Objective To investigate the effects of estrogen on extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2(ERK1/2) phosphorylation levels in hippocampal CA4 region of ovariectomized rats. Methods Experimental female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: intact (INT) group, ovariectomized (OVX) group, and OVX+estrogen (1 mg/kg, weekly) group. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure the estrogen content in plasma, and the levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation were measured with immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the control animals, the plasma estrogen level was significantly lower in OVX group (P＜0.001). However, the plasma estrogen level was higher in the OVX+estrogen group than that of the OVX group (P＜0.001). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the phospho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) substances were present in the nucleus and cytosol of neurons. Compared with the control group, immunostaining positive cells markedly decreased in OVX group, with light nucleus and cytosol staining in the hippocampal CA4 region (P＜0.001). The phospho-ERK1/2 positive neurons increased more obviously in OVX+estrogen group than in the OVX group (P＜0.001). Conclusion Estrogen can increase ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in hippocampi of aging female rats, which suggests that the ERK signal transduction pathway may be regulated by estrogen during the process of aging.

Abstract Falls are the leading cause of accidental injury deaths among the elderly. Currently, the incidence and disease burden of falls among the elderly remain high. By understanding the influencing factors of falls among the elderly and formulating targeted preventive measures, the risk of falls can be effectively reduced. Studies have found that falls among the elderly are results of the interaction of multiple factors. When formulating fall prevention strategies, attention should be paid to fall risk assessment and stratification, fall prevention exercise support and health education, living environment improvement, and primary healthcare service enhancement. Reviewing publications pertaining to the epidemiological studies of falls from January 2004 to January 2024, this article summarizes the epidemiological characteristics, risk factors, prevention and control strategies of falls among the elderly, aiming to provide the reference for prevention and control.

PurposeTo measure the areas and diameter lines of bronchi at acute exacerbation and at remission period in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using CT, and to explore the correlation between the two periods and evaluate the comprehensive assessment in diagnosing COPD exacerbation.Materials and Methods Fifty-two COPD patients were scanned with 64-row spiral CT on chest and PFT at acute exacerbation and at remission period. The areas and diameter lines of apical segmental and the sub-segmental bronchi of the right upper lobe in the patients were measured at the two periods, including indicators such as wall thickness (WT), thickness-diameter ratio (TDR), wall area (WA), percentage of wall area (WA%). The differences of those indicators at the two periods were compared with such factors of COPD comprehensive assessment as forced expiratory volume at the first second% (FEV1%), percentage of forced expiratory volume in first second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), COPD assessment test (CAT), modified medical research council questionnaire (mMRC) for assessing the severity of breathlessness, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD). Results The patients had significant differences between acute exacerbation period and remission period in the indicators of COPD comprehensive assessment like FEV1%, FEV1/FVC, CAT, mMRC and 6MWD (t=-4.119,-2.583, 4.012, 3.321 and-3.892,P<0.05). Compared with those at remission period, the WT, TDR, WA and WA% of sub-segmental bronchi were all higher at acute exacerbation period (t=3.025, 2.341, 2.204 and 2.124, P<0.05); only TDR of segmental bronchi showed significant difference between the two periods (t=2.990,P<0.05). The correlation of sub-segmental bronchi with FEV1%, FEV1/FVC, CAT, mMRC and 6MWD was more significant than that of segmental bronchi with those indicators at the two periods.Conclusion The COPD comprehensive assessment can help diagnose COPD at acute exacerbation period; MSCT shows the remodeling of segmental and sub-segmental bronchi and the changes on the airway wall, and the quantitative measurement of sub-segmental bronchi has correlation with the differences of indicators in the comprehensive assessment; COPD comprehensive assessment seems to be more valuable than PFT in the estimation of COPD at acute exacerbation.

Objective To investigate the influence of hypothermia during reperfusion on acute pulmonary edema(APE)after liver transplantation in patients with chronic severe hepatitis. Methods Between February 2002 and December 2006,108 consecutive patients of chronic severe hepatitis underwent liver transplantation. Patients suffering from postoperative APE(APE group)were compared with those without APE(NAPE group)on hypothermia during reperfusion. We evaluated the impact of hypothermia on requirement of red blood cells and/or fresh-frozen plasma, and prothrombin time in neo-liver phase. Results Forty-one out of these 108(37.96%)cases were complicated with APE. Compared with NAPE group, patients in APE group have significant lower core hypothermia(t=2.413,P=0.018),longer hypothermia duration(＞5 min)(39.02%,x2=143.40).Longer pmthrombin time(t=2.884,P=0.005)and larger amount of blood transfnsion were observed in APE group. Patients with hypothermia were prone to accompanied with longer PT in neo-liver phase(28.03±8.45)min vs (24.12±5.89)min, t=2.553,P=0.012),larger requiting of RBC transfusion(2786.96±1266.47)ml vs(2129.41±805.90) ml, t=2.364,P=0.026)and fresh-frozen plasma(2121.74±676.19)ml vs (1768.24±685.08) ml, t=2.201,P=0.030).Conclusions Low core hypothermia during neo-liver reperfusion contributes to the development of APE in patients with chronic severe hepatitis undergoing liver transplantation. Prolonged PT and large amount of blood transfusion may be involved in this complication.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutical effects of visfatin and metformin on insulin resistance and reproductive endocrine disorder in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSForty female Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups, and in groups A, B and C, the rats were injected subcutaneously with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for PCOS modeling, with group D as the blank control injected with soybean oil. Vaginal smears and serological testing were taken to assess the modeling. After the modeling, the rats in group A received 10 µg reorganized visfatin injection and those in group B were treated with metformin (14 mg/100 g) on a daily basis for 15 days. Serum levels of T, LH, FSH, FINS and blood glucose levels during OGTT were measured before and after the treatments, and HOMA-IR and LH to FSH ratio were calculated. The ovaries were then dissected for pathological examination.

RESULTSIn groups A and B, FINS, FPG, T, HOMA-IR and blood glucose levels during OGTT were significantly decreased after the treatments (P<0.05), which resulted in recovery of regular menses in 8 (80%) rats in group A and 7 (77.8%) rats in group B with the development of normal follicles. Visfatin and metformin produced equivalent therapeutic effects in improving the insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in PCOS rats.

CONCLUSIONVisfatin and metformin have equivalent therapeutic effects in improving insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism and in promoting the recovery of regular menses and development of normal follicles in PCOS rats.

Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Metformin ; pharmacology ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase ; pharmacology ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; complications ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the determination of brucine concentration in plasma of rats,and to compare the pharmacokinetic differences between brucine and its nanostructure lipid carrier (NLC) in rats. METHODS:Sixteen male SD rats were randomly divided into brucine NLC solution group and brucine solution group(using normal saline as solvent, and containing brucine 1.28 mg/mL),with 8 rats in each group. They were given relevant solution 10 mg/kg via tail vein. Blood sample 0.5 mL was collected from fundus venous plexus capillary before medication and 15,20,30,40,45,60,90,120,150, 180,210,240,480 min after medication. HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on Dikma C18column with mobile phase consisted of methanol-water containing acetic acid and triethylamine(30∶70,V/V)at the flow rate of 1 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 265 nm,and column temperature was 30 ℃. Sample size was 10 μ L. Pharmacokinetic parameters of rats in 2 groups were calculated by using DAS 2.0 software,and the difference of them were compared by F test. RESULTS:The linear range of brucine plasma concentration were 1.03-66.00 μg/mL(R2＝0.999 6);the limit of quantitation was 1.03 μg/mL,and lowest detection limit was 0.515 μg/mL. RSDs of intra-day and inter-day were lower than 5%;method recoveries were 84.90%-100.88%, extraction recoveries were 80.60%-91.98%(all RSDs were lower than 10%). Average plasma concentration-time curve of single administration of brucine NLC solution and brucine solution were all in line with two-compartment model after medication via tail vein. The pharmacokinetic parameters included t1/2αwere(0.24±0.11)and(0.06± 0.03)h;t1/2 βwere (2.90 ± 0.22) and (0.57 ± 0.32)h;AUC0-twere (88.00 ± 6.98) and (28.50 ± 5.87)μg·h/mL;AUC0-∞were (109.96±7.99)and(45.06±6.66)μg·h/mL. Compared with brucine solution group,t1/2 α,t1/2 β,AUC0-tand AUC0- ∞of brucine NLC solution group were increased significantly;while CL, k10and k12were decreased significantly, with statistical significance (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). There was no statistical significance in k21between 2 groups (P＞0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Established HPLC method is simple, specific,sensitive,precise and highly recoverable. It can be used for the determination of plasma concentration and phamacokinetic study of brucine in rats. After brucine NLC is prepared,the pharmacokinetic parameters of brucine change significantly;retention time of brucine is significantly prolonged and the clearance rate decreases significantly.

Objective:To assess the influence of a virtual simulation-based training system for composite resin filling on the knowledge acquisition, skill development, and overall learning experience of undergraduate stomatology students.Methods:Forty-one undergraduate students of grade 2019 majoring in stomatology were divided into two groups for preclinical training before their internships: the experimental group used a virtual training system for composite resin filling, while the control group watched instructional videos of the procedure. The two groups were compared for their first performance in composite resin filling during the internships and teaching feedback. The t-test and chi-square test were conducted for data analysis using SPSS 20.0. Results:After repeatedly using the virtual training system for composite resin filling, the students in the experimental group were able to master the key operational points of the procedure, all achieving high scores (an average of 91.77 points) with an average time of 10.39 minutes. During the internship phase, the experimental group and control group showed significant differences in the accuracy rates of instrument selection (85.71% vs. 40.00%), adhesive applying (76.19% vs. 45.00%), and layered filling (100.00% vs. 75.00%; all P<0.05). All the students unanimously recognized the value of the virtual simulation system and expressed their willingness to use it for preclinical training before internships. Nineteen students (90.48%) were satisfied with the learning experience with the virtual simulation training system. Conclusions:The virtual simulation training system for composite resin filling can improve students' understanding and proficiency levels of the technique before clinical internships, facilitating a smoother transition to the internship phase.