Aim To investigate the effects of endocrinal petptide urocortin on subthalamic nucleus (STN) neuron''s discharge, also observe the convergence effect of UCN with dopamine (DA) and glutamate (GLU), so as to understand the regulation effects of UCN and its mechanism in Parkinson''s disease (PD).Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment.Nerve electrophysiology method-microiontophoresis was used to observe the effects of UCN on STN neuron firing rates and firing wave.Astressin (AST, the blocker of CRF receptor 2), protein kinase A (PKA) were used to observe the effects of UCN whether via CRF-2R and PKA signal pathway.Moreover, given UCN during the period of DA and GLU, the effects of UCN on DA and GLU in STN neurons were determined.Results During the period of using the UCN, UCN could inhibit the firing rate of 82％ (27/33) STN neuron (P<0.01), and the firing discharge rates were reduced from(3.65±0.27)Hz to (2.05±0.33) Hz (P<0.01).However, the inhibitory effects of UCN in STN could be antagonized by AST.Given UCN during the period of microiontophoresis of inhibitory neurotransmitter (DA) and excited neurotransmitter (GLU), UCN could enhance the effects of DA and attenuate the excitatory effects of GLU (P<0.01).Conclusion UCN and GLU/DA in STN, UCN play inhibitory and regulated effects on STN neurotransmitters(DA and GLU)via CRF-2 receptor and PKA signal pathway.

Objective To observe late effect of 60Co radiation accident on eye lens in the victims.Methods Medical observations of eye lens were performed on ten victims accidentally exposed to 60Co sources in four radiation accidents that have occurred from 1986 to 2000 in Henan Province.Pathological changes of the eye lenses were examined by using slit lamp microscopy after mydriasis with compound tropicamide.Results Of these ten victims, Liang in a radiation accident in Kaifeng (in 1986), Mei in Xinxiang (in 1999) and Xu in Xuchang (in 2000) all had typical radiation-induced cataract 2, 3 and 6 years after irradiation, respectively.Follow-up observation of the lens showed the punctate and/or granular opacities present in the eye posterior subcapsular of Yan in Kaifeng accident, Jie in Zhengzhou (1987), and Tian, Yong and Yi in Xinxiang accident, featuring the early changes of radiation-induced cataract, but the posterior subcapsular opacities were not observed in Wang and Min in Xinxiang accident.Conclusions Focus should be on the eye lens as the target organ of radiation exposure in long-term follow-up of victims accidentally exposed to radiation source.Severity of the lens opacity induced by ionizing radiation is closely associated with radiation doses.

Objective To explore the long-term health effects of overexpose to radiation.Methods The 32 -41-year medical followed-up observations were performed for 25 persons exposed to ionizing radiation in the dose range of 0.10 -0.33 Gy. Observations were made of clinical symptom,eye lens,cytogenetics,immune function and endocrine function for these persons. Results The incidence of neurasthenic symptom was higher in exposed group than that in control group.2 cases suffered from liver cancer and esophageal cancer,respectively. Posterior capsule punctate phacoscotasmus of the lens wereobserved in 7 cases.There was I case of cataract in the exposed group. The frequencies of chromosomeaberration and micronucleis in peripheral blood lymphocyte in the exposed group were significantly higherthan those in control group (x2 =8.88,8.71,40.60,45.63,P ＜ 0.05 ).The average value of serum IgG was higher(t =2.16,P ＜0.05 ),while that of IgM was obviously lower in the exposed group (t =2.03,P ＜0.05).The average values of serum triiodothyronine (T3),thyroxine (T4 ) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the exposed group were obviously lower than those in the control group (t =2.40,3.54,2.13,P ＜0.05 ).Conclusions Overexposure has effect on lens,immune function,cytogenetics to some degree.It is important to observe the long-term health effect on overexposed persons.

Objective To investigate the effects of levothyroxine (Levo-thyroid hormone,L-TH4) in pregnancy subclinical hypothyroidism (SCHT), and study the relationship between L-TH4 with thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and glucose metabolism. The research could provide theoretical basis for the treatment of SCHT. Methods Sixty pregnant women were selected and signed the medical informed consent. The pregnancy were divided into three groups, 20 cases in each group.Normal control group: pregnancy underwent routine thyroid function normal; SCHT group: SCHT pregnancy patients who did not use drugs to treat SCHT; L-TH4 group: SCHT pregnancy patients given L-TH4 treatment. The blood was taken to test the contents of glucose level and HbA1c were observed; the activity of TSH and TPO were tested by ELISA method; HE staining method was used to observe the changing of placenta tissue. Results Compared with normal control group, the glucose and HbA1c were significantly increased in SCHT group (P<0.05). However, L-TH4 could decrease these index, compare with the SCHT group, and reduce the level of TSH and the activity of TPO, the difference was statistically significantly (P<0.05). Moreover, L-TH4 could improve the changing of placenta tissue. Conclusion L-TH4 could reduce blood glucose and HbA1c levels, also reduced the level of TSH and the activity of TPO in SCHT. L-TH4 could improve the changing of placenta tissue.

BACKGROUND: Experiment suggests that the active component of Danggui Buxue decoction, i.e. polysaccharides, can significantly promote proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells, and regulate hematopoietic microenvironment.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of serum containing Danggui Buxue decoction on granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) secretion in mice bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). METHODS: BMSCs were isolated and cultured in 96-well culture plate. BMSCs morphology and growth were observed by phase contrast microscopy. The cells were divided into four groups and cultured with different concentrations of the serum containing Danggui Buxue decoction. MTT method was used to observe the proliferation of BMSCs, and ELISA method was used to observe the expression level of G-CSF and IL-3. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Serum containing Danggui Buxue decoction significantly promoted BMSCs proliferation, and increased the expression level of G-CSF and IL-3 secreted from BMSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, serum containing equivalent dose drugs significantly promoted BMSCs proliferation, and G-CSF and IL-3 expression compared with other groups. Higher concentration weakens cell proliferation and secretion effects.

BACKGROUND: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) following internal fixation of femoral neck fractures is difficult to be cured in clinic.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the literatures concerning ONFH in patients with femoral neck fractures treated with screw internal fixation in recent 15 years, and to summarize the research progress in views of epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis,treatment and rehabilitation.METHODS: Databases of CNKI, WanFang, CqVip, PubMed, Medline, Web of Science were searched with the keywords of femoral neck fracture, osteonecrosis of femoral head, osteonecrosis, internal fixation, internal fixation with screw in English and Chinese, respectively. Afterwards, the reviews and case reports were excluded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A total of 54 eligible articles addressing the ONFH following internal fixation for femoral neck fractures were included, and the incidence of ONFH varied from 8.1% to 37.2%, which was found at an average of 17 months after injury. (2) ONFH was found to be related to age, preoperative fracture displacement, preoperative traction,reduction condition, time from injury to operation, elderly patients companied with other diseases, older patients undergoing removal of the screws, closed or open internal fixation, restored time postoperatively, high body mass index, hyperlipidemia, season, and depression. (3) Early prevention and remedial surgery were used to treat ONFH. (4) The patients without weight-bearing activities at 3-6 months postoperatively could be beneficial for functional recovery. (5) These results suggest that choosing appropriate surgical programs and rehabilitation plan can reduce the incidence of ONFH and achieve good treatment outcomes, such as reasonable preoperative planning, standardized operation skills, correct diagnosis and treatment, proper postoperative rehabilitation and good doctor-patient cooperation.

Objective To evaluate cerebral parenchymal atrophy of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD)through the compara-tive analysis of the volume and morphology of the brain ventricle between patients with AD and normal elderly.Methods 20 patients with AD and 20 normal elderly people were scanned at 3.0T MR,and lateral ventricle section images were achieved,and the lateral ventricle volume and the anterior horn,posterior horn and temporal horn of the lateral ventricle were calculated by analyzing the re-construction of section images with MIMICS software from Belgian.Results As compared with normal elderly group,the patients with AD exhibited significantly increased the volume of left ventricular volume(LV),right ventricular volume (RV)and total vol-ume (TV)(P<0.05).Angle of bilateral anterior horn and temporal horn but not posterior horn of the lateral ventricle in patients with AD were significantly higher than that in normal elderly (P<0.05).The volume of the left,right and total cerebral ventricle, the angle of the anterior horn of the left and right lateral ventricle and the angle of the temporal horn of the left and right lateral ven-tricle were negatively correlated with MMSE (P<0.05).Conclusion Patients with AD exhibites significantly greater volume and an-gle of the lateral ventricular than normal elderly people.These related data measured can predict brain parenchymal atrophy of pa-tients with AD more conveniently and accurately.

BACKGROUND:Atorvastatin has been shown to reduce bone loss and fracture, but its effects on implant osseointegration remain unknown.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on implant osseointegration in osteoporotic rats and the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into sham-surgery, ovariectomy, and atorvastatin (10 and 20 mg/kg per day) treatment groups, respectively. Al rats received ovariectomy and implant surgery except those in the sham-surgery group. Bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra, osseointegration ratio and pul-out strength of implants were measured after 12-week treatment.Levels of bone formation and resorption markers in osteoblasts treated with atorvastatin were determined by ELISA. Wnt pathway-relatedgene expression was detected by RT-PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bone mineral density, osseointegration ratio and pul-out strength of implants were significantly increased in 20 mg/kg per day of atorvastatin treatment group compared with ovariectomy group (P< 0.05). Levels of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcinand osteoprotegerinwere significantly increased in osteoblasts treated with atorvastatinin vitro(P<0 .05), and the level of osteoclast differentiation factor RANKL was significantly inhibited (P< 0.05). Meanwhile, atorvastatin significantly promoted the mRNA expression of low-density lipoprotein associated protein 5and β-catenin, and inhibited the mRNA expression of dickkopfWnt signal pathway inhibitor 1and sclerostin. Our results suggest that atorvastatin promotes implant osseointegration in osteoporotic rats by activating Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.

BACKGROUND:Bismth-doped iron nanoparticles modified by hyaluronic acid (HA-BiIOPs) not only act as an effective MRI contrast agent, but also as a radiotherapy sensitizer.OBJECTIVE:To fabricate the HA-BiIOPs and to observe its effect to enhance the radiosensitivity of glioblastoma cells U87MG under X-ray radiation.METHODS:HA-BiIOPs were synthesized using hydrothermal polyol method. (1) Cytotoxicity: A cytotoxicity test was carried out on U87MG cells and rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Cell proliferation rate of two kinds of cells cultured with different concentrations of HA-BiIOPs (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg/L) at 24 hours after culture were determined by cell counting kit-8 assay. (2) Histological analysis: ICR mice were sacrificed after intravenous injection of HA-BiIOPs, and pathological changes of mouse visceral organs were observed under an optical microscope. (3) Cellular uptake: The HA-BiIOPs after entered into the cytoplasm were observed by Prussian blue staining. (4) Radiosensitization test: U87MG cells at Logarithmic growth stage were cultured in culture medium as control group, subjected to X-ray irradiation (0, 3, 6, 9 Gy) as radiotherapy group, cultured in HA-BiIOPs (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/L) as HA-BiIOPs group or subjected to HA-BiIOPs culture plus X-ray irradiation as combined therapy group. Then, the cell proliferation rate and cloning efficiency were measured at 24 hours after treatment.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The HA-BiIOPs at different concentrations were non-cytotoxic for VSMC and U87MG cells. (2) After intravenous injection of HA-BiIOPs, there was no obvious toxicity to the mouse susceptible organs. (3) After 6 hours of culture, the HA-BiIOPs could be internalized by U87MG cells. (4) The proliferation rate of U87 cells was negatively correlated with the concentration of HA-BiIOPs (0-200 mg/L) and X-ray dose (0-9 Gy). Especialy, the combination of 6 Gy X-ray irradiation with 200 mg/L HA-BiIOPs dramatically decreased the cell viability that was decreased to (41±7)%. In the combined therapy group with 6 Gy X-ray and 100 mg/L HA-BiIOPs, the cells proliferation rate was significantly lower than that in the control and radiotherapy groups (P < 0.05). These results indicate that HA-BiIOPs have a radiosensitizative effect on glioblastoma cells U87MG.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells attract extensive attention because of good biological characteristics and broad prospects, but the cells gradually show the characteristics of the aging with the increase of individual age or incubation time in vitro. Nonhuman primates have similar biological characteristics with human being, and have unique advantage in the animal model and disease treatment research.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the difference in proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from macaques at different ages and to explore the effect of age on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and the possible mechanism.METHODS: Bone marrow samples from male macaques aged < 3 years and over 20 years were collected through bone marrow puncture, and divided into young group and elder group, with three macaques in each group. Then, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured in vitro, and the morphological changes, proliferation and differentiation ability were observed. Age-related beta-galactosidase staining was performed, and protein microarray and ELISA were used to detect cytokine levels.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: With age, the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from the elder macaques were reduced significantly, and the number of senescent cells increased significantly; the levels of interleukin-1b, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α and vascular endothelial growth factor were elevated obviously, the levels of heparin-binding basic fibroblast growth factor and placental growth factor were reduced. These findings indicate that the body's aging lead to the reduction in the proliferation, differentiation and cytokine secretion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.