italic>Cannabis sativa, one of the ancient medicinal plants, has been used to alleviate pain and seizures. However, cannabinoids are often addictive, which limits their clinical use. Cannabidiol (CBD) as a non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, has much weaker adverse effects than Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and therefore has received widespread attention. CBD has been found to ameliorate a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases, but the precise mechanism(s) of action are still unclear. Due to its low affinity for classical cannabinoid receptors current studies are focusing on other targets outside the endocannabinoid system. In the present review we mainly summarize the effects and molecular mechanisms of CBD in neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, neuropathic pain, anxiety, and depression.

Objective To screen for differential expression of genes in bone marrow mesenchymal stem ceils (MSCs) stimulated by electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and to study the mechanism of differentiation of the bone mar- row MSCs induced by EMFs.Methods Mouse bone marrow MSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro.The third- passage cells were stimulated by EMFs,then the total RNA was extracted,purified to cDNA and reversely transcribed to yield a cRNA probe.The cRNA probes from stimulated and control cells were labelled with Cy5 and Cy3,respec- tively.The two samples were hybridized with a mouse oligo microarray,and the hybridization signals were scanned. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to identify the interesting genes:Duspl and Rabl.Results A total of 153 differentially expressed genes were found comparing the stimulated group and the control group.There were 74 up-regulated genes and 79 down-regulated genes in the stimulated group.Semi-quantita- tive RT-PCR confirmed that the Duspl and Rabl mRNA expression levels of the stimulated group were up-regulated. Conclusion The gene expression profiles of the bone marrow MSCs were altered after EMF exposure.The genes are involved in cell proliferation and differentiation,transcription control,metabolism and response to stress.These re- sults provide deeper insight into the mechanism of differentiation of the bone marrow MSCs.

Objective To study the effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on the in vitro proliferation of human osteosareoma cell line MG-63 with different cell densities.Methods Four different magnetic intensities(1 mT, 2 mT,3 roT,4 mT)were used to stimulate the cells,and the experiment was repeated with different cell densities. The method of MTT was employed to evaluate the level of proliferation.Results Fifty Hz magnetic fields signifi- cantly affected the level of proliferation of human osteosareoma cell line MG-63,and the 2 mT intensity exerted the greatest influence on it.The effects of the magnetic field differed with different cell densities.Conclusion The effect of 50 Hz magnetic fields on the in vitro proliferation of human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63 was not only relat- ed to the magnetic intensity,but also the cell density,

To generate recombinant adenovirus expression vector of human Sema4C gene and observe its expression in mouse myoblasts cell line C2C12 for ensuring easy access to investigate the role of Sema4C gene during myogenesis. The recombinant plasmid was packaged and amplified after being transfected in HEK293 cells through Lipofectamine. After infecting C2C12 myoblasts with recombinant adenovirus vector, the adenoviral infection efficiency was determined by confocal microscope which showed that the expression of green fluorescence could be detected at 12h and then reached peak at 24h after recombinant adenovirus infection. The infection efficiency was almost 100% confirmed by FACS examination. Detection of WB indicated that the expression of Sema4C in C2C12 of recombinant adenoviral infection group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P

OBJECTIVE: To study ApoB gene genetic polymorphism of Han nationality and Mongolian nationality in midwest area of Inner Mongolia. METHODS: Some unrelated individuals of Han nationality and Mongolian nationality in midwest area of Inner Mongolia were selected. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technology was used to check the presence of Xba I (X+) and EcoR I (E-) sites of rare alleles. The genotype frequency, allelic frequency and population genetics parameters were calculated. RESULTS: The frequencies of Xba I (X+) and EcoR I (E-) rare alleles were 2% and 4.6% in Han population. There was no Xba I (X+) or EcoR I (E-) rare alleles found in Mongolian nationality. CONCLUSION The allelic frequencies of ApoB gene Xba I and EcoR I sites are very different in different races. These sites may be used in identification of ethnicity.
Alleles ; Apolipoprotein B-100/genetics* ; Asian People/genetics* ; China ; Ethnicity ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mongolia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of melatonin on residual hair follicle cells of scald rats at early stage.

METHODSEighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into scald group, treatment group, sham group , with 6 rats in each group. The rats in scald group and treatment group were subjected to 30% TBSA partial thickness scald on the back, and were resuscitated with balanced solution after 1 hour, while those in sham group were immersed in water at 37 degrees C for 25 s to simulate scald, and did not receive fluid replacement. Rats in treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg melatonin solution at 1 minute, 8 hours and 12 hours after scald, while those in sham group and scald group were given equal volume of 1% alcohol sodium-isotonic saline instead. Tissue samples were harvested at 6, 12 and 24 post scald hours (PSH) for determination of MDA and GSH levels. Apoptosis of residul hair follicle was detected by TUNEL method and immunohistochemistry of caspase-3.

RESULTSThe level of MDA in scald group at each time point was much higher than that in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05), and it peaked at 12 PSH. The changes in GSH were just opposite to that of MDA. Under fluorescence microscope, the residual hair follicle cells were blue, and the apoptotic cells appeared green. The apoptosis rate in scald group at 6, 12, 24 PSH was obviously higher than that in sham (P < 0.01) and treatment groups (P < 0.05), which was (20.2 +/- 3.4)% vs (4.3 +/- 2.3)% vs (10.9 +/- 3.2)%, (31.2 +/- 3.6)% vs (5.1 +/- 2.5)% vs (19.1 +/- 3.7)%, (22.4 +/- 2.7)% vs (4.1 +/- 2.4)% vs (13.1 +/- 3.4)%, respectively. The score of caspase-3 positive cell in scald group was higher than those in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is obvious correlation between oxidative stress and apoptosis rate of hair follicle cells in rats with partial thickness scald. Early administration of melatonin may have anti-apoptosis ability for residual hair follicle cells by attenuation of oxidative stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo assess the effectiveness and safety on post-stroke dysphagia in chronic stage treated with magnetic-ball sticking therapy at the auricular points.

METHODSNinety cases of post-apoplexy dysphagia in chronic stage were randomized into an auricular points group and an acupuncture group. In the auricular points group, the magnetic-ball sticking therapy was applied to subcortex (pizhixia, AT4), brainstem (naogan, AT(3,4i)), mouth (kou, CO1), cheek (mianjia, LO(5,6i)), tongue (she, LO2) and throat (yanhou, TG3) on one ear each time, and were changed on the other ear once every 3 days. In the acupucnture group, acupuncture was applied to Feng-chi (GB 20), Yifeng (TE 17), Shanglianquan (Extra), Jinjin (EX-HN 12), Yuye (EX-HN 13), Shuigou (GV 26) and Tongli (TH 5), etc. The needles were retained for 30 min in each treatment. The treatment was gi-yen once a day in the two groups and the treatment of 6 days made one session. There was 1 day at an interval among the sessions. Totally, 3 sessions of treatment were required. The video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) was performed for 4 kinds of food with different properties and shapes in each patient. The main indices were Rosenbek penetration-aspiration score, oral-retaining score and throat-retaining score. The efficacy, and the incidences of aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition were compared between the two groups. The nutrition indices were compared before and after treatment between the two groups, such as the skinfold thickness of triceps brachii muscle, serum albumin and peralbumin.

RESULTSIn 21 days of treatment, in the auricular points group, the 1 mL liquid loversol Rosenbek penetration-aspiration score (1.51 +/- 0.69), oral-retaining score (1.17 +/- 0.38) and throat-retaining score (1.30 +/- 0.66) were all lower than those (2.51 +/- 0.67, 1.63 +/- 0.72, 1.67 +/- 0.7) in the acupuncture group separately. The 10 mL liquid loversol Rosenbek penetration-aspiration score (2.27 +/- 0.65), oral-retaining score (1.60 +/- 0.50) and throat-retaining score (1.49 +/- 0.51) were all lower than those (4.19 +/- 0.73, 2.30 +/- 0.51, 2.41 +/- 0.50) in the acupuncture group separately. The 10 mL paste loversol Rosenbek penetration-aspiration score (1.68 +/- 0.81), oral-retaining score (1.11 +/- 0.31) and throat-retaining score (1.10 +/- 0.31) were all lower than those (3.91 +/- 0.68, 1.63 +/- 0.76, 1.60 +/- 0.76) in the acupuncture group separately. The 1/4 cake-form loversol Rosenbek penetration-aspiration score (2.60 +/- 0.65), oral-retaining score (1.40 +/- 0.50) and throat-retaining score (1.74 +/- 0.49) were all lower than those (4.14 +/- 1.10, 2.40 +/- 0.73, 2.30 +/- 0.83) in the acupuncture group separately. The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was 14.9% (7/47) in the auricular points group, which was lower than 55.0% (22/40) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.01). The incidence of malnutrition was 8. 5% (4/47) in the auricular points group, which was lower than 50.0% (20/40) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.01). In 21 days of treatment, the results of the skinfold thickness of triceps brachii muscle and serum albumin in the auricular points group were better than those in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe magnetic-ball sticking therapy at auricular points achieves the definite efficacy on post-stoke dysphagia in chronic stage and decreases the incidences of aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition. The efficacy of this therapy is better than acupuncture.

Acupuncture, Ear ; instrumentation ; Aged ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetics ; instrumentation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Carcinoma ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; complications ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; complications

Objective To investigate whether pantoprazole (PPZ), a proton pump inhibitor,could reverse the transmember pH gradient by inhibiting vacuolar H+-ATPase so as to increase the sensitivity of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC7901 to antitumor drugs and to evaluate the optimal time of drug administration, dosage of PPZ and the possible mechanism. Methods Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining were used to determine the expression and intracellular distribution of vacuolar H+-ATPase in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC7901 with or without PPZ pretreatment. 2', 7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein, acetoxymethyl ester (BCECF-AM) fluorescent probe was used to measure the intracellular pH value of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC7901 which pretreated with different dose and time of PPI. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and annexin V-fluorescent isothiocyanate-propidium iodide double staining were performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects and apoptosis of cells treated with antitumor drugs combined with PPZ. Adriamycin (ADR) was used as probe to estimate drug accumulation and retention with PPZ pretreatment. Results After 24 hours, the expression of vacuolar H+-ATPase in cells pretreated with PPZ of 10 μg/ml (1.19±0.03) or 100 μg/ml (0. 70±0.03) was significantly lower than that in blank control (1.53±0. 05), but this expression was increased by pretreatment with PPZ of 1 μg/ml (2.29 +0.06, P<0.05). The inhibitory effects of PPZ (10 μg/ml) on vacuolar H+-ATPase was observed at 6 hours (0.32±0.02)and 12 hours (0. 13±0.02). And it could alter the intracellular distribution of vacuolar H+-ATPase at 24-hours. The intracellular pH value in cells pretreated with PPZ of 10 μg/ml (7.44±0. 09 ) or 100 μg/ml (7.31 ± 0. 06) was significantly decreased in comparison with untreated cells (7.51±0.05, P< 0. 01). After administration of anti-tumor drugs, the viability in SGC7901 cells pretreated with PPZ for 24 hours (58.71%±1.18 %) was significantly lower than that in cells untreated with PPZ (74. 33% ± 1.77%, P<0.05), while thetotal and early apoptotic rates in former cells(80.81% ±1. 16% and 77.52 %±1.13 %, respectively) were significantly higher than those in later cells (26. 42%±1.19% and 23. 18% ±0.92%,respectively,P < 0. 01). And the ADR releasing index in cells treated with PPZ (20, 50 and 100 μg/ml) for 24 hours was obviously lower than that in the blank control (0. 164±0. 013, 0. 162±0.015, 0. 152±0. 012 vs 0. 277±0. 011, respectively, P<0. 01). Conclusion The sensitivity of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line to antitumor drugs may be increased by pretreatment with PPZ.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of transforming growth factor beta receptors (TGF?RⅠ, TGF?RⅡ) in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Methods The expression of TGF?RⅠand TGF?RⅡwere assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and streptavidin -peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical techniques in specimens of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and normal control skin. Results Eighteen patients with basal cell carcinoma and twenty-four with squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the study. The expression levels of TGF?RⅠand RⅡmRNA were significantly down-regulated in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in comparison with those in control skin specimens (P