Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Stromal Cells ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of Huperzine A, a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, against the hypoxic ischemic brain damage (HIBD) of the cognitive and morphology in the neonatal rats.

METHODSPostnatal 7 days old rats were given vehicle or Huperzine A (0.05 mg/kg or 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) following HIBD (unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia) or sham operation, and then tested the learning ability and memory in the Morris water maze (MWM) from 36 to 40 postnatal days. The performance in MWM (escape latency, probe time) were recorded to evaluate the learning and memory dysfunction. At the end of MWM trials, the rats were decapitated and their brains were histologically analyzed. The tissue loss in different brain regions including striatum, cortex, and hippocampus were analyzed by image analysis system. The CA(1) subfield neurons numbers were counted to evaluate the brain damage. The acetylcholinesterase histochemistry staining was used to determine the activity of acetylcholinesterase in different brain regions.

RESULTSCompared with sham-operated group, HIBD rats with the vehicle treatment displayed significant tissue losses in the hippocampus (including CA(1) neurons), cortex, and striatum, as well as severe spatial memory deficits (escape latency: 44 s vs 30 s, P < 0.05, probe time: 14 s vs 40 s, P < 0.01). Huperzine A treatment (0.1 mg/kg) resulted in significant protection against both HI-induced brain tissue losses and spatial memory impairments (mean escape latency: 34 s vs 44 s, P < 0.05, probe time: 35 s vs 14 s,P < 0.01). However, Huperzine A treatment (0.05 mg/kg) did not show any significant improvement of spatial memory impairments (mean escape latency: 45 s vs 44 s, P > 0.05, probe time: 17 s vs 14 s, P > 0.05), but moderate to severe brain tissue losses. There was a pronounced reduction of CA(1) neuron density in ipsilateral hemisphere of vehicle-treated group and 0.05 mg/kg Huperzine A group compared with contralateral hemisphere or ipsilateral hemisphere of sham-operated group and 0.1 mg/kg Huperzine A group (72 vs 232, P < 0.01, 72 vs 229, P < 0.01, respectively). There was a close linear correlation between the CA(1) neurons cell number and the mean escape latency for 5 d acquisition trials (r = 0.777, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe unilateral HI brain injury in a neonatal rat model was associated with cognitive deficits, and that Huperzine A treatment may be protective against both brain injury and spatial memory impairment. Huperzine A showed a therapeutic potential for the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) caused by the perinatal asphyxia.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Alkaloids ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cognition Disorders ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Corpus Striatum ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sesquiterpenes ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the status of depression in patients with advanced schistosomiasis and its influencing fac-tors,so as to provide the evidence for improving psychological interventions. Methods A total of 206 patients with advanced schistosomiasis were investigated with the self-designed general information questionnaire,the Self-Rating Depression Scale,and WHOQOL-BREF Form. Results Among the 206 cases,the incidence of depression was 69.4%,and depression was negatively related to the quality of life(P = 0.000). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the times of hospitalization(β=0.442,P=0.007)was a risk factor for depression,while the high education levels(β=-0.583,P=0.011)and the history of por-tal hypertension operation(β=-0.917,P=0.000)were the protective factors. Conclusion The incidence of depression in ad-vanced schistosomiasis patients is high,and it is influenced by various factors. Therefore,we should take corresponding interven-tions to reduce its occurrence.

Contracture and spasticity of ankle joints were major sources of disability in neurological impairment including stroke and cerebral palsy, etc. The manual stretching used in physical therapy might be laborious and time-consuming to the therapists and the outcome was dependent on the experience and the subjectiveend feelingof the therapists. A device was developed that could safely stretch the an-kle joint to its extreme positions with quantitative control of the resistance torque and stretching velocity. Furthermore, it could satisfy a strong need for quantitative and objective measures of the impairment and rehabilitation outcome. This was just the meaning intelligent stretching referred to. This article described the origin of the concept of intelligent stretching and its definition, operational principle, and su-periority and weakness, as well as its application in ankle joint spasticity and contracture in patients with stroke and cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of selective moderate head cooling therapy on maximum length sequences brainstem auditory evoked potential (MLS-BAEP) in newborn piglets with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.

METHODSSixteen newborn piglets aged 5-7 day old were randomly divided into three groups: normothermic control (n=4), HI (n=6) and mild hypothermia-treated (n=6). HI was induced through temporary occlusion of both carotid arteries, followed by mechanical ventilation with low concentration of oxygen (FiO2=0.06) for 30 minutes. Mild hypothermia was induced by equipment via circulating water. MLS-BAER was recorded before HI and at 12 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, 48 hours, 60 hours, 72 hours, 4 days, 7 days, 10 days, 13 days and 15 days after HI.

RESULTSCompared with the normothermic control group, all latencies and intervals tended to increase significantly at 72 hours in the HI group and reached peak values on day 7. From day 10, all latencies and intervals tended to decrease, but apart from wave I latency, still differed significantly from those of the normothermic control group. MLS-BAER variables did not reach normal values until day 15. Ⅲ latency, Ⅰ-Ⅲ interval and Ⅰ-Ⅴ interval were significantly reduced in the hypothermia-treated group between 60 and 7 days after HI compared with the HI group (P<0.05). V latency and Ⅲ-Ⅴ interval in the hypothermia-treated group were also reduced compared with the HI group between 72 hours and 7 days after HI (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth peripheral and central auditory systems are disturbed by HI, which shows as a significant increase in MLS-BAER variables (all latencies and intervals) in newborn piglets. Involvement in central brainstem auditory system reaches a peak on day 7 after injury. MLS-BAER variables still cannot reach to normal values until day 15. Selective moderate head cooling therapy can significantly reduce brainstem damage induced by HI.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Hypoxia, Brain ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Swine

BACKGROUND:The treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is thought to restore antegrade blood flow in the infarct-related artery (IRA) and minimize ischemic damage to the myocardium as soon as possible. The present study aimed to identify possible clinical predictors for no-reflow in patients with AMI after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS:A total of 312 consecutive patients with AMI who had been treated from January 2008 to December 2010 at the Cardiology Department of East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine were enrolled in this study. Inclusion criteria were:(i) patients underwent successfully primary PCI within 12 hours after the appearance of symptoms; or (ii) patients with ischemic chest pain for more than 12 hours after a successful primary PCI within 24 hours after appearance of symptoms. Exculsion criteria were:(i) coronary artery spasm; (ii) diameter stenosis of the culprit lesion was ≤50％ and coronary blood flow was normal; (iii) patients with severe left main coronary or multivessel disease, who had to require emergency revascularization. According to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI), the patients were divided into a reflow group and a no-reflow group. The clinical data, angiography findings and surgical data were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the predictors for no-reflow. RESULTS:Fifty-four (17.3％) of the patients developed NR phenomenon after primary PCI. Univariate analysis showed that age, time from onset to reperfusion, systolic blood pressure (SBP) on admission, Killip class of myocardial infarction, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use before primary PCI, TIMI flow grade before primary PCI, type of occlusion, thrombus burden on baseline angiography, target lesion length, reference luminal diameter and method of reperfusion were correlated with no-reflow (P<0.05 for all). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified that age >65 years [OR=1.470, 95％ confidence interval (CI) 1.460–1.490,P=0.007], long time from onset to reperfusion >6 hours (OR=1.270, 95％CI 1.160–1.400,P=0.001), low SBP on admission <100 mmHg (OR=1.910, 95％CI 1.018–3.896,P=0.004), IABP use before PCI (OR= 1.949, 95％CI 1.168–3.253, P=0.011), low (≤1) TIMI flow grade before primary PCI (OR=1.100, 95％CI 1.080–1.250,P<0.001), high thrombus burden (OR=1.600, 95％CI 1.470–2.760,P=0.030), and long target lesion (OR=1.948, 95％CI 1.908–1.990,P=0.019) on angiography were independent predictors of no-reflow. CONCLUSION:The occurrence of no-reflow after primary PCI for acute myocardial infarction can predict clinical, angiographic and procedural features.

Objective: Sequencing the nuclear ribosomal RNA small subunit (18S r RNA) gene of Myospalax baileyi　(Cricetidae) to develop an ultimate and defi nitive means for origin identification of genuine Sailonggu. Methods: The total DNA wa s prepared from dried tail tissues. The nuclear 18S rRNA gene region was amplifi ed by PCR using a consensus primer set and its nucleotide sequence was determine d by PCR direct sequencing. The characteristic analysis of 18S rRNA sequences wa s generated usin software program Genetyx-SV/R Version 10.1. Results: The entire 18S rRNA gene region of M. baileyi spanned 1851 bp in length. Althou gh m ultiple alignment of sequence indicates that there are only lower homology (72.0 4%～72.18%)comparing with its two alias Mus musculus (GenBank Accession numb er X 00686)and Rattus norvegicus (M11188)(Muridae), their highly conservative dom ain i s located in 1020～1509 nt. There are many variable sites from upstream of 5'-e nd , which coud provide a novel information for molecular recognition of Sailonggu. Conclusion:DNA sequencing could be a useful and reliable tool in the origin identification of genuine Sailonggu.

Objective:To investigate the location of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A 1 (hnRNP A1 ) ,and to analyze the relationship between the location and clinicopathologic feature and its prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) .Methods : The location of hnRNP A1 was studied in an independent cohort of 323 HCC patients by immunohistochemistry ,the hnRNP A1 location and clinicopathologic feature and its prognostic significance in HCC were concluded .Results:For hnRNP A1 ,there was weak‐to‐moderate intensity immunoreactivity with nuclear expression in normal liver ,while showed cytoplasmic and nuclear loaction in HCC .The cytoplasmic loaction of hnRNP A1 is significantly correlated with poor prognosis of HCC patients after operation .Conclusions :The hnRNP A1 is a great independent prognostic indicator , which can accurately predict the poor outcome of HCC patients after surgery .

BACKGROUNDNeural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation and gene therapy have been widely investigated for treating the cerebullar and myelonic injuries, however, studies on the ophthalmology are rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the migration and differentiation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene transgenic NSCs transplanted into the normal rat retinas.

METHODSNSCs were cultured and purified in vitro and infected with recombinant retrovirus pLXSN-BDNF and pLXSN respectively, to obtain the BDNF overexpressed NSCs (BDNF-NSCs) and control cells (p-NSCs). The expression of BDNF genes in two transgenic NSCs and untreated NSCs were measured by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). BDNF-NSCs and NSCs were infected with adeno-associated viruses-enhanced green fluorescent protein (AAV-EGFP) to track them in vivo and served as donor cells for transplantation into the subretinal space of normal rat retinas, phosphated buffer solution (PBS) served as pseudo transplantation for a negative control. Survival, migration, and differentiation of donor cells in host retinas were observed and analyzed with Heidelberg retina angiograph (HRA) and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSNSCs were purified successfully by limiting dilution assay. The expression of BDNF gene in BDNF-NSCs was the highest among three groups both at mRNA level tested by FQ-PCR (P < 0.05) and at protein level measured by ELISA (P < 0.05), which showed that BDNF was overexpressed in BDNF-NSCs. The results of HRA demonstrated that graft cells could survive well and migrate into the host retinas, while the immunohistochemical analysis revealed that transplanted BDNF-NSCs differentiated into neuron more efficiently compared with the control NSCs 2 months after transplantation.

CONCLUSIONSThe seed cells of NSCs highly secreting BDNF were established. BDNF can promote NSCs to migrate and differentiate into neural cells in the normal host retinas.

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Movement ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats ; Retina ; cytology ; metabolism ; Stem Cell Transplantation