BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide synthase(NOS) is the key factor for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) . Because NO combines with oxygen, hemoglobin and other substances in vivo easily and deactivates quickly, and it is not exactly determined, so determining the activity of NOS is the important link for further studying the pathogenesis of NO in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)injury.OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of different types of NOS in the process of cerebral I/R injury.DESIGN: Randomized and controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Instituteof Cerebrovascular Disease, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out in the Shandong Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment for Encephalopathy from May to December 2005. Twenty-eight adult healthy male Wistar rats, of clean grade, weighing from 220 to 260 g, were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Shandong University. The involved rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (n =4) and cerebral ischemia group (n =24). Six time points were set in cerebral ischemia group: ischemia 1 hour reperfusion 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days and 14 days, 4 rats at each time point.METHODS: Rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion were established by suture-occluded method through inserting a suture into the left internal-external carotid artery. The expressions of different types of NOS at different time points after cerebral I/R were detected by immunohistochemical technique.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Toluidine blue-stained two groups of nerve cells; ② The expression and distribution of neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS(iNOS) at different time points.RESULTS: ①Karyopyknosis and cell debris appeared in the nerve cells of the injured region of cerebral ischemia group,and there were no significant differences of cells among different time points. ② Six hours after reperfusion, the expressions of nNOS, eNOS and iNOS were found in the neurons of brain tissue and increased with the elongation of time of reperfusion. The regions in which different types of NOS in neurons of brain tissue were expressed were cortical area and corpora striata. nNOS and iNOS were highly expressed within 12 hours to 7 days after reperfusion in the brain, and eNOS was highly expressed within a short time period, i.e. 6 hours to 3 days after reperfusion. eNOS expression increasing and decreasing occurred earlier than nNOS and iNOS. But the expressions of three kinds of NOS all reached peak on the first day after reperfusion. The changing tendencies of the expression of three kinds of NOS in the cortical area and corpora striata were the same basically.CONCLUSION: After cerebral I/R injury, the high expression of eNOS occurs early and lasts for a short time, while that of nNOS and iNOS occurs late and lasts for a long time.

Objective To assess the effects of medicated permeation with traditional Chinese medicine Shujin-Zhitong liquid combined with ion tophoresis on osteoarthritis(OA) of rabbit knee joint in vivo.Methods The modified Hulth OA model was prepared with rabbits by anterior cruciate ligament desmotomy plus medial meniscus resection.Twenty-four model rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Chinese medicine group: treated with Chinese medicine Shujin-Zhitong liquid by ion tophoresis for 20 minutes per day;positive control group: glucosamine hydrochloride was administered orally per day;blank control group: no treatment was administered to the model rabbits.Serum nitrogen monoxidum(NO) concentration was determined at the time points of prior model making,prior treatment,and 4 and 8 weeks of treatment.At 4 and 8 weeks of treatment,the apoptotic rate of chondrocytes was determined by flow cytometry,and the gene expressions of collagen Ⅱand aggrecan were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The contents of serum NO in Chinese medicine group and positive control group were lower than that in blank control group at 4 weeks after treatment,and the content of serum NO in Chinese medicine group was lower than those in positive control group and blank control group at 8 weeks after treatment.The apoptotic rates in Chinese medicine group and positive control group were lower than that in blank control group at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment.Gene expression levels of collagen Ⅱ and aggrecan in Chinese medicine group and positive control group were higher than that in blank control group at 4 weeks after treatment,while the gene expression level in Chinese medicine group was higher than those in positive and blank control groups at 8 weeks after treatment.Conclusions The treatment of medicated permeation with traditional Chinese medicine Shujin-Zhitong liquid combined with ion tophoresis has shown good therapeutic effect on osteoarthritis(OA) of rabbit knee joint,the mechanism might be the inhibition of chondrocytes apoptosis and reduced secretion of inflammatory factors,and the improvement of cartilage repair by up-regulating related gene expression of chondrocyte.

Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; Carbon-Sulfur Lyases ; metabolism ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Signal Transduction

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome ; genetics ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a kind of neurotrophic factor and protects from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, the expression of IGF-1 is associated with the attack of ischemic stroke. The effects of IGF-1 and its receptor (IGF-1R) on neurobehavioral function are to be further studied.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of IGF-1 and IGF-1R on neurobehavioral function in rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation.SETTING: Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College.MATERIALS: The experiments were carried out in Shandong Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Brain diseases. Twenty-eight healthy adult Wistar rats of clean degree, weighing 220-260 g, were provided by the experimental animal center of Shandong University.METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into experimental group (n =24) and sham-operated group (n =4). The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) models were established by inserting a thread through left external-internal carotid arteries. The sham-operated rats were given the same treatments except inserting thread. ①Neurologic deficit test: The rats in the experimental group were assessed according to Bederson standard after 1-hour ischemia and 6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion respectively. The sham-operated rats were assessed at corresponding time points; Without neurologic deficit was marked as 0 point; flexion of anterior claws as 1 point; unable to act against the pushing from the contralateral side as 2 points; circling while walking as 3 points; shaking as 4 points;unconscious mind as 5 points. ② Sample collection and treatment: The samples in the experimental group were collected after 1-hour ischemia and 6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion, and those in the sham-operated group ere collected at 24 hours postoperatively. The rats were anesthetized, brain samples were got at about 5 mm posterior to optic chiasma after brains were removed completely, then serial coronal sections (5 μm) were prepared, and 1 from 10 sections was stuck to the cover glasses treated with poly-L-lysine. ③ Morphological observation of neurons: The neurons in brain were observed by toluidine blue staining. ④ Detection of IGF-1 and IGF-1R: The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum were detected with immunohistochemical technique, 4 fields were randomly selected to count the positive cells under high-power microscope (×400).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The neurologic deficit; ② Morphological changes of neurons in brain; ③ Expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum.RESULTS: All the 28 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① The neurologic deficit: The scores of neurologic deficit were (1.50±058) and (1.50±0.78) in rats after 7 and 14-day reperfusion, which were lower than that in rats after 6-hour reperfusion [(3.00±0.00), P ＜ 0.05]. ② Morphological changes of neurons in brain: The neurons in ischemic area appeared as paryopyknosis and became irregular in shape, there were obvious gaps around the cells, also deeply stained as purplish blue, nucleolus disappeared, and there were many scattered cellular fragments. ③ Expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum: The numbers of IGF-1 positive cells in cortex were (8.75±2.06), (11.13±1.14),(19.75±3.18), (17.38±3.11 ) and (11.23±2.28) respectively in rats after 6, 12-hours and 1, 3, 7-day reperfusion, which all were higher than that in sham-operated rats [(3.88±1.46), P ＜ 0.05], the numbers of IGF-1 positive cells in striatum were(8.25±2.21), (11.34±2.21), (18.23±2.64), (18.56±2.34) and (11.31±2.14) respectively in rats after 6, 12 hours and 1, 3, 7days reperfusion , which were also higher than that in sham-operated rats [(4.12±2.24), P ＜ 0.05]. The numbers of IGF-1R positive cells in cortex were (7.63±1.50), (10.50±2.34), (15.55±3.12), (15.37±3.01), (8.86±2.75) respectively in rats after 6, 12-hours and 1,3,7-day reperfusion, which all were higher than that in sham-operated rats [(4.13±1.81), P ＜0.05]. Those in striatum were (8.33±2.31), (10.24±2.09), (14.72±2.17), (14.24±2.77), (8.38±2.05), which were also higher than that in sham-operated rats [(3.76±2.35), P ＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION: The neurological function is damaged after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, but it has a trend of self-recovery. The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R are mainly distributed in cortex and striatum. Higher expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R maintain during 12 hours to 7 days after reperfusion and have a peak value at 1-3 days, which suggests that early expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R are certain related to the recovery of neurological function.

BACKGROUND: Brain injury can induce the increased expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in brain,whereas FGFR is a very important player in the cell proliferation and differentiation, angiogenesis, skeletogeny, etc.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of bFGF and its receptor on neuronal apoptosis following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.DESIGN: A randomized grouping design and animal experiment.SETTING: Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College.MATERIALS: Twenty-eight healthy adult Wistar rats of clean degree, weighing 220-260 g, were provided by the experimental animal center of Shandong University. Rabbit-anti-rat bFGF and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1(FGFR-1) monoclonal antibodies were provided by Wuhan Boster Biological Technology, Co.,Ltd.METHODS: The experiment was carried out in Shandong Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Brain diseases.① The rats were randomly divided into experimental group (n =24) and sham-operated group (n =4). Models of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) were established by thread occlusion via left external-internal carotid arteries, and 4 rats in the experimental group were sampled at 1-hour ischemia/6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion respectively. The rats in the sham-operated group were given the same treatment without inserting thread.After anesthesia, the brain was removed completely by cutting head, then the brain tissue at about 5 mm posterior to optic chiasma was cut down, then serial coronal sections (5 μm) were prepared. ② The brain tissues were stained with ematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the forms of neurons were observed under microscope. ③ TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method: there were buffy granules in nucleus which was positively stained (apoptosis). Four fields were randomly selected from cortex and striatum to count positive cells under high-power microscope (×400). ④ The sections were stained with rabbit-anti-rat bFGF and FGFR-1 monoclonal antibodies, 4 fields were randomly selected from cortex and striatum to count positive cells under high-power microscope (×400).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Apoptosis and the expressions of bFGF and FGFR-1.RESULTS: All the 28 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① In the experimental group, the neurons in the ischemic sites were obviously decreased, some neurons appeared as paryopyknosis and became irregular, also deeply stained as purplish blue, nucleolus disappeared, and there were many scattered cellular fragments. ② In the sham-operated group, there were a few apoptotic neurons in the brain tissue, and the apoptotic neurons were obviously increased after ischemia, which mainly observed in cortexes and striatums of frontal and paritetal lobes. In the experimental group, apoptotic cells in cortexes began to increase gradually at 6 hours, and there were more cells at 12hours and 3 days, which reached the peak value at 1 day, and began to decrease at 3 day, but there were still more apoptotic cells at 14 days than in the sham-operated group. The number of apoptotic neurons and the changing trend in striatums were generally the same as those in cortexes (P ＞ 0.05). ③ In the sham-operated group, there were weak bFGF expression in the neurons of brain tissue, but there were fewer lightly stained positive cells. After cerebral ischemia, the bFGF expressions were increased, mainly observed in cortexes and striatums. The bFGF expression appeared at 6 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, and the number was increased gradually and deeply stained as the time of reperfusion prolonged (Figure 3), it reached the peak value at 1-3 days, and then weakened gradually, but it was still higher than in the sham-operated group at 14 days [(5.01 ±1.71), (5.21 ± 1.62) cells/visual field; (2.03± 1.73),(2.46± 1.38) cells/visual field, P ＜ 0.05]. ④ In the sham-operated group, lightly stained FGFR-1 positive cells could be observed in brain tissue. At 6 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, the FGFR positive cells began to increased in cortexes and striatums, which were the most at 1-3 days, and gradually decreased after 3 days, and the number was still a little more than that in the sham-operated group at 14 days [(5.01± 1.41), (5.20± 1.33) cells/visual field; (2.25±1.67),(2.32± 1.61 ) cells/visual field].CONCLUSION: After cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, the expressions of endogenous bFGF and FGFR-1 may be activated in cortex and striatum, then inhibit the neuronal apoptosis, and play its neuroprotective role.

Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanism of phycocyanin in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.Methods The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion reperfusion(MCAO/R) was established using the intraluminal filament occlusion with healthy adult male Wistar rats treated by phycocyanin.The apoptosis and the expression of bFGF and FGFR-1,IGF-1 and IGF-1R,iNOS and SOD were respectively determined by TUNEL and immunohistochemical staining to evaluate the effects of phycocyanin on above indexes.Results ① The rats showed neurobehavioral function disorders and the number of nerve cells reduced while apoptotic cells increased in ischemic area after ischemic reperfusion.In phycocyanin group,the number of apoptotic cells reduced siginificantly during reperfusion 12h~3d and the neurobehavioral function was better than that those in control group during reperfusion 7~14d.② In control group,the expressions of bFGF and FGFR-1 increased successfully from reperfusion 6h and reached a maximum at 1d,then subsided gradually in cortex and striatum.In phycocyanin group,the numbers of bFGF and FGFR-1 positive cells were higher than those in control group at the same time-points,which were significantly at reperfusion 1d and 12h~3d respectively.③ The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R increased in cortex and striatum following cerebral ischemic and reperfusion.In phycocyanin group,the numbers of IGF-1 and IGF-1R positive cells in each time-point were higher than those in control group,which was significantly during reperfusion 6h~1d.④ In cotex and striatum,the iNOS and SOD expressed strongly and keep high level during 6h~7d with the maximum at reperfusion 1d.In phycocyanin group,iNOS expressed significantly higher during 12h~1d whlie SOD lower during 6h~1d than those in control group at the same time-point.Conclusion Phycocyanin might play a intrinsic antioxide effect by up-regulating SOD and down-regulating iNOS to inhibit neuronal apoptosis,and enhance the neuronal repairation by means of inducing the expressions of bFGF and IGF-1 following cerebral ischemic reperfusion in rats.

AIM: To explore the ex vivo expansion characteristics of the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). METHODS: CD34+ cells were selected from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) by MiniMACS system, expanded at the same conditions as that for total MNC, coincubation of CD34+ and CD34- from the same donation for EPCs. In addition, we tested the effect of vessel endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and passage on cell differentiation, expansion kinetics and apoptosis. EPCs were determined and quantified by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Coculture of CD34+ and CD34-,total MNC led to a significant increase in the expansion of CD34+ cells compared with CD34 enrichment (P0.05). These differentiated EPCs were stained positive for CD34+, von Willebrand factor (vWF), KDR, CD31 and incorporate acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL). CD34+ and AC133+cells accounted for 68.2%?6.3% (n=6) and 57.2%?9.8% (n=6) of attaching (AT) cells at day 7 of culture, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Coculture of CD34+ and CD34- or culture of MNC enhances ex vivo expansion of EPCs. Early passage decreases apoptosis rate, VEGF has no significant effect on ex vivo expansion of EPCs.

The characteristics for the ex vivo expansion of the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were explored. CD34+ cells were selected from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) by MiniMACS system, expanded under the same conditions as those for total MNC, coincubation of CD34+ and CD34- from the same donor for EPCs. In addition, the effects of vessel endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and passage on cell differentiation, expansion kinetics and apoptosis were examined. EPCs were determined and quantified by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. The results showed that both coculture of CD34+ and CD34- and total MNC led to a significant increase in the expansion of CD34+ cells as compared with CD34 enrichment (P < 0.05). There was a tendency toward decreased apoptosis in cultures when early passage was performed immediately after cord like structures appeared. VEGF had no significant effect on apoptosis (P > 0.05). These differentiated EPCs were positive for CD34+, von Willebrand factor (vWF), KDR, CD31 staining and phagocytized acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL). CD34+ cells accounted for (68.2 +/- 6.3)% of attaching (AT) cells at day 7 of culture. It was suggested the most efficient method to ex vivo expansion of EPCs was coculture of CD34+ and CD34- or total MNC. Early passage makes cell apoptosis rate decrease. VEGF had no significant effect on ex vivo expansion of EPCs.

Adult ; Branchial Region ; Fistula ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; surgery ; Pharynx ; surgery