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.

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 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.

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.

AIM: To observe the effect of ginkgolide B (GB) on glutamate-induced apoptosis in the cultured neurons of rat retina. METHODS: Neurons of rat retina were cultured and apoptosis was induced by glutamate. The neurons were cultured with different concentration of GB and the survival rate was monitored by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptosis in the cultured neurons and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were observed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: After exposed to glutamate, the survival rate and the number of Bcl-2 positive cells obviously decreased. At the same time, the number of Bax positive cells obviously increased, and the number of the apoptotic cells also obviously increased. Such phenomena were relieved by the treatment of ginkgolide B, with raise of survival rate and the expression of Bcl-2. Meanwhile, the expression of Bax and the apoptosis of neurocytes obviously decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Ginkgolide B protects retinal neurons from the virulence induced by glutamate. Such effects of GB might be brought about by increasing the expression of Bcl-2 while decreasing Bax, resulting in increasing the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax and so reducing the apoptosis in the cultured neurons of rat retina.

Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36) on differentiation of neural stem cells after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=12), model group (n=12) and electroacupuncture group (n=12). The latter two groups were occluded the left middle cerebral arteries for 90 min-utes and reperfused. The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at Quchi and Zusanli acupoints for 21 days. They were evalu-ated with modified Neurological Severity Scores 7, 14 and 21 days after electroacupuncture. Their infarct volumes were tested with MRI T2WI 21 days after electroacupuncture, while the differentiation of neural stem cells was observed with double-immunopositive BrdU/Dcx and BrdU/NeuN. Results Compared with the model group, the neurological deficits score improved in the electroacupuncture group in all the time points (P<0.05). The infarct volumes decreased in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05), with less number of BrdU+/Dcx+cells in subventricular zone (P<0.001) and more number of BrdU+/NeuN+ cells in peri-infarct cortex (P<0.001) 21 days after electroacupuncture. Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Quchi and Zusanli acupoints can improve neurological function and decrease the infarct volumes in rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which may be associated with promoting differentiation of neural stem cells to neurons.

Objeetive To analyze the effect of treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RRD) by scleral bucking as well as the relative risk factors affecting the anatomical reattachment and visual recovery.Methods One hundred and fortyeight patients (148 eyes) with RRD treated by sclera buckling surgery in our hospital during January 2012 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The rate of postoperative retinal anatomic reattachment,the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and complications were observed.Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the correlative factors affecting the anatomical reattachment and postoperative vision restoration.R~ults Retinal reattachment achieved in 91.9％ after initial surgery and the final success rate for anatomic reattachment was 97.3％ assessed with ophthalmoscope and fundus photography.But these two rates were assessed with the optical coherence tomography (OCT) were 60.1％ and 80.4％ respectively.Single factor Logistic regression analysis showed that retinal detachment was affected by multiple breaks and Grade C1 PVR(all P ＜0.05);Single factor Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative BCVA,course of disease,retinal detachment range,macular involvement or not had an impact on the postoperative recovery of BCVA (all P ＜ 0.05),preoperative age,refractive status,releasing retinal fluid or not,intravitreal gas injection,combined scleral buckling,and postoperative subretinal fluid,all of these factors had no effect on BCVA recovery after surgery (all P ＞ 0.05).And through multiple factors Logistic regression analysis,preoperative BCVA was an independent risk factor for BCVA recovery after surgery (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Scleral bucking is an effective technique for managing RRD,but multiple breaks and Grade C1 PVR are significant risk factors for anatomic.Preoperative BCVA,course of disease,retinal detachment range,macular involvement or not have the impact on the BCVA recovery after scleral buckling,and the preoperative BCVA is the key factor.Early diagnosis and early treatment as well as protecting the preoperative visual acuity can improve prognosis.