AIM　The purpose is to study the anti-arrhythmic effects of extracts from cultured Cordyceps sinensis. METHODS　Aconitine and barium chloride were used to induce experimental arrhythmia models in rats. RESULTS　The results showed that PE was more potent than other ingredients. Pretreatment with PE by oral administration significantly antagonized arrhythmia induced by aconitine. PE significantly prolonged the onset of arrhythmia, decreased the duration and diminished the degree of severity. And in barium chloride-induced arrhythmia model, PE had some anti-arrhythmia effect，which could diminish the degree of severity effectively to some extent. CONCLUSION　PE is an active component to antagonize arrhythmia induced by aconitine and barium chloride.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the effects of different tooth preparations on the fracture strength and pattern of failure of teeth with severe wedge-shaped defect restored with post and core crowns.

METHODSAccording to whether the teeth above the wedge-shaped defect was removed (represented by B) or not (represented by A), the ferrule next to the wedge-shaped defect was prepared (represented by D) or not (represented by C), the cast post-and-core was chosen (represented by E) or glass-fiber post and resin core was chosen (represented by F). A total of 64 human mandibular premolar teeth were randomly divided into 8 groups: A1-1 (A + C + E), A1-2 (A + C + F), A2-1 (A + D + E), A2-2 (A + D + F), B1-1 (B + C + E), B1-2 (B + C + F), B2-1 (B + D + E), B2-2 (B + D + F), each group 8 teeth. All the teeth were prepared and restored accordingly and then mounted on an electronic pressure universal testing machine. The maximum fracture strength and the patterns of failure were recorded.

RESULTS1) The fracture strength of Group A1-1 > that of Group B1-1, Group A1-2 > Group B1-2, Group B2-1 > Group B1-1, and Group B2-1 > Group B2-2 with significant differences (P < 0.05). 2) The patterns of repairable fracture in Group A1-2 and B1-2 were both 37.5%, and that of the other groups were 0. Furthermore, the difference was significant, and Group A1-2 and B1-2 were higher than other groups.

CONCLUSIONThe maintenance of the overhang above the severe wedge-shaped defect aid in the improvement of the fracture strength of the tooth restored with post and core crown. The ferrule of the wedge-shaped defect is not recommended to be prepared. Furthermore, the glass-fiber post and resin core is favorable for the re-repair of the teeth than the cast post and core.

Bicuspid ; Crowns ; Glass ; Humans ; Incisor ; Post and Core Technique ; Tooth Fractures ; Tooth Preparation

Calcinosis ; pathology ; Child ; Humans ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Male ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cell Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the role of survivin and P53 in apoptosis of gastric adeno- carcinoma,as well as its relationship with the clinicopathologic features and the prognosis.Methods The gas- tric tissue microarrays were composed of those from 100 cases of gastric cancer and 30 controls.At these tissue microarrays,expressions of survivin and P53 were investigated immunohistochemically,and tumor cell apoptosis index was examined by TUNEL method.Of the 100 cases,47 cases were followed-up from 14 months to 13 years,in which the survival was analyzed.Results Two paraffin-embedded gastric carcinoma tissue micro- arrays were successfully constructed,including 114 and 116 tissue spots,respectively.Immunohistochemical analysis showed that survivin was expressed in 78 cases (78%).No expression of survivin was detected in control tissue (P0.05).In the 47 cases with followed-up data,univariant analysis revealed that the survival was correlated with invading of vessel and nerve,TNM stages,and expression of survivin.The histological grades and expression of P53 were not related to prognosis.However,Cox stepwise proportional hazards analysis showed that only TNM staging and survivin status retained significant independently in prospecting prognosis.Conclusions The expression of survivin was associated with the pathologic features,TNM stages and prognosis in gastric carcinoma,indicating that overex- pression of survivin may be a poor prognosis factor for gastric carcinoma.

Objective To observe the time-dependent changes of astrocytes and microvessels in the ischemic core and surrounding areas.Methods Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)was measured by HE,and CD31 by immunohistochemistry as markers in post-mortem specimens from ten patients,who died of cerebral infarction.Results Each section of the infarcted brains was divided into four areas (the area 0-3).GFAP expressed a little in area 0 and 1,increased in a time-dependent manner in area 2 and 3;CD31 die not expressed in area 0,expressed a little in the area 1,and increased in area 2 and 3 continuously.Conclusions The proliferation of astrocytes and microvessels may play a significant role in the process of restoration after cerebral infarction.

BACKGROUND:Poststroke depression is one of the most common psychological behavior disorders after stroke and its mechanism remains unclear. Studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in neurogenesis and synaptogenesis may play an important role in psychology diseases. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of miR-137 in the blood and brain of poststroke depression rats and its effect on the behaviors of rats. METHODS:Thirty-six rats were equal y divided into six groups:control, model, agomir-137, agomir-NC, agomir-137+Grin2A and agomir-137+vector groups. Control group had no treatment. Poststroke depression models were established by ligation of middle cerebral artery and chronic mild stimulation in the latter four groups fol owed by receiving an injection of nothing, agomir-137, agomir-NC, LV-CMV-Grin2A or control plasmids into the left lateral ventricle, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:We found significantly lower miR-137 levels in the brain and peripheral blood of post-stroke depression rats compared with normal rats. Vertical scores and horizontal scores on the behavior test were significantly higher in the agomir-137 group than the agomir-NC and model groups at 3 weeks after cerebral ischemia;while, sucrose consumption percentage was also higher in the agomir-137 group at the end of 2 weeks after cerebral ischemia. Luciferase assays showed miR-137 bound to the 3’ UTR of Grin2A, regulating Grin2A expression in a neuronal cel line. Grin2A gene overexpression in the brain of post-stroke depression rats noticeably suppressed the inhibitory effect of miR-137 on post-stroke depression. Overal , these findings show that miR-137 suppresses Grin2A protein expression through binding to Grin2A mRNA, thereby exerting an inhibitory effect on post-stroke depression and offering a new therapeutic target for poststroke depression.

Astrocytoma ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ganglioneuroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Nestin ; Neurons ; pathology ; Oligodendroglioma ; pathology ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ganglioglioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Tubulin ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the improvements in constipation differentiated as intestine system syndrome and lung system syndrome treated with electroacupuncture (EA) and explore their correlation.

METHODSSeventy cases of severe functional constipation were randomized into an EA group and a pseudo-EA group, 35 cases in each one. In the EA group, the needles were inserted deeply at Tianshu (ST 25) and Fujie (SP 14) on bilateral sides, and directly went to parietal peritoneum. EA was attached to the needles, dense-disperse wave, 2 Hz/15 Hz, and 0.1 to 1.0 mA. The perpendicular insertion was done at Shangjuxu (ST 37), 25 mm in depth. After qi arrival, the needle was lifted, thrusted and rotated once every 10 min, for 3 times totally. The needles were retained for 30 min. In the pseudo-EA group, the pseudo-points lateral to Tianshu (ST 25), Fujie (SP 14) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) on bilateral sides were punctured shallowly. The electric stimulation was pretended to connect but with the electric wire cutting off. The needles were retained for 30 min. The treatment was given 5 times weekly in the first two weeks and 3 times weekly in the later 6 weeks. Totally, 28 treatments were required. TCM intestine and lung syndrome scale was used for evaluation. The changes in TCM syndromes were observed before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups.

RESULTSThe total score of intestine and lung syndrome and the score of individual syndrome were all reduced after treatment as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01). The improvements of the EA group in the total score of intestine system syndrome, the scores of large. intestine syndrome and stomach syndrome, the total score of lung system syndrome and the score of lung dysfunction in dispersing and descending syndrome were superior to those of the pseudo-EA group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The differences in the scores of lung qi deficiency syndrome and throat syndrome were not significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). Simultaneously, the very strong positive correlation (P<0.01) and positive linear correlation (P<0.01) were presented in the total score of intestine and lung syndrome of the two groups.

CONCLUSIONEA obviously improves in intestine system syndrome (including large intestine syndrome and stomach syndrome), as well as lung system syndrome (lung dysfunction in dispersing and descending) in the treatment of constipation. But the improvements are not apparent in the treatment of lung qi deficiency and throat disorder. Additionally, the obvious correlation is displayed in the improvements in intestine and lung syndrome.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Constipation ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; physiopathology ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

This paper aimed to study phenylpropanoids of Tripterygium hypoglaucum. Twenty-four compounds were isolated from the 70% EtOH extracts of T. hypoglaucum by silica gel column chromatography, reversed phase column chromatography, gel column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. Compounds 1-3 were three new phenylpropionds. Their structures were identified by ultraviolet spectrum, infrared spectroscopy, high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance data as: threo-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenoxy)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanedol (1), erythro-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenoxy)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol (2), erythro-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-ethoxypropane-1,2-propanediol (3). Compounds 4-6, 9, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 21-24 were obtained from Tripterygium genus for the first time. The cytotoxicity assay of cancer cells suggested that compound 20 displayed cytotoxicity on the breast cancer 4T1 cells whose 50% inhibitory concentration was 125.60 μmol·L^-1.