Objective To study the prospective memory and the severity of the impairment of event- based prospective memory(EBPM)and time-based prospective memory(TBPM)in normally aging adults. Methods We set a neuropsychological battery to measure the education-matched 40 adults and 40 normally aging adults who were given EBPM and TBPM tasks.Results Compared with the young controls(EBPM, 6.25?1.60;TBPM,5.38?0.87),both EBPM(2.50?0.85)and TBPM(4.93?1.07)in the elderly had been impaired,especially EBPM(t = 13.117,P

Moderate drought stress has been found to promote the accumulation of active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza uralensis root and hence improve the medicinal quality. In this study, the transcriptomes of 6-month-old moderate drought stressed and control G. uralensis root (the relative water content in soil was 40%-45% and 70%-75%, respectively) were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000. A total of 80,490 490 and 82 588 278 clean reads, 94,828 and 305,100 unigenes with N50 sequence of 1,007 and 1,125 nt were obtained in drought treated and control transcriptome, respectively. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed that the genes of some cell wall enzymes such as β-xylosidase, legumain and GDP-L-fucose synthase were down-regulated indicating that moderate drought stress might inhibit the primary cell wall degradation and programmed cell death in root cells. The genes of some key enzymes involved in terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were up-regulated by moderate drought stress might be the reason for the enhancement for the active ingredients accumulation in G. uralensis root. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of auxin, ethylene and cytokinins by moderate drought stress might enhance the root formation and cell proliferation. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid by moderate drought stress might enhance the drought stress tolerance in G. uralensis. The inhibition of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of gibberellin and brassinolide by moderate drought stress might retard the shoot growth in G. uralensis.
Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome

This is to report the screening, extracting and validating antitumor components and compounds from Stellera chamaejasme L. under the case of discrete distribution of active data. In this work, different components from Stellera chamaejasme L. were collected by HPD macroporous resin and polyamide resin column, and their antitumor activity on A549 were tested by MTT assay. Activity results indicate that activity of components at 30-39 min is more potent than that of Stellera chamaejasme L. extract, and the activity of components at 33.97 min is equivalent to positive drug, cis-platinum at 100 microg x mL(-1), but with totally different mode of action. Under the case of discrete activity, the weight analysis is capable of screening active components and compounds from natural products.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the cell viability of chondrocytes between the anterior and the posterior spinal growth plates in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) by proliferation and apoptosis labelling.

METHODSSeventeen AIS patients (4 male and 13 female, mean age 13.6 years old, ranged from 10 to 17 years old) were recruited in this study. Growth plates were harvested during anterior and posterior surgery. PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated nick end labeling) were used for proliferation and apoptosis labeling on chondrocytes respectively.

RESULTSIn AIS, the distribution of the proliferating nests were denser and more parallel in anterior column than those in posterior under microscope observation. In the proliferative and hypertrophic zone the PCNA index and PCNA/TUNEL ratio were higher in the anterior column than those in the posterior column (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). While in resting zone the differences were not so significant.

CONCLUSIONIn adolescent idiopathic scoliosis the growth viability of chondrocytes is more vigorous in anterior spinal column than in the posterior column.

Adolescent ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Child ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Female ; Growth Plate ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Scoliosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Spine ; growth & development ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze and identify the chemical constituents in rat brain tissues after oral administration of Chuanxiong Rhizoma extracts.

METHODThe dosed and blank rat brain tissues were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Different peaks were observed in total ion chromatograms and then identified according to their retention time, accurate mass weight, MS and MS/MS data.

RESULTAfter oral administration of Chuanxiong Rhizoma extracts, 3 compounds were absorbed into rat brain tissues through BBB. They were identified as senkyunolide I, senkyunolide A and ligustilide.

CONCLUSIONThe study is helpful for interpreting effective substance of Ligusticum chuanxiong.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Humans ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Wound combined with total body irradiation (TBI) injury results in impairment of tissue repair and delayed processes of healing, so it has been considered as an important and representative model of impaired wound healing, but the mechanism is not fully clarified. Fibroblasts in wound are the most important cells participating in tissue repair, whereas its radiosensitivity is not high. To understand whether TBI injury has direct damaging effects on fibroblasts in wound, fibroblasts in wound combined with TBI injury and in wound of simple incision injury were isolated and cultured, and parameters associated with tissue repair were determined. The results showed that the abilities of proliferation, attachment and adhesion of fibroblasts isolated from wounds combined with TBI injury significantly decreased as compared with those of simple incision injury, nevertheless, apoptotic ratio of fibroblasts isolated from wounds combined with TBI injury increased significantly. These data suggest that TBI injury may cause direct damaging effects on fibroblasts in wounds, which might be one of the dominant reasons for impairment of wound healing when it is combined with TBI injury.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Skin ; injuries ; Whole-Body Irradiation ; Wound Healing ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo screen the stage-specific expression proteins during rats spermatogenesis, and to investigate the beta-actin expression and localization in the tissues of rat testicular.

METHODSHighly enriched type A spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids were isolated by STAPUT method (sedimentation velocity at unit gravity, with 2% - 4% BSA gradient in DMEM/F12 medium) respectively to get the total proteins. The difference of protein expression between the three kinds of cells was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Then the distribution of beta-actin in rat testicular tissues was investigated using specific anti-beta-actin antibodies by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSbeta-actin was identified as a stage-specific expression protein by two-dimensional electrophoresis. beta-actin protein was more strongly expressed in type A spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes, but not in round spermatids. The immunohistochemical results showed that beta-actin was mainly located in the cytoplasm of type A spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes and in the nuclei of nearly mature spermatids.

CONCLUSIONbeta-actin protein is a stage-specific expressed protein and may play an important role in spermatogenesis.

Actins ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism

Craniofacial Dysostosis ; Humans ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation factors of acute paraquat intoxication prognosis.

METHODSThe early paraquat concentration in plasma and urine, leukocyte count, hepatic and renal function, amylase, electrolyte and the parameters of arterial blood gas were analyzed retrospectively in 111 patients with acute paraquat intoxication.

RESULTS43 cases (38.7%) of all the 111 patients survived and the other 68 cases (61.3%) died. The patient, whose paraquat concentration was not more than 8.0 µg/ml in plasma and 276.0 µg/ml in urine, could survive. But some patients could die, only if there was no paraquat found in plasma. The paraquat levels in plasma and urine were significantly lower in survivors [(0.82 ± 1.70), (28.12 ± 51.17) µg/ml] than in nonsurvivors [(9.32 ± 12.04), (384.53 ± 597.93) µg/ml, respectively] (P < 0.01). The levels of leukocyte count, serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and amylase were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In addition, metabolic acidosis was easier to appear in nonsurvivors. The multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the paraquat concentration in plasma and urine, leukocyte count, creatinine and base excess were all related to survival.

CONCLUSIONThe higher paraquat concentration in plasma and urine, leucocytosis, renal dysfunction and metabolic acidosis are all important factors for the prognosis of paraquat intoxication.

Acidosis ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; blood ; poisoning ; urine ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo express and purify of the BC097361 recombinant protein, and to prepare the BC097361 specific rabbit polyclonal antibody.

METHODSBC097361 cDNA was ligated into the prokaryotic expressive vector pET-32a (+), and the resulting plasmid was transformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3). The protein expression was induced with IPTG and the protein was analyzed with SDS-PAGE and western blotting. The expressed product was purified using Ni+ affinity column chromatography.Then the purified pET-32a (+) -BC097361 fusion protein was used to immunize New Zealand rabbits to gain polyclonal antibody. The specificity and potency of polyclonal antibody were evaluated by Western blot and ELISA.

RESULTSThe BC097361 fusion protein was highly expressed.The protein was mainly in the inclusion body. ELISA indicated the titer of polyclonal antibody more than 1:320000. The high specificity was confirmed with Western blot.

CONCLUSIONSThe recombinant BC097361 fusion protein and the BC097361 specific polyclonal antibody will be valuable tools for the investigation on the biological function of BC097361.

Angiotensin II ; genetics ; Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Antibody Specificity ; Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis ; genetics ; Male ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction