Objective To observe the influence of environment stimulation on learning and memory ability and hippocampal pathology of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).Methods The models of HIBD SD rats were established by the method of Rice, and were divided randomly into three groups: enriched environment stimulation group (EE), impoverished environment stimulation group (IE), and standard environment stimulation group (SE). The sham-operation rats were served as control group. Different environment stimulation was administrated to the rats since day 1 after HIBD.On the day 28,Morris water maze was used to evaluate the learning and memory ability. HE staining and nissl stain were employed to observe the pathological change and the number of neurons in hippocampus of rats.Results The learning and memory ability of EE group was significantly higher than that of SE group (P0.05), and the ability of SE group was higher than that of IE group ( P0.05). The number of SE group was lower than that of Sham group (P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qingchang Suppository (QCS, a Chinese herbal preparation) on intestinal permeability in rat ulcerative colitis (UC) model induced by trinitrobenzene sulforic acid, and to explore the mechanism of QCS for healing the ulceration.

METHODSLabelled by FITC-dextran 4 000 (FD-4), the permeability of colonic membrane in UC rat and effect of QCS on it were observed in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTSIn vivo study showed that the colonic FD-4 permeability of UC rat was increased significantly, being 6-fold of normal in 30 min. After treated with QCS of high/moderate dosage, it significantly attenuated to different degrees (P < 0.05). FD-4 permeability coefficient (Papp) determination in vitro showed that Papp in model rats increased to (5.001 +/- 1.316) x10(-8) cm/s in 120 min, being 2.5-fold of control; and which could be decreased by high/moderate dose QCS effectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQCS could suppress the high colonic permeability in UC model rats, improve the barrier function of intestinal membrane and promote the healing of ulceration. Qingchang Suppository; ulcerative colitis; intestinal permeability in UC model rats, improve the barrier function of intestinal membrane and promote the healing of ulceration.

Animals ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; drug effects ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; physiology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Suppositories ; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid

PurposeTo evaluate multislice spiral CT (MSCT) in diagnosing abdominal anaphylactoid purpura (AAP), and to explore its role in treatment follow-up.Materials and Methods Clinical and MSCT data of 13 patients with confirmed AAP were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent abdominal CT scan and thin layer reconstruction. Upper endoscopy was performed in 8 patients prior to treatment. MSCT was performed in 10 patients and endoscopy in 4 patients posttreatment, then clinical and CT features were compared to pretreatment findings.Results In pretreatment CT scan, single segment bowel involvement was found in 2 cases, multisegmental bowel involvement in 10 cases, and no positive finding in 1 patient. The duodenum and jejunum were involved in 8 patients and stomach in 5 patients. The diseased bowel wall showed swelling and thickening with decreased attenuation and homogeneous luminal narrowing with equivocal lining and double loop sign. Infiltration was found in 10 patients, small ascites in 3 patients. Patients were misdiagnosed as acute pancreatitis in 2 cases, acute cholecystitis, small bowel obstruction and peritonitis in 1 case respectively. Of 13 patients, five patients were cured, and the other 8 patients were improved. The clinical symptoms including rash, abdominal pain, occult blood, leukocytosis, vomiting, melena, urine occult blood were improved (χ2=5.59-18.33,P<0.05 orP<0.01). Post treatment CT showed significant improvement of bowel edema and infiltration (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in change of ascites (P>0.05).Conclusion MSCT findings of AAP are nonspecific. CT diagnosis is difficult before skin rash. Combining CT characteristics of multisegmental bowel edema and clinical manifestations is helpful. CT examination can effectively follow up treatment response.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gender differences in perinatal high-salt diet programming of blood pressure and salt sensitivity in offspring Sprague-Dawley rats and explore the mechanisms.

METHODSThe rats were fed with high-salt diet (8% NaCl) or normal salt diet (1% NaCl) during the perinatal period. Body weight changes were monitored, and blood pressure and heart rate were measured by non-invasive tail-cuff methods in both male and female offspring rats. The components of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in both the serum and brain tissue, and hormones related with stress reaction were detected using radioimmunology methods.

RESULTSPerinatal high-salt diet did not affect adolescent blood pressure in both genders, but significantly increased salt sensitivity in male offspring rats. Perinatal high-salt diet also increased serum angiotensin II (ANG II) while decreased corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol in male offsprings, as compared with the normal salt diet group. No similar results were found in the female offspring rats.

CONCLUSIONThere is a significant gender difference in perinatal high-salt diet programming of offspring blood pressure salt sensitivity, and the mechanisms may involve the disturbance of the RAAS function and stress reaction.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sex Factors ; Sodium, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for SNP genotyping of multi-genes by allele-specific oligonucleotide probe ligation mediated by a thermostable ligase, and to explore the genetic polymorphisms of drug-metabolizing enzymes in breast cancer patients and their association with chemotherapeutic responses.

METHODS10 SNP loci of enzyme genes related to chemotherapeutic drugs such as taxanes, anthracyclines and cyclophosphamide were selected, and were genotyped for blood samples from 126 breast cancer patients by the established method. Their correlations with therapeutic responses were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTSThe lower detection limit of genomic DNA by this developed method was 6.25 ng. The fluorescent peak locations of ligation products on ABI PRISM 377 DNA sequencer were accurate and consistent with prospective sizes in bases (Bias range 0.08 - 0.69 bp, x(-) = 0.31 bp, s = 0.18 bp). Same genotyping results were obtained for repeat tests of 8 random samples, which were further confirmed by sequencing analysis. The 10 SNP loci were polymorphic of different frequency in the breast cancer patients. The combinations with GSTP1 genotypes and GSTM1 genotypes were related to anthracycline-based chemotherapy efficacy (P = 0.037), and the low GSTs activity group (GSTP1 variant allele + GSTM1 null) showed the best effects (85.7%). GSTM1 genotypes and their combinations with GSTP1 and/or CYP3A5*3 genotypes were related to taxane-based therapy efficacy (P < 0.05 for all), and both the low GSTs activity group and the drug slow-metabolising group (low GSTs activity group + CYP3A5*3 wild allele) showed better effects (100%).

CONCLUSIONThe established method is reliable and applicable in multiplex SNPs genotyping of multi-genes. SNPs combination may have a better clinical application value for prediction of chemotherapeutic responses.

Adult ; Aged ; Anthracyclines ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Retrospective Studies ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of primary testicular yolk sac tumor (YST).

METHODSWe studied 8 cases of primary testicular YST by microscopy and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe 8 cases of primary testicular YST, including 2 consultation cases, were confirmed from 1998 to 2013, accounting for 10.7% (8/75) of all the testicular germ cell tumors diagnosed in our hospital. The patients ranged in age from 7 to 43 years, 23.9 years on average. The main clinical manifestation of the patients was painless unilateral testis swelling. Microscopically, reticular tissues, schiller-duvaI (S-D) bodies, and eosin-stain transparent bodies were seen in the tumors. One of the cases was confirmed to be simple YST, while the other 7 mixed YST. AFP was a characteristic immunophenotype marker of the tumors.

CONCLUSIONPrimary testicular YST is a rare malignancyr with poor prognosis. Its diagnosis depends on preoperative AFP test and postoperative pathology. Comprehensive treatment, including orchiectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, can prolong the survival of the patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Orchiectomy ; Rare Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

Extraction, purification and determination methods of glycyrrhizic acid in Licorice are surveyed in this paper. The extracting efficiency of dilute ethanol solvent for glycyrrhizic acid is higher than water extraction, and ammonia appended to ethanol solution can increase the effect of extraction. Ultrasound method, microwave-assisted method and supercritical CO2 fluid extraction are more effective than the conventional techniques, due to the short extraction time, low consumption of solution and energy. The modem analytical methods such as TLCs, HPLC and CE can determine the content of glycyrrhizic acid rapidly and exactly.
Ammonia ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Ethanol ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Microwaves ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Ultrasonics

Objective To evaluate the CT features and implications of the pericardial sinuses and recesses effusion by combining the sectional cadavers and 16 mttlti-slice CT(MSCT)reformation.Methods The anatomy and communication of the pericardial sinuses and recesses on the axial,coronal and saggital sectional cadavers(respectively 1 case),and the morphologic features on MSCT reformatted images in 104 patients were observed,The detection rate of effusion was analyzed.Results The sectional cadavers and CT images showed that the pericardia] sinuses and recesses were formed by the reflections of the pericardium on the root of the great vessels.The detection rate of the sinuses and recesses was lower in small effusion than in moderate and large effusion(P

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of human swine streptococcosis occurred in some areas of Jiangsu Province from late summer to autumn since 1998.Methods The epidemiologic and clinical features of 42 cases were collected and analyzed.The bio- chemical features of strains isolated from patient's blood or cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were tested,and the homogeneity were compared among 15 Streptococcus suisⅡ.Results All patients had acute infection toxe- mic symptoms such as chill,fever,headache and malaise etc.Toxic shock syndrome or meningitis syndrome were the major clinical manifestations.Forty two cases of human swine streptococosis were classified into 3 types:the rates of general,shock and meningitis type were 7.1% (3/42),38.1% (16/42) and 54.7%(23/42),respectively.Ten patients were died of shock type,32 were cured.Strain isolated from patients was identified as Streptococcus suisⅡby API-Strep,the biochemical reactional code was 0641473,and appraised result was 99.9%.There was highly homogeneity in the strains of Streptococcus suisⅡisolated from patients and sick pigs identified by genomic fingerprinting.Com- bined therapy of large doses of penicillin G and ceftriaxone was effective in these patients.Conclusions Human swine streptococosis is zoonosis caused by Streptococcus suisⅡand the clinical manifesta- tions are variable.In the cases of shock type,the onset of disease is stormy and the fatality rate is very high.While the prognosis of general and meningitis type is good and the majority of the cases are cured by effective antibiotic therapy.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of the ethanol extract isolated from Weiqi Decoction (WQD-EE) on AGS cell proliferation and apoptosis.

METHODSBy using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detectors (HPLC-UV) assay and MTT method, the main compounds in WQD-EE and cell viability were detected. And cell cycle distributions were determined by flow cytometry with propidium iodine (PI) staining while apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V/PI double staining. Finally, caspase-3 activities were measured by colorimetric method and protein expression was determined by Western blotting.

RESULTSHPLC analysis showed that naringin (35.92 μg/mg), nobiletin (21.98 μg/mg), neohesperidin (17.98 μg/mg) and tangeretin (0.756 μg/mg) may be the main compounds in WQD-EE. WQD-EE not only inhibited AGS and MCF 7 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, but also blocked cell cycle progression at G2/M stage as well as inducing cell apoptosis at concentrations triggering significant inhibition of proliferation and cell cycle arrest in AGS cells. While at 0.5 mg/mL, WQD-EE significantly increased caspase-3 activity by 2.75 and 7.47 times at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Moreover, WQD-EE in one hand reduced protein expressions of p53 and cyclin B1, and in other hand enhanced protein expressions of cytochrome c and Bax. Protein levels of Bcl-2, Fas L and Fas were not significantly affected by WQD-EE.

CONCLUSIONSWQD-EE inhibits AGS cell proliferation through G2/M arrest due to down-regulation of cyclin B1 protein expression, and promotes apoptosis by caspase-3 and mitochondria-dependent pathways, but not by p53-dependent pathway.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Humans ; M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification