BACKGROUND:Current research data have shown that patients with epilepsy are often accompanied by complications such as cognitive impairment. Recent studies have demonstrated that melatonin has an inhibitory effect on epilepsy, but its underlying mechanism is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of melatonin on the cognitive function and GluR2 expression in the hippocampus of rat models of epilepsy, and further study the mechanism of melatonin against epilepsy. METHODS: Rat models of chronic epilepsy were established by intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride-pilocarpine, and intraperitonealy injected with sufficient amount of physiological saline and melatonin respectively. Control group was set for observation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 4 and 6 weeks after modeling, the GluR2 expression level in the hippocampus of rats in the epilepsy + melatonin group was significantly higher than that in the epilepsy group (P < 0.05); the GluR2 expression level in the synaptic membrane of hippocampal CA1 region of rats in the control and epilepsy + melatonin groups was significantly higher than that in the epilepsy group (P < 0.05). At 4 days after modeling, compared with epilepsy group and epilepsy + physiological saline group, the escape latency, operation time, active avoidance latency, passive avoidance latency of rats in the epilepsy + melatonin group were significantly decreased (P< 0.05), the correct rate and active avoidance number were significantly increased (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that melatonin can improve the cognitive function of rat models of epilepsy by up-regulating the expression of GluR2 in the synaptic membrane of hippocampal CA1 region.

Objective To investigate the effects of down-regulation of Netrin-1 expression on cell proliferation,apoptosis and migration of a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma(CSCC)cell line SCL-1.Methods Unspecific(control)small interference RNA(siRNA)and Netrin-1-targeting siRNA were designed and constructed.SCL-1 cells were divided into 3 groups to remain untreated(control group 1),be transfected with control siRNA(control group 2)and Netrin-l-targeting siRNA(experiment group)by using Lipofectamine 2000 respectively.After 48 hours of additional culture,flow cytometry was performed to detect the apoptosis of cells,Western blot to determine the protein expression of caspase-3 and-9,Netrin-1 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)in these cells,and Boyden chamber was utilized to evaluate the migration of cells.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was performed with cholecystokinin-8(CCK-8)kit to estimate the proliferation of cells at 24,48,72 and 96 hours after the transfection.Results The expression of Netrin-1 protein was significantly downregulated in SCL-1 cells in the experiment group compared with the control group 1 and 2 (0.207 ± 0.044 vs.0.741 ± 0.111 and 0.716 ± 0.109,F =31.43,P ＜ 0.05).The Netrin-1-targeting siRNA significantly downregulated the proliferation of SCL-1 cells,but induced the apoptosis in SCL-1 cells with significant differences in the percentage of early apoptotic cells and late apoptotic cells between the control group 1,2 and experiment group(11.74 ± 0.33 vs.11.55 ± 1.22 vs.24.74 ± 2.43,F=68.63,P＜ 0.01;3.82 ± 0.32 vs.4.69 ± 0.68 vs.5.33 ± 0.18,F =8.58,P ＜ 0.05).The experiment group showed a significant increase in the expression of caspase-3 and-9(1.458 ± 0.111 vs.0.398 ± 0.057 and 0.412 ± 0.049,F =183.99,P ＜ 0.01;0.967 ± 0.099 vs.0.234 ± 0.036 and 0.205 ± 0.033,F =138.11,P ＜ 0.01),but a statistical decrease in the expression of MMP-2(0.235 ± 0.038 vs.0.862 ± 0.040 and 0.892 ± 0.035,F =291.07,P ＜ 0.01)compared with the control group 1 and 2.Conclusions The down-regulation of Netrin-1 expression can suppress the proliferation and migration of SCL-1 cells,but promote the apoptosis in SCL-1 cells.

Twenty-two patients with hyperthyroid caxdiopathy(HTC),38 patients with hyperthyroid (HT),and 10 healthy controls were tested for plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP).The findings showed that BNP level in HTC group(433±141)μg/L was significantly higher than that in HT group(110±38)μg/L and healthy control group(10±3)μg/L(both P<0.01);HT group vs healthy control group,P<0.01).After 3 months'treatment for HT,BNP decreased significantly.The patients with higher BNP levels had an increased incidence of HTC.Plasma BNP test might be useful in predicting the prognosis and the treatment efficacy in patients with HT.

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of clinical effects in female patients with obesity and hyperlipidemia of yang deficiency of spleen and kidney syndrome between warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture and simple warm acupuncture.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each one. In the control group, acupuncture was used at Pishu (BL 20), Zhongwan(CV 12), Shenshu(BL 23), Zhongji(CV 3), Guanyuan(CV 4), Mingmen(GV 4), Taibai(SP 3), Fenglong(ST 40), etc.; warm acupuncture was applied at Pishu(BL 20), Zhongwan(CV 12), Shenshu(BL 23) and Zhongji(CV 3); the treatment was required once every two days and for 3 months continuously. In the observation group, based on the treatment in the control group, thumbtack intradermal needles were embedded at auricular points, including pi(CO13), shen(CO10), pangguang(CO9), sanjiao(CO17), neifenmi(CO18), neishengzhiqi(TF2), etc. Obesity indices [body mass(W), obesity degree(A), body mass index(BMI), body fat percentage(F%)] blood lipid indices [serum total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL-C), high density lipoprotein(HDL-C)] and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. Results After treatment in the two groups, the obesity indices of W, A, BMI, F% and the blood lipid levels of TC, TG, LDL-C were obviously decreased compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01) and the HDL-C levels were apparently increased than those before treatment (both P<0. 01). After treatment, the improvement of TC and HDL-C in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (both P<0. 01). The difference was not statistically significant in the aspect of improving every obesity index between two groups (all P>. 05). The comprehensive total effective rate of the observation group was 95.4% (62/65), which was better than 84. 6% (55/65) of the control group (P<0. 001).

CONCLUSIONWarm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture and simple warm acupuncture can both benignly adjust abnormal lipid metabolism of obesity patients with hyperlipidemia, and warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture are superior to simple warm acupuncture treatment on antiobesity action and improving the TC and HDL-C levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Triglycerides ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the salidroside on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and its possible mechanisms of anti-tumor. METHODS: Cultured HepG2 cells in vitro were used as the research object and their cell morphology were observed by inverted microscope. The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was measured by MTS assay. The cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Salidroside could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells and promote its apoptosis. The Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 protein expression were increased while Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased in HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Salidroside can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of HepG2 cells, and the mechanism may be associated with regulating protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8.

Objective:To investigate the effect of genistein,a soybean-derived isoflavone,on thestimulating effect on bone resorption of IL-1?.Methods:The osteoclasts(OCs)were isolated with themethods of Yu Shifeng.The rat calvaria were cultured as an organ.The cells in the experiment weregrown in four respectively:Control(without genistein or IL-1?),10~(-6) mol/L genistein,10 ?g/L IL-1?and 10~(-6) mol/L genistein+10 ?g/L IL-1?.The area of bone resorption,the concentration of Ca~(2+) in thesupernatant liquid of OCs cultures and mice calvaria were tested.The contents of acid phosphatase(ACP)were also examined by biochemistry method.The index of bone resorption was counted as the ra-tio of the experiment average and control ones,which indicated the increase in bone resorption when itwas above 1.0.Results:The area of bone resorption of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein+10 ?g/L IL-1? increasedcompared with that of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein,while the concentration of Ca~(2+) in the supernatant liquid ofOCs cultures decreased significantly.The index of bone resorption of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein+10 ?g/L IL-1? lied between 10~(-6) mol/L genistein and 10 ?g/L IL-1?.In the organ culture,there was no differencein the content of ACP among all the groups,The index of bone resorption of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein+10?g/L IL-1? was below that of 10?g/L IL-1?,but both were above 1.0.The index of bone resorptionwas below 1.0 in the group of 10~(-6) mol/L genistein.Conclusion:Genistein can suppress obviously thebone resorption simulated by single IL-1?.

To investigate the effects of unpredictable chronic mild stress and Xiaotan Jieyu Recipe (XTJYR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on the behaviors of Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats and to explore the mechanism.

Objective To investigate the safety and feasibility of not placing prophylactic drainage after colorectal anastomosis.Methods A total of 100 patients with colorectal cancer who were admitted to the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from July 2007 to March 2009 were randomly divided into drainage group (50 patients) and non-drainage group (50 patients) according to the random number table.A drainage tube was placed after colorectal anastomosis in the drainage group,while no drainage tube was placed in patients in the non-drainage group.The duration of postoperative hospital stay,mortality and morbidity of the 2 groups were compared.All data were analyzed by using the chi-square test or t test.Results Two patients(1 from each group) were excluded in the study,and no death or pulmonary infection were found in the remaining 98 patients.The numbers of patients whose course was complicated by anastomotic leakage and wound infection were 2 and 7 in the drainage group,and 1 and 5 in the non-drainage group.The duration of postoperative hospital stays were ( 11.5 ± 2.4)days in the drainage group and(10.6 ± 2.2)days in the non-drainage group.There were significant differences in the morbidity and duration of postoperative hospital stay between the 2 groups(x2 =0.00,0.38,t =1.428,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion It is safe and feasible not to place a prophylactic peri-anastomotic drainage tube after colorectal anastomosis.

AIM: To observe the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H_2S) on the rat cardiac function in vitro, to explorer the physiological regulation of endogenous H_2S on myocardial action. METHODS: H_2S concentration and production in the rat myocardial tissues were detected. The expression of CSE (a kind of key enzyme of endogenous H_2S production) mRNA in myocardial tissues was screened by RT-PCR. Langendorff apparatus was used to perfuse the rat heart in vitro. After 20 minutes of stabilization, NaHS (10~-6 -10~-3 mol/L) were added cumulatively in order to the perfusive fluid, and another group applied physiological concentration NaHS (4?10~-4 mol/L), continuously perfusion for 20 min, heart rate (HR), difference of left ventricular pressure (△LVP), left ventricular peak rate of contraction (+LV dp/dt_~max ), peak rate of relaxation (-LV dp/dt_~max ) and coronary perfusive flow (CPF) were measured at the times. Finally, glibenclamide was applied to block the K_~ATP channel of heart, to observe the effect of NaHS at physiological concentration on cardiac function. RESULTS: NaHS concentration-dependently inhibited left ventricular ?dp/dt_~max and △LVP (P

0.05). ③The entrance point of screw was designed based on the obtained data. Sixty screws were all inserted into pedicles successfully. CONCLUSION: L1-5 superior margin root of spinous process locates in superior and inferior planes of vertebral pedicle with stable anatomic relationship; in addition, there are no significant differences between plain tomography and CT films. It provides anatomic data for pedicular operation.