Cellular autophagy is a major degradative pathway for clearance of aggregate-prone proteins and damaged organelles. It plays an important role in regulating cellular homeostasis, cell growth and development, and disease development. Dysfunctional autophagy contributes to the pathology of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, in which specific pathological protein accumulation occurs. A growing body of evidence suggests that resveratrol plays a significantly role in the regulation of autophagy and clearance of pathological proteins. Resveratrol is a potential drug for neurodegenerative diseases therapy. This review focuses on the effects of resveratrol on cellular autophagy and clinical application in the control of neurodegenerative diseases.

Cellular autophagy is a major degradative pathway for clearance of aggregate-prone proteins and damaged organelles. It plays an important role in regulating cellular homeostasis, cell growth and development, and disease development. Dysfunctional autophagy contributes to the pathology of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, in which specific pathological protein accumulation occurs. A growing body of evidence suggests that resveratrol plays a significantly role in the regulation of autophagy and clearance of pathological proteins. Resveratrol is a potential drug for neurodegenerative diseases therapy. This review focuses on the effects of resveratrol on cellular autophagy and clinical application in the control of neurodegenerative diseases.
Alzheimer Disease ; Autophagy ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; drug therapy ; Parkinson Disease ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

Objective To analyze the complications due to CT-guided transthoracic aspiration biopsy for pulmonary lesions and discuss the role of puncture skill for reducing the complications.Methods CT- guided transthoracic aspiration biopsy was performed in 116 patients with intrapulmonary parenchymal occupied lesions from June 2006 to June 2007 in our hospital.The complications and the whole process of puncture were analyzed to obtain the experience for reducing the occurrence of complications.Results CT-guided transthoracic aspiration biopsy was succeeded in all 116 cases.The major complications included pneumothorax (15.51%),puncture tract hemorrhage(10.34%),hemoptysis(4.31%)and others(1.72%).Only 1 case of pneumothorax was treated by closed thoracic drainage and no specific treatment for others.Conclusion CT- guided transthoracic aspiration biopsy for pulmonary lesions is an efficient and safe diagnostic modality.The criteria for reducing the complications are associated with accurate localization,the correct breath training and evaluation of lesion before the operation.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:847-849)

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the changes of serum levels of interleukin 12 ( IL-12), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta 1) and immunoglobulin E ( IgE) in children with asthma as well as the correlation of IL-12 and TGFbeta 1 with IgE in order to investigate their roles in asthma.

METHODSSerum levels of IL-12 , TGFbeta 1 and IgE were detected using ELISA in 85 asthmatic children at the acute and the remission stages. Thirty healthy children served as control group.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, serum IL-12 and TGFbeta 1 levels were significantly lower and serum IgE levels were significantly higher in the asthmatic group through the acute to the remission stages. Serum IL-12 and TGFbeta 1 levels (40.42+/-15.26 ng/L and 65.41+/-22.38 pg/mL) significantly increased in the asthmatic group at the remission stage compared with those at the acute stage (28.42+/-10.73 ng/L and 40.25+/-11.73 pg/mL) (P<0.01), but remained lower levels than those in the control group (67.42+/-20.58 ng/L and 178.54+/-90.56 pg/mL) (P<0.01). The asthmatic patients at the remission stage showed significantly decreased serum IgE levels (145.67 +/-51.25 IU/mL) compared with those at the acute stage (280.35 +/-80.54 IU/mL) (P<0.01), but the IgE level in the remission stage was obviously higher than in the control group (53.61+/-13.32 IU/mL) (P<0.01). Serum IL-12 and TGFbeta 1 levels were negatively correlated with serum IgE level in asthmatic children.

CONCLUSIONSThere might be an imbalance in serum IL-12, TGFbeta 1 and IgE levels in asthmatic children. IL-12, TGFbeta 1 and IgE may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. They may be useful in the diagnosis and severity evaluation of asthma.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Male ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo discuss the changes in Wnt pathway inhibiting factors in esophageal precancerosis lesions induced by methyl benzyl nitrosamine (MBNA) and the effect of Gexia Zhuyu decoction.

METHODWistar rats were subcutaneously injected with MBNA (3.5 mg x kg(-1) for twice per week to establish the model. Since the 1st day after the model establishment, they were orally administered with Gexia Zhuyu decoction (16, 8 mg x kg(-1)). At the 10th week, esophageal tissues were collected to observe the pathological changes of esophageal mucosa, detect SFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1, Axin2 and GSK-3β mRNA levels.by fluorescent quantitation PCR analysis and β-catenin protein level by Western blotting.

RESULTBeing induced by MBNA, rats in the model group showed slight atypical hyperplasia in the histopathological examination. Compared with the normal group, Gexia Zhuyu decoction dose high and low groups showed no significant pathomorphological and histological changes. The model group showed lower gene transcription levels of esophageal tissues sFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1 and Axin2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and higher β-catenin protein expression level (P < 0.01) than the normal control group. The Gexia Zhuyu decoction low dose group showed higher gene transcription levels of esophageal tissues sFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1 and Axin2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and lower β-catenin protein expression level (P < 0.01) than the normal control group.

CONCLUSIONUp-regulated β-catenin protein level and down-regulated Wnt pathway could enhance Wnt pathway activity of MBNA-induced esophageal precancerous lesions. Gexia Zhuyu decoction could down-regulate the β-catenin protein level and up-regulate the transcription level of Wnt pathway inhibiting factors, but could not block MBNA-induced esophageal precancerosis lesions.

Animals ; Axin Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Esophageal Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Nitrosamines ; adverse effects ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Wnt Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects

'Bronze teeth' reflect the mechanical properties of natural teeth to a certain extent. Their mechanical properties resemble those of a tough metal, and the gradient of these properties lies in the direction from outside to inside. These attributes confer human teeth with effective mastication ability. Understanding the various mechanical properties of human teeth and dental materials is the basis for the development of restorative materials. In this study, the elastic properties, dynamic mechanical properties (visco-elasticity) and fracture mechanical properties of enamel and dentin were reviewed to provide a more thorough understanding of the mechanical properties of human teeth.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Dental Enamel ; physiopathology ; Dentin ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Mastication ; Tooth ; physiopathology

AIM:To investigate the effects of 1.8mm coaxial micro incision phacoemulsification on corneal endothelial injury and postoperative visual acuity.METHODS: Totally 145 eyes in 120 patients underwent phacoemulsification from July 2013 to July 2015 were randomly divided into observation group 60 cases (73 eyes) and control group 60 cases (72 eyes).The observation group 60 cases were given 1.8mm coaxial micro incision cataract phacoemulsification operation,while the control group were given traditional 3.2mm coaxial micro incision cataract surgery.The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),corneal thickness of incision area,incision width,incision length,macular retinal thickness,surgically induced astigmatism,corneal endothelial cell counts and complications of the two groups were compared.RESULTS: The UCVA and BCVA on 1wk after surgery of the observation group were significantly higher than the control group (t=3.604,7.109;P<0.05);the width of incision on 1wk and 1mo after surgery of the observation group were significantly less than the control group (t=205.3,225.2;P<0.05).The length of incision in observation group was significantly greater than the control group (t=3.926,5.009;P<0.05).Macular retinal thickness 1wk after surgery of the observation group was significantly less than the control group (t=2.817,P<0.05).The surgically induced astigmatism was significantly less than the control group (t=19.43,22.16;P<0.01);the difference of corneal edema between the two groups was not significant (8.22% vs 11.11%) (x2=0.348,P>0.05).CONCLUSION: The 1.8mm micro incision phacoemulsification is helpful to improve the visual acuity of patients with cataract phacoemulsification,which may be related to the reduction of corneal cell injury,enhancement of corneal closure and decrease post-operation corneal original astigmatism.

Currently, the herbal prescription therapy for corresponding constitutional diseases is a common constitution regulating method. This method has an obvious effect in treating and regulating constitution-related diseases. However, for people who do not have disease, they prefer to regulate constitution with dietary therapy. In this paper, the researchers came up with a design method of constitution regulating and healthcare foods based on medicinal property combination mode of clinical empirical formulas. With "Yupinfeng San", a common formula for Qi-insufficiency constitution and specific endowment constitution, as the example for constitution regulating and healthcare foods, the researchers proved the effectiveness and rationality of healthcare food schemes in terms of the efficacy of single herb and the modern pharmacological study.
Diet ; Diet Therapy ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Prescriptions

OBJECTIVETo investigate the material base and underlying mechanism of the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture on the neuronal plasticity in rats with focal cerebral infarction.

METHODSThe model rats with acute cerebral infarction were made by blocking the middle cerebral artery with monofilament. One hundred and thirty two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operation group (A), model group (B), point-to-point scalp acupuncture group (C) and cluster-needling of scalp acupunture group (D). Puncturing from "Baihui (GV 20)" to "Qubin (GB 7)" was used in group C. Cluster needling of scalp acupuncture was used in group D, in which needles were inserted forward and slantingly into "Baihui (GV 20)" and its left and right sides at 4 mm. In both groups, the treatment was carried out with rapid twirling reinforcing-reducing for 1 min then retaining needle for 30 min, once a day, 6 days in one course, for treating 4 courses. There was no treatment for group A and B. The change of neurological function was evaluated with Bederson score, while the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) in the ischemic penumbra was examined with immunohistochemistry (streptavidin-peroxidase method).

RESULTSIn comparison,with group B, the score of neurological function in group D decreased on 7th day (P<0.05), while the scors in group C and D also decreased on 14th and 28th days (both P<0.05). As compared with group C, the score of neurological function in group D obviously decreased on 28th days (P<0. 05). Comparing with group B, the expression of MAP-2 on the ischemic cortex was significantly increased in group D and C on 7th, 14th and 28th days (all P<0. 05), however, this expression in group D was higher than that in group C on 14th and 28th days (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONCluster needling of scalp acupuncture can improve the neurological function of rats with focal cerebral infarction, and increase the expression of MAP-2 in the ischemic penumbra.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Animals ; Cerebral Infarction ; ethnology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Scalp

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in the neonatal intensive care unit that causes a high mortality of preterm infants and various chronic kidney diseases in adulthood. Preterm infants have immature development of the kidneys at birth. The kidneys continue to develop within a specific time window after birth. However, due to various factors during pregnancy and after birth, preterm infants tend to develop AKI. At present, serum creatinine and urine volume are used for the assessment of kidney injury, and their early sensitivity and specificity have attracted increasing attention. In recent years, various new biomarkers have been identified for early recognition of AKI. This article reviews the features, risk factors, renal function assessment, and prevention/treatment of AKI of preterm infants, in order to provide a reference for improving early diagnosis and treatment of AKI in preterm infants and long-term quality of life.
Acute Kidney Injury ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Biomarkers ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature