Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of aqueous extract of ginger on vascular dementia(VD) in rats.Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model contral group, huperzine A group and three ginger aqueous extract groups for high, middle and low dosage. The VD rat model was established by bilateral corotid ligation and repeated cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Spatial learning and memory abilities in both place navigation test and spatial prob test were evaluated with Morris water maze. The activitie of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in cortex and striatum tissue and SOD and MDA content in brain tissue was detected by spectrophotometry.Results Compared with sham-operation group, the rats in model control group exhibited serious learning and memory deficits in both place navigation test and spatial prob test and decreased significantly AChE activity in striatum tissue. Aqueous extract of ginger could not only improve the learning and memory abilities in both place navigation test and spatial prob test, but also increase AChE activity and the ratio of SOD/MDA and decrease MDA content in brain tissue. Conclusion Aqueous extract of ginger has obvious effects on improving learning and momery abilities of rats with VD. Increasing the function of cholinergic neuron and inhibiting AChE activity are likely to be the partial mechanism.

Objective To investigate the effects of methamphetamine (Meth) on the outward K+ currents and elucidate the role of outward K+ channels in Meth induced hippocampal neuron damage.Methods Hippocampal neurons were harvest from 18-day-old embryonic rats and were divided into two groups:the control group and the Meth treated group.Both of 4-AP and TEA sensitive K+ currents were recorded after the treatment of Meth by performing the whole cell patch clamp.Furthermore,the MTT and TUNEL assays were performed to evaluate the effects of K+ channel on hippocampal neuron damage mediated by Meth.For statistical comparison,One-way ANOVA and LSD multiple comparison test or t-test was used.P-value ＜ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results The density of 4-AP sensitive K+ channel currents in Meth treated group [(120.1 ± 19.6) pA/pF,n =7] were significantly increased when compared with control group [(87.4 ± 12.5) pA/pF,n =10,P ＜0.01] and the increments of the currents induced by Meth was dose dependent.The MTT data showed that the cell viability was obviously decreased in Meth treated group (48.72 ± 4.38) ％ relative to the control group (100.07 ± 3.36) ％.Moreover,application of K+ channel antagonist,4-AP (61.39 ± 3.15)％,and the high K+ solution (78.25 ± 9.42) ％ substantially enhanced the cell viability.The TUNEL assay showed there were protective effects of 4-AP and the high K+ solution against neuron damage observed during cells exposed to Meth.Conclusions The increments of 4-AP sensitive K+ channel currents induced by Meth might be involved in hippocampal neuron damage.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood of patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage.Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect the dynamic changes of EPCs in 79 cases of hypertensive cerebral hemorrhages as the experimental group and 70 cases of normal healthy people as the control group.Results In the acute phase after hemorrhage (3 days),EPCs in experimental group [(51.3 ±9.3) × 103/ml,(52.0 ±6.3) × 103/ml,(53.1 ±9.3) × 103/ml] were significantly lower than the control group [(75.4 ± 15.6) × 103/ml] (P ＜0.05).However,after that the level of EPCs in experimental group [(110.9 ± 12.0) × 103/ml,(132.8 ± 11.8)× 103/ml,(115.3 ±9.9) × 103/ml] increased rapidly and was significantly higher than the control group (P ＜0.05),and approximately two weeks later it reduced to normal levels [(83.1 ±7.9) × 103/ml].Conclusions In patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage,the levels of EPCs in peripheral blood were closely related with the disease and might become a prognostic marker.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of different simvastatin doses on hyperlipidemia in the elderly .Methods 120 patients with hyperlipidemia were randomly divided into two groups ,60 cases in each group ,patients were given simvastatin 10 mg/d(10 mg/d group) or 20 mg/d(20 mg/d group) .Data were collected before and after treatment ,including total cholesterol (TC) ,three acyl glycerin (TG) ,low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ,high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ,treat-ment efficacy and adverse reactions events .Results 3 month after treatment ,TC ,TG ,LDL-C and HDL-C were better than before treatment in both groups(P<0 .05);and the curative effect in 20 mg/d group was better than 10 mg/d group(P<0 .05) .There was no significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions events between the two groups (P>0 .05) .Conclusion 20 mg/d simvasta-tin is better than 10 mg/d simvastatin in efficacy of elderly patients with hyperlipidemia ,and offers a safe and reliable treatment .

AIM: To investigate the effects of curcumin (Cur) on the expression of High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in amyloid-β(Aβ)-induced primary rat microglial cells.METHODS: Microglia were derived from the cerebral cortices of postnatal rat brains.The cells were i-dentified by immunocytochemistry using mouse anti rat Iba-1 monoclonal antibody.A cell model using primary rat microgli-al cells incubated with Aβ25-35 as an inflammation model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was set up.The morphological char-acters of primary rat microglial cells were observed.The concentration of Aβ25-35 and the treatment concentration of curcumin were selected by CCK-8 assay.Cultured primary rat microglial cells were divided into 5 groups: normal cell group, Aβ25-35 group, Cur group, Aβ25-35 +Cur group and Aβ25-35 +DMSO group.The expression of HMGB1, NF-κB, and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) was detected by Western blot.The levels of HMGB1, IL-1β, and TNF-αin the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA.RESULTS: The purity of primary microglias determined by Iba-1 immuno-fluorescence was more than 95%.The protein levels of HMGB1, RAGE and NF-κB were significantly increased after Aβ25-35 stimulation.After treatment with Cur, the protein levels of HMGB1, RAGE and NF-κB were significantly decreased (P <0.05).The levels of HMGB1, IL-1βand TNF-αin the supernatant were significantly increased after Aβ25-35 stimula-tion.Cur significantly decreased the level of HMGB1, IL-1βand TNF-αin the supernatant.CONCLUSION: Curcumin significantly inhibits neuroinflammation stimulated by Aβ25-35 in primary rat microglial cells.

Objective To summarize the epidemiological feature of plague cases oceuwed in China.Methods The epidemiological and clinical data from 1981 to 2006 year in China were analyzed with descriptive study method.Result Nine hundred and seveneteen human plague cases were diagnosed in 9 provinces(regions) from 1981 to 2006 years,105 cases died,the mortality rate being 11.45%,and they distributed in 69 counties (cities or banners).In Qinghai Province 108 cases were diagnosed,the mortality rate was 46.30%(50/108),the cases distributed in 17 counties(cities);137 cans in Guizhou,distributing in 2 counties(cities);517 cases in Yunnan,distributing in 26 counties(cities).Plague cases peaked separately in 1983,1990,1996 and 2000 years,they were 25,75,98 and 254 separately.The principal spreading ways were breathing flying particles,touching,skinning and eating marmot in Qinghai;750 cases were of bubonic plague,among whom 4 cases in Tibet died,the fatality rate was 0.53(4/750);121 cases were of pneumonic prague,among whom 65 cases died,was accounting for 53.72%(65/121);31 cases were of septieaemic plague,and 30 cases died(one cases was cured in Inner Mongolia),accounting for 96.77%(30/31).Others were brain plague,intestinal plague,tonsil plague and plague cellulites,which were cured.Conclusion From 1990,human plague epidemical scope and intensity is enlarging continuously compared with 1980-1990 and there is a trend of going up gradually in China.

Objective To establish the ischemic precondition ([PC) model of PC12 cell line in vitro, and to explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the IPC cerebral protection. Method PC12 cells were cultured and used for producing the model of ischemie precondition by the way of oxygen-glucose deprivation. Twenty dishes of cells were randomly divided into four groups (5 dishes for each group): control group, ischemic precondition group (IPC),non-ischemic precondition group (NIPC) and L-NAME treatment group (L-NAME). In control group, the cells were in-cubated with low glucose (<1 g/L) and2% FBS medium in normal oxygen; in IPC group, the cells were administrated with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 6 hours, and then subjected with reperfuaion before OGD 15 hours; in NIPC group, the cells were treated the same as control group for 6 hours, and then subjected with reperfusion before OGD 15 hours; in L-NAME group, the cells received L-NAME (1 mmol/L) and cocultured for 30 minutes before OGD 6 hours, and then received the same treatment as the IPC group. To test whether the model was established, metabolic rate of MIT, LDH release were measured and the apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry following oxygen-glucose deprivation 15 hours. The activity of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) was as-sessed by biochemical assay. One-way ANOVA and LSD multiple comparison test were used to analyze differences among different groups, and P<0.05 was considered different. Results Compared with NIPC group, the metabolic rate of MTT increased (94.9%±35.1%, P<0.05), while LDH release and the cell apoptotic rate decreased significantly in IPC group (279.1%±28.1%, P<0.03). Compared with control group(100.0%± 13.5%),the activities of NOS increased both in NIPC and IPC groups (390.0%±14.6%, P<0.01;126.3% ±10.6%, P<0.01). Moreover, the apoptosis rates in each group (control group, IPC group, NIPC group and L-NAME group) were 5.90, 8.73, 38.62 and 11.73%,respectively. Conclusions IPC reduces the death and apoptosis rate of PC12 cell after oxygen-glucose deprivation injury. NO might be involved, but it is not the only factor.

Objective To introduce the experience and analyze the clinical outcome of applica- tion of reinforced bar-ring hybrid external fixator combined with limited internal fixation for complex frac- turcs of tibia plateau in patients.Methods From Aug.2002 to Feb.2005,21 patients with complex fractures of tibial plateau were treated with reinforced bar-ring hybrid external fixatar combined with lim- ited internal fixation.According to Schatzker classification,there were 13 patients with typeⅤfracture and 8 with typeⅥfracture.Voluntary and non-weight beating knee joint motion to partially weight bear- ing was taken one week after operation.Progressive loading was taken continuously until there was clinical evidence of fracture stability and then full weight bearing was done.Results The mean follow-up peri- od was 15.9 months (10-24 months).All the fractures got united and the mean union time was 4.2 months(3-8 months).All the injured knees could extend to less than 5 degrees and flex to more than 90 degrees after rehabilitation.Evaluated by Merchant score system for knee joint,81% of patients achieved excellent healing (7 cases) and good healing (10 cases).Conclusion Operation by using reinforced bar-ring hybrid external fixator combined with limited internal fixation can reduce complications and avoid stiffness of the knee joint.It is an effective method for complex fractures of tibial plateau.

China ; Humans ; Thoracic Surgery ; trends ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; trends

The issues concerning protection, comprehensive utilization, sustainable development, and quickening up the modernization of Chinese herbal medicinal resource, as well as how to accelerate the international conjunction of Chinese medicinal industry were discussed in this paper.
Conservation of Natural Resources ; methods ; Drug Industry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional