Objective To investigate the protective effect of meglumine adenosine cyclosphosp (MAC) on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits.Methods Twenty four healthy rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n =6),I/R group (n =6),MAC pretreated group (n =6),and MAC treated group (n =6).Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model was made by separating and electrocoagulating vertebral arteries and clipping common carotid arteries in the latter 3 groups after anesthesia.The sham-operated group underwent vessel separation without clipping.L/R group was administered with nothing,while MAC pretreated group with MAC before ischemia,and MAC treated group with MAC just after ischemia.Blood was gathered from jugular vein before ischemia,and 30 min,1 h,and 2 h after reperfusion for testing IL-8,superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA).The brain tissue slice was observed by optical microscope.Results Compared to control group and before ischemia,the levels of IL-8 and SOD in serum were significantly increased and decreased,and the levels of MDA was significantly increased at 30 min after reperfusion in I/R group; the levels of IL-8 and MDA in serum were significantly increased,and the levels of SOD in serum was significantly decreased at 1 h and 2 h after reperfusion in I/R group.The levels of IL-8 in serum was less at 30 min and 1 h and 2 h after reperfusion in MAC pretreated group than in I/R group.At 1 h and 2 h after reperfusion,the levels of MDA in serum was less and the levels of SOD in serum was higher in MAC pretreated group than in I/R group.At 1 h and 2 h after reperfusion,the levels of IL-8 in serum were less and the levels of SOD in serum were higher in MAC treated group than in I/R group.The levels of MDA in serum were less at 2 h after reperfusion in MAC treated group than in I/R group.Compared to I/R group,pathological change was lighter in the MAC pretreated and MAC treated group.Conclusions MAC has a fine cerebral-protective effect and has no side effect.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and auxiliary examination results of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) with restless leg syndrome (RLS) as the first symptom.Methods:The clinical features and auxiliary examination results of one case of sCJD who received treatment in Sichuan Mianyang 404 Hospital were analyzed based on relevant literature.Results:A 59-year-old woman of Han nationality who had sCJD with restless leg-like manifestation of the left lower limb for 18 days was included in this study. The patient was first treated in orthopedic department, but her symptom did not improve after treatment. Twenty days later, she was transferred to neurology department for further treatment. Her daily life and activities were not affected. Head magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, cerebrospinal fluid routine examination and biochemical test results were normal. Five days later, the patient had mild left-sided ataxia, which then progressed rapidly, followed by right-sided ataxia, left-leg spasticity and adduction, involuntary movement, myoclonia, cognitive decline, akinetic mutism, repeated hyperthermia, repeated complex partial seizures. Two weeks later, head magnetic resonance imaging examination revealed hyperintense signal of the cingulate gyrus, frontal cortex and right island cortex on DWI, with cerebellar atrophy and three-phase electroencephalography wave. Four weeks later, CSF14-3-3 protein was positive, and no related genetic mutation in the prion protein gene was found. The duration from onset to death was about 8 months.Conclusion:sCJD is a common subtype of prion protein disease, and the condition can be stabilized for more than 1 month after the onset of RLS. There is no specificity in early clinical and auxiliary examinations, and neither dobutazine treatment nor neurotrophic treatment is effective. The disease progresses rapidly after 1 month, head MRI and EEG reexamination can reveal clues, and CSF14-3-3 protein can assist clinical diagnosis.

Chronic and heavy alcohol consumption is one of the causes of heart diseases. However, the effects of ethanol on insulin sensitivity in myocardium has been unclear. To investigate the effects of ethanol on the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), all of which are involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity, in the myocardium, we performed three parts of experiments in vivo and in vitro. I: Rats were injected with 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR, 0.8 mg.kg(-1)) for 2 h. II: Rats received different dose (0.5, 2.5 or 5 g.kg(-1).d(-1)) of ethanol for 22-week. III: Primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and treated with or without 100 mM ethanol or 1 mM AICAR for 4 h. The cardiac protein and mRNA expression of AMPKalpha subunits, MEF2 and GLUT4 were observed by western-blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. Serum TNFalpha levels were assessed by ELISA. The results showed chronic ethanol exposure induced insulin resistance. Ethanol decreased the mRNA levels of AMPKalpha1 and alpha2, the protein levels of total- and phospho-AMPKalpha in cardiomyocytes. Similarly, ethanol showed inhibitory effects on both the mRNA and protein levels of MEF2A and 2D, and GLUT4 in a dose-response-like fashion. Correlation analysis implied an association between phospho-AMPKalpha and MEF2A or MEF2D, and between the levels of MEF2 protein and GLUT4 transcription. In addition, ethanol elevated serum TNFalpha level. Taken together, chronic ethanol exposure decreases the expression of AMPKalpha and MEF2, and is associated with GLUT4 decline in rat myocardium.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Aminoimidazole Carboxamide/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Animals ; Enzyme Activation/drug effects ; Ethanol/*administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Feeding Behavior/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Glucose Transporter Type 4/genetics/*metabolism ; Insulin/pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Myocardium/*enzymology ; Myogenic Regulatory Factors/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Isoforms/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ribonucleotides/pharmacology ; Time Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into precision echinococcosis control. Methods One or two quadrats, each measuring 50 m × 50 m, were randomly assigned in Shanglaxiu Township and Longbao Township, Yushu City, Qinghai Province on June 2023, respectively, and 300 plate-type mouse traps, each measuring 12.0 cm × 6.5 cm, were assigned in each quadrat. Small rodents were captured during the period between 10 : 00 and 18 : 00 each day for 4 days. Then, all captured small rodents were identified and dissected, and liver specimens with suspected Echinococcus infections were subjected to pathological examinations. The Echinococcus cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) gene was amplified using PCR assay, and the sequence of the amplified product was aligned to that was recorded in the GenBank to characterize the parasite species. In addition, a phylogenetic tree of Echinococcus was generated based on the cox1 gene sequence using the neighbor-joining method. Results A total of 236 small rodents were captured in Shanglaxiu and Longbao townships, Yushu City, including 65 Qinghai voles and 51 plateau pikas in Shanglaxiu Township, and 62 Qinghai voles and 58 plateau pikas in Longbao Township, and there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of small rodents between the two townships (χ² = 0.294, P > 0.05). Seven plateau pikas and 12 Qinghai voles were suspected to be infected with Echinococcus by dissection, and pathological examinations showed unclear structure of hepatic lobules and disordered hepatocyte arrangement in livers of small rodents suspected of Echinococcus infections. PCR assay identified E. shiquicus DNA in 7 Qinghai voles, which were all captured from Shanglaxiu Township. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cox1 gene sequence of Echinococcus in small rodents was highly homologous to the E. shiquicus cox1 gene sequence reported previously. Conclusion Plateau pika and Qinghai vole were predominant small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, and E. shiquicus infection was detected in Qinghai voles.