An enriched environment promotes synaptic plasticity and cognitive recovery after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice

Cerebral ischemia activates an endogenous repair program that induces plastic changes in neurons. In this study, we investigated the effects of environmental enrichment on spatial learning and memory as well as on synaptic remodeling in a mouse model of chronic cerebral ischemia, produced by subjecting adult male C57 BL/6 mice to permanent left middle cerebral artery occlusion. Three days postoperatively, mice were randomly assigned to the environmental enrichment and standard housing groups. Mice in the standard housing group were housed and fed a standard diet. Mice in the environmental enrichment group were housed in a cage with various toys and fed a standard diet. Then, 28 days postoperatively, spatial learning and memory were tested using the Morris water maze. The expression levels of growth-associated protein 43, synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 in the hippocampus were analyzed by western blot assay. The number of synapses was evaluated by electron microscopy. In the water maze test, mice in the environmental enrichment group had a shorter escape latency, traveled markedly longer distances, spent more time in the correct quadrant(northeast zone), and had a higher frequency of crossings compared with the standard housing group. The expression levels of growth-associated protein 43, synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 were substantially upregulated in the hippocampus in the environmental enrichment group compared with the standard housing group. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed that environmental enrichment increased the number of synapses in the hippocampal CA1 region. Collectively, these findings suggest that environmental enrichment ameliorates the spatial learning and memory impairment induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Environmental enrichment in mice with cerebral ischemia likely promotes cognitive recovery by inducing plastic changes in synapses.

An enriched environment increases the expression of fibronectin type Ⅲ domain-containing protein 5 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the cerebral cortex of the ischemic mouse brain

Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an environment that provides animals with multi-sensory stimulation and movement opportunities. An enriched environment has been shown to promote the regeneration of nerve cells, synapses, and blood vessels in the animal brain after cerebral ischemia;however, the exact mechanisms have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine whether an enriched environment could improve neurobehavioral functions after the experimental inducement of cerebral ischemia and whether neurobehavioral outcomes were associated with the expression of FDNC5 and BDNF. This study established ischemic mouse models using permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO) on the left side. On postoperative day 1, the mice were randomly assigned to either enriched environment or standard housing condition groups. Mice in the standard housing condition group were housed and fed under standard conditions. Mice in the enriched environment group were housed in a large cage, containing various toys, and fed with a standard diet. Sham-operated mice received the same procedure, but without artery occlusion, and were housed and fed under standard conditions. On postoperative days 7 and 14, a beam-walking test was used to assess coordination, balance, and spatial learning. On postoperative days 16–20, a Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. On postoperative day 15, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were analyzed by western blot assay. The results showed that compared with the standard housing condition group, the motor balance and coordination functions(based on beam-walking test scores 7 and 14 days after operation), spatial learning abilities(based on the spatial learning scores from the Morris water maze test 16–19 days after operation), and memory abilities(based on the memory scores of the Morris water maze test 20 days after operation) of the enriched environment group improved significantly. In addition, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex increased in the enriched environment group compared with those in the standard housing condition group. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that neurobehavioral functions were positively associated with the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF(r = 0.587 and r = 0.840, respectively). These findings suggest that an enriched environment upregulates FDNC5 protein expression in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia, which then activates BDNF protein expression, improving neurological function. BDNF protein expression was positively correlated with improved neurological function. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Fudan University, China(approval Nos. 20160858 A232, 20160860 A234) on February 24, 2016.

Building the Stable Oxygen Framework in High-Ni Layered Oxide Cathode for High-Energy-Density Li-Ion Batteries

High-Ni layered oxide cathodes hold a great promise for fabricating highenergy lithium-ion batteries.However,the oxygen evolution during cycling is a crucial factor in the structure deterioration,potential change,and capacity decay of cathodes,limiting the commercial application of high-Ni(Ni>0.9)layered oxides in batteries.Herein,we demonstrate a feasible approach to enhance the stability of oxygen framework,through the surface oxygen immobilization with yttrium and bulk oxygen stabilization with aluminum in high-Ni layered oxides.As expected,benefiting from the oxygen-stabilized framework,the bulk structure deterioration,and interfacial parasitic reaction are mitigated obviously during battery operation,along with the improved thermal stability of cathode.Correspondingly,the as-prepared high-Ni oxide delivers high reversible capacity,impressive cycle ability,and low potential polarization upon cycling.Such significant improvement on the electrochemical performance is primarily attributed to the strong oxygen affinities of both yttrium at the surface layer and aluminum in the bulk,which synergistically stabilizes the oxygen framework of high-Ni oxide via raising the energy barrier for oxygen evolution.Therefore,building the stable oxygen framework is critical for enhancing the energy density output,cycle operation,and thermal stability of high-Ni oxide cathodes.

Bladder malacoplakia: A case report

BACKGROUND Bladder malacoplakia is a rare chronic granulomatous disease.The most common site of the malacoplakia is the urinary system.The etiology of bladder malacoplakia is complex,with its clinical misdiagnosis rate is high.Therefore,exposure to more clinical cases is necessary to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.CASE SUMMARY A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dysuria.She presented with dysuria,frequent urination,urgency,pain,and absence of hematuria and pyuria.After the examination,bladder tumor electrocision was performed under combined intravenous and inhalation anesthesia on September 6,2021.During the operation,electrotomy and electrocoagulation were performed.The operation was then followed by anti-infection treatment,and the patient recovered well.The postoperative pathology was diagnosed as bladder malacoplakia by light and electron microscopic analyses.On a follow-up after 4 mo,no significant difference between electrotomy and electrocoagulation was found,with both achieving a curative effect.CONCLUSION Diagnosing bladder malacoplakia depends on histopathological examination.Antibiotic treatment with bladder tumor resection or electrocoagulation provides better therapeutic effect.

Clinical analysis of DC-CIK combined surgery for advanced renal cell carcinoma

Objective:This the aim of article to investigate the clinical efficacy of DC-CIK Immunotherapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma.Method:36 patients with advanced renal carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups:DC-CIK in treatment group and IFN-αin control group.Results:after treatment with DC-CIK in the treatment group,compared with the control group after treatment with IFN-α,CT was reexamined 1 year after treatment in both groups.There were significant differences in Alt,AST,SCR and BUN(P<0.05),CD3(+),CD4(+)and CD8(+)in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05),The percentage of CD3(-)CD56(+),the Count of CD3(-)CD56(+)and the percentage of Tc were significantly different(P<0.05),and the KPS score was significantly different between the treatment group treated with DC-CIK and the control group treated with IFN-α(P<0.05).Conclusion:DC-CIK can inhibit and kill the tumor cells,and change the activity of T cell subsets,improve the immune function and quality of life of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.It is an immunotherapy program worthy of wide application in clinic practice.

Fibrous histiocytoma of the spermatic cord 1 case and review of the literature

Objective:The diagnosis and treatment of this disease were discussed based on the relevant literature and the clinical data of spermatic fibrous histiocytoma in our hospital.Methods:The clinical data of 1 case of spermatic cord fibrous histiocytoma admitted to urology department were retrospectively analyzed,combined with relevant literature review and discussion.Results:After surgical radical treatment,the pathological result was fibrous histiocytoma.Conclusion:Spermatic cord fibrous histiocytoma is a rare tumor of genitourinary system.The diagnosis is mainly based on pathological results.Surgery is the first choice for treatment.Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are not effective and the prognosis is poor.Regular postoperative review is required.

Effects of pressure on structure and dynamics of metallic glass-forming liquid with miscibility gap

The metallic liquid with miscibility gap has been widely explored recently because of the increasing plastic deformation ability of phase-separated metallic glass. However, the poor glass-forming ability limits its application as the structural materials due to the positive mixing enthalpy of the two elements. Since high pressure is in favor of the formation of the glass, the effect of pressure on the structural and dynamical heterogeneity of phase-separated CusoAgso liquid is inves- tigated by molecular dynamics simulation in the pressure range of 0-16 GPa. The results clearly show that the pressure promotes the formation of metallic glass by increasing the number of fivefold symmetry cluster W and dynamical relaxation time; meanwhile, the liquid-liquid phase separation is also enhanced, and the homogenous atom pAlrs show stronger interaction than heterogeneous atom pAlrs with increasing pressure. The dynamical heterogeneity is related to the formation of fivefold symmetry clusters. The lower growing rate of W at higher pressure with decreasing temperature corresponds to the slow increase in dynamical heterogeneity. The pressured glass with miscibility gap may act as a candidate glass with improved plastic formation ability. The results explore the structural and dynamical heterogeneity of phase-separated liquid at atomic level.