Neural oscillations during acupuncture imagery partially parallel that of real needling

IntroductionTasks involving mental practice, relying on the cognitive rehearsal of physical motors or other activities, have been reported to have similar patterns of brain activity to overt execution. In this study, we introduced a novel imagination task called, acupuncture imagery and aimed to investigate the neural oscillations during acupuncture imagery.MethodsHealthy volunteers were guided to watch a video of real needling in the left and right KI3 (Taixi point). The subjects were then asked to perform tasks to keep their thoughts in three 1-min states alternately: resting state, needling imagery left KI3, and needling imagery right KI3. Another group experienced real needling in the right KI3. A 31-channel-electroencephalography was synchronously recorded for each subject. Microstate analyses were performed to depict the brain dynamics during these tasks.ResultsCompared to the resting state, both acupuncture needling imagination and real needling in KI3 could introduce significant changes in neural dynamic oscillations. Moreover, the parameters involving microstate A of needling imagery in the right KI3 showed similar changes as real needling in the right KI3.DiscussionThese results confirm that needling imagination and real needling have similar brain activation patterns. Needling imagery may change brain network activity and play a role in neural regulation. Further studies are needed to explore the effects of acupuncture imagery and the potential application of acupuncture imagery in disease recovery

Capillary-Induced Ge Uniformly Distributed in N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes with Enhanced Li-Storage Performance

Germanium (Ge) is a prospective anode material for lithium-ion batteries, as it possesses large theoretical capacity, outstanding lithium-ion diffusivity, and excellent electrical conductivity. Ge suffers from drastic capacity decay and poor rate performance, however, owing to its low electrical conductivity and huge volume expansion during cycling processes. Herein, a novel strategy has been developed to synthesize a Ge at N-doped carbon nanotubes (Ge at N-CNTs) composite with Ge nanoparticles uniformly distributed in the N-CNTs by using capillary action. This unique structure could effectively buffer large volume expansion. When evaluated as an anode material, the Ge at N-CNTs demonstrate enhanced cycling stability and excellent rate capabilities

Resveratrol differentially modulates inflammatory responses of microglia and astrocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inflammatory responses in the CNS mediated by activated glial cells play an important role in host-defense but are also involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound that has cardioprotective, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the capacity of resveratrol to protect microglia and astrocyte from inflammatory insults and explored mechanisms underlying different inhibitory effects of resveratrol on microglia and astrocytes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A murine microglia cell line (N9), primary microglia, or astrocytes were stimulated by LPS with or without different concentrations of resveratrol. The expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1) and iNOS/NO by the cells were measured by PCR/real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. The phosphorylation of the MAP kinase superfamily was analyzed by western blotting, and activation of NF-κB and AP-1 was measured by luciferase reporter assay and/or electrophoretic mobility shift assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that LPS stimulated the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1 and iNOS in murine microglia and astrocytes in which MAP kinases, NF-κB and AP-1 were differentially involved. Resveratrol inhibited LPS-induced expression and release of TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, and iNOS/NO in both cell types with more potency in microglia, and inhibited LPS-induced expression of IL-1β in microglia but not astrocytes. Resveratrol had no effect on LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 in microglia and astrocytes, but slightly inhibited LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of JNK in astrocytes. Resveratrol inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation in both cell types, but inhibited AP-1 activation only in microglia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that murine microglia and astrocytes produce proinflammatory cytokines and NO in response to LPS in a similar pattern with some differences in signaling molecules involved, and further suggest that resveratrol exerts anti-inflammatory effects in microglia and astrocytes by inhibiting different proinflammatory cytokines and key signaling molecules.</p

Genome-wide identification of cystathionine beta synthase genes in wheat and its relationship with anther male sterility under heat stress

Cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) domains containing proteins (CDCPs) plays an important role in plant development through regulation of the thioredoxin system, as well as its ability to respond to biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Despite this, no systematic study has examined the wheat CBS gene family and its relation to high temperature-induced male sterility. In this study, 66 CBS family members were identified in the wheat genome, and their gene or protein sequences were used for subsequent analysis. The TaCBS gene family was found to be unevenly distributed on 21 chromosomes, and they were classified into four subgroups according to their gene structure and phylogeny. The results of collinearity analysis showed that there were 25 shared orthologous genes between wheat, rice and Brachypodium distachyon, and one shared orthologous gene between wheat, millet and barley. The cis-regulatory elements of the TaCBS were related to JA, IAA, MYB, etc. GO and KEGG pathway analysis identified these TaCBS genes to be associated with pollination, reproduction, and signaling and cellular processes, respectively. A heatmap of wheat plants based on transcriptome data showed that TaCBS genes were expressed to a higher extent in spikelets relative to other tissues. In addition, 29 putative tae-miRNAs were identified, targeting 41 TaCBS genes. Moreover, qRT-PCR validation of six TaCBS genes indicated their critical role in anther development, as five of them were expressed at lower levels in heat-stressed male sterile anthers than in Normal anthers. Together with anther phenotypes, paraffin sections, starch potassium iodide staining, and qRT-PCR data, we hypothesized that the TaCBS gene has a very important connection with the heat-stressed sterility process in wheat, and these data provide a basis for further insight into their relationship

Antioxidants, Minerals, and Vitamins in Relation to Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis:A Mendelian Randomization Study

Background Evidence for antioxidants, minerals and vitamins in relation to the risk of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is limited and inconsistent. This mendelian randomization (MR) study aimed to examine the causal associations of circulating levels of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins with CD and UC. Methods Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with antioxidants (beta-carotene, lycopene and uric acid), minerals (copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium), and vitamins (folate, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and K1) were employed as instrumental variables. Genetic associations with CD and UC were extracted from the UK Biobank, the FinnGen study and the International Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium. The inverse variance weighted method and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Genetically predicted higher lycopene (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91–0.97), vitamins D (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.54–0.79) and K1 (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.90–0.97) levels were inversely associated with CD risk, whereas genetically predicted higher magnesium (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.23–1.90) levels were positively associated with CD risk. Higher levels of genetically predicted lycopene (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.88–0.95), phosphorus (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.58–0.82), selenium (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85–0.97), zinc (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.89–0.94), folate (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56–0.92) and vitamin E (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69–0.88) were associated with reduced UC risk, whereas genetically predicted high levels of calcium (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.22–1.76) and magnesium (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03–1.49) were associated with increased risk of UC. Conclusions Our study provided evidence that circulating levels of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins might be causally linked to the development of IBD

Effects of sodium arsenite on liver fibrosis and expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation-related proteins in SD rats

BackgroundLong-term exposure to sodium arsenite leads to its accumulation in the liver and liver injury as a result. Previous studies showed that mesenchymal cells play an important role in hepatic fibrosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) is considered to be a main source of mesenchymal cells.ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of sodium arsenite at different doses on liver fibrosis and EMT-related protein expressions in SD rats.MethodsTwenty-four healthy weaned SD rats, half male and half female, were randomly divided into four groups according to body weight, with 6 rats in each group. The four groups were control group (gavage with 10.0 mL·kg−1 physiological saline), 2.5 mg·kg−1 sodium arsenite group, 5.0 mg·kg−1 sodium arsenite group, and 10.0 mg·kg−1 sodium arsenite group. All rats were gavaged 6 d per week for 36 weeks and weighed once a week, the serum and liver tissues of rats were collected and weighed, then the organ coefficient was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to determine the pathological changes of hepatic fibrosis in rats. The serum secretion levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procollagen Ⅲ N-terminal propeptide (PⅢNP), and collagen Ⅳ (COL-Ⅳ) in rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein expressions of HSCs activation-related proteins, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), as well as EMT-related markers, such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail, were detected by Western blotting.ResultsCompared with the control group, the 10.0 mg·kg−1 sodium arsenite group showed decreased body weight (P<0.05) and increased liver coefficient (P<0.05) of female and male rats. The pathological staining showed that, compared with the control group, a large number of inflammatory cells were observed in liver tissue of rats exposed to sodium arsenite, liver parenchymal cells were also liquefied, necrotic, and denatured, and the collagen positive staining area of liver tissue showed an upward trend along with the increase of arsenic exposure dose (P<0.05). The results of ELISA and Western blotting showed that the serum secretion levels of HA, LN, PⅢNP, and COL-Ⅳ in the 5.0 and 10.0 mg·kg−1 sodium arsenite groups were higher than those in the control group and the 2.5 mg·kg−1 sodium arsenite group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expressions of α-SMA and TGF-β1 proteins in liver tissue were increased in each sodium arsenite exposure group (P<0.05), the expression levels of E-cadherin protein were decreased (P<0.05), and the expression levels of N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail were increased (P<0.05).ConclusionSodium arsenite exposure can induce HSCs activation and liver fibrosis injury in SD rats, resulting in increased extracellular matrix secretion levels, accompanied by EMT in liver tissue, suggesting that EMT is closely related to the process of liver fibrosis caused by arsenic

An animal model of SARS produced by infection of Macaca mulatta with SARS coronavirus.

A new SARS animal model was established by inoculating SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) into rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) through the nasal cavity. Pathological pulmonary changes were successively detected on days 5-60 after virus inoculation. All eight animals showed a transient fever 2-3 days after inoculation. Immunological, molecular biological, and pathological studies support the establishment of this SARS animal model. Firstly, SARS-CoV-specific IgGs were detected in the sera of macaques from 11 to 60 days after inoculation. Secondly, SARS-CoV RNA could be detected in pharyngeal swab samples using nested RT-PCR in all infected animals from 5 days after virus inoculation. Finally, histopathological changes of interstitial pneumonia were found in the lungs during the 60 days after viral inoculation: these changes were less marked at later time points, indicating that an active healing process together with resolution of an acute inflammatory response was taking place in these animals. This animal model should provide insight into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-related pulmonary disease and greatly facilitate the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS

Integrated glycomic analysis of ovarian cancer side population cells

Additional file 2. The category of representative lectins for glycan profiling

Cytosolic Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Is Involved in Seed Germination and Root Growth Under Salinity in Arabidopsis

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH or G6PD) is the key regulatory enzyme in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP). The cytosolic isoforms including G6PD5 and G6PD6 account for the major part of the G6PD total activity in plant cells. Here, we characterized the Arabidopsis single null mutant g6pd5 and g6pd6 and double mutant g6pd5/6. Compared to wild type, the mutant seeds showed a reduced germination rate and root elongation under salt stress. The seeds and seedlings lacking G6PD5 and G6PD6 accumulate more reactive oxygen species (ROS) than the wild type under salt stress. Cytosolic G6PD (cy-G6PD) affected the expression of NADPH oxidases and the G6PD enzymatic activities in the mutant atrbohD/F, in which the NADPH oxidases genes are disrupted by T-DNA insertion and generation of ROS is inhibited, were lower than that in the wild type. The NADPH level in mutants was decreased under salt stress. In addition, we found that G6PD5 and G6PD6 affected the activities and transcript levels of various antioxidant enzymes in response to salt stress, especially the ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase. Exogenous application of ascorbate acid and glutathione rescued the seed and root phenotype of g6pd5/6 under salt stress. Interestingly, the cytosolic G6PD negatively modulated the NaCl-blocked primary root growth under salt stress in the root meristem and elongation zone