Bisleuconothine A potentiates the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy against traumatic brain injury by enhancing P2X4 protein expressions

Purpose: To investigate the effect of bisleuconothine A (BA), alone and in combination with hyperbaric oxygen (HO), on traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. Methods: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was induced by dropping a 200-g weight of steel on the left anterior frontal areas of Sprague-Dawley rats. The synergistic effect of BA and HO was determined by assessing neurological score, as well as parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation, expressions of P2X4 protein and other proteins, and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain tissues of TBI rats. Results: Neurological function score, levels of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress parameters were significantly reduced in rats treated with BA alone, and in those treated with a combination of BA and HO, when compared with untreated TBI rats (p < 0.01). Moreover, treatment with BA alone, and BA-HO combination attenuated the altered protein expressions of P2X4, Akt, PI3K and TLR-4 in the TBI rats, and also upregulated the mRNA expression of P2X4 in the brain tissue, when compared with untreated TBI rats (p < 0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that BA, when used alone or in combination with HO, reduces neuronal injury through upregulation of the protein expression of P2X4 in rats with traumatic brain injury. Thus, BA may be used clinically with HO therapy for the management of traumatic injury. Keywords: Bisleuconothine A, Hyperbaric oxygen, Neuronal injury, Oxidative stress, Inflammatory mediator

An analysis of students’ questions in MOOCs forums

When learners become frustrated or confused, they can ask for help by posing questions in MOOCs forums. Students’ questions reveal their needs and learning problems. If not answered timely and effectively, they may drop out. In the present study, students’ questions from one Chinese MOOCs forum were collected and classified. Results showed that most of the posts in the forum were questions and the quantity of questions decreased over time although in some weeks the number of questions increased. Different types of questions have their own variation characteristics which means that the instructors need to focus on certain types of questions in the corresponding period

Beneficial effect of β-elemene alone and in combination with hyperbaric oxygen in traumatic brain injury by inflammatory pathway

Present study evaluates the neuroprotective effect of β-elemene alone and in combination with hyperbaric oxygen (HO) in traumatic brain injury (TBI)