Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; immunology ; Adolescent ; Chemokines ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints on the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling substances phospholipase C gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), protein kinase C (PKC) and c-myc in gastric mucosal cells. METHODS: Sixty rats were randomly divided into normal group, stomach meridian group, gallbladder meridian group, stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group. Water-immersion and restrained stress methods were adopted for inducing gastric mucosal injury in the rats. Gastric mucosal cells were separated by using pronase digestion method, and incubated by PD153035, a EGFR inhibitor, and 100 ml/L serum. The expression of PLC gamma-1 in the gastric mucosal cells was tested by enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the expression of PKC by isotope incorporate assay and the expression of c-myc by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In gastric mucosal cells, weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the normal group, and relatively strong expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group, among which, the expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc in the stomach meridian group were the strongest, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group (P<0.01). Relative weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and the gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The serum derived from the rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints can activate the EGFR singling pathway, and this provides an evidence for the theory of "relative particularity between meridians and viscera" in traditional Chinese medicine.

The authors helpfully discuss the design idea,experimental module design,examination methods,and experiment textbook construction in experimental teaching of microbiology,and conduct further researches on the basic skill training,verifying experiment,integrative experiment,and investigative experiment in the course. This study aims to enhance effects of the experimental teaching,to cultivate high potential talents who can master essential knowledge and skills,and creatively carry out scientific research.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts on the recovery of swallowing function in patients of dysphagia after acute stroke treated with acupuncture and functional electric stimulation.

METHODSSeventy-four patients were randomized into an acupuncture plus electric stimulation group (38 cases) and an electric stimulation group (36 cases). The functional electric stimulator was used in the two groups. The electric pads were placed on the hyoid bone, the upper part of thyroid cartilage, the masseter muscle and the mandibular joint. The treatment lasted for 30 mm each time. In the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, acupuncture was supplemented at motor area of Jiao's scalp acupuncture, lower 2/5 of sensory area, Baihui (CV 20), Lianquan (CV 23), Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13), 30 mm each time. The treatment was given once a day, 6 treatments for one session and there was 1 day at interval between the sessions, 4 sessions were required totally in the two groups. The dysphagia scale was adopted for efficacy evaluation before treatment and after 4 sessions of treatment in the two groups. The removal rate of nasal feeding tube was observed after treatment.

RESULTSThe dysphagia score was increased apparently after treatment compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.05). After treatment, in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, the dysphagia score was increased much more apparently than that in the electric stimulation group (8.01 +/- 1.25 vs 6.73 +/- 1.36, P < 0.05). The remarkably effective rate was 84.2% (32/38) in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, better than 58.3% (21/36) in the electric stimulation group (P < 0.05). The removal rate of nasal feeding tube was 89.5% (34/38) in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, which was higher than 50. 0% (18/36) in the electric stimulation group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with electric stimulation achieves the much better efficacy on dysphagia after acute stroke and promotes the early removal of nasal feeding tube. The efficacy is better than that of the simple electric stimulation therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Huanglian Jiedu decoction (EAHD) on hyphae development of Candida albicans.

METHODInverted microscope, fluorescence microscope, SEM were applied to inspect the Morphological change of C. albicans treated by EAHD at different concentrations. Solid agar plate was utilized to evaluate the colony morphology. Quantitative Real-ime PCR(qRT-PCR) was adopted to observe the expression of hyphae-specific genes such as HWP1, ALS3, UME6, CSH1, SUN41, CaPDE2.

RESULTEAHD with concentration of 312 and 1 250 mg . L-1 could inhibit formation of hyphae and colony morphology. The expression of HWP1, ALS3, UME6, CSH1 were downregulated 4. 13, 3. 64, 2. 46, 2. 75 folds ,while the expression of SUN41 were upregulated 7. 26 folds, CaPDE2 keep unchanged.

CONCLUSIONEAHD could inhibit formation of hyphae and colony morphologies of C. albicans through downregulating HWP1, ALS3, UME6 and CSH1.

Acetates ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Candida albicans ; cytology ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; drug effects ; Hyphae ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Purpose To explore the significance of three-dimensional reconstruction of fetus based on MRI scan data. Materials and Methods Three woman (more than 39 weeks' gestation) with a strong wish to have natural childbirth and voluntary to take the examination in Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University were recruited in the study. Mimics 10.01 software was used to do three-dimensional reconstruction. Results The fetal surface tissue showed low signal on the two-dimensional images, and amniotic fluid and lung, bladder, cerebrospinal fluid showed high signal. The placenta and uterine wall showed moderate to low signal. Those contributed to the clear boundary between fetal surface and other tissue surround. The three-dimensional fetus models were reconstructed successfully, which clearly demonstrated the main surface features and spatial position of the fetus. The fetal morphology and fetal position could be viewed in various directions. Conclusion Fetus surface can be reconstructed into three-dimensional model based on MRI data set, which has advantage of large visual field and can be observed at arbitrary angle. It provides a new method for morphological analysis and prenatal evaluation for fetal development and growth.

Objective To investigate the expression of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase(JNK) in rat brains with chronic fluorosis and try to reveal the molecular mechanism for the neural impairment induced by the disease.Methods The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, normal control group(drinking water containing less than 0.5 mg/L of sodium fluoride, NaF), lower fluoride exposed group(drinking water containing 5 mg/L NaF) and higher fluoride exposed group(drinking water containing 50 mg/L NaF), 24 in every group. The rats were examined at the sixth month after feeding. The concentration of fluorine in urine and blood was detected by F-ion selective electrode. The expression of JNK in brains was investigated by using Western blotting and immunohitochemistry staining, and analyze the correlation between activating of JNK and the concentration of fluorine in blood. Results The increased concentration of fluorine in urine(control: 0.92 ± 0.30, lower fluoride exposed group: 2.56 ± 0.91,higher fluoride exposed group: 5.73 ± 3.14, P ＜ 0.05) were observed when 6 months after the beginning of the experiment, and the amount of fluorine in blood was also higher in rats with fluorosis(control: 0.12 ± 0.07, lower fluoride exposed group: 0.36 ± 0.14, higher fluoride exposed group: 0.50 ± 0.18, P ＜ 0.05). The expression of phospho-JNK at protein levels were higher in the brains of rats with fluorosis than that of controls (control: 1.00 ± 0.37, lower fluoride exposed group: 1.20 ± 0.28, higher fluoride exposed group: 1.74 ± 0.69, P ＜ 0.05), whereas no change of total-JNK was found(F = 0.046, P ＞ 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of phospho-JNK in the parietal cortex(119.3 ± 14.1), occipital cortex(112.7 ± 5.4), hippocampus CA3(100.6 ± 8.9), dorsal thalamus (117.8 ± 10.4) and olivary nucleus( 112.6 ± 5.9) of rats in higher fluoride exposed group were higher than that in control( 104.1 ± 8.9,106.6 ± 9.6,106.6 ± 9.7,108.9 ± 6.4,100.3 ± 8.4, all P ＜ 0.05) and lower fluoride exposed group(96.7 ± 17.1,102.5 ± 8.3,106.4 ± 6.5,110.2 ± 9.3,102.4 ± 4.7,102.5 ± 9.8, all P＜ 0.05). The positive stained neurons of total-JNK also distributed in the same brain regions of rats, but no difference was detected between the rats with fluorosis and controls(all P ＞ 0.05). The increased level of phospho-JNK was positively correlated with the fluoride contents in blood of the rats with fluorosis (r = 0.677). Conclusions The expression of phospho-JNK in brains of rats with fluorosis was significantly increased with a correlation to fluoride content in blood, which might be connected to the mechanism of neural impairment induced by chronic fluorosis.

Objective To investigate the expression of extraeellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2)pathway in rat brains with fluorosis and the effects of fluoride on learning and memory of the rats,and to reveal the mechanisms of damaged nervous system resulted from the toxicity of the ion.Methods Seventy-two SD rats were divided into 3 groups and 24 rats were in each group.Three groups were fed respectively with different concentrations of fluoride(NaF)for 6 months to establish rat models with fluorosis.Controls were fed with tap water (NaF＜0.5 mg/L):lower and higher concentration group were fed with water containing NaF(5,50 ms/L).Animals are sacrificed after 6 months of treatment with fluoride and the dissected brains were kept for analysis.The protein levels of ERK1/2 in rat brains were detected by Western-blotting and the mRNA level by RT-PCR. The spatial learning and memorizing ability was measured by Morris water maze test. Results The ERK1/2 protein in control group,lower and higher concentration group was 0.944±0.10,1.253±0.02,1.953±0.07,the differece being statistieally sighificant between any two groups (P ＜ 0.05). The phospho-ERKl/2 protein in control group,lower and higher concentration group was 0.73±0.08,0.77±0.07,1.28±0.11,the differece being statistieally sighificant between any two groups(P ＜ 0.05);the activation rate of phospho-ERK1/2 in lower and higher concentration group [(68.4± 3.8)%,(64.1±3.2)%] was decreased compared to control group[ (82.3±10.7)%],the differece being significant(P ＜ 0.05). In the navigation trial,longer escape latencies of lower concentration group on the second, the third,the fifth and the sixth day were observed[ (46.0±8.0),(24.0±2.7),(8.9±5.3),(7.4±4.1 )s] compared to the control[ (39.3±6.9),(19.1±9.1 ),(8.3±3.4),(4.8±2.7)s],the differece being significant (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 );the similar results were also observed in the higher concentration group[ (36.9±16.8),(37.7±12.9), (19.7±7.6),(12.2±5.7 )s],and the escape latencies of the higher concentration group on the third,the fifth and the sixth day were longer than that in lower concentration group. In the probe test,the rats took more time to reach the first cross in lower and higher concentration group[(1.17±0.75),(4.18±1.10)s] than control group[ (5.89± 0.56 ) s ],the differece being significant (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ) ;stayed shorter [ ( 17.05±4.25 ),(18.20±4.57 ) s ] than control [(25.37±5.65 )s ] in platform area (P ＜ 0.01 );the activation rates of ERK1/2 were directly correlated with the time taken to reach the first cross platform located in the probe test(r = 0.364,P ＜ 0.05) and the activation rates were also directly correlated with the escape latencies on the sixth day(r = 0.497,P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Long-term exposure of excessive fluoride induces the change of expression and activating rate of the ERK1/2 in rat brains,leading to the decreased capacity of learning and memory.

Objective To investigate the changes of oxidative stress level in brain tissues and serum, and learning and memory in rats with oxidative stress level in nerve damage in chronic fluorosis. Methods The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the body weight, eight rats in each group, i.e., control group, drinking water containing less than 0.5 mg/L of fluoride; lower fluoride exposure group, drinking water containing 5 mg/L of fluoride; higher fluoride exposure group, drinking water containing 50 mg/L of fluoride. The animals were examined six months after initiating the experiment. The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as learning and memory, were measured. Results Escape latency in higher fluoride exposed group[ (14.37±3.48)s] was significantly higher than that of controls[ (5.84±1.87)s] and exposed te lower fluoride [ (7.18±1.42)s], the difference being statistically signifieant(P<0.05). As compared with controls[ (2.17±0.11)× 103 U/L , (0.79±0.11)×103 U/g Pr] ,the rats exposed to higher fluoride and lower fluoride exhibited lower levels of T-AOC [(1.37±0.27)×103 U/L,(0.24±0.06)×103 U/g Prand (1.20±0.14) x 103 U/L,(0.41 ~ 0.10)×103 U/g Pr], the difference being statistically signifieant(P<0.05). As compared with controls[ (2.34±0.16) mmoL/L, (2.97±0.11)mmol/g Pr] and low fluoride exposed group[ (2.68±0.33)mmoL/L, (3.38±0.21)mmol/g Pr], higher level of MDA were observed in higher fluoride exposed group[ (3.72±0.59)retool/L, (4.01±0.21)mmol/g Pr], the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion The results indicated that higher amount of fluoride induced an increased level of oxidation, which might result in the decreased capacity of intelligence of rats with fluorosis.

Objective:To investigate the regulation and mechanism of chronic Trichinella spiralis ( Ts) infection on liver immunopathology in mice co-infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA( PbA). Methods:According to body weight, 64 specific pathogen free female Kunming mice (6 - 8 weeks old, weighting 22 - 25 g) were divided into 4 groups by using random number table method. Control group: uninfected; Ts group: mice were mono-infected with 30 Ts larvae by oral gavage on day 0; PbA group: mice were mono-infected with 1 × 10 6PbA-infected red blood cells in 0.1 ml of phosphate buffer (PBS) administered by intraperitoneal injection on day 121; co-infected ( Ts+PbA) group: mice were infected with 30 Ts larvae by oral gavage and intraperitoneal injected with 1 × 10 6PbA-infected red blood cells in 0.1 ml PBS on day 121 after Ts infection. There were 16 mice in each group, in which 10 mice in each group were monitored for the survival rate. The peripheral red blood cell parasitemia of PbA group and Ts + PbA group were monitored every other day by light microscope examination of Giemsa-stained thin tail-blood smears from day 3 after PbA infection. Mice were sacrificed at day 135 after Ts infection and/or at day 15 after PbA infection, the mouse body weight and liver weight were measured, and the liver index were calculated. Ts-infected mice were monitored by a light microscope examination of diaphragm compression slide. Under a light microscope, the liver pathology and liver fibrosis of mice were observed and compared with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Sirius red staining, respectively. The F4/80 + Kupffer cells in liver of mice were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results:After infection with Ts or PbA, Ts larvae cysts were observed in diaphragm tissues and PbA were observed in red blood cells under the light microscope. After PbA infection, there was no significant difference in survival rate between PbA group and Ts+ PbA group ( P > 0.05). Compared with PbA group, the peripheral red blood cell parasitemia was significantly decreased in Ts+ PbA group on days 11 and 15 after PbA infection (%: 27.104 ± 7.623 vs 45.032 ± 9.849, 60.218 ± 2.776 vs 76.778 ± 6.351, P < 0.05), and the liver index and the liver pathology score were significantly decreased in Ts+ PbA group ( P < 0.05). Sirius red staining showed that the positive area of liver fibrosis in Ts+ PbA group was significantly higher than that in PbA group ( P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the average optical density value of F4/80 + Kupffer cells in Ts+ PbA group was significantly higher than that in PbA group ( P < 0.01). Conclusion:Chronic Ts infection may reduce the peripheral red blood cell parasitemia, increase F4/80 + Kupffer cells expression in liver, and attenuate liver pathology in mice co-infected with PbA.