Introduction Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe inflammation and neuronal damage, resulting in permanent loss of motor and sensory functions. Zinc ions have shown potential in modulating inflammation and cellular survival, making them a promising therapeutic approach for SCI. This study investigates the mechanisms of zinc ion treatment in SCI, focusing on its effects on inflammation. Methods We used transcriptomic analysis to identify key pathways and genes involved in the inflammatory response in a mouse model of SCI. In vitro studies assessed the impact of zinc ions on inflammation, cell polarization, and apoptosis. IKBα expression was evaluated as a potential target of zinc ions, both in cultured cells and in vivo . Results Transcriptomic analysis revealed that zinc ions modulate inflammatory pathways through IKBα, which inhibits NF-κB activity. In vitro , zinc treatment upregulated IKBα expression, reducing inflammation, polarization, and apoptosis. These results were confirmed in the SCI mouse model, where zinc ions also reduced inflammation and cell death. Discussion Our findings highlight a novel mechanism by which zinc ions regulate inflammation in SCI by upregulating IKBα and inhibiting NF-κB activation. This suggests potential therapeutic applications of zinc ions in SCI and other inflammatory conditions, warranting further investigation into their clinical benefits.
Objective: To compare the results of the intramedullary nail (IMN) and compression plate fixation performed for humeral shaft fracture as to determine a better option out of the two.Study Design: Comparative study.
With modernization and ageing in China, the population of older adults living alone is increasing. Living alone may be a potential risk factor for depressive symptoms. However, no parallel mediation model analysis has investigated the mediating factors for living alone or not (living arrangements) and depressive symptoms.This cross-sectional study included a total number of 10,980 participants from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), 1699 of whom lived alone and 9281 of whom did not live alone. Binary logistic regression and parallel mediation effect model were used to explore the relationship between living alone or not and depressive symptoms and possible mediation effects. Bootstrap analysis was used to examine the mediation effect of living alone or not on depressive symptoms.Compared to the participants who were not living alone, the living alone group had a higher rate of depressive symptoms. The binary logistic regression showed that after adjusting for other covariates, the risk of depressive symptoms was approximately 0.21 times higher for living alone compared to not living alone (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.37). Further, the results of the bootstrap analysis supported the partial mediating role of sleep quality and anxiety. Mediation analysis revealed that sleep quality and anxiety partially mediate the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms (β = 0.008, 95% CI [0.003, 0.014]; β = 0.015, 95% CI [0.008, 0.024], respectively).Sleep quality and anxiety were identified as partially parallel mediators between living alone or not and depressive symptoms. Older adults living alone with poorer sleep quality and more pronounced anxiety were positively associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Older adults living alone should be encouraged to engage in social activities that may improve sleep quality, relieve anxiety, and improve feelings of loneliness caused by living alone. Meanwhile, older adults living alone should receive attention and support to alleviate their depressive symptoms.
Expression of genes in the Notch signaling pathway is altered in the injured spinal cord, which indicates that Notch participates in repair after spinal cord injury. Buyang Huanwu decoction, a traditional Chinese herbal preparation, can promote the growth of nerve cells and nerve fibers; however, it is unclear whether Buyang Huanwu decoction affects the Notch signaling pathway in injured spinal cord. In this study, a rat model was established by injuring the T10 spinal cord. At 2 days after injury, rats were intragastrically administered 2 mL of 0.8 g/mL Buyang Huanwu decoction daily until sacrifice. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that at 7, 14 and 28 days after injury, the expression of Notch1 was increased in the Buyang Huanwu decoction group compared with controls. These findings confirm that Buyang Huanwu decoction can promote the expression of Notch1 in rats with incomplete spinal cord injury, and may indicate a mechanism to promote the repair of spinal cord injury.
The Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS) is a novel assessment scale for smartphone distraction; it comprises 16 items that cover attention impulsiveness, online vigilance, multitasking, and emotion regulation. This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the SDS in college students in China. After translating and culturally adapting the original version of the SDS into Chinese, the scale was tested on a sample of 1302 college students.The validity and reliability were assessed utilizing SPSS 25.0, AMOS 25.0 and Mplus 8.3. Parallel analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed for the validity analysis. Criterion-related validity for the SDS was tested by correlation analysis with the mobile phone addiction scale (MPAI). The reliability analysis was tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). EFA and parallel analysis revealed a three-factor structure. The EFA identified factor loadings on three factors (14 items), explaining a total variance of 60.73%. The CFA model fit was good (χ2/df = 4.644, RMSEA = 0.047, GFI = 0.930, CFI = 0.955, SRMR = 0.047), and the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis indicated measurement invariance for gender. Both convergent and discriminant validity were established. The criterion-related validity was established based on a significant correlation (r =0.758) with the MPAI. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.916, and the split-half reliability was 0.769, demonstrating a satisfactory internal consistency. The score of ICC was 0.907, demonstrating the stability of the SDS. Based on these data, the Chinese version of the SDS demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability in a sample of college students.
Nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) as a key transcription factor contributes to osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. However, the post-transcriptional mechanisms of microRNAs (miRNAs) targeted to NFATc1 have not been completely clarified in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). In our study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-193-3p in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss by regulating the NFATc1 pathway.Female C57BL/6J mice underwent sham or OVX operation. Injection of Agomir-Control or Agomir-miR-193-3p was performed in OVX mice. Serum, urine and tibia were collected for experimental measurements, including biochemical markers, RT-qPCR and western blotting assays.We identified NFATc1 as a direct target of miR-193-3p. Up-regulation of NFATc1 and down-regulation of miR-193-3p were found in the tibia of OVX mice. Gain-of-function of miR-193-3p resulted in the reduction of NFATc1 mRNA and protein expression in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, injection of Agomir-miR-193-3p markedly ameliorated OVX-induced Ca2+ dyshomeostasis and bone loss by inhibiting the expression of NFATc1 and its downstream targets of osteoclast-specific genes, Ctsk, TRAP and Car2.Overexpression of miR-193-3p had an osteoprotective effect in OVX mice by suppressing NFATc1 pathways.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause very serious bodily harm or even paralysis. However, all clinical drugs require long-term use to relieve the disease, causing toxicity and side effects. Zinc tends to activate the self-defense system to repair SCI, but the currently reported zinc supplementation is not efficient to cure SCI due to the poor targeting effects. The zinc delivery system has been employed to improve the targeting efficiency, which also increases the complexity and toxicity of drugs. On the other hand, we envisage that if there is a drug that can accumulate and activate endogenous zinc in the lesions of the spinal cord and stimulate immunotherapy, it can not only reduce long-term drug dependence but also significantly improve the therapeutic effect on SCI. Herein, we found zinc deficiency for SCI mice, but more zinc accumulated in the lesions of the spinal cord after the administration of GSH-AuNCs in SCI mice. Meanwhile, more microglia/macrophages polarize toward M2 from M1 phenotypes after zinc accumulation which enhances immunotherapy effects. Thereafter, the inflammatory response was inhibited, which exerts a neuroprotective effect. As well as this, the current treatment showed memory effects for zinc accumulation even after stopping the drug administration, allowing endogenous zinc to continue its induction of multiple therapeutic effects. Due to the direct and memory curative function, the lesions of SCI mice were well recovered and the motor functions were also significantly improved.
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