Objective To investigate the role of autophagy and synaptophysin (SYP) in cognitive impairment in de?pressed rats receiving electroconvulsive shock (ECS). Methods Clean and healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were acclimatized to a standard laboratory environment for 7 days. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to establish the rat model of depression. Behavior tests were conducted before and after CUMS to evaluate the depression and cognition level of rats. After establishment of the model, 24 rats were randomly divided into ESC group (group E) and depression group (group D) with 12 rats in each group. The rats in group E were administered 80 mg/kg of propofol (10 mg/mL) by intraperitoneal injection, followed by ECS treatment. The rats in group D were administered propofol by intra?peritoneal injection, followed by sham-ECS treatments. The above interventions were conducted daily for 7 consecutive days. After the interventions, rats underwent behavior tests as before. Subsequently, rats were killed and specimens were collected for measurements. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine autophagy markers such as Beclin 1 and LC3Ⅱand ELISA was used to detect SYP in the hippocampus. Results Group E after ECS significantly increased the percentage of sucrose preference (68.2%±8.7%), rearing times (7.0±1.9), total horizontal distance [(569.5±70.0) cm], es? cape latency [(21.9±5.3)s] and space exploration time [(20.5±3.9)s] compared with group D or group E before ECS. There was no significant difference in these index between groups before ECS or in group E between before and after ECS(P>0.05). Compared with group D, group E had upregulated protein expression levels of Beclin 1 and LC3Ⅱin CA1, CA3, DG as well as the area near the hippocampus and increased SYP contents (P<0.05). Conclusions Cognitive impairment in depression rats following ECS correlates with activated autophagy and increased SYP by ECS.

Models of throat excess-heat mice were established and different dosages of water extract of STRR were ig given to mice to observe anti-inflammatory effect and its mechanism. The activities of ALT, AST and the contents of TNF-α, T3, rT3, T4, SOD, MDA, PEG2, NO, NOS, Cr, BUN, GSH and GSH-Px in serum were tested while liver index, kidney index, spleen index and thymus index were measured. The anti-inflammatory efficacy accompanied by side effects and mechanisms of water extract of Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma (STRR) in excess-heat mice were investigated to clear safety dose-dependence range and the relationship of efficacy, toxicity and syndrome. In the experiment, water extract of STRR showed a strong inhibitory effect on ear edema by croton oil in throat excess-heat mice. The activities of ALT, AST in serum and liver index were all higher than that of normal group after multiple administration. PEG2, SOD, MDA, NO, NOS, GSH and GSH-Px had obvious changes. According to the results, water extract of STRR has an anti-inflammatory effect on acute inflammation in throat excess-heat mice and it is stronger than that in normal mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of STRR is related to the reduction of inflammatory mediators release. Side effects and hepatotoxicity will be produced on clinical efficacy dosage. The mechanisms of anti-inflammation and hepatotoxicity are all in connection with oxidative damnification.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; toxicity ; Rhizome ; Sophora

AIMTo compare the TAOC of quercetin, rutin, vitamin C, vitamin E in vitro and examine the effect of quercetin on TAOC of rat plasma after intragastric administration.

METHODSFe3+ reducing ability assay, UV spectrum analysis and HPLC analysis were used to measure TAOC of plasma and the contents of quercetin and rutin after intragastric administration.

RESULTSThe TAOC of quercetin was stronger than that of rutin and roughly equal to vitamin C and vitamin E in vitro. After intragastric administration of quercetin (40 mg/kg bw), the TAOC and content of quercetin in rat plasma increased significantly. Vitamin C also increased plasma TAOC significantly, but rutin and vitamin E didn't after intragastric administration. However, there was no remarkable absorption peak of quercetin on HPLC chromatograms and on the other hand, the peak areas of two unknown peaks near quercetin peak were increased after intragastric administration of quercetin.

CONCLUSIONThe antioxidant capacity of quercetin was stronger than rutin and comparable to vitamin C both in vitro and in vivo. After absorption, quercetin is metabolized to its derivatives.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Male ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rutin ; pharmacology ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the functional changes of dendritic cells (DC) in elderly patients with sepsis. Method Elderly patients (n = 20), ages 75 to 86 years, treated in the department of internal medicine for cadres and the medical intensive care unit (MICU), were selected to participate in the study. Patients with ma-ligoant tumors, hematological diseases, immune diseases, or a history of receiving drugs known to interfere with immune functions were excluded. Using the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine (ACCP/SCCM) definition of sepsis, the patients were categorized into four groups: non-sepsis (group A) (n = 5) ; sepsis (group B) (n = 5) ; severe sepsis (group C) (n = 5) ; and septic shock (group D) (n = 5). The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of each patient were isolated and cultured with human re-combinant granuloceyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in vitro for 10 days. The cells were examined under an inverted microscope, scanning electron microscopy, and flow cytometry. The MTT colorimetric assay was used to observe the abilities of the dendritic cells to stimulale an allogeneic T lym-phocyte response in vitro. Paired t -test was used to compare changes in the surface markers among the different groups, Results The PBMCs in the four groups of patients differentiated into cells with typical dendritic configura-tions after in vitro cuhure with combined cytokines. The CD40, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR expressions on the cell surfaces increased after culture,with (43.2±12.5)%/(27.3±9.3)%, (31.4 ± 10.1)%/(22.5 ± 8.7)%, (39.3±15.7)%/(21.9±7.7)%, and (75.4±25.6)%/(58.7±16.7)%, respectively. The stimulation index (the abilities of the dendritic cells to stimulale the allogeneic T lymphocyte response in vitro) in the four groups of patients after culture were (23.3±7.9) in group A, (18.9±8.3) in group B,(11.4±5.1) in Group C,and (5.5 ± 3.7) in Group D. Conclusions The immune functions of the dendritic cells of elderly patients with sepsis decrease in a linear manner with the severity of their septic state.

Objective To study the biomechanical mechanism of Essex-Lopresti injury, and provide biomechanical basis for diagnosis and treatment of Essex-Lopresti injury. Methods Twelve fresh frozen adult upper limbs were addressed. Firstly, 12 samples ("complete state group") were loaded 100 N of a compressive force lasting 30 seconds in pronation, supination and neutral position on the mechanical testing machine. Secondly, 12 specimens were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the group named resection of radial head, the radial head was removed and interosseous membrane (IOM)was intact. In the group named the section of interosseous membrane, IOM was cut off. Finally, the radial head were removed and IOM was cut off in all specimens. The group was named as resection of radial head and IOM. Each sample was tested according to the method as described. Results The forearm rotation or single excision of the IOM had no effect on radial longitudinal displacement. Simple radial head excision or resection of the IOM and the radial head increased the vertical displacement of the radius. The radial stiffness had a gradual decline in forearm supination, neutral position and pronation. Simple excision IOM has no effect on the radial stiffness. The radial stiffness had decreased under the condition of excision of radial head or resection of the IOM and the radial head. Conclusion These in vitro measurements validate that the radial head fracture with IOM injury may be important reason for complications of the Essex-Lopresti injury. Radial head fracture play a key role for Essex-Lopresti injury and the injury of IOM is secondary cause. IOM is responsible for maintaining the vertical stability of the forearm after radial head resection.

To explore the effect of cerebral function imaging in research on the acupoints specificity. Relevant literatures are retrieved and their results are compared. The results reveals as the follows: (1) Acupuncture can ameliorate cerebral blood flow hypoperfusion in patients with cerebrovascular disease, which maybe one of the mechanisms of acupuncture effect; (2) Acupuncture treatment has selectivity regulation role, which is related to the state of body and brain; (3) Cerebral function imaging can draw a clear distinction between therapeutic effect and placebo effect of acupuncture; (4) The points have specificity on the brain activation, but the outcomes are not exactly the same under different experimental conditions. Cerebral function imaging can be used to exploring acupoints specificity. Due to many interference factors which influence the accuracy of experiment, the subsequent experimental design have to be improved in the days ahead so as to make the results more cogent and rigorous.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Brain Mapping ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiography

Objective To explore the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and multiplex RT-PCR in the detection of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangement in acute leukemia (AL) patients. Methods Dual-color MLL probe, multiplex RT-PCR and R or G banding techniques were used to detect the MLL gene rearrangement in 189 cases of AL.Results MLL gene rearrangements were detected in 9 cases (5.03 ％) by FISH,and 16 cases (8.47 ％) by multiplex RT-PCR,including MLL/AF9,MLL/AF10,MLL/AF6, MLL/AF7, MLL/ELL, MLL/PTD. R or G banding techniques could find 11q23 in 5 out of 189 patients (2.65 ％). There was no statistic difference in the incidence of 6 common MLL gene rearrangements between ALL (73 cases) and AML patients (116 cases) (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Multiplex RT-PCR is a powerful technique in the detection of MLL gene rearrangement for tentatively diagnosed AL.It could not only confirm translocation detected by conventional cytogenetic method, but also detect MLL partial tandem duplication which could not been detected by cytogenetic examination or FISH. It plays an important role in guiding therapy and predicting prognosis for AL.

[Objective] To investigate combined application of multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(mRT-PCR)and karyotype analysis detect of clonal chromosomal aberrations in acute lymphoblasfic leukemia (ALL),and explore the expression of common fusion genes.Methods 189 ALL patients were examined by multiplex RT-PCR and R or G banding techniques.[Results]10 fusion genes were detected in 69 out of 189 ALL patients(36.5％),including E2A/PBX1,TEL/AML1,BCR/ABL,MLL/AF4,MLL/AF6、MLL/AF9,MLL/AF10,MLL/ELL,SIL/TAL1,TLS/ERG.R or G banding techniques could find chromosome structural and numeracy abnormalities in 86 out of 152 patients (56.6％) available for analysis.Combination of mRT-PCR and R or G banding could raise the rate of detecting clonal chromosomal abnormalities to 69.3％.Fusion genes were detected in 33 out of 90 (36.7％) patients with adult ALL and 36out of 99 (36.4 ％) patients with children ALL,there were 22 patients with positive BCR/ABL but no TEL/AML1 in adult ALL group,while there were 24 patients with positive TEL/AML.1 and 2 with positive BCR/ABL in children ALL group.There was significant statistical difference for the expression of RCR/ABL and TEL/AML1 between adult ALL and children ALL (P＜0.01),but no difference for MLL related fusion gene,E2A/PBX1,SIL/TAL1 and TLS/ERG(P＞0.05).BCR/ABL and TEL/AML1 fusion gene could be detected in 66 ALL patients with normal karyotype (36.3％).[Conclusion]There were different biological characteristics between adults and children with ALL.mRT-PCR technique can quickly screen chromosome structural aberrations in patients with newly diagnosed leukemia.It is useful in detection of fusion genes in ALL with normal karyotypes and it would refine the karyotype analysis and provide imrootramt prognosis-relevant information.

Objective To determine the risk factors for emergence agitation (EA) during the recovery period after general anesthesia.Methods One thousand and thirty-four patients of both sexes aged 18-89 yr undergoing general anesthesia were divided into EA group and non-EA group.EA occurring during recovery from general anesthesia was assessed by using Riker sedation-agitation scale.Age,sex,complication,education,medical history,ASA physical status,type and duration of anesthesia and operation,volume of blood loss,fluid replacement,urine volume,duration of stay in PACU,number of drainage tubes and so forth were recorded.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of EA.Results Thirty-six patients developed EA during recovery from anesthesia.The incidence of EA was 3.5 ％.Logistic regression indicated that high risk operation,premedication with diazepam,induction of anesthesia without midazolom and fluid replacement during operation were the risk factors for EA (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion High-risk operation,premedication with diazepam,induction of anesthesia without midazolom and fluid replacement during operation are the risk factors for EA during recovery from general anesthesia.

Stranging the communication between the clinical laboratory and clinical department,is useful to promote and enhance the quality of tests and clinical examination.The communication work organization and implementation has been effectively guaranteed by managing communication theories and multiple pathways of communication means to strengthen clinical laboratory and clinical department communication.