Physical exercise: bulking up neurogenesis in human adults

Whether neurogenesis occurs in the adult human brain has been a long-debated topic fueled by conflicting data both for and against neurogenesis in the mature brain. Recent reports from two independent teams may have indubitably proven that adult, hippocampal neurogenesis persists throughout the human lifespan. Llorens-Martín et al. found that thousands of immature, neurogenesis related, doublecortin-positive (DCX+) labelled neurons can be detected in the human dentate gyrus (DG) up to the eighth decade of life. While the presence of these DCX+ neurons decrease with age, they are significantly decrease in patient with Alzheimer’s disease. Another group have also found mammalian embryonic Hopx+ precursors to persist beyond the early development stage as quiescent Hopx+ radial glial-like neural progenitors during early postnatal period, then as Hopx+ adult dentate neural progenitors. Together, the findings from these two groups suggest that unlike the previously thought, neurogenesis and neuroplasticity can occur well into adulthood in some capacity, at least in the hippocampus. These recent findings that neurogenesis can occur beyond development have brought into questions whether physical exercise can be shown to promote neurogenesis and brain health, as it has been shown to promote the function of other organ systems. Some data has already shown physical exercise to induce adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) as demonstrated by restoration of cognitive functions, improvement of synaptic plasticity, and enhancement of angiogenesis. A large-scale meta-analysis has also demonstrated that 45–60 min of moderate-intensity physical exercise to dramatically improve cognitive functions in human subjects over the age of 50. Given these convergent developments in our understanding of neurogenesis and exercise induced improvement in cognitive function, we speculate that hippocampal neurogenesis can be promoted by physical exercise and discuss the current molecular evidence supporting the likely molecular pathways involved

Cloud-based approach for smart product personalization

The advancement of information communication technologies(ICT) has begun to change both industrial and consumer products towards ones with attributes of smartness and servitization. Nevertheless, smart features and deep integration with smart environment tend to complicate the effort for the provision of personalized products. To solve this problem, this paper puts forward a Smart Service Products (SSP) model comprising smart environment-enabled features and services-enabled smartness, apart from its own physical capability and functionality. A cloud-based framework for SSP personalization is proposed to enable the supply of personalized SSP with short lead-time and mass efficiency. Hence, a real case is implemented to validate the approach.NRF (Natl Research Foundation, S’pore)Published versio

Expression of PHB2 in Rat Brain Cortex Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Prohibitin2 (PHB2) is a ubiquitous, evolutionarily strongly conserved protein. It is one of the components of the prohibitin complex, which comprises two highly homologous subunits, PHB1 and PHB2. PHB2 is present in various cellular compartments including the nucleus and mitochondria. Recent studies have identified PHB2 as a multifunctional protein that controls cell proliferation, apoptosis, cristae morphogenesis and the functional integrity of mitochondria. However its distribution and function in the central nervous system (CNS) are not well understood. In this study, we examined PHB2 expression and cellular localization in rats after acute traumatic brain injury (TBI). Western Blot analysis showed PHB2 level was significantly enhanced at five days after injury compared to control, and then declined during the following days. The protein expression of PHB2 was further analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In comparison to contralateral cerebral cortex, we observed a highly significant accumulation of PHB2 at the ipsilateral brain. Immunofluorescence double-labeling showed that PHB2 was co-expressed with NeuN, GFAP. Besides, PHB2 also colocalized with activated caspase-3 and PCNA. To further investigate the function of PHB2, primary cultured astrocytes and the neuronal cell line PC12 were employed to establish a proliferation model and an apoptosis model, respectively, to simulate the cell activity after TBI to a certain degree. Knocking down PHB2 by siRNA partly increased the apoptosis level of PC12 stimulated by H2O2. While the PHB2 was interrupted by siRNA, the proliferation level of primary cultured astrocytes was inhibited notably than that in the control group. Together with our data, we hypothesized that PHB2 might play an important role in CNS pathophysiology after TBI

Correlation between classical transient receptor potential channel 1 gene polymorphism and microalbuminuria in patients with primary hypertension

Objective: To investigate the correlation between transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1) gene polymorphism and microalbuminuria in patients with primary hypertension. Methods: A total of 468 patients with primary hypertension were admitted to the Department of Hypertension of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from April 2015 to November 2017. According to microalbuminuria, the patients were divided into two groups: high urinary albumin group (EH+mALB group, n = 71) and normal urinary microalbuminuria group (EH group, n = 397). The Sequenom detection technology was used for genotyping the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites of the TRPC1 gene, such as rs1382688, rs3821647, rs7638459, rs953239, and rs7621642. Results: (1) No significant differences were detected in gender, smoking history, drinking history, family history, course of hypertension, fasting blood glucose, urea, creatinine, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, vitamin D, homocysteine, and cystatin C between the two groups (P > .05). However, age, body mass index (BMI), 24-h mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and 24-h average pulse pressure were statistically significant (P  .05), while the genotype, allele, and recessive model of rs7638459 differed significantly difference (P < .05). (3) Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and rs7638459 CC genotype were the risk factors of increased microalbuminuria in patients with primary hypertension. Conclusion: TRPC1 gene polymorphism is associated with increased microalbuminuria in patients with primary hypertension. The CC genotype of rs7638459 may increase the risk of microalbuminuria in patients with essential hypertension, while BMI and rs7638459 CC genotype may be the risk factors of increased microalbuminuria in patients with primary hypertension

Association of glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphism and occupational stress with hypertension in desert petroleum workers in Xinjiang, China

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational stress and hypertension in desert petroleum workers in Xinjiang, and to analyze the association of occupational stress and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene polymorphism with the presence of hypertension. Methods Using cluster sampling, 1280 desert petroleum workers of 3 petroleum fields in Xinjiang Karamay were randomly selected as the target group for this study. According to the inclusion criteria, a total of 1080 workers were included as the baseline for this study. We followed these workers for 2 years to investigate their occupational stress and hypertension. The polymorphism of GR gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. We applied appropriate statistical methods to analyze the association of occupational stress and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene polymorphism with the presence of hypertension. Results After 2 years of follow-up, there were 995 desert petroleum workers in the queue. The study showed that the incidence of hypertension in desert petroleum workers were 19.4%. Compared with the baseline data, the level of occupational stress increased, and with the increase of occupational stress, the incidence of hypertension was gradually increasing. A positive relationship was observed in the GR BCL1 gene polymorphisms and hypertension. Relative to the CC genotype, carries of the GG genotype had a significantly higher risk of hypertension (OR = 2.830). With the combination of genotype CG and GG, carries of CG and GG increased the risk of hypertension (adjusted OR = 2.238, 95%CI:1.104–4.940). There was no significant association between GR G678S gene polymorphisms and hypertension. Conclusion GR gene polymorphism and occupational stress of desert petroleum workers were important risk factors for hypertension

Nocturnal diastolic blood pressure decline is associated with higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and standing plasma renin activity in a hypertensive population

Patients with nondipper hypertension are known to carry a high risk of cardiovascular complications. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with hypertension. Because vitamin D deficiency activates the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), we hypothesized that this vitamin would interact with the RAAS to influence blood pressure (BP) in nondipper hypertensive patients. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 1,007 outpatients with hypertension (HTN). Dipper and nondipper patterns were detected, and the two groups were matched for clinical, laboratory, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels, and ambulatory blood pressure recording. Plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin II, and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were assessed in 174 patients treated with calcium channel blockers or no medication. The mean 25OHD concentration in the entire study population was 12.3ng/dL, and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 87.0%. Dipper and nondipper HTN were noted in 187 patients (24.6%) and 573 patients (75.4%). 25OHD levels were similar between nondipper and dipper HTN groups. Forward stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and age were independent predictors of nondipper HTN. Neither 25OHD levels nor RAAS components were included in the model. In correlation analyses, nocturnal decline of diastolic BP was positively associated with 25OHD levels and standing PRA (r = 0.152 p = 0.045, r = 0.165 p = 0.038, respectively). The present study showed that vitamin D deficiency was astonishingly prevalent in hypertensive subjects residing in Xinjiang, China. There may be a weakly association of nocturnal DBP decline with 25OHD levels and standing PRA levels. We found no association between vitamin D deficiency and nondipper HTN

Analysis of Occupational Stress and Its Relationship with Secretory Immunoglobulin A in the Xinjiang Plateau Young Military Recruits

Background. With the continuous improvement of the modernization of the Chinese military and the major adjustments made by the state to the recruitment policy, the newly recruited military undergone multiple pressures such as targeted high-intensity military training and environmental changes. The mental health of military has become a crucial factor of improving the fighting capacity effectiveness of the troops. Objectives. To explore occupational stress of young recruits in the Xinjiang plateau environment during their basic military training period and analyze the relationship between occupational stress and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels. Methods. Using multistage stratified cluster random sampling, 625 recruits stationed at Xinjiang plateau command in 2014 were enrolled as subjects. Occupational stress was assessed by the Occupational Stress Inventory Revised Edition (OSI-R). sIgA in saliva was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, and correlation analysis. Results. Based on demographic characteristics, occupational stress was higher in the urban group than the rural group, coping ability for stress was greater in individuals who were students before joining the army than nonstudents, occupational stress was higher in smokers than nonsmokers, and coping ability for stress was higher in nonsmokers than in smokers (all P0.05). Salivary sIgA level was higher in the high occupational stress group than in the low stress group (P<0.01). Salivary sIgA was positively correlated with scores on the occupational role and personal strain questionnaires (rs=0.229, rs=0.268, P<0.01). Conclusion. Demographic characteristics influenced occupational stress among young recruits in cold and high-altitude area. Further, there were some relationships between occupational stress and salivary sIgA in young military recruits

Evaluation of tumor markers for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ascites

Introduction. The diagnosis of malignant ascites is a challenging problem in clinical practice, non-invasive techniques should be developed to improve diagnostic accuracy. The diagnostic performances of tumor markers in malignant ascites remained unsettled. Our aim was to evaluate diagnostic performance of tumor markers in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ascites.Material and methods. A total of 437 patients were enrolled, and the relevant parameters of the patients were analyzed for the differentiation of benign ascites from malignant ascites.Results. At the predetermined cutoff values of tumor makers, tumor markers in ascitic fluid showed better diagnostic performance than those in serum. Combined use of tumor markers and the cytology increased the diagnostic yield of the latter by 37%. In cytologically negative malignant ascites, tumor markers provided assistance in differentiating malignant ascites from benign ascites, and the combination of ascitic tumor markers yielded 86% sensitivity, 97% specificity.Conclusion. Use of a panel of tumor markers exhibited excellent diagnostic performance in diagnosing malignant ascites, which indicated the detection of tumor markers may represent a beneficial adjunct to cytology, thus guiding the selection of patients who might benefit from further invasive procedures

Crystallization behavior and kinetics of calcium carbonate in highly alkaline and supersaturated system

In causticization process of Na2CO3-Ca(OH)(2), which is a liquid-solid system with high alkalinity and supersaturation, agglomeration and morphology instability of CaCO3 crystal have greatly limited its application. To deeply investigate the internal relations between crystallization process and condition control in this system, crystallization kinetics was conducted in a continuously operated crystallizer. The kinetic equations of growth rate, nucleation rate and agglomeration kernel were correlated in terms of power law kinetic expressions based on the agglomeration population balance equation. Magma density and mean residence time exert a considerable effect on crystal growth, nucleation, and agglomeration. Crystal growth and nucleation are surface-integration-limited and size-limited, respectively. Agglomeration increases with increasing mean residence time, but the increase in magma density break down the agglomerates by frequent and energetic collisions. Through the study, crystallization behavior of CaCO3 in causticization system was revealed, and the particle size and morphology were efficiently predicted and controlled. These results can provide a basis for understanding the design of the reactor. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved