The KCNQ gene family encodes five Kv7 channel sub-units(Kv7. 1-5) and four of these (Kv7. 2-5) channels are ex-pressed in the central nervous system ( CNS ) . Neuronal Kv7 channels participate in both pre-and post-synaptic modulation of neurotransmissions. Activation of neuronal Kv7 channels inhibits neuronal excitability and limits the release of monoaminergic neu-rotransmitter. Kv7 channel openers provide novel therapeutic op-tions in the treatment of disease states characterized by overactiv-ity of monoaminergic neurons ( e. g. schizophrenia, anxiety and drug abuse) . This review summarizes the studies on expression and functional role of Kv7 channels in monoaminergic neurotrans-mission in the CNS and the potential therapeutic effect of Kv7 channel openers on the disease characterized by overactivity of monoaminergic neurons.

In the modernization course of Chinese materia medica(CMM),two misunderstanding mistakes which are out of line with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)theory and excessively emphasize the research of CMM compound prescription and two difficult points which are the establishment of CMM quality control system and the establishment of CMM evaluation system were pointed out.Because the main means of TCM syndrome differentiation treatment and TCM combination therapy is CMM processing pieces and the starting point of the research of CMM efficacy substantial basis should be CMM processing pieces,the priority of the modernization of CMM should be the research on modern CMM processing pieces and the conditions have been mature now.The research on modern CMM pieces were supposed to take three steps:the research on "standardized extract",the research on "effective fraction" and the research on the CMM nature of "effective fraction".

Twenty six uncontrolled patients with Graves′ disease were treated with thyroid artery embolism. Twenty two cases were followed for 24 60 months. The long term effect was observed after thyroid artery embolism. The results showed that the long term cure rate is 81.4% (18/22).

Objective To explore if elemene can synergize tamoxifen through using non-cytotoxic dose of elemene and tamoxifen in combination on MCF-7cell line of breast cancer.Methods First,MCF-7 cell line was cultured in RPMI1640.Then,TAM's inhibitory effect united with elemene on MCF-7 cell line was analyzed by using CCK-8 test.Results When adding non-cytotoxic dose of elemene and curative dose of tamoxifen into the two experimental groups,the absorptivity in the two groups reduced notably,compared with that of the groups using tamoxifen alone;accordingly,the inhibition rate in two mixing groups increased obviously compared with that in single-drug groups.Conclusion Elemene of innocuous dose can remarkably enhance the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen,which indicates that elemene may synergize the effect of tamoxifen on breast cancer.

Objective To observe the effects of high sucrose,high saturated fatty acid and high unsaturated fatty acid(diets) on insulin resistance and endothelium-dependent vasodilation function.Methods Adult Wistar rats were divided into normal control(NC) group,high sucrose(HS) group and high saturated fatty acid(HSF) group,high unsaturated fatty acid(HUF) groups.Insulin sensitivity was tested by hyperinsulinemic-euglucemic clamp after 24 weeks.Acetylcholine-induced(or sodium nitroprussideinduced) relaxation of preconstricted isolated renal arteries was measured by Mulvany myograph.Results GIR was obviously lower in experimental groups than that in NC group.GIR was negatively correlated with triglyceride (TG),free fatty acid(FFA).Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was markedly decreased in all experimental groups compared with that in NC group and the maximal response was decreased 37.4% in HSF group,32.7% in HUF group,27.7% in HS group.Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was enhanced by incubation with L-Arg and decreased incubated with L-NNA,MB in all experimental groups.Vasodilation response was negatively correlated with TG,INS and well positively correlated with NO,GIR.There was significantly negative correlation between FFA andNO.Conclusions: The rats fed high sucrose,high saturated fatty acid and high unsaturated fatty acid diets developed insulin resistance with reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation function.

To elaborate the opinion on the modernization of Chinese materia medica(CMM) processing piece as CMM modernization has been fast developed with some blemish and obstacle yet.Modern CMM processing piece,guided by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory,is made by science and technology of nowadays and the quality control is performed by HPLC-13C-NMR quantitative fingerprints.Also,it is evaluated through modern pharmacology and by TCM evaluation theory.Modern CMM processing piece is improved from the essence of "effective extract" and "effective fraction".CMM Granula in prescription is only considered as a primitive and junior form of the modern CMM processing piece.So modern CMM processing piece,which is feasible,controllable,compatible,and practical,is the key of the modernization and internationalization of CMM.

BACKGROUND: The injury of peripheral nerve may cause electroneurographic changes. However, what is the correlation between electroneurographic changes and the extent of nerve injury?OBJECTIVE: To probe into the changes of evoked electroneurography in early stage after nerve injury for clinical application and reference.DESIGN: Paired t-test in three groups of samples.SETTING: Department of Traumatic Orthopaedics People' s Hospital of Beijing University.MATERIALS:The trial was conducted in the Animal Center of the People's Hospital of Beijing University from August 2003 to December 2003. The subjects were 8 adult New Zealand rabbits of SPF grade(weighing 1.5 kg) and either gender from the Animal Center of Medical College of Beijing University.METHODS:The model of nerve injury was made in the 16 tibial nerves of the 8 rabbits, in which one third or two thirds of each nerve was ligated at the same transverse part. The samples were thus divided into three groups: non-injury (normal) group, 1/3 nerve injury group and 2/3 nerve injury group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The indices of evoked electroneurography, i. e. motor nerve condution velocity, negative M wave amplitude, negative M wave area, maximal M wave amplitude and maximal M wave area were measured in the three groups. The correlation between the extent of nerve injury and the 5 indices was analyzed.RESULTS: All the 5 indices of the 3 groups were significantly different( P＜ 0.05). The mean values of the 5 indices were 1.00 ±0.0,0.97 ±0.18,1.01 ±0.22;0.98 ±0.16 and 0.98 ±0.19 in normal group, 0.76 ±0.12,0.41 ± 0.24, 0.47 ± 0.30, 0.48 ± 0.27 and 0.50 ± 0.29 in 1/3 nerve injury group, and 0. 62±0. 10, 0. 11 ±0. 11, 0. 11 ±0. 10, 0. 12 ±0. 14 and 0.13± 0. 12 in 2/3 nerve injury group. The coefficient of correlation between the 5 indices and the injury were 0. 902, 0. 938, 0. 936, 0. 907, and 0. 914, respectively.CONCLUSION: In the early stage after peripheral nerve injury, the electroneurographic indices negatively correlate with the extent of nerve injury. The negative M wave amplitude and area are relatively more closely correlated with the extent of injury.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of spatiotemporal image correlation(STIC)to assess left ventricular volume in normal fetuses.Methods The volume data acquisition of 162 normal fetuses ranging between 22 and 38 weeks of gestation was achieved by automatic sweep scan.The virtual organ computer-aided analysis(VOCAL Ⅱ)was then used to evaluate end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes of left ventricle and compared with that obtained by M-mode Teichholz formula and 2D biplane Simpson's method.Results Twenty-six fetuses with poor STIC image and 2 twin pregnancies were excluded,the study subjects consisted of 134 singleton fetuses.The highest concordance correlation(r =0.968,for EDV,r =0.956 for ESV;P =0.000)was noted between 2D biplane Simpson' s and STIC VOCAL Ⅱ values with a small bias(0.282 ml for EDV,0.117 ml for ESV).The Bland-Altman analysis showed that STIC VOCAL Ⅱ had the best agreement than M-mode Teichholz formula and 2D biplane Simpson's method.The result showed that there were significant difference between Mmode Teichholz formula and Simpson's method in EDV and ESV(P＜0.05).There were significant differences between M-mode Teichholz formula and STIC VOCAL Ⅱ(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences between STIC VOCAL Ⅱ and Simpson' s method in EDV and ESV.Conclusions There is a good agreement between left ventricular volumes measured either by STIC VOCAL Ⅱ or by 2D biplane Simpson's method.STIC is a novel technique that can be more accurate than conventional Methods in quantification of fetal left ventricular volumes.All the volume data acquisition is achieved by postprocessing facilities.STIC promises to become a new method for left ventricular volume quantification.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Jinyaodai on neurological behavior and Akt expression in the cortex of rats following spinal cord contusion injury.MethodsRats were randomly divided into control group,spinal cord contusion group and Jinyaodai group.The weight-drop device was employed to prepare the spinal cord injury(SCI) model.Jinyaodai was administrated every day by using a stomach tube.Rats were performed the BBB assessment,and the detection of Akt expression and count of Neun positive neurons in cortex following SCI.ResultsCompared with control group,deficit of motor function in hindlimbs was seen at 3 dpo following cord contusion,and partial functional recovery could be seen from 7 dpo to 1 m.Treatment of Jinyaodai greatly increased the BBB scores ( 14.1 ± 1.4 ) more than SCI group ( 7.8 ± 1.3 ) at 1 month (P ＜ 0.05 ) ; Simultaneously,compared with SCI rats,treatment of Jinyaodai significantly increased the expression of Akt (0.53 ± 0.05,0.68 ± 0.07,P ＜0.05 ) and the number of neurons ( 11 ± 2, 15 ± 1 ; P ＜ 0.05 ) in the lesion-induced cortex of rats.Conclusion Jinyaodai may play an essential roles in functional recovery after spinal cord injury,in which the underlying mechanism may be involved in the expression of Akt in cortex.

Objective To measure mitral annual displacement (MAD) by M-mode echocardiography in normal second and third trimester fetuses,and assess relationships between MAD and gestational age and routine echocardiographic parameters for evaluation of left ventricular function.Methods One hundred fifty-five normal fetuses from 19 to 38 weeks of gestation were recruited in the study.MVD and tricuspid annual displacement (TAD) were measured.Early diastolic inflow velocities (E) of the atrioventricular valves were assessed by pulsed-wave Doppler(PW),and early diastolic velocities (Em) of the mitral annular were estimated by pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).The ratio of E/Em was calculated.Results In normal fetuses,the MAD was (7.05 ± 1.17) mm.There was significant positive correlation between the fetal MAD and advancing gestational age ( r =0.82,P ＜0.01 ),and between MAD and E,A,Em,Am or Sm ( r =0.25,0.24,0.32,0.29 and 0.40 respectively,P ＜0.01).There was no correlation between fetal MAD and E/A,E/Em,LVEF or LVFS.The left MAD was significantly lower than the right TAD ( P ＜0.01 ).Conclusions MAD of fetuses from 19 to 38 weeks of gestation can be quantitatively measured by Mmode echocardiogram.The measurement of MAD provides a reliable quantitative standard to estimate long axis ventricular function of fetuses,which may be clinically useful in prenatal detecting early cardiac failure.