Young plasma reverses anesthesia and surgery-induced cognitive impairment in aged rats by modulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity

We investigated the protective effect of young plasma on anesthesia- and surgery-induced cognitive impairment and the potential underlying mechanism using bioinformatics, functional enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, Golgi-Cox staining, dendritic spine analysis, immunofluorescence assay, western blot analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, we performed behavioral assessments using the open field test, the novel object recognition test, and the Morris water maze test. We identified 1969 differentially expressed genes induced by young plasma treatment, including 800 upregulated genes and 1169 downregulated genes, highlighting several enriched biological processes (signal release from synapse, postsynaptic density and neuron to neuron synapse). Anesthesia- and surgery-induced cognitive impairment in aged rats was comparatively less severe following young plasma preinfusion. In addition, the decreased levels of synapse-related and tyrosine kinase B/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (TrkB/ERK/CREB) signaling pathway-related proteins, dendritic and spine deficits, and ultrastructural changes were ameliorated in aged mice following young plasma preinfusion. Together, these findings suggest that young plasma reverses anesthesia- and surgery-induced cognitive impairment in aged rats and that the mechanism is associated with the activation of the TrkB/ERK/CREB signaling pathway and improvement in hippocampal synaptic plasticity

IL-17A deficiency alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via activating ERK/MAPK pathway in hippocampal CA1 region

Cognitive impairment is a major complication of cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (CIR) injury and has an important impact on the quality of life of patients. However, the precise mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment after CIR injury remain elusive. In the current study, we investigated the role of interleukin 17 A (IL-17A) on CIR injury-induced cognitive impairment in wild-type and IL-17A knockout mice using RNA sequencing analysis, neurological assessments, Golgi–Cox staining, dendritic spine analysis, immunofluorescence assay, and western blot analysis. RNA sequencing identified 195 CIR-induced differentially expressed genes (83 upregulated and 112 downregulated), highlighting several enriched biological processes (negative regulation of phosphorylation, transcription regulator complex, and receptor ligand activity) and signaling pathways (mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK], tumor necrosis factor, and IL-17 signaling pathways). We also injected adeno-associated virus into the bilateral hippocampal CA1 regions of CIR mice to upregulate or downregulate cyclic AMP response element-binding protein. IL-17A knockout activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/MAPK signaling pathway and further improved synaptic plasticity, structure, and function in CIR mice. Together, our findings suggest that IL-17A deficiency alleviates CIR injury by activating the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway and enhancing hippocampal synaptic plasticity

Confinement amorphous cobalt-nickel oxide polyhedral yolk-shell structures for enhanced oxygen evolution performance

Multi-scale regulation strategies ranging from electronic behavior regulation to crystal structure modulation to micro-nano structure construction can effectively improve the properties of materials, thereby bringing about significant improvements in performance. In this paper, we successfully constructed (Co1-xNix)3O4 with Ni substitution (x) unique polyhedral yolk-shell structure (PYSSs) electrocatalysts with confined amorphous regions, and achieved a significant improvement in the performance of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The substitution of Ni can regulate the electronic coupling between metal sites, thereby optimizing the electronic configuration, creating abundant vacancy defects and enhancing the Co 3d-O 2p covalency. Meantime, the creation of confined amorphous regions can further increase the number of oxygen vacancies and unsaturated metal sites. Especially, the construction of the unique PYSSs structure can increase the effective specific surface area, hold the reaction intermediates for deeper reaction, accelerate the infiltration and transport of the electrolyte, prevent the adhesion of bubbles and accelerate the gas diffusion

Confinement amorphous cobalt-nickel oxide polyhedral yolk-shell structures for enhanced oxygen evolution performance

Multi-scale regulation strategies ranging from electronic behavior regulation to crystal structure modulation to micro-nano structure construction can effectively improve the properties of materials, thereby bringing about significant improvements in performance. In this paper, we successfully constructed (Co1-xNix)3O4 with Ni substitution (x) unique polyhedral yolk-shell structure (PYSSs) electrocatalysts with confined amorphous regions, and achieved a significant improvement in the performance of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The substitution of Ni can regulate the electronic coupling between metal sites, thereby optimizing the electronic configuration, creating abundant vacancy defects and enhancing the Co 3d-O 2p covalency. Meantime, the creation of confined amorphous regions can further increase the number of oxygen vacancies and unsaturated metal sites. Especially, the construction of the unique PYSSs structure can increase the effective specific surface area, hold the reaction intermediates for deeper reaction, accelerate the infiltration and transport of the electrolyte, prevent the adhesion of bubbles and accelerate the gas diffusion

Sarm1/Myd88-5 Regulates Neuronal Intrinsic Immune Response to Traumatic Axonal Injuries

Summary: Traumatic injuries can trigger inflammatory reactions, leading to profound neuropathological consequences. However, the immune capacity of neurons, distinct from that of immune cells or glial cells, in response to traumatic insults remains to be fully characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that neurons can detect, cell autonomously, distant axonal damage, resulting in rapid production of a specific collection of cytokines and chemokines. This neuronal immune response appears spatially and temporally separated from injury-induced axon degeneration. We then identify through the genetic screen that this immune response is regulated by TIR-domain adaptor Sarm1/Myd88-5. We further show that Sarm1 functions through the downstream Jnk-c-Jun signal, and blockage of this Sarm1-Jnk-c-Jun pathway effectively abolishes the recruitment of immune cells to injury-afflicted neural tissues. We therefore uncover the key function of the Sarm1 signaling pathway, independent of its known role in axon degeneration, in the neuronal intrinsic immune response to traumatic axonal injuries. : Wang et al. report that neurons possess an intrinsic immune capacity in response to traumatic axonal injuries, which is spatially and temporally separated from injury-induced axon degeneration. This neuronal immune response is regulated by TIR-domain adaptor protein Sarm1/Myd88-5 and its downstream Jnk-c-Jun signal. Keywords: neuronal intrinsic immune response, traumatic injuries, neuroinflammation, Sarm

Hypertonic saline for prevention of delirium in geriatric patients who underwent hip surgery

Abstract Background Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common disorder in the elderly patients, and neuroinflammation is the possible underlying mechanism. This study is designed to determine whether or not hypertonic saline (HS) pre-injection can alleviate POD in aged patients. Methods This prospective study recruited 120 geriatric patients who underwent hip surgery. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: control group (NS group) and HS group. Patients in the NS group were pre-injected with 4 mL/kg isotonic saline, and those in the HS group were pre-injected with 4 mL/kg 7.5% HS. All 120 patients were then subjected to general anesthesia. Blood samples were extracted to detect the concentration of inflammatory factors, namely, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, and the nerve injury factor S100β. Flow cytometry was used to detect the number of monocytes in peripheral venous blood and evaluate the relationship of inflammation to delirium. The nursing delirium screening scale (Nu-DESC) was used to determine cognitive function 1 to 3 days postoperatively. Results Analysis using random-effect multivariable logistic regression indicated that HS administration before anesthesia was associated with a low risk of POD (odds ratio [OR], 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.41; P = 0.001) and few CD14 + CD16+ monocytes (β = − 0.61; 95% CI, − 0.74 to − 0.48; P = 0.000) the following day. When the association between HS and delirium was controlled for CD14 + CD16+ monocytes, the effect size became nonsignificant (odds ratio [OR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.14 to 5.33; P = 0.874). TNF-α was significantly associated with POD (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.16; P = 0.000). However, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and S100β were not significantly related to POD. Conclusion HS can alleviate POD in geriatric patients and may inhibit the secretion of inflammatory factors by monocytes

Drug monomers from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. promoting tight junction protein expression for therapeutic effects on lung cancer

Abstract Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been used for treatment of various diseases, including cancer by activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Tanshinone (TanIIA) and cryptotanshinone (CPT) are major lipophilic compounds extracted from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., which are considered to be the effective compounds affecting the efficacy of the anti-tumor therapy of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. We have explored the mechanism of CPT and TanIIA exerting inhibition in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to provide experimental data support for guiding the translational development and clinical application of anti-tumor components of TCM. The subcutaneous tumor model and in vitro culture model of A549 cells was constructed to evaluate CPT and TanIIA's tumour-inhibitory effect respectively. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and signalling pathways related to CPT and TanIIA treatment. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to explore the mechanism of CPT and TanIIA intervention on NSCLC. Both CPT and TanIIA significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549 tumor cells and tumor growth in animal models. After intervention, the migration ability decreased and the level of apoptosis increased. RNA-seq results showed that both CPT and TanIIA could cause gene differential expression, miR-21-5p as one of the most significant gene expression differences between the two groups, and could act on cell connectivity. CPT and TanIIA play a regulatory role in regulating tight junction proteins (Occludin and ZO1), and Occludin mRNA and protein levels were reduced in an in vitro miR-21-5p overexpression A549 cell model. The mechanisms may be related to the reduction of miR-21-5p expression to increase the level of promoted tight junction protein expression for the purpose of inhibiting proliferation and invasion of NSCLC

Construction of Co3O4/CeO2 heterostructure nanoflowers facilitates deployment of oxygen defects to enhance the oxygen evolution kinetics

The bottom-up design strategy can more rationally optimize the composition and structure of the materials to impart excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. Heterostructures can modulate electronic behavior through interface construction to optimize materials properties for superior OER performance. In this paper, we created abundant Co3O4/CeO2 phase interfaces to tune the grain size, the electronic con-figuration of cobalt sites, and the content of oxygen defects in Co3O4, which increases the number of active sites, enhances the electronic conductivity of the material, and optimized the adsorption energy for reaction intermediates. Moreover, the assembly of nanograins into nanoflowers with a three-dimensional hier-archical pore structure can provide more effective active sites, abundant pores and channels for mass transport, and discrete cavities for in-depth reactions of intermediates. The construction of Co3O4/CeO2 heterostructure nanoflowers (CoCe HNFs) contributes to the excellent OER performance of the catalyst. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Recent progress of hollow structure platform in assisting oxygen evolution reaction

Hydrogen production by water electrolysis has received extensive attention, mainly due to the fact that the process does not emit carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Whereas, the kinetic process of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is very sluggish due to the four-electron proton coupling mechanism, which seriously affects the hydrogen production efficiency. The development and use of high-performance oxygen evolution electrocatalysts is an important way to improve the kinetics of OER processes. As an electrocatalyst platform, the hollow structure exhibits unique advantages in assisting the OER process. This review summarizes and discusses the advantages and disadvantages and improvement strategies of hollow structures, construction strategies, types of hollow structures and synthetic methods as well as unique advantages in facilitating the OER process. We focus on the role of hollow materials with different compositions and morphologies in promoting the OER reaction. In addition, this review also discusses the problems and challenges of hollow structure fabrics, and discusses the corresponding solution strategies and future development directions