Effects of electroacupuncture on the correlation between serum and central immunity in AD model animals

Objective. The goal was to investigate the connection between neuroinflammation in the brain and serum inflammatory markers as Alzheimer's disease progressed. We also sought to determine whether electroacupuncture had an effect on inflammatory markers found in blood and other brain regions. Methods. As an animal model for AD, we used senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. To examine the effects and probable mechanism of electroacupuncture, we used HE staining, immunofluorescence staining, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. Electroacupuncture therapy protected neurons, significantly downregulated the Iba-1 level in the hippocampus (p value was 0.003), frontal lobe cortex (p value was 0.042), and temporal lobe cortex (p value was 0.013) of the AD animal model, all of which had significantly lower levels of IL-6 (p value was 0.001), IL-1β (p value was 0.001), and TNF-α (p value was 0.001) in their serum. Conclusion. The amounts of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α detected in the serum were strongly linked to the levels discovered in the hippocampus and the frontal lobes of the brain, respectively. A better understanding of the electroacupuncture process as well as the course of Alzheimer's disease and the therapeutic benefits of electroacupuncture may be gained by using biomarkers such as serum inflammatory marker biomarkers

3-Hydroxyphthalic Anhydride- Modified Rabbit Anti-PAP IgG as a Potential Bifunctional HIV-1 Entry Inhibitor

Several studies have reported that amyloid fibrils in human semen formed from a naturally occurring peptide fragment of prostatic acidic phosphatase (PAP248-286), known as semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI), could dramatically enhance human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Accordingly, SEVI might serve as a novel target for new antiviral drugs or microbicide candidates for the prevention of sexually transmitted HIV. Theoretically, a special anti-PAP or anti-SEVI antibody could reduce the enhancement of viral infection by blocking the binding of HIV and SEVI fibrils. Here, 3-hydroxyphthalic anhydride modified anti-PAP248-286 antibody, named HP-API, exhibited broad-spectrum and highly effective anti-HIV-1 activities on different subtypes and tropism. By using time-of-addition, cell–cell fusion and a single-cycle HIV-1 infection assays, we demonstrated that HP-API is an HIV-1 entry/fusion inhibitor. Mechanism studies suggest that HP-API inhibited HIV-1 entry/fusion by targeting both HIV-1 gp120 envelop and CD4 receptor on the host cell specifically. It is noteworthy that HP-API abrogated the formation of SEVI fibrils and partially interfered with SEVI-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection. Based on these findings, HP-API could be considered a bifunctional HIV-1 entry/fusion inhibitor with high potential

The Mixing Counterion Effect on DNA Compaction and Charge Neutralization at Low Ionic Strength

DNA compaction and charge neutralization in a mixing counterion solution involves competitive and cooperative electrostatic binding, and sometimes counterion complexation. At normal ionic strength, it has been found that the charge neutralization of DNA by the multivalent counterion is suppressed when being added extra mono- and di-valent counterions. Here, we explore the effect mixing counterion on DNA compaction and charge neutralization under the condition of low ionic strength. Being quite different from normal ionic strength, the electrophoretic mobility of DNA in multivalent counterion solution (octalysine, spermine) increases the presence of mono- and di-valent cations, such as sodium and magnesium ions. It means that the charge neutralization of DNA by the multivalent counterion is promoted rather than suppressed when introducing extra mono- and di-valent counterions into solution. This conclusion is also supported by the measurement of condensing and unraveling forces of DNA condensates under the same condition by single molecular magnetic tweezers. This mixing effect can be attributed to the cooperative electrostatic binding of counterions to DNA when the concentration of counterions in solution is below a critical concentration

The Hotspots and Frontier Trends of Artificial Intelligence in the Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Bibliometric Analysis of the Past 20 Years

Background Currently, the number of research papers on the application of artificial intelligence to the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has increased significantly. It is important to clarify the latest research hotspots and future development trends in this field. Objective To summarize the relevant research on the application of artificial intelligence to AD through bibliometric analysis, and clarify the research hotspots and trends from 2004 to 2023. Methods Literature on the application of artificial intelligence to AD from January 2004 to June 2023 was searched for in the Web of Science core database, and Microsoft Office Excel, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer software were used to visually analyze the number of publications, countries, authors, institutions, keywords, and co-citation networks of the literature. Results Ultimately 3 189 articles were included. The number of literature on the application of artificial intelligence to AD has steadily increased since 2004 and has grown rapidly since 2015, with a maximum of over 600 articles. A total of 94 countries, 3 930 institutions, 13 563 authors, and 52 019 cited authors participated in this study. Among them, the United States and China were in a leading position in this field; Republic of Korea universities ranked first in terms of the number of publications; In addition, ZHANG DAOQIANG, LIU MINGXIA, SUK HEUNG-IL, and CLIFFORD R. JACK Jr were not only prolific authors but also the authors with the most citations. The visualization analysis of keywords and literature citations revealed that regarding the application of artificial intelligence to AD, the diagnosis and disease course classification of AD, as well as the prediction of its risk factors, are current research hotspots and that task analysis are future research trends. Conclusion The application of artificial intelligence to AD has attracted widespread attention from researchers worldwide. The diagnosis and classification of AD, as well as the prediction of its risk factors, are current research hotspots. Developing adjunctive drugs in task analysis, personalized treatment and care, and improving the algorithm performance of artificial intelligence may be research trends in the future

Free Radical Scavenging Effect and Immunomodulatory Activity of Total Saponins Extract of Ginseng Fibrous Roots

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey) is known for its rich saponin compounds and tonic effects. To better utilize the medicinal value of ginseng, this study investigated the extraction process, components, free radical scavenging ability, and immunomodulatory activity of total saponins of ginseng fibrous roots. The response surface methodology was employed to optimize the extraction process of total saponins, and Q-Orbitrap high-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to identify the chemical constituents in the total saponins extract of ginseng fibrous roots (GRS). The results showed that the optimal extraction process was achieved with an ethanol concentration of 68%, a material–solvent ratio of 1:25 mL/g, and an extraction time of 20 min, yielding a total saponin content of 6.34% under these conditions. The extract contained four terpenoid compounds and four polyphenolic compounds. GRS exhibited considerable scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals, with IC50 values of 0.893 and 0.210 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, GRS restored immune suppression in mice by increasing white blood cell, red blood cell, and neutrophil counts, and improving the lymphocyte. It also promoted immune system recovery, as evidenced by elevated serum levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β in mice. GRS is a natural compound with promising potential for developing antioxidants and immunomodulatory foods

Objets numériques d’apprentissage et le développement des habilités spatiales: une étude de cas à la sixième année de l’enseignement primaire

Este trabalho aborda o estudo do desenvolvimento de habilidades espaciais, como rotação mental, percepção espacial e visualização espacial, utilizando-se de objetos digitais de aprendizagem nos alunos do Ensino Fundamental. Foi realizada uma experiência com alunos do sexto ano do Ensino Fundamental, com idades entre 10 e 12 anos, que ainda não tinham sido expostos a situações de manipulação de objetos espaciais. Esta experiência consistia em uma sequência didática, que integrou atividades com manipulação de determinados objetos digitais desenvolvidos pelo Freudenthal Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (Universiteit Utrecht) e atividades realizadas sem a manipulação destes objetos. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi verificar como os objetos digitais de aprendizagem selecionados auxiliam o aluno a desenvolver habilidades espaciais. Mostramos, com base na análise da experiência, à luz da teoria de Voyer, Voyer e Bryden (1995), Fischbein (1993), Grande (1994) e Gutiérrez (1991), que as três categorias de habilidades espaciais foram exploradas e desenvolvidas nestes alunos, a partir da elaboração de uma sequência didática organizada e da interação dos alunos com as atividades propostas. Desta forma, observamos que é possível iniciar um trabalho de desenvolvimento destas habilidades ainda no Ensino Fundamental.This work broaches the development study of spatial skills such as mental rotation, spatial perception and spatial visualization, using learning digital objects elementary-school-students. An experience was accomplished with 6th grade-elementary-school-students aged 10 to 12 years old, who had never been shown with situations of spatial objects manipulation. This experience consists in a didatics sequence that integrated activities with manipulation of certain digital objects developed by Freudenthal Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (Universiteit Utrecht) and activities done without the manipulation of these objects. The aim ot this search was to go into how selected learning digital objects support the students to develop spatial skills. We presented, based on the experience analysis, coming to light the theory of Voyer, Voyer e Bryden (1995), Fischbein (1993), Grande (1994) e Gutiérrez (1991) that the three categories of spatial skills were explored and developed with these students, from the elaboration of a organized didatics sequence and form the interaction of the students with the porposed activities. That way, we observed it is possible to start a development work of these skills yet in elementary school.Ce travail porte sur l’étude du développement des habilités spatiales comme rotation mentale, perception spatiale et visualisation spatiale à partir de l’utilisation des objets d’apprentissage numériques chez les apprenants de l’Enseignement primaire. Une expérience a été réalisée avec des apprenants de la sixième année, agée de 10 à 12 ans, qui n’avaient pas encore été exposés à des situations de manipulation des objets spatiaux. Cette expérience consiste en une séquence didactique qui a intégré des activités avec la manipulation de certains objets numériques développés par par Freudenthal Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (Universiteit Utrecht) et des activités réalisées sans la manipulation de ces objets. Le but de cette recherche a été de vérifier comment les objets numériques d’apprentissage sélectionnés peuvent aider l’apprenant à développer des habilités spatiales. Nous avons montré, à partir de l’analyse de cette expérience, à la lumière de la théorie de Voyer, Voyer e Bryden (1995), Fischbein (1993), Grande (1994) et Gutiérrez (1991), que les trois catégories d’habilités spatiales ont été exploitées et développés chez ces apprenants, à partir de l’élaboration d’une séquence didactique organisée et d’interaction des apprenants avec les activités proposées. De cette façon, nous avons pu observer qu’il est possible de commencer un travail de développement de ces habilités même à l’Enseignement primaire