Pyropia haitanensis polysaccharide extends lifespan by inhibiting protein aggregation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Pyropia haitanensis polysaccharide(LP)have been found for having many excellent functions such as anti-aging.Using Caenorhabditis elegans models,we evaluated the anti-aging activity of LP by observing the lifespan,reproduction,pharyngeal pumping,stress response,quantitative fluorescence of polyglutamic acid,and nuclear localization of DAF-16 of worms.The results reveal that LP could extend the adult lifespan of wild-type and polyQ nematodes,indicating a connection of its anti-aging benefit with the toxicity-suppressing effect.The number of polyglutamic acid aggregates in high concentration groups decreased by 24.39%(P<0.05)to the control.The high-dose group strongly induced DAF-16 nuclear translocation over intermediate and cytosolic localizations compared with the control(P<0.001).Therefore,we believe that LP could extend the lifespan and reduce the protein aggregation in C.elegans through nuclear DAF-16∷GFP expression.

The effects of coloring therapy on patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder(GAD)has harmful effects on physical and mental health and quality of life.Coloring therapy has been reported to have a positive effect on improving patient anxiety and depression.But there are no reported clinical trials examining their effectiveness as a treatment for GAD.This study was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of coloring therapy combined with conventional therapy in improving anxiety,depression,and positive and negative emotions with GAD.This randomized controlled study comprising 88 GAD patients was selected for intervention in different wards.The control group(n=45)was given conventional antianxiety medication and physical therapy,and the experimental group(n=43)received coloring therapy combined with conventional therapy.The Self-Rating Depression Scale,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Hamilton Depression Scale,Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),and Positive and Negative Affect Scale were assessed in both groups before and 3 weeks after the intervention.After the intervention,there were statistical differences in intra-and inter-group comparisons of anxiety,depression,and positive and negative mood scales in the experimental and control groups(p<.05).The minus in anxiety/positive emotions pre-and postintervention in the experimental group was statistically significant compared to that in anxiety/positive emotions pre-and postintervention in the control group(HAMA:d=1.45,95%confidence interval[CI](0.34,2.57),p=.011;SAS:d=3.87,95%CI(1.73,6.00),p=.001;positive:d=1.76,95%CI(0.17,3.34),p=.030).The minus in depressive/negative emotions pre-and postintervention in the experimental group was not statistically significant compared with that in depressive/negative emotions pre-and postintervention in the control group(p>.05).For GAD patients,adding coloring therapy based on conventional drug therapy and physical therapy can not only reduce depression and negative emotions but also have better effects on reducing anxiety and improving positive emotions than conventional therapy.

Density-induced social stress alters oxytocin and vasopressin activities in the brain of a small rodent species

It is known that social stress could alter oxytocin(OT)and arginine-vasopressin(AVP)expression in specific regions of brains which regulate the aggressive behavior of small rodents,but the effects of density-induced social stress are still unknown.Brandt’s voles(Lasiopodomys brandtii)are small herbivores in the grassland of China,but the underlying neurological mechanism of population regulation is still unknown.We tested the effects of housing density of Brandt’s voles on OT/AVP system with physical contact(allowing aggression)and without physical contact(not allowing aggression)under laboratory conditions.Then,we tested the effects of paired-aggression(no density effect)of Brandt’s voles on OT/AVP system under laboratory conditions.We hypothesized that high density would increase aggression among animals which would then increase AVP but reduce OT in brains of animals.Our results showed that high housing density induced more aggressive behavior.We found high-densityinduced social stress(with or without physical contact)and direct aggression significantly increased expression of mRNA and protein of AVP and its receptor,but decreased expression of mRNA and protein of OT and its receptor in specific brain regions of voles.The results suggest that density-dependent change of OT/AVP systems may play a significant role in the population regulation of small rodents by altering density-dependent aggressive behavior.