Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation was recently reported to have a therapeutic potential for functional dyspepsia (FD). This study aimed to explore the integrative effects and mechanisms of auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) in a rodent model of FD. Methods: We evaluated the effects of aVNS on visceral hypersensitivity, gastric motility and open field test (OFT) activity in iodoacetamide (IA)-treated rats. The autonomic function was assessed; blood samples and tissues were collected and analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot. Vagotomy was performed to investigate the role of vagal efferent nerve. Results: aVNS reduced the electromyography response to gastric distension, improved gastric emptying and increased the horizontal and vertical motion scores of the OFT in IA-treated rats. The sympathovagal ratio was increased in IA-treated rats but normalized with aVNS. The serum cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and NF-κBp65 were increased in IA-treated rats and decreased with aVNS. The hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis was hyperactive in IA-treated rats but inhibited by aVNS. The expression of duodenal desmoglein 2 and occludin were all decreased in IA-treated rats and increased with aVNS but not sham-aVNS. Vagotomy abolished the ameliorating effects of aVNS on gastric emptying, horizontal motions, serum TNF-α and duodenal NF-κBp65. Conclusion: aVNS improves gastric motility and gastric hypersensitivity probably by anti-inflammatory mechanisms via the vago-vagal pathways. A better understanding on the mechanisms of action involved with aVNS would lead to the optimization of the taVNS methodology and promote taVNS as a non-pharmacological alternative therapy for FD.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can effectively improve body’s immunity. This study explored G-CSF’s role in dopaminergic neurons apoptosis in Parkinson’s disease mice model. In this study, Oxidopamine, also known as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) drugs were used to establish mouse models, and 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) measurement of brain nerve cell apoptosis and mouse motor function scores methods were used to analyze and clarify whether G-CSF’s role in inflammatory process is through regulating monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) expression and T cell immune function. Meanwhile, neutrophil infiltration in apoptotic and surrounding areas was also assessed. Nerve cell apoptosis was significantly reduced After a single dose of G-CSF treatment in the model 24 h after successful modeling, compared with PBS control group (P <0.05). The motor function of mice in the G-CSF treatment group was significantly improved (P <0.05) on days 7 and 14. Moreover, the expressions of MCP-1, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β were significantly decreased through therapeutic intervention, and inflammation was controlled (P < 0.05). The number of CD11b infiltration in the apoptotic area in the G-CSF group did not increase, suggesting that intervention did not reduce apoptosis of nerve cells. Bcl-2 expression in the treatment group was significantly higher than in the control group, and Bax expression was lower (P <0.05). In addition, the number of dopamine BrdU+ cells in the substantia nigra was significantly increased (P <0.05). G-CSF can thus promote bone marrow hematopoiesis, thereby stimulating endogenous nerve cell proliferation, resisting nerve damage in Parkinson’s mice, and promoting neuron regeneration to help preserve neuronal function in mice and improve prognosis.

A novel Terahertz (THz) detector based on metallic gratings/GaAs-based Blocked Impurity Band (BIB) hybrid structure was designed and simulated in this work. By setting the periodic metallic gratings as 100μm with 50μm width, the absorption peak of the hybrid structure detector exists at the wavelength of 249 μm, which is 4.84 times larger than the conventional BIB detector. Also, the resonate absorption peak can be modulated by changing the period of metallic gratings. Our design and simulation result provide a new scheme to fabricate the high-performance THz detector for the practical applications such as security check, biomedical treatment, and astronomical obseveration etc.