Objective To explore visual-spatial working memory deficits of patients with basal ganglia damage, based on which tried to provide the new method for detecting the injuries in basal ganglia. Methods Twenty-five patients with lesions in the basal ganglia and twenty-five healthy controls performed visual-spatial working memory tasks, including a face-recognition and a spatial delayed-response. Results For the basal ganglia damage group ,the correct rate of both visual- face ( 54.5 ± 9.6 ) % and visual-spatial ( 80.0 ± 11.7 ) % working memory tasks was significantly lower than that of the control group ( ( 64.3 ± 9.5 ) %, ( 93.6 ± 4.9) %, respectively) ,and the difference was statistically significant ( u= - 147.5,80.5, P＜0. 01 ). For the patients injured in the left basal ganglia, the correct rate of visual- face working memory (48.5 ± 5.4 )% was obviously lower than that of patients injured in the right basal ganglia ( 59.2 ± 9.8 ) %, and the difference was statistically significant ( u =25.5, P＜0. 01 ) ;but the difference of correct rate for the visual-space working memory was not statistically significant( u = 52.5, P＞ 0.05 ). In contrast to the controls, both the visual-face and visual-space working memory of the group with injuries in basal ganglia,had appeared to be disable. Conclusions The results confirmed that patients with lesions in basal ganglia had deficits of visual-spatial working memory,and that injuries either in the left or the right basal ganglia can probably cause the shiftiness of cognitive function. Therefore, the injuries in basal ganglia can be detected by the visual-spatial working memory tests.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that nuclear factor-KB (NF-kB) was positively correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the cerebral hypoxia region. Thus, we assumed whether NF-kB in the pathway of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1α) upregulating VEGF and plays a bridge effect.OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of NF-kB in HIF-1α pathway of increasing expression of VEGF using HIF-1α-modified neural stem cells (NSCs) as vectors.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: In vitro observation of cytology was conducted at the Neuroscience Institute, Jiamusi University from March to December 2008.MATERIALS: Wistar rats aged less than 24 hours of both genders were used.METHODS: NSCs were transfected after amplification of adenovirus vector HIF-1α (AdHIF-ia)-green fluorescent protein (GFP).Fluorescence detection was used to determine HIF-1α-GFP and blank vector Ad-GFP expression in NSCs. Protein was extracted from transfected NSCs, blank vector NSCs and normal NSCs, separately. Subsequently, NF-kB specific inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (50,150, 300 μmol/L) was added in HIF-1α-modified NSCs. Western blot analysis was used to determine changes in VEGF expression.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following parameters were measured: expression of HIF-1α, VEGF and NF-kB in NSCs in each group; VEGF expression in NSCs following treatment of NF-kB specific inhibitor.RESULTS: Gene expression was associated with MOI and transfected time following AdHIF-1α-GFP transfected with NSCs. After transfected AdHIF-1α-GFP in NSCs, HIF-1α, VEGF and NF-kB expression was positively correlated. Expression of VEGF was reduced in AdHIF-1α-GFP-modified NSCs following treatment of NF-kB inhibitor PDTC in a concentration-dependent fashion.There were significant differences in VEGF expression between each concentration group (P < 0.05-0.01).CONCLUSION: NF-kB in signaling pathway of HIF-1α-upregulated VEGF expression and played a bridging effect.

Objective To estimate the effect of the NO on the medial amygdaloid nucleus(Me), we studied the origins of the NOS positive terminals in the Me. Methods Noergic afferent projection to Me was identified by a combined NADPH-d histochemical staning and retrograde CTb immunocytochemical method after microinjecting CTb into Me. Results The double labeled of neurons (NOS and CTb) were located in dorsal raphe nucleus, locus ceruleus, basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, parabrachial nucleus, ventrolateral part of periaqueductal gray.Conclution The NADPH-d positive terminals in the Me originates from the aforementioned nucleus, and may relate to the function of the Me.

BACKGROUND:Bacterial biofilm is the main cause of the infection of the prosthesis.In vitro experiments confirmed that hypertonic sodium chloride and ethanol can apparently promote the formation of staphylococcal biofilms. There are no reports on the effects of ethanol and hypertonic environment surrounding the prosthesis on the formation of biofilms.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of different environment factors surrounding the prosthesis on the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and bacterial biofilm formation after replacement.
METHODS: White rabbit models infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis on the prosthesis were established, and were randomly divided into hypertonic sodium chloride, ethanol and control groups (n=15). The bacteria were injected with 0.1 mL 4% sodium chloride and 4% ethanol into the knee of rabbits in the hypertonic sodium chloride and ethanol groups. The rabbits were injected with 0.1 mL 0.9% sodium chloride in the control group. Three rabbits were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 16 days after inoculated with bacteria. Synovial fluid, prosthesis and tissue surrounding infection were obtained. Bacterium was cultured to extract total RNA. The ica operon transcription levels were detected in the gene levels. Adhesion of bacteria on the surface of the prosthesis was observed using a scanning electron microscope. Tissues surrounding the prosthesis were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Histological examination revealed that inflammatory cel infiltration was observed in al the rabbits at 4 days after injection. Colony formation was found at 16 days after injection. At 6 days after injection, inflammatory cel infiltration was observed in the ethanol and control groups. Scanning electron microscope showed that compared with the control group, the bacteria adhered to the prosthetic surface became more in the hypertonic sodium chloride and ethanol groups at 6, 8 and 16 days (P < 0.05). At 6, 8 and 16 days, the expression of icaA mRNA was significantly higher in the hypertonic sodium chloride and ethanol groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). These data showed that the environment factors could affect the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and bacterial biofilm formation.

Objective To observe the effects of lower limb motion control training using virtual games combined with core stability training (CST) on the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients after stroke.Methods Sixty hemiplegic stroke patients were divided into an observation group and a control group (n =30 in each) using a random number table.The control group was given conventional treatment and CST,while the observation group received lower limb motion control training using virtual games in addition to conventional treatment and CST.All of the patients were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer lower limb assessment (FMA),the Berg balance scale (BBS),the modified Barthel index (MBI),10 metre maximum walking speed (MWS) and functional ambulation categorization (FAC)before and after 8 weeks of treatment.Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the measurements.After the treatment,however,the average FMA,BBS,MBI,MWS and FAC in the observation group were significantly better than those before treatment and those in the control group.Conclusions Lower limb motion control training using virtual games combined with core stability training can improve effectively the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients after stroke.Such a combination is worth applying in clinical practice.

The antitumor activities of artemisinin and its derivatives has become a hot topic in recent years.Artemisinin and its derivatives have been reported to exert antitumor effects mainly by blocking the cell cycle, promoting tumor cell apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis and so on.Also, their influence on signaling pathways has attracted considerable interest of many scholars.Currently, in order to discover some compounds with better therapeutic potentials, many studies dedicated to the synthesis and development of new artemisinin derivatives.In addition, the effects of artemisinin and its derivatives on multi-drug resistantace in tumor cells also become a trend of the future research.In this paper, we review the research advances in the antitumor activities of artemisinin and its derivatives during the past five years to provide a reference for future study .

The basement membrane (BM) is crucial in regulating the physical and biological activities of esophageal epithelial cells which attach to the underlying BM. In order to simulate the natural construction of BM, we prepared the fibrous scaffolds using biodegradable polylactide (PLA) and silk fibroin (SF) as the materials via electrospinning technology. BM's proteins containing collagen (IV), laminin, entactin and proteoglycan were extracted from porcine esophagus and coated on the eletrospun fibers. Morphology, mechanical strength, biodegradability and cytocompatibility of the coated and uncoated scaffolds were tested and evaluated using scanning electron micrography, mechanical test system, immunofluorescence assay and western blotting with CK14 as the primary antibody. The fibrous scaffold PLA or PLA/SF, generated from the present protocol had good formation and mechanical and biodegradable properties. After coating with BM's proteins, the scaffold could enhance the growth and differentiation of esophageal epithelial cells, which would contribute to remodel and regenerate the tissue engineered epithelium and further contribute to engineer the whole esophagus in future.
Absorbable Implants ; Basement Membrane ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Epithelium ; Esophagus ; physiology ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Humans ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Regeneration ; physiology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry

Objective To establish an accurate method for determining the content of three components in Fufang Buwu Syrup. Methods TLC scanner was selected to detect three components with silica gel G thin layer plate. The sample was separated by using cyclohexane-ethyl acetate-methylenechloride-formic acid (3∶1∶1∶0.2),λS=300 nm. Results The linearity between peak area and ferulic acid was achieved in the range of 0.36-0.84μg, psoralen was achieved in the range of 0.12-0.28 μg, emodin was achieved in the range of 0.01-0.05 μg. The average recovery was 100.7%, 100.8%, 101.0%, and RSD was 1.26%, 1.44%, 1.86%, respectively. Conclusion The method is simple and accurate, which can be used for quality control of Fufang Buwu Syrup.

In order to study the chemical constituents in the water extract of the stem of Nauclea officinalis, column chromatography over D101 macroporous resin and silica gel and an automatic purification system were used to isolate and purify the chemical constituents from the extract. Nine compounds were obtained. By analysis of the physicochemical properties and spectral data, their structures were identified as naucleamide G (1), 3, 4-dimethoxyphenol-beta-D-apiofuranosyl (1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), kelampayoside A (3), 3alpha, 5alpha-tetrahydrodeoxycordifoline lactam (4), naucleamide A-10-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), pumiloside (6), 3-epi-pumiloside (7), strictosamide (8) and vincosamide (9), separately. Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, compound 2 was found in plants of the genus Nauclea for the first time, and compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Objective To explore the technique of implantation of double-J stent via the guide-wire track, which was established through percutaneous renal puncturing, for the treatment of ureteral stricture and obstruction, and to evaluate its therapeutic effect. Methods A total of 75 patients with ureteral stricture or obstruction, who failed to respond to cystoscopic catheterization, were enrolled in this study. The lesions included benign stricture(n=60) and malignant stricture(n=15). Ureteral guide-wire track was established through percutaneous renal puncturing, which was followed by the dilatation of the stricture with balloon catheter and subsequent implantation of double-J stent via the guide-wire track. After the double-J stent was removed, the patients were followed up for 3 months to five years. Results The success rate of the procedure was 98.7%(74/75). Technical failure occurred in one patient with benign ureteral stricture. The cure rate was 70.7%(53/75), the improvement rate was 26.7%(20/75), and no improvement was seen in one case (1.35%). The total effective rate was 97.3%(73/75). Conclusion For the treatment of ureteral stricture and obstruction, the implantation of double-J stent via the guide-wire track, which is established through percutaneous renal puncturing, is a safe and effective method.