Objective To investigate the characteristics of the event related potential(ERP) P300 and analyze brain network connections in patients with first-episode depressions.Methods P300 auditory oddball task were administrated on twenty-nine patients and twenty-five healthy controls.The P300 amplitude and latency of two groups were compared,and the brain network connectivity of the two groups were analyzed using Granger's Causality analysis.Results The P300 amplitude in depression group were significantly different from those in control group (C3 of the central regions(15.77±7.35) μV vs (20.90±7.82)μV;C4 of the central regions(16.98±7.21) μV vs (22.11±7.50) μV;P3 of the parietal regions(15.65±6.92) μV vs (19.49±5.73) μV;P4 of the parietal(16.35± 6.46) μV vs P4(19.72±5.18) μV;P=0.009,P=0.007,P=0.017,P=0.024 respectively).However,the P300 latency had no significant difference comparing to the controls(P＞0.05).The results also showed that patients had more connections in the brain network.Conclusion As an effective evaluation index,ERP P300 can play an important role in clinical diagnosis of depression.Patients suffering from depression have significant cognition function deficit.

Objective To investigate the plasma levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor(TFPI)in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP)and the changes of it after therapy with heparin.Methods Forty-six HSP children were enrolled in HSP group according to the criterion,and 23 normal healthy children as controls.The plasma levels of TFPI were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in both groups.Forty-six HSP children were divided into 2 groups randomly:heparin therapy group(n=23)and conventional therapy group(n=23).The plasma levels of TFPI were measured before therapy,on the 7th day and the 14th day after therapy,respectively.Results 1.The plasma levels of TFPI in HSP group [(59.337?21.750)?g/L] significantly decreased than those of control group [(88.761?12.214)?g/L](t=7.185 P

BACKGROUND: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and stiffness are taken as useful surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. In China, the number of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis has increased year by year, with the increase of dialysis-related cardiovascular events. This study was undertaken to examine carotid stiffness in elderly hemodialysis patients by the ultrasound techniques in order to find out the possible risk factors. METHODS: From January 2006 to February 2010, a total of 87 patients (41 males and 46 females) treated with routine hemodialysis at the 97th Hospital of People's Liberation Army were enrolled in this study. The distensibility coefficient (DC) of the carotid artery was detected by Doppler ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus (Philips HBI5000, frequency 12 MHz) for evaluation of arterial stiffness. Serum albumin, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), glucose, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were examined with standard methods. The liner correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to find correlations between them. RESULTS: In this study, the systolic blood pressure was 153.33±25.98 mmHg, DBP 84.22± 10.39 mmHg, TC 4.39±1.05 mmol/L, TG 1.36±0.72 mmol/L, LDL 2.47±0.77 mmol/L, Cr 889.82± 207.38 mol/L, Glu 5.36±1.87 mmol/L, Ca I 2.00±2.19±0.21 mmol/L, and DC 13.39±5.32×10-3/kPa. DC was associated with age (r =-0.459, P<0.001), SBP (r =-0.527, P<0.001), and serum calcium (r =-0.273, P=0.011). The multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that SBP, age, increased serum calcium level, and diabetes were independent risk factors for decreasing DC. CONCLUSION: Systolic blood pressure, age, increased serum calcium level and diabetes in elderly hemodialysis patients are independent risk factors for increased carotid arterial stiffness.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1) and its localization in the mouse brain during the embryonic development.

METHODSThe brain tissues of E (embryonic day) 11, E13, E15, E17, E19, P0 (the birth day) and adult mice were taken, the total RNA of brains were extracted and the changes of RAG-1 expression were detected with the method of RT-PCR. The freeze sections of brain tissues from each group were stained with immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTThe expression of RAG-1 persisted from E11 to P0 brain and was steadily increased from E11 to E19; the results of RT-PCR were similar to that of immunohistochemistry. The positive-cells mainly appeared in the nucleus amygdalae, hypothalamus, thalamus and hippocampus at developmental stage. The expression began to appear in ventricular zone (VZ) and intermediate zone (IZ) of telecephalic vesicle, then gradually increased in subventricular zone (SVZ), corticle plate (CP) and subcorticle plate (SP).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of RAG-1 in mouse embryonic brain tissue is higher than that in the adult mouse, which may be related to the process of neuron development.

Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between substance P (SP) and/or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the transmission of nociception in the penile frenulum of rats.

METHODSThe fluoro-gold (FG) retrograde tracing method was used to trace the origin of nerve terminals in the penile frenulum of rats. And SP and/or CGRP immunofluorescence labeling was employed to detect the distribution of SP and/or CGRP immunoreactive neurons in DRG.

RESULTSFG retrograde tracing showed that the FG retrolabeled neurons were localized in L6-DRG and S1-DRG. SP and/or CGRP immunofluorescence labeling indicated that a large number of DRG neurons were SP- and CGRP-immunoreactive, different in size, bright red and bright green respectively in color, and arranged in rows or spots among nerve bundles. All the FG/SP and FG/CGRP double-labeled neurons were medium or small-sized. One third of the FG-labeled neurons were SP-immunoreactive, and a half of them CGRP-immunoreactive in L6-DRG and S1-DRG respectively. The FG/SP/CGRP-labeled neurons accounted for one fifth of the FG retro labeled neurons.

CONCLUSIONSP- and CGRP-immunoreactive neurons in L6-DRG and SI-DRG of rats may be involved in the transmission of nociception in rat penile frenulum.

Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; analysis ; Ganglia, Spinal ; chemistry ; cytology ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neurons ; chemistry ; physiology ; Neurons, Afferent ; chemistry ; physiology ; Penis ; innervation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance P ; analysis

In the spinal cord, nitric oxide (NO) pathway is involved in pain and hyperalgesia, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and NO production are upregulated following several noxious and lesion stimuli. However, the mechanism of the increases is yet not well understood. The present study was designed to address the question of whether substance P (SP) released in the spinal cord enhances NOS expression and NO production of the spinal cord in rats. [Sar(9), Met(O2)(11)]-substance P (Sar-SP), a neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor agonist, was administered by intrathecal injection via L(5)-L(6) intervertebral space to induce nociception. The pain threshold was determined by hot water induced tail flick test. NOS expression of the L(5) segment of the spinal cord was determined using NADPH-d histochemical staining. NO production of the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord was determined by assaying NO3(-) and NO2(-), the end product of NO metabolism, using the method of aqua fortis reduction. We found that (1) intrathecal injection of Sar-SP (6.5 nmol) elicited a characteristic, caudally directed, nociceptive behavioural response consisting of intense biting, licking and scratching episodes. Tail flick test showed decrease in pain threshold. (2) following the behavioural responses, the NOS expression level, including the number and the staining density of the NADPH-d reactive cells, increased in the superficial portion of the dorsal horn (Laminae I-II) and the grey matter surrounding the central canal (LaminaX) of the L(5) segment of the spinal cord after the Sar-SP intrathecal injection. At the same time, NO production in the enlargement of the spinal cord increased. (3) The decreased pain threshold and the increases in NOS expression and NO production could be substantially inhibited by intrathecal injection of [[D-Arg(1), D-Trp(7,9), Leu(11)]-substance P] (spantide) (5 microg), a non-selective antagonist of NK-1 receptor, 5 min prior to the Sar-SP injection. It might be concluded that the release of SP resulted from nociceptive afferents increased NOS expression and NO production of the rat spinal cord.
Animals ; Female ; Hyperalgesia ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; Nociceptors ; drug effects ; Pain Threshold ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 ; agonists ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Substance P ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo research the mechanism of the inhibition effects of BWE on cell attachment of influenza virus by capillary electrophoresis.

METHODThe morphologic difference of red cells after treating with BWE infected by influenza virus was detected with microscope, capillary electrophoresis and HA.

RESULTThe pretreatment of the normal cells with BWE inhibited the attachment of influenza to the cells, while no meaningful inhibition was observed when influenza virus was pretreated before being inoculated to cells.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that the inhibition effects of BWE on cell attachment of influenza virus may be an important mechanism of anti-influenza activity of Radix Isatidis Extracts.

Antiviral Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Erythrocytes ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; Isatis ; chemistry ; Male ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo identify differential proteins in the seminal plasma of healthy fertile men and non-obstructive azoospermia patients by the shotgun proteomic strategy.

METHODSSix seminal plasma samples from 3 healthy fertile and 3 non-obstructive azoospermia volunteers were collected by Percoll isolation, balanced-mixed, and followed by separation of the mixture by SDS-PAGE. The proteins were subjected to in-gel enzymolysis and isolation of peptide fragments, and then identified by the shotgun proteomic strategy. Then comparative analyses were made between the two groups on the identified proteins with the unique peptide count > or = 2 and = 1 but with the peptide count > or = 4.

RESULTSA total of 213 differential proteins were identified, 133 in the non-obstructive azoospermia patients and 80 in the healthy fertile men. According to the molecular function, these differential proteins mainly fell into the types of signal transduction, cytoskeleton and catalytic activity, especially oxidoreductase activity in the latter type. Eighteen of the differential proteins were found to be of particular significance, including dynein heavy chain, fatty acid synthase, and tubulin alpha-6 chain.

CONCLUSIONThe differential proteins identified in this study were many in number and various in function, which not only demonstrated the value of the shotgun proteomic strategy in protein identification, but also suggested the complicated pathogenesis and varied types of non-obstructive azoospermia. The samples must be selected strictly based on their gene and histological types. Non-obstructive azoospermia was shown to be related with the M phase of the mitotic cell cycle at the protein level, but its specific mechanism remains unknown.

Azoospermia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics ; methods ; Semen ; chemistry ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of GAD67 and the co-localization with bNOS in the main olfactory bulb of GAD67-GFP knock-in mouse.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction was applied to identify the genotype of GAD67-GFP knock-in mouse, the animals were sacrificed and frozen sections of olfactory bulb were prepared. The Nissl-staining was performed to show an framework of the neuron in the olfactory bulb. The distribution of GAD67 and co-localization with bNOS were detected by immunofluorescence technique.

RESULTSThe proportion of GAD67-positive cells among DAPI-positive cells were (42.98 ± 0.92)% in glomerular layer, (23.64 ± 0.84)% in mitral cell layer and (77.75 ± 0.84)% in granule cell layer; the bNOS-positive cells mainly existed in glomerular layer and mitral cell layer, very few in granule cell layer. No co-localization of GAD67 and bNOS in granule cell layer and mitral cell layer was found, but there was dispersed distribution in glomerular layer.

CONCLUSIONGAD67-positive neurons mainly appear in glomerular layer and granule cell layer, and the bNOS is mostly expressed in glomerular layer and mitral cell layer; while the co-localization of GAD67 and bNOS only occurs in glomerular layer of olfactory bulb.

Animals ; Gene Knock-In Techniques ; Glutamate Decarboxylase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Olfactory Bulb ; metabolism ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of formaldehyde inhalation on the morphological damage, and Glu, GABA and NOS contents in olfactory bulb and hippocampus of rats.

METHODSTwenty SD rats were equally divided into two groups: rats in the control group inhaled fresh air, while the animals in experimental group were exposed to the air containing formaldehyde (12.5 mg/m(3), 4 h/d) for 7 days. Then rats were sacrificed and frozen sections of olfactory bulb and hippocampus were prepared. The morphological changes were examined and the Glu, GABA and NOS contents were detected using Nissl-staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTCompared with the control group, there was a significant confusion and shrink of neuron morphology in experimental group, the number and staining intensity of Glu and NOS positive cells and protein contents were reduced. The protein expression of GABA was also decreased in the formaldehyde group.

CONCLUSIONFormaldehyde inhalation can cause a severe morphological damage of olfactory bulb and hippocampus in SD rats,which may further impair memory and learning ability through the reduction of Glu, GABA and NOS expression.

Animals ; Formaldehyde ; toxicity ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Inhalation Exposure ; Learning ; drug effects ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Olfactory Bulb ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism