BACKGROUND: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons are extensively located in various brain regions such as cerebral cortex, caudate-putamen nucleus, syslimbic system, thalamus and brain stem. They are also involved in various brain activities such as motor learning, motor memory and motor integration. Considering the fact that cerebellum can reorganize through motor learning, we tried to identify the morphology and distribution of NPY neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex to obtain the morphologic knowledge that is related to its cerebellar-cortex-based motor learning.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphology and distribution of NPY -immunoreactive neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex, and discuss the relationship between NPY neurons and cerebellum motor learning and motor memory.DESIGN: A single-sample-study based on animal samples.SETTING: Anatomy Department, Pathophysiology Department and Morphology Center in Xinxiang Medical College.MATERIALS: From July to December 2001, the experiment was performed at the Morphology Center in Xinxiang Medical College. Ten Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, clean grade, regardless of their gender and weighing 100-200 g,were selected.METHODS: After intraperitoneal injection anesthesia and ascending aorta infusion fixation, the cerebellum was taken out by craniosurgery. The cerebellum was immersed in the same fixative fluid for duration of 48 hours, and then was embedded in paraffin. The next step was to make continuous sagittal sections. NPY neurons were identified by SP immunohistochemical staining, using rats cerebral section as the positive control. In the negative control, the first antibody replaced by Bovine Calf Serum(BCS), and the second antibody replaced by 0.01 mol/L PBS. Sequentially the light-microscopic observation and micrography were recorded.MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The Morphology and distribution of NPY neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex were taken as main outcome measurements.RESULTS: NPY-immunoreactive neurons were distributed in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellum. They had pear-like or spherical shapes, clear and unstained nucleus, unstained axons and dendrites, and their axons stretching out into the granular layer while the reticular dendrites elongated into the molecular layer. NPY-immunoreactive fibers, instead of neurons, were found in the molecular layer and granular layer.CONCLUSION: NPY-immunoreactive neurons in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellum may be involved in motor learning, motor memory, visceral activity and higher motor integration.

Aim To investigate the effects of maternal chronic aluminum exposure on memorial behaviour and hippocampal intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i)on their offspring after the induction of LTP(long-term potentiation). Methods Adult Wistar rats (150~200 g) were exposed to aluminum by drinking distilled water, the concentration of AlCl3 is 0.015 mol?L-1(2 g?L-1) and 0.03 mol?L-1(4 g?L-1) aluminum chloride (AlCl3) solution, respectively, for 30 days prior to mating and during the whole gestation and suckling period. Their offspring were distributed into three experimental groups: control group; two exposed groups (represented by 0.2%-Al and 0.4%-Al ) administrated aluminum exposure ended at postnatal day 21. The brain tissue and blood aluminum levels were measured by Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Memorial ability of the offspring was tested by Step down test.[Ca2+]i was measured by the technique of Fura-2/AM calcium ions fluorescence indicator. Results The mean aluminum content in blood and brain tissue was significantly higher than the control group(P0.05), but was significantly decreased in 0.4%-Al exposed group(P

Objective To evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) combined with drug therapy on patients with delayed encephalopathy caused by carbon monoxide poisoning ( COP). Methods Twenty to forty sessions of HBO therapy were used to treat 34 COP patients. Assessment relied on 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (~(99m)Tc-ECD) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of cerebral perfusion before and after treatment. Results After HBO therapy, cerebral perfusion in the COP patients improved significantly. There was a significant difference of the SPECT images before and after treatment. Conclusions SPECT imaging of cerebral perfusion can play an important role in the diagnosis of delayed encephalopathy caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, and it can be used for the therapeutic surveillance of HBO treatment.

The interaction between the anti-Ractopamine (Rac) monoclonal antibody and the Rac derivation immobilized on the sensor chip surface was studied with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. A continuous detection method based on the linear response during the association phase was developed. The sensor chip surface was regenerated after several tests performed continuously, thus the detection step was simplified and the life span of the chip was prospected to be prolonged. The detection was performed as an inhibitive immunoassay. The mixture of anti-Rac monoclonal antibody and the sample flowed over the surface with Rac derivation was immobilized. The relative response was in inversely proportion to the concentration of Rac. The detection limit was less than 4 μg/L with a detection time of 15 min.

The fabrication and experimental test results were presented for a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based gas chromatography column. Compared with conventional column, this micro-gas chromatography column is suitable for on-line analysis and monitoring because of the small size, rapid analysis and other characteristics. These 0.5, 1 and 3 m GC columns were fabricated using a deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) and were coated the stationary phase via a dynamic coating procedure. These GC columns perfectly separated the mixture of benzene, toluene and o-xylene in less than 200 s, where, the 3.0 m of the GC column achieved) a high resolution of 14.3 between toluene and o-xylene and yielded approximately 6160 plates. Moreover, the effect of separation performance for different column length were examined and compared. These GC columns are suitable for the application of a variety of disciplines, including environmental analysis, methane gas probes and homeland security.

[Objective]To compare the clinical outcomes of fresh embryo transfer of the in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer(IVF/ICSI-ET)in different age groups as well as in different responders using gonadotropin-re-leasing hormone agonist(GnRH-a)long protocol or GnRH antagonist(GnRH-ant)protocol.[Methods]A retrospective analysis was performed on 737 IVF/ICSI cycles,including 386 cycles of GnRH-a long protocol(group A)and 351 cycles of GnRH-ant protocol (group B),from August 28,2015 to December 31,2016. Then all the cycles were divided into sub-groups by ages and retrieved oo-cyte numbers:group a1(<38 years),group a2(≥38 years);group b1(n≤5),group b2(6≤n≤15),group b3(n>15). The basic information of patients and clinical outcomes were compared.[Results](1)Comparable results were obtained from group A and group B in these following variables such as fertilization rate,normal fertilization rate,biochemical pregnancy rate and miscarriage rage. But the stimulation period,the total gonadotropin(Gn)dosage,estradiol(E2)level and endometrial thickness on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG)administration,number of oocytes retrieved and mature oocytes,ovarian hyperstimulation syn-drome(OHSS)rate,implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were significantly higher in group A than group B(P<0.05),and significantly higher cancellation rate of fresh embryo transfer was observed in group B(P<0.001).(2)When divided by ages,no mat-ter in sub-group a1 or sub-group a2,the implantation rate was slightly lower in GnRH-ant protocol than in GnRH-a long protocol, although they failed to reach significant difference(sub-group a1:32.6%vs 39.8%,P=0.067;sub-group a2:9.7%vs 17.9%,P=0.066). The clinical pregnancy rate was comparable using these two protocols in sub-group a1(54.8%vs 50.4%,P=0.429),but it was significantly lower by using GnRH-ant protocol than GnRH-a long protocol in sub-group a2(19.6%vs 39.1%,P=0.021).(3) When divided by numbers of oocytes retrieved,the implantation rate was significantly lower when using GnRH-ant protocol in sub-group b1(13.1%vs 26.0%,P=0.026),but we failed to observe significant differences in other two sub-groups. The clinical preg-nancy rates were comparable in all sub-groups ,whereas differed considerably in sub-group b1 (36.6% vs 19.3%,P = 0.056).[Conclusion]Overall,the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were higher in GnRH-a long protocol than those in GnRH-ant protocol. Nevertheless,GnRH-ant protocol could reduce the dosage of Gn,shorten the treatment duration,and effectively reduce the occurrence of OHSS. There were similar pregnancy outcomes in two protocols for normal responders and high responders ,while for advanced patients or other poor responders,the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were higher in GnRH-a protocol.

BACKGROUND: Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor plays an important role against inflammatory responses caused by pathogens and non-pathogens, as well as in the initial stage of autoimmune response. Meanwhile, NOD2 and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) are the representative proteins of NOD-like receptor family. OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of NOD2 and NLRP3 in a rabbit model of osteoarthritis. METHODS: Thirty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into six groups (n=5 per group), including five experimental groups (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks) and one control group. The model of osteoarthritis was established by fixing the left knee joints using plaster cast, and were sacrificed at postoperative 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks. The controls received no intervention, and were killed at 10 weeks postoperatively. The left distal femur articular cartilage was taken for safranin-fast green staining. The pathological changes were evaluated by Mankin's scores, and the expression levels of NOD2 and NLRP3 were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The Mankin's scores in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P <0.01). Moreover, the scores in the experimental groups were significantly increased with time (P < 0.01). The expression levels of NOD2 and NLRP3 in the chondrocytes were also increased with time (P < 0.01). These results indicate that the expresison of NOD2 and NLRP3 in the cartilage cells is positively correlated with the pathological changes of osteoarthritis, which may be through promoting apoptosis in cartilage cells, thus accelerating the development of osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the difference in surgical stress between gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy through anterior chest approach and conventional thyroidectomy.

METHODSThe patients with thyroid nodules who would undergo thyroidectomy between November 2006 and February 2008 in Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, were randomly divided into gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy group or conventional thyroidectomy group, with 25 cases and 22 cases respectively. Before and after surgery, white blood cell count (WBC), serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured to assess the surgical stress response.

RESULTSAt 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery, no significant difference was found between the two groups in WBC (t = -0.172, 1.774 and 2.039 respectively, P > 0.05), serum CRP (t = -0.927, -1.701 and -1.813, P > 0.05) and IL-6 (t = 0.098, -2.019 and -1.121, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe stress response of gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy is similar with that of conventional thyroidectomy.

Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese herbal medicine for supplementing Shen and strengthening the bone on distal femoral trabecular ultrastructure of male rats subjected to simulated weightlessness.

METHODSFifteen male SD rats were randomized equally into 3 groups, including a control group (group A, in which the rats were allowed free movement) and two simulated weightlessness (via tail suspension) groups (group B and C). The rats in group C were treated with the commercially available Chinese herbal preparation, and those in the other two groups received normal saline at the same dose, for a treatment course of 28 days. Observation of trabeculae was performed with scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSIn group B, the trabeculae of the femur became thinner, fragile, discontinuous with reduced quantity as compared with those in group A. The rats in group C had greater number of the trabeculae than those in group B. Resorption surface decreased and the collagenous fiber were much more regular in group B.

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese herbal medicine may produce beneficial effect on bone microstructure of rats subjected to simulated weightlessness.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Femur ; drug effects ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weightlessness Simulation

The growth characteristics and ginsenosides isolation of the suspension-cultured crown gall of Panax quinquefolium were studied. The result showed that the maximum biomass of cultures was 18.6 g/L (dry weight) and the content of ginsenosides reached its maximum level of 620.4 mg/L on the 27th day. The utilization rates of sugar, phosphorus, nitrogen in NH4+ and nitrogen in NO3- were 91.8%, 100%, 81% and 97%, respectively. Four compounds were isolated from the suspension-cultured crown gall and their structures were elucidated as pseudoginsenoside F11 (I), ginsenoside Rd (II), ginsenoside Rb1 (llI) and ginsenoside Rb3 (IV).
Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Ginsenosides ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; Panax ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; metabolism