Ah-type Baroreceptor Neurons Expressing Estrogen Dependent mGluR7 Mediate Descending Inhibition of Cardiac Nociception.

Silent myocardial infarction (MI) is critical for clinical practice with increasing risk for women and the cause remains a medical mystery. Upon the discovery of female-specific Ah-type baroreceptor neurons (BRNs), we hypothesize that glutamate mediates depressor response through afferent-specific expression of particular glutamate receptors (mGluRs) leading descending inhibition of cardiac nociception. In vivo, tail-flick reflex and electromyography were assessed to evaluate glutamate-mediated blood pressure regulation, peripheral and cardiac nociception.

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-xestoquinone and (+)-adociaquinones A and B.

The asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-xestoquinone and (+)-adociaquinones A and B was achieved in 6-7 steps using an easily accessible -cyclohexadienone derivative. The [6,6]-bicyclic decalin B-C ring and the all-carbon quaternary stereocenter at C-6 were prepared a desymmetric intramolecular Michael reaction with up to 97% ee. The naphthalene diol D-E ring was constructed through a sequence of Ti(Oi-Pr)-promoted photoenolization/Diels-Alder, dehydration, and aromatization reactions.

Tanshinone IIA Ameliorates Inflammation Response in Osteoarthritis via Inhibition of miR-155/FOXO3 Axis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage and joint destruction with an associated risk of mobility disability in elderly people. Although a lot of achievements have been made, OA is still regarded as an incurable disease. Therefore, the pathological mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies of OA need more investigation.

Three-terminal spin/charge current router.

Topological insulator materials have wide applications in electronic and spintronic devices by utilizing the protected edge states. In this paper, based on these topological edge states and energy gaps, we propose some types of spin/charge current router in a three-terminal system consisting of silicene-like nanoribbons (SiNRs). The current is well controlled by the helical edge states of zigzag SiNRs (ZSiNRs) and external fields.

[Sources and Distribution of Phosphorus in Sediments of the Jinpen Reservoir].

In order to explore the sources and distribution of phosphorus in sediments of a stratified water source reservoir, the total phosphorus (TP) content and distribution of phosphorus fractions in sedimentation particles and sediments of the Jinpen Reservoir of Xi'an were analyzed from March to November in 2017. The results showed that the TP content in the surface sediments of the Jinpen Reservoir was obviously affected by the deposition of particulate phosphorus (PP), and the correlation coefficient was 0.8775.

[Migration Characteristics of Manganese During Rainfall Events and Its Impacts on Water Quality in a Drinking Water Source Reservoir].

In view of the problem of excessive manganese concentrations in the Xi'an Jinpen Reservoir during the flood season in 2017, the vertical distribution of manganese in density currents and its occurrence pattern were monitored at multiple monitoring sections along the upstream reaches to the main basin. The influences of density currents plunging into the reservoir on the migration and transformation of Mn were studied, and sedimentation, output, and deposition of manganese in the reservoir water were also specifically estimated during a single, typical storm runoff process. Devices for avoiding high turbidity and high load inflows in rainfall events were proposed.

Contribution of Baroreflex Afferent Pathway to NPY-Mediated Regulation of Blood Pressure in Rats.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a metabolism-related cardiovascular factor, plays a crucial role in blood pressure (BP) regulation via peripheral and central pathways. The expression of NPY receptors (YR/YR) specific to baroreflex afferents impacts on the sexually dimorphic neural control of circulation. This study was designed to investigate the expression profiles of NPY receptors in the nodose ganglion (NG) and nucleus tractus solitary (NTS) under hypertensive conditions.

FGF-21 ameliorates essential hypertension of SHR via baroreflex afferent function.

Hypertension is a common complication of metabolic abnormalities associated with cardiovascular system and characterized by sexual dimorphism in mammals. Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) plays a critical role in metabolic-disorder related hypertension through the afferent loop of baroreflex. However, the gender difference in FGF-21-mediated blood pressure (BP) regulation via sexual dimorphic expression of FGFRs in the nodose (NG) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) were not elucidated in physiological and genomic form of hypertension.

Topological phases and pumps in the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model periodically modulated in time.

By the Floquet theory, we transform the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model with the periodically modulated nearest-neighbor (NN) and next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) interactions into an effective 2D model, which holds the total Chern number of  ±1 modulated by the parameter θ. Under a staggered electric potential, the topological phase diagrams of the effective 2D model are reshaped and similar to the well-known Haldane model. While under a staggered Zeeman field, the topological phase diagram has the same shape as the former case, but with different Chern numbers, such as the spin and valley Chern numbers.

Excitation and phase transitions of spin density waves in graphene nanoribbons.

Anti-ferromagnetic states widely exist on graphene zigzag edges. Our previous work (Xie et al 2018 New J. Phys.

Serotonin-Mediated Cardiac Analgesia via Ah-Type Baroreceptor Activation Contributes to Silent Angina and Asymptomatic Infarction.

Silent angina is a critical phenomenon in the clinic and is more commonly associated with women patients suffering from myocardial ischemia. Its underlying cause remains mysterious in medicine. With our recent discovery of female-specific Ah-type baroreceptor neurons (BRNs), we hypothesize that cardiac analgesia is due to the direct activation of Ah-type BRNs by elevated levels of circulating serotonin (5-HT) myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

Electrical coupling between ventricular myocytes and myofibroblasts in the infarcted mouse heart.

Aims: Recent studies have demonstrated electrotonic coupling between scar tissue and the surrounding myocardium in cryoinjured hearts. However, the electrical dynamics occurring at the myocyte-nonmyocyte interface in the fibrotic heart remain undefined. Here, we sought to develop an assay to interrogate the nonmyocyte cell type contributing to heterocellular coupling and to characterize, on a cellular scale, its voltage response in the infarct border zone of living hearts.

250 kV 6 mA compact Cockcroft-Walton high-voltage power supply.

A compact power supply system for a compact neutron generator has been developed. A 4-stage symmetrical Cockcroft-Walton circuit is adopted to produce 250 kV direct current high-voltage. A 2-stage 280 kV isolation transformer system is used to drive the ion source power supply.

In situ 3D topographic and shape analysis by synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography for crystal form identification in polymorphic mixtures.

Polymorphism denotes the existence of more than one crystal structure of a substance, and great practical and theoretical interest for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In many cases, it is challenging to produce a pure crystal form and establish a sensitive detection method for the identification of crystal form in a mixture of polymorphs. In this study, an accurate and sensitive method based on synchrotron radiation X-ray computed microtomography (SR-μCT) was devised to identify the polymorphs of clopidogrel bisulphate (CLP).

Unique Expression of Angiotensin Type-2 Receptor in Sex-Specific Distribution of Myelinated Ah-Type Baroreceptor Neuron Contributing to Sex-Dimorphic Neurocontrol of Circulation.

This study aims to understand the special expression patterns of angiotensin-II receptor (AT1R and AT2R) in nodose ganglia and nucleus of tractus solitary of baroreflex afferent pathway and their contribution in sex difference of neurocontrol of blood pressure regulation. In this regard, action potentials were recorded in baroreceptor neurons (BRNs) using whole-cell patch techniques; mRNA and protein expression of AT1R and AT2R in nodose ganglia and nucleus of tractus solitary were evaluated using real time-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry at both tissue and single-cell levels. The in vivo effects of 17β-estradiol on blood pressure and AT2R expression were also tested.

Ketamine-mediated afferent-specific presynaptic transmission blocks in low-threshold and sex-specific subpopulation of myelinated Ah-type baroreceptor neurons of rats.

Background: Ketamine enhances autonomic activity, and unmyelinated C-type baroreceptor afferents are more susceptible to be blocked by ketamine than myelinated A-types. However, the presynaptic transmission block in low-threshold and sex-specific myelinated Ah-type baroreceptor neurons (BRNs) is not elucidated. 

Methods: Action potentials (APs) and excitatory post-synaptic currents (EPSCs) were investigated in BRNs/barosensitive neurons identified by conduction velocity (CV), capsaicin-conjugated with Iberiotoxin-sensitivity and fluorescent dye using intact nodose slice and brainstem slice in adult female rats.

[Quantitative structure characteristics and fractal dimension of Chinese medicine granules measured by synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography].

The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules.

[Identification of Circulating Tumor Cell（CTC）in Breast Cancer Patients Using a Newly Established CTC Detecting System].

We developed a new circulating tumor cell (CTC) chip in order to identify CTCs in the peripheral blood of cancer patients. In this study, we aimed to identify CTCs in the blood of breast cancer patients by using this CTC detecting system. In addition, we used this system to evaluate the response to anticancer agents.

KCa1.1 is potential marker for distinguishing Ah-type baroreceptor neurons in NTS and contributes to sex-specific presynaptic neurotransmission in baroreflex afferent pathway.

Sexual-dimorphic neurocontrol of circulation has been described in baroreflex due largely to the function of myelinated Ah-type baroreceptor neurons (BRNs, 1st-order) in nodose. However, it remains unclear if sex- and afferent-specific neurotransmission could also be observed in the central synapses within nucleus of solitary track (NTS, 2nd-order). According to the principle of no mixed neurotransmission among afferents and differentiation of Ah- and A-types to iberiotoxin (IbTX) observed in nodose, the 2nd-order Ah-type BRNs are highly expected.

Micron-scale voltage and [Ca(2+)]i imaging in the intact heart.

Studies in isolated cardiomyocytes have provided tremendous information at the cellular and molecular level concerning regulation of transmembrane voltage (Vm) and intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i). The ability to use the information gleaned to gain insight into the function of ion channels and Ca(2+) handling proteins in a more complex system, e.g.

Increase in neuroexcitability of unmyelinated C-type vagal ganglion neurons during initial postnatal development of visceral afferent reflex functions.

Background: Baroreflex gain increase up closely to adult level during initial postnatal weeks, and any interruption within this period will increase the risk of cardiovascular problems in later of life span. We hypothesize that this short period after birth might be critical for postnatal development of vagal ganglion neurons (VGNs).

Methods: To evaluate neuroexcitability evidenced by discharge profiles and coordinate changes, ion currents were collected from identified A- and C-type VGNs at different developmental stages using whole-cell patch clamping.