Alzheimer's disease(AD),the most common form of dementia,it is lack of effective cure or preventive treatment.Dementias in the elder are an increasing medical,social and economic problems and current treatments are only mildly effective.Recently,amyloid-beta protein(A?) has become a major therapeutic target.A? vaccine treatment can improve cognition in the patients with AD,but adverse events,such as meningencephalitis were observed in clinical study.The passive A? immunotherapy in humans is effective with possible safety.However,patients need to be monitored carefully.

The study was using the orthogonal test and making the extraction rates of icariin, ferulic acid, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, baohuoside I and ligustilide determinated by HPLC multiwavelength switch, gradient elution and multi-index comprehensive weighted scoring method (weight coefficient was 0.47: 0.16: 0.07: 0.07: 0.08: 0.06: 0.09) as evaluation index, combine with SPSS 16.0 software to optimizing the best extraction. It was Yinpian soak 1 h, 12 times more than the volumn of 50% ethanol solution, by heating reflux extraction for 60 min. The compliance test indicates that the optimized compatibility extraction technology is stable and practical, and it has provided an experimental basis for compound preparation technology research of Epimedium brevicornu and Ligusticum chuanxiong.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Ligusticum ; chemistry

Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of pituitary adenylate cyclase- activating polypeptide(PACAP)on the functional and morphological outcome in a mice model of Parkinson' s disease(PD)rendered by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP).Methods Male mice were treated with PACAP 0.02, 0.20 or 2.00 ?g by iv bolus for 7 days after MPTP was administered, and were compared with the saline-treated mice.The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the alterations of PD biomarker including tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), dopamine transporter(DAT)and vesicular monoamine transporter2(VAMT2).In addition, monoamine neurotransmitters in the striatum of mice were measured by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results TH immunohistochemistry indicated that the number of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra was increased in all PACAP-treated mice(PACAP(0.02 ?g/d)group was 93.33?4.87, F=85.85,P

This paper introduces the current development and challenges of vision prosthesis.
Prosthesis Design ; Visual Prosthesis

BACKGROUNDObstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with obesity, particularly abdominal obesity common in centrally obese males. Previous studies have demonstrated that intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is increased in morbid obesity, and tracheal traction forces may influence pharyngeal airway collapsibility. This study aimed to investigate that whether IAP plays a role in the mechanism of upper airway (UA) collapsibility via IAP-related caudal tracheal traction.

METHODSAn abdominal wall lifting (AWL) system and graded CO2pneumoperitoneum pressure was applied to four supine, anesthetized Guizhou miniature pigs and its effects on tracheal displacement (TD) and airflow dynamics of UA were studied. Individual run data in 3 min obtained before and after AWL and obtained before and after graded pneumoperitoneum pressure were analyzed. Differences between baseline and AWL/graded pneumoperitoneum pressure data of each pig were examined using a Student's t-test or analysis of variance.

RESULTSApplication of AWL resulted in decreased IAP and significant caudal TD. The average displacement amplitude was 0.44 mm (P < 0.001). There were three subjects showed increased tidal volume (TV) (P < 0.01) and peak inspiratory airflow (P < 0.01); however, the change of flow limitation inspiratory UA resistance (Rua) was not significant. Experimental increased IAP by pneumoperitoneum resulted in significant cranial TD. The average displacement amplitude was 1.07 mm (P < 0.001) when IAP was 25 cmH2O compared to baseline. There were three subjects showed reduced Rua while the TV increased (P < 0.01). There was one subject had decreased TV and elevated Rua (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSDecreased IAP significantly increased caudal TD, and elevated IAP significantly increased cranial TD. However, the mechanism of UA collapsibility appears primarily mediated by changes in lung volume rather than tracheal traction effect. TV plays an independent role in the mechanism of UA collapsibility.

Airway Resistance ; physiology ; Animals ; Female ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Obesity, Morbid ; physiopathology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; Swine ; Tidal Volume ; physiology ; Trachea ; physiology

Abstract?AIM: To investigate mechanism of bradykinin ( BK) on inflammations of retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE) cells.?METHODS: ARPE -19 cells were cultured in vitro, stimulated by 100nM BK for 24h. Cell morphology changes were observed by microscope, and BK receptor localization was detected through cell immunofluorescence. Changes of Ca2+in BK and BR antagonist stimuli were detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy.The expressions of COX-1, COX-2, eNOS and iNOS protein in control group and BK group were detected by Western Blot.?RESULTS: After the stimulation of BK, there was no significant changes of ARPE-19 cells in morphology.Kinin B1 receptors ( B1R ) and B2 receptors ( B2R ) could be detected in ARPE-19 cells.Compared with control group, Ca2+concentrations significantly increased in BK group; in B1R antagonist group and B2R antagonist group Ca2+concentrations increased less than BK group; B1R and B2R antagonist group showed no obvious changes in Ca2+concentrations.Compared with control group, COX-2 and iNOS protein concentrations were significantly increased in BK group (P<0.001).?CONCLUSION:BK induces the increasing expression of COX-2 and iNOS in the cultured ARPE cells through binding with either B1R or B2R.

Abstract: Objective　To develop a real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) method for qualitative and quantitative Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) analysis. Methods Based on the systematic analysis of the genomic sequences of Chikungunya and its related arboviruses, the specific nucleic acid sequences for Chikungunya virus were screened and identified, and then the primers and TaqMan probe were designed. Meanwhile, the human GAPDH gene was used as an internal reference. The reaction system for qRT-PCR was systematically optimized by L9(34) orthogonal design, and a rapid detection method for Chikungunya by qRT-PCR based on TaqMan probe methods was established. The sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and coverage of the established method were analyzed in detail. The standard curve was made, and the absolute quantitative method was established using the cloned nucleic acid fragments as positive samples. Results　A real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR assay was developed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Chikungunya virus. The reaction system included Chikungunya virus and reference internal gene specific primers and probe, RT/Taq enzyme mixture, reaction buffer, and negative and positive reference. The established method obtained positive results with the ROSS strain of ECSA subtype, LR2006 strain of IOL branch, 181/25 strain of Asian type and Dongguan 2010 epidemic strains of Chikungunya virus, but there was no cross-reaction with other 18 arboviruses belonging to Flaviviruses, Alphaviruses and Bunyavirus. The minimum detection limit of the established method was 5.80 copies/mL, and a linear relationship was observed between the amount of input plasmid DNA and fluorescence signal value over a range of 5.80×102 copies/mL to 5.80×1010 copies/mL, and the correlation coefficient was 0.999 5. The qRT-PCR amplification efficiency was 91%, and the intra-assay variations and inter-assay variations were 0.01-0.07 and 0.03-0.11, respectively. Conclusions　The TaqMan qRT-PCR method developed in this study can qualitatively and quantitatively detect Chikungunya virus rapidly with specificity and sensitivity, providing a technical method for the prevention and control of this viral disease.

To investigate the expression and significance of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and XIAP-associated factor 1 (XAF1) in acute leukemia, the expression of XIAP, XAF1, Smac, and HtrA2 mRNA in the bone marrow aspirates from 87 newly diagnosed AL patients, 23 patients in remission, 6 patients in relapse, and 17 normal controls were detected by means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and their relationship with clinical therapeutic efficiency was analyzed. The results showed that the expression level of XIAP mRNA in newly diagnosed AL patients (0.990 +/- 0.337) was significantly higher than that in normal controls (0.395 +/- 0.148) (P < 0.01); the positive rate and expression level of XAF1 mRNA in newly diagnosed AL patients (56.32%, 0.246 +/- 0.267) were significantly lower than that in normal controls (100%, 0.964 +/- 0.387) (P < 0.01). In 69 out of 87 newly diagnosed AL patients, efficacy remained evaluable. AL patients with high level of XIAP achieved a lower complete remission (CR) rate than patients with low level of XIAP (54.55% and 86.11%, respectively) (P < 0.01). XAF1 positive patients achieved a higher CR rate than XAF1 negative patients (86.84% and 51.61%, respectively) (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the overexpression of XIAP and negativity of XAF1 may be two adverse prognostic factors in AL patients.
Acute Disease ; High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 2 ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Serine Endopeptidases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

In order to investigate the relationship between the expression of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) gene and drug resistance in patients with acute leukemia (AL), semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of BCRP mRNA in AL patients and 15 normal subjects. Beta(2)-microglobin (beta(2)-MG) was used as positive reference. BCRP/beta(2)-MG ratio >or= 0.5 was defined as BCRP mRNA positive. The results showed that the positive percentage of BCRP gene expression in newly diagnosed group was 37.6%. The first complete remission rate was 79.3% and 31.6% in BCRP mRNA negative and BCRP mRNA positive patients respectively. The difference was significant (P = 0.001). The expression levels of BCRP mRNA in drug resistance group and drug sensitive group were 0.962 +/- 0.426 and 0.315 +/- 0.296 respectively (P = 0.0001). The expression level of BCRP mRNA in relapsed/refractory group was significantly higher than that in newly diagnosed group (P = 0.0025). The expression level of BCRP gene in normal individuals and long-term survival group was very low and correlated with FAB subtypes. It is concluded that high expression of BCRP mRNA leads to clinical drug resistance and is an unfavorable factor for prognosis of AL patients except acute promyelocytic leukemia.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 2 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis