Objective To study the effects of NEP1-40 on axon regeneration, motor function recovery of affected limbs and RhoA signal pathway in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats for exploring the possible mechanisms. Methods A total of 60 adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were equally divided into sham operation group (sham group), cerebral ischemia-reperfusion control group (control group), intra-lateral ventricle injection of PBS group (PBS group), and intra-lateral ventricle injection of NEP1-40 group (NEP1-40 group). The middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion model (MCAI/R) was established by nylon monofilament occlusion method in rats. The changes in growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and RhoA expressions were determined by Western blotting technique. The motor function of affected limbs was tested by the "staircase test" of Montoya’s design. Results ① The expression of GAP-43 in NEP1-40 group was higher than that in the control and the PBS groups at 7 d and 14 d after MCAI/R, peaking at 7 d; ② The expression of RhoA in NEP1-40 group was significantly lower than that in the control and the PBS groups at each time point; ③ The results of "staircase test" in NEP1-40 group were much higher than those in the control group and the PBS groups at each time point after MCAI/R. Conclusion NEP1-40 can improve axon regeneration in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats and promote the recovery of motor function. The mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of RhoA signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the role of rosiglitazone in high glucose(HG)-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) expression of rat mesangial cells.Methods The rat mesangial cells(MCs) were cultured in the medium with normal glucose(5.6 mmol/L,NG),high glucose(25 mmol/L,HG),HG+5 ?mol/L rosiglitazone,HG+20 ?mol/L rosiglitazone and HG+PDTC(?NF-?B inhibitor).ICAM-1 mRNA expression was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay.Activation of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) of rat mesangial cells was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA).The levels of ICAM-1 in the supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay(ELISA.) Results RT-PCR results showed that high-glucose increased the ratio of PCR products of ICAM-1 over GAPDH to 2.9-fold,which was prevented by rosiglitazone(5 and 20 ?mol/L) pre-treatment.The NF-?B binding activity was 2.5-fold higher in MCs exposed to HG as compared with NG(P

Objective To investigate the effect of intracerebroventricular injection of morphine and orphanin FQ (OFQ) on somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and Na+-K+ATPase activity in cerebral cortex of rat. MethodsTo study the SEP with the BL-420 biological signal collecting system. The cerebral cortex tissues were extracted, homogenized and centrifuged. Na+-K+ATPase activity was measured with ATPase analytical kit. Results After intracerebroventricular injection with OFQ 0.9 ?g, the amplitude of P1-N1 and N1-P2 increased significantly(P

Objective: To predict the unique mechanism of Yang-tonifying herbs distributing along kidney meridians in molecular level through network pharmacology technology. Methods: Eight kidney-yang tonifying herbs with common clinical effects and clear therapeutic effects were selected in study. The chemical ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines were searched by TCMSP database. OB and DL values were applied to screen the active substance and the chemical similarity target prediction methods of Pub Chem database were used to predict the target proteins of TCM; The PPI between the target proteins of the kidney-yang tonifying herbs and the KEGG signal pathway were searched by the STRING database; The nodes in the PPI network were evaluated by the weighted PageRank algorithm and then the core target protein was screened. Using the Cytoscape 3.6.0 software, a compound-target network, a herb-target-PPI network, and a target-pathway network were constructed. Results: Through the network analysis, 21 key targets and 40 signal pathways of the kidney-yang tonifying herbs were screened. The medicinal played the role of warming and tonifying kidney-yang by T cell regulation, sex hormone regulation, immune response, and delaying aging. The mechanism may be related to thyroid hormone signaling pathway, neurotrophin signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway and estrogen signaling pathway. Conclusion: The method based on network pharmacology could help to find the key targets and signal pathways of the kidney-yang tonifying herbs, which provides useful information and data support for further interpretation of the classification meaning of the kidney-yang tonifying herbs in TCM

Objective To explore how to improve the immunogenicity of short epitope peptides of triggering melanoma MART 1 specific CD8 +T cell responses Methods Therapeutic peptides based on the immunodominant MART 127 35, HIV Tat49 57CCP sequence and a tetanus toxoid universal Th epitope were designed and synthesized The immunological functions were studied in PBMCs from HLA A2 + melanoma patients Results The results demonstrated that the peptides could trigger vigorous MART 1 specific CD8 + CTL activities in vitro The function of peptide containing MART 127 35 and tetanus universal Th epitope was more vigorous than that of MART 127 35 peptide, and the immunogenicty of the peptides with HIV Tat49 57CCP sequence, MART 127 35 and tetanus universal Th epitope was the most vigorous Conclusion Linkage of HIV Tat49 57CCP sequence and a tetanus universal Th epitope could dramatically improve the immunogenictiy of the MART 127 35 epitope peptide

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection in immune tolerant phase.Methods Ninety-eight chronic HBV carriers in immune tolerant phase were enrolled in this study.The age,gender,serum HBV DNA level,hepatic inflammatory activity and fibrosis,hepatic HBsAg and HBcAg expressions were analyzed.The grade of inflammatory activity and stage of fibrosis were also compared in patients with different levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT).Data analysis was done by chi-square test. Results In 98 patients,83(84.7%)were＜30 years old and 15(15.3%)were≥30.Patients whose mother was HBsAg positive were 48.0%.High levels of serum HBV DNA were found in all patients, with 78.5% were＞1×107 copy/mL.Only 5 cases(5.1%)were G0 of the inflammatory grade;whereas,64 cases(65.3%)were G1,29(29.6%)were G2.There were 56 patients(57.1%)had no significant liver fibrosis;and 23 cases(23.5%)were S1,14(14.3%)were S2,5(5.1%)were S3;none of patients had cirrhosis.The HBsAg and HBcAg in liver tissues were positive in 79(80.6%)and 80(81.6%)cases,respectively.The fibrosis stages of patients with higher ALT levels were significantly greater than patients with lower ALT levels(X2=8.112 3,P=0.043 7).Conclusions Most of patients with chronic HBV infection in immune tolerant phase present mild inflammation in liver,some of them have already developed fibrosis.Therefore,liver pathology is recommended for these patients to help understand the patients' conditions and make correct therapeutic decisions.

AIM: To investigate the effect of Zhongfeng Nao De Ping, a traditional chinese medicine, on the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: Delayed neuronal death (DND) model was established by bilateral carotid arteries occlusion for l0 min followed by 1 day and 7 days reperfusion. Effects of sodium glutamate, ketamine and Zhongfeng Nao De Ping on DND in the hippocampus was examined by counting neuronal density in CAl Sector, and the contents of Ca 2+ and amino acids in the hippocampus were also measured. RESULTS: The contents of the glutamate and aspartate in the hippocampus were increased significantly at l0 min after transient cerebral ischemia. Sodium glutamate markedly decreased the neuronal density in hippocampal CAl sector, while ketamine and Zhongfeng Nao De Ping increased it significantly in the same sector. The level of Ca 2+ increased on day 1, day 7 after the reperfusion, while Zhongfeng Nao De Ping inhibited the increase in Ca 2+ concentration in hippocampus. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that Zhongfeng Nao De Ping has an effective protection against DND in hippocampus following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between odor and contents of the chemical compounds in Lonicera japonica, including chlorogenic acid, galuteolin and polyphenols. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to determine the contents of chlorogenic acid and galuteolin in L. japonica. The ponptent of polyphenols was determined by UV-Vis Spectrophotometry. Electronic nose was used to extract and measure the odor of L. japonica. Then SPSS 17.0 software was employed for data processing. There is a significant positive correlation between the comprehensive index value of aroma and the contents of chlorogenic acid and polyphenols. The regression equations have been established. However, the relationship between the comprehensive index value and the content of galuteolin is not obvious. This is proof that the odor of L. japonica has close connection with the chemical compounds. Therefore, this research offered a new method for initially determine or predict the content of the chemical composition in L. japonica,
Chlorogenic Acid ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Electronic Nose ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Odorants ; analysis ; Polyphenols ; chemistry ; Smell

Objective To determine whether the small intestinal submucosa(SIS)/nano meter crystal ?-tricalcium phosphate(nm ?-TCP) composite can enhance the regeneration of rabbit mandibular defects. Methods Twenty-six mandibular defects were made on thirteen New Zealand rabbits,and were ramdonly divided into four groups: groupⅠ,single SIS was applied to each defects;group Ⅱ,nm ?-TCP;groupⅢ,the composite scaffold materials of SIS and nm ?-TCP;groupⅣ,control.Twelve weeks after the operation,the samples were extracted for gross observation,histological analysis,X-ray examination,and relative bone density(RBD) recording.Results Twenty weeks after the operation,the newborn bone trabecula took up most of the area with defects.The restorative materials in the SIS group and composite scaffold materials group had almost degraded,and little remained in the ?-TCP group.The composite scaffold materials group was found more newborn bone trabecula with mature formation,and the average RBD was relatively higer,while less newborn bone trabecula with irregular formation and more collagen were observed in the control group. Conclusion The composite materials of SIS and nm ?-TCP,which enjoy favourable bone formation characteristics and histocompatibility, can enhance bone regeneration in rabbit mandibular defects.

AIM:To discuss the application value of retro-mode imaging by F-10 confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO) for detecting drusen in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).METHODS:This was a retrospective case study.During the period of October 2015 to December 2016, 67 patients with unilateral AMD (67 affected eyes and 67 fellow eyes) were included in this study.All patients underwent color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retro-mode imaging by F-10 cSLO.The features of drusen by color fundus photography, OCT and retro-mode imaging were comparatively observed in the affected eyes of patients with unilateral AMD.Positive numbers of drusen in the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral AMD detected by color fundus photography, OCT and retro-mode imaging were calculated and compared.RESULTS:Retro-mode imaging by F-10 cSLO gave easier to identify images of drusen than color fundus photography and OCT in the affected eyes of patients with unilateral AMD.In the fellow eyes of 67 patients with unilateral AMD, retro-mode imaging showed drusen in 56 cases(84%), color funds photography showed drusen in 36 cases(54%), OCT showed drusen in 48 cases(72%), the difference was statistically significant(χ2=14.31, P<0.05).The positive numbers of drusen detected by retro-mode imaging were significantly higher than color fundus photography, the difference was statistically significant(χ2=13.87, P′<0.0125).There was no statistically significant difference in the positive numbers of drusen detected by retro-mode imaging and OCT(χ2=2.75, P′>0.0125).CONCLUSION:Retro-mode imaging by F-10 cSLO provides a non-invasive technique and should be useful for detecting and monitoring drusen in AMD.