Alcoholism ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Learning ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; physiology ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; genetics ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

In order to study the spectral reflectance differences of Glycyrrhizae Radix under different growth conditions and lay the foundation for quantitative monitoring of Glycyrrhizae Radix remote sensing images, spectra of Glycyrrhiza species under different growth period and different varieties and different regions were measured by a portable spectrometer. The results showed that the reflectivity of annual G. uralensis was obviously higher than that of the two years plant in the visible light band own to the contents of crown layer chlorophyll. The reflectivity of two years G. pallidiflora was higher than that of G. uralensis in the near infrared band own to the leaf area index and the content of leaf water. The red edge spectrum of annual plant fluctuated largely than that of two years plant due to vegetation coverage and leaf area index. G. pallidiflora grew well than G. uralensis. Under different regions of the Glycyrrhiza species, spectral data analysis showed that within a certain range, the average annual precipitation and average annual evaporation were the major factors to affect the differences of Glycyrrhiza species spectral data under different regions owe to the leaf water content, the higher leaf water content, the lower spectral reflectance. The principal component analysis and continuum-removed method of the spectral data under different regions found that, within a certain range, the average annual precipitation and average annual evaporation were the major factors caused by the differences of Glycyrrhiza species spectral data under the different regions, Glycyrrhiza species spectral similarity related to the spatial distance.
Geography ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; Spectrum Analysis

Objective To evaluate the influential factors of iron acquisition during Francisella tularensis LVS infection of mouse macrophages.Methods F.tularensis LVS expressing green fluorescent protein was used to infect murine macrophage J774A.1 cells.Transferrin receptor 1(Tfr1)was detected with mono-antibody and visualized with a goat-anti mouse IgG conjugated to Alexa 594.The expression profile of 5 iron metabolism related genes of J774A.1 murine macrophages uninfected or infected with F.tularensis LVS was determined with real-time PCR.Immunoblot analysis was used to compare the Tfr1 expression of live Francisella infected macrophage with dead bacteria.Tfr1 knock-off in J774A.1 cells was performed with siRNA.The transfected cells were infected with Francisella for immunoblotting and microscopy and infection assay.Results It was revealed that the live vaccine strain of F.tularensis induced the expression of Tfr1 in host macrophages.Gene expression analysis indicated that F.tularensis LVS drove an active iron acquisition program with induction of Tfr1 and iron regulatory proteins(Irp1 and Irp2).It was shown by Western-blotting that the siRNA-Tfrc-1 could knock off about 75% of Tfr1 in J774A.1 cells.It was determined by infection assay that,Tfr1 was knocked off,the bacteria number at 1h infection with Francisella was not different from that of control(F=1.06,P=0.326 5),while it was decreased significantly after 24h of infection(F=24.12,P=0.000 6).Conclusions It is demonstrated that upregulation of the Tfr1 may be mediated by post-transcriptional regulation during early infection,but sustained later through increased expression of Irp 1 and Irp 2.Increased expression of Tfr1 expands the intracellular iron pool through transferrin-mediated delivery and may thus be readily available for uptaking by Francisella.Knocking off the expression of Tfr1 does not affect bacterial invasion.Francisella,however,may fail to proliferate in macrophages in which the expression of transferrin receptor has been suppressed.

Objective To establish a three- dimensional hindlimb gait data toolkit (THGT) for healthy and spinal cord injured (SCI) non-human primate (rhesus monkey) based on Matlab to realize upload of original data, automatic gait division, calculation and drawing of multiple gait parameters, etc. Methods Vicon system was used to collect three-dimensional hindlimb gait data of healthy and SCI (after 6 weeks) rhesus monkey to obtain the kinematics data of both hindlimbs in continuous strides. It was analyzed with THGT to process the gait division, calculation and drawing of multiple gait parameters. Results THGT read the data, distinguished cycles of gait, calculated 140 kinds of gait parameters and drew graphs of the results. Conclusion THGT extends the universality of the Vicon data, realizes automatically gait division and friendly interactive interface, and puts out the visible results.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Bushen Wenyang Huayu Recipe (BWHR) on hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), proline hydroxylase2 (PHD2), von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL) suppressor gene expressions in endometriosis (EM) rats with Shen yang deficiency blood stasis syndrome (SYDBSS), and to explore the pathogenesis of EM and the mechanism of BWHR for treating EM.

METHODSTotally 50 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the blank control group, the sham-operation group, the model group, the Chinese medicine (CM) group, and the Western medicine (WM) group, 10 in each group. Rats in the blank control group and the sham-operation group were fed routinely. Rats in the rest 3 groups received 30-day "extended refrigerator freezing and ice water immersion" and combined with " autotransplantation" to establish EM rat model with SYDBSS. One Milliliter BWHR at 3.33 g/mL was administered to rats in the CM group by gastrogavage. Gestrinone at the daily dose of 0. 5 mg/kg was administered to rats in the WM group by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the model group, the blank control group, and the sham-operation group. The size and morphology of ectopic foci in rats were observed after 4 weeks of medication. Expressions of serum CA125, plasma cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Morphological changes of eutopic endometrium and ectopic tissue were observed under the optical microscope by HE staining. Protein expressions and contents of HIF-lα, PHD2, and VHL were detected by immunohistochemical SABC method and Western blot. mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, PHD2, and VHL were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe ectopic foci grew significantly in the model group. Their volumes were obviously contracted after treated by CM and WM. Compared with the blank control group and the sham-operation group, serum CA125 and plasma cGMP obviously increased, cAMP obviously decreased (P < 0.05); expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all decreased (P < 0.05); mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, levels of CA125 and cGMP obviously decreased; cAMP levels obviously increased, expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all increased, mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all increased in the WM group and the CM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CM group, PHD2 protein contents were higher in the WM group (P < 0.05). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with PHD2 (r = -0.799, P = 0.00). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with VHL (r = -0. 625, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONSBWHR could effectively treat EM. Its mechanism might be associated with reducing contents of HIF-1α, serum CA125, and plasma cGMP, and up-regulating expressions of PHD2, VHL, and cAMP.

Animals ; Cyclic AMP ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endometriosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Proline ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effect of L-carnosine on neuronal cell apoptosis in young rats with experimental febrile seizures(FS).Methods Forty 15-day SD rats were randomly divided into intervention group(n=30)and FS group(n=10).Warm water was used to induce 10 times FS.The intervention group was divided into E,G and H group,10 rats in each group.Intraperitoneal injection of L-carnosine(250 mg/kg)was separately given to the rats in E group,G group and H group respectively after 30,60 and 120 min of seizure.FS group were induced FS,but they were not given intervention.The rats were sacrificed at 12 hours after the last seizure.Neuronal cell apoptosis was determined by terminal eoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)in situ cell death kit.TUNEL positive cells were stained and counted as apoptosis in hippocampus and cortex.Ultrastructural changes of apoptosis neurons were observed under the electron microscope.Results The neuronal cells apoptosis count was 25.37?1.95 in FS group,12.36?1.13 in E group,17.85?2.04 in G group,and 22.69?2.69 in H group.Neuronal apoptosis of FS group was apparently higher than that of interventional groups(F=10.75 P0.05).Under the electron microscope,neuronal damage on hippocampal CA1 area and dentate gyrus of FS group and H group was obviously higher than that of E group.Conclusions Early injection of L-carnosine would not only relieve neuronal apoptosis of repeated FS,but also play a role in the protection of neuronal cells.

0.05).Conclusions Early injection of L-carnosine would not only improve cerebral oxidative phosphorylation,relieve neuronal injury of repeated FS,but play a role in the protection of neuronal cells.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic value of surgical operation-related factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSThe clinical data of 234 patients after hepatic resection (214 men and 20 women) were retrospectively studied. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were performed for surgical operation-related prognostic factors including age, gender, intraoperative blood loss, iatrogenic tumour rupture, transfusion, operation duration, hepatectomy extent, Pringle manoeuvre, with or without devarscularization, and complications (e.g. postoperative ascites, biliary leakage, incision infection, and pleural effusion). Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to compare survival rates. Kendall's tau bivariate analyses were used to examine the correlations of these surgical operation-related factors.

RESULTSUnivariate COX regression analysis revealed that iatrogenic blood loss (chi2 = 19.721, P < 0.001), transfusion (chi2 = 7.769, P = 0.005), tumour rupture (chi2 = 6.401, P = 0.011), operation duration (chi2 = 4.793, P = 0.029), and postoperative ascites (chi2 = 4.452, P = 0.035) were statistically significant predictors in patients with HCC after hepatic resection. Multivariate COX regression analysis revealed that pathological factors, such as blood loss (RR: 2.138, 95% CI: 1.556-2.939), tumour rupture (RR: 2.260, 95% CI: 1.182-4.321), and postoperative ascites (RR: 1.648, 95% CI: 1.088-2.469), independently influenced the HCC prognosis. Blood loss correlated with transfusion (Kendall's tau = 0.416, P < 0.001). There was no correlation between hepatectomy extent and blood loss (Kendall's tau = 0.057, P = 0.383), while transfusion closely correlated with the hepatectomy extent (Kendall's tau = 0.185, P = 0.004). The postoperative ascites closely correlated with Child classification (Kendall's tau = 0.151, P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONSThe long-term survival of patients with HCC after hepatectomy may be improved by avoiding blood loss and iatrogenic tumour rupture. The indications of blood transfusion may not be strictly obeyed in some severe cases. Child class B and C cirrhotic patients may experience postoperative ascites and a worse prognosis, and therefore may be candidates for liver transplantation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical value of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) in thoracic spinal decompression surgery.

METHODSTen patients with confirmed thoracic spinal stenosis underwent thoracic spinal decompression in our center from August 2009 to December 2010. The appearance of the compressed section of spinal cord was observed with IOUS. Before and after the decompression operation, the diameters of dural sac and the spinal cord were recorded respectively. The location and nature of the compression-causing mass were confirmed.

RESULTSIOUS clearly showed the shape of the normal and the compressed sections of dural sac and spinal cord. In the 14 thoracic spinal cord sections of these 10 patients, the anteroposterior diameter, horizontal diameter, and their ratio were bigger than those before decompression. The values of anteroposterior diameter and anteroposterior/horizontal diameter ratio showed significant differences(the P value of dural sac anteroposterior diameter comparison was 0.008, which of spinal cord was 0.007; the P values of these two structures ratio comparison were both 0.002 before and after decompression), while the horizontal diameter presented no significant differences (the P values of both structures were 0.270 and 0.195 respectively before and after decompression).

CONCLUSIONSIOUS can clearly show the morphological changes of the dural sac and spinal cord before and after the decompression. In addition, it helps surgeons to locate and specify the nature of the compression-causing mass on the ventral side of dural sac. Furthermore, IOUS can suggest whether the decompression is sufficient in a real-time manner.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; methods ; Spinal Cord ; diagnostic imaging ; Spinal Stenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVESTo determine the effect of destroying capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents (CSPA) fibers on paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) induced by the direct compression of L5 nerve root with autologous disc.

METHODSThe procedure used autologous disc of the rats from the coccygeal intervertebral discs to apply direct pressure to the L5 dorsal root. PWMT was measured at the different time points post-surgery and pre-surgery. The changes in spatial expression pattern of c-fos protein in the spinal cord were also determined at 3 weeks when PWMT decreased to the peak.

RESULTSThe pretreatment with capsaicin produced a complete prevention of mechanical hyperalgesia induced by disc compression. The direct compression of L5 nerve root produced an obvious expression of fos-like immunoreactivity neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, which was significantly decreased by pretreatment with capsaicin.

CONCLUSIONSThe study shows that CSPA fibers, which mainly terminated in superficial layers of dorsal horn, may play a key role in mechanical hyperalgesia in the new sciatica model.

Afferent Pathways ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Capsaicin ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hyperalgesia ; physiopathology ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; Male ; Pain Threshold ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatica ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; metabolism