Objective To explore the effect of curculigoside on the behavior and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis of Alzheimer 's rats.Methods Sixty healthy old male SD rats were given intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg ·kg-1 of D-galactose once daily for 6 weeks and hippocampal injection of 4 mmol ·L-1 of β-like starch protein 25-35 (Aβ25-35) on week 7 to induce Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, the rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: Experimental-L/-M/-H group (oral administration of 24, 48, 72 mg·kg-1 of curculigoside during modeling) , model group (oral administration of equal amount of 0. 9％Na Cl during the modeling) . A total of 15 healthy old male SD rats were set as control group and given oral administration of equal amount of0. 9％ NaCl. The learning, memory function of rats in each group were evaluated by Morris water maze, the neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus were measured by hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and Td T-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. Results The crossing platform number of rats in control group, model group and experimental-L/-M/-H groups were (15. 12 ± 1. 78) times, (5. 03 ± 1. 17) times, (7. 45 ± 1. 36) times, (9. 79 ± 1. 21) times and (12. 33 ± 1. 09) times, respectively, and there were statistically significant differences between the model group and the experimental-L/-M/-H group (all P < 0. 05) . The apoptosis ratio of hippocampus neurons were (8. 42 ± 2. 13) ％, (69. 78 ± 9. 97) ％, (38. 14 ± 8. 62) ％, (24. 77 ± 5. 43) ％ and (10. 02 ± 1. 46) ％, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the model group and the experimental-L/-M/-H group (all P < 0. 01) . Conclusion Curculigoside can alleviate the damage of hippocampal neurons and inhibit the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the surgical results of one-stage total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) and reconstruction via a single posterior approach for thoracic symptomatic vertebral hemangioma associated with spinal cord dysfunction and evaluate its curative effect.

METHODSA total of 9 patients treated with one-stage TES (7 cases) and total vertebrectomy (2 cases) by posterior approach from March 2006 to January 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The cases included 2 males and 7 females with a median age of 33.6 years (range 14 to 77 years), and with 1 case of Grade A, 3 cases of Grade B, 3 cases of Grade C, 2 cases of Grade D according to Frankel grade system. All patients suffered from moderate to severe pain and neurological deficit with an average symptom duration of 14.4 months (range 3 - 24 months) MRI revealed severe spinal cord compression. The spinal reconstruction was obtained by titanium mesh filled with autograft and posterior internal fixation with rod-screw system.

RESULTSThe operation time was 210 minutes on average (180 - 270 minutes) and the average blood loss was 1800 ml (1000 - 5000 ml). The follow-up period lasted from 18 months to 5 years. All cases with preoperative pain relieved after operation. The visual analogue scale pain scores decreased to 1.1 from 8.3 at 3 months after surgery. No disruption of dural mater, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, iatrogenic spinal cord injury and major vessel damage occurred. Up to now, there was no local recurrence in all cases. Significant neurological function improvement was achieved in all patients with one to three grades in Frankel grade system. Fusion of the autograft was well achieved and no internal fixation failure in all patients.

CONCLUSIONSOne-stage TES and spine reconstruction by a single posterior approach is feasible, safe and effective to this disease. It is favourable in decreasing the hemangioma recurrence and improvement of the neurological function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraplegia ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Young Adult

This study aims to analyze the molecular epidemiological characteristics of HIV-1 strains prevailing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing, China. The pol gene fragments from 250 newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected MSM individuals during 2006-2010 in Beijing were amplified by RT-nested PCR, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed. HIV-1 pol gene from 189 individuals were amplified and analyzed; 81 (42. 9%), 3 (1. 6%), 2 (1.0%), 88 (46. 6%), and 15 (7.9%) individuals were infected with HIV-1 subtypes B, B', C, CRF01_AE, and CRF07_BC, respectively. The subtypes B and CRF01_AE could both be grouped into two clusters, and CRFO7_BC strains shared high homology and were presumed to originate from a common ancestor. The HIV-1 circulating in MSM in Beijing had a lower genetic diversity than in heterosexuals. The HIV-1 epidemic (2006-2010) in MSM in Beijing was actually a rapid spread of HIV-1 CRF01 AE and B, or rather native strains of the two viruses.
Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Epidemics ; Genetic Variation ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Homosexuality, Male ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effect of breathing exercise based on core strength training on nonspecific low back pain (NLBP). Methods From January to June, 2017, 60 patients with NLBP were randomly divided into control group (n=30) and ob-servation group (n=30). The control group accepted core strength training, and the observation group accepted breathing exercise in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswes-try Disability Index (ODI) before and after treatment, and their efficiency was compared. Results The scores of VAS decreased in both groups after treatment (t>4.173, P<0.001), and the scores of ODI de-creased in the observation group (t=3.875, P<0.01). The scores of both VAS and ODI were less in the observa-tion group than in the control group (t>2.595, P<0.05). The efficiency was better in the observation group than in the control group (χ2=3.874, P<0.05). Conclusion Breathing exercise based on core strength training can further improve function and relieve pain in patients with NLBP.

The study was aimed to investigate the effect of deriving hematopoietic cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by the erythropoietin gene-modified conditioned medium of human mesenchymal cells. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) steadily expressing EPO were established by lentiviral system. The expression of exogenous EPO was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. After suspension culture, hESCs developed into embryonic bodies (EBs). Then the EB cells were cultured in conditional medium. The hESCs-derived hematopoietic cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence, CFU assay and RT-PCR. The results indicated that the exogenous EPO successfully expressed in the EPO transfected MSCs (EPO/MSCs). The supernatant from EPO/MSCs increased CD34(+) cell population and the expression of globin, and enhanced colony forming unit incidence. These effects were obviously higher than that of control. It is concluded that the EPO gene-modified conditioned medium of human mesenchymal cells can induce the hESCs to differentiate into hematopoietic cells.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; pharmacology ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Erythropoietin ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic System ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Organisms, Genetically Modified

Objective To survey avian influenza A viruses (AlVs) in the environment and explore the reasons for the surge in human H7N9 cases.Methods A total of 1,045 samples were collected from routine surveillance on poultry-related environments and 307 samples from human H7N9 cases-exposed environments in Henan from 2016 to 2017.The nucleic acids of influenza A (Flu A),H5,H7,and H9 subtypes were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results A total of 27 H7N9 cases were confirmed in Henan from 2016 to 2017,24 had a history of live poultry exposure,and 15 had H7N9 virus detected in the related live poultry markets (LPMs).About 96％ (264/275) Flu A positive-environmental samples were from LPMs.H9 was the main AIV subtype (10.05％) from routine surveillance sites with only 1 H7-positive sample,whereas 21.17％ samples were H7-positive in H7N9 cases-exposed environments.Samples from H7N9 cases-exposed LPMs (47.56％)had much higher AIVs positive rates than those from routine surveillance sites (12.34％).The H7+H9 combination of mixed infection was 78.18％ (43/55) of H7-positive samples and 41.34％ (43/104) of H9-positive samples.Conclusion The contamination status of AIVs in poultry-related environments is closely associated with the incidence of human infection caused by AlVs.Therefore,systematic surveillance of AlVs in LPMs in China is essential for the detection of novel reassortant viruses and their potential for interspecies transmission.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of URIT-12 hemoglobin analyzer for fast measurement of hemoglobin concentration.

METHODSHemoglobin concentration was detected in 100 random blood samples using URIT-12 hemoglobin analyzer and Coulter LH-750 hematology analyzer.

RESULTSThe two analyzers showed good correlation of the results (r=0.994) without significant difference between them (P>0.05). The linear range of URIT-12 hemoglobin analyzer was 46-240 g/L, and in the repeated measurements (20 times) of 3 batches of blood samples with low, moderate and high hemoglobin concentrations, the within-batch coefficient of variation of URIT-12 hemoglobin analyzer, from low to high concentrations, were 2.13%, 2.17%, and 2.33%, respectively. In the measurement of 4 batches of high-fat, high-bilirubin, high-globin and high-white-blood-cell blood samples, the interference rate of the former 3 samples were all less than 4% by the two devices, but that of the fourth sample was 10% by URIT-12 hemoglobin analyzer and 7% by Coulter LH-750 analyzer.

CONCLUSIONThe results detected by URIT-12 hemoglobin analyzer have high accuracy and precision and is easy to operate, fast-testing and portable.

Hemoglobinometry ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Specimen Handling

To explore the genetic characteristics of viral quasispecies in HIV-1 CRF07_BC infections among intravenous drug users (IDU), the gp120 fragments of HIV-1 env gene were amplified from plasma samples collected from 6 CRF07_BC infected persons using single genome amplification and sequencing (SGA/ SGS) method, and 11 to 28 sequences were obtained from these samples, respectively, A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was reconstructed to describe the genetic characteristics of viral quasispecies. The Simplot, segments' phylogenetic trees and diversity plots based on average pairwise distance (APD) were used to identify the recombination events between quasispecies. The SGA sequences derived from single specimen formed a large monophyletic cluster in the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree and showed the complex topologic structures of viral quasispecies. Of the 6 CRF07_BC infected patients, only one possessed the high genetic homogeneity, whereas the other five individuals showed high heterogeneity, with two to four subclusters inside the monophyletic cluster for each specimen. In addition, the recombinant events were identified among viral quasispecies from 3 cases. The results show SGA technique and phylogenetic analyses are useful tool to investigate the intrahost CRF07_BC gp120 complex quasispecies variation and high genetic diversity.
Adult ; Drug Users ; Female ; HIV Infections ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; virology ; Young Adult

Aged ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; complications ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; Lymphoma ; complications ; Male

AIM:To observe the effect of thyroxine on the expression of T-type calcium channels Cav3. 1, Cav3. 2 and Cav3. 3 in rat myocardium, and to explore the possible biological mechanism between the changes of the ex-pression of T-type calcium channels and the arrhythmia in hyperthyroid heart disease. METHODS:Healthy SD rats (n=20) were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10) and hyperthyroid heart disease group (n=10). The animal model was established by intraperitoneal injection of levothyroxine for 35 d. The contents of T3 and T4 in serum, the heart-to-body weight ratio, the diameter of cardiac myocytes and electrocardiograph were measured to evaluate hyperthyroid heart disease. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of T-type calcium channels in the myocardium were measured by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS:After intraperitoneal injection of levothyroxine for 35 d, compared with the normal control group, the serum contents of T3 and T4, the heart-to-body weight ratio and the diameter of cardiac myocytes were significantly increased in hyperthyroid heart disease group (P<0.05), and arrhythmia occurred in hyperthyroid heart disease group. By immunohistochemistry and Western blot, the protein expression of Cav3. 1 in-creased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Cav3.2 decreased significantly (P<0.01). However, no change of the Cav3. 3 protein was observed. The results of RT-PCR were the same as immunohistochemistry and Western blot. CONCLUSION:Thyroxine promotes the expression of Cav3. 1 in the myocardium but inhibits the expression of Cav3. 2 at mRNA and protein levels, which might be involved in arrhythmia in hyperthyroid heart disease.