The nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) synchronizes sleep-wake-state-dependent cortical activity through the parabrachial nucleus (PB) in rat.

Background: The medullary nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) and its afferents of vagus nerve have long been investigated in regulation of cortical activity and sleep promotion. However, the underlying neural circuit by which the NTS regulates electroencephalogram (EEG) and sleep remain unclear. As the NTS has a strong projection to the pontine arousal site, the parabrachial nucleus (PB), we proposed the NTS via the pontine parabrachial nucleus (PB) regulates cortical activity and sleep.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Anxiety During Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Perioperative anxiety is prevalent among patients undergoing surgical treatment of cancer and often influences their prognosis. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown potential in the treatment of various anxiety-related disorders, but data on the impact of tDCS on perioperative anxiety are limited.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of tDCS in reducing perioperative anxiety among patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer (CRC) resection.

[Epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of infection among children with diarrhea under five years of age in Guangzhou City].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of infection among children with diarrhea under five years of age in Guangzhou City.

Methods: Children with diarrhea under 5 years of age admitted to Guangzhou Children's hospital, Guangzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital and Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center during the period between January 1 and December 31, 2020, were enrolled. Participants' demographics, living environments and health status were collected using questionnaire surveys.

Risk factors for hearing loss in neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units.

Objective: This study aimed to research risk factors of hearing loss among neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Method: Hearing screening tests were performed on 572 neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit. Those who failed screening tests were referred for diagnostic tests.

[Prevalence and risk factors of infections among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Province].

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and identify the risk factors of infections among patients with colorectal cancer in Henan Province.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed for questionnaire surveys among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Cancer Hospital during the period from March to July, 2021. Patients' stool samples were collected, and the triosephosphate isomerase () gene of was amplified in stool samples using nested PCR assay to characterize the parasite genotype.

Associations of Early Systolic Blood Pressure Control and Outcome After Thrombolysis-Eligible Acute Ischemic Stroke: Results From the ENCHANTED Study.

Background And Purpose: In thrombolysis-eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke, there is uncertainty over the most appropriate systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering profile that provides an optimal balance of potential benefit (functional recovery) and harm (intracranial hemorrhage). We aimed to determine relationships of SBP parameters and outcomes in thrombolyzed acute ischemic stroke patients.

Methods: Post hoc analyzes of the ENCHANTED (Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study), a partial-factorial trial of thrombolysis-eligible and treated acute ischemic stroke patients with high SBP (150-180 mm Hg) assigned to low-dose (0.

An Autoimmunogenic and Proinflammatory Profile Defined by the Gut Microbiota of Patients With Untreated Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: Changes in gut microbiota have been linked to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but knowledge is limited. Our study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the contribution of gut microbiota to the immunopathogenesis of SLE.

Methods: Fecal metagenomes from 117 patients with untreated SLE and 52 SLE patients posttreatment were aligned with 115 matched healthy controls and analyzed by whole-genome profiling.

Interaction of Blood Pressure Lowering and Alteplase Dose in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Results of the Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study.

Objective: To determine the extent to which the effects of intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering are modified by doses of alteplase in thrombolysis-eligible acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

Methods: Prespecified analyses of the Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study for patients enrolled in both arms: (i) low-dose (0.6 mg/kg body weight) or standard-dose (0.

MicroRNA-663 induces immune dysregulation by inhibiting TGF-β1 production in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are critical for immune regulation. Although several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to participate in autoimmune pathogenesis by affecting lymphocyte development and function, the roles of miRNAs in MSC dysfunction in autoimmune diseases remain unclear. Here, we show that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) display a unique miRNA signature in bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) compared with normal controls, among which miR-663 is closely associated with SLE disease activity.

Intensive blood pressure reduction with intravenous thrombolysis therapy for acute ischaemic stroke (ENCHANTED): an international, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint, phase 3 trial.

Background: Systolic blood pressure of more than 185 mm Hg is a contraindication to thrombolytic treatment with intravenous alteplase in patients with acute ischaemic stroke, but the target systolic blood pressure for optimal outcome is uncertain. We assessed intensive blood pressure lowering compared with guideline-recommended blood pressure lowering in patients treated with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods: We did an international, partial-factorial, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial of thrombolysis-eligible patients (age ≥18 years) with acute ischaemic stroke and systolic blood pressure 150 mm Hg or more, who were screened at 110 sites in 15 countries.

Preoperative identification of the initial burr hole site in retrosigmoid craniotomies: A teaching and technical note.

Background: When fashioning a retrosigmoid craniotomy, precise placement of the initial burr hole is crucial to avoid iatrogenic sinusal injury and to facilitate a corridor that allows for minimal cerebellar retraction.

Methods: 3D CT reconstructions of 16 cadaveric sides were used to identify and measure three discrete anatomical points. These three points and distances between them were plotted onto the surface of the skull using a digital caliper to identify the optimal burr hole location.

Effects of High Blood Pressure on Cardiovascular Disease Events Among Chinese Adults With Different Glucose Metabolism.

Objective: To investigate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks caused by blood pressure (BP) of 130-139/80-89 mmHg among Chinese adults with different glucose metabolism.

Research Design And Methods: A prospective population-based cohort of 2,132 adults in Shanghai was established in 2002, and CVD information was collected during 10.9 years of follow-up.

Acetylation within the N- and C-Terminal Domains of Src Regulates Distinct Roles of STAT3-Mediated Tumorigenesis.

Posttranslational modifications of mammalian c-Src N-terminal and C-terminal domains regulate distinct functions. Myristoylation of G controls its cell membrane association and phosphorylation of Y419/Y527 controls its activation or inactivation, respectively. We provide evidence that Src-cell membrane association-dissociation and catalytic activation-inactivation are both regulated by acetylation.

A New Classification of Helix Fabrication Methods with Autogenous Costal Cartilage in Microtia Reconstruction.

Background: Recreating the complex architecture of the auricle poses one of the most demanding challenges for the plastic surgeon. The fabrication of the prominent helix is crucial to the final contour of the constructed ear. The success of helix carving depends greatly on the complicated characteristics of the cartilage used, which is commonly the eighth costal cartilage.

Confirmation of five novel susceptibility loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and integrated network analysis of 82 SLE susceptibility loci.

We recently identified ten novel SLE susceptibility loci in Asians and uncovered several additional suggestive loci requiring further validation. This study aimed to replicate five of these suggestive loci in a Han Chinese cohort from Hong Kong, followed by meta-analysis (11,656 cases and 23,968 controls) on previously reported Asian and European populations, and to perform bioinformatic analyses on all 82 reported SLE loci to identify shared regulatory signatures. We performed a battery of analyses for these five loci, as well as joint analyses on all 82 SLE loci.

Amphiregulin in Cancer: New Insights for Translational Medicine.

Although there is a large body of literature regarding amphiregulin (AREG) in human cancer, most knowledge focuses on its cell-autonomous functions in epithelial malignancies. Recent studies revealed that AREG is also present in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and contributes to therapeutic resistance. We discuss emerging concepts of AREG tumor biology and highlight their implications for translational medicine.

MPC1, a key gene in cancer metabolism, is regulated by COUPTFII in human prostate cancer.

Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) and MPC 2 form a transporter complex in cells to control pyruvate transportation into mitochondria. Reduced expression of MPC1 disrupts the transporter function, induces metabolic shift to increase glycolysis, and thus plays important roles in several diseases, including cancer. However, the role of MPC1 in prostate cancer and the underlying mechanism causing the down-regulation of MPC1 in tumor cells remain to be defined.

MicroRNA-499 Rs3746444 polymorphism and biliary atresia.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms within microRNAs are known to affect the risk in development and prognosis of many diseases. This study was designed to investigate whether polymorphism of microRNA-499 (miR-499, rs3746444 A>G) is associated with risk to biliary atresia (BA).

Methods: A hospital-based cases-control study was performed on a total of 507 Han Chinese (207 BA cases and 300 ethnically-matched healthy controls without any evidence of liver diseases) so as to analyze the association between miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphism and BA risk as well as liver function remission (LFR) after liver transplantation.

SFRP2 augments WNT16B signaling to promote therapeutic resistance in the damaged tumor microenvironment.

Most tumors initially respond to cytotoxic treatments, but acquired resistance often follows. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major barrier to clinical success by compromising therapeutic efficacy, and pathological relevance of multiple soluble factors released by a therapeutically remodeled TME remains largely unexplored. Here we show that the secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2), a Wnt pathway modulator, is produced by human primary fibroblasts after genotoxic treatments.

MiR-125a-5p Decreases the Sensitivity of Treg cells Toward IL-6-Mediated Conversion by Inhibiting IL-6R and STAT3 Expression.

The transcription factor FOXP3 is essential for the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells (Treg). It is established that the transcription factor GATA-3 is induced in Treg cells under inflammatory conditions. GATA-3 stabilizes FOXP3 levels to avoid the differentiation of Treg cells into inflammatory-like T cells.