Cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript(CART) peptides are endogenous neurotransmitters with important roles in a number of physiological and pathological processes in vivo.Many studies suggested that CART is widely distributed in the central nervous system,and it has some central protective effects.This article reviews the recent progress in research on the protective effect of CART on cerebral ischemia and its mechanisms.

Objective To investigate the incidence and clinicopathological characteristics of acute-on-chronic renal failure (A/C) . Methods Clinical data from all patients diagnosed as A/C by clinical materials and renal biopsy for a 12-year period (Jan, 1990 to Dec, 2001) were collected, and the cause of acute renal failure (ARF), relationship between cause and underlying renal diseases and factors affecting prognosis were analyzed. Results One hundred and four A/C patients accounted for 35. 5% of biopsied ARF cases during the same period. Acute interstitial Aubulointerstitial disease, increased activity of lupus nephritis (LN) and idiopathic ARF in nephrotic syndrome (NS) were the most common causes of ARF in A/C. And 39 A/C cases (35.6% ) were drug-related. Offending drugs were mostly antibiotics, non-steroid anti- inflammatory drugs or combination of them. Idiopathic ARF was commonly seen in minimal change diseases with ARF. Flare-up of underlying diseases was mostly occurred in LN patients. The causes of 9 malignant hypertension cases were IgA nephropathy, sclerotic nephritis and so on. The mortality of this group was 1. 9% (2 cases): one patient died of multiple organ failure resulted from basal disease; the other suffered from sudden death of unknown reason. Thirty-nine cases needed renal replacement therapy, and after 28. 5 days' treatment on the average, 23 of them did not need dialysis any more. Serum creatinine (Scr) returned to normal level in 48 patients (46. 2% ) when discharged. Twenty-one cases had been diagnosed before consulting to our department. Among them, 15 cases (71. 4% ) were diagnosed as "chronic renal failure . Multivariate Logistic regressive analysis showed that hypertension, dialysis therapy and high Scr level indicated poor renal prognosis. Conclusions A/C is an common part of ARF. Being aware of adverse effects of drugs (especially for elders), decreasing the activity of connective tissue diseases, controlling the blood pressure and keeping proper circulating volume are very important for patients with chronic renal diseases. After reasonable therapy, most patients' renal function can be improved. Early correct diagnosis and treatment are important.

Objective To observe the effect of kinesiotherapy-combined scalp acupuncture plus rehabilitation on the joint range of motion (ROM) and activities of daily life (ADL) in kids with spastic cerebral palsy. Method Fifty-one eligible patients with spastic cerebral palsy were divided into a treatment group of 23 cases and a control group of 28 cases by the random number table. The control group received conventional rehabilitation, whereas the treatment group received kinesiotherapy-combined scalp acupuncture in addition to the rehabilitation therapy. Before and after treatment, a joint protractor was used to measure the passive ROM of ankle, knee, and hip joints; the Modified Ashworth Scale was used to evaluate the muscular tension of the adductor muscles of lower limbs, hamstring muscles, and gastrocnemius; the scale for ADL was adopted to evaluate the ADL. Result The joint ROM was significantly improved by different degrees in the treatment group after intervention (P<0.05), and the popliteal angle and dorsal flexion of foot in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the muscular tension of hamstring muscles and gastrocnemius after treatment was significantly different from that before treatment (P<0.05); the change of the muscular tension of gastrocnemius in the treatment group after intervention was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05); the change of ADL in the treatment group after intervention was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Kinesiotherapy-combined scalp acupuncture plus conventional rehabilitation can markedly improve the ROM and ADL in patients with spastic cerebral palsy.

Objective To investigate the effect of scalp acupuncture plus MOTOmed virtual scene training on gross motor function and ADL in patients with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods Thirty patients with spastic cerebral palsy meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 12 cases and a control group of 18 cases. The control group received routine rehabilitation therapy and the treatment group, scalp acupuncture plus MOTOmed virtual scene training in addition. Adductor, gastrocnemius and hamstring muscle tensions were determined using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), gross motor function was measured using the Gross Motor Scale and the activities of daily living were assessed using the ADL in the two groups of patients before and after treatment. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in adductor, gastrocnemius and hamstring muscle tensions in the treatment group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in adductor muscle tension in the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in gastrocnemius and hamstring muscle tensions between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the foot dorsiflexion angle and popliteal fossa angle in the treatment group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the posterior femoral angle in the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the foot dorsiflexion angle and popliteal fossa angle between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the GMFM score and the ADL score in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the GMFM score and the ADL score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). Conclusions Scalp acupuncture plus MOTOmed virtual scene training is an effective way to treat spastic cerebral palsy. It can improve gross motor function and the ADL score in the patients.

A label-free fluorescent assay for highly sensitive detection of DNA was developed based on structure switch of hairpin DNA probe to a G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme triggered by target DNA. The hairpin DNA probe includes sequences that correspond to the base sequence of the G-quadruplex and to the sequence complementary to the target DNA, respectively. The hairpin structure of the probe DNA is
energetically favored over the G-quadruplex structure in the absence of target DNA, resulting in the protection of the G-quadruplex in an inactive hairpin configuration. The hybridization of target DNA to the loop domain opens the stem of the hairpin, resulting in the self-assembly of the uncaged G-quadruplex structure, which acts as a DNAzymatic label for the signal production and amplification in the presence of hemin. The peroxidase-like DNAzyme oxidizes non-fluoresecnt 10-acetyl-3,7-Dihydroxypenoxa-zin (ADHP) to the florescent product by H2 O2 , giving rise to fluorescence emission. This allowed the utilization of the H2 O2-ADHP fluorescent system for quantitative analysis of DNA. The experimental conditions were optimized as:pH 8. 0, 10 mmol/L K+, 0. 2 μmol/L Hemin, 50 μmol/L ADHP. The assay showed a linear relationship toward target DNA concentration in the range of 5. 0 pmol/L-1. 0 nmol/L, with a limit of detection of 3. 0 pmol/L (S/N=3). The assay exhibited good selectivity against single-base mismatched DNA.

Objective To investigate the effect of cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART ) peptides on cortical synaptic plasticity in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R ) injury mice. Methods A total of 288 healthy male specific pathogen free(SPF)grade Kunming mice aged 0 to 12 weeks were selected. They were divided into four groups:I/R group (n =81 ),I/R +CART group (n =81),sham operation group (n=63),and sham operation+CART group (n=63)according to the random number table method. A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)for 2 h and reperfusion was induced. Before reperfusion,the mice of the I/R+CART group were injected CART via tail vein (0. 5μg, 200μl)and the those of the sham operation+CART group were injected equal CART;repeated administration once every 24 hours. 2,3,5-Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay was used to detect cerebral infarction volume of the I/R group and the I/R+CART group at different time points (24 h,72 h,and day 7 )after achieving reperfusion. The transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of synapses at different time points,and the synaptic morphological parameters were analyzed quantitatively. Western blot was used to observe the expression level of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95)proteins in the surrounding area of cortical infarct at 72 h after reperfusion. Results (1 )Compared with the sham operation group,the number of synapses was significantly decreased in the cortical slices in the I/R group (3. 37 ± 0. 38μm2 vs. 7. 04 ± 0. 55μm2 ,2. 89 ± 0. 22μm2 vs. 6. 89 ± 0. 04μm2 ,3. 25 ± 0. 18μm2 vs. 6. 78 ± 0. 42μm2;all P<0. 05). The density of PSD was significantly decreased (24. 4 ± 2. 8 nm vs. 47. 3 ± 6. 1 nm,23. 8 ± 3. 7 nm vs. 46. 5 ± 7. 5 nm,24. 6 ± 2. 2 nm vs. 48. 1 ± 5. 1 nm;all P <0. 05). The width of synaptic cleft was increased (25. 2 ± 2. 1 nm vs. 21. 5 ± 1. 6 nm,25. 2 ± 1. 4 nm vs. 21. 3 ± 1. 0 nm,23. 7 ± 2. 6 nm vs. 21. 6 ± 1. 6 nm;all P<0. 05). The expression level of PSD-95 protein was decreased at 72 h after reperfusion (P<0. 05). (2)Compared with the I/R group,the infarction volume of the I/R+CART group was significantly reduced at 24 h,72 h,and day 7 after reperfusion (29. 0 ± 1. 9% vs. 36. 3 ± 1. 4%,38. 1 ± 1. 4% vs. 47. 6 ± 2. 7%,and 36. 0 ± 2. 8% vs. 42. 5 ± 2. 0%,respectively;all P<0. 05). The number of synapses was significantly increased (4. 32 ± 0. 35 μm2 )and the expression level of PSD-95 protein was increased at 72 h after reperfusion (P<0. 05). The PSD density (33. 8 ± 3. 4,34. 2 ± 4. 6,38. 2 ± 4. 0 nm)was thickened at 24 h,72 h,and day 7 after reperfusion (all P <0. 05),and there were no significant differences in the width of synaptic cleft at each time point(allP>0.05).Conclusion CART can reduce cerebral infarct volume of I/R in mice and improve synaptic plasticity of cortical neurons in mice after ischemic injury.

ObjectiveToinvestigatetheriskfactorsofepilepticseizuresanditseffectonclinical outcome in patients w ith cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Methods The patients w ith CVST w ere enrol ed retrospectively. The risk factors, clinical manifestations, and imaging data w ere col ected. The data of an epileptic seizure group and a non-epileptic seizure group w ere compared. Results A total of 69 patients with CVST were enroled, including 32 (46.38%) secondary epileptic seizures. In the aspect of clinical manifestations, more patients show ed hemiplegia in the epileptic seizure group (37.50%vs.15.63%; χ2 =5.240, P=0.020). Imaging examination show ed that more patients in the epileptic seizure group presented w ith bleeding ( 29.41%vs. 10.81%; χ2 = 3.818, P= 0.047 ), more lesion involving frontal lobe (31.25%vs.10.81%; χ2 =5.008, P=0.023), and temporal lobe (43.75%vs.8.11%; χ2 =7.318, P=0.005), and the thrombosis sites w ere more common in the superior sagittal sinuses (65.63%vs.40.54%;χ2 =4.264, P=0.036). Multivariate logistic regression analysis show ed that focal neurological deficits (odds ratio 5.167, 95% confidence interval 1.993-15.764; P=0.004) and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (odds ratio 0.126, 95% confidence interval 0.042-0.370; P=0.039) w ere the independent risk factors for patients w ith secondary epileptic seizures. There w ere no significant differences in hospital mortality (6.25%vs.2.7%; χ2 =0.512, P=0.469 ) and 90 day 90-day ful recovery rate ( defined as Barthel Index >60) (81.25%vs.86.47%; χ2 =0.346, P=0.793) betw een the epileptic seizure group and the non-epileptic seizure group. Conclusions Focal neurologic deficits and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis are the independent risk factors for secondary epileptic seizures, how ever, secondary epileptic seizures is not associ-ated w ith in-hospital mortality risk and 90-day clinical outcomes in patients w ith CVST.

Objective: To examine the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S ( BPS ), bisphenol F ( BPF ) and bisphenol AF ( BPAF ) on the proliferation and oxidative stress of BRL 3A rat liver cells, and to preliminarily evaluate their mutagenicities. Methods: In vitro cultured BRL 3A rat liver cells were treated with BPA, BPS, BPF and BPAF at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 μmol/L for 48 h, respectively. Then, the cell viability was determined using the CCK-8 assay, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration ( IC50 ) was calculated. The minimum inhibitory concentration for BRL 3A cell proliferation was screened, and the intracellular reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) was measured in BRL 3A cells using the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate ( DCFH-DA ) assay. In addition, the effects of BPA, BPS, BPF and BPAF at concentrations of 1 000, 200, 40, 8 and 1.6 μg/plate on the mutant colonies of histidine-deficient Salmonella typhimurium ( TA1535, TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 ) were tested using the Ames test. Results: Treatment with BPA and BPF at concentrations of 100 to 200 μmol/L and with BPAF at concentrations of 25 to 200 μmol/L inhibited BRL 3A cell survival at a concentration-dependent manner, while exposure to BPS at concentrations of 5 to 200 μmol/L resulted in no changes in BRL 3A cell survival. The IC50 values of BPA, BPS, BPF and BPAF were 131.7, >200, 187.5 and 21.6 μmol/L against BRL 3A cells, respectively. Treatment with BPS at 100 μmol/L or BPAF at 25 μmol/L caused no significant changes in the ROS level; however, exposure to BPA at 100 μmol/L and BPF at 100 μmol/L significantly increased the ROS level. Ames test showed that BPA, BPS, BPF and BPAF did not induce mutagenicity in TA1535, TA97a, TA98, TA100 or TA102 strains. Conclusions BPAF shows the highest cytotoxicity to BRL 3A cells, and low-concentration exposure to BPS has few effects on BRL 3A cells. The cytotoxicity of bisphenols against BRL 3A cells may be associated with the induction of oxidative stress. None of the four bisphenols show mutagenic effects under the present experimental conditions.

BACKGROUND:Animal studies have indicated ultrasound-mediated microbubbles can significantly enhance the effect of stem cel transplantation to treat ischemic diseases. But its mechanism is stil unknown.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of ultrasound-mediated microbubbles to significantly enhance the effect of stem cel transplantation in the treatment of ischemic diseases.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s and vascular endothelial cel s of rats were cultured in vitro, and then randomized to three groups:control group with no intervention, ultrasound group exposed to ultrasound at 1 MHz, 1 W/cm2 for 90 seconds, and ultrasound-mediated microbubble group treated with 5μL liposomes ultrasound microbubbles containing fluorocarbon gases (about 2×1011/L) and ultrasound exposure at 1 MHz, 1 W/cm2 for 90 seconds.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared to the control group, ultrasound-mediated microbubbles significantly increased expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and stromal cel-derived factor 1 in the supernatant of
vascular endothelial cel s (P<0.05);ultrasound had no effect on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, but decreased the level of stromal cel-derived factor 1 (P<0.01). Ultrasound-mediated microbubbles and the ultrasound alone could significantly enhance the CXCR4 gene expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s as compared with the control group (P<0.01), but there was no difference between the ultrasound-mediated microbubble group and the ultrasound group (P>0.05). These findings suggest that 1 W/cm2 ultrasound-mediated microbubbles can promote vascular endothelial growth factor and stromal cel-derived factor 1 secretion by vascular endothelia cel s, and meanwhile promote CXCR4 gene expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s. This may be the mechanism of the ultrasound-mediated microbubbles enhancing homing effect of transplanted stem cel s.

Objective:To establish a quality evaluation method for the simultaneous determination of Calycosin-7-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside and Lobetyolin in Danqi Xinmaikang boiled powders and pieces.Methods:Quantitative analysis of multi-components was performed to determine contents of Calycosin-7-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside and Lobetyolin with Calycosin-7-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside as the reference substance by single-maker (QAMS). The chromatogram conditions were established, with C18 column as solid phase, acetonitrile-water as flowing phase, 268 nm as detecting wavelength, 1.0 ml/min as flowing rate, 30 ℃ as column temperature, and 10 μl as injection volume.Results:The relative correction factor between Calycosin-7-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside and Lobetyolin was 1.14. There was no significant difference of measured values between the external standard method and QAMS ( P>0.05). With Calycosin-7-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside retention time of 1.00, the relative retention time of Lobetyolin was 1.51 and RSD was less than 5%. Conclusion:It is feasible and accurate to evaluate the quality of Danqi Xinmaikang boiled powders and pieces by QAMS.