Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) on learning and memory ability, as well as the nerve cell and the expression of mRNA of Bcl-2 and Bax in the hippocampus of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly diveded into sham group (n=15), control group (n=15) and electroacupuncture group (n=15). The latter 2 groups were modeled with middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 h and reperfusion. The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at Shenting and Baihui for 7 days. They were tested with Morris water maze, and then, their hippocampus was observed under Nissl staining and the level of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA were determined with RT-PCR. Results The escape latency decreased (P<0.001) and the frequence the platform was crossed increased (P=0.001) in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group, with less damage of the nerve cell and the expression of Bax mRNA, and more of Bcl-2 mRNA (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can prevent learning and memory ability from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats, which may associate with adjustment of expression of apoptosis-related gene to inhibit apoptosis of nerve cell.

Objective To discuss the effects of silencing of iASPP gene on human bladder cancer cells. Methods RNAi silencing of iASPP gene in bladder cancer cell 5637 and T24 cells were used by lentiviral mediated interfering short hairpin RNAs. Cell proliferation was tested by MTT assay, and rate of colony was tested by colony formation assay. Cell cycles were tested by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Results Down-regulation of iASPP could inhibit the growth and proliferation of human bladder cancer cells (P＜0.05). iASPP know-down could decrease the colony formation of 5637 and T24 cells (P＜0, 05). Knocking down of iASPP in 5637 and T24 cells showed cell arrested at G1. Conclusions Silencing of iASPP gene could inhibit proliferation and colony formation of bladder cancer, iASPP might be an important target for gene therapy of bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND:There are a variety of methods for establishing osteoarthritis animal model, and different methods and different animals have their own characteristics.
OBJECTIVE:To review the status of the research on osteoarthritis animal models.
METHODS:The relevant articles to the osteoarthritis animal models were searched in Medline database from January 2002 to October 2011, with the key words of“animal model, osteoarthritis”in English by the computer. Similarly, Chinese Journal Ful-text Database was retrieved for related articles published in Chinese from January 2002 to October 2011, with the key words of“animal model, osteoarthritis, research development”in Chinese. Total y 423 relevant articles were col ected and 128 of them conformed the standard. At last 40 articles were included to review after ful-text reading.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The artificial induced animal models are the principal means to establish animal models of osteoarthritis and they have been widely used in the study of osteoarthritis pathogenesis, drug efficacy, cartilage physiology and pathology. Spontaneous osteoarthritis animal models have great advantages in the study addressing the initial mechanism of osteoarthritis, the biochemical changes of articular cartilage and the comparison of prevention and cure effects. Transgenic animal models have great application prospects on studying cartilage repairing mechanisms and testing a gene to prevent, delay or reversal the morphological changes. Accordingly the choice of models should be based on research needs.

Objective To investigate the expression of angiotensinⅡ (Ang Ⅱ ) and its type 1 receptor (AT1) in circulation, placenta and kidney of the rots preeclampsia. Methods Preedampsia rat model was developed by inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME). The systolic blood pressure (SBP), 24 h urine protein, hepatic and renal function were compared among the precelampsia group, the normal pregnant group and nonpregnant control group. The kidney tissue was observed by light microscopy. ELISA and radioimmunoassay were used to detect Ang Ⅱ in rat plasma and kidney homogenate respectively. Placental AT1 was measured by Westem blot. The level of kidney AT1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results In preeclampsia rats, SBP and 24 h urine protein were significantly higher compared with control groups. Compared to normal pregnant group, plasma Ang Ⅱ of preeclampsia rats was much higher [(0.706±0.086) ng/L vs (0.540±0.085) ng/L, P＜0.05]; placental AT1 was increased by 46%(P＜ 0.05); kidney Ang Ⅱ was decreased signigicantly [(65.543±40.634) ng/g vs (165.543±33.078) ng/g, P＜0.05]. The expression of ATI in kidney of preeclampsia rats was reduced evidently,which was only 33% of normal pregnancy group and 59% of nonpregnant control greup,respeetively (P＜0.05). Conclusions In preeclampsia rat model, the circulating Ang Ⅱ is increased, the placental RAS isactivated, while the kidney BAS is suppressed. The underlying mechanism of proteinuria and kidney damage associated with this phenomenon in preeclampsia needs further research.

Objective To explore the effects of electroacupuncture at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) on learning and memory ability in the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats and its possible mechanism. Methods 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=15), ischemia group (n=15) and electroacupuncture group (n=15). The latter 2 groups were modeled as focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) for 7 days. They were tested with Morris Water Maze, observed with Nissl's staining. The protein expression of RhoA was detected with Western blotting. Results The learning and memory ability improved in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05), the injury of the neurons reduced (P<0.05) and the expression of RhoA in hippocampus decreased compared with the ischemia group (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture could ameliorate the learning and memory ability in ischemia- reperfusion rats, which may relate with the inhibition of the expression of RhoA in hippocampus.

Objective To explore the central mechanism of acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) for memory impairment after stroke. Methods 32 stroke patients were randomized to receive acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) (as observation group) and acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB34) (as control group) for 8 weeks. At the meantime, all participants received routine treatment including physical and occupational therapies. They were scanned with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to find functional connectivity and assessed with Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) before and after treatment. The results of WMS and functional connectivity were analyzed with Pearson's correlation. Results The memory scores and memory quotient improved significantly after treatment in the observation group (P<0.05). The functional connectivity significantly increased occurred in the left hippocampus to right inferior frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus; and right hippocampus to left middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus and left parietal lobe. Significant correlations were found between memory quotient and functional connectivity of hippocampus to frontal lobe and left parietal lobe in the observation group. There was no statistical significance in memory scores and memory quotient in the control group. The functional connectivity significantly decreased in left hippocampus to right middle occipital gyrus, and right hippocampus to right superior temporal gyrus and right posterior lobe of cerebellum. There was no statistical correlation between functional connectivity and results of WMS. Conclusion The acupuncture at Baihui can improves memory ability of stroke patients, which may associate with the increase of functional connectivity of hippocampus with frontal lobes and parietal lobes.

Objective To investigate the expression and distribution of cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) in peripheral blood and lesions of psoriatic patients. Methods Peripheral blood and skin samples were obtained from 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 20 normal controls. Flow cytometry was used to detect intracellular c-FLIP protein in peripheral T and B lymphocytes, immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of c-FLIP in lesional tissue. Results Based on the positivity rate of c-FLIP, there was a significant increase in T lymphocytes in active psoriasis compared with regressive psoriasis and normal controls (6.32%±1.17% vs 2.64%±0.74% and 2.28%±0.54%, P＜0.01 and 0.05, respectively), while no significant difference was found in B lymphocytes among these three groups (0.78%±0.16%, 0.71%±0.32%, 0.69%±0.18%, respectively, P＞0.05). The expression intensity of c-FLIP in keratinocytes was also higher in active psoriasis than in regressive psoriasis and normal controls (89.73±5.24 vs 117.40±7.50,121.58±7.93, P＜0.01 and 0.05 respectively), and there was no difference between regressive psoriasis and normal controls (P＞0.05). Conclusions c-FLIP is highly expressed in lesions and peripheral T lymphocytes of patients with active psoriasis, suggesting the possible involvement of c-FLIP in the proliferation of T lymphocytes in psoriasis.

Objective To investigate the dietary structure in long-haul truck drivers,especially their vitamin A(VA) intake,food sources and serum level.Method One hundred and forty-five long-haul truck drivers were enrolled.A 24-hour dietary recall was conducted by food frequency questionnaire using three-dimensional food models.Serum VA was measured by HPLC.Results The average intake of energy,protein,fat and carbohydrate in working days was 3.95 MJ(945 kcal/d,35.0%RNI),40.7g/d(17.2% energy),20.5g/d(19.5% energy),134.5g/d(56.9% energy) respectively.In rest days,the average intake of energy,protein,fat and carbohydrate was 11.72 MJ(2802 kcal/d,116.8%RNI),118.5g/d(15.0% energy),92.4g/d(37.7% energy),307.2g/d(38.9% energy) respectively.VA intake was 252.6?gRE/d(31.5% RNI) in working days compared to 602.3?gRE/d(75.2% RNI) in rest days.The average serum VA concentration was 583 ?g RE/L,and the prevalence of serum VA

Objective To explore the expression of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and major histocompatibility complex class (MHC)-Ⅰ molecule in malignant melanoma cell lines. Methods Three malignant melanoma cell lines, including A375, A875, and KZ28 cells as well as normal melanocytes were cultured. Western blot, reverse transcription PCR and flow cytometry were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of TAP as well as the membrane expression of MHC-Ⅰ in these cells. Results A significant decrease was observed in the expression of TAP mRNA (t = 5.89, 4.45 and 4.57 re-spectively, all P< 0.01) and protein (t= 5.46, 4.32 and 4.67 respectively, all P< 0.01) in A375, A875 and KZ28 cells compared with the melanocytes, with the strongest decrease occurring in A375 cells. Similarly, the expression of MHC-Ⅰ molecule was significantly lower in A375, A875 and KZ28 cells than that in the melanocytes (t= 6.16, 5.22 and 5.61 respectively, all P< 0.01).Conclusions The protein and mRNA expres-sion of TAP is down-regulated in three melanoma cell lines A375, A875 and AZ28, which may contribute to the escape of melanoma cells from human immune surveillance.

BACKGROUND:Mechanical properties of the blood vessels include axial and radial tension which is important to guarantee the tissue perfusion and its pressure. OBJECTIVE:To test and analyze stretching and puncture parameters that can ful y characterize the performance of blood vessels, so as to predict the health condition of the vessels transplanted into recipients. METHODS:Mechanical properties as circumferential tension, axial tension and puncture were tested on the porcine aorta, and then pathological and staining analysis was done to explore whether freeze-dried vessels can withstand the blood pressure in al directions after transplanted into the body. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Specific trend on the curves of freeze-dried vessels during circumferential tension, axial tension and puncture process was closer to that of fresh vessel curves, suggesting that structural components and arrangement of the freeze-dried vessels were not changed greatly. Meanwhile, the microscopic observations of slice and tensile section were taken into account so that the reason was studied and explained for the mechanical properties of the experimental data and results. The macroscopic mechanical result was analyzed based on the change of microstructure. These findings indicate that the vacuum freeze-drying is a better method to maintain the performance of blood vessels.