Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a kind of mental disorder that usually occurs after life-threatening and strong mental traumas .Clinical studies showed that the PTSD patients are 3 times more likely to have can-nabis as compared with the healthy people .The use of cannabinoids has a close relationship with the occurrence and clini-cal manifestations of PTSD .Experimental studies revealed that endocannabinoid ( eCB) signal alterations in animal models of PTSD influenced fear memory of the animals , suggesting a close correlation between the eCB system and the pathogenesis of PTSD.Given that the eCB system was reported to regulate affective states and participate in memory consolidation , re-trieval and extinction , targeting the eCB system may improve the emotional and cognitive features of PTSD , thereby holding out great promise for the development of novel approaches for clinical treatment of PTSD .

BACKGROUND:Immunity of fetal liver stem cel transplantation is rarely reported, syngeneic and al ogeneic fetal liver stem cel transplantation in the treatment of hepatic cirrhosis is stil unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the therapeutic effects of syngeneic and al ogeneic fetal liver stem cel transplantation on hepatic cirrhosis as wel as immune rejections during the therapeutic process.
METHODS:The fetal liver stem/progenitor cel s from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were isolated and purified by the type IV col agen enzyme digestion method. A total of 104 healthy BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to four groups. Normal control group:no treatment;Hepatic cirrhosis group, syngeneic transplantation group and al ogeneic transplantation group:16 weeks after hepatic cirrhosis models of mice were developed by intraperitoneal injection with carbon tetrachloride, physiological saline, syngeneic fetal liver stem cel s and al ogeneic fetal liver stem cel s were injected via the caudal vein. Final y, the survival statuses, liver function, hepatic fibrosis index, the number and ratio of immune cel s (CD4+T, CD8+T, NK, NKT) and histopathologic examinations were compared in each group after transplantation 4 weeks.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The survival rates in the two transplantation groups were both 100%, which was significantly higher than that in the hepatic cirrhosis group (67%, P<0.05). The liver function and liver fibrosis index in each group did not show statistical differences (P>0.05). Immunological tests showed no difference between groups (P>0.05). Pathohistology examination of hepatic tissue repair:Al ogeneic transplantation group>syngeneic transplantation group>hepatic cirrhosis group. Hence, fetal liver stem cel transplantation via the caudal vein could elevate the survival rate of hepatic cirrhosis mice, al eviate the degree of hepatocyte necrosis. There is no immunologic rejection during syngeneic and al ogeneic fetal liver stem cel transplantation that could help to treat hepatic cirrhosis in mice.

Objective To establish a stable transplantation tolerance model by combined treatment with PTD-mFoxp3 fusion protein and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and study its application to reduce the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).Method BALB/c mice as recipients were randomly divided into four groups,accepted medical linear accelerator ray 3.0-Gy total body irradiation (TBI) before bone marrow transplantation (BMT),and injected with donor C57BL/6 mice bone marrow cells 3 × 107withinn 4-6 h.The BALB/c mice in group A were given PTD-mFoxp3 fusion protein through tail vein intermittently (day-2,0,1,3,5,7,9,11,13),those in group B given the same dose mFoxp3 protein,those in group C given normal saline,and those in blank control group given no treatment.The symptoms of GVHD were observed after BMT.Chimerisms were determined on the week 1,2,4,8 and12 post-BMT by flow cytometry.Liver and intestinal tissues were collected for pathological examination.Recipient immune response was assessed on the week 4 and 12 by mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) after BMT.Results The chimerism level in group A was high [(38.16 ± 3.09) ％] in the first 12 weeks after BMT,and that in group B and group C was reduced [(20.12 ± 4.75) ％ and (15.72 ± 2.36) ％ respectively,P＜0.05].MLR revealed that shown lymphocyte donor-derived lymphocyte proliferation rate at 4th and 12th week in group A was significantly lower than in other groups (P＜0.05).Pathological examination showed infiltration of lymphocytes in the liver and intestine was milder in group A than in other groups.Conclusion PTD-mFoxp3 fusion protein combined with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can effectively establish a stable transplantation chimeric model and reduce the incidence of GVHD.

Objective To investigate the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-intragastric-administration on the survival time of mouse skin allografts and the role of interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-17 thereof. Methods The skin trans-plantation of mice was done by DBA/2 as donors and Balb/c as recipients. The recipients were divided randomly into three groups:control group, low-dose group and high-dose group. Mice of the corresponding groups were intragastrically adminis-tered corn oil, 10 mg/kg ATRA and 30 mg/kg ATRA respectively from 1 day before the transplantation to the 14th day after the transplantation. The survival time of transplanted skin was observed after the operations. Skin grafts of mice were harvested for histopathological examination in three groups. The serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were measured by enzyme-linked im-munosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of IL-23, RORγt and IL-17 mRNA in skin allografts were detected by re-al-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Compared with con-trol group, the average survival time of mouse skin allografts was significantly prolonged in low-dose group and high-dose group (P＜0.05). The less lymphocyte infiltration and destruction of architecture were found in the skin biopsies. The serum expression of IL-23 protein was lower (P＜0.05), but no significant difference was found in two treatment groups. The serum expression levels of IL-17 protein were reduced in turn in receptors of control group, low-dose group and high-dose group (P ＜ 0.05). The expression levels of IL-23, RORγt and IL-17 mRNA in skin grafts were significantly lower in low-dose group and high-dose group than those of control group (P＜0.05), but no significant difference was found in two treatment groups. Conclusion ATRA can effectively prolong the survival time of skin allografts, which may related with the inhibi-tion of the expression of IL-23, RORγt and IL-17 mRNA and the development of IL-23 and IL-17 protein.

Objective To establish a fast and accurate technique of identifying the pachytene spermatocytes,round spermatids and elongating and condensing spermatids during STA-PUT velocity sedimentation.Methods Using STA-PUT velocity sedimentation method to isolate the pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids and elongating and condensing spermatids from mouse testes.To determine the cell populations` distribution,each tube of cell fraction was then partially transfered to the 96 plate well,and each well was added with acridine orange dye.Then each well was analyzed using fluorescence microscopy.Results Three types of spermatogenic cells can be identified quickly and accurately by it`s specific cytoplasm/nucleus character using the acridine orange dye staining under fluorescence detection.Conclusions A rubust method to quickly and accurately determine the pachytene spermatocytes,round spermatids and elongating and condensing spermatids during STA-PUT velocity sedimentation is successfully developed.

The left ventricular twist was evaluated by 2-dimensional ultrasound speckle-tracking imaging (STI) in 50 patients with hypertension with normal geometric left ventricle (LV) and 45 normal subjects as control group. The mean value of LV rotation was obtained at each plane using STI. LV twist and twist velocity were defined as apical rotation/rotation rate relative to the base respectively. To adjust the intersubject differences in heart rates, the time sequence were normalized. The results showed that peak twist developed near the end of systole. Peak LV twist was significantly higher in patients with hypertension than normal controls (P<0.001). The diastolic untwisting mainly occurred in early diastole ( approximately 38%). Compared with normal controls, untwisting rate (Untw R) in patients with hypertension was significantly reduced (P<0.001), and untwisting half-time (UHT) was significantly delayed (P<0.05). This study demonstrated that STI has a potential ability to evaluate the early change of heart function in patients with hypertension by measuring the twist of LV.
Cardiology/*methods ; Case-Control Studies ; Diastole ; Echocardiography/*methods ; Heart/physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles/*pathology ; Hypertension/*pathology ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Systole

0.05),but the rate of depression and anxiety were significantly higher in the study group(P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of late accelerated hyperfractionated conformal radiotherapy (LACF) combined with capecitabine on esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty eight patients of esophageal cancer were randomly divided into 3 groups, including the radiotherapy alone group (CF) which received conventional conformal radiotherapy to a total of 60 - 66 Gy, LCAF group which received conventional fractionated conformal radiotherapy during the first two-thirds of the treatment to a dose about 40 Gy/20F/4W, then followed by late accelerated hyperfractionated conformal radiotherapy, twice daily radiotherapy at 1.3 Gy per fraction to a total dose about 64 - 69 Gy, and LCAF + C group (late accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy combined with capecitabine), in which patients were treated as the same as the LCAF group, except that they were treated with capecitabine (1.5 g po bid) from beginning of the radiotherapy to the end.

RESULTSThe short-term results of the 3 groups were 74.0%, 85.5% and 95.2%, respectively (P = 0.006). The local control rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 64.0%, 30.0%, 24.0% in the CF group, 81.8%, 65.5%, 58.2% in the LCAF group and 90.1%, 77.8%, 74.6% in the LCAF+C group, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of the 3 groups were 58.0%, 20.0%, 8.0%; 78.2%, 36.4%, 17.0% and 85.7%, 55.6%, 30.2%, respectively. The effect of LCAF+C group was better than that of LCAF group and CF group. The incidence of acute tracheitis and acute esophagitis in the LCAF+C group and LCAF group was higher than that in the CF group, but there was no stastistically significant difference between the 2 groups. There was no statistically significant difference in distant metastasis in the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONSCapecitabine, as an effective chemosensitizater combined with late accelerate hyperfractionated radiotherapy can improve the short-term results of treatment of esophageal cancer. The value of this combined treatment in distant metastasis reqires further study in the clinic.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Dose Fractionation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Esophagitis ; etiology ; Fluorouracil ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; etiology ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate

Objective To investigate the performance of left ventricular torsion (LVtor) or twist with cardiac dysfunction patients by speckle tracking imaging (STI). Methods Standard left ventricular short-axis views images were acquired by rountine two-dimensional echocardiography in thirty-two healthy humans and twenty-four patients with cardiac dysfunction. LVtor angle,left ventricular rotation (LVrot) angle,the peak value and time of LVtor and LVrot were measured respectively. The data were compared and analyzed between the two groups. Results Compared with normal group,the peak of LVtor and LVrot angle was decreased in cardiac dysfunction group at both apical and basal planes (P<0.05). The peak time of LVtor in patients with cardiac dysfunction was delayed (P<0.05). The peak time of clockwise rotation at the apical level segments was longer than control group (P<0.05). Conclusions There is a temporal sequence difference of left ventricular rotation between basal and apical planes during left ventricular contraction and decreased LVtor has been demonstrated to influence left ventricular function.

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol on nNOS expression after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats and the possible mechanism of protective effect of propofol on brain. Method Seventy-eight male Wistar rats, weighting 250 ~ 300 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups:(1)Sham operation group (S group, n=6) was performed with scham operation; (2) Ischemia-reperfusion group (group I-R, n=36) was subjected to 2-hour right middle cerebral artery occlusion and then reperfusion was followed, saline (1 mg/kg) was injected into the right lateral cerebral ventricle using microsyringe before reperfusion;(3) Propefol group (group P, n=36) was injected with propofol (1mg/kg) into the right lateral cerebral ventricle using microsyringe right after ischemia. Group I-R and group P were divided into 3 subgroups according to the reperfusion time: 1 h, 3 h and 6 h. The neurological function of all rats were tested before reperfusion. The cerebral infarction area of the whole brain was calculated with TIC staining (n=6). The pathological change of brain was observed from HE staining (n=6) and the nNOS protein expression was obtained by immuno- histochemical method (n=6). Results Compared with I-R group, the neurological function was better in group P(P