The important role of TFEB in autophagy-lysosomal pathway and autophagy-related diseases: a systematic review.

Autophagy is a main metabolic process in which eukaryotic cells use lysosomes to eliminate abnormal proteins and damaged organelles to maintain cell homeostasis. Studies have revealed that neurodegenerative diseases, tumor, hepatic diseases, etc. are related to abnormal autophagy processes in recent years. Recent studies have shown that TFEB is a major transcription regulator of autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) transcriptional regulation, which positively regulates the expression of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis-related genes, thereby promoting autophagosome formation, autophagosome-lysosome fusion, and degradation of autophagy substrates. It has also been found that TFEB promotes clearance of intracellular substrates through lysosomal exocytosis. Therefore, the study of biological functions and related regulatory mechanisms of TFEB will provide important clues and theoretical basis for further explaining its physiological pathogenesis and the treatment of related diseases.

Electrochemical deposition and formation mechanism of single-crystalline cu(2)o octahedra on aluminum.

A simple electrochemical deposition was developed to synthesize the cuprous oxide (Cu(2)O) octahedra on aluminum foils. The average edge length of the octahedra is about 300 nm. The chemical composition of the octahedra was determined using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The microstructure of the octahedra was investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The formation mechanism of the octahedra is proposed.

Activation of somatosensory afferents elicit changes in vaginal blood flow and the urethrogenital reflex via autonomic efferents.

PURPOSE: We examined the effects of pudendal sensory nerve stimulation and urethral distention on vaginal blood flow and the urethrogenital reflex, and the relationship between somatic and autonomic pathways regulating sexual responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Distention of the urethra and stimulation of the pudendal sensory nerve were used to evoke changes in vaginal blood flow (laser Doppler perfusion monitoring) and pudendal motor nerve activity in anesthetized, spinally transected female rats. Bilateral cuts of either the pelvic or hypogastric nerve or both autonomic nerves were made, and blood flow and pudendal nerve responses were reexamined. RESULTS: Stimulation of the pudendal sensory nerve or urethral distention elicited consistent increases in vaginal blood flow and rhythmic firing of the pudendal motor nerve. Bilateral cuts of the pelvic plus hypogastric nerves significantly reduced vaginal blood flow responses without altering pudendal motor nerve responses. Pelvic nerve cuts also significantly reduced vaginal blood flow responses. In contrast, hypogastric nerve cuts did not significantly change vaginal blood flow. Bilateral cuts of the pudendal sensory nerve blocked pudendal motor nerve responses but stimulation of the central end evoked vaginal blood flow and pudendal motor nerve responses. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulation of the sensory branch of the pudendal nerve elicits vasodilatation of the vagina. The likely mechanism is via activation of spinal pathways that in turn activate pelvic nerve efferents to produced changes in vaginal blood flow. Climatic-like responses (firing of the pudendal motor nerve) occur in response to stimulation of the pudendal sensory nerve and do not require intact pelvic or hypogastric nerves.

Cryopreservation and culture of the human fetal brain tissues.

Human embryos after 3-4.5 months of gestation were obtained with abortion. The brain tissue of the bodies was scissored up to obtain 1-3 mm3 pieces, and 7% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), as a cryoprotectant, was added, and then stored at -70 degrees C for 1-30 days or at -196 degrees C for 1-84 days. The survival rate of stored cells was 64%-88%. During 6 days of storage with neuron culture medium, the survival rate of cells at 4 degrees C is over 50% each day, but, as time goes on, the count of the cells is getting less and less. The cells washed out DMSO after cryopreservation and the planting fresh cells can adhere to the wall of the culture bottle, grow, display various forms of neurons and gliacytes. From the above findings, it was suggested that: 1) The fetal human brain tissue, handled properly, can endure cryopreservation with 7% DMSO as a cryoprotective agent; 2) The storage time was related insignificantly to the survival rate of the tissues stored; 3) It is available for a short preservation at 4 degrees C; and 4) It is possible to set up a bank of fetal human brain tissue.

Transcoronary ethanol ablation of experimental ventricular tachycardia after epicardial ice mapping and localizing.

Thirty-seven reproducible ventricular tachycardias (VTs) were induced in 19 dogs after the onset of myocardial infarction. The site of origin of VT was localized in 19 (59%) of 32 VTs by ice epicardial mapping. After 0.3-1.2 ml of 95% ethanol was injected into a small coronary artery supplying the arrhythmogenic area, VT was no longer inducible in 10 of 14 dogs. Intramyocardial ethanol (1-3 ml) was injected into the site of origin of VT in 9 dogs including 4 with VTs reinduced after intracoronary ethanol. Six of these VTs were not reinduced. Thus, the total efficacy rate was 84%. In 7 dogs, after injection of 0.4-1.2 ml (mean 0.5 ml) of 95% ethanol into a small normal coronary artery, the extent of the changes in ECG, CK-MB and pathology was found to be related to the size of myocardial damage and to the dose of ethanol. The smaller the dose of ethanol was given and the more distal the branch of coronary artery into which the ethanol was injected, the smaller the myocardial damage was. The data demonstrated that intracoronary or intramyocardial injection of ethanol may ablate the experimental VT induced by programmed heart stimulation in dogs after myocardial infarction, indicating that this approach may be useful and meaningful in some selected instances. However, it is necessary to limit the myocardial damage as far as possible.