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• Designed a self-powered intelligent sensing system (IGS) for real-time monitoring of human movement steps and pace. • IGS can be used in sports scenarios such as triple jump or hurdle races that require pressure sensing monitoring. • P(AM-MA)-PEI hydrogels exhibit excellent stretchability (>800 %) and conductive recoverability. • DES-TENG demonstrates excellent contact sensing performance in terms of high frequency, high pressure, and durability. With the continuous development of intelligent wearable devices, new requirements are put forward for the collection of human motion information. In this paper, a self-powered motion sensor with high precision, high stability and high output power was prepared by utilizing the flexibility and stretchability of the conductive hydrogel and combining with the nanogenerator. Even at a contact frequency of 3.0 Hz, the sensor can produce an open circuit voltage of 225 V and a power density of 187 mW m−2. It can not only be used as a power source to drive electronic devices, but also to achieve accurate acquisition of human movement steps and walking speed. When applying different forces, the sensor shows a more obvious difference, and its theoretical resolution can reach 0.1 N. Because the hinge hydrogel has good flexibility, resilience and stability, it can still maintain its original shape after 4000 times of pressure testing, and can be directly attached to the human skin surface, providing a new idea for the field of self-powered pressure sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinically, the coadministration of opioids to enhance antinociception and decrease tolerance has attracted increasing research attention. We investigated the effects of dezocine, a mu- and kappa-opioid receptor agonist/antagonist, on morphine tolerance and explored the involvement of opioid receptor expression in a rat model of bone cancer pain.Methods: Thermal nociceptive thresholds were measured after the subcutaneous injection of morphine (10 mg/kg) alone or combined with dezocine (10 or 1 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. Real-time PCR and western blot analysis were used to examine opioid receptor expression in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and spinal cord.Results: The analgesic effect was significantly decreased after 4 days of morphine administration. We observed that low-dose dezocine significantly attenuated morphine tolerance without reducing the analgesic effect of morphine. Low-dose dezocine coadministration significantly reversed the downregulated expression of mu (MOR) and delta (DOR) opioid receptors in the PAG and the upregulated expression of kappa (KOR) and DOR in the spinal cord induced by morphine. Moreover, low-dose dezocine coadministered with morphine significantly inhibited KOR expression in both the PAG and spinal cord.Conclusions: The combination of low-dose dezocine with morphine may prevent or delay the development of morphine tolerance in a rat model of bone cancer pain. The regulation of opioid receptor expression in the PAG and spinal cord may be part of the mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current studies have indicated that donepezil as a cholinesterase inhibitor can attenuate morphine-induced tolerance. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible role of N -methyl- d -aspartate receptors (NMDARs), protein kinase C (PKC) and CaM-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) pathways in this effect. Female Wistar rats received daily morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) alone or in combination with donepezil (1.5 or 2 mg/kg, gavaged) for 14 days. The analgesic effect was assessed by Von-frey, hotplate and tail flick test. On the 15th day, the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and lumbar spinal cord of rats were dissected. Then, protein levels of NMDAR-NR1, NR2B, PKCγ and CaMKIIα were tested using Western blot method. The results showed that morphine tolerance was seen after 8–10 days of injection compared with control group, while daily co-administration of donepezil with morphine prolonged the occurrence of analgesic tolerance. Western blot showed that morphine significantly increased NR1, PKCγ and CaMKIIα expressions in PAG, and significantly increased PKCγ and CaMKIIα in spinal cord. In contrast, donepezil downregulated NR1 and PKCγ in PAG, and downregulated PKCγ and CaMKIIα in spinal cord. Moreover, donepezil alone activates NR1 and NR2B in spinal cord, which needs to be further studied. Thus, the present results suggest that the attenuation effects of donepezil on morphine tolerance are possibly mediated by preventing morphine-induced upregulations in NR1, PKCγ and CaMKIIα expressions. • Donepezil inhibits morphine-induced NR1 and PKCγ upregulation in PAG. • Donepezil inhibits morphine-induced PKCγ and CaMKIIα upregulation in spinal cord. • Donepezil alone activates NR1 and NR2B in spinal cord, which needs to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain‑containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a critical component of the innate immune system. It has been known to play an important role in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of breast cancer patients. While the clinical evidence of the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome activation and long-term survival is still limited, the possible roles of parenchymal or immune-stromal cells of breast cancer tissues in contributing to such carcinogenesis and progression still need to be clarified. This study is an analysis of patients receiving breast cancer surgery in a previous clinical trial. Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway-related proteins, including NLRP3, caspase-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), IL-1β, and IL-18, in parenchymal and immune-stromal cells of breast cancer tissues compared to those of adjacent normal tissues, respectively. The relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome expression and clinicopathological characteristics, as well as 5-year survivals were analyzed using the Chi-square test, Kaplan–Meier survival curves, and Cox regression analysis. Results: In the parenchymal cells, ASC and IL-18 protein levels were significantly up-regulated in breast cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05). In the immune-stromal cells, all the five NLRP3 inflammasome pathway-related proteins were significantly elevated in breast cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.05). Carcinoma cell embolus was found to significantly correlate with high NLRP3 expression in parenchymal cells of the tumor (x2=4.592, P=0.032), while the expression of caspase-1 was negatively correlated with tumor progression. Histological grades were found to have a positive correlation with IL-18 expression in immune-stromal cells of the tumor (x2=14.808, P=0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that high IL-18 expression in the immune-stromal cells and the positive carcinoma cell embolus were both associated with poor survival (P < 0.05). The multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model implied that the high IL-18 expression and positive carcinoma cell embolus were both independent risk factors for unfavorable prognosis. Conclusions: The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathways in immune-stromal and tumor parenchymal cells in the innate immune system was not isotropic and the main functions are somewhat different in breast cancer patients. Caspase-1 in parenchymal cells of the tumor was negatively correlated with tumor progression, and upregulation of IL-18 in immune-stromal cells of breast cancer tissues is a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential immunotherapy target. Trial registration: This clinical trial has been registered at the Chictr.org.cn registry system on 21/08/2018 (ChiCTR1800017910) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor antagonists have been commonly used to reduce propofol injection pain. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 5-HT receptor antagonists in decreasing the incidence and intensity of propofol injection pain. Methods: Online databases of Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched as well as reference lists of included studies and recent reviews. Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy and safety of 5-HT receptor antagonists for propofol injection pain were identified. The outcomes included the incidence and intensity of propofol injection pain and adverse effects. We calculated risk ratios (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous data and adopted fixed or random-effects model when proper. Results: A total of eight RCTs were included in the final analysis. Compared with the control group, 5-HT receptor antagonists were related to a decreasing incidence of propofol injection pain (RR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.33-0.56, P < 0.05). Besides, they also effectively alleviated the severity of propofol injection pain. They significantly reduced the number of patients with moderate (RR 0.21, 95 % CI 0.15-0.30, P < 0.05) and severe pain (RR 0.16, 95 % CI 0.10-0.25, P < 0.05) during propofol injection. 5-HT receptor antagonists and lidocaine were equally effective in preventing propofol injection pain. Moreover, only one article mentioned the adverse effects of 5-HT receptor antagonists in two patients. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that 5-HT receptor antagonists can effectively reduce the incidence and severity of propofol injection pain. Additionally, 5-HT receptor antagonists may become the alternatives to lidocaine in attenuating propofol injection pain. However, evidence is still limited for the safety of 5-HT receptor antagonists on propofol injection pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two polymer-Hemin composites, AB type block copolymer (PStCH- b -P4VP): Hemin and homopolymer of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP): Hemin, can be fabricated into sandwich memory devices. The memory device characteristics of the PStCH- b -P4VP: Hemin blends can show Flash memory behavior, while the P4VP polymer with Hemin only shows write-once-read-many-times (WORM) performance. Charge transfer and nanocomposite redox are probably responsible for the conductance-switching behavior. The results of cyclic voltammogram (CV) measurement indicate that the reversible Fe III /Fe II redox reaction is preserved well in the composite PStCH- b -P4VP: Hemin, while only polymer oxidation is observed in the P4VP: Hemin system. Due to the hindrance of StCH moiety, the coordination of pyridine and Fe II can keep the Fe II active. The P4VP has a more flexible chain that saturates the Fe II center and results in stable coordination; Fe III /Fe II redox reaction is therefore an obstacle. By tuning the coordination surroundings of the metal ion, different memory types can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]