Objective To explore the relationship between the genesis of dyskinesia and the degree of substantia nigra lesion in Parkinson disease(PD).Methods The hemi-parkinsonian rat model was established by injecting 6-OHDA stereotaxically to right medial forebrain bundle(MFB). Then the hemi-parkinsonian rat was injected intraperitoneally with levodopa methylester(25 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),twice a day)for 21 days,the abnormal involuntary movements were estimated.After being sacrificed,the midbrain was removed,and the injured degree of dopaminergic neurons at substantia nigra was observed by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry staining.The relationship between the abnormal involuntary movement scores and dopaminergic neurons loss at substantia nigra was evaluated by sigmoid equation analysis by using Excel software.Results The apomorphine-induced rotation rate above 7 r/min was found in 10 of 25 rats,those rats were regarded as successful hemi-parkinsonian model rats.After the treatment with levodopa methylester,8 of 10 rats displayed abnormal involuntary movements,including stereotype and contralateral rotation,the types of movements varied.Abnormal involuntary movements were appeared in the rats with dopaminergic neurons loss above 90%.The positive relationship was observed between the degree of lesion in substantia nigra and the severity of abnormal involuntary movements.Conclusions The severe loss of dopaminergic neurons at substantia nigra probably plays a role in the development of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in patient with Parkinson disease.

Objective To investigate cellular and behavioural effects of 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8- OH-DPAT in a rat model of levodopa-induced motor complications.Methods The hemi-parkinsonian rat model was produced by stereotaxically injecting 6-OHDA to right medial forebrain bundle(MFB).Two sets of experiments were performed.First,rats were intrapefitoneally treated with levodopa 50 mg/kg plus benserazide 12.5 mg/kg twice a day for 22 days.On day 23,rats intraperitoneally received either 8-OH- DPAT(1 mg/kg)or 8-OH-DPAT plus WAY-100635(0.1 mg/kg)or dissolvent with each levodopa dose as controls.In the second set,rats were intraperitoneally treated either with levodopa(50 mg/kg)plus 8-OH- DPAT(1 mg/kg)or levodopa 50 mg/kg plus dissolvent,administered twice daily for 22 consecutive days. Rotational duration and frequency of off period were estimated.After sacrificed,subcellualr distribution of GluR1 and GluR1Ser845 phosphorylation was observed by Western blot.Results 8-OH-DPAT,reversing the shortened rotational duration induced by levodopa,prolonged the rotational duration by 27.8%?6.1% and reduced the frequency of failures to levodopa by 7.2%?1.7%.Co-administration of WAY-100635,a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist,with 8-OH-DPAT eliminated the effect of 8-OH-DPAT on motor complications, indicating that the observed 8-OH-DPAT responses were probably mediated via the 5-HT1A autoreceptor. Moreover,8-OH-DPAT could regulate subcellular distribution of GluR1 and reduce hyperphosphorylation of GluR1 Ser845 by 22.1%?3.5%,which was closely associated with levodopa-induced motor complications. Conclusions These results suggest that pharmaceuticals stimulating 5-HT1A receptors could be useful in the treatment and prevention of the motor complications in parkinsonian patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Amplatzer septal occluder for transcatheter closure in patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD II).

METHODSPatients with clinically confirmed ASD II were recommended for transcatheter closure of ASD II.

RESULTS30 ASD II patients (20 females) underwent transcatheter closure at a median age of 18.4 years (5-55 years). Both the stretched diameters of ASDs and the sizes of the devices were from 18 to 34 mm (25 +/- 7 mm). The successful placement rate was 100%. The rest shunt documented by color Doppler, was immediately after implantation in 40% of patients, in 9.9% after 24 hours, and in 3.3% trace at 3 months. No serious complications were observed. There was improvement in symptoms and in cardiac size. Septal motion abnormalities normalized in all patients after 3 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONThe Amplatzer septal occluder is a safe and effective device for transcatheter closure of ASD II. Long-term follow-up is still required before widespread clinical use can be recommended.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surgical Instruments

OBJECTIVEIn order to assess Berberis, a simple and effective high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was established.

METHODBy applying HPLC with gradiation elution, this method was developed for determination of four kinds of alkaloids including berbamine, Jatrorrhizine, berberine and palmatine in methanolic extracts from root bark, root, stem bark and stem of Berberis.

RESULTThe alkaloids berbamine, jatrorrhizine, berberine and palmatine shown good linear correlations in the range of 0.028-4.74 microg (r = 0.9998); 0.012-2.0 microg (r = 0.9996); 0.026-0.52 microg (r = 0.9999); 0.015-2.56 microg (r = 0.9998), respectively. The correlation coefficients of the calibration curve for the analytes exceeded 0.9998.

CONCLUSIONThe optimized HPLC method was applied to analyze various samples, and the results shown that the content of alkaloids were obvious difference in Berberis from different area, different species and different parts.

Alkaloids ; analysis ; Benzylisoquinolines ; analysis ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Berberis ; chemistry ; classification ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ecosystem ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Species Specificity

Objective To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of visual hallucination among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and analyse the potential risk factors. Methods One hundred and twenty-eight patients with PD were administered self-prepared visual hallucination questionnaires, and prevalence of visual hallucination was surveyed. The differences in sex, age, disease duration, Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores, Hoehn & Yahr stage, types of medicine used and levodopa equivalent doses (LDE) were compared between the patients with visual hallucination and those without visual hallucination. The prevalence of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) was investigated in patients with visual hallucination. Results Eighteen patients (14.06%) experienced visual hallucination, among whom 10 (55.56%) experienced visual hallucination no less than one time per day, 11 (61.11%) "saw" the shadow of human figure and 15(83.33%)were complicated with RBD. There were significant differences in MMSE scores, Hoehn & Yahr stage, female proportion and usage of dopamine agonists between patients with visual hallucination and those without visual hallucination(P<0.05). Conclusion Visual hallucination is a common non-motor symptom among patients with PD, and cognitive function, disease severity and usage of dopamine agonista may be related to visual hallucination.

To investigate the activity of CKLF1 on the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow cells. Methods Human low density bone marrow cells and mouse bone marrow cells were plated in 96-well microplate and supernatants from transfected COS-7 cell culture were added. The cell proliferation was assayed by MTT method after 5 days incubation. The enhancing effect of CKLF1 on the colony forma tion of human hematopoietic progenitor cells was identified in semi-solid culture. Results CKLF1 has obvi ous enhancing effect on both human and mouse bone marrow cells, it can stimulate the colony formation of human hematopoietic stem cells and has synergistic action with GM-CSF. Conclusion CKLF1 can pro mote the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow cells.

AIM To explore the clinical effects of Zhenwu Decoction combined with Danshen Drink on patients with chronic heart failure.METHODS Eighty-six patients were randomly assigned into control group(43 cases)for 4-week intervention of conventional treatment,and observation group(43 cases)for 4-week intervention of Zhenwu Decoction,Danshen Drink and conventional treatment.The changes in cardiac function indices(LVFS,LVEDD,LVEF),serum indices(hs-cTnI,sST2,NT-proBNP,MMP-9),inflammatory factors(IL-6,TNF-α,hs-CRP),platelet aggregation rate,QTcd and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.RESULTS After the treatment,the two groups demonstrated increased LVFS,LVEF(P＜0.05),and decreased LVEDD,serum indices,inflammatory factors,platelet aggregation rate,QTcd(P＜0.05),especially for the observation group(P＜0.05).No significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions was found between the two groups(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with chronic heart failure,Zhenwu Decoction combined with Danshen Drink can safely and effectively improve hs-cTnI level and platelet aggregation functions.

To investigate the role of potassium channels in the pathogenesis of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by cigarette smoking, the alteration in expression of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKca) and voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel (Kv1.5) in bronchial smooth muscle cells were investigated in chronic cigarette smoking rats. Airway responsiveness was determined, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immuno-histochemistry, in-situ hybridization and western blot techniques were used. The results showed: (1) Chronic cigarette smoking down-regulated the protein synthesis and mRNA expression of BKca and Kv1.5 in bronchial and bronchiolar smooth muscles. (2) BKca decreased more markedly than Kv1.5 in bronchi, but there was no difference between them in bronchioli. (3) No changes in the expression of these two potassium channel proteins were found in extracted cell membrane protein from lung tissue. The results suggest that chronic cigarette smoking can down-regulate the levels of BKca and Kv1.5 in rat bronchial smooth muscle cells in vivo, which might contribute to the mechanism of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by cigarette smoking.
Animals ; Bronchi ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Kv1.5 Potassium Channel ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; cytology ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoking ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Compound Salvia miltiorrhiza Injection (CSI) on aquaporin 3 (AQP3) expression in human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), and to explore its mechanisms for treating oligohydramnios.

METHODSThe hAECs selected from 8 human term pregnancies with oligohydramnios and no other complications (as the test group)and 8 human term pregnancies with normal amniotic fluid volume (as the control group) were primarily cultured. The mRNA and protein expressions of AQP3 in hAECs were detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot with various concentrations of CSI (0.000, 0.001, 0.010, 0.020, 0.060, and 0.100 mg/mL, respectively) at different time points (0, 6, 12,24, and 48 h, respectively).

RESULTS(1) Compared with the control group, the AQP3 expression was down-regulated in the test group (P < 0.05). (2) The AQP3 expression in the two groups reached the peak when the concentration of CSI was 0.010 mg/mL, showing statistical difference when compared with other concentrations (P < 0.05). (3) The AQP3 expression reached the peak when 0.010 mg/mL CSI acted for 12 h, showing statistical difference when compared with other concentrations (P < 0.05). (4) The AQP3 expression was up-regulated in the two groups when 0.010 mg/mL CSI acted for 12 h. But the up-regulated AQP3 expression was more obvious in the test group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCSI could regulate the AQP3 expression in hAECs. CSI showed more obvious effects on the AQP3 expression in hAECs of oligohydramnios human term pregnancies.

Amnion ; cytology ; Aquaporin 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

OBJECTIVETo investigate biosynthetic and apoptotic mechanisms in repair of full thickness skin defect with collagen-chitosan porous scaffold transplantation, and to determinate differences between wound repair with the scaffold transplantation and scar healing without the scaffold transplantation.

METHODSThe full thickness skin defects were made on 10 Bama miniature pigs and the bilayer dermal equivalent (BDE) composed of collagen-chitosan porous scaffold and silicone membrane was transplanted on wounds. Surfaces of wounds were observed at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after the BDE transplantation, and so were done the wound repairs after epidermis had been grafted for 2 weeks on surface of the scaffold which had been transplanted on skin defect wounds for 2 weeks. At the same time, TGF-beta1 expressions, apoptosis and self collagen replacement of scaffolds in wounds were detected in situ by immunohistochemical staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and picrosirius red polarized light. Wounds without scaffold transplantation were studied as control.

RESULTS1) Wounds with the scaffold transplantation were different from granulation tissue. 2) The peak of TGF-beta1 expression in the scaffold wounds was from 1 to 2 weeks after BDE transplantation, and TGF-beta1 expressions decreased continuously from 3 to 4 weeks. TGF-beta1 expressions increased continuously in the control wounds from 1 to 3 weeks and decreased on 4 weeks. TGF-beta1 expressions in the scaffold wounds on 1st and 2nd week were significantly higher than those in the corresponding control wounds, whereas, TGF-beta1 expressions in the scaffold wounds on 3rd and 4th week were significantly lower than those in the corresponding control wounds. 3) Apoptosis increased continuously in the scaffold wounds from 2 to 4 weeks after BDE transplantation, and so did in the control wounds from 3 to 4 weeks. However, apoptosis signals in the scaffold wounds on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th week after BDE transplantation were significantly more than those in the corresponding control wounds, and there was no difference between apoptosis signals in the scaffold wounds on 1st week after BDE transplantation and those in the corresponding control wounds. 4) Observation by picrosirius red polarized light method: self collagen began to synthesize in the scaffold wounds on 1st week after BDE transplantation, and scaffolds had been replaced by self collagen from 2 to 3 weeks after BDE transplantation.

CONCLUSIONSCollagen-chitosan porous scaffold plays a very important role in wound healing of full thickness skin defect. The mechanisms of wound repair by dermal scaffold are different from those by granulation and scar healing. It has a good future in repairing skin defect.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Chitosan ; metabolism ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Dermis ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Skin Irritancy Tests ; Skin, Artificial ; Stents ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Tissue Engineering ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Wound Healing