This paper summarizes major advances in military-related life sciences in 2014 .The United States ,European Union and Japan officially launched brain science programs .The era of big data in life sciences is coming .MRC,NIH and DARPA are investing more in big data research .Studies on brain-machine interface ,brain-brain interface ,mind reading and mind control are going ahead so that brain control and reading the brain may become a reality in the near future .New technology and tools,such as genome editing , neuroimaging techniques , protein research and single molecule technology , keep emerging , which is promoting the development of military medicine research .

Objective: To evaluate sensory recovery in noninnervated radial forearm free flap after tongue reconstruction. Methods: Sixty-five cases of tongue reconstruction by using free radial forearm flaps were analyzed. Flap sensations to touch, sharp vs dull, two-point discrimination and warmth vs cold was evaluated in each of these patients at 6 months and 12 months after treatment. Results:Twenty-nine flaps (44.6%) showed good sensory recovery, thirty-two flaps (50%) recovered partly, four flaps (6.1%) was anesthetic. Conclusion: Spontaneous recovery of flap sensation can be re-established after reconstruction. Delay or failure of sensory recovery in flap reconstruction could be caused by radiation therapy.

Human enhancement technology is an emerging field that aims to enhance human physical and mental power of humans with the latest developments of the life science , information science , electronic science , cognitive neuroscience and other fields .This paper provides an overview of status quo of human enhancement technology and its military applica -tions, and analyzes the factors that may adversely affect its applications .

2013 saw sustained and rapid development in the military medicine-related life sciences .New research fields, new technologies and devices continue to emerge , such as Brain Science Projects , 3D bio-printing, cognitive neuro-science, brain-computer interface and mind control , genome editing technology , neuroimaging techniques , protein research technology , Which will promote the all-round development of basic and applied research for military medicine .

Objective To study the feasibility of stem cell transplantation under mild hypothermia so as to provide a prerequisite for stem cell transplantation in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) during mild hypothermia treatment. Methods After transfecting plasmid containing temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen (tsSV40LT) into temperature-sensitive umbilical cord mes-enchymal stem cells (tsUCMSCs) , the changes of cell morphology, nuclear proliferation index (PIx) and telomerase activity were detested when the tsUCMSCs were cultured at 33℃ and 37℃. After the mouse model with tTBI treated with mild hypothermia was established, tsUCMSCs were transplanted into semi-injury area to detect survival rate, proliferation and apoptosis indices and perform neurological deficit scoring. Results When cultured at 33℃, the tsUCMSCs displayed long spindle-shaped and highly refractive, with higher proliferation index and telomerase activity than those cultured at 37℃. Compared with control group (non-temperature-sensitive UCMSCs transplantation), tsUCMSCs in semi-injury area showed much higher cell survival and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression ( P < 0.05 ) , with fewer apoptotic cells and better neurological function (P < 0.05). Conclusion The establishment of temperature-sensitive stem cell line enables stem cell transplantation during treatment of TBI with mild hypothermia, as provides us a new direction for treatment of TBI.

BACKGROUND: The aging and lesions of the intervertebral disc are closely related to the lack of nutritional blood supply to the disc. Aquaporin plays an important role in the nutritional supply to the intervertebral discs, but the specific mechanism has not been fully defined. OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of Yaobishu on degenerated intervertebral disc in rabbits based on the changes of aquaporin (AQP) 1 and AQP3 protein expression. METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into model group, low-dose Yaobishu group and high-dose Yaobishu group. Animal models of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse were prepared through an injection of normal saline into L4/5 and L5/6 segments. The model group was intragastrically given normal saline 5 mL/kg per day, the low-dose group was intragastrically given Yaobishu 5 mL/kg per day, and the high-dose group was intragastrically given Yaobishu 10 mL/kg per day, twice a day, for 21 days. After 6 weeks of treatment, the intervertebral discs were taken for anatomical and histological observation using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of AQP1 and AQP3 in the nucleus pulposus at protein and mRNA levels was quantified by RT-PCR and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In all the three groups, the annulus fibrosus was destroyed, abnormal cartilage tissue appeared, and the nucleus pulposus was reduced in number. Severest degeneration of the intervertebral disc was found in the model group, followed by the low-dose Yaobishu and high-dose Yaobishu groups in turn. The expression of AQP1 and AQP3 mRNA and protein in the high-dose Yaobishu group and low-dose Yaobishu group increased significantly after 6 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05), while the expression in the model group showed no significant difference before and after treatment (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the expression of AQP1 and AQP3 mRNA and protein among the three groups (P < 0.05). Therefore, Yaobishu may alleviate the degeneration of the rabbit intervertebral disc by increasing the expression of AQP1 and AQP3.

Objective To study the clinical features and therapeutic method of severe cerebral injured patients with hyponatremia.Methods The electrolyte and central venous pressure were examined on 45 cases of severe cerebral injured patients with hyponatremia every day.According to plasma sodium value and central venous pressure,we regulated treatment perscription daily.Results 45 patients occured hyponatremia in total 288 of severe cerebral injured patients.Hyponatremia was detected 5～13 days after operation or after injure.The morbility is usually the highest in the seventh day.Plasma sodium recovered to normal value in 14 days after operation.Conclusion Severe cerebral injured patients with hyponatremia should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible,then it will receive better prognosis.

Due to the poor repair and regeneration capacity of articular cartilage, traditional treatment cannot get satisfactory curative effect on it. However, tissue engineering provides a new way for repairing articular cartilage defects. Present research focus has come down to the following issues: the stability of cell characters and phenotypes during mass amplification of seed cells, the control of directional differentiation, the combination of multi-scaffold materials, the synergistic effect of multi-growth factors, the gene transfer technology for maintaining the expression of growth factors, etc. This article reviews the advances in seed cells, scaffold materials, growth factors of articular cartilage tissue engineering, pointing out their advantages and disadvantages as well as the research direction in the future.

Objective To explore the impact of puerarin treatment on autophagy in rats with traumatic brain injury (TBⅠ) and the underlying mechanism.Methods Seventy five Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into 5 groups:sham group (S group,n =15),traumatic brain injury group (TBⅠ group,n =15),TBⅠ + puerarin treatment group (TBⅠ + Pue group,n =15),TBⅠ + JNK inhibitor group (TBⅠ + SP group,n =15),and TBⅠ + JNK activator + Pue (TBⅠ + An + Pue group,n =15).Feeney method was applied to make rats with TBⅠ model.Mter that,head water content and neurological deficit score (NDS) were measured and recorded at day 1,3 and 7 in each group.Western blot was used to measure the JNK activity and autophagic marker proteins,including LC3B and Beclin1.Results Compared to S group,the head water content and NDS were decreased significantly among the others (P ＜ 0.05).The head water content and NDS in TBⅠ + Pue and TBⅠ + SP groups was decreased remarkably compared with TBⅠ group.Combined with puerarin and animycin treatments failed to reduce head water content and NDS compared to the TBⅠ + Pue group.Activated autophagy could be observed in TBⅠ group compared to S group.Compared to group S,LC3Ⅱ,Beclin1 and P-JNK1 were increased significantly.Pue and SP could reduce their expressions,respectively.Combined with puerarin and animycin treatments failed to reduce LC3Ⅱ,Beclin1 and P-JNK1 compared to TBⅠ + Pue group.Conclusions Puerarin could protect rats with TBⅠ via inhibiting autophagy,JNK signal pathway could involve the process of puerarin regulating autophagy.

Objective To investigate the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the growth and proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its effect on adenosine monophosphate activated pro-tein kinase (AMPK) activity.Methods Hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells cultured for 12,24,and 48 hours were treated with 200,300,and 400 mg/L concentration of astragalus polysaccharides.The cell inhibition rate was detected with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT),and apoptosis was observed under the fluorescence microscope.Western blot method was used to measure the expression of total AMPK,phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK),and phosphorylate mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) protein expressions.Results Astragalus polysaccharides of each concentration significantly inhibited the proliferation of human hepatoma HepG2 cells (P ＜ 0.01),and the effect of 300 mg/L concentration astragalus polysaccharides was more significant than that of the 200 mg/L concentration (P ＜0.01);while inhibitory effect of 400 and 300 mg/L Astragalus polysaccharides on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was not significant difference.We found that Astragalus polysaccharides of each concentration could promote the apoptosis of HepG2 cells,and the effect of 300 mg/L Astragalus polysaccharides was more significant.However,astragalus polysaccharide of 400 mg/L concentration could promote the apoptosis no more than the 300 mg/L concentration,which was observed by fluorescent microscope.Western blot results showed that astragalus polysaccharides could increase the expression of p-AMPK (P ＜ 0.05),and inhibit its downstream protein expressions of p-mTOR (P ＜ 0.05).The proliferation effect of astragalus polysaccharides was weakened after accession of AMPK antagonist compound C on hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Conclusions APS can inhibit the growth and proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells,and its mechanism is related to the AMPK-mTOR pathway.