OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Gengnianchun Recipe (GNC) on learning memory function and its regulatory effect on hippocampal cholinergic system in ovariectomized rats.

METHODSFemale rats 10-12 months old were randomized into 5 groups, the sham-operation group, the model group treated with normal saline, the positive control group treated with Nilestriol, and the two GNC groups treated with high and low dose GNC respectively. A little fat around ovary was cut in the sham-operation group. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks after ovariectomy. Changes of learning memory function were tested by Morris water maze; serum level of estradiol (E2) was measured by chemical fluorescent method; hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) mRNA was determined with Real-time PCR; and the activities of acetylcholine (ACh), AChE and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry respectively.

RESULTSTwelve weeks after ovariectomy, serum E2 and learning memory function markedly decreased in the ovariectomized rats (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Nilestriol and high dose GNC showed an effect in improving the symptoms of learning memory functional deprivation and elevating the activities of hippocampal ACh, AChE and ChAT (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGNC can improve learning memory function of ovariectomized rats, and its mechanism might be realized by regulating the cholinergic system in hippocampus.

Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Acetylcholinesterase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cholinergic Fibers ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Ovariectomy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of the ureteral dilation catheter combined with the balloon catheter under the ureteroscope in the treatment of urethral stricture in men.

METHODSUnder the ureteroscope, 45 male patients with urethral stricture received placement of a zebra guide wire through the strictured urethra into the bladder and then a ureteral dilation catheter along the guide wire, followed by dilation of the urethra from F8 initially to F14 and F16. Again, the ureteroscope was used to determine the length of the strictured urethra, its distance to the external urethral orifice, and whether it was normally located. An F24 balloon catheter and then a metal urethral calibrator was used for the dilation of the strictured urethra. After removal of the F18-F22 urethral catheter at 8 weeks, the urinary flow rate was measured immediately and again at 3 months.

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully performed without serious complications. The maximum urinary flow rate was (13.3-29.9) ml/s (mean [17.7 ± 3.2] ml/s) at the removal of the catheter and (15.2-30.8) ml/s (mean [19.8 ± 3.9] ml/s) at 3 months after it. Smooth urination was found in all the patients during the 6-24 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONThe application of the ureteral dilation catheter combined with, the balloon catheter under the ureteroscope is a good option for the treatment of male urethral stricture for its advantages of uncomplicatedness, safety, effectiveness, few complications, less pain, high success rate, and repeatable operation.

Catheterization ; Humans ; Male ; Ureteroscopes ; Urethra ; Urethral Stricture ; therapy ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Catheters ; Urination

Objective: To determine biological effect ratio (BER) on anti-herpes simplex virus-Ⅰ (HSV-Ⅰ)of Liyan Dan (LYD) complex pharmaceutics and its active components alignment (ACA), and to discuss the new identification method of Chinese patent medicine expressed by standard BER. Methods: Protective effect to cells infected by HSV-Ⅰ was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The ACA was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. By the protective percent (PP) to cells infected by HSV-Ⅰ of LYD and its ACA the BER was calculated. BERS= PPS / PPACA (protective percent to cells infected by HSV-Ⅰ of sample/protective percent to cells infected by HSV-Ⅰ of ACA; the concentration of sample was 2-x mg/mL). Results: LYD can inhibit cytopathogenic effect (CPE) and its BER was 1.16. Conclusion: BER and ACA of Chinese patent medicine can reflect connotation of Chinese patent medicine quality. This index described intrinsic quality of curative effect on Chinese materia medica.The new concepts of BER and ACA were pulled into the study. This research offered a new train of thought and method to study Chinese patent medicine quality as follows. Firstly, establish standard biological effect of ACA as a standard of effect; secondly,measure the biological effect of sample by the method of measuring effective standard of ACA; thirdly, calculate BER according to the formula (BERS=PPS/PPACA). Standard of BER on quality evaluation is as follows. If 1 ≥ BERS ≥ 0.9, the sample is eligible; if BERS＞1, the sample is of high quality; if BERS＜0.9, the sample is disqualification. This quality evaluation method is much more scientific than the method that evaluate quality only by one or two components contents.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether photochemical smog emitted during the process of electric arc welding might cause oxidative stress and potential oxidative damage in the bodies of welding operators.

METHODSSeventy electric arc welding operators (WOs) and 70 healthy volunteers (HVs) were enrolled in a randomized controlled study design, in which the levels of vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE) in plasma as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and the level of lipoperoxide (LPO) in erythrocytes were determined by spectrophotometry.

RESULTSCompared with the average values of the above experimental parameters in the HVs group, the average values of VC and VE in plasma as well as those of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the WOs group were significantly decreased (P < 0.005-0.0001), while the average value of LPO in erythrocytes in the WOs group was significantly increased (P < 0.0001). The findings from the partial correlation analysis on the controlling of age suggested that with a prolonged duration of exposure to photochemical smog the values of VC, VE, SOD, and GPX, except for CAT, in the WOs were decreased gradually (P < 0.05-0.005), the value of LPO in the WOs was increased gradually (P < 0.001), and that with the ozone dose increased in the air in each worksite VC, VE, SOD, CAT and GPX decreased (P < 0.005-0.001), but LPO increased (P < 0.001). The findings from the reliability analysis for the VC, VE, SOD, CAT, GPX, and LPO values which were used to reflect oxidative stress and potential oxidative damage in the WOs showed that the reliability coefficients' alpha (6 items) was 0.8021, P < 0.0001, and that the standardized item alpha was 0.9577, P < 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONFindings in the present study suggest that there exists an oxidative stress induced by long-term exposure to photochemical smog in the bodies of WOs, thereby causing potential oxidative and lipoperoxidative damages in their bodies.

Adult ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid ; blood ; Catalase ; blood ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Oxidants, Photochemical ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Ozone ; analysis ; toxicity ; Risk Assessment ; Smog ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Vitamin E ; blood ; Welding

Objective To evaluate calcium deficiency and demand in pre-puberty twins and to analyze the heritability of serum bone alkaline phosphatase(BALP).Methods A total of 73 pairs of twins aged 9-16 years were examined by BALP test.Microsatellite polymorphism Was used To diagnose the zygosity of twins,while both intraclass correlation coefficient method and Christian formula were perfortled to investigate heritability of serum BALP.Results The results of zygosity diagnosis displayed that 34 pairs of twins were monozygotic(MZ)twins and 39 pairs were dizygotic(DZ)twins.97.9％of the subjects appeared unusual in the activity of BALP,with activity of BALP>250 U/L in 43.1％of subjects and 200-250 U/L in 54.8％of the subjects.The intake of calcium Was unsatisfied in 48.4％of the boys and 39.0％in girls.Less than 10.0％ of the Sllbiects were satisfied with the intake of calcium in each age group while over 45.0％of the snbjects in 10-13 age group were deficient in calcium.Differences between the means of BALP in different sex groups(t=1.633,P=0.105)and different age groups(F=0.323,P=0.924)were not statistically significant.Heritability analysis displayed that intra-class variation.Inter-class variation.Intra-class correlation coefficient were 191.54,1462.22,0.77 in MZ twins,and those were 491.03,1475.57,0.50 in DZ twins respectively with the heritability of BALP activity as 0.54.Conclusion Calcium deficiency Is commonplace in pre-puberty twins.Our data showed that the BALP activity was influenced both by genetic(54％)and environmental(46％)factors.

Objective To study the survival time of recombination rival in environment and inactivation ability of different disinfectant and ultraviolet radiation against virus. Methods NC membranes absorbed the recombinant adenovirus (rADV) or herpes simplex vires (rHSV) with green fluorescence protein (GFP) were laid, or immersed in various concentration of different disinfectants such as ethanol, sodium hypochlorite, lysol and geramine and then taked out them every 15 min, or exposed under ultraviolet radiation, then the NC membranes were adsorbed 1 h in cell, 37 ℃ 5 % CO248 h. The results were observed under the fluorescence microscope. Results (1) the average survival time of rHSV under environment is less than 60 min, rADV is almost up to 2 h. (2) The infection ability of rHSV and rADV was inactived 15 min by both ethanol(100%, 70% and 50%) and sodium hypochlorite (5%, 2.5% and 1.25%). (3) Two virus can be killed by 0.1% bromngeramine. (4) Both 5% and 2.5% lysol, but rADV can not lost the infection on Vero Cell until 75 min by 1.25% Lysol. (5) The rHSV was inactivated under ultraviolet radiation, but rADV was not. Conclusion The survival time of is different from beth envelope rival and the no-envelope viral under nature environment and the inactivate ability of disinfectant also is different between two model virus; Disinfectant should be choose according to virus type.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of bilirubin/albumin (B/A) ratio and acidosis with abnormal brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia and its clinical significance.

METHODSA total of 967 neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia between November 2008 and October 2009 were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups according to their BAEPs: normal BAEP group (n=799) and abnormal BAEP group (n=168). Univariate analysis and age-stratified Chi-square test were used to determine the relationship of B/A ratio and acidosis with BAEP.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis showed that the abnormal BAEP group had significantly lower pH and base excess values and a significantly higher B/A ratio compared with the normal BAEP group (P<0.05). The age-stratified Chi-square test showed that neonates with acidosis or with a B/A ratio greater than 1.0 had a significantly higher incidence of abnormal BAEPs than those without acidosis or with a B/A ratio less than 1.0 in any age (days) group of neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHigh B/A ratio and acidosis are the risk factors for abnormal BAEPs in neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia, which is the case for those in any age group. In order to reduce the incidence of hearing loss in any age group of neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia, we should correct the acidosis and lower the B/A ratio as soon as possible.

Acidosis ; physiopathology ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Infant, Newborn ; Serum Albumin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the bone state with ultimate stress by examining biomechanical distribution of upper femur in Chinese, in order to accumulate more experiences for clinical work.

METHODSTotally 60 Chinese femurs from fresh cadavers were randomly divided into two groups. All the femurs were cleaned, and the body age ranged from 36 to 72 years old, averaged 56.4 years, including 41 from males, and 19 from females. These two groups underwent mechanical stress and bending stress tests. Special mechanical laboratory and machines were used to get the information. Results about the loading value at each testing point under stress were collected.

RESULTSThe four faces of the upper femur suffered different stress under external forces. The bone on upper femur can tolerate more mechanical stress than bending stress. Medial and lateral region of the femur neck and the rear side of the small tuberosity section were themain position enduring the vertical stress. The rear position of the base femur neck and the small tuberosity section were the main regions enduring the bending stress. Those main positions had strong cancellous bones. The intertrochanteric fracture fixation and artificial femoral stems were designed depending on this biomechanical basis.

CONCLUSIONAccording to our experiment result, doctors need to chose more effective fixations for upper femur fracture, and femoral stems for the patients. More information should be collected by further researches.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Femur ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo examine the relationship between NF-kappaB signal transduction way and the sensitivity of Tca8113 carcinoma cell to Pingyangmycin chemotherapy.

METHODS2 mg/L antisense p65 oligodeoxynucle-otides (5'-GAACAGTTCGTCCATGGCCG-3') was transfected into Tca8113 cells through Lepofectin vectin, then the cells were treated with 8 mg/L Pingyangmycin. After 3 h and 6 h, the expression of p65 in nucleus was studied with immunohistochemical methods and Western blot analyses. After 48 h, the inhibitory rate of cell growth was detected with MTT assay.

RESULTSThe NF-kappaB/p65 signal transduction way in Tca8113 cells was activated after treated with Pingyangmycin. But the transfection of antisense p65 oligodeoxynucle-otides inhibited the activation of the signal transduction, the p65 expression in nucleus was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at 6 h, and the inhibitory rate of cell growth was increased significantly (P < 0.05) at 48 h.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of Tca8113 carcinoma cell to Pingyangmycin was improved by the inhibition of NF-kappaB/p65 signal transduction.

Bleomycin ; analogs & derivatives ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; Signal Transduction ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDGlaucoma can cause progressive damage to retinal ganglion cells. These cells can be classified as cells projecting to the superior colliculus and melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells, which project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This study was to investigate the effects of chronic intraocular pressure elevation on melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells in rats.

METHODSChronic intraocular pressure elevation was induced in one eye of adult Wistar rats by cauterization of three episcleral veins. Intraocular pressure was measured at different intervals with a rebound tonometer. Superior collicular retinal ganglion cells were retrogradely labeled from the superior colliculus with Fluorogold. Melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells were visualized by free-floating immunohistochemistry on whole-mount retinas. The number of labeled superior collicular and melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells were counted in the sample areas on flat-mounted retinas.

RESULTSCompared with contralateral control eyes, the numbers of both superior collicular and melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells were significantly reduced after 12 weeks of experimental intraocular pressure elevation ((2317.41 +/- 29.96)/mm(2) vs (1815.82 +/- 24.25)/mm(2); (26.20 +/- 2.10)/mm(2) vs (20.62 +/- 1.52)/mm(2), respectively). The extent of cell loss of the two types of retinal ganglion cells was similar. However, no morphologic changes were found in melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells.

CONCLUSIONBoth melanopsin-containing and superior collicular retinal ganglion cells were damaged by chronic ocular hypertension, indicating that glaucomatous neural degeneration involves the non-image-forming visual pathway.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glaucoma ; pathology ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; pathology ; Rod Opsins ; analysis