OBJECTIVETo record the electrical activities of Antirior cingulate cortex (ACC) neurons by in vivo multi-channel recording methods using the model of complete freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced conditioned place avoidance (C-CPA), which has been set up in our previous studies.

METHODSThe electrode was self-made and the CPA responses were recorded by in vivo multi-channel recording method.

RESULTS(1) The electrical activities of ACC neurons could be successfully recorded by the self-made electrode. (2) Before or after the injection of CFA, rats were respectively conditioned to the different place. The firing rates of ACC neurons in the CFA-paired place vs that in the non-CFA-paired place was (0.853 ± 1.377) imp/s vs (0.221 ± 0.971) imp/s (P < 0.05, n = 26). (3) The CPA responses in the CFA-paired place vs that in the non-CFA-paired place were (303.55 ± 61.77)s vs (140.32 ± 33.52)s(P < 0.05, n = 6).

CONCLUSIONThe firing rates of rACC (rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex) neurons were involved in the occurrence of the affective pain.

Animals ; Electrodes ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Gyrus Cinguli ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pain ; diagnosis ; Pain Measurement ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To train health care workers (HCWs)by method of conventional training plus survey of hand contamination status,the influence of two kinds of methods in hand hygiene compliance of HCWs was evalua-ted.Methods From November 2013 to April 2014,all HCWs in a cardiovascular internal medicine department were as trained subjects,they were divided into two groups (trial group and control group).Hand hygiene compli-ance status was investigated 1 month before training.In the first month after training,conventional training method was adopted by both groups,from the second to fifth month,conventional training plus hand contamination survey was adopted by trial group,hand hygiene compliance between two groups were compared.Results Hand hygiene compliance rates of trial group and control group was 42.63% (107/251 )and 41 .80% (102/244)respectively be-fore training,there was no significant difference(P >0.05 ).In the first and second month after training,hand hygiene compliance rate of trial group was 55.70% (132/237)and 63.11 % (154/244)respectively,control group was 56.52% (130/230)and 62.61 % (149/238)respectively,compared with pre-training,the differences were sig-nificant (both P <0.05),but the difference was not significant between two groups(P >0.05);From the third to fifth month,hand hygiene compliance rates of trial group was 60.73%(150/247),61 .44%(145/236),and 61 .22%(150/245)respectively,control group was 51 .68%(123/238),51 .02%(125/245 ),and 52.32% (124/237)respec-tively,there was significant difference between two groups(P <0.05).Conclusion Conventional training combined with survey of hand contamination status can promote hand hygiene compliance of HCWs.

ObjectiveTo explore the release of exogenous growth factors from small intestinal submucosa (SIS) in bladder regeneration. MethodsThe release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) from SIS in vitro were evaluated by ELISA and MTT method. The defected bladder walls of rats in experimental group were repaired with porcine small intestinal submuscosa. Partial bladder mucosa and smooth muscle of the rats in control groups were destroyed. At regular intervals, the VEGF and bFGF expression were observed by histological and immunohistochemical methods. ResultsThe concentration of bFGF and VEGF released in vitro from SIS in PBS solution were (121.8±2.683) ng/L and (93.8±3.033) ng/L respectively, and showed proliferation of vascular endothelial cell. In the SIS framework, the capillary and smooth muscle were observed followed histological evaluation. The weak expression of VEGF and bFGF in both experimental and control groups were found in the first week. Since the second week the VEGF and bFGF expression in experimental group began to increase with a peak in the 6th week, and began to decrease after 8 weeks. In the control group, the weak VEGF and bFGF expression were shown during the observation. ConclusionSIS functions as a carrier for exogenous growth factors release in rat bladder regeneration.

The role of pulchinenoside (PULC) in the regulation of MeCP2 expression was investigated in RA model rats. Adjuvant arthritis rats were used as RA model rats, and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from the RA model rats were cultured. The effect of 100 mg x kg(-1) PULC gavage treatment on the MeCP2 expression and the effect of MeCP2 siRNA on the expression of SFRP2 and β-catenin were detected by real time qPCR and Western blotting. The role of PULC in the FLS proliferation was detected by MTT. The results showed that the MeCP2 expression was down-regulated, the SFRP2 expression was up-regulated and the FLS proliferation was inhibited in FLS after therapy. MeCP2 siRNA significantly inhibited the MeCP2 expression, up-regulated the SFRP2 expression and inhibited the β-catenin expression in FLS from RA model rats. PULC may increase the SFRP2 expression, inhibit the Wnt signaling and inhibit the FLS proliferation in FLS from the RA model rats by inhibiting the MeCP2 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

To study the effect of pulchinenoside (PULC) on the Frizzled (FZD) expression of adjuvant arthritis ( AA) rats. AA rats were prepared through the toe injection with complete Freund's adjuvant to culture fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). The effect of the oral administration with PULC on the FZD8 expression was detected by the real time qPCR. The effect of FZD8 knockout on the expressions of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 were detected by MTT and ELISA. The role of miR-375 in the abnomal expression of FZD8 was detected by the real time qPCR. The results showed signfiicant decrease in the FZD8 expression among AA rats, FLS proliferation ater FZD8 knockout and IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 expressions and notable increase in miR-375 expression after the oral administration with PULC. The up-regulated miR-375 expression can inhibit the FZD8 expression. PULC may inhibit the FZD8 expression by up-regulating the miR-375 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; administration & dosage

To evaluate the efficacy of an ultrasound-based quantitative method to diagnose liver fibrosis using a rat model. Ultrasonography was performed on the livers of 90 Sprague-Dawley rats with or without thioacetamide-induced fibrosis. The liver capsule thickness and 13 texture parameters of gray level co-occurrence matrix were extracted from the standard sonograms. After sacrifice, severity of liver fibrosis (S0-S4 classification) was diagnosed by histopathology. Analysis of variance and correlation statistical tests were used to analyze the differences between groups and determine the relationships between each of the 14 quantitative ultrasound index points and the histological results, respectively. Discriminant analysis models were developed for quantitative diagnosis of liver fibrosis, and the leave-one-case-out method was used to verify the efficiency of models. All 14 indices were significantly correlated with the histological stages of fibrosis (P less than 0.05). The accuracy of the discriminant model for S0, S1, S2, S3 and S4 was 83.3%, 84.2%, 70.0%, 50.0% and 88.2%, respectively. In addition, 73.3% of cross-validated rats were accurately classified. Grouping S0 as no fibrosis, S1 as mild fibrosis, S2 with S3 as moderate to severe fibrosis and S4 as early cirrhosis increased the accuracy of the discriminant model for these four groups (respectively, 91.7%, 84.2%, 69.0% and 88.2%) and allowed for 78.9% of cross-validated rats to be correctly identified. Ultrasonography combined with texture analysis was a novel and accurate method to diagnose liver fibrosis in a rat model; further studies may provide insights into its applicability for quantitating liver fibrosis in other animal models or in clinic.
Animals ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 (Shenyi Capsule) on the postoperative life span of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSThe prospective, randomized, controlled method was adopted. One hundred and thirty-three patients with NSCLC were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Shenyi Capsule group (43 cases), combined therapy group (Shenyi Capsule plus chemotherapy, 46 cases), and chemotherapy group (44 cases). The survival rates, immune function and the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and clinical effect were analyzed in the three groups.

RESULTS(1) The 1-year survival rate in the Shenyi group, the combined group and the chemotherapy group was 76.7% (33/43), 82.6% (38/46), and 79.5% (35/44), respectively; the 2-year survival rate was 67.4% (29/43), 71.7% (33/46), and 70.5% (31/44), respectively; and the 3-year survival rate was 46.5% (20/43), 54.3% (25/46), and 47.7% (21/44), respectively. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups (P>0.05). (2) NK cells were increased to different degrees and the ratio of CD4/CD8 was normal in the Shenyi Capsule group and the combined group, while the ratio of CD4/CD8 was disproportional in the chemotherapy group. (3) In the chemotherapy group, the 3-year survival rate was lower in patients with positive expression of VEGF than in patients with negative expression (37.0% vs 64.7%, chi2=17.9, P<0.01), but no signifi cant statistical difference was shown in the other two groups (53.6% vs 55.6%, P>0.05; 44.4% vs 50.0%, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONShenyi Capsule, especially in combination with chemotherapy, can improve the life span of patients with NSCLC after operation. The mechanism might be correlated with improving the immune function and anti-tumor angiogenesis

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

AIM:To investigate the inhibitory effect of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide D-4F on the scaven-ger receptor A1 ( SR-A1 ) in macrophage-derived foam cells induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein ( ox-LDL ) . METHODS:RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with different concentrations (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/L) of D-4F or 50 mg/L inactive control peptide scrambled D-4F (sD-4F) for 1 h or endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) inhibitor 4-phenylbutyr-ic acid (5 mmol/L) for 30 min, followed by the treatment with 100 mg/L ox-LDL for 12 h.In addition, the cells were pre-treated with 50 mg/L D-4F or sD-4F for 1 h, and then stimulated with 2 mg/L tunicamycin (TM;an ERS inducer), for 4 h.The viability of the cells was measured by MTT assay, and the content of intracellular total cholesterol ( TC) was meas-ured by a tissue/cell TC assay.The protein and mRNA levels of SR-A1 and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) were analyzed by Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively.The fluorescence intensity of DiI-ox-LDL in the cells was detected by a multifunctional microplate reader.RESULTS:D-4F significantly reduced ox-LDL-induced macro-phage injury and intracellular cholesterol accumulation, and attenuated the ox-LDL-induced expression of SRA1 and GRP78 in a dose-dependent manner.Additionally, D-4F significantly inhibited the TM-induced protein expression of SR-A1 and GRP78, and attenuated the uptake of ox-LDL by macrophages.CONCLUSION: D-4F reduces ox-LDL-induced macro-phage cholesterol accumulation and injury by inhibiting SR-A1 expression.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of ERS signaling pathway mediated by GRP78.

Objective To assess the changes and the leading cause of deaths for children under 5 years old,in China,during 2000-2010,with the aim of evaluation on the progress in achieving the relative goal set by "National Program of Action for Child Development in China (2001-2010)",and understanding the related challenges.Methods Data used in this study were collected from the population-based National Maternal and Child' s Health Surveillance Network of China.Infant Mortality Rate (IMR),Under-5-mortality rate (U5MR) and the leading cause of deaths for under-5 children were analyzed.Results Nationwide IMR and U5MR in 2010 dropped by 59.3％and 58.7％ respectively,compared to that in 2000.Decreases by 50.8％ and 47.1％ in IMR and U5MR were observed in urban areas,and 56.5％ and 56.0％ in rural areas during this period.Compared with data from 2000,the leading causes-specific U5MR in 2010 had significantly declined.The top 5 leading causes of death in 2010 were premature birth/low birth weight,pneumonia,birth asphyxia,congenital heart disease and accidental suffocation,but were different in urban and rural areas.In 2010,both IMR and U5MR from the rural areas were 2.8-folds than that of the urban areas.In addition,IMRs in the Middle and Western parts of China were 1.5 and 2.3-folds respectively of that in the East,and U5MR in Middle and West was 1.5 and 2.2-folds respectively of that in East.Conclusion IMR,U5MR and the leading causes specific mortality rate in China declined remarkably from 2000 to 2010,and the goal set by "National Program of Achon for Child Development in China (2001-2010)" had been successfully achieved.However,the disparity on child' s health in regions and in urban or rural areas,still remained a challenge.

The purposes of the present study were to investigate the inhibitory effect of quercetin (QUE) preconditioning on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) inducer tunicamycin (TM)-induced apoptosis in RAW264.7 macrophages and the underlying molecular mechanisms. RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with different concentrations (20, 40, and 80 μmol/L) of QUE for 30 min and then treated with TM (5 mg/L) for 12 h. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined using MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit, respectively. The nuclear translocation of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) in cells was detected by immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot. Protein and mRNA expressions of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and Bcl-2 were examined by Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. The results showed that TM reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in RAW264.7 macrophages. The cytotoxic effects of TM were significantly inhibited by QUE pretreatment at the concentrations of 40 and 80 μmol/L. Interestingly, we found that QUE also significantly suppressed the TM-induced translocation of ATF6, an ERS sensor, from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In addition, exposure of RAW264.7 macrophages to TM resulted in a significant increase of the expression of CHOP, a transcription factor regulated by ATF6 under conditions of ERS, as well as a decrease of Bcl-2 at transcript and protein levels. QUE blocked these effects in a dose-dependent manner. These data indicate that QUE can protect RAW264.7 cells from TM-induced apoptosis and that the mechanism at least partially involves its ability to inhibit the ATF6-CHOP signaling pathway.
Activating Transcription Factor 6 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Survival ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mice ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; metabolism ; Tunicamycin ; pharmacology