Autoantibodies cause nociceptive sensitization in a mouse model of degenerative osteoarthritis.

Previous preclinical and translational studies suggest that tissue trauma related to bony fracture and intervertebral disk disruption initiates the formation of pronociceptive antibodies that support chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions. This study tested this hypothesis in the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) mouse model of osteoarthritis (OA) and extended the findings using OA patient samples. Monosodium iodoacetate was injected unilaterally into the knees of male and female wild-type (WT) and muMT mice (lacking B cells) to induce articular cartilage damage.

A bacteriocin-based coating strategy to prevent vancomycin-resistant biofilm formation on materials of interest for indwelling medical devices.

The ever-increasing use of exogenous materials as indwelling medical devices in modern medicine offers to pathogens new ways to gain access to human body and begin, in some cases, life threatening infections. Biofouling of such materials with bacteria or fungi is a major concern during surgeries, since this is often associated with biofilm formation and difficult to treat, recalcitrant infections. Intense research efforts have therefore developed several strategies to shield the medical devices' surface from colonization by pathogenic microorganisms.

All in the family: The complementary protective roles of spousal and other family support for Chinese immigrant mothers' life satisfaction over time.

The demand-resources model of stress posits that parenting tasks and expectations of mothers that exceed their resources are likely to tax their psychological well-being. Social and instrumental support from spouse or family may help alleviate the negative effects of parenting stress on mothers' psychological well-being. However, parenting stress and its impact have been less studied among immigrant mothers.

Spectroscopic Elucidation of the Electrochemical Potential Drop at Polyelectrolytes/Au Interfaces.

Polyelectrolytes have been widely applied in electrochemical devices. Understanding the polyelectrolyte/electrode interfaces is pivotal for polyelectrolyte-based applications. Here, we measured the electrochemical potential drop and the local activity of the mobile ion of H or OH at the polyelectrolytes/Au interfaces by electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and voltammetry in three-electrode cells.

Alpha-7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Activation Inhibits Trauma Induced Pronociceptive Autoimmune Responses.

Both autonomic nervous system dysfunction and immune system activation are characteristic of chronic pain after limb injuries. Cholinergic agonists reduce immune system activation in many settings. We hypothesized, therefore, that alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) agonist administration would reduce nociceptive and immune changes after tibia fracture and cast immobilization in mice.

A spectroscopic study of the mechanism of Au(III) (hydro-)oxides in promoting plasmon-mediated photoelectrochemical water-oxidation.

To understand the roles of Au(III) (hydro-)oxides in promoting plasmon-mediated photoelectrochemical (PMPEC) water-oxidation, we employed in situ microphotoelectrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and ambient-pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to elucidate the correlations between the amount of surface Au(III) (hydro-)oxides and the photocurrent of PMPEC water-oxidation on Au. By applying preoxidation potentials, we made surface Au(III) (hydro-)oxides on a plasmonic Au photoanode. According to the charge of reductively stripping surface oxygenated species before and after PMPEC water-oxidation, we found that a negative shift of an onset potential, increase in photocurrent, and much less growth of surface (hydro-)oxides were correlated with each other as a result of the increase in the coverage of Au (III) (hydro-)oxides.

Spectroscopic Identification of the Electron-Transfer Intermediates of Photoelectrochemical Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer of Water Oxidation on Au.

Experimental elucidation of the decoupling of electron and proton transfer at a molecular level is essential for thoroughly understanding the kinetics of heterogeneous (photo)electrochemical proton-coupled electron transfer water oxidation. Here we illustrate the electron-transfer intermediates of positively charged surface oxygenated species on Au (Au-OH) and their correlations with the rate of water oxidation by microphotoelectrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. At the intermediate stage of water oxidation, a characteristic blue shift of the vibration of Au-OH species in laser-power-density-dependent measurements was assigned to the light-induced production of Au-OH in water oxidation.

Pronociceptive autoantibodies in the spinal cord mediate nociceptive sensitization, loss of function, and spontaneous pain in the lumbar disk puncture model of chronic back pain.

Previously, we observed that B cells and autoantibodies mediated chronic nociceptive sensitization in the mouse tibia fracture model of complex regional pain syndrome and that complex regional pain syndrome patient antibodies were pronociceptive in fracture mice lacking mature B cells and antibodies (muMT). The current study used a lumbar spinal disk puncture (DP) model of low back pain in wild-type (WT) and muMT mice to evaluate pronociceptive adaptive immune responses. Spinal disks and cords were collected 3 weeks after DP for polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry analyses.

In vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity and chemical profiling of sugarcane leaves.

Saccharum officinarum Linn. (sugarcane, Family-Poaceae) is employed in Ibibio traditional medicine for the treatment of various infections and diseases such as malaria. We This study aims to assess the antiplasmodial effect of the leaf extract and fractions on human malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) in vitro, and rodent malaria parasite (P.

In vivo antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidemic activities and chemical constituents of Solanum anomalum.

Solanum anomalum is a plant used ethnomedically for the treatment of diabetes. The study was aimed to validate ethnomedical claims in rat model and identify the likely antidiabetic compounds. Leaf extract (70-210 mg/kg/day) and fractions (140 mg/kg/day) of S.

In Vivo Antibacterial Efficacy of Antimicrobial Peptides Modified Metallic Implants─Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Biomaterial-associated infection is difficult to detect and brings consequences that can lead to morbidity and mortality. Bacteria can adhere to the implant surface, grow, and form biofilms. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can target and kill bacterial cells using a plethora of mechanisms of action such as rupturing the cell membrane by creating pores via depolarization with their cationic and amphipathic nature.

Finding a Sensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Thermometer at the Nanoscale by Examining the Functional Groups.

Temperature variation at the nanoscale is pivotal for the thermodynamics and kinetics of small entities. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a promising technique for monitoring temperature variations at the nanoscale. A key but ambiguous topic is methods to design a sensitive SERS thermometer.

Biotransformation of artemisinin to a novel derivative via ring rearrangement by Aspergillus niger.

Artemisinin is a component part of current frontline medicines for the treatment of malaria. The aim of this study is to make analogues of artemisinin using microbial transformation and evaluate their in vitro antimalarial activity. A panel of microorganisms were screened for biotransformation of artemisinin (1).

Change in intestinal flora after treatment in children with focal epilepsy.

Objectives: To study the difference in intestinal flora between children with focal epilepsy and healthy children and the change in intestinal flora after treatment in children with epilepsy.

Methods: A total of 10 children with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy were recruited as the case group and were all treated with oxcarbazepine alone. Their clinical data were recorded.

Identification of foods that affect the anti-cancer activity of pitavastatin in cells.

Statins inhibit the synthesis of mevalonate, a precursor isoprenoid molecule to geranylgeraniol that is necessary for the post-translational modification of several small GTPase oncogenes. Despite numerous preclinical studies suggesting that statins can be effective anticancer agents, prospective clinical trials have failed to demonstrate any clinical benefit in patients with cancer. We previously demonstrated that geranylgeraniol suppresses the activity of statins in cell culture studies, and that pitavastatin can cause regression of ovarian cancer xenografts in mice if the animals' diet is modified to avoid the inclusion of geranylgeraniol.

Autonomic Regulation of Nociceptive and Immunologic Changes in a Mouse Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Chronic pain frequently develops after limb injuries, and its pathogenesis is poorly understood. We explored the hypothesis that the autonomic nervous system regulates adaptive immune system activation and nociceptive sensitization in a mouse model of chronic post-traumatic pain with features of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). In studies sympathetic signaling was reduced using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or lofexidine, while parasympathetic signaling was augmented by nicotine administration.

Clerodane Diterpenoids from an Edible Plant : Discovery, Cytotoxicity, and Apoptosis Induction in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Objectives: The toxicity of chemotherapeutic anticancer drugs is a serious issue in clinics. Drug discovery from edible and medicinal plants represents a promising approach towards finding safer anticancer therapeutics. T.

[Progress on the function and regulatory mechanisms of bacterial Cpx signal transduction system].

The Cpx (conjugative pilus expression) two-component signal transduction system is a complex envelope stress response system in Gram-negative bacteria, which can sense a variety of extracellular stimuli that enter the signaling pathway at different points. The phosphorylation of the CpxR, the cytoplasmic cognate response regulator of the Cpx system, can lead to changes in the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in inner and outer membrane functions. Activation of the Cpx system contributes to bacterial resistance/tolerance to certain antibiotics and acidic stress.

IL-6 signaling mediates the germinal center response, IgM production and nociceptive sensitization in male mice after tibia fracture.

Background: Up-regulated interleukin 6 (IL-6) signaling, immune system activation, and pronociceptive autoantibodies are characteristic of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). IL-6 is known to promote B cell differentiation, thus we hypothesized that IL-6 signaling plays a crucial role in the development of adaptive immune responses and nociceptive sensitization in a murine tibia fracture model of CRPS.

Methods: Mice deficient in IL-6 expression (IL-6) or B cell deficient (muMT) underwent tibia fracture and 3 weeks of cast immobilization or sham injury.

C5a complement and cytokine signaling mediate the pronociceptive effects of complex regional pain syndrome patient IgM in fracture mice.

It has been proposed that complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a posttraumatic autoimmune disease. Previously, we observed that B cells contribute to CRPS-like changes in a mouse tibia fracture model, and that early (<12 months duration) CRPS patient IgM antibodies have pronociceptive effects in the skin and spinal cord of muMT fracture mice lacking B cells. The current study evaluated the pronociceptive effects of intraplantar or intrathecal injections of early CRPS IgM (5 µg) in muMT fracture mice.

Efficacy and Metabolism of the Antimalarial Cycleanine and Improved Antiplasmodial Activity of Semisynthetic Analogues.

Bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloids are a diverse group of natural products that demonstrate a range of biological activities. In this study, the antiplasmodial activity of three BBIQ alkaloids (cycleanine [compound 1], isochondodendrine [compound 2], and 2'-norcocsuline [compound 3]) isolated from the Oliv. medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in Nigeria are studied alongside two semisynthetic analogues (compounds 4 and 5) of cycleanine.

A comparative study of the normal oesophageal wall thickness based on 3-dimensional, 4-dimensional, and cone beam computed tomography.

Background: The study aimed to compare normal oesophageal wall thickness based on 3-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT), 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: Contrast-enhanced 3DCT, 4DCT, and CBCT scans were acquired from 50 patients with lung cancer or metastatic lung cancer. The outer oesophageal wall was manually contoured on each 3DCT, the maximum intensity projection of 4DCT (4DCTMIP) the end expiration phase of 4DCT (4DCT50) (the end expiration phase of 4DCT) and the CBCT data sets.

, a Mascarene Endemic Plant, Inhibits Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Growth In Vitro via G0/G1 Phase Cell Cycle Arrest.

Tropical forests constitute a prolific sanctuary of unique floral diversity and potential medicinal sources, however, many of them remain unexplored. The scarcity of rigorous scientific data on the surviving Mascarene endemic taxa renders bioprospecting of this untapped resource of utmost importance. Thus, in view of valorizing the native resource, this study has as its objective to investigate the bioactivities of endemic leaf extracts.

[Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital myasthenic syndrome].

Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a group of clinical and genetic heterogeneous diseases caused by impaired neuromuscular transmission due to genetic defects. At present, it has been reported that more than 30 genes can cause CMS. All CMS subtypes have the clinical features of fatigue and muscle weakness, but age of onset, symptoms, and treatment response vary with the molecular mechanisms underlying genetic defects.