Article
Clinical Neurology
Qian Chen, Kai Ma, Bin Wang, Yongquan Chen
Summary: This study observed the effects of direct suppression of the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) on chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) and CNP-related behaviors in mice. The results showed that CNP induced anxiety-like behavior and increased PBN-induced pain in mice, but direct inhibition of PBN neuron activity alone did not improve CNP or CNP-related behavior.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Andrew E. Warfield, Jonathan F. Prather, William D. Todd
Summary: Research suggests a bidirectional relationship between circadian rhythms and chronic pain, with a focus on limited molecules or cell types rather than system-level interactions. Gender differences are key in circadian rhythms and chronic pain research.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Fan Wang, Yuge Chen, Yuxin Lin, Xuze Wang, Kaiyuan Li, Yong Han, Jintao Wu, Xingyi Shi, Zhenggang Zhu, Chaoying Long, Xiaojun Hu, Shumin Duan, Zhihua Gao
Summary: The CCK-expressing neurons in the LPBCCK directly project to the PVN and play a role in controlling defensive behaviors. Activation of LPBCCK neurons promotes aversion and defensive behaviors, while inhibition of LPBCCK neurons attenuates flight responses. Optogenetic experiments reveal that LPBCCK neurons control defensive behaviors by projecting axon terminals to the PVN.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Eduardo Benarroch
Summary: The dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) play a role in the perception and modulation of chronic pain. Recent studies in rodents using various techniques have provided insights into the dysfunction of the midbrain dopaminergic system in chronic pain. This has clinical relevance and has been indirectly demonstrated in humans using neuroimaging techniques.
Article
Neurosciences
Jing Li, Chao Tian, Shiyang Yuan, Zhenyu Yin, Liangpeng Wei, Feng Chen, Xi Dong, Aili Liu, Zhenhuan Wang, Tongrui Wu, Chunxiao Tian, Lin Niu, Lei Wang, Pu Wang, Wanyu Xie, Fujiang Cao, Hui Shen
Summary: The reorganization of the primary sensory cortex (S1) and the regulatory mechanism of the lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN) in neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) were investigated. It was found that changes in neuronal activity in S1 are closely related to limb pain, and these symptoms can be regulated by lPBN.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Valeria Mussetto, Aurora Moen, Lidia Trofimova, Juergen Sandkuehler, Roni Hogri
Summary: The clinical burden faced by chronic pain patients is compounded by affective comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that reactive glial cells in the spinal cord dorsal horn play a key role in the chronification of pain, while supraspinal glia are important for psychological aspects of chronic pain.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Mariacristina Mazzitelli, Vadim Yakhnitsa, Benjamin Neugebauer, Volker Neugebauer
Summary: This study demonstrates the critical involvement of CeA-CRF neurons in pain-related behaviors and the beneficial effects of inhibiting these neurons in neuropathic pain.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yannick Fotio, Kwang-Mook Jung, Francesca Palese, Andre Obenaus, Alex Mabou Tagne, Lin Lin, Tarif Ibne Rashid, Romario Pacheco, Amandine Jullienne, Jade Ramirez, Marco Mor, Gilberto Spadoni, Cholsoon Jang, Andrea G. Hohmann, Daniele Piomelli
Summary: Chronic pain affects a large population worldwide and understanding the molecular events behind it is crucial for the development of effective therapies. The study highlights NAAA as a key control point in chronic pain progression that can be targeted with small-molecule therapeutics. Inhibiting NAAA can trigger a shift in local metabolism from aerobic glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration, effectively halting chronic pain development.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Han Guo, Jian-Bo Jiang, Wei Xu, Mu-Tian Zhang, Hui Chen, Huan-Ying Shi, Lu Wang, Miao He, Michael Lazarus, Shan-Qun Li, Zhi-Li Huang, Wei-Min Qu
Summary: In this study, the authors found that neurons expressing calretinin in the parasubthalamic nucleus play a key role in the induction and maintenance of wakefulness associated with exploration. They demonstrate that these neurons regulate wakefulness by innervating the ventral tegmental area. These findings provide new insights into the neural circuits regulating wakefulness.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yingling Xu, Xixiao Zhu, Yuerong Chen, Yeqing Chen, Yichen Zhu, Siqi Xiao, Mengwei Wu, Yifang Wang, Chi Zhang, Zenmin Wu, Xiaofen He, Boyu Liu, Zui Shen, Xiaomei Shao, Jianqiao Fang
Summary: Electroacupuncture (EA) effectively alleviates anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic neuropathic pain, and the mechanism may be related to the changes in glutamatergic neuronal activity between the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), as well as the serotoninergic neuronal activity.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lin Wu, Yujie Wu, Jin Liu, Jingyao Jiang, Cheng Zhou, Donghang Zhang
Summary: The elevated excitability of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL) is found to be associated with the development of inflammatory pain. In this study, chemogenetic manipulation was used to explore the relationship between PBL glutamatergic neuron activity and pain thresholds. The results demonstrate that activation of PBL glutamatergic neurons decreases pain thresholds, while inhibition produces the opposite effect. The increased expression of C-Fos protein and NALCN in PBL glutamatergic neurons is also observed in the model of inflammatory pain.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Takaki Yahiro, Naoya Kataoka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
Summary: This study investigated the roles of ascending thermosensory pathways from the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) in avoidance behavior from innocuous heat and cold in male rats. The results showed that LPB-MnPO neurons mediate heat avoidance, while LPB-CeA neurons contribute to cold avoidance. Furthermore, skin cooling-induced thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue requires both LPB-MnPO and LPB-CeA neurons.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Xin Liu, Chilman Bae, Benjamin B. Gelman, Jin Mo Chung, Shao-Jun Tang
Summary: This article investigates the pathogenesis of HIV-associated pain and reveals the crucial role of astrogliosis in pain development. The authors demonstrate that astrogliosis is controlled by a neuron-to-astrocyte Wnt5a signal, and its disruption blocks mechanical hyperalgesia and neural circuit polarization induced by the HIV protein gp120. They also uncover that the astrogliosis promotes hyperalgesia and neuropathic circuit polarization through IL-1beta regulated by the Wnt5a-ROR2-MMP2 axis.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Huan-Yu Zheng, Yu-Meng Chen, Yao Xu, Cheng Cen, Yun Wang
Summary: The study found that acute inflammatory pain impairs sustained attention, but chronic inflammatory pain does not. Inhibition of the ascending pain pathway or chemogenetic inhibition of CaMKII alpha neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus can attenuate the acute inflammatory pain-induced performance impairment, which affects the recovery of 3CSRTT performance during chronic inflammatory pain.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Pauravi J. Gandhi, Dinesh Y. Gawande, Gajanan P. Shelkar, Sukanya G. Gakare, Takaki Kiritoshi, Guangchen Ji, Bishal Misra, Ratnamala Pavuluri, Jinxu Liu, Volker Neugebauer, Shashank M. Dravid
Summary: Chronic pain is associated with synaptic dysfunction in the amygdala due to impaired GluD1-Cbln1 signaling. Injection of Cbln1 in the central amygdala can alleviate behavioral pain parameters and normalize neuronal excitability in pain models.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zishan Wang, Chenwei Li, Xinjian Li, Jianguang Shi, Weijie Wu
Summary: The study investigated the association between a single-nucleotide polymorphism and the risk of esophageal cancer in the Han Chinese population. The results showed that the VEGF rs35569394 was significantly associated with the risk of esophageal cancer, especially in females, and also had an impact on chemotherapy response.
BIOMOLECULES AND BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cenglin Xu, Yiwei Gong, Yi Wang, Zhong Chen
Summary: This review summarizes the historical achievements and recent advances in the prognosis and treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy from both clinical and laboratory settings. It highlights the use of interdisciplinary techniques, such as biophysics, bioinformatics, biomaterials, and biochemistry, as well as the potential of novel experimental tools for precise treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Di Wu, Fan Fei, Qi Zhang, Xia Wang, Yiwei Gong, Xiaojie Chen, Yuyi Zheng, Bei Tan, Cenglin Xu, Hujun Xie, Wenjun Fang, Zhong Chen, Yi Wang
Summary: This study reports a nanoengineered drug delivery system for improved delivery efficiency and on-demand drug release of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The system utilizes receptor-mediated transcytosis and blood-brain barrier disruption induced by photothermal conversion to achieve brain-targeted delivery. The system has been shown to effectively inhibit seizures upon epileptiform abnormalities, using only one-fifth of the conventional dosage, and holds promise for clinical applications.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ping Li, Xinjian Li, Jiankun Bai, Yuchen Meng, Xiaoping Diao, Ke Pan, Xiaoshan Zhu, Guanghui Lin
Summary: This study investigated the concentration and distribution of heavy metals in different mangrove sediments with different land-use patterns along the coast of Hainan island, China. The results showed that different land uses have different effects on heavy metal accumulation in mangrove sediments, and various activities such as mangrove farming and aquaculture ponds contribute to metal pollution.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaohui Wang, Yuanqing Zhang, Lin Zhu, Siyi Bai, Rui Li, Hao Sun, Runze Qi, Ruolan Cai, Min Li, Guoqiang Jia, Xinyuan Cao, Kenneth E. Schriver, Xinjian Li, Lixia Gao
Summary: Cortical feedback is crucial for sensory perception and recognition. However, previous studies have found varying effects of the primary auditory cortex (A1) on subcortical neurons' auditory response, making it difficult to interpret the function of A1 in sound perception. This study used cryo-inactivation in A1 to investigate corticothalamic feedback on medial geniculate body (MGB) neurons in awake marmosets. The results showed that A1 inactivation led to a frequency-specific decrease in MGB neurons' auditory response and an increase in spontaneous firing rate, resulting in a decreased signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, A1 was found to modulate the sustained response of MGB neurons and change their frequency tuning.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Weijian Tian, Haifei An, Xinjian Li, Hui Li, Kui Quan, Xin Lu, Hao Bai
Summary: This study proposes a carbon emission accounting model for iron and steel plants, considering both direct and indirect emissions as well as the effects of by-product gases. Through a case study, it is found that process direct emissions are the bottleneck of carbon reduction, and significant reduction potential can be achieved through the introduction of new processes. Furthermore, optimizing the power supplying structure can reduce indirect emissions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xin Lu, Weijian Tian, Hui Li, Xinjian Li, Kui Quan, Hao Bai
Summary: This study discusses the decarbonization options of China's ironmaking and steelmaking sector using a systematic three-dimensional low-carbon analysis. It emphasizes the importance of considering the three-dimensional aspects, particularly the energy structure, in quantitatively evaluating decarbonization roadmaps based on novel technologies or processes. Promoting scrap utilization and the substitution of carbon-based energy are critical. The development of scrap-based EAF or DR-EAF processes is highly encouraged due to their lower process general emission factor (PGEF). The three-dimensional method can be applied to other industries such as cement production and thermal electricity generation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINERALS METALLURGY AND MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Nanxi Lai, Zhisheng Li, Cenglin Xu, Yi Wang, Zhong Chen
Summary: In this review, the authors briefly describe the electrographic characteristics of high-frequency oscillations (HFOs), interictal spikes (ISs), and slow wave activities (SWAs) in the interictal state, and discuss their various roles in epilepsy. They summarize representative evidence from experimental and clinical epilepsy to address their critical roles in seizure generation and epileptogenesis, indicating their potential as electrophysiological biomarkers of epilepsy. Importantly, they propose perspectives for further research in the field.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Xiaoyun Qiu, Minjuan Sun, Cenglin Xu, Yingying Tang, Zhong Chen
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chenfei Lyu, Chencen Yu, Guanglong Sun, Yue Zhao, Ruolan Cai, Hao Sun, Xintai Wang, Guoqiang Jia, Lingzhu Fan, Xi Chen, Lin Zhou, Ying Shen, Lixia Gao, Xinjian Li
Summary: The cerebellum is involved in encoding balance, posture, speed, and gravity during locomotion. The study found that cerebellar activity is specifically enhanced during uphill and downhill locomotion. Chemogenetic inactivation of lobule V of the vermis impaired uphill locomotion.
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Yingying Tang, Shuo Zhang, Cenglin Xu
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zemin Ou, Xinjian Li, Yun You, Dewen Liu, Jinyu Wang
Summary: A novel nanodrug delivery system was designed to overcome the blood-brain barrier and effectively treat malignant brain tumors. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the nanodrug could be more easily taken up by glioblastoma cells and distributed at the targeted site, leading to enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Shuang Zou, Yang Zheng, Xuhong Jiang, Yu-Long Lan, Zhong Chen, Cenglin Xu
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liying Chen, Yingwei Xu, Heming Cheng, Zhongxia Li, Nanxi Lai, Menghan Li, Yeping Ruan, Yang Zheng, Fan Fei, Cenglin Xu, Jiao Ma, Shuang Wang, Yan Gu, Feng Han, Zhong Chen, Yi Wang
Summary: This study found that adult-born dentate granule cells (abDGCs) born at a critical period after epileptogenic insult can influence the duration of seizures. Activation or inhibition of these cells can significantly extend or curtail seizure duration, providing new insights for precise treatment of epilepsy.
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Zheng, Cenglin Xu, Jinyi Sun, Wenjie Ming, Sijie Dai, Yuying Shao, Xiaoyun Qiu, Menghan Li, Chunhong Shen, Jinghong Xu, Fan Fei, Jiajia Fang, Xuhong Jiang, Guoqing Zheng, Weiwei Hu, Yi Wang, Shuang Wang, Meiping Ding, Zhong Chen
Summary: This study demonstrates the epileptogenic role of the hippocampus in patients with late-stage cortical dysplasia and identifies the involvement of somatostatin-positive interneurons in seizure generalization. This findings provide new insights into the cellular basis of cortical dysplasia-related seizures.
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2023)