CXCL12/CXCR4 axis: an emerging neuromodulator in pathological pain

The roles of chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 12 (CXCL12) and its receptor chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) reveal this chemokine axis as an emerging neuromodulator in the nervous system. In the peripheral and central nervous systems, both CXCL12 and CXCR4 are expressed in various kinds of nociceptive structures, and CXCL12/CXCR4 axis possesses pronociceptive property. Recent studies have demonstrated its critical roles in the development and maintenance of pathological pain, and both neuronal and glial mechanisms are involved in this CXCL12/CXCR4 axis-mediated pain processing. In this review, we summarize the recent development of the roles and mechanisms of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in the pathogenesis of chronic pain by sciatic nerve injury, human immunodeficiency virus-associated sensory neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, spinal cord injury, bone cancer, opioid tolerance, or opioid-induced hyperalgesia. The potential targeting of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis as an effective and broad-spectrum pharmacological approach for chronic pain therapy was also discussed.published_or_final_versio

Soil-Structure Interaction on the Response of Jacket Type Offshore Wind Turbine

Jacket structures are still at the early stage of their development for use in the offshore wind industry. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of the soil-structure interaction on the response of an offshore wind turbine with a jacket-type foundation. For this purpose, two different models of flexible foundation-the p-y model and the p-y model considering pile groups effect-are employed to compare the dynamic responses with the fixed-base model. The modal analysis and the coupled dynamic analysis are carried out under deterministic and stochastic conditions. The influence of the soil-structure interaction on the response of the jacket foundation predicts that the flexible foundation model is necessary to estimate the loads of the offshore wind turbine structure well. It is suggested that during fatigue analysis the pile group effect should be considered for the jacket foundation.None1174Ysciescopu

A report on a randomly sampled questionnaire survey about renal stone disease in Hong Kong

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of patients with renal stone in Hong Kong, and awareness of corresponding prevention strategies. Design: Telephone public survey. Setting: Hong Kong community. Participants: A public telephone survey concerning the occurrence of renal stone disease and the public awareness of the condition was performed. Respondents whose telephone numbers were randomly selected by computer and the family member of the household who had the closest birthday to that date was chosen for interview. Data collected were further adjusted for the gender and age distribution of the Hong Kong population in mid-2007. Results: A total of 1010 Hong Kong citizens aged 18 years or above were successfully interviewed in November 2007. Among them, 25 respondents themselves had a history of renal stones, yielding a point prevalence of 2.5%. In addition, 70 respondents had family members with a history of renal stones, yielding an estimated household point prevalence of 6.9%. Stone patients were mainly older, male, and imbibed less fluids than the average for all respondents. The public's concepts with regard to the diet necessary and the importance of taking more fluid to prevent stone formation was poor. Conclusion: Hong Kong has a relatively low prevalence of renal stone disease, compared to neighbouring areas. However, the local public and affected patients had little knowledge and awareness about this important health problem.published_or_final_versio

Effects of Repeated Central Administration of Endothelin Type A Receptor Antagonist on the Development of Neuropathic Pain in Rats

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Determination of AGC capacity requirement and regulation strategies considering penalties of tie-line power flow deviations

2003-2004 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Crosstalk between astrocytic CXCL12 and microglial CXCR4 contributes to the development of neuropathic pain

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Central administration of C-x-C chemokine receptor type 4 antagonist alleviates the development and maintenance of peripheral neuropathic pain in mice

Aim To explore the roles of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in spinal processing of neuropathic pain at the central nervous system (CNS). Methods Peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation (pSNL) model was assessed in mice. Effects of a single intrathecal (central) administration of AMD3100 (intrathecal AMD3100), a CXCR4 antagonist, on pain behavior and pain-related spinal pathways and molecules in the L3-L5 spinal cord segment was studied compare to saline treatment. Results Rotarod test showed that intrathecal AMD3100 did not impair mice motor function. In pSNL-induced mice, intrathecal AMD3100 delayed the development of mechanical allodynia and reversed the established mechanical allodynia in a dose-dependent way. Moreover, intrathecal AMD3100 downregulated the activation of JNK1 and p38 pathways and the protein expression of p65 as assessed by western blotting. Real-time PCR test also demonstrated that substance P mRNA was decreased, while adrenomedullin and intercellular adhesion molecule mRNA was increased following AMD3100 treatment. Conclusion Our results suggest that central (spinal) CXCR4 is involved in the development and maintenance of PNP and the regulation of multiple spinal molecular events under pain condition, implicating that CXCR4 would potentially be a therapeutic target for chronic neuropathic pain.published_or_final_versio

Survey on operating reserve procurement and pricing in deregulated electricity market environment

2003-2004 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Procurement and pricing of operating reserves based on the Peak-Load Pricing Theory

2002-2003 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Klebsiella infection in patients with thalassemia

Klebsiella infection has previously been reported in a few patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia. The incidence and clinical spectrum of this infection in our cohort of patients were reviewed retrospectively. Among 160 patients observed for 12 years, there were 15 episodes of Klebsiella infection that occurred in 12 patients (7.5%), resulting in an incidence of 0.78 infections per 100 patient-years. The clinical spectrum included sinusitis (4 cases), intracranial infection (5 cases), septicemia (4 cases), and abscesses of the liver, lung, kidney, and parotid gland (1 case each). Three patients had recurrent infections involving different sites, 2 (16%) died of fulminant septicemia, and 3 (25%) had significant permanent neurological deficits. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern for the isolates was similar to the pattern for isolates recovered in the community. With regard to predisposing factors, iron overload and liver function derangement were found to be significant on univariate analysis (P = .046 and P = .049, respectively) but insignificant on multivariate analysis. Klebsiella infection was a serious and frequently encountered complication in our patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, resulting in high mortality and morbidity rates.published_or_final_versio