Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on improvement of learning and memory ability and the expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)mRNA and protein in hippocampus in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment.Methods The rat diabetes model was induced by injecting streptozotocin(20 g/L),and then the rats were randomly divided into three groups:electro-acupuncture group(EA),diabetes-mellitus-untreated group(DM)and control group(CN).After four weeks of electroacupuncture treatment,blood glucose level was determined and the effect of electroacupuncture on learning and memory was examined with the device of Morris water maze.RT-PCR was used to detect CTGF mRNA level,and immunohistochemistry was used to detect CTGF protein expression.Results Blood glucose level and the latency period in DM group were increased compared with those in EA and CN groups(P

Objective To evaluate the effects of isoflurane postconditioning on mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in brain tissues of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.Methods One hundred and twenty 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 12-16 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),isoflurane group (group I),hypoxicischemic brain injury group (group HIBI),and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury + isoflurane postconditioning group (group HI).To establish hypoxic-ischemic brain injury model in the neonatal rats,the left common carotid artery ligation was carried out,and then the rats were exposed to 8％ O2 + 92％ N2 at 37 ℃ for 2 h in HIBI and HI groups.The rats inhaled 1.5 ％ isoflurane for 30 min after the model was established in group HI.The rats only inhaled 1.5％ isoflurane for 30 min in group I.At 24 h after the model was established,10 rats taken out randomly in each group were sacrificed and brains were removed to detect mPTP opening.At 7 days after the model was established,the survival rate was recorded in the rest rats.The rats were then sacrificed and brains were removed and the right and left cerebral hemispheres were weighed separately,and the ratio between left/right cerebral hemispheres was calculated.The density of normal neurons in ventral posterior inferior thalamic nucleus and hippocampal CA3 region in the left and right cerebral hemispheres were measured and the ratios of the density of normal neurons in the left to right cerebral hemisphere were calculated.Results There was no significant difference in the survival rate between the four groups (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group S,the ratios of the density of normal neurons in the left to right cerebral hemisphere,weight of left cerebral hemisphere,and ratio between left/right cerebral hemispheres were significantly decreased,and mPTP opening was increased in group HIBI (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in group I (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group HIBI,the ratios of the density of normal neurons in the left to right cerebral hemisphere,weight of left cerebral hemisphere,and ratio between left/right cerebral hemispheres were significantly increased,and mPTP opening was decreased in group HI (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which isoflurane postconditioning reduces hypoxic-ischemic brain injury may be related to inhibition of mPTP opening in brain tissues of neonatal rats.

Objective To evaluate the effects of isoflurane postconditioning on long-term cognitive function of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI).Methods Sixty 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 12-16 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =15 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group Ⅰ),isoflurane postconditioning group (group Ⅱ),cerebral hypoxia-ischemia group (group Ⅲ),and isoflurane postconditioning after cerebral hypoxia-ischemia group (group Ⅳ).Brain ischemia was induced by permanent ligation of the left common carotid artery followed by inhalation of 8 ％ O2-92 ％ N2 for 2 h at 37 ℃ in Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups.In Ⅰ and Ⅱ groups,the left common carotid artery was only isolated but not ligated.The rats inhaled 1.5％ isoflurane in 30％ O2-70％ N2 for 30 min starting from 2 h of hypoxia in Ⅱ and Ⅳ groups.The rats were exposed to 30％ O2-70％ N2 for 30 min in Ⅰ and Ⅲ groups.Morris water maze test was carried out at 30-35 days after HIBI.The escape latency,swimming speed,swimming distance,the number of times the animals crossing the platform quadrant,the percentage of time spent in the platform quadrant and the percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant were recorded.The animals were sacrificed after Morris water maze test.The density of normal neurons in ventral posterior inferior thalamic nucleus and hippocampal CA3 region in left and right cerebral hemisphere was measured and the ratio of the density of normal neurons in the left to right cerebral hemisphere was calculated.Results Compared with group Ⅰ,the escape latency was significantly prolonged at 30-34 days after HIBI in group Ⅲ and at 31 and 34 days after HIBI in Ⅳ group,the number of times the animals crossing the platform quadrant,percentage of time spent in the platform quadrant,percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant,and ratio of the density of normal neurons in the left to right cerebral hemisphere were decreased at day 35 after HIBI in group Ⅲ,no significant changes were found in the number of times the animals crossing the platform quadrant,percentage of time spent in the platform quadrant,and percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant,and the ratio of the density of normal neurons in the left to right cerebral hemisphere was decreased at day 35 after HIBI in group Ⅳ,and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in group Ⅱ.Compared with group Ⅲ,the escape latency was significantly shortened at 31-34 days after HIBI,and the number of times the animals crossing the platform quadrant,percentage of time spent in the platform quadrant,percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant,and ratio of the density of normal neurons in the left to right cerebral hemisphere were increased at day 35 after HIBI in group Ⅳ.There was no significant difference in the swimming speed and swimming distance at day 35 after HIBI between groups.Conclusion Isoflurane postconditioning can improve long-term cognitive function of neonatal rats with HIBI.

Objective To establish CT image-based, three-dimensional finite element models of healthy tibiae and plateau-fracture tibiae, and to calculate the displacement and stress distribution of the tibial models .Methods Continuous-time tomographic images of knee joints of a healthy adult and a patient with tibial plateau fractures were obtained using multi-slice spiral CT scan , and inputed to Mimics to establish three-dimensional surface mesh models of tibiae .The models underwent global meshing procedures and material properties assignment to construct finite element models of normal and plateau-fracture tibiae in ANSYS , and the newly established models were analyzed and calculated .Results In case of applied load on the tibial plateau , the peak strains of the load-contact sites in the healthy subject and the patient presented divergent directions , with peak strains on the medial tibia in the healthy subject and lateral tibia in the patient , respectively . Equivalent stress decreased gradually down the tibiae and concentrated in the one -third of the upper and middle regions in both types of tibiae .Moreover, concentration of stress was also present in the locus of the fractured tibia .The deformation displacement gradients were more evident in the healthy tibia than in the fractured tibiae .There was significant difference in overall stress distribution between the two types of tibiae .Conclusion Three-dimensional finite element models of tibiae have been established that can demonstrate the differences in biomechanical properties between healthy and plateau -fracture tibiae, which might provide reference and guidance for orthopedic regimens .

20(Z= -2.117, P=0.034), and between the patients with OD and without OD (Z=-3.089, P=0.002), but PCT was not so between the non-surviror and survivor (Z=-1.307, P=0.191). The serum PCT level correlated with the incidence of organ dysfunction (x~2=14.82, P=0.033) and APACHEII (x~2=12.83, P

Natural products are important sources for the discovery of anti-tumor drugs. Evodiamine is the main alkaloid component of the traditional Chinese herb Wu-Chu-Yu, and it has weak antitumor activity. In recent years, a number of highly active antitumor candidates have been discovered with a significant progress. This article reviews the research progress of evodiamine-based antitumor drug design strategies, in order to provide reference for the development of new drugs with natural products as leads.

Since the late 20th century owing to the improvement of spinal surgery techniques, the diagnosis and treatment of thoracolumbar fracture have been perfected more and more. Although the advent of modern spinal surgery in China was late, we have gained some advanced achievements owing to various international communications benefited from the open policy. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the current status and perspective of diagnosis and treatment of thoracolumbar fracture. There are several issues we would like to discuss here.
China ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; standards ; trends ; Fracture Healing ; physiology ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Quality of Health Care ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; prevention & control ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) is an important metabolism regulator, however, whether FGF-21 has effects on cardiovascular remains unclear. In this study, H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells was used as a cell model, the anti-apoptosis potential and mechanism of FGF-21 against oxidative injury were evaluated by MTT assay, flow cytometry assay and real-time PCR. The results showed that FGF-21 could increase the cell survival of H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells and prevent H9c2 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, FGF-21 can elevate SOD activity and regulate Bcl-2/Bax expression in H9c2 cells. The results suggest that FGF-21 have protective effect against the H2O2-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Yizhi Capsule (YZC) on learning and memory disorder and beta-amyloid peptide induced neurotoxicity in rats.

METHODSVarious doses of YZC were administered to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 8 consecutive days, twice a day. On the 8th day of the experiment, scopolamine hydrobromide was intraperitoneally injected to every rat and Morris water maze test and shuttle dark avoidance test were carried out respectively to explore the changes of learning and memory capacities in the rats. Besides, after the cerebral cortical neurons of newborn SD rats aged within 3 days were cultured in vitro for 7 days, drug serum containing YZC was added to the cultured neurons before or after beta amyloid peptide(25 - 35) (Abeta(25 - 35)) intoxication to observe the protective effect of YZC on neurotoxicity by MTT assay and to determine the LDH content in the supernatant.

RESULTSCompared with those untreated with YZC, the rats having received YZC treatment got superiority in shorter time of platform seeking in Morris water maze test, as well as elongated latent period and less times of error in shuttle dark avoidance test. On the cultured neurons, YZC drug serum could effectively increase the survival rate of Abeta(25 - 35) intoxicated neurons and reduce the LDH contents in cultured supernatant.

CONCLUSIONYZC has an action of improving learning and memory disorder, and good protective effect on Abeta(25 - 35) induced neurotoxicity in SD rats.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; analysis ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; drug therapy ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; pharmacology

To offer the reference and method for salt damage in the cultivation of Marsdenia tenacissima, the seeds of M. tenacissima collected from Maguan city ( Yunnan province) were taken as the test materials to study the effects of different priming materials on improving germination and growth under high-level salt stress condition. Four different treatments, which were GA3, KNO3-KH2PO4, PEG-6000, NaCl, combined with ANOVA were applied to test the performance of germination energy, germination percentage, germination index, MDA, SOD, and CAT. The results showed that the seed germination was obviously inhibited under salt stress and the soaked seeds with different priming materials could alleviate the damage of salt stress. Under these treatments, the activities of SOD, CAT the content of soluble protein significantly increased. While the content of MDA significantly decreased. The maximum index was obtained when treated with 1.20% KNO3-KH2PO4, the germination percentage increased from 52.67% to 87.33% and the activity of SOD increased from 138.01 to 219.44 respectively. Comparing with the treatment of 1.20% KNO3-KH2PO4, the germination percentage of treating with 300 mg x L(-1) GA3 increased from 52.67% to 80.67%, while the activity of SOD increased from 138.01 to 444.61.
Germination ; drug effects ; physiology ; Marsdenia ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Nitrates ; pharmacology ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Potassium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Xanthones ; pharmacology