AIM: To investigate the effects of Scutellaria barbata flavonoids (SBF) on neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) aggregation, tau protein phosphorylation and the regulated mechanism of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3βand protein phosphatase (PP) 2A in the rats induced by amyloid βprotein 25-35 (Aβ25-35) in combination with AlCl3 and re-combinant human transforming growth factor ( RHTGF)-β1( composited Aβ) .METHODS:The male SD rats were used to establish the simulated Alzheimer disease ( AD) model by intracerebroventricular injection of composited Aβ.The Morris water maze was applied for screening the successful model rats with learning and memory deficits .The successful model rats were daily and orally administrated with SBF at doses of 35, 70 and 140 mg/kg or positive control drug Ginkgo biloba leaves flavonoids ( GLF) at 140 mg/kg for 37 d.The silver nitrate staining was used to determine the cortical NFT .The protein levels of total tau, phosphorylated protein of tau at Ser199 and Ser214 sites, GSK3βand PP2A in hippocampus and cortex were determined by Western blot .The mRNA expression of GSK3βand PP2A in the hippocampus and cortex was detected by RT-PCR.RESULTS:Compared with sham group , the cell number of positive NFT with silver nitrate staining in model rat cerebral cortex was significantly increased .The protein levels of phosphorylated tau protein at Ser 199 and Ser214 sites, GSK3βin the hippocampus and cerebral cortex in the model rats dramatically elevated , and PP2A was marked decreased as compared with the sham group rats.Meanwhile, the mRNA expression of GSK-3βsignificantly increased but PP2A was de-creased.However, these above abnormalities were differently attenuated by treating with SBF at different doses or GLF at 140 mg/kg for 37 d.CONCLUSION: SBF suppresses the NFT aggregation by inhibition of the regulatory functions of GSK-3βand PP2A, thus reducing the phosphorylation of tau protein .

AIM To investigate the structural and functional remodeling of thoracic aortae in sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats. METHODS SD rats underwent either SAD or sham operation at the age of 10 weeks. Sixteen weeks after operation, the contraction and relaxation of the thoracic aortae were measured in isolated preparations; The morphological changes of arteries were examined by using histopathological method and computer image analysis. RESULTS The NE induced contraction was increased and Ach induced relaxation of aortic rings was depressed in SAD rats; The structural remodeling of thoracic aortae was characterized by medial VSMC hypertrophy and matrix accumulations. CONCLUSION Vascular functional and structural remodeling can be found in sinoaortic denervated rats.

AIM　To investigate the structural and functional remodeling of thoracic aortae in sinoaortic- denervated (SAD) rats. METHODS　SD rats underwent either SAD or sham-operation at the age of 10 weeks. Sixteen weeks after operation, the contraction and relaxation of the thoracic aortae were measured in isolated preparations; The morphological changes of arteries were examined by using histopathological method and computer image analysis. RESULTS　The NE-induced contraction was increased and Ach-induced relaxation of aortic rings was depressed in SAD rats; The structural remodeling of thoracic aortae was characterized by medial VSMC hypertrophy and matrix accumulations. CONCLUSION　Vascular functional and structural remodeling can be found in sinoaortic-denervated rats.

Aim To study effects of total flavonoids from stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi(SSF)on learning and memory deficits, automatic dyskinesia, neural and hepatic pathological changes and free radicals abnormal alterations.Methods Aluminum toxic model of mice was produced by introperitoneal injection (ip) of AlCl_3 for 50 d. Behavioral test of mice was used to examine the learning and memory ability;the number of automatic action determined the automatic dyskinesia;the neural and hepatic pathological changes were assessed by alterations of cerebral cortex and liver;MDA level and SOD activity in brain and liver were measured to evaluate free radicals.Results AlCl_3(100 mg?kg~-1 ,ip,50 d)resulted in a decreased ability of learning and memory in water maze task, lowered automatic action numbers, neuronal-hepatic-pathological changes and free radicals abnormal alterations, as compared with control group. The dose of SSF 50, 100 and 200 mg?kg~-1 significantly reversed the above pathological changes in toxic mice caused by aluminum. Conclusion SSF could reduce cognitive deficits and automatic dyskinesia, improve neuronal-hepatic-pathological changes and free radicals abnormal alterations.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness in screening asymptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy(ADPN) by the Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI) and the Toronto clinical scoring system(TCSS).Methods MNSI,TCSS and neural electrophysiological test (NET) were conducted in 232 neurologically asymptomatic type 2 diabetes patients.By using the results of NET as the golden criteria for diagnosis of ADPN,we evaluated the effectiveness of the two different scoring system by the receiver operator characteristic curve.The sensitivity,specificity,positive and negative predictive values,accuracy,Youden indexes and kappa values on different diagnostic cut-off points of MNSI and TCSS were analyzed.The correlation between the two different scoring system and the risk factors of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) were also analyzed.Results The area under the ROC curve of MNSI and TCSS were 0.792,0.704,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,Youden indexes and kappa values of MNSI over 2 and TCSS over 2 were 66.2％ vs 73.3％,90.4％ vs 63.7％,78.3％ vs 68.5％,0.566 vs 0.370,and 0.588 vs 0.345,respectively.MNSI was better than TCSS in the effectiveness of diagnosing ADPN and consistence with the result of NET.Moreover,MNSI was associated with the most related risk factors of DPN including age,glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c),HbA1c × disease duration,islet function and HDL-C.Conclusions MNSI could be used as a relatively simple and reliable method for clinical and epidemiological screening and assessment of ADPN.

Background and purpose:Tumor suppressor gene P53 has long been studied in tumors, including breast cancer. More studies focused on the relationship between P53 and prognosis of breast cancer and found that P53 overexpression suggested a bad prognosis. However, the effect of P53 on early stage postmenopausal patients with ER-positive breast cancer has not been clariifed yet. This study was to investigate the role of P53 plays in aromatase inhibitor (AI) resistance among early stage postmenopausal patients with ER-positive breast cancer patients. Methods:A total number of 293 operable breast cancer patients who received surgical treatment during Jul. 2000 to Jul. 2006 in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were enrolled into this study. All patients received AI treatment. The SPSS 12.0 software was used to estimate the survival rate. Univariate and multivariate analysis were also performed via above software. Results:The median follow-up time is 72 months (6-140 months). The 5 year disease free survival (DFS) of P53 positive and negative were 78%and 89%. The results showed that P53 overexpression (HR=1.729, 95%CI:1.038-2.880, P=0.035), pathological stage (HR=2.270, 95%CI:1.399-3.681, P=0.001);histological grade (HR=2.328, 95%CI:1.312-4.133, P=0.004); age (HR=1.988, 95%CI:1.511-2.617, P<0.005) were still the independent risk factors of recurrence and metastasis in breast cancer patients treated with AI. Conclusion:P53 overexpression correlated strongly with AI resistance in early stage postmenopausal patients with ER-positive breast cancer patients who were treated with AI and conifrmed the relevance of previously described prognostic factors. It is reasonable to take P53 expression into account when we evaluate the risk of breast cancer patients and decide the anti-cancer treatment strategy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of therapeutic bloodletting at Jing-well points and hypothermia on acute cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.

METHODSSeventy-five SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (Sham), TBI group (TBI), bloodletting group (BL), mild-induced hypothermia group (MIH), and bloodletting plus MIH group (BL + MIH) (n = 15). The model of TBI was established by electric controlled cortical impactor (eCCI). The rats of BL group were bloodletting at Jing-well points immediately after injury, twice daily. While the MIH group was settled on a hypothermia blanket promptly after TBI for 6 hours, so that the temperature dropped to 32 degrees. Each of measurement was performed after 48 hours. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate the dynamic impairment of cerebral edema after TBI (n = 3). In addition, mNSS score, measurements of wet and dry brain weight, and Evans Blue assay were performed to investigate the neurologic deficit, cerebral water content (n = 8), and blood-brain barrier permeability (BBB), (n = 4), respectively.

RESULTSMRI analysis showed that the cerebral edema, hematoma and midline shifting of rats in TBI group was more serious than other treatment group. Meanwhile compared with TBI group, the mNSS scores of every treatment group were meaningfully lower (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with BL+ MIH group was superior to the separated BL and MIH group (all P < 0.01). In addition, brain water content of each intervention group reduced to varying degrees (all P < 0.05), especially that of MIH group and BL + MIH group (P <0.01). BBB permeability of each treatment group was also significantly improved (all P < 0.01), and the improvement in MIH group and BL + MIH group was much better than the BL alone group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOur major finding is that bloodletting at Jing-well points and MIH can reduce cerebral edema and BBB dysfunction and exert neuroprotective effects after TBI. The results suggest that the combination of BL and MIH is more effective than other treatment being used alone.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Bloodletting ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate psychosocial factors and patterns on suicidal ideation of the undergraduates in Shanxi province.

METHODSFour thousand eight hundred and eighty-two undergraduates in Shanxi province were investigated with multistage stratified random clustered samples. Factors associated with suicidal ideation were analyzed with logistic regression and Path analysis by scores of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), Suicide Attitude Questionnaire (QSA), Adolescent Self-Rate Life Events Check List (ASLEC), DSQ, Social Support Rating Scale, SCL-90, Simple Coping Modes Questionnaire and EPQ.

RESULTSTendency of psychological disorder was the major factor. Negative life events did not directly affect suicidal ideation, but personality did directly or indirectly affect suicidal ideation through coping and defensive response.

CONCLUSIONSPersonality played a stabilized fundamental role while life events were minor but "triggering" agents. Mental disturbance disposition seemed to be the principal factor related to suicidal ideation. Above three factors were intergraded and resulted in suicidal ideation in chorus.

Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Personality ; Suicide ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors of infection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing strains and drug resistance of Enterobacteriaceae that infected burn patients.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed on clinical information of 92 patients with Enterobacteriaceae infection in our burn unit from January 2001 to December 2008. The distribution and drug resistance of Enterobacteriaceae, and the detection rate, drug resistance of ESBL-producing strains, and its risk factors of nosocomial infection were analyzed. Data were processed with Chi-square test.

RESULTSOne hundred and nine strains of Enterobacteriaceae were isolated, with 38 (34.9%) strains of Enterobacter cloacae, 25 (22.9%) strains of Escherichia coli, 22 (20.2%) strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 13 (11.9%) strains of Proteus mirabilis, and 11 (10.1%) other strains of Enterobacteriaceae. Enterobacteriaceae were moderately or highly resistant to antibiotics except imipenem, resistance rate of which was less than 8.0%. ESBL-producing strains accounted for 44.0% in Escherichia coli, and 77.3% in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Drug-resistance rate of ESBL-producing strains to antibiotics was obviously higher than that of non ESBL-producing strains. Length of hospital stay longer than 20 days, and use of the third-generation cephalosporin longer than 5 days, quinolone antibiotics longer than 7 days, and topical antibiotics longer than 5 days were the risk factors of nosocomial infection caused by ESBL-producing strains, comparing with non ESBL-producing strains, the difference was statistically significant (with chi2 value respectively 5.491, 4.441, 15.186, 4.938, P values all below 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEnterobacteriaceae strains in burn unit of our hospital are highly drug resistant, with high lactamase-producing rates, calling for intense monitor to control the risk factors that predispose the infection of ESBL-producing strains in order to lower the infection rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burn Units ; Child ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Enterobacteriaceae ; drug effects ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult ; beta-Lactam Resistance

Objective In order to screen out a certain kind of traditional medicine which has a better role in immune regulatory,the influence of representatives of heat clearing and detoxicating herb on inflammatory cytokines protein expression of mice lung homogenate infected by FM1 have been observed.Method Modeling mice infected by FM1.On the first,third,fifth and seventh day after FM1 infection,tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-alpha),interleukin-1 (IL-1),interleukin-6 (IL-6),interleukin-1 0 (IL-10),and γ-interferon (IFN-γ) expression in mice lung homogenate of normal control group,model control group,scutellari group,isatidis group,pulsatilla group,polygonum cuspidatum group and oldenlandia group have been tested by ELISA method.Result The expression of TNF-α,IL-6,IFN-γ and IL-10 in mice lung homogenate reaches its peak on the third day after FM1 infection,significantly higher than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Scutellari and isatidis are two representatives of heat clearing and detoxicating herb,which can decrease the expression of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1 and increase the expression of IL-10,IFN-γ.The effect are more pronounced and statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05) on the third and fifth day after infection,pulsatilla,polygonum cuspidatum and oldenlandia can also regulate the inflammatory cytokines,but the effect are not so obvious as scutellari and isatidis.Conclusion Scutellari and isatidis,two representatives of heat clearing and detoxicating herb,have a good intervention on immune damage caused by influenza virus through adjusting the balance of inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines.