Exploring cerebral structural and functional abnormalities in a mouse model of post-traumatic headache induced by mild traumatic brain injury

Mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI)-induced post-traumatic headache(PTH)is a pressing public health concern and leading cause of disability worldwide.Although PTH is often accompanied by neurological disorders,the exact underlying mechanism remains largely unknown.Identifying potential biomarkers may prompt the diagnosis and development of effective treatments for mTBI-induced PTH.In this study,a mouse model of mTBI-induced PTH was established to investigate its effects on cerebral structure and function during short-term recovery.Results indicated that mice with mTBI-induced PTH exhibited balance deficits during the early post-injury stage.Metabolic kinetics revealed that variations in neurotransmitters were most prominent in the cerebellum,temporal lobe/cortex,and hippocampal regions during the early stages of PTH.Additionally,variations in brain functional activities and connectivity were further detected in the early stage of PTH,particularly in the cerebellum and temporal cortex,suggesting that these regions play central roles in the mechanism underlying PTH.Moreover,our results suggested that GABA and glutamate may serve as potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for PTH.Future studies should explore the specific neural circuits involved in the regulation of PTH by the cerebellum and temporal cortex,with these two regions potentially utilized as targets for non-invasive stimulation in future clinical treatment.

A low-frequency pure metal metamaterial absorber with continuously tunable stiffness

To address the incompatibility between high environmental adaptability and deep subwavelength characteristics in conventional local resonance metamaterials,and overcome the deficiencies in the stability of existing active control techniques for band gaps,this paper proposes a design method of pure metal vibration damping metamaterial with continuously tunable stiffness for wideband elastic wave absorption.We design a dual-helix narrow-slit pure metal metamaterial unit,which possesses the triple advantage of high spatial compactness,low stiffness characteristics,and high structural stability,enabling the opening of elastic flexural band gaps in the low-frequency range.Similar to the principle of a sliding rheostat,the introduction of continuously sliding plug-ins into the helical slits enables the continuous variation of the stiffness of the metamaterial unit,achieving a continuously tunable band gap effect.This successfully extends the effective band gap by more than ten times.The experimental results indicate that this metamaterial unit can be used as an additional vibration absorber to absorb the low-frequency vibration energy effectively.Furthermore,it advances the metamaterial absorbers from a purely passive narrowband design to a wideband tunable one.The pure metal double-helix metamaterials retain the subwavelength properties of metamaterials and are suitable for deployment in harsh environments.Simultaneously,by adjusting its stiffness,it substantially broadens the effective band gap range,presenting promising potential applications in various mechanical equipment operating under adverse conditions.

Nonlinear Characteristic Analysis of Gas-Interconnected Quasi-Zero Stiffness Pneumatic Suspension System:A Theoretical and Experimental Study

Because of significantly changed load and complex and variable driving road conditions of commercial vehicles,pneumatic suspension with lower natural frequencies is widely used in commercial vehicle suspension system.How ever,traditional pneumatic suspension system is hardly to respond the greatly changed load of commercial vehicles To address this issue,a new Gas-Interconnected Quasi-Zero Stiffness Pneumatic Suspension(GIQZSPS)is presented in this paper to improve the vibration isolation performance of commercial vehicle suspension systems under frequent load changes.This new structure adds negative stiffness air chambers on traditional pneumatic suspension to reduce the natural frequency of the suspension.It can adapt to different loads and road conditions by adjusting the solenoid valves between the negative stiffness air chambers.Firstly,a nonlinear mechanical model including the dimensionless stiffness characteristic and interconnected pipeline model is derived for GIQZSPS system.By the nonlinear mechanical model of GIQZSPS system,the force transmissibility rate is chosen as the evaluation index to analyze characteristics.Furthermore,a testing bench simulating 1/4 GIQZSPS system is designed,and the testing analysis of the model validation and isolating performance is carried out.The results show that compared to traditional pneumatic suspension,the GIQZSPS designed in the article has a lower natural frequency.And the system can achieve better vibration isolation performance under different load states by switching the solenoid valves between air chambers.

Evaluation on Configuration Stiffness of Overconstrained 2R1T Parallel Mechanisms

Currently,two rotations and one translation(2R1T)three-degree-of-freedom(DOF)parallel mechanisms(PMs)are widely applied in five-DOF hybrid machining robots.However,there is a lack of an effective method to evaluate the configuration stiffness of mechanisms during the mechanism design stage.It is a challenge to select appropriate 2R1T PMs with excellent stiffness performance during the design stage.Considering the operational status of 2R1T PMs,the bending and torsional stiffness are considered as indices to evaluate PMs'configuration stiffness.Subsequently,a specific method is proposed to calculate these stiffness indices.Initially,the various types of structural and driving stiffness for each branch are assessed and their specific values defined.Subsequently,a rigid-flexible coupled force model for the over-constrained 2R1T PM is established,and the proposed evaluation method is used to analyze the configuration stiffness of the five 2R1T PMs in the entire workspace.Finally,the driving force and constraint force of each branch in the whole working space are calculated to further elucidate the stiffness evaluating results by using the proposed method above.The obtained results demonstrate that the bending and torsional stiffness of the 2RPU/UPR/RPR mechanism along the x and y-directions are larger than the other four mechanisms.

A vibration isolator with a controllable quasi-zero stiffness region based on nonlinear force design

To achieve stability optimization in low-frequency vibration control for precision instruments,this paper presents a quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)vibration isolator with adjustable nonlinear stiffness.Additionally,the stress-magnetism coupling model is established through meticulous theoretical derivation.The controllable QZS interval is constructed via parameter design and magnetic control,effectively segregating the high static stiffness bearing section from the QZS vibration isolation section.Furthermore,a displacement control scheme utilizing a magnetic force is proposed to regulate entry into the QZS working range for the vibration isolation platform.Experimental results demonstrate that the operation within this QZS region reduces the peak-to-peak acceleration signal by approximately 66.7%compared with the operation outside this region,thereby significantly improving the low frequency performance of the QZS vibration isolator.

Stiffness-tunable biomaterials provide a good extracellular matrix environment for axon growth and regeneration

Neuronal growth, extension, branching, and formation of neural networks are markedly influenced by the extracellular matrix—a complex network composed of proteins and carbohydrates secreted by cells. In addition to providing physical support for cells, the extracellular matrix also conveys critical mechanical stiffness cues. During the development of the nervous system, extracellular matrix stiffness plays a central role in guiding neuronal growth, particularly in the context of axonal extension, which is crucial for the formation of neural networks. In neural tissue engineering, manipulation of biomaterial stiffness is a promising strategy to provide a permissive environment for the repair and regeneration of injured nervous tissue. Recent research has fine-tuned synthetic biomaterials to fabricate scaffolds that closely replicate the stiffness profiles observed in the nervous system. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms by which extracellular matrix stiffness regulates axonal growth and regeneration. We highlight the progress made in the development of stiffness-tunable biomaterials to emulate in vivo extracellular matrix environments, with an emphasis on their application in neural repair and regeneration, along with a discussion of the current limitations and future prospects. The exploration and optimization of the stiffness-tunable biomaterials has the potential to markedly advance the development of neural tissue engineering.

Iterative Subregion Correction Preconditioners with Adaptive Tolerance for Problems with Geometrically Localized Stiffness

We present a class of preconditioners for the linear systems resulting from a finite element or discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of advection-dominated problems.These preconditioners are designed to treat the case of geometrically localized stiffness,where the convergence rates of iterative methods are degraded in a localized subregion of the mesh.Slower convergence may be caused by a number of factors,including the mesh size,anisotropy,highly variable coefficients,and more challenging physics.The approach taken in this work is to correct well-known preconditioners such as the block Jacobi and the block incomplete LU(ILU)with an adaptive inner subregion iteration.The goal of these preconditioners is to reduce the number of costly global iterations by accelerating the convergence in the stiff region by iterating on the less expensive reduced problem.The tolerance for the inner iteration is adaptively chosen to minimize subregion-local work while guaranteeing global convergence rates.We present analysis showing that the convergence of these preconditioners,even when combined with an adaptively selected tolerance,is independent of discretization parameters(e.g.,the mesh size and diffusion coefficient)in the subregion.We demonstrate significant performance improvements over black-box preconditioners when applied to several model convection-diffusion problems.Finally,we present performance results of several variations of iterative subregion correction preconditioners applied to the Reynolds number 2.25×10^(6)fluid flow over the NACA 0012 airfoil,as well as massively separated flow at 30°angle of attack.

Ginger oil-loaded transdermal adhesive patch treats post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective To find a viable alternative to reduce the number of doses required for the patients with post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD),and to improve efficacy and patient compliance.Methods In this study,we used ginger oil,a phytochemical with potential therapeutic properties,to prepare ginger oil patches.High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was used to quantify the main active component of ginger oil,6-gingerol.Transdermal absorption experiments were conducted to optimize the various pressure-sensitive adhesives and permeation enhancers,including their type and concentration.Subsequently,the ginger oil patches were optimized and subjected to content determination and property evaluations.A PTSD mouse model was established using the foot-shock method.The therapeutic effect of ginger oil patches on PTSD was assessed through pathological sections,behavioral tests,and the evaluation of biomarkers such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),and melatonin(MT).Results The results demonstrated that ginger oil patches exerted therapeutic effects against PTSD by inhibiting inflammatory responses and modulating MT and BDNF levels.Pharmacokinetic experiments revealed that ginger oil patches maintained a stable blood drug concentration for at least one day,addressing the rapid metabolism drawback of 6-gingerol and enhancing its therapeutic efficacy.Conclusions Ginger oil can be prepared as a transdermal drug patch that meets these requirements,and the bioavailability of the prepared patch is better than that of oral administration.It can improve PTSD with good patient compliance and ease of administration.Therefore,it is a promising therapeutic formulation for the treatment of PTSD.

Multi-layer quasi-zero-stiffness meta-structure for high-efficiency vibration isolation at low frequency

An easily stackable multi-layer quasi-zero-stiffness(ML-QZS)meta-structure is proposed to achieve highly efficient vibration isolation performance at low frequency.First,the distributed shape optimization method is used to design the unit cel,i.e.,the single-layer QZS(SL-QZS)meta-structure.Second,the stiffness feature of the unit cell is investigated and verified through static experiments.Third,the unit cells are stacked one by one along the direction of vibration isolation,and thus the ML-QZS meta-structure is constructed.Fourth,the dynamic modeling of the ML-QZS vibration isolation metastructure is conducted,and the dynamic responses are obtained from the equations of motion,and verified by finite element(FE)simulations.Finally,a prototype of the ML-QZS vibration isolation meta-structure is fabricated by additive manufacturing,and the vibration isolation performance is evaluated experimentally.The results show that the vibration isolation performance substantially enhances when the number of unit cells increases.More importantly,the ML-QZS meta-structure can be easily extended in the direction of vibration isolation when the unit cells are properly stacked.Hence,the ML-FQZS vibration isolation meta-structure should be a fascinating solution for highly efficient vibration isolation performance at low frequency.

Theoretical and experimental investigations on an X-shaped vibration isolator with active controlled variable stiffness

A novel X-shaped variable stiffness vibration isolator(X-VSVI)is proposed.The Runge-Kutta method,harmonic balance method,and wavelet transform spectra are introduced to evaluate the performance of the X-VSVI under various excitations.The layer number,the installation angle of the X-shaped structure,the stiffness,and the active control parameters are systematically analyzed.In addition,a prototype of the X-VSVI is manufactured,and vibration tests are carried out.The results show that the proposed X-VSVI has a superior adaptability to that of a traditional X-shaped mechanism,and shows excellent vibration isolation performance in response to different amplitudes and forms of excitations.Moreover,the vibration isolation efficiency of the device can be improved by appropriate adjustment of parameters.

Performance of composite foundations with different load transfer platforms and substratum stiffness over silty clay

The semi-rigid pile-supported composite foundation is widely used in highway projects due to its effectiveness in increasing the bearing capacity and stability of foundations.It is crucial to understand the stress distribution across the embankment width and the behaviour of unreinforced foundations.Thus,five centrifuge tests were conducted to examine the bearing and deformation behaviours of NPRS(Non-Connected Piled Raft Systems)and GRPS(GeosyntheticReinforced Pile-Supported systems)with varying substratum stiffness,then a comparative analysis was conducted on embankment settlement,pressures underneath the embankments,and axial forces along the piles.The results indicated that greater substratum stiffness correlates with reduced settlement and deformation at various depths.Deformation occurring 5 meters from the embankment toe includes settlement in NPRS and upward movement in GRPS.The potential sliding surface is primarily located within the embankment in NPRS,whereas it may extend through both the embankment and foundation in GRPS.The pile-soil stress ratio and efficiency in NPRS are higher than in GRPS across the embankment.The axial force borne by end-bearing piles is significantly greater than that by floating piles.As the buried depth increases,the axial force in GRPS initially rises then declines,whereas in NPRS,it remains relatively constant within a certain range before decreasing.This study aids in assessing the applicability of composite foundations in complex railway environments and provides a reference for procedural measures under similar conditions.

Negative Stiffness Mechanism on An Asymmetric Wave Energy Converter by Using A Weakly Nonlinear Potential Model

Salter's duck,an asymmetrical wave energy converter(WEC)device,showed high efficiency in extracting energy from 2D regular waves in the past;yet,challenges remain for fluctuating wave conditions.These can potentially be addressed by adopting a negative stiffness mechanism(NSM)in WEC devices to enhance system efficiency,even in highly nonlinear and steep 3D waves.A weakly nonlinear model was developed which incorporated a nonlinear restoring moment and NSM into the linear formulations and was applied to an asymmetric WEC using a time domain potential flow model.The model was initially validated by comparing it with published experimental and numerical computational fluid dynamics results.The current results were in good agreement with the published results.It was found that the energy extraction increased in the range of 6%to 17%during the evaluation of the effectiveness of the NSM in regular waves.Under irregular wave conditions,specifically at the design wave conditions for the selected test site,the energy extraction increased by 2.4%,with annual energy production increments of approximately 0.8MWh.The findings highlight the potential of NSM in enhancing the performance of asymmetric WEC devices,indicating more efficient energy extraction under various wave conditions.

Ilizarov technique for treating elbow stiffness caused by myositis ossificans:A case report

BACKGROUND Myositis ossificans(MO)is a rare disease involving the formation of bone outside the musculoskeletal system.While surgical intervention is the main treatment approach,preventing recurrence and standardized rehabilitation are also crucial.Here,we present a surgical strategy to prevent the recurrence of MO.CASE SUMMARY A 28-year-old female patient was admitted for the first time for a comminuted fracture of the left olecranon.However,incorrect postoperative rehabilitation resulted in the development of elbow joint stiffness with ectopic ossification,causing a loss of normal range of motion.The patient was diagnosed with MO based on physical examination,X-ray findings,and clinical presentation.We devised a surgical strategy to remove MO,followed by fixation with an Ilizarov frame,and implemented a scientifically reasonable rehabilitation plan.The surgery lasted for 3 h with an estimated blood loss of 45 mL.A drainage tube was placed after surgery,and fluid was aspirated through ultrasound-guided puncture.The patient experienced a significant reduction in joint stiffness after surgery.In the final follow-up at 9 mouths,there was evident improvement in the range of motion of the elbow joint,and no other symptoms were reported.CONCLUSION The Ilizarov frame is an advantageous surgical technique for facilitating rehabilitation after MO removal.It offers benefits such as passive recovery,individualized treatment,and prompt recovery.

MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental disorder caused by exposure to severe traumatic life events.Currently,there are no validated biomarkers or laboratory tests that can distinguish between trauma survivors with and without post-traumatic stress disorder.In addition,the heterogeneity of clinical presentations of post-traumatic stress disorder and the overlap of symptoms with other conditions can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.Evidence suggests that this condition is a multisystem disorder that affects many biological systems,raising the possibility that peripheral markers of disease may be used to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder.We performed a PubMed search for microRNAs(miRNAs)in post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)that could serve as diagnostic biomarkers and found 18 original research articles on studies performed with human patients and published January 2012 to December 2023.These included four studies with whole blood,seven with peripheral blood mononuclear cells,four with plasma extracellular vesicles/exosomes,and one with serum exosomes.One of these studies had also used whole plasma.Two studies were excluded as they did not involve microRNA biomarkers.Most of the studies had collected samples from adult male Veterans who had returned from deployment and been exposed to combat,and only two were from recently traumatized adult subjects.In measuring miRNA expression levels,many of the studies had used microarray miRNA analysis,miRNA Seq analysis,or NanoString panels.Only six studies had used real time polymerase chain reaction assay to determine/validate miRNA expression in PTSD subjects compared to controls.The miRNAs that were found/validated in these studies may be considered as potential candidate biomarkers for PTSD and include miR-3130-5p in whole blood;miR-193a-5p,-7113-5p,-125a,-181c,and-671-5p in peripheral blood mononuclear cells;miR-10b-5p,-203a-3p,-4488,-502-3p,-874-3p,-5100,and-7641 in plasma extracellular vesicles/exosomes;and miR-18a-3p and-7-1-5p in blood plasma.Several important limitations identified in the studies need to be taken into account in future studies.Further studies are warranted with war veterans and recently traumatized children,adolescents,and adults having PTSD and use of animal models subjected to various stressors and the effects of suppressing or overexpressing specific microRNAs.

Static-to-kinematic modeling and experimental validation of tendon-driven quasi continuum manipulators with nonconstant subsegment stiffness

Continuum robots with high flexibility and compliance have the capability to operate in confined and cluttered environments. To enhance the load capacity while maintaining robot dexterity, we propose a novel non-constant subsegment stiffness structure for tendon-driven quasi continuum robots(TDQCRs) comprising rigid-flexible coupling subsegments.Aiming at real-time control applications, we present a novel static-to-kinematic modeling approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of the TDQCR model. The analytical subsegment-based kinematics for the multisection manipulator is derived based on screw theory and product of exponentials formula, and the static model considering gravity loading,actuation loading, and robot constitutive laws is established. Additionally, the effect of tension attenuation caused by routing channel friction is considered in the robot statics, resulting in improved model accuracy. The root-mean-square error between the outputs of the static model and the experimental system is less than 1.63% of the arm length(0.5 m). By employing the proposed static model, a mapping of bending angles between the configuration space and the subsegment space is established. Furthermore, motion control experiments are conducted on our TDQCR system, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the static-to-kinematic model.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Defence and Security Forces in Northern Benin (2023)

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined as “actual exposure to death or the threat of death, serious injury or sexual violence”, either directly or indirectly, resulting in a symptomatic procession of repetition, avoidance, neurovegetative hyperactivity and individualized symptoms, with or without negative cognitive and mood changes. It therefore goes without saying that the defence and security forces constitute a high-risk population in need of attention. Objective: To study post-traumatic stress disorder in defence and security forces in the city of Parakou in 2023. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from December 2022 to July 2023. The study population consisted of active military, republican police and firefighters in the city of Parakou in 2023. Non-proportional stratified sampling was used, given the inaccessibility of the source population size for national security reasons. Post-traumatic stress disorder was assessed using the “post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-5 (PCLS-5) scale. Results: A total of 305 subjects participated in the survey. Males dominated 90.2%. The most represented corps was the Republican Police (41.6%), most of whom were non-commissioned officers (46.6%). The majority count between 11 and 20 years of service (48.9%), with 2 to 5 missions completed (67.5%). The calculated prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder was 11.8%, based on the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-5 (PCL-5). Of the 36 respondents with post-traumatic stress disorder, 20 (55.6%) had experienced an armed attack, 25 (69.4%) had witnessed a violent death, 18 (50.0%) had witnessed the agony of a colleague, 15 (41.7%) had been exposed to a fire or explosion, while 26 (72.2%) had been traumatized by physical and/or verbal aggression. 5 (13.9%) had consulted a specialist psychiatrist, while 6 (16.7%) were on medication and 26 (72.2%) used sport as a means of maintaining physical and mental health. Respectively 22 (61.1%) and 21 (58.3%) had definite symptoms of anxiety and depression. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between post-traumatic stress disorder and the following variables: total number of children ≤ 2 (p = 0.015), comorbidities such as arterial hypertension (p = 0.007), history of hepatitis (p = 0.017), work accidents (p = 0.016), alcohol dependence (p = 0.004), domestic violence (p = 0.004), psychological violence (p = 0.017) and anxiety disorders (p Conclusion: Defence and security personnel can also be prey to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which needs to be systematically taken into account when they are subjected to trauma in the course of their duties. Mental health should be an integral part of the periodic medical check-up objectives for defence and security forces throughout the country.

Liver stiffness in hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis patients:Hepatitis B virus infection and transaminases should be considered

BACKGROUND Liver condition is a crucial prognostic factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),but a convenient and comprehensive method to assess liver condition is lacking.Liver stiffness(LS)measured by two-dimensional shear wave elastography may help in assessing liver fibrosis and liver condition.Chronic hepatitis B(CHB)is an important risk factor for HCC progression,but LS was found to be less reliable in assessing liver fibrosis following hepatitis viral eradication.We hypothesize that the status of hepatitis virus infection would affect the accuracy of LS in assessing the liver condition.AIM To test the feasibility and impact factors of using LS to assess liver condition in patients with HCC and CHB.METHODS A total of 284 patients were retrospectively recruited and classified into two groups on the basis of serum CHB virus hepatitis B virus(HBV)-DNA levels[HBV-DNA≥100.00 IU/mL as Pos group(n=200)and<100.00 IU/mL as Neg group(n=84)].Correlation analyses and receiver operating characteristic analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between LS and liver condition.RESULTS A significant correlation was found between LS and most of the parameters considered to have the ability to evaluate liver condition(P<0.05).When alanine aminotransferase(ALT)concentrations were normal(≤40 U/L),LS was correlated with liver condition indices(P<0.05),but the optimal cutoff of LS to identify a Child-Pugh score of 5 was higher in the Neg group(9.30 kPa)than the Pos group(7.40 kPa).When ALT levels were elevated(>40 U/L),the correlations between LS and liver condition indices were not significant(P>0.05).CONCLUSION LS was significantly correlated with most liver condition indices in patients with CHB and HCC.However,these correlations varied according to differences in HBV-DNA and transaminase concentrations.

Effects of Pearl Yangxin Anshen Decoction on HAMD and PTSD-SS Scores, Cytokines and Related Metabolites in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective: This paper aims to observe the Pearl Yangxin Anshen Decoction to influence the score of HAMD and PTSD-SS, the changes of the cytokines and the related metabolic product in patients with PTSD. Methods: From June 2015 to May 2016, in the traditional Chinese medicine clinics of Hainan Province People’s Hospital, there were 50 patients with PTSD, the age were from 30 to 60, they were randomly divided into treatment group (25 cases) and control group (25 cases), then compared the scores of HAMD and PTSD-SS between the two groups, searched the changes of cytokines and the related metabolic product. Results: In the treatment group: before and after treatment the scores of PTSD-SS were 65.64 ± 7.02, 28.32 ± 4.18, and the scores of HAMD were 29.28 ± 1.97, 11.72 ± 2.13;In the control group: before and after treatment the scores of PTSD-SS were 63.24 ± 6.16, 31.40 ± 4.29, the scores of HAMD were 30.24 ± 2.05, 13.08 ± 2.30. After 3 months patients in treatment group the scores of PTSD-SS and HAMD were lower than the control group (t = 2.570, P = 0.013, t = -2.1640, P = 0.035). In the control group: before and after 3 months treatment the IL-2 levels respectively were 79.84 ± 26.46 pg/ml, 56.18 ± 22.67 pg/ml, the IL-6 levels respectively were 110.83 ± 47.65 pg/ml, 59.67 ± 44.68 pg/ml, the IL-8 levels respectively were 73.11 ± 78.51 pg/ml, 55.83 ± 81.94 pg/ml, the NE levels respectively were 420.04 ± 674.75 pg/ml, 185.31 ± 417.91 pg/ml, the MDA levels respectively were 112.35 ± 62.87 ng/ml, 60.42.33 ± 53.64 ng/ml, the NO levels were 126.6 ± 47.4 μmol/L, 78.6 ± 45.7 μmol/L, the VIP levels were 396.6 ± 144.4 pg/ml, 122.4 ± 111.5 pg/ml. In the treatment group: before and after 3 months treatment the IL-2 levels respectively were 86.00 ± 32.29 pg/ml, 53.84 ± 27.01 pg/ml, the IL-6 levels respectively were 108.21 ± 44.60 pg/ml, 42.46 ± 42.16 pg/ml, the IL-8 levels respectively were 81.48 ± 94.19 pg/ml, 54.07 ± 84.15 pg/ml, the NE levels respectively were 392.93 ± 592.84 pg/ml, 243.85 ± 588.45 pg/ml, the MDA levels respectively were 117.58 ± 63.37 ng/ml, 45.91 ± 38.94 ng/ml, the NO levels respectively were 135.9 ± 46.4 μmol/L, 72.6 ± 46.6 μmol/L, the VIP levels respectively were 414.0 ± 140.1 pg/ml, 185.8 ± 105.3 pg/ml. In the two groups as the extension of treatment time, the content of IL-2, IL-8, IL-6, NE, MDA, NO, and VIP were gradually reduced, and the level of reduction of the treatment group patients was higher than the control group, the change of ACTH and SOD levels just the opposite. Conclusion: The Pearl Yangxin Anshen Decoction could improve the symptoms of psychological anxiety, depression and other psychological problems in patients with PTSD, and influence the change of cytokines and related metabolites product.

Shi-pi-xiao-ji formula suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma by reducing cellular stiffness through upregulation of acetyl-coA acetyltransferase 1

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that the Shi-pi-xiao-ji(SPXJ)herbal decoction formula is effective in suppressing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),but the underlying mechanisms are not known.Therefore,this study investigated whether the antitumor effects of the SPXJ formula in treating HCC were mediated by acetyl-coA acetyltransferase 1(ACAT1)-regulated cellular stiffness.Through a series of experiments,we concluded that SPXJ inhibits the progression of HCC by upregulating the expression level of ACAT1,lowering the level of cholesterol in the cell membrane,and altering the cellular stiffness,which provides a new idea for the research of traditional Chinese medicine against HCC.AIM To investigate the anti-tumor effects of the SPXJ formula on the malignant progression of HCC.METHODS HCC cells were cultured in vitro with SPXJ-containing serum prepared by injecting SPXJ formula into wild-type mice.The apoptotic rate and proliferative,invasive,and migratory abilities of control and SPXJ-treated HCC cells were compared.Atomic force microscopy was used to determine the cell surface morphology and the Young’s modulus values of the control and SPXJ-treated HCC cells.Plasma membrane cholesterol levels in HCC cells were detected using the Amplex Red cholesterol detection kit.ACAT1 protein levels were estimated using western blotting.RESULTS Compared with the vehicle group,SPXJ serum considerably reduced proliferation of HCC cells,increased stiffness and apoptosis of HCC cells,inhibited migration and invasion of HCC cells,decreased plasma membrane cholesterol levels,and upregulated ACAT1 protein levels.However,treatment of HCC cells with the water-soluble cholesterol promoted proliferation,migration,and invasion of HCC cells as well as decreased cell stiffness and plasma membrane cholesterol levels,but did not alter the apoptotic rate and ACAT1 protein expression levels compared with the vehicle control.CONCLUSION SPXJ formula inhibited proliferation,invasion,and migration of HCC cells by decreasing plasma membrane cholesterol levels and altering cellular stiffness through upregulation of ACAT1 protein expression.

Correlation Study of Neurotransmitter and Immune Levels in Pre-Hospital Emergency Nurses with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of PTSD in pre-hospital emergency nurses and its related factors, and to compare the differences of neurotransmitter and immune-related factors between pre-hospital emergency nurses who experienced traumatic events and those who did not develop PTSD and healthy people. How: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Self-Rating Scale (PCL-C) tests were performed on pre-hospital emergency nurses in PTSD group, non-PTSD group and healthy control group, and the plasma monoamine neurotransmitters and serum cytokines were determined by double-antibody sandwich ABC-ELISA assay using enzyme-linked adsorption kit provided by Shanghai Xitang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Results: 1) There were statistically significant differences in PCL-C scores between PTSD group, non-PTSD group and healthy group (p α between PTSD group, non-PTSD group and healthy group (p Conclusion: Pre-hospital emergency nurses should have early psychological intervention and guidance to reduce the occurrence of PTSD in emergency and emergency nurses.