Recent advances in endogenous neural stem cells have made regeneration-based therapies feasible as therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injuries. Endogenous neural stem cells of the intact adult spinal cord reside not only in the ependymal layer of the central canal but also in the parenchyma, followed by responses of the activation and migration in the injured spinal cord. The most endogenous neural stem cells differentiate scar forming astrocytes and myelin-forming oligodendrocytes, but not neurogenic neurons. Thus the knowledge in intrinsic program of endogenous neural stem cells differentiation is obviously difficult and crucial for the recovery of spinal cord injury in the present.

Axonal regeneration is very important for the optimalization of therapies to repair the injured spinal cord. Axonal tract tracing Methods have revolutionized including cell culture and tissue slice culture system in vitro, and neuroanatomical tract system such as corticospinal tract and rubrospinal tract, etc. Anterograde and retrograde tracers are most frequently used for the axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the contents determination of volatile components in Huodan pill and study the effects of 60Co irradiation with different doses on the volatile components in Huodan pill. METHODS:GC-MS was used to de-termine the contents of patchouli alcohol and the ralative contents of β-patchouliene,α-guaiacene,seychellesene,α-patchouliene,α-bulnesene,5,11-diene guaiacyl,and unidentified objects in Huodan pill after 60Co irradiation with different doses. Column was HP-5MS by programmed temperature,volume temperature was 250℃,split ratio was 50:1,detector was triple quadrupole mass spectrometer detector,MS1 quadrupole temperature was 150℃,MS2 was 150℃,carrier gas was helium,flow rate of column was 1.2 ml/min,and the volume injection was 1 μl;ion source was EI,bombarding energy was 70 eV,temperature of ion source was 230℃,temperature of transmission line was 280℃ and scan range was 50-500 amu. RESULTS:The linear range of patchouli alcohol was 0.103 1-2.062 0μg(r=0.999 4);RSDs of precision,reproducibility and stability tests were lower than 1.0%;recovery was 98.05%-102.32%(RSD=1.8%,n=9). 60Co irradiation with different doses had little effects on the 8 volatile components in Huodan pill. CONCLUSIONS:60Co irradiation can be used for sterilization on Huodan pill,but irradiation dose should be controlled. The method is simple,good reproducibility,and can be used for the contents determination of volatile components in Huodan pill.

Tumor cells have different physiological and biochemical features as compared to normal cells;abnormal expressi of certain genes is also found in tumor cells.Over-expression of genes provide targets for targeted-administration of drugs,which can avoid damage to normal cells during treatment of tumors.Fatty acid synthase(FAS)and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2)are both over-expressed in some tumor cells.Herceptin,an HER2-targeted agent,has been used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer patients worldwide and has obtained satisfactory outcome.Cerulomycin,an agent-targeting FAS,is now in FDA clinical trial.Recent researches have shown that FAS and HER2 are simultaneously over-expressed in some tumors,such as breast cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells;and there is a connection between their signal pathways and a synergistic effect between them.This paper reviews the relationship between FAS and HER2 in tumor cells.

Chemotherapy- induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) can be caused by many commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, such as taxanes, vinca alkaloids, platinum drugs, thalidomide,and also by newer agents such as bortezomib. Both animal experiments and clinical studies are being conducted to investigate strategies for preventing CIPN or ameliorating established CIPN without affecting the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapy. Treatments using calcium and magnesium infusions,glutathione,lipoid acid are being evaluated for their clinical application.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of prenatal screening with maternal serum markers and the sonographic characteristics of the foetus for detecting trisomy 18. Methods Amniotic fluid or the fetal blood samples were obtained and cultured in women with positive results in serum screening (n=36) and with abnormal findings in sonography (n=92) at 18~32 weeks of gestation, and then fetal karyotyping was performed. Results Nine cases of trisomy 18 and 2 cases of other abnormal karyotype were found among the 128 pregnant women (8.59%, 11/128). Four cases were diagnosed as trisomy 18 among the 36 women with positive screening results. The rate of abnormal karyotype among those women with abnormal sonographic findings was 7.61%(7/92,5 cases of trisomy 18 and 2 cases of other abnormal karyotype). Two cases of trisomy 18 had both positive result in screening and abnormality in sonography. Conclusions Prenatal screening for maternal serum markers combined with sonographic examinations for the fetus is effective in detecting foetus with trisomy 18.

Objective To construct a vector containing protein transduction domain (PTD) and cardiotrophin-1 and a vector containing PTD and EGFP, express them in E. coli. and purify them. To detect the distribution of the two fusion proteins in mice. Methods CT-1 and EGFP were cloned to GST-fusion expression vector pGEX-4T3 by PCR and cloning techniques respectively, and then TAT was cloned into the vectors respectively to give pGEX-TAT/CT-1, pGEX-TAT/EGFP. After induced by IPTG the soluble protein GST-TAT/CT-1 and GST-TAT/EGFP was purified by Glutathione Sepharose 4B. The purified fusion proteins were injected into mice through caudal vein and examined in tissue section by immunohistochemical staining. Results CT-1 and EGFP were effectively amplified and the TAT/CT-1 and TAT/EGFP gene sequencing showed the same sequence as scheduled. The fusion proteins was successfully expressed in E. coli. and purified. Conclusion TAT/CT-1 and TAT/EGFP fusion proteins were expressed and purified successfully. The two fusion proteins were all detected positively in mouse brain, spinal cord, heart and liver.

Objective To establish a method for limit test of camphor in Shujin Huoxue pills. Methods A DB-WAX (30 m×0. 32 mm,0. 25 μm) capillary column was used with a programmed temperature. Results The linear range of camphor was 1. 05-210. 00 μg·mL-1(r=1. 0). The average recovery was 101. 7%(n=9, RSD=1. 2%). Conclusion The proposed method is simple, sensitive, accurate and reproducible, which is suitable for quality control of Shujin Huoxue Pills.

Objective To express recombinant human cardiotrophin 1 (huCT 1) protein with biological activity in E coli Methods huCT 1 open reading frame gene from plasmid pBSSK huCT1 was cloned into plasmid pMD18 T by PCR and T A cloning, and then cloned into prokaryotic GST fusion expression vector pGEX 2T to give pGEX2T huCT1 After pGEX2T huCT1 expression was induced by IPTG in E coli at different temperature and different time, the expression level and the proportion of the soluble protein were analyzed by SDA PAGE Then the soluble GST/huCT1 was purified by immobilized glutathione columns The GST fusion protein was cleaved by thrombin and purified again The recombinant huCT 1 with biological activity was identified according to the survival of axotomized sciatic motoneurons Results After the induction of pGEX2T huCT1 DH5? cells by IPTG at 29 ℃ for 4 h, the highest expression level of the recombinant protein was about 1/5 of total cell proteins, and the soluble portion was about 2/5 of fusion protein Purification of the soluble portion and thrombin cleaved fusion protein resulted in 85% and 80% purified recombinant GST fusion protein and huCT 1 protein, respectively Recombinant huCT 1 protected 55% motoneurons in spinal cord against sciatic axotomy in vivo in adult rats Conclusion Recombinant huCT 1 has biological activity in rat neurons

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of sarcopenia among the elderly, so as to provide insights into prevention of sarcopenia among the elderly. Methods: A case-control study was conducted. A total of 371 patients with sarcopenia at ages of 60 years and older admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were selected as the case group, while 1∶1 matching healthy volunteers by gender, age and ethnicity in the hospital during the study period served as controls. Participants' demographics, disease history and nutrition were collected using questionnaire surveys, and factors affecting the development of sarcopenia were identified using a multivariable conditional logistic regression model. Results: Participants in the case group included 171 men (46.09%), 254 Han ethnic populations (68.46%) and had a mean age of (73.04±7.83) years. Univariable conditional logistic regression analysis showed that participants with smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, thyroid dysfunction and malnutrition had higher risk of developing sarcopenia (all P<0.05). Multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis identified hypertension (OR=1.851, 95%CI: 1.344-2.549), diabetes (OR=1.537, 95%CI: 1.068-2.213), dyslipidemia (OR=1.542, 95%CI: 1.112-2.140) and thyroid dysfunction (OR=2.575, 95%CI: 1.838-3.609) as risk factors of sarcopenia among the elderly. Conclusion Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and thyroid dysfunction may be risk factors of sarcopenia among the elderly.