BACKGROUND: As demonstrated by recent reports, immediate early genes (IEGs) are rapidly induced and expressed when a songbird is stimulated either by bird-song or by its vocal-behavior. The expression area and level of IEGs in the brain, such as zenk, c-fos and c-jun, are corresponding to where and how the neurons are related as a songbird is stimulated, suggesting that IEGs play important roles in vocal learning and memory.OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between vocal learning of songbird and immediate early gene so as to understand the mechanism of human language and the control of central nervous system.DATA SOURCES: All papers were cited from MEDLINE with the keywords of "songbird, vocal learning, memory, zenk, c-fos and c-jun" in English between January 1990 and December 2001. Meanwhile, we searched the Chinese journals full-text database and Wanfang database with the same keywords in Chinese between January 1990 and November 2001 were also searched.STUDY SELECTION: The papers about immediate early genes and vocal learning and memory in songbirds were selected. Then non-randomly controlled studies were excluded, and the rest full-text papers were looked up.DATA EXTRACTION: Totally 17 papers about immediate early genes and vocal learning and memory in songbirds were found. We choose 11 papers in them and 6 was excluded because of summarization.DATA SYNTHESIS: ① zenk and vocal behavior: Expression of zenk in bird's brain can affect learning and memory through adjusting synthesis of special protein. ② Reaction of c-fos to various songs: The reaction of local neurons in bird's brain to the birdsongs are made by the decision of the numbers of song factor in learning songs. ③ Associations of c-jun and cfos: zenk, fos and jun are the necessaries for maintaining long-term memory, which produce a marked effect through signal transduction, reconstruction, synthesis and transduction of induced synapse.CONCLUSION: Immediate early genes (IEGs) are rapidly induced and expressed when a songbird is stimulated either by bird-song or by its vocal-behavior. The expression area and level of IEGs in the brain, such as zenk, c-fos and c-jun, are corresponding to where and how the neurons are related as a songbird is stimulated, suggesting that IEGs play important roles in vocal learning and memory.

OBJECTIVE: To study the optimal alcohol extracting technology for Fructus Crataegi in Jiangzhibao capsules and to study its quality control method. METHODS: The content of Hyperoside and the yield of alcohol extract were studied. An orthogonal design of L9( 34) was carried out with concentration, dosage and extracting time of alcohol as three factors, and three levels of each factor were chosen for the experiment. The content of Hyperoside was determined by HPLC. RESULTS: The optimum alcohol extracting procedure was as follows: 70% alcohol was added and the solid-liquid ratio was 1∶ 10, refluxing for 1h. The process The process was repeated once again. The linear range of Hyperoside was 1. 024～ 30. 72? g? mL-1. CONCLUSION: The alcohol extracting technology is reasonable and feasible, and the preparation obtained is controllable in quality.

Objective　 To study the prevalence and relevant risk factors of low blood pressure and its influence on cardiovascular diseases in China. Methods　A cross-sectional study for low blood pressure was conducted using the data of the third national survey of blood pressure in 1991. Low blood pressure was defined for systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressure less than the tenth percentile for the sample (SBP≤98mmHg and DBP≤60mmHg). Results　The prevalence of low blood pressure for males and females were 2.7% and 7.4%, respectively. The prevalence of low blood pressure for females was higher than that of males (P<0.01). Prevalence of low blood pressure was 7.62%, 6.97%, 4.40%, 3.22%, 2.65%, 1.94% for age groups 15～, 25～, 35～, 45～, 55～, 65～, respectively. The prevalence of low blood pressure was gradually declined with aging. There was large variation in the prevalence of low blood pressure for different minorities. The prevalence of low blood pressure was higher in the southern rather than the northern part of China. Logistic regression showed that the age (OR 0.97, 95%CI 0.97～0.98, per 10 mmHg), BMI (OR 0.80, 95%CI 0.80～0.81), drinking (OR 0.89, 95%CI 0.86～0.93) and heart rate (OR 0.981, 95%CI 0.980～0.982) had reverse relationship with low blood pressure. The sex had a positive relationship with low blood pressure. The prevalence of stroke and myocardial infarction in the population with low blood pressure was lower than that of normal pressure or hypertension (P<0.01). Conclusion　The prevalence and relevant risk factors of low blood pressure in China were various. We speculate that low blood pressure in Chinese population appears to be a normal state of physiology.The difinite influence in health needs cohort studies to confirm.

Objective To investigate the action mechanism of Tianqi Yizhi Granules for Alzheimer disease. Methods Ninety SD rats were divided into sham-operation group, model group, positive medicine group, high, medium and low dosage of Tianqi Yizhi Granules groups. SD rats were injected with aggregated amyloid β1-42 protein (Aβ1-42) into their left ventricle to establish AD models. Treatment groups received gavage with Huperzine A or Tianqi Yizhi Granules. The sham-operation group and model group received gavage with the same volume of normal saline. The mitochondrial membrane potential, activity of complex Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ of mitochondrial respiratory chain, enzymatic activity of Na+-K+ATP, energy charge, and space leaning ability were detected. Results Compared with model group, Tianqi Yizhi Granules could significantly improve mitochondrial membrane potential, activity of complex Ⅰ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ of mitochondrial respiratory chain, enzymatic activity of Na+-K+ATP, space leaning ability, and energy metabolism of brain in AD rats. Conclusion Tianqi Yizhi Granules showed mitochondrial protective capacity, and could improve energy metabolism of brain in AD rats, and then improve AD rats’ space learning ability.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of expression of P53,Ki67 in proliferation,invasion and metastasis of cancer cells of patients with esophageal carcinoma.Methods Eighty-six patients with esophageal carcinoma were selected as tumor group from January 2006 to May 2008.And another 86 patients without tumor were as control group.ABC-immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of P53 and Ki67 in 172 cases of patients with esophageal carcinoma.Results The expression of P53 in patients with esophageal carcinoma was different from that in control subjects (x2 =4.045,P ＜ 0.05),and the P53 expression rate in two group were 66.3％ (57/86) and 51.1％ (44/86) respectively.The rate of P53 expression reaching to + + in two groups was also significant (x2 =8.592,P ＜ 0.01).Ki67 expression in patients with esophageal carcinoma was higher than that of control patients (76.7％ (66/86) vs.60.5％ (82/86),x2 =5.291,P ＜ 0.05).Additionally,there was significant difference regarding of Ki6 expression reaching to + + positive(x2 =13.661,P ＜ 0.01).Moreover,the expression of P53 and Ki67 were found to be a positively correlation(r =0.400,P =0.00).The expression of P53 and Ki67 were related with invasion and differentiation of cancer cells (x2 =3.945,5.794 respectively,all P ＜ 0.05) and lymph node metastasis (x2 =5.570,4.354 respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Over-expression of P53 and Ki67 were involved in the process of proliferation,invasion and metastasis of cancer cells in esophageal carcinoma,which coherently impacted the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer.The combined detection of P53 and Ki67 seems to help the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer and evaluation of the degree of malignancy,invasion,metastasis and prognosis.Over-expression of P53,Ki67 might be served as a reference marker in screening for chemotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects ofTianqi-Yizhi granules on oxidative stress in the brain tissue, and learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease model rats.Methods A total of 90 male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups by random number table method: sham operation group, model group, huperzine A group and groups of low-, medium- and high-doseTianqi-Yizhi granules, with 15 rats in each group. The AD rat model was prepared by the left lateral ventricle injection of amyloid-β1-42. One week after modeling, the rats in the groups of low-, medium- and high-doseTianqi-Yizhi granules received intragastric administration of 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 g/kgTianqi-Yizhi granules, respectively; the rats in the huperzine A group received intragastric administration of 0.02 mg/kg huperzine A solution; and the rats in the sham operation and model groups received intragastric administration of equivalent volume of normal saline for 30 days. Learning and memory were evaluated using the dark avoidance test. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malonaldehyde (MDA) level in the brain tissue were determined. ResultsIn comparison with the model group, the latencies to step into the dark chamber in the high- and medium-dose Tianqi-Yizhi granules groups were significantly longer (239.05 ± 48.42 s, 214.35 ± 74.52 svs. 97.39 ± 30.69 s; allP<0.01), the numbers of errors significantly decreased (1.93 ± 3.25, 2.27 ± 3.09vs. 6.62 ± 3.45; allP<0.05), the activities of SOD (177.27 ± 63.10 U/mg, 164.53 ± 72.58 U/mgvs.72.56±21.04 U/mg; all P<0.01) and GSH-Px (2 899.36 ± 362.27 U/g, 2 407.68 ± 472.14 U/gvs. 1 397.64 ± 442.17 U/g; allP<0.01), and MDA level (24.75 ± 9.94 nmol/mg, 27.74 ± 5.82 nmol/mgvs. 37.56 ± 17.23 nmol/mg; allP<0.01) in the brain tissue significantly increased. ConclusionTianqi-Yizhi granules could attenuate oxidative stress in the brain tissue, and improve learning and memory in AD rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of cognition training on the recovery of balance after stroke. Methods forty-five hemiplegic strokd patents with cognition deficit were revruited and sddigned into an experimental group and a control group according to the results of an assessment with Loewenstein's Occupational Therapy Cognition Assessment battery (LOTCA). The patients in the two groups folloled routine systmatic rehabilitation programs. The patients in the (LOTCA). The patients in the two groups followed routine systmatic rehabilitation programs.The patiena in the experimental group received pertinent cognition training 5 days/week for 6 weeks. LOTCA,Brunel's Balance Assessment (BBA), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Brunnatrom functional categories were enployed to evaluate the patients before and after treatment with regard to their cognition, balance control and motor function in their lower limbs. Results After treatment, there were statistically significant differences between preand post-treatment BBA and BBS scores in all groups. Average BBA, BBS and LOTCA scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than in the control group. The improvements in BBS, BBA and LOTCA scores in the experimental grou were significantly greater than in control group. Conclusion Cognition treatment can contribute significantly to improving balance and postural control among stroke survivors.

Objective To seek more direct evidence of the role of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in controlling visuospatial attention.Methods Forty healthy subjects took the Attention Network Test following continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) applied over the left or right PPC or sham stimulation.The Attention Network Test measures the alerting,orienting and executive control components of visual attention separately.Results Subjects responded to spatial cues significantly slower after cTBS.Alerting and orienting showed deficits after cTBS over the right PPC.cTBS over the left PPC resulted in significant improvements in alerting,but not in the orienting.Furthermore,there were significant differences in the alerting and orienting indices between cTBS over the left and right PPC,but not in the executive control index.Conclusions The results suggest that the right PPC is associated with spatial orienting and the alerting function.The findings supported the theory of inter-hemispheric competition for visuospatial attention.Visuospatial attention bias might be selectively modulated through cTBS.

BACKGROUND: At present, most researches on simulated weightlessness are confined to its effect on the artery. Therefore, the effect on the vein needs to be further studied.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effect of simulated weightlessness on the ultrastructure of rabbit femoral vein and the remodeling of femoral vein.DESIGN: A completely randomized and controlled trial based on experimental animals.SETTING: Department of Aerospace and Aviation Medical Science, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed in the Department of Aerospace and Aviation Medical Science, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from December 2000 to December 2001. Altogether 24healthy male New Zealand rabbits, weighing 2.0-2.5 kg were obtained.INTERVENTIONS: The model of Head-Down Tilt( -20°) (HDT) simulated weightlessness was established in rabbits. A total of 24 healthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into control group, 10-day simulated weightlessness group and 21-day simulated weightlessness group, with 8rabbits in each group. The ultrastructure of the rabbit femoral vein was observed under transmission electron microscope.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes and degeneration of endothelial cell, mitochondrion, internal elastic membrane, and smooth muscle.RESULTS: Cell organelles in endothelial cell of the femoral vein of HDT rabbits decreased, mitochondrion dissolved and disappeared, vacuolar degeneration in endothelial cell increased and phagolysosome in endothelial cell could be found. Internal elastic membrane became thinner and was broken. The smooth muscle layer became thinner and some smooth muscle cells became degenerated. Cell interstitial substance increased. There was significant difference in changes between 21-day and 10-day simulated weightlessness groups.CONCLUSION: The vascular remodeling of femoral vein occurs with atrophic changes during simulated weightlessness. The longer duration of simulated weightlessness is, the more obviously the structure of femoral vein changes.

BACKGROUND: Previously, more researches are about the pathological changesinskeleton, nerveandmuscularofcongenitalclubfoot(CCF). Researches are exploring the changes in the surrounding soft tissues of the deformed feet.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between the pathogeny,pathology and pathogenesis of CCF and extracellular matrix (ECM).DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled trial.SETTING: Institute of Orthopeadics of the Fourth Military Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted in the Institute of Orthopeadics of the Fourth Military Medical University from November 1997 to August 2003. The deep fascia of study group was obtained from 15 CCF patients who received operative corrections including 11 males and 4 females with an average of 9 months. Five infant corpses who died from non-neural muscular diseases and non-collagen diseases aged between 4 and 21 months with an average age of 11 months were selected in the control group.METHODS: Immunohistochemical investigation was used for the assay of both study and control group. Slices were quantitatively analyzed by Letica Q,570c color image analysis and management system.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Positive expressions of collagen Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ, and the relative contents in the deep fascia of both groups.RESULTS: The grey values for relative contents of collagen Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ in the interior foot were 116. 43 ± 11. 80, 132. 91 ± 8. 88, and 184. 40 ± 11.82respectively in the study group, and 169.28 ± 8.17, 176. 33 ± 9.47, and 194. 38 ±5.87 in the control group. The contents of collagen Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲincreased in the contractured tissues of CCF group with the most significant increase in collagen Ⅰ, followed by collagen Ⅲ and the increase of collagen Ⅱwas least. Additionally, collagen Ⅰ was negatively correlated with collagen Ⅲ. The positive expression of collagen Ⅱ might be an accompanying phenomenon, which had no correlation with collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ.CONCLUSION: ECM changes in CCF are accorded with fibrosis in tissues and organs and general fibroelastosis. Therefore, CCF might be caused by the fibrosis of interior foot.