BACKGROUND:Current research data have shown that patients with epilepsy are often accompanied by complications such as cognitive impairment. Recent studies have demonstrated that melatonin has an inhibitory effect on epilepsy, but its underlying mechanism is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of melatonin on the cognitive function and GluR2 expression in the hippocampus of rat models of epilepsy, and further study the mechanism of melatonin against epilepsy. METHODS: Rat models of chronic epilepsy were established by intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride-pilocarpine, and intraperitonealy injected with sufficient amount of physiological saline and melatonin respectively. Control group was set for observation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 4 and 6 weeks after modeling, the GluR2 expression level in the hippocampus of rats in the epilepsy + melatonin group was significantly higher than that in the epilepsy group (P < 0.05); the GluR2 expression level in the synaptic membrane of hippocampal CA1 region of rats in the control and epilepsy + melatonin groups was significantly higher than that in the epilepsy group (P < 0.05). At 4 days after modeling, compared with epilepsy group and epilepsy + physiological saline group, the escape latency, operation time, active avoidance latency, passive avoidance latency of rats in the epilepsy + melatonin group were significantly decreased (P< 0.05), the correct rate and active avoidance number were significantly increased (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that melatonin can improve the cognitive function of rat models of epilepsy by up-regulating the expression of GluR2 in the synaptic membrane of hippocampal CA1 region.

Objective To investigate the effects of down-regulation of Netrin-1 expression on cell proliferation,apoptosis and migration of a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma(CSCC)cell line SCL-1.Methods Unspecific(control)small interference RNA(siRNA)and Netrin-1-targeting siRNA were designed and constructed.SCL-1 cells were divided into 3 groups to remain untreated(control group 1),be transfected with control siRNA(control group 2)and Netrin-l-targeting siRNA(experiment group)by using Lipofectamine 2000 respectively.After 48 hours of additional culture,flow cytometry was performed to detect the apoptosis of cells,Western blot to determine the protein expression of caspase-3 and-9,Netrin-1 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)in these cells,and Boyden chamber was utilized to evaluate the migration of cells.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was performed with cholecystokinin-8(CCK-8)kit to estimate the proliferation of cells at 24,48,72 and 96 hours after the transfection.Results The expression of Netrin-1 protein was significantly downregulated in SCL-1 cells in the experiment group compared with the control group 1 and 2 (0.207 ± 0.044 vs.0.741 ± 0.111 and 0.716 ± 0.109,F =31.43,P ＜ 0.05).The Netrin-1-targeting siRNA significantly downregulated the proliferation of SCL-1 cells,but induced the apoptosis in SCL-1 cells with significant differences in the percentage of early apoptotic cells and late apoptotic cells between the control group 1,2 and experiment group(11.74 ± 0.33 vs.11.55 ± 1.22 vs.24.74 ± 2.43,F=68.63,P＜ 0.01;3.82 ± 0.32 vs.4.69 ± 0.68 vs.5.33 ± 0.18,F =8.58,P ＜ 0.05).The experiment group showed a significant increase in the expression of caspase-3 and-9(1.458 ± 0.111 vs.0.398 ± 0.057 and 0.412 ± 0.049,F =183.99,P ＜ 0.01;0.967 ± 0.099 vs.0.234 ± 0.036 and 0.205 ± 0.033,F =138.11,P ＜ 0.01),but a statistical decrease in the expression of MMP-2(0.235 ± 0.038 vs.0.862 ± 0.040 and 0.892 ± 0.035,F =291.07,P ＜ 0.01)compared with the control group 1 and 2.Conclusions The down-regulation of Netrin-1 expression can suppress the proliferation and migration of SCL-1 cells,but promote the apoptosis in SCL-1 cells.

Twenty-two patients with hyperthyroid caxdiopathy(HTC),38 patients with hyperthyroid (HT),and 10 healthy controls were tested for plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP).The findings showed that BNP level in HTC group(433±141)μg/L was significantly higher than that in HT group(110±38)μg/L and healthy control group(10±3)μg/L(both P<0.01);HT group vs healthy control group,P<0.01).After 3 months'treatment for HT,BNP decreased significantly.The patients with higher BNP levels had an increased incidence of HTC.Plasma BNP test might be useful in predicting the prognosis and the treatment efficacy in patients with HT.

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of clinical effects in female patients with obesity and hyperlipidemia of yang deficiency of spleen and kidney syndrome between warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture and simple warm acupuncture.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each one. In the control group, acupuncture was used at Pishu (BL 20), Zhongwan(CV 12), Shenshu(BL 23), Zhongji(CV 3), Guanyuan(CV 4), Mingmen(GV 4), Taibai(SP 3), Fenglong(ST 40), etc.; warm acupuncture was applied at Pishu(BL 20), Zhongwan(CV 12), Shenshu(BL 23) and Zhongji(CV 3); the treatment was required once every two days and for 3 months continuously. In the observation group, based on the treatment in the control group, thumbtack intradermal needles were embedded at auricular points, including pi(CO13), shen(CO10), pangguang(CO9), sanjiao(CO17), neifenmi(CO18), neishengzhiqi(TF2), etc. Obesity indices [body mass(W), obesity degree(A), body mass index(BMI), body fat percentage(F%)] blood lipid indices [serum total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL-C), high density lipoprotein(HDL-C)] and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. Results After treatment in the two groups, the obesity indices of W, A, BMI, F% and the blood lipid levels of TC, TG, LDL-C were obviously decreased compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01) and the HDL-C levels were apparently increased than those before treatment (both P<0. 01). After treatment, the improvement of TC and HDL-C in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (both P<0. 01). The difference was not statistically significant in the aspect of improving every obesity index between two groups (all P>. 05). The comprehensive total effective rate of the observation group was 95.4% (62/65), which was better than 84. 6% (55/65) of the control group (P<0. 001).

CONCLUSIONWarm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture and simple warm acupuncture can both benignly adjust abnormal lipid metabolism of obesity patients with hyperlipidemia, and warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture are superior to simple warm acupuncture treatment on antiobesity action and improving the TC and HDL-C levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Triglycerides ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the salidroside on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and its possible mechanisms of anti-tumor. METHODS: Cultured HepG2 cells in vitro were used as the research object and their cell morphology were observed by inverted microscope. The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was measured by MTS assay. The cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Salidroside could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells and promote its apoptosis. The Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 protein expression were increased while Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased in HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Salidroside can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of HepG2 cells, and the mechanism may be associated with regulating protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8.

Objective:To investigate the effect of genistein,a soybean-derived isoflavone,on thestimulating effect on bone resorption of IL-1?.Methods:The osteoclasts(OCs)were isolated with themethods of Yu Shifeng.The rat calvaria were cultured as an organ.The cells in the experiment weregrown in four respectively:Control(without genistein or IL-1?),10~(-6) mol/L genistein,10 ?g/L IL-1?and 10~(-6) mol/L genistein+10 ?g/L IL-1?.The area of bone resorption,the concentration of Ca~(2+) in thesupernatant liquid of OCs cultures and mice calvaria were tested.The contents of acid phosphatase(ACP)were also examined by biochemistry method.The index of bone resorption was counted as the ra-tio of the experiment average and control ones,which indicated the increase in bone resorption when itwas above 1.0.Results:The area of bone resorption of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein+10 ?g/L IL-1? increasedcompared with that of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein,while the concentration of Ca~(2+) in the supernatant liquid ofOCs cultures decreased significantly.The index of bone resorption of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein+10 ?g/L IL-1? lied between 10~(-6) mol/L genistein and 10 ?g/L IL-1?.In the organ culture,there was no differencein the content of ACP among all the groups,The index of bone resorption of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein+10?g/L IL-1? was below that of 10?g/L IL-1?,but both were above 1.0.The index of bone resorptionwas below 1.0 in the group of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein.Conclusion:Genistein can suppress obviously thebone resorption simulated by single IL-1?.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To illustrate the effect of methylene blue ( MB) on T-lymphocyte subsets and oxidative stress of the thymus in rats with paraquat ( PQ) poisoning.METHODS: Male SD rats ( n=40) were randomly assigned to 4 groups:normal group, control group, low-dose (2 mg? kg-1? d-1 ) MB group and high-dose (4 mg? kg-1? d-1 ) MB group.After 72 h, the pathological morphological changes of the thymus were observed under microscope with HE staining. The SOD activity and MDA content were measured by colorimetry method.The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, CD4 and CD8 was determined by immunohistochemical method.RESULTS:In MB group, the thymus tissue showed good corticomedul-lary demarcation.MDA content decreased and SOD activity increased, indicating that the ability of antioxidation enhanced. Bcl-2 and Bax expression was down-regulated, Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased, and CD4 positive cells increased.CONCLU-SION:MB protects against oxidative damage induced by PQ, and regulates the distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets in the cortex and medulla, thus relieving the persistent body damage.

0.05). ③The entrance point of screw was designed based on the obtained data. Sixty screws were all inserted into pedicles successfully. CONCLUSION: L1-5 superior margin root of spinous process locates in superior and inferior planes of vertebral pedicle with stable anatomic relationship; in addition, there are no significant differences between plain tomography and CT films. It provides anatomic data for pedicular operation.

OBJECTIVE To investigate ?-lactamases genes in multi-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Guangzhou. METHODS We collected 22 P.aeruginosa strains from hospitalized patients,and detected eleven types of ?-lactamases associated genes by PCR. RESULTS CARB,IMP,TEM,VEB and VIM showed positive amplifications with positive proportions were 100.0%,95.5%,77.3%,13.6% and 4.5%,respectively.Other genes such as GIM,SPM,GES,PER,DHA,OXA-10 and SHV showed negative results. CONCLUSIONS The genes CARB and IMP have high positive rate.Different types of ?-lactamases associated genes in P.aeruginosa aften lead to multi-resistance to antibiotics,which bring great difficulties to clinical therapy and hospital infection monitoring.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for distant gastric cancer.Methods All 18 patients with distant gastric cancer receiving laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy were analyzed.Results Laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy was performed successfully in all patients.The mean operation time was(291.33?19.61) min.The mean blood loss was(151.32?71.78) ml.The mean numbers of harvested lymph node were 14.57?3.11.The mean time of gastrointestinal function recovery was(3.46?0.93) d,the mean out of bed activity time was(1.75?0.45) d.All patients were followed up for 1-24 months,mean 11 months.No local recurrence,trocar implant or distant metastasis happened.Conclusion Laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy is a feasible and safe surgical procedure combined with minimal trauma and fast recovery.