Background It has been clarified that topical administration of cholinomimetic drug or prostaglandin analogus can effectively low intraoeular pressure (IOP) in primary angle-closure glaueoma and angleopen glaucoma,respectively.The two eyedrops are often combined clinically to treat glaueomatous eye.But their effect mechanism on ciliary muscle is different.It is neeessarv to prove the clinical efficacy of combination of these two drugs.Objective This study attempted to compare hypotensive effect of individual and combinative use of 2％piloearpine and 0.004％ travoprost in normal rabbit eyes.Methods Thirty normal albino rabbits were randomly divided into three parallel groups.Lateral eye of each rabbit was appointed as the experimental eye and the fellow eye was used as control eye.2％ Pilocarpine eyedrop was instilled three times daily and 0.004％ travoprost eyedrops was used once per night in the pilocarpine and travoprost group.These two drugs were combined in the combination group.The normal saline solution was used in the control eyes IOP was measured bilaterally with Perkins application tonometer at 8:00 am on the day before and 1,2,4,8,14,24 days after the administration of eyedrops.The use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The IOP was significantly lower on 1 day after use of eyedrops than baseline IOP in the experimental eyes in the pilocarpine group,travoprost group and combination group,but no obvious change in IOP before and after use of eyedrops in the control eyes.There was no significant difference in the baseline IOP in both experimental eyes and control eyes,however,signifieant differences were seen in various time points after administration of eyedrops between experimental eyes and control eyes(P＜0.05).Compared with baseline IOP,IOP declined by 17.5％-22.0％ in pilocarpine group,23.8％-26.4％ travoprost group,27.6％-32.0％ in the combination group.For normal eye,piloearpine+travoprost showed a more power lowing IOP effect.Conclusions Hypotensive effect of combinative use of 2％ pilcoarpine and 0.004％ travoprost is strongest in comparison with individual use of pilocarpine or travoprost,but less than the statistical sum of individual use of these two drugs in a 24-day duration in normal eye of albino rabbit.

The effect of magnetic Fe3O4 particles on cellulase in the enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seed hull was studied in different adding ways and additive amount. In the process of enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seed hull, the variations of cellulase activity, reducing sugar concentration and cellulose conversion were evaluated. After the reaction, the analysis of pH and surface tension of hydrolysate were also used to determine the mechanisms of cellulase by the magnetic effect. The results indicated that after adding magnetic Fe3O4, the cellulase activity, reducing sugar concentration and conversion of cellulose had an increased between the 0.5 g/L and 2.0 g/L cases after 48 h. When the additive amount of magnetic Fe3O4 was 2 g/L, the cellulase activity at 60 h was improved significantly by 25.9%. It was found that the concentration of reducing sugar was increased from 6.950 mg/mL to 8.775 mg/mL with magnetic Fe3O4 1.5 g/L. Simultaneously, compared with the blank, which the conversion of cellulose was 47.932%, the maximum celluloseconversion of samples with adding magnetic Fe3O4 was 60.531%. Besides, the stability of cellulase activity adding in times was better than in one time. After the reaction, the final surface tension of hydrolysate with 1.5 g/L magnetic Fe3O4 was the lowest in comparison with the blank. However, no significant differences were observed in the final pH of the hydrolysate.

To perform a systemic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of PET (CT) and metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) for diagnosing neuroblastoma (NB),electronic databases were searched as well as relevant references and conference proceedings.The diagnostic accuracy of MIBG and PET (CT) was calculated for NB,primary NB,and relapse/metastasis of NB based on their sensitivity,specificity,and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUSROC) in terms of per-lesion and per-patient data.A total of 40 eligible studies comprising 1134 patients with 939 NB lesions were considered for the meta-analysis.For the staging of NB,the per-lesion AUSROC value of MIBG was lower than that of PET (CT) [0.8064±0.0414 vs.0.9366±0.0166 (P＜0.05)].The per-patient AUSROC value of MIBG and PET (CT) for the diagnosis of NB was 0.8771±0.0230 and 0.6851±0.2111,respectively.The summary sensitivity for MIBG and PET (CT) was 0.79 and 0.89,respectively.The summary specificity for MIBG and PET (CT) was 0.84 and 0.71,respectively.PET (CT) showed higher per-lesion accuracy than MIBG and might be the preferred modality for the staging of NB.On the other hand,MIBG has a comparable diagnosing performance with PET (CT) in per-patient analysis but shows a better specificity.

AIMTo investigate the effect of Naoyikang serum on the damage induced by glutamate in hippocampal neuron.

METHODSMorphological observation, MTT assay and nuclear DNA-associated fluorescence with DAPI dye were applied to evaluate the viability of hippocampal neuron, immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR were used to determine the expression of PTEN.

RESULTSA decreased viability and increased expression of PTEN were shown in hippocampal neuron in response to the treatment with glutamate. It was shown that the percentage of cell death and the expression of PTEN were reduced by the treatment with Naoyikang serum.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that Naoyikang may prevent the toxicity of glutamate by suppressing the expression of PTEN.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutamic Acid ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in the treatment of insomnia between scraping technique of stuck needle and conventional acupuncture at Anmian (Extra).

METHODSOne hundred and thirty one cases were randomized into an Anmian group (68 cases) and a conventional acupuncture group (63 cases). In the Anmian group, Anmian (Extra) was selected. After arrival of qi, the stuck needling was adopted by rotating the needle gently in single direction, 2-3 rounds till the needle body was stuck tightly. Afterwards, the needle tail was touched gently with the index finger to fix the needle body and the needle handle was scraped gently with the thumbnail from bottom to up. The needle was retained for 30 min. In the conventional acupuncture group, Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenmen (HT 7) and Baihui (GV 20) were selected and stimulated with reducing technique by rotating the needles. The needles were retained for 30 min. The treatment was given once every day, continuously for 2 weeks in both groups. The score of each factor and the total score in Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were assessed before and after treatment in the two groups. Additionally, the efficacies of two groups were evaluated.

RESULTSFor the patients in the conventional acupuncture group, the sleep quality and time of falling into spleen after treatment were improved as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.01). The improvement of sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, hypnotic drug and daytime dysfunction, and PSQI total score did not present statistically significant difference as compared with those before treatment (all P > 0.05). After treatment, for the patients in the Anmian group, the factor score and total score in PSQI were apparently improved as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). And the improvements of the above items were superior to the conventional acupuncture group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 91.2% (62/68) in the Anmian group and was 74.6% (47/63) in the conventional acupuncture group. The clinical efficacy in the Anmian group was apparently superior to the conventional acupuncture group.

CONCLUSIONThe scraping technique of stuck needle at Anmian (Extra) achieves the superior effect on insomnia as compared with the conventional acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of meloxicam on the inflammatory reaction induced by beta amyloid protein (AB) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats.

METHODSThe rat model was established by microinjection of Abeta(1-40) into hippocampus. The expression of NF-kappaB p65 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry. The content of GFAP in cortex was tested by Western-blot. The content of TNF-alpha in cortex was tested by ELISA. The expression of IL-1beta mRNA was tested by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of NF-kappaB p65, GFAP and TNF-alpha as well as IL-1beta mRNA were decreased by meloxicam.

CONCLUSIONMeloxicam can reduce the proliferation of astrocyte by decreasing the expression of GFAP in AD model rat's hippocampus and cortex. And the depression of NF-kappaB p65 may significantly decrease the expression of TNF-alpha1 and IL-1beta to lessen the inflammatory reaction in cerebral tissue.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Inflammation ; prevention & control ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Naoyikang (NYK) on expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in brain of rats with Alzheimer' s disease (AD).

METHODBilateral infusions of Ibotenic acid (IBO) into nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) using hamilton syringe and stereotaxic apparatus were adopted to establish the rat model of AD. After intragastrically administrated with different solution for 28 days, immunohistochemistry and Western-blot were adopted to study the expression of ChAT in frontal cortex of AD rats.

RESULTNYK could improve the morphology and increase the number of ChAT immunoreactive neurons, and significantly promote ChAT protein expression.

CONCLUSIONNYK may be able to increase the synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) through elevating the expression of ChAT protein, thus improving the level of brain ACh so as to protect central cholinergic neurons.

Alzheimer Disease ; enzymology ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo investigate the mechanisms of Naoyikang (Traditional Chinese Medicine) on the Alzheimer's Disease (AD) model mice induced by D-galactose (D-gal) and NaNO2.

METHODSThe mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of D-gal and NaNO2. The capacity of learning and memory was tested on mice with electrical maze; the content of nitric oxide (NO) and the activity of monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), Na(+) -K(+) -ATP enzyme and Ca(2+) -ATP enzyme in cerebral cortex and hippocampus were assayed by biochemical methods; expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA was detested by RT-PCR.

RESULTSNaoyikang could ameliorate the capacity of learning and memory of AD model mice and reduce MAO-B activity in the brain tissue and activate the activity of Na(+) -K(+) -ATP enzyme and Ca(2+) -ATP enzyme in the brain tissue and decrease the expression of Bax mRNA, but increase the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA in the model brain tissue.

CONCLUSIONNaoyikang could protect AD model mice induced by D-gal and NaNO2. It could modify the metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitter in brain through reducing MAO-B activity and protect neurons by activating the activity of Na(+) -K(+) -ATP enzyme and Ca(2+) -ATP enzyme and decrease Bax expression and increase Bcl-2 expression in the model brain tissue.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Galactose ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Sodium Nitrite ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate weather there is a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent pathway in hippocampal neurons of rats and the probable role of the pathway in neuroinflammation.

METHODSTo establish the proper model, primarily cultured hippocampal neurons were treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), or pretreated with TLR4 antibody then co-treated with LPS. The expression of mRNA of MyD88 and TNF-alpha receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) were tested by RT-qPCR. The content of MyD88 and TRAF6 were tested by Western blot. The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB/P65 (NF-kappaB/p65) was tested by immunofluorescence. The content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and nitric oxide (NO) were tested by ELISA.

RESULTSLPS could increase MyD88 and TRAF6 mRNA, upregulate protein level of MyD88 and TRAF6 and increase the level of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and NO in cell culture supernatant. LPS also could promote NF-kappa B/p65 translation to the nucleus. The pretreatment with TLR4 antibody reduced the translocation to nucleus for NF-kappaB/P65 and the contents of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and NO in the culture supernatant.

CONCLUSIONThere is a TLR4-mediated MyD88-dependent pathway in hippocampal neurons. The activation of this pathway can increase the level of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and NO in cell culture supernatant. TLR4-mediated MyD88-dependent pathway in hippocampal neurons participate in neuroinflammation, that means neurons are not passive in inflammation.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; metabolism ; Neuritis ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the alterations in pulmonary arterial reactivity during pulmonary arterial hypertension at the early-stage of pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

METHODSSixty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: bleomycin (BLM) group and sham group. The rats in BLM group were received single intratracheal instillation of BLM (5 mg/kg), and the rats in sham group received equal volume of 0.9% normal saline (NS). The alterations in pulmonary arterial reactivity were measured by vascular tension detected technique, the pathomorphological changes in the wall of pulmonary arteries were displayed with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining, the degree of fibrosis in lung was revealed with Masson staining, and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure was detected via a catheter in the pulmonary artery.

RESULTS(1) The contractile response to a- adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE), of pulmonary arteries both with remaining endothelium and with removing endothelium, from BLM-treated rats , was reduced significantly, compared with sham rats (P both < 0.05). (2) The relaxant response to the endothelially dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (Ach), of pulmonary arteries with remaining endothelium, from BLM-treated rats, was also reduced, compared with sham rats (P < 0.01). (3) In sham rats, the contractile response to (omega) -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) plus PE, of pulmonary arteries with remaining endothelium, was enhanced, compared with that to PE alone (P < 0.01), while in BLM group, the contractile responses to L-NAME plus PE, of pulmonary arteries with remaining endothelium, was not different from that to PE alone (P > 0.05). (4) In BLM group, vascular endothelial cells lost. (5) In BLM group, the initial stage of fibrogenesis was observed in lungs, and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased, compared with that in sham group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal responsibility of pulmonary arteries occurred during pulmonary arterial hypertension at the early-stage of pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

Animals ; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasomotor System ; physiology