Search

Abstract Background and aim Previous observational investigations have indicated a potential association between relative dietary macronutrient intakes and atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF) risk. In this study, we employed Mendelian Randomization (MR) to evaluate the presence of causality and to elucidate the specific causal relationship. Methods We employed six, five, and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables for relative carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake, identified from a genome-wide association study that included 268,922 individuals of European descent. Furthermore, we acquired summary statistics for genome-wide association studies on AF from the FinnGen consortium, which involved 22,068 cases and 116,926 controls. To evaluate the causal estimates, we utilized the random effect inverse variance weighted method (IVW) and several other MR methods, including MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO, to confirm the robustness of our findings. Results Our analysis indicates a convincing causal relationship between genetically predicted relative carbohydrate and protein intake and reduced AF risk. Inverse variance weighted analysis results for carbohydrates (OR = 0.29; 95% CI (0.14, 0.59); P

BackgroundObservational studies have suggested a potential relationship between birthweight and telomere length. However, the causal link between these two parameters remains undefined. In this study, we use Mendelian Randomization (MR). This method employs genetic variants as instrumental variables, to explore the existence of causal associations and elucidate the causal relationship between birth weight and telomere length.MethodsWe used 35 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables for birth weight. These SNPs were identified from a meta-analysis involving 153,781 individuals. Furthermore, we obtained summary statistics for telomere length from a study conducted on 472,174 United Kingdom Biobank participants. To evaluate the causal estimates, we applied the random effect inverse variance weighted method (IVW) and several other MR methods, such as MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO, to verify the reliability of our findings.ResultsOur analysis supports a significant causal relationship between genetically predicted birth weight and telomer3e length. The inverse variance weighted analysis results for birth weight (Beta = 0.048; 95%CI = 0.023 to 0.073; p < 0.001) corroborate this association.ConclusionOur study provides robust evidence supporting a causal link between higher birth weight and longer telomere length.

Abstract Iron-carbon micro-electrolysis system is a promising method for promoting electron transfer in nitrate removal. However, many traditional approaches involving simple physical mixing inevitably suffered from the confined iron-carbon contact area and short validity period, leading to the overuse of iron. Here, a ceramsite-loaded microscale zero-valent iron (mZVI) and acidified carbon (AC) coupled-galvanic cell (CMC) was designed to support chemical, autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification. Long-term experiments were conducted to monitor the nitrogen removal performance of denitrification reactors filled with CMC and thus optimized the denitrification performance by improving fabrication parameters and various operating conditions. The denitrification contributions test showed that the chemical denitrification pathway contributed most to nitrate removal (57.3%), followed by autotrophic (24.6%) and heterotrophic denitrification pathways (18.1%). The microbial analysis confirmed the significant aggregation of related denitrifying bacteria in the reactors, while AC promoted the expression of relevant nitrogen metabolism genes because of accelerated uptake and utilization of iron complexes. Meanwhile, the electrochemical analysis revealed a significantly improved electron transfer capacity of AC compared to pristine carbon. Overall, our study demonstrated the application of a novel mZVI-AC coupled material for effective nitrate removal and revealed the potential impact of CMC in the multipathway denitrification process. Graphical Abstract

Timely and accurate prediction of winter wheat yields, which is crucial for optimizing production management, maintaining supply–demand balance, and ensuring food security, depends on interactions among numerous factors, such as climate, surface characteristics, and soil quality. Despite the extensive application of deep learning models in this field, few studies have analyzed the effect of the large-scale geospatial characteristics of neighboring regions on crop yields. Therefore, we present an attention-based spatio-temporal Graph Neural Network (ASTGNN) model coupled with geospatial characteristics and multi-source data for improved accuracy of winter wheat yield estimation. The datasets used in this study included multiple types of remote sensing, meteorological, soil, crop yield, and planting area data for Anhui, China, from 2005 to 2020. The results showed that multi-source data led to higher prediction performance than single-source data, and enabled accurate prediction of winter wheat yields three months prior to harvest. Furthermore, the ASTGNN model provided better prediction performance than two traditional crop yield prediction models (R2 = 0.70, RMSE = 0.21 t/ha, MAE = 0.17 t/ha). Therefore, ASTGNN enhances the accuracy of crop yield prediction by incorporating geospatial characteristics. This research has implications for improving agricultural production management, promoting the development of digital agriculture, and addressing climate change in agriculture.

Abstract Acupuncture has been widely used in stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation (PSR), but there is no literature on the bibliometric analysis of acupuncture for stroke. This study aimed to characterize the global publications and analyze the trends of acupuncture for stroke in the past 40 years. We identified 1157 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection. The number of publications grew slowly in the first three decades from 1980 until it started to grow after 2010, with significant growth in 2011–2012 and 2019–2020. China, the USA, and South Korea are the top three countries in this field, and China has formed good internal cooperative relations. Early studies focused on the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for stroke. In the last five years, more emphasis has been placed on the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating sequelae and complications, combined with neuroimaging studies to explore the mechanisms of brain injury repair and neurological recovery. Acupuncture for stroke has a vast research potential, and researchers from different countries/regions and organizations still need to remove academic barriers to enhance communication and collaboration.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents a significant microvascular complication in diabetes, entailing intricate molecular pathways and mechanisms associated with cardiorenal vascular diseases. Prolonged hyperglycemia induces renal endothelial dysfunction and damage via metabolic abnormalities, inflammation, and oxidative stress, thereby compromising hemodynamics. Concurrently, fibrotic and sclerotic alterations exacerbate glomerular and tubular injuries. At a macro level, reciprocal communication between the renal microvasculature and systemic circulation establishes a pernicious cycle propelling disease progression. The current management approach emphasizes rigorous control of glycemic levels and blood pressure, with renin-angiotensin system blockade conferring renoprotection. Novel antidiabetic agents exhibit renoprotective effects, potentially mediated through endothelial modulation. Nonetheless, emerging therapies present novel avenues for enhancing patient outcomes and alleviating the disease burden. A precision-based approach, coupled with a comprehensive strategy addressing global vascular risk, will be pivotal in mitigating the cardiorenal burden associated with diabetes.

Coronary heart disease (CHD), a cardiovascular condition that poses a significant threat to human health and life, has imposed a substantial economic burden on the world. However, in contrast to conventional risk factors, depression emerges as a novel and independent risk factor for CHD. This condition impacts the onset and progression of CHD and elevates the risk of adverse cardiovascular prognostic events in those already affected by CHD. As a result, depression has garnered increasing global attention. Despite this growing awareness, the specific mechanisms through which depression contributes to the development of CHD remain unclear. Existing research suggests that depression primarily influences the inflammatory response, Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA) and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dysfunction, platelet activation, endothelial dysfunction, lipid metabolism disorders, and genetics, all of which play pivotal roles in CHD development. Furthermore, the effectiveness and safety of antidepressant treatment in CHD patients with comorbid depression and its potential impact on the prognosis of CHD patients have become subjects of controversy. Further investigation is warranted to address these unresolved questions.

With the exponential advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the realm of medicine is experiencing a paradigm shift, engendering a multitude of prospects and trials for healthcare practitioners, encompassing those devoted to the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This study explores the evolving landscape for TCM practitioners in the AI era, emphasizing that while AI can be helpful, it cannot replace the role of TCM practitioners. It is paramount to underscore the intrinsic worth of human expertise, accentuating that artificial intelligence (AI) is merely an instrument. On the one hand, AI-enabled tools like intelligent symptom checkers, diagnostic assistance systems, and personalized treatment plans can augment TCM practitioners’ expertise and capacity, improving diagnosis accuracy and treatment efficacy. AI-empowered collaborations between Western medicine and TCM can strengthen holistic care. On the other hand, AI may disrupt conventional TCM workflow and doctor-patient relationships. Maintaining the humanistic spirit of TCM while embracing AI requires upholding professional ethics and establishing appropriate regulations. To leverage AI while retaining the essence of TCM, practitioners need to hone holistic analytical skills and see AI as complementary. By highlighting promising applications and potential risks of AI in TCM, this study provides strategic insights for stakeholders to promote the integrated development of AI and TCM for better patient outcomes. With proper implementation, AI can become a valuable assistant for TCM practitioners to elevate healthcare quality.

Diabetes and depression are common comorbid conditions that impose a substantial health burden. Acupuncture may effectively improve symptoms in patients with diabetes and depression, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may play a vital role in the effects of acupuncture on diabetes and depression comorbidity. This review summarizes the potential role of BDNF in acupuncture for diabetes and depression comorbidity. BDNF appears to exert its effects via the BDNF-TrkB-ERK-CREB signaling pathway. BDNF levels are reduced in diabetes and depression, and acupuncture may increase BDNF expression, improving symptoms and glycemic control. High-quality research is needed to validate the efficacy of acupuncture for diabetes and depression comorbidity. Randomized controlled trials and mechanistic studies should investigate the BDNF pathway and other potential mechanisms. Improved understanding of the links between diabetes, depression and acupuncture may enable targeted and individualized patient care. Earlier diagnosis and management of diabetes and depression comorbidity should also be a priority.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the leading cause of diabetes worldwide and is increasing rapidly, especially in youth. It accounts for most diabetes deaths in adults ≥20 years old in the Americas, with type 2 diabetes responsible for most of the disease burden. The incidence and burden of type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults have risen in recent decades globally. Countries with lower socioeconomic status had the highest incidence and burden, and females generally had higher mortality and disease burden than males at ages

Abstract Soil organic matter (SOM) is of vital importance to soil health, and also plays a crucial role in the quality of the crops such as tobacco. However, the link between tobacco quality and SOM chemical compositions is still not well understood. To fill the information gap, we analyzed the quality of tobacco leaves and the corresponding SOM molecular compositions by electrospray ionization (ESI) coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), that were collected from six different sites in Bijie, Guizhou Province, China. The tobacco quality variedin six sites based on their chemical compositions. SOM compounds had a remarked impact on the quality of tobacco leaves and a distinct difference in SOM composition between low-quality and high-quality tobacco leaves was observed as well. Specifically, 105 common molecular formulas were detected in three SOM compounds of high-quality tobacco, which were more than those in low-quality samples. Although amino sugar, proteins, lipids, tannins, and carbohydrates had a collective influence on the chemical composition of tobacco leaves, the effect contributed by amino sugar and tannins was more prominent. In summary, fully understanding the association between tobacco chemical composition and SOM compounds can provide new insight into the regulation of tobacco quality and the sustainable development of agriculture.

Parkinson's disease-related constipation (PDC) is commonly associated with impaired dopamine transmission and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Current pharmacological treatments have limited efficacy and potential side effects. Acupuncture has shown promise as an alternative or adjunct therapy by modulating the brain–gut axis, gastrointestinal hormones, and autonomic function. Preliminary randomized trials have shown that acupuncture significantly improves constipation symptoms, bowel movements, and comfort compared to sham or drug treatments and is well-tolerated. The mechanisms of action may involve regulating the gut microbiota and mucosal immunity to improve dysbiosis and gastrointestinal motility. However, more rigorous studies are required to optimize acupuncture protocols and determine long-term efficacy and safety. In summary, acupuncture shows promise as an adjunct therapy for PDC, but further research is needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.

BackgroundCoronary heart disease (CHD) is characterized by forming of arterial plaques composed mainly of lipids, calcium, and inflammatory cells. These plaques narrow the lumen of the coronary artery, leading to episodic or persistent angina. Atherosclerosis is not just a lipid deposition disease but an inflammatory process with a high-specificity cellular and molecular response. Anti-inflammatory treatment for CHD is a promising therapy; several recent clinical studies (CANTOS, COCOLT, and LoDoCo2) provide therapeutic directions. However, bibliometric analysis data on anti-inflammatory conditions in CHD are lacking. This study aims to provide a comprehensive visual perspective on the anti-inflammatory research in CHD and will contribute to further research.Materials and methodsAll the data were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. We used the Web of Science’s systematic tool to analyze the year of countries/regions, organizations, publications, authors, and citations. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to construct visual bibliometric networks to reveal the current status and emerging hotspot trends for anti-inflammatory intervention in CHD.Results5,818 papers published from 1990 to 2022 were included. The number of publications has been on the rise since 2003. Libby Peter is the most prolific author in the field. “Circulation” was ranked first in the number of journals. The United States has contributed the most to the number of publications. The Harvard University System is the most published organization. The top 5 clusters of keywords co-occurrence are inflammation, C-reactive protein, coronary heart disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, and myocardial infarction. The top 5 literature citation topics are chronic inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular risk; systematic review, statin therapy; high-density lipoprotein. In the past 2 years, the strongest keyword reference burst is “Nlrp3 inflammasome,” and the strongest citation burst is “Ridker PM, 2017 (95.12).”ConclusionThis study analyzes the research hotspots, frontiers, and development trends of anti-inflammatory applications in CHD, which is of great significance for future studies.

Inorganic modified green mudstone (MGM) was prepared from the green mudstone (GM) residue of Fushun West Open Pit Mine and characterized by XRF, XRD, FTIR, and SEM of GM and MGM. According to the calculation of pore size and the BET equation, the pore size and specific surface area of the MGM were larger. The results of adsorption kinetics and isothermal adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption capacity of MGM for phosphate increased from 0.1 mg/g to 0.71 mg/g, which was obviously better than that of GM. The GM and MGM accorded with the quasi-second-order kinetic model. The isothermal adsorption data of GM accorded with the Freundlich model, and the isothermal data of MGM accorded with the Langmuir model, which indicated that the model of GM and MGM was an adsorption process from a double layer to a single layer. Thermodynamic data showed that the increase in temperature was beneficial to the adsorption of MGM. The internal diffusion model showed that due to the change of pore size structure after modification, the number of adsorption sites that could provide phosphate was increased, and at the same time, the change of internal elements led to the extension of the chemical reaction time by 700 min. Because of the ligand exchange and electrostatic interaction between phosphate, GM, and MGM, the adsorption results showed that acidity was better than alkalinity. To improve the recycling ability of MGM, hydrochloric acid with a concentration of 0.1 mol/L was determined as the best phosphorus resolving agent, and the resolving rate was still close to 80% after five cycles. The results showed that the MGM could be a promising adsorbent for the removal of phosphorus, providing a new way for resource utilization of mining waste residue.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most common comorbidity of COVID-19, and both are related to the lack of circulating melatonin. In addition, chronic pain is a common sequela of both COVID-19 and T2D. Using a neuropathic pain model produced by sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury in Zucker diabetic fatty rats, a verified preclinical genetic T2D neuropathy animal model, this study aimed to show that transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) could elevate plasma melatonin concentration, upregulate the expression of melatonin receptors (MTRs) in the amygdala, and relieve peripheral neuropathic pain. Furthermore, taVNS would restore melatonin levels and relieve pain even in pinealectomized rats. On the contrary, intraperitoneally injected luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist, would attenuate the antinociceptive effects of taVNS. In conclusion, the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of taVNS on chronic pain involves the release of extrapineal melatonin and the positive regulation of the expression of central MTRs. This beneficial efficacy should be considered during COVID-19 rehabilitation in individuals with diabetes.

BackgroundLumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common disease seen in orthopedics; it is caused by nucleus pulposus herniation. Its clinical manifestations are low back pain, radiating pain of the lower limbs, and cauda equina symptoms that seriously affect patients' quality of life. At present, oral analgesics are commonly used in the treatment of LDH; but they can produce gastrointestinal reactions and other side effects. Thunder-fire moxibustion is a method that is widely used in China to treat pain syndromes. This study aimed to design a randomized controlled trial to explore the effectiveness and safety of thunder-fire moxibustion in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.MethodsNinety patients will be enrolled and randomly divided into one of two groups: the thunder-fire moxibustion group and the acetaminophen group. The thunder-fire moxibustion group will be treated with moxa sticks at BL25, GV3, BL23, and GV4; and after 15 min of local whirling moxibustion, the contralateral acupoints will be treated with moxibustion for 15 min. The study period will include two 10-day courses of treatment, for a total study duration of 20 days. The acetaminophen group participants will take one acetaminophen sustained-release tablet twice a day for the duration of the study period. In contrast, the thunder-fire moxibustion group participants will be treated with thunder-fire moxibustion every other day for 30 min. The primary outcome will be the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) will be used as the secondary outcome measures. Adverse events (AEs) will also be recorded. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, the end of the first and second courses of treatment.DiscussionThis study will determine whether thunder-fire moxibustion is more effective and safer than acetaminophen in the treatment of patients with LDH.Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn), ChiCTR2000036079.

Objective: An increasing number of studies indicate that autophagy plays an important role in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury, and that regulating autophagy can enhance recovery from spinal cord injury. However, the effect of regulating autophagy and whether autophagy is detrimental or beneficial after spinal cord injury remain unclear. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the effects of autophagy regulation on spinal cord injury in rats by direct and indirect comparison, in an effort to provide a basis for further research. Data source: Relevant literature published from inception to February 1, 2018 were included by searching Wanfang, CNKI, Web of Science, MEDLINE (OvidSP), PubMed and Google Scholar in English and Chinese. The keywords included “autophagy”, “spinal cord injury”, and “rat”. Data selection: The literature included in vivo experimental studies on autophagy regulation in the treatment of spinal cord injury (including intervention pre- and post-spinal cord injury). Meta-analyses were conducted at different time points to compare the therapeutic effects of promoting or inhibiting autophagy, and subgroup analyses were also conducted. Outcome measure: Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores. Results: Of the 622 studies, 33 studies of median quality were included in the analyses. Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores were higher at 1 day (MD = 1.80, 95% CI: 0.81–2.79, P = 0.0004), 3 days (MD = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.72–1.13, P < 0.00001), 1 week (MD = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.85–2.92, P < 0.00001), 2 weeks (MD = 3.26, 95% CI: 2.40–4.13, P < 0.00001), 3 weeks (MD = 3.13, 95% CI: 2.51–3.75, P < 0.00001) and 4 weeks (MD = 3.18, 95% CI: 2.43–3.92, P < 0.00001) after spinal cord injury with upregulation of autophagy compared with the control group (drug solvent control, such as saline group). Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores were higher at 1 day (MD = 6.48, 95% CI: 5.83–7.13, P < 0.00001), 2 weeks (MD = 2.43, 95% CI: 0.79–4.07, P = 0.004), 3 weeks (MD = 2.96, 95% CI: 0.09–5.84, P = 0.04) and 4 weeks (MD = 4.41, 95% CI: 1.08–7.75, P = 0.01) after spinal cord injury with downregulation of autophagy compared with the control group. Indirect comparison of upregulation and downregulation of autophagy showed no differences in Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores at 1 day (MD = −4.68, 95% CI: –5.840 to −3.496, P = 0.94644), 3 days (MD = −0.28, 95% CI: −2.231–1.671, P = 0.99448), 1 week (MD = 1.83, 95% CI: 0.0076–3.584, P = 0.94588), 2 weeks (MD = 0.81, 95% CI: −0.850–2.470, P = 0.93055), 3 weeks (MD = 0.17, 95% CI: −2.771–3.111, P = 0.99546) or 4 weeks (MD = –1.23, 95% CI: −4.647–2.187, P = 0.98264) compared with the control group. Conclusion: Regulation of autophagy improves neurological function, whether it is upregulated or downregulated. There was no difference between upregulation and downregulation of autophagy in the treatment of spinal cord injury. The variability in results among the studies may be associated with differences in research methods, the lack of clearly defined autophagy characteristics after spinal cord injury, and the limited autophagy monitoring techniques. Thus, methods should be standardized, and the dynamic regulation of autophagy should be examined in future studies.

Lithium promotes autophagy and has a neuroprotective effect on spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of lithium and the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) in a rat model of SCI. The rats were randomly assigned to the SCI, lithium, 3-MA and sham groups. In the 3-MA group, rats were intraperitoneally injected with 3-MA (3 mg/kg) 2 hours before SCI. In the lithium and 3-MA groups, rats were intraperitoneally injected with lithium (LiCl; 30 mg/kg) 6 hours after SCI and thereafter once daily until sacrifice. At 2, 3 and 4 weeks after SCI, neurological function and diffusion tensor imaging indicators were remarkably improved in the lithium group compared with the SCI and 3-MA groups. The Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale score and fractional anisotropy values were increased, and the apparent diffusion coefficient value was decreased. Immunohistochemical staining showed that immunoreactivities for Beclin-1 and light-chain 3B peaked 1 day after SCI in the lithium and SCI groups. Immunoreactivities for Beclin-1 and light-chain 3B were weaker in the 3-MA group than in the SCI group, indicating that 3-MA inhibits lithium-induced autophagy. Furthermore, NeuN+ neurons were more numerous in the lithium group than in the SCI and 3-MA groups, with the fewest in the latter. Our findings show that lithium reduces neuronal damage after acute SCI and promotes neurological recovery by inducing autophagy. The neuroprotective mechanism of action may not be entirely dependent on the enhancement of autophagy, and furthermore, 3-MA might not completely inhibit all autophagy pathways.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to measure the movement of the cervical spine in healthy volunteers and patients with cervical spondylosis (CS) and describe the actual motion of the cervical spine using a three-dimensional (3D) CT reconstruction method. The results can enrich current biomechanical data of cervical spine and help to find the differences between the noted two groups.Materials and methods20 healthy volunteers underwent CT examination ranging from the clivus of the occiput (Oc) to the top of first thoracic vertebrae (T1) in a neutral position with left or right maximal axial rotation, while 26 CS patients received the same CT scan procedures in the neutral position with left and right maximum rotation. Subsequently, the three-dimensional images of the occiput and every cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) were reconstructed using medical software. 3 virtual non-collinear markers were placed on the prominent structures of foramen magnum and every cervical vertebrae. Then, the 3D orthogonal spatial coordinates were defined with these anatomical markers to represent the orientation and position of every vertebra. Segmental relative motions were calculated using Cardan angles in the 3D spatial coordinates. Finally, the differences between the two groups were analyzed with statistical software SPSS.ResultsThe cervical spine exhibited complicated 3D movements, which could be adequately described using the three-dimensional CT reconstruction method. Reliability analysis of the 3D CT reconstruction method showed inter-rater ICC of 0.90-0.99 and intra-rater ICC of 0.91-0.98, suggesting very good consistency. Besides, the rotation at the upper cervical spine (Oc-C2) took up at least 60% of the total cervical rotation. The coupled lateral bending movement of the upper cervical spine was opposite to the major motion, while the movement of the lower cervical spine followed the same direction as that of the major motion. Oc to C5 segments were all coupled with the back-extension movement. The relative translations of all adjacent segments in each direction were minimal. CS patients showed a significant decrease in the movement of the C4-C5 segment compared with healthy volunteers.ConclusionThe motion of the cervical spine was complicated and three-dimensional. The CT reconstruction method employed here was good at describing such movement. The 3D CT reconstruction method exhibited high reproducibility when measuring cervical spine movement. CS patients and healthy volunteers showed significant differences in the movement of some segments.

Diffusion tensor imaging is a sensitive way to reflect axonal necrosis and degeneration, glial cell regeneration and demyelination following spinal cord injury, and to display microstructure changes in the spinal cord in vivo. Diffusion tensor imaging technology is a sensitive method to diagnose spinal cord injury fiber tractography visualizes the white matter fibers, and directly displays the structural integrity and resultant damage of the fiber bundle. At present, diffusion tensor imaging is restricted to brain examinations, and is rarely applied in the evaluation of spinal cord injury. This study aimed to explore the fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging and the feasibility of diffusion tensor tractography in the evaluation of complete spinal cord injury in rats. The results showed that the average combined scores were obviously decreased after spinal cord transection in rats, and then began to increase over time. The fractional anisotropy scores after spinal cord transection in rats were significantly lower than those in normal rats (P

Melatonin plays a protective role in type 2 diabetes (T2D) through regulation of glucose metabolism. Whether transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is antidiabetic and whether a modulated melatonin production is involved in the antidiabetic mechanism of taVNS is unknown. In this study, once daily 30 min noninvasive taVNS was administered in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF, fa/fa) and Zucker lean (ZL, +/fa) littermates under anesthesia for 5 consecutive weeks. The acute and chronic influences of taVNS on the secretion of melatonin were studied as well as the effects of taVNS on blood glucose metabolism. We found that naïve ZDF rats develop hyperglycemia naturally with age. Each taVNS session would trigger a tidal secretion of melatonin both during and after the taVNS procedure and induce an acute two-phase glycemic change, a steep increase followed by a gradual decrease. Once daily taVNS sessions eventually reduced the glucose concentration to a normal level in seven days and effectively maintained the normal glycemic and plasma glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) levels when applied for five consecutive weeks. These beneficial effects of taVNS also exist in pinealectomized rats, which otherwise would show overt and continuous hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and high HbAlc levels. We concluded that multiple taVNS sessions are antidiabetic in T2D through triggering of tidal secretion of melatonin. This finding may have potential importance in developing new approaches to the treatment of T2D, which is highly prevalent, incurable with any current approaches, and very costly to the world.

Depression and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are common comorbid diseases and highly prevalent in the clinical setting with an unclarified mechanism. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF, fa/fa) rats natively develop T2D with hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Here we studied whether ZDF rats also innately develop depression, what a correlation is between depression and T2D, whether insulin receptor (IR) expression is involved in, and whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) would be beneficial in amelioration of the comorbidity. Six week old male ZDF and Zucker lean (ZL, fa/+) littermates were randomly divided into naïve (ZDF, n = 6; ZL, n = 7) and taVNS (ZDF-taVNS, n = 8; ZL-taVNS, n = 6) groups. Once daily 30 min-taVNS sessions were administrated under anesthesia for 34 consecutive days in taVNS groups. Blood glucose levels were tested weekly, and plasma glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) level and immobility time in forced swimming test were determined on day 35 in all groups. The expression of insulin receptor (IR) in various tissues was also detected by immunostaining and Western blot. We found that naïve ZDF rats developed hyperglycemia steadily. These ZDF rats showed a strong positive correlation between longer immobility time and higher plasma HbAlC level. Long term taVNS treatment simultaneously prevented the development of depression-like behavior and progression of hyperglycemia in ZDF rats. The expression of IR in various tissues of naïve ZDF rats is lower than in naïve ZL and long-term taVNS treated ZDF rats. Collectively, our results indicate that in ZDF rats, i) depression and T2D develop simultaneously, ii) immobility time and HbAlc concentrations are highly and positively correlated, iii) a low expression of IR may be involved in the comorbidity of depression and T2D, and iv) taVNS is antidiabetic and antidepressive possibly through IR expression upregulation.

Decreased circulating melatonin is implicated in depression. We recently found that Zucker diabetic fatty rats (ZDF, fa/fa) develop depression-like behaviors and that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is antidepressive in ZDF rats. Here we studied whether the ZDF rats could be used as a depression rodent model and whether the antidepressive effect of taVNS is mediated through modulation of melatonin secretion. Adult male ZDF and Zucker lean (ZL, fa/+) littermates were used. 30 min-taVNS procedures (2/15 Hz, 2 mA) were administered once daily under anesthesia for 34 consecutive days in pineal intact ZDF (n = 8) and ZL (n = 6) rats, as well as in pinealectomized ZDF rats (n = 8). Forced swimming test (FST) was used to determine depression-like behavior and ELISA to detect plasma melatonin concentration on day 35. We found that naïve ZDF rats had a longer immobility time in FST and that long-term (34 days) taVNS treatment ameliorated the depression-like behavior. In both pineal intact and pinealectomized ZDF rats, taVNS induced acute melatonin secretion, both during and after the taVNS session. A low melatonin level is related to the poor FST performance in ZDF rats (R = -0.544) in contrast to ZL rats (R = 0.247). In conclusion, our results show that ZDF rats are ideal candidates of innate depression and that taVNS is antidepressive through triggering melatonin secretion and increasing its production.

Owing to the microporosity, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted great attention in various applications, whereas their potential for mass transfer and diffusion of larger molecules has been limited. To break the limit of circumscribed microporosity and gain more applications, it is necessary to dilate the original limited pore size in the MOF structure. Despite many attempts, the generation of orderly distributed porosity in pristine MOFs with precise modulation on the molecular level remains a challenge. In this paper, we present an orientation–modification strategy realized by a plane-oriented etchant of pyrrole (Py), which reduces metal sites into a low-cation valence on specific lattice planes and induces missing linker defects in MOFs. The density functional theory pore size distribution analysis demonstrates that the emerging micropore diameter of the resultant Cu-BTC/PPy is more than twice that of the original Cu-BTC. The coordination mode between Cu+/Cu2+ and linkers is proposed by various chemical characterizations. Moreover, it has been found that Cu-BTC/PPy performs much better in styrene oxidation performed not only in oil baths but also under simulated sunlight at room temperature owing to its enlarged porosity and photothermal effect. This work demonstrates an effective protocol for precisely regulating and modifying the properties of MOFs at the molecular scale for fabricating MOF/ polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]