Comparison of Factors Associated with Myopia among Middle School Students in Urban and Rural Regions of Anhui, China.

Significance: The prevention and control of myopia have become a major public health task throughout the world. The analysis of the modifiable factors associated with myopia will help in planning concrete strategies that can be widely implemented by schools and families.

Purpose: This study assessed the modifiable factors associated with myopia and compared them between rural and urban regions.

Evaluation of the performance of two neutral oral contrast agents in computed tomography enterography: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the performances, tolerability and acceptability of mannitol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as oral contrast agents in patients undergoing computed tomography enterography (CTE).

Methods: Patients aged 18-75 years indicated for CTE were randomized to receive either mannitol or PEG as contrast agents. The coronal reconstructed images of each abdominal quadrant were assessed for maximum distention, proportion of distended bowel loops, presence of inhomogeneous contents and visibility of the small bowel wall.

Blockade of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in the lateral habenula produces increased antidepressant-like effects in unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats compared to sham-lesioned rats.

At present, role of the lateral habenula (LHb) calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) in depression is not understood, particularly in Parkinson's disease-related depression. Here we found that lesions of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in rats induced depressive-like behaviors, and intra-LHb injection of CP-AMPAR antagonist Naspm produced antidepressant-like effects in SNc sham-lesioned and SNc-lesioned rats, however, the doses inducing these effects in SNc-lesioned rats were lower than that of SNc sham-lesioned rats. Blockade of LHb CP-AMPARs decreased the firing rate of the neurons and increased release of dopamine and serotonin in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in both groups, but the duration of Naspm action on the firing rate and release of the transmitters were prolonged in SNc-lesioned rats.

Serotonin7 receptors in the lateral habenular nucleus regulate depressive-like behaviors in the hemiparkinsonian rats.

Preclinical studies indicate that serotonin7 (5-HT7) receptors may regulate depressive-like behaviors. Depression is a common symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, its pathophysiology is unclear. Here we examined whether 5-HT7 receptors in the lateral habenular nucleus (LHb) involve in the regulation of PD-related depression.

Effect of exposure routes on the relationships of lethal toxicity to rats from oral, intravenous, intraperitoneal and intramuscular routes.

The lethal toxicity values (log 1/LD(50)) of 527 aliphatic and aromatic compounds in oral, intravenous, intramuscular and intraperitoneal routes were used to investigate the relationships of log 1/LD(50) from different exposure routes. Regression analysis shows that the log 1/LD(50) values are well correlated between intravenous and intraperitoneal or intramuscular injections. However, the correlations between oral and intravenous or intraperitoneal routes are relatively poor.

Additional noradrenergic depletion aggravates forelimb akinesia and abnormal subthalamic nucleus activity in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Aims: This study aims to identify the contribution of additional noradrenergic depletion to forelimb akinesia and abnormal subthalamic nucleus (STN) firing activity in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Main Methods: Forelimb akinesia behaviors were tested in awake rats with noradrenergic N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP-4) lesions, unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and with combined 6-OHDA and DSP-4 lesions. STN extracellular single-unit and local field potential (LFP) activities were examined in the animals that were anesthetized with urethane.

Anxiolytic effects of prelimbic 5-HT(1A) receptor activation in the hemiparkinsonian rat.

This study sought to assess whether unilateral lesions of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) using 6-hydroxydopamine in rats are able to induce anxiety-like behaviors, the role of serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) receptors of the prelimbic (PrL) sub-region of ventral medial prefrontal cortex in the regulation of these behaviors, the density of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and co-localization of 5-HT1A receptor and neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC1-immunoreactive (EAAC1-ir) cells in the PrL. Unilaterally lesioning the MFB induced anxiety-like behaviors as measured by the open-field and elevated plus maze tests when compared to sham-operated rats. Intra-PrL injection of 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (50, 100, and 500 ng/rat) decreased the percentage of time spent in the center of the open-field and percentages of open arm entries and open arm time in sham-operated rats, indicating the induction of anxiogenic responses, and administration of 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 (60, 120, and 240 ng/rat) showed anxiolytic effects.

Effect of different iodine nutrition on cerebellum Pcp-2 in rat offspring during lactation.

The thyroid functions of breastfed infants, as well as (indirectly) the development of their central nervous system, are dependent on the iodine status of the lactating mother. Purkinje cell protein-2 is a cell-specific marker of the cerebellum Purkinje cell and is a suitable indicator for observing the postnatal development of the cerebellum after birth. We measured the Purkinje cell protein-2 mRNA and protein levels in the rat cerebellum in the critical postnatal (14 days after birth) and maturation periods (28 days after birth) to determine the effect of different nutritional iodine levels on cerebellum growth in the offspring during lactation.