Rimota-Gd: Paramagnetic Probe for In Vivo MRI Studies of the Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Distribution in the Mouse Brain.

The cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1) is highly expressed in the central nervous system, where its physiological functions include the regulation of energy balance, pain, and addiction. Herein, we develop and validate a technique to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the distribution of CB1 across mouse brains with high spatial resolution, expanding previously described in vitro studies and in vivo studies with positron emission tomography (PET). To support the MRI investigations, we developed a ligand that is specific for in vivo neuroimaging of CB1.

Neuro- and immuno-modulation mediated by the cardiac sympathetic nerve: a novel insight into the anti-ischemic efficacy of acupuncture.

Communication between sympathetic nerves and the immune system is a crucial and active process during myocardial ischemia (MI), as myocardial damage and inflammatory stimuli concurrently occur. Sympathetic nerves undergo structural and functional changes after MI, leading to adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling and heart failure (HF). The complex inflammatory response to MI, including local myocardial anti-inflammatory repair and systemic immune reactions, plays a key role in adverse LV remodeling.

S100A7 orchestrates neutrophil chemotaxis and drives neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation to facilitate lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer patients.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been shown to promote the metastatic potential of many kinds of tumors. Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanisms of NETs in lymph node metastasis (LNM) of cervical cancer (CCa), and evaluated the therapeutic value of targeting NETs in CCa. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that neutrophil infiltration and NETs formation were increased in CCa patients with LNM, as well as confirming a positive correlation between S100A7 expression and neutrophil infiltration in CCa.

The prognosis of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer undergoing surgical versus non-surgical treatment: A retrospective cohort study based on SEER database and a single-center data.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of surgical treatment on the survival prognosis of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) and to identify factors that may influence the efficacy of surgery. Data from the SEER database (2000-2020) and a hospital (2013-2023) were collected for this investigation. Utilizing multivariable Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and log-rank tests, we assessed the effects of surgical intervention on overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) in LACC patients.

Effect of paternal age on clinical outcomes of fertilization-embryo transfer cycles.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of paternal age > 40 years on clinical pregnancy and perinatal outcomes among patients undergoing fertilization treatment.

Methods: We selected 75 male patients (aged > 40 years) based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Propensity score matching was performed in a 1:3 ratio, resulting in a control group (aged ≤ 40 years) of 225 individuals.

In Vivo Thoracic Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Calcium Imaging and ECG Recording for Studying Peripheral Nerve Stimulation.

The dorsal root ganglia (DRG), housing primary sensory neurons, transmit somatosensory and visceral afferent inputs to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. They play a pivotal role in both physiological and pathological states, including neuropathic and visceral pain. In vivo calcium imaging of DRG enables real-time observation of calcium transients in single units or neuron ensembles.

Combined influence of nutritional and inflammatory status and breast cancer: findings from the NHANES.

Background: Previous studies have hinted at the benefits of following an anti-inflammatory diet for potentially reducing breast cancer prevalence. However, the combined influence of diet and inflammation on breast cancer remains unclear.

Methods: The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) was used to assess inflammation and nutritional status.

Optimizing motion detection performance: Harnessing the power of squeeze and excitation modules.

This paper introduces an innovative segmentation model that extends the U-Net architecture with a Squeeze and Excitation (SE) mechanism, designed to enhance the detection of moving objects in video streams. By integrating this model into the ViBe motion detection algorithm, we have significantly improved detection accuracy and reduced false positive rates. Our approach leverages adaptive techniques to increase the robustness of the segmentation model in complex scenarios, without requiring extensive manual parameter tuning.

Construction of a nomogram with IrAE and clinic character to predict the survival of advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma patients undergoing anti-PD-1 treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a survival prediction model and nomogram to predict survival in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma undergoing treatment with anti-programmed cell death 1 receptor (PD-1). This model incorporates immune-related adverse events (irAEs) alongside common clinical characteristics as predictive factors.

Method: A dataset comprising 255 adult patients diagnosed with advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma was assembled.

Evaluation of a Positron Emission Tomography Tracer Targeting Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor for Detecting Pulmonary Inflammation.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is a type III receptor tyrosine kinase that is crucial for immune cell activation, survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Its expression significantly increases in macrophages during inflammation, playing a crucial role in regulating inflammation resolution and termination. Consequently, CSF1R has emerged as a critical target for both therapeutic intervention and imaging of inflammatory diseases.

Continuous peripheral electrical nerve stimulation improves cardiac function via autonomic nerve regulation in MI rats.

Background: Peripheral electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) reportedly improves cardiac function after myocardial ischemia (MI) by rebalancing the cardiac autonomic nervous system. The dynamic and continuous influence of PENS on autonomic and cardiac function based on cardiac self-repair is not well understood.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between autonomic nervous balance and functional cardiac repair after MI and to clarify the optimal acupoint selection and time course for PENS.

Synergistic detoxification efficiency and mechanism of triclocarban degradation by a bacterial consortium in the liver-gut-microbiota axis of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Triclocarban (TCC), an emerging organic contaminant, poses a potential threat to human health with long-term exposure. Here, Rhodococcus rhodochrous BX2 and Pseudomonas sp. LY-1 were utilized to degrade TCC at environmental related concentrations for enhancing TCC biodegradation and investigating whether the toxicity of intermediate metabolites is lower than that of the parent compound.

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons' Response to Somatic and Visceral Stimuli.

A technique is described for surgically exposing the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of the lumbar-6 in a live, anesthetized laboratory mouse, along with the protocol for in vivo calcium imaging of the exposed DRG in response to various visceral and somatic stimuli. Pirt-GCaMP6s mice or C57BL6 mice intrathecally injected with AAV viruses packaged with GCaMP6s were utilized to capture Ca2+ transients. The amplitude of these transients indicates sensitivity to specific sensory modalities.

Promoting high-quality development of acupuncture and moxibustion.

In the past 20 years, the acupuncture-moxibustion discipline has made a great progress in clinical research, method construction, standard formulation, guideline promotion, basic theory and key scientific issue research. Internationally, the development of acupuncture and moxibustion has gradually begun to pay more attention to the basic issues of the discipline itself from focusing on clinical evidence. The National Institute of Health of USA pays close attention to the construction of acupoint knowledge base and database and to the transformation of peripheral nerve stimulation techniques, which brings forth opportunities and challenges for the development of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline.

Peripheral neural mechanism of visceral pain and acupoint sensitization in 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis model mice.

Objectives: To explore the neural mechanism of visceral pain and related somatic (acupoints) sensitization by using calcium imaging of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons.

Methods: Eight BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control and model groups, with 4 mice in each group. The colitis model was induced by colorectal perfusion of 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) once daily for 7 days.

Caffeine Impaired Acupuncture Analgesia in Inflammatory Pain by Blocking Adenosine A1 Receptor.

Caffeine consumption inhibits acupuncture analgesic effects by blocking adenosine signaling. However, existing evidence remains controversial. Hence, this study aimed to examine the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) role in moderate-dose caffeine-induced abolishing effect on acupuncture analgesia using A1R knockout mice (A1R).

[Relationship between acupoint sensitization and changes in dorsal root ganglion neuron excitability in myocardial ischemia mice].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the sensitization state of acupoints on the surface of the myocardial ischemia (MI) model mice and the changes in the electrophysiological properties of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in the corresponding spinal cord segment, and its underlying mechanism.

Methods: Sixty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control and model groups (34 mice in each group). The model group received an intraperitoneal injection of 160 mg/kg isoproterenol (ISO) to establish the MI model, and the control group received an injection of the same dose of normal saline as the model group.

Sympathetic-Sensory Coupling as a Potential Mechanism for Acupoints Sensitization.

A series of studies have demonstrated acupoint sensitization, in which acupoints can be activated in combination with sensory hypersensitivity and functional plasticity during visceral disorders. However, the mechanisms of acupoint sensitization remain unclear. Neuroanatomy evidence showed nociceptors innervated in acupoints contribute to the mechanism of acupoint sensitization.

The Utility of Peripherally Restricted Kappa-Opioid Receptor Agonists for Inhibiting Below-Level Pain After Spinal Cord Injury in Mice.

Pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) can be difficult to treat. Drugs that target the opioid receptor (OR) outside the central nervous system (CNS) have gained increasing interest in pain control owing to their low risk of central side effects. Asimadoline and ICI-204448 are believed to be peripherally restricted KOR agonists withlimited access to the CNS.

Silencing Rac1 and Prex1 Inhibit Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Human Gastric Cancer Cells Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β1.

Background/aims: Transforming growth factor-beta can influence tumor cells, causing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enhancing their invasion and metastasis ability. Rac1 protein could be used as an independent tumor diagnostic marker and survival predictor. Prex1 is closely related to cell metastasis.

[Involvement of sympathetic nerve activation in acupoint application induced improvement of gastric ulcer and motility in rats with gastric ulcer].

Objective: To observe the effect of mustard oil application at "Liangmen" (ST21) on gastric ulcer (GU) and gastric motility and its association with the sympathetic nerve activity in rats with GU, so as to provide experimental basis for improvement of GU by acupoint application.

Methods: Thirty-nine male SD rats were randomly divided into control (=7), model, acupoint application (AA), medication (guanethidine, an adrenergic sympathetic antagonist) and AA+medication groups (=8 in each of the latter 4 groups). The GU model was made by applying acetic acid-immersed filter paper onto the gastric antrum.