In this study, the effects of blood glucose and blood pressure on the compliance of large and small arteries were investigated. The results showed that arterial compliances of both large and small arteries were decreased in patients with diabetes mellitus. In non-diabetic patients with well controlled blood pressure, the compliance of small arteries was markedly improved. These results suggested that both blood glucose and blood pressure affected arterial compliance.

Huntington disease (HD) rat model was produced by injection of ibotenic acid (IA) into the head of right caudate putamen (CP). One month post lesion, fetal (El5-17) striatal cell suspension was implanted into the lateral ventricle ipsilateral to the lesion, and the rats were devided into four groups; group I normal control rats (n=8), group II model control rats (n=10), group III simple transplanted with fetal striatal cell suspension, (n=10, ST group), group IV grafted with striatal cell suspension containing laminin (n=6, LST group). Three and six months after grafting, active avoidence test was carried, the results showed that there were significant differences bewteen grafted groups and model control group at three and six months, and no significant differences between LST group and normal group either in three or six months whereas between ST group and normal group no significant difference only can be found at six months. Overnight locomotor activity was measured in each group at six months post grafting, the results indicated that the locomotor behaviour of model control group was hyperactive whereas the overnight hyperactivity was compensated completely in the grafted groups. After the behavioural test, the rat brain was investigated morphologically. The head of the lesioned CP was atrophied and the graft was located at the dorsal part of the atrophied CP and projected into the lateral ventricle. The volume of the graft area of LST group was larger than that of ST group. ChAT, GABA and Leu-ENK positive neurons were found in the graft area of the two grafted groups and their shape and size were similar to those of nomal CP. The processes of AChE positive neurons in the graft of LST group were more and longer than that in the graft of ST group. The results indicated that the fetal striatal neurons implanted into the lateral ventricle of HD model rats not only can survive and grow well but also ameliorate the behavioural deficits of the IA lesioned rats and the laminin may supports the neuronal suvival and growth in vivo.

Objective To explore the value of MR spectroscopy in preoperative grading of astrocytic tumors.Methods 52 cases with astrocytomas proved by pathology,including 20 diffuse astrocytomas,14 anaplastic astrocytomas and 18 glioblastomas,underwent MR spectroscopy with multi-voxel PRESS sequence.Results ①Astrocytic tumors were characterized by increased Cho and decreased NAA,while Lipids were present in high-grade astrocytic tumors;②Cho/Cr(r＝0.656,P=0.000),Lip1.3/Cr(r＝0.559,P=0.001) and Glx/Cr(r＝0.482,P=0.005) in the solitary tumor's regions had a significant positive correlation with the grading of astrocytic tumors, while Cho/NAA(r＝0.395,P=0.025),Lip0.9/Cr(r＝0.386,P=0.029) had a positive correlation with the tmor grading;③When Cho/Cr＝2, the sensitivity, specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for diagnosis of WHO4 astrocytic tumors were 94.4%,64.3%,77.3% and 90% respectively;④When Lip1.3/Cr＝0.526, the sensitivity, specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for diagnosis of WHO4 astrocytic tumors were 88.9%,92.9%,94.1% and 86.7% respectively. Conclusion MR spectroscopy is helpful in preoperative grading of astrocytic tumors.

[Objective] To compare the biological characteristics of neuron-like cells from rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) induced by β-mercaptoethanol (BME) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) respectively. [Method] BME and bFGF were added to rat MSC respectively for 9 h and 5 days. The neuron-like cells from MSC with the neuron specific protein NF200 were identified using immunofluorescence. The gene expression of NF were analyzed using RT-PCR and the protein expression of NF200 were analyzed using Western blotting. [Results] MSC induced by BME appeared morphology change in an hour and the neurite can be seen at six hour. Some cell bodies became lighter and died. MSC induced by bFGF had neurite in the third day, and appeared network structure in the fifth day, then cells died in the seventh day. At the same time, The result of immunofluorescence showed the NF200 expression of neuon-like cells induced by two ways were beth positive, but MSC induced by bFGF were stronger than those induced by BME. The results of RT-PCR and western blotting were same as that of immunofluorescence. [Conclusion] Both bFGF and BME can induce rat MSC to neuron-like cells, but the neuon-like cells induced by bFGF were more like real neurons in morphology and expression of neuron specific protein and mRNA.

Objective To observe before and after surgery plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) content changes in the children with congenital heart disease(CHD) combined severe pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),and to explore the relationship with the pulmonary artery pressure.Methods Sixty cases patients with CHD in the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2014 to January 2015 were selected,including 30 cases left to right shunt CHD with severe PHD,30 cases no PHD.The content of serum VEGF,TGF-β1,parallel echocardiographic estimates pulmonary artery mean pressure(PAMP) of all children were detected with preoperative and postoperative 24 h,7 d and 30d.Results PAMP of children with severe PAH before surgery was (60.29±8.48) mmHg and (48.36±5.25)mmHg of postoperative 24 h,(28.21±3.29) mmHg of 7 d after surgery,(25.21±2.09) mmHg of 30 d after surgery,the difference was statistically significant (F within the grouP=39.86,P＜0.001),and compared with no PHD group,the difference was significant ((14.26±1.78) mmHg,(14.30±1.92) mmHg,(13.31±1.02)mmHg;F between groups=46.01,P＜0.001).The levels of VEGF and TGF-β1 in severe PHD group were (808.90±41.37) ng/L and (1156.96±83.68) ng/L of before operation,(620.21±30.30) ng/L and (906.20±65.11) ng/L of postoperative 24 h,(454.49±21.48) ng/L and (826.23±35.11) ng/L of postoperative 7 d,(454.49±21.48) ng/L and (806.49±29.48) ng/L of postoperative 30 d,the differences were significant (Fwithin the grouP=43.73,P＜0.001;F within the grouP=65.41,P＜0.001),compared with no PHD group,the differences were significant (VEGF:(379.25±20.21) ng/L,(380.05±19.98) ng/L,(380.05±19.98) ng/L,F between groups =54.09,P＜0.001;TGF-β1:(728.56±29.93) ng/L,(728.11±25.26) ng/L,(727.05±24.99) ng/L,F between groups=83.05,P＜0.001).Conclusion Plasma VEGF and TGF-β1 level has correlation with pulmonary artery pressure,the severity evaluation of pulmonary hypertension and surgical curative effect has a certain significance.After surgery,severe PAH is still exist in a certain period in children with pulmonary hypertension,sufficient attention should be paid to strengthening treatment and follow-up.

Objective:To observe the effect of partial liquid ventilation (PLV) on gas exchange,pulmonary compliance and blood dynamics in the pulmonary edema rabbits after seawater drowning(PE-SWD). Methods:Totally 42 healthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated into 3 groups (n=14);each group was treated with various methods after PE-SWD model was established:PE group with no treatment,CMV group with conventional mechanical ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP),PLV group with CMV,PEEP and FDC.After being treated for 3 h,blood gases,pulmonary mechanics,hemodynamics,pulmonary histopathology and survival time were observed.Results:In PLV group,PaO 2 increased obviously and reached (262.84?64.33) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), airway pressure decreased by 23.4%,pulmonary static compliance increased by 31.3% and TNF-? decreased by 24.9%.HR and MAP showed no significant changes after treatment compared with PE group.Conclusion: Pulmonary gas exchange and compliance are improved significantly during PLV in the PE-SWD rabbits without obvious influence on hemodynamic status, although the survival time of PLV group is less than that of CMV group.

Aim To investigate the effects of valsartan on activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 1,3 in glomerular mesangial cells(GMCs) under high concentration of glucose.Methods we used high concentration glucose and valsartan to stimulate the cultured rat GMCs in vitro.The protein expressions of signal transducer and activatior of transcription 1,3(STAT1,STAT3),p-STAT1 and p-STAT3 were observed by Western blot.The protein synthesis of TGF-?_1,fibronectin and type IV collagen in the supernatants of the GMCs were detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay(ELISA) and radioimmunoassay.TGF-?_1 mRNA was measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with low glucose control group,the expressions of p-STAT1,p-STAT3 and TGF?_1 mRNA were significantly increased in GMCs under high concentration glucose medium and there observed the high concentration of TGF-?_1,fibronectin and type IV collagen in the supernatants.The expression levels of p-STAT1,p-STAT3 and TGF-?_1 mRNA were significantly lower in the valsartan group than in those the high concentration glucose group.The concentration of TGF-?_1,fibronectin and type IV collagen in the supernatants in the valsartan group were lower than that in the high concentration glucose control group.Conclusion Valsartan can inhibit overproduction of TGF-?_1 and ECM proteins in GMCs under high concentration of glucose,partly by regulating the phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3.

BACKGROUND:Salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of fractures due to activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis, reducing sweling and pain. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule on the fracture healing in a rat model of closed femoral fractures. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group, physiological saline group and normal group. In the salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group and physiological saline group, rat models of closed femoral fractures were prepared, and then given physiological saline and salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule 2 pils by intragastric administration. In the normal group, rats were housed normaly. At 7, 14 and 28 days after fractures, hematoxylin-eosin staining conditions, serum osteocalcin, the expression of colagen type I, and the expression of protein and mRNA calus transforming growth factor-beta 1 were observed in the salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group and physiological saline group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Hematoxylin-eosin staining demonstrated that at 7 days after fractures, no significant difference was found in pathological changes of femoral fracture in salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group and physiological saline group. At 14 and 28 days after fractures, pathological repair was more obvious in the salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group than in the physiological saline group. (2) At 3 and 7 days after fractures, serum osteocalcin and the expression of type I colagen were significantly increased in the salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group and physiological saline group (P < 0.05), and the expression trend was consistent in both groups. The expression was always higher in the salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group than in the physiological saline group, and significant differences were found at 14 and 28 days after fractures (P < 0.01). (3) Transforming growth factor beta 1 expression reached a peak at 3 days after fractures, gradualy reduced, increased at 14 days (the second peak), and diminished at 28 days in the salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group and physiological saline group. The expression trend of transforming growth factor beta 1 was consistent in the salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group and physiological saline group. At 7, 14 and 28 days, the transforming growth factor beta 1 expression was higher in the salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule group than in the physiological saline group. (4) Results showed that salvia miltiorrhiza bone-setting capsule could promote fracture healing, and its mechanism was probably associated with serum osteocalcin, the expression of colagen type I and transforming growth factor-β1.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of Losartan on ADM,ET-1 and their receptors in the kidney of diabetic rats.Methods Experimental diabetes was induced in uninephrectomized rats by STZ.The animals were divided into three groups: group A(control group),group B(diabetic group) and group C(Losartan-treated group).Immunohistochemistry,Western bloting,in situ hybridyzation and RT-PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of ADM,ADMR,ET-1 and EDNR-A.Results Compared with group A,the expressions of ADM,ADMR,ET-1 and EDNR-A in group B significantly increased.After Losartan treatment,those indicators decreased.Conclusion The expressions of ADM,ET-1 and their receptors may be responsible for the renal protective effect of Losartan in diabetic rats.

AIM: To detect the mRNA and protein level of HIF-1 alpha in the tissues of rat's radiated mucosa. METHODS: The left buccal mucosa was irradiated and excised. The right buccal mucosa was excised to serve as own control tissue. The mRNA of HIF-1 alpha was determined by using the semi quantitative RT-PCR. SABC method was employed to immunostain and to elucidate the localization, intensity and distribution of HIF-1 alpha protein.RESULTS: A Sprague-Dawley rat's model of radiation-induced oral mucositis (ROM) was successfully established. The results of RT-PCR indicated that the left buccal mucosa expressed HIF-1 alpha mRNA while the right buccal mucosa did not or seldom expressed it. Immunohistochemical analysis of HIF-1 alpha demonstrated that the left side mucosa expressed HIF-1 alpha protein.CONCLUSION: The mucosa of ROM expresses the mRNA and protein of HIF-1 alpha. The expressions of HIF-1 alpha are correlated with the severity of ROM.