Objective To determine the genetic diversity of germplasm resource in cultivated and wild Cistanche deserticola. Methods Fifty-eight samples from three populations of cultivated and wild C. deserticola were analyzed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA markers, and the gene- tic diversity was evaluated by PopGen32. Results The average percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) of cultivated C. deserticola is 79.16%. The PPL of wild population is 89.53%. Average Neis gene diversity index (He) from four populations was 0.193 8, Shannons genetic diversity index (I) was 0.300 4, and genetic differentiation index (Gst) was 0.097 9. Conclusion The diversities of cultivated and wild C. deserticola are both higher and theres no differentiation between them. It shows that genetic diversity of inner-species is higher, which is not the reason for endangerment. Therefore, wild nursery and artificial cultivating are the best measures for the conservation and sustainable utilization in C.deserticola.

Objective To study the influence of valproate sodium(VPA)on neuroprotective effects of topiramate(TPM).Methods For-ty-eight 3-4 week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 12 rats each.Group A was negative control rats,and groups B-D were rat model of epilepsy,induced by pentylenetetrazol(PTZ).The rats in 2 experimental groups were adminstered intragastrically with TPM 40 mg/kg and TPM 40 mg/kg+ VPA 200 mg/kg;2 control groups(groups A and B)with the equal amount of distilled water administration.After 2-month administration,changes of the behavior,levels of serum neuron-specific enolase(NSE)and the pathological in hippocampus were examined.Results The level of NSE in the group of TPM were significantly lower than that in masculine group,but no difference between masculine group and the TPM plus VPA.The pathological change in hippocampus were abatement in the group of TPM.Conclusion TPM plus high dosage of VPA will impaire the neuroprotective effects of TPM.

Objective To explore the effects of the neonatal handling and enriched environmental stimulation on brain damage in neonatal rats with hypoglycemia.Methods Thirty-six neonatal rats were randomly divided into the normal group,hypoglycemia intervention group and the hypoglycemia non-intervention group.Those rats in hypoglycemia intervention and hypoglycemia non-intervention groups were weaned for 12 h,then the blood sugar of both groups were monitored.After neonatal rat models with hyperglycemia were prepared,the rats in hypoglycemia intervention group received the neonatal handling for 14 d and then were kept in an enriched stimulation environment for another 14 d.Rats in normal group and hypoglycemia non-intervention group were fed in the routine way.Neonatal handling was done when the rats were born for 24 h.The rat was rubbed with the brush from head to tail softly.Rats in the hypoglycemia non-intervention group was not handled.The enriched environment stimulation was used after 15 d when the rats were born.Rats in the hypoglycemia intervention group was put into the enriched environment for 1 h per day until 28 d when the rats were born,and rats in the hypoglycemia non-intervention group was put into the normal environment.Then the body weight was scaled at 0 d,7 d,14 d,21 d and 28 d when the rats were born.Space learning and memory were tested with Morris earter at their third month's age.After that,changes of pathology was observed in their occipital cortex.Results The weight increase,the ability of space learning,memory and the number of survival pyramid neurons of occipital cortex in normal group were better than those in hypoglycemia intervention and hypoglycemia non-intervention group(Pa

Objective To explore protective effect of topiramate (TPM) and folic acid (FA) on mitochondrial damage in hippocampal CA3 neurons during pentylenetetrazol- induced kindling in immature rats.Methods Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) - induced kindling in rats was used to establish rat models of epilepsy.Forty-eight 3-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: two therapy groups with TPM 40 mg/(kg?d) or TPM 40 mg/(kg?d) and FA 5 mg/(kg?d) administration, 2 control groups (positive control group and negative control group) with the equal amount of distilled water administration. The seizure behaviors of rats were evaluated. Two months later, the rats were killed and the brain sections were made. The mitochondrial ultrastructures of neurons in hippocampal CA3 region were observed with transmission electron microscope.Results In the positive control group, the frequency of seizure was (48.4 ? 3.7)times, while in TPM group (44.3 ? 3.1)times and in TPM and FA group(40.8 ? 3 .7)times.The differences were significant among three groups (Pa

2 years),seizure frequency(≥1 time/month),persistence time(≥60 s),gene-ralized seizure were all associated with the incidence of the loss of neuron in ammonias.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent influencital factors for the loss of neuron in ammonias in children with temporal epilepsy included seizure frequency,persis-tence time and tape of seizure. Conclusions The loss of neuron in ammonias though 1H-MRS can be detected.The results of multivariate analysis verify that the development of the loss of neuron in ammonias may be associated with many factors including age of onset,course of di-sease,seizure frequency,persistence time and generalized seizure.In order to lower the incidence of the loss of neuron,early intervening treatment is very important.

Cold Temperature ; Dinoprost ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Dust ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; urine ; Thromboxane B2 ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Weather

Objective: To prepare a nanoprobe, anti-human melanoma ganglioside single chain variable fragment (GD/ScFvMEL) antibody conjugated with CdTe quantum dot, and to observe its ability to specifically bind human malignant melanoma cells. Methods: The GD/ScFvMEL gene was cloned into pET32a (+), and the plasmid was then transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) for GD/ScFvMEL protein antibody expression. The expressed GD/ScFvMEL antibody was purified by denaturing method and further refolded by modified dialysis method. The purified GD/ScFvMEL antibody was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The GD/ScFvMEL-QDs nanoprobe was prepared by conjugating GD/ScFvMEL antibody with CdTe quantum dot, and its specificity was observed by incubating with MGC-803 cells and melanoma A375 cells. Results: The recombinant pET32a-GD/ScFvMEL was constructed and confirmed by PCR, restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing. The proportion of expressed GD/ScFvMEL antibody in total bacteria proteins was about 40% as detected by SDS-PAGE. The purified- and refolded-GD/ScFvMEL antibody was effectively conjugated with CdTe quantum dot, and the resulting GD/ScFvMEL-QDs nanoprobe was successfully prepared. The GD/ScFvMEL-QDs nanoprobe could specifically bind melanoma A375 cells, but could not bind stomach cancer MGC-803 cells. Conclusion: We have successfully prepared an anti-human melanoma ganglioside single-chain antibody-CdTe quantum dot nanoprobe, which can specifically bind melanoma cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate pathological changes in the epileptogenic foci of children with intractable epilepsy and their clinical significance.

METHODSThirty children with intractable epilepsy were included in the study. The epileptogenic foci were surgically resected and pathological changes in the obtained specimens were observed under a light microscope (LM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSUnder the LM, cortical dysplasia was found in 14 cases (47%), hippocampal sclerosis in 11 cases (37%), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor in 1 case (3%), ganglioglioma in 1 case (3%), and encephalomalacia in 3 cases (10%). The TEM observation revealed pathological changes in the ultrastructure of the hippocampus and extra-hippocampal cortex, such as changes in the number of synapses and synaptic structure, decrease in neurons and karyopyknosis, swelling and degeneration of astrocytes, and changes in mitochondrial structures.

CONCLUSIONSPathological changes in the hippocampus and extra-hippocampal cortex, especially synaptic remodeling, may be the morphological basis for spontaneous recurrent seizures in children with intractable epilepsy. The pathological changes and epileptiform activity are related to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission.

Adolescent ; Brain ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Cerebral Cortex ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Infant ; Intelligence ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission

OBJECTIVETopiramate (TPM) has an evident efficacy in the treatment of childhood epilepsy for multiple pharmacologic properties. However it was reported that it may cause adverse effects such as liver failure and hepatitis, which arouses the attention of the medical field. This study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxicity of low-dosage, high-dosage TPM or TPM along with valproate sodium (VPA) in aspects of biochemistry indexes, oxidative stress indexes and liver pathomorphology in young rats.

METHODSSixty 3-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups of 12 rats (Groups A-E). The rats in the experimental groups (Groups A-C) were administered intragastrically with TPM 40 mg/(kg.d), 80 mg/(kg.d) and TPM 40 mg/(kg.d) plus VPA 300 mg/(kg.d) respectively. The rats in the negative control group (Group D) were administered with the same volume of distilled water. The ones in the positive control group (Group E) were treated by injection of 10% carbon tetrachloride dissolved in olive oil subcutaneously at a dose of 5 mL/kg twice a week. After 3-month administration, the changes of body weight and liver pathomorphology were observed; biochemical markers in serum and indexes of oxidative stress in liver homogenate associated with hepatotoxicity were examined.

RESULTSThe body weights of rats in the experimental groups were significantly lower than that of rats in the negative control group. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and the content of malondialdehyde, and the activity of superoxide dismutase in liver tissues did not change significantly in the experimental groups. The contents of glutathion in the high dosage of TPM group (29.85 +/- 1.62 mg/g prot) or in the TPM plus VPA group (29.63 +/- 4.47 mg/g prot) were significantly reduced compared with those of the negative control group (33.09 +/- 1.69 mg/g prot) and that of the low dosage of TPM group (32.43 +/- 2.11 mg/g prot) (both P < 0.05). In the histopathological examination, extensive steatosis and diffuse punctate necrosis of hepatocytes distributed in the portal area were found by microscopy in the positive control group. There were granular degeneration of some hepatocytes near the central veins of hepatic lobules in the low dosage of TPM group and punctate necrosis of some hepatocytes in the high dosage of TPM group. In the TPM plus VPA group, histological examination showed granular degeneration and fatty degeneration of partial liver cells and punctate necrosis of some hepatocytes.

CONCLUSIONSLong-term use of TPM can decrease antioxidant capacity of organism, resulting in slight pathological changes of liver tissues. High dosage of TPM or TPM along with VPA administration enhances the risk of the side effects.

Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; toxicity ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fructose ; analogs & derivatives ; toxicity ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Valproic Acid ; toxicity