Reduced mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor expression by mutant androgen receptor contributes to neurodegeneration in a model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy pathology

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a neurodegenerative disease caused by extended CAG trinucleotide repeats in the androgen receptor gene,which encodes a ligand-dependent transcription facto r.The mutant androgen receptor protein,characterized by polyglutamine expansion,is prone to misfolding and forms aggregates in both the nucleus and cytoplasm in the brain in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients.These aggregates alter protein-protein interactions and compromise transcriptional activity.In this study,we reported that in both cultured N2a cells and mouse brain,mutant androgen receptor with polyglutamine expansion causes reduced expression of mesencephalic astrocyte-de rived neurotrophic factor.Overexpressio n of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor amelio rated the neurotoxicity of mutant androgen receptor through the inhibition of mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Conversely.knocking down endogenous mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor in the mouse brain exacerbated neuronal damage and mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Our findings suggest that inhibition of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor expression by mutant androgen receptor is a potential mechanism underlying neurodegeneration in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.

Experimental models of high-risk bowel anastomosis in rats:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Anastomotic leaks remain one of the most dreaded complications in gastrointestinal surgery causing significant morbidity,that negatively affect the patients’quality of life.Experimental studies play an important role in understanding the pathophysiological background of anastomotic healing and there are still many fields that require further investigation.Knowledge drawn from these studies can lead to interventions or techniques that can reduce the risk of anastomotic leak in patients with high-risk features.Despite the advances in experimental protocols and techniques,designing a high-quality study is still challenging for the investigators as there is a plethora of different models used.AIM To review current state of the art for experimental protocols in high-risk anastomosis in rats.METHODS This systematic review was performed according to The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.To identify eligible studies,a comprehensive literature search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed(MEDLINE)and Scopus,covering the period from conception until 18 October 2023.RESULTS From our search strategy 102 studies were included and were categorized based on the mechanism used to create a high-risk anastomosis.Methods of assessing anastomotic healing were extracted and were individually appraised.CONCLUSION Anastomotic healing studies have evolved over the last decades,but the findings are yet to be translated into human studies.There is a need for high-quality,well-designed studies that will help to the better understanding of the pathophysiology of anastomotic healing and the effects of various interventions.

Development of a chronic compression spinal cord injury model in neonatal and adult rats

Background:Spinal cord injury presents a significant burden globally,with traumatic spinal cord injury being the predominant cause historically.However,nontraumatic spinal cord injury(NTSCI)is emerging as a significant contributor,particularly in devel-oped nations,yet it remains poorly understood due to underreporting and misclassifi-cation.NTSCI,spanning various etiologies such as bony growths,vascular conditions,infections,neoplastic conditions,and immune disorders,poses unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment,often resulting in lifelong morbidity.This study addresses the lack of suitable animal models for NTSCI research,especially in neonatal animals.Methods:Utilizing a solid spacer approach,we developed a compression NTSCI model applicable to both neonatal and adult Sprague-Dawley rats.Results:Through anatomical measurements and in vivo experiments,we confirmed the feasibility and safety of the spacer insertion procedure and observed no acute off-target effects.Conclusion:The versatility of this model lies in its adaptability to different ages of rats,offering a cost-effective and reproducible means to induce graded injuries.Moreover,behavioral assessments demonstrated observable hindlimb function,validating the model's utility for studying functional outcomes.Although challenges persist,par-ticularly in accounting for spinal column growth in neonatal animals,this model fills a crucial gap in pediatric NTSCI research.By providing a platform to investigate patho-physiological mechanisms and test potential treatments,it offers promising avenues for advancing our understanding and management of pediatric NTSCI.

A chronic ulcerative colitis model in rats

INTRODUCTIONIn recent years,there have been many reports aboutanimal model to investigate drugs for inflammatorybowel diseases (IBD).The experimental animalmodel often used is acetic acid-induced damage ofcolonic muscosa.In the present study,this animalmodel was investigated by administering variousconcentrations of TNBS.

Experimental models of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common chronic liver disease in the Western world,and it persists at a high prevalence.NAFLD is characterised by the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and includes a spectrum of histopathological findings,ranging from simple fatty liver through non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)to fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis,which may progress to hepatocellular carcinoma.The pathogenesis of NAFLD is closely related to the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.Understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of NAFLD in humans has currently been limited by the lack of satisfactory animal models.The ideal animal model for NAFLD should reflect all aspects of the intricate etiopathogenesis of human NAFLD and the typical histological findings of its different stages.Within the past several years,great emphasis has been placed on the development of an appropriate model for human NASH.This paper reviews the widely used experimental models of NAFLD in rats.We discuss nutritional,genetic and combined models of NAFLD and their pros and cons.The choice of a suitable animal model for this disease while respecting its limitations may help to improve the understanding of its complex pathogenesis and to discover appropriate therapeutic strategies.Considering the legislative,ethical,economical and health factors of NAFLD,animal models are essential tools for the research of this disease.

Modeling postpartum depression in rats： theoretic and methodological issues

The postpartum period is when a host of changes occur at molecular, cellular, physiological and behavioral levels to prepare female humans for the challenge of maternity. Alteration or prevention of these normal adaptions is thought to contribute to disruptions of emotion regulation, motivation and cognitive abilities that underlie postpartum mental disorders, such as postpartum depression. Despite the high incidence of this disorder, and the detrimental consequences for both mother and child, its etiology and related neurobiological mechanisms remain poorly understood, partially due to the lack of appropriate animal models. In recent decades, there have been a number of attempts to model postpartum depression disorder in rats. In the present review, we first describe clinical symptoms of postpartum depression and discuss known risk factors, including both genetic and environmental factors. Thereafter, we discuss various rat models that have been developed to capture various aspects of this disorder and knowledge gained from such attempts. In doing so, we focus on the theories behind each attempt and the methods used to achieve their goals. Finally, we point out several understudied areas in this field and make suggestions for future directions.

Key factors in developing the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced post-inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome model in rats

AIM:To investigate the key factors in developing the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced postinflammatory irritable bowel syndrome(PI-IBS)model in rats. METHODS:TNBS was administered to rats at the following conditions:(1)with different doses(20,10,5 mg/0.8 mL per rat);(2)with same dose in different concentrations(20 mg/rat,25,50 mg/mL);(3)in different ethanol percentage(25%,50%);and(4)at depth either 4 cm or 8 cm from anus.At 5 d and 4 wk after TNBS administration,inflammation severity and inflammation resolution were evaluated.At 4 and 8 wk after TNBS application,visceral hyperalgesia and enterochromaffin(EC)cell hyperplasia were assayed by abdominal withdrawal reflex test,silver staining and capillary electrophoresis. RESULTS:Our results showed that:(1)TNBS induced dose-dependent acute inflammation and inflammation resolution.At 5 d post TNBS,the pathological score and myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity in all TNBS treated rats were significantly elevated compared to that of the control(9.48±1.86,8.18±0.67,5.78± 0.77 vs 0,and 3.55±1.11,1.80±0.82,0.97±0.08 unit/mg vs 0.14±0.01 unit/mg,P<0.05).At 4 wk post TNBS,the pathological score in high and median dose TNBS-treated rats were still significantly higher than that of the control(1.52±0.38 and 0.80±0.35 vs 0,P<0.05);(2)Intracolonic TNBS administration position affected the persistence of visceral hyperalgesia.At 4 wk post TNBS,abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR)threshold pressure in all TNBS-treated groups were decreased compared to that of the control(21.52 ±1.73 and 27.10±1.94 mmHg vs 34.44±1.89 mmHg,P<0.05).At 8 wk post TNBS,AWR threshold pressure in 8 cm administration group was still significantly decreased(23.33±1.33 mmHg vs 36.79±2.29 mmHg,P<0.05);(3)Ethanol percentage affected the TNBS-induced inflammation severity and visceral hyperalgesia.In TNBS-25%ethanol-treated group,the pathological score and MPO activity were significantly lowered compared to that of the TNBS-50%ethanoltreated group,while AWR threshold pressure were significantly elevated(36.33±0.61 mmHg vs 23.33±1.33 mmHg,P<0.05);and(4)TNBS(5 mg/0.8 mL per rat, in 50%ethanol,8 cm from anus)-treated rats recovered completely from the inflammation with acquired visceral hyperalgesia and EC cell hyperplasia at 4 wk after TNBS administration.CONCLUSION:TNBS dosage,concentration,intraco-lonic administration position,and ethanol percentage play important roles in developing visceral hyperalgesia and EC cell hyperplasia of TNBS-induced PI-IBS rats.

Keladi candik(Alocasia longiloba Miq.) petiole extracts promote wound healing in a full thickness excision wound model in rats

Objective: To investigate the wound-healing effect of Alocasia longiloba(A. longiloba) petiole extract on wounds in rats.Methods: Twenty-two male Sprague-dawley rats were randomly assigned to receive 10% solcoseryl gel, phosphate buffer saline, 50% ethanol, 95% ethanol and hexane extracts of A. longiloba at 1.5%, 3% and 6% doses, respectively. A full thicknesses wound(6 mm) was created on the dorsal of the rat; and all rats were applied with the extract solutions, 10% solcoseryl gel and phosphate buffer saline once a day topically until day 12. The wound was photographed on day 1, 6 and 12, and the percentage of wound contraction was calculated. On day 12, rats were sacrificed and histological examination of granulation tissue was carried out using haematoxylin & eosin and Masson's Trichrome stain to determine the wound healing effect.Results: In this study, 6% of 50% and 95% ethanol extracts of A. longiloba showed 82.50% and 82.32% wound contraction, respectively, and were comparable with 10% solcoseryl gel(82.30%). Meanwhile, phosphate buffer saline treated group showed the lowest wound contraction(69.86%). Histological assessment of wound treated with 6% of 95% ethanol extract of A. longiloba showed distinct epidermal and dermal layer, higher proliferation of fibroblast and more angiogenesis with collagen compared to other wound treated groups.Conclusions: A. longiloba petiole extracts have a wound healing potential and 6% of 95% ethanol extract of A. longiloba is more effective. Further studies are required to understand the wound healing mechanism of action of the extract.

MicroRNA-630 alleviates inflammatory reactions in rats with diabetic kidney disease by targeting toll-like receptor 4

BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a major complication of diabetes mellitus.Renal tubular epithelial cell(TEC)damage,which is strongly associated with the inflammatory response and mesenchymal trans-differentiation,plays a significant role in DKD;However,the precise molecular mechanism is unknown.The recently identified microRNA-630(miR-630)has been hypothesized to be closely associated with cell migration,apoptosis,and autophagy.However,the association between miR-630 and DKD and the underlying mechanism remain unknown.AIM To investigate how miR-630 affects TEC injury and the inflammatory response in DKD rats.METHODS Streptozotocin was administered to six-week-old male rats to create a hypergly cemic diabetic model.In the second week of modeling,the rats were divided into control,DKD,negative control of lentivirus,and miR-630 overexpression groups.After 8 wk,urine and blood samples were collected for the kidney injury assays,and renal tissues were removed for further molecular assays.The target gene for miR-630 was predicted using bioinformatics,and the association between miR-630 and toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)was confirmed using in vitro investigations and double luciferase reporter gene assays.Overexpression of miR-630 in DKD rats led to changes in body weight,renal weight index,basic blood parameters and histopathological changes.RESULTS The expression level of miR-630 was reduced in the kidney tissue of rats with DKD(P<0.05).The miR-630 and TLR4 expressions in rat renal TECs(NRK-52E)were measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.The mRNA expression level of miR-630 was significantly lower in the high-glucose(HG)and HG+mimic negative control(NC)groups than in the normal glucose(NG)group(P<0.05).In contrast,the mRNA expression level of TLR4 was significantly higher in these groups(P<0.05).However,miR-630 mRNA expression increased and TLR4 mRNA expression significantly decreased in the HG+miR-630 mimic group than in the HG+mimic NC group(P<0.05).Furthermore,the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and IL-6 were significantly higher in the HG and HG+mimic NC groups than in NG group(P<0.05).However,the levels of these cytokines were significantly lower in the HG+miR-630 mimic group than in the HG+mimic NC group(P<0.05).Notably,changes in protein expression were observed.The HG and HG+mimic NC groups showed a significant decrease in E-cadherin protein expression,whereas TLR4,α-smooth muscle actin(SMA),and collagen IV protein expression increased(P<0.05).Conversely,the HG+miR-630 mimic group exhibited a significant increase in E-cadherin protein expression and a notable decrease in TLR4,α-SMA,and collagen IV protein expression than in the HG+mimic NC group(P<0.05).The miR-630 targets TLR4 gene expression.In vivo experiments demonstrated that DKD rats treated with miR-630 agomir exhibited significantly higher miR-630 mRNA expression than DKD rats injected with agomir NC.Additionally,rats treated with miR-630 agomir showed significant reductions in urinary albumin,blood glucose,TLR4,and proinflammatory markers(TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6)expression levels(P<0.05).Moreover,these rats exhibited fewer kidney lesions and reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells.CONCLUSION MiR-630 may inhibit the inflammatory reaction of DKD by targeting TLR4,and has a protective effect on DKD.

Genetically modified non-human primate models for research on neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases(NDs)are a group of debilitating neurological disorders that primarily affect elderly populations and include Alzheimer's disease(AD),Parkinson's disease(PD),Huntington's disease(HD),and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Currently,there are no therapies available that can delay,stop,or reverse the pathological progression of NDs in clinical settings.As the population ages,NDs are imposing a huge burden on public health systems and affected families.Animal models are important tools for preclinical investigations to understand disease pathogenesis and test potential treatments.While numerous rodent models of NDs have been developed to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms,the limited success of translating findings from animal models to clinical practice suggests that there is still a need to bridge this translation gap.Old World nonhuman primates(NHPs),such as rhesus,cynomolgus,and vervet monkeys,are phylogenetically,physiologically,biochemically,and behaviorally most relevant to humans.This is particularly evident in the similarity of the structure and function of their central nervous systems,rendering such species uniquely valuable for neuroscience research.Recently,the development of several genetically modified NHP models of NDs has successfully recapitulated key pathologies and revealed novel mechanisms.This review focuses on the efficacy of NHPs in modeling NDs and the novel pathological insights gained,as well as the challenges associated with the generation of such models and the complexities involved in their subsequent analysis.

A Comparative Study on Several Models of Experimental Renal Calcium Oxalate Stones Formation in Rats

In order to compare the effects of several experimental renal calcium oxalate stones formation models in rats and to find a simple and convenient model with significant effect of calcium oxalate crystals deposition in the kidney, several rat models of renal calcium oxalate stones formation were induced by some crystal-inducing drugs （CID） including ethylene glycol （EG）, ammonium chloride （AC）, vitamin D3 [ 1 α（OH）VitD3, alfacalcidol], calcium gluconate, ammonium oxalate, gentamicin sulfate, L-hydroxyproline. The rats were fed with drugs given singly or unitedly. At the end of experiment, 24-h urines were collected and the serum creatinine （Cr）, blood urea nitrogen （BUN）, the extents of calcium oxalate crystal deposition in the renal tissue, urinary calcium and oxalate excretion were measured. The serum Cr levels in the stone-forming groups were significantly higher than those in the control group except for the group EG＋L-hydroxyproline, group calcium gluconate and group oxalate. Blood BUN concentration was significantly higher in rats fed with CID than that in control group except for group EG＋L-hydroxyproline and group ammonium oxalate plus calcium gluconate. In the group of rats administered with EG plus Vitamin D3, the deposition of calcium oxalate crystal in the renal tissue and urinary calcium excretion were significantly greater than other model groups. The effect of the model induced by EG plus AC was similar to that in the group induced by EG plus Vitamin D3. EG plus Vitamin D3 or EG plus AC could stably and significantly induced the rat model of renal calcium oxalate stones formation .

Lipopolysaccharide “Two-hit” Induced Refractory Hypoxemia Acute Respiratory Distress Model in Rats

To establish a stable and reliable model of refractory hypoxemia acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS） and examine its pathological mechanisms, a total of 144 healthy male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups： group Ⅰ （saline control group）, group Ⅱ （LPS intravenous ＂single-hit＂ group）, group Ⅲ （LPS intratracheal ＂single-hit＂ group） and Group IV （LPS ＂two-hit＂ group）. Rats were intravenously injected or intratracheally instilled with a large dose of LPS （10 mg/kg in 0.5 mL） to simulate a single attack of ARDS, or intraperitoneally injected with a small dose of LPS （1 mg/kg） followed by tracheal instillation with median dose of LPS （5 mg/kg） to establish a ＂two-hit＂ model. Rats in each group were monitored by arterial blood gas analysis and visual inspection for three consecutive days. Arterial blood gas values, lung wet/dry weight ratio and pathological pulmonary changes were analyzed to determine the effects of each ALI/ARDS model. Concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-10 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） and blood plasma were meastired by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays （ELISA）. Our resulsts showed that single LPS-stimulation, whether through intravenous injection or tracheal instillation, could only induce ALl and temporary hypoxemia in rats. A two-hit LPS stimulation induces prolonged hypoxemia and specific pulmonary injury in rats, and is therefore a more ideal approximation of ARDS in the animal model. The pathogenesis of LPS two-hit-induced ARDS is associated with an uncontrolled systemic inflammatory response and inflammatory injury. It is concluded that the rat ARDS model produced by our LPS two-hit method is more stable and reliable than previous models, and closer to the diagnostic criteria of ARDS, and better mimics the pathological process of ARDS.

Dysfunctional attitudes,social support,negative life events,and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents:A moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND Depression is a prevalent psychological issue in adolescents that is significantly related to negative life events(NLEs)and dysfunctional attitudes.High levels of social support can significantly buffer NLEs’effect on depression.Currently,there is limited research on how social support moderates the relationship between NLEs,dysfunctional attitudes,and depression in adolescents in China.It is imperative to investigate this moderating effect to mitigate dysfunctional attitudes in adolescent undergoing depressive mood,ultimately enhancing their overall mental health.AIM To investigate the relationship and underlying mechanisms between specific dysfunctional attitudes,social support,and depression among Chinese adolescents.METHODS This is a cross-sectional study which selected five middle schools in Shandong Province for investigation in March 2022.Participants included 795 adolescents(49.87%male,mage=15.15,SD=1.84,age range=11-18 years old).All participants completed the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale,Adolescent Life Event Scale,Beck Depression Inventory,and Social Support Rating Scale.A moderated mediation model was conducted to examine the relationship between specific dysfunctional attitudes,social support,and depression.RESULTS Results indicated that NLEs affected depression through the mediating role of specific dysfunctional attitudes(autonomy attitudesβ=0.21;perfectionismβ=0.25).Moreover,social support was found to moderate the mediating effect between NLEs,specific dysfunctional attitudes,and depressive symptoms(autonomy attitudes b2=-0.08;perfectionism b2=-0.09).CONCLUSION Dysfunctional attitudes mediated and social support moderated the relationship between NLEs and depression.Social support can buffer depression symptoms among adolescents with autonomy attitudes and perfectionism.

High-speed penetration of ogive-nose projectiles into thick concrete targets:Tests and a projectile nose evolution model

The majority of the projectiles used in the hypersonic penetration study are solid flat-nosed cylindrical projectiles with a diameter of less than 20 mm.This study aims to fill the gap in the experimental and analytical study of the evolution of the nose shape of larger hollow projectiles under hypersonic penetration.In the hypersonic penetration test,eight ogive-nose AerMet100 steel projectiles with a diameter of 40 mm were launched to hit concrete targets with impact velocities that ranged from 1351 to 1877 m/s.Severe erosion of the projectiles was observed during high-speed penetration of heterogeneous targets,and apparent localized mushrooming occurred in the front nose of recovered projectiles.By examining the damage to projectiles,a linear relationship was found between the relative length reduction rate and the initial kinetic energy of projectiles in different penetration tests.Furthermore,microscopic analysis revealed the forming mechanism of the localized mushrooming phenomenon for eroding penetration,i.e.,material spall erosion abrasion mechanism,material flow and redistribution abrasion mechanism and localized radial upsetting deformation mechanism.Finally,a model of highspeed penetration that included erosion was established on the basis of a model of the evolution of the projectile nose that considers radial upsetting;the model was validated by test data from the literature and the present study.Depending upon the impact velocity,v0,the projectile nose may behave as undistorted,radially distorted or hemispherical.Due to the effects of abrasion of the projectile and enhancement of radial upsetting on the duration and amplitude of the secondary rising segment in the pulse shape of projectile deceleration,the predicted DOP had an upper limit.

Enhancing Deep Learning Soil Moisture Forecasting Models by Integrating Physics-based Models

Accurate soil moisture(SM)prediction is critical for understanding hydrological processes.Physics-based(PB)models exhibit large uncertainties in SM predictions arising from uncertain parameterizations and insufficient representation of land-surface processes.In addition to PB models,deep learning(DL)models have been widely used in SM predictions recently.However,few pure DL models have notably high success rates due to lacking physical information.Thus,we developed hybrid models to effectively integrate the outputs of PB models into DL models to improve SM predictions.To this end,we first developed a hybrid model based on the attention mechanism to take advantage of PB models at each forecast time scale(attention model).We further built an ensemble model that combined the advantages of different hybrid schemes(ensemble model).We utilized SM forecasts from the Global Forecast System to enhance the convolutional long short-term memory(ConvLSTM)model for 1–16 days of SM predictions.The performances of the proposed hybrid models were investigated and compared with two existing hybrid models.The results showed that the attention model could leverage benefits of PB models and achieved the best predictability of drought events among the different hybrid models.Moreover,the ensemble model performed best among all hybrid models at all forecast time scales and different soil conditions.It is highlighted that the ensemble model outperformed the pure DL model over 79.5%of in situ stations for 16-day predictions.These findings suggest that our proposed hybrid models can adequately exploit the benefits of PB model outputs to aid DL models in making SM predictions.

Predictive modeling for postoperative delirium in elderly patients with abdominal malignancies using synthetic minority oversampling technique

BACKGROUND Postoperative delirium,particularly prevalent in elderly patients after abdominal cancer surgery,presents significant challenges in clinical management.AIM To develop a synthetic minority oversampling technique(SMOTE)-based model for predicting postoperative delirium in elderly abdominal cancer patients.METHODS In this retrospective cohort study,we analyzed data from 611 elderly patients who underwent abdominal malignant tumor surgery at our hospital between September 2020 and October 2022.The incidence of postoperative delirium was recorded for 7 d post-surgery.Patients were divided into delirium and non-delirium groups based on the occurrence of postoperative delirium or not.A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors and develop a predictive model for postoperative delirium.The SMOTE technique was applied to enhance the model by oversampling the delirium cases.The model’s predictive accuracy was then validated.RESULTS In our study involving 611 elderly patients with abdominal malignant tumors,multivariate logistic regression analysis identified significant risk factors for postoperative delirium.These included the Charlson comorbidity index,American Society of Anesthesiologists classification,history of cerebrovascular disease,surgical duration,perioperative blood transfusion,and postoperative pain score.The incidence rate of postoperative delirium in our study was 22.91%.The original predictive model(P1)exhibited an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.862.In comparison,the SMOTE-based logistic early warning model(P2),which utilized the SMOTE oversampling algorithm,showed a slightly lower but comparable area under the curve of 0.856,suggesting no significant difference in performance between the two predictive approaches.CONCLUSION This study confirms that the SMOTE-enhanced predictive model for postoperative delirium in elderly abdominal tumor patients shows performance equivalent to that of traditional methods,effectively addressing data imbalance.

Correcting Climate Model Sea Surface Temperature Simulations with Generative Adversarial Networks:Climatology,Interannual Variability,and Extremes

Climate models are vital for understanding and projecting global climate change and its associated impacts.However,these models suffer from biases that limit their accuracy in historical simulations and the trustworthiness of future projections.Addressing these challenges requires addressing internal variability,hindering the direct alignment between model simulations and observations,and thwarting conventional supervised learning methods.Here,we employ an unsupervised Cycle-consistent Generative Adversarial Network(CycleGAN),to correct daily Sea Surface Temperature(SST)simulations from the Community Earth System Model 2(CESM2).Our results reveal that the CycleGAN not only corrects climatological biases but also improves the simulation of major dynamic modes including the El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)and the Indian Ocean Dipole mode,as well as SST extremes.Notably,it substantially corrects climatological SST biases,decreasing the globally averaged Root-Mean-Square Error(RMSE)by 58%.Intriguingly,the CycleGAN effectively addresses the well-known excessive westward bias in ENSO SST anomalies,a common issue in climate models that traditional methods,like quantile mapping,struggle to rectify.Additionally,it substantially improves the simulation of SST extremes,raising the pattern correlation coefficient(PCC)from 0.56 to 0.88 and lowering the RMSE from 0.5 to 0.32.This enhancement is attributed to better representations of interannual,intraseasonal,and synoptic scales variabilities.Our study offers a novel approach to correct global SST simulations and underscores its effectiveness across different time scales and primary dynamical modes.

Emblica officinalis improves glycemic status and oxidative stress in STZ induced type 2 diabetic model rats

Objective:To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Emblica officinalis(E.officinalis)fruit on normal and type 2 diabetic rats.Methods:Type 2 diabetes was induced into the male Long-Evans rats.The rats were divided into nine groups including control groups receiving water,type 2 diabetic controls,type 2 diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide(T2GT)and type 2diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of E.officinalis.They were fed orally for8 weeks with a single feeding.Blood was collected by cutting the tail tip on 0 and 28 days and by decapitation on 56 day.Packed red blood cells and serum were used for evaluating different biochemical parameters.Results:Four weeks administration of aqueous extract of E.officinalis improved oral glucose tolerance in type 2 rats and after 8 weeks it caused significant(P<0.007)reduction in fasting serum glucose level compared to 0 day.Triglycerides decreased by 14%but there was no significant change in serum ALT,creatinine,cholesterol and insulin level in any group.Furthermore,reduced erythrocyte malondialdehyde level showed no significant change(P<0.07)but reduced glutathione content was found to be increased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusions:The aqueous extract of E.officinalis has a promising antidiabetic and antioxidant properties and may be considered for further clinical studies in drug development.

Preliminary exploration of animal models of congenital choledochal cysts

BACKGROUND Various animal models have been used to explore the pathogenesis of choledochal cysts(CCs),but with little convincing results.Current surgical techniques can achieve satisfactory outcomes for treatment of CCs.Consequently,recent studies have focused more on clinical issues rather than basic research.Therefore,we need appropriate animal models to further basic research.AIM To establish an appropriate animal model that may contribute to the investigation of the pathogenesis of CCs.METHODS Eighty-four specific pathogen-free female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to a surgical group,sham surgical group,or control group.A rat model of CC was established by partial ligation of the bile duct.The reliability of the model was confirmed by measurements of serum biochemical indices,morpho-logy of common bile ducts of the rats as well as molecular biology experiments in rat and human tissues.RESULTS Dilation classified as mild(diameter,≥1 mm to<3 mm),moderate(≥3 mm to<10 mm),and severe(≥10 mm)was observed in 17,17,and 2 rats in the surgical group,respectively,while no dilation was observed in the control and sham surgical groups.Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotrans-ferase,total bilirubin,direct bilirubin,and total bile acids were significantly elevated in the surgical group as compared to the control group 7 d after surgery,while direct bilirubin,total bilirubin,and gamma-glutamyltransferase were further increased 14 d after surgery.Most of the biochemical indices gradually decreased to normal ranges 28 d after surgery.The protein expression trend of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in rat model was consistent with the human CC tissues.CONCLUSION The model of partial ligation of the bile duct of juvenile rats could morphologically simulate the cystic or fusiform CC,which may contribute to investigating the pathogenesis of CC.

Effects of Electroacupuncture on the Contents of NO,ET and T-AOC in the Brain Tissues of the Cerebral Hemorrhage Model Rats

In the cerebral hemorrhage model rats established by injection of collagenase and heparin into caudate nucleus, the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET),and total anti-oxidation capability (T-AOC) in the brain tissues were investigated. It is found that the content of NO in the Shuigou EA group lowered, ET decreased and the T-AOC raised significantly in both the Fengfu EA group and the Shuigou EA group (all P＜0.05) as compared with the model group,indicating that acupuncture can reduce the contents of ET and NO, and increase the T-AOC in the brain tissues of the rats with cerebral hemorrhage.