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SIRT3, SIRT4 and SIRT5 are located in mitochondria and also known as mitochondrial sirtuins. They play important roles in regulating many cellular functions including cell survival, cell cycle or apoptosis, DNA repair and metabolism. Mitochondrial sirtuins are involved in the protection of mitochondrial integrity and energy metabolism under stress regulating the expression of neurotransmitter receptors, neurotrophins, extracellular matrix proteins and various transcription factors, thus involved in epileptogenesis triggered by both genetic or acquired factors. Here we review research progress on the actions of mitochondrial sirtuin in epilepsy; and discuss the challenges and perspectives of mitochondrial sirtuin as a potential therapeutic target for epilepsy.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic tubal anastomosis for tubal occlusions associated with infertility in patients with previous laparoscopic salpingostomy for ectopic pregnancy. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of the pregnancy outcomes of 173 infertile patients who underwent hysteroscopy and laparoscopic tubal anastomosis treatment between January 2013 and August 2018 in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology in West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University. All patients had a history of laparoscopic salpingostomy for tubal pregnancy. The primary outcomes were intrauterine pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, and delivery rates. We further studied the associated factors that could influence the change in pregnancy status. Results The 24-month cumulative clinical pregnancy rate of all patients was 107/173 (61.8%). The distribution of outcomes for the entire group of pregnancies was as follows: intrauterine pregnancy rate, 76/173 (43.9%); ectopic pregnancy rate, 31/173 (17.9%); delivery rate, 68/173 (39.3%); and miscarriage rate, 8/173 (4.6%). Age, type of anastomosis, hydrosalpinx, and endometrial polyps were significant prognostic factors in the multivariate model. Conclusion Laparoscopic tubal anastomosis is an effective treatment for tubal-associated infertility due to previous laparoscopic salpingostomy for ectopic pregnancy, especially for women under 35 years of age.

Background: The infertile patients with endometriosis had a higher prevalence of endometrial polyps. The effect of endometrial polyps on pregnancy outcomes in endometriosis-associated infertility patients is unclear. This study assessed the pregnancy outcomes and associated influencing factors of pregnancy after hysteroscopy combined with laparoscopy treatment in infertile patients with minimal/mild endometriosis. Methods: We enrolled 898 infertile women who underwent both hysteroscopy and laparoscopy treatment. Based on the existence of endometrial polyps confirmed by hysteroscopy and pathologic examination, patients were divided into polyps group and non-polyps group, and their pregnancy outcomes were compared. Results: After removal of 136 subjects who were lost to follow-up, underwent assisted reproduction techniques, or postponed plans to become pregnant. A total of 271 women were included in polyps group and 491 in non-polyps group. The pregnancy rate of polyps group was not statistically significant compared with non-polyp group (60.15% VS. 58.25%). The pregnancy rate was higher among patients with polyps ≥ 1 cm (76.06%, 54/71) than patients with polyps < 1 cm (54.50%, 109/200) or patients without polyps (58.25%, 286/491) (p = 0.006). The pregnancy rate was higher for patients with multiple polyps (67.86%, 95/140) than for patients with single polyp (51.91%, 68/131) or without polyps (p = 0.025). Conclusions: Compared with those without endometrial polyps, single polyp, and size of polyp < 1 cm, hysteroscopic polypectomy did significantly increase fertility in infertile patients with multiple polyps or size of polyp ≥ 1cm. The size and number of polyps were independently associated with the reproductive ability of women with minimal/mild endometriosis.

Objectives Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted freezing of Penaeus chinensis by response surface methodology was studied in order to (1) obtain frozen Penaeus chinensis of high quality and (2) provide practical guidance for the application of ultrasonic-assisted freezing in Penaeus chinensis. Materials and Methods Three independent and major variables were selected, including initial ultrasonic temperature (°C), ultrasonic power (W) and ultrasonic time (s on/2 s off). On the basis of one-factor experiments, 17 groups of experiments were established by response surface methodology according to Box–Behnken design. Using multiple regression analysis the experimental data were fitted into a second-order polynomial equation, which was tested by proper statistical methods. Results The optimal ultrasonic conditions were as follows: initial ultrasonic temperature 0 °C, ultrasonic power 180 W, ultrasonic time 5 s on/2 s off. Under the optimization conditions, the time of passing through maximum ice crystal generation zone was 105.500 s, which was very close to the predictive passage time of 101.541 s. Conclusions Initial ultrasonic temperature, ultrasonic time and ultrasonic power played an important role in the process of ultrasonic-assisted freezing of Penaeus chinensis. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the three factors in ultrasonic-assisted freezing, which could greatly shorten the time of passing through the maximum ice crystal generation zone and maintain the tissue structure of Penaeus chinensis well.

Astrocytes perform various supporting functions, including ion buffering, metabolic supplying and neurotransmitter clearance. They can also sense neuronal activity owing to the presence of specific receptors for neurotransmitters. In turn, astrocytes can regulate synaptic activity through the release of gliotransmitters. Evidence has shown that astrocytes are very sensitive to the locus coeruleus (LC) afferents. However, little is known about how LC neuromodulatory norepinephrine (NE) modulates synaptic transmission through astrocytic activity. In mouse dentate gyrus (DG), we demonstrated an increase in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC) in response to NE, which required the release of glutamate from astrocytes. The rise in glutamate release probability is likely due to the activation of presynaptic GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors. Moreover, we showed that the activation of NE signaling in DG is necessary for the formation of contextual learning memory. Thus, NE signaling activation during fear conditioning training contributed to enduring changes in the frequency of mEPSC in DG. Our results strongly support the physiological neuromodulatory role of NE signaling, which is derived from activation of astrocytes.

With regard to problems in conventional synthetic aperture radar (SAR), such as imaging distortion, beam limitation and failure in acquiring three-dimensional (3-D) information, a downward-looking 3-D imaging method based on frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) and digital beamforming (DBF) technology for airborne SAR is presented in this study. Downward-looking 3-D SAR signal model is established first, followed by introduction of virtual antenna optimization factor and discussion of equivalent-phase-center compensation. Then, compensation method is provided according to reside video phase (RVP) and slope term for FMCW SAR. As multiple receiving antennas are applied to downward-looking 3-D imaging SAR, range cell migration correction (RCMC) turns to be more complex, and corrective measures are proposed. In addition, DBF technology is applied in realizing cross-track resolution. Finally, to validate the proposed method, magnitude of slice, peak sidelobe ratio (PSLR), integrated sidelobe ratio (ISLR) and two-dimensional (2-D) contour plot of impulse response function (IRF) of point target in three dimensions are demonstrated. Satisfactory performances are shown by simulation results.