied.

Casein kinase II regulates N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activity in spinal cords and pain hypersensitivity induced by nerve injury.

Increased N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity and phosphorylation in the spinal cord are critically involved in the synaptic plasticity and central sensitization associated with neuropathic pain. However, the mechanisms underlying increased NMDAR activity in neuropathic pain conditions remain poorly understood. Here we show that peripheral nerve injury induces a large GluN2A-mediated increase in NMDAR activity in spinal lamina II, but not lamina I, neurons.

[Catalytic dechlorination of 2, 4-D in aqueous solution by Fe3O4-stabilized nanoscale Pd/Fe].

Fe3O4-stabilized nanoscale Pd/Fe was used to dechlorinate 2,4-D in aqueous solution and achieved high dechlorination efficiency. The Fe3O4 dosage, pH, Pd loading, temperature and stirring rate were important factors for dechlorination of 2,4-D. The removal rate of 2,4-D increased with the increase of Fe3O4, dosage, and it reached 93.

Nerve injury increases GluA2-lacking AMPA receptor prevalence in spinal cords: functional significance and signaling mechanisms.

The glutamate α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) are critically involved in the excitatory synaptic transmission, and blocking AMPARs at the spinal level reverses neuropathic pain. However, little is known about changes in the composition of synaptic AMPARs in the spinal dorsal horn after peripheral nerve injury. AMPARs lacking the GluA2 subunit are permeable to Ca(2+), and their currents show unique inward rectification.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor- and calpain-mediated proteolytic cleavage of K+-Cl- cotransporter-2 impairs spinal chloride homeostasis in neuropathic pain.

Loss of synaptic inhibition by γ-aminobutyric acid and glycine due to potassium chloride cotransporter-2 (KCC2) down-regulation in the spinal cord is a critical mechanism of synaptic plasticity in neuropathic pain. Here we present novel evidence that peripheral nerve injury diminishes glycine-mediated inhibition and induces a depolarizing shift in the reversal potential of glycine-mediated currents (E(glycine)) in spinal dorsal horn neurons. Blocking glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors normalizes synaptic inhibition, E(glycine), and KCC2 by nerve injury.

Targeting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors for treatment of neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain remains a major clinical problem and a therapeutic challenge because existing analgesics are often ineffective and can cause serious side effects. Increased N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity contributes to central sensitization in certain types of neuropathic pain. NMDAR antagonists can reduce hyperalgesia and allodynia in animal models of neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury and diabetic neuropathy.

Functional plasticity of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in regulating spinal excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input in neuropathic pain.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are involved in the modulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity. Group II mGluRs in the spinal cord regulate glutamatergic input, but their functional changes in neuropathic pain are not clear. In this study, we determined the plasticity of spinal group II mGluRs in controlling excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission and nociception in neuropathic pain.

Opioid-induced long-term potentiation in the spinal cord is a presynaptic event.

Opioids remain the mainstay of treatment for severe pain, but the associated hyperalgesia and tolerance are significant impediments to achieving adequate pain relief with opioids. Here we show that in the spinal cord, brief application of the mu-opioid receptor agonist (D-Ala(2),N-Me-Phe(4),Gly-ol(5))-enkephalin (DAMGO) at 1 mum, but not at 1-10 nm, caused an initial decrease followed by a large and long-lasting increase in the amplitude of monosynaptic EPSCs evoked from the dorsal root in approximately 50% of lamina I and II neurons. However, postsynaptic dialysis of the G-protein inhibitor had no effect on DAMGO-induced initial inhibition and long-term potentiation (LTP) in either lamina I or II neurons.

The glutamatergic nature of TRPV1-expressing neurons in the spinal dorsal horn.

The transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) is expressed on primary afferent terminals and spinal dorsal horn neurons. However, the neurochemical phenotypes and functions of TRPV1-expressing post-synaptic neurons in the spinal cord are not clear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that TRPV1-expressing dorsal horn neurons are glutamatergic.

Sustained inhibition of neurotransmitter release from nontransient receptor potential vanilloid type 1-expressing primary afferents by mu-opioid receptor activation-enkephalin in the spinal cord.

Removing transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1)-expressing primary afferent neurons reduces presynaptic mu-opioid receptors but potentiates opioid analgesia. However, the sites and underlying cellular mechanisms for this paradoxical effect remain uncertain. In this study, we determined the presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of the mu-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala(2),N-Me-Phe(4),Gly-ol(5)]-enkephalin (DAMGO) using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of lamina II neurons in rat spinal cord slices.

Increased C-fiber nociceptive input potentiates inhibitory glycinergic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn.

Glycine is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the spinal cord, but it also acts as a coagonist at the glycine site of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors to potentiate nociceptive transmission. However, little is known about how increased nociceptive inflow alters synaptic glycine release in the spinal dorsal horn and its functional significance. In this study, we performed whole-cell recordings in rat lamina II neurons to record glycinergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs).

Modulation of pain transmission by G-protein-coupled receptors.

The heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) represent the largest and most diverse family of cell surface receptors and proteins. GPCR are widely distributed in the peripheral and central nervous systems and are one of the most important therapeutic targets in pain medicine. GPCR are present on the plasma membrane of neurons and their terminals along the nociceptive pathways and are closely associated with the modulation of pain transmission.

Control of glycinergic input to spinal dorsal horn neurons by distinct muscarinic receptor subtypes revealed using knockout mice.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) play an important role in the tonic regulation of nociceptive transmission in the spinal cord. However, how mAChR subtypes contribute to the regulation of synaptic glycine release is unknown. To determine their role, glycinergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) were recorded in lamina II neurons by using whole-cell recordings in spinal cord slices of wild-type (WT) and mAChR subtype knockout (KO) mice.

Increased nociceptive input rapidly modulates spinal GABAergic transmission through endogenously released glutamate.

Stimulation of nociceptive primary afferents elicits pain by promoting glutamatergic transmission in the spinal cord. Little is known about how increased nociceptive input controls GABAergic tone in the spinal dorsal horn. In this study, we determined how increased nociceptive inflow affects GABAergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) of lamina II neurons by using whole cell recordings in rat spinal cord slices.

Selective alteration of expression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger isoforms after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is an antiporter located in the plasma membrane of many cells, which can maintain the intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis. Some studies have shown the close relationship of NCX and cerebral ischemia. But controversial results were obtained.

Structure relationship of nitrochlorobenzene catalytic degradation process in water over palladium-iron bimetallic catalyst.

Two isomers of nitrochlorobenzene (o-, and p-NCB) were treated by a Pd/Fe catalyst in aqueous solutions through catalytic amination and dechlorination. Nitrochlorobenzenes are rapidly converted to form chloroanilines (CAN) first through an amination process, and then rapidly dechlorinated to become aniline (AN) and Cl(-), without the involvement of any other intermediate reaction products. The amination and dechlorination reaction are believed to take place predominantly on the surface site of the Pd/Fe catalysts.

[Regulative effects of temperature, intracellular sodium, ATP and pH on I(Na/Ca) of cardiac myocytes].

The Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange is a major pathway for removal of cytosolic Ca(2+) in cardiac myocytes. To explore the effects of temperature, intracellular Na(+), ATP and pH on Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange currents (I(Na/Ca)) of intact guinea-pig myocytes, the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record I(Na/Ca) in isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. We found that I(Na/Ca) at 34 degrees C was four times higher than that at 22 degrees C.

Voltage-dependent potassium channels are involved in glutamate-induced apoptosis of rat hippocampal neurons.

The role of voltage-dependent potassium channel currents in glutamate-treated rat hippocampal neurons was investigated. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT reduction assay and morphological changes. Apoptosis was detected by Hoechst33342 staining with fluorescent microscopy and propidium iodide staining with flow cytometry.

Enhanced catalytic degradation process of o-nitrochlorobenzene by palladium-catalyzed fe0 particles.

Over Pd/Fe bimetallic catalyst, o-nitrochlorobenzene (o-NCB), at a concentration of 20 mg/L in aqueous solutions, is rapidly converted to o-chloroaniline (o-CAN) first, and then quickly dechlorinated to aniline(AN) and Cl-, without other intermediate reaction products. The aminated and dechlorinated reactions are believed to take place on the surface site of the Pd/Fe. The o-NCB removal efficiency and the next dechlorination rate increase with an increase of bulk loading of palladium and catalysts addition due to the increase of both the surface loading of palladium and the total surface area.