Functional response properties of VIP-expressing inhibitory neurons in mouse visual and auditory cortex.

Despite accounting for about 20% of all the layer 2/3 inhibitory interneurons, the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) expressing neurons remain the least thoroughly studied of the major inhibitory subtypes. In recent studies, VIP neurons have been shown to be activated by a variety of cortico-cortical and neuromodulatory inputs, but their basic sensory response properties remain poorly characterized. We set out to explore the functional properties of layer 2/3 VIP neurons in the primary visual (V1) and primary auditory cortex (A1), using two-photon imaging guided patch recordings.

Surface plasmon propelled high-performance CdSe nanoribbons photodetector.

In this work, we present a plasmonic photodetector (PPD) with high sensitivity to red light illumination. The ultrasensitive PPD was composed of high-crystalline CdSe nanoribbons (NRs) decorated with plasmonic hollow gold nanoparticles (HGNs) on the surface, which were capable of coupling the incident light due to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Device analysis reveals that after modification of HGNs, both responsivity and detectivity were considerably improved.

The edaravone and 3-n-butylphthalide ring-opening derivative 10b effectively attenuates cerebral ischemia injury in rats.

Aim: Compound 10b is a hybrid molecule of edaravone and a ring-opening derivative of 3-n-butylphthalide (NBP). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of compound 10b on brain damage in rats after focal cerebral ischemia.

Methods: SD rats were subjected to 2-h-middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

Type 2 Diabetes among 6 Asian Ethnic Groups in California: The Nexus of Ethnicity, Gender, and Generational Status.

Objectives: We examined associations between generational status and age-adjusted type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among Asians living in California.

Methods: We abstracted data on 7,188 Asian Americans of six ethnicities from the 2007 and 2009 California Health Interview Survey. Age-and ethnicity-specific logistic regression analyses were used to model prevalence of T2DM based on 29 generational status and language spoken at home.

[Arsenic removal by coagulation process and the field expanding experiments for Yangzonghai Lake].

Yangzonghai Lake is the third largest plateau lake in Yunnan province. In June 2008, arsenic contamination was detected in Yangzonghai Lake and the water quality worsens dramatically from standard grade II to worse than grade V. Since Yongzonghai Lake is so large with the area of 31 km2 and the storage capacity of 6.

Polymorphisms and DNA methylation level in the CpG site of the GHR1 gene associated with mRNA expression, growth traits and hormone level of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

The objectives of the present study were to estimate the GHR1 gene mutations and methylation status of CpGs, and whether those mutations and methylation were involved in the regulation of GHR1 gene expression, hormone level and growth traits in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). Identification of single-nucleotide polymorphisms was performed on 43 male fish. Through polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing, two SNPs were found.

Functional study of a salt-inducible TaSR gene in Triticum aestivum.

The gene expression chip of a salt-tolerant wheat mutant under salt stress was used to clone a salt-induced gene with unknown functions. This gene was designated as TaSR (Triticum aestivum salt-response gene) and submitted to GenBank under accession number EF580107. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that gene expression was induced by salt stress.

The mediodorsal thalamus drives feedforward inhibition in the anterior cingulate cortex via parvalbumin interneurons.

Although the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is classically defined by its reciprocal connections with the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD), the nature of information transfer between MD and mPFC is poorly understood. In sensory thalamocortical pathways, thalamic recruitment of feedforward inhibition mediated by fast-spiking, putative parvalbumin-expressing (PV) interneurons is a key feature that enables cortical neurons to represent sensory stimuli with high temporal fidelity. Whether a similar circuit mechanism is in place for the projection from the MD (a higher-order thalamic nucleus that does not receive direct input from the periphery) to the mPFC is unknown.

Effects of acupuncture at ST36 on pharmacokinetics of Schisandra lignans in rats.

Objective: To investigate the influence of acupuncture at ST36 on the pharmacokinetics of Schisandra lignans including schisandrin, deoxyschisandrin and schisandrin B after intragastric administration of Schisandra chinensis (SC) in rats.

Methods: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two study groups: SC and SC+acupuncture. Rats in both groups received intragastric SC extract at 5.

A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II trial of Allisartan Isoproxil in essential hypertensive population at low-medium risk.

Background: Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) is a well-tolerated class of antihypertensive agents, exhibiting effective antihypertensive and cardiovascular protective function. The objective of the study was to examine the efficacy and safety of Allisartan Isoproxil, a newly developed, selective, nonpeptide blocker of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), in essential hypertensive patients at low-medium risk.

Methods And Findings: A Phase II prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial comparing Allisartan Isoproxil 240mg versus placebo was conducted in essential hypertensive patients at low-medium risk at 8 sites in China.

An impaired inflammatory cytokine response to gram-negative LPS in human neonates is associated with the defective TLR-mediated signaling pathway.

Purpose: Human neonates are highly susceptible to a wide range of infections, which has been attributed to deficiencies in their innate and adaptive immunity. In contrast to the well-documented immaturity in neonatal adaptive immunity, deficiencies in their innate immunity are less defined. This study examined the inflammatory response of neonatal monocytes to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN) stimulation and discriminated the underlying Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated signal transduction pathways.

The paraventricular thalamus controls a central amygdala fear circuit.

Appropriate responses to an imminent threat brace us for adversities. The ability to sense and predict threatening or stressful events is essential for such adaptive behaviour. In the mammalian brain, one putative stress sensor is the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), an area that is readily activated by both physical and psychological stressors.

Female streetwalkers' perspectives on migration and HIV/STI risks in a changing economic and social environment: a qualitative study in Shanghai, China.

China's 30-year economic boom has created a unique social and economic market for commercial sex, as well as for a workforce of migrant women from rural China. This qualitative study explores the impact of the rapidly changing social and economic environment on migration patterns, knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), STI risk behaviours and health beliefs among female streetwalkers in Shanghai. Qualitative data were collected in 2010 through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 streetwalkers to characterise their migration passages, sexual health and behaviours, and peer networks.

Study on diagnosis criteria of fire-heat syndrome based on receiver operating characteristic curve and principal component analysis.

Objective: To establish the diagnostic quantitative criteria for fire-heat syndrome (FHS) of Chinese medicine (CM) based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and principal component analysis (PCA).

Methods: The symptoms and signs of FHS cases and healthy subjects from Guangzhou, Henan and Hunan of China were collected through questionnaire, and the diagnostic quantitative score tables were established for the three regions, respectively, with the method of maximum likelihood analysis. The homogeneity test was then performed on the diagnostic score tables for the three regions with ROC curve, and the diagnostic efficiency of diagnostic score tables for the three regions was compared with the prospective test and retrospective test.

ErbB4 regulation of a thalamic reticular nucleus circuit for sensory selection.

Selective processing of behaviorally relevant sensory inputs against irrelevant ones is a fundamental cognitive function whose impairment has been implicated in major psychiatric disorders. It is known that the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) gates sensory information en route to the cortex, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we show in mice that deficiency of the Erbb4 gene in somatostatin-expressing TRN neurons markedly alters behaviors that are dependent on sensory selection.

[Clinical analysis of acute cerebral infarction by Dengzhanhua injection and Xiongqin injection combined with Xuesaitong treatment].

Objective: To study the clinical effect of Dengzhanhua injection and Xiongqin injection combined with Xuesaitong to treat the elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Methods: From March 2012 to March 2013,140 patients with acute cerebral infarction elderly patients were treated, as research subjects were randomly divided into two groups, the observation group and the control group,70 cases in each group. The control group were treated using Xuesaitong;The observation group using Dengzhanhua injection and Xiongqin injection combined with Xuesaitong.

[Identification on Xanthium sibiricum from different habitats by FTIR fingerprint patterns].

Objective: To establish an FTIR method to identify Xanthium sibiricum from different habitats.

Methods: FTIR spectra of Xanthium sibiricum from different habitats were analyzed,and the similarity of different fingerprint spectra and the chemical pattern recognition were calculated and analyzed according to the wave numbers of peaks.

Results: Different FTIR spectra of 10 different habitats of Xanthium sibiricum were obtained,and the similarities were all above 0.

DNA methylation dynamics of a maternally methylated DMR in the mouse Dlk1-Dio3 domain.

The mouse delta-like homolog 1 and type III iodothyronine deiodinase (Dlk1-Dio3) imprinted domain contains three known paternally methylated differentially methylated regions (DMRs): intergenic DMR (IG-DMR), maternally expressed 3-DMR (Gtl2-DMR), and Dlk1-DMR. Here, we report the first maternally methylated DMR, CpG island 2 (CGI-2), is located approximately 800 bp downstream of miR-1188. CGI-2 is highly methylated in sperm and oocytes, de-methylated in pre-implantation embryos, and differentially re-methylated during post-implantation development.

Reduced tumorigenicity and drug resistance through the downregulation of octamer-binding protein 4 and Nanog transcriptional factor expression in human breast stem cells.

Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy among females. Previous studies examining breast cancer tissue have demonstrated the presence of stem cells, and have detected octamer‑binding protein 4 (Oct4) and Nanog transcription factor expression. In the present study, breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) were isolated and enriched from MDA‑MB‑231 breast cancer cell lines, and were defined as MDA‑MB‑231 stem cells using flow cytometry.

Input-specific maturation of synaptic dynamics of parvalbumin interneurons in primary visual cortex.

Cortical networks consist of local recurrent circuits and long-range pathways from other brain areas. Parvalbumin-positive interneurons (PVNs) regulate the dynamic operation of local ensembles as well as the temporal precision of afferent signals. The synaptic recruitment of PVNs that support these circuit operations is not well-understood.

Toward a genetic dissection of cortical circuits in the mouse.

The mammalian neocortex gives rise to a wide range of mental activities and consists of a constellation of interconnected areas that are built from a set of basic circuit templates. Major obstacles to understanding cortical architecture include the diversity of cell types, their highly recurrent local and global connectivity, dynamic circuit operations, and a convoluted developmental assembly process rooted in the genome. With our increasing knowledge of gene expression and developmental genetic principles, it is now feasible to launch a program of genetic dissection of cortical circuits through systematic targeting of cell types and fate mapping of neural progenitors.

Antitumor Efficacy of Docetaxel-loaded Nanocarrier against Esophageal Cancer Cell Bearing Mice Model.

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most prevalent cancers with high rate of mortality worldwide. Intravenous and oral-based chemotherapeutic regimens were employed; however all the current treatment modalities are largely unsuccessful. Therefore the main aim of this work was to demonstrate the antitumor efficacy of docetaxel (DTX)-loaded trimethyl chitosan (TMC-DTX) against EC9701 esophageal squamous cancer cells.

Efficient delivery of connective tissue growth factor shRNA using PAMAM nanoparticles.

The aim of this study was to detect the anti-fibrosis activity of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) small hairpin RNA (shRNA) mediated by polyamidoamine dendrimer nanoparticles in rat myocardial cell lines and myocardium. CTGF shRNAs were constructed from inverted oligonucleotides and a polyamidoamine nanoparticle vector was used to transfer shRNA into H9c2 myocardial cells and spontaneously hypertensive rats. The expression of CTGF, transforming growth factor-b1, and laminin were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry.