Astrocytes are functionally dynamic cells that support neurons in multiple ways throughout an organism’s lifespan.The astrocytic regulation of neuronal activity has been increasingly recognized in recent years.Astroc...Astrocytes are functionally dynamic cells that support neurons in multiple ways throughout an organism’s lifespan.The astrocytic regulation of neuronal activity has been increasingly recognized in recent years.Astrocytes are now recognized as playing a more complex role than mere bystanders in the central nervous system.However,their role in regulating the sleep neurocircuitry is not well understood.From this perspective,we highlight the role of astrocytes in sleep modulation,with a particular focus on regulatory mechanisms related to the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus(VLPO)of the hypothalamus.We briefly discuss recent literature reporting the role of VLPO astrocytes in regulating sleep-associated behaviors.展开更多
Neuroinflammation has been identified as a crucial element in several neurological disorders. Glial cells play a critical role in directing neuroinflammation, both in deleterious and beneficial ways.
Background: Disaster preparedness is a critical aspect of nursing education, enhancing students’ ability to respond effectively in emergencies. However, the extent to which nursing curricula influence disaster prepar...Background: Disaster preparedness is a critical aspect of nursing education, enhancing students’ ability to respond effectively in emergencies. However, the extent to which nursing curricula influence disaster preparedness awareness remains underexplored. Our study found that 39% of students reported improved awareness after three years, highlighting the need for targeted curriculum enhancements. Purpose: To evaluate changes in disaster preparedness awareness among nursing students over three years of education and identify gaps in current curricula impacting this awareness. Results: Findings indicate that while 39% of students showed improved awareness, significant gaps remain, suggesting the need for a dedicated course on emergency preparedness. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of integrating comprehensive disaster preparedness education within nursing curricula to address these gaps and foster resilience in future healthcare professionals.展开更多
<strong>Background: </strong>Health consciousness in daily life is very important because lifestyle habits, such as dietary and exercise habits, sleep, and smoking, are involved in the development and prog...<strong>Background: </strong>Health consciousness in daily life is very important because lifestyle habits, such as dietary and exercise habits, sleep, and smoking, are involved in the development and progression of lifestyle-related diseases, such as cancer, heart diseases, stroke, liver diseases, kidney diseases, and diabetes. <strong>Purpose:</strong> In this study, we surveyed to see if the health consciousness increased and what behaviors in daily life changed in students of a nursing school (Seiwa Nursing College, Tokyo, Japan) after they learned medical care knowledge required to become a nurse. <strong>Results: </strong>After learning medical care knowledge for 3 years, the students were found to have a higher level of health consciousness in the third year than they did in the first year. They applied the medical care knowledge they learned in daily life. All data were collected in 2019. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>The medical care knowledge learned in a nursing school was demonstrated to serve as information to increase the health consciousness.展开更多
Dexmedetomidine is a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist that is used because of its sedative,anxiolytic,and analgesic effects.Dexketoprofen,which is used as an analgesic,is a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammator...Dexmedetomidine is a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist that is used because of its sedative,anxiolytic,and analgesic effects.Dexketoprofen,which is used as an analgesic,is a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).The use of dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen as adjuvants to local anesthetics for the peripheral nerve is gradually increasing.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen on conduction block of rat sciatic nerve.The isolated sciatic nerve from adult rats was transferred to a nerve chamber.The compound action potentials (CAPs) were recorded from stimulated nerve with electrophysiological methods.Dexmedetomidine (n = 8) and dexketoprofen (n = 8) were administered in the chamber with cumulative concentrations of 10–9 to 10–5 M,and the CAPs were recorded for 5 and 10 minutes.The CAP parameters were calculated.Both dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen significantly depressed all CAP parameters in a dose-dependent manner compared with the control group,i.e.,the group in which rats did not receive treatment.CAP parameters showed there was no significant difference in nerve conduction inhibition between dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen.Higher doses of dexmedetomidine suppressed the conduction in the fast-conducting fibers;however,dexketoprofen was found to suppress the conduction in the slow-conducting fibers in a time-dependent manner and suppress the conduction in the medium- and slow-conducting fibers in a dose-dependent manner.These findings suggest that dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen exhibit better anesthetic effects on peripheral nerve through different ways of action.The experimental procedures were approved by the Necmettin Erbakan University on January 30,2013 (approval No.2013-024).展开更多
Objective:To determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory（AChE1） and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 12 traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorder...Objective:To determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory（AChE1） and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 12 traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorders.Methods:AChEI activity was determined spectrophotometrically using the Ellman’s colorimetric method.Antioxidant activity was carried out by determining the ability of the extracts to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl（DPPH） and 2,2’-azinobis- 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid（ABTS） radicals.The levels of total phenols,flavonoids and flavonols were determined quantitatively using spectrophotometric methods.Results:AChEI was observed to be dose-dependent.Lannea schweinfurthii（L.schweinfurthii）（Engl.） Engl.and Scadoxus puniceus（S.puniceus）（L.） Friis & I.Nordal.root extracts showed the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.000 3 mg/mL for the ethyl acetate extracts while Zanthoxylum davyi（Z.davyi）（I.Verd.） P.G. Watermann had the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.01 mg/mL for the methanol extracts in the AChEI assay. The roots of Piper capense（P.capense） L.f.,L.schweinfurthii,Ziziphus mucronata（Z.mucronata） Willd.,Z.davyi and Crinum bulbispermum（C.bulbispermum）（Burm.f.） Milne-Redh.& Schweick.showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity and good AChEI activity.Conclusions: Five plants show good antioxidant and AChEI activity.These findings support the traditional use of the plants for treating neurological disorders especially where a cholinesterase mechanism and reactive oxygen species（ROS） are involved.展开更多
Objective:To characterize the expression of aquaporin-4(AQP4),one of the aquaporins(AQPs),in human brainspecimens from patients with traumatic brain injury or brain tumors.Methods:Nineteen hnman brain specimens were o...Objective:To characterize the expression of aquaporin-4(AQP4),one of the aquaporins(AQPs),in human brainspecimens from patients with traumatic brain injury or brain tumors.Methods:Nineteen hnman brain specimens were obtahledfrom the patients with traumatic brain injury,brain tumors,benign meningioma or early stage hemorrhagic stroke.MRI or CTimaging was used to assess brain edema.Hematoxylin and eosm staining were used to evaluate cell damage,Immunohistochem-istry was used to detect the AQP4 expression.Results:AQP4 expression was increased from 15 h to at least 8 d after injury.AQP4immunoreactivity was strong around astrocytomas,ganglioglioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma.However,AQP4 immunore-activity was only found in the centers of astrocytomas and ganglioglioma,but not in metastatic adenocarcinoma derived from lung.Conclusion:AQP4 expression increases in human brains alter traumatic brain injury,within brain-derived tumors,and aroundbrain tumors.展开更多
Osthole, an effective monomer in Chinese medicinal herbs, can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect against brain injury, with few toxic effects. In this study, a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease was established ...Osthole, an effective monomer in Chinese medicinal herbs, can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect against brain injury, with few toxic effects. In this study, a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease was established after intracerebroventricular injection of β-amyloid peptide （25-35）. Subsequently the rats were intraperitoneally treated with osthole （12.5 or 25.0 mg/kg） for 14 successive days. Results showed that osthole treatment significantly improved cognitive impairment and protected hippocampal neurons of AIzheimer＇s disease rats. Also, osthole treatment alleviated suppressed long-term potentiation in the hippocampus of Alzheimer＇s disease rats. In these osthole-treated Alzheimer＇s disease rats, the level of glutamate decreased, but there was no significant change in y-amino-butyric acid. These experimental findings suggest that osthole can improve learning and memory impairment, and increase synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer＇s disease rats. These effects of osthole may be because of its regulation of central glutamate and y-amino-butyric acid levels.展开更多
Diabetes is associated with several complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, insulin is the main used medication for management of insulin-dependentdiabetes me...Diabetes is associated with several complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, insulin is the main used medication for management of insulin-dependentdiabetes mellitus(type-1 diabetes). In this metabolic syndrome, in addition to decrease of endogenous insulin, the plasma level of connecting peptide(C-peptide) is also reduced due to beta cell destruction. Studies in the past decade have shown that C-peptide is much more than a byproduct of insulin biosynthesis and possess different biological activities. Therefore, it may be possible that C-peptide deficiency be involved, at least in part, in the development of different complications of diabetes. It has been shown that a small level of remaining C-peptide is associated with significant metabolic benefit. The purpose of this review is to describe beneficial effects of C-peptide replacement on pathological features associated with insulin-dependent diabetes. Also, experimental and clinical findings on the effects of C-peptide on wholebody glucose utilization, adipose tissue metabolism and tissues blood flow are summarized and discussed. The hypoglycemic, antilipolytic and vasodilator effects of C-peptide suggest that it may contribute to fine-tuning of the tissues metabolism under different physiologic or pathologic conditions. Therefore, C-peptide replacement together with the classic insulin therapy may prevent, retard, or ameliorate diabetic complications in patients with type-1 diabetes.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Bile duct ligation （BDL） and subsequent cholestasis are correlated with oxidative stress, hepatocellular injury and fibrosis. Quercetin is a flavonoid with antifibrotic, and hepatoprotective properties....BACKGROUND： Bile duct ligation （BDL） and subsequent cholestasis are correlated with oxidative stress, hepatocellular injury and fibrosis. Quercetin is a flavonoid with antifibrotic, and hepatoprotective properties. However, the molecular mechanism underlying quercetin-mediated hepatoprotection is not fully understood. The current study was to evaluate mecha- nisms of hepatoprotective effect of quercetin in BDL rat model. METHODS： We divided male Wistar rats into 4 groups （n=8 for each）： sham, sham＋quercetin （30 mg/kg per day）, BDL, and BDL＋quercetin （30 mg/kg per day）. Four weeks later, the rats were sacrificed, the blood was collected for liver enzyme mea- surements and liver for the measurement of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 mRNA and protein levels by quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS： Quercetin significantly alleviated liver injury in BDL rats as evidenced by histology and reduced liver enzymes. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 were significantly increased in BDL rats compared with those in the sham group （P〈0.05）; quercetin treatment reversed these variables back toward normal （P〈0.05）. Another interesting finding was that the antioxidant markers e.g. superoxide dismutase and catalase were elevated in quercetin-treated BDL rats compared to BDL rats （P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： Quercetin demonstrated hepatoprotective activity against BDL-induced liver injury through increasing antioxidant capacity of the liver tissue, while preventing the production of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 proteins.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the berries of Phytolacca dodecundra(P.dodecandra) for its effect on Histoplasma cupsulatum var.farciminosum(HCF) and for the treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis(ELi.Methods:Samples were...Objective:To evaluate the berries of Phytolacca dodecundra(P.dodecandra) for its effect on Histoplasma cupsulatum var.farciminosum(HCF) and for the treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis(ELi.Methods:Samples were collected from un-ruptured nodules of cases of EL at Debre Zeit and Akaki(central Ethiopia).Mycologieal culture and isolation of HCF were performed at the Akliln Lemma Institute of Pathobiology.Phytochemical screening was done for n-butanol extract of P.dodecandra to delect alkaloids,saponins,phenolic compounds and flavonoids.The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations(MFCs) ol aqueous and n-butanol extracts of P.dodecandra against FICF were determined by agar dilution assay.For the in vivo trial.5%simple ointment was prepared from n-butanol extract and applied topically to 24(twelve early and twelve moderate) cases of F.L.Results:Phytochemical screening showed that n-butanol extract ol P.dodecandra was positive lor alkaloids.saponins and phenolic compounds but negative for flavonoids.The MFCs of n-butanol and aqueous extracts of P.dodecandra were(0.039%-0.078%) and(0.625%-1.250%),respectively.The MFCs of n-butanol and aqueous extracts of P.dodecandra were(0.078%t-0.156%)and(1.250%-2.500%),respectively.The MIC and MFC of ketoconazole(positive control) was(1.200×10^(-5)%-2.500×10^(-5)%) and(5.000× 10^(-5)%-1.000×10^(-4)%),respectively while growth was observed on free medium(negative control).From the total of 24 treated cases of EL,14(58.3%) responded lo treatment;however,10(41.7%) did not respond to treatment.There was no significant difference in the degree of response to treatment between early and moderate cases(χ~2=0.086:P=0.408.Conclusions:It can be concluded that n-butanol extract of P.dodecandra demonstrates antifungal effects while the aqueous extract shows no antifungal activity.展开更多
Dependence and impairment of learning and memory are two well-established features caused by abused drugs such as opioids. The hippocampus is an important region associated with both drug dependence and learning and m...Dependence and impairment of learning and memory are two well-established features caused by abused drugs such as opioids. The hippocampus is an important region associated with both drug dependence and learning and memory. However, the molecular events in hippocampus following exposure to abused drugs such as opioids are not well understood. Here we examined the effect of chronic morphine treatment on hippocampal protein expression by proteomic analyses. We found that chronic exposure of mice to morphine for 10 days produced robust morphine withdrawal jumping and memory impairment, and also resulted in a significant downregulation of hippocampal protein levels of three metabolic enzymes, including Fe-S protein 1 ofNADH dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase or E2 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and lactate dehydrogenase 2. Further real-time quantitative PCR analyses confirmed that the levels of the corresponding mRNAs were also remarkably reduced. Consistent with these findings, lower ATP levels and an impaired ability to convert glucose into ATP were also observed in the hippocampus of chronically treated mice. Opioid antagonist naltrexone administrated concomitantly with morphine significantly suppressed morphine withdrawal jumping and reversed the downregulation of these proteins. Acute exposure to morphine also produced robust morphine withdrawal jumping and significant memory impairment, but failed to decrease the expression of these three proteins. Intrahippocampal injection of D-glucose before morphine administration significantly enhanced ATP levels and suppressed morphine withdrawal jumping and memory impairment in acute morphine-treated but not in chronic morphine-treated mice. Intraperitoneal injection of high dose of D-glucose shows a similar effect on morphine-induced withdrawal jumping as the central treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that reduced expression of the three metabolic enzymes in the hippocampus as a result of chronic morphine treatment contributes to the development of drug-induced symptoms such as morphine withdrawal jumping and memory impairment.展开更多
AIM： To study the protective effect of a natural antioxidant, melatonin, against multistress condition induced lipid peroxidation v/a determination of gastric damage and plasma malondialdehyde （MDA） level by high p...AIM： To study the protective effect of a natural antioxidant, melatonin, against multistress condition induced lipid peroxidation v/a determination of gastric damage and plasma malondialdehyde （MDA） level by high performance liquid chromatography in rats. METHODS： We compared indomethacin-induced gastric damage and MDA plasma level in three groups of rats： unoperated, bile duct ligated and sham-operated and evaluated the role of the melatonin on gastric damage and plasma MDA level. Indomethacin and melatonin were injected intraperitoneally in doses of 50 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively. Animals were killed 4 h after indomethacin injection. RESULTS： Indomethacin induced more severe gastric damage and plasma MDA level in bile duct ligated animals was significantly higher （3.1±0.04 μmol/L） than sham （2.8±0.04 μmol/L） and unoperated animals （1.4±0.08 μmol/L）. Pretreatment with melatonin reduced indomethacin-induced gastric damage and plasma MDA level. CONCLUSION： Considering the results of this study, we suggest that in multistress conditions the intensity of gastric damage and the plasma MDA level are great and melatonin reduces the negative effect of lipid peroxidation and cell damage by oxidative stress in multistress conditions due to its antioxidizing activity.展开更多
AIM: To study the effects of indomethacin on the isolated transverse and longitudinal rat gastric fundus strips.METHODS: The strips were suspended in an organ bath containing oxygenated Krebs solution, and contractile...AIM: To study the effects of indomethacin on the isolated transverse and longitudinal rat gastric fundus strips.METHODS: The strips were suspended in an organ bath containing oxygenated Krebs solution, and contractile responses to electrical field stimulation were recorded on a physiograph in an isotonic manner after administration of cumulative concentrations of indomethacin. The effects of indomethacin on the strips pretreated with KATP channel modulators, diazoxide and glybenclamide were studied.RESULTS: Treatment of the transverse strips with indomethacin resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibitory response. In longitudinal strips, biphasic responses were seen, which included a stimulatory response at low concentrations of indomethacin, followed by an inhibitory response at higher concentrations.Diazoxide pre-treatment inhibited the stimulatory response of longitudinal strips. Glybenclamide pre-treatment not only blocked inhibitory effect of the low concentrations of indomethacin on transverse strips, but also increased the amplitude of contractions. Moreover, the drug decreased the amplitude of contractions in longitudinal strips.CONCLUSION: Responses of the isolated longitudinal and transverse rat gastric fundus strips to indomethacin are not similar, and are influenced by KATP channel modulators.展开更多
Cancer stem cells(CSCs)are tumor cells that share functional characteristics with normal and embryonic stem cells.CSCs have increased tumor-initiating capacity and metastatic potential and lower sensitivity to chemo-a...Cancer stem cells(CSCs)are tumor cells that share functional characteristics with normal and embryonic stem cells.CSCs have increased tumor-initiating capacity and metastatic potential and lower sensitivity to chemo-and radiotherapy,with important roles in tumor progression and the response to therapy.Thus,a current goal of cancer research is to eliminate CSCs,necessitating an adequate phenotypic and functional characterization of CSCs.Strategies have been developed to identify,enrich,and track CSCs,many of which distinguish CSCs by evaluating the expression of surface markers,the initiation of specific signaling pathways,and the activation of master transcription factors that control stemness in normal cells.We review and discuss the use of reporter gene systems for identifying CSCs.Reporters that are under the control of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1,CD133,Notch,Nanog homeobox,Sex-determining region Y-box 2,and POU class 5 homeobox can be used to identify CSCs in many tumor types,track cells in real time,and screen for drugs.Thus,reporter gene systems,in combination with in vitro and in vivo functional assays,can assess changes in the CSCs pool.We present relevant examples of these systems in the evaluation of experimental CSCs-targeting therapeutics,demonstrating their value in CSCs research.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the reversal effect of LY980503, a benflumetol derivative, on multidrug resistance in vincristine （VCR） -resistant human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC7901/VCR. METHODS： Cells of a human gastr...AIM： To investigate the reversal effect of LY980503, a benflumetol derivative, on multidrug resistance in vincristine （VCR） -resistant human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC7901/VCR. METHODS： Cells of a human gastric cancer cell line, SGC7901, and its VCR-resistant variant, SGC7901/VCR, were cultivated with LY980503 and/or doxorubicin （DOX）. The cytotoxicity of drugs in vitro was assayed by M-IF method. Based on the flow cytometric technology, the uptake of DOX was detected in these cells by measuring DOX -associated mean fluorescence intensity （MFI）. RESULTS： SGC7901/VCR cells were 23.5 times more resistant to DOX in comparison with 5GC7901 cells. LY980503 at the concentrations of 2.0 μmol/L -10 μmol/ L had no obvious cytotoxicity to SGC7901 and SGC7901/ VCR cells. After simultaneous treatment with LY980503 at the concentrations of 2.0, 4.0 and 10 μmol/L, the ICso of DOX to SGC7901/VCR cells decreased from 1.6 ± 0.12 μmol/L to 0.55 ± 0.024, 0.25 ± 0.032 and 0.11 ± 0.015 μmol/L, respectively, thus, increasing the DOX sensitivity by 2.9-fold （P 〈 0. 05）, 6.4-fold （P 〈 0. 01） and 14.5-fold （P 〈 0. 01）, respectively. In the uptake study of DOX, simultaneous incubation of SGC7901/VCR cells with LY980503 significantly increased the DOX -associated MFI in SGC7901/VCR cells. No such results were found in parental SGC7901 cells.CONCLUSION： LY980503 at non-cytotoxic concentrations can effectively circumvent resistance of SGC7901/VCR cells to DOX by increasing intracellular DOX accumulation.展开更多
AIM： To analyze expression of ATP7B in gastric cardiac adenocarcinomas, its clinicopathologic significance, in comparison with distal gastric adenocarcinomas. METHODS： Immunohistochemical avidin-biotin peroxidase co...AIM： To analyze expression of ATP7B in gastric cardiac adenocarcinomas, its clinicopathologic significance, in comparison with distal gastric adenocarcinomas. METHODS： Immunohistochemical avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method was applied to detect the expression of ATP7B in 49 cases of cardiac carcinomas, the corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic epithelium and 55 cases of distal gastric carcinomas. RESULTS： The proportion of ATP7B positive samples in gastric cardiac carcinomas （51.0%, 25 of 49） was significantly higher than that in the corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic epithelium （22.4%, 11 of 49） （P = 0.003）. ATP7B expression in poorly differentiated gastric cardiac carcinomas was significantly higher than that in well/moderately differentiated gastric cardiac carcinomas （P = 0.030）. ATP7B expression in gastric cardiac carcinomas was independent of age, tumor size, nodal stage and metastasis status. ATP7B protein was detected in 30.9% （17/55 cases） of distal gastric carcinomas, markedly lower than that in gastric cardiac carcinomas （P = 0.037）. CONCLUSION： ATP7B protein is frequently overexpressecl in gastric cardiac carcinomas, and correlated with the differentiation of cardiac carcinoma. ATP7B expression in gastric cardiac carcinomas is significantly higher than that in distal gastric carcinomas, which might partially explain the difference of chemotherapy response and prognosis between these two gastric carcinomas.展开更多
Cerebral cortical neurons from neonatal rats were cultured in the presence of methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate （MDHB; 2, 4, and 8 IJM）. Results showed that MDHB significantly promoted neurite outgrowth and microtubule-a...Cerebral cortical neurons from neonatal rats were cultured in the presence of methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate （MDHB; 2, 4, and 8 IJM）. Results showed that MDHB significantly promoted neurite outgrowth and microtubule-associated protein 2 mRNA expression, and increased neuronal survival in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, MDHB induced brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. These findings suggest that MDHB has a neurotrophic effect, which may be due to its ability to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.展开更多
基金supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korean government(2017R1A5A2015391 and 2020M3E5D9079764)(to KS).
文摘Astrocytes are functionally dynamic cells that support neurons in multiple ways throughout an organism’s lifespan.The astrocytic regulation of neuronal activity has been increasingly recognized in recent years.Astrocytes are now recognized as playing a more complex role than mere bystanders in the central nervous system.However,their role in regulating the sleep neurocircuitry is not well understood.From this perspective,we highlight the role of astrocytes in sleep modulation,with a particular focus on regulatory mechanisms related to the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus(VLPO)of the hypothalamus.We briefly discuss recent literature reporting the role of VLPO astrocytes in regulating sleep-associated behaviors.
基金supported by a grant from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation(NRF),which is funded by the Korean government(MSIP)(NRF-2020M3E5D9079764)(to KS)。
文摘Neuroinflammation has been identified as a crucial element in several neurological disorders. Glial cells play a critical role in directing neuroinflammation, both in deleterious and beneficial ways.
文摘Background: Disaster preparedness is a critical aspect of nursing education, enhancing students’ ability to respond effectively in emergencies. However, the extent to which nursing curricula influence disaster preparedness awareness remains underexplored. Our study found that 39% of students reported improved awareness after three years, highlighting the need for targeted curriculum enhancements. Purpose: To evaluate changes in disaster preparedness awareness among nursing students over three years of education and identify gaps in current curricula impacting this awareness. Results: Findings indicate that while 39% of students showed improved awareness, significant gaps remain, suggesting the need for a dedicated course on emergency preparedness. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of integrating comprehensive disaster preparedness education within nursing curricula to address these gaps and foster resilience in future healthcare professionals.
文摘<strong>Background: </strong>Health consciousness in daily life is very important because lifestyle habits, such as dietary and exercise habits, sleep, and smoking, are involved in the development and progression of lifestyle-related diseases, such as cancer, heart diseases, stroke, liver diseases, kidney diseases, and diabetes. <strong>Purpose:</strong> In this study, we surveyed to see if the health consciousness increased and what behaviors in daily life changed in students of a nursing school (Seiwa Nursing College, Tokyo, Japan) after they learned medical care knowledge required to become a nurse. <strong>Results: </strong>After learning medical care knowledge for 3 years, the students were found to have a higher level of health consciousness in the third year than they did in the first year. They applied the medical care knowledge they learned in daily life. All data were collected in 2019. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>The medical care knowledge learned in a nursing school was demonstrated to serve as information to increase the health consciousness.
基金Scientific Committee Foundation(No.13102007) of Selcuk University,Konya,Turkey(to HB)
文摘Dexmedetomidine is a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist that is used because of its sedative,anxiolytic,and analgesic effects.Dexketoprofen,which is used as an analgesic,is a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).The use of dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen as adjuvants to local anesthetics for the peripheral nerve is gradually increasing.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen on conduction block of rat sciatic nerve.The isolated sciatic nerve from adult rats was transferred to a nerve chamber.The compound action potentials (CAPs) were recorded from stimulated nerve with electrophysiological methods.Dexmedetomidine (n = 8) and dexketoprofen (n = 8) were administered in the chamber with cumulative concentrations of 10–9 to 10–5 M,and the CAPs were recorded for 5 and 10 minutes.The CAP parameters were calculated.Both dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen significantly depressed all CAP parameters in a dose-dependent manner compared with the control group,i.e.,the group in which rats did not receive treatment.CAP parameters showed there was no significant difference in nerve conduction inhibition between dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen.Higher doses of dexmedetomidine suppressed the conduction in the fast-conducting fibers;however,dexketoprofen was found to suppress the conduction in the slow-conducting fibers in a time-dependent manner and suppress the conduction in the medium- and slow-conducting fibers in a dose-dependent manner.These findings suggest that dexmedetomidine and dexketoprofen exhibit better anesthetic effects on peripheral nerve through different ways of action.The experimental procedures were approved by the Necmettin Erbakan University on January 30,2013 (approval No.2013-024).
基金the financial support by the National Research Foundation(Pretoria) and RESCOM (University of Pretoria)
文摘Objective:To determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory（AChE1） and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 12 traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorders.Methods:AChEI activity was determined spectrophotometrically using the Ellman’s colorimetric method.Antioxidant activity was carried out by determining the ability of the extracts to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl（DPPH） and 2,2’-azinobis- 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid（ABTS） radicals.The levels of total phenols,flavonoids and flavonols were determined quantitatively using spectrophotometric methods.Results:AChEI was observed to be dose-dependent.Lannea schweinfurthii（L.schweinfurthii）（Engl.） Engl.and Scadoxus puniceus（S.puniceus）（L.） Friis & I.Nordal.root extracts showed the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.000 3 mg/mL for the ethyl acetate extracts while Zanthoxylum davyi（Z.davyi）（I.Verd.） P.G. Watermann had the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.01 mg/mL for the methanol extracts in the AChEI assay. The roots of Piper capense（P.capense） L.f.,L.schweinfurthii,Ziziphus mucronata（Z.mucronata） Willd.,Z.davyi and Crinum bulbispermum（C.bulbispermum）（Burm.f.） Milne-Redh.& Schweick.showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity and good AChEI activity.Conclusions: Five plants show good antioxidant and AChEI activity.These findings support the traditional use of the plants for treating neurological disorders especially where a cholinesterase mechanism and reactive oxygen species（ROS） are involved.
文摘Objective:To characterize the expression of aquaporin-4(AQP4),one of the aquaporins(AQPs),in human brainspecimens from patients with traumatic brain injury or brain tumors.Methods:Nineteen hnman brain specimens were obtahledfrom the patients with traumatic brain injury,brain tumors,benign meningioma or early stage hemorrhagic stroke.MRI or CTimaging was used to assess brain edema.Hematoxylin and eosm staining were used to evaluate cell damage,Immunohistochem-istry was used to detect the AQP4 expression.Results:AQP4 expression was increased from 15 h to at least 8 d after injury.AQP4immunoreactivity was strong around astrocytomas,ganglioglioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma.However,AQP4 immunore-activity was only found in the centers of astrocytomas and ganglioglioma,but not in metastatic adenocarcinoma derived from lung.Conclusion:AQP4 expression increases in human brains alter traumatic brain injury,within brain-derived tumors,and aroundbrain tumors.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, No. 2004000653Key Project of Hebei Province Health Department, No. 200901830
文摘Osthole, an effective monomer in Chinese medicinal herbs, can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect against brain injury, with few toxic effects. In this study, a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease was established after intracerebroventricular injection of β-amyloid peptide （25-35）. Subsequently the rats were intraperitoneally treated with osthole （12.5 or 25.0 mg/kg） for 14 successive days. Results showed that osthole treatment significantly improved cognitive impairment and protected hippocampal neurons of AIzheimer＇s disease rats. Also, osthole treatment alleviated suppressed long-term potentiation in the hippocampus of Alzheimer＇s disease rats. In these osthole-treated Alzheimer＇s disease rats, the level of glutamate decreased, but there was no significant change in y-amino-butyric acid. These experimental findings suggest that osthole can improve learning and memory impairment, and increase synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer＇s disease rats. These effects of osthole may be because of its regulation of central glutamate and y-amino-butyric acid levels.
基金Supported by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
文摘Diabetes is associated with several complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, insulin is the main used medication for management of insulin-dependentdiabetes mellitus(type-1 diabetes). In this metabolic syndrome, in addition to decrease of endogenous insulin, the plasma level of connecting peptide(C-peptide) is also reduced due to beta cell destruction. Studies in the past decade have shown that C-peptide is much more than a byproduct of insulin biosynthesis and possess different biological activities. Therefore, it may be possible that C-peptide deficiency be involved, at least in part, in the development of different complications of diabetes. It has been shown that a small level of remaining C-peptide is associated with significant metabolic benefit. The purpose of this review is to describe beneficial effects of C-peptide replacement on pathological features associated with insulin-dependent diabetes. Also, experimental and clinical findings on the effects of C-peptide on wholebody glucose utilization, adipose tissue metabolism and tissues blood flow are summarized and discussed. The hypoglycemic, antilipolytic and vasodilator effects of C-peptide suggest that it may contribute to fine-tuning of the tissues metabolism under different physiologic or pathologic conditions. Therefore, C-peptide replacement together with the classic insulin therapy may prevent, retard, or ameliorate diabetic complications in patients with type-1 diabetes.
文摘BACKGROUND： Bile duct ligation （BDL） and subsequent cholestasis are correlated with oxidative stress, hepatocellular injury and fibrosis. Quercetin is a flavonoid with antifibrotic, and hepatoprotective properties. However, the molecular mechanism underlying quercetin-mediated hepatoprotection is not fully understood. The current study was to evaluate mecha- nisms of hepatoprotective effect of quercetin in BDL rat model. METHODS： We divided male Wistar rats into 4 groups （n=8 for each）： sham, sham＋quercetin （30 mg/kg per day）, BDL, and BDL＋quercetin （30 mg/kg per day）. Four weeks later, the rats were sacrificed, the blood was collected for liver enzyme mea- surements and liver for the measurement of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 mRNA and protein levels by quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS： Quercetin significantly alleviated liver injury in BDL rats as evidenced by histology and reduced liver enzymes. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 were significantly increased in BDL rats compared with those in the sham group （P〈0.05）; quercetin treatment reversed these variables back toward normal （P〈0.05）. Another interesting finding was that the antioxidant markers e.g. superoxide dismutase and catalase were elevated in quercetin-treated BDL rats compared to BDL rats （P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： Quercetin demonstrated hepatoprotective activity against BDL-induced liver injury through increasing antioxidant capacity of the liver tissue, while preventing the production of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 proteins.
基金supported by the Graduate Program the Addis Ababa University and Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology Addis Ababa University(grant No.CAOR/PY-059/2011)
文摘Objective:To evaluate the berries of Phytolacca dodecundra(P.dodecandra) for its effect on Histoplasma cupsulatum var.farciminosum(HCF) and for the treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis(ELi.Methods:Samples were collected from un-ruptured nodules of cases of EL at Debre Zeit and Akaki(central Ethiopia).Mycologieal culture and isolation of HCF were performed at the Akliln Lemma Institute of Pathobiology.Phytochemical screening was done for n-butanol extract of P.dodecandra to delect alkaloids,saponins,phenolic compounds and flavonoids.The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations(MFCs) ol aqueous and n-butanol extracts of P.dodecandra against FICF were determined by agar dilution assay.For the in vivo trial.5%simple ointment was prepared from n-butanol extract and applied topically to 24(twelve early and twelve moderate) cases of F.L.Results:Phytochemical screening showed that n-butanol extract ol P.dodecandra was positive lor alkaloids.saponins and phenolic compounds but negative for flavonoids.The MFCs of n-butanol and aqueous extracts of P.dodecandra were(0.039%-0.078%) and(0.625%-1.250%),respectively.The MFCs of n-butanol and aqueous extracts of P.dodecandra were(0.078%t-0.156%)and(1.250%-2.500%),respectively.The MIC and MFC of ketoconazole(positive control) was(1.200×10^(-5)%-2.500×10^(-5)%) and(5.000× 10^(-5)%-1.000×10^(-4)%),respectively while growth was observed on free medium(negative control).From the total of 24 treated cases of EL,14(58.3%) responded lo treatment;however,10(41.7%) did not respond to treatment.There was no significant difference in the degree of response to treatment between early and moderate cases(χ~2=0.086:P=0.408.Conclusions:It can be concluded that n-butanol extract of P.dodecandra demonstrates antifungal effects while the aqueous extract shows no antifungal activity.
基金Acknowledgments We thank Dr Boja Emily S （NHLBI, NIH, USA） for expert technical assistance in mass spectrometry analyses, and our colleagues Drs Bin Lu, Zhao-Qiu Wu for helpful comments. This work was supported by a National Basic Research Program grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China （G2003CB515401）, National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholar from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （30425002） and a fund supported by the ＂100 Talents Project＂ of Chinese Academy of Sciences （J-G Liu）.
文摘Dependence and impairment of learning and memory are two well-established features caused by abused drugs such as opioids. The hippocampus is an important region associated with both drug dependence and learning and memory. However, the molecular events in hippocampus following exposure to abused drugs such as opioids are not well understood. Here we examined the effect of chronic morphine treatment on hippocampal protein expression by proteomic analyses. We found that chronic exposure of mice to morphine for 10 days produced robust morphine withdrawal jumping and memory impairment, and also resulted in a significant downregulation of hippocampal protein levels of three metabolic enzymes, including Fe-S protein 1 ofNADH dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase or E2 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and lactate dehydrogenase 2. Further real-time quantitative PCR analyses confirmed that the levels of the corresponding mRNAs were also remarkably reduced. Consistent with these findings, lower ATP levels and an impaired ability to convert glucose into ATP were also observed in the hippocampus of chronically treated mice. Opioid antagonist naltrexone administrated concomitantly with morphine significantly suppressed morphine withdrawal jumping and reversed the downregulation of these proteins. Acute exposure to morphine also produced robust morphine withdrawal jumping and significant memory impairment, but failed to decrease the expression of these three proteins. Intrahippocampal injection of D-glucose before morphine administration significantly enhanced ATP levels and suppressed morphine withdrawal jumping and memory impairment in acute morphine-treated but not in chronic morphine-treated mice. Intraperitoneal injection of high dose of D-glucose shows a similar effect on morphine-induced withdrawal jumping as the central treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that reduced expression of the three metabolic enzymes in the hippocampus as a result of chronic morphine treatment contributes to the development of drug-induced symptoms such as morphine withdrawal jumping and memory impairment.
文摘AIM： To study the protective effect of a natural antioxidant, melatonin, against multistress condition induced lipid peroxidation v/a determination of gastric damage and plasma malondialdehyde （MDA） level by high performance liquid chromatography in rats. METHODS： We compared indomethacin-induced gastric damage and MDA plasma level in three groups of rats： unoperated, bile duct ligated and sham-operated and evaluated the role of the melatonin on gastric damage and plasma MDA level. Indomethacin and melatonin were injected intraperitoneally in doses of 50 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively. Animals were killed 4 h after indomethacin injection. RESULTS： Indomethacin induced more severe gastric damage and plasma MDA level in bile duct ligated animals was significantly higher （3.1±0.04 μmol/L） than sham （2.8±0.04 μmol/L） and unoperated animals （1.4±0.08 μmol/L）. Pretreatment with melatonin reduced indomethacin-induced gastric damage and plasma MDA level. CONCLUSION： Considering the results of this study, we suggest that in multistress conditions the intensity of gastric damage and the plasma MDA level are great and melatonin reduces the negative effect of lipid peroxidation and cell damage by oxidative stress in multistress conditions due to its antioxidizing activity.
文摘AIM: To study the effects of indomethacin on the isolated transverse and longitudinal rat gastric fundus strips.METHODS: The strips were suspended in an organ bath containing oxygenated Krebs solution, and contractile responses to electrical field stimulation were recorded on a physiograph in an isotonic manner after administration of cumulative concentrations of indomethacin. The effects of indomethacin on the strips pretreated with KATP channel modulators, diazoxide and glybenclamide were studied.RESULTS: Treatment of the transverse strips with indomethacin resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibitory response. In longitudinal strips, biphasic responses were seen, which included a stimulatory response at low concentrations of indomethacin, followed by an inhibitory response at higher concentrations.Diazoxide pre-treatment inhibited the stimulatory response of longitudinal strips. Glybenclamide pre-treatment not only blocked inhibitory effect of the low concentrations of indomethacin on transverse strips, but also increased the amplitude of contractions. Moreover, the drug decreased the amplitude of contractions in longitudinal strips.CONCLUSION: Responses of the isolated longitudinal and transverse rat gastric fundus strips to indomethacin are not similar, and are influenced by KATP channel modulators.
基金Supported by UNAM-PAPIIT,No.IN219719 and No.IA205421CONACYT,No.A1-S-18285.
文摘Cancer stem cells(CSCs)are tumor cells that share functional characteristics with normal and embryonic stem cells.CSCs have increased tumor-initiating capacity and metastatic potential and lower sensitivity to chemo-and radiotherapy,with important roles in tumor progression and the response to therapy.Thus,a current goal of cancer research is to eliminate CSCs,necessitating an adequate phenotypic and functional characterization of CSCs.Strategies have been developed to identify,enrich,and track CSCs,many of which distinguish CSCs by evaluating the expression of surface markers,the initiation of specific signaling pathways,and the activation of master transcription factors that control stemness in normal cells.We review and discuss the use of reporter gene systems for identifying CSCs.Reporters that are under the control of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1,CD133,Notch,Nanog homeobox,Sex-determining region Y-box 2,and POU class 5 homeobox can be used to identify CSCs in many tumor types,track cells in real time,and screen for drugs.Thus,reporter gene systems,in combination with in vitro and in vivo functional assays,can assess changes in the CSCs pool.We present relevant examples of these systems in the evaluation of experimental CSCs-targeting therapeutics,demonstrating their value in CSCs research.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 39800181
文摘AIM： To investigate the reversal effect of LY980503, a benflumetol derivative, on multidrug resistance in vincristine （VCR） -resistant human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC7901/VCR. METHODS： Cells of a human gastric cancer cell line, SGC7901, and its VCR-resistant variant, SGC7901/VCR, were cultivated with LY980503 and/or doxorubicin （DOX）. The cytotoxicity of drugs in vitro was assayed by M-IF method. Based on the flow cytometric technology, the uptake of DOX was detected in these cells by measuring DOX -associated mean fluorescence intensity （MFI）. RESULTS： SGC7901/VCR cells were 23.5 times more resistant to DOX in comparison with 5GC7901 cells. LY980503 at the concentrations of 2.0 μmol/L -10 μmol/ L had no obvious cytotoxicity to SGC7901 and SGC7901/ VCR cells. After simultaneous treatment with LY980503 at the concentrations of 2.0, 4.0 and 10 μmol/L, the ICso of DOX to SGC7901/VCR cells decreased from 1.6 ± 0.12 μmol/L to 0.55 ± 0.024, 0.25 ± 0.032 and 0.11 ± 0.015 μmol/L, respectively, thus, increasing the DOX sensitivity by 2.9-fold （P 〈 0. 05）, 6.4-fold （P 〈 0. 01） and 14.5-fold （P 〈 0. 01）, respectively. In the uptake study of DOX, simultaneous incubation of SGC7901/VCR cells with LY980503 significantly increased the DOX -associated MFI in SGC7901/VCR cells. No such results were found in parental SGC7901 cells.CONCLUSION： LY980503 at non-cytotoxic concentrations can effectively circumvent resistance of SGC7901/VCR cells to DOX by increasing intracellular DOX accumulation.
文摘AIM： To analyze expression of ATP7B in gastric cardiac adenocarcinomas, its clinicopathologic significance, in comparison with distal gastric adenocarcinomas. METHODS： Immunohistochemical avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method was applied to detect the expression of ATP7B in 49 cases of cardiac carcinomas, the corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic epithelium and 55 cases of distal gastric carcinomas. RESULTS： The proportion of ATP7B positive samples in gastric cardiac carcinomas （51.0%, 25 of 49） was significantly higher than that in the corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic epithelium （22.4%, 11 of 49） （P = 0.003）. ATP7B expression in poorly differentiated gastric cardiac carcinomas was significantly higher than that in well/moderately differentiated gastric cardiac carcinomas （P = 0.030）. ATP7B expression in gastric cardiac carcinomas was independent of age, tumor size, nodal stage and metastasis status. ATP7B protein was detected in 30.9% （17/55 cases） of distal gastric carcinomas, markedly lower than that in gastric cardiac carcinomas （P = 0.037）. CONCLUSION： ATP7B protein is frequently overexpressecl in gastric cardiac carcinomas, and correlated with the differentiation of cardiac carcinoma. ATP7B expression in gastric cardiac carcinomas is significantly higher than that in distal gastric carcinomas, which might partially explain the difference of chemotherapy response and prognosis between these two gastric carcinomas.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30672450,81173037the National Program on Key Basic Research Project (973 Program),No.2011CB707500
文摘Cerebral cortical neurons from neonatal rats were cultured in the presence of methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate （MDHB; 2, 4, and 8 IJM）. Results showed that MDHB significantly promoted neurite outgrowth and microtubule-associated protein 2 mRNA expression, and increased neuronal survival in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, MDHB induced brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. These findings suggest that MDHB has a neurotrophic effect, which may be due to its ability to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.
