Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common progressive degenerative disease of the central nervous system. It's also a main cause for dementia in presenium and senectitude. In the past few years, the discoveries in vitro expansion of neural stem cells (NSCs) indicate a new way for recovery and replacement of damaged neurons as well as reconstruction of the neural circuit, and offer a useful future therapy for AD. There are two main promising approaches in NSCs replacement therapy. They are endogenetic approach, inducing proliferation and differentiation of endogenetic NSCs, improving self-repair of central nervous system, and exogenous approach, ransplantation of exogenous tissue and promoting proliferation of endogenous NSCs. However, it may not become truth before the mechanism of NSCs' proliferation, migration, differentiation and it's integration with the host tissues to be elucidated.

Objective To examine the effects and mechanisms of siRNA targeting aquaporin 4 (AQP 4) in combination with hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBO) on cerebral edema and apoptosis in the brain tissue of rats after hemorrhage.Methods Rats were randomly divided into four groups,the control group,the hyperbaric oxygen group,the AQP-4 siRNA group and the combination therapy group (24 rats).Thrombin Ⅶ was injected into the caudate nucleus to establish the hemorrhage model.Construction of siRNA targeting aquaporin 4 was conducted.The mRNA expression of AQP-4 was detected by RT-PCR at day 3.Changes in brain moisture and blood-brain barrier perme ability were measured by a wet/dry weight method and Evans blue fluorometry.The nerve cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by Annexin V andTdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).The expression of proteins including AQP-4,MMP-2,MMP-9,Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was detected by Western Blotting.All the animals were given a score for their nerve function at day 3.Results AQP-4 siRNA treatment obtained better effects than HBO in decreasing the brain edema leveland silencing AQP-4 mRNA(P＜0.05)while,the combination therapy group achieved the best results(P＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased in all the three treatment groups,with the most marked decrease observed in the combination treatment group(4.24± 0.04)％(F=13.76,P=0.001).The expression of AQP-4,MMP-2,MMP-9 and caspase-3 was lower (P＜0.05) and the expression of Bcl-2 was higher(P＜0.01)in the combination treatment group than in the other three groups.Compared with the control group,all the other three groups received better scores on nerve function defect evaluation at day 3 after hemorrhage(P＜0.05),with the combination treatment group again achieving the most favorable score (4.7 ± 1.1) (F=7.21,P =0.013).Conclusions Targeted siRNA interference combined with hyperbaric oxygen can effectively reduce cerebral edema after cerebral hemorrhage,inhibit neuronal apoptosis and promote neuron function recovery.The underlying mechanisms may be related to down-regulation of AQP-4,MMP 2,MMP-9 and caspase-3 expression and up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.

Sixteen compounds have been isolated from the EtOAc fraction of 95% ethanolic extract of Sophora dunnii through silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-prerarative HPLC column chromatographies. Their structures were identified on the basis of NMR and MS spectra data as phaseollidin (1), L-maackiain (2), 2-(2',4'-dihidroxyphenyl)-5,6-methylenedioxy benzofuran (3), 8-demethyl-farrerol (4), liquiritigenin (5), genistein (6), 6-methylgenistein (7), 5-O-methyl genistein (8), 7,2',4'-trihydroxys-5-methoxy-isoflavanone (9), 7, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-isoflavanone (10), erythribyssin D (11), calycosin (12), trans-resveratrol (13), cis-resveratrol (14), stigmasterol (15), β-sitosterol (16). Among these, compounds 1-14 and 16 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chemical Fractionation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Background Researches demonstrated that CpG ODN,a immunostimulatory sequences,has preventing and treating effect on allergic conjunctivitis caused by protein allergen.However,its effect on allergic conjunctivitis caused by fungal allergen is unclear. Objective This study aimed to investigate into whether the Th1-Th2 switching immunostimulatory CpG ODN could reverse the response in the murine allergic conjunctivitis model caused by aspergillus fumigatus. Methods A mixture of spores and hyphae of aspergillus fumigatus strain was used to induce allergic conjunctivitis in male BALB/C mice aged 6-8 weeks.This experiment was designed into preventive or therapeutical treatment program.Under both settings,allergic conjunctivitis of the animals were treated with CpG ODN,nonstimulatory GpC ODN or PBS.After the last challenge with the allergen,the clinical symptoms of the animals were scored based on the criteria of Magone.The animals were sacrificed and the histopathological examination of conjunctiva was performed.Expression of TLR4 mRNA in conjunctiva was analyzed by real-time PCR assay.The responsiveness and populations of lymphocytes in spleen and draining lymph nodes were analyzed by flow cytometry.The use complied with the Standard of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Results In the prevention mode.CpG ODN decreased subconjunctival infiltration compared with GpC ODN and PBS groups with the average neutrophil count index(21.25 ±11.59/section,30.75 ±11.44 section and 69.00±9.90/section,respectively).Expression of TLR4 mRNA was up-regulated significantly by CpG ODN.The clinical scores for CpG ODN group were insignificantly lower than those in GpC ODN group and PBS group(P＞0.05).In the therapeutic mode,compared with GpC ODN and PBS groups,the allergic symptom score in CpG ODN group manifested significantly lower(t=4.000.t=2.750,P＜0.01)and showed fewer cellular infiltration(t=4.870,t=3.829,P＜0.01)and higher expression of TLR4 mRNA(P＜0.01).In cultured splenic and draining lymph node cells,increased percentages of CD4+ CD25+ and CD4+ CD25+ CD69+ in CpG ODN group were observed compared with control groups(|P＜0.05). Conclusion CpG ODN can relieve aspergillus fumigatus-induced allergic conjunctivitis via either subconjunctival injection or topical application by upregulating expression of TLR4 and activating Treg lymphocytes.

mRNAs of alpha-adrenoceptor (α-AR) subtypes are found in neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and change after peripheral nerve injury. In this study, the distribution of α-AR subtype proteins was studied in L5 DRG of normal rats and rats with chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve (CCI). Using immunofluorescence technique, it was found that α1A-, α1B-, and α2A-AR proteins were expressed in large, medium, and small size neurons in normal DRG, and significantly increased in all size neurons 14 days after CCI. α1D- and α2C-AR was also expressed in all size neurons in normal DRG. However, α1D-AR was significantly increased and α2C-AR was decreased in small size neurons 14 days post CCI. α2B-AR neurons were not detectable in normal and CCI DRG. Co-expression of α1A- and α2A-AR in the same neuron was observed in normal DRG and increased post CCI. Collectively, these results indicated that there is distinct distribution of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons, and the distribution and levels of expression of α-AR subtypes change differently after CCI. The up-regulation of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons may play an important role in the process of generating and transmitting neuropathic pain.

Dryness is the inherent performance in traditional Chinese medicine. Dryness with a specific efficacy and side effect can be reduced suitably by processing and compatibility in the clinical application. Nowadays domestic scholars have developed research of dryness in traditional Chinese medicine. However, it remains problems such as evaluation index of dryness not clear. This paper takes medical literature mining technology to analyze the historical origin and features of dryness theory. Combing the modern literatures to explicate the dryness' research status and existing problems. Putting forward the traditional Chinese medicine and research should adopt multidisciplinary knowledge and study the system of comprehensive evaluation. Dryness is expected to further application in traditional Chinese medicine clinical research.
Data Mining ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research

Objective To analyze the MRI features of hydrosalpinx and to investigate its clinical value.Methods MRI and ultrasound manifestations in 40 patients with hydrosalpinx in 53 fallopian tubes confirmed by operative and pathological findings were analyzed retrospectively,and these findings were also compared with the results of aparoscopy and pathology.Results Among 53 fallopian tubes with hydrosalpinx,bilateral tubes in 13 patients and 27 unilateral tubes in other patients were found.The tubes were botuliform in 32, retort-shaped in 1 6,pouch-shaped in 5.Incomplete separation of the lumen were found in 1 9.In 9 patients with acute salpingitis,1 5 tubes were found with empyema and expansion.In other 31 patients with chronic salpingitis,38 tubes were with hydrops and expansion,14 of whom were with hematocele.The sensibilities of MRI and ultrasound diagnosis for hydrosalpinx were 94.3%(50/53)and 88.7%(47/53)with no statistical differences(P >0.05),however the specificitis were 90.6%(48/53)and 77.6%(41/53)with obvious statistical differences(P <0.05).Conclusion The locating and qualitative diagnosis of MRI for hydrosalpinx is superior to ultrasound.MRI can discriminate the quality of cyst fluid and thus can definitely diagnose the hydrosalpinx caused by acute or chronic salpingitis.

In China, traditional Chinese medicines （TCMs） have been used in clinical applications for thousands of years. The successful hyphenation of high-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） and mass spectrometry （MS） has been applied widely in TCMs and biological samples analysis. Undoubtedly, HPLC/MS technique has facilitated the understanding of the treatment mechanism of TCMs. We reviewed more than 350 published papers within the last 5 years on HPLC/MS in the analysis of TCMs. The present review focused on the applications of HPLC/MS in the component analysis, metabolites analysis, and pharmacokinetics of TCMs etc. 50% of the literature is related to the component analysis of TCMs, which show that this field is the most popular type of research. In the metabolites analysis, HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry has been demonstrated to be the powerful tool for the characterization of structural features and fragmentation behavior patterns. This paper presented a brief overview of the applications of HPLC/MS in the analysis of TCMs. HPLC/MS in the fingerprint analysis is reviewed elsewhere.

AlM: To investigate expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 ( MMP-2 ) and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer ( EMMPRlN) in retinoblastoma (Rb) and the relationships between MMP-2, EMMPRlN and tumor development.METHODS:lmmunohistochemical technique was used to detect expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN in 39 cases of paraffin embedded Rb samples. Quantitative analysis of expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN were assessed by measuring the mean gray scale of Rb tissue with LElCA lM50 Color Pathologic Analysis System. The differences of expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN in each clinical and pathological stage were statistically analyzed, and the same step was also undertaken to study the relationship between Rb with MMP-2 positive expression and that with EMMPRlN positive expression.RESULTS:The positive expression rate of MMP-2 was 90% (Gray value: 109. 64 ± 14. 52; 35/39), and that of EMMPRlN was 85% (Gray value:108. 01±13. 60;33/39). The expressions of MMP - 2 and EMMPRlN were significantly higher in tumors of glaucomatous stage (Gray value:108. 21±11. 47 and 107. 56±14. 32) than those in intraocular stage ( Gray value: 121. 13 ± 11. 32 and 119. 34 ± 12. 66; P<0. 01 and P<0. 05). And the same conclusion can be concluded between those in extraocular stage (Gray value: 91. 03 ± 11. 71 and 92. 26 ± 12. 93) with those in glaucomatous stage (P<0. 01 and P<0. 05). The expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN were significantly higher in tumors with optic nerve invasion (Gray value:103. 89±13. 39 and 105. 23±14. 00) than those without optic nerve invasion ( Gray value: 118. 39 ± 15. 11 and 117. 53±16. 13) (P<0. 01 and P<0. 05).CONCLUSlON:The positive expression levels of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN may correlate with tumor infiltration and metastasis.

Objective To investigate the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ? (PPAR?) in trophoblast and relation between PPAR? ligands and trophoblast invasion.Methods We examined the expression of PPAR? by immunohistochemistry,immunocytochemistry and real time quantitative PCR.We next examined,using the cytotrophoblast culture model,the biological role of PPAR? ligands in vitro.Results PPAR? was mainly localized in the nuclei of villous cytotrophoblast and extravillous cytotrophoblast of cell islands and cell columns.In villous tissue and cultured trophoblast from early first trimester,the level of expression of PPAR? mRNA and protein was 36.0?5.1,13.4?3.1 and 1.35?0.08,1.13?0.11;from late first trimester it was 23.3?5.5,6.1?1.3 and 1.17?0.03,0.86 ?0.05,and the expression of PPAR? was obviously decreased (P