Decreased METTL3 in atrial myocytes promotes atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) plays a crucial role in cardiovascular diseases, but its involvement in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. The study aims to explore the relationship between METTL3 and AF in atrial myocytes.

Methods And Results: The protein level of METTL3 was evaluated in left atrial appendages (LAAs) from patients with persistent AF and in experimental AF models.

Developing predictive nomogram models using quantitative electroencephalography for brain function in type a aortic dissection: a prospective observational study.

Background: Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) remains a significant challenge in cardiac surgery, presenting high risks of adverse outcomes such as permanent neurological dysfunction and mortality despite advances in medical technology and surgical techniques. This study investigates the use of quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) to monitor and predict neurological outcomes during the perioperative period in TAAD patients.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the hospital, involving patients undergoing TAAD surgery from February 2022 to January 2023.

Relative band power in assessing temporary neurological dysfunction post- type A aortic dissection surgery: a prospective study.

Temporary neurological dysfunction (TND), a common complication following surgical repair of Type A Aortic Dissection (TAAD), is closely associated with increased mortality and long-term cognitive impairment. Currently, effective treatment options for TND remain elusive. Therefore, we sought to investigate the potential of postoperative relative band power (RBP) in predicting the occurrence of postoperative TND, with the aim of identifying high-risk patients prior to the onset of TND.

Liraglutide ameliorates delirium-like behaviors of aged mice undergoing cardiac surgery by mitigating microglia activation via promoting mitophagy.

Objective: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a prevalent complication in cardiac surgery patients, particularly the elderly, with neuroinflammation posited as a crucial contributing factor. We investigated the prophylactic effects of liraglutide, a GLP-1 analog, on delirium-like behaviors in aged mice undergoing cardiac surgery and explored the underlying mechanisms focusing on neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and synaptic plasticity.

Methods: Using a cardiac ischemia-reperfusion animal model to mimic cardiac surgery, we assessed delirium-like behaviors, microglial activation, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, mitophagy, synaptic engulfment, and synaptic plasticity.

Quantitative EEG as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in hemispheric stroke patients undergoing type A aortic dissection surgery.

Objective: The diagnostic and prognostic value of quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) parameters, specifically the symmetry of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) and relative band power (RBP), in the postoperative stroke of the cerebral hemisphere following type A aortic dissection, remains an area of inquiry.

Methods: We analyzed and processed 56 patients with type A aortic dissection who underwent bedside qEEG monitoring and analyzed the qEEG indices, brain CT, and clinical data of these patients. qEEG (symmetry of aEEG and RBP, and affected/unaffected hemisphere) indices were analyzed at discharge and 60 days after discharge.

GluA1 signal peptide determines the spatial assembly of heteromeric AMPA receptors.

AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission and predominantly assemble as heterotetramers in the brain. Recently, the crystal structures of homotetrameric GluA2 demonstrated that AMPARs are assembled with two pairs of conformationally distinct subunits, in a dimer of dimers formation. However, the structure of heteromeric AMPARs remains unclear.

Role of histone acetylation in long-term neurobehavioral effects of neonatal Exposure to sevoflurane in rats.

Human studies, and especially laboratory studies, provide evidence that early life exposure to general anesthesia may affect neurocognitive development via largely unknown mechanisms. We explored whether hippocampal histone acetylation had a role in neurodevelopmental effects of sevoflurane administered to neonatal rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 3% sevoflurane or were subjected to maternal separation only for 2h daily at postnatal days 6, 7, and 8.

Regulation of glutamate transporter 1 via BDNF-TrkB signaling plays a role in the anti-apoptotic and antidepressant effects of ketamine in chronic unpredictable stress model of depression.

Rationale: Growing evidence suggests that downregulated clearance of glutamate and signaling pathways involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB play a role in morphological changes in the hippocampus of depressed patients. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine is the most attractive antidepressant, although precise mechanisms are unknown.

Objective: In this study, we examined whether hippocampal BDNF-TrkB signaling underlies the antidepressant effects of ketamine via upregulating glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) in rats, subjected to the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for 42 days.

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, attenuates postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aging mice.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a recognized clinical entity characterized with cognitive deficits after anesthesia and surgery, especially in aged patients. Previous studies have shown that histone acetylation plays a key role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory formation. However, its role in POCD remains to be determined.

NADPH oxidase 2-derived reactive oxygen species in the hippocampus might contribute to microglial activation in postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged mice.

Microglial activation plays a key role in the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Nox2, one of the main isoforms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in the central nervous system, is a predominant source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction in phagocytes including microglia. We therefore hypothesized that Nox2-induced microglial activation is involved in the development of POCD.

[Nursing of advanced schistosomiasis patients: a report of 52 cases].

Objective: To explore the reasonable nursing interventions of advanced schistosomiasis patients.

Methods: The medical records of 52 advanced schistosomiasis patients hospitalized from 2008 to 2013 were collected, and the nursing interventions were summarized.

Results: The 52 cases of advanced schistosomiasis included 38 men and 14 women, with a mean age of 65.

Dexmedetomidine alleviates anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive impairments in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disease that has substantial health implications, including high rates of health morbidity and mortality, as well as increased health-related costs. Although many pharmacological agents have proven the effects on the development of PTSD, current pharmacotherapies typically only produce partial improvement of PTSD symptoms. Dexmedetomidine is a selective, short-acting α2-adrenoceptor agonist, which has anxiolytic, sedative, and analgesic effects.

Loss of phenotype of parvalbumin interneurons in rat prefrontal cortex is involved in antidepressant- and propsychotic-like behaviors following acute and repeated ketamine administration.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that single subanesthetic dose of ketamine exerts rapid, robust, and lasting antidepressant-like effects. Nevertheless, repeated subanesthetic doses of ketamine produce psychosis-like effects with dysfunction of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons. We hypothesized that PV interneurons play an important role in the antidepressant-like actions of ketamine, and different changes in PV interneurons occur with the antidepressant-like and propsychotic-like effects of ketamine.

Use of pupil size to determine the effect of electromagnetic acupuncture on activation level of the autonomic nervous system.

Magnetic fields are widely considered as a method of treatment to increase the therapeutic effect when applied to acupoints. Hence, this study proposes a new method which creates significant stimulation of acupoints by using weak magnetic fields. We conducted this experiment in order to confirm the effect on the activation level of the autonomic nervous system by measuring pupil sizes in cases of stimulation by using manual acupuncture and electromagnetic acupuncture (EMA) at BL15.

Epigenetic enhancement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling pathway improves cognitive impairments induced by isoflurane exposure in aged rats.

Isoflurane-induced cognitive impairments are well documented in animal models; yet, the molecular mechanisms remain largely to be determined. In the present study, 22-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats received 2 h of 1.5 % isoflurane or 100 % oxygen daily for 3 consecutive days.

[Construction of infectious Japanese encephalitis virus clone based on the cDNA template of the attenuated live vaccine production strain SA14-14-2].

Objective: To construct infectious Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) based on the in vitro-ligated cDNA template of the vaccine strain SA14-14-2, and identify the virus.

Methods: Full-length genomic cDNA of JEV SA14-14-2 strain was ligated and then RNA was transcribed in vitro, the infective virus was obtained by transfecting the RNA into Vero cells and identified.

Results: The infective clone of JEV was constructed, the virulence was weaker than the wild virus.