AIM: To study the role of nitric oxide ( NO ) and γ-aminobutyric acid ( GABA) in the formation of amblyopia by establishing 2 different types of amblyopic models.METHODS:A total of 18 aged 3-week kittens were randomly divided into monocular deprivation, strabismus and normal groups. All types of amblyopia were developed in the experimental eyes that were detected by P-VEP 12wk later. The cats were killed and the immunocytochemistry staining method were applied to observe under the light microscope the changes of distribution and positive cells areas of NO and GABA across the amblyopic retinal, compared to that from the normal cats of identical age.
RESULTS: The P-VEP showed that the amplitude of wave P1 was lower (P<0. 05) and the P1 latent time was longer ( P<0. 05 ) in two types of amblyopic cats than those in the normal cats. Compared to the normal cats, the NO and GABA positive cells areas were obviously reduced ( P<0. 05 ) across the retina in the amblyopic cats. But no significant difference was found between two kinds of amblyopic cats.
CONCLUSION:The NO and GABA play an important role in the formation of amblyopia in the level of retinal.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the plaque formation of the carotid artery in a population-based cohort of independently living healthy women above 60 years of age.

METHODSAnalysis of the healthy elders from a population-based cohort study in 9 communities of Beijing. Carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaques were determined ultrasonographically. Serum testosterone levels were measured by immunoassay. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThere was an inverse correlation between testosterone and plaque formation in old females (P < 0.01), while no association was found in males. Female with testosterone levels in the lowest quartile (< 0.49 nmol/L) had more risk of plaque formation (OR = 3.805, P < 0.01) after adjusted with age and other traditional factors of atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONTestosterone concentrations are negatively associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis in old women in Beijing, experimental and prospective studies are needed to determine the possible therapeutic role of testosterone in atherosclerosis.

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Carotid Stenosis ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Testosterone ; blood

ObjectiveTo detect the association between schizophrenia and polymorphism of phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 ( PSAT1 ) gene.MethodsThe study group included 158 patients with schizophrenia from Xi' an Mental Health Center and the control group included 316 parents.The polymorphism of rs69287125,rs137824326 of phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 gene was detected with PCR methods and SNP typing in all nucleus families by correlation analysis and haplotype relative risk analysis.ResultsThe rs69287125 allele was associated with schizophrenia (P=0.011 ),the G allele was protective factor (Z =-2.31 ) and the A allele was hazarding factor (Z =2.31 ).The rs137824326 allele was associated with schizophrenia (P=0.007 ),the G allele was protective factor ( Z =- 2.54) and the A allele was the hazarding factor( Z =2.54).The haplotypes of A/A and G/G in the rs69287125-rs137824326 were associated with schizophrenia (P =0.021,0.015,Z =2.16,- 1.85).ConclusionThe polymorphism of phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 gene is associated with schizophrenia in Chinese.

Objective To detect the genetic association between schizophrenia and polymorphism of Ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 ( ANKK1 ) gene. Methods Observed in a sample of 112 parent/offspring trios where the proband net the American Classification and diagnostic Criteria for Mental Disorders The Forth Revised Edition, criteria for schizophrenia using correlation analysis and haplotype relative risk analysis. The polymorphism of Ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 gene was detected with PCR methods and SNP typing in all nucleus families. Results The rs2734849 allele was connected with schizophrenia(P= 0. 026). Allele T was protective factor( Z= -2.19) and allele A was the hazard factor( Z=2. 19). The rs4938015,rs7118900 and rs1800497 allele were independence with schizophrenia. Three kinds haplotypes of G/A in the rs7118900 -rs2734849, A/C in the rs2734849 -rs1800497, G/A/C in the rs7118900 -rs2734849 -rs1800497 were associated with schizophrenia ( The P values were 0.032,0. 041,0.046, the genotype frequencies were 0. 36,0.29,0. 17 ).Conclusion It shows an association between schizophrenia and the polymorphism at nucleotide of ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 gene in Chinese.

The combination of Danggui and Honghua (GH) is a popular herb pair commonly used in clinic for the treatment of blood stasis syndrome in China. To evaluate the activating blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis effects of the combination of different proportions of Danggui and Honghua on acute blood stasis rats, and optimize the proportion of GH to have the best activating blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis effect. Acute blood stasis rat model was induced by subcutaneous injection of adrenaline and ice water bath. The blood stasis rats were administrated intragastrically with GH (1 : 0, 4 : 1, 2 : 1, 3 : 2, 1 : 1, 2 : 3, 1: 2, 1 : 4 and 0 : 1) extracts. The whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity (PV), and high shear whole blood relative index (HSWBRI), low shear whole blood relative index (LSWBRI), and erythrocyte aggregation index (EAI) were tested to observe the effects of GH on hemorheology of blood stasis rats. And the maximum aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was tested to observe the effect of GH on platelet aggregation index of blood stasis rats. In addition, the prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and plasma fibrinogen (FIB) were tested to observe the effects of GH on blood coagulation function of blood stasis rats. Then principal component analysis and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods were both used to comprehensively evaluate the total activating blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis effects of GH. The results showed that the hemorheological indexes and coagulation parameters of model group both had significant differences with normal group. Compared with model group, GH (1 : 0, 4 : 1, 2: 1, 3 : 2, 1 : 1, 2 : 3, 1 : 2, 1 : 4 and 0 : 1) could improve all the blood hemorheology indexes and regulate part indexes of blood coagulation function and platelet aggregation in acute blood stasis rats. Based on principal component analysis and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods, GH 1 : 1 and GH 3 : 2 both had the best effect of blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis, and the effect of GH 1 : 1 was slightly better than GH 3 : 2. These results suggest that GH could obviously ameliorate the abnormality of hemorheology and blood coagulation function in acute blood stasis rats. The optimized proportion of GH was consistent with regulations of medicine usage that GH 1 : 1 had the highest frequency used in traditional Chinese formulae. It could provide scientific basis for more effective application of the compatibility between Danggui and Honghua in modern clinic medicine.
Animals ; Blood Coagulation ; Blood Viscosity ; Carthamus tinctorius ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Erythrocyte Aggregation ; Hemorheology ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Aggregation ; Principal Component Analysis ; Prothrombin Time ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombin Time

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Carthami Flos is a famous Chinese medicine pair (CMP). Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma can promote blood circulation for removing blood stasis, and Carthami Flos can promote blood circulation for removing meridian obstruction and remove blood stasis for relieving pain. The two herbs are important TCMs for activating blood. Danhong injection is the classic application of the two herbs compatibility, which was made from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Carthami Flos with scientific formalation by extraction and refining. The CMP is used for treatement of organ flood insufficiency and ischemic infarction diseases. It can obviously relieving symptoms of angina pectoris, improve myocardial ischemia, regress atherosclerosis plaque, and inhibit thrombus. This paper elaberated the bio-active constituents, compatibility effects and action mechanism, and clinical applications of the CMP in order to further upgrade basic research and application levels of the CMP.
Animals ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEStudy on the flavonoids from the air part of Eupatorium lindleyanum.

METHODAlcohol percolation, silica gel column chromatography and re-crystallization et al.

RESULTJaceosidin, kaempferol, quceritin, astragalin, trifolin and hypersoide were isolated from E. lindleyanum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence.

CONCLUSIONJaceosidin, kaempferol, quceritin, astragalin and trifolin were isolated from E. lindleyanum for the first time.

Eupatorium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis-inducing effect of docetaxel-loaded lipid microbubble (DLLM) combined with ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) on human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

METHODSDLLM was prepared by mechanical vibration, and its physical properties were characterized. The median inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of DLLM was determined with MTT assay, and its cytotoxicity evaluated with cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The effects of docetaxel, DLLM, and DLLM combined with UTMD on cell cycle and apoptosis of BxPC3 cells were tested with flow cytometry (FCM) and TUNEL assay, respectively.

RESULTSDLLM had an average size of 1.6 µm, and the average drug entrapment efficiency and drug-loaded amount was 64.2% and 16.1%, respectively. Compared with the control groups, DLLM had a significantly enhanced cytotoxic effect (P<0.01) and caused an increased apoptosis rate in BxPC3 cells (P<0.01). Cell cycle analysis showed that DLLM combined with UTMD resulted in an significantly higher percentage of cells with G(2)/M phase arrest than the other treatments (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDLLM combined with UTMD can increase G(2)/M phase arrest and enhance the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis-inducing effect on BxPC3 cells, and can serve as an effective drug delivery system for pancreatic cancer therapy.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Carriers ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microbubbles ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on diaphragm function of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rats with muscular dystrophy, and to explore the regulatory mechanism. Methods Forty male rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, electroacupuncture group, exercise group, electroacupuncture plus exercise group, 8 rats in each group. After successful establishment of COPD rat model with muscular dystrophy, the modeled rats in various intervention groups were given electroacupuncture and/or exercise treatment. After the last treatment, the changes of rat body mass were observed, the rat lung function was detected, and the mRNA expression levels of myosin heavy chains (MHC) of MHC-1, MHC-2 and diaphragmatic related signal proteins of Atrogin-1, muscle ring-finger protein-1(MuRF-1), MyoD were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results (1) Compared with the blank group, inspiratory resistance (IR) and functional residual mass (FRC) in the model group were increased (P < 0.05) , and the dynamic lung compliance(Cydn) was decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, IR and FRC in the intervention groups were decreased (P < 0.05), but the differences among the three intervention groups were insignificant(P>0.05). (2) Compared with the blank group, the mRNA expression levels of MHC-1, Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the model group were increased (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression levels of MHC-1, Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the intervention groups were decreased (P < 0.05) , and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was increased(P<0.05). Compared with the exercise group, the mRNA expression levels of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the electroacupuncture group were decreased (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was increased (P<0.05) , but the above indexes in electroacupuncture plus exercise group showed no obvious changes(P>0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve respiratory function of COPD rats with muscular dystrophy, and the possible mechanism is related with the increase of MHC-2 mRNA expression and with the decrease of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD mRNA expression, which result into the regulation of ubiquitin proteasome pathway(UPP), reduction of myosin loss, and the relief of diaphragmatic atrophy.

Objective:To analyze the influence of different factors on the entropy and grayscale values extracted from the ultrasonic original radio-frequency signals of normal human gastrocnemius.Methods:The ultrasonic original radio-frequency signals of 10 healthy men and 10 healthy women admitted to the Department of Ultrasound of First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October to December 2019 in natural ankle joint position, maximum plantar flflexion and maximum dorsiflflexion position were collected, and the entropy and grayscale values were obtained by processing these signals with MATLAB software to analyze the differences of parameters in different positions and sections, and to discuss the influence of age, gender and BMI on them.Results:Comparison of the values between different sections: the differences between longitudinal extraction entropy values and transverse extraction entropy values at the maximum dorsiflexion position were statistically significant ( P<0.05), the differences between longitudinal extraction grayscale values and transverse extraction grayscale values at the natural position were statistically significant ( P<0.05) and both of values extracted in the longitudinal plane were higher than those extracted in the transverse plane. Comparison of the values among different positions of the ankle joints: the values of the maximal metatarsal flexion were statistically different from those of the natural position and the maximal dorsiflexion ( P<0.05), and the values of the maximal metatarsal flexion were the lowest, while the entropy and gray values of the natural position and the maximal dorsiflexion were not statistically different ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in ultrasonic characteristic parameters between different genders and different age groups ( P>0.05). There was no correlation between BMI and characteristic parameters ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The entropy and grayscale values extracted from the original radio-frequency ultrasonic signals of healthy persons′ gastrocnemius can quantitatively reflect the difference in muscle structure from different positions and setions. As a result, this method can be considered in the quantitative evaluation of neuromuscular diseases.