PurposeIt is important to keep the consistency of CT perfusion imaging (CTP) measurement in the evaluation of intracranial disorders. The purpose of this paper is to probe into the consistency of basal ganglia hemodynamic characteristics in normal rabbits with CTP measurement in the mode of volume helical shuttle (VHS).Materials and Methods Brain CTP scans of 10 healthy rabbits were carried out in the VHS mode. The images derived from CTP were separately analyzed by two radiologists (A and B) with different experiences. ROIs were placed in the bilateral basal ganglia of the subjects and parameters such as cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF) and mean transit time (MTT) were measured three times in each rabbit. Thirty days later, radiologist A analyzed the CTP images again with the same method. Differences of parameters in bilateral basal ganglia measured by different radiologists at different periods were compared respectively and consistency of the measurements was further assessed.Results There was no significant difference among the three measurements of CBV, CBF and MTT in bilateral basal ganglia (F=0.162, 0.050 and 0.488,P>0.05). TheICC of CBV, CBF and MTT measured by the two radiologists for the first time were 0.84, 0.81 and 0.79; while theICC of CBV, CBF and MTT measured by radiologist A twice were 0.80, 0.89 and 0.84, which showed that the results had good consistency measured by different radiologists at different times.Conclusion With the same post-processing software, the consistency of CTP of basal ganglia in the VHS mode is satisfactory in healthy rabbits, which suggests this technique may be a suitable means in the evaluation of basal ganglia hemodynamics in animal models.

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

Objective To evaluate the effect of BML-111 on NF-κB pathway during acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats.Methods Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation group (group HSR),BML-111 group,and BML-111 + BOC-2 (lipoxin A4 receptor antagonist) group (group BOC-2).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal pentobarbital sodium.Hemorrhagic shock was induced by blood letting and maintained for 30 min.The animals were then resuscitated for 30 min by infusion of the shed blood and lactated Ringer's solution.In group BOC-2,BOC-2 (50 μg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally before blood letting.In BML-111 and BOC-2 groups,BML-111 (1 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally at the beginning of resuscitation.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h after the end of resuscitation and lungs were removed for determination of pathological changes,myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity,intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression (by immunohistochemistry),tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) content (by ELISA),and NF-κB p65 and IκB-α expression (by Western blot).Results Compared with group S,the MPO activity,ICAM-1 expression,and TNF-α content were significantly increased,NF-κB p65 expression was up-regulated,and IκB-α expression was down-regulated in group HSR.Compared with group.HSR,the MPO activity,ICAM-1 expression,and TNF-α content were significantly decreased,NF-κB p65 expression was down-regulated,IκB-α expression was up-regulated,and pathological changes of lung were attenuated in group BML-111.Compared with group BML-111,the MPO activity,ICAM-1 expression,and TNF-α content were significantly increased,NF-κB p65 expression was up-regulated,and lκ:B-α expression was down-regulated,and pathological changes of lung were aggravated in group BOC-2.Conclusion BML-1 11 inhibits activation of NF-κB pathway and inflammatory responses,thus mitigating acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats.

Three new compounds, including a naphthoquinone, a reduced naphthoquinone derivative naphthalenone, and a tricarboxylic acid, along with five known naphthalenone derivatives were isolated from ethyl acetate extract of rice fermentation products of the fungus Pleosporales sp. by multiple column chromatographic methods, including Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, silica gel column chromatography, reversed-phase HPLC, and chiral chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by MS, NMR, and specific rotation spectroscopic analyses as well as ECD calculations. Three novel compounds were named as pleospathone A (1), pleospathone B (2), and pleosporalic acid A (3). Five known compounds were separately identified as (3S,4R)-3,4,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one (4), (4R)-3,4-dihydro-4,6,8-trihydroxy-1(2H)-naphthalenone (5), (-)-scytalone (6), (3S,4S)-3,4-dihydro-3,4,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1(2H)-naphthalenone (7), and cis-4-hydroxyscytalone (8). Compounds 4-8 were isolated from the Pleosporales fungi for the first time. Compound 1 shows inhibitory activities against human cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa and murine leukemia cell line P388 with the IC₅₀ values of 78.93 and 98.80 μmol·L^-1, respectively.

AIMTo study the pharmacokinetics of genistein at different doses in Beagle dogs.

METHODSSuspended in 0.5% CMC-Na solution, genistein was orally administered to Beagle dogs at doses of 2.67, 5.34 and 10.68 mg.kg(-1). At various time intervals, 1.5 mL of blood was drawn from the femoral vein of dogs in their front legs. The plasma was treated with beta-glucuronidase. The genistein in plasma was extracted twice by vortexing with 2.0 mL mixture of methyl tert-tubtyl ether and pentane (v/v = 8:2). The organic phase was removed into the tubes and then evaporated in ventilation cabinet. The residue was dissolved in 50 microL of methanol. 20 microL solution was drawn and detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by 3P97 software.

RESULTSThe plasma drug concentration-time data were fitted to the two-compartment model. When the dose was 2.67 mg.kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound were 52.9 min and 6.7 mg.min. L(-1), respectively. When the dose rose to 5.34 mg.kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound became 224.8 min and 26.1 mg.min.L(-1), respectively. However, when the dose increased to 10.68 mg .kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound increased to 267.7 min and 33.2 mg.min L(-1), respectively. The AUC of glucuronidated genistein was 33.9, 70.1 and 140.5 mg.min.L(-1) at the dose of 2.67, 5.34 and 10.68 mg.kg(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONDue to significant first pass metabolism, the drug was mainly existed in the form of glucuronidated genistein in the plasma. With the increase of dose, the absorption of genistein became saturated and the half life prolonged.

Animals ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Dogs ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Genistein ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male

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

OBJECTIVETo screen the proteins interacting with inhibitor of differentiation 1(Id1) using yeast two-hybrid analysis in adult human lung cDNA libraries.

METHODSThe coding sequence of Id1 was amplified by PCR and cloned into the bait plasmid. The recombinant bait vector pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 was verified by restriction endonuclease digestion before transformation into the yeast strain EGY48/pSH18-34, which was tested subsequently for reporter genes Leu2 and LacZ activation. The pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 plasmid and the cDNA library plasmid were sequentially transformed into the yeast strains and screened to obtain Leu2(+) and Leu2(+)LacZ(+) clones, with the false positive clones excluded using positive and negative controls, and the plasmid of the true positive clone was sequenced and blasted for homological analysis.

RESULTSSuccessful construction of pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 was confirmed by enzyme digestion. After transformation of pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 into EGY48/pSH18-34, no specific reporter genes Leu2 and LacZ activation was found. The pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 plasmid and the cDNA library plasmid were sequentially transformed into yeast strain, and 198 Leu(+) clones and 19 Leu(+)LacZ(+) double positive clones were obtained. After elimination of the false positive clones, one true positive clone was obtained, whose plasmid analysis by sequencing and blasting indicated high homology (99.5%, 556/559) to AGGF1 (an angiogenic factor with G-patch and FHA domains 1). AGGF1 expression was confirmed in the true positive yeast cells by Western blotting.

CONCLUSIONAGGF1 is confirmed to interact with Id1 by yeast two-hybrid analysis for screening adult human lung cDNA libraries.

Adult ; Angiogenic Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Lung ; cytology ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Protein Binding ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Acupuncturists have always paid high attention to deqi (needling sensation) in clinical. However, relationship between deqi and curative effect has not been elucidated yet. In order to have a further understanding on effect of deqi on clinical effect, through study on literature associated with deqi since the establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949, it is held that various factors can influence therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment, including whether needling sensation appears or not, the speed of deqi, the intensity of deqi, different types of sensations as well as propagated sensation along meridians (PSM). Joint launched multidisciplinary researches should be carried out to reveal the influence principle of deqi on acupuncture effect, and to lay foundations for the further studies on mechanism of deqi.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Meridians ; Qi ; Treatment Outcome

Diterpenes, an important class of natural compounds, are widely distributed in nature. As the valuable diterpenoids continue to be found, diterpene synthase in the course of diterpene synthesis get as much attention as possible. The multiformity of end-product-diterpenoids were also due to the diversity of diterpene synthase. This paper focuses on the advances in recent biosynthesis pathway of diterpene and types, cloning, catalytic mechanism, synthetic biology application.
Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Diterpenes ; metabolism ; Isomerases ; metabolism ; Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism