Aim To investigate the relationship be-tween the cardioprotection of apigenin ( Api ) from an-oxia/reoxygenation ( A/R) injury and Bcl-2 pathway. Methods H9 c2 cardiomyocytes were cultured and di-vided into normal control group, A/R group, Api pre-treatment group ( Api ) , Api + Bcl-2 inhibitor group ( Api + ABT-737 ) . Expression of Bcl-2 was deter-mined by Western blot,and cell viability was measured by MTT method. LDH, SOD, GSH-Px, MDA activity were determined by chromometry. ROS generation, mi-tochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis were de-termined by flow cytometry. Results 25h after apige-nin precondition,the expression of Bcl-2 was upregulat-ed in cardiomyocytes ( P <0. 01 ) . In the group pre-treated with 40 μmol · L-1 apigenin before A/R, the activity of LDH in culture medium decreased; the ac-tivity of intracellular SOD, GSH-Px increased; the content of MDA and ROS generation decreased; cell viability increased; mitochondrial membrane potential could be more stable and cell apoptosis decreased ( P<0. 01 ) . However, all these protective effects were attenuated significantly in the group pretreated with apigenin and Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 . Conclusion The effect of apigenin against A/R injury in cardiomyo-cytes involves Bcl-2 pathway, and at least partly de-pends on its effect on upregulating the expression of Bcl-2 .

Objective To explore the clinical features, surgical techniques and treatment efficacy of blood blis?ter-like aneurysms (BBA) of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Method We retrospectively reviewed 45 BBAs of the ICA treated surgically at our department between Jan. 2006 and Jan. 2016. The data was analyzed. Results Direct clipping of BBA was performed in 38 patients, clipping over wrapping in 3 patients and trapping of ICA in 4 patients. Intraoperative rupture occurred in 12 patients (27%). Postoperative cerebral infarction developed in 10 cases (22%). Seven patients died (16%). During the follow-up time of 47 months (range, 6~126 months), Good results were achieved in 34 patients (76%) with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0~2 and 4 patients were in mRS 3~5. Follow-up angiography revealed a re?currence of BBA in one patient, which was retreated with endovascular coiling. No rebleeding was found in all fol?lowed-up patients. Conclusions BBAs of the ICA are difficult to treat surgically with high risk and complications. Thoughtful pre-operative evaluation of BBA and application of various surgical strategies during operation can signifi?cantly reduce the surgical risk and achieve good outcomes.

Objective To investigate the significance of androgen and estrogen receptor expression levels on aneurysm walls.Methods From November 2007 to June 2016,32 patients received craniotomy for clipping intracranial aneurysms in the West China Hospital,Sichuan University were enrolled prospectively.Nineteen intracranial aneurysm walls and 26 superficial temporal artery branches were obtained (a total of 45 qualified specimens).Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the superficial temporal artery branches and smooth muscle layer of intracranial aneurysm wall and the expression levels of estrogen receptor-α,β and androgen receptors.Image Pro Plus 6.0 software was used to analyze and detect the integral optical density values of the positive cell expression levels.The χ2 test and rank-sum test were used for statistical analysis.Results The median (M) and interquartile range (P25,P75) of the expression levels of estrogen receptor-α,β of the intracranial aneurysm walls were 3 049 (2 112,5 554) and 4 364 (2 314,5 667) respectively.They were lower than 6 544 (3 507,10 103) and 6 972 (5 694,10 024) of the superficial temporal artery branches.The expression level of androgen receptor of aneurysm wall was 3 299 (1 375,4 895),it was higher than 1 130 (794,1 922) of the superficial temporal artery branches.There was significant difference between the two groups (all P<0.05).Conclusion The decreased expression levels of estrogen receptor-α,β and the increased expression level of androgen receptor in the cerebrovascular walls may promote the progress of intracranial aneurysms,however,the specific mechanism needs further study.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Guilu Erxianjiao (GLEXJ) in suppressing chemotherapy induced cell apoptosis in mice and to discuss its possible acting mechanism.

METHODSSeventy-two tumor-bearing Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, Group A, treated with normal saline; Group B treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX), Group C treated with Chinese herbal medicine, and Group D-F, the three combined treated group received CTX plus high, moderate and low dose GLEXJ. All mice were sacrificed after 9-day medication, their splenic tissues were taken for determining T-lymphocyte apoptosis with flow cytometer, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA and Caspase-3mRNA detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSAs compared with Group A, FITC+/PI- cell proportion of spleen T-lymphocyte cells and Caspase-3mRNA expression were higher, while bcl-2 mRNA expression was lower in Group B; as compared with Group B, the former two indexes were lower and the latter was higher in the three combined treated groups (all P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONGLEXJ could efficiently suppress the splenic T-lymphocyte apoptosis in tumor bearing mice undergoing chemotherapy, one of its mechanisms may be through up-regulating of bcl-2 mRNA expression and down-regulating of Caspase-3mRNA expression.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Spleen ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics, therapeutic methods and effects of blood blister-like aneurysms (BBA) of the supraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Methods: A total of 40 patients with BBAs of the ICA treated at Department of Neurosurgery of West China Hospital between January 2010 and January 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 14 males and 26 females with the mean age of 44.7 years (ranging from 25 to 64 years). There were 38 patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and 2 patients were found incidentally with unruptured aneurysms in regular examination. Surgical treatment was performed in 22 patients, including direct clipping, clipping over wrapping and trapping. Endovascular treatment with single or multiple stents and coiling was performed in 18 patients. Clinical outcomes were assessed with modified Rankin Scale. The patients were followed up with CT angiography. Results: Direct clipping of BBA was performed in 18 patients, clipping over wrapping in 3 patients and trapping of ICA in 1 patient. Intraoperative rupture occurred in 5 patients. Postoperative cerebral infarction developed in 6 cases, 4 patients died. Single stent-assisted coiling was performed in 8 cases, and multiple stents with coiling in 10 patients. Procedure-related hemorrhage occurred in 2 patients, postoperative massive cerebral infarction developed in 1 patient with stent-assisted coiling. The follow-up time was 26.8 months (ranging from 6 to 72 months), among the patients with surgery, good results (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) were achieved in 16 patients; one patient was score 3, and the other was 4. In endovascular group, 15 patients had good results and one with mRS 4. Follow-up angiography revealed recurrence of BBA in 2 patients treated with stent and coiling, which was retreated with coiling. No recurrence was found in surgical group. Conclusions BBA of the supraclinoid ICA is a specific and complicated intracranial aneurysm with high risk and complications no matter the treatment is surgical or endovascular, take proper operation methods could achieve satisfactory results.

ORF3 and partial ORF1 regions were amplified with RT-PCR f rom two patients (T1 and T11)infected with new genotype of hepatitis E Virus. Th e PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The results showed that G-C rich regi on in ORF3 was deleted when amplified with normal PCR reaction. However, PCR rea ction containing G-C melt solution can overcome this problem. The sequence anal ysis showed that T1 and T11 belong to a new genotype of HEV which differs from g enotype I,II and III reported.T1 and T11 have 79%～82%, 80%～81% and 83%～85% id entical to genotype I,II and III respectively.

Objective To investigate the effects of physical exercises on cardiac function and plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in hypertensive patients combined with diastolic cardiac dysfunction.MethodsA total of 66 essential hypertension patients who had abnormal left ventricular relaxation and normal systolic function were assigned to the intervention group ( n =33 ; doing physical exercises once a day,5 days a week) or control group (n =33 ).All the patients received standard treatment.At 6 months,body weight,blood pressure,heart rate,NT-proBNP,and echocardiography were measured.ResultsAt 6 months,body weight [ (68 ± 7 ) kg vs (72 ± 8 ) kg ],systolic blood pressure [ (135.4 ±5.1) mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) vs (141.9 ±5.2) mm Hg ],diastolic blood pressure [ (81.1 ±4.0) mm Hg vs (84.7 ±4.6) mm Hg],New York Heart Association class (1.4 ±0.3 vs 1.8 ±0.4),NT-proBNP level [ (526 ± 126 ) ng/L vs (741 ± 189 ) ng/L] were significantly decreased in the intervention group when compared with the control group ( all P ＜ 0.05 ) although left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (62.9 ±6.7 vs 59.0 ±5.6) and E/A ratio ( 1.1 ±0.3 vs 0.9 ±0.3) were significantly increased ( both P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionPhysical exercises could play a role in reduced blood pressure and body weight and improved cardiac function in hypertensive patients with diastolic cardiac dysfunction.

BACKGROUNDPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) is a kind of nuclear hormone receptor, which plays important roles in regulating metabolisms. Recently, PPAR-γ was found to express in tumor tissues and cells (including lung cancer), which could be activated by its ligands and affect the differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between PPAR-γ expression and clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer, and to discuss the effect of PPAR-γ activators on lung cancer growth and the mechanisms of apoptosis induction for lung cancer.

METHODSExpression of PPAR-γ was detected in 15 non-cancerous pulmonary tissues and 64 lung cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry, and the average OD values were investigated by image analysis. Expression of PPAR-γ was detected in lung cancer cell lines by RT-PCR and Western blot. After treated with PPAR-γ activators, apoptosis of cells was detected by TUNEL, and caspase-3 activity was detected by using caspase-3 activity detection kit.

RESULTSExpression of PPAR-γ in lung cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in non-cancerous pulmonary tissues. Expression of PPAR-γ was closely related to histological classification, cell differentiation and TNM stages of lung cancer. PPAR-γ could express in two lung cancer cell lines, in which caspase-3 activity was significantly increased and obvious apoptosis was induced after treated with PPAR-γ activators.

CONCLUSIONSPPAR-γ is closely associated with clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer. Activated PPAR-γ can increase caspase-3 activity to induce apoptosis of cells. PPAR-γ may be a new target for diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in the future.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the administration of far-lateral approach in lesions located anterior or anterolateral to brain stem and upper cervical spinal cord.

METHODSTwenty-three patients underwent far lateral approach, including 12 retrocondylar approach, 5 partial transcondylar approach, 3 transfacetal and partial transcondylar approach, 2 transtubercular approach and 1 complete transcondylar approach.

RESULTSTotal tumor removal was achieved in 15 patients, subtotal removal in 5 patients, 3 vertibral artery aneurysms were clipped successfully, 3 patients were given occipitalcervical fusion. There was no operative mortality. The most frequent complications were lower cranial nerve deficit, CSF leakage, injury to vertibral artery, and ischemia of brain stem, cerebellum or spinal cord. No patient presented clinical instability of the occipitocervical junction after surgery.

CONCLUSIONSThe far-lateral approach is an ideal approach to structures located ventral to cranial-cervicle junction. But some of the surgical steps are technically difficult and carry some degree of risk. The choice of approach depends on the pathological feature and degree of exposure required for effective surgical treatment. Bone removal should be quantified for individual lesion. The approach may be limited to less aggressive steps, while still achieving significant exposure and surgical space.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aneurysm ; surgery ; Basilar Artery ; surgery ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebral Artery ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate Chinese herbs with the effect on significantly improving the cognitive function and retention of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

METHODAD mouse models were established by injecting poly-beta-AP25-35 into the cerebral ventricle of mice. The curative effects of traditional Chinese herbs Dangguishaoyaosan, Chaihujialonggumulitang and two herbs (CHP I and CHP II) developed by the authors on improving the memory and cognitive function of AD mouse models were studied by the detection of behavioral and histochemical tests, with piracetam serving as control.

RESULTCHP II has profound curative effects on improving the memory and cognitive function of AD-like animal model.

CONCLUSIONThe present study indicates that it has a satisfactory prospect to seek new drugs from Chinese herbs to treat AD.

Acorus ; chemistry ; Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; psychology ; Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Retention (Psychology) ; drug effects