Neuroprotective gap-junction-mediated bystander transformations in the adult zebrafish spinal cord after injury.

The adult zebrafish spinal cord displays an impressive innate ability to regenerate after traumatic insults, yet the underlying adaptive cellular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that while the cellular and tissue responses after injury are largely conserved among vertebrates, the large-size fast spinal zebrafish motoneurons are remarkably resilient by remaining viable and functional. We also reveal the dynamic changes in motoneuron glutamatergic input, excitability, and calcium signaling, and we underscore the critical role of calretinin (CR) in binding and buffering the intracellular calcium after injury.

Rearrangement in Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Durable Response to Alectinib: A Case Report.

Background: With the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS), several anaplastic lymphoma kinase () fusion partner genes have been identified. However, fusion is extremely rare in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and there is no standard treatment option. Here, we report a patient with SCLC who carried an - Intergenic Region (IR) rearrangement and responded to Alectinib.

Allium macrostemon Bunge. exerts analgesic activity by inhibiting NaV1.7 channel.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Allium macrostemon Bunge. is an edible Chinese herb traditionally used for the treatment of thoracic pain, stenocardia, heart asthma and diarrhea. Although its biological potential has been extensively proven such as antioxidant activity, antiplatelet aggregation, vasodilation and antidepressant-like activity, there are no reports in the literature regarding its pharmacological analgesic activity.

Mechanisms of orexin 2 receptor-mediated depolarization in the rat paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.

The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) contains dense orexin 2 (OX) receptor. We examined the mechanisms of OX receptor-mediated excitation on electrophysiologically identified type I (putative magnocellular), low-threshold spikes (LTS)-expressing type II (putative preautonomic), and non-LTS type II (putative parvocellular neuroendocrine) neurons. In the presence of tetrodotoxin, an OX receptor agonist, ALOXB (30-1000 nM) depolarized 56% of type I, and 73-75% of type II neurons.

Role of the orexin 2 receptor in palatable-food consumption-associated cardiovascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Hypertensive subjects often exhibit exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity. An overactive orexin system underlies the pathophysiology of hypertension. We examined orexin's roles in eating-associated cardiovascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.

Cardiovascular pressor effects of orexins in the dorsomedial hypothalamus.

Orexins are important regulators of cardiovascular functions in various physiological and pathological conditions. The dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), an essential mediator of cardiovascular responses to stress, contains dense orexinergic innervations and receptors. We examined whether orexins can regulate cardiovascular functions through their actions in the DMH in anesthetized rats.

Expression of the M3 Muscarinic Receptor on Orexin Neurons that Project to the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla.

Activation of central cholinergic receptors causes a pressor response in rats, and the hypothalamus is important for this response. Projections from hypothalamic orexin neurons to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are involved in sympatho-excitation of the cardiovascular system. A small population of orexin neurons is regulated by cholinergic inputs through M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3 R).

Spontaneously hypertensive rats have more orexin neurons in the hypothalamus and enhanced orexinergic input and orexin 2 receptor-associated nitric oxide signalling in the rostral ventrolateral medulla.

What is the central question of this study? Our previous study demonstrates that elevated orexin 2 receptor (OX2R) activity within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) contributes to hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and a lower OX2R protein level was detected in their RVLM. The present study aims to explore the mechanisms underlying elevated orexinergic activity in the RVLM of SHRs, compared with their normotensive counterparts, Wistar-Kyoto rats. What is the main finding and its importance? Increased orexinergic input into the RVLM and enhanced OX2R responsiveness in the RVLM, which was mainly mediated by augmented OX2R-neuronal nitric oxide synthase signalling, may underlie the elevated OX2R activity within the RVLM of SHRs.

Blockade of central orexin 2 receptors reduces arterial pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Orexins can raise arterial pressure and sympathetic activity and are involved in tonic and phasic control of cardiovascular homeostasis. We hypothesized that elevated central orexinergic activity contributes to the maintenance of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). We examined this hypothesis by suppressing central orexinergic activity in SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) with specific antagonists or antibodies against orexin 1 (OX1R) and 2 receptors (OX2R).

Clinical features of severe influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

Objective: To highlight the clinical presentations of influenza A (H1N1) infection, for early diagnosis and recognition by the pediatricians.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records of inpatients with influenza A (H1N1) infection between November 1, 2009 and May 31, 2011 were reviewed.

Results: Eighty pediatric in-patients with median age 41.

Follicular bronchiolitis in a child.

Background: Follicular bronchiolitis (FB) is an uncommon but important pulmonary manifestation in children.

Methods: In this report, we present the clinical presentations and histopathological data of an 8-year-old boy with FB.

Results: The patient had a history of recurrent cough and dyspnea for 5 years with progressive worsening of symptoms.

Orexins depolarize rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons and increase arterial pressure and heart rate in rats mainly via orexin 2 receptors.

An injection of orexin A or B into the cisterna magna or the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), where bulbospinal vasomotor neurons are located, elevated arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR). We examined how orexins affected RVLM neurons to regulate cardiovascular functions by using in vitro recordings of neuronal activity of the RVLM and in vivo measurement of cardiovascular functions in rats. Orexin A and B concentration-dependently depolarized RVLM neurons.

Fluid management of hypernatraemic dehydration to prevent cerebral oedema: a retrospective case control study of 97 children in China.

Aim: To compare the fluid management of hypernatraemic dehydration in acute gastroenteritis in those who developed cerebral oedema (cases) versus those who did not (controls).

Methods: A retrospective study of 97 cases of hypernatraemic dehydration at a tertiary children's hospital in China over five years, in which rehydration regimes of 49 children who developed cerebral oedema were compared with 48 children who made an uneventful recovery.

Results: Risk factors for cerebral oedema (vs.

Lack of association between NPHS2 gene polymorphisms and sporadic IgA nephropathy.

Aim: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary form of glomerulonephritis worldwide. In the present study, the genetic structure of the NPHS2 gene was studied to verify if podocin plays a role in the pathogenesis of IgAN.

Methods: Clinical characteristics and DNA samples were collected from 26 Chinese children with sporadic IgAN.

Lack of association between NPHS2 gene polymorphisms and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is one of the most common forms of small-vessel vasculitis in childhood, and renal involvement (HSP nephritis, HSPN) is the main determinant of morbidity after acute phase. Considering the racial diversity and clinical heterogeneity in the prevalence, genetic factors might play a role in pathogenesis of HSP and HSPN. Direct sequencing was performed after PCR amplification of all 8 exons of the NPHS2 gene in 20 Chinese children with HSPN and 30 controls in present study.

NPHS1 and NPHS2 gene mutations in Chinese children with sporadic nephrotic syndrome.

Recent discoveries indicate that the molecules in glomerular podocytes and slit diaphragms may play an important role in the development of proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome. Mutational analyses of NPHS1 and NPHS2 were performed to verify this hypothesis in sporadic nephrotic syndrome (NS) patients. Clinical characteristics and DNA samples were collected from 38 Chinese children with sporadic steroid-sensitive NS, 22 with steroid-resistant NS and 30 controls.

Expression profile of nephrin, podocin, and CD2AP in Chinese children with MCNS and IgA nephropathy.

There have been many exciting advances in our understanding of genetic causes of nephrotic syndrome since 1998 when nephrin was first found. The mRNA expressions of nephrin and CD2AP were studied by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in aspirated renal biopsy tissues from 9 subjects with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), 6 with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN), and 15 controls. Protein expression of nephrin, podocin, and CD2AP were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, indirect immunofluorescence, and laser confocal microscope.

Pulsed electric field exposure of insulin induces anti-proliferative effects on human hepatocytes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and the mechanism of a pulsed electric field (PEF) on insulin and its subsequent mediation of proliferative changes in human hepatocytes in vitro. The PEF, the electric field intensity coupled into the culture medium, was about 0.7 V/m with a repeating frequency of 50 Hz.

The treatment of relapsing primary nephrotic syndrome in children.

Objective: To explore better therapy and reduce the rate of re-relapse of primary nephritic syndrome in children who had been treated with corticosteroids but relapsed.

Methods: Eighty relapsers were enrolled from Jan. 1994 to Apr.

[Third order nonlinear optical properties of three kinds of metal phthalocyanines].

Using YAG laser, the nonlinear optical refractive indexes of three kinds of metal phthalocyanines in DMF, ZnPCS(C6H32N8S4Zn), AlPCS (C56H32AlClN8S4) and AlPCP (C6H32AlClN8O4) were studied with the method of Z-scan. Their third-order susceptibilities chi(3) were also calculated. The result shows that different central ion and different substituents could affect their third-order susceptibilities.