AIM Taurine was reported neuroprotective under several ischemic models in vivo. In this study, the direct effect of taurine against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) inducing acute neuronal injury and the underlying mechanisms in vitro were investigated. METHODSFour hours OGD was used to induce in vitro ischemic injury in rat cortical neurons. Taurine 5, 10 and 20 mmol·L-1 was added 20 h before and during 4 h OGD period respectively. Mortality rate of neuron was assayed by MTT and flow cytometry methods. Level of neuronal [Ca2+]i was detected by Fura 2/AM loading. Amino acid concentrations in culture media were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Under OGD conditions, neuronal death was markedly increased, and the levels of neuronal [Ca2+]i and extracellular glutamate level were enhanced obviously. Taurine pretreatment obviously decreased the percentage of neuronal death induced by OGD. In addition, abnormal elevation of neuronal [Ca2+]i and extracellular glutamate level induced by OGD both were markedly repressed by taurine. CONCLUSION Taurine can alleviate rat cortical neuron injury induced by OGD, the mechanisms were likely due to repressing calcium overload and inhibiting excessive release or leakage of glutamate under such conditions.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of grow-inhibition and apoptosis induced by marine on Hep-2 line. Methods The growth inhibiting rate of matrine on Hep-2 cells was detected by MTT assay. Fluorescence microscope, DNA gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry (FCM) were applied to determine the presence of apoptosis and cell cycle. Results Matrine had cytotoxic effect to Hep-2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The FCM analysis showed that the number of Hep-2 cells of S phase and the apoptosis rate increased, while the number of G2/M phase decreased. There were morphological changes including chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and apeptotic bodies formed. DNA gel electrophoresis analysis showed typical DNA ladder of apoptosis. Conclusion Matrine inhibits cell prolif-eration by blocking Hep-2 cell cycle to S phase, and exerts its anti-carcinoma function by inducing apoptosis.

Objective The purpose of our research was to quantitative study the degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs by using T2 mapping technology at 3.0T MR and research the correlation of biomechanics and lumbar disc degeneration.Methods 34 patients with low back pain or sciatica were enrolled.The correlation of T2 values of lumbar intervertebral discs and Pfirrmann grading,disc location,patient ages were analyzed.T2 values before and after loading were also analyzed.Results T2 values of nucleus pulposus were correlation with Pfirrmann scoring,disc location and,patient ages.Conclusion (1 )T2 mapping provides a non-invasive and quantitative way to diagnose lumbar discs degeneration.(2)The change of external pressure load can affect the T2 values of the intervertebral disc.

Objective To investigate optimal extraction process of Piper puberulum ( Benth.) Maxim.and qualitative analyze the chemical component of the extracts.Methods Method of solvent heating reflux was used for extraction.On the basis of single factor experiment, L9 (34 ) orthogonal experiment was designed with the variants of extraction frequency, time, material-liquid ratio, and immersion time.Extraction rate as index, extraction processes were optimized to achieve best extraction.The extracts, including total extract, water elution, and ethanol elution, were physiochemically analysed to achieve an initial qualitative result.Results The optimal extraction process was: extractions 3 times for 2 hours, with an 1︰30 material -liquid ratio and 2 hours of immersion, Initial qualitative analyzed the total extracts containing amino acids, polypeptides, proteins, alkaloids, steroids or triterpenes, flavones, saponins, polysaccharides, reducing sugars or glucosides, cumarins, terpene lactones, phenols, and tannins.The water elution containing: amino acids, polypeptides, proteins, saponins, polysaccharides, reducing sugars or glucosides, cumarins, and terpene lactones.The ethanol elution containing: amino acids, polypeptides, proteins, alkaloids, steroids or triterpenes, flavones, polysaccharides, reducing sugars or glucosides, phenols, and tanins.Conclusion The experiments show that optimal extraction process can achieve high extraction yield, stable and practical.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of noble dendrobium polysaccharides ( NDP ) on lipopo-lysaccharide ( LPS)-induced neuron injuries in newborn rat cerebral cortex glial cells and neuron mixed cul-tures.Methods The primary cultures of newborn rat cortical neurons and glial cells were established and the existence of the neurons , astrocytes and microglia was verified respectively .NDP was given to LPS-induced mixed cultures , the mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-αand COX-2 were assayed by real time PCR .Results NDP reduced the glial cell activation and neuron dam-age after it was given to LPS-induced mixed cultures . The mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, COX-2 were re-duced .Conclusion NDP protects against LPS-in-duced neuron-inflammation in neurons and glial cells cultures.

Objective To study the effect of protopine (Pro) on the intracellular free calcium ions of the smooth muscular cells of the thoracic aorta in rats. Methods The procedure of calcium absence-calcium addition was designed to observe the changes of the level of calcium ions in the strips of the smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta indirectly. The concentration of calcium ions in the smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta was determined with Fura-2/AM loaded SMCs. The elevation of calcium ions was induced with norepinephrine (NE). The concentration of potassium ions was observed in the presence of Pro. Results Pro significantly inhibited the NE-induced transient contract of the smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta in calcium-free medium and long-lasting contraction after the addition of calcium ions in a concentration-dependent manner. In Fura-2/AM loaded SMCs, Pro (50 ?mol/L or 100 ?mol/L) exerted no effect on the resting calcium ions but obvious effect on the NE-induced and high potassium level-induced elevation of calcium ions. In the presence of extracellular calcium ions, Pro (50 ?mol/L) decreased the NE-induced elevation of calcium ions but showed no effect on potassium-induced elevation of calcium. Pro (100 ?mol/L) significantly decreased NE-induced and high potassium level-induced elevation of calcium ions. Conclusion Pro reduces NE-induced or high potassium level-induced elevation of calcium ions in the smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta through its effect on calcium release and/or calcium influx.

Aim To investigate the effect of Isorhynchophylline(Isorhy)on platelet aggregation or thrombosis,and explore the mechanism of it's action.Methods Rat platelet aggregation was determined.cAMP contents were assessed by Born's method and radioimmunoassay respectively.The effect of Isorhy on rat's thrombosis was observed with the thrombogenesis model of artery-vein bypass.Results Isorhy(0.65 mmol?L-1,1.30 mmol?L-1)was shown to markedly inhibit the rat's platelet aggregation induced by ADP or thrombin in a concentration-dependent manner(P

Aim To study the protective effects of Rhynchophyll a of total alkaloids ( RTA ) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and the possi ble mechanism of action. Methods The effects of RTA on decapit ated gasping model and model of middle cerebral artery ischemia 2 h/reperfusion 22 h were observed. The neurological scores, cerebral infarct volume and cerebr al water content after ischemia/reperfusion were observed in rats respectively. The activities of NOS and SOD and the content of MDA in rat's brain tissue were measured. Neuron apoptosis in ischemia penumbral area were detected by terminal depoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling ( TUNEL ) . Results The average gasping times in mice treated with RTA 50 , 75 mg?kg -1 was significantly prolonged. The cerebral infarct volume and cerebral water content in rats treated with RTA 40, 60 mg?kg -1 were sign ificantly decreased in ischemic rats. RTA 40, 60 mg?kg -1 increased the ac tivity of SOD ,and decreased the activity of NOS and the content of MDA in the i schemic brains of rats. The number of apoptotic neurons in ischemia penumbral ar ea of cerebral tissue of rats treated with RTA 40, 60 mg?kg -1 was signif icantly lower than that in control rats. Conclusions RTA has pr otective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury; this may be related to inhibit the activity of NOS and lipoperoxidation, and increasing the activity of SOD and decreasing neuron apoptosis.

AIM To study the distrubution and excretion of protopine in rats. METHODS Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method (RP HPLC) was developed for determining the level of protopine in rats. The analytical column were packed with 5 ?m C 18 . The mobile phase was a mixture of methanol, water and 10% acetic acid (80∶20∶2), in which the pH was modulated to 5 6 with 15% ammonia. Protopine biological samples were isolated well, in which two extraction with ether under basical condition and an extraction with 0 02 mol?L -1 sulfuric acid were performed, respectively. The content of protopine in the biological sample was measured by an UV detector at 285 nm. The distrubution and excetion of protopine have been investigated in rats after intravenous administration 10 mg?kg -1 . RESULTS Protopine distrubuted in many tissues after iv a dose of 10 mg?kg -1 . The higher level of protopine was found in lung, kidney, spleen and brain, and the highest was observed in lung at 5, 15 minutes after administration. However the top level tissue was testicle at 3 h, which may be due to small blood circulation. The excretion of the parent compound in urine was 36 87% of dose, but the excretion of the parent compound in feces and bile was less than 1% of dose. Plasma protein binding was less than 5%. CONCLUSION The distrubution of protopine is extensive and the parent compoud was mainly excreted by urine and plasma protein binding was low.

Objective To evaluate perioperative portal hemodynamic alterations in cirrhotic patients undergoing subtotal splenectomy,podicled spleen remnant retroperitoneal transplantation plus lower esophagus transection in the treatment of portal hypertension.Method Forty patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension were randomly allocated into 2 groups:splenic transplantation group (n = 20),in which patients underwent subtotal splenectomy with pedicled remnant spleen retroperitoneal transplantation and cardia-esophageal devascularization and transection,and control group (n = 20),in which splenectomy and cardia-esophageal devascularization and transection were performed.The cross section area,blood velocity and flow and collateral circulation of portal parameters were comparatively evaluated by 3D DEC MRA,and the size of remnant spleen,blood flow and collateral circulation of retroperitoneal transplanted spleen were comparatively assessed.Results At 6-month after operation,the disappearance of esophageal-gastric varices in two groups was similar,and the cross section areas of main portal vein (MPV) in two groups all decreased postoperatively,in study group it was (1.81±0.73) cm~2 vs.(1.20±0.52) cm~2,P ＜ 0.01;in control group it was (1.78±0.52) cm~2 vs.(1.30±0.12) cm~2,p ＜0.01.The mean blood velocity of MPV decreased postoperatively,in study group it was (9.86±0.10) cm/s vs.(7.06±1.92) cm/s,P ＜0.01;In control group it was (10.0 ±0.6)cm/s vs.(8.2±2.4) cm/s,P ＜0.01.The mean blood flow velocity of MPV in study group was lower postoperatively than that in control group(P＜0.01).The mean blood flow volume of MPV decreased postoperatively from (15.0±1.9) ml/s to (10.5 ±2.7)ml/s,P ＜0.01 in study group;and from (14.9±2.1) ml/s to (11.6±2.1) ml/s,P ＜ 0.01 in control group.The mean blood flow volume of MPV in study group was lower postoperatively than that in control group(P＜0.05).A significant collateral formation was observed around the retroperitoneally translocated pedicled remnant spleen.Conclusions Compared with splenectomy,subtotal splenectomy,retroperitoneal translocation of the pedicled remnant speen helps to preserve splenic function as well as to increase retroperitoneal collateral formation which is conducive to further decreasing the portal veinous pressure.