Progress of research into microglial mediation of central post-stroke pain.

Central post-stroke pain (CPSP) is a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome that commonly occurs after cerebral stroke, and it severely impairs the daily activities of stroke patients. A number of fundamental and clinical studies support the theory that CPSP is mainly caused by ischemic and hemorrhagic injury of the spinal-thalamic-cortical neural pathway. However, the underlying reasons of CPSP genesis and development are far from clear.

Catalpol relieved angiotensin II-induced blood-brain barrier destruction via inhibiting the TLR4 pathway in brain endothelial cells.

Context: Catalpol is a major bioactive constituent of Libosch (Scrophulariaceae), a traditional Chinese medicine, which is widely used in multiple diseases, including hypertension.

Objectives: To explore whether catalpol protects against angiotensin II (Ang II)-triggered blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage.

Materials And Methods: The bEnd.

The protective effects of hyperoside on Ang II-mediated apoptosis of bEnd.3 cells and injury of blood-brain barrier model in vitro.

Background: Hypertension and its associated dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are considered to contribute to cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). Angiotensin II (Ang II), as an important vasoactive peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), is not only a pivotal molecular signal in hypertension, but also causes BBB leakage, cSVD and its related cognitive impair. Hyperoside (Hyp), a flavone glycoside, has antioxidant, antiphlogistic and anti-apoptosis effects.

The protective effect of harpagoside on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced blood-brain barrier leakage in vitro.

Hypertension and its associated dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) contribute to cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). Angiotensin II (Ang II), a vasoactive peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), is not only a pivotal molecular signal in hypertension but also causes BBB leakage, cSVD, and cognitive impair. Harpagoside, the major bioactive constituent of Scrophulariae Radix, has been commonly used for the treatment of multiple diseases including hypertension in China.

Dielectrophoretic Crossover Frequency of Single Particles: Quantifying the Effect of Surface Functional Groups and Electrohydrodynamic Flow Drag Force.

We present a comprehensive comparison of dielectrophoretic (DEP) crossover frequency of single particles determined by various experimental methods and theoretical models under the same conditions, and ensure that discrepancy due to uncertain or inconsistent material properties and electrode design can be minimized. Our experiment shows that sulfate- and carboxyl-functionalized particles have higher crossover frequencies than non-functionalized ones, which is attributed to the electric double layer (EDL). To better understand the formation of the EDL, we performed simulations to study the relationship between initial surface charge density, surface ion adsorption, effective surface conductance, and functional groups of both functionalized and nonfunctionalized particles in media with various conductivities.

Effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and antioxidant capacities among institutional older adults in Shanghai, China.

Background And Objectives: Older adults are at increased risk of micronutrient deficiency, disrupting the balance of oxidation/antioxidation system and leading to serious health burdens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and oxidative/antioxidative biomarkers in institutional older adults.

Methods And Study Design: Subjects aged 65-100 years were randomly assigned to either intervention group or control group (n=49 each), providing a package of micronutrient pack or placebo daily for three months.

[Detection and classification of Mycoplasma in cell lines].

Objective: To detect the rate of Mycoplasma infection in cell lines and further determine its types.

Methods: We performed nest PCR amplification of Mycoplasma's conserved regions (16S-23S) and sequenced the spacer with different length between conserved regions.

Results: Within the tested 22 cell lines, 17 (77.