Expression of protein phosphatase 4 in different tissues under hypoxia

Relevant research data shows that there is a certain degree of energy metabolism imbalance in highland residents. Protein phosphatase 4 (PP4) has been found as a new factor in the regulation of sugar and lipid metabolism. Here, we investigate the differential expression of PP4 at a simulated altitude of 4,500 m in the heart, lung, and brain tissues of rats. A hypoxic plateau rat model was established using an animal decompression chamber. A blood routine test was performed by an animal blood cell analyzer on rats cultured for different hypoxia periods at 4,500 m above sea level. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot were used to detect the changes of protein phosphatase 4 catalytic subunit (PP4C) gene and protein in heart, lung, and brain tissues. The PP4C gene with the highest expression level found in rats slowly entering the high altitude area (20 m-2200 m-7 d-4500 m-3 d) was about twice as high as the low elevation group (20 m above sea level). The simulated high-altitude hypoxia induced an increase of PP4C expression level in all tissues, and the expression in the lung tissue was twice as expressed as heart and brain tissue at high altitude (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the PP4 phosphatase complex is ubiquitously expressed in rat tissues and likely involved in adaptation to or disease associated with high-altitude hypoxia.

Expression and localization of neuroglobin in the brain tissue of Saiga antelope / 解剖学报

Objective Saiga antelope is a small population inhabiting in desert and semi desert areas of national and world endangered protected animals, its wild population is extremely rare. In order to explore the correlation between hypoxic tolerance and neuroglobin (NGB) in Saiga antelope. A female Saiga antelope died of dystocia was used as the experimental animal, and the tissue samples were sampled repeatedly for 3 times to study the distribution and expression of NGB in brain of Saiga antelope in the process of adapting to hypoxia. Methods The distribution and expression of NGB in the parietal lobe, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, hypothalamus, hippocampus, pear like leaf, cingulate gyrus, striatum and thalamus of Saiga antelope were detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC) and Real-time PCR. Results The result of IHC showed that NGB was positive in all parts of Saiga antelope brain, and the cells that had positive reactions in the parietal, frontal, temporal and occipital lobes of the cerebral cortex were mostly granular cells and martinotti cells. NGB was found in the granular cell layer, pyramidal cell layer and molecular cell layer in hippocampus, and the positive staining of pyramidal cell layer was the strongest. NGB positive expression in Pear like leaves and hypothalamus mainly occured in multi-type cells. NGB was expressed in the granulocytes and glial cells of cingulate gyrus, mainly in the granular cells. The positive expression of NGB in striatum was mainly located in granular cells, the positive expression of NGB in thalamus could be seen in the polymorphosis and glial cells, and the positive substance of the multi-type cells was obviously colored. The result of Real-time PCR showed that NGB was expressed in different regions of Saiga antelope brain, the highest expression in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex, the second in the parietal lobe, and the expression was significantly higher than that in the rest of the brain tissue (P0.05). Conclusion The expression of NGB in different regions of Saiga antelope has some selective differences in the long-term adaptation to hypoxia environment. The frontal and parietal lobes have the highest tolerance to hypoxia, followed by hippocampus, and the striatum is the weakest, which may be related to the specific functions of different regions of brain tissue, but the specific mechanism remains to be further explored.

Effect of trimethyltin chloride on brain metabolism detected by PET-CT / 中国职业医学

{L-End}Objective To explore the feasibility of using positron emission tomography (PET) -computed tomography (CT) to detect brain metabolic abnormalities caused by trimethyltin chloride (TMT) poisoning. {L-End}Methods Specific pathogen free healthy SD rats were randomly divided into model group and control group with six rats in each group. Rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body mass of TMT solution, and rats in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Rats were anaesthetized after three days of modeling and underwent PET-CT brain scanning to detect the standardized uptake value (SUV) of 18F-2-fluro-D-deoxy-glucose (18F-FDG). After scanning, rats were sacrificed and brain tissues were collected for brain organ coefficients calculation and brain histopathological analysis. {L-End}Results The rats in the model group showed symptoms of head tremor, limb twitching, irritability and others after TMT modeling. There was no significant difference in the body mass between the two groups of rats on the third day of modeling (P>0.05). The 18F-FDG uptake in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and brainstem of the rats in the model group was significantly weakened compared with the control group, with deceased SUV values (all P<0.05). No obvious abnormalities were found in CT images and freshly collected brain tissues of rats of the control and model groups. The brain organ coefficients of rats in the two groups showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The results of hematoxylin-eosin staining of brain tissue showed that the cerebral cortex of rats in the model group had more tiny cavities than that of the control group, and some neuronal cells and a small number of hippocampal vertebral cells were tightly and deeply stained, with the cytoplasm and nucleus poorly demarcated, and pericellular space enlarged. The results of Nissen staining showed that the arrangement of neuronal cells in the model group was slightly disordered, and the interstitial space was slightly enlarged, but no other significant abnormal changes were observed. {L-End}Conclusion PET-CT can be used in detecting the metabolic abnormalities of brain in TMT poisoning rat model, making it a sensitive detection method for TMT poisoning.

Changes of RAGE/p38MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway in brain tissue of subchronic fluorosis rats and protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract and RAGE antagonist / 环境与职业医学

Background Fluorine accumulates in the brain tissue after long-term excessive intake and subsequently cause nerve damage and decline of learning and memory ability. Receptor of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is considered to be involved in the associated mechanism. Objective To study the changes of RAGE/ p38MAPK/ NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with subchronic fluorosis, and to explore the protective effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba 761 (EGb761) and RAGE antagonist (FPS-ZM1) on neuromemory ability. Methods Ninety male clean SD rats were divided into 9 groups with 10 rats in each group. The modeling period was 6 months. Control group (C group): free drinking tap water (fluoride content <0.5 mg·L−1), low- and high-dose fluoride groups (LF group, HF group): free drinking tap water with 10 or 50 mg·L−1 fluoride; intervention group of Ginkgo biloba extract (CE, LFE, and HFE groups): on the basis of the C group, LF group, and HF group, 100 mg·kg−1·d−1 EGb761 was given daily via intragastric administration; FPS-ZM1 intervention groups (CF, LFF, and HFF groups): 7 d before the end of modeling, 1 mg·kg−1·d−1 FPS-ZM1 was injected intraperitoneally daily on the basis of the C group, LF group, and HF group. The contents of fluoride in brain and blood of each group were detected. The learning and memory ability was tested by water maze experiment. The histopathologic changes of the hippocampus were detected by Nissl staining. The protein expression levels of RAGE and its ligand high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), NF-κB, p38MAPK, phospho-p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in brain tissue were detected by Western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of RAGE, HMGB1, and p38MAPK were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Results Compared with the C group, the contents of blood fluoride and brain fluoride in the LF and the HF groups were increased (P<0.05). The results of the water maze experiment showed that, compared with the C group, the escape latency time of the LF group and the HF group was longer and the crossing times were reduced; compared with the HF group, the escape latency time of the HFE group and the HFF group was shortened, and the crossing times were increased (P<0.05). The Nissl staining results showed that the number of Nissl body in the HF group decreased compared with the C group; compared with the HF group, the number of Nissl body in the HFE group and the HFF group increased. The Western blotting results showed that compared with the relative protein expression levels of RAGE, HMGB1, NF-κB, p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK, IL-6, and TNF-α in the C group , the levels of above indicators in the HF group and the levels of RAGE, HMGB1, NF-κB, p-p38MAPK, and IL-6 in the LF group were up-regulated (P<0.05); compared with the HF group, the levels of above indicators in the HFE group and the HFF group were all down-regulated (P<0.05); compared with the relative protein expression levels of RAGE and HMGB1 in the LF group, the levels in the LFE group and the LFF group were all down-regulated (P<0.05). The quantitative real-time PCR results showed that compared with the C group, the mRNA expression levels of RAGE and HMGB1 in the LF group and the HF group were up-regulated; compared with the LF group, the mRNA expression levels of RAGE in the LFE group and the LFF group were down-regulated ; compared with the HF group, the mRNA expression levels of RAGE and HMGB1 in the HFE group and the HFF group were down-regulated (P<0.05). Conclusion The central nervous system injury caused by subchronic fluorosis may be related to the activation of RAGE/p38-MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, which can impair the learning and memory ability of rats, while EGb761 and FPS-ZM1 may have certain protective effects on the nerve injury.

Brain banking in India: Relevance in current day practice

Biobanks are set to become the norm. The explosion of new and powerful technologies like genomics and other multiomics has catapulted research from individual laboratories to multi-institutional and international partners. Today, with increasing life span, and the rising incidence of brain diseases, Brain Banks have become an invaluable source for unravelling the pathogenesis of several brain disorders, and develop effective therapies. The article briefly reviews the evolution of brain banking, rise of global networks, with a brief overview of steps involved from donor recruitment, protocols of processing, storage, annotation, and tissue distribution. The ethics of biobanking is one of the most controversial issues in bioethics, the key issues being consent, confidentiality, and commercialisation. Regulatory authorities in different countries and in India, the Indian Council of Medical Research has taken a lead to formulate new ethical guidelines for research involving human participants protecting rights, and well-being of research participants. Although brain banks have been established in the 1960s, in India, the first Brain Bank was established in 1995 at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru. Now a network with two more Brain banks is being established in the country. The challenges and benefits of establishing the first Brain Bank as a National Research Facility in India is shared. For optimising available resources and promote brain banking, it is essential for medical professionals, and the public to perceive the crucial advantage in conversion of biological waste into invaluable resources for neuroscience. This will be the greatest “gift of hope” that we can offer for the future generations to overcome hitherto untreatable disorders such as dementias.

Identification of Down syndrome fetal encephalopathy related genes and signaling pathways via bioinformatics analysis / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To identify Down syndrome (DS) fetal encephalopathy related genes and signaling pathways via bioinformatics analysis, and to explore their potential mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of DS neuropathology.Methods:Retrospective study.In December 2021, dataset GSE59630 was downloaded from the gene expression omnibus (GEO), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DS and normal fetal brain tissue were identified by R software.Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed on the genes identified.The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed based on search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes online database and Cytoscape software, and key modules and hub DEGs were identified.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique was used to verify the expression of hub genes related to neurodegeneration in brain tissue of 3 pairs of DS and normal fetuses at the gestational age of 22-33 weeks.Results:A total of 225 DEGs were screened out from DS and normal fetal brain tissue, including 18 up-regulated genes and 207 down-regulated genes.GO functional enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in neurogenesis, neuronal apoptosis, transcriptional regulation, mitochondrial energy metabolism, etc.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.GSEA suggested that apoptosis and inflammatory responses play a vital part in the occurrence of DS neuropathology.Ten hub genes were identified by the PPI network established, and they were mainly related to histone acetylation and transcriptional regulation.According to the tissue verification result, the variations of RAB8A, TBP and TAF6 expression conformed to the microarray data. Conclusions:The key genes and signaling pathways identified by transcriptome analysis of fetal brain tissue facilitate the comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanism of DS neuropathology.This study provides a novel insight into the clinical diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental abnormalities and mental retardation in DS.

Effect of chest compression synchronized ventilation on cerebral oxygenation in a porcine cardiopulmonary resuscitation model / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of chest compression synchronized ventilation on cerebral oxygenation in porcine cardiopulmonary resuscitation model.Methods:The porcine ventricular fibrillation model was constructed and randomly(random number)divided into two groups by envelope method. According to the different modes of ventilator during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, they were named intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) group and chest compression synchronized ventilation (CCSV) group. The arterial blood lactic acid value at 4 and 7 min after resuscitation and 30 min after spontaneous circulation recovery , carotid blood flow (CBF) within 1-8 min during resuscitation, cerebral oxygen saturation at 1 , 2 , 3, and 4 h after resuscitation were recorded. Neurological score was assessed 24 h after resuscitation.Results:The lactic acid value at 3 time points in the CCSV group was significantly lower than that in the IPPV group; during the resuscitation, the CBF of the pig carotid artery in the CCSV group was significantly higher than that in the IPPV group within 1-8 min during resuscitation; cerebral oxygen saturation was also significantly higher in the IPPV group at all time points after resuscitation. The neurological score of the CCSV group decreased significantly 24 h after resuscitation.Conclusions:The choice of CCSV ventilation mode in porcine ventricular fibrillation model can significantly improve cerebral perfusion during cardiac arrest and cerebral oxygenation after resuscitation.

Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure and partial oxygen pressure of brain tissue in patients with severe traumatic brain injury after standard decompressive craniectomy and microscopic hematoma removal / 中国综合临床

Objective:To investigate the effect of continuous intracranial pressure (ICP) and brain oxygen partial pressure (PbtO 2) monitoring and guiding treatment after the application of standard large bone flap decompression and microhematoma removal in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods:A retrospective analysis was done of 41 patients with TBI in Department of Neurosurgery in the Inner Mongolia People's Hospital from January 2018 to May 2020. Patients with Glasgow coma scale (GCS)<8 points were treatesd with microscopical removal of hematoma and contusion brain tissue and standard large bone flap decompression. Intraoperative intracranial pressure and brain tissue oxygen partial pressure monitoring probes were placed. Postoperatively, continuous intracranial pressure monitoring and partial oxygen pressure monitoring of brain tissue were performed, and target-based treatment under ICP and PbtO 2 monitoring was performed. According to the Glasgow Outcome (GOS) score after six months, patients were divided into a good outcome group (4-5 scores) and a poor outcome group (1-3 scores). There were 26 cases in good prognosis group and 15 cases in poor prognosis group. Linear regression analysis was used to further evaluate the relationship between PbtO 2, ICP and GOS score. The measurement data of normal distribution were compared by independent sample t-test. The counting data were expressed in cases (%), and the comparison between groups was adopted χ 2 inspection. The general linear bivariate Pearson correlation test was used. Results:The mean value of PbtO 2 (17.42±5.34) mmHg in the poor prognosis group was lower than that in the good prognosis group (24.65±5.61) mmHg, with statistical significance ( t=4.04, P<0.001). The mean value of ICP (22.32±3.45) mmHg in the poor prognosis group was higher than that (17.32±3.23) mmHg in the good prognosis group, with statistical significance ( t=4.15, P<0.001). Using PbtO 2 and ICP as independent variables and GOS score after 6 months as dependent variable, a regression equation was established ( Y=4.040 X+7.497; Y=-2.549 X+28.63). The mean value of PbtO 2 was positively correlated with GOS scores after 6 months in patients with severe head injury ( r=0.75, P<0.001). The mean value of ICP was negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients with severe head injury ( r=-0.87, P<0.001). Conclusion:The treatment guided by ICP combined with PbtO 2 monitoring is valuable in improving the prognosis of patients with severe traumatic brain injury after standard decompressive craniectomy, and may improve the prognosis 6 months after the injury.

Pharmacokinetic behavior and brain tissue distribution of paeoniflorin combined with normal and toxic doses of strychnine in rats after percutaneous administration / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to establish a rapid and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneously determining the content of strychnine and paeoniflorin in plasma and brain tissue of rats, and compare the pharmacokinetic behavior and brain tissue distribution of paeoniflorin combined with normal and toxic doses of strychnine in rats after percutaneous administration. Compared with those in the toxic-dose strychnine group, the AUC_(0-t), AUC_(0-∞), and C_(max) of strychnine decreased by 51.51%, 45.68%, and 46.03%, respectively(P<0.01), and the corresponding values of paeoniflorin increased by 91.41%, 102.31%, and 169.32%, respectively(P<0.01), in the compatibility group. Compared with the normal-dose strychnine group, the compatibility group showed insignificantly decreased C_(max), AUC_(0-t), and AUC_(0-∞) of strychnine, increased C_(max) and T_(max) of paeoniflorin(P<0.01), 66.88% increase in AUC_(0-t), and 70.55% increase in AUC_(0-∞) of paeoniflorin. In addition, the brain tissue concentration of strychnine decreased and that of paeoniflorin increased after compatibility. The combination of paeoniflorin with normal dose and toxic dose of strychnine can inhibit the percutaneous absorption of strychnine, and greatly promote the percutaneous penetration of paeoniflorin, whereas the interaction mechanism remains to be explored. The UPLC-MS/MS method established in this study is easy to operate and has good precision. It is suitable for in vivo study of pharmacokinetic behavior and brain tissue distribution of paeoniflorin and strychnine after percutaneous administration in rats, which provides reference for the safe and rational clinical use of strychnine and the combined use of drugs, and lays a solid foundation for the development of external preparations containing Strychni Semen.

Metabolomics Analysis of Chloriti Lapis on Brain Tissue of PTZ-kindled Epileptic Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the possible mechanism of Chloriti Lapis in the treatment of epilepsy by the metabonomics of brain tissue in pentylenetetrazol （PTZ）-kindled epileptic rats treated with Chloriti Lapis. Method:The epileptic animal model in rats was established by PTZ kindling， and the rats were divided into the control group， model group， carbamazepine group and Chloriti Lapis group. The brain tissue samples were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC/Q-TOF-MS）， and the experimental results were statistically analyzed by partial least squares-discriminant analysis （PLS-DA） and SPSS 18.0. Result:The metabolic fingerprints and metabolic profiles of the rat brain tissue were established， which showed that the metabolic profiles of each group had changed significantly and could be separated well among the groups. Moreover， the Chloriti Lapis group had a tendency to be closer to the control group than the carbamazepine group. Seven differential metabolites were screened， including phosphatidylserine （PS） （18∶0/18∶0）， <italic>L</italic>-glutamic acid， docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide， arachidonic acid， glucosylsphingosine， cholestane-3，7，12，24，25-pentol and lysophosphatidylcholine （LysoPC） （P-18∶0）. Except for docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide and LysoPC （P-18∶0）， Chloriti Lapis had significant intervening and regulating effects on the other five differential metabolites. There were 12 possible metabolic pathways that affected the metabolic disorder of PTZ-kindled rats， and 3 important metabolic pathways （pathway impact>0.1）， namely， <italic>D-</italic>glutamine and <italic>D-</italic>glutamate metabolism， alanine， aspartate and glutamate metabolism， and arachidonic acid metabolism， among which <italic>D-</italic>glutamine and <italic>D-</italic>glutamate metabolism was the most important metabolic pathways. Conclusion:From this point of view， Chloriti Lapis has a clear intervention effect on PTZ-kindled epileptic rats， which may be related to the intervention of the above differential metabolite contents and related metabolic pathways. It can reduce the toxic effect of excitatory neurotransmitters on neurons in brain tissue and inhibit the development of inflammation in brain tissue， so as to maintain the biological function of brain cells and slow down the occurrence of epilepsy.

Effect of Chloriti Lapis on Metal Elements in Brain and Plasma of PTZ-kindled Epileptic Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of Chloriti Lapis on metal elements in brain tissue and plasma of epileptic rats kindled by pentylenetetrazol （PTZ）， and to explore the possible material basis of Chloriti Lapis. Method:PTZ kindling method was used to establish epileptic rat model. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS） and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer （ICP-OES） were used to determine the contents of metal elements in brain tissue and plasma of the blank group， model group， carbamazepine group （0.1 g·kg^-1） and Chloriti Lapis group （2 g·kg^-1）. The data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 18.0 software. Result:Compared with the blank group， the contents of Sr， Sb and Ba in brain tissue of rats in the model group were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， while the contents of Zn， Fe， Cu， K， Li， Co， Sn and Pb were significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the contents of Zn， Fe， K， Li， Co， As and Pb in brain tissue of rats in the Chloriti Lapis group were obviously increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， while the contents of Sr and Sb were significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. These results showed that Chloriti Lapis had positive effect on the regulation of the content of metal elements in rat brain tissue to normal level， the intervention effect was clear， and the overall effect was better than that of carbamazepine group. The determination of 21 metal elements in plasma showed that compared with the blank group， the levels of K， Sr and Cd in the model group were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， and the contents of Li， Al， Ti and Cr were significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Compared with the model group， the contents of Ca， K， Li， Al and V in the Chloriti Lapis group were obviously increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the contents of Fe， Ti， Sr and Cd were significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The correlation analysis of metal elements among the groups showed that there were 17 pairs of elements had positively correlation in the brain tissue of rats， 2 pairs of elements had significant negative correlation. In the plasma of rats， 8 pairs of elements had significant positive correlation and 6 pairs of elements had significant negative correlation. Conclusion:The metal element groups represented by Zn， Fe， K， Li， Co， As， Pb， Sr， Sb， Ca， Al， V， Ti and Cd may be the effective material basis for Chloriti Lapis to interfere PTZ-kindled epileptic model rats， which may be related to the influence of these metal element groups on the release of neurotransmitters and the electrical balance of neurons， the regulation of abnormal synchronous discharge induced by Na⁺， K⁺， Ca²⁺ channel disorders and intervention of metabolism pathways in brain tissue related to epilepsy. It can make the excitatory and inhibitory activities restrain each other， and finally reach the normal physiological state of neurons and cells. The intervention effect of Chloriti Lapis group was better than that of carbamazepine group.

Quality control analysis of brain tissue samples from Shanghai Brain Bank / 解剖学报

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using brain tissues from Shanghai Brain Bank for the applications on biological research through the analysis of pH value of cerebrospinal fluids, RNA integrity number (RIN), transcriptome, proteome and morphology of brain tissues. Methods The pH value of fresh cerebrospinal fluid was detected by pH test paper; the RNA integrity of cryopreserved brain tissues was examined by Agilent RNA 6000 Nano chip and Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer; the transcriptome sequencing of superior temporal gyrus or caudate was performed using BGIseq-500 sequencer; the proteome of cryopreserved brain tissues was analyzed by Q Exactive HF mass spectrometer; at last, the morphology of the superior temporal gyrus was observed by HE staining. Results The pH value of the cerebrospinal fluid on average was about 6.5. The RIN values of more than 65% of brain tissues were more than 6, indicating good RNA quality. The clean reads ratio after transcriptome sequencing filtering was basically above 80%, indicating that the quality of sequencing library was high. The mass spectrometry analysis of frozen brain samples yielded more than 4000 protein groups and 30 000 peptides, indicating high quality of proteomic data. The morphology of brain tissues was relatively normal, with clearly visible neurons. Conclusion The quality of RNA and protein of brain tissues from Shanghai Brain Bank meets the basic needs for molecular and biological research, and the fixed brain samples can be used for morphological observations.

El síndrome de fatiga crónica en el curso de la hepatitis C. Presentación de un caso / Chronic fatigue syndrome in the course of Hepatitis C

RESUMEN Se supone que aproximadamente 80 millones de personas a nivel mundial están infectadas con el virus de la hepatitis C. Un aproximado del 60 % de dichos pacientes aqueja síndrome de fatiga crónica. Se presentó un paciente portador de hepatitis crónica de tipo C, con manifestaciones clínicas de síndrome de fatiga crónica por más de dos años. Se han reportado estudios internacionales que han demostrado la relación existente entre el desarrollo de la respuesta inmune y el daño que ocasiona en el tejido cerebral la infección por virus de hepatitis C. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo la presentación del primer caso que se tiene referencia (AU).

ABSTRACT It is believed that almost 80 million persons are infected with the Hepatitis C virus around the world, and 60 % of them suffer the chronic fatigue syndrome. For that reason we present the case of a patient who is a carrier of the chronic fatigue syndrome for more than two years. Reports of international research have showed the relation between the immune answer and the damage caused by the infection of the hepatitis C virus in the brain tissues. The aim of this work is presenting the first case reported in Cuba (AU).

Effects of Juglone on Serum Biomarkers Related to Brain Tissue Injury in Rats / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To investigate th e effects of juglone on brain tissu e of rats and its relationship with the biomarkers related to brain tissue injury. METHODS ：Totally 40 rats were divided into blank group ，juglone high-dose ，medium-dose and low-dose groups （34.832，17.416，8.708 mg/kg），with 10 rats in each group. They were given medicine intragastrically once a day ， for consecutive 4 weeks.After last administration ，the general behavior ，brain index and brain tissue morphology were investigated. UPLC-MRM-MS method was used to determine the serum contents of L-dopa（L-Dopa），L-tyrosine（L-Tyr）and L-tryptophan（L-Trp） in rats. The chromatographic condition included Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C 18 column，mobile phase consisted of ammonium acetate aqueous solution-acetonitrile ，gradient elution ，at the flow rate of 0.3 mL/min，sample size of 5 μL，column temperature of 30 ℃；MS condition include electrospray ion source ，in positive ion mode ，capillary voltage of 3 500 V，desolvent gas flow of 650 L/h，desolvent temperature of 350 ℃，ion source temperature of 110 ℃. RESULTS ：Compared with blank group ，the rats in each dose group showed the behavior of tiredness and weakness of limbs. The brain tissue morphology showed pathological changes ， which contained blood vessel congestion in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex ，partial cell nucleus pyknosis in the pyramidal cell layer，deep staining of nuclei ，irregular shape and unclear boundary and other pathological changes ；the brain index of juglone high-dose group increased significantly （P＜0.05）. The established UPLC-MRM-MS method showed good specificity and the range of L-Dopa，L-Tyr and L-Trp were 31.25-32 000，31.25-32 000，15.625-16 000 ng/mL（r＝0.999 1-0.999 9），respectively. The limits of detection were 6.250，5.625，3.125 ng/mL，respectively. The limits of quantitation were 15.625，18.75，10.00 ng/mL，respectively. RSDs of precision ，accuracy and stability （24 h）tests were all Matrix effects were 95.1％-100.1％ （RSD are not more than 3.25％，n＝3）. Compared with blank group，the contents of L-Dopa were increased significantly injuglone medium-dose and high-dose groups （P＜0.01）. The contents of L-Tyr were increased significantly in juglone lowdose，medium-dose and high-dose gro ups，while the contents of L-Trp were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ：Juglone has an effect on the general behavior，brain index and brain tissue morphology of rats. It may affect the brain function of rats by increasing the contents of L-Dopa and L-Tyr in serum and decreasing the contents of L-Trp.

1H-NMR Metabolomic Analysis of Brain Tissue of CUMS-Induced Depressed Mice Intervened by Iridoid Part of Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:Metabolomics was used to analyze the brain tissue samples of model mice with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression, in order to find out the differential metabolites related to depression and to explore the possible antidepressant mechanism of iridoid part of Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix (IEFV). Method:Forty-two Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, including the normal group, the model group, the fluoxetine group (2.5 mg·kg-1) and the IEFV low, medium, and high dose groups (doses were 5.73, 11.47, 22.94 mg·kg-1, respectively). The behavioral and biochemical indicators of CUMS model mice were used for pharmacodynamic evaluation with IEFV and a positive drug (fluoxetine) as the intervention drugs. Then, the effect of IEFV on endogenous substances of the brain tissue in CUMS model mice were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectrum (1H-NMR) metabolomics, and multivariate statistical analysis was used to identify the differential metabolites and to enrich the metabolic pathways involved in the differential metabolites. Result:After modeling, the immobility time of the model mice increased significantly, their sucrose preference rate and the excitatory neurotransmitters [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE)] decreased significantly, indicating the success of modeling. The depression was relieved after IEFV administration, mainly manifested by the recovery of the immobility time, sucrose preference rate and the excitatory neurotransmitters (5-HT and NE). Principal component analysis (PCA) of endogenous metabolites in brain tissue showed that the model group could be significantly separated from the normal group, while the IEFV groups and fluoxetine group all showed a trend of deviating from the model group to the normal group, which was consistent with the behavioral results. The results of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed that there were 16 different metabolites between the model group and the normal group, including 12 water-soluble metabolites and 4 liposoluble metabolites. Seven potential metabolism pathways were obtained through MetPA analysis, including metabolism of phenylalanine, metabolism of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan, metabolism of taurine and hypotaurine acid, metabolism of alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid, biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine, metabolism of D-glutamine and D-glutamate and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA). IEFV-high dose group could significantly recall 11 differential metabolites. Conclusion:IEFV may play an antidepressant role mainly by affecting energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism and neurotransmitter levels, which provides a reference for further study on the antidepressant mechanism of IEFV.

Analysis on the changes of Beagle dog’s intracranial pressure and influencing factors caused by free field live bomb explosion / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of Beagle's cranium on shockwave blocking after free field explosion, and whether a quantitative relationship exists between intra- and extracranial pressure. Methods Eighteen Beagle dogs were used in the free field explosion experiment. The explosion source was 1 kg and 3.5 kg column-shaped trinitrotoluene (TNT), which was located 1.5 m above the land to rule out the possibility of reflex. Measurment instruments were located 1-6 m from the explosion source. Head of Beagle dog was located at the same location as that of measurment instruments. After Beagle dog was anaesthetised, pressure sensor was planted under parietal bone. One side of the sensor borehole faced to the brain tissue, and the other side of the sensor borehole faced to the cranium to measure the pressure from the skull direction. All Beagle dogs were recumbent fixed, the head was positively faced to the source of explosion. Pressures from the bone and from the brain tissue were measured respectively. Results One dog died after the explosion and the remaining 17 dogs were alive. Twenty-four hours later, Tarlov scores of the alive dogs were graded 4-5, and neurofunctional score in large animals was more than 13. The peak explosive wave pressure was 207(47.6-207) kPa with a mean of 122 kPa. The maximal impact pressure impulse reached to 88 Pa·s. The pressure curve from the cranium direction of Beagle dog was similar to that from the brain tissue, but the pressure curve from the brain tissue direction changed more gently. A logarithmic trend existed of the peak pressure of the shockwave from the cranium direction and the external shockwave at the same position (correlation coefficient = 0.804). Conclusions In free field explosion, shockwave can enter the brain through cranium, chest and abdomen. The cranium has some blocking effect on the shockwave, and partial shockwave pressure can be uploaded to the brain tissue through the chest and abdomen, but because of the blocking of the body tissue, the change curve is relatively smooth.

Distribution characteristics of nine main components of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction in rat brain / 中草药

Objective: To establish a sensitive, accurate and reliable LC-MS-MS analysis method for the nine major components (berberine, berberrubine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, baicalin, wogonin, oroxylin A, geniposide and gardenin B) in Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD) in rat hippocampus, cortex, striatum, and cerebrospinal fluid, and to study the distribution characteristics of the components in brain tissues of rats. Methods: The mass spectrometry detection conditions and chromatographic analysis conditions of nine main components and internal standards (clarithromycin and chloramphenicol) was optimized, and then the methodological investigations were performed. After HJD was administrated for 1 h, the samples of cerebrospinal fluid, hippocampus, cortex and striatum tissues were collected, and the contents of nine components in these samples were measured. Results: Berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, baicalin, wogonin, oroxylin A and gardenin B showed a good linear relationship in the range of 1-250 ng/mL (r2 > 0.99). Berberrubine had a good linear relationship in the range of 1-500 ng/mL (r2 = 0.991 2), and geniposide had a good linear relationship in the range of 5-500 ng/mL, respectively (r2 = 0.999 5). The intra-day and inter-day precision of each component was less than 12.94%, the accuracy was from -12.71% to 6.91%; The extraction recovery rate was from 88.02% to 106.7%; The matrix effect was from 88.92% to 105.10%; And the short-term, freeze-thaw cycle and long-term stability were less than 12.51%. The content of each component in the hippocampus, cortex and striatum was berberine > baicalin > geniposide > berberrubine > palmatine > wogonin > jatrorrhizine > oroxylin A > gardenin B; And the content of each component in cerebrospinal fluid was geniposide > berberine > berberrubine > palmatine > baicalin> gardenin B > jatrorrhizine > wogonin > oroxylin A. Conclusion: The method can be used for the simultaneous detection of the concentration of nine active components in brain tissues of rats, and successfully applied to the study of brain tissue distribution, which provides a reference for HJD to treat brain diseases.

Evaluation of the effect of brain and spinal cord destruction in toads by a modified way / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective: To improve the traditional teaching technique of using probe to destroy the brain tissue and spinal cord of toads. Methods:On the basis of the traditional teaching content, the distance of the probe entering the skull cavity and the specific feeling mark of destroying the brain tissue and spinal cord were added. Students were randomly divided into normal group and improved group according to the class. We observed the success rate and time spent on both the first and the second operations in the two groups. Results: The success rate of destroying the brain tissue and spinal cord in the improved group was high (93.2% vs. 72.3% for the first time). The secondary success rate was 97.7% vs. 85.1%, and it took less time (311.7±89.3) seconds vs. (511.6±171.1) seconds for the initial operation, The secondary operation time was (161.3±63.5) seconds vs. (266.0±98.2) seconds, with significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: After the improvement of the content of destroying the brain tissue and spinal cord of toads in traditional teaching, it is easy to be mastered by students, with high success rate, less time spent, greater consistency with the 3R principle, and easier to be popularized and applied in teaching.

Protective effect of Shuxuening Injection on brain tissue of rats with acute cerebral infarction and its mechanism / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective: To investigate the|protective effect of Shuxuening Injection on the brain tissue of the rats with acute cerebral infarction, and to elucidate its mechanism. Methods: Fifty rats were randomly divided into control group, sham operation group, model group, nimodipine group and Shuxuening Injection group ( n=10). The rat models of acute cerebral infarction were made by internal carotid artery suture method in model group, nimodipine group and Shuxuening Injection group. The common carotid arteries, the external carotid arteries and the internal carotid arteries of the rats in sham operation group were separated∗ and only the external carotid arteries were ligated; the rats in control group were not treated with operation; the rats in Shuxuening Injection group were given Shuxuening Injection, the rats in nimodipine group were given nimodipine∗ and the rats in control group, model group and sham operation group were given normal saline at the same volume. The score of neurological impairment, water contents in brain tissue and relative cerebral infarction areas of the rats in various groups were measured. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of brain tissue of the rats in various groups, and immumohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression levels of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in brain tissue of the rats in various groups. EL ISA method was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1(3 (1L-1|3) in brain tissue of the rats in various groups. Results: The cortical structures of cortex of the rats in control group and sham operation group were complete and the cells were arranged neatly; the cytoplasm and nucleus of the nerve cells of the rats in model group were wrinkled, and the interstitium between nerve cells and capillaries were loose; the swelling degrees of cerebral cortical nerve cells and glial cells and the loose degrees of stroma of the rats in Shuxuening Injection group were reduced, and the histopathological manifestations were similar to those in nimodipine group. Compared with control group and sham operation group∗ the water content in brain tissue of the rats in model group was significantly increased ( P 0.05). Conclusion: Shuxuening Injection can protect the acute cerebral infarction by up-regulating the expression of GDF-15 and inhibiting the expression of CRP in brain tissue of the rats with acute cerebral infarction, reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines and improving the neurological function.

Therapeutic effect of early directional catheterization on malignant middle cerebral artery infarction / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the efficacy and safety of cuboid stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue for treating malignant middle cerebral artery infarction in the elderly patients.@*Methods@#Sixteen elderly patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction were selected from June 2017 to January 2019 in our hospital. Patients were followed up for 6 months to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).@*Results@#The 30-day mortality was 18.75%. Among the 16 elderly patients, 6 (37.5%) had an mRS score of 3 (defined as moderate disability), 6 (37.5%) had an mRS score of 4 (defined as moderate to severe disability), 1 (6.25%) had an mRS score of 5 (defined as severe disability), and 3 (18.75%) had an mRS score of 6. The probability of 6-month favorable outcome, defined as an mRS score of ≤3, was 37.5%, and the 6-month mortality was 18.75%.@*Conclusions@#It is a simple, minimally invasive, effective and safe method to treat malignant middle cerebral artery infarction in the elderly patients with cuboid stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue, which needs to be confirmed by further randomized controlled studies.