Objective To establish the model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with selective motor neuron disorder by organotypic spinal cord cultures, and analyze the role of astrocyte in the pathagenisis of ALS.Methods Organotypic spinal cord cultures were prepared using lumbar spinal cord slices from 8-day-old SD rat pups. The threohydroxyaspartate (THA) was applied into culture medium to establish ALS organotypic spinal cord cultures model. Motor neurons survival was evaluated by monoclonal SMI-32 immunohistochemical staining and glial fibrillary acidic protein staining to show astrocyte survival.Results Compared with the control group, there was significantly astrogliosis in the anterior horn and surrounding white matter in THA 100 μmol/L group, and the level of gliosis was increased followed the elongation of THA interference time. With the increasing of the number of astrocyte, the morphology of astrocyte was changed.Conclusion There is significantly astrogliosis in the anterior horn and the time of astrogliosis is markedly earlier than the time of motor neuron loss in the ALS model intervented with THA.

Catechols ; urine ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; urine

Chlorzoxazone ; blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; blood ; Humans

Capillary Electrochromatography ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Hexanones ; urine ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with acute cerebral ischemic stroke.Methods Twenty-one patients with acute internal carotid circulation infraction(internal carotid 3,MCA 12,ACA 5,lenticulostriate in 1) were treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator(rt-PA) which was performed within 2-6 hours of symptom onset.Recanalization was observed during the operation.Intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) was monitored immediately and 24 h after the treatment by CT or MRI scanning.Chinese stroke scale was used to evaluate the recovery of neurological functions pre-operatively and 30 d after the treatment.Results All the 21 patients were 100% success in receiving intra-arterial thrombolysis technique and revealed 16 having the degree of recanalization of 2 to 3 grade as regards to TMI,16 patients' degree of recanalization reached 2 to 3 grade according to TMI;5 patients showed 1 to 2 grade.Symptomatic ICH was observed in 3 patients,with two dead.Arterial dissection was found in one patient.Thirty days after the operation,17 patients' cerebral function reduced over 50 percent;2 less than 50 percent;and 2 died.The patients achieved 2 to 3 grade of recanalization were obviously getting better than those achieving 0 to 1 grade.Conclusions It is adapt to have intra-arterial thrombolysis with six hours from onset;but still have the danger of severe ICH.The treatment should be started as early as possible.

Objective: To investigate, purify, and characterize the active ingredients in the aqueous extract from Sappan Lignum (the dry heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan). Methods: HPLC-MS/MS was used in the analysis of the chemical constituents in the aqueous extract from Sappan Lignum. Then the inhibitory effect of the aqueous extract from Sappan Lignum on human bladder tumor cell line T24 in vitro was studied. The main chemical constituents were purified by column chromatography and their structures were characterized by NMR. Results: In the aqueous extract from Sappan Lignum, 16 compounds were separated and detected well by HPLC-MS/MS and 14 were identified. The main compounds were quercetin, brazilin, isoliquiritigeni, protosappanin B, brazil A, 3'-deoxysappanol, 4-O-hydroxybrazilin, sappanchalcone, and (αS)-α, 2', 4, 4'-tetrahydroxy dihydrochalcone. The killing rate of cancer cells was positively correlated to the concentration of the main component which was brazilin. At last, according to the purification by column chromatography and the structural characterization by NMR, we obtained the pure brazilin in the aqueous extract from Sappan Lignum. Conclusion: The research offers a new method for the identification of the components in the aqueous extract from Sappan Lignum and provides a basis for the medicinal functions of Sappan Lignum for future study.

Objective To establish the in vivo models of adriamycin(ADR)-induced cardiotoxicity in rabbits, investigate the protective effect of oxymatrine (OMT) on ADR-induced cardiotoxicity, and explore the possible mechanism. Methods Twenty-six rabbits were randomly divided into ADR group (n=8, 2 mg/kg ADR), OMT group (n=5, 10 mg/kg OMT), ADR + OMT group (n=8, 10 mg/kg OMT was injected 30 min before ADR injection) and saline group (n=5, same quantity of normal saline), and rabbits in each group were infused with medicine or normal saline through ear marginal vein once a week for 8 weeks. The apoptosis of myocardial cells was detected by TUNEL methods, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was determined. Results After treatment, the body weight of ADR group was significantly lower than that of the other groups(P < 0.05), the activity of SOD and GSH-Px significantly decreased and the apoptosis index (AI) was significantly higher than that of the other groups(P <0.01). There were similar while minor changes in ADR + OMT group. There was no significant adverse effects in OMT group. Conclusion OMT protects heart from adriamycin-induced injury in rabbits, which may relate to the decrease in level of antioxidant and apoptosis of myocardial cells.

Objective To compare the mutation sites in human immunodefieiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vpr gene via of HIV-1 infected individuals from different regions in China with the previous studies, and to provide information for the further study on the relationship between HIV-1 vpr gene mutations and clinical conditions of the patients. Methods Reverse transcription-polymerasc chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR were used to amplify HIV-1 vpr gene of 398 HIV-1 infected individuals. The amino acid sequences were analyzed to determine polymorphisms, deviation rate and common mutation sites of HIV-1 vpr gene. Meanwhile, the viral load, subsets of lymphocytes and clinical course of patients infected with mutated HIV-1 were analyzed. Results One hundred and fifty three positive samples which were obtained from 398 HIV-1 infected individuals were available for further analysis. The amino acids sequence typing of HIV-1 Vpr were showed that CRF01 AE was 51.63%, subtype C 24.84%, subtype B 17.65%, CRF03_ AB 3.92% and CRF08 BC 1.31%. Eighty four point three percent of 77th amino acid of HIV Vpr sequence was glutamic acid which was significantly different from what overseas researches reported that the R77Q mutation was correlated with long-term non-progression (LTNP) of AIDS. The mutations of the, 63th, 70th, 85th, 86th, 89th and 94th amino acids of HIV Vpr were likely related to the clinical remission of HIV-1 infected individuals. Conclusions M group is the main type of HIV Vpr typing in China, and CRF01 AE is predominant. Some amino acid mutation sites of HIV-1 Vpr are possibly correlated with clinical manifestations of HIV-1 infected individuals.

Objective To make comparisons of the three models of acute and chronic rheumatic carditis to find out an optimal animal model.Methods AntigenⅠwas a emulsifier mixed by complete freund’ s adjuvant( CFA) and Group A streptococcus(GAS).AntigenⅡwas mixed by incomplete freund’s adjuvant(IFA) and GAS.Female Lewis rats were randomly divided into four groups: A, B, C treatmeat groups were immuned with antigenⅠat the foot pad firstly. Subsequently, rats in group A、B、C were injected antigenⅠ, antigenⅡand activated GAS respectively to make the models of RHD.Rats in control group D were immunized with the same protocol outlined as treatment groups but without GAS. Respectively 7, 12, 24 weeks the rats were sacrificed 24 ( each group was 6).The blood biochemical item and Hematoxylin-eosin( HE) staining of hearts were detected.Results In group C the mortality was 25%.In group A, the incidence of carditis was the highest.Histopathological manifestations of group A, C was not only revealed acute damage such as inflammatory cell infiltrate as well as group B, but also the Aschofflike cells in the myocardial cells interstitial.But in group A and C there had a great degree of the inflammatory cells infiltration than group B.At 24th week rats in group A detected the rate and degree of valve fibrosis in chronic damage were higher than group B and C.None of rats in group D presented carditis or valvulitis.Conclusion In group A, giving the GAS with continuous stimulation after using the mixed emulsification of CFA and GAS to immune Lewis rats for five times was a appropriate method which could provide an optimal animal model for experimental study of acute and chronic rheumatic heart disease.

Objective To review the experience of modified sternal elevation in management of pectus excavatum deformities. Methods A retrospective study was carried out on 268 children with pectus excavatum deformities from January 2002 to December 2005.Of these patients,213 were boys and 55 were girls.Their age ranged from 2 to 16 years and 2 months[mean,(4.48?2.74) years)].Among then,69 cases were aged from 2 to 3 years,130 cases from 3 to 6 years and 69 cases over 6 years.268 patients with PE underwent modified sternal elevation and fixation with the home made stainless steel strut.The lung cysts,esophageal hatal hernia and congenital heart diseases were surgical treated simultaneously.Results There was no death postoperative.Postoperative compli- cations included pneumonia in 1 case,subcutaneous fluid in 2.the foUow-up period was 1-5 years.One patient was found having light notch in sternum.All patients had satisfactory results.In 165 cases stainless steel strut have been taken off postoperatively and no recurrence occurred.Conclusion The modified sternal elevation procedure for pectus excavatum results in an excellent cosmetic outcome.