Objective To investigate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3?kinase∕protein kinase B∕glycogen synthase kinase?3β ( PI3K∕Akt∕GSK?3β) signaling pathway in hydrogen?induced inhibition of neuronal ap?optosis induced by focal cerebral ischemia?reperfusion ( I∕R) in rats. Methods One hundred and twenty
healthy adult male Sprague?Dawley rats, weighing 200-220 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=24 each) u?sing a random number table: sham operation group ( group S); cerebral I∕R group ( group I∕R); hydrogen group (group H2); LY294002 (specific PI3K inhibitor) group (group LY); LY294002+hydrogen group ( group LY+H2 ) . Focal cerebral I∕R was induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 1 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. In H2 and H2+LY groups, the animals inhaled 67% H2+33% O2 for 2 h starting from onset of reperfusion, and then inhaled H2 for 2 h every 6 h. In LY and LY+ H2 groups, LY294002 ( 10 mmol∕L) 10 μl was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle at 10 min before reperfusion. Neurologic defi?cit was evaluated and scored ( NDS) at 24 h of reperfusion. The rats were then sacrificed, and the brains were removed for measurement of the cerebral infarct size ( by TTC staining) and apoptosis in cortical neu?rons ( by TUNEL) and for determination of the expression of Akt in the ischemic cerebral cortex, phospho?rylated Akt ( p?Akt) , GSK?3β and phosphorylated GSK?3β ( p?GSK?3β) and Bcl?2 and Bax positive cell count in the ischemic cerebral cortex ( by immuno?histochemistry) . The apoptosis index ( AI) , p?Akt∕Akt ratio and p?GSK?3β∕GSK3?β ratio were calculated. Results Compared with group S, the NDS, cerebral infarct size, AI, p?Akt∕Akt ratio, p?GSK?3β∕GSK?3β ratio and Bax positive cell count were significantly increased, and the Bcl?2 positive cell count was significantly decreased in group I∕R ( P<0?05) . Compared with group I∕R, the NDS, cerebral infarct size, AI and Bax positive cell count were significantly de?creased, and the p?Akt∕Akt ratio, p?GSK?3β∕GSK?3β ratio and Bcl?2 positive cell count were significantly increased in group H2 ( P <0?05) , and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned a?bove in LY and LY+H2 groups ( P>0?05) . Compared with group H2 , the NDS, cerebral infarct size, AI and Bax positive cell count were significantly increased, and the p?Akt∕Akt ratio, p?GSK?3β∕GSK?3βratio and Bcl?2 positive cell count were significantly decreased in group LY+H2 ( P<0?05) . Conclusion The mechanism by which hydrogen inhibits focal cerebral I∕R?induced neuronal apoptosis is associated with the activation of PI3K∕Akt∕GSK?3β signaling pathway in rats.

Objective To investigate the effects of inhaling high concentration of hydrogen gas on the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS) related protein glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78),Caspase-12 and the neural cell apoptosis and related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax in the rats with focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion(I/R) injury.Methods Seventy-two healthy SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and then randomly divided into the control group(Ⅰ:without any treatment),sham operation group (Ⅱ),cerebral IRI group (Ⅲ) and hydrogen gas treatment group (Ⅳ),18 cases in each group.Focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) model was induced by using the suture-occluded method.The neurological deficits score (NDS) was assessed at 24 h after cerebral reperfusion in four groups.The cerebral infarction severity and size were detected by TTC staining and neuronal apoptosis of brain cortex were tested by TUNEL technique.The apoptosis index (AI) was calculated.Then the expressions of GRP78,Caspase-12,Bcl-2 and Bax were assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results As compared with the group Ⅰ and Ⅱ,NDS score,cerebral infarction size,AI and the expressions of GRP78,Caspase-12 and Bax in cerebral cortex in the group Ⅲl and Ⅳ were significantly increased,while the expression of Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex was markedly decreased(P＜0.05);compared with the group Ⅲ,NDS score,brain infarction size,AI and the expression of Caspase-12 and Bax in cerebral cortex in the group Ⅳ were markedly decreased,while the expressions of GRP78 and Bcl-2 were dramatically increased (P＜0.05).Conclusion Inhaling high concentration of hydrogen gas has a certain protective effect on cerebral IRI in rats through increasing endoplasmic reticulum GRP78 protein expression after IRI and inhibiting Caspase-12 activation,thus inhibiting ERS and promoting the repair function of endoplasmic reticulum.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the protein expression of calpain-2 and calcineurin (CaN) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patient with valvular heart disease (VHD).

METHODSA total of 40 patients who underwent valve replacement surgery in our hospital from March 2013 to March 2014, right atrial appendages were excised during operation and patients were divided into sinus rhythm (SR) group (n = 17) and AF group (n = 23). The protein expression of calpain-2 and the α-isoform of CaN catalytic subunit (CnA) in the right atrial appendages were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe protein levels of the full-length CnAa (60,000), the 45,000 fragment of CnAa without autoinhibitory domain, and calpain-2 were significantly upregulated in the AF group compared to the SR group (1.25 ± 0.51 vs. 0.76 ± 0.37, 1.08 ± 0.37 vs. 0.76 ± 0.25, and 0.82 ± 0.44 vs. 0.51 ± 0.19, respectively, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONActivated calpain-2-CaN signal pathway might be involved in the pathogenesis of AF.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of cinnamic aldehyde ( CA ) on hormone-induced osteo-clasts proliferation and bone resorption in vitro and its molecular mechanisms. Methods RAW264. 7 cells induced into osteoclast were treated with RANKL and M-CSF and then were divided into control group, dexa-methasone ( DEX ) group and different doses of CA (11. 6, 23. 2, 46. 4 μg·L-1 ) groups. OCs were ob-served after tartrate resistant acid phosphatase( TRAP) staining. The cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay at different time points. The expression levels of TRACP5 b in cell cultured supernatants were measured by ELISA. RT-PCR technique was applied to examine the transcriptional levels of RANK and NFATc1 . Re-sults In MTT assay, the proliferation of osteoclasts stimulated by dexamethasone was promoted seriously compared with negative control group ( P < 0. 05 ) . Meanwhile, DEX could strengthen the content of TRACP5 b and up-regulate the expressions of RANK and NFATc1 mRNA. After administration of CA, the proliferation was inhibited, while the enhanced expres-sion of TRAP5b was reversed,and the over-expressions of RANK and NFATc1 mRNA were obviously down-regulated in a time-and-dose-dependent manner ( P <0. 05 ) . Conclusion The results suggest that CA in-hibits proliferation and bone resorption of osteoclast in-duced by DEX, which may be mediated by down-regu-lation of RANK and NFATc1 mRNA.

Objective To investigate the effect of high concentration hydrogen gas on neurons in the rat hippocampus CA1 region during global cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury (GCIR) Methods Four-vessel occlusion was used to establish rat model with GCIR injury. One hundred and five healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(SH group, n = 15), model group(4-VO group, n = 45) and treatment group(4-VO+H2 group,n = 45). After 72 h and 9 d reperfusion, hippocampal CA1 region pyramidal neurons in every group were detected with Nissle staining , immunohistochemical neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN), specific protein antibody microglial cells (Iba1) staining and the relationship of position between neurons and microglia was observed through fluorescence double staining. We used Morris water maze to test the space orientation ability and the learning and memory ability in rats after 9 d reperfusion. Results Compared with those of 4-VO group,the neurons of hippocampus CA1 region were closer to normal in 72 h and 9 d in 4-VO+H2 group and neuron form and the number of neuron survival were increased significantly (P < 0.05);immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of neuron survival in 4-VO+H 2 group was obviously higher than that in 4-VO group (P < 0.05) and the number of microglia in 4-VO group was obviously higher than that in 4-VO+H2 group (P < 0.05). Water maze experiment showed that the swimming time in quadrant Ⅳ in 4-VO+H2 group was longer than that in 4-VO group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Inhalation of high concentration hydrogen gas has prominent protective effect on neurons of rat hippocampal CA1 region during reperfusion. The mechanism may be related with inhibiting the microglia excitation and activation during GCIR.

Objective:To investigate the role of dendritic cells(DC) in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion(URSA) and to study the effect and molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shou Tai Decoction ( STD ) on URSA treatment by regulating the function of DC.Methods:30 cases of normal pregnancy women and 30 cases of URSA patients were taken as control group and URSA group respectively.URSA patients were treated with Shou Tai Decoction.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were taken from both control group and URSA group before and after STD administration.The proportion of CD11c+HLA-DR+cells,CD11c+CD80+cells and CD11c+CD86+cells in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry.Moreover,the mRNA expression of HLA-DR,CD80,CD86 and Indoleamine2,3-dioxygenase( IDO) in venous blood were detected by RT-PCR assay.The protein expression of IDO was detected by Western blot.Furthermore, the cytokines, including IL-12p70 and IL-6, in the blood serum were measured by ELISA.Results:Compared with normal pregnancy women,the proportion of CD11c+HLA-DR+,CD11c+CD80+,CD11c+CD86+cells and the mRNA expression of HLA-DR,CD80,CD86 of URSA patients in peripheral blood were both increased significantly(P<0.05), while the mRNA and protein expression of IDO were decreased markedly(P<0.05).Additionally,the level of IL-12p70 and IL-6 in serum of URSA women were significantly increased ( P<0.01 ) .When compared with URSA patients before STD administration, the proportion of CD11c+HLA-DR+,CD11c+CD80+,CD11c+CD86+cells and the mRNA expression of HLA-DR,CD80,CD86 decreased significantly after STD administration ( P<0.05 ) , while the mRNA and protein expression of IDO increased markedly after STD administration(P<0.05).Meanwhile,compared with before STD administration,serum protein level of IL-12p70 and IL-6 of URSA patients decreased significantly after STD treatment ( P<0.01 ) .Conclusion: The changes of proportion and function of DC were involved in URSA.The regulatory effect of STD on DC proportion and function contribute to the treatment of URSA.

BACKGROUND: Compared with the traditional organic fluorescent dyes, quantum dots present good biomarker characteristics. Especially, quantum dots for cell labeling and targeted bioimaging present unique optical properties.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biocompatibility of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with mononuclear macrophages.METHODS: The macrophages RAW264.7 were inoculated into 96-well plates containing 0, 50, 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots for 1 or 2 hours. Then, the fluorescent signal was detected by flow cytometry. After 0-24 hours of culture,the fluorescence signal intensity of the macrophages cultured with 50 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots was detected by flow cytometry. After 18 hours of culture, quantitative PCR was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in macrophages, and macrophage proliferation cell apoptosis were detected by MTT and flow cytometry,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The fluorescence signal intensity was positively correlated with the mass concentration of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, and the intensity of the fluorescent signal was increased with the labeling time. After labeling using 50 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, the fluorescence signal of macrophages increased continuously with time, and reached the peak at 18 hours. Compared with 0 mg/L quantum dot group, 50, 100mg/L quantum dot groups could significantly promote the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in macrophages (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).The level of tumor necrosis factor α in the 100 mg/L quantum dot group was higher than that in the 50 mg/L quantum dot group (P < 0.01). The expression of interleukin-1β showed no difference between 50 and 100 mg/L quantum dot groups.The cell proliferation in the 50 and 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dot groups was significantly higher than that in the 0 mg/L quantum dot group (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the former two groups. In addition, 50 and 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots had no significant effect on apoptosis of macrophages. To conclude, CdSe/ZnS quantum dots could activate macrophages and promote their proliferation and secretion of inflammatory factors, but did not affect their apoptosis.

Objective:To investigate the role of Th1/Th2 shift in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and to study the effect and molecular mechanism of Bushen Guchong decoction on URSA treatment by regulating Th 1/Th2 paradigm.Methods:30 cases of URSA patients were given Bushen Guchong decoction administration ; meanwhile,30 cases of normal pregnancy women were taken as control group.Th1/Th2 paradigm in peripheral blood monocytes of URSA patients before and after Bushen Guchong decoction administration was detected by flow cytometry.Moreover,the mRNA expression of the specific transcription factors for Th1 and Th2 subsets -T-bet and GATA-3 were detected by RT-PCR assay.Furthermore,the relationship between the Th1/Th2 paradigm and the uterine bleeding time after Bushen Guchong decoction administration was analyzed by Pearson correlation and re -gression tests.Results: Compared with normal pregnancy women , the proportion of Th1 subset of URSA patients was increased significantly (P<0.05),while the proportion of Th2 subset was decreased markedly (P<0.05).Additionally,the ration of Th1/Th2 subsets was increased in URSA women (P<0.05).After Bushen Guchong decoction treatment ,the proportion of Th1 subsets in URSA patients and T-bet mRNA expression were up-regulated significantly ( P<0.05 ) , whereas the Th2 proportion and GATA-3 mRNA expression were down-regulated obviously (P<0.05).Moreover,the ratio of Th1/Th2 was decreased significantly (P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the uterine bleeding time was positively related to both the proportion of Th 1 and the ratio of Th1/Th2, while negatively related to the proportion of Th 2 subsets.Conclusion:Th1/Th2 shift was involved in URSA.Bushen Guchong decoction up-regulated the transcription level of GATA-3 and down-regulated the transcription level of T-bet.Thereby, Bushen Guchong decoction exerted the curative effect on URSA by revising Th 1/Th2 shift.

Objective: To explore the effects of checklist for nursing handover in emergency department. Methods: A total of 48 emergency department nurses were recruited by convenient sampling method. We implemented nursing bedside handover checklist four months, the quality of the nursing handover and nurses′ mastery of the patients′ condition and the patients′ satisfaction were compared before and after the implementation. Results: After four-month intervention, the score of the nursing handover quality increased from 60.39±3.22 to 67.73±3.09, the difference was statistically significant (t=-14.377, P<0.01). The score of the nurses′ mastery of the patients′ condition increased from 23.89±2.34 to 27.08±1.82, and there was significant difference (t=-7.287, P<0.01). Patients′ satisfaction improved from 91.163% (111/121) to 96.67% (116/120), the difference was statistically significant (χ²=10.66, P<0.05). Conclusions Implementation of nursing bedside-handover checklist in emergency department can reduce individual cognitive defects, decrease the information missing of the nursing handover,improve the quality of nursing work and ensure the safety of patients.

Objective To explore the protective effect of in-taking high concentration hydrogen gas on neurons and dendritic spines in hippocampus CA1 region of rats after globe cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and its mechanism.Methods Four-vessel occlusion (4VO) was used to establish the models of global cerebral I/R injury in rats.One hundred and twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups using a random number table:sham-operated group (inhaled 67％ N2 and 67％ O2,n=40),model group (inhaled 67％ N2 and 67％ O2 during reperfusion,n=40),and treatment group (inhaled 67％ H2 and 67％ O2 during reperfusion,n=40).After 72 h,5 and 9 d reperfusion,neuron-specific nuclear (NeuN) protein expression in the pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal CA1 region was detected with immumohistochemical staining and the positive cells were counted.And the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum were tested with colorimetry.Water maze test was used to measure the spatial orientation and memory function and Golgi staining to detect the number of dendritic spines in neurons 9 d after reperfusion.Results (1) Immunohistochemical staining of NeuN results showed that as compared with those in the model group,the neurons ofhippocampus CA1 region were significantly closer to normal with relatively intact structure,and the number of positive neurons was significantly increased in the treatment group 72 h,5 d,and 9 d after reperfusion (P＜0.05).With the reperfusion time being prolonged,the number of NeuN stained positive neurons at different time points of reperfusion in model group was gradually decreased (P＜0.05),and the numeric of the NeuN stained positive neurons at different time points of reperfusion in treatment group was slightly declined without significant difference (P＞0.05).(2) The serum SOD activity in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the model group and sham-operated group (P＜0.05),while the MDA content in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in model group 72 h,5 d,and 9 d after reperfusion (P＜0.05).And with the reperfusion time being prolonged,the SOD activity at different time points of reperfusion showed no significant difference among the difference groups (P＞0.05).But the MDA content at different time points ofreperfusion between model group and treatment group was significantly different (P＜0.05);with the reperfusion time being prolonged,the MDA content was gradually decreased in both groups.(3) Nine d after reperfusion,water maze test found that the incubation period of treatment group was significantly shorter than that of model group (P＜0.05);the IV quadrant swimming time of space exploration in the treatment group was significantly longer than that in the model group (P＜0.05).(4) Golgi staining showed that the complexity of the neuronal dendrites branch and the number of dendritic spines of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of treatment group were increased than those in the model group;high-power oil microscopy indicated that the density of dendritic spines in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P＜0.05).Conclusion In-taking of high concentrations hydrogen gas during reperfusion can definitely protect neurons in hippocampal CA1 region after globe cerebral I/R injury,and improve learning and memory function,whose mechanism may be related to hydrogen protecting the structure and function of neurons and dendritic spines,and inhibiting oxidative stress to reduce oxidative damage.