The segmental distribution of the afferent fibers traversing the stellate ganglia was studied with HRP techinque in 33 cats. The animals were divided into two groups. In one group HRP was injected into the stellate ganglion of one side. Labelled cells were found in ipsilateral spinal ganglia from C_4 to T_9. The majority of these cells (84.49％) were distribued in T_1 to T_5 segments. There is no conspicuous difference between the left and right in respect to the segmental and the pattern distribution of labelled cells. The majority of the labelled cells were medium or small sized (

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into the stellate ganglia of anesthetized cats. After 52-72 hour survival time, the animals were perfused and the spinal cord was processed by O-D technique to study the localization and segmental distribution of the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord which project to the stellate ganglia. HRP-labeled neurons in the spinal cord were located exclusively on the side of the injection and were found in five distinct areas:1. nucleus intermediolateralis pars principalis (ILp 76.08%).2. nucleus intermediolateralis pars funicularis (ILf 10.51%).3. anterior horn (AH 5.88%).4. nucleus intercalatus (IC 5.31%).5. nucleus intercalatus pars paraependymalis (ICpe 2.22%).Labeled cells were found in C_8-T_(10) spinal cord segments, with the highest accumulation of cells in T_3 segment. Furthermore, HRP-labeled ILp neurons were detected in C_8-T_(10) spinal cord segments, with a peak at T_3 segment; ILf neurons were seen in 8-T_9, with a peak at T_1 segment; AH neurons were seen in T_1-T_8, with a peak at T_2 segment; IC and ICpe neurons were seen in C_8-T_(10), with a peak at T_6 segment. Stellate ganglion; Sympathetic preganglionic neuron; Spinal cord; HRP method; Cat

The purpose of the present work is to observe whether Tau protein Ser202/Thr205 is hyperphosphorylated in braintissues of diabetic mice and to study the effect of App17 peptide. Mouse diabetic model was produced with streptozotocin, andApp1 7 peptide as a treatment was injected subcutaneously into diabetic mice. Four weeks later, fixative was injected intravascu-larly into the mice, the brain was removed and crystat sections prepared. Immunohistochemical staining was done with AT-8. Inthe brains of diabetic mice positive AT-8 reacting neurons were numerous, darkly stained, and widely distributed in retrosplenialgranular cortex, hippocampus, thalamus et al. , while in normal mice and App17 peptide-treated diabetic mice positive cells werescarce and poorly stained. Tau protein is hyperphosphorylated at Scr202/Thr205 site and widely distributed in the brains of dia-betic mice, while App17 peptide can normalize the expression of AT-8 positive cells.

Objective · To investigate the difference in myocardial strain of left ventricle between obstructive hypertrophy cardiomyopathy (HCM) and nonobstructive HCM. Methods · Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam was performed on 48 sequential enrolled patients with HCM (18 with obstructive HCM, and 30 with nonobstructive HCM), whose left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) were over 50%. Twenty-five healthy volunteers were examined as normal controls. Global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS), global circumferentialstrain (GCS), LVEF, left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricularmass (LVM), left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were collected and compared. Radial strain, circumferential strain and peak radial displacement were also measured in medial segment of left ventricle according to American Heart Association (AHA) 17-segment model. Results · ① LVEF of the patients with obstructive HCM was bigger than those of nonobstructive HCM patients and control group (P<0.05). LVM and LVMI of the HCM groups were bigger than those of control group (P<0.01). ② Left ventricle GLS, GRS, and GCS significantly decreased in the patients with nonobstructive HCM compared to those with obstructive HCM (P<0.05). The three parameters of two HCM groups were significantly lower than those of healthy volunteers (P<0.05). ③ Compared with obstructive HCM patients,the segmental parameters of left ventricule, the medial segment circumferential strain and radial strain of nonobstructive HCM patients significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the two parameters of both HCM groups were lower than those in healthy volunteers. Compared with obstructive HCM patients and healthy volunteers, peak radial displacement of left ventricule medial segment in nonobstructive HCM witnessed a significant decrease, while no significant difference was observed between obstructive HCM patients and healthy volunteers. Conclusion · In the LVEF preserved HCM patients, the myocardial strain of left ventricle in nonobstructive HCM patients decrease significantly than that in obstructive HCM patients, which may result in the different clinical outcomes intwo types of HCM patients. It is suggested that the myocardial strain is more sensitive than ejection fraction in the evaluation of myocardial performance of HCM patients.

Ardipusilloside-I is a natural triterpenoid saponin, which was isolated from Ardisia pusilla A. DC. The aim of the study was to evaluate the stimulation of ardipusilloside-I on gastrointestinal motility in vitro and in vivo. The experiment of smooth muscle contraction directly monitored the contractions of the isolated jejunal segment (IJS) in different contractile states, and the effects of ardipusilloside-I on myosin were measured in the presence of Ca²⁺-calmodulin using the activities of 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC₂₀) phosphorylation and myosin Mg²⁺-ATPase. The effects of ardipusilloside-I on gastro emptying and intestinal transit in constipation-predominant rats were observed, and the MLCK expression in jejuna of constipated rats was determined by western blot. The results showed that, ardipusilloside-I increased the contractility of IJS in a dose-dependent manner and reversed the low contractile state (LCS) of IJS induced by low Ca²⁺, adrenaline, and atropine respectively. There were synergistic effects on contractivity of IJS between ardipusilloside-I and ACh, high Ca²⁺, and histamine, respectively. Ardipusilloside-I could stimulate the phosphorylation of MLC₂₀ and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities of Ca²⁺- dependent phosphorylated myosin. Ardipusilloside-I also stimulated the gastric emptying and intestinal transit in normal and constipated rats in vivo, respectively, and increased the MLCK expression in the jejuna of constipation-predominant rats. Briefly, the findings demonstrated that ardipusilloside-I could effectively excite gastrointestinal motility in vitro and in vivo.
Animals ; Ardisia ; Atropine ; Blotting, Western ; Epinephrine ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastrointestinal Motility* ; Histamine ; In Vitro Techniques ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myosin Light Chains* ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase* ; Myosins* ; Phosphorylation* ; Rats ; Saponins

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important healthcare problem worldwide. Often, glucocorticoid (GC) resistance develops during COPD treatment. As a classic hypoglycemic drug, metformin (MET) can be used as a treatment strategy for COPD due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, but its specific mechanism of action is not known. We aimed to clarify the role of MET on COPD and cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced GC resistance. Through establishment of a COPD model in rats, we found that MET could improve lung function, reduce pathological injury, as well as reduce the level of inflammation and oxidative stress in COPD, and upregulate expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). By establishing a model of GC resistance in human bronchial epithelial cells stimulated by CSE, we found that MET reduced secretion of interleukin-8, and could upregulate expression of Nrf2, HO-1, MRP1, and HDAC2. MET could also increase the inhibition of MRP1 efflux by MK571 significantly, and increase expression of HDAC2 mRNA and protein. In conclusion, MET may upregulate MRP1 expression by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, and then regulate expression of HDAC2 protein to reduce GC resistance.

Purpose: Radiation-induced dermatitis (RD) is a common side-effect of therapeutic ionizing radiation that can severely affect patient quality of life. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model for the occurrence of RD in patients with cervical carcinoma undergoing chemoradiotherapy using electronic medical records (EMRs). Methods: Using EMRs, the clinical data of patients who underwent simultaneous radiotherapy and chemotherapy at a tertiary cancer hospital between 2017 and 2022 were retrospectively collected, and the patients were divided into two groups: a training group and a validation group. A predictive model was constructed to predict the development of RD in patients who underwent concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cervical cancer. Finally, the model's efficacy was validated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The incidence of radiation dermatitis was 89.5% (560/626) in the entire cohort, 88.6% (388/438) in the training group, and 91.5% (172/188) in the experimental group. The nomogram was established based on the following factors: age, the days between the beginning and conclusion of radiotherapy, the serum albumin after chemoradiotherapy, the use of single or multiple drugs for concurrent chemotherapy, and the total dose of afterloading radiotherapy. Internal and external verification indicated that the model had good discriminatory ability. Overall, the model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of .66. Conclusions The risk of RD in patients with cervical carcinoma undergoing chemoradiotherapy is high. A risk prediction model can be developed for RD in cervical carcinoma patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy, based on over 5 years of EMR data from a tertiary cancer hospital.

With the opening of the two child policy in China, the number of pregnant women has increased. Pregnancy has a huge impact on the cardiovascular system, and heart disease during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal heart failure and death, intrauterine growth retardation, and the risk of complications such as premature birth. Pregnancy with heart disease ranks first among indirect obstetric deaths in China. Reducing maternal mortality is a global goal of the World Health Organization. Thus, to strengthen the prevention and management of patients with critical heart disease during pregnancy is important. However, clinical decision-making and management of pregnant women with heart disease is still controversial. This article combines relevant literature of pregnancy and heart disease published in recent years and reviews of relevant diagnostic and therapeutic methods, to provide clinical reference for pregnant women with heart disease preventive care and management of the whole strategy.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) is a type of technique which can be used to replace patients' pulmonary function and cardiac function effectively. Since 2000s,the technique began to apply in pediatric patients but still developed very slowly. As well,patients transport with ECMO is another problem for the pediatricians. So,it is necessary to raise the conception of pediatric ECMO transport network and construction of the network. In this paper,the concept of pediatric ECMO transport network,current status of transport,the characteristics and constitution of pediatric ECMO transport network,indication for transport of pediatric ECMO,the problems in the construction of network were introduced to promote the construction of the network.

OBJECTIVE To study the sp ectrum-effect relationship of anti-gastric ulcer effect of Shaoyao gancao decoction. METHODS Eleven batches of Shaoyao gancao decoction were prepared ；gastric ulcer model was established by anhydrous ethanol modeling method. Using Weikangling as positive control ，the effects of Shaoyao gancao decoction on the contents of defensive factors [nitric oxide （NO），epidermal growth factor （EGF），superoxide dismutase （SOD）] and attack factor [malondialdehyde （MDA）] in gastric tissue of model rats were investigated. HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of Shaoyao gancao decoction were established and similarity evaluation was performed with Similarity Evaluation System of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chromatographic Fingerprint （2004A edition ）； common peaks were identified by comparing with mixed control. The spectrum-effect relationship of Shaoyao gancao decoction against gastric ulcer was analyzed based on the grey correlation analysis. RESULTS Eleven batches of Shaoyao ganyao decoction could significantly decrease the content of MDA in gastric tissue ，while increased the contents of NO ，EGF and SOD in gastric ulcer model rats （P＜0.01），and had a certain inhibitory effect on the gastric ulcer. There were 23 common peaks in chromatograms of 11 batches of samples ，and the similarity with the control fingerprint was not less than 0.9. By comparing with mixed control ，7 common peaks were identified ，namely gallic acid （peak 5），albiflorin（peak 9），paeoniflorin（peak 10），liquiritin（peak 12），isoliquiritin apioside （peak 14），isoliquiritoside（peak 15）， glycyrrhizic acid （peak 22）. The average correlation degree of 7 identified common peaks and pharmacodynamic indexes were greater than 0.6，of which peak 22（glycyrrhizic acid ），peak 10（paeoniflorin）and peak 12（liquiritin）had the largest correlation ， and their values were 0.807，0.772 and 0.770 respectively. RESULTS The anti-gastric ulcer effect of Shaoyao gancao decoction is the result of the synergistic effect of multiple components ，among which glycyrrhizic acid ，paeoniflorin and liquiritin may be the main pharmacodynamic components.