Polystyrene nano-plastics impede skeletal muscle development and induce lipid accumulation via the PPARγ/LXRβ pathway in vivo and in vitro in mice.

Nano-plastics (NPs) have emerged as a significant environmental pollutant, widely existing in water environment, and pose a serious threat to health and safety with the intake of animals. Skeletal muscle, a vital organ for complex life activities and functional demands, has received limited attention regarding the effects of NPs. In this study, the effects of polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) on skeletal muscle development were studied by oral administration of different sizes (1 mg/kg) of PS-NPs in mice.

Selenium deficiency induced inflammation and apoptosis via NF-κB and MAPKs pathways in muscle of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

Selenium (Se), one of the essential trace elements of fish, regulates immune system function and maintains immune homeostasis. Muscle is the important tissue that generate movement and maintain posture. At present, there are few studies on the effects of Se deficiency on carp muscle.

[Effect of three-step acupuncture combined with small dosage antipsychotic in treating incipient schizophrenia].

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of three-step acupuncture (TSA) combined with small dosage antipsychotic in treating incipient schizophrenia (IS).

Methods: Sixty IS patients were randomly assigned to the test group and the control group equally. Patients in the test group received the combined therapy of TSA and antipsychotic, while patients in the control group were treated by full-dose antipsychotic, all for 8 weeks.