Microbiota aggravates the pathogenesis of acutely exposed to vehicle exhaust.

Vehicle exhaust (VE) is the primary cause of urban air pollution, which adversely affects the respiratory system, exacerbates lung diseases, and results in high mortality rates. However, the underlying mechanism of the pathogenesis is largely unclear. Here, we developed a Drosophila model to systematically investigate the effects of VE on their health and physiology.

The alveolar epithelial cells are involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling and constriction of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a common type of pulmonary hypertension and characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and constriction. Alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) primarily sense alveolar hypoxia, but the role of AECs in HPH remains unclear. In this study, we explored whether AECs are involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling and constriction.

Automated detection and quantification of COVID-19 pneumonia: CT imaging analysis by a deep learning-based software.

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging worldwide threat to public health. While chest computed tomography (CT) plays an indispensable role in its diagnosis, the quantification and localization of lesions cannot be accurately assessed manually. We employed deep learning-based software to aid in detection, localization and quantification of COVID-19 pneumonia.

1% Tetracaine hydrochloride injection pure solution aerosol inhalation combined with oral administration of dyclonine hydrochloride mucilage as upper airway anesthesia for bronchoscopy: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: During the bronchoscopy process, successful passage of the tracheoscope through the glottis can affect the following procedure of bronchoscopy. Therefore, safer, more effective and less painful anesthesia methods are particularly important for the bronchoscopy success rate.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 1% tetracaine hydrochloride injection pure solution aerosol inhalation combined with oral administration of dyclonine hydrochloride mucilage during bronchoscopy.

Hippocampal Protein Kinase C Gamma Signaling Mediates the Impairment of Spatial Learning and Memory in Prenatally Stressed Offspring Rats.

Substantial evidence has demonstrated that prenatal stress (PS) impairs spatial learning and memory in offspring. The neuron-specific protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ) has been proposed to be unique in spatial learning and memory. The present study proposes to determine whether hippocampal PKCγ is involved in the detrimental effects of PS on spatial learning and memory in offspring, and to further explore the effects of PS-induced PKCγ-dependent growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and neurogranin (Ng) phosphorylation alteration on calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activation.

PM exposure during pregnancy induces hypermethylation of estrogen receptor promoter region in rat uterus and declines offspring birth weights.

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM) exposures during pregnancy could lead to declined birth weight, intrauterine developmental restriction, and premature delivery, however, the underlying mechanisms are still not elucidated. There are few studies concerning the effects of PM exposure on maternal and child health in Xi'an (one of the cities with severe air pollution of PM in North China).

Involvement of prolactin in newborn infant irritability following maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms.

Background: Newborn irritability could be an unique and special status and/or adverse neurobehavioral outcomes which was independent of serious disease. To determine whether maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms was associated with newborn irritability, and whether the alteration of serum prolactin in newborns were involved in newborn irritability.

Methods: 205 pregnant women were recruited: normal group (n = 100), and anxiety group (n = 105), which was randomly divided to Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO)+anxiety group(n = 65) and control+anxiety group(n = 40).

The Impact and Mechanism of Methylated Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors 1 and 5 in the Hippocampus on Depression-Like Behavior in Prenatal Stress Offspring Rats.

An increasing number of epidemiological investigations and animal models research suggest that prenatal stress (PS) could cause depression-like behavior in the offspring, which is sex specific. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study is to investigate the promoter methylation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) and metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (mGluR5) gene modification on PS induced depression-like behavior in offspring rats (OR).

H3K9 Acetylation of Tph2 Involved in Depression-like Behavior in Male, but not Female, Juvenile Offspring Rat Induced by Prenatal Stress.

Increasing evidence has shown that prenatal stress (PS) could cause depression-like behavior in the offspring, which is sex-specific. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study is to investigate the involvement of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) H3K9 acetylation (H3K9ac) modification on PS-induced depression-like behavior in juvenile offspring rats (JOR).

Hippocampal Acetylation may Improve Prenatal-Stress-Induced Depression-Like Behavior of Male Offspring Rats Through Regulating AMPARs Expression.

This study is to determine the role and mechanism of hippocampal acetylation in prenatal stress (PS) induced depression-like behavior of male offspring rats. PS-induced depression rat model was established. Sucrose preference and forced swim test were used to observe the behavior changes of male offspring rats.

NO involvement in the inhibition of ghrelin on voltage-dependent potassium currents in rat hippocampal cells.

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that plays an important role in promoting appetite, regulating distribution and rate of use of energy, cognition, and mood disorders, but the relevant neural mechanisms of these function are still not clear. In this study, we examined the effect of ghrelin on voltage-dependent potassium (K) currents in hippocampal cells of 1-3 days SD rats by whole-cell patch-clamp technique, and discussed whether NO was involved in this process. The results showed that ghrelin significantly inhibited the voltage-dependent K currents in hippocampal cells, and the inhibitory effect was more significant when l-arginine was co-administered.

Antidepressant-like activity of icariin mediated by group I mGluRs in prenatally stressed offspring.

Objective: The present study was performed to identify antidepressant-like activity of icariin in prenatally stressed male rats.

Methods: The effects of icariin on PRS-induced depression were examined using sucrose preference test (SPT) and forced swimming test (FST) in male offspring, and measuring protein and mRNA expressions of group I mGluRs receptors and EAAT2 via western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR assays.

Results: The results indicated that prenatal restraint stress (PRS) resulted in several behavioral anomalies.

Prolactin, a potential mediator of reduced social interactive behavior in newborn infants following maternal perinatal depressive symptoms.

Background: The hormone prolactin (PRL) plays a crucial role for the initiation and maintenance of maternal behavior, and is also associated with the etiology of mood disorders in women, especially for depression. The present study aimed to determine whether maternal peripheral prolactin would be associated with newborn behavior disorders following maternal perinatal depressive symptoms, and further to explore the efficacy of the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) in improving newborn social interactive behavior.

Methods: Interview and the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) were used to assess the hospitalized pregnant women waiting for delivery at 37-42weeks of gestation.

Taurine promotes cognitive function in prenatally stressed juvenile rats via activating the Akt-CREB-PGC1α pathway.

Substantial evidence has shown that the oxidative damage to hippocampal neurons is associated with the cognitive impairment induced by adverse stimuli during gestation named prenatal stress (PS). Taurine, a conditionally essential amino acid, possesses multiple roles in the brain as a neuromodulator or antioxidant. In this study, to explore the roles of taurine in PS-induced learning and memory impairment, prenatal restraint stress was set up and Morris water maze (MWM) was employed for testing the cognitive function in the one-month-old rat offspring.