Fetal growth restriction mice are more likely to exhibit depression-like behaviors due to stress-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a severe perinatal complication that can increase risk for mental illness. To investigate the mechanism by which FGR mice develop mental illness in adulthood, we established the FGR mouse model and the FGR mice did not display obvious depression-like behaviors, but after environmental stress exposure, FGR mice were more likely to exhibit depression-like behaviors than control mice. Moreover, FGR mice had significantly fewer dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area but no difference in serotoninergic neurons in the dorsal raphe. RNA-seq analysis showed that the downregulated genes in the midbrain of FGR mice were associated with many mental diseases and were especially involved in the regulation of NMDA-selective glutamate receptor (NMDAR) activity. Furthermore, the NMDAR antagonist memantine can relieve the stress-induced depression-like behaviors of FGR mice. In summary, our findings provide a theoretical basis for future research and treatment of FGR-related depression.

Can docetaxel combined prednisone effectively treat hormone refractory prostate cancer?: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that docetaxel combined prednisone (DP) has been used for the treatment of patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). However, its results are still inconsistent. Therefore, this study will synthesize the latest evidence of the efficacy and safety of DP for the treatment of patients with HRPC. METHODS: Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, CBM, and CNKI will be searched to identify randomized controlled trials published from their inception to the March 1, 2020, irrespective language and publication time restrictions. We will calculate the pooled effects of dichotomous outcomes as risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals, and that of continuous outcomes as standardized mean difference or mean difference and 95% confidence intervals. Study quality will be assessed using Cochrane risk of bias, and quality of evidence for main outcome will be evaluated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation. Statistical analysis will be performed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: This study will appraise the efficacy and safety of DP for the treatment of patients with HRPC. The primary outcome includes overall survival, and the secondary outcomes comprise of progression-free survival, prostate-specific antigen response rate, duration of prostate-specific antigen response, objective tumor response rate, disease-free survival, quality of life, and adverse events. CONCLUSION: The results of this study may provide helpful evidence of DP for the treatment of patients with HRPC.Systematic review registration: INPLASY202040112.

Broad dual-band asymmetric transmission of circular polarized waves in near-infrared communication band.

In this paper, a three-layered chiral metamaterial is proposed to achieve broad dual-band and high magnitude asymmetric transmission (AT) in near-infrared communication band for circularly polarized waves. The asymmetric parameter reaches to 0.9/0.86 at 174/235 THz, over 0.6 in broad dual bands from 160 to 183 THz and from 220 to 245 THz. Remarkably, the AT effect of circularly and linearly polarized waves can be modulated to appear or vanish with variants of the G shapes that has not been found in previous reports. The proposed structure shows great potential applications in high performance multi-band circular and linear polarizers.

[Construction of three HLA-A*0201-peptide tetramers and their preliminary application in detection of vitiligo-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To construct vitiligo-specific HLA-A*0201-peptide tetramers and to apply the constructed tetramers in detection of vitiligo-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). METHODS: Proteins HLA-A0201*-BSP and ß2M were obtained by effective prokaryotic expression. The purified proteins were refolded with vitiligo antigen peptides MelanA 26-35, gp100 209-217, and tyrosinase 1-9, respectively to form HLA-A*0201-peptide complex. The complex was biotinylated by BirA enzyme and purified by gel-filtration chromatography. The tetramers were generated by mixing the complex with phycoerythrin (PE)-streptavidin at a ratio of 4∶1 and identified by Dot-blot assay. The capacity of tetramer to detect vitiligo-specific CTL was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The biotinylation of vitiligo-specific HLA-A*0201-peptide tetramers were successfully performed by Dot-blot. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the tetramer effectively bound to specific CTL from peripheral blood of patients with vitiligo. CONCLUSION: Three kinds of biotinylated vitiligo-specific HLA-A*0201-peptide tetramers have been constructed successfully. The tetramer can detect antigen specific CTL from patients with vitiligo.

Enhanced asymmetric transmission due to Fabry-Perot-like cavity.

In this paper, a three layered metamaterial composed of a ring-chain structure sandwiched between two layers of twisted sub-wavelength cut-wire arrays is proposed and investigated. The designed structure is optimized such that asymmetric transmission with an extremely broad bandwidth, sharp rejection stop-band and high transmittance is achieved. The physical mechanism is accounted for that the metallic layers form the Fabry-Perot-like resonance cavity, enhancing the polarization conversion efficiency between two orthogonal linearly polarized waves. To some extent, this approach offers a way to strengthen asymmetric transmission effect.

[Effects of open heart surgery under normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass on cytokines and complements].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the detrimental influence of normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass during open heart surgery on cytokines and complements. METHOD: Forty patients with congenital or rheumatic heart disease were randomized into 2 groups to receive normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB, study group, n=20) or hypothermic CPB (control group, n=20). Venous blood samples were respectively collected at scheduled time points preoperatively, at the end of CPB, and 1,4,7,14 d postoperatively to examine the level of interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, C3, and C4. RESULTS: IL-2 in both groups decreased significantly at the end of CPB, postoperative day 1 and 4, but recovered the normal level at day 7 postoperatively. IL-2 in control group was significantly lower than that in the study group at each time points at the end of CPB and day 1 and 4 postoperatively. TNF-alpha in two groups was both elevated at the time points cited above, and in the study group, recovery of normal TNF-alpha level occurred at day 7 postoperatively, whereas in the control group, the recovery was not achieved until postoperative day 14. C3 in the study group was significantly lower at the time points of the end of CPB, day 1, 7 postoperatively than that in control group, but both elevated above normal at the end of CPB, day 1, and 4 postoperatively; in the study group, C3 became normal at day 7 postoperatively, which occurred in the control group only till day 14 postoperatively. At the end of CPB and day 1 postoperatively, C4 was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group, both below the level measured preoperatively at the time points of the end of CPB, day 1 and 4 postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Open-heart surgery under normothermic CPB has less detrimental influence on cytokines and complements than the operation under hypothermic CPB for better recovery of the patient.

[Effects of hypothermia on cerebral oxygen metabolism in patients with mitral valve replacement].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of mild to moderate hypothermia on cerebral oxygen metabolism in patients with mitral valve replacement. METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing mitral valve replacement were randomly divided in mild (30 ) and moderate (26 degrees Celsius) hypothermia groups. Under alpha stat, the oxygen content and the concentration of lactic acid in the radial artery and jugular venous bulb were monitored in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement at mild and moderate hypothermia respectively. The arterial-venous difference of oxygen content, oxygen uptake rate, and blood lactic acid levels in the cerebrum and total body were calculated. The effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) under the two hypothermia strategies on cerebral oxygen metabolism was analyzed. RESULTS: In the two groups, arterial-venous differences and oxygen uptake rates were both decreased after the commencement of cardiopulmonary bypass, and were rapidly elevated during rewarming. In mild hypothermia group, the arterial-jugular venous difference and oxygen uptake were higher than those in moderate hypothermia group (P<0.05) during CPB when the lowest temperature was reached. The concentration of lactic acid in the plasma was progressively increased in both groups during CPB. Arterial-venous difference in the oxygen content in both groups was still lower during CPB than before CPB(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Mild and moderate hypothermia during CPB is sufficient to retain the balance of cerebral oxygen metabolism, and more intensive hypothermia may not ensure better cerebral protective effect. Cerebral oxygenation progressively increases after CPB under hypothermia, but whether imbalance of cerebral oxygen metabolism occurs needs further investigation.