BACKGROUND: Excessive nitric oxide (NO) release can cause the occurrence and development of brain injury and senile dementia due to the apoptosis induction role of NO at high concentration to nerve cells. Therefore one strategy to prevent and treat senile dementia is inhibiting the apoptosis induced by NO.OBJECTIVE: To observe whether acidic peptide will inhibit the neuron apoptosis caused by NO. DESIGN: An cell and molecule observation experiment by comparisons. SETTING: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Basic Medical College in Zhengzhou University and the Second Laboratory of Biological Active Peptide Institute in Zhengzhou University. MATERTALS: The experiment was performed between May 2003 and May 2005, in the Second Laboratory of Biological Active Peptide Institute in Zhengzhou University and the cell culture room of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Basic Medical College in Zhengzhou University. The newborn SD male rats within 24 hours after birth were provided by the Animal Center of Henan Province (410117).METHODS: On day 11 of primary cultures, hippocampus neurons of the newborn SD rats were pretreated with different dosages of acidic peptide for six hours. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) of 50 μmol/L final concentration was added to the cells which were incubated for another 24 hours. Cells were collected and adopted in this experiment of five different groups, namely normal control group, group treated with SNP, group of SNP plus 0.037 5 mg/mL acidic peptide, group of SNP plus 0.075 mg/mL acidic peptide, group of SNP plus 0.15 mg/mL acidic peptide. The cell's survival rate wasmeasure by methyl thiazolyl (MTT) method; The neurofilament protein was stained with the method of immunohisto chemistry. The shape of apoptosis was display with acridine orange fluorescent stain. Then DNA ladder zone of apoptosis cells was analyzed with the method of agarose gel electrophoresis. Western Blot and absorbance scan were used to determine the expression level of Bcl-2 protein and Bax protein.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Experimental result of cell survival rate with MTT method;②Observation results of nuclear type of apoptosis; ③DNA electrophoresis analysis of apoptosis; ④Western Blot analysis results of Bcl-2 protein and Bax protein.RESULTS: ①Neuron survival rate was 58.9％ for group treated with SNP, 70.0％ for group of SNP plus 0.037 mg/mL acidic peptide, 72.8％ for group of SNP plus 0.075 mg/mL acidic peptide, and 75.3％ for group of SNP plus 0.15 mg/mL acidic peptide. ②Observation results of nuclear type of apoptosis: Significant characteristics of apoptosis were seen in group treated with SNP. The nucleus of hippocampus neuron treated with different concentrations of acidic peptide plus SNP was similar to that of normal control group in morphology. ③The results of DNA electrophoresis analysis of apoptosis: Only the neuron DNA of group treated with SNP showed clear characteristic DNA ladder zone of apoptosis on agarose gel electrophoresis. ④Analysis results of Bcl-2 protein and Bax protein with Western Blot and absorbance scan: The expression level of Bcl-2 protein in SNP treated group was decreased while that of Bcl-2 protein was increased. Bcl2 protein levels in acidic peptide plus SNP group were increased and Bax protein levels were decreased gradually with the increasing concentrations of acidic peptide compared with SNP treated group. CONCLUSION: Acidic peptide can inhibit neuron apoptosis, increase expression level of neuron Bcl-2 protein and decrease expression level of neuron Bax protein.

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) refers to different degrees of cognitive dysfunction syndrome caused by various vascular factors.Its incidence is increasing,however,its risk factors remains unclear.Focus on early prevcntion of VCI may effectively reduce the occurrence of vascular dementia.This article reviews the risk factors for VCI.

Objective:To assess the impacts of feeding type and non-nutritive sucking activity on occlusion in deciduous dentition in WeiFang city.Methods:The occlusion of 958 children aged 3 -5 years old in WeiFang city and their feeding types as well as the non-nutritive sucking habit during the first 1 2 months after birth were investigated by questionaire study.Data were statistically ana-lysed.Results:The prevalence of malocclusion in non-nutritive sucking habit group and non-habit group was 42% and 22% respec-tively(P =0.000 2).The type of feeding did not have effect on occlusion and openbite.The prevalence of openbite in the children with sucking habit and in those without habit was 17% and 4% respectively(P <0.000 1 ).The prevalence of posterior crossbite in the chil-dren with bottlefeeding and those with breastfeeding was 1 1 % and 4% respectively(P =0.000 2).The prevalence of posterior crossbite in the children with sucking habit and those without habit was 9% and 4% respectively(P =0.036 7).Conclusion:Non-nutritive sucking habit rather than feeding type in the first 1 2 months after birth is the main risk factor of malocclusion,breastfeeding is the pro-tective factor to occlusion.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and the causes of misdiagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in the elderly. Methods21 aged patients diagnosed with BPPV finally were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsBPPV occurred more in female and associated with the posterior semicircular canal. The symptoms of vertigo were obviously improved with the canalith repositioning. With suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension and cervical spondylosis etc., BPPV in the aged was easily misdiagnosed. ConclusionThe main reason for the misdiagnosis of BPPV in the aged is deficiency of knowledge of vertigo. Canalith repositioning is a safe and effective treatment for the aged with BPPV.

Microspheres made of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) have been frequently proposed as drug delivery systems.A very significant challenge in the development of controlled PLGA releasing systems is the instability of drugs especially therapeutic peptides and proteins.Additional approaches,particularly the use of additives,are needed to optimize PLGA delivery of drugs.This article reviews the effects of additives,especially the effects of stabilizing protein during the preparation of PLGA microsphere and the sustained drug releasing processes.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A ( HYSA) on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the related mechanism.

METHODSVSMCs derived from SD rats were treated with DMEC culture medium (Control), 10 ng/ml PDGF (PDGF group), pretreatment with HYSA at different doses (1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 µmol/L) for 24 h then cotreatment with PDGF. After 24 h, MTT assay, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were performed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of HYSA on VSMCs proliferation.

RESULTSHYSA inhibited PDGF induced VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, dowregulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and blocked PDGF activated PDGFR-MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONSHYSA inhibits VSMCs proliferation possibly via downregulating the expression of PCNA and blocking MEK-ERK1/2 signal transduction in VSMCs.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chalcone ; analogs & derivatives ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Quinones ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate parameter changes for skin aging in murine model induced by D-galactose. Methods Sixty 3-month-old female mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group,low dose (80 mg/kg)and high dose (1000 mg/kg) D-galactose groups. After subcutaneous administration for 6 weeks, the aging models were established. Then, histochemical standards relating to aging were measured and morphologic alterations of surplus dorsal skin were observed under microscope and analyzed. Results In contrast with the control group, high dose D-galactose group showed that the thickness of dermis (624.5 ?48.5) ?m was significantly reduced (P

Objective: To investigate the influence of high-fat diet on glucose metabolism and fatty acid composition of serum phospholipid in OLETF rats, a model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus. Method: Twenty male OLETF rats of 14 w age were divided into 2 groups randomly. The dietary fat in two groups contained identical percentages of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Oral glucose tolerance test and measurement of insulin level were performed after 10 w treatment. The fatty acid composition of serum phospholipid in rats was observed as well. Results:The food intakes were comparable in 2 groups. The body weight gain in high-fat group was higher than standard group during the experiment. The result of oral glucose tolerance test and measurement of insulin level showed that the glucose metabolism in two groups had no significant difference. Only the percentage of total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, 18:3(n-3) of serum phospholipid were comparable, percentages of other fatty acids were significantly different in two groups. Conclusion:With the comparable fatty acid composition, higher dietary fat lead to more body weight gain, but had no significant influence on glucose metabolism in OLETF rats. The amount of dietary fat had significant effect on fatty acids composition of serum phospholipid in OLETF rats.

Objective Using quantitative real-time PCR to establish a rapid specific genetic diagnostic technique for Yersinia pestis.Methods ①Four sets of specific probes and primers were designed,which targeted to chromosome genes of YPO0392,YPO1094,YPO2087 and YPO2090,respectively.②The probes and primers were tested for stability and specificity with 40 strains of Yersinia pestis and 47 strains of non-Yersinia pestis of different sources in Yunnan.③Eight positive DNA in Yulong,Yunnan,were tested with the screened probes and primers.Results ①Two sets probes and primers were selected,they were targeting YPO0392 and YPO1094,respectively.②The results were all positive of the eight positive DNA samples tested.Conclusion Two sets of primers and probes are selected for rapid specific diagnosis of Yersinia pestis.

Objective To analyze contrastly the effect of 89SrCl2 for bone metastasis in Uygur and Han patients with prostate cancer.Methods The curative effects in 75 Uygur and 82 Han patients with prostate cancer bone metastasis were investigated after intravenous injection with 89SrCl2,including palliation of pain.SPECT was used to detect the change of metastasis,level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.Results After treated with 89SrCl2,the palliation rate,the bone metastases and the level of IL-6 were higher in Uygur patients [82.67 ％ (62/75),75 ％ (56/75),(4.24±1.74) pg/ml] than those in Han patients [60.98 ％ (50/82),52.44 ％ (43/82),(2.81±2.38) pg/ml],and there were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 89SrCl2 is more effective for the Uygur patients with prostate cancer bone metastasis than the Han patients,clinical workers should pay more attention to this.