Objective To investigate the responses of astrocytes and neurons in rat lumbosacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata induced by chronic colonic inflammation,and the relationship between activated astrocytes and neurons.Methods Thirty-three male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups.In treated group(n=17),colonic inflammation was induced by intraluminal administration of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS) in rats;In non-treated group(n=16),saline was intraluminally administered.The lumbosacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata were removed 3,7,14 and 28 days after intraluminal administration and processed for anti-GFAP,Fos and GFAP/Fos immunohistochemistry. Results Most activated GFAP positive astrocytes were distributed in the superficial laminae(Ⅰ-Ⅱ),intermediolateral nucleus(lamina Ⅴ),posterior commissural nucleus(laminae Ⅹ) and anterolateral nucleus(laminae Ⅸ) in lumbosacral spinal cord.Fos positive neurons were mainly expressed in the deeper laminae of the spinal cord(Ⅲ-Ⅳ,Ⅴ-Ⅵ).In the medulla oblongata,both GFAP-IR astrocytes and Fos-IR neurons were mainly distributed in medullary visceral zone(MVZ),which is composed of the nucleus of solitary tract(NTS),ventrolateral medulla(VLM) and intermediat reticular(IRt).The density of GFAP positive astrocytes in the spinal cord in treated rats 3,7 and 14 days after TNBS administration was significantly higher than that in non-treated rats(P0.05).Conclusions The astrocytes in lumbosacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata can be activated by colonic inflammation.The response of astrocytes decreased with the recovery of the colonic inflammation.Activated astrocytes are closely related to activated neurons in MVZ.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate Fos expression in rat lumbarsacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata induced by chronic colonic inflammation. Methods Twenty six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: group 1, colonic inflammation was induced in sixteen rats by intraluminal instillation of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS); group 2, saline was instilled intraluminally in eight rats; group 3, no stimulation was given in 2 rats. After 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of instillation, lumbarsacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata were removed and processed for Fos immunohistochemical staining. Results Fos neurons induced by TNBS instillation were mainly distributed in deep laminae (laminae Ⅲ Ⅳ,Ⅴ Ⅵ) in spinal dorsal horn and in medullary visceral zone in medulla oblongata. The number of Fos cells in the spinal cord and medullary visceral zone was significantly higher in rats after 7 and 14 day of TNBS instillation compared with that of controls. After 28 days of TNBS instillation, the number of Fos neurons in the medullary visceral zone decreased and became comparable to that of control group. However, the number of Fos cells (54.1?16.3) in the spinal cord in some rats was still significantly higher than that of controls (12.2 ?2.6, P

Objective To study the effects of Irinotecan (CPT-11) on human colorectal cancer HCT-116 and HT-29 cells and investigate the potential mechanisms.Methods The effect of Irinotecan on the proliferation of HCT-116 and HT-29 cells was determined by MTT assays.The invasive capacity was measured by transwell assays,and the apoptosis of the tumor cells was detected by flow cytometry after stained with Annexin-V and PI.The difference between the current of ATP-sensitive potassium ion of HCT-116 and HT-29 was examined by patch clamp.Results It was found that 1.0-64.0 μg/ml CPT-11 could inhibit the proliferation and the invasive capacity of HCT-116 and HT-29 cells at both dose-and time-dependent manner.The IC_(50) of HCT-116 and HT-29 were 39.3 and 19.5 μg/ml respectively.Cytometry showed that the apoptotic rates were increased from 14.8% and 9.3% to 36.9% and 27.9% after the treatment of 32.0 μg/ml and 16.0 μg/ ml CPT-11,which were close to their IC_(50).The proportion of G_0/G_1 and S of HCT-116 and HT-29 was enhanced from 27.4% and 17.4% to 95.9% and 98.2%.Transwell assay indicated that the invasiveness of HCT-116 and HT-29 was reduced by 40.8% and 47.5%.The patch clamp showed that CPT-11 reduced the I_(KATP) of cell membrane at a negative dose-dependent manner.Conclusion CPT-11 could have a significant impact on the proliferation,invasiveness,cell cycle,and the apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cell HCT-116 and HT-29.HT-29 was more sensitive to CPT-11 than HCT-116.The inhibitory effect of CPT-11 on cell proliferation might be linked to its inhibition of ATPsensitive potassium channel.

Objective To investigate the effects and potential mechanism of irinotecan (CPT-11), an antitumor drug, on human colorectal cancer cell line HT-29 and its impact on 4-amion pyridine (4-AP), a kalium ion channel blocker. Methods The effects of CPT-11, 4-AP and combination of two drugs on proliferation and invasion of HT-29 cells were measured by MTT and Transwell assay respectively. The impact of CPT-11 or 4-AP on cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry with Annexin-V and PI staining. The current of ATP sensitive potassium ion (IKATP) was measured by patch clamp. Results The CPT-11 could inhibit proliferation of HT-29 cells at dose from 1.0 to 64.0 μg/ml in dose-and time-dependent manners. Whereas the above effect was enhanced when CPT-11 combined with 4-AP (1.0 mmol/L). The administration of CPT-11 (16.0 μg/ml) or 4-AP (1.0 mmol/L) significantly induced the cell apoptosis and inhibited the invasion of HT-29 cells, furthermore, these effects could be enhanced by combination of two drugs. And the different concentrations of CPT-11 reduced the IKATP of cell membrane in negative dose-dependent manner. Conclusions The effects of CPT-11 on HT-29 cells, such as reducing proliferation and invasion as well as inducing the apoptosis, can be enhanced by 4-AP, which may be related to inhibition of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

SUMMARY Here we report a case of cervical spondylosis misdiagnosed as cerebral infarction .The pa-tient was a 55-year-old man with a one-day history of weakness in his right extremities .Brain magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) showed no acute abnormality , cerevical MRI showed that cervical spondylisis , C4/5 , C5/6 disc herniation , spinal canal stenosis and compression of the spinal cord .Then the patient was transferred to the Department of Orthopaedics and underwent surgical treatment of cervical spondylo -sis.Followed-up for six months , the weakness of his right extremities returned to normal .

ObjectiveTo determine the frequency of cerebral microembolism in patients with asymptomatic or symptomatic extracranial and intracranial arterial stenosis and to assess its relationship to the onset and course of ischemic stroke.MethodsTCD was used to monitor patients with extracranial and intracranial cerebral arterial stenosis. Double channel four-gated and power M-Mode were used to detect microembolic signals (MES). The recording time was 60 min and the number of MES was counted. Patients were divided into 2 groups as extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. Each group was divided into 3 subgroups as asymptomatic, acute ischemic stroke (<30 d) and old ischemic stroke (≥30 d).ResultsThe total number of monitored artery was 74 in 63 patients. In ICA stenosis with asymptom, old ischemic stroke and acute ischemic stroke, the frequency of MES was 0(0/10), 0(0/7), 33%(6/18) and the number of MES in acute ischemic stroke was 3, 9, 8, 10, 1, 40 (mean=11.8). In MCA stenosis with asymptom, old ischemic stroke and acute ischemic stroke, the frequency of MES was 14%(2/14), 14%(1/7), 39%(7/18) and the number of MES was 4 and 1 in asymptom, 1 in old ischemic stroke, 4, 1, 4, 15, 16, 1 and 29(mean=10) in acute ischemic stroke. In ICA stenosis, the difference between acute ischemic stroke and asymptom (P=0.013), between acute and old ischemic stroke (P=0.031) reached statistic significance.In MCA stenosis, there was no significant difference between acute ischemic stroke and asymptom (P=0.115), so as between acute and old ischemic stroke (P=0.214).ConclusionEmbolism was important in the mechanism of ischemic stroke due to extracranial and intracranial arterial stenosis. The closer to ischemic stroke onset, the higher the frequency and the number of MES. TCD monitor was helpful to study the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke due to extracranial and intracranial arterial stenosis and determine the treatment.

Objective To analyze the stroke subtypes and influencing factors in four largest economic regions of China.Methods We analyzed the investigation data of QUEST(Quality Evaluation of Stroke Care and Treatment)study conducted in 2006 which included 62 hospitals in a national scale.According to the concept of four economic regions designed by the Development Research Center of the State Council,we performed the univariate and multivariate analysis for the stroke subtypes and its related risk factors in the different economic regions.Results There were 3362(73.5％)ischemic stroke patients and 1214(26.5％)hemorrhagic stroke patients among the total 4576 first-ever stroke patients.Comparison of stroke subtypes in the four different economic regions was statistically significant(P ＜ 0.001),with a percentage of 80.8％ ischemic stroke patients in the northeastern region,78.9％ in the eastern region,68.3％ in the central region and 67.0％ in the western region.The comparisons of risk factors such as history of hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidaemia,coronary artery event,atrial fibrillation,and overweight in the four different economic regions were also statistically significant(P ＜0.05).Conclusions The subtypes of first-ever stroke vary in the four largest economic regions with a highest proportion of ischemic stroke in the northeastern region and relatively high proportion of hemorrhagic stroke in the central and western economic regions.There are also discrepancies of stroke risk factors in the different economic regions.

Objective To evaluate whether therapeutic ultrasound, applied alone or with urokinase, may have a thrombolytic effect on blood clots in vitro, and the other factors influencing the urokinase-mediated thrombolysis. Methods Experiments were carried out in an in vitro blood clot model.The blood clots were divided into four groups as physiological solution group(NS), urokinase group(UK),physiological solution plus ultrasound group(NS + US), urokinase group plus ultrasound group(UK + US).After intervention of one hour in static 37 ℃ water bath, each group of blood clots was weighed. After that,the weight loss and thrombolysis rate of the blood clots in each group were calculated. To observe the impact of the age of the blood clots on urokinase-mediated thrombolysis rate, the thrombolysis rate of eight time points 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 hours was tested. The time was determined from the blood drawn from the body to the initiation of thrombolysis test. Results In terms of thrombolysis rate, there was significant difference between UK group and UK + US group(LSD-t 12. 1, P ＜ 0.01), with a thrombolysis rate 29. 3% ±8. 2% and 37. 5% ±7. 9%, respectively. However, the difference of thrombolysis rate between NS group and NS + US group with a thrombolysis rate 13. 4% ±4. 4% and 14. 5% ± 5.4%, respectively,was not statistically significant with a P value of 0. 08(LSD-t 1.8). The age of the blood clots had a negative correlation to the thrombolysis rate to some extent. Conclusion Therapeutic ultrasound has a significant effect on thrombolysis in combination with urokinase rather than used alone. To a certain extent,the thrombolysis rate decreases with the age of blood clot.

70%). TCD monitored the microembolic signals (MES) and cerebral blood flow of middle cerebral artery (MCA) using M-Mode before, after and during CAS. TCD and color ultrasound duplex were examined and new vascular events recorded during the following-up. Results Except a large numbers of MES arising from the recent contrast injection, the most MES were detected during the phase of predilation (MES number=116) and stent placement (MES number=135, 91, 113, 90, 106, 125). The MES count during the phase of postdilation was relatively reduced (MES number=8, 14, 37, 16). The most MES were characterized by high intensity and over-loading in TCD spectrum. MCA blood flow velocity varied predominantly in phases of predilation (Vsys/Vmean=46/31 to 76/54) and postdilation (Vsys/Vmean=40/26 to 74/49, 0/0 to 114/69, 35/24 to 116/71, 50/36 to 137/86). MES recorded in 2 patients prior to CAS disappeared in post-procedure. MCA blood flow velocity was enhanced or MCA pulsative index increased after CAS. No complications occurred. Tissue debris was collected in one filter device. During 3 to 19 months following-up, only one patient had a new vascular event of cerebral infarction located in the contralateral side of the CAS. Conclusions TCD monitoring might evaluate the microemboli and cerebral blood flow before, after and during CAS with filter devices. Filter devices might reduce embolization by preventing the bigger particulate microembolism into the distal part of the cerebral vessel without influencing cerebral blood flow. The gaseous and the smaller particulate microembolism unfiltrated should not result in clinical symptoms in most cases.

Objective To investigate the effects of tegaserod on visceral sensitivity and explore the regulating mechanism.Methods Forty-two male Spragre-Dawley rats,which were induced colonic inflammation by intraluminal administration of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS),were randomly divided into eight groups.In the three colorectal distention(CRD) treated groups(n=6),abdominal contractions were recorded after 3,7 and 14 days of intra-gastric administration of tegaserod 2mg/kg d.In the three CRD control groups(n=4),abdominal contractions were recorded after 3,7 and 14 days of intra-gastric injection of saline 2.0mL/d.In immunohistochemistry(IH) treated group(n=6) and IH control group(n=6),samples of colon were removed and processed for SP and CGRP immunohistochemistry after 7 days of intra-gastric administration of tegaserod and saline,respectively.Results Abdominal contractions induced by colonic distention decreased significantly at 1.2mL and 1.6mL distention volume after 3 days of tegaserod administration(P