Repeated Sevoflurane Exposures in Neonatal Rats Increased the Brain Vulnerability to Future Stress Exposure and Resulted in Fear Extinction Deficit.

Sevoflurane anesthesia during neonatal period was reported to sensitize the rodent animals to stress later in life. The authors tested the hypothesis that repeated sevoflurane exposures in neonatal rats increased the brain vulnerability to future stress exposure and resulted in fear extinction deficit and investigated whether the neonatal brain depolarizing γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) is involved in mediating these abnormalities. Neonatal Sprague-Dawley male rats, pretreated with vehicle or the NKCC1 inhibitor, bumetanide, received sequential exposures to 3% sevoflurane for 2 h on postnatal days (P) 5, P6, and P7 and then were exposed to electric foot shock stress in fear conditioning training at P14. Juvenile rats at different developmental brain stage receiving identical sevoflurane exposures on P25, P26, and P27 were also studied. The results showed repeated sevoflurane exposures in neonatal rats and increased the cation-chloride cotransporters NKCC1/KCC2 ratio in the PFC at P14. Repeated exposures to sevoflurane in neonatal rather than juvenile rats enhanced the stress response and exacerbated neuroapoptosis in the PFC after exposed to electric foot shock in fear conditioning training. Neonatal rather than juvenile sevoflurane-exposed rats exhibited deficits in fear extinction training and recall. Pretreatment of neonatal rats prior to sevoflurane exposures with bumetanide reduced the NKCC1/KCC2 ratio at P14 and ameliorated most of the subsequent adverse effects. Our study indicates that repeated sevoflurane exposures in neonatal rats might increase the brain vulnerability to future stress exposure and resulted in fear extinction deficit, which might be associated with the neonatal enhanced brain depolarizing GABAAR activity.

[Emission Characterstics of VOCs and n-alkanes from Diesel Forklifts].

Non-road diesel vehicle exhaust is an important emission source that affects air quality in China, yet knowledge regarding its chemical composition and potential influence factors remains limited. Six typical forklifts were selected to study the effect of diesel particulate filters (DPF) on the emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and n-alkanes using online monitoring of gaseous components combined with offline analysis. The results showed that oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs), olefins, alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and halogenated hydrocarbons accounted for 26%-37%, 16%-36%, 19%-22%, 13%-21%, and 4%-7% of the measured VOCs in forklift exhaust, respectively. The VOCs emission factors of low-power and high-power forklifts were(2.47±0.33)g·kg-1 and (1.48±0.24)g·kg-1, respectively. The forklift exhaust emission factors of total VOCs without and with DPF were(1.94±0.58)g·kg-1and (2.08±0.79)g·kg-1, respectively. Our results showed that DDF exerted minor impact on VOCs emission. However, it is worth noting that DPF can efficiently remove some types of OVOCs components. For example, the emission factors of acetaldehyde and acetone of the forklifts with DPF were reduced by 19% and 26%, respectively, compared to that of those without DPF. The carbon numbers of n-alkane fractions showed a bimodal distribution of C7-C17 and C24-C31, respectively, with C15 being the dominant peak carbon. The average emission factors of n-alkanes were (115±34) mg·kg-1 (without DPF) and (53.7±19)mg·kg-1 (with DPF), respectively, with a decrease of 53%, indicating that DPF can effectively reduce the emission of n-alkane in the exhaust of forklifts. Our results can provide scientific support for the precise control of non-road construction machinery exhaust emissions and the further improvement of regional air quality.

[Role of miR-145-5p Targeting ARK5 in Regulating the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells].

Objective To explore the effect of miR-145-5p on the proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells and the possible molecular mechanisms involved.Methods Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-145-5p in ovarian epithelial cells and ovarian cancer cells.CCK-8 and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of miR-145-5p overexpression on the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells.TargetScan was employed to predict the target genes of miR-145-5p.Western blotting,dual luciferase reporter assay and rescue experiment were employed to predict and verify the underlying molecular mechanism of miR-145-5p function.Results The expression of miR-145-5p in ovarian cancer cells was significantly lower than that in normal ovarian epithelial cells(t=4.345,P=0.049).Compared with the control group,the overexpression of miR-145-5p reduced the proliferation rate(t=-15.790,P<0.001)and increased the apoptosis rate(t=5.433,P=0.032)of ovarian cancer cells.ARK5 was predicted as the direct target gene of miR-145-5p(t=4.583,P=0.010).The cells with ARK5 overexpression showed increased proliferation rate(t=27.290,P<0.001)and decreased apoptosis rate(t=-8.241,P=0.001).The overexpression of miR-145-5p can down-regulate the mRNA(t=-12.824,P<0.001)and protein(t=-4.792,P=0.001)levels of ARK5.The rescuing expression of ARK5 significantly offset the inhibitory effects of miR-145-5p on cell proliferation(t=15.580,P=0.004)and apoptosis(t=-12.470,P=0.006).Conclusion miR-145-5p may inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by targeting ARK5.

Effect of Self-Acupoint Massage on Blood Glucose Level and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The current study aimed to explore the effect of self-acupoint massage (SEAM) on blood glucose level and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sixty-six older adults with T2DM were enrolled and randomly divided into observation and control groups. Participants in the control group received routine nursing interventions, whereas participants in the observation group received a SEAM intervention in addition to routine nursing interventions. After 12 weeks of SEAM, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in the observation group decreased from 8.35% (SD = 1.84%) at baseline to 7.29% (SD = 1.38%) (p < 0.01). Total score of the Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life Scale (DSQLS) in the observation group improved from 45.96 (SD = 4.29) at baseline to 41.3 (SD = 3.89) (p < 0.01). The physiological dimension of the DSQLS in the observation group improved from 49.65 (SD = 7.33) at baseline to 38.54 (SD = 4.68) (p < 0.01). As SEAM effectively decreased older adults' HbA1c level and improved their quality of life, it can be used as a complementary approach to routine nursing interventions for community-dwelling older adults with T2DM. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 45(8), 43-48.].

[The Expression of Sphingosine-1-phosphate and Sphingosine-1-phosphate Receptor 1 in Mouse Model of Pulmonary Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and S1P G-protein-coupled receptor 1 (S1PR1) in pulmonary ischemia reperfusion injury (PIRI) tissues and explore their relationship. METHODS: The model of PIRI was established in vivo male C57BL/6 mice (n=8). The left pulmonary hilum was occluded for 30 min with a microvascular clamp through a left thoracotomy. Reperfusion began with removal of the clamp. Normal group (n=8) and sham group (n=8) were set as control. The hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of ultrastructural changes and wet-to-dry mass ratio in lung tissues were measured for judging the succeed model. The mRNA expressions of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and S1PR1 were determined by real-time PCR, and ELISA was used to detect the concentrations of S1P and S1PR1 in the lung tissues. RESULTS: The mRNA expressions of SphK1, S1PR1 and the concentrations of S1P and S1PR1 and wet-to-dry mass ratio of the lung tissues in ischemia-reperfusion mice were higher than those normal mice and sham operation mice (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The increased expressions of S1P and S1PR1 in lung tissues after PIRI suggest that the S1P/S1PR1 signal pathway is involved in the pathophysiological process of PIRI, and may be a potential therapeutic target for it.

Fabrication of high-performance poly(l-lactic acid)/lignin-graft-poly(d-lactic acid) stereocomplex films.

The need for green renewable alternatives such as lignin to traditional fillers has driven recent interest in polylactic acid blend materials. Herein, lignin-graft-polylactic acid copolymers (LG-g-PDLA, LG-g-PDLLA, and LG-g-PLLA) have been synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of d-, dl-, and l-lactic acid. Then poly(l-lactic acid)/lignin-graft-polylactic acid (PLLA/LG-g-PDLA, /LG-g-PDLLA, and /LG-g-PLLA) complex films have been prepared. The results showed that, compared with LG-g-PDLA and LG-g-PLLA, a small amount of LG-g-PDLA addition could improve the crystallization rate, reduce the glass transition temperature and cold crystallization temperature of PLLA due to the stereocomplex crystallites. The thermal stability, tensile strength and strain of the stereocomplex films were also enhanced. Moreover, the PLLA/LG-g-PDLA films have good ultraviolet resistance and excellent biocompatibility. This study provides a green approach to design advanced polylactic acid-based blends with renewable natural resources.

Lipopolysaccharide promotes pulmonary fibrosis in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) via lincRNA-p21 induced inhibition of Thy-1 expression.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical disorder characterized by pulmonary edema leading to acute lung damage and arterial hypoxemia. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive, fibrotic lung disorder, whose pathogenesis in ARDS remains speculative. LincRNA-p21 was a novel regulator of cell proliferation, apoptosis and DNA damage response. This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanism of lincRNA-p21 on pulmonary fibrosis in ARDS. Purified 10 mg/kg LPS was dropped into airways of C57BL/6 mice. Expression levels of lincRNA-p21 and Thy-1 were measured by real-time PCR or western blotting. Proliferation of lung fibroblasts was analyzed by BrdU incorporation assay. Lung and BAL collagen contents were estimated using colorimetric Sircol assay. LincRNA-p21 expression was time-dependently increased and Thy-1 expression was time-dependently reduced in a mouse model of ARDS and in LPS-treated lung fibroblasts. Meanwhile, lung fibroblast proliferation was also time-dependently elevated in LPS-treated lung fibroblasts. In addition, lung fibroblast proliferation could be promoted by lincRNA-p21 overexpression and LPS treatment, however, the elevated lung fibroblast proliferation was further abrogated by Thy-1 overexpression or lincRNA-p21 interference. And Thy-1 interference could elevate cell viability of lung fibroblasts and rescue the reduction of lung fibroblast proliferation induced by lincRNA-p21 interference. Moreover, lincRNA-p21 overexpression dramatically inhibited acetylation of H3 and H4 at the Thy-1 promoter and Thy-1 expression levels in HLF1 cells. Finally, lincRNA-p21 interference rescued LPS-induced increase of lung and BAL collagen contents. LincRNA-p21 could lead to pulmonary fibrosis in ARDS by inhibition of the expression of Thy-1.

Simultaneous measurements of H+ and O2 fluxes in Zostera marina and its physiological implications.

Zostera marina (eelgrass) is an important ecological component of many shallow, temperate lagoons. Evidence suggests that Z. marina has a high bicarbonate utilization capability, which could be promoted by possible proton extrusion and the consequent formation of an 'acid zone' in the apoplastic space (unstirred layer) of its leaves. It has been found that 50 mM of the buffer Tris significantly inhibited the photosynthetic O(2) evolution of Z. marina and it was proposed that this was because of Tris's ability to bond with protons outside the cell wall. To investigate if H(+) played an important role in the photosynthetic carbon utilization of Z. marina, it is very important to simultaneously monitor the photosynthesis status and possible H(+) fluxes. However, probably because of the lack of suitable techniques, this has never been attempted. In this study, experiments were undertaken on Z. marina by monitoring H(+) and O(2) fluxes and the relative electron transport rates during light-dark transition. During stable photosynthesis, in addition to an obvious O(2) outflow, there was a significant net H(+) influx connected to Z. marina photosynthesis. The inhibitory effects of both Tris and respiration inhibitors on apparent O(2) evolution of Z. marina were confirmed. However, evidence did not support the proposed Tris inhibition mechanism.