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Jian-Hua He

Publications and source records attributed to Jian-Hua He.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on postoperative pain in patients undergoing thoracoscopic partial lung resection: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain after thoracic surgery remains common and challenging. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique with potential analgesic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of taVNS for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing thoracoscopic partial lung resection. METHODS: Adults undergoing thoracoscopic partial lung resection were randomized to active or sham taVNS. The primary outcome was cough pain intensity at 48h post-surgery, assessed by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes included cough pain at 24h and 72h, resting pain, moderate-to-severe pain incidence,&#xa0;opioid consumption, quality of recovery, postoperative pulmonary complications , chest tube duration, hospital stay, postoperative nausea/vomiting, and adverse events. RESULTS: Among 119 analyzed patients (active n&#x2009;=&#x2009;60, sham n&#x2009;=&#x2009;59), active taVNS reduced cough pain scores at 24h, 48h, and 72h postoperatively, as well as resting pain (p < 0.05). It also lowered the incidence of moderate-to-severe cough pain at 24h and 48h, reduced cumulative postoperative opioid use at 24h and 72h, and decreased rescue analgesia on postoperative day 3 (p < 0.05). Active taVNS was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative pneumothorax (p < 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: Perioperative taVNS was associated with a modest analgesic benefit and reduced postoperative opioid requirements after thoracoscopic partial lung resection. The observed reduction in postoperative pneumothorax requires cautious interpretation, and further multicenter trials are needed to determine its clinical utility.

Humans↗

Secondary structural formation of alpha-synuclein amyloids as revealed by g-factor of solid-state circular dichroism.

Alpha-synuclein (alpha-Syn) has been identified as a component of intracellular fibrillar deposits in Parkinson's disease. Though the real pathogenesis is still unknown, many investigations have revealed that conformational alteration and fibril formation of alpha-Syn protein have an important role in causing the disease. In this work, we introduced the g-factor spectra of solid-state circular dichroism to estimate the secondary structure contents of alpha-Syn fragments in amyloids. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) was also applied to confirm the structural formation. The results suggest that the central hydrophobic region is critical for beta-sheet formation and the conformational alteration is the foundation of protein abnormal aggregation. The research provides a practical approach to estimate the secondary structure contents of protein amyloids and further insight into the relevance of structural transformation and amyloidogenesis.

Amyloid↗

Activation of the spinal ERK signaling pathway contributes naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), transduces a broad range of extracellular stimuli into diverse intracellular responses. Recent studies have showed that ERK activation in the supraspinal level involved in the development of drug dependence, especially in psychological dependence. In this study, we reported that the spinal ERK signaling pathway was activated by chronic morphine injection. There was a further increase in ERK activation after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. Furthermore, attenuation of the spinal ERK phosphorylation by intrathecal a MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 or knockdown of the spinal ERK by antisense oligonucleotides not only decreased the scores of morphine withdrawal, but also attenuated withdrawal-induced allodynia, which were accompanied by decreased ERK phosphorylation in the spinal cord. The spinal ERK inhibition or knockdown also reduced morphine withdrawal-induced phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), which is one of the important downstream substrates of ERK pathway, and Fos expression. The involvement of the spinal ERK in morphine withdrawal was supported by our finding that intrathecal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 or protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine chloride suppressed withdrawal-induced ERK activation in the spinal cord and attenuated morphine withdrawal symptoms. These findings suggest activation of the spinal ERK signaling pathway contributes naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats.

Animals↗

[Activation of the spinal extracellular signal-regulated kinase is involved in morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal response].

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), transduces a broad range of extracellular stimuli into diverse intracellular responses. It has been reported that ERK is involved in the modulation of nociceptive information and central sensitization produced by intense noxious stimuli or peripheral tissue inflammation. Our previous studies showed that the spinal neurons sensitization was involved in morphine withdrawal response. This study was to investigate the role of the spinal ERK in morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal response. To set up morphine-dependent model, rats were subcutaneously injected with morphine (twice a day, for 5 d). The dose of morphine was 10 mg/kg on the first day and was increased by 10 mg/kg each day. On day 6, 4 h after the injection of morphine (50 mg/kg), morphine withdrawal syndrome was precipitated by an injection of naloxone (4 mg/kg, i.p.). Using anti-phospho-ERK (pERK) antibody, the time course of pERK expression was detected by Western blot. U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, or phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (ODN) was intrathecally injected 30 min or 36, 24 and 12 h before naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. The scores of morphine withdrawal symptom and morphine withdrawal-induced allodynia were observed. One hour after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, pERK expression in the spinal dorsal horn was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blot was used to detect the expression of cytosolic and nuclear fraction of pERK in the rat spinal cord. The results showed that the expression of cytosolic and nuclear fraction of pERK, not non-phospho-ERK, in the spinal cord was gradually increased following the injection of morphine. When morphine withdrawal was precipitated with naloxone, the expression of the spinal pERK further increased. Intrathecal administration of U0126 or antisense ODN against ERK decreased the scores of morphine withdrawal, attenuated morphine withdrawal-induced allodynia and also inhibited the increase of pERK expression in the spinal cord of morphine withdrawal rats. These results suggest that activation of the spinal ERK is involved in morphine-dependent and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal response.

Animals↗

[cAMP response-element binding protein participates in the phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulate kinase mediated neuropathic pain].

It has been reported that extracellular signal-regulate kinase (ERK) is involved in the modulation of nociceptive information and central sensitization produced by intense noxious stimuli and/or peripheral tissue inflammation. Few studies have explored the relationship between ERK and cAMP response-element binding protein (CREB) in neuropathic pain after nerve injury, such as chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. In the present study, CCI model was employed to investigate the activation of ERK on the expression of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) in chronic neuropathic pain. Lumbar intrathecal catheters were chronically implanted in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The left sciatic nerve was loosely ligated proximal to the sciatica's trifurcation at around 1.0- mm intervals with 4-0 silk suture. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 and phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (ODN) were intrathecally administered one day before and three consecutive days after CCI. Thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were assessed with the paw withdrawal lantency (PWL) to radiant heat and von Frey filaments respectively. The expression of pCREB and Fos were assessed by both Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that intrathecal injection of U0126 or ERK antisense ODN attenuated significantly CCI-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Correlating with behavior results, the injection also markedly suppressed the increase of CCI-induced pCREB and c-Fos expression. The results obtained suggest that CREB participates in the pERK-mediated neuropathic pain.

Animals↗

[Different roles of the spinal protein kinase C alpha and gamma in morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal].

Our previous studies showed that spinal neurons sensitization was involved in morphine withdrawal response. This study was to investigate the roles of spinal protein kinase C (PKC) alpha, gamma in morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal response. To set up morphine dependence model, rats were subcutaneously injected with morphine (twice a day, for 5 d). The dose of morphine was 10 mg/kg in the first day and was increased by 10 mg/kg each day. On day 6, 4 h after the injection of morphine (50 mg/kg), morphine withdrawal syndrome was precipitated by an injection of naloxone (4 mg/kg, i.p.). Chelerythrine chloride (CHE), a PKC inhibitor, was intrathecally injected 30 min before the administration of naloxone. The scores of morphine withdrawal symptom and morphine withdrawal-induced allodynia were observed. One hour after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, Fos protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blot was used to detect the expression of cytosol and membrane fraction of PKC alpha and gamma in the rat spinal cord. The results showed that intrathecal administration of CHE decreased the scores of morphine withdrawal, attenuated morphine withdrawal-induced allodynia and also inhibited the increase of Fos protein expression in the spinal cord of morphine withdrawal rats. The expression of cytosol and membrane fraction of PKC alpha was significantly increased in the spinal cord of rats with morphine dependence. Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal induced PKC alpha translocation from cytosol to membrane fraction, which was prevented by intrathecal administration of CHE. During morphine dependence, but not naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, PKC gamma in the spinal cord translocated from cytosol to membrane fraction, and intrathecal administration of CHE did not change the expression of PKC gamma in the spinal cord of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal rats. It is suggested that up-regulation and translocation of PKC in the spinal cord contribute to morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in rats and that PKC alpha and gamma play different roles in the above-mentioned effect.

Animals↗

The spinal nitric oxide involved in the inhibitory effect of midazolam on morphine-induced analgesia tolerance.

Previous studies had shown that pretreatment with midazolam inhibited morphine-induced tolerance and dependence. The present study was to investigate the role of spinal nitric oxide (NO) in the inhibitory effect of midazolam on the development of morphine-induced analgesia tolerance. Subcutaneous injection of 100 mg/kg morphine to mice caused an acute morphine-induced analgesia tolerance model. To develop chronic morphine tolerance in mice, morphine was injected for three consecutive days (10, 20, 50 mg/kg sc on Day 1, 2, 3, respectively). In order to develop chronic tolerance model in rats, 10 mg/kg of morphine was given twice daily at 12 h intervals for 10 days. Midazolam was intraperitoneally injected 30 min prior to administration of morphine. Tail-flick test, hot-plate and formalin test were conducted to assess the nociceptive response. Immunocytochemistry, histochemistry and western blot were performed to determine the effect of midazolam on formalin-induced expression of Fos protein, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in chronic morphine-tolerant rats, respectively. The results showed that pretreatment with midazolam significantly inhibited the development of acute and chronic morphine tolerance in mice, which could be partially reversed by intrathecal injection of NO precursor L-arginine (L-Arg). In chronic morphine-tolerant rats, pretreatment with midazolam significantly decreased the formalin-induced expression of Fos and Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons in the contralateral spinal cord and NADPH-d positive neurons in the bilateral spinal cord. Both inducible NOS (iNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) protein levels in the spinal cord were significantly increased after injection of formalin, which could be inhibited by pretreatment with midazolam. The above results suggested that the decrease of the activity and expression of NOS contributed to the inhibitory effect of midazolam on the development of morphine tolerance.

Analgesia↗

Activation of ERK/CREB pathway in spinal cord contributes to chronic constrictive injury-induced neuropathic pain in rats.

AIM: To investigate whether activation and translocation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is involved in the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and effects of activation and translocation of ERK on expression of pCREB and Fos in the chronic neuropathic pain. METHODS: Lumbar intrathecal catheters were chronically implanted in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The left sciatic nerve was loosely ligated proximal to the sciaticaos trifurcation at approximately 1.0 mm intervals with 4-0 silk sutures. The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 or phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (ODN) were intrathecally administered every 12 h, 1 d pre-chronic constriction injury (CCI) and 3 d post-CCI. Thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were assessed with the paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to radiant heat and von Frey filaments. The expression of pERK, pCREB, and Fos were assessed by both Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Intrathecal injection of U0126 or ERK antisense ODN significantly attenuated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. CCI significantly increased the expression of p-ERK-IR neurons in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn to injury, not in the contralateral spinal dorsal horn. The time courses of pERK expression showed that the levels of both cytosol and nuclear pERK, but not total ERK, were increased at all points after CCI and reached a peak level on postoperative d 5. CCI also significantly increased the expression of pCREB and Fos. Phospho-CREB-positive neurons were distributed in all laminae of the bilateral spinal cord and Fos was expressed in laminae I and II of the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. Intrathecal injection of U0126 or ERK antisense ODN markedly suppressed the increase of CCI-induced pERK, pCREB and c-Fos expression in the spinal cord. CONCLUSION: The activation of ERK pathways contributes to neuropathic pain in CCI rats, and the function of pERK may partly be accomplished via the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-dependent gene expression.

Animals↗

Structural evidence for alpha-synuclein fibrils using in situ atomic force microscopy.

Human alpha-synuclein is a presynaptic terminal protein and can form insoluble fibrils that are believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease. In this paper, in situ atomic force microscopy has been used to study the structural properties of alpha-synuclein fibrils in solution using two different atomic force microscopy imaging modes: tapping mode and contact mode. In the in situ contact mode atomic force microscopy experiments alpha-synuclein fibrils quickly broke into fragments, and a similar phenomenon was found using tapping mode atomic force microscopy in which alpha-synuclein fibrils were incubated with guanidine hydrochloride (0.6 M). The alpha-synuclein fibrils kept their original filamentous topography for over 1 h in the in situ tapping mode atomic force microscopy experiments. The present results provide indirect evidence on how beta-sheets assemble into alpha-synuclein fibrils on a nanometer scale.

Guanidine↗