Objective To study the clinicopathologic characteristics,the optimal therapy and prognosis of patients with pancreatic carcinoma with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).Methods CNKI,Wanfang database,VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals,PUBMED and EMBASE were searched.Studies which met the inclusion criteria were evaluated.Results 24 reports were found which included 28 patients with pancreatic carcinoma with elevated serum AFP.The carcinoma was characterized clinically by a predilection for older male.The majority of patients had metastases at the time of diagnosis,especially liver metastases.Histopathologically,not all tumors were hepatoid carcinoma,and acinar cell carcinoma was most common.Surgical resection was the optimal treatment for patients at an early stage.Combined therapies were used on patients at an advanced stage.Patients with hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas might be sensitive to treatment similarly to hepatocellular carcinoma.In AFP-producing pancreatic carcinoma,serum AFP level was a useful marker for diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic response and recurrence.However,there were no sufficient evidence to support whether pancreatic carcinoma with elevated serum AFP was associated with a higher frequency of liver metastasis and poor survival.Conclusions Further studies are needed to identify the prognosis and the effective therapies for the AFP expression variance of pancreatic carcinoma with elevated serum AFP.Detecting AFP and variants of AFP are important for the early diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma with elevated serum AFP,and increase in therapeutic response and prog nosis.

AIM:To observe the effects of infrasound on sperm quality and explore some underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Adult male SD rats were exposed to infrasound of 8 Hz at 90 dB or 130 dB for 1,7,14 or 21 d(2 h/d), whose epididymises were obtained for sperm count, abnormity and activity ratio inspection and whose testes for GSH-Px and MDA inspection. RESULTS: With prolonged exposure, sperm quality and GSH-Px in 90 dB and 130 dB groups decreased, while MDA increased, and at the same time point, the indexes of 130 dB groups changed more profoundly than those in 90 dB groups. CONCLUSION: Biological effect of infrasound on testes depends on the exposure parameters. The mechanisms of which could be unbalanced antioxidant system induced by infrasonic exposure.

Objective To study the effects of hydrochloric acid ambroxol injection (mucosolvan) on the premature pneumonia.Methods Hydrochloric acid ambroxol was applied to treat 49 premature with pneumonia.Results The total effective rate of the treatment group was 89.8% and 66.1% of the control group.There was significant difference in the therapeutic effect between the two groups (P

Objective To observe the effects of low frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) on the proliferation of endogenous brain neural stem cells (NSCs) and on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in rats with acute cerebral infarction; to explore the therapeutic mechanism of LFES in improving neural function. Methods Fifty-four rats were randomly divided into a LFES group, a placebo stimulation group and a sham-operated group. Each group was further divided into 3rd day, 7th day and 14th day subgroups, with 6 rats in each subgroup. An acute cerebral infarction model was induced in the rats of the LFES and placebo stimulation groups by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Three days after the operation, rats in the LFES group began LFES treatment (frequency 30 Hz, pulse width 250 μs, current intensity 3 mA, 10 min/d) ,while the placebo stimulation group was treated identically but without electricity. The rats in the sham-operated group had no special treatment. The expression of nestin positive cells in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The expression of bFGF, EGF proteins and mRNA in the ischemic hemisphere was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis. A screen test was applied to evaluate motor function. Results Nestin-positive cells in the subgranular and subventricular zones of rats in the LFES group increased significantly more than in the placebo stimulation group at the 7th and 14th day. The expression of bFGF, EGF proteins and mRNA in the ischemic hemisphere was up-regulated compared to the placebo stimulation group at the 7th and 14th day. At the 14th day a difference in motor function was observed in rats in the LFES group compared with the placebo stimulation group. Conclusion LFES can promote the proliferation of endogenous brain NSCs and the expression of bFGF and EGF in rats with acute cerebral infarction. It can also improve motor function and enhance neural plasticity in the brain.

BACKGROUND:There are many animal models used for studying discogenic pain, but percutaneous puncture annulus is rarely reported. Minimal y invasive approach to establish a discogenic pain model in Spraque-Dawley rats could reduce the interference factors of surgical trauma.
OBJECTIVE:To establish a Spraque-Dawley rat model of discogenic pain by percutaneous puncture annulus, with easy operations, high stability and obtaining large-scale productions, and to confirm the model by the results of behavior, MRI and molecular biology.
METHODS:Eighty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats, of specific pathogen free level, were randomly divided into three groups, model group (n=44), control group (n=10) and sham group (n=34). In the model group, the annulus was percutaneously punctured under X-ray guidance;while rats in the sham group were punctured at the paravertebral tissue, rather than the annulus.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The 50%mechanical withdrawal threshold of both hind paws in model group were reduced compared with control group and sham group. In the model group, the L 5/6 intervertebral disc degeneration was apparently visible, and the degree of degeneration was aggravated along the time. In the model group, the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in dorsal root ganglion of rats began to increase at 3 days post-operation and reached the peak at 21 days post-operation, then remained at high levels until the 35th day post-operation. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-αin dorsal root ganglion of rats increased at 3 days post-operation and reached the peak at 14 days post-operation, then remained at a higher level until the 35th day post-operation. The experiment result verifies that the discogenic pain model of Spraque-Dawley rats induced by percutaneous puncture annulus has the advantages of good stability and less trauma. The model can be used to study discogenic pain.

Objective To observe the effects of infrasound on rat myocardial cells and to study its underlying mechanism. Methods One hundred Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a normal control group and a infrasound exposure group, composed of various subgroups subject to exposure to infrasound for 2 hours daily for 1 d,7 d,14 d,21 d,and 28 d, respectively. The ultra-microstructure and apoptosis of the rat myocardial cells were observed, and SOD and MDA were measured. Results After exposure to infrasound, significant ultra-microstructural impairment and increased apoptosis of the myocardial cells were observed in the infrasound exposure group as compared to those of the normal control group,(P

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have showed thatTougu XiaotongCapsule (TGXTC) exertsbetter effects on osteoarthritis, byregulatingRho/Rock signaling pathway, inhibitingsignal transduction of chondrocyte mitochondrial apoptosis pathway,varyingthe rate and pattern of subchondral bone remodeling and improving the arrangement of subchondral bone colagen fibers and calcium-phosphate crystalization. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of the serum containing TGXTC and itsdisassembled recipeson chondrocytedegenerationof ratsviaWnt/β-cateninsignal pathway, and to explore the maintherapeutic method forosteoarthritis in theTGXTC. METHODS:FortySprague-Dawley rats were randomlyassigned to receivethe treatment ofTGXTC,Bushen Rougan(BSRG),Huoxue Qufeng(HXQF) and normal saline, respectively, according tothe dose conversion methods ofanimaltoanimal and animaltohuman. Thenvarious drug-containing serums wereprepared for thefolowingcelular experiment.After culture and passage, chondrocytesfromSprague-Dawley ratsat passage 3 were divided into five groups: blank control, model, TGXTC, BSRG, HXQF groups. Cels in the latter four groups wereculturedin appropriate drug-containing serums(normal salineserumfor the model group) for 72 hours, folowing intervention with interleukin-1β for 24 hours.Cels in the blank control group were cultured innormal saline serum.Afterwards, cels in al the five groups were colected for detecting expression ofWnt 4, β-cateninandmatrix metaloproteinase 13at mRNA and proteinlevels using real-time PCR and western blot assay, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with theblank control group, the expressionof Wnt 4,β-catenin, matrix metaloproteinase 13 wassignificantly increasedin the model group. Compared with the model group, the expression of Wnt 4, β-catenin, matrix metaloproteinase 13 in the TGXTC, BSRG and HXQF groups were decreasedsignificantly, sequenced as TGXTC group

Objective To study changes in synaptic plasticity in the contralesional mirror area of the cortexes of rats with cerebral infarction treated by low-frequency electrical stimulation(LFES)and to explore the therapeutic mechanism of LFES on the molecular level.Methods Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into a LFES group,a placebo group and a sham-operation group.Following middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO),rats in the LFES group were treated with LFES for 7 d(20 min/d),while the ones in placebo group were connected with the same LFES device but without electricity.Rats in the sham-operation group were subjected to a MCAO operation without occlusion and then received no special treatment.Synaptic ultra-structures and the expression levels of glia fibrillary acidic protein(CFAP)and synaptophysin in the contralesional mirror area of the cortexes of the rats in each group were measured with electron-microscopy and Western blotting.Results Compared with the placebo group or the rats before treatment,rats treated with LFES exhibited ultra-structural changes in the form of larger curvature of synaptic interfaces and narrower synaptic clefts.GFAP expression levels did not fluctuate significantly,but the expression of synaptophysin was significantly up-regulated.Conclusion LFES treatment can induce active changes in synaptic plasticity in the contralesional mirror area of the cortex of rats after cerebral infarction.

Objective To study the effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation(LFES)on motor function and the expression of glia fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)around cerebral infarction sites in rats.Methods Fifty-four male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a LFES group,a placebo group and a sham operation group(18/group).All groups were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups.A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)was established using intraluminal filament occlusion.Treatment was carried out 3 d after the operation.Rats in the LFES treatment groups were stimulated with LFES for 3,7 or 14 days (10 min/d);the placebo groups were treated in the same way without electric stimulation;the sham operation subgroups didn't receive any therapy.Scores on a beam-walking test,a rotating pole test and a screen test were assessed at each time point mentioned above.Expression of GFAP was also assessed using immunohistochemcal techniques.Results The paralysed limbs recovered motor function better in the LFES groups than in the control groups.GFAP-positive cells were more numerous at the margins of the infarction area in the treated groups than in the control groups.Conclusions LFES might increase the expression of GFAP,which might be an important mechanism in improving brain plasticity after cerebral ischemia,aiding the recovery of the central nervous system and rebuilding its functioning.

Objective To observe the effect of low level infrasound on neuropathic pain and explore its underlying mechanism. Methods Rats were divided into experimental and control groups after their L5 spinal nerves had been ligated to create a neuropathic pain model. The experimental group was subjected to 40 to 80 dB infra sound. The control group received no infrasound treatment. Paw withdrawal latency in response to heat radiation was measured and the average gray scale of the microglia in a slice of the L5 spinal cord was compared. Results The experimental group expressed significantly lengthened paw withdrawal latency on the 12th and 14th day. The average gray scale showed significantly weakened activation of spinal microglia in the 2nd week of infrasound treatment compared with the control group. Conclusion Low level infrasound can ameliorate neuropathic pain to a certain extent,which might be related with inhibition of spinal microglia.