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

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture at "cervical three points" combined with cake-separated moxibustion and routine acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on cervical hyperosteogeny.

METHODSSingle blind, randomized and controlled methods were used and 91 cases were divided into an observation group of 46 cases and a control group of 45 cases. The observation group was treated by acupuncture at "cervical three points" combined with cake-separated moxibustion, i.e. acupuncture at Chonggu (EX), Dazhui (GV 14), Taodao (GV 13) and moxibustion at pain points with cake made by Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and Radix Paeoniae Alba; the control group was treated with acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2). Changes of sourness and pain of the neck, the shoulder and back, pressure pain and cervical activity scores were used for assessment of therapeutic effects.

RESULTSThe markedly cured rate of 76.1% in the observation group was better than 42.2% in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of all the items were significantly improved in the two groups (all P<0.05), and the observation group in sourness and pain of the neck, the shoulder and back, and cervical activity were better than the control group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of acupuncture at "cervical three points" combined with cake-separated moxibustion on cervical hyperosteogeny is superior to routine acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate methods of promoting revascularization of tracheal transplantation to increase the length of graft.

METHODSTransfer recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1/myc-His(-)C-bFGF and pCD(2)-VEGF(121) into rabbit cervical muscle by direct injection of plasmid following electric pulses in vivo. Use histochemistry and immunohistochemistry analysis of muscles injected to show the transferred gene expression and the biological effect. Based on the former experiment, conduct gene therapy to the rabbit tracheal autotransplantation wrapped by cervical combined muscles by injecting plasmid DNA directly, combined with gene sutures following electric pulses. Observe and analyze the effect on trachea viability.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid, pcDNA3.1/myc-His(-)C-bFGF and pCD(2)-VEGF(121) was transferred into muscles flap in vivo successfully. The active protein bFGF and VEGF(121) were expressed at high levels. Blood vessels increased significantly in the muscles, and blood circulation was improved by local angiogenesis. Ten rings tracheal autograft wrapped by transgenic muscles integrating with gene structure revascularized completely, and the rabbit survived for a long period of time. There was significant difference between gene therapy group and control group (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between bFGF gene therapy group and VEGF(121) gene therapy group. Almost rabbits in the control group died of graft necrosis.

CONCLUSIONTracheal grafts revascularization can be established early by the cervical combined muscles flap wrapping associated with single gene therapy. The length of the tracheal can be increased simultaneously.

Animals ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Genetic Therapy ; Male ; Neck Muscles ; Rabbits ; Surgical Flaps ; Trachea ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of 293 cells to detect suspected carcinogens and provide experimental evidence by using in vitro cell transformation assay and tumorigenicity study.

METHODSThe transformation systems of cells cultured in vitro have been adopted to clarify the tumor promotive activity of Microcystin LR (MC-LR). The malignant transformation of 293 cells induced by MC-LR is tested by several methods including clone forming in soft agarose, serum requirement assay and tumor forming in mice to define the promotive activity of 293 cells.

RESULTS293 cell acted like tumor cells after induced by MC-LR: serum dependence decreased, anchorage independence growth in soft agarose and formed cell clones, malignant tumors appeared in SCID mice.

CONCLUSION293 cells were easy to culture and sensitive to environmental carcinogens so that can be used in detection of suspicious carcinogens.

Animals ; Carcinogenicity Tests ; methods ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Cell Line ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Microcystins ; toxicity

Objective To investigate the effect of different pre-enrichment methods on flow cytometry cell sorting of monocyte.Methods Peripheral blood of 15 volunteers were pre-enriched by three methods:erythrocyte lysis,hydroxyethyl starch sedimentation,density gradient centrifugation using Ficoll.Cell viability was detected by Trypan blue staining.The amount and the proportion of monocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results The cell viability of the samples prepared by the 3 methods was above 95 ％.There was no significant difference between the absolute count and grouping of monocytes in erythrocytes lysis and without pre-enrichment samples.The cell subgroup was not obvious by hydroxyethyl starch sedimentation.The number of monocytes obtained by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation was significantly lower than that without pre-enrichment samples.Conclusion Erythrocyte lysis was a high efficient method for monocytes flow cytometry cell sor ting.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic advantage of the ratio of ligamentum flavum(LF) thickness to oblique canal diameter(TODR)measured on CT images in patients with lumbar canal stenosis. Methods Seventy-one patients underwent CT and MRI examinations respectively,and they were divided into two groups,the positive group and negative group,according to the presence or absence of dural sac notch caused by the LF on bilateral parasagittal MR images.Meanwhile,50 volunteers without any symptom in the lumbar region or legs were examined by CT.TODRs were measured at the L3—S1 levels of the inferior margin of the intervertebral disc on transverse CT images,respectively.The results were further analyzed with the positive findings on MR images,clinical symptoms and physical examination,so as to find out the statistical correlation between them.Results LF thickness was(3.01?0.72)mm and TODR was 0.19?0.04 in the negative group,(3.94?0.84)mm and 0.28+0.06 in the positive group,and(3.16? 0.85)mm and 0.19?0.04 in the control group.There was significant difference between positive group and negative group or control group for LF thickness(P0.24, the sensitivity,specificity and positive predictive value were 74.8%,89.6% and 73.6% respectively. Positive correlation existed between LF thickness or TODR and clinical symptom(r=0.72,0.86,P

OBJECTIVETo study the current situation and the cause of schistosomiasis resurgence in order to provide reference for formulation of control strategy.

METHODSData in 1999 - 2003 and baseline data in some areas were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSResurgence was seen in 6.15% (16/260) of the areas and one farm where transmission of schistosomiasis had been interrupted and 33.33% (21/64) of the areas already under control. Snails appeared to have been rebounded only in six counties (farm) while in thirty two counties that rebound was seen in both snails and disease prevalence. Tendency of increase in the total numbers of patients, acute patients and cattle with schistosomiasis, areas with snails were seen from 1999 to 2003.

CONCLUSIONSEnvironmental, ecological, societal factors such as flood, acequia, lack of expenditure and lack of incentives at work etc. contributed to the resurgence of epidemics in those areas that criteria had been reached. Surveillance and supervision on the sources of infection and snail diffusion, especially in the areas where the transmission of schistosomiasis had already been under control.

Animals ; Cattle ; China ; epidemiology ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Disasters ; Disease Reservoirs ; Ecology ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Snails ; parasitology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the change of tendency on schistosomiasis epidemics in China in the last 5 years.

METHODSData on schistosomiasis epidemics in the history and particularly in the last 5 years were collected. Tendency and the re-emerging status after 1998 were analyzed.

RESULTSData in 2003 showed that in 42%, 40% and 53% of the provinces, counties and townships with epidemics, the transmission of the disease has been interrupted or controlled. The number of estimated patients of schistosomiasis and areas with snails were also reduced by 92.74% and 73.56%, in 2003. The annual estimated number of chronic cases was around 800 000 and 31 321.5 hectare of snail infested areas were newly identified in recent 5 years. Among 20 national villages under longitudinal surveillance, 30%, 70% and 35% of the villages were presented a tendency of increase in the rates of human infection, bovine infection and Oncomelania snails infection, respectively. A total of 38 counties from 7 provinces have re-emerged in schistosomiasis transmission after those counties having reached criteria of transmission under control or interrupted. In 6 non-endemic counties, snails were presented, and 16 marshlands in Xan river were found with appearance of acute cases of schistosomiasis. More snail infested areas were found in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian. Both snail infested areas and newly infected cases were occurred in urban areas along the Yangtze River.

CONCLUSIONThe tendency of increase was presented in focal areas along the Yangtze River, due to changes of environmental, ecological, societal and economic status, as well as on the forces of control.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; Humans ; Praziquantel ; therapeutic use ; Prevalence ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Snails ; parasitology

OBJECTIVECastrated rats exhibit significant shrinkage of the ventral prostate and apoptosis of prostatic cells, which can be attributed to the reduced blood supply to the prostate. But what causes the blood decrease in the prostate remains unknown. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism of the changes in the microcirculation of the ventral prostate of rats following castration.

METHODSWe randomized 24 male adult rats into 6 groups of equal number, and collected their ventral prostates at 0, 1/2, 1, 2, 3 and 7 d, respectively, after castration. Then we observed the changes of the microvessels under the transmission electron microscope, detected the apoptosis of endothelial cells by TUNEL, and determined the expressions of VEGF, endostatin, angiostatin and angiopoietin-2 by Western blot.

RESULTSThe castrated rats showed dramatic changes in the microvessels of the ventral prostate, obvious apoptosis of the endothelial cells, down-regulated expression of VEGF, and up-regulated expressions of endostatin and angiostatin, while angiopoietin-2 remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONThe decreased level of VEGF and increased levels of endostatin and angiostatin might underlie the mechanism of the changes in the microcirculation of the ventral prostate of rats following castration.

Angiopoietin-2 ; metabolism ; Angiostatins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Endostatins ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; blood supply ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEA mouse model of orthotopic bladder cancer simulating its human counterpart is of great importance in preclinical evaluation of new treatment modalities such as immunotxin therapy. The aim of the present study is to establish a novel nude mouse model with xenografted human bladder cancer.

METHODSSingle cell suspension of an established human bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell line BIU-87 was instilled into nude mouse bladders which were pretreated with mild acid washing. The tumor growth in mouse bladder was assessed weekly by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At intervals following implantation and MRI tumor detection, the animals were sacrificed for necropsy, histological examination and immunocytochemical studies.

RESULTSThe overall tumor establishment was 92.9% (52/56 mice) at 7 - 36 days, while in the subgroup of animals sacrificed at 12 - 13 days, 40 out of 42 animals (95.2%) developed TCC, the majority of which was superficial. The tumor stages were assessed by gross and histopathology. Histological examination confirmed the presence of grade II - III TCC. Immunocytochemistry confirmed that the tumor model maintained the biological and immunological features of BIU-87 cells. The changes seen on MRI images well correlated with the extent of tumor invasion identified by histology. Carcinoma in situ could be detected histologically at 7 - 9 days post-inoculation and progressed into papillary or invasive tumors thereafter.

CONCLUSIONThe orthotopic BIU-87 TCC model in nude mice is highly reproducible and is ideal for preclinical studies on experimental intravesical therapies.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; analysis ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; immunology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology