Selective Vulnerability of GABAergic Inhibitory Interneurons to Bilirubin Neurotoxicity in the Neonatal Brain.

Hyperbilirubinemia (HB) is a key risk factor for hearing loss in neonates, particularly premature infants. Here, we report that bilirubin (BIL)-dependent cell death in the auditory brainstem of neonatal mice of both sexes is significantly attenuated by ZD7288, a blocker for hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel-mediated current ( ), or by genetic deletion of HCN1. GABAergic inhibitory interneurons predominantly express HCN1, on which BIL selectively acts to increase their intrinsic excitability and mortality by enhancing HCN1 activity and Ca-dependent membrane targeting.

Glutamate acts on acid-sensing ion channels to worsen ischaemic brain injury.

Glutamate is traditionally viewed as the first messenger to activate NMDAR (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor)-dependent cell death pathways in stroke, but unsuccessful clinical trials with NMDAR antagonists implicate the engagement of other mechanisms. Here we show that glutamate and its structural analogues, including NMDAR antagonist L-AP5 (also known as APV), robustly potentiate currents mediated by acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) associated with acidosis-induced neurotoxicity in stroke. Glutamate increases the affinity of ASICs for protons and their open probability, aggravating ischaemic neurotoxicity in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Bilirubin gates the TRPM2 channel as a direct agonist to exacerbate ischemic brain damage.

Stroke prognosis is negatively associated with an elevation of serum bilirubin, but how bilirubin worsens outcomes remains mysterious. We report that post-, but not pre-, stroke bilirubin levels among inpatients scale with infarct volume. In mouse models, bilirubin increases neuronal excitability and ischemic infarct, whereas ischemic insults induce the release of endogenous bilirubin, all of which are attenuated by knockout of the TRPM2 channel or its antagonist A23.

Electroencephalography Microstate Alterations in Otogenic Vertigo: A Potential Disease Marker.

Objectives: A huge population, especially the elderly, suffers from otogenic vertigo. However, the multi-modal vestibular network changes, secondary to periphery vestibular dysfunction, have not been fully elucidated. We aim to identify potential microstate electroencephalography (EEG) signatures for otogenic vertigo in this study.

Modulatory effect of Tim-3/Galectin-9 axis on T-cell-mediated immunity in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Patients affected by pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) manifest deficiencies in innate cellular immunity. The Tim3/Galectin-9 axis is an important regulator of Th1 cell immunity, leading to Th1 cell apoptosis. Herein, this study aims to clarify the underlying roles of the Tim-3/Galectin-9 axis in T-cell immunity in PTB.

Pro-inflammatory role of transient receptor potential canonical channel 6 in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) has not been fully elucidated. This study sought to explore the role and mechanism of transient receptor potential canonical channel 6 (TRPC6) in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to evaluate TRPC6 immunolabeling.

Effects of Habenular Stimulation Frequencies on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Induced by Stimulation of Insular Cortex.

Objective: To investigate the effects of high-frequency stimulation of the habenula (Hb) on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) induced by stimulation of the insular cortex . After OSA was induced by stimulating the insular cortex (Ic) with concentric stimulating electrodes at 100 Hz in rats, the Hb was stimulated at different frequencies (50 Hz, 120 Hz, 130 Hz, and 280 Hz). The changes of apnea events and electromyography (EMG) of the genioglossus were compared before and after stimulation of the Hb.

Tanshinone IIA alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by downregulating TRPM7 and pro-inflammatory factors.

The study aimed to investigate the role of Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in its regulation of TRPM7. Wistar male rats were randomly divided into the normal saline (NS), LPS, knockout (KO) + LPS, low-dose Tan IIA (Tan-L), middle-dose Tan IIA (Tan-M), high-dose Tan IIA (Tan-H) and KO + high-dose Tan IIA (KO + Tan-H) groups. The level of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, TRPM7 protein expression, current density-voltage curve and Ca concentration were detected through ELISA, Western blotting, electrophysiological experiment and a calcium-imaging technique, respectively.

New insights on the role of the insular cortex and habenula in OSA.

Purpose: Abnormal structure or function in the central nervous system (CNS) can also affect obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Because human afferent and motor pathways that regulate apnea are still poorly understood, it is not possible to modify the behavior of motor neurons to control airway function. The purpose of this article is to clear the central control mechanism of genioglossus (GG) and to discuss how altered activity in the limbic system and its related structures might affect OSA development, in order to provide help for the treatment of this disease.

Is brain damage really involved in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a surprisingly complex and highly individualized disease, with different factors contributing toward the disease process. Many factors can induce OSA disease, such as hypertrophy uvula, adenoidectomy, tonsil caused by mechanical obstruction of the airway, airway obstruction on obesity cause of decubitus, etc.; in addition, abnormal structure and function of the central nervous system (CNS) is also one of the important factors.

Incidence and clinical features of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis from Guangdong, China: a retrospective multicenter study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and incidence trends of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) of multicenter studies in Guangdong, China, for 15 years.

Methods: The medical records of 1582 patients with acute pancreatitis who were admitted to 4 general hospitals of Guangdong from January 1990 to December 2005 were reviewed. The inpatient medical and radiologic records were reviewed to determine clinical features, severity, complications, mortality, and recurrence rate.

The lateral habenula is a common target of cocaine and dexamethasone.

The lateral habenular nucleus (LHb) receives projections from areas rich in dopaminergic neurons and sends efferent fibers to these areas, suggesting that the LHb has a role in dopaminergic reward-related activity. The LHb is also implicated in multiple stress reactions, including responses to painful stimuli. However, it is unclear whether the LHb facilitates glucocorticoid/cocaine interactions by serving as a common target of both.

[Changes of rice yield and quality in different accumulated temperature zones in Heilongjiang Province of Northeast China].

Field experiments were installed in different accumulated temperature zones in Heilongjiang Province to study the changes of the grain yield and quality of five major rice varieties with accumulated temperature. The rice yield changed with accumulated temperature in quadratic curve, and the correlation degree differed with the varieties. The panicle number and the grain number per panicle changed significantly in quadratic curve with accumulated temperature, while the 1000-grain mass had less correlation with accumulated temperature.

Injection of L-glutamate into the insular cortex produces sleep apnea and serotonin reduction in rats.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is primarily characterized by repetitive episodes of complete or partial obstruction of airflow during sleep. The neuronal and cellular mechanisms underlying this process are not fully understood, although the focus of some studies is on putative serotonin (5-HT) mechanisms, and serotonergic therapy may be beneficial to OSA patients. This study aimed to demonstrate possible changes in 5-HT associated with induction of OSA in a rat model.

Mal-effects of obstructive sleep apnea on the heart.

Objective: This study aims to examine the impact of chronic intermittent hypoxia on hearts in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Two hundred twenty patients were divided into groups based on (1) severity of the disease, (2) years of disease history, and (3) with or without secondary hypertension. All subjects underwent blood pressure measurements, polysomnogram monitoring, and cardiac Doppler ultrasound examinations.

[The observation of the influence about blood pressure and cardiovascular B ultrasonic wave by chronic intermittent hypoxia].

Objective: To investigate the influence of left heart function in obstructive sleep apnea by CIH, and explore left heart function and blood pressures before or after CPAP.

Methods: 75 OSA were divided into two groups: 40 patients blood pressures were coincident with diagnostic standard of hypertension recording; 35 patients blood pressures were non-hypertension recording. The control group included 30.

[Effects of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome upon cardiac structure and function].

Objective: To investigate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) upon cardiac structure and function of patients.

Methods: According to apnea hypopnea index, 75 OSAHS patients were divided into three groups: mild (n = 25), moderate (n = 25) and serious (n = 25); according to the course of disease, < 5 years (n = 22), 5-10 years (n = 26) and > 10 years (n = 27). The control group included 25 healthy adults.

[Effect of ethyl pyruvate on renal high mobility group box-1 protein expression and acute kidney injury in rats with delayed resuscitation after thermal injury].

Objective: To investigate the effect of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) expression in renal tissue and acute kidney injury in rats with delayed resuscitation after thermal injury.

Methods: Seventy-eight Wistar rats subjected to 30% total body surface area full-thickness thermal injury followed with delayed resuscitation were divided into 3 groups: sham group (n = 18), injury group (n = 30) and EP group (n = 30). Renal tissue and blood samples were harvested to determine HMGB1 mRNA as well as its protein expression and renal function parameter at the 8, 24, 72 h post the "injury".

[Effect of Xuebijing injection on renal high mobility group box-1 protein expression and acute kidney injury in rats after scald injury].

Objective: To investigate the change in renal high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) levels, and the effect of Chinese traditional medicine-Xuebijing injection on HMGB1 expression as well as acute kidney injury in rats after scald injury.

Methods: Wistar rats were subjected to 30% full-thickness scald injury followed with delayed resuscitation. Totally 78 animals were divided into sham scald group (n=18), scald injury group (n=30), and Xuebijing injection treatment group (n=30).

[The potential mechanism on signal transduction pathway in regulation of mRNA expression of high mobility group box-1 protein in septic rats].

Objective: To investigate the potential role of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway in regulation of gene expression of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) in various tissues in rats with sepsis.

Methods: A sepsis model reproduced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and 128 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n = 10), sham operation group (n = 10), CLP group (n = 60), AG490 treatment group (n = 24), and rapamycin (RPM) treatment group (n = 24). At serial time points animals in each group were sacrificed after CLP, then tissue samples were harvested to determine HMGB1 mRNA expression and STAT1/3 DNA binding activity.

[Effect of treatment with ethyl pyruvate on multiple organ dysfunction and mortality following delayed resuscitation after burn injury in rat].

Objective: To observe the effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) treatment on multiple organ dysfunction and mortality following delayed resuscitation after burn injury in rat, and investigate the mechanisms of its protective effect.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were subjected to 30% full-thickness scald injury followed with delayed resuscitation (6 hours postburn). (1) One hundred and thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham scald group (n=10), scald group (n=60) and EP-treatment group (n=60).

[Effects of Xuebijing injection on multiple organ dysfunction and mortality in rats with delayed resuscitation for scald injury].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Xuebijing injection on multiple organ dysfunction and mortality in rats with delayed resuscitation after scald injury.

Methods: Wistar rats were subjected to a 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald injury in the experimental groups. One hundred and thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham scald group (n=10), thermal injury group (n=60, 40 ml/kg normal saline was infused peritoneally 6 hours postburn), and Xuebijing treatment group (n=60, 4 ml/kg Xuebijing injection was injected twice a day in addition to delayed resuscitation).

[The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in adults aged over 20 years in Changchun city].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in adults aged over 20 years in Changchun city, providing epidemiological data for treatment and prevention of the disease.

Methods: 3,960 subjects were derived from a stratified cluster and random sampling of the population in two districts of Changchun city. They were asked to answer the questions from a questionnaire in their houses.