Summary Normal breathing in rodents requires activity of glutamatergic Dbx1-derived (Dbx1+) preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) neurons expressing somatostatin (SST). We combined in vivo optogenetic and pharmacological perturbations to elucidate the functional roles of these neurons in breathing. In transgenic adult mice expressing channelrhodopsin (ChR2) in Dbx1+ neurons, photoresponsive preBötC neurons had preinspiratory or inspiratory firing patterns associated with excitatory effects on burst timing and pattern. In transgenic adult mice expressing ChR2 in SST+ neurons, photoresponsive preBötC neurons had inspiratory or postinspiratory firing patterns associated with excitatory responses on pattern or inhibitory responses that were largely eliminated by blocking synaptic inhibition within preBötC or by local viral infection limiting ChR2 expression to preBötC SST+ neurons. We conclude that: i) preinspiratory preBötC Dbx1+ neurons are rhythmogenic; ii) inspiratory preBötC Dbx1+ and SST+ neurons primarily act to pattern respiratory motor output, and; iii) SST+ neuron-mediated pathways and postsynaptic inhibition within preBötC modulate breathing pattern.

Acute pancreatitis patients increased year by year in Beijing. Gallstones were the predominant etiological factor. There were different etiology proportion of AP according age, sex, and severity.

Hierarchical self-assembly of synthetic polypeptides has attracted increasing interests due to its protein-mimetic structure and great potential in nanotechnology and biomedical applications. However, controlling the morphology and function of polymeric nanostructures via secondary structures remains largely unexplored. Here, we report an unusual micelle-to-vesicle transformation of cholesterol-decorated poly(l-cysteine) copolymer assemblies in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). We found that the interesting morphological transition correlates with the alteration in conformations from β-sheet to α-helix, which grants an attractive "on-off" switch for triggered release and cellular interaction. We further demonstrated the usefulness of the conformation-regulated assembly strategy both in vitro and in vivo, taking cancer treatment as a model. The work offers a new insight on the folding and hierarchical assembly of polypeptides and a novel approach for the development of smart platforms in biosensing, disease treatment, and diagnostic applications.

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Transferrin (Tf)-conjugated lipid-coated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles carrying the aromatase inhibitor, 7α-(4′-amino)phenylthio-1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (7α-APTADD), were synthesized by a solvent injection method. Formulation parameters including PLGA-to-lipid, egg PC-to-TPGS, and drug-to-PLGA ratios and aqueous-to-organic phase ratio at the point of synthesis were optimized to obtain nanoparticles with desired sizes and drug loading efficiency. The optimal formulation had a drug loading efficiency of 36.3±3.4%, mean diameter of 170.3±7.6 nm and zeta potential of −18.9±1.5 mV. The aromatase inhibition activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated in SKBR-3 breast cancer cells. IC50 value of the Tf-nanoparticles was ranging from 0.77 to 1.21 nM, and IC50 value of the nanoparticles was ranging from 1.90 to 3.41 nM (n = 3). The former is significantly lower than the latter (p < 0.05). These results suggested that the aromatase inhibition activity of the Tf-nanoparticles was enhanced relative to that of the non-targeted nanoparticles, which was attributable to Tf receptor (TfR) mediated uptake. In conclusion, Tf-conjugated lipid-coated PLGA nanoparticles are potential vehicles for improving the efficiency and specificity of therapeutic delivery of aromatase inhibitors.