To explore the effect of Ruiqi pill on neuronal calcium level of cerebral cortex in brain of rat embryos.Methods: The cerebral cortex of rat embryos pregnanted for 16-17 days were dissected.The neural cells were divided into Ruiqi pill group and control group randomly after 4-5 days in vitro culture.Effect of Ruiqi pill on neuronal calcium level of primary culture of cortical neurons in rat embryos was measured by laser scanning confocal microscopy.Results:Ruiqi pill could reduce neuronal calcium concentration,no change was found in the control group.Conclusion: Ruiqi pill reduced neuronal calcium concentration,which might be one of the mechanisms of Ruiqi pill in improving memory function.

BACKGROUND: The mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) may affects vascular smooth muscle cell Ras protein and suppress cellular proliferation through inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase signaling pathway, which plays an important role in pathogenesis of vascular disorders such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis. Mfn-2 gene amino acid sequence of the first 442 serine serves as protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation site, which is closely related to its phosphorylation status and may be involved in its functional regulation.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Mfn2 gene with PKA phosphorylation site deletion[Mfn2-PKA (△)] on inhibiting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and related signaling pathway.METHODS: Vascular smooth muscle cells of rats infected by recombinational adenovirus carrying green fluorescent protein,Mfn2 gane and Mfn2-PKA (△), were subcultured for 3-10 passages and randomly divided into 4 groups: ① Control group without intervention. ② Control group infected with adenovirus carrying green fluorescent protein. ③ Experiment group infected with adenovirus carrying Mfn-2 gene.④ Experiment group infected with adenovirus carrying Mfn2-PKA (△). Laser confocal microscopy was used to observe the locations of Mfn2 gene with and without PKA in cells. The expressions of extracallular signal-regulated protein kinase, Mfn2 gone and Mfn2-PKA (△) were determined by Western blot analysis. The growth curve of the vascular smooth muscle cells was explored by MTT.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The Mfn-2 and Mfn2-PKA (△) both expressed protein-specific bands in vascular smooth muscle cells. Two kinds of gone expression products were mainly located at the out membrane of mitochondria. Compared with the control group and adenovirus carrying green fluorescent protein group, the absorbance values at 3, 4, 5, 6 days were significantly reduced in adenovirus carrying Mfn2 group (P ＜ 0.01), and no obvious changes were observed in adenovirus carrying Mfn2-PKA (△) group. Compared with the control group and adenovirus carrying green fluorescent protein group, the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase expression was significantly reduced in adenovirus carrying Mfn2 group (P ＜ 0.01), and no obvious changes were observed in adenovirus carrying Mfn2-PKA (△) group. Mfn2-PKA (△) located at the out membrane of mitochondria, has no effect on suppressing the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and no inhibition effect on extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of chinese traditional treatment after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for patients with chronic sinusitis. METHOD: Eighty-eight cases of patients with chronic sinusitis were randomly divided into control group and treatment group after FESS and followed for 3 months. The control group received routine treatment. The treatment group received Chinese traditional treatment on the basis of routine treatment. VAS scores, Lund-Kennedy scores and Lund-Mackay scores were employed to conduct the subjective and objective assessment, comprehensively evaluate the clinical efficacy before and after treatment. RESULT: (1) After 3 months of treatment, the two groups of VAS scores and Lund-Mackay scores were significantly improved before treatment (P<0. 05). (2)After 3 months of treatment, the effectiveness of the control group was 81. 8%, treatment group was 97. 7%, the difference was statistically significant(P<0. 05). CONCLUSION Chinese traditional treatment after FESS can reduce postoperative mucosal edema and promote the postoperative recovery of sinus mucosal inflammation, is effective in preventing the recurrence of postoperative.
Chronic Disease ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Paranasal Sinuses ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Sinusitis ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the expression of engulfment and cell motility protein 1 (ELMO1) in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and its effects on cell migration.Methods The expression of ELMO1 in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues was assessed by Western blot.We used transient transfection with an ELMO1 expressing vector to over-express ELMO1 protein in SK-HEP-1 cells.Over-expression of ELMO1 was confirmed by Western blot.siRNAs specific to ELMO1 (ELMO1 siRNA) were used to knockdown ELMO1 expression.Rho Family Small GTPase Activation Assay, Western blots, transwell assay were used to determine the migration potential of cells.Student's test was employed for statistical analysis.Results The expression of ELMO1 protein was obviously up-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines (P<0.05).Over-expression of ELMO1 promoted cell migration in SK-HEP-1 cells, while knock-down of ELMO1 showed the opposite effect.Conclusion ELMO1 up-regulation significantly correlates with cell migration in hepatocellular carcinoma.

0.05). However, a significant higher percentage of CD3+CD25+ T cells was found in stable liver transplantation group as compared to healthy group ( P0.05). There was not found no regular change of serum cytokine s (IL-6, TN F-?) and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, P-selectin) in 6 liver transplanted patien ts during post-operation from day 1 to day 30, indicating that was associated wi th the different status of patients before or after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggesting that increased levels of ICAM-1 and P-selectin, appears to participate in the processing of immunoregulation to transplanted livers, whereas elevated concentrations of IL-6 appear to be involv ed in the repair of the injury induced by TNF-? in allo-transplanted livers.

BACKGROUND: Locking pedicle screw system is commonly used in clinic, but it often suppresses spinal longitudinal growth of adolescent at growth phase. Thus, a pedicle screw system that can reduce even avoid the inhibition to spinal growth is needed. OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical performance of sliding instrumentation of pedicle screw system and traditional locking pedicle screw system. DESIGN: Comparative observation. SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital of Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, and Department of Orthopedics, the 211 Hospital of Chinese PLA. MATERIALS: The experiment was performed at Department of Material Science, Harbin Institute of Technology on June 29th, 2007. Self-designed sliding pedicle screw system was made of Ti alloy by Wujin No. 3 Medical Instrument Factory Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Province. It consisted of sliding pedicle screw, orthopaedic rod and transversal coupling device. Twelve samples of fresh porcine spine were selected, and muscles attached on vertebral bodies of TrL5 were removed carefully but integrity of main ligament and precessus articularis posterior was retained. METHODS: The samples were randomly divided into sliding system group and locking system group with 6 samples in each group. Partial vertebral plate and surrounding ligaments of T12as well as bilateral facet joints between T11-12 and T12-L1 were removed to induce spinal destabilization, then sliding pedicle screw system and locking pedicle screw system were respectively fixed onto T10, T12, and L2 vertebral bodies of two groups. The samples then were fixed into fixture, and put onto INSTAON-4505 axial compressor. The strain gauge was connected with YJ-31 static electricity resistance strain gauge instrument human to simulate human spinal load, and the center of gravity was loaded to induce forward flexion, backward extension, lateral flexion and axial construction. Load of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 N was given gradually, and displacement of T12 was measured under different loads. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Changns in principal stress and displacement under forward flexion, backward extension, lateral flexion and axial construction; ②Spinal fixation intensity and rigidity. RESULTS: No statistical difference was detected in main straining, displacement of apical vertebrae and intensity of fixation between sliding system group and locking system group under forward flexion, backward extension, lateral flexion and axial construction (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sliding pedicle screw system has identical biomechanical stability as locking system. Furthermore, in sliding pedicle screw system, the screw and rod are coupled by sliding pattern, which extend along with spinal growth. It can be used to treat scoliosis at growth phase.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Ruiqi tablet on mitochondrion activities in the cerebral cortex neurons of fetal mice.

METHODThe cerebral cortex of fetal Wistar rats after 16- 17 gestation days were collected and randomized into Ruiqi tablet group and blank control group after 4-5 days' culture. Laser scanning confocal microscope was adopted to determine the changes in the mitochondrion activities of the primary cultured cerebral cortex neurons of fetal rats after addition of Ruiqi tablet solution.

RESULTRuiqi tablet can increase the mitochondrion activities of the cerebral cortex neurons. No significant change in the mitochondrion activities of the cerebral cortex neurons was found in the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONRuiqi tablet can increase the mitochondrion activities of the neurons and it has certain application prospects in treatment of some neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease and so on.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fetus ; chemistry ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; physiology ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tablets

Objective Taking pig kidney as an example, through a series of comparative and analogical experiments, the influencing factors of compressive stress at relaxation stage of biological tissues were analyzed, and a more accurate and widely applicable biomechanical model at relaxation stage was established. Methods The compressive stress relaxation experiments of pig kidney under different conditions were carried out by using the self-built mechanical experiment platform. The collected data were analyzed and mapped, and various factors affecting the relaxation force changes were summarized. Based on the conclusion, the neural network learning algorithm was used to model the force change process at relaxation stage of pig kidney. Results The pre-extrusion pressure and relaxation time were the main influencing factors for compressive stress changes of biological tissues at relaxation stage. The average error of test sample validation experiment was 6.4 mN, and the average prediction error of generalization sample validation experiment was 34.9 mN, so the modeling effect was good. Conclusions Neural network modeling algorithm has the advantages of strong generalization ability and good fault tolerance, which contributes to providing more realistic force tactile feedback prediction for virtual surgery system. It is also a new idea for mechanical modeling of nonlinear biological tissues.

Objective To develop a new-type animal dental stent for the experiment of canine pulp regeneration.Methods The stent was composed of an upper support frame,an oral limit bracket and a lower support frame,which were aligned from top to bottom.A sleeve joint was made for the connection structure of the bracket,and the height and the width both could be adjusted to adapt to different animals' mouths.The rubber dam could be spread into tension and concave form by rotating the upper and lower support frames' ends.Results By resizing the animal dental stent based on the structure of animal facies maxillaris,medical staffs could proceed the examination and treatment to animals effectively,including the throat examination,oral examination,oral care,dental treatment (such as root canal therapy and dental filling) and other medical behaviors.Conclusion The experimental result shows the feasibility of utilizing the stent in the process of animal experiment or diagnosis and treatment.Moreover,the stent proves the capacity in protecting the soft tissue,widening the vision of operation field,getting rid of the saliva contamination,which is worthy popularizing in animal experiments and animal medical care.

In order to improve the mechanical properties of alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP), we prepared surface-modified carbon fibers (CF) reinforced alpha-TCP composite bone cement. Bone cement was soaked in Ringer's body solution to test its capacity of fast formation of hydroxyapatite crystals and self-solidification. Scan electronic microscope (SEM) observation and compressive strength measurement were taken to analyze the mechanical properties and the micro- morphological structure of CF reinforced alpha-TCP bone cement. The results showed that the bone cement was transferred into hydroxyapatite plates after being soaked in Ringer's simulated body fluid for 5 days. Suitable amount of carbon fibers could well spread in and bond with the matrix of the bone cement. The mechanical properties of the bone cement have been improved by CF reinforcing; the compressive strength reaches 46.7 MPa when the amount of carbon fibers is 0.5% in weight percent, which is 22% higher than that of the non-reinforced alpha-TCP bone cement.
Bone Cements ; chemistry ; Calcium Phosphates ; chemistry ; Carbon ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Materials Testing