ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of non-linear dynamics characteristics of EEG during picture memory masks, and the application of non-linear dynamic analysis for memory research.MethodsEEGs of 30 healthy old volunteers were recorded under the states of opened eyes and picture memory. Correlation dimension (D2) was calculated for all subjects.ResultsD2 increased significantly during memory tasks compared with the rest state with eyes opened (P<0.05). In different memory tasks, the complexity of mental functions and the regions involved in the memory task were different.ConclusionNon-linear analysis is appropriate for the study of functional changes and working mechanism of brain during memory.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of intracoronary administration of eptifibatide oncoronary no-reflow and myocardium perfusion in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 80 STEMI patients with emergent PCI were randomly divided into 2 groups: Eptifibatide group, the patients received intracoronary administration of eptiifbatide and Control group, the patients received the same volume of normal saline.n=40 in each group. The baseline condition, post-operative vascular recanalization, changes of platelet aggression at pre- and post-medication were compared between 2 groups. Echocardiography was examined at immediately and 24 weeks after operation;myocardial infusion imaging was examined at l week after operation. All patients were followed-up for 24 weeks to observe the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: Compared with Control group, Eptifibatide group showed increased ratios of post-operative TIMI grade 3 (72.5%vs 92.5%) and myocardium perfusion (70.0% vs 90.0%), bothP<0.05; decreased post-operative and 2h post-medicinal platelet aggression and they were both lower than Control group at the same period, allP<0.05. Eptiifbatide group had obviously improved LVEDD and LVEF at 24-week than 1-week after PCI and they were both superior to Control group, allP<0.05. There were 7 (17.5%) patients in Eptiifbatide group and 7 (7.5%) in Control group suffering from small bleeding events, P>0.05; no severe bleeding eventand no in-hospital thrombocytopeniaoccurred. MACE occurrence rates during 24-week follow-up period were 12.5% vs 22.5%, P>0.05. Conclusion: Intracoronary administration of eptiifbatide in STEMI patients at emergent PCI could effectively improve coronary blood lfow,increase myocardium perfusion and enhance cardiac function without severe bleeding events.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of α3 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) on apoptosis and p38 signal transduction pathway in SH-SY5Y cells and to assess the roles of α3 nAChR in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThe levels of α3 nAChR mRNA and protein were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA. The mRNA level of bcl-2 and bax was measured by the real-time PCR. The siRNA transfected SH-SY5Y cells and control were then treated with 10 µmol/L Aβ25-35 for another 48 h, and the change in apoptotic rate and the levels of p-p38 and p38 were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. Subsequently these SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to a blocker of p38 protein, and the apoptotic rate was measured again.

RESULTSCompared to the controls, the expression of α3 nAChR at mRNA and protein levels in the SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA decreased by 95% and 86%, respectively; the mRNA levels of bax increased 2.11 times and that for bcl-2 decreased 0.53 times. The apoptotic rate was unaffected (3.40% ± 0.20%); but it increased after Aβ25-35 treatment (24.52% ± 1.59%); the level of p-p38 protein also increased by 178% in the α3 nAChR inhibited cells treated with Aβ25-35. Compared to controls, the Aβ25-35-treated SH-SY5Y cells and the Aβ25-35-treated and siRNA-transfected cells both showed a reduction in apoptosis after treatment with p38 blocker, especially in the former.

CONCLUSIONThe siRNA silencing of α3 nAChR mRNA may enhance the effect of Aβ25-35 on the cell apoptosis by increasing the levels of p38 protein and bax mRNA and decreasing the level of bcl-2 mRNA, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Alzheimer Disease ; etiology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

This present work is to study the chemical constituents of Swertia angustifolia. The whole plants of air-dried Swertia angustifolia was extracted with 90% EtOH. The water extract was suspended in H2O and extracted with petroleum ether, EtOAc and nBuOH, successively. The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography from the EtOAc fraction, and identified based on spectral analyses (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR). Fourteen compounds were isolated and characterized as 1, 8-dihydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxyxanthone (1), 1, 8-dihydroxy-3, 5, 7-trimethoxyxanthone (2), 7-hydroxy-3, 8-dimethoxyxanthone-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 8-0-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-6) -β-D-glucopyranosyl] -1, 7-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (4), (+) -syringaresinol (5), ferulic acid (6), trans-coniferyl aldehyde (7), sinapaldehyde (8), trans-coniferyl alcohol (9), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (10), 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (11), isophthalic acid (12), 2-furoic acid (13), and 2-methyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone(14). Compounds 2-14 were obtained from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Swertia ; chemistry

This study is to investigate the chemical constituents of Swertia kouitchensis. The whole plants of air-dried Swertia kouitchensis was extracted with 90% EtOH. The water extract was suspended in H2O and extracted with petroleum ether, EtOAc and n-BuOH, successively. The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography from the EtOAc fraction, and their structures were identified based on spectral analyses (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR). Twenty-eight compounds were obtained, and characterized as erythrocentaurin (1), erythrocentaurin dimethylacetal (2), swertiamarin (3), vogeloside (4), 2'-O- actylswertiamarin (5), swertianoside D (6), gentiocrucines A-B (7-8), gentiocrucine (9), 1-hydroxy-3, 7, 8-trimethoxyxanthone (10), 1-hydroxy-3, 5, 6-trimethoxyxanthone (11), 3-epitaraxerol (12), erythrodiol 3-O-palmitate (13), (+) -syringaresinol (14), caffeic acid (15), trans-coniferyl aldehyde (16), trans-coniferyl alcohol (17), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (18), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (19), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic aldehyde (20), 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (21), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (22), 3-acetoxybenzoic acid (23), 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (24), 3-hydroxybenzoic alcohol (25), nicotinic acid (26), 2-furoic acid (27), and uracil (28). Compounds 1-4, 6-28 were obtained from S. kouitchensis for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Swertia ; chemistry

Objective: To evaluate the influence of recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide(rhBNP)on ventricular remodeling and ventricular systolic synchrony in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods: A total of 48 patients with AMI after PCI were randomized into two groups: rhBNP Group (n=25) and Routine treatment Group (n=23).Two dimension echocardiography was used to measure the index of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDVI), the index of left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESVI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the index of left ventricular mass (LVMI), the movement index of infarcted regional wall (RWMI) at 1 week, 4 weeks and 24 weeks after the treatment procedure.And at 1 week and 24 weeks period, equilibrium radionuclide angiography was performed respectively to evaluate the ventricular systolic synchrony.Results: ①1 week after PCI, LVESVI in rhBNP group was decreased and LVEF was increased than that in Routine treatment group (P<0.05, respectively).4 and 24 weeks after PCI, LVEDVI, LVESVI, LVEF were significantly different in rhBNP group than those in Routine treatment group (P<0.05,respectively).24 weeks after PCI, RWMI and LVMI were significantly decreased in rhBNP group than those in Routine treatment group(P<0.05,respectively).②24 weeks after PCI, phase shift, full width at half maximum and peak phase standard deviation were significantly improved in rhBNP group than those in Routine treatment group (P<0.05, respectively).Conclusion: Intravenous injection of rhBNP could inhibit left ventricular remodeling and improve left ventricular function.

Objective To evaluate the effect on the reversal of left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) and on heart function of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) therapy at different time of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods A total of 326 patients with primary anterior AMI-accompanied LVA diagnosed by left ventriculography (LVG) from January 2001 to July 2004 were enrolled in this study. They were randomized into 4 groups according to the time of accepting PCI:≤3 h group, 4-6 h group, 7-12 h group and one week group. At the baseline and 6 months after AMI, the parameters of left ventricular diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular systolic volume index (LVESVI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular wall motion score (LVWMS) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were measured by LVG. The paradox volume index (PVI) was measured by equilibrium radionuclide at one week and 6 months after AMI.At 3 year following up to, the major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded. Results At 6 months after PCI, the LVESVI, LVEDVI, WMS and LVEDP were all decreased while LVEF was increased in the four groups as compared with pre-PCl (P<0.05, respectively). Those parameters changed most obviously in ≤3 h group. At the 6th month after PCI, the PVI was lower in ≤3 h group (12.1±2.1)% than in 4-6 h, 7-12 h and one week group [(15.4±2.4)%, (16.5±2.5)% and (20.4±3.7)%, all P<0.05]. Within the 3 years follow-up, the MACE was significantly lower in 3 h, 4-6 h and 7-12 h groups than in one week group, and the mortality was lower too [(2.8%, 3.0% and 3.1% vs. 17.9%, all P<0.05]. Conclusions The early, fully and permanent open of the infraction-related artery can effectively inhibit the left ventricular remodeling process, prevent LVA formation, improve LV function and prognosis.

Aim To explore the effects of anti-HER-2 chimeric antibody chA 21 on proliferation and apoptosis of SKBR3 cells.Methods MTT colorometric assay,HE staining,transmission electron microscopy,flow cytometry,and TUNEL were used to study the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction of SKBR3 cells by chA 21 in vitro.Results Proliferative inhibition rates and apoptotic index of SKBR3 cells were increased in a dose and time dependent manner after exposure to chA21(0.2～5.4 mg?L~(-1)).Conclusion chA 21 could remarkably inhibit proliferation of SKBR3 cells in vitro and apoptosis induction may be one of its main mechanisms.

Objective To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of MST1 inhibition on kidney tissue in diabetic rats,and to find a new therapeutic target for diabetic nephropathy.Methods Total of 54 male SD rats enrolled in this study were divided into 3 groups including normal control (group A,n=18),MST1 inhibition group (Group B,n=18) and diabetes group (group C,n=18).Diabetes was induced by a single streptozotocin (STZ,50 mg/kg) injection in group B and group C.rats in group B received lentiviral vector contain Mst1 interference RNA (shRNA) and the rats in group C received empty vector.The end of 4th,8th and 12th week after modeling were considered as time points in this study.At each time point,the level of 24 hours urine protein (24-HUP),blood glucose and serum creatinine were examined.Pathological changes were observed with HE stain; Injury of podocyte and glomerular basement membrane (GBM) were examined with transmission electron microscope (TEM).The intensity and location of MST1 in kidney tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.The level of MST1,Phosphorylated-MST1,nephrin,Caspase-3 and FasL were detected by western bloting.Results (1) At the starting point,there were no significant differences among groups in terms of weight,activity,eating and drinking.Since the end of 72nd hour after modeling,the levels of glucose in both group B and group C,compared to those in group A,significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference between group B and group C for glucose level at each time point (P ＞ 0.05); the level of 24-HUP increased significantly since the end of 4th week after modeling,and the level in group C was higher than its counterpart in group B at the same point (P ＜ 0.05); (2) There was no significant pathological lesion observed in group A.Without obvious K-W nodular changes,mesangial proliferation was observed in group B and group C.It was shown by TEM that podocyte fusion and thickening of the GBM could be found in group B and group C.The pathological change in group B was better than that in group C; (3) Compared to group A,it was shown by western blot that the levels of MST1,Phosphorylated-MST1,Caspase-3 and FasL in group B and group C were significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05),and the levels of nephrin in group B and group C were significantly lower (P ＜ 0.05) since the end of 4th week after modeling.Meanwhile,the levels of MST1,Phosphorylated-MST1,Caspase-3 and FasL in group B were significantly lower than that in group C at each time point (P ＜ 0.05),the level of nephrin in group B was significantly higher than the one in group C; (4) It was shown by immunohistochemistry that there was low MST1 expression in normal condition,especially in cytoplasm of tubular epithelial cells.The level of MST1 in group B and group C significantly increased after modeling,and the change could be the same as Western blot shown.Conclusions MST1 pathway could be involved in kidney injury induced by diabetes.MST1 inhibition could alleviate the kidney injury in STZ-induced diabetes animal model.

Objective To investigate the effect of elevating the root of tongue bare-handed to assist ProSeal laryngeal mask airway insertion in patients with tongue body hypertrophy under general anesthesia. Methods Sixty ASAⅠ~Ⅲgrade patients with tongue body hypertrophy undergoing surgery in general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups:30 cases in each group. After anesthesia induction ,laryngeal mask airway was inserted in the observation group with assistance of elevating the root of tongue bared-handed ,while inserted in the control group by standard method.Insertion time ,success rate of the first and secondary and total insertion ,pharyngolaryneal complications at 24 hours after removal were recorded ,as well as the success rate of gastric tube intubation was recorded. Results Compared with the control group ,insertion time was significantly shortened (P < 0.05). Success rate of the first and total insertion were increased (P < 0.05).Success rate of gastric tube intubation was increased(P < 0.05),and pharyngolaryneal complications were decreased (P < 0.05) in the observation group. Conclusions Elevating the root of tongue bare-handed to assist ProSeal laryngeal mask airway insertion in patients with tongue body hypertrophy is a simple and fast method with high success rate ,good apposition and less complications. Its efficacy is better than that of the standard method.