AIM: To explore if metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) i nduces neuroprotection against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) neurotoxicity in PC1 2 cells. METHODS: The alteration of the glutamate in extracellul ar fluid of PC12 cells was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (H PLC) with a fluorescent detector. The cytotoxic activity of PC12 cells was assay ed by means of MTT colorimetric method. RESULTS: 6-OHDA dose-d ependently increased glutamate release and decreased cell activity of PC12 cells , and the mGluRs ligands had no significant effect on that. CONCLUSION: The mGluR3 ligands has no protective effect on neurotoxicity of PC12 cel ls induced by 6-OHDA.

Object To observe the effects of coumarin (CM) and Verapamil (Ver) on contractivity and its relationship with Ca 2+ in isolated ileal smooth muscle of the rabbits. Methods The effects of CM and Ver were observed in three doses by routine experimental methods in isolated rabbit ileal. Results CM and Ver inhibited the contraction of isolated ileal smooth muscle induced by acetylcholine and CaCl 2. The responses were a concentration-dependent and non-competitive manner. CM and Ver were effective against the initial and sustained peak induced by acetylcholine. Conclusion CM has a calcium-antagonistic effect which is similar to that of Ver.

AIM To study the relationship between the activity of glutamate transporters and Parkinson's disease (PD), examine whether a novel ATP sensitive potassium (K ATP) channel opener Iptakalim (Ipt) hydrochloride enhances glutamate uptake activity, and to investigate its mechanisms. METHODS Rats were stereotaxically injected with 6 hydroxydopamine (6 OHDA) in SNpc. The synaptosomes from normal and PD rats were isolated, and [ 3H] glutamate uptake in synaptosomes was measured by using liquid scintillation counting. RESULTS [ 3H] glutamate uptake by synaptosomes from striatum and cerebral cortex of PD rats decreased and the redution was recovered by administration with Ipt (10, 50, 100 ?mol?L -1 ). The protective effect of Ipt was blocked by co adiministration with glibenclamide (20 ?mol?L -1 ), an inhibitor of sulphonylurea receptors. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate for the first time the protective role of K ATP channel in glutamate uptake of synaptosomes and conceptually support the view that Ipt may have potential and feasibility in therapy for PD.

ObjectiveThis study was to evaluate the effects of different pneumoperitoneum used in laparoscopy on in vitro tumor cells growth. Methods 3H-TdR incorporation was used to compare the DNA synthesis (CPM value) of tumor cells after exposure to simulated laparoscopic environments, composed of carbon dioxide, helium and room air, respectively. Results At 24 hours after pneumoperitoneum, compared with group of helium, air and control, CPM increased in group of carbon dioxide (F=47.576 5,P0.05). At 48,72 and 96 hours, pneumoperitoneum, compared with helium group, air group and control group, CPM increased significantly in carbon dioxide group (F=116.183,1082.92 and 5116.75, P0.05). Conclusion Carbon dioxide promotes tumor cells growth, while helium restrains the growth of tumor cells. [

Objective To develop a method of detecting dry blood spot (DBS) samples collected in the filter paper by using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERSp,also known as Raman molecular fingerprint spectrum) technology.The possibility and reliability of applying the technology to the newborn screening of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) was investigated.Methods The case-control study was used.The results of CH-hTSH screening test based on the DBS samples collected in the filter paper,and the clinical diagnosis were all provided by neonatal screening center of Shanghai Children's Hospital.The results of SERSp analysis were provided by Dalian University of Technology.Six positive and six negative samples,which were confirmed respectively by CH-hTSH screening using time resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) were chosen.With the spectrum lines of 725 cm-1 as internal standard,the SERSp from the aqueous solution of these samples were analyzed.The specific spectrum line analysis,the principal component analysis (PCA) and the scatter diagram of PCA were used to compare the results of TSH test.Results With the spectrum lines of 725 cm-1 as internal standard,the CH specific spectrum lines of 1373 cm-1 and 1400 cm-1 were discovered.They showed the most significant difference of the peak height between the positive and negative samples of CH,while TSH specific spectrum lines of 785 cm-1,827 cm-1 and 853 cm-1 failed to distinguish positive from negative samples with distinct peak height.The consistency between the results of CH-Raman Screening and CH-hTSH Screening was 91.7％ (11/12),which was proven by PCA,the scatter diagram of PCA and the specific spectrum line analysis.The sensitivity of CH-Raman Screening was 100％ and the specificity was 83.3％.Conclusion There is a new CH-Raman Screening method using the SERSp analysis,which was proven to be a promising technology in the newborn screening of congenital hypothyroidism with the DBS in the filter paper.

Objective Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play important roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism of calreticulin (CRT) to promote FLS survival in RA.Methods FLS were isolated by enzymatic digestion of synovial tissue specimens obtained from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients and cultured in vitro.The expression of Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 in FLS at mRNA and protein level was detected by quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR),Western blotting and immunofluorescence respectively.RA and OA FLS were cultured with different concentrations of recombinant human CRT for 48-72 h,the expression of Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 was detected by q-PCR and Western blotting.The proliferation of RA FLS following CRT stimulation was determined by MTT assay.Results ① Compared with FLS from OA patients (1.00±0.39;1.00±0.46),the anti-apoptotic Bcl-XL and Mcl-l mRNA expression (14.51 ±2.20;12.82±1.80) was significantly higher in the FLS from RA patients (t=10.47,1 1.02;P＜0.01);Western blotting analysis also showed increased protein levels of Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 in RA FLS;Immunofluorescence results showed higher expression of Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 in RA at the single FLS level;② CRT up-regulated the expression of Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 in RA FLS:compared with the control group (0 ng/ml),CRT stimulation at 10 ng/ml and 50 ng/ml increased the levels of Bcl-XL mRNA (1.70±0.28 vs 1.00±0.20,q=4.58,P＜0.05;1.87±0.35 vs 1.00±0.20,q=5.69,P＜O.05) and Mcl-1 mRNA (1.85±0.36 vs 1.00±0.20,q=5.63,P＜0.05;1.72±0.26 vs 1.00±0.20,q=4.77,P＜0.05) in RA FLS,while no significant effects of CRT on Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 mRNA expression were observed in OA FLS (F=1.49,1.60;P＞0.05);Western blotting results showed elevated protein levels of both Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 in RA FLS after CRT treatment at a concentration dependent manner.However,neither Bcl-XL nor Mcl-1 expression was significantly changed in OA FLS.③ MTT assay showed that CRT had no significant effect on the proliferation of RA FLS (F=2.88,P＞ 0.05).Conclusion Our results indicate that CRT-mediated up-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 may inhibit apoptosis and promote the survival of FLS from RA patients.

Objective To investigate the protective effect and therapeutic window of DGMI on ischemic stroke in rats,and to explore the related mechanism.Method The rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 90 min followed by 72 h of reperfusion.DGMI (i.p.,1.25,2.5,5.0,and 10.0 mg/kg,Bid) was administered at 1 h after the onset of ischemia.Neurological score was evaluated after 24 and 72 h of reperfusion rcspectively.In fact volume,cerebral water content,oxidative stress markers,and IL-1β were evaluated after 72 h of reperfusion.The rats were treated with DGMI 5.0 mg/kg 0.5 h before reperfusion or 1 h,2 h,3 h,and 6 h after reperfusion to determined therapeutic window.Result Treatment with DGMI (2.5,5.0 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated neurological deficit,infarct volume and cerebral water content after cerebral ischemia reperfusion.DGMI also reduced the content of malonaldehyde (MDA),IL-1β,down-regulated the activities of creatine kinase (CK),lacticdehydrogenase (LDH),and up-regulated the activities of superoxide dISmutase (SOD).Treatment with DGMI 5.0 mg/kg exhibited protective effects when administered at all time points except for 6 h after reperfusion.Conclusion DGMI plays a certain protective role in ischemic stroke of rats,and the effect may be related to the improvement on the antioxidant capacity of brain tissue and the inhibition of overproduction of inflammatory cytokine.Moreover,the therapeutic window of DGMI isless than 6 h after reperfusion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of balloon kyphoplasty combined with bone cement on the treatment osteoporotic vertebral fracture.METHODS: A total of 58 aged patients with single osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (58 vertebral bodies) were treated with balloon kyphoplasty. The fracture always occurred at T_8-L_4 segment of vertebral body in particular at T_(10)-L_2 segment of thoracic waist. By local anesthesia, lateral or bilateral pedicle of vertebral arch was punctured to injection bone cement under C-arm fluoroscopy.RESULTS: Bone cement leakage occurred in 8 cases, including leakage along posterior longitudinal ligament into adjacent posterior margin of vertebral body (n=1), external edge of vertebral body (n=6), and subcutaneous tissue (n=1); however, all the patients did not have clinical symptoms. C-arm fluoroscopy showed that height of vertebral body was increased, and rachiokyphosis was improved after treatment. Pain was obviously improved, and the easement rate of pain was 100%. There was significant difference in visual simulation score, angle degree of rachiokyphosis, and living activity scale before and 6 months after treatment (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between 6 months after treatment and following up stopping (P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Balloon kyphoplasty can significantly ease pain caused by osteoporotic spinal fractures and tumor metastatic spinal fractures and can partially restore vertebral body height and kyphosis deformity, there is conducive to improving spinal function and improving the quality of life.