Animals ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUND: There are obvious neuropsychological changes after stroke besides the damage of cognitive function, and the symptoms of depression and anxiety which are also very conspicuous.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the related characteristics of neuropsychological changes after stroke by means of neuropsychological methods.DESIGN: A case-control study.SETTING: Department of Psychology, the Third Hospital of Daqing; Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: Sixty stroke inpatients (33 males and 27 female)aged from 42 to 75 years old with an average of (59.3±8.8) years old were selected from the Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between October 2001 and June 2002. Totally 49 cases had cerebral infarction and 11 cases had cerebral hemorrhage; 31 cases had single focus and 29 cases had multiple focuses (including 2 focuses or more); 20 cases had lesion in left hemisphere,21 cases had lesion in right hemisphere and 19 cases had bilateral lesions. The lesion was at temporal lobe in 6 cases, at occipital lobe in 2 cases, at frontoparietal temporal lobe in 15 cases, at internal capsule in 4 cases, at basal nuclei in 19 cases, at lateral ventricle in 4 cases, at thalam us in 4 cases, at cerebellum in 1 case and at multiple sites in 5 cases. The focal size was ＜ 15 mm in 33 cases and ≥ 15 mm in 27 cases. Sixty residents (33 males and 27 females) aged 42to 75 years with an average of (58.7±7.9) years old were selected simultaneously from the communities and suburbs of Harbin city as the controls and they all had no cerebral and organic lesion, mental disorder, severe somatic diseases and family history of mental disease.INTERVENTIONS: The poststroke mental status of the patients at stable recovery period was assessed with symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90, consisted of 90 items and 9 symptoms, scored by 5 grades of 0 to 4, including 0 as never, 1 as mild, 2 as moderate, 3 as a little severe and 4 as severe;Hamilton depression scale (HAMD, consisted of 24 items, including 11 somatic symptoms scored by 0 to 2 grades and 13 mental symptoms scored by 0 to 4 grades; the total score ＞ 24 points was taken as severe depression, 17 to 24 as moderate depression, 7 to 16 as mild depression, ＜ 7 as no depression), self-rating depressive scale (SDS, consists of 20 items, evaluated according to the occurrence frequency of the symptom, and classified into 4 grades; the score was 1, 2, 3 and 4 points for the forward scored questions, but 4, 3, 2 and 1 point for the backward scored questions; the highest total score was 80 points; the depressive severity=accumulative scores of each item/80×100, the depressive index ranged 25 to 100, the index ＜ 0.5 was taken as no depression, 0.5 to 0.59 as mild depression,0.6 to 0.69 as moderate depression, ＞ 0.7 as severe depression) and selfrating anxiety scale (SAS, consisted of 20 items, scored by 4 grades, mainly evaluated according to the occurrencefrequency of the symptoms. The forward scores were 1, 2, 3 and 4 points, and the backward scores were 4,3, 2 and 1 point; the total score multiplied by 1.25, and then the integer was taken as the standard score, the lower the better, and the delimitative value was 50. The total score of anxiety ＜ 50 points was taken as normal,50 to 60 as mild anxiety, 61 to 70 as moderate anxiety, ＞ 70 as severe anxiety). According to the different characters of disease, the patients with moderate depression and above were given suitable psychotherapy and psychiatric drugs for 4 weeks as a course.of the 4 scales between stroke patients with different lesion natures, foin the patients accompanied by depression. RESULTS: All the 60 stroke patients and 60 eases in the control group were involved in the analysis and SAS between the stroke group and control group: All the total scores were higher in the stroke group than in the control group [(131.45 ±18.89), (94.25 ±9.08) points; (18.73 ±6.54), (8.60 ±2.39)points; (56.49±11.85), (41.63±9.91) points: (40.08±6.55), (28.72±1.84)the 4 scales between stroke patients with different lesion natures, focal sites and focal sizes: In the stroke group, the total scores were higher in the patients with lesion in left hemisphere, cortical lesion, multiple focuses and large focal size (≥ 15 mm) than in those with lesion in right hemisphere, subcortical lesion, single focus and small focal size (＜ 15 mm)(t=1.92 to 4.31, P ＜ 0.05), but the scores were almost the same between the patients with cerebral infarction and those with cerebral hemorrhage accompanied by depression before and after treatment: 21 patients had moderate depressive symptoms and above, and their total scores of SCL90, HAMD, SDS and SAS were obviously higher than those in the control group (t=7.45 to 13.75, 9.83 to 21.20, P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: The poststroke neuropsychological changes are more obvious, and the changes are associated with the lesion location, focal size and focal site, but have no close correlation with the lesion nature.After psychological interventions, the depressive emotion is markedly ameliorated in the patients with obvious depressive symptoms and it is then indicated that poststroke patients should be given psychological interventions.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common syndrome in adolescent women and women of reproductive age. Main manifestations are oligomenorrhea, anovulation, polycystic ovarian, and hyperandrogenism with metabolic abnormalities such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance. PCOS can lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and endometrial cancer, which seriously threat the health of women. The pathogenesis of PCOS is not clear. Over 60% of women with PCOS are obese or overweight. Appetite and energy intake regulation plays an important role in body weight management. Nutrients are mainly digested and absorbed in gastrointestinal track, which is also one of the largest endocrine organs in human body. Special endocrine epithelial cells in stomach, proximal small intestine, and distal small intestine can secrete ghrelin, CCK, GLP-1, and PYY, which involve in the regulation of appetite and are also known as appetite regulating hormones. This review focuses on changes in the secretion of gastrointestinal hormones and related weight loss treatment in patients with PCOS.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of American Ginseng Capsule (AGC) on the liver oxidative injury and the Nrf2 protein expression in the liver tissue of rats exposed by 900 MHz cell phone electromagnetic radiation.

METHODSTotally 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Shuifei Jibin Capsule (SJC) group, and the AGC group,10 in each group. Rats in the normal control group were not irradiated. Rats in the rest three groups were exposed by imitated 900 MHz cellular phone for 4 h in 12 consecutive days. Meanwhile, rats in the SJC group and the AGC group were intragastrically administrated with suspension of SJC and AGC (1 mL/200 g body weight) respectively. Normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. The histolomorphological changes of the liver tissue were observed by HE staining. Contents of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX)were detected by colorimetry. The Nrf2 protein expression of hepatocytes was detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, hepatocyte nucleus was atrophied or partially disappeared, the contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); contents of liver SOD and GSH decreased (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, karyopyknosis was obviously attenuated and approached to the normal level in the SJC group and the AGC group. The contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P <0. 05), and the contents of liver SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX obviously increased (P < 0.05) in the SJC group. The contents of liver MDA and the Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P < 0.05), and contents of SOD and GSH obviously increased in the AGC group (P <0.01, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe electromagnetic radiation induced by 900 MHz cell phone could affect the expression of Nrf2 protein, induce oxidative injury, and induce abnormal morphology of liver cells. SJC and AGC could promote the morphological recovery of the liver cells. Its mechanism might be related to affecting the expression of Nrf2 protein and attenuating oxidative damage of liver cells.

Animals ; Cell Phone ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Panax ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of microencapsulation on the expression of the oxidative stress genes and exogenous regulation of HepG2 cells. We compared the expression of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione S-transferases-A1 (GST-A1) in HepG2 cells under different culture conditions through real-time PCR. The effects of exogenous antioxidants on cell viability and albumin levels were also evaluated through MTT assay and ELISA assay. The results showed that after culturing for 6 and 16 days, the expression levels of HO-1 in encapsulated cells were approximately 4.9 and 3.1 times higher than that of monolayer cells at the same culture period; As for the expression levels of GST-A1, they were elevated to 11.2 and 33 times of monolayer cells (P < 0.05). Accordingly, we found that NAC at 5-10 mmol/L significantly increased the viability by 40%-70% and the biosynthetic function by 20%-30% in microencapsulated HepG2 cells (P < 0.05). GSH increased the viability of the encapsulated cells by 20%-55% and the biosynthetic function by 15% (P < 0.05). In conclusion, oxidative stress exists in the microcapsules and affects genes expression. Exogenous antioxidants can prevent the inhibition effects of oxidative stress on cellular growth.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Glutathione Transferase ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress

Xanthone and its derivatives occupy a large part of the family of natural polyphenolic compounds with various biological and pharmacological activities.In recent years (from 2006 to 2011),it was reported that 127 xanthones were discovered from plants and fungi using various modem separation methods including silica gel/polyamide column chromatography,HPLC,high-speed counter-current chromatography,high-performance centrifugal partition chromatography,etc.Since total synthesis and structure modification for xanthone and its derivatives have been given attention worldwide,we introduced the synthetic methods of xanthone skeletons as well.Unfortunately,to date,there are still weaknesses in current methods of separation and synthesis,which need to be improved.This review,to a certain extent,provides necessary foundation for the further research and development of medicines containing xanthone and its derivatives.

To investigate the correlation between cognitive function and the Chinese medicine syndrome characteristics of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).

Objective To explore whether arsenic trioxide(As2O3)-induced apopotosis in drug-resistant leukemia K562/ADM cells may induce in through endoplasmic reticulum stress leukemia cell apopotosis.Methods The apoptosis of K562/ADM cells was identified by double staining of FITC-Annexin V and propidium iodide(PI),the ultrastructure of the cells,endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Flow cytometry(FCM) was employed to assess mitochondrial inner membrane potential(??m),intracellular calcium concentration,cytochrome c(Cyt c) release and caspase-3 activity.The expression of GRP78 protein was analyzed by Western blot.Results During the apoptotic process of K562/ADM cells induced with 2 ?mol/L and 5 ?mol/L As2O3,the endoplasmic reticulum exhibited obvious expansion and degranulation,and the mitochondria illustrated inner and outer membranes fusion,reduced and confused cristae,swelling and vacuolization.The mitochondrial ??m decreased,the intracellular calcium concentration and releasing of cytochrome c from mitochondria increased,and caspase-3 was activated.Western blot result indicated upregulation of GRP78 protein at endoplas-mic reticulum in apopototic K562/ADM cells.Conclusion As2O3 can initiate the endoplasmic reticulum stress in K562/ADM cells,and induces to apoptosis of the drug-resistant cell via endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial pathway.

Objective:To investigate extraocular muscles(EOM) susceptibility to myasthenia gravis(MG).Methods:Acetylcholine receptor(AChR) ?, ?, ?, ? and ? subunits from human EOM and other different muscle groups from 8 health controls and intercostal muscles from 10 MG patients were studied by RT-PCR System. Serum AChR antibodies from 83 patients with MG were assayed by ELISA.Results:①AChR?, ?, ?, ? and ? subunit mRNA could be amplified from normal human EOM and all muscle groups studied. ②AChR? P3A+/?-actin mRNA was expressed at higher level in general MG than in health controls(P=0.028). ③Ocular and general MG patients had higher AChR antibodies against AChR from adult gastrocnemius muscle than that from fetus(P=0.001,0.016).Conclusion:Susceptibility of EOM to MG is likely associated with muscle AChR subunit mRNA expression and intrinsic susceptivity of EOM.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of estrogen receptors (ER) in spleen of female BALB/c mice after injected with diethylstilbestrol (DES) beginning in neonatal period. Methods Neonatal female BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously on cervix-backside with DES within 24 hours after birth at intervals of 24 hours for 5 times. Control groups were injected with olive oil with the same method. Mice were killed on 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 35 days and 49 days after birth separately, the spleen was taken out, imbedded with paraffin and sectioned serially in 5??m. The expression of ER in slice of spleen was detected by immunohistochemistry technique. Results ER positive cells were present in both DES-injected groups and control groups. ER positive cells were mostly lymphocytes. A correlation between age and the intensity of positive reactions was showed in both groups. The intensity of ER immunohistochemistry positive reaction in DES group was much stronger than that in control group, and there was a significant statistic difference between the two groups. Conclusion The ER expression exists in spleen of female BALB/c mice and increases with the age of mice. The contact of DES in neonatal female BALB/c mice will lead to an increased ER expression in their spleens and this effect can continue to their manhood at least.