Paeoniflorin and Albiflorin Attenuate Neuropathic Pain via MAPK Pathway in Chronic Constriction Injury Rats

Neuropathic pain remains as the most frequent cause of suffering and disability around the world. The isomers paeoniflorin (PF) and albiflorin (AF) are major constituents extracted from the roots of Paeonia (P.) lactiflora Pall. Neuroprotective effect of PF has been demonstrated in animal models of neuropathologies. However, only a few studies are related to the biological activities of AF and no report has been published on analgesic properties of AF about neuropathic pain to date. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of AF and PF against CCI-induced neuropathic pain in rat and explore the underlying mechanism. We had found that both PF and AF could inhibit the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathway in spinal microglia and subsequent upregulated proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)). AF further displayed remarkable effects on inhibiting the activation of astrocytes, suppressing the overelevated expression of phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (p-JNK) in astrocytes, and decreasing the content of chemokine CXCL1 in the spinal cord. These results suggest that both PF and AF are potential therapeutic agents for neuropathic pain, which merit further investigation

A phase II study of laser interstitial thermal therapy combined with doxorubicin in patients with recurrent glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major limiting factor for drug delivery in brain tumors. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) disrupts the peritumoral BBB. In this study, we examine survival in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) treated with LITT followed by low-dose doxorubicin, a potent anti-neoplastic drug with poor BBB permeability. METHODS: Forty-one patients with recurrent GBM were enrolled; thirty patients were evaluable. Participants underwent LITT followed by 6 weekly doxorubicin treatments starting within one week (Early Arm) or at 6-8 weeks (Late Arm) after LITT. The overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (PFS), and any PFS were compared to historical controls treated with bevacizumab salvage therapy ( RESULTS: The Late Arm and all patients (Early Arm + Late Arm) demonstrated significant improvement in OS compared to historical controls treated with bevacizumab ( CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose doxorubicin given after LITT is well tolerated and correlated with higher OS compared to historical controls treated with bevacizumab or LITT with standard salvage chemotherapy. A larger study is needed to further characterize survival and progression patterns

Inhibition of HIF-1α Reduced Blood Brain Barrier Damage by Regulating MMP-2 and VEGF During Acute Cerebral Ischemia

Increase of blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability after acute ischemia stroke is a predictor to intracerebral hemorrhage transformation (HT) for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) thrombolysis and post-endovascular treatment. Previous studies showed that 2-h ischemia induced damage of BBB integrity and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) made major contribution to this disruption. A recent study showed that blocking β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) alleviated ischemia-induced BBB injury by reducing hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) level. In this study, we sought to investigate the interaction of HIF-1α with MMP-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in BBB injury after acute ischemia stroke. Rat suture middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used to mimic ischemia condition. Our results showed that ischemia produced BBB damage and MMP-2/9 upregulation was colocalized with Rhodamine-dextran leakage. Pretreatment with YC-1, a HIF-1α inhibitor, alleviated 2-h ischemia-induced BBB injury significantly accompanied by decrease of MMP-2 upregulation. In addition, YC-1 also prevented VEGF-induced BBB damage. Of note, VEGF was shown to be colocalized with neurons but not astrocytes. Taken together, BBB damage was reduced by inhibition of interaction of HIF-1α with MMP-2 and VEGF during acute cerebral ischemia. These findings provide mechanisms underlying BBB damage after acute ischemia stroke and may help reduce thrombolysis- and post-endovascular treatment-related cerebral hemorrhage

Analysis of the Application of Accounting Information Systems of Cash Receipt on the Rsia Kasih Ibu Manado

The accounting information system on cash receipt is an information system that is important to improve the quality and performance of a hospital. The application of the supervision/control system in an organization will provide many benefits to the management in running the business, as well as to maintain the existence of the company in facing competitors. This study aims to analyze the application of cash receipts accounting information systems at RSIA Kasih Ibu Manado. RSIA Kasih Ibu, is one of the agencies that deal with health services for mothers and children. The method used is descriptive method. The results shows, the accounting information systems, especially cash receipts on the RSIA Kasih Ibu has been in accordance with the basic elements of accounting information systems. This is evident by the existence of good records and adequate internal control. It is recommended that the accounting information system in the financial department computerized information system is implemented in accordance with the required accounting information systems also maintain and improve the information system that has been implemented, so that the hospital can have a good quality in service, administration and finance. Keywords: accounting information systems, cash receipt

WldS Reduces Paraquat-Induced Cytotoxicity via SIRT1 in Non-Neuronal Cells by Attenuating the Depletion of NAD

WldS is a fusion protein with NAD synthesis activity, and has been reported to protect axonal and synaptic compartments of neurons from various mechanical, genetic and chemical insults. However, whether WldS can protect non-neuronal cells against toxic chemicals is largely unknown. Here we found that WldS significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of bipyridylium herbicides paraquat and diquat in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, but had no effect on the cytotoxicity induced by chromium (VI), hydrogen peroxide, etoposide, tunicamycin or brefeldin A. WldS also slowed down the death of mice induced by intraperitoneal injection of paraquat. Further studies demonstrated that WldS markedly attenuated mitochondrial injury including disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, structural damage and decline of ATP induced by paraquat. Disruption of the NAD synthesis activity of WldS by an H112A or F116S point mutation resulted in loss of its protective function against paraquat-induced cell death. Furthermore, WldS delayed the decrease of intracellular NAD levels induced by paraquat. Similarly, treatment with NAD or its precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide attenuated paraquat-induced cytotoxicity and decline of ATP and NAD levels. In addition, we showed that SIRT1 was required for both exogenous NAD and WldS-mediated cellular protection against paraquat. These findings suggest that NAD and SIRT1 mediate the protective function of WldS against the cytotoxicity induced by paraquat, which provides new clues for the mechanisms underlying the protective function of WldS in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, and implies that attenuation of NAD depletion may be effective to alleviate paraquat poisoning

Using Cellular Automaton to Simulate Urban Expansion in Changchun, China

Urban expansion is a complex spatial transformation process over time. It converts various land-use types into urban lands, therefore gradually increase the size of urban areas. The research in simulation and prediction of urban expansion can provide us with two benefits: one, we would be able to grasp the pattern of the complex process of a city's expansion; and the other, we may be able to foresee a possible problem that may occur during expansion, and deal with it ahead of time to create the best suitable plan for the city's structure and layout. In our experiment, we designed a Visual Basic (VB) program, and applied binding conditions and random factors to simulate the process of urban expansion using Cellular Automaton (CA) as a model. This experiment was based on selected previous research, and used the city of Changchun as an example. Our results indicate that it is feasible to model urban expansion with the sprawling process of CA

Distribution of Holttumochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) in China with description of a new species revealed by morphological and molecular evidence

Holttumochloa has previously only been recorded from Malaysia. Here we describe and illustrate a new species, Holttumochloa hainanensis sp. nov., from the lowland montane forests of Diaoluo Mountain on the Island of Hainan, South China. Morphologically, H. hainanensis is similar to Holttumochloa korbuensis, but can be clearly distinguished from it in having larger culms covered by white wax, longer leaf blades, larger pseudospikelets and anthers. Furthermore, molecular phylogeny based on the nuclear gene GBSSI corroborates the identification of the new species and its affinity. The biogeographical significance of the new record of Holttumochloa in South China is also highlighted in this study

Level of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with intrauterine adhesions in Hunan Province, China: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND:The incidence of intrauterine adhesions has been increasing in recent years, seriously affecting women's health. This study aimed to investigate the psychological status and identify risk factors associated with high psychological distress in patients with intrauterine adhesions. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hunan Province, China. A total of 258 patients who presented with intrauterine adhesions between February and May 2018 were included. Data were collected by a questionnaire packet that included the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Medical Coping Mode Questionnaire, and demographic and clinical information. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlations and multiple linear stepwise regression were employed in this study. RESULTS:Among 258 participants, the detection rates of mild depression and moderate to extremely severe depression were 10.1% and 10.5%, respectively; the detection rates of mild anxiety and moderate to extremely severe anxiety were 11.2% and 20.2%, respectively; the detection rates of mild stress and moderate to extremely severe stress were 9.3% and 10.2%, respectively. Avoidance and resignation coping were positively correlated with the overall scores of general distress which represents the total scores of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (r = 0.171, 0.475, P < 0.01). Multiple linear stepwise regression results showed that husband-wife relationships and avoidance and resignation coping strategies were the main factors predicting general distress levels. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with intrauterine adhesions have psychological distress in a certain extent. Target interventions should be taken to improve the mental health level of patients