Human brain imaging studies have revealed the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as a key brain region for mediating visceral-pain-cognitive interactions. Recently, we characterized impairments of long-term potentiation and spike-field coherence in the basolateral amygdala (BLA)-ACC network in association with a decision-making deficit in rats with visceral hypersensitivity (VH). Now, by combining integrative neurobiological approaches, we show that ACC-reactive astrogliosis and activity-dependent impairment of lactate release occur in VH rats. Exogenous lactate supply rescues chronic-visceral-pain-caused impairments of ACC phase locking and decision making, which can be mimicked by optogenetic activation of ACC astrocytes. Large-scale electrophysiological recordings in free-moving animals during a decision-making task indicate that optogenetic astrocytic activation improves decision-making performance and engages ACC phase locking and BLA-to-ACC information flow. Collectively, these observations support the idea of an "astrocyte-neuron l-lactate shuttle" and suggest that targeting astrocytes may help with cognitive dysfunctions under chronic visceral pain.

No abstract

BackgroundPatients following prolonged cancer chemotherapy are at high risk of emotional and cognitive deficits. Research indicates that the brain neuronal temporal coding and synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) are critical in memory and perception. We studied the effects of cisplatin on induction of LTP in the basolateral amygdala (BLA)-anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) pathway, characterized the coordination of spike timing with local theta oscillation, and identified synchrony in the BLA-ACC network integrity.ResultsIn the study presented, the impacts of cisplatin on emotional and cognitive functions were investigated by elevated plus-maze test, Morris water maze test, and rat Iowa gambling task (RGT). Electrophysiological recordings were conducted to study long-term potentiation. Simultaneous recordings from multi-electrodes were performed to characterize the neural spike firing and ongoing theta oscillation of local field potential (LFP), and to clarify the synchronization of large scale of theta oscillation in the BLA-ACC pathway. Cisplatin-treated rats demonstrated anxiety- like behavior, exhibited impaired spatial reference memory. RGT showed decrease of the percentage of good decision-makers, and increase in the percentage of maladaptive behavior (delay-good decision-makers plus poor decision-makers). Cisplatin suppressed the LTP, and disrupted the phase-locking of ACC single neural firings to the ongoing theta oscillation; further, cisplatin interrupted the synchrony in the BLA-ACC pathway.ConclusionsWe provide the first direct evidence that the cisplatin interrupts theta-frequency phase-locking of ACC neurons. The block of LTP and disruption of synchronized theta oscillations in the BLA-ACC pathway are associated with emotional and cognitive deficits in rats, following cancer chemotherapy.

Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap (DIEP) is the workhorse for autologous breast reconstruction because it is associated with less abdominal wall donor site morbidity; however, the high incidence of venous congestion of zone IV within the DIEP flap is the most important disadvantage. Venous augmentation may be an appropriate method for venous decompression of the DIEP flap. This study aims to assess retrospectively the efficacy of the venous augmented DIEP flap and to present an advanced technique for venous augmentation. A total of 79 breast reconstructions using DIEP flap from January 2006 to March 2011 were included. Thirty-two patients who underwent venous augmented DIEP flap were selected as the test group, and 47 patients who underwent the traditional DIEP flap were included as the control group. Three indices-operation time, flap size, and flap complication rate-were compared between the two groups. The operation time was 6.6 ± 0.7 hours in the test group and 6.1 ± 1.2 hours in the control group (p < 0.05). The mean flap size was 325.9 ± 20.6 cm2 in the test group and 294.7 ± 24.2 cm2 in the control group (p <0.05). In the test group, there was one partial flap loss (complication rate was 3.1%). In the control group, the total complication rate was 10.6% (p <0.05). Venous augmentation can successfully enhance the viability of a DIEP flap. The SIEV-SIEV (superficial inferior epigastric vein) reverse-flow anastomosis is an efficient and convenient method of venous augmentation for DIEP flap, with negligible drawbacks.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the serum biochemical markers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), D-dimer (DD) and fibrinogen (Fg) in differentiating etiological subtypes of ischemic stroke. This study was a retrospective case-only study, consecutively including patients with acute ischemic stroke. All patients were classified into subtypes using the TOAST classification system. A total of 317 patients were evaluated. Hs-CRP and DD levels were significantly different among the subtypes and were the highest in CE, followed by LAA and SAA; no significant difference between the subtypes was found for Fg. Hs-CRP > 6.96 mg/L was classified as the CE subtype, with a sensitivity of 41% and a specificity of 74%; DD > 791.30 ng/mL was classified as CE, with a sensitivity of 58% and a specificity of 78%. The combination of hs-CRP and DD classification as CE yielded a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 91%. DD > 791.30 ng/mL was considered an independent predictive factor of CE. Hs-CRP and DD could be useful for identifying the etiological subtypes of acute ischemic stroke, especially for predicting CE. The diagnostic value of DD was higher than that of hs-CRP.

No abstract

This study investigates the influence of heat stress preconditioning on cognitive outcome for rats with diffuse axonal injury (DAI), and attempts to examine the underlying mechanisms. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: rats subjected to heat stress preconditioning 24 h before induction of DAI (n = 10; HSDAI group), a DAI alone group (n = 10), a heat stress alone group (n = 10), and a sham-injury group (n = 10). From day 14 post-injury, the rats' learning abilities and memory were tested using the Morris water maze (MWM) task, followed by long-term potentiation (LTP) recording of the hippocampus. In addition, hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) were conducted to determine the presence of brain lesions and expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) at 24 h, and on days 14 and 20 post-injury. The rats in the DAI group displayed impaired MWM performance and attenuated LTP compared to the sham group (p < 0.05); the rats in the HSDAI and HS groups showed significant improvement in both MWM and LTP compared with the DAI group (p < 0.05), and no significant differences with the sham group (p > 0.05). Following injury, retraction balls, shrunken neurons, and HSP70 expression were visible in the brains of rats from the DAI and HSDAI groups; recovery was expedited in the rats belonging to the HSDAI group, as these pathological changes were alleviated, coincident with higher expression of HSP70. The rats' abilities for learning and memory were impaired following DAI; this may be due to the disconnection of brain regions, damage to neurons in the hippocampus, and a decrease in synaptic plasticity. Heat stress preconditioning is able to significantly attenuate this cognitive impairment, possibly mediated by the neuroprotective effect of HSP70.

No abstract