OBJECTIVETo explore effect of curcumin in different concentrations on learning and memory of senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) and their possible mechanisms.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into six groups: the SAMR1 normal control group, the SAMP8 model control group, the SAMP8 + solvent (the peanut oil) control group, SAMP8 + low, middle and high dose curcumin groups. Mice were gastrogavage for 25 successive days. On the next day of ending the experiment, changes of learning and memory in mice of each group were observed by Morris water maze. The hippocampal [Ca2+] was determined. Expressions of hippocampal calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) and Calmodulin (CaM) mRNA were detected using Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively.

RESULTSThe latency to find the hidden platform was remarkably prolonged, the hippocampal [Ca2+]i was markedly increased, the expression of CaMK II in the hippocampal membrane and the level of hippocampal CaM mRNA were significantly reduced in the SAMP8-model control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The latency to find the hidden platform was remarkably shortened in the SAMP8 + middle dose curcumin and the SAMP8 + high dose curcumin groups (P < 0.01). The hippocampal [Ca2+]i was markedly lowered, the expression of CaMK II in the hippocampal membrane and the level of hippocampal CaM mRNA obviously increased in the SAMP8 + low, middle and high dose curcumin groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could improve learning and memory Ca2+/capacities of SAM by lowering hippocampal [Ca2+] overload, increase the hippocampal CaM mRNA level and CaMK II expression in the hippocampal dose-dependently.

Aging ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

Objective To study the influence of Rhizoma typhonii extract on the growth of glioma SHG-44 cells cultured invitro,and to explore the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of Rhizoma typhonii extract on the growth of glioma cells.Methods The SHG-44 cells were cultured and divided into blank control group and 8, 40, 200, 1 000μg·L-1 Rhizoma typhonii extract groups.The inhibitory effect of Rhizoma typhonii extract on the growth of glioma SHG-44 cells was measured by MTT assay. The secretion levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were examined by ELISA assay. The expression level of caspase-3 protein was examined by Western blotting method. Results Compared with blank control group, the inhibitory rates of the growth of SHG-44 cells in 200, 1 000μg·L-1 Rhizoma typhonii extract groups at 24 h,and 8,40,200,and 1 000μg·L-1 Rhizoma typhonii extract groups at 48 h were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The secretion levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins in 40,200,and 1 000μg· L-1 Rhizoma typhonii extract groups at 48 h were increased compared with blank control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01 ). Compared with blank control group, the expression levels of caspase-3 protein in different doses of Rhizoma typhonii extract groups were increased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion Rhizoma Typhonii extract can inhibit the growth of cells through up-regulating the expression of Bax protein,increasing the expression level of caspase-3 protein and activating apoptosis pathway.

This paper discussed the application of designing experiments from scientific research in Micro-biology courses and its effects on the teachers and students. The problems of the application of designing experiments in Microbiology courses were analyzed. The practice of the teaching reform showed that it give great advantages for the undergraduates with the enhancement of their ability on theory application and sci-entific innovation. This teaching reform could be widely popularized.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects on SOD, MDA, gamma-GT, GSH-Px and inflammatory factor (TNF-alpha, NF-kappaB, ICAM-1) in rats that induced by fructus toosendan, and to search for the hepatotoxicity mechanism of rats that induced by fructus toosendan.

METHODThe SD rats were given fructus toosendan 120 g x kg(-1) by orally for 45 days, then take the liver tissue of control and fructus toosendan group to prepare liver homogenate. The activities of SOD, the content of MDA, the ratio of SOD and MDA, the content of gamma-GT and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected according to the methods of kit. The tumor necosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was detected by ABC-ELISA. The expression of NF-kappaB p65 and ICAM-1 were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTThe rats were given fructus toosendan 120 g x kg(-1) by orally for 45days, the SOD and GSH-Px activities in liver tissue decreased, the content of MDA increased, the ratio of SOD and MDA decreased, the content of gamma-GT and TNF-alpha, the masculine expression of NF-kappaB p65 and ICAM-1 increased.

CONCLUSIONAfter the rats were given fructus toosendan, the liver can be damaged obviously, and the mechanism of hepatotoxicity perhaps related to free radical and inflammatory factor.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the diagnostic value of arterial spin labeling (ASL) technology in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

METHODSeven full-term newborn infants without any history of asphyxia and other nervous system diseases were selected as the control and 33 full-term newborn infants were assigned into HIE group. The patients in HIE group were further divided into three subgroups (19 cases of mild, 6 cases of moderate and 8 cases of severe HIE) based on their clinical diagnosis. The control group and HIE group were examined with GE Signa EXCITE HD 3.0T superconducting MRI scanner with a head phase array coil. Both groups were scanned with conventional axial MRI (T1FLAIR, T2WI and T2FLAIR), 1HMRS (PRESS sequence) and ASL (FAIR). Original images of 1HMRS and ASL were processed by Functool software of ADW 4.3 workstation. ASL perfusion images were observed and the signal intensity values of the region of interest (bilateral gray, white matter and basal ganglia) of the two groups were quantitatively measured, and mean value were calculated and compared between groups. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0 software, and statistically significant difference was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTThe perfusion images of two groups were obtained perfectly. The signal intensity values of bilateral gray, white matter and basal ganglia of control group were 125.34 ± 11.76, 73.42 ± 11.67 and 173.65 ± 15.49, respectively and there was a statistically significant difference between the different areas. The signal intensity values of bilateral gray, white matter and basal ganglia of HIE group were 153.47 ± 11.72, 71.35 ± 10.37 and 217.13 ± 12.51, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in the average signal intensity value of gray matter and basal ganglia, but there were no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in white matter between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONASL Perfusion technique can assess HIE comprehensively and accurately. Furthermore, it can evaluate the brain damage of hypoxic ischemia. The results provide a strong basis for clinical treatment.

Case-Control Studies ; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; diagnosis ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Spin Labels

To further study the characteristics of changes on the molecular level of rice mutants induced in space environment, we analyzed proteins in leaves and seeds of four rice mutants (two high-tillering and two low-tillering) in the 8(th) and 9(th) generations after a 15-day spaceflight, and compared with their ground controls by two-dimentional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). In addition, the albumin, globulin, prolamine, glutelin, and amylose of the mutant seeds were analyzed by RPLC and ultra-violet spectrometry. The results showed that the low-abundance proteins of leaves in the peak tillering stage are more likely to be induced compared with their corresponding controls. The albumin, globulin, and prolamine of the mutant seeds revealed changes when compared with their controls, and the characteristics of changes in different mutants were stably inherited in the 8(th) and 9(th) generations, suggesting that they can be used as bio markers to identity the mutants induced by spaceflight. Moreover, two proteins (SSP9111 and SSP6302) were found to be expressed with high intensity (two-fold change) in different mutants, which were both correlated with photosystem according to mass spectrometry and database searching.
Albumins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amylose ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Extraterrestrial Environment ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genomic Instability ; Globulins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mutation ; Oryza ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prolamins ; Seeds ; genetics ; Space Flight

BACKGROUNDThe effect of chronic stress on cognitive functions has been one of the hot topic in neuroscience. But there has been much controversy over its mechanism. Such single stressor applied in the past could not simulate complicated living circumstances that people confronted with. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic multiple-stress on learning and memory as well as on the levels of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), calmodulin (CaM) mRNA, and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) mRNA in the hippocampus of rats.

METHODSThe rats were divided randomly into stressed and control groups. The stressed group was given chronic multiple-stress for 6 weeks to set up a chronic multiple-stressed model. The rats' performance of spatial learning and memory was tested using Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Y-maze. Meanwhile, the expressions of CaMKII, CaM mRNA and CREB mRNA of rats' hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. In addition, the width of synaptic cleft and the thickness of post-synaptic densities (PSD) were observed in the hippocampal CA3 region of rats by electron microscopy.

RESULTSAfter exposure to chronic multiple-stress for 6 weeks, the ability of learning and memory of the stressed group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The width of synaptic cleft was smaller and the thickness of PSD was larger in the hippocampal CA3 region of the stressed group than in that of the control group (P < 0.01). The CaMK II immunostaining of the stressed group was stronger than that of the control group in the stratum radiatum and oriens of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3, especially in the stratum oriens. Quantitative analysis indicated that the expression of CaMK II, CaM mRNA, and CREB mRNA in the hippocampus of the stressed group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe capacity of learning and memory can be enhanced after chronic multiple-stress. The increased levels of CaMK II, CaM mRNA, and CREB mRNA may contribute to the enhancing effect of chronic multiple-stress on learning and memory.

Animals ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases ; genetics ; Calmodulin ; genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; genetics ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Learning ; Male ; Memory ; Microscopy, Electron ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Physiological ; metabolism ; psychology ; Synapses ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo examine the contribution of the three most common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in XRCC1 gene, C26304T, G27466A and G28152A, to susceptibility of breast cancer in Chinese Han population.

METHODSIn this population-based case control study, 84 cases with breast cancer and 252 controls, matched to the cases in terms of habitation and age (5 years), were genotyped for the XRCC1 C26304T, G27466A and G28152A polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. The haplotype distribution was estimated and compared by EH linkage software 1. 2.

RESULTThe distribution of basic characteristics, such as age, alcohol drinking, the family history of malignancy in first and second relatives except cigarette smoking, were not significantly different between cases and controls. However, the percentage of ever or current smokers was significantly higher in cases (7.1%) than that in controls (2.0%). The distributions of allelotype and genotype of C26304T, G27466A and G28152A polymorphisms were also not significantly different between cases and controls. There was no significant association between the risk of breast cancer and these three SNPs of XRCC1 gene. The genetic linkage disequilibrium existed in these three polymorphic sites both in cases and controls, in which the CGG, CGA, CAG and TGG haplotypes were the most common. There was also no significant association of XRCC1 haplotype with risk of breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONXRCC1 C26304T, G27466A and G28152A SNPs may not be associated with the susceptibility of breast cancer. The CGG, CGA, CAG and TGG haplotypes might be the most common haplotypes in Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Repair ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1

Oligonucleotide microarray is developed on the basis of hybridization on the solid substrate. The pre-activated glass substrates and the terminal modification of the oligonucleotides are the two important factors in the process of fabrication for microarray. In order to compare the hybridization signal intensity of the different terminal modified oligonucleotide probes, the eight kinds of oligonucleotides were designed according to the sequence of HLA-DRB1-12, including the amino modified oligonucleotides with PEG spacer and the one without spacer, the phosphorothioate modified oligonucleotides with PEG spacer and the one without spacer. They were modified on 5' terminal and 3' terminal, respectively. In addition, the oligonucleotides probes with the internal spacer of different number of PEG were designed to observe the relationship between the spacer of PEG and the hybridization efficiency. These probes were respectively fixed on the bromoacetylation activated and glutaraldehyde activated slides to manufacture the two kinds of microarray which hybridized with the fluorescence labeled PCR product of HLA-DRB1-12 gene. The results from the study demonstrated that the signal intensity of 3' amino-modified probes with the internal spacer of different number of PEG on the bromoacetylation activated slides was stronger than the others. It is concluded that the 3' amino-modified oligonucleotide with an internal PEG spacer and the bromoacetylation activated slide enhanced the hybridization efficiency and were worthy to be proposed for the fabrication of HLA microarray or other kinds of microarrays for detecting fluorescence labeled PCR product in the future study.
HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods

Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism(SSCP) is an effect method for investigating environment microbial genetic polymorphism, with its characterization of rapidness, simplicity, and sensitivity. However, many factors can influence the results of SSCP in the analysis of complex environment samples, and its optimization is highly needed. In this paper, optimal PCR-SSCP conditions were discussed based on PAGE concentration, formamide deionized in denaturing loading buffer, electrophoresis time and temperature. The resluts showed that the optimal conditions were as follows: 16S rDNA V1~V3 was selected as the targeted gene, the ratio of acrylamide to N, N-dimethylacrylamide in 12% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(PAGE)gel was 49:1, the ratio of formamide deionized in denaturing loading buffer was 1:3, running the SSCP gel at 300 V for 18 h (under 4 ℃). Aside from this, the validations using samples from a simultaneous desulfurification and denitrification bioreactor were conducted under this optimal conditions.