Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) on learning and memory ability,as well as the finding of histopathology and the expression of mRNA of nuclear factor κB p65 (NF-κB-p65) and its inhibitor (IκB) in the hippocampus of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were were randomly diveded into sham control group (SC, n=15), ischemia control group (IC, n=15) and electroacupuncture group (EA, n=15). The latter 2 groups were modeled as focal cerebral I/R injury, and the EA group received electroacupuncture at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) for 14 d. They were evaluated with the step down test, their hippocampus was observed under HE staining and the level of NF-κB-p65 and IκB mRNA was determined with RT-PCR 14 d after modeling. Results The frequence of shock was less, and the latency jumping down from the safe platform was longer in the EA group than in the IC group (P<0.001). The damage of the nerve cell and the expression of NF-κB-p65 mRNA significantly decreased and the expression of IκB mRNA increased in the EA group compared with those of IC group (P<0.001). Conclusion The inhibition of NF-kB-p65 might mediate the recovery of learning and memory impairment after electroacupuncture for cerebral ischemia.

Objective To explore the protective effect of olfactory ensheathing cell(OEC)Schwann cell(SC)-extracellular matrix(ECM)-poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide acid)(PLGA)bridging complex on peripheral target organ and spinal cord neurons after rat sciatic nerve defect.Methods A 15 mm right sciatic nerve defect model was established in SD rats and repaired with OEC-SC-ECM-PLGA bridging complex that contained OEC,SC,ECM and self-made PLGA conduit.At the same time,the study set OEC-ECM-PLGA group,SC-ECM-PLGA group,ECM-PLGA group,PLGA group and nerve autograft control group.At 1,3,6 and 9 weeks after surgery,the gastrocnemius muscle water weight test and motor end-plate test were performed.At the 9th week after surgery,CM-DiI and horseradish peroxidase(HRP)retrograde tracing were performed.Results The gastrocnemius muscle water weight and number of motor end-plate were decreased in all groups after surgery but gradually increased after three weeks except for ECM-PLGA group and PLGA group.At the 9th week,OEC-SC-ECM-PLGA group showed no statistical differences with nerve autograft group in aspects of gastrocnemius muscle water weight,number of motor end-plate and length of motor end-plate major axis(P ＞ 0.05).At the 9th week,CM-DiI and HRP retrograde tracing found that the number of positive neurons in spinal cord in OEC-SC-ECM-PLGA group showed no statistical differences compared with nerve autograft group(P ＞0.05).Conclusions OEC-SC-ECM-PLGA bridging complex can partially protect peripheral target organ and spinal cord neurons after rat sciatic nerve defect.

Objective To construct a recombinant lentiviral expression vector for RNA interference (RNAi) of human Snail gene and to study its effects on the proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line 5-8F. Methods The effective sequence of short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) targeting Snail gene was designed and cloned into the linear pLVTHM vector after enzyme digestion. After confirmation by DNA sequencing, 5-8F cells were infected with the viral supernatants. The cells with stable Snail gene knock-down were separated by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FASC). The expression of Snail mRNA was detected by real time RT-PCR. MTT and cell invasion assay were used to detect the proliferation and invasion of 5-8F cells after plVTHM-siSnail transfection. Results The lentivirus vector plVTHM-siSnail was constructed successfully. The separated 5-8F-plVTHM-siSnail exhibited significant knock-down of Snail mRNA expression. Slower proliferation and decreased cells to permeate through the Matrigel were found after plVTHM-siSnail transfection (P

Objective To study the enhancing effect of ultrasound plus microbubble on small interference RNA(siRNA)transfection in vitro and in vivo.Methods Human vascular epithelial growth factor(VEGF)siRNA with 2'deoxy modification(VEGF 2'-eoxy siRNA,VdsR)was used.The human CNE cells(fromnasopharyngeal carcinoma)line was used for in vitro cell-based experiments and in vivo mouse xenograft model.Two different microbubble agents.BR14 and Levovist.were used together with the RNA transfection reagent RNA-mate.ELISA and RT-PCR assays were used to assess VEGF gene expression.Immunohistochemical staining (IHC)was performed to assess CD31 expression in xenograft tumors.Results VdsR transfection in CNE cells abolished VEGF expression as determined by ELISA experiments.In the first mouse xenograft experiment,ultrasound exposure dramatically enhanced VdsR-mediated tumor inhibition.In the second mouse xenograft experiment,when VdsR was mixed with the microbubble reagents and then injected into xenografts,ultrasoundexposure significantly reduced tumor growth in BR14-mixed VdsR group but not in the Levovist-mixed VdsR group compared to the control.RT-PCR experiments demonstrated that VEGF expression in ultrasound-exposed tumors was significantly lower than that in the control.Meanwhile,VEGF expression in the tumor tissue treated by BRl4-mixed VdsR declined as compared with the controls.Tumor vascular density as measured by CD31 immunostaining was significantly decreased in ultrasound-exposed tumors compared to the control.Conclusions Ultrasound exposure and/or microbubble can significantly enhance delivery and the efficiency of VdsR-mediated anti-tumor effects,and should be a location-specific enhancement approach for siRNA-based anti-cancer therapy.

Aged ; Female ; Fluorobenzenes ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use

Objective To discuss the combined value of gray-scale ultrasound ( GSUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid lesions and to explore the optimal diagnostic point of scoring method .Methods Ultrasound images of 178 thyroid lesions confirmed by pathology were synthetically reviewed by scoring 5 GSUS indicators including shape , orientation, interior echogenicity, halo sign, microcalcification and 6 CEUS indicators including relative arrival time of microbubbles in the periphery and interior, peak periphery and interior echogenicity, peripheral ring-enhancement, and homogeneity of enhancement .One positive indicator scored one point .The optimal diagnostic points and their clinical value were explored according to ROC curves .Results Scores of GSUS, CEUS and the combination of GSUS and CEUS were significantly different (Z =10.188,9.843,10.705,all P <0.001). Areas under ROC curves of GSUS, CEUS and the combination of GSUS and CEUS were 0.936, 0.919 and 0.964, respectively.Three or more positive GSUS indicators of five in a thyroid lesion predicted that the thyroid lesion was malignant , with the sensitivity of 79.6% and the specificity of 91.2%.Two or more positive CEUS indicators of six in a thyroid lesion predicted that the thyroid lesion was malignant , with the sensitivity of 91.8% and the specificity of 81.2%.Five or more positive GSUS and CEUS indicators of eleven in a thyroid lesion predicted that the thyroid lesion was malignant , with the sensitivity of 93.6%and the specificity of 92.3%.The areas under the ROC curve of GSUS and CEUS were 0.936 and 0.919.The area under the ROC curve of the combination of GSUS and CEUS was 0.964, larger than the areas under the GSUS ROC curve and the CEUS ROC curve.Conclusion Ultrasound is valuable in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid lesions , and the combination of GSUS and CEUS is the most valuable with 5 points as the optimal diagnostic scoring method .

OBJECTIVETo develop a RP-HPLC method for determination of three glycosides in Swertia punicea.

METHODChromatographic column: Alltimal C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Mobile phase: methanol-water (including 0.05% H3PO4), and gradient elution. Flow rate: 1 mL x min(-1). Wavelength: 254 nm. Column temperture: 30 degrees C.

RESULTThe calibration curves of gentiopicroside, mangiferin and swertrianolin were in good linearity over the range of 31.3-281.7, 0.31-2.78, 0.55-4.91 microg, (r = 0.9996, 0.9993, 0.9995). The average recoveries were 103.36%, 101.42% and 97.39%, with RSD less then 3% (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONIt is a simple and sensitive meathod in controlling the quality of S. punicea.

Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycosides ; analysis ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Swertia ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; analysis

Objective To investigate the anti-tumor activities of cell-penetrating peptide ( CPP) - mediated trichosanthin ( TCS) , which is a recombinant protein obtained from Radix Trichosanthis. Methods Cysteine residue was introduced to the C-terminus of TCS by protein recombinant technique, and then with the newly-formed terminal as the modification site, TCS was coupled with CPP. As a target protein, CPP-mediated TCS was isolated and purified by affinity chromatography. The expression of the target protein and its responsiveness to reducing substances were detected by using the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cellular uptake rate of CPP-mediated TCS was determined by using cell uptake test, and its anti-tumor activity was measured by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Results The TCS-CPP compound had been successfully developed in this study, and showed certain reducing responsiveness. After modified with CPP, TCS had higher cellular uptake rate and stronger anti-tumor effect on HeLa and MCF-7 cells. Conclusion TCS modified by CPP can enhance the anti-tumor activities of TCS.

Aim To investigate the effect of sphingo-sine kinase 1 (SphK1 )on unilateral ureteral obstruc-tion(UUO)-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis and ex-plore the possible mechanism.Methods The CD-1 mice were randomly divided into four groups:sham-op-eration group(Sham),PF-543 treatment control group (Sham +PF-543),model group(UUO)and PF-543 treatment group(UUO +PF-543).On 1 ,3,7 and 1 4 d after operation,eight mice were selected randomly from each group and sacrificed.The protein expressions of SphK1 ,mature TGF-β1 ,FN,ColⅠ,LC3,Beclin1 ,Atg5 and Atg1 2 were observed by Western blot.The histo-logical changes were examined by Masson′s trichrome stain.Immunhistochemistry was performed to measure the levels of expression of SphK1 ,FN and Col Ⅰ. Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the autophagic body.Results SphK1 expression and autophagy were both upregulated in a mouse model of kidney fibrosis induced by UUO. Meanwhile, in-creased mature TGF-β1 and deposition of extracellular matrix(ECM)were observed in tubulointerstitial areas compared with sham-operated mice.After intraperito-neal injection with the SphK1 specific inhibitor PF-543 in UUO mice,enhanced expression of SphK1 and acti-vated autophagy were significantly abrogated.Howev-er,aggravation of renal fibrosis was detected when SphK1 inhibitor PF-543 was applied to suppress SphK1 expression in UUO mice.Conclusion SphK1 activa-tion is renoprotective through the induction of autoph-agy in the pathogenesis of kidney fibrosis.

Objective:To master the information of the communication between undergraduate students and parents,so as to provide basis for strengthening university student's psychology work.Methods:We used the investigation questionnaire designed by ourselves,investigated 841 undergraduate students in ShanXi Medical University and established SPSS 11.5 database carrying on statistical analysis.Results:62.2% students ring up their parents once a week,5% students call once a day,22.7% students call once a month,and 10.1% students wait for their parents to call them.8.4% students think that they have generation gap of communication with their parents,10.3% students fully obey their parents,81.3% students use parental words to encourage themselves.Conclusion:Family is an important factor for students' psychological development.