Deciphering the CNS anti-depressant,antioxidant and cytotoxic profiling of methanol and aqueous extracts of Trametes versicolor and molecular interactions of its phenolic compounds

The present study sought to evaluate the central nervous system (CNS) depressant, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity activity of methanol and aqueous extract of Trametes versicolor (METV and AETV). The CNS activity was assessed by the open field, hole-cross, forced swimming, thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time, hole-board, and rotarod tests in Swiss albino mice. For both extracts, a substantial decrease in locomotion was observed in open field and hole-cross tests. In addition, the molecular docking study has been implemented through Maestro V11.1. The higher dose of METV (400 mg/kg) and the lower dose of AETV (200 mg/kg) exhibited a significant decrease in immobility time in forced swimming test and increased prolongation of sleep in thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time test, respectively. In contrast, a moderate finding was observed for the hole-board and rotarod tests. Additionally, a significant DPPH scavenging assay and a high toxicity effect in brine shrimp lethality assay were observed. Besides, five phenolic compounds, namely baicalin, quercetin, catechin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and quinic acid, were used for the molecular docking study, whereas catechin demonstrated the highest binding affinity towards the targets. The findings conclude that the T. versicolor could be an alternative source for CNS anti-depressant and antioxidant activity.     

Parasitization of bats by bat flies (Streblidae) in fragmented habitats

Parasites represent a large fraction of the world's biodiversity. They control host population sizes and contribute to ecosystem functioning. However, surveys on species diversity rarely include parasitic species. Bats often present traits favoring parasite diversity, such as large home ranges, long life spans, and large colonies. The most conspicuous bat parasites are the highly host-specific, blood-sucking bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae, Nycteribiidae). Recent studies have found a direct effect of habitat alteration on the abundance of bat species. We expected, therefore, that changes in the host community in response to anthropogenic habitat modification will also result in changes in the associated parasite community. We captured bats in three different habitats in Central Panama between 2013 and 2015. We recorded information on prevalence and intensity of bat fly parasitization of the seven most commonly captured bat species. Prevalence and intensity were both significantly influenced by roost type, abundance, and host sex and age. We found that habitat variables and matrix type significantly influenced the prevalence and intensity of parasitization, while the direction of the responses was host species- and parasite species-specific. In general, roosting conditions and behavior of host bats appear to be fundamental in explaining changes in prevalence and intensity of parasitization between different habitat types, as bat flies are bound to the roost during their reproductive cycle. Habitat alterations affect next to the host community composition also the availability of possible roost structures as well as microclimatic conditions, which all three reflect in parasitization.     

中心静脉导管引流对单孔胸腔镜肺癌根治术患者术后胸腔引流的应用分析

目的:探讨中心静脉导管引流对单孔胸腔镜肺癌根治术患者术后胸腔引流的应用效果。方法:回顾性选取2019年1月至2019年12月期间我院收治的行单孔胸腔镜肺癌根治术患者80例的临床资料,根据引流方式的不同分为A组(n=40,传统引流)和B组(n=40,中心静脉导管引流),对比两组患者临床指标、生活质量、炎性因子及并发症发生情况。结果:B组引流操作时间、术后住院时间短于A组(P0.05)。两组术后3个月生活质量简表(SF-36)各维度评分均较术前升高,且B组高于A组(P0.05)。两组术前、术后3d、术后7d白介素-6(IL-6)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)呈先升高后下降趋势,且术后3d、术后7d B组以上指标低于A组(P0.05)。两组术后并发症发生率比较无差异(P0.05)。结论:与传统引流相比,单孔胸腔镜肺癌根治术患者术后采用中心静脉导管引流,效果显著,可减少炎性刺激,安全可靠,有效改善患者术后生活质量。     

An Engulfment Assay: A Protocol to Assess Interactions Between CNS Phagocytes and Neurons

Phagocytosis is a process in which a cell engulfs material (entire cell, parts of a cell, debris, etc.) in its surrounding extracellular environment and subsequently digests this material, commonly through lysosomal degradation. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) whose phagocytic function has been described in a broad range of conditions from neurodegenerative disease (e.g., beta-amyloid clearance in Alzheimer’s disease) to development of the healthy brain (e.g., synaptic pruning)^1-6. The following protocol is an engulfment assay developed to visualize and quantify microglia-mediated engulfment of presynaptic inputs in the developing mouse retinogeniculate system⁷. While this assay was used to assess microglia function in this particular context, a similar approach may be used to assess other phagocytes throughout the brain (e.g., astrocytes) and the rest of the body (e.g., peripheral macrophages) as well as other contexts in which synaptic remodeling occurs (e.g. ,brain injury/disease).     

Detecting un-authorized genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and derived materials

Genetically modified plants, in the following referred to as genetically modified organisms or GMOs, have been commercially grown for almost two decades. In 2010 approximately 10% of the total global crop acreage was planted with GMOs (James, 2011). More than 30 countries have been growing commercial GMOs, and many more have performed field trials. Although the majority of commercial GMOs both in terms of acreage and specific events belong to the four species: soybean, maize, cotton and rapeseed, there are another 20 + species where GMOs are commercialized or in the pipeline for commercialization. The number of GMOs cultivated in field trials or for commercial production has constantly increased during this time period. So have the number of species, the number of countries involved, the diversity of novel (added) genetic elements and the global trade. All of these factors contribute to the increasing complexity of detecting and correctly identifying GMO derived material. Many jurisdictions, including the European Union (EU), legally distinguish between authorized (and therefore legal) and un-authorized (and therefore illegal) GMOs. Information about the developments, field trials, authorizations, cultivation, trade and observations made in the official GMO control laboratories in different countries around the world is often limited, despite several attempts such as the OECD BioTrack for voluntary dissemination of data. This lack of information inevitably makes it challenging to detect and identify GMOs, especially the un-authorized GMOs. The present paper reviews the state of the art technologies and approaches in light of coverage, practicability, sensitivity and limitations. Emphasis is put on exemplifying practical detection of un-authorized GMOs. Although this paper has a European (EU) bias when examples are given, the contents have global relevance.     

What role do plant–soil interactions play in the habitat suitability and potential range expansion of the alpine dwarf shrub Salix herbacea?

Mountain plants may respond to warming climates by migrating along altitudinal gradients or, because climatic conditions on mountain slopes can be locally very heterogeneous, by migrating to different microhabitats at the same altitude. However, in new environments, plants may also encounter novel soil microbial communities, which might affect their establishment success. Thus, biotic interactions could be a key factor in plant responses to climate change. Here, we investigated the role of plant–soil feedback for the establishment success of the alpine dwarf shrub Salix herbacea L. across altitudes and late- and early snowmelt microhabitats. We collected S. herbacea seeds and soil from nine plots on three mountain-slope transects near Davos, Switzerland, and we transplanted seeds and seedlings to substrate inoculated with soil from the same plot or with soils from different microhabitats, altitudes and mountains under greenhouse conditions. We found that, on average, seeds from higher altitudes (2400–2700 m) and late-exposed snowbeds germinated better than seeds from lower altitudes (2200–2300 m) and early-exposed ridges. However, despite these differences in germination, growth was generally higher for plants from low altitudes, and there were no indications for a an home-soil advantage within the current range of S. herbacea. Interestingly, seedlings growing on soil from above the current altitudinal distribution of S. herbacea grew on average less well than on their own soil. Thus, although the lack of a home-soil advantage in the current habitat might be beneficial for S. herbacea in a changing environment, migration to habitats beyond the current altitudinal range might be limited, probably due to missing positive soil-feedback.     

Noise-induced neural impulses

The firing pattern of neural pulses often show the following features: the shapes of individual pulses are nearly identical and frequency independent; the firing frequency can vary over a broad range; the time period between pulses shows a stochastic scatter. This behaviour cannot be understood on the basis of a deterministic non-linear dynamic process, e.g. the Bonhoeffer-van der Pol model. We demonstrate in this paper that a noise term added to the Bonhoeffer-van der Pol model can reproduce the firing patterns of neurons very well. For this purpose we have considered the Fokker-Planck equation corresponding to the stochastic Bonhoeffer-van der Pol model. This equation has been solved by a new Monte Carlo algorithm. We demonstrate that the ensuing distribution functions represent only the global characteristics of the underlying force field: lines of zero slope which attract nearby trajectories prove to be the regions of phase space where the distributions concentrate their amplitude. Since there are two such lines the distributions are bimodal representing repeated fluctuations between two lines of zero slope. Even in cases where the deterministic Bonhoeffer-van der Pol model does not show limit cycle behaviour the stochastic system produces a limit cycle. This cycle can be identified with the firing of neural pulses.     

Characterization and distribution of bombesin binding sites in the goldfish hypothalamic feeding center and pituitary

Bombesin (BBS)/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) binding sites were characterized and their distribution examined in the goldfish brain and pituitary by radioligand binding and autoradiography. Binding of ¹²⁵I-[Tyr⁴]-BBS-14 to tissue sections was found to be saturable, reversible, time-dependent and displaceable by BBS/GRP-like peptides. Analysis of saturable equilibrium binding revealed a one-site model fit with a K_d of 0.665 ± 0.267 nM. This binding site displayed high affinity for members of the BBS subfamily of peptides, including GRP10 (K_i; 0.292 ± 0.038 nM) and GRP27 (K_i; 2.034 ± 1.597 nM), but showed no affinity for the BBS_8–14 fragment. While an approximate 100-fold lower binding affinity was displayed by the binding site for neuromedin B (K_i; 61.5 ± 28.2 nM), litorin was highly effective in displacing radiolabeled BBS binding (K_i; 1.469 ± 0.427 nM). The localization of saturable and high affinity BBS/GRP binding sites in specific areas of the goldfish brain and pituitary generally revealed a similar anatomical distribution to BBS/GRP-like immunoreactive material reported previously by our laboratory. Quantitative densitometric analysis of radiolabeled BBS binding to brain nuclei and the pituitary revealed a moderate concentration of BBS/GRP binding sites in the hypothalamic feeding area, including the nucleus diffusus lobi inferioris, nucleus recessus lateralis, nucleus lateral tuberis, and nucleus anterior tuberis. Other brain nuclei known to influence the brain feeding center which contained a high density of BBS/GRP binding sites included nuclei of the dorsal and ventro-medial telencephalon, the preoptic hypothalamus, and the optic tectum. High densities of BBS/GRP binding sites were also localized in the dorsal cerebellum, and nucleus habenularis. In the pituitary, BBS/GRP binding sites were present in high concentration in the neurointermediate lobe, with a relatively lower density localized in the pars distalis. The present study further supports a role for BBS/GRP-like peptides in the regulation of feeding behavior and anterior pituitary hormone secretion in teleosts.     

Trends in brain cancers (glioma) in New Zealand from 1995 to 2020, with reference to mobile phone use

BackgroundSome case-control studies have suggested substantial increased risks of glioma in association with mobile phone use; these risks would lead to an increase in incidence over time.MethodsIncidence rates of glioma from 1995 to 2020 by age, sex, and site in New Zealand (NZ) recorded by the national cancer registry were assessed and trends analysed. Phone use was based on surveys.ResultsIn these 25 years there were 6677 incident gliomas, giving age-standardised rates (WHO world standard) of 6.04 in males, and 3.95 in females per 100,000. The use of mobile phones increased rapidly from 1990 to more than 50% of the population from about 2000, and almost all the population from 2006. The incidence of glioma from ages 10–69 has shown a small decrease over the last 25 years, during which time the use of mobile phones has become almost universal. Rates in the brain locations receiving most radiofrequency energy have also shown a small decrease. Rates at ages of 80 and over have increased.ConclusionThere is no indication of any increase related to the use of mobile phones. These results are similar to results in Australia and in many other countries. The increase in recorded incidence at ages over 80 is similar to that seen in other countries and consistent with improved diagnostic methods.     

Contribution of central sensitization to the pain-related abnormal activity in neuropathic rats

The possibility of different contributions from peripheral and central sensitization to distinct neuropathic pain syndromes has been studied in rats with chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve (CCI), showing positive behavioral signs of neuropathic pain. In anesthetized, paralyzed rats extracellular recordings were performed in the spinal sciatic afferent territory (L5-L6), ipsilateral to the injured nerve, from wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons. The spontaneous activity and the responses to noxious stimuli applied to the proper area, i.e., the skin innervated by the constricted sciatic nerve, and to "inappropriate" areas, like the tail and the area of skin supplied by the contralateral sciatic and saphenous nerves, were analyzed before and after input from the constricted nerve was reversibly blocked at the ganglionic level by local anesthetic. The neurons discharged spontaneously with high frequencies, and responded to the stimulation of proper and "inappropriate" areas with high frequency discharge and prolonged afterdischarges. During the ganglionic block, confirmed by the lack of responses to proper area stimulation, the WDR neuron background activity was significantly reduced; the responses to all "inappropriate" afferences were present, the frequency discharges being comparable to the preblock ones while the afterdischarges were significantly shorter. Since the efficacy of "inappropriate" inputs is related to neuronal sensitization, the persistence of these responses indicates that central neurons remain sensitized during peripheral block. In view of the relationship between the examined spontaneous and stimulated activities and neuropathic pain symptoms, the data suggest that central sensitization contributes with different drive strength to such symptoms, playing a crucial role in extraterritorial pain.