Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a nonpharmacological treatment for depressive episodes and other psychiatric disorders. It is used to control the condition by causing a transient loss of consciousness through electrical stimulation. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a novel and highly selective adrenergic agonist with sedative, sympathetic nerve activity inhibiting and stress-responsive effects. This study focused on the effect of DEX on cerebral protection after ECT treatment. 68 depression patients were enrolled and divided into control group and DEX group. The occurrence of delirium after ECT treatment in depression cases was recorded. In vivo, we constructed chronic mild and unpredictable stress (CUMS) rats to mimic depression model. Meanwhile, ECT treatment and DEX injection were administrated in CUMS rats. Learning and memory in rats were measured by Morris water maze test, open field test (OFT), and forced swimming test (FST). Finally, the expression of miR-146a-5p and NF- κ B was determined by RT-qPCR and western blot assay. The incidence of delirium after ECT treatment was prominently reduced in DEX group in relation to control group. In vivo, DEX injection had no effect on ECT treatment efficacy against depression conditions. After ECT treatment, the cognitive impairment was ameliorated in CUMS rats accomplished with decreased miR-146a-5p and increased NF- κ B level. Finally, compared with ECT treatment, DEX injection could protect against depression-like behaviors by increasing miR-146a-5p level and inactivated NF- κ B pathway. Overall, ECT-induced cognitive impairment in depression rats could be ameliorated by DEX injection via miR-146a-5p/NF- κ B axis.

Background The adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by teenage pregnancy are major public health problems with significant social impact. While China is the most populous country in the world, and 8.5% of the women aged 10-50 years are adolescent women, we aimed to analyze the adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes of the adolescent pregnancy in Hebei Province, China. Methods There were 238,598 singleton pregnant women aged 10-34 years from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017 in the database of Hebei Province Maternal Near Miss Surveillance System (HBMNMSS). The 238,598 pregnant women were divided into two groups: adolescent group ( aged 10-19 years) and adult group (aged 20-34 years). The adolescent group was divided into two subgroups (aged 10-17 years, aged 18-19 years), the adult group was divided into two subgroups (aged 20-24 years, aged 25-34 years). We compared the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. We also made a stratified analysis of nulliparous and multiparous adolescent pregnancy. Results Compared with women aged 20-34 years, women aged 10-19 years had lower risk of cesarean delivery [adjusted risk ratio (aRR): 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70-0.80], gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (aRR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.41-0.73). Women aged 10-19 years had higher risk of preterm delivery (aRR: 1.76, 95%CI: 1.54-2.01), small for gestational age (SGA) (aRR: 1.19, 95%CI: 1.08-1.30), stillbirth (aRR: 2.58, 95%CI: 1.83-3.62), neonatal death (aRR: 2.63, 95%CI: 1.60-4.32). The adolescent women aged 10-17 years had significantly higher risk of stillbirth (aRR: 5.69, 95%CI: 3.36-9.65) and neonatal death (aRR: 7.57, 95%CI: 3.74-15.33) compared with the women aged 25-34 years. Younger adults (20-24 years) also had higher risks of preterm delivery (aRR: 1.26, 95%CI: 1.20-1.32), stillbirth (aRR: 1.45, 95%CI: 1.23-1.72), and neonatal death (aRR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.21-1.90) compared with women aged 25-34 years. The structural equation model showed that preterm delivery and cesarean delivery had an indirect effect on neonatal death in adolescent pregnancy. Conclusions The adolescent pregnancy was related to adverse perinatal (fetal and neonatal) outcomes, such as preterm delivery, stillbirth and neonatal death, especially in younger adolescent pregnancies.

Deficits in coordinated motor behavior and mitochondrial complex V activity have been observed in aged males.Testosterone supplementation can improve coordinated motor behavior in aged males.We investigated the effects of testosterone supplementation on mitochondrial complex V function in the substantia nigra (a brain region that regulates motor activity) in aged male rats.These rats exhibited diminished ATP levels, attenuated mitochondrial complex V activity, and reduced expression of 3 of the 17 mitochondrial complex V subunits (ATP6, ATP8 and ATP5C1) in the substantia nigra.Testosterone supplementation increased ATP levels, mitochondrial complex V activity, and ATP6, ATP8 and ATP5C1 expression in the substantia nigra of the rats.Conversely, orchiectomy reduced mitochondrial complex V activity, downregulated ATP6 and ATP8 expression, and upregulated ATP5C1, ATP5I and ATP5L expression in the substantia nigra.Testosterone replacement reversed those effects.Thus, testosterone enhanced mitochondrial complex V function in the substantia nigra of aged male rats by upregulating ATP6 and ATP8.As potential testosterone targets, these two subunits may to some degree maintain nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in aged males.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) and 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) on the oxidative stress-hypoxia inducible factor-1 (OS-HIF-1) pathway in hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into 4 groups, as follows: i) Control (Group A); ii) ovariectomy (OVX) + hypoxia (Group B); iii) OVX + hypoxia + E2 injection (Group C); and iv) 2ME injection (Group D). The rats were maintained under hypoxic conditions for 8 weeks, and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary arteriole morphology were measured. The reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase (SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) levels in serum were also measured. MnSOD and HIF-1α expression levels in lung tissue were determined by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The mPAP and arterial remodeling index were significantly elevated following chronic hypoxia exposure; however, experimental data revealed a reduced response in E2 and 2ME intervention rats. Compared with Group A, Group B had significantly elevated oxidative stress levels, as illustrated by increased serum ROS levels, decreased serum SOD and MnSOD levels and decreased MnSOD mRNA and protein expression levels in lung tissue. Furthermore, HIF-1α mRNA and protein expression in Group B was significantly elevated compared with Group A. E2 and 2ME intervention significantly attenuated the aforementioned parameter changes, suggesting that E2 and 2ME partially ameliorate hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. The underlying mechanism of this may be associated with the increase in MnSOD activity and expression and reduction in ROS level, which reduces the levels of transcription and translation of HIF-1α.

There is a controversy over the effects of testosterone supplements on dopaminergic function. Both neuroprotective and toxic effects of testosterone supplements are reported. The status of oxidative stress seems to explain the neuroprotective or toxic properties of testosterone. To determine the efficacy of testosterone supplements in different status of oxidative stress, the present studies analyzed the dopamine (DA)-related behaviors and neurochemical indices, as well as markers of nigrostriatal dopaminergic (NSDA) system in reserpine-treated aged male rats followed by testosterone propionate (TP) supplements. The status of oxidative stress of experimental animals was evaluated by analyzing oxidative stress parameters and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway in substantia nigra (SN). Consistent with our previous studies, TP supplements to 21-month old aged male rats had the beneficial effects on NSDA system and DA-related behaviors and enhanced the antioxidative capabilities in SN. However, the beneficial effects of TP supplements on NSDA system and DA-related behaviors in aged male rats were reversed by reserpine pretreatment to them. Reserpine treatment induced the severe oxidative stress and reduced the expressions of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) in the SN of aged male rats. The TP supplements to reserpine-pretreated aged male rats exacerbated the defects in NSDA system and DA-related behaviors, aggravated oxidative damages and downregulated the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 in the SN. These results suggested that the efficacy of TP supplements on impaired NSDA system was related to the status of oxidative stress in experimental rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of nicotinamide (NAM) on blood glucose level and anti-oxidative enzyme activity in gestational diabetic (GDM) rats. Methods: GDM model was induced by injection of STZ (35 mg/kg) in pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats. Nicotinamide was given to GDM rats by gavage at 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg q.d from gestational d 6 to d 20. The rats were divided into normal control group, GDM group (0 mg/kg), low-dose NAM group (50 mg/kg), middle-dose NAM group (100 mg/kg) and high-dose NAM group (200 mg/kg) with 8 animals in each group. When rats were sacrificed at d 21, the blood glucose level was measured; skeletal muscle and fetal brain samples were collected. The expression and activity of anti-oxidative enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD1, SOD2), catalase (CAT) and sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results: Nicotinamide significantly lowered the blood glucose in GDM rats and decreased mitochondrial superoxide level in the fetal cortical neurons. SOD2 was induced in skeletal muscle by nicotinamide in GDM rats (P<0.05), while no significant change was observed in the expression of CAT (P>0.05). Nicotinamide increased SIRT3 expression (P<0.05) and decreased deacetylation of SOD2 in skeletal muscle of GDM rats (P<0.05). Conclusion: Nicotinamide can lower the blood glucose level in GDM rats, and decrease mitochondrial superoxide level, which is associated with promoting SIRT3 activity to deacetylate SOD2 and elevate SOD2 activity in GDM rats.

The effects of testosterone propionate (TP) supplements on the coordinated motor behavior and nigrostriatal dopaminergic (NSDA) system were analyzed in aged male rats. The present study showed the coordinated motor behavioral deficits, the reduced activity of NSDA system and the decreased expression of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) in 24 month-old male rats. Long term TP treatment improved the motor coordination dysfunction with aging. Increased tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter, as well as dopamine and its metabolites were found in the NSDA system of TP-treated 24 month-old male rats, indicative of the amelioratory effects of TP supplements on NSDA system of aged male rats. The enhancement of dopaminergic (DAergic) activity of NSDA system by TP supplements might underlie the amelioration of the coordinated motor dysfunction in aged male rats. TP supplements up-regulated VMAT2 expression in NSDA system of aged male rats. Up-regulation of VMAT2 expression in aged male rats following chronic TP treatment might be involved in the maintenance of DAergic function of NSDA system in aged male rats.

The sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1) protein kinase plays important roles in process of biotic growth and development. In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammals, it regulates the protein-protein interaction, activity regulation and the gene expression of the substrate in response to changing nutrient sources or energy demands and SNF1-related kinase (SnRK1) proteins are present in plants. The sucrose non-fermenting 1-related protein kinase (SnRK) is homologous of SNF1 and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which widely exists in plant and involves in a variety of signaling pathways. SnRK has been divided into three sub-families: SnRK1, SnRK2 and SnRK3. SnRK is the key switches in plant sugar signal, stress, seed germination and seedling growth. In this review, we summarized the progress of SnRK protein kinase family and the structure, substrate, regulation and gene expression of SnRK1. (c) 2012 Friends Science Publishers

Objective To explore the structural foundation of transport pathway of pineal secretions from the pineal body to the cerebrospinal fluid of subarachnoid space. Methods The pineal capsule of the superficial pineal body of 1.5-month and 12-month old rats was observed under scanning electron microscope(SEM).Results Cribriform and trumpet-shaped epithelial stomata were scattered on the pineal capsule.Cribriform epithelial stomata were seen mostly in 1.5-month old rats.They were composed of many round pores which pierced through the full-thickness of the periphery of the capsule endothelium.The pores were dense and ranged from 200-500 nm in diameter;trumpet-shaped epithelial stomata were seen in both 1.5-month and 12-month old rats.Trumpet-shaped epithelial stomata were located among epithelial cells of the pineal capsule.They were round or elliptic in shape and ranged from 1-4 μm in diameter.On the surface of the pineal capsule,many secretory granules were observed.They were spherule and 8001 000 nm in diameter.Conclusion The releasing pattern of secretory granules of the pineal body could include a releasing of the whole membrane;the pineal secretions may be transported directly from the pineal body to the cerebrospinal fluid of subarachnoid space through the epithelial stomata of the pineal capsule.

Aim : To explore the correlation between the change of pulmonary ventilation function and condition degree of the amytrophy lateral sclerosis(ALS) patients. Methods: The pulmonary function including vital capacity(VC), forced vital capacity(FVC), forced expiratory volume(FEV1), FEV1/FVC, maximal voluntary ventilation(MVV), peak expiratory flow (PEF) were estimated. The pulmonary function of 56 ALS patients were compared with 52 normal people. The ALS patients were divided into gently group, moderate group, severe group and final group according the disease condition and every patient was estimated by the Norris score. And the correlation of the Norris score and the pulmonary function was analyzed. Results: The pulmonary function of the ALS patients decreased significantly(P0.01) and displayed the restricted ventilation disturbance. It showed positive correlation of the index of the pulmonary function and Norris score except that there was no correlation in the gently group. It showed positive correlation of the condition degree and the pulmonary function. Conclusion : The pulmonary function of the ALS patients displayed the restricted ventilation disturbancey.It showed positive correlation of the condition degree and the pulmonary function.

Objective To determine the physical characteristics and sanitary indexes of two types of newly developed bedding materials made from cornstalk and wheat straw,and to explore a rational mode of production of those bedding materials.Methods The physical characteristics,chemical pollutant contents and the numbers of microorganisms in the bedding materials made from cornstalk,wheat straw and wood shaving were measured and analyzed.Results The values of chemical pollutant contents,microorganism indexes such as the number of total bacteria,coliform,salmonella and fungi in all the three types of bedding materials were lower than the requirement of sanitary standard.The water content of wood shaving,wheat straw and cornstalk were 7.52±0.15%,7.60±0.13% and 7.28±0.13%,respectively.Their hygroscopicities were 290.94±62.58%,414.44±81.21% and 325.84±78.11%,respectively.Conclusion The newly developed cornstalk and wheat straw bedding materials well meet the requirement of laboratory animal feeding standard and can be adopted to the breeding of laboratory rodents.