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The transmission of nociceptive and pruriceptive signals in the spinal cord is greatly influenced by descending modulation from brain areas such as the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Within the RVM three classes of neurons have been discovered which are relevant to spinal pain modulation, the On, Off, and Neutral cells. These neurons were discovered due to their functional response to nociceptive stimulation. On cells are excited, Off cells are inhibited, and Neutral cells have no response to noxious stimulation. Since these neurons are identified by functional response characteristics it has been difficult to molecularly identify them. In the present study, we leverage our ability to perform optotagging within the RVM to determine whether RVM On, Off, and Neutral cells are GABAergic. We found that 27.27% of RVM On cells, 47.37% of RVM Off cells, and 42.6% of RVM Neutral cells were GABAergic. These results demonstrate that RVM On, Off, and Neutral cells represent a heterogeneous population of neurons and provide a reliable technique for the molecular identification of these neurons.

Current treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and neural injuries face major challenges, primarily due to the diminished regenerative capacity of neurons in the mammalian CNS as they mature. Here, we investigated the role of Ezh2, a histone methyltransferase, in regulating mammalian axon regeneration. We found that Ezh2 declined in the mouse nervous system during maturation but was upregulated in adult dorsal root ganglion neurons following peripheral nerve injury to facilitate spontaneous axon regeneration. In addition, overexpression of Ezh2 in retinal ganglion cells in the CNS promoted optic nerve regeneration via both histone methylation-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Further investigation revealed that Ezh2 fostered axon regeneration by orchestrating the transcriptional silencing of genes governing synaptic function and those inhibiting axon regeneration, while concurrently activating various factors that support axon regeneration. Notably, we demonstrated that GABA transporter 2, encoded by Slc6a13, acted downstream of Ezh2 to control axon regeneration. Overall, our study underscores the potential of modulating chromatin accessibility as a promising strategy for promoting CNS axon regeneration., Introduction Axon degeneration and neuronal cell death are common consequences of neurodegenerative diseases and neural injuries. Unfortunately, current clinical therapeutics for neural injuries and neurodegenerative diseases still fall short of [...]

Almond oil is a functional vegetable oil obtained from apricot kernel by pressing, extracting and other technologies, which has the effects of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-tumor and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, the extraction process, nutritional composition and health effect of almond oil were summarized, and the future development tendency of almond oil was prospected.

Abstract This study investigated the cognition, information behaviors and preventive behaviors of Taiwanese citizens in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was administered and 610 valid responses were collected. The relationships between demographic variables and optimistic bias, social trust, information credibility, personal protective measures, avoidance of human contact, and immune system strengthening were examined. Results showed that optimistic bias existed, but there was no significant correlation between optimistic bias and personal protective measures. Laypersons had high trust in the government, but also optimistic bias. Gender was the most important predictor; with occupation and region of residence also interacting with different preventive behaviors. People in Taiwan may be overly optimistic in facing the epidemic; relevant information should be properly disclosed to help reduce this bias. Social trust in the government seems to be an important successful factor in the fight against COVID-19 in Taiwan.

Early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are at substantial risk of poor prognosis. We attempted to develop a reliable metabolic gene-set-based signature that can predict prognosis accurately for early-stage patients. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method Cox regression models were performed to filter the most useful prognostic genes, and a metabolic gene-set-based signature was constructed. Forty-two metabolism-related genes were finally identified, and with specific risk score formula, patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups. Overall survival was significantly different between the two groups in discovery (HR: 5.050, 95% CI: 3.368–7.574, P < 0.001), internal validation series (HR: 6.044, 95% CI: 3.918–9.322, P < 0.001), GSE30219 (HR: 2.059, 95% CI: 1.510–2.808, P < 0.001), and GSE68456 (HR: 2.448, 95% CI: 1.723–3.477, P < 0.001). Survival receiver operating characteristic curve at the 5 years suggested that the metabolic signature (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.805) had better prognostic accuracy than any other clinicopathological factors. Further analysis revealed the distinct differences in immune cell infiltration and tumor purity reflected by an immune and stromal score between high- and low-risk patients. In conclusion, the novel metabolic signature developed in our study shows robust prognostic accuracy in predicting prognosis for early-stage NSCLC patients and may function as a reliable marker for guiding more effective immunotherapy strategies.

Global biodiversity conservation has recently focused on the roles of land management strategies of land sharing vs. land sparing. However, few studies have evaluated the roles of social and ecological interactions in modifying the effectiveness of land management for top predator conservation. Using a 65-year dataset from northeastern China, we evaluated the roles of government social policies in resolving human-wildlife conflicts and improving human livelihood. From 1998 to 2015, both big cat populations and their habitats have increased. Concurrently, regional human population density decreased by 59.6%, forest volume logged was reduced by 62.6%. Consequently, increases of key prey species were observed during the same periods. Although populations remained small, the annual finite rate of increase was 1.04 for the Amur tiger population and 1.08 for Amur leopards from 1999 to 2015. Habitat areas occupied by big cats increased significantly. Overexploitation of forest resources and big cat declines under previous unsustainable land use are progressively being reversed under land sparing. Large economic investment and intense human-relocation projects coupled with efforts to reduce poaching and illegal hunting and trapping demonstrate a complex social and ecological synergy in big cat conservation in China.

In this cross-sectional study of 1475 Chinese university students, we explored associated factors of attitude and willingness of biodiversity conservation, analyzed the hypothesized mediation by social support in the association between attitude and willingness of biodiversity conservation. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that major and social support were prominently related to both attitude and willingness of biodiversity conservation. Besides, path model identified a statistically significant mediation by social support, sex, race, and family residence presented noticeable effect modification on the mediation of social support. These major findings suggest that intervention measures which aiming at enhancing social support could be considered for elevating attitude and willingness of biodiversity conservation among Chinese university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human microbiome exhibits a profound connection with the cancer development, progression, and therapeutic response, with particular emphasis on its components of the mycobiome, which are still in the early stages of research. In this review, we comprehensively summarize cancer‐related symbiotic and pathogenic fungal genera. The intricate mechanisms through which fungi impact cancer as an integral member of both gut and tissue‐resident microbiomes are further discussed. In addition, we shed light on the pivotal physiological roles of various nutrients, including cholesterol, carbohydrates, proteins and minerals, in facilitating the growth, reproduction, and invasive pathogenesis of the fungi. While our exploration of the interplay between nutrients and cancer, mediated by the mycobiome, is ongoing, the current findings have yet to yield conclusive results. Thus, delving into the relationship between nutrients and fungal pathogenesis in cancer development and progression would provide valuable insights into anticancer therapy and foster precision nutrition and individualized treatments that target fungi from bench to bedside. Highlights: Symbiotic and pathogenic fungi are crucial in modulating various processes of cancer.Dietary nutrients play essential physiological roles in growth, reproduction, and invasive pathogenesis of fungi.The interactions between nutrients and fungi in cancer development provide valuable insights into the application of fungi‐targeted strategies in precision nutrition for cancer prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joint pain is the defining symptom of osteoarthritis (OA) but its origin and mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated an unprecedented role of osteoclast-initiated subchondral bone remodeling in sensory innervation for OA pain. We show that osteoclasts secrete netrin-1 to induce sensory nerve axonal growth in subchondral bone. Reduction of osteoclast formation by knockout of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (Rank!) in osteocytes inhibited the growth of sensory nerves into subchondral bone, dorsal root ganglion neuron hyperexcitability, and behavioral measures of pain hypersensitivity in OA mice. Moreover, we demonstrated a possible role for netrin-1 secreted by osteoclasts during aberrant subchondral bone remodeling in inducing sensory innervation and OA pain through its receptor DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer). Importantly, knockout of Netrin1 in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP- positive) osteoclasts or knockdown of Dcc reduces OA pain behavior. In particular, inhibition of osteoclast activity by alendronate modifies aberrant subchondral bone remodeling and reduces innervation and pain behavior at the early stage of OA. These results suggest that intervention of the axonal guidance molecules (e.g., netrin-1) derived from aberrant subchondral bone remodeling may have therapeutic potential for OA pain., Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common musculoskeletal disease in adults, and it is estimated that it will affect 78 million people by 2040 (1), leading to disability and reduced quality [...]

Through the evaluation of the rural tourism development conditions of typical villages in Qilian County, the rural tourism level of Qilian County is divided at the current stage, and it provides reference suggestions for the promotion of rural revitalization of rural tourism in Qilian County. Based on the two perspectives of tourism basic conditions and tourism participation, the index evaluation system is constructed, the hierarchical analysis method is used to calculate the weights of each indicator, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to calculate the rural tourism development condition level of 17 typical villages in Qilian County. The tourism development conditions of typical villages in Qilian County are generally good, and they are divided into 3 types, 2 excellent-level villages, 13 better-level villages, and 2 general-level villages. Among them, the score of infrastructure conditions is 1.665 to 2.212 points, the gap is small, and the difference in tourism participation status score is 1.103 to 1.935 points, and the gap is significant. The overall tourism development conditions of Qilian County are better and the future development potential is large; the tourism development conditions of its typical tourist villages show a decreasing distance trend with Zhuoershan-Amidongsuo as the core; the rural tourism service system in the county is gradually improved but the endogenous development capacity is weak, and it is appropriate to establish a development route according to the spatial layout and the classification of each village.