Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Tanichthys albiventris and phylogenetic analysis.

In this study, we sequenced, annotated, and characterized the mitogenome of Tanichthys albiventris for the first time. The complete mitogenome is 16,544 bp in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. We found nine genetic overlaps and 17 intergenic spacer regions throughout the mitogenome of T. albiventris. The A + T content of the mitogenome is 60.93%. All PCGs have the same start codon of the standard ATG, excepting for that of cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) which is the GTG. A phylogenetic analysis with another 15 species of the Cyprinidae was performed using MrBayes and IQtree, based on the amino acid sequences of 13 mitochondrial PCGs. The results indicated that T. albiventris shares a close ancestry with Tanichthys albonubes.

Gut brain interaction theory reveals gut microbiota mediated neurogenesis and traditional Chinese medicine research strategies.

Adult neurogenesis is the process of differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into neurons and glial cells in certain areas of the adult brain. Defects in neurogenesis can lead to neurodegenerative diseases, mental disorders, and other maladies. This process is directionally regulated by transcription factors, the Wnt and Notch pathway, the extracellular matrix, and various growth factors. External factors like stress, physical exercise, diet, medications, etc., affect neurogenesis and the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota may affect NSCs through vagal, immune and chemical pathways, and other pathways. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been proven to affect NSCs proliferation and differentiation and can regulate the abundance and metabolites produced by intestinal microorganisms. However, the underlying mechanisms by which these factors regulate neurogenesis through the gut microbiota are not fully understood. In this review, we describe the recent evidence on the role of the gut microbiota in neurogenesis. Moreover, we hypothesize on the characteristics of the microbiota-gut-brain axis based on bacterial phyla, including microbiota's metabolites, and neuronal and immune pathways while providing an outlook on TCM's potential effects on adult neurogenesis by regulating gut microbiota.

Neuroprotective Effects of Probiotic-Supplemented Diet on Cognitive Behavior of 3xTg-AD Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is recognized as one of the most common types of senile dementia. AD patients first suffer memory loss for recent events (short-term memory impairment). As the disease progresses, they are deprived of self-awareness. This study aims to explore the effects of a probiotic-supplemented diet on the cognitive behaviors and pathological features of mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mice in the control group and the 3xTg-AD group were fed a regular diet and a probiotic-supplemented diet, respectively, for 20 weeks. Behavioral experiments like Morris's water maze and Y maze were conducted. Then, feces of mice were collected for 16S sRNA gene sequencing for microorganisms. In the end, soluble and insoluble Aß40 and Aß42 in the hippocampus and cortex of mice in each group were quantitatively analyzed with a double-antibody Sandwich ELISA. The expression levels of tau protein and gliocyte in the hippocampus and cortex were detected using the Western Blot method. The result of the Morris water maze experiment indicated that, in the place navigation test, the mice in the 3xTg-AD group experienced a significant decline in the learning ability and a longer escape latency and in the space exploration test, the swimming time of mice in the 3xTg-AD group in the target quadrant decreased and after being treated with the probiotic diet, mice in the 3xTg-AD group had improved learning and memory ability. The result of Y maze showed that the probiotic diet can improve the spontaneous alternation accuracy of mice in the 3xTg-AD group. The result of 16s rRNA gene sequencing showed that, compared with mice in the WT group, those in the 3xTg-AD group experienced a change in the intestinal flora. The Western Blot result displayed a decreased expression level of tau (pS202) (P < 0.05) and decreased expression levels of Iba-1 and GFAP (P < 0.05). The result of the ELISA experiment showed decreased levels of soluble and insoluble Aß40 and Aß42 in 3xTg-AD mice (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a probiotic diet can prevent and treat AD by improving the intestinal flora of 3xTg-AD.

Study on the correlation between the circle of Willis structure and collateral circulation in bilateral carotid artery occlusion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bilateral carotid artery occlusion (CAO) is a rare condition and the collateral circulation is more complicated than in unilateral CAO. The circle of Willis (CoW) is the most important collateral circulation compensation pathway in CAO. However, the specific role of CoW in the collateral circulation compensation pathway of CAO has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of CoW in the collateral circulation compensation pathway of CAO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical, imaging, and hemodynamic data of 30 patients with bilateral CAO were collected to analyze the collateral blood flow compensation pathway and its characteristics, and to examine the correlation between the structure of the CoW and the collateral circulation of bilateral CAO. RESULTS: This paper summarized 30 patients with bilateral CAO. There were 0 cases of the CoW complete type, 18 cases of the partially complete type (60%), and 12 cases of the incomplete type (40%). For the partially complete type cases, there were 14 complete anterior circulation cases (46.7%). The collateral circulation collateral circulation pathway included 14 cases with anterior communicating artery(ACoA), 7 cases with posterior cerebral artery (PCA)-middle cerebral artery (MCA) leptomeningeal anastomosis (LMA), 5 cases with ophthalmic artery(OA), 3 cases with lateral posterior communicating artery(PCoA), 1 case with internal carotid artery (ICA) stealing, 1 case with new Moyamoya vessels, and 4 cases of other types. There were four cases (13.3%) with complete posterior circulation, including four cases with bilateral PCoA, three cases with PCA-MCA LMA, and two cases with OA. There were 12 cases (40%) with incomplete CoW, including 8 cases with PCA-MCA LMA, 3 cases with lateral PCoA, 1 case with anterior cerebral artery (ACA)-MCA LMA, 4 cases with OA, and 1 other case. CONCLUSION: The collateral circulation pathway differs among patients with different CoW structure types. When the CoW is partially complete, it mainly provides blood flow compensation to the ischemic area through primary collateral circulation. When the CoW is incomplete, it mainly provides blood flow compensation to the ischemic area through secondary collateral circulation.

Correlations of Post-stroke Depression with Inflammatory Response Factors.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the correlations of the inflammatory response factors, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), with patients with post-stroke depression (PSD), so as to provide a basis for the treatment and prevention of PSD for patients. METHODS: The clinical laboratory data of 60 patients with PSD in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China from July 2016 to July 2017 and those of another 60 stroke patients without PSD admitted in the same period were analyzed retrospectively. The expression levels of inflammatory response factors in the two groups of patients and in PSD patients with different levels of depression were compared and analyzed via statistical methods. Multiple Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether inflammatory response factors were independent risk factors for PSD patients. RESULTS: The expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP in patients with PSD were significantly increased compared with those in patients without PSD, and the differences were statistically significant (t=6.429, t=6.355, t=5.792, P<0.001). The levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP had statistically significant differences between any two groups of mild, moderate and severe PSD patients (P<0.05). Results of multiple Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) values of inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α and CRP) were 1.160, 1.099 and 1.248, respectively, and the corresponding p values were 0.020, 0.039 and 0.007 in patients of observation group, indicating the above three inflammatory response factors were independent risk factors for PSD. CONCLUSION: The clinic control on the expression levels of inflammatory response factors (IL-6, TNF-α and CRP) are extremely important for the treatment and prevention of PSD.