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Phenotypic modification of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuronsrepresents an important mechanism underlying neuropathic pain. However, the nerve injury-induced molecular changes are not fully identified. To determine the molecular alterations in a broader way, we have carried out cDNA array on the genes mainly made from the cDNA libraries of lumbar DRGs of normal rats and of rats 14 days after peripheral axotomy. Of the 7,523 examined genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs), the expression of 122 genes and 51 expressed sequence tags is strongly changed. These genes encompass a large number of members of distinct families, including neuropeptides, receptors, ion channels, signal transduction molecules, synaptic vesicle proteins, and others. Of particular interest is the up-regulation of ␥-aminobutyric acidA receptor ␣5 subunit, peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ␣7 subunit, P2Y1 purinoceptor, Na ؉ channel ␤2 subunit, and L-type Ca 2؉ channel ␣2␦-1 subunit. Our findings therefore reveal dynamic and complex changes in molecular diversity among DRG neurons after axotomy. N europathic pain is caused by nervous system lesions, persists long after the initiating event has healed, and may result from a pathological operation of the nervous system. Available therapies are often inadequate. Therefore, it is essential to identify the molecular changes that may lead to neuropathic pain, both for understanding underlying mechanisms and developing new therapies.The peripherally axotomized animal represents one model to study the mechanisms of neuropathic pain (1). After the finding that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide is up-regulated after axotomy (2), many subsequent studies have reported dramatic changes in individual molecules in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) after nerve injury, and some molecules are implicated in generation and maintenance of pain (3-5). For example, downregulation of -opioid receptor and up-regulation of cholecystokinin B receptor (6, 7) may contribute to the attenuated analgesic effect of opioids in neuropathic pain. Up-regulation of adrenoreceptor ␣2A (A-R␣2A) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2-R enhances sympathetically maintained pain (8, 9). The increase in Na ϩ channel (Ch) III mediates ectopic activity in injured neurons (10). Moreover, hyperalgesia appearing during the course of nerve regeneration suggests a correlation between regeneration and pain. Neurotrophins play important roles in both nerve regeneration and regulation of the expression of some neuropeptides and ion channels (11,12). Taken together, current knowledge suggests that changes in gene expression in DRGs may contribute to the generation and development of neuropathic pain. However, although in situ hybridization and other methods have been extensively used to study the changes of individual genes in DRG, a limiting factor with these methods is the lack of a comprehensive overview of the alteration of gene expression. Here, we took a broader approach, a cDNA array (13), to gain a global view of the chang...

We have studied the pH-dependent speciation of aqueous HAuCl4 and its influences on the synthesis, structure, and property of Au colloids. Aqueous HAuCl4 consists of [AuCl x (OH)4−x ]− (x ≥ 2) at low pH but [AuCl x (OH)4−x ]− (x < 2) at high pH. By employment of ascorbic acid as the reducing agent and sodium benzenesulfonate (SDBS) as the protecting agent, reduction of aqueous HAuCl4 at low pH leads to the synthesis of well-dispersed and uniform fine Au colloids, whereas that at high pH forms large Au colloids and ensembles of fine Au colloids. These large Au colloids and ensembles of fine Au colloids exhibit strong surface plasmon resonance in the near-infrared region. The SDBS molecules bind to the surface of Au colloids through the S element, and the charge transfer from Au atoms to S elements occurs. The charge is localized around Au atoms directly interacting with SDBS for fine Au colloids but delocalized to the entire Au colloid for large Au colloids and ensembles of fine Au colloids.

The photocatalytic oxidation of methanol on a rutile TiO2(110) surface was studied by means of thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The combined TDS and XPS results unambiguously identify methyl formate as the product in addition to formaldehyde. By monitoring the evolution of various surface species during the photocatalytic oxidation of methanol on TiO2(110), XPS results give direct spectroscopic evidence for the formation of methyl formate as the product of photocatalytic cross-coupling of chemisorbed formaldehyde with chemisorbed methoxy species and clearly demonstrate that the photocatalytic dissociation of chemisorbed methanol to methoxy species occurs and contributes to the photocatalytic oxidation of methanol. These results not only greatly broaden and deepen the fundamental understanding of photochemistry of methanol on the TiO2 surface but also demonstrate a novel green and benign photocatalytic route for the synthesis of esters directly from alcohols or from alcohols and aldehydes.

Developing a facile route to access active and well-defined single atom sites catalysts has been a major area of focus for single atoms catalysts (SACs). Herein, we demonstrate a simple approach to generate atomically dispersed platinum via a thermal emitting method using bulk Pt metal as a precursor, significantly simplifying synthesis routes and minimizing synthesis costs. The ammonia produced by pyrolysis of Dicyandiamide can coordinate with platinum atoms by strong coordination effect. Then, the volatile Pt­(NH3) x can be anchored onto the surface of defective graphene. The as-prepared Pt SAs/DG exhibits high activity for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction and selective oxidation of various organosilanes. This viable thermal emitting strategy can also be applied to other single metal atoms, for example, gold and palladium. Our findings provide an enabling and versatile platform for facile accessing SACs toward many industrial important reactions.

A bout 6%-8% of men and 16%-18% of women in the United States and England experience migraines, with or without an aura.1,2 A prevalence of 1% has been reported in mainland China, 3 compared with 4.7% in Hong Kong and 9.1% in Taiwan.4,5 A recent Cochrane meta-analysis suggests that acupuncture as migraine prophylaxis is safe and effective and should be considered as a treatment option for willing patients. Although the specific effects acupuncture are controversial, acupuncture, as it is currently practised, clearly differentiates between real acupuncture points and nonacupuncture points. The Chinese Government launched the National Basic Research Program to obtain more data about the specificity of acupuncture points. 7Trials from Italy and Brazil 8,9 showed that acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture in preventing migraines, but other trials have reported no differences. [10][11][12][13] There is no evidence that one acupuncture strategy is more effective than another for treating migraines. According to acupuncture theory, a headache on the lateral side is usually defined as a Shaoyang headache. In Jinkuiyi, 14 migraines are said to affect the yang meridians (including the Taiyang, Yangming and Shaoyang meridians). In Lingshu, 15 the Shaoyang meridians are said to go through the lateral side of the body, therefore the Shaoyang meridians are thought to be superior for treating migraines. Some points on the Shaoyang meridians are regarded as being more specific for migraines than other points. Research CMAJ Background: Acupuncture is commonly used to treat migraine. We assessed the efficacy of acupuncture at migraine-specific acupuncture points compared with other acupuncture points and sham acupuncture. Methods:We performed a multicentre, singleblind randomized controlled trial. In total, 480 patients with migraine were randomly assigned to one of four groups (Shaoyangspecific acupuncture, Shaoyang-nonspecific acupuncture, Yangming-specific acupuncture or sham acupuncture [control]). All groups received 20 treatments, which included electrical stimulation, over a period of four weeks. The primary outcome was the number of days with a migraine experienced during weeks 5-8 after randomization. Our secondary outcomes included the frequency of migraine attack, migraine intensity and migrainespecific quality of life.Results: Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the acupuncture groups reported fewer days with a migraine during weeks 5-8, however the differences between treatments were not significant (p > 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the number of days with a migraine during weeks [13][14][15][16] was a significant, but not clinically relevant, benefit for almost all secondary outcomes in the three acupuncture groups compared with the control group. We found no relevant differences between the three acupuncture groups.Interpretation: Acupuncture tested appeared to have a clinically minor effect on migraine prophylaxis compared with sham acupuncture.

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