Objective To study the expression of substance P(SP) and substance P receptor(SPR) during the development of mice brains. Methods The expression of SP and SPR during the development of mice brains from embryonic day(E) 11 to postnatal day(P) 0 days was analyzed by immunohistochemical method. Results The expression of SP began at E11 and gradually increased until birth. The expression of SPR began at E11 and maintained stable expression until birth. SP mostly expressed at striatum and SPR mostly expressed at medullary raphe.Conclusion The expression of SP and SPR during the embryo brain stage may indicate that SP could be an important factor involved in the early organization and maturation of neuron.

ABSTRACT The taboos of man-spirit (RenShen) and bottom-spirit (KaoShen) are two kinds of time-related contraindications that are more commonly seen in the literature of acupuncture and moxibustion. The meaning of man-spirit is often extended to qi-blood or mind, or else directly equals to heaven-spirit (TianShen). It is highly possible that the bottom-spirit is subordinate to man-spirit, and both Taoist philosophy and the SanCai theory declare the importance of bottom in human body. The violation of contraindications could lead to diseases in the neighborhood where man-spirit travels. However, the results are generally recorded as ulcer, lingering disease and death in most medical texts. From Ming dynasty, more and more doctors have expressed disapproval of man-spirit and bottom-spirit.
Acupuncture Therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1) and its localization in the mouse brain during the embryonic development.

METHODSThe brain tissues of E (embryonic day) 11, E13, E15, E17, E19, P0 (the birth day) and adult mice were taken, the total RNA of brains were extracted and the changes of RAG-1 expression were detected with the method of RT-PCR. The freeze sections of brain tissues from each group were stained with immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTThe expression of RAG-1 persisted from E11 to P0 brain and was steadily increased from E11 to E19; the results of RT-PCR were similar to that of immunohistochemistry. The positive-cells mainly appeared in the nucleus amygdalae, hypothalamus, thalamus and hippocampus at developmental stage. The expression began to appear in ventricular zone (VZ) and intermediate zone (IZ) of telecephalic vesicle, then gradually increased in subventricular zone (SVZ), corticle plate (CP) and subcorticle plate (SP).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of RAG-1 in mouse embryonic brain tissue is higher than that in the adult mouse, which may be related to the process of neuron development.

Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at points along Foot Yangming Channel on metabolite of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats' cerebral cortex and to identify key metabolites by referring to Pi/Wei-brain related theory in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSThe UC rat model was set up by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group, 13 in each group. Another 13 rats were recruited as the blank control group. Rats in the blank control group and the model group received no EA. EA was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Tianshu (ST25) for 5 days by using disperse-dense wave. Then all rats were sacrificed. Their recto-colon and the ileocecal junction were pathomorphologically observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cerebral cortexes were extracted. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble brain tissue metabolites were respectively extracted for metabolic research using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR).

RESULTSEA could obviously improve the general condition of UC model rats, decrease the value of DAI, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal tract, stabilize structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on (P <0.05). 1HNMR analysis showed that in the model group, contents of glutamic acid, cholesterol, very low density lipoproein (VLDL) in the pallium obviously decreased, while alanine and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly increased. After EA, levels of lactic acid, glutamic acid, total cholesterol (TC), and VLDL all increased, and levels of alanine and LDL decreased. All indices were approximate to those of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEA at Foot Yangming channel was found to have some effect on metabolites in the brain tissue of UC model rats, which had specific metabonomic material basis and mechanism based on the Pi/Wei-brain related theory.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Electroacupuncture ; Lipids ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo establish an analytical method for determination of guanfu base A (GFA) concentration in plasma and to study its pharmacokinetic profile in dogs.

METHODSSix dogs were given a 7.56 mg.kg-1 dose intravenously. Blood samples were collected at various time-points after drug administration. Analytical method based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was established to determine the plasma concentration of GFA. Pharmacokinetic evaluation was carried out using the 3P87 program.

RESULTSThe calibration curves were linear over the concentration range from 0.42 microgram.mL-1 to 21.2 micrograms.mL-1 (gamma = 0.9994). The intra-day and inter-day precisions were generally good (< 15%) at low, medium and high concentrations. The overall recovery of the analytes was more than 80%. Six dogs were given an i.v. dose of 7.56 mg.kg-1 of GFA hydrochloride, an open three compartment model best described the concentration-time profiles for GFA. The half-lives for the rapid and slow distribution phase and terminal elimination phase (T1/2 pi, T1/2 alpha and T1/2 beta) were 0.07 h, 1.5 h, and 13.5 h, respectively. The total area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), the volume of the central compartment (Vc), and plasma clearance (CLs) were 61.43 micrograms.h.mL-1, 0.37 L.kg-1 and 0.14 L.kg-1.h-1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe analytical method was shown to be sensitive, specific, rapid and reproducible, and was suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of GFA.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Alkaloids ; blood ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Dogs ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the response of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to a single period of mechanical strain and expression patterns of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) after mechanical stretch.

METHODSBone marrow MSCs were isolated from SD rats and cultured in vitro. A four-point bending apparatus were used to perform a single period of mechanical strain (2000 microepsilon, 40 min) on MSCs. Cellular proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of MSCs were examined and gene expression patterns of TGF-beta and IGF-II were detected by SYBR green quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTSCell proliferation, ALP activity and expression of TGF-beta and IGF-II were all significantly up-regulated in stretched MSCs when compared with their controls. The mRNA levels of TGF-beta and IGF-II got top increase immediately after mechanical loading and increased about 51.44 and 8.92 folds, respectively, when compared with control cells. Expression of TGF-beta and IGF-II decreased with time and returned to control level at 12 h after mechanical stimulus, despite of a small increase at 6 h.

CONCLUSIONThe mechanical stretch can promote MSCs proliferation, up-regulate its ALP activity and induce a time-dependent expression increase of TGF-beta and IGF-II which in turn result in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Mechanical stimulus is a key stimulator for osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and vital for bone formation in distraction osteogenesis.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Somatomedins ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical and pathologic features of ischemic intestinal disease due to mesenteric phlebitis.

METHODThe clinical and pathologic features of the mesenteric venous lesions in 3 patients of ischemic intestinal disease admitted during the period from 2003 to 2004 were studied.

RESULTSAll 3 patients had a clinical history of acute abdominal pain accompanying with a diffuse peritonitis. During operation, an infarcted intestinal segment was identified and was resected respectively in each patient. Histologic examination showed a lymphocytic infiltration and fibrinoid necrosis of the small to medium-sized veins, associated with mural thrombosis and infarction of the corresponding intestinal wall and mesentery. The mesenteric arteries were spared. Two-year follow up of one case showed no evidence of local recurrence or systemic vasculitis.

CONCLUSIONSIschemic intestinal disease due to mesenteric phlebitis is a rare entity with a pathological feature of inflammation of venous wall accompanying with the development of mural thrombosis and subsequent haemorrhagic infarction of intestine. The etiology is unknown and surgical resection of the involved intestinal segment is usually recommended.

Adult ; Aged ; Colitis, Ischemic ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Ischemia ; complications ; Male ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; complications ; Mesenteric Veins ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Phlebitis ; complications

Objective To evaluate the use of gated SPECT in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and the effects of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) on myocardial perfusion.Methods 99 Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) images were performed in 31 HOCM patients before PFSMA and in 15 patients 3-7 d after PTSMA.The images in different left ventricular segments were analysed by using scores.Results In 99Tcm-MIBI images, uptake decreased at the septal regions in 12 HOCM patients (80.0%, 12/15) after PTSMA, 18F-FDG images also showed decreased uptake at the septal regions in 5 HOCM patients (33.3%, 5/15) after PTSMA.Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI images might be an important method to evaluate PTSMA results, and 18 F-FDG images showed important value as reference.

AIM: To analyze the effect of calcium dobesilate combined with hypoglycemics for patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and cataract, and the influence on microcirculation of eye fundus, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level. METHODS: Totally 98 DR patients with cataract (126 eyes) from January 2013 to December 2015 in our hospital were selected as the research objects, and were divided into two groups randomly(treatment group:64 eyes in 49 patients, control group: 62 eyes in 49 patients). The control group was treated with acarbose tablet and metformin, while treatment group was treated with calcium dobesilate additionally. The clinical effect, the glycemic control effect, serum HIF-1α and VEGF level, eye function and fundus microcirculation of two groups after 12mo were compared. RESULTS: After 12mo, the total effective rates of two groups were 87.5%,61.3% respectively, which indicated significantly difference (P<0.05); the vision of treatment group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05). Two groups' blood glucose level decreased significantly, and no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05). After 1-month treatment, the plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation index, erythrocyte deformability index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The PSV and EDV of the posterior ciliary artery and central artery in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0. 05), and RI was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). After 12-month treatment, the HIF-1α level of two groups were 35 90士11.36mmol/L, 46.75士12.08mmol/L respectively;the VEGF of two groups level were 89.72士13.61mmol/L, 110.30士16.74mmol/L, respectively, the treatment group's HIF- 1α level and VEGF were significantly lower than control group (P<0.05), and both decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Calcium dobesilate combined with hypoglycemics can effectively increase the clinical effect in the treatment of retinopathy diabetic cataract, effectively control blood glucose, improve microcirculation of eye fundus, decrease HIF - 1α, VEGF level, inhibit angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characterization of Notch gene involved in genetic regulatory networks in dental pulp stem cells.

METHODSThe pulp tissue was separated from mouse teeth and digested by collagenase type I. Single-cell suspensions of dental pulp were seeded into 6-well plates with alpha modification of Eagle's medium supplemented with ES cell qualified Fetal Bovine Serum. Colony-forming efficiency was assessed in 14ds culture. Transcripts for Notch were detected by reverse transcription-PCR by using total RNA isolated from cells.

RESULTSThere were clonogenic cells in dental pulp cell and the incidence of colony-forming cells derived from mouse dental pulp cells was 1.6-2.5 colonies/10(4) plate. Mouse-specific Notch mRNA expressed in colony-forming cells.

CONCLUSIONNotch mRNA expressing in colony-forming cells provided a more detailed understanding of mouse dental pulp stem cell biology.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dental Pulp ; cytology ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Notch ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; Stem Cells ; metabolism