Objective To observe the effect of Xingnao Kaiqiao Acupuncture on cognitive impairment post stroke. Methods Fifty-four patients from July, 2013 to December, 2015 with cognitive impairment post stroke were randomly divided into experimental group (accepted Xingnao Kaiqiao Acupuncture and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) and control group (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimula-tion only). They were assessed with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) before and 4 weeks after treatment. Results The scores of MMSE and MoCA improved after treatment in both groups (t>3.52, P<0.01), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t>2.29, P<0.05). Conclusion Xingnao Kaiqiao Acupuncture may further im-proved the recovery of cognitive impairment post stroke based on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

This article shared opinions on how to effective educate clinical type postgraduates in department of neurosurgery based on the teaching models in the first affiliated hospital of Chongqing medical university. In the proposed training program,medical ethics education and comprehensive training including clinical thinking and practical skills training should be emphasized.Scientific inquisitiveness of the neurological research and the writing and oral communication in English should also be promoted.This training program will be fully committed to produce highly qualified,ethical and caring neurosurgeons for future needs of the society.

Objective To construct human apolipoprotein O (apolipoprotein O, ApoO) expression vector and obtain recombinant fusion protein thioredoxin (Trx)-ApoO by pET prokaryotic expression system. Methods The ApoO gene fragment from the human liver cDNA library was amplified by PCR. The resulting product was cloned into pET-32a(+) vector and sequenced. The confirmed cDNA was cloned into plasmid E.coli DH10B and then transformed into E.coli BL 21 (DE3) where it was induced to express protein by isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG).The fusion protein was purified by Ni-NTA resin. Results The ApoO gene was cloned by PCR and a 519 bp DNA fragment was shown on the agarose electrophoresis. The cloned gene was sequenced and demonstrated to have the same sequence as that of human ApoO gene in GenBank which justified a successful construction of recombinant plasmid. ApoO cDNA gene fragment was induced by IPTG, and a 34 kD recombinant fusion protein Trx-ApoO was tested on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide (SDS-PAGE). Conclusion Human ApoO gene is successfully cloned and its recombinant fusion protein Trx-ApoO is expressed.

BACKGROUND:Vascular endothelial growth factor is found the strongest to promote angiogenesis, which show strong expression in synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the relation between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density in rheumatoid arthritis.
METHODS:Col agen II and complete Freund’s adjuvant were used to induce experimental arthritis in Sprague-Dawley rats. Synovium expression of vascular endothelium growth factor and microvessel density were assayed at different time points using immunohistochemistry method, and changes in new vessels, vascular endothelial growth factor expression and arthritis index were observed along the time course. The correlations between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and number of new blood vessels as wel as between arthritis index and vascular endothelial growth factor expression were studied with linear correlation analysis and rank correlation analysis, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:With the time lasting, new blood vessels in the synovium proliferated, the synovium was thickened, and the arthritis index rose gradual y as wel as vascular endothelial growth factor expression and number of new microvessels were on the rise. Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was positively correlated with arthritis index (r=0.535, P<0.05) and significantly positively correlated with number of new microvessels (r=0.860, P<0.01). Vascular endothelial growth factor is involved in the course of synovium pannus response, and vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density may play an important role in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis.

Objective To study the mechanism of oxidative damage in myocardial tissue after limb ischemia reperfusion (IR), and the protective effects of heme oxygenase-1 on myocardial injury in experimental rats. Method The models of bilateral hind limbs ischemia and reperfusion in rats were established by using tourniquets applied to the roots of both hind limbs until palm blanched and pulseless for 4 hours. A total of 56 SD rats were randomly (random number) divided into 7 groups, namely one normal control group ( n = 8) and 6 ischemia-reperfusion groups as per different lengths of reperfusion time, e. g. 2 hrs, 4 hrs, 8 hrs, 16 h rs and 24 hr ( n = 8 each). The experimental rats were sacrificed after different lengths of reperfusion time. Specimens of myocardium and blood were taken for assays of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), and pathological changes of myocardium were observed, and the expressions of HO-1 mRNA in myocardium were detected. Data were analyzed with ANOVA. Results (1) Compared with the control group, the levels of serum MDA and myocardial MDA of rats were increased in all IR groups and were higher (P < 0.05), and the levels of MDA reached the peak after reperfusion for 4 hours. The levels of serum SOD and myocardial SOD in rats of all IR groups were decreased and lower than those in rats of the control group ( P < 0.05), and the levels of serum SOD dropped away to the lowest point after reperfusion for 4 hours, and the levels of myocardial SOD fell off to the bottom after reperfusion for 8 hours. The levels of serum MPO and myocardial MPO were significantly increased in rats of all IR groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of serum MPO reached peak after reperfusion for 4 hours, and the levels of myocardial MPO were increased to the highest spot after reperfusion for 6 hours. (2) The pathological changes in myocardium showed the most severe damage after reperfusionfor 4-6 hours.(3) After reperfusion for 2 hours, there were no significant differences in the expression of HO-1 mRNA between IR groups and control group (P >0.05), and after reperfusion for 4 hours and over, the expressions of HO-1 mRNA were markedly increased in IR groups and reached peak after reperfusion for 16 hours in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The activation of neutrophils and free radicals may play a primarily adverse role in myocardial injury after limb IR, and the increase in the expression of HO-1 mRNA lessens the harm effects of IR on myocardium.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Attractin (Atrn) silence on the anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic abilities of TM4 Sertoli cells and its influence on the expressions of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and caspase6 in the cells.

METHODSWe observed the apoptotic indexes of TM4 Sertoli cells with normal expression (control), partial deletion, and complete deletion of the Atrn gene (psiRNA-TM4, psiAtrn-TM4, and mu-SC). We determined the mRNA and protein expressions of SOD and caspase6 by Q-PCR and Western blot, measured the SOD activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contentby spectrophotometry, and detected the apoptotic index of the cells by TUNEL.

RESULTSCompared with psiRNA-TM4, after inhibition of the Atrn expression, the Sertoli cells in the psiAtrn-TM4 and mu-SCgroups showed significantly decreased expressions ofSOD mRNA (70.76% and 92.58%) and protein (65.11% and 71.0%) (both P < 0.05). The levels of caspase 6 mRNA and protein were increased 5.28 and 3.40 times in the psiAtrn-TM4 and 2.97 and 2.50 times in the mu-SCgroup as compared with the normal control (both P < 0.05). Atrn deletion markedly increased the apoptotic indexes of the cells in the psiAtrn-TM4 and mu-SC groups by 16.22% and 22.03% (P < 0.05) and reduced the activity of SOD by 23.00% and 39.37% (P < 0.05); it also elevated the level of MDA by 155.22% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Atrn gene exerts influence on the function of Sertoli cells in multiple ways, in which antioxidative stress and apoptosis regulation may play an important role.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 6 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Deletion ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Sertoli Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE To study the imprinting status of H19 gene in normal villi tissue during the first trimester,and its relation to the invasion of trophoblast. METHODS Using PCR-RFLP methods to examine the imprinting status of H19 gene in 93 cases of normal villi tissue during the first trimester. RESULTS Among 93 cases, heterozygous genotypes were found in 42 cases. And 11 cases of biallelic expression were found among these 42 cases of heterozygous genotypes from 5 to 9 weeks, however no biallelic expression existed from 10 to 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS During the first trimester, H19 is expressed biallelically at the first 10 weeks. The H19 gene may dynamicly change in the trophoblast, and the dynamic change may have close relationship with the invasion of the trophoblast.

Cyclic peptide drugs have gradually become an emerging research direction due to their some favorable properties such as high-efficiency binding affinity, high selectivity, lower toxicity, and stable metabolism. In recent years, the number of cyclic peptide drugs under clinical research has continued to increase. Unlike the previous cyclic peptide drugs, which were mostly derived from natural products and their derivatives, these cyclic peptide drugs are designed by genetically encoded display technologies which are based on rational design and in vitro evolution (such as BT1718, PTG-300, POL6326, etc). Among them, phage display technology has some advantages such as mature research system, low cost, and simpler operation that make it well recognized and praised by the majority of researchers in this field. Here, we reviewed the recent progress of applying phage display technology to explore diverse cyclic peptide libraries, which, we believe, will contribute more valuable candidate cyclic peptide drugs in clinical research.

Objective To investigate the effect and the underlying mechanism of miRNA (miR)-506 regulating transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition of human aortic endothelial cell lysates.Methods In this study,miR-506 and inhibitory members of the ASPP family (iASPP) were selected as the study objects.First,the expression of miR-506 in human aortic endothelial cell lysates (HAEC) lysate was detected under different concentrations of TGF-β1.The expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31),endothelium-cadherin (VE-cadherin),fibroblastspecific protein-1 (FSP1),α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and N-cadherin was determined after miR-506 mimics/mimic negative control (NC) transfection into HAEC treated with or without TGF-β1.Then the expression levels of iASPP in miRNA-506 mimics/mimic NC-transfected HAECs treated with or without TGF-β1 were determined.Finally,the protein expression of CD31,VE-cadherin,FSP1 and α-SMA in HAEC transfected with miR-506 mimics/mimic NC was determined after iASPP overexpression.Results TGF-β1 can induce human aortic endothelial cell mesenchymal transition,down-regulate CD31 and VE-cadherin expression while up-regulate FSP1,α-SMA and N-cadherin expression;TGF-β1 inhibited miR-506 expression,promoted iASPP expression;miR-506 transfection into HAECs up-regulated CD31 and VE-cadherin expression while up-regulate FSP1,α-SMA and N-cadherin expression;miR-506 could downregulate the expression of iASPP;the overexpression of iASPP increased the expression of FSP1,α-SMA and N-cadherin,down-regulated CD31 and VE-cadherin and promoted the transformation of human aortic endothelial cells.Conclusions The transfection of iASPP plasmid promoted the endothelial-mesenchymal transition of human aortic endothelial cell lysates.The transfection of miR-506 inhibited the expression of iASPP and inhibited the endothelial-mesenchymal transition of human aortic endothelial cell lysates induced by TGF-β1.