OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of 3-n-butylphthalide pretreatment on the delayed neuronal death(DND) and the expreesion of heat shock protein70 (HSP70) in rat hippocampus after ischemia/ reperfusion.

METHODSAll rats were randomly divided into sham group (n = 36), total cerebral ischemia (TCI) group (n = 36), butylphthalide (NBP) group (n = 6), NBP + TCI group( n = 36), quercetin + NBP + TCI group (n = 6), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) + NBP + TCI group (n = 6). The model of total cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was established by blocking vertebral arteries and carotid arteries. In sham group, TCI group and NBP group, the animals were further divided into instantly, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 5 d groups according to the time interval after sham operation or TCI. Histological changes of the hippocampus were evaluated using thionin staining under light microscope by determining the delayed neuronal death (DND) and the expression of HSP70 was assayed using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSNBP pretreatment could reduce delayed neuronal death in CA1 of hippocampus induced by TCI-reperfusion injury in rats, and up-regulated the expression of HSP70 in CA1 hippocampus of brain ischemic/reperfusion for 5 days. Quercetin blocked the acquirement of the brain ischemic tolerance induced by NBP preconditioning.

CONCLUSION3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) prevents the neurons from ischemia/reperfusion injury through upregulating the expression of HSP70.

Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; cytology ; pathology ; Cell Death ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between lumbosacral transitional vertebra and the lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

METHODSThe X-ray photographs of lumbar vertebra were retrospectively studied of patients with and without LDH confirmed by surgery, furthermore, the differential incidence of LDH between the two groups and the relationship between transitional vertebra and the position of disc herniation were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe incidence of lumbosacral transitional vertebra was 18.3% in the control group, 52.7% in the LDH group, the difference was statistically significant. In the group with single lumbosacral transitional vertebra, there was 75.9% of LDH occurred on the same side of the transitional vertebra, 81.8% of which occurred at the upper one disc of the transitional vertebra; whereas 17.2% of LDH on the opposite side of the transitional vertebra, 80.0% of which occurred at the lower one disc of the transitional vertebra.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a closer relationship between lumbosacral transitional vertebra and the LDH, and the lumbosacral transitional vertebra is one of the important factors in the emergence of LDH.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; etiology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Sacrum ; diagnostic imaging ; Spondylolisthesis ; complications

The medicinal plant resource reserve refers to the natural resources of medicinal plants in a certain time and a certain region within the scope of the volume. In recent years, with the demand of medicinal plant resources surging and the change of the environment and human intervention factors, the medicinal plant resources reserve had accelerated pace of change. It is the prerequisite and basis for the development and utilization of medical plants that how to quickly and accurately attain reserve of some medicinal plants resources, the selection of suitable and accurate estimating method is reliable basis and can guarantee medicinal plant reserve survey, and also is one of the key reserve investigation of success. This paper systematically summarized the estimation method of medicinal plants in recent 30 years, and discussed the basic principle, the estimation model of development and evolution, advantages and disadvantages and applicability, and it aimed to improve the accuracy about reserves survey of medicinal plant resources, and provide scientific and reliable support data to medicinal plants resources for sustainable development and utilization of resources.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Models, Statistical ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development

Bacterial Infections ; diagnosis ; urine ; Colorimetry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis ; diagnosis ; urine ; Urinalysis ; methods

Objective To investigate the anti-apoptotic function of clusterin in LNCaP cell line and the role of clusterin antisense oligodcoxynucleotide(AS-ODN)in TNF-?-induced death of LNCaP cell. Methods The wild type LNCaP(group L),LNCaP transfected with the control vector(group M),LNCaP transfected with full-length clusterin expression vector(group A,ie,study group)were cultured.For the de- tection of cytotoxic effect of TNF-?,MTT and ELISA methods were used to determine the cell proliferation and apoptosis of the 3 clones,and the changes of proliferation and apoptosis in A cell after transfection of clusterin AS-ODN were also assessed.Results MTT method showed that the cell proliferation activity(A value)of groups L,M,and A were 0.84?0.03,0.85?0.04,0.95?0.03,respectively;the difference be- tween groups L and M was not significant(P＞0.05);but compared with group A the cell proliferation activ- ity was significantly lower in groups L and M(P＜0.01 for both).ELISA resuhs showed that the A values of groups L,M,and A were 0.59?0.04,0.62?0.03,0.33?0.04,respectively;the difference between groups L and M was not significant(P＞0.05);but compared with group A,the apoptosis rates were significantly higher in groups L and M(P＜0.01 for both).In group A,A values of cell proliferation activity in subgroups control,AS-ODN,TNF-?,TNF-?+AS-ODN were 1.30?0.03,1.25?0.03,0.99?0.03,0.80?0.03, respectively;the differences between each group were significant(P＜0.05 for all).And the A values of cell apoptosis in the above 4 groups were 0.02?0.00,0.21?0.02,0.63?0.07,1.16?0.04,respectively,the differences between each group were significant(P＜0.01 for all).Conclusions Stable transfection and subsequent expression of clusterin result in resistance to the cytotoxic effect of TNF-?.Transfection with clus- terin AS-ODN enhances cytotoxic effect of TNF-?in A cells.These results suggest that clusterin plays an im- portant role in anti-apoptotic function in LNCaP cell line.

OBJECTIVETo study the cleavage activity of specific deoxyribozyme to hepatitis C virus in vitro.

METHODSThree deoxyribozymes were designed to cleave at sites 157, 168, 173 in HCV 5'-noncoding region with the active region of 5'-GGCTAGCTACAACGA-3' respectively. Plasmid pCMV/T7-NCRC -Delta Luc was completely linearized with restriction endonuclease Xba I. HCV RNA5'-NCRC was transcribed in vitro from the linearized products and radiolabelled with [alpha-32P] UTP. Under the conditions of 37 degrees C, pH7.5, Mg2+ 10 mmol/L, the three deoxyribozymes were mixed with substrate RNA individually for 120 minutes and then the reactions were terminated. The cleavaged products were separated with 8% denaturated polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and displayed by autoradiography. DRz3 was mixed with the substrate RNA at different Mg2+ concentrations. The cleavage efficiency was analyzed with a gel document action analyzing systems.

RESULTSUnder the adopted conditions the three deoxyribozymes efficiently cleaved to the target RNA in vitro and the cleavage activity of DRz3 was increased with the increase of Mg2+ concentration.

CONCLUSIONThe designed deoxyribozymes can cleave 5'-NCR mRNA of HCV efficiently in vitro and it is dose-respondent to Mg2+ concentration.

DNA, Catalytic ; genetics ; DNA, Single-Stranded ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; therapy ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

Objective To explore the effect and indication of splenectomy in liver transplantation.Methods From January 2001 to April 2006,260 patients underwent piggyback orthotopic liver transplantation(PBOLT),and 28 patients had undergone combined PBOLT and splenectomy(splenectomy group).These patients were compared to 56 randomly selected non-splenectomy patients from the same transplant period,meaningly two controls were se- lected for every non-spleneetomy case.Two groups were analyzed with respect to rate of infection and survival rate, as well as biopsy-proven acute allograft rejection within 30 days after transplantation.Results Rate of infection in the splenectomy group was higher than that in the non-splenectomy patients(85.7% vs 55.4%,P

BACKGROUND:Osteoarthritis is one of the most common senile chronic degenerative diseases in China.Due to its complex pathogenesis and cellular molecular communication pathways,there is currently no effective method to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis.Studies have found that transforming growth factor-β is one of the key factors in the maintenance and regulation of joint stability and plays a significant role in the formation of early joints,as well as the development of bone and cartilage,and the remodeling of joints at various stages. OBJECTIVE:To review the regulatory role of the transforming growth factor-β subfamily in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis,both domestically and internationally in recent years,to analyze the impacts it has at different stages of osteoarthritis,and to explore the potential application prospects of transforming growth factor-β in the clinical treatment of osteoarthritis,with a view to informing clinical treatment protocols.. METHODS:The relevant articles were searched by computer from CNKI Database and PubMed Database.The search terms were"osteoarthritis,transforming growth factor,signaling pathway,bone remodeling,cartilage degeneration,angiogenesis,treatment"in Chinese and English,respectively.Finally,57 articles were included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis remains a subject of ongoing exploration with no unified consensus.Numerous studies highlight the close correlation between osteoarthritis and cytokines,focusing on the transforming growth factor-β superfamily as a pivotal mechanism and therapeutic breakthrough.Transforming growth factor-β plays a crucial role in early joint cartilage formation and maintenance,promoting cartilage repair.However,post-joint formation,its protective effect weakens,leading to potential destructive consequences.This dual regulatory role is a current clinical treatment focus,necessitating further research to delineate its application scope for standardized protocols.Highly active transforming growth factor-β participates in the regulation of bone cells,osteoblasts,and osteoclasts under mechanical stress,and intervenes in the subsequent remodeling of bone microstructure.Specific inhibitors present potential targeted therapeutics,yet their safety and efficacy in clinical settings require refinement.Vascular proliferation may serve as a potential disruptive pathway in transforming growth factor-β-mediated cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone remodeling.Abnormal communication pathways can further disrupt the homeostasis of the microenvironment of osteochondral units,thereby accelerating key pathological progressions of osteoarthritis.Research on transforming growth factor-β in osteoarthritic contexts is comprehensive,holding broad clinical application prospects.Drugs related to transforming growth factor-β are in clinical trial phases,but addressing potential impacts on other tissues and precise control of targeted delivery are critical concerns.As research advances,there is optimism for innovative breakthroughs in slowing the progression of osteoarthritis in the future.

Objective To investigate the effect of rehabilitation on memory deficits after acquired brain injury, to compare different training models of memory rehabilitation and to analyze the possible factors affecting memory rehabilitation. Methods 144 patients with acquired brain injury following memory deficits were randomly assigned to computer-assisted training group, face-to-face training group and control group. Both training groups were given memory-based cognitive training program once a day which sustained 30 minutes for 6 or 12 weeks. The instantaneous memory, short-term memory and long-term memory were evaluated and compared before and after training. The effect of gender, age, education, course, site of injury and coma time on training efficacy were analyszed as well. Results 6 weeks and 12 weeks at training, both computer-assisted and face-to-face training groups showed a significant improvement in memory abilities when compared to controls (P<0.01), with the former making more progress (P<0.01). Negative correlation was found between age and memory performance. Conclusion Effectiveness of memory rehabilitation is proven. 12 weeks training can significantly improve memory. Cognitive training using professional equipment is significantly more effective than the face-to-face training and should be recommended.

Temozolomide(TMZ)is an anticancer agent used to treat glioblastoma,typically following radiation therapy and/or surgical resection.However,despite its effectiveness,at least 50％of patients do not respond to TMZ,which is associated with repair and/or tolerance of TMZ-induced DNA lesions.Studies have demonstrated that alkyladenine DNA glycosylase(AAG),an enzyme that triggers the base excision repair(BER)pathway by excising TMZ-induced N3-methyladenine(3meA)and N7-methylguanine le-sions,is overexpressed in glioblastoma tissues compared to normal tissues.Therefore,it is essential to develop a rapid and efficient screening method for AAG inhibitors to overcome TMZ resistance in glio-blastomas.Herein,we report a robust time-resolved photoluminescence platform for identifying AAG inhibitors with improved sensitivity compared to conventional steady-state spectroscopic methods.As a proof-of-concept,this assay was used to screen 1440 food and drug administration-approved drugs against AAG,resulting in the repurposing of sunitinib as a potential AAG inhibitor.Sunitinib restored glioblastoma(GBM)cancer cell sensitivity to TMZ,inhibited GBM cell proliferation and stem cell char-acteristics,and induced GBM cell cycle arrest.Overall,this strategy offers a new method for the rapid identification of small-molecule inhibitors of BER enzyme activities that can prevent false negatives due to a fluorescent background.