AIM:To explore the relationship and molecular mechanism between microRNA-21(miR-21) and Schwann cells ( SC) following peripheral nerve injury.METHODS: The mRNA expression of miR-21 and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten ( PTEN) in animal model were detected by real-time PCR.The over-ex-pression of miR-21 and inhibition of miR-21 expression in the Schwann cells according to transfection of lentiviral vectors were performed, the nonspecific miRNA was used as a negative control ( NC) .The cell apoptosis was measured by flow cy-tometry.The mRNA expression of miR-21 and PTEN in the cells was detected by real-time PCR.The protein expression of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 was determined by Western blot.RESULTS: The level of miR-21 was significantly higher and the mRNA level of PTEN was significantly lower in the model of nerve injury than those in control group.miR-21 over-expression decreased the number of apoptotic Schwann cells compared with NC-SC.The mRNA expression of PTEN was down-regulated by over-expression of miR-21.The protein expression of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 was down-regulated by over-expression of miR-21 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: miR-21 may play an important role in the peripheral nerve injury through inhibiting apoptosis of Schwann cells by down-regulating the expression of PTEN.

Objective To study the value of three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling(3D pCASL) for estimating collateral flow after middle cerebral artery(MCA) stenosis.Methods 3D pCASL was performed in 28 cases of negative diffusion weighted imaging(DWI) patients with MCA stenosis for estimating collateral vessels formation.The post-labeling delay(PLD) of 3D pCASL was set to 1.5 s and 2.5 s.The cerebral blood flow (CBF) of 3D pCASL with two PLD was calculated by AW workstation respectively.Nineteen normal persons were regarded as the control group.The 95% confidence interval of the ratio of left/right side of CBF of control group was set as reference value.The characteristic of the ratio of stenosed/contralateral side of CBF was analyzed.The characteristics of collateral flow was investigated with digital subtraction angiography(DSA).Results Abnormal perfusion was found in 28 patiens.Two types of abnormal perfusion were found, including typeⅠ: rCBF(PLD=1.5 s) decreased,rCBF(PLD=2.5 s) was normal (n=16);typeⅡ:rCBF(PLD=1.5 s) decreased,rCBF(PLD=2.5s) decreased (n=12).On brain DSA, abundant of collateral flow supply was found in 16 patients with typeⅠabnormal perfusion,whereas deficiency of collateral flow supply was found in 12 patients with typeⅡ.Conclusion 3D pCASL with two PLDs may provide important reference value for estimating collateral flow after middle cerebral artery stenosis.

Objective To explore the value of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging in evaluating diffusion and perfusion variations in subacute brain infarction.Methods MRI data of 35 patients with subacute brain infarction were analyzed retrospectively,including routine DWI,IVIM imaging and three-dimensional arterial spin labeling (3D-ASL) sequence.The ADC maps were obtained by routine DWI sequence.Pure molecular-based diffusion coefficient (D) maps,pseudo diffusion coefficient of perfusion (D*) maps and perfusion fraction (f) maps were obtained by IVIM sequence.Cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps were obtained by 3D-ASL sequence.ADC,D,D*,f,CBF values and the relative values (rADC,rD,rD*,rf,rCBF) of brain infarction lesion and contralateral mirror area were calculated.All the parameters between brain infarction lesion and contralateral mirror area were compared.The correlations were analyzed between rADC value and rD,rD*,rf values respectively,as well as between rCBF value and rD,rD*,rf values respectively.Results Quantitative analysis showed significant decreases of ADC,D,D*,f and CBF values in the brain infarction lesion compared with those in the contralateral mirror area (all P＜0.05).There were positive correlations between rADC value and rD,rf values (r=0.687,0.601,P=0.005,0.018).And the positive correlation was found between rCBF value and rf value (r=0.581,P=0.022).Conclusion IVIM imaging can concurrently provide the perfusion and diffusion informations of subacute brain infarction patients,which is helpful to further elucidate the mechanisms of subacute brain infarction.

Objective To detect the changes in the immune function of opioid-dependent subjects during the withdrawal stage through the administration of Jitai tablet.Methods Subjects were treated as Jitai tablet alone,Jitai tablet plus buprenorphine and placebo,in a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial.Before and after the 14th day of withdrawal,levels of immunoglobulin (IgM,IgA,IgG),T cell subsets (CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+) and cytokines (IL-2,IFN-γ,IL-4,IFN-γ/IL-4) were detected.Results Compared with healthy people,immunity function before withdrawal among the opioid abusers showed higher levels of IgM,IL-2,IFN-γ,IL-4 and lower level of CD3+ T,as (1.67 ± 0.87) g/L,(14.44 ± 13.50)％,(20.23 ± 15.10)％,(1.97 ± 1.59)％,(47.01 ± 13.62)％,respectively,with difference statistically significant (P＜0.05).There was no big difference of other immunity indicators between the two groups (P＞0.05).At the 14th day of withdrawal in placebo group,levels of IL-4 returned to normal while IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio increased by 3.43 times (P＜0.05).Levels of IgA,IgG,CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio fluctuated within normal range.There were no significant changes in other immunity indicators (P＞0.05).Compared with placebo group,fluctuation of IgG and IgM decreased in Jitai group during withdrawal period,together with a normal level of IgM at the 14th day.Level of IL-4 abnormally rose up by 0.54 times in Jitai tablet plus buprenorphine group,while IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio been switched back at the 14th day of withdrawal.Other immune indicators were not affected by medical interventions.Conclusion We noticed that certain impairment of the immune function might be restored by Jitai tablet during the withdrawal period.

At present , methamphetamine has become a major hidden danger in global public health safety. In order to judge methamphetamine addicts and methamphetamine abstainers more scientifically and reliably, this study analyzed the endogenous metabolites in plasma, serum and urine of methamphetamine addicts, methamphetamine abstainers and healthy volunteers by highly sensitive high-throughput liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) analytical instrument. The obtained metabolomic data were processed by univariate analysis (t-test) and multivariate analysis (PLS-DA and OPLS-DA) and eligible potential biomarkers were then screened.The identified biomarkers set enrichment analysis to find the connection between metabolites and metabolic pathways.Multivariate statistical results showed that methamphetamine acute group, recovery group and healthy group were clearly separated.3, 18 and 6 regulated metabolites were identified in serum, plasma and urine, respectively, suggesting that lipid metabolism was abnormal in methamphetamine acute group, and that fatty acid metabolism, sulfate/sulfite metabolism and sex hormone metabolism were abnormal in methamphetamine recovery group.The selected potential biomarkers in this study provide the possibility for scientific judgment of the clinical stage of methamphetamine detoxification.

OBJECTIVETo develop a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of rutin, hyperoside, isoquercetin, astragulin, quercetin, and kaempferol in Apocynum venetum and its extracts.

METHODThe separation was carried out on a Shim pack ODS (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) colum eluted with in mobile phases of water containing 0.2% phosphoric acid and acetonitrile containing 0.2% phosphoric acid in acetonitrile gradient mode. The column temperature was 40 degrees C, and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 360 nm.

RESULTThe good seperation of six flavonoids was achieved within 40 min, with the relative standard deviations (RSD) of intra- and inter-day precision < or = 2.0%. Calibration curves of rutin, hyperoside, isoquercetin, astragulin, quercetin, and kaempferol showed good linear relationship (R2 > 0.999 7, n = 6). The average recoveries of the six flavonoids were within 97.30% - 105.8% (RSD 2.6%). Three batches of A. venetum and 2 batches of its extracts were determined.

CONCLUSIONThe developed method is simple, accurate, and repeatable, and can be readily used as a powerful tool for the quality control of A. venetum and its extracts.

Apocynum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results