BackgroundNeural-immune-endocrine network mechanism has attracted increased attention in diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Pre-clinical evidence indicates that nerve growth factor (NGF) mediates visceral hypersensitivity and gut barrier dysfunction, via interactions with mast cells and sensory nerve fibres. AimTo explore the role of nerve growth factor, as well as mast cell-nerve growth factor-nerve interaction in IBS-D pathophysiology. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, IBS-D patients and healthy controls first underwent clinical and psychological assessments. Visceral sensitivity to rectal distension was tested. As gut barrier function markers, serum diamine oxidase and D-lactate were detected. Rectosigmoid biopsies were taken for the analyses of nerve growth factor expression, mast cell count and activation, and sensory nerve fibres expressing transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Correlations between these parameters were examined in patients. ResultsThirty-eight IBS-D patients (28 males, 10 females; average age 30.2 years) and 20 healthy controls (12 males, 8 females; average age 26.8 years) participated in the study. The patients presented increased psychological symptoms, visceral hypersensitivity and impaired gut barrier function. NGF gene expression, mast cell count and sensory nerve fibres were significantly increased in the patients (P < 0.05). In correlation analysis, NGF expression was positively correlated with the disease severity, anxiety and serum diamine oxidase; visceral sensitivity thresholds were negatively associated with NGF expression (Bonferroni corrected P < 0.0029). ConclusionsElevated mucosal NGF may interact with mast cells and sensory nerve fibres, contributing to visceral hypersensitivity and impaired gut barrier function in IBS-D.

High-spin states of ll5In have been studied using the ll4Cd (7Li, a2n) reaction at a beam energy of 48 MeV. A total of 13 new transitions have been observed and added to the level scheme of ll5In. Most ol the states in ll5In can be interpreted in terms of the weak coupling of a g9/2 proton hole to the core states ol 1 l('Sn or a g1/2 proton to the core states of ll4Cd. A A / = 1 band with the 7r(^9/2)_1 ® v(h l:/2)2 configuration was suggested as an oblate band built on the "stapler" mechanism with the aid of the tilted axis cranking model based on covariant density functional theory,

High-spin states in doubly odd 88 Y have been investigated using the 82 Se( 11 B, 5n) reaction at beam energies of 48 and 52 MeV. On the basis of the γ -γ coincidence relationships, the level scheme of 88 Y has been extended up to an excitation energy of 9.5 MeV at spin 21h. About 20 new levels and 30 new transitions have been added into the level scheme, and spin-parity assignments have been made to most of the newly proposed levels. In order to better understand the nuclear structure of 88 Y, semiempirical shell-model calculations were carried out considering a valence space formed by the proton 1p 1/2 , 1p 3/2 , 0f 5/2 , 0g 9/2 and neutron 0g 9/2 orbitals.

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