The underlying effect of different concentrations of neogenin on proliferation, apoptosis and the related proliferative factors in human trophoblasts was explored in order to understand the function of neogenin during placentation. TEV-1 cell line was cultured and the expression of netrin-1 was detected by using indirect cellular immunofluorescence. Exponentially growing TEV-1 cells were treated by different concentrations of neogenin (0, 1, 5, 10, 50 ng/mL) for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. TEV-1 cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of netrin-1 mRNA and protein in TEV-1 cells was examined by using real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. It was found that immunoreactivity for netrin-1 was observed in cytoplasm of the trophoblasts. Immediately after treatment with different concentrations of neogenin for 24 h, the netrin-1 expression began to increase. Real-time PCR revealed that the expression level of netrin-1 mRNA was 37.59+/-10.25 times higher than control group when TEV-1 cells were exposed to 50 ng/mL neogenin (P<0.01), and the same tendency was seen by using Western blot. MTT results showed that proliferation of TEV-1 cells was independent of neogenin. Meanwhile, apoptosis was significantly increased to (22.15+/-6.15)% at 50 ng/mL neogenin and (6.55+/-0.25)% without neogenin (P<0.01). It is suggested that neogenin regulates proliferation and apoptosis of TEV-1 cells. And it can enhance the ability of TEV-1 cells to express netrin-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Neogenin may play an important biological role in the normal human pregnancy and contribute to the physiological pregnancy process.

Objective To further improve the morphological materials of AGs by micro-dissection, histology and CT, we observed the arachnoid granulations (AGs) in middle cranial fossa. Methods Thirty-three adult cadaveric heads were used for microsurgical dissection;Histological sections of AG specimens from 3 cadaver heads were examined. Forty patients who had both normal conventional brain CT and computed tomographic venography (CTV) were retrospectively reviewed. Results In middle cranial fossa the AGs occur in the following situations in order of frequency: the middle meningeal sinus, sphenoparietal sinus, lateral foramen rotundum and cavernous sinus. AGs usually show round, oval in shape and irregular in shape. AGs can be divided into individual type and leaflet type under light microscope. The numbers of AGs were observed by microanatomy and CTV were 8.72 and 3.52 respectively. The AGs of cavernous sinus was not localized precisely on CTV. Conclusion Study of the AGs in the middle cranial fossa systematically and comprehensively enriches anatomy and image knowledge. It is helpful in neurosurgical planning and choosing operalion procedure to avoid postoperative complications.

Objective To investigate the role of nerve growth factor(NGF)in asthmatic rats by observing the expression of NGF and effects of corticosteroid on the expression of NGF in lungs of asthmatic rats.Methods Forty-five rats were randomly devided into 3 groups:control group,asthmatic group,therapeutic group with corticosteroid.The thickness of airway smooth musle(ASM)was measured by HE staining,and the expression of NGF was observed by immunohistochemical staining.Results 1.The thickness of ASM,the expression of NGF and were significantly higher in asthmatic group than those of control group and therapeutic group(Pa

To investigate the intervention effects of Morinda officinalis How. on 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' induced by hydrocortisone in rats, the metabolic profiles of rat urine were characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance and principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to study the trajectory of urinary metabolic phenotype of rats with 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' under administration of M. officinalis at different time points. Meanwhile, the intervention effects of M. officinalis on urinary metabolic potential biomarkers associated with 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' were also discussed. The experimental results showed that in accordance to the increased time of administration, an obvious tendency was observed that clustering of the treatment group moved gradually closed to that of the control group. Eight potential biomarkers including citrate, succinate, alpha-ketoglutarate, lactate, betaine, sarcosine, alanine and taurine were definitely up- or down-regulated. In conclusion, the effectiveness of M. oficinalis on 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' is proved using the established metabonomic method and the regulated metabolic pathways involve energy metabolism, transmethylation and transportation of amine. Meanwhile, the administration of M. officinalis can alleviate the kidney impairment induced by 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome'.

Objective Clinical evidence has suggested that ATI receptor blocker (ARB) could prevent the development of heart failure. Decreased sareoplasmic reticulum(SR) Ca2+ content, which is due to reduced SR calcium reuptake by SERCA2a, is responsible for defective systolic function in failing heart. To better understand how ARB could improve cardiac systolic dysfunction, we studied the effects of Valsartan on calcium reuptake of SR and its regulatory proteins in heart failure rabbits. Methods Thirty rabbits were divided into three groups: sham rabbits(controls, n= 11), rabbits with heart failure treated with Valsartan (n= 11) and rabbits with heart failure but without Valsartan treatment (n=8).Rabbit heart failure model was established by volume plus pressure overload. Cardiac function was measured by echocardiography. SR calcium uptake was determined by measuring extra vesicular free [Ca2+] changes in a fluores-cence spectrophotometer. SERCA2a, Serl 6-phosphorylated phospholamban (p-PLB), PKA and PP1a protein abundance were deter-mined by use of Western blot analysis. Results Compared to control rabbits, the ejection fractions in the HF rabbits were significantly decreased (P<0.05), these changes could be significantly attenuated by Valsanan treatment (P<0.05).Calcium reuptake of SR, activity of SERCA2a and PKA decreased in heart failing myocytes (P<0.05), with down regulations of p-PLB, SERCA2a and PKA, but up regulation ofPP1αin ventricular samples from the failing rabbits (P<0.05). All of these changes were attenuated by Valsartan treatment (all P<0.05). Conclusion Valsartan improved cardiac function in volume plus pressure overload induced heart failure of rabbits possibly by restoring the SR calcium uptake resulted from attenuating the activities and expressions of SERCA2a and its regulatory proteins.

Aim To observe the effects of simvastatin on PPARγ and p65 subunit of NF-κB and to invest the mechanism of simvastatin preventing hypertrophy and keeping cardiac function.Methods 24 rabbits were divided into 4 groups.Rabbits received sham operation as health control in group I. In other groups, aortic regurgitation and coarctation of ascending aorta were operated in rabbits.Rabbits received no drugs in Group Ⅱ. In group Ⅲ, rabbits were given simvastatin 5 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) after the operation for 8 weeks. In group Ⅳ, rabbits were given simvastatin 5 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) after 4 weeks of operation for 4 weeks. At the beginning and the end of the experiment, left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was measured with catheter. At the end of the experiment, heart weight (HW), left ventricular weight (LVW), body weight (BW), heart weight/body weight radio (HW/BW radio), left ventricular weight/body weight radio (LVW/BW radio) were measured.The PPARγ mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. PPARγ and p65 protein expression in cardiomyocyte nuclear were analyzed through Western blot. The activity of p65 was analyzed with EMSA.Results The HW, LVW, HW/BW were significantly decreased in the early and late treatment group than in CHF group(P<0.05,P<0.01). The LVW/BW was significantly decreased inearly treatment group than in CHF group, too (P<0.01). The LVEDP was significantly decreased in the early and late treatment group than in CHF group (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein of PPARγ significantly fell in CHF heart (P<0.01). The activity and protein expression of p65 were significantly increased in CHF heart (P<0.01). Simvastatin increased the mRNA and protein expression of PPARγ and decreased the activity and protein expression of p65 (P<0.01).Conclusions Simvastatin inhibits the cardiac hypertrophy and improves cardiac function. The mechanism of simvastatin on cardiac remodeling and function relates to the increase of PPARγ expression and preventing the NF-κB activation.

Objective To evaluate the acute and delayed killing effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on Echinococcus granulosus(E. granulosus)protoscolices in vitro.Methods E. granulosus protoscolices were treated with different dosage of effective power(0,25,50,100,200,250 W)and time(5,10,20,30,40,50,60 s)of HIFU in vitro to obtain the dosage-effect curves.Then the survival pmtoscolices were incubated,and the mortality of each group was counted daily.The protoscolicidal effects were investigated by trypan blue exclusion assay.Results Compared with the untreated group,the Vitality of E.granulosus protoscolices significantly decreased immediately after treated by HIFU of different dosage(F=5201.59 vs 1865.65,P＜0.05),there were the interaction both different dosage and time(F=214.50,P＜0.05).The protoscolices were broken into pieces by HIFU of 250 W×40 s,whereas the growth of the surviving protoscolices after exposed to HIFU was obvious suppressed.Both the acute killing effect and the delayed inhibitory effect showed a dosage-dependant manner.The inhibitory effect increased along with the increased dosage of HIFU(P＜0.05).The inhibitory effect in 50 W×10 s group was stronger than 25 W×20 s group(P＜0.05).The mortality was increased in parallel with the increase of HIFU dosage.Conclusions HIFU show an effective immediately killing effect,as well as a growth-inhibiting effect on the E.granulosus protoscolices in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of muscular needling combined with scarring moxibustion on active stage of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSSixty cases of RA were randomly divided into a muscular needling group and a medication group, 30 cases in each group. The muscular needling group was treated by muscular needling on Quchi (LI 11), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. combined with scarring moxibustion on Dazhui (GV 14), Zusanli (ST 36) etc., while the medication group was treated by oral administration of Diclofenac sodium and intramuscular injection of Methotrexate. The therapeutic effects, main symptoms and signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and rheumatoid factor were observed in two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of muscular needling group was 76.7%, and that of medication group was 73.3%, there was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The clinical symptoms, signs, and E8R of two groups were improved obviously compared with those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), however there were no significant differences between the two groups after treatment (all P > 0.05). The adverse reactions of medication group were more eminent compared to the muscular needling group.

CONCLUSIONMuscular needling can obviously relieve the symptoms and signs of active stage rheumatoid arthritis and the effect is equivalent to oral administration of western medicine, the incidence of adverse reactions in the muscular needling group is obviously lower than that of western medication. Muscular needling is a safe and effective method for treatment of RA.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; metabolism ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Rheumatoid Factor ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To optimize the nasal examination procedures for preliminary medical selection of pilot cadets,to reduce the use of medicine for nasal congestion,to simplify the workflow and to improve the efficiency.Methods In the course of recruiting pilots,all the 306 candidates in seven districts of a province were selected and randomly divided into the exercise-first group (n =166) and the spraying-first group (n =140).In the exercise-first group,the nasal cavity of the students was observed under the anterior rhinoscope at three time points:before exercise/spraying,after simple exercise,and after exercise/spraying(exercise first).In the second group,the nasal cavity was observed under the anterior rhinoscope at three time points:before exercise/spraying,after simple spraying,and after exercise/spraying(spraying first).Conclusions were drawn after nasal examination,and the percentage of clear conclusions in each group was statistically analyzed.Results In the case of simple exercise or simple nasal spraying,clear conclusions could be drawn about most of the candidates.There was no significant difference between the simple nasal spraying group and simple exercise group in the rate of clear conclusions.Conclusion During the preliminary recruitment of pilot students,the exercise method can be used to shrink the nasal cavity.For a few candidates whose conclusions cannot be drawn after exercise,nasal spray can be added to reduce congestion improve efficiency,and reduce the use of nasal congestion,thus reducing the indireet damage to candidates.During the re-check and final check,the nasal spray agent can be used to reduce the congestion and at the same time fast squatting 50 times in two minutes can be used as a the nasal cavity contraction method.

BACKGROUNDDifferent diagnostic and grading systems of conjunctivochalasis have resulted in apparent disparity between the prevalence rates of recent population-based studies. This study aimed to investigate the disparity between 4-level system cited from Meller and Tseng in 1998 (abbreviated here as Meller's system) and 5-level system modified from Meller's system cited from Zhang and associates (abbreviated here as Zhang's system) regarding the diagnosis and the patients' preferences for the treatment of conjunctivochalasis in the general population.

METHODSA total of 546 senile residents living in the Guiyangyuan community of Shanghai, China, participated in the study. The diagnostic criteria for conjunctivochalasis were based on two diagnostic grading systems: Meller's system and Zhang's system, which was modified from Meller's system. The participants' preference regarding medical treatment for conjunctivochalasis was determined according to the response to a question. One year later, a follow-up interview determines whether the patient had undergone surgery for conjunctivochalasis.

RESULTSWith Meller's system, 398 participants were confirmed as having conjunctivochalasis, and the prevalence rate was 72.89%. According to Zhang's system, only 213 participants were diagnosed as having conjunctivochalasis, and the prevalence rate was 39.01%. A total of 109 eyes underwent medical treatment or surgery for conjunctivochalasis in the following year, including eight eyes that were diagnosed as grade II and 101 eyes that were diagnosed as grade III according to Meller's system and five eyes that were diagnosed as grade I, 55 eyes that were diagnosed as grade II, 31 eyes that were diagnosed as grade III, and 18 eyes that were diagnosed as grade IV according to Zhang' system.

CONCLUSIONDiagnoses of conjunctivochalasis using Zhang's system are more consistent with patient requests and the medical treatment strategies used than diagnoses made using Meller's system.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Conjunctival Diseases ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged