Objective To assess the clinical features,diagnosis,therapy and the prognosis of vertebral artery dissection presented as ischemie cerebral vascular disease.Methods Clinical and routine laboratory examinations were performed in all the 6 patients,who underwent brain DSA,MRI,MRA and cervical vascular duplex ultrasound examinations.They fulfilled at least 1 of 2 imaging criteria used to diagnose vertebral dissection.Results There was sudden neck pain or occipital headache in 4 of the 6 eases.Vertigo and (or) dizziness were the main onset symptoms for all the subjects.Two cases presented Wallenberg syndrome; Three had recent trauma to the neck.DSA showed occlusion or stenosis of the vertebral artery.MRI showed an crescent-shaped intramural hematoma.Cervical vascular duplex ultrasound revealed normal intima-media thickness and no carotid atheroscleretic plaque,and displayed significant stenosis or occlusion of the involved vertebral artery.The dissections were found in the extracranial segment of the vertebral artery in 5 cases.The follow up period for all patients was approximately 26 months.The anticoagulant therapy was administered to all subjects for a period ranging from 9 to 53 months.The modified Rankin Scale (mRS)improved significantly as compared to baselines in all except for one ease,the mRS were4,4,4,2,2,2 vs 4,3,2,1,0,1 (Z=-2.07,P=0.038).Conclusions Vertebral artery dissection has unique clinical features.Neuroimnging is useful in confirming the diagnosis.The occlusive lesion of the involved vertebral artery is reversible under long-term anticoagulant treatment.The prognosis is relatively positive.

Dopamine(DA) modulates diverse wake-related behaviors including movement,reward, and cognition.Dopaminergic neurons are located in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area.There are five distinct DA receptors(R):D_1R,D_2R(D_(2S)R and D_(2L)R), D_3R,D_4R and D_5R in the central nervous system, in which D_1R and D_2R are majorly expressed. The affinity of D_2R for endogenous DA is significantly higher than that of D_1R.Re- cently,studies by pharmacological and gene knock-out animals revealed that dopamine D_2R is essential inmaintaining wakefulness.Here,we review the progress on roles of D_2R in sleep-wake regulation.

Objective To construct the angiotensinogen (AGT)-targeting RNA interfering plasmids, and to explore the effect of AGT gene on the differentiation of preadipocytes 3T3-L1 in the mice.Methods The small hairpin RNA (AGT-shRNA)interference plasmids,with a scrambled Non-shRNA as control,were constructed on the basis of the activity of U6 promoter-driven expression vector psiRNA-U6.1/Neo and transfected into the mouse preadipocytes 3T3-L1.Two cell lines were generated from stable transfections.RT-PCR and SDS-PAGE were performed to monitor the mRNA and protein expressions of AGT gene,respectively.The effect of adipose AGT on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 was investigated through microscopic observation and profiling of adipocyte differentiation markers. Results Both AGT-shRNA and Non-shRNA interference vectors were successfully constructed;the expression of AGT mRNA was inhibited (P < 0.05 ) and the expression of AGT protein was 43.86% of control.Both adipocyte differentiation markers,intracytoplasmic lipid levels and glycerol-3-phophate dehydrogenase (GPDH)activities were increased during the differentiation of preadipocytes 3T3-L1,but the data were lower than those in control group (P <0.05).Conclusion AGT gene silencing can significantly inhibit the differentiation of preadipocytes 3T3-L1,which demonstrates that there is important relationship between adipocyte metabolism and renin-angiotensin system (RAS)in adipose tissue.

Aim To set up a highly effective and automatic mouse sleep-wake bioassay system,and evaluate the system through analysis of the somnogenic effects of L-stepholidine(SPD),targeting at dopamine D1/D2 receptors in mice.Methods The animals were housed in an insulated and soundproof recording chamber maintained at a constant temperature and humidity on an automatically controlled 12 h light/12 h dark cycle.The electroencephalogram and electromyogram were recorded continuously for 48 hours and analyzed by SleepSign software.Saline was administered ip to the mice at 21:00 on the first day,and SPD was given on the next day at the same hour.The vigilance state was analyzed based on the polygraphic recordings by the same software.Results The system has been demonstrated to be highly efficient and stable in recording and reliable in analyzing sleep-wake behavior in mice.With the aid of the sleep bioassay system,we found that SPD significantly increased the total time spent in sleep during dark period,and prolonged durations of non-rapid eye movement sleep episodes,with a concomitant reduction in amount and EEG power density of wakefulness.SPD rendered no effect on rapid eye movement sleep.Conclusion Through the reliable mouse sleep bioassay system,we found that SPD promotes non-rapid eye movement sleep but not rapid eye movement sleep in mice.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of RhoC gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma and to evaluate the relationship between RhoC gene expression and invasion and metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodsThe mRNA expression of RhoC gene was examined by polymerase chain reation after reverse transcription (RT-PCR) in 25 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent non-cancerous tissuse. In addition, the mutation of RhoC gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism(PCR-SSCP)ResultsThe mRNA expression of RhoC in tumor tissue were higher than that in adjacent liver tissue,1.8?1.1 vs. 1.0?0.7( P

Objective To investigate the protective role of Ulinastatin UTI on gut barrier of septic rats. Methods Twenty-two SD rats were divided into three groups: sham laparatomy(S), cecal ligation and punture(CLP), and CLP plus UTI. Septic rat model was estabilished through CLP method. Fluorescence spectrometry was used to measure FITC-dextran concentration from bowel lumen to portal vein. Ultrastructure of intestinal mucosa was observed under transmission eletron microscope (TEM). Results Twenty-one hrs after CLP septic symptoms in CLP plus UTI group were milder than those in CLP group. Portal concentration of FITC-dextran in CLP group was higher than that of S group[S (1.22?0.21) ?g/ml vs. CLP (2.51?0.56) ?g/ml, P

Pharmacokinetics of Tetramethylpyrazine Hydrochloride (TMPH) in rat was studied by using Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry. After a bolus iv injection of TMPH 30 mg/kg to rat, the pharmacokinetic characteristics are found to fit a two-compartment open model. The Pharmacokinetic parameters are: t 1/2? = 0 .1441h, t 1/2? = l .6953h, K21=2.1850h-1, K10=0.8605h-1, K12= 2 .0723h-1, AUC = 83 .3660mg?L -1h, CL = 0.3599L?kg-1h-1, Yc =0 .4182L?kg-1 , Vss =0 .7975L.kg-1

Depression and insomnia are intimately related. Depressed patients usually manifest sleep discontinuity and early awakening, reduced or no slow wave sleep (SWS) and shortened latency of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. These sleep abnormalities are very similar to those caused by over activated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with stress. Therefore, the animal models developed by post-traumatic stress disorder or chronic unpredictable mild stress could be used to evaluate drugs which have effects of both anti-depression and improvement of sleep quality, and to provide a more reliable platform for further studis on the mechanisms of depression and accompanied insomnia. This review mainly focuses on the typical features of sleep disturbance of depression, possible pathophysiological mechanisms, establishment of animal stress models and analysis of their abnormal sleep characteristics.

Objective To compare in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer( IVF-ET ) outcome of gonadotropin-releasing hormone( GnRH ) antagonist protocol and GnRH agonist long protocol in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS)and to provide reference for rational selection of ovulation stimulation protocol for PCOS patients. Methods One hundred and four patients with PCOS who underwent IVF-ET were randomly divided into two groups. In the study group,41 patients were subjected to the GnRH antagonist protocol;In the control group,63 patients were subjected to a long protocol of GnRH agonist. Doses and duration of gonadotropin therapy,the thickness of endometrium and the profile of hormone level on the day of HCG administration,the number of retrieved oocytes,the ratio of fertilization,the ratio of cleavage,the ratio of the good quantity embryos,implantation rate of embryo,pregnancy rate,the cycle cancellation rate and the incidence rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome( OHSS)were recorded. Results The IVF-ET outcome of the two groups was similar with respects to the number of oocytes,the ratio of fertilization,the ratio of cleavage,implantation rate of embryo and the pregnancy rate( P﹥0. 05). Significant differences were found(P﹤0. 05)between the two groups regarding to the doses and duration of gonadotropin therapy,the levels of serum E2 and LH on the day of HCG administration,and the cycle cancellation rate. The incidence rate of OHSS was not significantly different ( 2. 44% vs. 12. 70%) between the two groups. Conclusion The duration of gonadotropins administration,the cycle cancellation rate,incidence of OHSS and the financial burdern are reduced in patients treated with GnRH antagonist. The growth of follicle,the ratio of fertilization,the ratio of cleavage,implantation rate of embryo and the pregnancy rate are not different between the two methods. The GnRH antagonist protocol is optimal for patients with PCOS.

Histaminergic neurons solely originate from the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) in the posterior hypothalamus and send widespread projections to the whole brain. Experiments in rats show that histamine release in the central nervous system is positively correlated with wakefulness and the histamine released is 4 times higher during wake episodes than during sleep episodes. Endogeneous prostaglandin E2 and orexin activate histaminergic neurons in the TMN to release histamine and promote wakefulness. Conversely, prostaglandin D2 and adenosine inhibit histamine release by increasing GABA release in the TMN to induce sleep. This paper reviews the effects and mechanisms of action of the histaminergic system on sleep-wake regulation, and briefly discusses the possibility of developing novel sedative-hypnotics and wakefulness-promoting drugs related to the histaminergic system.