Influence of mTOR signaling pathway on ketamine-induced injuries in the hippocampal neurons of rats.

Objective: To explore the influences of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway on ketamine-induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and Ca concentration in the hippocampal neurons of rats.

Methods: The primary hippocampal neurons isolated from fetal Sprague Dawley rats were treated with ketamine (0, 50, 100 and 500 μM) for 4 days to observe its effect on mTOR signaling pathway and apoptosis of rat hippocampal neurons. Then, the hippocampal neurons were divided into C (Control), R (Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR signaling pathway), K (Ketamine) and R + K (Rapamycin + Ketamine) groups to detect the apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and Ca concentration via the terminal transferase uridyl nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) method and Fluo-3 acetoxymethyl ester (Fluo-3AM) staining, respectively.

Effects of preconditioning of electro-acupuncture on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Electro-acupuncture is a burgeoning treatment using the needle inserting into the body acupoints and the low-frequency pulse current being electrified by an electric acupuncture machine. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of preconditioning of electro-acupuncture on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly.Ninety patients scheduled spine surgery were randomly assigned into 2 groups using a random number table: control group (group C) and electro-acupuncture group (group EA).

Effects of nimodipine on postoperative delirium in elderly under general anesthesia: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Nimodipine is a clinical commonly used calcium antagonistscan lowering the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neuron to reduce the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). This study was designed to evaluate the effects of nimodipine on postoperative delirium in elderly under general anesthesia.Sixty patients shceduced spine surgery under general anesthesia were randomly assigned into 2 groups using a random number table: control group (Group C) and nimodipine group (Group N).

Thermoset nanocomposites from waterborne bio-based epoxy resin and cellulose nanowhiskers.

Thermoset nanocomposites were prepared from a waterborne terpene-maleic ester type epoxy resin (WTME) and cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs). The curing behaviors of WTME/CNWs nanocomposites were measured with rotational rheometer. The results show that the storage modulus (G') of WTME/CNWs nanocomposites increased with the increase of CNWs content.

Thermoset nanocomposites from two-component waterborne polyurethanes and cellulose whiskers.

We prepared thermoset nancomposites from biomass-based two-component waterborne polyurethane (2K-WPU) and cellulose namowhiskers (CNWs). Due to the formation of hydrogen bonds, the viscosity of 2K-WPU dispersion was found to be increased with the addition of CNWs. SEM images showed "sea-island structure" corresponding to the microphase separation between CNWs nano-filler and the 2K-WPU matrix.