Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on spatial learning and memory ability, long-term potentiation (LTP) and synaptophysin (Syp) levels in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated control group, a model group, an EA group and a medication group. A rat model of vascular dementia (VD) was established by repeated ischemia and reperfusion after pretreatment with sodium nitroprusside. EA was applied to the rat homologues of the human "Baihui" (GV20) and "Dazhui" (DU14) acupoints of the rats in the EA group for 20 min, once daily for 10 d.Morris water maze tests were conducted for evaluating the rats,learning and memory ability. LTP in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was recorded as an electrophysiological index for evaluating learning and memory. Antigenic Syp produced in hippocampal tissue was examined with immunohistochemical assays. Results In comparison the with model group, escape latency (EL) shortened and target-platform crossing times increased significantly in the EA and medication groups. After high frequency stimulation the population spike (PS) latency shortened in the EA group compared with the model group, and the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) slope and PS amplitude increased.All of these differences were statistically significant. Syp positive cells also increased significantly in the EA-treated rats. Conclusions EA can increase Syp expression and improve the learning and memory ability of rats with this model of VD. EA could facilitate the induction and maintenance of LTP in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus through influencing synaptic transmission.

Aim To observe the effect of Guishao-tongluo ( GSTL ) on the angiogenesis of vasa vasorum and oxidative stress in the early stage of atherosclero-sis. Methods The rabbits ( n =84 ) were randomly divided into 7 groups (n=12):control group,high-fat group, adventitial injury group, GSTL high(GH)and medium ( GM ) dose group, atorvastain group ( ATO ) , and Tongxinluo group ( TXL ) . The normal group was fed with common foodstuffs, and high-fat foodstuffs for the high-fat group to establish an early model of hyper-lipidemia, and all the other groups were fed with high-fat diet combined with carotid artery cannula to build early atherosclerosis carotid artery injury rabbit mod-els. The GSTL high and medium dose was given Guishaotongluo ultrafine powder 4. 16,2. 08 g·kg-1 · d-1 respectively. The atorvastain group and Tongxinluo group were given suspension of atorvastain solution 2. 5 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 , Tongxinluo supermicro powder 0. 6 g ·kg-1 ·d-1 . All groups were treated with gastric per-fusion for 4 weeks. Biochemical method was applied to detect blood lipid change. HE staining was used to ob-serve the pathological morphology of intima-media. Aactivity of serum superoxide dismutase( SOD) ,malon-dialdehyde ( MDA ) content and the total antioxidant capacity ( T-AOC ) in artery serum were detected. NADPH subunits p22phox mRNA, gp91phox mRNA in carotid arteries were located and semi-quantitated by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The expression of VEGF, VEGFR-2 in the carotid artery adventitia was detected by Western blot. Results Compared with normal group,the contents of TC,TG and LDL-C were significantly increased, and VEGF, VEGFR-2 protein levels were remarkly increased in high-fat and adventi-tial injury group. The carotid artery injuries,the degree of angiogenesis of vasa vasorum and NADPH subunits p22phox, gp91phox mRNA in adventitia tissue of the GH,GM, ATO and TXL group were milder in varying degrees compared with those of the vasa injury group. Also the activity of SOD,T-AOC increased,while MDA content,VEGF,VEGFR-2 protein levels were remarkly decreased ( P < 0. 5 or P < 0. 01 ) . Conclusions GSTL can inbibit adventitial neovascularization in the early stage of atherosclerosis, and its mechanism might be related to the increase of total antioxidant capacity of the vascular system and adventitia tissue.

Objective To evaluate the correlation of the ion selectivity electrode assay and arsenazo Ⅲ assay for serum calcium determination and compare the differences between two methods.Methods 142 serum samples were collected from patients and detected by ion selectivity electrode assay and arsenazo Ⅲ assay,the differences of two methods were compared,person correlation and Bland -Altman was used to discuss the correlation.Results The serum calcium concentration detected by ion selectivity electrode assay was (2.23 ±0.10)mmol/L and detected by arsenazo Ⅲ assay was (2.24 ±0.12)mmol/L,the difference between the two methods was not statistically significant (t =-1.09,P >0.05).The person correlation analysis demonstrated that the two methods had a positive correlation (r =0.393,P <0.01).The Bland -Altman consistency analysis showed that ion selectivity electrode assay was agreed with arsenazo Ⅲ assay.Conclusion The two methods for serum calcium concentration determination,the ion selectivity electrode assay was coincidence with the arsenazo Ⅲ assay.

Objective To investigate environmental risk factors associated with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods A retrospective study was carried out from Feb 2005 to Apr 2006.A total of 108 cases with PCOS and 108 patients without PCOS(control group)were interviewed using a designed questionnaire.Results Univariate analysis of environmental factors indicated that risk factors related to PCOS were:occupation,education,disposable plastic cup for drinking,cooking oil fume and indoor decoration,all of which were significantly related to PCOS(P

Objective To compare the therapeutic effect of endovascular repair (EVAR) and open surgical repair(OSR) of abdominal aortic aneurysm in high-risk patients. Methods The clinical data of 55 patients from 1998 to 2008 with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm who received surgical treatment were analyzed by using the customized probability index. The perioperative and short term advantages and disadvantages of OSR group (n=20) were compared with EVAR group (n=35). Results All patients in OSR group were followed up, 94% patients in EVAR group were followed up, the mean follow up time were 75 and 70 months respectively. (1) Compared to OSR group, the EVAR group had shorter operation time [(3.1±0.6) h vs (4.9±0.9) h, P<0.05], (2) EVAR group had shorter ICU and hospital stay after operation and less blood loss (P<0.01), (3) Compared to OSR group, the EVAR group had lower mortality within 30 d(2.86% vs 15%), (4)the EVAR group had lower peri-operative complications(17% vs 40%), (5) The main complications of EVAR were endoleak (8.57%), (6) The main complications of OSR was cadiovascular incidence(25%). Conclusions Endovascular treatment, indicated for AAA in high-risk patients, can cut down the perioperative incidence of cadiovascular events, mortality and complications. CPI is useful to estimate the perioperative incidence of cadiovascular events, mortality and complications, and can be used to guide the therapeutic method.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the features and treatment of male infertility induced by autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and compare the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for infertile men with ADPKD and those with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 21 cases of ADPKD-induced infertility, 15 treated by ICSI (group A), and another 164 cases of strictly matched CBAVD-induced infertility (group B). We compared the two groups in the couples' age, the number of ICSI oocytes, and the rates of fertilization, transferrable embryos, good embryos, embryos implanted, clinical pregnancy, biochemical pregnancy, early abortion, singleton and twins in the first cycle.

RESULTSAfter 28 cycles of ICSI, 10 of the 15 ADPKD-induced infertility patients achieved clinical pregnancy, including 7 cases of live birth, 1 case of spontaneous abortion, and 2 cases of pregnancy maintenance. No significant differences were observed between groups A and B in the couples' age, the wives' BMI, or the numbers of ICSI oocytes and embryos transplanted (P >0.05), nor in the rates of ICSI fertilization (72.64% vs 76.17%), transferrable embryos (51.28% vs 63.24%), quality embryos (38.46% vs 49.83%), embryo implantation (17.64% vs 38.50%), abortion (0 vs 9.23%), singleton (50% vs 81.54%) and twins (50% vs 18.46%). However, the rates of clinical pregnancy (13.33% vs 42.68%, P = 0.023 <0.05) and biochemical pregnancy (13.33% vs 39.63%, P = 0.032 <0.05) were significantly lower in group A than in B.

CONCLUSIONICSI is effective in the treatment of male infertility induced by either ADPKD or CBAVD, but the ADPKD cases have a lower success rate than the CBAVD cases in an individual cycle. The affected couples should be informed of the necessity of prenatal genetic diagnosis before embryo implantation and the inevitable vertical transmission of genetic problems to the offspring.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; therapy ; Oocytes ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; complications ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Vas Deferens ; abnormalities

Objective To evaluate the risk of plague occurrence via surveying and analyzing indoor rat density and flea index in natural villages having previous plague experience. Methods During August to September 2007, 30 natural villages experiencing previous plague were selected based on the surveillance data, and then all households were coded with numbers and 20 households in each village were randomly selected via computer. Cages and sticky papers were set in 600 selected households to capture rats and fleas. Rat density, flea prevalence, flea index and median were estimated. Results One hundred thirty-three Rattus flavipectus and 33 Suncus murinus were caught and averaged rat density was 2.8 rats per one hundred cage. nights (166/6000), the median was 5 rats each village. One hundred and one mice infected fleas, flea prevalence on rats was 60.8% (101/166), 296 Xenopsylla cheopis and 48 Leptopsylla segnis were collected. Rat flea index was 2.1 fleas per rat (344/166). A total of 315 dissociated flea was caught, average dissociated flea index was 0.026 fleas per sticky paper (315/11888). The median was 5.5 dissociated fleas per village. Of dissociated fleas, Ctenocephalides felis felis (205) and Xenopsylla cheopis (103) accounted for 97.8% (308/315). The proportion for species of the rat flea and the dissociated flea was different(Fisher test: P < 0.01). The rat flea was significantly associated with the rat density(r = 0.68, P < 0.01), but the dissociated flea was significantly associated with neither the rat density(r = -yield than fried wheat batter(χ2 = 5.59, P < 0.05). Conclusions In these villages having previous plague experience of Lianghe County, Rattusflavipectus was dominant species of indoor rats, Xenopsylla cheopis and Ctenocephalides felis felis were dominant species of rat flea and dissociated flea, respectively. Mengsong, Bangdu, and Tangjiatun village had potential risk of plague emergence.

Vascular endothelium plays an important role in regulating vascular homeostasis. Over the past years, it has become clear that endothelial dysfunction is a key event of pathophysiological changes in the initiation and progression of injuries induced by extreme environmental factors. The present review summarizes current understanding of vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by hypoxia, cold and heat, and provides the information for prevention and treatment of environmental exposure injuries.
Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Environment ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Temperature ; Vascular System Injuries

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation of Cha Gan Beng Ga on the activity of biomarker PGC-1α in vivo and in vitro, and lay the foundation for studying the efficacy result of Cha Gan Beng Ga on xenograft tumor model and extracting active constituents.

METHOD(1) The coarse powder of Cha Gan Beng Ga was extracted with 70% ethanol solution through heating and refluxing, and finally was used to freeze dry powder. (2) 50 mg x kg(-1) of freeze-dried power was orally administrated to KM and C57BL/6J mice once daily, lasting for 5 consecutive days; different concentrations of extracted materials was given to non-small cell lung cells A549. (3) The expression level of PGC-1α mRNA was quantitatively determined in lung tissue of mice and non-small cell lung cells A549.

RESULTThe expression levels of PGC-1α in lung tissue of different mice strains had an increasing tendency. Furthermore, the expression levels of PGC-1α in non-small cell lung cells A549 also had an increasing tendency, showing dose and time-dependent relationships.

CONCLUSIONMongolian Medicine Cha Gan Beng Ga could induce the over-expression of PGC-1α mRNA in lung tissue of mice and in non-small cell lung cells A549. The present results will lay foundation for studying the efficacy result of antitumor and active constitutes in future.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the transient outward potassium channel protein expression in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and its contribution to renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS:A rat model of CHF was prepared by acute myocardial infarction that was induced by ligation of the left ante -rior descending coronary artery .Four weeks after heart failure , echocardiogram was applied to identify the CHF model and plasma norepinephrine (NE), serum NH2-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were detected by ELISA. The expression of ransient outward potassium channel proteins Kv 4.2 and Kv4.3 at mRNA and protein levels was deter-mined by real-time PCR and Western blot .The mean arterial pressure ( MAP) , heart rate ( HR) and RSNA were measured in anesthetized rats with PVN microinjection of potassium channel blockers 4-AP.RESULTS:In CHF group , the rat car-diac function and Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 expression in PVN were obviously lower while plasma NE and serum NT-proBNP were obviously higher than those in sham group .Microinjection of 4-AP into PVN induced an increase in MAP , HR and RSNA in both sham and CHF rats , while the CHF rats exhibited smaller responses to 4-AP than sham-operated rats .CONCLU-SION:Downregulation of Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 expression in the PVN may be a potential mechanism for sympathoexciation in the rats with chronic heart failure .