Objective To study a possible correlation between the duration of reproductive period ( from puberty to menopause) and the prognosis of ischemic stroke. Methods Female in-patients with acute ischemic stroke confirmed by CT/MRI in the Neurology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 09/03/2006 to 08/30/2008 were enrolled in this study. The probable risk factors of prognosis were analyzed and recovery was assessed by modified Rankin score (MRS) at 6 months followup. Multivariate Logistic regression was used for statistic analysis. Results 371 female patients were enrolled. The average age was (66. 2 ± 10. 0) years; average menopause age was (48. 5 ± 3.9 ) years and average duration of reproductive period was (33.3 ± 4. 3) years. There is a negative correlation between the duration and MRS (OR =0. 285, 95% CI: 0. 095-0. 850, P =0.024). There is no correlation between menopause age and prognosis of stroke. Conclusions Duration of reproductive period is a predictor for prognosis of ischemic stroke. Patients with longer reproductive period have better prognosis.

Objective To establish a new traceability pathway of point-of-care testing ( POCT ) of HBA1c by using commutable quality controls, in order to improve the accuracy of POCT HBA1c and the harmonization of testing results with those of central laboratories.Methods The study was about measurement traceability. Human frozen whole blood samples with IFCC assigned values were used to calibrate the G8 HBA1c Variant in June, 2013.According to the CLSI EP9-A2-IR guideline, 50 patient samples and 2-level commercial QC samples were then analyzed by G8 system and DCA Ventage system.The best fitting curves for fresh patient samples and the commercial QC materials were established separately. The patient results tested on the DCA Ventage were modified and verified.Paired t-test and Passing Bablok linear regression were used.Results The linear equation of DCA/G8 before calibration was Y=0.899 5X+0.389 1(R2 =0.991 0).Calibration by fresh patient samples reduced the mean bias of DCA/G8 from -0.40%±0.34%to 0.00%±0.29%.Calibration by QCs reduced the mean bias to 0.15%±0.29%.The linear correlation established by quality controls was stable, which made the bias was lower between DCA and G8 in the consequent six runs.Conclusions The accuracy and the traceability of POC testing could be realized by using commutable QC materials traceable to IFCC assigned values.Through this method, POC testing can become more comparable to the results of clinical laboratory HBA1c instruments.

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in the levels of autophagy-related proteins, Atg1, Atg5, and Beclin1, in organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) caused by tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), and to investigate the molecular pathogenic mechanism of OPIDN.

METHODSThirty adult Roman hens were randomly and equally divided into control group and 1, 5, 10, and 21 d intoxication groups. Each hen in the intoxication group was administered TOCP by gavage at a single dose of 750 mg/kg, while each hen in the control group was administered the same volume of corn oil. The hens were killed at the corresponding time points, and their tibial nerves and spinal cords were collected. The levels of Atg1, Atg5, and Beclin1 in the tibial nerves and spinal cords were measured by immunoblotting.

RESULTSCompared with those in the control group, the levels of Atg1 in tibial nerves decreased by 29.8%, 64.4%, 43.5%, and 19.8% at 1, 5, 10, and 21 d, respectively, after intoxication ((P < 0.05); the levels of Atg5 in tibial nerves decreased by 36.8%, 49.6%, 51.2%, and 31.5% at 1, 5, 10, and 21 d, respectively, after intoxication (P < 0.05); the levels of Beclin1 in tibial nerves decreased by 68.5%, 66.3%, and 32.2% at 1, 5, and 10 d, respectively, after intoxication (P < 0.05). Compared with those in the control group, the levels of Atg1 in spinal cords decreased by 23.5%, 48.7%, and 20% at 1, 5, and 10 d, respectively, after intoxication (P < 0.05); the levels of Atg5 in spinal cords decreased by 32.7%, 51.5%, 47.3%, and 39.6% at 1, 5, 10, and 21 d, respectively, after intoxication (P < 0.05); the levels of Beclin1 in spinal cords decreased by 28.9%, 50.2%, 43.2%, and 28.3% at 1, 5, 10, and 21 d, respectively, after intoxication (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe intoxication of TOCP is associated with the significant changes in the levels of autophagy-related proteins in the nervous tissues of hens, which might be involved in the pathogenesis of OPIDN.

Animals ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Chickens ; Female ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Neurofilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Tibial Nerve ; metabolism ; Tritolyl Phosphates ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 2,5-hexanedione (HD) on degradation of low-molecular-weight neurofilaments (NF-L) in nervous tissue of rats, and to explore the molecular mechanism of n-hexane neuropathy.

METHODSFifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one-week poisoning group (n = 10), two-week poisoning group (n = 10), three-week poisoning group (n = 10), four-week poisoning group (n = 10), and control group (n = 10). In the four poisoning groups, a rat model of n-hexane neuropathy was established by intraperitoneal injection of HD (400 mg/kg/d). The change in the sciatic nerve ultrastructure of each rat was observed under an electron microscope. The progression of HD-induced peripheral neuropathy was evaluated using a gait scoring system. The degradation rates of NF-L in the sciatic nerve and spinal cord of each rat were measured by Western Blotting.

RESULTSThe rats showed decrease in muscle strength and abnormal gait after two weeks of HD poisoning and mild or moderate paralysis after four weeks of HD poisoning. The sciatic nerve showed degenerative change, according to electron microscope observation. Compared with the control group, the two-week poisoning group, three-week poisoning group, and four-week poisoning group had the NF-L degradation rates decreased by 25.8%, 70.4%, and 69.7%, respectively, in the supernatant fraction of sciatic nerve, and by 14.7%, 64.6%, and 67.3%, respectively, in the sediment fraction of sciatic nerve, all showing a significant difference (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the one-week poisoning group had the NF-L degradation rate decreased by 33.87% in the supernatant fraction of spinal cord, the four-week poisoning group had the NF-L degradation rate increased by 16.2% in the supernatant fraction of spinal cord, and the one-week poisoning group and two-week poisoning group had the NF-L degradation rates decreased by 46.3% and 13.0% in the sediment fraction of spinal cord, all showing a significant difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHD poisoning significantly inhibits NF-L degradation in the sciatic nerve, which may be associated with NF degeneration and accumulation in the axons of patients with n-hexane neuropathy.

Animals ; Hexanes ; poisoning ; Hexanones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nerve Tissue ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Neurofilament Proteins ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the reversal effect of MDR1 and MDR3 gene silencing on resistance of A2780/taxol cells to paclitaxel.Methods shRNA plasmid vector specifically targeting MDR1 and MDR3 genes was transfected into A2780/taxol cells.The early stage cell apoptosis and the effect of intracellular rhodamine 123(Rh123)accumulation were detected by flow cytometry(FCM).The late stage cell apoptosis rate was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate(dUTP)nick end labeling(TUNEL).The 50% inhibition concentration(IC_(50))of paclitaxel on A2780/taxol cells was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay.MDR1 and MDR3 mRNA were assessed by RT-PCR,and caspase-3 protein was detected by western blot.Results After treatment with MDR1 and MDR3 shRNA plasmid vector,early apoptosis rate of A2780/taxol cells was (20.21?0.56)% and(10.87?1.24)%,respectively.MDR1 and MDR3 shRNA could increase cellular Rh123 accumulation(116.6?8.1 and 98.4?3.8,respectively).The late stage apoptosis rates detected by TUNEL displayed the same tendency as FCM results did.The IC_(50)for paclitaxel of A2780/taxol cells was decreased significantly.The mRNA levels of MDR1 and MDR3 in A2780/taxol cells were decreased by (73.3?0.8)% and(51.6?0.4)% of control,and the reduction of MDR1 and MDR3 mRNA was in a time-dependent manner.The expression of caspase-3 protein of MDR1 and MDR3 shRNA vector transfected group in A2780/taxol cells was significantly increased [(80.8?2.6)% and(72.0?4.7)%, respectively ].Conclusion MDR1 and MDR3 gene silencing could recover sensitivity of A2780/taxol cells to paclitaxel and induce cell apoptosis,thus reversing cell resistance to paclitaxel.

BACKGROUND: Many factors affect the outcome of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for obsolete spinal cord injury, such as the time of injury, segment and sex. The best time to do olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation is unknown up to now. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of time windows of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation on the recovery of motion and sensation function in spinal cord injury patients. DESIGN: Self-control observation. SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, Taian Disabled Soldier's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 135 patients with spinal cord injury were enrolled at the Department of Spinal Cord Surgery, Taian Disabled Soldier's Hospital of Shandong Province from June 2004 to June 2007, including 121 males and 14 females, aged 7-59 years, averagely 36 years. Duration of spinal cord injury included 0-6 months in 21 cases, 7 months-2 years in 71 cases and over 2 years in 43 cases. These patients or their guardians signed an informed consent of the cell transplantation. The experimental procedures were accorded with the rules of Ministry of Health of China (No. 91-006) and approved by the Taian Disabled Soldier's Hospital of Shandong Province. METHODS: ①Olfactory bulbs of aborted fetus were digested into single olfactory ensheathing cells, and then cultured for 7-15 days. Parturients signed the informed consent. This study was approved by the Hospital Ethical Committee. ②After general anesthesia, olfactory ensheathing cell suspension was implanted into the corresponding region by the multi-targeted injection with a microscope. According to the injury condition, targets generally located in upper or lower injured region and left or right normal spinal cord. The amount of targets depends on the size of the injured region. About 1 000 000 units of cells were injected into each target, about 50 μL of suspension, at 2×1010 L-1, 2-5 targets. ③American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale was used to assess the motion and sensation function in spinal cord injury patients before transplantation and 2-8 weeks after transplantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale. RESULTS: 135 spinal cord injury patients were involved in the result analysis. Motion and sensation function was improved in spinal cord injury patients at different time windows compared with that before transplantation (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in scores on motion and sensation function and the increased degree of the score at different time windows after transplantation (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation can promote the recovery of nerve function in spinal cord injury patients, without the difference in time windows.

Objective To assess the influence of active movement of the affected upper limb on the prognosis for patients after acute cerebral infarction.Methods From 2007 to 2008, 171 consecutive patients with acute cerebral infarction were registered prospectively in this study. Active movement of the hemiplegic upper limb was assessed on the 14th day after stroke onset. Ability in the activities of daily living was assessed using the Barthel index one year later.Results Finger flexion and extension on the 14th day after stroke onset correlated positively with Barthel index scores 1 year later. NIHSS scores at admission, the time interval from onset to admission and stroke history were significant predictors of the prognosis 1 year later.Conclusion Assessing the active movement of the hemiplegic upper limb on the 14th day after stroke has good predictive power for the prognosis of acute cerebral infarction patients.

Though all the marketed drugs of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors are structurally different, their inherent correlation is worthy of further investigation. Herein we rapidly discovered a novel DPP-IV inhibitor 8g (IC50 = 4.9 nmol.L-1) which exhibits as good activity and selectivity as the market drugs through scaffold hopping and drug splicing strategies based on alogliptin and linagliptin. This study demonstrated that the employment of classic medicinal chemistry strategy to the marketed drugs with specific target is an efficient approach to discover novel bioactive molecules.
Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drug Design ; Drug Discovery ; methods ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Linagliptin ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Piperidines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Uracil ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry

In this study, we use pot experiment to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulator on plant morphology and biomass allocation of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Different concentrations of uniconazole were supplied to S. miltioohiza by means of foliar spray. Height, breadth and stem diameter were measured dynamically, the biomass of leaf, stem, flower and fruit, root biomass and biomass ratio were also examined at the harvest time. Owing to the treatment, plant morphology showed significant changes, the height had been greatly reduced and the breadth decreased largely. Meanwhile, the biomass allocation changed too. The biomass ratio of leaf and stem had been notably reduced while the biomass ratio of root had been increased remarkably. It appears that foliar application of uniconazole during vigorous growth period in S. miltioohiza has dramatic effect on dwarfing plant and improving resistant to lodging. This measure could also be applied to condensed cultivation of S. miltioohiza to increase production.
Biomass ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Triazoles ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of polydatin on the growth of TGF-β₁induced humanalveolar epithelium A549 cells and the mechanism of polydatin for inhibiting the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

METHODSA549 cells in vitro cultured were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the blank group, the control group, the low dose polydatin group, the middle dose polydatin group, the high dose polydatin group. Common culture fluid was added in A549 cells of the blank group. Five ng/mLTGF-β₁contained culture fluid was added in A549 cells of the control group. 50, 100, and 150 μmol/mL of polydatin plus 5 ng/mL TGF-β₁contained culture fluid was added in A549 cells of low, middle, and high dosepolydatin groups, respectively. Morphological changes were observed and recorded at different time points. The optimal concentration of polydatin was determined by MTT method. Protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad epithelial cell marker) and Vimentin (mesenchymal cell marker) were detected by Western blot and Real-time PCR.

RESULTSUnder inverted phase contrast microscope, A549 cells turned from previous pebble shape to fusiform shape after intervened by polydatin and TGF-β1. The intercellular space was enlargedand the intercellular connection became loose. These phenomena were more obviously seen in the control group. A549 cells were more satiated in low, middle, and high dose polydatin groups than in the control group. The EMT inhibition was most obviously seen in the middle dose polydatin group at 48 h. Protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad showed an overall descending tendency after intervened by polydatin and TGF-β1 (P < 0.05). But compared with the control group, protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad were down-regulated in a lesser amplitude in each intervened group. Besides, the tendency was more obviously seen at 48 h than at 24 h. Protein and mRNA expressions of Vimentin showed an overall up-regulating tendency. But compared with the control group, protein and mRNA expressions of Vimentin were down-regulated in a lesser amplitude in each intervened group. Besides, the tendency was more obviously seen at 48 h than at 24 h (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Polydatin could inhibit TGF-β1 induced EMT process of A549 cells time- and dose-dependently. It also played roles in inhibiting pulmonary fibrosis.

Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Vimentin ; metabolism