Objective To study the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs),and to explore any effect of EA in neurological rehabilitation and its mechanism.Methods Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used to establish a model of cerebral infarction in 120 Wistar rats.They were then randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,both of which were further subdivided into 1,3,7,14,21 and 28 day sub-groups with 10 in each sub-group.Bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) was given at the 1st,2nd,6th,13th,20th and 27th day to detect any proliferation and differentiation of NSCs.After 7 days the motor function of the two groups was evaluated using a beam walking test.Rats were sacrificed at the different time points and Brdu labeled cells and nestin-positive cells were determined by immunohistochemistry.The level of basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) mRNA was determined by in-situ hybridization.The results were analyzed using a micro-image analysis system.Results The Brdu-labeled cell counts and nestin-positive cells were significantly different between the treatment and control groups at each time point.Motor function improved significantly in the treatment group with EA stimulation compared with the control group,but there was no significant difference between the 21 day and 28 day sub-groups in the treatment group.The expression levels of bFGF-2 mRNA were significantly different between the treatment and control groups at the early time points (up to the 14th day).Conclusions EA can promote proliferation of NSCs and increase the expression of FGF-2 mRNA,particularly early after cerebral infarction.It may be one of mechanisms of EA's effectiveness in treating ischemic stroke.

Objective To evaluate the clinical presentations,pathologic characteristics,and the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic cystitis.Methods Two cases of eosinophilic cystitis were analyzed,and the relevant literature was reviewed.Case 1,a 63-year-old man,complained of voiding urgency and frequency,dysuria,intermittent hematuria,and lower abdominal pain.Cystoscopic examination showed that an about 5cm?3cm abnormal focus was 0.2-0.4 cm above bladder mucosa at the fundus of the bladder.Case 2,a 42-year-old woman,complained of voiding urgency and frequency,dysuria,and suprapubic pain with intermittent hematuria.Cystoscopic examination showed that about 4 cm?3 cm?2 cm abnormal foci of cauliflower-like were 0.3-0.4 cm above bladder mucosa at the fundus and neck of the bladder.Imaging examinations(Bultrasound,CT and IVU) showed diffuse thickening of bladder wall and tumor-like lesions.They both underwent transurethral resection of the lesions and were treated with oral steroids and antibiotics.Results Postoperative pathology confirmed eosinophilic cystitis in both cases.The follow-up was 6 months.The voiding symptoms disappeared,and imaging examinations showed no space-occupying lesions of the bladder in them.Up to now,there has no evidence of relapse.Conclusions Eosinophilic cystitis is a very rare tumor-like inflammatory disease.It is easily misdiagnosed as bladder neoplasm.Cystoscopy and biopsy are gold standard for the diagnosis.Current treatment modalities include transurethral resection of the bladder lesion along with nonspecific medical therapy.

Objective To establish the linear regression equation between body height and com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum of sternum m easured by CTvolum e rendering technique (CT-VRT) in southw est H an population. Methods One hundred and sixty subjects, including 80 m ales and 80 fem ales w ere selected from southw est H an population for routine CT-VRT(reconstruction thickness 1 m m ) ex-am ination. The lengths of both manubrium and mesosternum w ere recorded, and the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum was equal to the algebraic sum of them . The sex-specific linear regression equations between the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum and the real body height of each subject w ere deduced. Results The sex-specific sim ple linear regression equations between the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum (x3) and body height (y) w ere established (m ale:y=135.000+2.118x3 and fem ale:y=120.790+2.808x3).Both equations show ed statisticalsignificance (P<0.05) w ith a 100% predictive accuracy. Conclusion CT-VRTis an effective m ethod for m easurem ent of the index of sternum . The com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum from CT-VRTcan be used for body height estim ation in southw est H an population.

The cDNA fragment of JEV prME gene was cloned into the baculovirus shuttle vector (bacmid) to construct a recombinant baculovirus vector, defined as AcBac-prME. Then the recombinant baculovirus Ac-prME was obtained by transfecting Sf9 cells with AcBac-prME. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence results indicated that both prM and E proteins were efficiently expressed in Sf9 cells. Electron microscopy suggested that prME was assembled into JEV-VLPs. To further evaluate the potential of JEV-VLPs as vaccine, the mice were immunized with JEV-VLPs and then challenged with lethal JEV. The results of mice survival and pathological changes demonstrated that the JEV-VLPs performed complete protection against JEV-P3 strain and relieved pathological changes in the mice brain significant. This study suggest that JEV-VLPs would be a potential vaccine for Japanese encephalitis virus.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; genetics ; immunology ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Humans ; Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Sf9 Cells ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVE: To establish the linear regression equation between body height and combined length of manubrium and mesostenum of sternum measured by CT volume rendering technique (CT-VRT) in southwest Han population. METHODS: One hundred and sixty subjects, including 80 males and 80 females were selected from southwest Han population for routine CT-VRT (reconstruction thickness 1 mm) examination. The lengths of both manubrium and mesosternum were recorded, and the combined length of manubrium and mesosternum was equal to the algebraic sum of them. The sex-specific linear regression equations between the combined length of manubrium and mesosternum and the real body height of each subject were deduced. RESULTS: The sex-specific simple linear regression equations between the combined length of manubrium and mesostenum (x3) and body height (y) were established (male: y = 135.000+2.118 x3 and female: y = 120.790+2.808 x3). Both equations showed statistical significance (P < 0.05) with a 100% predictive accuracy. CONCLUSION CT-VRT is an effective method for measurement of the index of sternum. The combined length of manubrium and mesosternum from CT-VRT can be used for body height estimation in southwest Han population.
Asian People ; Body Height ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Manubrium/anatomy & histology* ; Regression Analysis ; Sternum/anatomy & histology* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Real-time quantitative PCR was used to characterize HearNPV DNA replication in exponential and stationary phases of HzAM1 cells. Results showed that the doubling time of HzAM1 cells was 22 h in exponential phases. Most of the exponential cells were in S phase (48.6%), and most of the stationary cells in G2/M phase (72.6%). The replication of viral DNA was completed within 60 h post infection (h p. i.) in different phases of HzAM1 cells. During 14 to 20 h p. i., the doubling time of HearNPV replica-tion was 1.8 h in exponential cells and 1.9 h in stationary cells, and no significant difference was found between them. But the amounts of BV entering and releasing, the final progeny virions and viral protein products in the infected exponential phase cells were obviously higher than that in the stationary phase cells. 25% of the total synthesized viral DNAs were released from infected exponential phase cells, but on-ly 13% from the infected stationary phase cells. Viral DNA started to be replicated from 7-8 h p. i. both in infected exponential phase and in stationary phase cells. But in infected exponential phase cells, BVs were started to release from 18-20 h p. i., and BVs were started to release from 22-25 h p. i. from infected sta-tionary phase cells. During 30-60 h p. i., the BV releasing rate was about 483 copies/cell/h in the expo-nential phase cells, but was 100 copies/cell/h in the stationary-phase cells. The initial viral DNA entering into exponential phase cells was much more than that entered into the stationary phase cells. The data of cell membrane fluidity at exponential and stationary phases suggested that the fluidity of cell membrane played an important role during virus entry.
Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; DNA Replication ; Membrane Fluidity ; Moths ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus ; physiology ; Virus Internalization ; Virus Replication

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. This paper reports three cases of SSADH deficiency in infants. The infants developed the symptoms including developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, hyporeflexia and seizures. The electroencephalogram (EEG) showed background slowing and focal spike discharges in all of 3 patients. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated abnormalities in 2 patients, including basal ganglia damage and increased T2-weighted signal in bilateral cerebral peduncles. Urinary organic acid analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed increased levels of 4-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in 3 patients. SSADH deficiency was definitely diagnosed based on the clinical manifestations and the results of urinary organic acid analysis in the 3 children. It was concluded that early urine organic acid analysis is essential for children presenting with mental retardation, neuropsychiatric disturbance or epilepsy of unknown etiology.
Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Developmental Disabilities ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Succinate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase ; deficiency

Objective The purpose of this study is to estimate the body height of Sichuan Hans population by CT-VRT images of clavicle and to update the data of Stature estimation. Methods Three hundred individual CT-VRT images of clavicle were selected. The length of both side clavicles was measured and then the average clavicle length (ACL),the left clavicle length(LCL),the right clavicle length(RCL)was calculated as independent variable to establish the regression equations. The gender difference was tested by ANOVA and the correlation between the clavicle and the body height was tested by Pearson. Result The correlation between the ACL, LCL, RCL and the body height was normal in both genders (0.534 in male ACL and 0.707in female ACL; 0.484 in male LCL, 0.680in femaleLCL;0.523 in male RCL, 0.695 in female RCL). The test of accuracy showed MAD=4.48cm in the male ACL simple linear regression model and MAD=3.51cm in the female ACL simple linear regression model; MAD=4.60cm in the male LCL model, MAD=3.64cm in the female LCL simple linear regression model; MAD=4.49cm in the male RCL model, MAD=3.59cm in the female RCL model. Conclusion The regression equations derided from clavicle on the basis of CT-VRT images in this study can be used to estimate stature for Sichuan Hans population. But the R2 values were small, so it's better to combine other bone for stature estimation.

This study investigated the expression of lung surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C, and their modulating factors TTF-1 and PLAGL2 in the fetal lung of rats with fetal growth restriction (FGR). The rat FGR model was established by prenatal hypoxia in the first stage of pregnancy, 180 rats for experiment served as hypoxia group, and 197 healthy rats served as normal control group. The FGR incidence in hypoxia was compared with that in normal control group. The histological changes in the fetal lung were observed under the light microscope and electronic microscope in two groups. The SP-B, SP-C, TTF-1 and PLAGL2 proteins were determined in the fetal lung of two groups immunohistochemically. The expression levels of SP-B, SP-C, TTF-1 and PLAGL2 protein and mRNA in the fetal lung of two groups were detected by using Western blotting and RT-PCR respectively. The FGR rat model was successfully established by using hypoxia. Pathologically the fetal lung developed slowly, and the expression levels of SP-B, SP-C, TTF-1 and PLAGL2 protein and mRNA in the fetal lung were significantly reduced in hypoxia group as compared with those in normal control group. It was suggested that maternal hypoxia in the first stage of pregnancy could induce FGR, and reduce the expression of SP-B and SP-C, resulting in the disorder of fetal lung development and maturation.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Lung ; embryology ; metabolism ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the whole plant Caragana spinifera.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified on silica gel column. The structures were elucidated by the NMR spectra and physico-chemical properties.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated and identified as (6aR, 11aR) 4,9-dimethoxy-3-hydroxypterocarpan, (6aR,11aR)-4, 9-dihydroxy-3- methoxypterocarpan (melilotocarpane B), 5, 4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavone, 7-hydroxy4'-methoxyisoflavone, 6, 7-dihydroxy4'-methoxyisoflavone, beta-sitosterol respectively.

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Caragana ; chemistry ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Pterocarpans ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification