OBJECTIVE To study the clinical characteristics and the prevention measures of the hospital-acquired pneumonia in senile dementia patients.METHODS We analyzed retrospectively the cognitive function(using mini-mental state examination,MMSE) and activities of daily living(Barthel Index) of 113 senile dementia patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology between Jan 2003 and Oct 2008(31 confirmed cases were treated as infected group,and the remaining 82 cases as control group),and found out the risk factors for infected with hospital-acquired pneumonia,the pathogenic bacteria and their resistance,then formulated prevention and control measures.RESULTS Among 113 senile dementia patients,31 cases were infected with hospital-acquired pneumonia,and these patients had obviously lower MMSE scores and ADL scores than the non-infected patients(P

Objective To observe the effect of buflomedil on patients with vascular dementia. Methods Sixty - four patients with vascular dementia were randomly divided into two groups.The buflomedil group of 32 patients was treated with buflomedil 150-200 mg,once a day for 20 days. The control group of 32 patients was treated with citicolinum 750 mg, once a day for 20 days. Then their MMSE, ADL, HDS and WMS were evaluated and the hemorheologic indexes were measured in both groups before and after treatment, respectively. Results In buflomedil group the scores of MMSE, ADL,HDS and WMS were (22.43?3.03) score,(24.43?8.72) score,(23.41?2.81) score,(70.34 ?18.45) score as that were(20. 58?3. 81) score, (29. 23?14. 36) score, (20. 34?6. 24) score, (60.15?22.49) score in control group.There was significant difference between the two groups(P

Objective To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with ganglioside and mecobalamine injections on idiopathic facial palsy (IFP).Methods A total of 120 IFP patients were divided into a ganglioside group,a mecobalamine group and a consociation group,each of 40.All were given routine drug and acupuncture treatment,while the ganglioside and mecoblamine groups were additionally provided with the corresponding injections of ganglioside and mecobalamine,respectively.The treatment was administered once daily for a total of 14 days.All the groups were evaluated using the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system before and after the interventions of 14 days ended.The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) wave amplitude and R1 incubation,the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) of the affected facial nerves were observed and compared before and after the 14 days of treatment.Results The total effectiveness rate of the consociation group (95.0％) was significantly higher than that of the ganglioside (90.0％) or the mecobalamine group (87.5％).After the treatment the CMAP wave amplitude had improved significantly and the R1 latency had shortened significantly in the consociation group compared to the other 2 groups.The average MCV and SCV of the consociation group had also improved significantly compared with the other two groups.Conclusion Acupuncture combined with ganglioside and mecobalamine injections is an effective therapy for idiopathic facial palsy.It can improve the patient's clinical symptoms,shorten the CMAP wave amplitude and R1 latency on the affected side and improve MCV and SCV.

Introduction of problem-based learning (PBL) teaching is the demand of teaching reform.Teaching and research section of physiology in Chongqing medical university implemented PBL teaching throughout the whole process of clinical medicine undergraduate education.The overall quality of students and the teaching quality were improved by constructing a new mode suitable for physiology teaching,focusing on training students' active learning ability and stimulating students' enthusiasm for learning.

Physiology is the main course in the education of preclinical medicine.And the functional experiment education is one of the important ingredients in it.The teaching style should be open,the students capability of independent thoughts should be raised and at the same time their precise scientism and cooperation spirit should be cultivated following the basic outline of teaching.

Objective To investigate the isolation, purification and culture methods of human embryonic germ cells (EGCs) on feeder layer cells of human embryonic fibroblasts. Methods Primordial germ cells(PGCs) from the genital ridges of 6-11 weeks(post fertilization) human embryos were cultrued on feeder layer cells of human embryonic fibroblasts(HEFs) which were isolated from the 3-4 month embryos and routinely cultured for over 25 passages. The medium composed of growth factors and differentiation inhibitory factors. The cultures were analyzed with the expression of alkaline phosphatase, immunologic markers (SSEA-1,SSEA-4) and the transcription factor Oct-4 that have been used to routinely to characterize EGCS. Results A large-scale EG cells were obtained and meintained on feeder layers for over 8 passages. The cell surface marker showed that the EGCs possess high levels of AP activity. EGCs colonies stained strongly for SSEA-4,SSEA-1 and they expressed the transcription factor Oct-4.Conclusion EGCs have potential to maintain long term proliferation and undifferentiation state on human embryonic fibroblasts in vitro.;

Objective To investigate the intestinal pathophysiological mechanism of bacterial translocation and endotoxemia in rabbits with acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Paraplegia was induced by injuring the spinal cord of 30 rabbits by the method of Fehlings. Twelve rabbits were used for recording the changes of gastrointestinal (GI) electrophysiology and colon pressure. The left 18 rabbits were experimental group and were killed in 24, 48 and 72 h after injury. The other 6 rabbits served as normal group. Under aseptic condition, samples of blood and mesenteric lymph node were collected for bacterial cultures and endotoxin detection. The small intestines were observed by light and electron microscopy. The colons were inspected by light microscopy. Results After SCI, the electrophysiology of the GI tract was changed especially at the middle and distal colon. The peristalsis of the middle and distal colon was reduced and sometimes even disappeared. In the early stage, the main pathology was hyperemia of blood vessel and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The interepithelial tight junctions became wider and the columnar epithelium was disintegrated. All of the pathological changes may lead to the destruction of the intestinal barrier. The endotoxin level were increased since 24 h after SCI and had statistically significant difference compared with that at 72 h (P0.05). Conclusion After SCI, the middle and distal colon dysfunction induces constipation, bacterial overgrowth, and blood flow congestion. These factors may accelerate the destruction of the intestinal barrier and lead to bacterial translocation and endotoxemia.

OBJECTIVEThe molecular targets of ginsenoside Rg1-induced neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiation were screened by genechip.

METHOD7th day following ginsenoside Rg1 induced human neural stem cells to neurons the gene expression was observed by genechip. The purpose gene and signal transduction pathways were selected by the data calculations, and then confirmed by western blot and immunohistochemical method.

RESULT7th day following Rg1-induced NSCs differentiation, there were about 675 different genes, 255 genes of which were up-regulated and 420 genes down-regulated obviously. Meanwhile the ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase) in MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway was related with the NSCs differentiation. The Western blot and immunohistochemistry detection confirmed that ERK 1/2 protein and its phosphorylation were significantly increased, which can be blocked by PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor). In addition, differentiation rate of NSCs was also decreased obviously in ginsenoside Rg1-induced differentiated NSCs when ERK blocker PD98059 was used.

CONCLUSIONERK1/2 is an important molecular target in ginsenoside Rg1-induced NSC differentiation. The selected differentially expressed genes by genechip may provide new clues to study of ginsenoside Rg1-induced NSCs differentiation.

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; genetics ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Time Factors

Objective To identify the candidate genes in the vicinity of a susceptibility locus (urinary albumin 1,UA-1) contributing to the development of albuminuria in type 2 diabetic KK/Ta mice. Methods Total RNA was extracted from the kidneys of KK/Ta (n=3) and BALB/c (n=2) mice at 20 weeks of age.The gene expression profile in kidney was investigated using the Affymetrix Murine Genome U74Av2 array.Competitive RT-PCR was used to confirm the differential expression of syndecan-4 which located in the vicinity of UA-1.Genome DNA was extracted from KK/Ta and BALB/c mice.DNA sequence analysis of the coding and promotor region of syndecan-4 gene was conducted. Results In the vicinity of the susceptibility locus (UA-1)contributing to the development of albuminuria in type 2 diabetic KK/Ta mice,10 candidate genes that showed differential expression were identified.Among them,the gene expression of syndecan-4in KK/Ta kidneys at 20 weeks of age was up-regulated by 26.1 times of age-matched BALB/c kidneys.Sequence analysis revealed two synonymous polymorphisms in the coding region (A93C and T216C) and three polymorphisms in the promoter region (-T263C,-T396C and -G669A) of the syndecan-4 gene.The TATA box was found at 321 bp upstream from the transcription start site,and the T263C polymorphism was located in the binding site of transcription factor Clox.Conclusions Syndecan-4 gene is mapped in the vicinity of the susceptibility locus contributing to the development of albuminuria in type 2 diabetes.The gene expression of syndecan-4 in KK/Ta kidneys is up-regulated than that in age-matched BALB/c kidneys at 20 weeks of age.Thus syndecan-4 may be one of the potential candidate genes responsible for diabetic nephropathy.Sequence differences in the promoter region influence the expression levels of syndecan-4 genes in KK/Ta kidneys.

Objective: To investigate the effect of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) inhibiting follicular helper T cells (Tfh cells). Methods: The contents of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), IL-10, TGF-β and IL-21 in MSC culture supernatant were detected by ELISA; The peripheral blood of healthy volunteers were collected, and lymphocyte in peripheral blood was separated by human lymphocyte separation solution; Co-cultures of MSC and lymphocyte were performed by Transwell chamber, and the proportion of CD4⁺CXCR5⁺ Tfh cells and their subtypes were detected by flow cytometry. Results: ①The concentrations of IL-10, TGF-β, and IDO in the supernatant of BDNF group (BDNF-stimulated MSC) were higher than those of the control ones (adding PBS with the same volume) [IL-10: (42.1±4.4) ng/ml vs (19.3±2.1) ng/ml, t=4.761, P=0.009; TGF-β: (13.9±1.7) ng/ml vs (5.3±0.6) ng/ml, t=5.129, P=0.008; IDO: (441.3±56.9) ng/ml vs (226.7±37.6) ng/ml, t=3.130, P=0.035]; ②The comparisons between BDNF (co-culture of lymphocyte and BDNF-stimulated MSC) and MSC groups (co-culture of lymphocyte and MSC) were detailed as of follows: the proportion of CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺Tfh cells were lower [(3.37±0.21)% vs (6.51±0.27)%, t=9.353, P<0.001], the proportion of CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺CXCR3⁺ CCR6^- Tfh cells were higher [(41.14±2.04)% vs (26.72±2.57)%, t=4.383, P=0.012], CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CXCR3^-CCR6^- Tfh2 cells and CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CXCR3^-CCR6⁺ Tfh17 cells were lower [Tfh2: (30.16±5.38)% vs (43.26±4.11)%, t=4.426, P=0.012; Tfh17: (15.61±1.52)% vs (22.32±0.72)%, t=4.202, P=0.014], the proportion of CD4⁺CXCR5⁺Foxp3⁺ Tfr cells were higher [(4.95±0.22)% vs (2.32±0.16)%, t=10.241, P<0.001], the concentration of IL-21 in the lymphocyte supernatant was lower [(0.28±0.03) ng/ml vs (0.85±0.08) ng/ml, t=6.675, P=0.003]. Conclusion BDNF could enhance the inhibitory effect of MSC on Tfh cells through inhibiting the increasing of Tfh cells and the differentiations of Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells.