The effect of paeoniflorin on the rewarding effect of methamphetamine and the associated cognitive impairment in mice.

Chronic exposure to methamphetamine (METH) has been suggested to cause METH use disorder and severe cognitive impairment. Paeoniflorin (PF) is a monoterpenoid glycoside with various beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antidepressant. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of PF (30 mg/kg, i.

Effects of acupuncture on microglial polarization and the TLR4/TRIF/MyD88 pathway in a rat model of traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Neuroinflammation caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to neurological deficits. Acupuncture can inhibit neuroinflammation and promote nerve repair; however, the specific mechanism is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore whether acupuncture could modulate the M1 and M2 phenotypic polarization of microglia in a rat model of TBI via the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/intracellular toll-interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) pathway.

Near infra-red labelling and tracking of corneal endothelial cells in-vivo.

Following corneal transplantation, there is an initial, rapid decline in corneal endothelial cells (CECs) following surgery. Direct imaging of post-transplantation endothelial cells is only possible weeks after surgery and with a limited field of view. We have developed a labelling approach using 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindotricarbocyanine iodide (DIR) dye solution, that enables tracking of labelled CECs in vivo for at least 1 month.

A Split NanoLuc Reporter Quantitatively Measures Circular RNA IRES Translation.

Internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESs) are RNA secondary structures that mediate translation independent from the m7G RNA cap. The dicistronic luciferase assay is the most frequently used method to measure IRES-mediated translation. While this assay is quantitative, it requires numerous controls and can be time-consuming.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) Profiles of Tulathromycin in an Experimental Intraperitoneal Infection Model in Neutropenic Guinea Pigs.

Tulathromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antimicrobial that has an important role in veterinary medicine for respiratory disease. The objective of the study was to develop a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model to examine the efficacy and determine an optimal dosage of tulathromycin intramuscular (IM) treatment against infection induced after intraperitoneal inoculation in neutropenic guinea pigs. The PKs of tulathromycin in serum and lung tissue after intramuscular administration at doses of 1, 10, and 20 mg/kg in -infected neutropenic guinea pigs were evaluated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Manual acupuncture relieves microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in a rat model of traumatic brain injury by inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK2 pathway.

Objective: To investigate the regulatory mechanism of manual acupuncture (MA) on microglial polarization-mediated neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury (TBI), focusing on the RhoA/Rho-associated coiled coil-forming protein kinase (ROCK2) pathway.

Methods: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used to generate a TBI model using Feeney's freefall epidural impact method. MA was performed on half of the TBI model rats, while the others remained untreated.

Effect of osmolytes on in-vitro aggregation properties of peptides derived from TGFBIp.

Protein aggregation has been one of the leading triggers of various disease conditions, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other amyloidosis. TGFBI-associated corneal dystrophies are protein aggregation disorders in which the mutant TGFBIp aggregates and accumulates in the cornea, leading to a reduction in visual acuity and blindness in severe cases. Currently, the only therapy available is invasive and there is a known recurrence after surgery.

Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty With a Pull-Through Insertion Device: Surgical Technique, Endothelial Cell Loss, and Early Clinical Results.

Purpose: To describe a surgical technique for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) using a pull-through, endothelium-in insertion device, the DMEK EndoGlide. We evaluated the endothelial cell loss (ECL) associated with the EndoGlide-DMEK (E-DMEK) technique in both ex vivo and prospective clinical studies.

Methods: The ex vivo study involved calcein acetoxymethyl staining and preparation of DMEK grafts, which were trifolded endothelium-in, loaded into the EndoGlide, pulled through, and unfolded in imaging dishes.

Lamellar Dissection Technique for Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Graft Preparation.

Purpose: To describe a novel lamellar dissection technique for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) graft preparation, and to evaluate the rate of endothelial cell loss (ECL) and graft preparation failure associated with this technique.

Methods: We conducted an ex vivo laboratory-based study comparing ECL between the lamellar dissection and peeling techniques. Eight pairs of human donor corneas underwent calcein acetoxymethyl staining-all right eyes underwent the peeling technique and all left eyes underwent the lamellar dissection technique.

Functional Evaluation of Two Corneal Endothelial Cell-Based Therapies: Tissue-Engineered Construct and Cell Injection.

Restoration of vision due to corneal blindness from corneal endothelial dysfunction can be achieved via a corneal transplantation. However, global shortage of donor tissues has driven the development cell-based therapeutics. With the capacity to propagate regulatory compliant human corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs), this study evaluated the functionality of propagated CEnCs delivered via tissue-engineered endothelial keratoplasty (TE-EK) or corneal endothelial cell injection (CE-CI) within a rabbit model of bullous keratopathy.

[Effect of acupuncture intervention on neurological function, cerebral microglia activation and secondary nerve damage in traumatic brain injury rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on activities of microglia in traumatic brain injury (TBI) rats.

Methods: Fifty-four male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normal control, model and acupuncture groups according to the random number table (＝18 rats in each group). The TBI model was established by using a free fall brain injury striking device after exposing the local cranial bone (to induce the left parietal cerebral contusion).

Effect of acupuncture on the TLR2/4-NF-κB signalling pathway in a rat model of traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To study the effect of acupuncture on the TLR2/4-NF-κB signalling pathway in the cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats following traumatic brain injury (TBI), and investigate the possible mechanism underlying the effects of acupuncture on scar repair.

Methods: TBI was established using Feeney's free-falling epidural percussion model. In total, 108 rats were randomly divided into a normal group (n=18), untreated TBI model group (TBI group, n=36) and manual acupuncture-treated TBI group (TBI+MA, n=36).

[Analysis of Meridians and Acupoints Rules in Acupuncture Treatment of Dysmenorrhea Based on Data Mining].

Objective: To determine the rules of acupoints and meridians selection for dysmenorrhea based on data mining.

Methods: The literature on acupuncture treatment of dysmenorrhea was reviewed and a database of dysmenorrhea prescriptions regarding the main points of acupuncture was established with Excel 2003 software, using the relevance rule and cluster analysis methods in data mining technology to analyze the characteristics and laws in acupuncture prescription.

Results: One hundred and fourteen acupuncture prescriptions were included.

Regulatory Compliant Tissue-Engineered Human Corneal Endothelial Grafts Restore Corneal Function of Rabbits with Bullous Keratopathy.

Corneal transplantation is the only treatment available to restore vision for individuals with blindness due to corneal endothelial dysfunction. However, severe shortage of available donor corneas remains a global challenge. Functional regulatory compliant tissue-engineered corneal endothelial graft substitute can alleviate this reliance on cadaveric corneal graft material.

Real-time assessment of corneal endothelial cell damage following graft preparation and donor insertion for DMEK.

Purpose: To establish a method for assessing graft viability, in-vivo, following corneal transplantation.

Methods: Optimization of calcein AM fluorescence and toxicity assessment was performed in cultured human corneal endothelial cells and ex-vivo corneal tissue. Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty grafts were incubated with calcein AM and imaged pre and post preparation, and in-situ after insertion and unfolding in a pig eye model.