Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant tumor that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are biomarkers that may be used to diagnose certain cancers or act as targets for cancer treatment. We aimed to explore the functions of human circular RNA 001587 (hsa_circRNA_001587) on the progression of PC and the underlying mechanism. The expression pattern of hsa_circRNA_001587 and microRNA-223 (miR-223) in PC tissues and cells was determined by RT-qPCR. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA-pulldown, Argonaute 2 (AGO2) immunoprecipitation assay, and Northern blot analysis were applied to verify the binding relationships among hsa_circRNA_001587, miR-223 and solute carrier family 4 member 4 (SLC4A4). Brepocitinib JAK inhibitor Further analysis of their roles was performed in PC cell line PANC-1. Moreover, we either downregulated or upregulated the expression of hsa_circRNA_001587, miR-223, and SLC4A4 by transfection in vitro. A mouse xenograft model of PC cells was established to evaluate tumor growth in vivo. hsa_circRA_001587 binds to miR-223. Overexpression of hsa_circRNA_001587 inhibits PC progression. Overexpression of miR-223 downregulates the expression of SLC4A4 and promotes PC cell growth. hsa_circRNA_001587 may be a potential target for PC treatment.Capsaicin powerfully evokes the swallowing reflex and is a known therapeutic agent for improving dysphagia and preventing aspiration pneumonia. However, the role of capsaicin-sensitive nerves in the initiation of swallowing evoked by various natural stimuli remains unclear. To explore this question, we blocked laryngeal capsaicin-sensitive nerves following the coapplication of QX-314 and capsaicin (QX/Cap), and investigated the effects on swallowing evoked by mechanical and chemical stimulation in anesthetized rats. Swallows were evoked by capsaicin, carbonated water (CW), distilled water (DW), and punctate mechanical stimulation using von Frey filaments applied topically to the larynx. Swallows were documented by recording electromyographic activation of the suprahyoid and thyrohyoid muscles. The initiation of swallowing by capsaicin was strongly suppressed at 5 min following QX/Cap treatment and returned in a time-dependent manner. CW-evoked swallows at 5 min following QX/Cap treatment were significantly dion of carbonated water-evoked swallows.With confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases surpassing the 18 million mark around the globe, there is an imperative need to gain comprehensive understanding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although the main clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are associated with respiratory or intestinal symptoms, reports of neurological signs and symptoms are increasing. The etiology of these neurological manifestations remains obscure, and probably involves several direct pathways, not excluding the direct entry of the virus to the central nervous system (CNS) through the olfactory epithelium, circumventricular organs, or disrupted blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, neuroinflammation might occur in response to the strong systemic cytokine storm described for COVID-19, or due to dysregulation of the CNS rennin-angiotensin system. Descriptions of neurological manifestations in patients in the previous coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks have been numerous for the SARS-CoV and lesser for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Strong evidence from patients and experimental models suggests that some human variants of CoV have the ability to reach the CNS and that neurons, astrocytes, and/or microglia can be target cells for CoV. A growing body of evidence shows that astrocytes and microglia have a major role in neuroinflammation, responding to local CNS inflammation and/or to disbalanced peripheral inflammation. This is another potential mechanism for SARS-CoV-2 damage to the CNS. In this comprehensive review, we will summarize the known neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV; explore the potential role for astrocytes and microglia in the infection and neuroinflammation; and compare them with the previously described human and animal CoV that showed neurotropism to propose possible underlying mechanisms.

Although higher prevalence of schizophrenia in Chinese urban areas was observed, studies focused on the association between schizophrenia and urbanicity were less in China. Using a national representative population-based data set, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between urbanicity and schizophrenia and its related mortality among adults aged 18 years old and above in China.

Data were obtained from the Second China National Sample Survey on Disability in 2006 and follow-up studies from 2007 to 2010 each year. We restricted our analysis to 1,909,205 participants aged 18 years or older and the 2,071 schizophrenia patients with information of survival and all-caused mortality of the follow-up surveys from 2007 to 2010.Schizophrenia was ascertained according to the

. The degree of urbanicity and the region of residence were used to be the proxies of urbanicity. Of these, the degree of urbanicity measured by the ratio of nonagricultural population to total population and the region of resideategies to improve mental health conditions are needed in the progress of urbanicity.Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) is a promising treatment for refractory chronic pancreatitis (CP). Pathological features of CP include progressive fibrosis in pancreas parenchyma, atrophy, and/or ductal occlusion. Complete acinar atrophy (CAA) caused by chronic fibrosis and necroinflammation results in exocrine sufficiency and may influence islet isolation characteristics during TPIAT. In this analysis of patients who underwent TPIAT at our center, we compared transplant outcomes among those with CAA (n = 5) vs non-acinar atrophy (NAA; matching controls, n = 36). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc test or Student’s t test. Pancreas digestion was longer in CAA than in NAA cases (18.6 vs 14.6 min) despite a lower pancreas weight (55.2 vs 91.2 g). Obtained tissue volume was 1.0 ml in the CAA group and 12.1 ml in the NAA group. Both groups had similar islet viability (96%) and islet dose (CAA, 3,391 IEQ/kg; NAA, 4141.1 IEQ/kg). During islet infusion, serum cytokine (IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1) levels and plasma hsa-miR-375 levels were lower in the CAA group than in the NAA group, but not significantly.