BACKGROUND: The marginal division, a new sub-region in rat brain striatum discovered in recent decades, has been found to closely relate to learning and memory function of the brain. The immediate-early genes such as c-fos and c-jun participate in the signal transduction of learning and memory in the marginal division. But what other intermediate events are initiated in the marginal division in the process of learning and memory?Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREBP) is an molecule essential for the formation of long-term memory,and investigation of the expression and distribution of phosphorylated CREBP in the striatum may help understand the signal transduction mechanism in the striatum during learning and memory at the molecular level.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of phosphorylated CREBP in rat brain stratum during learning and memory process.DESIGN: Completely randomized controlled study.SETTING: Institute of Neurosciences, Zhujiang Hospital of the First Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: This experiment was conducted in the Institute of Neurosciences, Zhujiang Hospital of the First Military Medical University of Chinese PLA between April and August 2003. Totally 48 normal male adult SD rats were provided from the Experimental Animal Center of First Military Medical University, and after two Y-maze tests, 40 rats were selected for this study (MG-2 type, Sanshengxing electricity company).METHODS: The 40 SD rats were randomized into 4 equal groups. The rats in the first group were subjected to training to acquire dark avoidance reflex in a Y maze, those in the second group underwent sham training with only light stimulation in the Y maze without electricity on the floor.The rats in the third group were trained in the Y maze with electricity on the floor but not light stimulations, with the rest 10 rats serving as the control group subjected to sham training in the Y maze without either electric or light stimulations. After the training in the Y maze, the rats were sacrificed immunohistochemical detection of phosphorylated CREBP expression in the brain striatum.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Expression of phosphorylated CREBPin rat brain striatum.RESULTS: All the 40 rats enrolled in this study were examined for phosphorylated CREBP expression. Positive expression of phosphorylated CREBP was observed in the medial marginal division of the brain striatum after the rats were trained in the Y maze with electric stimulation, but no obvious expression was seen in rats in the sham training or control groups.Massive expression of phosphorylated CREBP could be observed, typically,in the hippocampus, front prefrontal lobe cortex and cingulate gyrus of the rat brain.CONCLUSION: The transcriptional factor phosphorylated CREBP in the marginal division of the striatum participates in the signal transduction for learning and memory in rats receiving Y maze training to acquire dark avoidance reflex.

Objective To discuss the operative procedures and clinical result of posteromedial and posterolateral approaches in treatment of posterior condylar tibial plateau fractures. Methods From January 2006 to June 2008, 21 patients of posterior condylar tibial plateau fractures were treated by posteromedial and posterolateral knee approaches. There were 12 males and 9 females. The age ranged from 28 to 68 years, with a mean of 39.5 years. Of the patients, 13 had resulted from a traffic accident and 8 had caused by a fall. As for the state of posterior condylar tibial plateau fractures, 7 patients had a medial condylar.fracture, 8 patients had a lateral condylar fracture and 6 patients had a bilateral condylar fracture. Results A follow-up lasted 12-24 months (mean 16.2 months ) in 21 patients. There was no infection, no varus or valgus of the knee, no nerve injuries and loosening or breakage of the screw. All cases had attained bone union. According to the Rasmussen functional scoring, the results were excellent in 12, good in 7 and fair in 2. The excellent and good rate of clinical results was 90.5%. Radiologic results were graded with the Rasmussen score to evaluate the reduction of fracture. There were excellent in 13, good in 7 and fair in 1. The excellent and good rate of clinical results was 95.2%. Conclusion Posteromedial and posterolateral approaches can facilitate the reduction and fixation for posterior condylar tibial plateau fractures. It has many advantages such as good exposure, less invasion and the excellent clinical results.

Objective:To investigate the association between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in middle-aged and older individuals with diabetes.Methods:Based on the Shanghai Nicheng Cohort Study database, the data of 1 255 individuals with diabetes aged 55-70 years at baseline (2013-2014) with complete fundus photographs and serum cholesterol data in Nicheng, Shanghai, were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk ratios ( RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals ( CIs) between baseline RC level and incident DR. Results:The median age of the subjects was 61.9 years, and 60.4% were women. After a 4.6-year follow-up, 79 (6.3%) patients developed DR, including 50 (4.0%) mild non-proliferative DR and 29 (2.3%) referable DR (RDR). Multivariable logistic regression showed that each mmol/L increase of RC was associated with a 40% higher risk of RDR ( RR=1.40, 95% CI 1.03-1.90). Compared with the lowest tertile of RC (<0.63 mmol/L), the risk of RDR in the highest tertile (≥0.85 mmol/L) increased by 4.59 times ( RR=5.59, 95% CI 1.51-20.73). Conclusion:The RC level may help identify individuals at high risk of incident RDR in middle-aged and older Chinese adults with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To study the in vitro transdermal characteristics of Tibetan new drugs hereinafter referred to as Zhengrutie cataplasm, and to evaluate the safety of skin medication by using different species of animals(guinea pigs, New Zealand rabbits). METHODS The improved vertical Franz diffusion cell method was used for in vitro transdermal testand the skin of Bama miniature pig was used as the permeation barrier. The cumulative permeation amount and rate of geniposide methyl ester and 8-O-acetyl geniposide methyl ester, borneol and camphor in the receiving medium were determined by HPLC and GC, respectively, to investigate the in vitro transdermal characteristics of Zhengrutie cataplasm. Buehler test was used to study the sensitization of Zhengrutie cataplasm on guinea pig skin. Observed the skin irritation after single or multiple application of Zhengrutie cataplasm on intact and damaged skin of New Zealand rabbits. RESULTS The cumulative permeation amount of the sum of geniposide methyl ester and 8-O-acetyl geniposide methyl ester, borneol and camphor within 24 h were 14.14, 348.21, 490.97 μg·cm-2, respectively. The cumulative permeation amount were 6.2%, 10.2% and 15.3%, respectively. The average permeation amount were 0.59, 14.51 and 20.46 μg·cm-2·h-1. No allergic reaction to guinea pig skin, no irritation to intact skin of New Zealand rabbits, mild irritation to damaged skin. CONCLUSION The in vitro transdermal performance of Zhengrutie cataplasm is good. The in vitro transdermal process conforms to the zero-order kinetic equation. It has no irritation and sensitization effect on the skin of guinea pigs and New Zealand rabbits. It is safe and reliable for skin external use and has good clinical application value.