Antidepressant effect of electroacupuncture regulates signal targeting in the brain and increases brain- derived neurotrophic factor levels

Electroacupuncture improves depressive behavior faster and with fewer adverse effects than antidepressant medication. However, the antidepressant mechanism of electroacupuncture remains poorly understood. Here, we established a rat model of chronic unpredicted mild stress, and then treated these rats with electroacupuncture at Yintang （EX-HN3） and Baihui （DU20） with sparse waves at 2 Hz and 0.6 mA for 30 minutes, once a day. We found increased horizontal and vertical activity, and decreased immobility time, at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Moreover, levels of neurotransmitters （5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamate, and y-aminobutyric acid） and protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-related proteins （TrkB, protein kinase A, and phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein） were increased in the hippocampus. Similarly, protein kinase A and TrkB mRNA levels were increased, and calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase lI levels decreased. These findings suggest that electroacupuncture increases phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels by regulating multiple targets in the cyclic adenosine rnonophosphate response element binding protein signal- ing pathway, thereby promoting nerve regeneration, and exerting an antidepressive effect.

Recyclable adsorbent of BiFeO_3/Carbon for purifying industrial dye wastewater via photocatalytic reproducible

It is essential to prepare highly-efficiency reproducible adsorbent for purifying industrial dye wastewater. In this work, biscuit with a layered porous structure as a template is applied to prepare a photocatalytic recyclable adsorbent of BiFeO3/Carbon nanocomposites for purifying simulative industrial dye wastewater. It is found that the structure of the prepared BiFeO3/Carbon nanocomposite is related to the natural structure of the biscuit, annealing temperatures and immersing times, demonstrated by XRD, TEM, UV-Vis and adsorptive activities. Kinetics data shows that the adsorption rate of the adsorbent to the dye is rapid and fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model, that more than 80% of dyes can be removed in the beginning 30 min. The adsorption isotherm can be perfectly described by the Langmuir model as well. It can be seen from the adsorption data that the adsorption performance can reach over 90% at pH ? 2–12, which can imply its universal utilization. The prepared BiFeO_3/Carbon nanocomposites have also displayed excellent capacities(over 90% within 30 min) for adsorption of seven different dyes and their mixed one. According to the five times photocatalytic reproducible experiments, it is proved that BiFeO_3/Carbon nanocomposites show the excellent stability and reproduction for purifying simulative industrial dyes, even the sample have been placed for one year. These research results indicate that the adsorbent BiFeO_3/Carbon can be a suitable material used in treating industrial dye wastewater potentially.

Combined effects of electroacupuncture and anti-depression drugs on the hippocampus and frontal lobe

Electroacupuncture （EA） has been clinically used to treat depression and has resulted in favorable effects in China. However, results from animal studies and pathology do not reflect the influence of electroacupuncture treatment on in vivo physiological functions. To thoroughly and dynamically observe pathological changes during depression, the present study established EA ＋ fluoxetine and fluoxetine groups to observe depression in patients. 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy was utilized to determine the correlation between hippocampal frontal lobe metabolite changes and mental disorder scale. Results revealed significantly increased N-acetylaspartate （NAA）/creatine （Cr） in the bilateral hippocampus and right frontal lobe of depression patients treated with EA compared with fluoxetine. Changes in NAA/Cr in bilateral hippocampus and right frontal lobe in both groups, before and after treatment, negatively correlated with severity and curative effects. Choline/Cr changes in the bilateral frontal lobes of both groups were significant before and after treatment, but negatively correlated with curative effects. Choline/Cr changes in the bilateral hippocampus were significant in the EA ＋ fluoxetine group before and after treatment, but negatively correlated with severity and the curative effects of depression. These results demonstrate abnormal biochemical metabolism in bilateral frontal lobes and hippocampus of depression patients, and show that EA significantly altered biochemical indices in the frontal lobes and hippocampus compared with fluoxetine.

Molecular identification,expression pattern,and in-vitro bioactivity analysis of insulin-like growth factor 2 in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Insulin-like growth factors(IGFs)are key regulators of development and growth.Here,we characterized the igf2 gene from olive flounder(Paralichthys olivaceus)and determined its temporal and spatial expression.We set up an in-vitro protein expression system in eukaryotic human embryonic kidney(HEK293 T)cells and explored its effects on cell proliferation.The flounder igf2 cDNA contained a 648-bp open reading frame(ORF)encoding a protein of 215 amino acids(aa),which spanned the complete signal peptide(47 aa),mature peptide(70 aa),and E domain(98 aa).In adult flounder,igf2 mRNA was detected in all selected tissues.In early development,igf2 mRNA was detected throughout development from unfertilized eggs to hatching-stage embryos.In-situ hybridization analysis indicated that igf2 mRNA was specially expressed in the brain region,floor plate,hypochord,otic vesicle,and pectoral fin during embryogenesis.Western blotting analysis indicated that the soluble recombinant flounder IGF2 protein was successfully produced through eukaryotic expression in HEK293T cells.In addition,the recombinant IGF2 protein significantly promoted the proliferation of human cervical carcinoma(HeLa)and HEK293T cells.These results provide new information about the structural and functional conservation,expression patterns,and biological activity of the igf2 in teleosts.

Smyd1 is essential for myosin expression and sarcomere organization in craniofacial,extraocular,and cardiac muscles

Skeletal and cardiac muscles are striated myofibers that contain highly organized sarcomeres for muscle contraction.Recent studies revealed that Smyd1,a lysine methyltransferase,plays a key role in sarcomere assembly in heart and trunk skeletal muscles.However,Smyd1 expression and function in craniofacial muscles are not known.Here,we analyze the developmental expression and function of two smyd1 paralogous genes,smyd1 a and smyd1 b,in craniofacial and cardiac muscles of zebrafish embryos.Our data show that loss of smyd1a(smyd1a^(mb5))or smyd1b(smyd1b^(sa15678))has no visible effects on myogenic commitment and expression of myod and myosin heavy-chain m RNA transcripts in craniofacial muscles.However,myosin heavy-chain protein accumulation and sarcomere organization are dramatically reduced in smyd1b^(sa15678) single mutant,and almost completely diminish in smyd1a^(mb5);smyd1b^(sa15678) double mutant,but not in smyd1a^(mb5) mutant.Similar defects are also observed in cardiac muscles of smyd1b^(sa15678) mutant.Defective craniofacial and cardiac muscle formation is associated with an upregulation of hsp90α1 and unc45b mRNA expression in smyd1b^(sa15678) and smyd1a^(mb5);smyd1b^(sa15678) mutants.Together,our studies indicate that Smyd1b,but not Smyd1a,plays a key role in myosin heavy-chain protein expression and sarcomere organization in craniofacial and cardiac muscles.Loss of smyd1b results in muscle-specific stress response.

QNE1 is a key flowering regulator determining the length of the vegetative period in soybean cultivars

The soybean E1 gene is a major regulator that plays an important role in flowering time and maturity.However,it remains unclear how cultivars carrying the dominant E1 allele adapt to the higher latitudinal areas of northern China.We mapped the novel quantitative trait locus QNE1(QTL near E1) for flowering time to the region proximal to E1 on chromosome 6 in two mapping populations.Positional cloning revealed Glyma.06G204300,encoding a TCP-type transcription factor,as a strong candidate gene for QNE1.Association analysis further confirmed that functional single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) at nucleotides 686 and 1,063 in the coding region of Glyma.06G204300 were significantly associated with flowering time.The protein encoded by the candidate gene is localized primarily to the nucleus.Furthermore,soybean and Brassica napus plants overexpressing Glyma.06G204300 exhibited early flowering.We conclude that despite their similar effects on flowering time,QNE1 and E4 may control flowering time through different regulatory mechanisms,based on expression studies and weighted gene co-expression network analysis of flowering time-related genes.Deciphering the molecular basis of QNE1 control of flowering time enriches our knowledge of flowering gene networks in soybean and will facilitate breeding soybean cultivars with broader latitudinal adaptation.