Objective To investigate the effects of simvastatin on the abatement of the mRNA,protein expression of RhoA and the improvement of the cardiac remodeling and cardiac disfunction after the myocardiac infarction in rats.Methods Rats were divided into 3 groups: the control group,the myocardiac infarction group and Simvastatin intervened group.After 8 weeks,cardiac weight index and hemodynamics were observed,mRNA and protein expression of RhoA in cardiac muscles was measured. Results Compared with the control group,the cardiac weight index and the mRNA and protein expression were increased in rats with myocardiac infarction and the hemodynamics was worsened(P

OBJECTIVETo analyze the rules for acupoint selection of acupuncture and moxibustion in domestic clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome based on data mining technology in modern times.

METHODSThe relevant literature were retrieved from Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database on this disease treated with clinical acupuncture and moxibustion in China from 1978 to 2013. The database of acupuncture-moxibustion prescription was set up. The relevant regulations of data mining technology were used to analyze the rules for acupoint selection.

RESULTSTotally, 211 papers, 254 acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions and 130 acupoints were included. The total frequency of acupoints application was 2193 times, with 14 meridians involved. The utilization of the acupoints in the lower limbs and on the back were 33.0% (723/2193) and 23.8% (521/2193) and those of yin and yang meridians were 51.8% (1136/2193) and 44.0% (965/2193), respectively. The utilization of the specific acupoints accounted for 88.7% (1946/2193).

CONCLUSIONIn clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome with acupuncture and moxibustion in modern times, the acupoint selection from involved meridians is the basis, associated with multiple methods of acupoint combination; yin and yang meridians are equally important and the specific acupoints are considered particularly critical in application.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Female ; Humans ; Perimenopause ; physiology

·Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are common outer retinal degenerative problems, which are also the predominant causes of most blinding retinal diseases. Retinal prosthesis is a promising solution for such photoreceptor degeneration diseases.Most of current concepts for a retinal prosthesis are based on neuronal electrical stimulation. In the past twenty years, retinal prosthesis has been developed in two different directions: epiretinal prosthesis and subretinal prosthesis. Each prosthesis technique has its advantages and disadvantages. For epiretinal prosthesis, it is easier to be implanted and has the advantage of keeping most of the electronics in the vitreous cavity, off the retinal surface, which greatly helps in dissipating the heat generated by the implant device. In this paper, a brief overview of retinal prostheses concepts is introduced. After that, several important aspects of epiretinal electrical stimulation will be discussed. Moreover, some practical epiretinal prosthesis devices developed by researchers in United States, Germany and Japan in the past have been reviewed. We hope that the devices will be used widely in the near future.

Background Chronic administration with inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (N_?-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester,L-NAME) induces persistent hypertension,cardiovascular remodeling,surrounding vascular fibrosis, necrosis and hypertrophy of myocardium,and inflammation in cardiovascular system.Local RAS involves in hyper- tension and remodeling of cardiovascular system,via increasing production of oxygen free radicals (OFR).Objec- tive To elucidate the preventive and therapeutic effect of antioxidant Ebselen and/or VitE on hypertensive heart damage in NO~- deficient rats induced by L-NAME.Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were administered with L- NAME 50 mg/(kg?d) by gavage for 8 weeks,and randomized to received a placebo(L),or Ebs(S,30 mg/kg?d), or VitE(V,40 mg/kg?d) or Ebs 30 mg/(kg?d)+VitE 40 mg/(kg?d),with 8 normal Wistar as control. Body mass and SBP were measured fortnightly.Plasma and homogenate of heart were collected for NO,Ang Ⅱ, GSH-PX,MDA and O_2~- determination.Results Eight weeks after L-NAME administration,SBP in experimental groups was obviously higher than that of control (P

OBJECTIVETo observe the travel, divisions, and the lengths, diameters, branches, artery supplies of the main segments of maxillary nerve.

METHODSFifty formalin-preserved adult half-head specimens with intravascular injection of red color emulsion were used for the gross and microanatomical studies of maxillary nerve. The lengths, diameters, branches and artery supplies of four main segments of maxillary nerve were observed. SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe length and diameter of cranial middle fossa segment of maxillary nerve were (10.70 ± 1.31) mm and (4.01 ± 0.52) mm respectively, which was supplied by inferior-lateral cavernous sinus artery. The length and diameter of pterygopalatine fossa segment were (16.21 ± 1.80) mm and (3.27 ± 0.62) mm respectively, in which one zygomatic branch, one to three posterior superior alveolar nerves, two ganglion branches and tuberal descending branches; were given off, and the segment was supplied by foramen rotundum artery. The length and diameter of infraorbital segment were (25.73 ± 2.03) mm and (3.30 ± 0.52) mm and it gave off middle superior alveolar nerve (64%) and anterior superior alveolar nerve and was supplied by infraorbital artery. Facial segment gave off superior labial branches, internal and external nasal branches, inferior palpebral branches, buccal branch and zygomatic branch and these branches were supplied by infraorbital artery and superior labial and angular artery originating from facial artery.

CONCLUSIONSUnderstanding of travel and artery supply of maxillary nerve is helpful to regional anaesthesia and surgery for maxillary nerve. Foramen rotundum, sphenopalatine foramen and infraorbital nerve are important marks for endoscopic surgery in pterygopalatine fossa.

Adult ; Cavernous Sinus ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Maxillary Artery ; anatomy & histology ; Maxillary Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply

To investigate the inhibitory effect of Pluronic on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug efflux pump, Caco-2 cells and animal models were established to study the influence of Pluronic on celiprolol transport across Caco-2 cell monolayer and intestinal mucous membrane with verapamil set as a positive control. Drug concentration was measured by HPLC and the apparent permeability coefficient (P(app)), absorption rate constant (k(a)) and the effective permeability coefficient (P(eff)) were calculated. P(app) of basolateral to apical side and apical to basolateral side was (2.10 +/- 0.13) x 10(-6) and (0.333 +/- 0.018) x 10(-6) cm x s(-1), respectively. Transports of celiprolol across Caco-2 cell monolayer were influenced by both verapamil and Pluronic. The absorption constants (k(a)) of celiprolol at duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon were (0.09 +/- 0.03), (0.14 +/- 0.04), (0.11 +/- 0.03) and (0.05 +/- 0.02) h(-1), k(a) of celiprolol in verapamil group were (0.14 +/- 0.03), (0.24 +/- 0.02), (0.25 +/- 0.03) and (0.23 +/- 0.02) h(-1), and k(a) of celiprolol in Pluronic group were (0.13 +/- 0.02), (0.22 +/- 0.02), (0.22 +/- 0.03) and (0.20 +/- 0.03) h(-1), respectively. Pluronic showed significant effect on inhibiting P-gp of Caco-2 cell and intestinal mucosa in rats.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Caco-2 Cells ; Celiprolol ; pharmacokinetics ; Excipients ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Permeability ; Poloxamer ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To analyze the constituents in supercritical fluid CO2 extraction (SFE-CO2) of Radix caulophylli, the Radix caulophylli was extracted with SFE-CO2, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis with a DB-5MS capillary column (30 mm x 0.32 mm ID, 0.25 microm film thickness) was used. The inlet temperature was maintained at 280 degrees C. The column oven was held at 80 degrees C for 2 min, then programmed from 80 to 280 degrees C at 5 degrees C x min(-1) and, finally, held for 4 min. Helium at a constant flow rate of 2.0 mL x min(-1) was used as the carrier gas. The mass spectrometry conditions were as follows: ionization energy, 70 eV; ion source temperature, 200 degrees C. The mass selective detector was operated in the TIC mode (m/z was from 40 - 500). For the first time 49 peaks were separated and identified, the compounds were quantitatively determined by normalization method, and the identified compounds represent 97.44% of total GC peak areas. Viz, n-hexadecanoic acid (31.4%), (E, E) -9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (26.54%), (Z)-7-tetradecenal (9.4%), hexadecenoic acid (3.23%), 10-undecenal (3.22%), octadecanoic acid (2.25%), and caulophylline (1.76%) etc. The results will provide important foundation for understanding the constituents and further exploitation of Radix caulophylli.
Carbon Dioxide ; Caulophyllum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Linoleic Acid ; analysis ; Palmitic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEThe application and therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) remains controversial. Previous studies have focused on the early pathological and biochemical outcomes and there is a lack of long-term functional evaluation. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term pathological and behavioral changes of early HBO therapy on neonatal rats with HIBD.

METHODSPostnatal 7 days (PD7) rat pups were randomly assigned into Control (n=18), HIBD (n=17) and HBO treatment groups (n=17). HIBD was induced by ligating the left common carotid, followed by 2 hrs hypoxia exposure in the HIBD and HBO treatment groups. The Control group was sham-operated and was not subjected to hypoxia exposure. The HBO therapy with 2 atmosphere absolutes began 0.5-1 hr after HIBD in the HIBD treatment group, once daily for 2 days. The spatial learning and memory ability were evaluated by the Morris water maze test at PD37 to PD41. The morphological and histological changes of the brain, including brain weight, survival neurons, AchE positive unit and NOS positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 region, were detected at PD42.

RESULTSThe rats in the HIBD group displayed significant morphological and histological deficits, as well as severe spatial learning and memory disability. In the Morris water maze test, the mean escape latency were longer (56.35 +/- 22.37 s vs 23.07 +/- 16.28 s; P < 0.05) and the probe time and probe length were shorter in the HIBD group (29.29 +/- 6.06 s vs 51.21 +/- 4.59 s and 548 +/- 92 cm vs 989 +/- 101 cm; both P < 0.05) compared with the Control group. The left brain weight in the HIBD group was lighter than that in the Control group (0.601 +/- 0.59 g vs 0.984 +/- 0.18 g; P < 0.05). The survival neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region were less (100 +/- 27/mm vs 183 +/- 8/mm; P < 0.05), as well as the AchE-positive unit and NOS-positive neurons (18.50 +/- 2.24% vs 27.50 +/- 2.18% and 19.25 +/- 4.33 vs 33.75 +/- 5.57 respectively; P < 0.05) after HIBD. Early HBO treatment improved the abilities of spatial learning and alleviated the morphological and histological damage. The mean escape latency (39.17 +/- 21.20 s) was shortened, the probe time (36.84 +/- 4.36 s) and the probe length (686 +/- 76 cm) were longer, and the brain weight (0.768 +/- 0.85 g), the survival neurons (133 +/- 25/mm) and the AchE-positive unit (21.94 +/- 2.73%) increased significantly compared with those of the HIBD group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEarly HBO treatment resulted in a protective effect against HIBD-induced long-term brain morphological and histological deficits and spatial learning and memory disability.

Acetylcholinesterase ; analysis ; Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Escape Reaction ; Female ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; pathology ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of denture base resin surface pretreatment with chemical etchants on microleakage and bond strength between silicone-based resilient liner and denture base resin. The initial bending strength of denture base resin after surface pretreatment was also examined.

METHODSThirty-six polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resin blocks (30 mm × 30 mm × 2 mm) were prepared and divided into three groups: group acetone, group methyl methy acrylate (MMA) and group control. Subsequently, a 2 mm silicone-based resilient liner was applied between every two blocks. After 5000 cycles in the thermal cycler (5 and 55°C), they were immersed in the (131) I solution for 24 hours and γ-ray counts were measured. Another 36 PMMA resin blocks (30 mm × 10 mm × 7.5 mm) were prepared. The blocks were divided into three groups and treated as mentioned above. A 3 mm silicone-based resilient liner was applied between every two blocks. After 5000 thermal cycles, tensile bond strength of the sample was measured in a universal testing machine. Another 18 PMMA resin blocks (65 mm × 10 mm × 3.3 mm) were prepared. They were divided into 3 groups and treated in the same way. After an adhesive was applied, the bending strength was measured with three-piont bending test.

RESULTSTwo experimental groups showed lower microleakage (520.0 ± 562.2 and 493.5 ± 447.9) and higher tensile bond strength [(1.5 ± 0.4) and (1.4 ± 0.5) MPa] than the group control [microleakage: (1369.5 ± 590.2); tensile bond strength: (0.9 ± 0.2) MPa, P < 0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference between group acetone and MMA in microleakage and tensile bond strength (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in bending strength among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTreating the denture base resin surface with acetone and MMA decreased the microleakage, increased the tensile bond strength between the two materials and did not make the initial bending strength of denture base resin decline.

Dental Bonding ; Dental Cements ; Dental Materials ; Denture Bases ; Denture Liners ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Silicone Elastomers ; Silicones ; Surface Properties ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo construct full-length hepatitis B core particles presenting preS1 aa 21-47 epitope and truncated core particles presenting preS1 aa 37-45 epitope on their surface and compare their antigenicity.

METHODSPreS1 aa21-47 epitope and aa 37-45 epitope were inserted respectively into full-length hepatitis B core (aa 1-183) and truncated HBcAg (aa 1-144), between the 78th (Asp) and 79th (Pro). The genes synthesized after the codon optimization were ligated to the pET43. 1a vector with the same cohesive terminal (NdeI and XhoI) and expressed in the E. coli expression system. The morphology of the proteins of interest were observed by electron microscope and characterized by ELISA and Western Blotting.

RESULTSThe morphology of the virus-like particles were confirmed by electron microscope. H2 were solid particles with a diameter of (31.61 +/- 1.27) nm, while H3 were hollow particles with a diameter of (28.46 +/- 1.16) nm. Statistical analysis showed that H2 is larger than H3 in the diameter (P < 0.01). The antigenicity of the inserted epitopes and carrier protein were identified by ELISA and Western Blotting.

CONCLUSIONChimeric hepatitis B core particles presenting the preS1 neutralizing epitopes on their surface have been expressed, purified and identified, which lays the foundation for its application in vaccine research.

Epitopes ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Neutralization Tests ; Protein Precursors ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology