Transmission of nanoplastics from Culex quinquefasciatus to Pardosa pseudoannulata and its impact on predators.

Many studies have explored the effects of plastic particles on aquatic organisms. To date, however, few studies have reported on the effects of plastic particles on terrestrial invertebrates. Here, Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house mosquito, prey) and Pardosa pseudoannulata (wolf spider, predator) were used to explore the transmission of nanoplastics (NPs) from aquatic to terrestrial invertebrates and to verify the effects of NPs in prey on predators. Mosquito larvae were exposed to 0, 200, and 1000 NPs mL-1 polystyrene, respectively, and then fed to spiders when they matured. Results showed that ingestion of NP-exposed mosquitoes affected the growth, development, and behavior of P. pseudoannulata, and the intestinal tissue structure, intestinal flora composition, and related enzymatic activities were also impacted. These results indicate that after spiders ingested NP-exposed mosquitoes, their growth, development, and predation ability were affected. This may prolong time to maturation and decrease the ability of spiders to survive and reproduce in the environment. Thus, plastic particles likely have a wide range of effects on organisms as well as the whole ecosystem.

Insights into the mechanism of shortened developmental duration and accelerated weight gain associated with Wolbachia infection in Hylyphantes graminicola.

Wolbachia infection is known to affect host reproduction and development. To date, however, the underlying mechanism related to the effects of Wolbachia on host development has not yet been reported. Here, we compared the developmental duration and body weight in different instars of Wolbachia-positive (W+ ) and Wolbachia-negative (W- ) spiders (Hylyphantes graminicola) and detected the relative expression levels of 6 insulin-related genes and 3 ecdysone-related genes using reverse transcription qPCR. Results showed that the developmental duration was significantly shortened in W+ spiders compared with W- spiders. Furthermore, W+ spiders were significantly heavier than W- spiders at the 3rd and 4th instars, although no significant differences in body weight were observed after maturity. We also found that the expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding protein-1, insulin-degrading enzyme, and ecdysone-inducible protein-1 genes were significantly down-regulated in W+ spiders compared with W- spiders, whereas the expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1, insulin-like peptide receptor, insulin receptor substrate 2-B, insulin-like, ecdysone-induced protein-2, and ecdysone receptor genes were significantly up-regulated in W+ spiders. Our results suggest that Wolbachia may influence host development by affecting insulin and ecdysone signaling pathways.

The therapeutic efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine injection combined with low-molecular-weight heparin on the acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LEDVT) of lower extremities is one of the common clinical diseases. Lack of a timely treatment in the acute stage easily causes pulmonary embolism, thus seriously threatening patients' life. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), as a new generation of heparin-based anticoagulant and antithrombotic drug, is now commonly used in the clinical treatment of acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (ALEDVT). Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Traditional Chinese medicine injection (TCMJ) combined with LMWH on ALDVT, although their conclusions remain controversial. In addition, the efficacy of various TCMJs has rarely been analyzed and compared. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of TCMJ combined with LMWH on ALEDVT through a network meta-analysis. METHODS: RCTs reporting TCMJ combined with LMWH and LMWH along for the treatment of ALEDVT published before November 2021 will be searched in online databases, including the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure. Two investigators will be independently responsible for literature screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation according to Cochrane's risk of bias assessment tool. R software will be used to perform a network Meta-analysis. RESULTS: The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. CONCLUSION: This study will provide high-quality, evidence-based medical evidence for comparing the therapeutic efficacy and safety of TCMJ combined with LMWH and LMWH alone on ALEDVT.

[Effect of electroacupuncture of "Zhiyang" (GV9) and "Jizhong" (GV6) on expression of CGRP and NLRP3 in rats with spinal cord injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zhiyang" (GV9) and "Jizhong" (GV6) of the Governor Vessel on the expression of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP)and NOD-like receptor pyrin containing 3 (NLRP3) in the injured anterior horn (AH) of rats with spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of SCI. METHODS: Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation (sham) group, model group and EA group which were further randomly allocated to 7 day (d) and 14 d subgroups (n=6 per subgroup). The SCI model was established by clamping the exposed spinal cord with an aneurysm clip. Rats of the EA group received EA of GV6 and GV9 for 30 min, once daily for 7 and 14 days, respectively. The Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) was used to assess changes of the locomotor function on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th day after SCI. The protein expression levels of CGRP, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-1 (caspase-1) in the anterior horn region of the spinal cord on the 7th and 14th after SCI were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The BBB scores on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th d after SCI were significantly lower in the model group than in the sham group (P<0.05), whereas the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 proteins on day 7 and 14 were markedly higher in the model group than in the sham group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBB score and CGRP expression on the 7th and 14th d were significantly increased in the EA group (P<0.05,P<0.01), while the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 were obviously decreased in the EA group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EA of GV6 and GV9 can improve the locomotion of SCI rats, which may be associated with its function in up-regulating the expression of CGRP and down-regulating the expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 proteins in the spinal anterior horn tissue.

[The effect of "paraplegic triple needling" combined with rehabilitation training on psychological and daily living ability of patients with spinal cord injury].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of "paraplegic triple needling" and conventional needling on psychological and daily living ability of patients with spinal cord injury. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with spinal cord injury were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each one. Rehabilitation training was applied in the two groups. In the observation group, on the basis of rehabilitation training, "paraplegic triple needling" was added, namely, puncturing the governor vessel (GV) and back-shu points respectively in the upper and lower segments of the injury plane and locating the key muscle movement points of the lower extremities by the peripheral nerve electrical stimulation device. Electroacupuncture (EA) was given at the points up and down the two sections of the GV points, back-shu points, the key muscle movement points. In the control group, conventional needling was applied at the points of GV, back-shu points, Huantiao (GB 30), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39) and Yanglingquan (GB 34). The treatment was given once a day, the treatment for a month as one course and a total of 2 course were required. In addition, 25 health checkers were selected at the physical examination center of General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region as a normal control group. The content of peripheral serum 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) was tested before treatment, 1 course and 2 courses of treatment, The modified Barthel index (MBI) was used to observe the daily living activities, the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) were used to evaluate the psychological status. RESULTS: In the two groups, the content of serum 5-HT was lower than that in the normal control group before treatment (both P<0.05). After one course of treatment, the MBI score and content of serum 5-HT were all increase in the two groups; the HAMA score and HAMD score were all reduced (all P<0.05); the results in the observation were better than those in the control group (all P<0.05). After 2 courses of treatment, the MBI score and content of serum 5-HT were all increased in the two groups, and the HAMA score and HAMD score were all reduced (all P<0.05), but the difference was not significant statistically between the two groups (all P>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the content of serum 5-HT in patients with spinal cord injury was negatively correlated with disease course, HAMA and HAMD score (all P<0.05), and positively correlated with MBI score (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There are differences in the content of serum 5-HT between the normal person and the patients with pinal cord injury. The content of serum 5-HT can early predict the depression and anxiety in patients with spinal cord injury. Compared with the conventional needling, "paraplegic triple needling" can improve depression and anxiety in the early stage and improve the daily living ability of patients with spinal cord injury.