OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on rats during ischemia/reperfusion and its influence on intracellular calcium in hippocampal neurons.

METHODSModel of intraluminal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) was used to prepare the ischemia/reperfusion cortex tissue. Concentration of MDA was determined by measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance. GSH-PX was quantified using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) technique. SOD was assayed througha xanthine method. Endogenous amino acids were quantified by high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. Primary culturs of hippocampal neurons were prepared for a free intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]I) assay by Fura-2 based single cell microfluoremetric technique.

RESULTSComparing control and treatment groups, the concentration of SOD and GSH-PX were higher, whereas that of MDA was much lower; the concentration of glutamate and aspartate decreased and that of GABA increased markedly at all time point (P < 0.01), Gly also decreased at some time points (P < 0.05). The differences were significant between the groups of 10 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg and the groups of 5 mg/kg. When 1 x 10(-5) mol/L glutamate was applied with 25 micro g/ml ginkgo biloba extract to cultured neurons, the increase in [Ca(2+)]I was lower than that caused by applying glutamate alone. Its peak value was much lower and increased phase was longer, its declining phase was shorter. After returning to baseline, the application of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L glutamate could induce the reaction to recover.

CONCLUSIONSGinkgo biloba extract could protect damaged neurons by keeping the balance of inhibitory/excitatory aminoacids, enhancing the free radical scavengers system, and inhibiting the effect of glutamate on [Ca(2+)]I.

Amino Acids ; analysis ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Free Radicals ; Ginkgo biloba ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate the clinical effects and complications of endoscopic tandem ligation and hemorrhoids ligation.Methods Clinical data of 120 patients with grade Ⅰ～Ⅲ internal hemorrhoids who were hospitalized due to hematochezia from November 2021 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the different surgical methods,60 patients who received endoscopic hemorrhoid ligation were divided into control group;60 patients who underwent endoscopic tandem ligation were divided into treatment group.The effective rate of hemorrhoidal hemorrhage,the effect of internal hemorrhoidal prolapse and the incidence of postoperative complications were compared between two groups within 6 months after operation.Results The effective rate of internal hemorrhoidal bleeding was 100.00％in both groups,and the efficacy of the treatment group in the treatment of degree Ⅱ internal hemorrhoidal prolapse was similar to that in the control group(P＞0.05),but the treatment group was significantly better than the control group in the treatment of degree Ⅲ internal hemorrhoidal prolapse(P＜0.01),the postoperative anal pain in the treatment group was significantly more than the control group(P＜0.05);There were no significant differences in postoperative perianal pain,urinary retention,and abnormal defecation between the two groups(P＞0.05).No thrombotic external hemorrhoids occured in two groups.Conclusion The short-term efficacy of endoscopic tandem ligation and hemorrhoidal ligation in the treatment of internal hemorrhoidal bleeding is similar and both achieved satisfactory results,the short-term efficacy of the two in the treatment of degree Ⅱ internal hemorrhoidal prolapse is similar,the short-term efficacy of the former in the treatment of degree Ⅲ internal hemorrhoidal prolapse is significantly better,the feeling of anal heaviness in the treatment group is more than that in the control group,and there is no striking difference in the other complications.

Objective To investigate the effects of Aconite decoction （AD） on the viability and polarization of murine RAW264.7 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） or interleukin-4 （IL-4）. Methods Cytotoxicity of AD was assessed by the CCK-8 assay. RAW264.7 cells were polarized toward M1 phenotype by LPS or M2 phenotype by IL-4, followed by treatment with varying concentrations of AD. Macrophage polarization was analyzed by flow cytometry. Quantitative PCR was performed to measure mRNA expression of polarization-associated markers （IL-6, iNOS, Arg1, and Ym1）. ELISA was used to quantify secreted cytokines （TNF-α and IL-10）in the supernatant. Results At non-toxic concentrations, IL-6 and iNOS mRNA levels in LPS-stimulated cells were significantly upregulated while Arg1 and Ym1 expression in IL-4-treated groups were downregulated by AD. Concurrently, TNF-α secretion in LPS-induced M1 polarization was enhanced but IL-10 production in IL-4-induced M2 polarization was suppressed by AD. Conclusion AD could promote macrophage proliferation and viability, augments LPS-driven M1 polarization, and inhibit IL-4-mediated M2 polarization, which provided experimental evidence for the potential application of AD in tumor immunotherapy.