Objective To investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after intragastric administration of icariin to senescence-accelerated mice (P8 strain).Methods A total of 20 healthy male senescence accelerated mouse P8 (SAMP8) mice aged 6 months and 10 senescence accelerated mouse/resistance (SAM-R) mice with the same age were divided into model,blank,and icariin groups.Mice in the icariin group were intragastrically administered icariin in a 0.5％ sodium carboxymethyl cellulose suspension (0.01 ml/g).Mice in the model control and normal control groups were intragastrically administered 1 ml of double distilled water.Intragastric administration was done once a day in each group,for eight consecutive weeks.Spatial learning and memory abilities were detected by Morris water maze test,Expression of BDNF in mouse brain tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay.Results At 8 weeks after intragastric administration of icariin to senescence-accelerated mice (P8 strain),Morris water maze results showed that escape latency was shortened (P ＜ 0.05),and the number of platform crossings was increased (P ＜ 0.05).Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot assay showed significantly increased levels of BDNF (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions These results suggest that icariin upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor and improves learning and memory functions in hippocampus of the senescence-accelerated mouse.

This paper reviewed the practice of Handicap International (HI) in China and discussed the HI localized action plan using current theories and approaches of community-based rehabilitation.

Objective To evaluate the systolic function of left ventricle(LV) in the short axis views in diabetic patients with ejection fraction (EF) value ＞ 50％ with velocity vector imaging (VVI) and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).Methods 30 diabetic patients,which were excluded from coronary artery disease,hypertension,valvular heart diseases,congenital heart diseases,and EF value ＞50 ％by echocardiography,and 20 volunteers with age and sex matched were involved in the study.Twodimensional VVI echocardiographic cine loops were stored at baseline and dobutamine stress (10,20,30 and 40 μg · kg-1 · min-1) in the basal,middle and apical short axis views of LV.The maximum systolic velocity (Vs),strain (ε) and strain rate (SR) were obtained from sygno VVI software.Results The Vs,ε and SR showed decrement tendency from basal to apical short axis view whether in the control group or in the DM group.At baseline,the SR in the apical view decreased significantly in the DM group than that in the control group (P ＜0.05),other parameters were comparable between the two groups.After 10 μg· kg-1 · min-1 dobutamine stress,the SR in the middle and apical views and Vs,ε in the apical view decreased significantly in the DM group than those in the control group (all P ＜ 0.05).After 20μg· kg-1 · min-1 dobutamine stress,the SR in the basal,middle and apical views and Vs,ε in the middle and apical views decreased significantly in the DM group than those in the control group (all P ＜0.05).After the maximum dobutamine stress,all parameters decreased significantly in the DM group than those in the control group (all P ＜0.05).Conclusions The systolic function impairment of DM patients appeared first in the apical tissue of LV,SR was more sensitive index than velocity arnd strain,DSE could increase the sensitivity of VVI parameters in detecting the myocardial systolic function impairment in the earlier stage.

Objective To investigate whether myocardial dysfunction and perfusion impairment had happened in diabetes mellitus(DM)rats,and to assess the relationship between them by using myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)and velocity vector imaging(VVI).Methods MCE and VVI were performed from the short-axis views of the mid-left ventricular level both at rest and after dipyridamole stress in control rats and DM rafs(12 weeks after induction with streptozotocin).MCE-derived myocardial blood flow(MBF)and myocardial flow reserve(MFR)and VVI-derived circumferential strain rate(SRc)and SRc reserve were obtained.Results SRc(absolute value)and MBF in the DM group were significantly lower than those in the control group at rest(P =0.03 for SRc and P =0.005 for MBF).SRc reserve and MFR in the DM group were significantly lower than those in the control group after dipyridamole stress (P =0.000 for SRc reserve and P =0.014 for MFR).There was no significant correlation between SRc and MBF at rest in the DM group(r =0.189,P =0.453).However,significant negative correlation existed between SRc reserve and MFR(r =-0.658,P =0.003).Conclusions Both myocardial systolic function and perfusion are impaired in DM rats.The decrease of MBF might not be the predominant determinant of myocardial systolic dysfunction at rest.However,the impairment of MFR could be an important contributor to the decrease of myocardial contractile reserve.

Objective To observe the effect of Ti-6AL-4V particles on morphological and func- tional changes of osteoclast in vitro.Methods Mature osteoclasts separated from New Zealand Rabbits were cultured on glass slices and cortical bone slices.The experimental group was stimulated by Ti-6AL- 4V particles at concentration of 0.1 mg/ml.The cells were stained with TRAP at different culture time to observe the morphological variety.The bone resorption pits on bone slices were stained by toluidine blue and the resorption areas analyzed by computer image analysis software.Results Osteoclasts phagocy- tosed the particles,with irregular shapes,deeper TRAP stain and earlier apoptosis.Stimulation by Ti- 6AL-4V particles brought about larger area of bone absorption lacuna.Conclusion Osteoclasts have the ability to phagocytose Ti-6AL-4V particles,which leads to morphological and functional changes and enhances bone resorption.

Abstract: Objective　This paper aims to explore the effect of live attenuated varicella vaccine on the sensitivity of tuberculin skin test(TST), and to provide reference for tuberculin skin test in the future. Methods　TST and emergency varicella vaccine were administered to students in grade one of a high school in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, who had both TB and varicella cases. Independent-samples t test was used to analyze the mean diameter of induration of TST in day 0, day 83 and day 195. The retrospective cohort study was used to analyze the effect of live attenuated varicella vaccine on TST. 　　Results　The mean induration diameter of 45 students who participated in three TST tests on day 0, day 83 and day 195 were analyzed by independent sample t test. On day 0, there was a difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the unvaccinated and vaccinated groups(1.630±2.837 vs 5.818±4.530) (t=-3.692, P=0.001). On day 83, there was no difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the two groups(0.001±0.001 vs 0.114±0.533) (t=-1.000, P=0.329). On day 195, there was a difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the two groups(1.913±3.774 vs 5.023±5.126) (t=-2.309, P=0.026). Moreover, the retrospective cohort study showed that the mean diameter of TST induration changed more significantly after inoculation with varicella vaccine, RR=6.071, 95%CI (1.667-22.116), P<0.05; After inoculation with varicella vaccine, the mean diameter of TST test did not change significantly from day 0 to day 195 with no statistical significance RR=3.474, 95%CI (0.333-36.240), P>0.05. Conclusions　Live attenuated varicella vaccine may temporarily affect the sensitivity of tuberculin skin test.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of dopamin receptors-2 (DR2) on myocardial ischemic postconditioning and explore its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThe myocardial ischemic postconditioning (PC) model was established in cultured primary rat neonatal cardiomyocytes which were then randomly assigned in the following groups: Nomial control group, Isehemia/reperfusion (L'R) group, PC (ischemic postconditioning) group, PC + Bro (Bromocriptine, a DB2 antagonist) group, PC + Hal (Haloperidol, a DB2 repressor) and PC + Hal + Bro groups. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in cell medium were analyzed by colorunetry. The cell ultrastructure changes were observed by transmission electron microscope. The cell apoptosis was analyzed using flowcytometiy. The protein expression level of D112 and activity of p-p38 and p-JNK were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the nonnal control group, hR increased the protein expression level of DB2, enhanced LDH activity and MDA content, promoted cell injury and apoptosis, decreased SOD activity, up-regulated the activity of p-p38 and p-JNK. Compared with the hR group, although PC further increased the expression of DR2 protein, it decreased LDH activity and MDA content, cell injury and apoptosis, increased SOD activity, down-regulated activity of p-p38 and p-JNK. Bromocriptine treatment further enhanced PC-induced canlioprotective effect, yet Hal addition attenuated this enhancing effect exerted by bromocriptine.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of DB2 is involved in the protective effect of ischemic postconditioning on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through down-regulating the activity of p-p38 and p-JNK.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; physiology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

In this study, solvent evaporation method was used to preparing baicalin ethylcellulose microspheres for intranasal administration. The prepared microspheres were round with certain rough surface. The average drug loading and entrapment efficiency was (33. 31 ± 0. 045)% , (63. 34 ± 0. 11)% , respectively. As the characteristic crystalline peaks of baicalin were observed in the microspheres sample, the result of X-ray diffractometric analysis indicated that the baicalin was present in crystalline form after its entrapment in ethylcellulose matrix. By investigating the thermogram of microspheres sample, it was found that endothermic peak of baicalin was shifted from 211. 8 °C to 244. 2 °C and associated with the first broad endothermic peak of ethylcellulose. This could confirm that baicalin was loaded into ethylcellulose, nor simply physical mixture. The powder flowability test exhibited that the specific energy of microspheres was 3. 57 mJ . g-1 and the pressure drop was 2. 22 mBar when air kept the speed of 2 mm . s-1 through the powder bed with the force was 15 kPa. The consequence of the baicalin in vitro released from microspheres showed that the pure baicalin sample displayed faster (90%) release than microspheres sample (75%) in 7 h. Fitting model for release curve before 7 h, the results showed that the pure baicalin sample and the microsphere sample accorded with first order model (R2 = 0. 990 4) and Riger-Peppas model(R2 = 0. 961 2), respectively. Ex vivo rabbit nasal mucosa permeability experiment revealed that the value of cumulative release rate per unit area of the microsphere sample was 1. 56 times that of the pure baicalin sample. This provided the foundation for the in vivo pharmacokinetic study.
Administration, Intranasal ; Air Pressure ; Animals ; Cellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Microspheres ; Mucous Membrane ; metabolism ; Particle Size ; Powders ; Rabbits ; Solvents ; X-Ray Diffraction

Objective To investigate whether myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)combined with stress echocardiography could detect myocardial microcirculation disturbance of left ventricular(LV)in diabetic rats.Methods MCE were performed at rest and after dipyridamole infusion from parasternal shortaxis views at the papillary muscle level in DM rats(n=18,12 weeks later after STZ administration)and control rats(n=12).Regions of interest(ROI)were positioned with the anterior, lateral, posterior and septum walls.Plateau intensity(PI), initial slope of the curve(β)and time to PI(TTP)were obtained from the curve and myocardial blood flow(MBF)and myocardial flow reserve(MFR)was estimated.After the performance of MCE, myocardium was prepared for γ Well counting with ~(99m)Tc-MIBI and CD31 immunohistochemistry staining.Results There was no significant difference in MBF between the ROI of anterior, lateral, septum walls beyond posterior wall in each group at rest and after stress.MCE values from anterior wall were selected as the indexes for comparisons between the two groups.The PI., MBF and MFR in the DM group were significantly lower than those in the control group at rest and after stress(all P< 0.05).The β in the DM group was significantly lower and TTP was significantly longer after dipyridamole stress(P<0.05).The nuclide intake of myocardial tissue in different walls was similar in the DM group, but theY were all lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The capillary density decreased significantly in the DM group compared with the control group.Conclusions The PI,β,TTP,MBF and MFR derived from MCE were all sensitive parameters in detecting the microcirculation disturbances in the earlier period of DM.

Objective To determine the relationship between visual signal intensity and quantitative signal intensity of HCC assessed with DWI and histopathological differentiation of HCC.Methods The MR examinations including MRI plain scan,LAVA dynamic enhanced scan and DWI (1.5T,b value:0 and 600 s/mm2) of 224 patients who had surgically resected HCCs were retrospectively reviewed.Histopathological examinations revealed that there were 31 well-,169 moderately-,and 24 poorly-differentiated HCCs.The incidence of each visually evaluated signal intensity and quantitative signal intensity of HCC assessed with DWI signal intensity and the relationship between signal intensity and histopathological differentiation were assessed for each sequence.Results (1) On DWI,56.7％ of HCCs appeared as obviously hyperintense,24.1％ tumors appeared as moderate hyperintense,and 19.2％ tumors appeared as isotense or slight hyperintense to the surrounding hepatic parenchyma.There was a significant difference between isotense/slight hyperintense and obvious hyperintense and histopathological differentiation (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference between isotense/slight hyperintense and moderate hyperintense and histopathological differentiation (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference between moderate hyperintense and obvious hyperintense and histopathological differentiation (P ＞ 0.05).Visually evaluated signal Intensity of HCC showed an inverse correlation with histopathological differentiation (r =-0.324,P ＜ 0.05).On DWI,the tumors tended to show a brighter signal with decreasing histopathological differentiation.(2) There was a significant difference in DWI signal intensity value among the well,moderately and poorly differentiated HCCs (P ＜ 0.05).The SI value of well differentiated HCCs was lower than that of moderately differentiated HCCs and poorly differentiated HCCs (P ＜ 0.05).The SI value of moderately differentiated HCCs was lower than that of poorly differentiated HCCs.However,there was no significant difference between the SI value of the moderately and poorly differentiated HCCs (P ＞ 0.05).ROC analysis showed that the optimal cutoff point of SI value in diagnosing well differentiated HCCs was 66.5.A cutoff SI value equal to or less than 66.5 was used to differentiate well-differentiated HCC from moderately-and poorly-differentiated HCC with a sensitivity of 90.1％ and a specificity of 71.9％.Conclusions On DWI,the tumors tended to show a brighter,visually evaluated signal intensity and higher quantitative signal intensity with decreasing histopathological differentiation (P ＜ 0.05).The quantitative signal intensity of HCC assessed with DWI signal intensity could only predict well differentiated HCC.It was limited in predicting histopathological differentiation of HCC using evaluating signal intensity and quantitative signal intensity of HCC assessed with DWI.