Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Sodium ; blood ; Sodium Chloride ; administration & dosage

AIM Taurine was reported neuroprotective under several ischemic models in vivo. In this study, the direct effect of taurine against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) inducing acute neuronal injury and the underlying mechanisms in vitro were investigated. METHODSFour hours OGD was used to induce in vitro ischemic injury in rat cortical neurons. Taurine 5, 10 and 20 mmol·L-1 was added 20 h before and during 4 h OGD period respectively. Mortality rate of neuron was assayed by MTT and flow cytometry methods. Level of neuronal [Ca2+]i was detected by Fura 2/AM loading. Amino acid concentrations in culture media were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Under OGD conditions, neuronal death was markedly increased, and the levels of neuronal [Ca2+]i and extracellular glutamate level were enhanced obviously. Taurine pretreatment obviously decreased the percentage of neuronal death induced by OGD. In addition, abnormal elevation of neuronal [Ca2+]i and extracellular glutamate level induced by OGD both were markedly repressed by taurine. CONCLUSION Taurine can alleviate rat cortical neuron injury induced by OGD, the mechanisms were likely due to repressing calcium overload and inhibiting excessive release or leakage of glutamate under such conditions.

Objective To investigate the expression of Oct4 in liver cancer, and the interrelation of the Oct4 and Wnt/β-catenin genes in hepatocellular carcinoma( HCC) cell line HepG2. Methods RTPCR technique was used to detect the expression of Oct4 and β-Catenin in HCC specimens; RNAi was used to knock-down the expression of Oct4 in HepG2, and the change of Wnt/β-catenin related genes were detected by Real time-PCR. Results In HCC specimens, the expression of Oct4 and β-Catenin in tumor and cirrhotic liver tissues were stronger than normal liver tissues. In SiRNA Oct4 HepG2 cells, the expression of Oct4 was downregulated, and β-catenin as well as Wnt10b were in a positive correlation with Oct4, TCF3 was in negative correlation with Oct4. Clone formation and move ability of the HepG2 were downregulated. Conclusions The expression of Oct4 was higher in tumor tissues than in normal liver tissues. Silencing Oct4 by SiRNA-0ct4 in HepG2 resulted in decreased ability of clone formation and cell movement.

AIM: To investigate the CPU86017 and its enantiomers inhibit abnormal gene expression of calcineurin and NFκB in rat cardiomyopathy induced by L-thyroxin and compare the effect of CPU86017 (racemate) with its 4 enantiomers: (7S, 13R), (7S, 13S), (7R,13S), and (7R,13R)-CPU86017 in this model. METHODS: The animals were randomly divided into 7 groups. The rat hypertrophied model was produced by treatment with L-thyroxin 0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1, sc for 10 d and treated with CPU86017 or its enantiomers 4 mg·kg-1·d-1, sc from d 6 to d 10. The changes in left ventricular (LV) weight index, redox system, and the NO and iNOS activity in the myocardium were investigated. The expression of mRNA of calcineurin、NF-κB in the left ventricle was measured. RESULTS: There were significant cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress in rats treated by L-thyroxin. The expression of calcineurin, NFκB mRNA were upregulated (P<0.05, compared with that of control). After treatment with CPU86017 (racemate and enantiomers), LV remodeling and the redox system were improved. CPU86017 and (7S,13R)-CPU86017 showed a better improvement on LV remodeling and the redox than the other isomers and restored the normal expression of calcineurin, NF-κB (P<0.05, P<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: It suggested that an up-regulation of calcineurin and NFκB possibly related to the altered intracellular calcium handling system plays a role in the progression of L-thyroxin induced cardiomyopathy and CPU-86017 and its 7S,13R-CPU86017 enantiomer effectively inhibit the abnormal expression of calcineurin and NFκB genes, the NOS enzyme and oxidant stress in the cardiomyopathy.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART), developed in the end of last century, has been playing an irreplaceable role in the treatment of male infertility, though it does have its potential risks, including the induction of monozygotic twins, premature delivery, high incidence of birth defects, etc. How to avoid these risks has posed a challenge and demands earnest attention from andrologists. This article summarizes the main potential risks of ART and proposes some tactics concerning patient evaluation, health education and treatment standardization, so as to optimize the outcomes and minimize the risks. Meanwhile, emphasis is placed on the importance of etiological and anti-oxidant strategies in the treatment of male infertility.
Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; adverse effects ; Risk Factors

Objective: To investigate the effects of point thread embedding on the learning and memory of the vascular dementia(VD) model rats and the possible mechanisms. Methods: VD rat models were established by employing improved method of Pulsinelli's four-vessel occlusion,then the model rats were treated with point thread embedding.Morris maze test was used to evaluate the learning and memory of the rats.In vivo recording of long term potentiation(LTP) was performed in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus and changes in each experimental group were observed and compared after high-frequency stimulation(HFS).Results: Compared with models group,the results from the Morris tests in treated group(thread embedding group)enhanced significantly(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in electromyographic activities of the temporal and masseter muscles at different positions of the mandible.

METHODSTwenty orthodontic patients with Angle Class II malocclusion and mandibular retrusion (ANB<6°) aged 10-14 years were enrolled in this study. All the patients were treated with Forsus fixed functional appliance combined with MBT straight-wire appliance. The electromyographic activities of the temporal (T) and masseter (M) muscles before, during and after functional treatment were evaluated by assessing the average integrated electromyogram (EMG) and T/M ratio at clenching status in different mandibular positions.

RESULTSAfter functional forward positioning of the mandible, the electromyographic activities of the temporal and masseter muscles decreased and T/M ratio increased significance at the clenching status (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe appliance insertion and activation is associated with a decreased EMG activity of the temporal and masseter muscles, and the T/M ratio is correlated to the position of the mandible.

Adolescent ; Child ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Masseter Muscle ; physiopathology ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Retrognathia ; physiopathology ; Temporal Muscle ; physiopathology

Objective: To compare and analyze functional brain response characteristics by applying acupuncture or moxibustion to Zusanli (ST 36) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and investigate the differences of central action mechanism resulting from acupuncture or moxibustion. Methods: A total of eligible 24 FD cases were divided into two blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) sequences for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analyses were conducted on the data of location phase, structure phase, resting state before acupuncture/moxibustion, working state during acupuncture/moxibustion and resting state after acupuncture/moxibustion using Data Processing Assistant for Resting-State fMRI (DPARSF) software. Results: Acupuncture and moxibustion produced significant differences in functional brain response. The working state during acupuncture/moxibustion mainly decreased ALFF values in the right supramarginal gyrus, right superior parietal lobule, right frontal gyrus, upper right occipital lobe, right precuneus and right cingulate gyrus. At the same time, it increased ALFF values in the left cerebellum, right caudate nucleus, right cerebellum and left inferior gyrus. The differences during the resting state after acupuncture/moxibustion were significantly smaller than the working state in intensity and size. It mainly resulted in decrease in ALFF values in the right postcentral gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus and increase in ALFF values in the left precuneus, orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus and right cerebellar peduncles. Conclusion: Needling and moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) can produce significant differences in immediate functional brain response.

0.05).Conclusion MK mRNA overexpresses in the breast cancer tissues.It might be considered to be a reference indicator for deter- mining the angiogenesis and invasion of breast carcinoma.