Objective:To observe neuroprotective effects of insulin on traumatic spinal cord injury in rat models and discuss its potential mechanisms. Methods:60 SD rats were randomly divided into A group(control group) and B group(insulin group), with 30 rats in each group,The animal SCI model was established according to method Allen's,A group and B group were respectively infused with isotonic Na chloride or 1Iu/kg insulin through abdominal cavity,three times a day,for 7 days. apoptosis neurons were observed on 8 hours,3 days,7 days,14 days,and 28 days after SCI,and tigroid body,neurons,GAP-43 positive cells,and BBB score were measured on 1 day,3 days,7 days,14 days,and 28 days after SCI. Results:Neuron number,GAP-43 positive cells,and BBB score in multitude time points were significantly higher in B group than in A group(P

Objective To observe the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) based on a normal walking pattern on the lower extremity function of subjects early after cerebral infarction.Methods Twenty patients with cerebral infarction aged (59.7 ± 10.1) years (range 45-80) who were hospitalized and within 3 months (31.1 ± 19.3 days) after the onset were randomly assigned to an FES group (n =11) or a placebo stimulation group (n =9).All subjects in both groups received standard medical and rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the FES group received FES and the placebo group received sham-FES without current output.The daily stimulation and shamstimulation sessions lasted for 30 min,5 d/week for 3 weeks.All of the subjects in the two groups were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),postural assessment for stroke patients (PASS),the Berg balance scale (BBS),functional ambulation categories (FACs) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).Results After 3 weeks of treatment,FMA,PASS,BBS and MBI scores had all improved significantly compared with before treatment in both groups,but the FES group showed significantly better improvement.After treatment the average FAC results of both groups had improved,and there was no significant difference between the two groups.At the same time,the research revealed the expected significant correlations among the FMA,PASS,BBS and MBI results.Conclusion FES based on a normal walking pattern can improve lower extremity motor function early after cerebral infarction,improve balance,and improve ability in the activities of daily living.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy

Objective To explore the differentiated diagnostic value of the morphological changes of follicular dendritic cell (FDC)meshwork between different subtype of lymphoma.Methods CD21 was stained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method,FDC meshwork pattern was studied in 5 6 cases of various lymphomas(including 8 cases of diffuse large B cell lym-phoma,2 cases of burkitts lymphoma,6 cases of small lymphocytic lymphoma,6 cases of plasmacytoma,3 cases of MALT lymphoma,6 cases of peripheral T cell lymphoma,3 cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma,8 cases of NK/T cell lympho-ma,4 cases of follicular lymphoma,3 cases of mantle cell lymphoma,3 cases of AITL,2 cases of FDC sarcoma).Results FDC meshwork in the morphological changes of various subtypes of lymphoma could be classified into four patterns:①FDC form a disappeared and disintegrated meshwork,most of the lymphoma FDC meshwork fully or partially destroyed,including diffuse large B cell lymphoma,burkitt lymphoma,small lymphocytic lymphoma,plasmacytoma,peripheral T cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma,NK/T cell lymphoma;②FDC meshtwork existence,even hyperplasia,including follicular lymphoma,mantle cell lymphoma,MALT lymphoma;③FDC meshtwork proliferation,disorder and deformation,such as AI-TL;④Full expression subtype:such as FDC sarcoma.Conclusion The morphologic pattern of the FDC meshwork in lym-phomas of follicular origin was differs according to the lymphoma subtypes,and it has important clinical value in lymphoma differential diagnostic.

AIMTo investigate the roles of acetylcholine (ACh) receptors in the rapid effects of corticosterone (CORT) on the presympathetic neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of rats, and study the non-genomic mechanism of glucocorticoid (GC) in the integration of sympathetic cardiovascular activity.

METHODSThe effects of microelectrophoresis of CORT on the discharge of the presympathetic neurons in the RVLM were observed by extracellular recording in urethane-anaesthetized rats. The responses of atropine (a blocker for M type of ACh receptor, ATR), d-tubocurarine (a blocker for N1 type of ACh receptor, d-TC) and hexamethonium (a blocker for N2 type of ACh receptor, C6) to the effects of CORT on the presympathetic neurons were investigated respectively.

RESULTSTotally 33 presympathetic neurons in the RVLM were recorded. Among them the firing rate of 25 (76%) presympathetic neurons was increased by microelectrophoresis of CORT. The effects of CORT were also positively correlated with the currents. In the other 8 presympathetic neurons, had was shown no effect after microelectrophoresis of CORT. In 10 presympathetic neurons, which discharge was increased by CORT, microelectrophoresis of ATR decreased the firing rate of these presympathetic neurons (P < 0.05), and did not fully block the excitatory effect induced by CORT. In both 7 and 6 presympathetic neurons, application of d-TC and C6 had no effect on these neurons respectively, and did not fully block the excitatory effect induced by CORT.

CONCLUSIONCORT had rapid excitatory effects on the presympathetic neurons in the RVLM, which effect might be independent on ACh receptors.

Animals ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Corticosterone ; pharmacology ; Electrophoresis, Microchip ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Nicotinic Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; physiology

Recently, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been suggested to contribute to physiopathology and therapeutic effects. Leukotriene B4 receptor 2 (BLT2), a member of the GPCR family, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases, including cancer and asthma. However, no studies on BLT2 SNP effects have been reported to date. In this study, we demonstrate that the BLT2 SNP (rs1950504, Asp196Gly), a Gly-196 variant of BLT2 (BLT2 D196G), causes enhanced cell motility under low-dose stimulation of its ligands. In addition, we demonstrated that Akt activation and subsequent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), both of which act downstream of BLT2, are also increased by BLT2 D196G in response to low-dose ligand stimulation. Furthermore, we observed that the ligand binding affinity of BLT2 D196G was enhanced compared with that of BLT2. Through homology modeling analysis, it was predicted that BLT2 D196G loses ionic interaction with R197, potentially resulting in increased agonist-receptor interaction. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe a SNP study on BLT2 and shows that BLT2 D196G enhances ligand sensitivity, thereby increasing cell motility in response to low-dose ligand stimulation.
Asthma ; Cell Movement* ; Humans ; Ligands ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; Receptors, Leukotriene B4 ; Therapeutic Uses

OBJECTIVETo study the difference in the pharmacokinetics of emodin in Zhiganning capsules and Rhizoma Polygontum Cuspidatum by nonaqueous RP-HPLC.

METHODThe rats were orally administered with the extraction of Rhizoma Polygontum Cuspidatum and Zhiganning capsules. After hydrolysis and extraction, the content of emodin in the plasma is determined by Nonaqueous RP-HPLC.

RESULTThe concentration-time profiles of emodin fit two-compartment model. The pharmacokinetics parameters including, t1/2alpha, AUC(0-infinity), CL(s) and C(max) of emodin in the group of Rhizoma Polygontum Cuspidatum were significantly different from these in the group of its compounds.

CONCLUSIONThere is a significant difference in pharmacokinetics of emodin between zhiganning capsules and the extraction of Rhizoma Polygontum Cuspidatum.

Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Capsules ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Emodin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry

AIDS is a serious threat to the human health. Although highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has obviously prohibited the progress of AIDS, a yearly increasing problems of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance have arousing more attention, affecting the clinical efficacy of HAART, and even resulting in treatment failure. We are lack of exchangeable medicines, while the therapeutic course of AIDS treatment is longer. It is not feasible to monitor and detect the drug resistance of medicine takers by taking the exchangeable medicines as the outcome. Better indications have been obtained by combining the experiences for Chinese medicine and pharmacy (CMP) intervention and CMP's intervening HIV drug resistance by clinical trails. Based on retrospective studies on the HIV biological features, reasons for HIV drug resistance, the occurrence, the predisposing population, and the mutation sites, the authors addressed it is a good opportunity for CMP in intervening HIV drug resistance at present situation in China. Meanwhile, the authors also raised too much difficulties and challenges. We hope CMP's intervention can minimize and delay the generation of drug resistance to the utmost, solve key problems in HIV/AIDS prevention and control in China.
Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HIV ; drug effects ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of epithelioid sarcoma (ES).

METHODSThe clinical data of 13 cases with epithelioid sarcoma in the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from March 1995 to December 2009 were collected and analyzed. There were 10 males and 3 females in the group, with an average age of 41.5 years (range: 13 to 68 years). Nine patients had classic ES and 4 had proximal-type ES. Surgery was the mainstay of treatment. After the operation, four patients received radiotherapy, five received chemotherapy, and one received chemoradiotherapy.

RESULTSOf the 13 cases, only 1 had multi-locus lesion. The average tumor size was (6.07 ± 1.34) cm. The lymph node involvement was found in 46.2% of the patients. Local and distant failure occurred in 50% and 30% patients, respectively. The most common site for dissemination was the lung. Four cases died within 3 years after initial operation. The 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-year overall survival rates of the 11 cases were 72.7%, 54.5%, 27.3% and 9.1%, respectively, with a median survival time of 27 months.

CONCLUSIONSEpithelioid sarcoma is a rare disease. The prognosis for patients with epithelioid sarcoma is poor because of a high propensity for local recurrence, lymph node metastases, and/or distant metastases. The definite diagnosis depends mainly on the pathologic examination. Wide surgical excision is the mainstay treatment, and radiation and chemotherapy have been used occasionally as adjuvant therapy but have had limited success.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Extremities ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Survival Rate ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Compounds from Lingzhi has been demonstrated the ability for inhibiting tyrosinase (a key enzyme in melanogenesis) activity. In this study, we investigated the anti-melanogenic activity from the submerged mycelial culture of Ganoderma weberianum and elucidated the skin lightening mechanism by B16-F10 murine melanoma cells. From the cellular context, several fractionated mycelium samples exhibited anti-melanogenic activity by reducing more than 40% extracellular melanin content of B16-F10 melanoma cells. In particular, the fractionated chloroform extract (CF-F3) inhibited both secreted and intracellular melanin with the lowest dosage (25 ppm). Further analysis demonstrated that CF-F3 inhibited cellular tyrosinase activity without altering its protein expression. Taken together, our study has demonstrated that the chemical extracts from submerged mycelial culture of G. weberianum have the potential to serve as an alternative anti-melanogenic agent.
Chloroform ; Ganoderma ; Melanins ; Melanoma ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Mycelium ; Reishi ; Skin