Objective To investigate the effect of kinesio taping on upper crossed syndrome (UCS). Methods From December, 2016 to March, 2017, 52 patients with UCS were randomly divided into control group (n=26) and observation group (n=26). The control group re-ceived exercise therapy, and the observation group received kinesio taping in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with Visual Ana-logue Scale (VAS), forward head angle (FHA) and forward shoulder angle (FSA). Results There was no significant difference in the score of VAS, FHA and FSA between two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the scores of VAS, FHA and FSA significantly de-creased (t>2.804, P<0.05), and they were less in the observation group than in the control group (t>2.632, P<0.05). Conclusion Exercise therapy could relieve pain and correct abnormal posture of UCS, which is more effective combined with kinesio taping.

Objective To report 11 cases with the tissue defects of their upper or lower limbs repaired with the anastomsed medial sural artery perforator flaps.Methods The free medial sural artery perforator flaps,with length of 8 cm to 15 cm and width of 6 cm to 14 cm were used for tissue defect reconstruction of the distal upper or lower limbs in 11 cases,including 6 females and 5 males.The flap was harvested from the ho- mo-lateral calf,confined between the posterior-medial edge of the tibia and the middle line of the calf and a- bove the distal half part of the medial sural muscle,with a same axis of this muscle.Results Ten cases survived very well,which was relatively thin,and the donor site can be acceptable.One case resulted in a complete flap necrotized and covered with a split skin graft.No obvious motor function defect was observed of the donor leg.Conclusion The anastomsed medial sural artery perforator flap is alternative donor flap for the upper or lower limb tissue defect repair,especially for the defect in the hand or foot.

AIM: To establish recombination plasmid pEGFP-NGB and to investigate the expression of pEGFP-NGB in culture neuroglia cells. METHODS: The NGB cds was isolated by using RT-PCR method with total RNA extracted from fetal Kunming mouse brain, then the NGB cds was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-C1 of EGFP reported green fluorescence protein. The expression vector of recombinant plasmid pEGFP-NGB was successfully constructed. GeneJamer transfection reagent was used to transfer recombinant plasmid pEGFP-NGB into culture neuroglial cells. The mRNA and protein expression of pEGFP-NGB in culture neuroglial cells were investigated. RESULTS: The positive clone sequencing was consistent with the sequence of Genbank. The NGB mRNA and protein expression of pEGFP-NGB in culture neuroglial cells were detected at high levels. The high expression of green fluorescence protein was observed by fluorescence microscope in culture neuroglial cells. CONCLUSION: The expression vector of recombinant plasmid pEGFP-NGB was successfully constructed and green fluorescence protein was expressed in cultured neuroglial cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of serum sex hormones and parathyroid hormone (PTH) with the biochemical markers of bone turnover in aged men.

METHODSWe collected the laboratory data of 465 men aged 60- 93 (73. 1 +/- 8. 3) years old, who came for routine physical examinations in our hospital. We obtained the levels of serum follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), PTH, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH) D3), and bone turnover markers C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin (OC) and amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP). We also determined free testosterone (FT) , bioactive testosterone (BT) , testosterone secretion index (TSI) and FT index (FTI), and analyzed the correlation of each index with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.

RESULTSThe concentrations of serum FSH, LH, and SHBG increased, while the levels of FT, BT, TSI, FTI, PTH, CTX, OC and PINP decreased with age, especially in those over 80 years old (P <0.05). PTH was positively correlated with CTX, OC and PINP (r =0. 227, 0. 269 and 0. 162, P <0. 01), even after the adjustment for age, while SHBG negatively correlated with OC (r = -0. 100, P <0.05). The bone turnover markers increased with the elevation of the PTH quartiles, with significant differences between the first and the fourth quartile (P <0. 01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age was correlated inversely with CTX, OC and PINP ( beta = -0. 126, -0. 141 and -0. 122, P <0.05) , PTH positively with the three markers (beta = 0. 196, 0.279 and 0.189; P <0. 001), and SHBG negatively with OC ( beta = -0. 100, P <0.05) .

CONCLUSIONAging is the fundamental cause of reduced bone turnover in aged men. The levels serum PTH and SHBG are significantly associated with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; physiology ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shugan Jianpi Recipe (SJR) on LXRα/FAS signaling pathway mediated hepatocyte fatty deposits in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats.

METHODSTotally 75 SPF grade male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Shugan Recipe (SR) treatment groups, the Jianpi Recipe (JR) treatment group, and the SJR group. Except rats in the normal control group, the NAFLD rat model was duplicated using high fat diet (HFD). SR (Chaihu Shugan Powder) was administered to rats in the SR group. JR (Shenlin Baizhu Powder) was administered to rats in the JR group. SJR (Chaihu Shugan Powder plus Shenlin Baizhu Powder) was administered to rats in the SJR group. Changes of liver fat were analyzed using automatic biochemical analyzer. Liver cells were separated by low-speed centrifugation. Their activities and purities were identify using Typan blue and flow cytometry (FCM). Expression levels of LXRα and FAS mRNA in hepatocytes detected by Real-time quantitative PCR. Expression levels of LXRα and FAS protein were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Pathological results showed in the model group, hepatocytes were swollen with nucleus locating at the cell edge after oil red O staining; unequal sized small vacuoles could be seen inside cytoplasm. Some small vacuoles merged big vacuoles. All these indi- cated a NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. Pathological structural changes could be impaired to some degree in all medicated groups, especially in the SR group. (2) Compared with the normal control group, expression levels of LXRα and FAS genes and proteins obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, their expression levels were obviously down-regulated in the JR group and the SR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was an important signaling pathway for mediating lipid metabolism disorders of NAFLD rats. SJR could make hepatocyte fatty deposits tend to repair by adjusting the LXRα/FAS signaling pathway in NAFLD rats, which might be one of important mechanisms for SJR to prevent and cure NAFLD.

Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatocytes ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; metabolism ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes on lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced hepatocyte inflammation of rats and TLR4/p38MAPK signal pathway.

METHODThe hepatocytes of SD rats were cultured and identified in vitro. The medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was prepared. The hepatocytes were treated with soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes. Then Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in cultural supernatants were assayed by ELISA. The expressions of Toll-Like 4 (TLR4), p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTThe rat medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was extracted for 2-3 mL. The purified rat hepatocytes were 1.5 x 10(8)-2.0 x 10(8). The cell viability was above 95% detected by Typan blue staining. The hepatocytes were identified by immumofluorescence assay. The detection of hepatocyte cultural supernatants: compared with that of the control group, IL-6 and TNF-α expression were increased in the LPS group (P < 0.01). While compared with that of the LPS group, the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased after soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes intervention (P < 0.01). The detection of hepatocyte proteins: compared with that of the control group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and TLR4 were all increased significantly in the LPS group (P < 0.01). Compared with that of the LPS group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK was decreased significantly in SB239063 group and it was also decreased in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group, but with no significant difference. Compared with that of the LPS group, p38MAPK expression was reduced significantly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group and the SB239063 (p38MAPK pathway inhibitor) group (P < 0.01). TLR4 protein expression was decreased markedly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group (P < 0.01) but had no difference between the SB239063 group and the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes may regulate hepatocyte inflammatory injury of rats through TLR4/p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Ticks are obligate ectoparasites and vectors of arboviruses, vickettsiate, spirochetes and parasitil protozoa of humans and domestic animals. Immunological protection of mammalian hosts against tick infestation has been proposed as the most sustainable alternative tick control method to the current use of acaricides. The success of this method is dependent on the identification of key molecules for use as tick vaccine antigens. Proteolytic enzymes are involved in a wide range of cellular processes, thus they can be considered as good target antigens for a tick vaccine. In the present study, we used rapid amplification of cDNA ends protocol and primers that were designed based on the consensus amino acid motifs flanking present in all papain-like cysteine proteinases, to amplify, sequence and characterize two Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides haemaphysaloides cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinases, named as cysA and cysB. The full length of cysA is 1168bp, encoding a 332 amino acid residue polypeptide with 36.33kD predicted molecular mass; the full length of cysB is 1153bp, encoding a 335 amino acid residue polypeptide with 37.56kD predicted molecular mass. The consensus amino acid motifs flanking presence in both deduced amino acid sequences. And both genes show high sequence homology to other tick cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase, so they were identified as members of the cysteine proteinase gene family. Expression analysis by RT-PCR revealed that cysA and cysB were expressed differently in different periods of tick development.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cathepsin L ; Cathepsins ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; genetics ; Female ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhipicephalus ; enzymology ; Sequence Analysis

AIMTo study the effects of sodium salicylate on the expression of GABAalpha NR1 and hearing response properties of inferior colliculus neurons in mice.

METHODSThirty-six kunming mice were divided into three groups (A, B, C,). The expression of GABAalpha NR1 were measured by using RT-PCR. The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions and frequency-turning curves were recorded by extracellular electrophysiological recording techniques.

RESULTS(1) The expression of GABAalpha mRNA of B group was decreased remarkably than the control group (A group, P < 0.05), there weren't noticeable differences between A group and C group (P > 0.05). The expression of NR1 mRNA of B group was increased remarkably than the control group (A group, P < 0.01), there were noticeable differences between A group and C group P < 0.05). (2) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were monotonic while the frequency-turning curves were more broad when sodium salicylate was given. (3) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were non-monotonic while the frequency-turning curves were sharpened after lidocaine was given.

CONCLUSIONS(1) The results suggested that administration of sodium salicylate decreased the expression of GABAalpha while increased the expression of NR1mRNA. (2) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were monotonic, the frequency-turning curves were more broad when salicylate was given and the changes above could be reversed by given lidocaine.

Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Inferior Colliculi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Sodium Salicylate ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of OX40/OX40L interaction on the nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) in ApoE-/- mice.

METHODSLymphocytes were prepared from mouse spleens after Collar-treated Surgery, then incubated with a range of agonistic anti-OX40 mAbs and inhibitory anti-OX40L mAb to stimulate or inhibit OX40-OX40L interaction in vitro. The expression of NFATc1 mRNA and protein in lymphocytes of ApoE-/- mice was measured by Real Time PCR and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTS(1) After stimulating OX40-OX40L signal pathway, the expression of NFATc1 mRNA and protein in leukocytes of ApoE-/- mice was significantly increased, with maximal effect occurring at 20 µg/ml anti-OX40 mAb-stimulated, and peaked at 24 h at any concentration (P < 0.01). (2) Anti-OX40L mAb significantly suppressed the expression of NFATc1 in leukocytes of ApoE-/- mice, with maximal effect occurring at 20 µg/ml anti-OX40L mAb, and peaked at 24 h (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSOX40-OX40L interaction can regulate the mRNA and protein expressions of NFATc1 in lymphocytes of ApoE-/- mice.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Receptors, OX40 ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism

AIMTo observe the effect of phenolic alkaloids of Menispermum dauricum (PAMD) on the hemodynamics, coronary circulation and oxygen metabolism of the myocardium in anesthetized dogs.

METHODSIn this study, the changes of LVSP, LVEDP and +/- dp/dtmax, the flow of coronary artery and myocardial energy metabolism were measured in anesthetized dog with PAMD or NS.

RESULTSIn the anesthetized dogs, compared with pre-treatment status, PAMD at 3.5 and 7.0 mg.kg-1 caused decreases in the left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP), +/- dp/dtmax, heart rate, the rate of oxygen utilization, the coronary and general peripheral resistance. It was found to increase myocardial oxygen and coronary flow. There were no significant change in the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP).

CONCLUSIONPAMD can ameliorate hemodynamics, coronary circulation and myocardial metabolism.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Cardiac Output ; drug effects ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Male ; Menispermum ; chemistry ; Oxygen Consumption ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Vascular Resistance ; drug effects