Object It was reported that salvianolic acid A from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge could improve memory dysfunction of mice with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury The effects of total salvianolic acids (Sal), including salvianolic acid A and B, rosmaric acid and protocatechic aldehyde was now studied to observe its effect on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in hope of obtaining a preliminary view on its mechanism of action Methods The effects of Sal on lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of cerebral ischemia reperfusion injured mouse and rat models were observed Results Sal 10, 20 mg/kg iv and 5, 10 mg/kg iv could markedly increase the activities of LDH and SOD and lower the production of MDA in the injured cerebral tissue On focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injured rat, 24 h reperfusion after 2 h ischemic injury, 5, 10 mg/kg iv Sal could decrease infarct size, ameliorate neurological deficit with obvious inhibition of the decrease of LDH and SOD activities and the over production of MDA Conclusion Sal showed obvious protective effects on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injuries of mice and rats via attenuating oxygen free radical

Objective To evaluate the role of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in 17β estradiol-induced inhibition of propofol-caused neuroapoptosis in the hippocampus of newborn rats.Methods Seventy-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 7 days,weighing ll-18 g,were divided into 6 groups (n =13 each) using a random number table:dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group,fat emulsion group (group F),17β estradiol group (group E),propofol group (group P),propofol plus 17β estradiol group (group PE) and propofol plusl7β estradiol plus mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 inhibitor U0126 group (group PEU).17β estradiol 600 μg/kg was injected subcutaneously every 24 h for 7 consecutive days in group E,and the equal volume of DMSO was given instead in group DMSO.Propofol 75 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally every 24 h for 7 consecutive days in group P,and the equal volume of fat emulsion was injected instead in group F.Propofol 75 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally,and 17β estradiol 600 μg/kg was injected subcutaneously every 24 h for 7 consecutive days in group PE.Propofol 75 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally,17β estradiol 600 μg/kg was injected subcutaneously,and U0126 10 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally every 24 h for 7 consecutive days in group PEU.At 15 min after the last injection,3 rats in each group were randomly selected,and arterial blood samples from the cardiac apex were collected for determination of arterial oxygen partial pressure.The animals were sacrificed at 24 h after the last injection for determination of the expression of activated caspase-3 (by immunohistochemistry) and p-ERK1/2 (by Western blot).Results There was no significant difference in arterial oxygen partial pressure between the six groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group F,the expression of activated caspase-3 was significantly up-regulated,and the expression of p-ERK1/2 was downregulated in group P (P＜0.05).Compared with group P,the expression of activated caspase-3 was significantly down-regulated,and the expression of p-ERK1/2 was up-regulated in group PE (P＜0.05).Compared with group PE,the expression of activated caspase-3 was significantly up-regulated,and the expression of p-ERK1/2 was down-regulated in group PEU (P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which 17β estradiol inhibits propofol-caused neuroapoptosis in the hippocampus is related to up-regulation of the expression of p-ERK1/2 in newborn rats.

Objective To study epidemiological trends of leprosy for 50 years in Gansu Province. Methods Epidemiological indicators and their trends were analyzed. Results By the end of 1998, a total of 4 773 leprosy cases had been detected in Gansu Province, of which 77.76％ distributed in 24 counties in Longnan, Gannan and Linxia prefectures, and 3 507 cases were cured and other dropped out or died. Type ratio of MB to PB was more than 60％ during the period. Since the mass surveys and comprehensive control were implemented in the 1960s, prevalence and detection rates had decreased continuously and the number of endemic counties reduced from 84.88％ in 1986 to 24.14％ in 1998. There were 42 active cases at the end of 1998 with a prevalence rate of 0.0017 per 1000. Conclusion Through the efforts for 50 year running, leprosy has been successfully controlled in Gansu Province.

Gadd45a, a p53 and BRCA1-regulated growth arrest and DNA damage gene, plays important roles in suppressing cell transformation and tumor malignancy. Gadd45a maintains the genomic stability through inhibiting the cell growth and promoting the DNA repair etc, by which it suppresses the tumor development. Additionally, Gadd45a is involved in some important signaling pathway, contributing to its function in tumor suppressing.

Objective To find a better method to reconstruct total ear in one stage. Methods In the procedure, a compound framework was formed, in which Medpor acted as ear framework and homogenous rib cartilage as helix-framework after being sculptured, then they were vamped together. The formed framework was covered with adjacent skin flap and homogenous skin graft after it had been covered with superficial temporal fascia flap. Results From January 2001 to Augest 2003, 8 cases of congenital microtia or antotia were treated in this way, and all of them obtained satisfactory appearance in auricle. Conclusion The reconstructed ear has a delicate structure and good appearance, and looks and feels as a real one by this new procedure.

AIM To study the effect and mechanism of sildenafil on rabbit corpus cavernosum in vitro . METHOD Rabbit corpus cavernosum(RCC) segments were incubated with various concentrations of sildenafil. The formation of cGMP was stimulated with 1 ?mol?L -1 sodium nitroprusside(SNP), and the cyclic GMP concentration was measured by radioimmunoassy technology. In the organ bath, strips of RCC were precontracted with 10 ?mol?L -1 phenylephrine. Sildenafil were added with increasing doses gradually, graded relaxations were induced using various concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and methacholine (MCH). RESULT In the presence of SNP, the cGMP concentration was increased in rabbit penile tissue, the increase of cGMP was greater when sildenafil was added. Sildenafil 10、100 nmol L -1 、1 ?mol?L -1 dose-dependently relaxed RCC strips. CONCLUSION Sildenafil increases cGMP concentration in RCC is attributed to the augmentation of NO/cGMP pathway, and the accumulation of cGMP improves the relaxation of RCC.

Objective To study the cardiomyocyte and renal cell apoptosis induced by overtraining, and the preventive effects of anisodamine against the adverse effects. Methods The rats were forced to swim till exhaustion to reproduce the animal model of overtraining. The animals were randomly divided into control group, exhausted group and anisodamine group. The exhausted group, depending on the recovery time after exhaustion, was divided again into exhaustion subgroup, 6h after exhaustion subgroup, and 24h after exhaustion subgroup. The animals in the anisodamine group received intraperitoneally 10mg/kg of anisodamine before the swimming overtraining, and divided again into 6h after anisodamine injection subgroup and 24h anisodamine injection subgroup. The cardiomyocyte and renal cell apoptosis was observed by the method of TUNEL, image analysis and flow cytometry. Results It was revealed by TUNEL that the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes was increased after exhaustive swimming, especially in the 6h after exhaustion subgroup. The number of apoptotic cells was also increased in kidney of 0h, 6h and 24h after exhaustion subgroups, especially in 24h after exhaustion subgroup. The apoptosis ratio was also increased significantly in 0h, 6h and 24h after exhaustion subgroups as demonstrated by flow cytometry. Compared with the rats of exhausted group, the number of apoptotic cells in heart and renal tissue was decreased remarkably after anisodamine injection. Conclusion The apoptosis of cardiomyocyte and renal cell could be induced by exhaustive swimming. Compared with kidney, heart injury recovered more quickly. Anisodamine had the preventive effect on the injury to heart and kidney in exhausted rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of anisodamine on endoplasmic reticulum stress during acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats.Methods Forty-two nale Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-220 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group (group C,n =6),AKI group (n =18) and anisodamine group (group AD,n =18).AKI was induced by intramuscular injection of 50％ (v/v) glycerol 10 ml/kg into bilateral hind limbs in groups AKI and AD.In addition,anisodamine 10 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally 20 min before intramuscular injection of glycerol in group AD.In group C the rats received intramuscular injection of normal saline 10 ml/kg into bilateral hind limbs.Six rats were chosen immediately after injection of normal saline in group C or at 1,6 and 24 h after glycerol injection in groups AKI and AD and then anethetized with intraperitoneal pentobarbital.The animals were sacrificed and kidney specimens were obtained and cut into sections which were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for pathological examination.The pathological changes of the renal tubules were scored.The expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and oxygen-regulated protein 150 (ORP150) in renal tissues was determined by immuno-histochemistry and Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the pathological scores were significantly increased and the expression of GRP78 and ORP150 was up-regulated at all time points in groups AKI and AD (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with group AKI,the pathological scores were significantly decreased and the expression of GRP78 and ORP150 was down-regulated at all time points in group AD (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion Anisodamine can ameliorate AKI through inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress in renal tubular epithelial cells and decreasing endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell apoptosis in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effects of anisodamine on apoptosis in cardiomyocytes and inflammatory response in overtrained rats. Methods Twenty-four male Wistar rats, weighing 200-220 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 8 each) : control group (group C) , overtraining group (group O) , anisodamine group (group A) . The model of overtraining-induced acute heart injury was established by exhausting swimming. Anisodamine 10 mg/kg was given intraperitoneally 20 min before overtraining in group A. Blood samples were taken at 6 h after overtraining for measurement of serum CK-MB activity. The rats were then sacrificed and myocardial tissues taken for determination of TNF-α content and NF-κB activity (by immunohistochemistry) . The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Results The CK-MB activity, apoptosis rate, TNF-α content and NF-κB activity were significantly higher at 6 h after overtraining in groups O and A than in group C, while lower at 6 h after overtraining in group A than in group O ( P < 0.05) . Conclusion Anisodamine can inhibit apoptosis in cardiomyocytes by reducing inflammatory response in overtrained rats.

Objective To explore the clinical features of diabetic macular edema (DME) with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and correlation with visual function. Methods Forty-nine eyes from 40 patients with DME (DME group) and 31 eyes from 31 patients without DME (control group) were examined with OCT,pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (P-VEP),macular perimetry. According to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), 49 eyes with DME were divided into group A (without PDR, 30eyes) and group B (with PDR, 19 eyes). Results The retinal macular thickness of central fovea in DME group [(299.25±63.87)μm] was more than that in contol group [(204.35 ± 37.94)μm], visual acuity and macular visual field in DME group were significantly different than those in control group, respectively (P ＜ 0.05). The retinal macular thickness of central fovea,visual acuity and visual field were no significant differences between group A and group B (P＞0.05). OCT macular thickness and visual correlation coefficient was -0.437(P＜ 0.05 ); OCT macular thickness and mean defect correlation coefficient was 0.441(P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions OCT can provide a useful tool for monitoring the occurrence and development of DME, can assess the response to treatment. With increasing of the macular retinal thickness, the visual acuity and macular visual field of visual function are more damaged.