ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of short-term enriched environment on the hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged female rats. Methods Twenty 14-month female SD rats were randomly divided into 10 enriched environment (EE) rats and 10 standard environment (SE) rats. EE rats were reared in enriched environment and SE rats were reared in standard environment for 4 months. Then, five rats were randomly selected from each group. The spatial learning capacity was assessed with Morris water maze. The hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the rat hippocampal formation were quantitatively investigated with transmission electronic microscopy technique and stereological methods. Results Short-term enriched environment enhanced the spatial learning capacity of the mid-aged female rats. The total length and total volume of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of the EE rats was significantly increased by 43.3% and 47.4%, respectively, when compared to the SE rats. There was no significant difference in the hippocampal volume and the mean diameter of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation between two groups. The increase of the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation was mainly due to the increase of the myelinated fibers with small diameter. Conclusion Short-term enriched environment had significant effects on the spatial learning capacity and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of middle-aged female rats.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of short-term enriched environment on the hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged male rats. MethodsTwenty 14-month old male SD rats were randomly divided into enriched group and standard group. Enriched rats were reared in enriched environment and standard rats were reared in standard environment for 4 months. Then, the spatial learning capacity of enriched rats and standard rats was tested with the Morris water maze. After the Morris water maze test, the total volume of the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation were quantitatively estimated with transmission electronic microscopy technique and stereological methods. Results There was not significant difference in the spatial learning capacity between enriched group and standard group. The total volume of the hippocampal formation of enriched rats was not significantly increased by 4.6% when compared with that of standard rats. The total volume, total length and mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of enriched rats were significantly increased when compared with those of standard rats. Conclusions Four-months enriched environment significantly affected the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged male SD rats. The present results might provide an important theoretical basis for searching the ethology strategy to delay the progress of brain aging in the future.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of exercise on the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of middle-aged rats. MethodsTen 14-month female SD rats were randomly divided into exercise group and sedentary group.Rats in the exercise group were forced to run on a treadmill for 4 months. After 4 months, spatial learning capacity of two group rats was tested using the Morris water maze.Then, the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation were quantitatively estimated using transmission electronic microscopy and stereological techniques. Results Treadmill running enhanced the spatial learning capacity of the rats. The volume of hippocampal formation and the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation were significantly increased after 4 months exercise.However,there was no significant difference in the total volume of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation between the two groups.The absolute distributions of the total length of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of two groups indicated that the exercise-induced increase of the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation was mainly due to the increase of the myelinated fibers with small diameter. Conclusions Four months running exercise remarkably influence the spatial learning capacity,hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of the middle-aged famale SD rats. The present results reveal a potential mechanism for the fact that exercise might improve brain function.

Hemangiopericytoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; pathology

Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Genes, BRCA1 ; Genes, BRCA2 ; Humans ; Mutation ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics

Objective To study the effect of balloon dilatation therapy on dysphagia caused by cricopharyn- geal achalasia.Methods Ten cases of dysphagia were diagnosed as cricopharyngeal achalasia by videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS).A 14~* urethral catheter was inserted into the esophagus and an amount of water was injec- ted into the balloon of the urethral catheter to make it turgid.Then the catheter was pulled upwards and passed through the stricture of esophagus to dilatate the cricopbarygeus muscle.Meanwhile,low frequency electrical stimula- tion was used and combined with functional training of the organs related to deglutition and ingestion.The results be- fore and after the treatment were evaluated.Results After 19.7 times of dilatation therapy,the content of water in- jected into the balloon was increased from 2.65?0.91 ml to 8.20?0.92 ml.Cricopharyngeal achalasia was alle- viated significantly(P

Objective To summarize the cases of surgical treatment of patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA),atrial septal defect(ASD),or ventricular septal defect(VSD) after failure of congenital cardiac catheterization(CCC).Methods From January 2000 to December 2013 in our hospital 26 patients were retrospectively studied,follow-up results recorded for each patient by telephone and outpatient follow-up review.Results There were no deaths.The average age of the patients was (18.8 ± 17.9) (3.0-67.0) years old.The median time of the intervals between interventions and surgeries were 14 days(2 hours to 5 years),the median length of hospital stay were 10 days(7-21 days),median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 67minutes (0-206 minutes),the median blocking time 40 minutes (0-90 minutes),the median time of mechanical ventilation 8.5 hours (2.0-88.0 hours),median ICU stay one day (1-6 days).The average follow-up were (93.0 ± 49.3) months (7.0-182.4 months).Surgical results were satisfactory.Conclusion Interventional treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) is safe after all,but should strictly the indications controlled,the operations completed by skilled doctors.If there are complex complications,surgical intervention should be concerned,and the results are satisfactory.Patients after CCC should be followed up regularly.

Objective To investigate the sex differences of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged standard and enriched rats. Methods Twenty 14-month Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, 10 female and 10 male rats, were randomly divided into enriched group and standard group. Enriched rats were reared in enriched environment and standard rats were reared in standard environment for 4 months. Then, the total volume of the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampus were quantitatively estimated by transmission electron microscopy and stereological methods. Results The total volume and mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of standard female rats were significantly bigger than those of standard male rats (P0.05). The mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of enriched female rats was significantly smaller than that of enriched male rats (P0.05). Conclusion The sex differences of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged standard and enriched rats are significantly different, which indicates the response to the enriched environment in the mid-aged male and female rats is different.

Objective To explore the role of white matter injuries in the schizophrenia induced by the NMDA re-ceptor antagonist. Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice (8 week old) were equally divided into four groups. One group was sub-chronically treated with saline solution, and the other three groups were intraperitoneally treated with MK-801 at dose of 0.025 mg/mL (M1), 0.050 mg/mL (M2) and 0.100 mg/mL (M3) in a volume 10 ml per kilogram body weight. All ani-mals were tested using Morris water maze at the 9th-15th day and using the Hole Board exploration as well as Rota Rod performance tests on the 16th day. The myelin basic protein (MBP) and the ultrastructure of the myelin sheaths in the cor-pus callosum were then examined using immunohistochemical methods, transmission electron microscope technique and stereological methods. Results The repeated sub-chronic MK-801 treatment did not induce impairment of spatial learning and memory in Morris water maze. The MK-801 treatment at 0.25 mg/kg and 1.00 mg/kg but not at 0.50 mg/kg resulted in less exploration to a new environment. The myelin staining with anti-MBP antibody was less intense in all three schizo-phrenic groups when compared to saline control group (P<0.01). Furthermore, MK-801 treatment caused pathological al-terations of the myelin sheaths including segmental demyelination of myelinated fibers and splitting of myelin sheath lamel- lae in schizophrenic groups. The ratio of the injured myelinated nerve fibers in the corpus callosum of MK-801 treated mice [M3 group, (22.42 ± 4.24)%] was significantly higher when compared to the control mice [(3.84 ± 1.35)%,P<0.01)]. Conclusions The present study demonstrated the white matter damages, mainly low MBP expression and segmental demye-lization in the corpus callosum in the mice sub-chronic treated with MK-801, indicating that the white matter changes might be involved in the schizophrenia induced by NMDA antagonist.

OBJECTIVETo assess the curative effects of different drugs on liver cell damage of rats induced by acute nickel carbonyl poisoning.

METHODSIn present study 220 SD rats were divided into control group (10 rats), carbonyl nickel group (10 rats), 20 mg/kg methylprednisolone group (40 rats), 100 mg/kg DDC group (40 rats), 10 µmol/kg sodium selenite group (40 rats), 0.25 ml shenfuhuiyangtang group (40 rats) and 20 mg/kg methylprednisolone with 100 mg/kg DDC group (40 rats). All rats except for control group inhaled passively 250 mg/m(3) carbonyl nickel for 30 minutes. At 4h and 30h after exposure, the drugs were given intraperitoneally to the rats. On the 3rd and 7th days after exposure, the liver samples were taken from 10 rats each group. The DNA damage of liver cells was detected using comet assay, the ultrastructure changes in liver cells were examined under an electronmicroscope.

RESULTSCompared to carbonyl nickel group, the tail lengths of liver cells in 5 groups administrated at 4 h or 30 h and tested on the 3rd or 7th day after exposure decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the tail lengths of liver cells in sodium selenite and shenfuhuiyangtang groups administrated at 4h after exposure or sodium selenite, shenfuhuiyangtang and methylprednisolone with DDC groups administrated at 30h after exposure increased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), when tested on the 3rd day after exposure. Except from methylprednisolone sub-group administrated at 4h and tested on the 7th day after exposure, the tail lengths of liver cells in other groups administrated at 4 h or 30 h and tested on the 7th day after exposure increased significantly (P < 0.05). Compared to carbonyl nickel group, the Olive moment of liver cells in 5 groups administrated at 4 h or 30 h tested on the 3rd or 7th day after exposure decreased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared to the control group, the Olive moment of liver cells in following groups (selenite and shenfuhuiyangtang groups administrated at 4 h or 30 h and tested on the 3rd or 7th day after exposure, DDC group administrated at 4 h or 30 h and tested on the 7th day after exposure, DDC group administrated at 30h and tested on the 3rd day after exposure, and methylprednisolone with DDC group administrated at 30 h and tested on the 7th day after exposure) increased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). As compared with carbonyl nickel group, the ultrastructure observation indicated that the nucleus and other organelles of liver cells in methylprednisolone, DDC and methylprednisolone with DDC groups administrated at 4h and tested on the 3rd day were access to normal levels.

CONCLUSIONThe results of present study showed that methylprednisolone, DDC and methylprednisolone with DDC could improve obviously the repair of rat liver cell damage induced by acute carbonyl nickel poisoning, and the curative effects of early treatment were better than those of later treatment.

Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; pathology ; DNA Damage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Organometallic Compounds ; poisoning ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Selenite ; therapeutic use ; Zalcitabine ; therapeutic use