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Patients with neuropathic pain often experience comorbid psychiatric disorders. Cellular plasticity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is assumed to be a critical interface for pain perception and emotion. However, substantial efforts have thus far been focused on the intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than the extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Laminin, a key element of the extracellular matrix (ECM), consists of one [alpha]-, one [beta]-, and one [gamma]-chain and is implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed in mice that laminin [beta]1 (LAMB1) in the ACC was significantly downregulated upon peripheral neuropathy. Knockdown of LAMB1 in the ACC exacerbated pain sensitivity and induced anxiety and depression. Mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of LAMB1 caused actin dysregulation via interaction with integrin [beta]1 and the subsequent Src-dependent RhoA/LIMK/cofilin pathway, leading to increased presynaptic transmitter release probability and abnormal postsynaptic spine remodeling, which in turn orchestrated the structural and functional plasticity of pyramidal neurons and eventually resulted in pain hypersensitivity and anxiodepression. This study sheds new light on the functional capability of ECM LAMB1 in modulating pain plasticity and identifies a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified cingulate LAMB1/integrin [beta]1 signaling as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and associated anxiodepression., Introduction Neuropathic pain is frequently comorbid with psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, rendering it more resistant to classical treatment (1-4). In particular, aberrant psychiatric conditions may lead to [...]

PPG-5-CETETH-20 is a multifunctional raw material. It has a wide range of application in skin care and hair care products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of PPG-5-CETETH-20 in shampoos and conditioners. The results showed that, PPG-5-CETETH-20 could improve the combability, softness and smoothness of hair. In additional, it could improve foam stability and fine bubbles therein, without any influence on the transparency of the products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many indexes have been demonstrated to evaluate the lodging resistance of rice, but most of them are complex or not representative. Thus, we propose a simple and low-cost index, called relative culm wall thickness (RCWT), which can be calculated as the ratio of the basal internode wall thickness to its diameter, to measure the lodging characteristics of rice. A field experiment with 20 indica hybrid rice varieties was conducted in Dayi, Sichuan, China, in 2017 and 2018. The results show that RCWT was significantly negatively correlated with the lodging index, visual lodging rate, plant inclination angle, and bending moment, while it was significantly positively correlated with culm wall thickness, breaking resistance, cellulose, and lignin. Compared with the middle and low RCWT types, the high RCWT type had a lower plant height and center of gravity. Meanwhile, the short basal internodes, thick culm wall thickness, and small pith diameter increased the fullness of the stem, which increased the content of cellulose and lignin in the stem, and thus enhanced the bending resistance and decreased lodging index of the stem. These results indicate that the RCWT can be used as an important index to evaluate the lodging resistance of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital left ventricular diverticulum (CL.koVD) refers to a localized cystic protrusion of the ventricular wall that interacts with the heart cavities through a narrow channel and is a rare heart malformation. In recent years, many cases of this disease involving infants and children have been reported, while few cases involving adults have been described. The case of an adult with CLVD who underwent successful surgery was retrospectively evaluated. The echocardiography examination indicated that the apical myocardium of the left ventricle was thin and bulging outward and that the contractile movement was significantly reduced. During the surgery, it was observed that the left ventricle was enlarged, and a left ventricular diverticulum structure was observed on the left side of the apex. A bovine pericardial patch of the corresponding size was used to continuously suture and repair the internal orifice of the diverticulum. The postoperative pathology revealed that the resected sample was composed of full myocardial tissue. This report focused on the imaging characteristics of left ventricular diverticula to improve the understanding of CLVD. With its simple, economical, and noninvasive characteristics, echocardiography presents the best option for diagnosing a ventricular diverticulum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have tested the influence of climatic factors on yields by adjusting sowing dates at both low and high altitudes. We investigated the influence of the synergistic effects of temperature and solar radiation by conducting field experiments using different rice varieties and sowing dates in the low-altitude plains of Chongzhou and the high-altitude mountainous region of Hanyuan, Sichuan Province, China, in 2017 and 2018. The results showed that from transplanting to maturity, biomass yield and grain yield were significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with the average daily temperature and solar radiation. The Hanyuan site experienced higher solar radiation and lower temperature than those of Chongzhou, which contributed to higher dry matter accumulation (DMA) and crop growth rate values pre- and post-anthesis and more panicles per m2, leading to higher biomass yields and grain yields at Hanyuan. The rice sowed earlier was subjected to higher solar radiation and lower temperature at Chongzhou and Hanyuan, resulting in increased DMA post-anthesis, panicles per m2, and spikelet filling, improving biomass yield and grain yield. These results indicate that the high potential yield from the early sowing date in the high-altitude region was primarily due to increased solar radiation and decreased temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated institutional and personal barriers to and facilitators of neonatal palliative care facing neonatal professionals in China. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire surveyed 231 neonatal clinicians employed in 5 neonatal intensive care units from 2 children's hospitals and 3 medical centers in China. Measurements: The translated modified version of the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale was used to survey neonatal clinicians' attitudes and beliefs regarding neonatal palliative care. Results: Findings highlight 4 facilitators and 5 barriers among participating clinicians. Participants gave contradictory responses regarding the relative importance of curative treatment versus palliative care in the NICU. Negatively traumatic feelings, cultural issues and moral distress may impact this contradictory response and discourage clinicians from providing neonatal palliative care. Additionally, neonatologists and nurses held differing attitudes on several topics (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Further research should address strategies to improve knowledge and attitudes and relieve moral distress in NICU clinicians. Neonatal clinicians providing neonatal palliative care should receive regular palliative care training addressing culture-specific issues and communication skills. Practice Implications: Study findings will be beneficial to inform clinical education and practice. Regular interdisciplinary team training is needed to enhance support for palliative care and decrease clinicians' moral distress during end-of-life care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Adrenomedullin (ADM) possesses therapeutic potential for inflammatory diseases. Consequently, the effects of ADM on inflammation in visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) of obese rats or in adipocytes were explored in this study.Methods: Male rats were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce obesity, and obese rats were implanted with osmotic minipumps providing constant infusion of ADM (300 ng/kg per hour) and continued to be fed a high-fat diet for 4 weeks.Results: When compared with the control group, endogenous protein expression of ADM and ADM receptors in vWAT and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated adipocytes was markedly increased. ADM significantly decreased the protein expression of the inflammatory mediators TNFα, IL-1β, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase in vWAT of obese rats and in adipocytes stimulated by LPS. It also inhibited the activation of the inflammatory signaling pathways MAPK and NF-κB induced by LPS in adipocytes. These effects of ADM in adipocytes were inhibited by the administration of ADM receptor antagonist and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activation inhibitor.Conclusions: ADM can inhibit inflammation in WAT in obesity, which may be mediated by the activation of ADM receptors and PKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]