BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that Maca can enhance immune cel function, improve mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes, and play a role in anti-oxidation and anti-aging.
OBJECTIVE: To observe Maca effects on kidney mitochondrial respiratory function and anti-aging capabilities in elderly rats after exhausted exercise.
METHODS: 10-month-old elderly rats were intragastrical y administrated Maca powder 5 g/kg, once a day, and did treadmil exercise, 5 days in a week. Rats were randomly divided into control group, Maca group and training group and Maca+training group. At 6 weeks after training, rats in each group did exhausted exercise (35 m/min), and immediately received intraperitoneal injection of 2% sodium pentobarbital. The kidney was obtained, and mitochondria were extracted by differential centrifugation. A spectrophotometer was used to measure mitochondrial respiratory chain activity.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme and antioxidant enzyme activity: mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme I-III, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were higher in the Maca+training group than in the control group, Maca group and training group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but malondialdehyde content was lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) Results suggested that the combination of supplement Maca and incremental exercise can improve mitochondrial respiratory function and delay aging in the kidney of aged rats after exhausted exercise. Moreover, supplemented Maca and incremental exercise have a synergistic effect.

Objective To detect the expression of Blimp1 gene in MRL/lpr mice,so as to provide new ideas for plasma cell-targeting therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis (ChIP) were performed to evaluate the regulatory effect of Blimp1 on B cell maturation antigen (BCMA),and fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was carried out to detect the expression of Blimp1 mRNA in spleen and lymph node tissue of MRL/lpr mice and normal control mice.The intergroup difference in Blimp l mRNA expression was assessed by rank sum test.Results Blimp1 could bind to the BCMA gene promoter.Increased Blimp1 mRNA expression was observed in both the spleen and lymph node tissue of MRL/lpr mice compared with the normal control mice (Z =2.609,3.402,respectively,both P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions BCMA appears to be the target gene of Blimp1,and Blimp1 may plays a certain role in the maintenance of plasma cell survival and antibody production via directly regulating BCMA gene expression.

Partial hepatectomy (PH) is an effective method for the treatment of various liver tumors,and liver regeneration dysfunction is one of the most serious complications.Therefore,liver regeneration (LR) after PH is particularly important.In this paper,we reviewed the molecular mechanisms of LR including cellular factors,growth factors,metabolism and related signaling pathways,and reviewed the research progresses of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in promoting liver regeneration.The aim was to further clarify the mechanism of the occurrence and development of LR,and to provide valuable information for the development of drugs for treating liver regeneration disorders.

Objective To develop an automatic chest X-ray protective device to decrease the harm to the patient during Xray examination.Methods Mobile lead plate was involved in to protect the non-target organs and tissues.The device had the frame made of 304 stainless steel,and the core protective part of lead plate with 5 mm-thickness,whose components included noiseless motor,transmission system and lithium battery.Results The device decreased the exposure field and radiation dosage,and thus contributed to the patient protection effectively.Conclusion The device reduces the exposure dosage greatly,and is of great value for enhancing efficacy.

Objective To apply DR to the diagnosis of lumbar instability.Methods Totally 198 patients suspected with lumbar instability underwent routine lateral side DR radiograph and examination of flexion-extension position to analyze the forward and backward displacements of the lumbar.Results Totally 35 patients with lumbar instability were determined based on the method proposed by White and Panjabi.Conclusion Film of flexion-extension position gains advantages over films of lateral position and oblique position in lumbar instability and malfunction, and thus helps for clinical diagnosis and efficacy observation.

The abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in liver is the main feature of hepatic fibrosis,and collagen is the most important component in ECM.Collagen plays an important role in the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis.Therefore,to find traditional Chinese medicine with significant effect on collagen metabolism has become a critical approach for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.This review summarized the role of collagen metabolism in liver fibrosis,and the research progress in traditional Chinese medicines with anti-hepatic fibrosis effect by regulating collagen metabolism was explored as well.

Objective To analyze the methylation status and protein expression of Ras association domain family- 1A (RASSF1A) in endometriosis (EMS). Methods The ectopic and corresponding eutopic endometrium tissues were collected from 45 women with EMS and normal endometrium tissues of 20 women without EMS. The methylation status of RASSF1A was examined by methylation specific PCR (MSP). Immunohistochemistry was performed to measure the level of RASSF1A in endometrium tissues. Results The RASSF1A protein expression rate in ectopic endometrium, eutopic endometrium, and normal endometrium was 37.78%(17/45), 60.00%(27/45) and 85.00%(17/20), and there was significant difference (χ2 = 13.136, P = 0.001). The frequency of aberrant methylation of RASSF1A was 55.56%(25/45), 33.33%(15/45) and 0 in ectopic endometrium , eutopic endometrium, and normal endometrium, and there was significant difference (χ2 =18.770, P = 0.000). The frequency of aberrant methylation of RASSF1A had no significant differnce throughout the menstrual cycle in ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium: 66.67%(14/21) vs. 45.83%(11/24), 38.10%(8/21) vs. 29.17%(7/24), P>0.05. In ectopic endometrium, the frequency of aberrant methylation of RASSF1A inⅢ-Ⅲstage was significantly higher than that in Ⅰ-Ⅱstage (χ2=5.940, P=0.015). In ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium, the RASSF1A protein expression had negative correlation with aberrant methylation of RASSF1A (r =- 0.594、- 0.577, P<0.01). Conclusions Epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A through aberrant promoter methylation may be strongly correlated with the formation and progression of EMS, and assessment of RASSF1A methylation status in eutopic endometrium may be a potentially useful biomarker to enhance the early detection of EMS.

Objective To investigate the effect of scalp acupuncture plus MOTOmed virtual scene training on gross motor function and ADL in patients with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods Thirty patients with spastic cerebral palsy meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 12 cases and a control group of 18 cases. The control group received routine rehabilitation therapy and the treatment group, scalp acupuncture plus MOTOmed virtual scene training in addition. Adductor, gastrocnemius and hamstring muscle tensions were determined using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), gross motor function was measured using the Gross Motor Scale and the activities of daily living were assessed using the ADL in the two groups of patients before and after treatment. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in adductor, gastrocnemius and hamstring muscle tensions in the treatment group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in adductor muscle tension in the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in gastrocnemius and hamstring muscle tensions between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the foot dorsiflexion angle and popliteal fossa angle in the treatment group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the posterior femoral angle in the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the foot dorsiflexion angle and popliteal fossa angle between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the GMFM score and the ADL score in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the GMFM score and the ADL score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). Conclusions Scalp acupuncture plus MOTOmed virtual scene training is an effective way to treat spastic cerebral palsy. It can improve gross motor function and the ADL score in the patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of butylphthalide on brain edema,blood-brain barrier permeability and RhoA expression in cortex in focal cerebral infarction in rats.Methods A total of 220 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into a control,a model and a butylphthalile group (40 mg/kg,once a day,gavage) according to the random number table method.A model of rat focal cerebral infarction was induced by photochemical method.At 3,12,24,72,and 144 h after modeling,wet-dry weight method and Evans blue extravasation method were used to detect the brain water content and blood-brain barrier permeability.At 24 h after modeling,immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of RhoA protein in the periinfarction cortex.Results Compared to the control group,the brain water content (except at 6 h) and blood-brain barrier permeability in the model group and the butylphthalide group were increased significantly (all P ＜ 0.05).The immunohistochemical staining and Western blot suggested that the RhoA expression in the periinfarction cortex was upregulated significantly (all P ＜ 0.05).Compared to the model group,the brain water content and blood-brain barrier permeability at different time points in the butylphthalide group were decreased significantly (all P ＜ 0.05).The expression levels of RhoA were also decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Butylphthalide may reduce the brain edema of focal cerebral infarction in rats,inhibit disruption of the blood-brain barrier,and down-regulate the expression of RhoA.

BACKGROUND:The preparation of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been clinical y used in the repair of ocular surface trauma. However, the concentration of these growth factors that achieve the maximal healing effect and the comparison of two kinds of growth factors on promoting wound healing are stil controversial.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of rhEGF and bFGF on the cloning of human corneal epithelial cells.
METHODS:The human corneal epithelial cells cultured in vitro were interfered with rhEGF and bFGF under different concentrations. The proliferation of human corneal epithelial cells was detected using MTT assay after 3, 5, 7 days of growth factors treatment. Plate clone formation assay was applied to observe the morphology of cellclone and analyze clone formation rate of human corneal epithelial cells.
RESULTS and CONCLUSION:MTT value shows that 10μg/L rhEGF and 10μg/L bFGF on day 5 were the most powerful concentration. The clone formation rate of human corneal epithelial cells after treated with 10μg/L rhEGF was higher than that with 10μg/L bFGF (P=0.02). The results confirmed that both rhEGF and bFGF could promote the proliferation and increase clone formation ability of human corneal epithelial cells. 10μg/L rhEGF for 5 days achieves the best effect on promoting clone formation of human corneal epithelium cells.