YokoCo

Ducrosia anethifolia (DC.) Boiss. is an aromatic medicinal plant that has been traditionally used as an analgesic to treat headaches, backaches, colic, and cold. This study evaluated the yield, physiological, and phytochemical traits of 24 populations for 2 consecutive years under the water stress condition. The seed yield and physiological traits demonstrated the highest values in the first and second year, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide (HO), proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant activity enzymes were elevated, while chlorophyll, carotenoids, relative water content (RWC), and yield decreased under drought stress. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was also applied to assess the changes in some polyphenolic compounds in response to water stress. The increase in some phenolic compounds, such as p-coumaric acid, was recorded due to drought stress, while there was a decrease in flavonoids, that is luteolin and quercetin. Among the populations, Abarkuh2 indicated the highest increase in p-coumaric acid (96%) in response to drought stress. In general, high diversity among the studied populations provides new insights into choosing the beneficial populations for medicinal and food purposes. HIGHLIGHTS: • Changes in polyphenolics of Moshgak populations were obtained in response to water stress. • Gallic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid were the major components. • The phenolic compounds was increased due to drought stress while flavonoids were decreased High variation was obtained between Moshgak populations.

In low back pain (LBP), primary care and secondary prevention of recurrent and persistent LBP are not always successful. Enhanced understanding of neural mechanisms of sensorimotor processing and pain modulation in patients with acute LBP is mandatory. This explorative fMRI study investigated sensorimotor processing due to mechanosensory stimulation of the lumbar spine. We studied 19 adult patients with acute LBP (< 4 weeks of an acute episode) and 23 healthy controls. On a numeric rating scale, patients reported moderate mean pain intensity of 4.5 out of 10, while LBP-associated disability indicated mild mean disability. The event-related fMRI analysis yielded no between-group differences. However, the computation of functional connectivity resulted in adaptive changes in networks involved in sensorimotor processing in the patient group: Connectivity strength was decreased in the salience and cerebellar networks but increased in the limbic and parahippocampal networks. Timewise, these results indicate that early connectivity changes might reflect adaptive physiological processes in an episode of acute LBP. These findings raise intriguing questions regarding their role in pain persistence and recurrences of LBP, particularly concerning the multiple consequences of acute LBP pain. Advanced understanding of neural mechanisms of processing non-painful mechanosensations in LBP may also improve therapeutic approaches.

Gelsemiumelegans(Gardner. & Chapm.) Benth. has long been considered a traditional Chinese medicine effective against rheumatoid pain, cancer, cirrhosis, and skin diseases. Koumine (KM), the most abundant alkaloid in G.elegans Benth., demonstrates a variety of biological effects, including antitumor, analgesic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antioxidant, immunoregulatory, and hepatoprotective effects. Furthermore, the relatively low toxicity of KM makes it a promising drug candidate. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of KM and its possible mechanisms using a concanavalin A (Con A)-induced autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) model in mice. Mice were orally administered different doses of KM for 14 d before Con A tail vein injections. The effects of KM on serum biochemical markers and liver histopathology were then evaluated 12 h after Con A exposure. The Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways and alterations in gut microbiota were determined using western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and 16S rRNA sequencing to explore the underlying mechanisms of KM exposure. KM pretreatment dose-dependently decreased serum liver injury markers (Alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase) and cytokine levels (Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6), as well as the liver pathological damage triggered by Con A. Furthermore, the results of the multi-technique analysis indicated that KM activated the Nrf2 pathway, upregulated the expression of anti-oxidation factors HO-1 and Nrf2, and downregulated the expression of Keap1. Moreover, the NF-κB signaling pathway was inhibited. Interestingly, pre-treatment with KM also significantly improved the composition of the gut microbiota probably because it increases the richness of probiotics. Our findings suggest that KM pretreatment could attenuate Con A-induced AIH, the Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways, and that gut microbiota are involved in the process of the hepatoprotective effect. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of KM as an effective agent against AIH.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a stubborn head and face neuropathic pain with complex pathogenesis. Patients with TN have a significantly increased risk of central neurodegeneration, which manifests as cognitive impairment and memory loss, but the specific mechanism underlying central nervous degeneration is still unclear. This study aimed to explore central neurodegeneration and its possible mechanism of action in TN rats based on changes in the brain fatty acid content and microglia-related neuroinflammation. Using a TN neuropathic pain model established by us, we found that TN rats have obvious cognitive impairment. Furthermore, changes in the brain fatty acid content were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was found that the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in the central nervous system (CNS) of TN rats was significantly decreased compared to that in the CNS of Sham rats. An important component in maintaining brain cognition, DHA also plays a key role in regulating central neuroinflammation. Here, by continuous supplementation of DHA, the CNS DHA content was increased to a certain extent in TN rats. The cognitive impairment of TN rats was improved after restoring the central DHA level; this may be related to the improvement of neuroinflammation through the DHA-mediated regulation of microglial polarization. Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis for explaining the pathogenesis of central neurodegeneration in TN. It also suggests DHA as a target for protecting the CNS of patients with TN from damage.

Dementia is an urgent public health problem worldwide, and the determination of the contribution of pain to cognitive decline or dementia is significant for the prevention of dementia.

This review synthesizes recent findings related to the biopsychosocial processes that underlie racial disparities in chronic pain, while highlighting opportunities for interventions to reduce disparities in pain treatment among BIPOC.

Multinational reports suggest Ireland has one of the greatest illness burdens related to osteoporosis. Hospital care represents the costliest portion of health services. We found public hospital bed days for fragility fractures in Ireland increased by 43% between 2008 and 2017 which exceeded those for other common diseases.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and debilitating side effect of chemotherapy. Acupuncture is a promising non-pharmacological intervention for CIPN. However, the physiological effects of acupuncture treatment remain poorly understood. We examined the effects of acupuncture on CIPN using semi-objective quantitative sensory testing (QST).

A primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is caused by rupture of subpleural emphysematous blebs, without inciting event or pre-existing co-morbidity. A previously healthy 16-year-old male presented with upper chest pain. As expected, chest radiographs (CXR) demonstrated a 13 mm pneumothorax. Additionally, a 4.7 cm apical bleb was identified. After six-hours of observation and non-rebreather oxygen mask therapy, follow-up CXR confirmed stable findings. The patient was subsequently discharged home after symptoms improved. Follow-up CXR at 2-weeks confirmed persistent visible apical bleb. After lengthy discussion addressing patient and parental concerns, elective surgical management was pursued. Current literature suggests blebs are not routinely identified on CXR. While there is no universally accepted management algorithm for PSP in children, visible apical blebs on CXR may influence the decision to pursue surgical intervention. Shared decision making should involve counseling regarding the recurrence risk following surgery, and consideration of patient-specific factors including patient and parental anxiety.