Olfaction plays an important role in emotions in our daily life. Pleasant odors are known to evoke positive emotions, inducing relaxation and calmness. The beneficial effects of vanillin on depressive model rats were investigated using a combination of behavioral assessments and neurotransmitter measurements. Before and after chronic stress condition (or olfactory bulbectomy), and at the end of vanillin or fluoxetine treatment, body weight, immobility time on the forced swimming test and sucrose consumption in the sucrose consumption test were measured. Changes in these assessments revealed the characteristic phenotypes of depression in rats. Neurotransmitters were measured using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography. Our results indicated that vanillin could alleviate depressive symptoms in the rat model of chronic depression via the olfactory pathway. Preliminary analysis of the monoamine neurotransmitters revealed that vanillin elevated both serotonin and dopamine levels in brain tissue. These results provide important mechanistic insights into the protective effect of vanillin against chronic depressive disorder via olfactory pathway. This suggests that vanillin may be a potential pharmacological agent for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

This article describes an unusual case of pleomorphic adenoma arising in the submandibular salivary glands that was associated with marked ossification. CT scan showed an irregular high-density mass in the left submandibular region. Histologic examination of the resected mass revealed a well-circumscribed pleomorphic adenoma with chondroid tissue intermingled with glandular and trabecular epithelial components. Irregularly formed osseous tissue was present in the chondroid tissue. The osseous tissue showed bone matrix on von Kossa's staining. Alkaline phosphatase expression was restricted to the vicinity of osseous tissue. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts were observed at the periphery of the osseous tissue. CD34 staining demonstrated many microvascular vessels in both the chondroid and osseous tissues. We conclude the osseous tissue in pleomorphic adenoma was bone in nature, and via the process of endochondral ossification most likely depended on angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables threaten food safety. Cleaning before eating is a usual way to remove pesticide residues, so it is very important to find the most efficient cleaning conditions for public health. However, many previous cleaning studies only focused on a single variable which required a large amount of time manpower and material resources. Plackett–Burman design (PBD) and response surface methodology can avoid the earlier‐mentioned problems and have potential in studying the influence and interaction of multiple factors. In this study, the effect of five factors on the removal of triadimefon and boscalid from rape by ultrasonic washing was evaluated through PBD: pH of water, ultrasonic cleaning time, water temperature, initial residual concentration and volume of water. RESULTS Temperature had a significant effect on the rate of triadimefon removal while the other four factors impacted boscalid removal greatly. A higher temperature was better for the removal rate of triadimefon. Under alkaline environment, when initial residual concentration and cleaning time increased with decreasing water volume, the removal rate of boscalid increased. Furthermore, the interactions among factors were obtained. The regression coefficients of fitting equations about triadimefon and boscalid were 0.9657 and 0.9738, respectively. CONCLUSION Changing pH of water, cleaning time, water volume and temperature during the washing process of rape through PBD designed experiments represents a valid strategy for improving the removal rate of two pesticides residue. This study provides a reference for ultrasonic cleaning conditions by a sink dishwasher, which has a positive effect on food safety. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Objective. The aim of the study is to explore the effects and mechanisms of action of Ziyin Qianyang Formula (ZYQYF) on renal fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods. Forty SHRs were randomly divided into a model group, Ziyin Qianyang Formula regular-dose and high-dose groups (ZYQYF-R, 20 g/kg; ZYQYF-H, 40 g/kg), and a western medicine group (enalapril 10 mg/kg), and 10 Sprague-Dawley rats were selected as the normal group. The rats received continuous gavage administration for 6 weeks and systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements were obtained every fortnight. The serum levels of urea, serum creatinine (sCr), and uric acid (UA) were measured; the pathological morphology and collagen content of the kidneys were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining; and the serum Ang II level was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, Smad-2, Smad-3, and Smad-7 protein and mRNA expressions in kidney tissues was evaluated by western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results. The ZYQYF-H group showed significantly a lower renal weight and renal weight/body weight than the model group. The enalapril and ZYQYF-H groups showed significantly lower SBP than other groups after 6 weeks of administration. The ZYQYF-H group showed better improvement than the ZYQYF-R and enalapril groups in glomerular and tubular morphology and better reductions in inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen volumetric fraction. The ZYQYF-H group also showed better reductions in serum UA and Ang II levels; collagen-I, collagen-III, and p-Smad2/Smad-2 protein expression; and Smad-2 mRNA expression and a better increase in Smad-7 protein and mRNA expression than the enalapril group. Besides, the degree of renal function and fibrosis improvement was positively correlated with the dose of ZYQYF. Conclusion. ZYQYF can significantly reduce SHR blood pressure, protect renal function and structure, and improve renal fibrosis by regulating Smad proteins through TGF-β1.

Objective To explore the therapeutic mechanisms of massage for cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA) from the effects of sympathetic neurotransmitter changes on vertebral artery blood flow and apoptosis. Methods Forty rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, model group, electroacupuncture (EA) group, and massage group, with 10 rabbits in each group. The CSA rabbit model was established by neck injection of sclerosing agent in all groups except the normal group. In the EA group, the left “Fengchi” (GB 20) and the 3rd-5th cervical vertebrae (C3-5) “Jiaji” (EX-B2) were selected for EA treatment. In the massage group, pushing manipulation with one finger was performed at 0.5 cm to the left side of the C3-5 spinous process and the tip of the transverse process. The vertebral artery blood flow was detected by laser Doppler. The levels of serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) and norepinephrine (NE) were determined by ELISA. The pathological morphological changes of vertebral arteries were observed by HE staining. The apoptosis of vertebral arteries and cerebella were detected by Tunel assay. The protein expressions of CHOP, Bcl-2, and Bax in vertebral arteries and cerebella were detected by Western blot. Results Vertebral artery blood flow was significantly decreased in all rabbits after modeling. Massage increased vertebral artery blood flow, decreased serum levels of NPY and NE which secreted by sympathetic nerves, improved vertebral artery lumen narrowing, intimal thinning, and mesenteric smooth muscle cell alignment. Moreover, these effects were superior to that in the EA group. In addition, the massage group significantly reduced the apoptotic index, decreased the CHOP and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) protein expressions, and increased the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein expression in vertebral arteries and cerebella relative to the model group. Conclusion The treatment of CSA has a neuro-vascular regulatory mechanism. Massage can decrease the release of sympathetic neurotransmitters that constrict blood vessels and mitigate apoptosis induced by excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) due to sympathetic excitation, so as to improve vertebral artery blood flow and serve as a treatment for CSA.