Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays essential roles in embryonic development and angiogenesis of a variety of diseases.In recent years,the neuroprotective effect of VEGF is increasingly receiving attention.The expression of VEGF is upregulated during hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease.It plays a protective role in cerebral hemorrhage,but its role is controversial in subarachnoid hemorrhage.The relationship between VEGF and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease is both close and complex.More research is needed to clarify the relationship between them and to provide new clinical ideas for the prevention and treatment of this kind of disease.

Objective To study the relationship between the low level lead exposure of pregnant woman and the gestational age of fetus. Methods The peripheral blood and the umbilical blood samples were collected from 1 000 healthy puerperants and their newborns. The puerperants were divided into three groups according to the blood lead levels: very low-level group(0.483 ?mol/L). Results The rate of premature labor was 9.40% in the very low-level group, 14.07% in the low-level group and 23.81% in the high-level group respectively. The blood lead level of puerperants had a positive correlation with the umbilical blood lead of newborns. The umbilical blood lead of premature was higher than that of mature. As the blood lead level of the pregnants increased, the gestational age shortened and the probability of low age premature increased. Conclusion As for the toxicity of lead to the fetus, there is no a threshold. Low level lead exposure of the pregnant woman is one of the causes of premature labor.

BACKGROUND: On the basis of traditional herb wuling san, tianqi and danshen are added to make a preparation, jianshen lishui I , for treating blood stasis and edema; shichangpu and xiakucao are added to make a preparation, xingnao xiaozhong capsule, for treating fire, sputum and qiaobi in cerebral edema.OBJECTIVE: To observe the differences between jianshen lishui Ⅰ and xingano xiaozhong capsule on treating vascular-derived cerebral edema.DESIGN: Randomized grouping design and blank controlled study.SETTING: Laboratory of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed in the Lab.oratory of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March to April 2001. Totally 32 male rabbits with 7 months old were selected in the study.METHODS: ① Animal models with cerebral edema were established with self-fresh blood injection method. According to grouping method, animals were divided randomly into 4 groups: blank control group (without intervention); model group (without intervention after modeling); jianshen lishuiⅠ group (11.5 mL/kgjianshen lishui Ⅰ was perfused after modeling; jian-shen lishui Ⅰ consisted of 15 g sanqi, 15 g danshen, 10 gfuling, 10 gzhuling, 10 g zexie, 10 g baizhu and 10 g gu~hi, and provided by Dispensary of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 200 mL/bag) and xingnao xiaozhong capsule group [after modeling, 11.5 mL/kg xingnao xiaozhong suspension was made by 380 mg/kg boiled distilled water; certification: southern medicine (96) 05079; consisting of 15g xiakucao, 15 g shichangpu, 10 gfuling, 10 g zhuling, 10 g zexie, 10 g baizhu and 10 g guizhi, 13.33 g raw materials per capsule; provided by Agent Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine] with 8 in each group. Animals in each group were divided into 12 and 24 hours subgroups with 4 in each time points. ② Animals were killed 12 and 24 hours after intervention with air embolism to calculate cerebral coefficient (total brain mass/body mass × 100%), cerebral water content [(wet weight - dry weight)/wet weight × 100%], Evens blue content in brain tissue [absorbency (A value) × microgram in standard liquid/an A value × (25 mL/wet weight)]. ③Positivity was tested with square method; differences among groups were compared with F test; differences between groups were compared with q test; time points were tested with t test; and irregular variance was checked with rank sum test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparisons of cerebral coefficient,water content and content of Evans blue in 12 and 24-hour experiment group.RESULTS: Totally 32 rabbits entered the final analysis. ① 12-hour experiment: Water content and Evans blue content in jianshen lishui Ⅰgroup and xingnao xiaozhong capsule group were obviously lower than those in model group (P ＜ 0.01); cerebral coefficient in jianshen lishui I group was lower than that in xingnao xiaozhong capsule group, but the difference was not significant (P ＞ 0.05); water content and Evans blue content in jianshen lishui Ⅰ group were lower than those in xingnao xiaozhong capsule group (P ＜ 0.05). ② 24-hour experiment: Water content and Evans blue content in jianshen lishui Ⅰ group and xingnao xiaozhong capsule group were obviously lower than those in model group (P ＜ 0.01);cerebral coefficient in jianshen lishui Ⅰ group was lower than that in model group (P ＜ 0.01); cerebral coefficient, water content and Evans blue content in jianshen lishui Ⅰ group were respectively lower than those in xingnao xiaozhong capsule group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Vascular-derived edema has found 12 hours after modeling and cerebral edema deteriorates with time passing. In addition, effect of jianshen lishui Ⅰ on blood brain barrier is superior to that of xingnao xiaozhong capsule.

Aquaporin4(AQP4),a member of the aquaporin family,is mainly expressed inastrocytes end-feet in the central nervous system. A large number of experimental studies have show n that AQP4 expression plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and regression of brain edema after different types of stroke. In addition, the AQP4 expression can affect the development process of cerebrovascular disease through the mechanisms such as affecting the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and promoting astrocyte migration, nerve regeneration, and neuroinflammatory response. Investigation of regulation mechanisms of AQP4 in transmembrane transport of substance in brain and intracel ular and extracel ular environmental balance and its expression in model of cerebrovascular disease have an important significance for understanding the occurrence, development, protection, and treatment of clinical cerebrovascular disease.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is the most deadly type of stroke.Its 30-day mortality rate is nearly 40％.More than 30％ of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage will have hematoma growth,which lead to poor outcomes.In addition to the classic predictors,some inaging signs also have important implications for identifying hematoma growth,such as swirl sign,blend sign,and black hole sign on nonenhanced CT scans,extravasation sign on contrast-enhanced CT scans,spot sign on CT angiography,leak sign revealed by the modified imaging method,as well as the spot sign on CT peffusion imaging.

Aim: To study the synthesis and anti-platelet aggregation activities of ferulic acidic esters so as to search for novel antithrombus agents. Methods: Based on prodrug strategy and combination principles, monoesters were first synthesized by reaction of ferulic acid with alcohols, and then the monoesters were coupled with aspirin to afford bis-esters. The target compounds were assayed for anti-platelet aggregation activities in vitro. Results: Sixteen target compounds and eight sideproducts including 15 new compounds were synthesized and their struc-tures were determined by IR, MS and ~1H NMR. The results demonstrated that some tested compounds exhibited potential anti-platelet aggregation activities. Conclusion: The bis-esters of ferulic esters coupling with aspirin with 4 to 5 carbons in side chain might be used as lead compounds for further study in searching for novel antithrom-bus agents.

Objective To investigate the influence of primary cultured neonatal rat hippocampal neurons caused by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV AD169) infection on intracellular calcium and its mechanism.Methods Twenty SPF SD rats born within 24 hours(10 cases of male and 10 cases of female) were assigned to establish the primary rat hippocampal neuronal monolayer cells; After cultured 8 days in vitro,the eligible cells were randomly divided into HCMV infection group,HCMV + MK-801 group,MK-801 group and control group,with 10 wells in each group.The fluorescence intensity values of the intracellular free calcium were detected after 24 hours of treatment with Fluo-3AM fluorescence staining.Results Inoculation of HCMV neurons after 24 h turned to round and swollen gradually,and 4days later,most of the cells disappeared; by immunohistochemistry in cultures of hippocampal neurons in HCMV,visible early proteins,brownish yellow granules,hematoxylin were found after being stained with brown pigment.The fluorescence intensity values of neuronal intracellular calcium (215.5 ± 14.9) in HCMV group was higher than that of control group (116.4 ± 5.9) (t =15.2,P ＜ 0.01),whilerise,that in MK-801 group (88.1 ± 4.5) was significantly lower than that of control group,with decreased rate of (24.0 ± 6.7) ％ (t =-9.3,P ＜ 0.01).The fluorescence intensity values of neuronal intracellular calcium in HCMV + MK-801 group (135.5 ± 8.6) was significantly decreased compared with that of HCMV group (215.5 ± 14.9),with decreased rate of (37.0 ± 3.4) ％ (t =11.3,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Intracellular calcium overload of cultured rat hippocampal neurons in vitro with HCMV AD16 strains infection can be detected.One of its main mechanisms is the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor channel-mediated calcium influx.

AIM　Five Isoflavonoid glycosides were isolated from the pericarps of Sophora japonica L. and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral method as genistein 7,4′-di-O-β-D-glucoside(Ⅰ), sophorabio-side(Ⅱ), prunetin 4′-O-β-D-glucoside(Ⅲ), sophororicoside(Ⅳ) and genistin(Ⅴ). Among them, compounds Ⅰ, Ⅲ and Ⅴ were isolated from in S. japonica for the first time.

Objective To investigate the myelination of rat brain at different developmental stages.Methods Luxol fast blue staining,immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were applied to determine the distribution and alternation of myelin sheath in the brains of SD rats at different developmental stages.Results Negative LFB and MBP staining were shown at the stages of embryonicage 18 d(E18),postnatal age 0 d(P0) and P2.At P7,the corpus callosum was weakly stained by LFB.The positive stain of LFB and MBP occurred in P15 on the corpus callosum.With the development going on,the stain turned out stronger,especially in P30,which was similar with that in P90 and P720.The results of Western blot analysis showed the expression of MBP in rat brain was gradually increased with the development of rat brain.Conclusion The myelination starts before P15 in rat brain and becomes mature in P30.The optimal observation time of myelin is 30 d born after.