Objective：To study anatomic basis of ligaments factors in carpal radial instability. Methods:The length, width, thickness and maximum length of radial scaphoid capitate ligament(RSCL) , radial lunate ligament(RLL) , radial scaphoid lunate ligament(RSLL),radial scaphoid ligament(RSL), scaphoid trapezium ligament(STmL), scaphoid lunate interosseous ligament(SLIL), scaphoid triangular ligament(STgL) and radial ulnar triangular ligament(RUTgL)were measured in the neutral position. The length of RSCL, RLL, RSLL, RSL and RUTgL in the maximum position of radial deviation, ulnardeviation, palmarflexes and dorsiflexes were also measured. The normal and maximal distance of scaphoid lunate gap(SLG) , scaphoid trapezium gap(STmG), radial scaphoid gap(RSG) and capitate lunate gap(CLG) were measured,especially for variation of SLG in the condition of different ligament lesions. Results:Volar carpal radial ligaments were thicker than dorsal ones. The injuries of SLIL, STmL, RSL and CLL were considered generally when SLG>4.78±0.54mm, STmG>3.71±0.32mm, RSG>5.77±0.79mm, CLG>4.62±79mm; when SLIL was incised completely, SLG>5mm. Keeping anatomic structure of SLIL and incising other ligaments, there existed no obvious variation in SLG. Keeping dorsal part and incising proximal and palmar ones, no obvious variation of SLG can be observed. Conclusions: There were no effects on SLG when carpal radial ligaments (except dorsal part of SLIL) were injuried .Dorsal part of SLIL played a very important role in keeping SLG normal.

Objective:To explore the effect of astragalus polysaccharides on the cellular immune functions in rats with sciatic nerve Wallerian degeneration.Methods:10 female Wister rats were established as the sciatic nerve injury model,which were randomly divided into astragalus polysaccharides group and control group.Then 20 mg/kg of astragalus polysaccharides were peritoneal injected every postoperative day in experimental group for 7 days and the same volume of saline for the control group.The content of IL-1? in serum and in supernatants of spleenocytes and macrophages was measured by Sandwich ELISA.Results:The proliferation ability of splenic T cells and macrophages in astragalus polysaccharides group was higher than that of control group(P0.05).Conclusion:Astragalus polysaccharides induces the cellular immuno-regulation in sciatic nerve Wallerian degeneration rats and by this way to promote nerve regeneration.

AIM: To analyze the apoptosis promoting effect of breviscapine on NSCLC cells and the growth of transplanted tumor and investigate the mechanism. METHODS: The apoptosis, Caspase-3 activity, Bax and Bcl-2 expression of A549 cells treated with 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L breviscapine were detected. The subcutaneous transplanted tumor model was constructed with A549 cells. The mice were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg breviscapine every day. The size and weight of the tumor were observed every week. On the 21st day, the mice were killed and the tumor was obtained. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was analyzed. Caspase-3 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and apoptosis in the tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. RESULTS: Breviscapine increased the apoptosis rate of A549 cells. The results of enzyme labeling showed that Caspase-3 activity increased significantly after breviscapine treatment compared with the control group. Western blot showed that breviscapine could significantly inhibit the expression of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2, increase the expression of pro-apoptosis protein Bax, and increase the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. In vivo, on the 14th and 21st day, the tumor size of the treatment group was significantly smaller than that of the control group, while the weight of nude mice was not significantly reduced. Western blot showed that breviscapine could upregulate the expression of Bax and down regulate the expression of Bcl-2 in the transplanted tumor, while the expression of Caspase-3 was significantly increased. TUNEL staining showed that the proportion of apoptosis increased significantly compared with the control after breviscapine treatment. CONCLUSION: Breviscapine can induce the apoptosis of A549 cells in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism may be that breviscapine upregulates Bax expression and downregulates Bcl-2 expression, increases Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activates Caspase-3, resulting in A549 cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate correlation between demyelination and caspase-12 expression alteration after compressed spinal cord injury (CSCI) so as to discuss mechanism of demyelinating lesion after CSCI.Methods Seventy-five adult SD rats were randomly divided into five groups,ie,normal group,control group,compression 1 d,3 d and 7 d groups,with 15 rats per group.Models of spinal cord compression were established with a self-made device.Ultrastructure of the demyelinated nerve fibers was observed by electronic microscope and oligodendrocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining and double labeling immunofluorescence.Immunoblotting was used to defect caspase-12 that was related to cell apoptosis.Results Demyelination of nerve fiber occurred after CSCI and was aggravated with time.Apoptosis of oligodendrocytes was found after CSCI,and showed significant difference between compression 7 d group and normal group (P ＜ 0.05).Caspase-12 was also upregulated with extension of compression time.Conclusion Caspase-12 mediating oligodendrocyte apoptosis is one of the mechanisms of nerve fiber demyelination after CSCI.

Objective To investigate the role of demyelination and the alteration of chondrotin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG,NG2) expression after compression injury of the spinal cord (CSCI).Methods Seventy-five adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a sham-operation group,a CSCI 1 day group,a CSCI 3 day group,and a CSCI 7 day group.There were 15 rats in each group.The injuries in the CSCI groups were inflicted using a technique devised in our laboratory.Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) neurological function assessment was used to assess the rats' motor function,osmic acid staining and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM)were used to observe any pathological changes of myelinated nerve fibers in the white matter at 1,3 and 7 days after CSCI.The amount of myelinated nerve fibers in the posterior funiculus of the spinal cord and the ratio of myelin sheath thickness to axon diameter (the G-ratio) were calculated.Any alteration in NG2 expression was observed by Western blotting.Results The average neurological function assessment scores in the CSCI groups were (1.23 ±0.45),(0.65 ± 0.35) and (0.00 ± 0.00) respectively.Compared with the normal group (21.00 ± 0.00) and the sham operation group (21.00 ± 0.00),the differences were all statistically significant.The rats' motor function deteriorated gradually with time after the CSCI.Osmic acid staining showed that the white matter was intact in the normal and sham groups.After being compressed the myelinated nerve fibers became swollen,degenerated and broke down.The amount of myelinated nerve fibers in the normal group,the sham operation group and the three CSCI groups was (2771 ± 108),(2675 ± 199),(2403 ± 161),(1708 ± 70) and (8 10 ± 95) respectively.The amount of myelinated nerve fibers decreased in the CSCI groups and reached a minimum on the 7th day.The difference was statistically significant.The TEM quantity analysis showed that the G-ratios in the normal,sham operation,and CSCI 1 day,3 day and7 day groups were (18.10±0.4),(17.70±1.0),(6.69 ±0.8),(5.73 ±0.4) and (4.95 ±0.5) respectively.Compared with the normal and sham operation groups,the G-ratios in the 3 CSCI groups were lower and reached their minimum on the 7th day after injury.The difference was statistically significant.TEM observation showed that the axons and myelin sheaths were intact in the normal and sham groups.After CSCI the axons became swollen and cell organelles in the axoplasm degenerated and decreased.The layers of myelin sheath shrank,folded and even wrinkled,which had an onion-like appearance.The oligodendrocytes exhibited chromatin condensation.Macrophages showed infiltration.Western blotting showed that the expression of NG2 in the CSCI groups reached a maximum on the 1st day after injury and then decreased with time.The expression of NG2 in the CSCI groups was higher than in the normal and sham groups,and the difference was statistically significant.Conclusion Demyelination occurs after CSCI-the amount of myelinated nerve fibers decreases and neurological deficits increase with time.The expression of NG2 was associated with changes in the myelin sheaths after CSCI and contributed to recovery of the myelin sheath through proliferation and differentiation to oligodendrocytes and perhaps other kinds of cells.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the enhanced effect of gemcitabine by emodin and the possible mechanisms of the enhancement.

METHODBased on the model of SW1990 cell xenograft on athymic mouse, the mice were randomized to four groups with intraperitoneal (IP) injections of different drugs: group N (injecting 0.9% sodium chloride), group E (emodin, 40 mg x kg(-1)), group G (gemcitabine, 125 mg x kg(-1)), and group E + G (emodin 40 mg x kg(-1) and gemcitabine 80 mg x kg(-1) in combination). The tumor volume, tumor weight and body weight of mice were measured during the drug therapy. The mice were sacrificed one week after last injection of drug. Tunel assay were used used to detect the apoptosis of tumor cells. And immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB) were used to detect the variance of the apoptosis relative protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and Cytochrome C .

RESULTOne week after the last administration, the mean tumor volume and tumor weight in group E + G were significantly decreased compared to the other groups. Tunel assay showed group E + G presented apparently more apoptosis than the other groups. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB) analysis showed the expression of Cytochrome C in cytoplasmin and Bax in group E + G was apparently upregulated while the expression of Bcl-2 was apparently downregulated compared to the other groups. As a result, Bcl-2/Bax ratio was significantly decreased in group E + G.

CONCLUSIONEmodin can significantly improve the antitumor effect of gemcitabine on transplanted tumor of SW1990 cell line through apparently enhancing the tumor cell apoptosis by gemcitabine. Downregulation of Bcl-2/Bax ratio and promoting release of Cytochrome C from mitochondria is possibly one of the mechanisms of the augmented apoptosis.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism