Search

[Display omitted] • Herbaceous plants were the primary native vegetation in the landfill cover. • Rumex Acetosa increased non-rhizosphere soil CH 4 oxidation capacity nearly 20-fold. • Root exudates induced microbial migration and specific metabolic pathways. • Limonexic acid enhanced methanotrophic bacteria activity and CH 4 degradation. Vegetation root exudates have the ability to shape soil microbial community structures, thereby enhancing CH 4 bio-oxidation capacity in landfill cover systems. In this study, the CH 4 oxidation capacity of indigenous vegetation rhizosphere microorganisms within operational landfill covers in Chongqing, China, was investigated for the first time, with the objective of identifying suitable plant candidates for CH 4 mitigation initiatives within landfill cover systems. Furthermore, a multi-omics methodology was employed to explore microbial community structures and metabolic variances within the rhizospheric environment of diverse vegetation types. The primary aim was to elucidate the fundamental factors contributing to divergent CH 4 oxidation capacities observed in rhizosphere soils. The findings demonstrated that herbaceous vegetation predominated in landfill covers. Notably, Rumex acetosa exhibited the highest CH 4 oxidation capacity in the rhizosphere soil, approximately 20 times greater than that in non-rhizosphere soil. Root exudates played a crucial role in inducing the colonization of CH 4 -oxidizing functional microorganisms in the rhizosphere, subsequently prompting the development of specific metabolic pathways. This process, in turn, enhanced the functional activity of the microorganisms while concurrently bolstering their tolerance to microbial pollutants. Consequently, the addition of substances like Limonexic acid strengthened the CH 4 bio-oxidation process, thereby underscoring the suitability of Rumex acetosa and similar vegetation species as preferred choices for landfill cover vegetation restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remediation of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons in the quasi-vadose zone has become a significant challenge. We applied an integrated approach to assess the biodegradability of trichloroethylene to identify the biotransformation mechanism. The formation of the functional zone biochemical layer was assessed by analyzing the distribution of landfill gas, physical and chemical properties of cover soil, spatial-temporal variations of micro-ecology, biodegradability of landfill cover soil and distributional difference metabolic pathway. Real-time online monitoring showed that trichloroethylene continuously undergoes anaerobic dichlorination and simultaneous aerobic/anaerobic conversion-aerobic co-metabolic degradation on the vertical gradient of the landfill cover system and reduction in trans-1,2-dichloroethylene in the anoxic zone but not 1,1-dichloroethylene. PCR and diversity sequencing revealed the abundance and spatial distribution of known dichlorination-related genes within the landfill cover, with 6.61 ± 0.25 × 104–6.78 ± 0.09 × 106 and 1.17 ± 0.78 × 103–7.82 ± 0.07 × 105 copies per g/soil of pmoA and tceA , respectively. In addition, dominant bacteria and diversity were significantly linked with physicochemical factors, and Mesorhizobium , Pseudoxanthomonas and Gemmatimonas were responsible for biodegradation in the aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic zones. Metagenome sequencing identified 6 degradation pathways of trichloroethylene that may occur in the landfill cover; the main pathway was incomplete dechlorination accompanied by cometabolic degradation. These results indicate that the anoxic zone is important for trichloroethylene degradation. [Display omitted] • The attenuation mechanism of TCE was traced using five dimensions of data along landfill cover. • The microecology and function of anoxic zone are different from those of anoxic and anaerobic zone. • Mesorhizobium , Pseudoxanthomonas and Gemmatimonas are responsible for biodegradation in aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic zone. • TCE tends to be converted to cis-1,2-dichloroethylene in anoxic zone, but not 1,1-dichloroethylene. • Identifiedsix TCE metabolic pathways in anoxic zone, with main pathway of incomplete dechlorination and co-metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia, has emerged as a prominent research area in geriatric care due to its heightened propensity for progressing toward dementia. Sleep plays a pivotal role in cognitive function, with dyssomnias not only exacerbating cognitive and affective symptoms associated with neurodegenerative diseases but also contributing to disease progression. Aim. This bibliometric analysis investigates the global research on MCI with dyssomnias over the past two decades, aiming to discern key findings, research domains, and emerging trends in this field. Methods. In this study, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using the search terms "MCI" and "sleep". Data were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database, and visualization and collaborative analysis were performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Results. This study encompassed 546 publications from 2003 to 2023. The publication volume and citation rate consistently increased over time. Neurosciences, Clinical Neurology, and Geriatrics Gerontology emerged as the top three research fields. The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease had the highest publication count, while Sleep Medicine received the most citations. USA, China, and Italy led in publication output. Collaborative clusters among authors and institutions were identified, but cooperation between clusters was limited. Active cocited reference clusters included "obstructive sleep apnea", "possible mediating pathways", and "isolated rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder". The top frequently mentioned keywords, besides "MCI", were "Alzheimer's disease", "dementia", "risk factor", and "Parkinson's Disease". Notable keyword clusters spanned circadian rhythm, Parkinson's disease, MCI, dementia with Lewy body, subjective cognitive impairment, Lewy body disease, Alzheimer's disease, and dietary patterns. Conclusion. The field of MCI with dyssomnias is rapidly expanding, encompassing a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders and sleep disturbances. Current research endeavors are primarily focused on elucidating the underlying pathogenesis, predicting disease progression, and developing innovative treatment strategies for individuals affected by MCI with dyssomnias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the effect of a 6-month traditional Chinese mind-body Baduanjin exercise intervention on cognitive ability in older people with Mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 135 community-dwelling seniors with MCI were randomized into either the Baduanjin group (BDJ), the brisk walking group (BWK) or the usual physical activity control group (UPA). Cognitive ability was assessed at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 months post-intervention, and 3 months after the intervention ended. After 6 months of intervention, the MoCA score of the BDJ group was significantly higher than that of the UPA group (P < 0.05), The Go/No-go correct numbers of the BDJ group and BWK group were significantly higher than those of the UPA group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in other outcomes, or there were only a tiny effect size. Three months after the intervention, there was no significant difference between the primary and secondary outcomes(P > 0.05). The 6-month period of Baduanjin training has positive benefits on global cognitive function and attention function in community-dwelling elderly individuals with MCI. The effect seems to have been transient and needs to be confirmed by additional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nearly one in seven women worldwide suffers from chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) each year. Often, CPPS necessitates a combination of treatments. Studies have shown the good therapeutic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) upon CPPS. We wish to undertake a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to observe the effect of high-frequency rTMS at different intensities upon CPPS. Methods and analyses: In this prospective, double-blinded RCT, 63 female CPPS participants will be recruited and randomized (1:1:1) to high-intensity rTMS, low-intensity rTMS, or sham rTMS. The control group will receive a 10-day course of conventional pelvic floor (PF) rehabilitation (neuromuscular stimulation, magnetic therapy, or light therapy of the PF). On the basis of conventional treatment, participants in the high-intensity rTMS group will receive pulses of 10 Hz with a resting motor threshold (RMT) of 110% for a total of 15,000 pulses. Participants in the low-intensity rTMS group will receive pulses of 10 Hz with an RMT of 80% with 15,000 pulses. The sham rTMS group will be subjected to sham stimulation with the same sound as produced by the real magnetic stimulation coil. The primary outcome will be determined using a visual analog scale, the Genitourinary Pain Index, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. The secondary outcome will be determined by electromyography of the surface of PF muscles at baseline and after treatment completion. Ethics and dissemination: This study is approved by the Ethics Committee of Bao'an People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province (approval number: BYL20211203). The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at scientific conferences (Protocol version 1.0-20220709). Trial registration: Chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2200055615. Registered on 14 January 2022, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=146720. Protocol version 1.0-20220709. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corticocortical vestibular network (CVN) plays an important role in maintaining balance and stability. In order to clarify the specific relationship between the CVN and the balance ability of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), we recruited 30 MCI patients in the community. According to age and sex, they were 1:1 matched to 30 older adults with normal cognitive function. We evaluated balance ability and performed MRI scanning in the two groups of participants. We analyzed functional connectivity within the CVN based on the region of interest. Then, we performed a Pearson correlation analysis between the functional connection and the Berg Balance Scale scores. The research results show that compared with the control group, there were three pairs of functional connections (hMST_R–Premotor_R, PFcm_R–SMA_L, and hMST_L–VIP_R) that were significantly decreased in the CVNs of the MCI group (p < 0.05). Further correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between hMST_R–Premotor_R functional connectivity and BBS score (r = 0.364, p = 0.004). The decline in balance ability and increase in fall risk in patients with MCI may be closely related to the change in the internal connection mode of the corticocortical vestibular network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is one of the important comorbidities of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is critical to find appropriate methods for early diagnosis and objective assessment of mild cognitive impairment patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM-MCI). Our study aimed to investigate potential early alterations in phase lag index (PLI) and determine whether it can distinguish between T2DM-MCI and normal controls with T2DM (T2DM-NC). EEG was recorded in 30 T2DM-MCI patients and 30 T2DM-NC patients. The phase lag index was computed and used in a logistic regression model to discriminate between groups. The correlation between the phase lag index and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score was assessed. The α-band phase lag index was significantly decreased in the T2DM-MCI group compared with the T2DM-NC group and showed a moderate degree of classification accuracy. The MoCA score was positively correlated with the α-band phase lag index (r = 0.4812, moderate association, p = 0.015). This work shows that the functional connectivity analysis of EEG may offer an effective way to track the cortical dysfunction linked to the cognitive deterioration of T2DM patients, and the α-band phase lag index may have a role in guiding the diagnosis of T2DM-MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-coding RNAs have recently attracted much attention with the potential in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-32-5p in cerebral I/R injuries by using oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) PC12 cells and middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) rats. The expression of genes and proteins were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. The function of OGD/R PC12 cells was detected using MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. The influences of MCAO/R on rats was evaluated by measuring the infarct volume and brain water content. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase gene reporter assay were used to identify the relationship between miR-32-5p and PTEN. The results showed that miR-32-5p had neuroprotective effects on OGD/R induced PC12 cells and MCAO/R injured rats' brain. The level of miR-32-5p was significantly reduced after OGD/R. Overexpression of miR-32-5p significantly reduced MCAO/R-induced brain damages in rats. Moreover, PTEN was found to be a target of miR-32-5p, and overexpression of PTEN attenuated the effects of miR-32-5p overexpression on cerebral I/R injuries. In addition, miR-32-5p was able to activate PI3K/AKT signaling by inhibiting PTEN. In conclusion, miR-32-5p prevents brain I/R injuries through modulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Acupoint specificity, as a crucial issue in acupuncture neuroimaging studies, is still a controversial topic. Previous studies have generally adopted a block-based general linear model (GLM) approach, which predicts the temporal changes in the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal conforming to the “on–off” specifications. However, this method might become impractical since the precise timing and duration of acupuncture actions cannot be specified a priori. In the current study, we applied a data-driven multivariate classification approach, namely, support vector machine (SVM), to explore the neural specificity of acupuncture at gall bladder 40 (GB40) using kidney 3 (KI3) as a control condition (belonging to different meridians but the same nerve segment). In addition, to verify whether the typical GLM approach is sensitive enough in exploring the neural response patterns evoked by acupuncture, we also employed the GLM method to the same data sets. The SVM analysis detected distinct neural response patterns between GB40 and KI3 — positive predominantly for the GB40, while negative following the KI3. By contrast, group analysis from the GLM showed that acupuncture at these different acupoints can both evoke similar widespread signal decreases in multiple brain regions, and most of these regions were spatially overlapped, mainly distributing in the limbic and subcortical structures. Our findings may provide additional evidence to support the specificity of acupuncture, relevant to its clinical efficacy. Moreover, we also proved that GLM analysis is prone to be susceptible to errors and is not appropriate for detecting neural response patterns evoked by acupuncture stimulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Depression is an emotional disorder characterized by depression, lack of pleasure, and cognitive and sleep disorders. It is a systemic disease with a complex pathogenesis. In this study, we will be focused to investigate their associations and the exact functional mechanisms of miR-382-5p and NR3C1 in depression. Materials and Methods: We measured the expressions of microRNA-382-5p (miR-382-5p) and NR3C1 in the hippocampus by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Depression behavior test including novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), sucrose preference test (SPT), and forced swim test (FST) on rats have been conducted to examine the roles and functions of miR-382-5p and NR3C1 on depression-like behaviors by lentivirus vectors. Results: Up-regulation of miR-382-5p and down-regulation of NR3C1 were observed in rats' hippocampus induced by CUMS. miR-382-5p targeted NR3C1 and inhibited the expressions of NR3C1 in rats' hippocampus. miR-382-5p could significantly change the depression behaviors induced by CUMS. NR3C1 downstream BDNF and p-TrkB were also oppositely associated with miR-382-5p in rats' hippocampus. Conclusion: Through our experiments and analysis, we found that the associations between miR-382-5p and NR3C1 could affect the depression-like behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the higher-order Wong–Zakai approximations of the non-autonomous stochastic reaction–diffusion equation driven by additive/multiplicative white noises. The solutions between the approximation equation and stochastic reaction–diffusion equation are compared in higher-order spaces, in terms of the initial data. Based on these results and the known L 2 -upper semi-continuity, we prove that the random attractor of the approximation random system converges to that of the non-autonomous stochastic reaction–diffusion equation with additive/multiplicative white noises in L p (R N) ∩ H 1 (R N) when the size of the approximation shrinks to zero. • Approximation is obtained in L p ∩ H 1 for equations with additive noise. • Approximation is obtained in L p ∩ H 1 for equations with multiplicative noises. • Upper semi-continuity w.r.t. the size of approximations is derived in L p ∩ H 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-ageing effect of Yisui moxibustion on regulating the klotho protein and insulin (INS)/IGF-1 signalling cascade in d-galactose mice. Sixty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups after the Morries test: the normal sodium, model, moxa cone moxibustion 1 and 2, and sham groups. The treatment and model were given d-galactose injection for 70 days, while mice in the normal sodium group were injected the same dosage of normal sodium. From day 13 after the first injection, the three treatment groups were treated every day for 58 days. The INS and klotho in the cerebral tissues were measured. p-Akt, p-FoxO3a, Klotho, SOD2 expression were observed immunohistochemically. The escape latency of mice in the model and sham were significantly prolonged, and the spanning original platform times were significantly decreased compared with the normal sodium and moxa cone moxibustion 1 and 2 (p < 0.01). The content of INS and klotho in the model was significantly lower than the normal sodium, moxa cone moxibustion 1 and 2 (p < 0.01). Compared with the model and sham, p-Akt and p-FoxO3a expression in moxa cone moxibustion 1 and 2 were markedly decreased (p < 0.05), and the expressions of klotho and SOD2 were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in hippocampal CA1. Yisui moxibustion could exert the antioxidative effect on klotho protein, which negatively regulated the insulin signalling pathway and its downstream elements in cerebral tissue and hippocampal CA1, so as to enhance learning and memory capacities, delay brain ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the different responses to acupuncture in MCI patients and age-matched healthy subjects reflected by the Regional Homogeneity (ReHo) indices. Methods: The experiment was performed at the acupoint KI3 in 12 MCI patients and 12 healthy controls, respectively. A novel non-repeated event-related (NRER) fMRI design paradigm was applied to separately detect neural activities related to different stages of acupuncture (pre-acupuncture resting state, needling manipulation and post-acupuncture resting state). ReHo values were calculated for MCI patients and healthy controls in pre- and post-acupuncture resting state. Then, a two-way ANCOVA with repeated measures with post-hoc two sample t-tests was performed to explore the different responses to acupuncture in the two groups. Results: The ANCOVA revealed a significant main effect of group, but no significant main effect of acupuncture and interactions between group and acupuncture. During the pre-acupuncture resting state, ReHo values increased in the precentral gyrus (PCG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), and insula (INS) and decreased mainly in middle temporal gyrus (MTG), parahippocampal (PHIP) and cingulate cortex in MCI patients compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, we found that the regions including precuneus (PCUN), and cingulate cortex showed increased ReHo values for MCI patients following acupuncture. For healthy controls, the medial frontal gyrus, PCG, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and INS showed enhanced ReHo values following acupuncture. During the post-acupuncture resting state, MCI patients showed increased ReHo values mainly in the MTG, superior parietal lobule (SPL), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), supramarginal (SMG), and PCG, and decreased ReHo values mainly in the frontal regions, PHIP, and posterior cingulated cortex (PCC) compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: Though we found some ReHo changes between MCI patients and healthy controls, the two-way ANCOVA results showed no significant effects after multiple corrections. Further study is needed to reveal the real acupuncture effects on MCI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the association of Nogo-A protein, a myelin-associated inhibitor of axon regeneration, with secondary damage of the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) in adult stroke-prone, renovascular hypertensive rats. Intracerebroventricular infusion of NEP1–40, a Nogo-66 receptor antagonist peptide, or vehicle was administered starting 24h after dMCAO and continued for 1, 2, or 4 weeks. The expression of Nogo-A in the ipsilateral SNr was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Neuron death and apoptosis were evaluated using Nissl and terminal uridine nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Glial activation was monitored by immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein and the oligodendrocyte marker RIP. Axonal damage and regeneration were determined by Bielschowsky’s silver staining and immunoreactivity of growth associated protein 43 and microtubule associated protein 2. We found progressive damage in the center of the ipsilateral SNr through 4 weeks after dMCAO. The neuronal loss was topographically related to axonal degeneration that occurred indirectly from the infarcted cortex. Nogo-A protein in oligodendrocytes was persistently increased in the damaged SNr. Administration of NEP1–40 inhibited Nogo-A expression, the loss of neurons, apoptosis, and proliferation of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. It also boosted the regenerative response of injured axons and encouraged compensatory neurite growth in the ipsilateral SNr. Our data suggest that secondary damage in the ipsilateral SNr may be due to trans-synaptic axonal degeneration that followed the cortical infarct. Further, we showed that Nogo-A is involved in axonal degeneration, and NEP1–40 reduces secondary nigral damage after focal cortical ischemia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The increased risk for the elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to progress to Alzheimer''s disease makes it an appropriate condition for investigation. While the use of acupuncture as a complementary therapeutic method for treating MCI is popular in certain parts of the world, the underlying mechanism is still elusive. We sought to investigate the acupuncture effects on the functional connectivity throughout the entire brain in MCI patients compared to healthy controls (HC). The functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment was performed with two different paradigms, namely, deep acupuncture (DA) and superficial acupuncture (SA), at acupoint KI3. We first identified regions showing abnormal functional connectivity in the MCI group compared to HC during the resting state and subsequently tested whether these regions could be modulated by acupuncture. Then, we made the comparison of MCI vs. HC to test whether there were any specific modulatory patterns in the poststimulus resting brain between the two groups. Finally, we made the comparisons of DA vs. SA in each group to test the effect of acupuncture with different needling depths. We found the temporal regions (hippocampus, thalamus, fusiform gyrus) showing abnormal functional connectivity during the resting state. These regions are implicated in memory encoding and retrieving. Furthermore, we found significant changes in functional connectivity related with the abnormal regions in MCI patients following acupuncture. Compared to HC, the correlations related with the temporal regions were enhanced in the poststimulus resting brain in MCI patients. Compared to SA, significantly increased correlations related with the temporal regions were found for the DA condition. The enhanced correlations in the memory-related brain regions following acupuncture may be related to the purported therapeutically beneficial effects of acupuncture for the treatment of MCI. The heterogeneous modulatory patterns between DA and SA may suggest that deep muscle insertion of acupuncture is necessary to achieve the appreciable clinical effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]