OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of bicuculline on the first spike latency of the neurons in the inferior colliculus of mice and investigate the role of GABA inhibition in sound signal processing of the neurons.

METHODSIn vivo extracellular recording was performed on the inferior colliculus of 13 BALB/c mice (4 to 5 weeks old) to record the neuronal response to pure tones. Bicuculline, a GABA-A receptor antagonist, was applied to the neurons iontophoretically through one channel in the three-barrel glass-pipettes. The first spike latency and other response properties of the characteristic frequency were recorded for analysis.

RESULTSA total of 30 well-isolated single neurons were recorded. Increased spike counts characterized 96% of the neurons, with either increased (40%) or decreased (60%) latency of neuronal responses. Characteristic frequency alterations occurred in 50% of the neurons with increased spike latency, and the minimum threshold showed linear changes.

CONCLUSIONGABAergic inhibition may participate in the latency formation and increased frequency selectivity of mouse inferior colliculus neurons by lateral inhibition. The changes in the first spike latency can be indicative of the information integration in GABAergic neurons at the synaptic level.

Acoustic Stimulation ; psychology ; Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Bicuculline ; pharmacology ; Female ; GABA Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Inferior Colliculi ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neurons ; physiology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; physiology

The practice and exploration of bilingual teaching for the course of microbiology has been made in order to improve the students foreign lingual level and to meet the higher requirement on tip-top person with the social development. As a result,bilingual teaching is welcome,and the teaching effect is so distinct that the aim was reached to either study the fundamental knowledge or enhance the English level.

Objective:To validate the role of color Doppler ultrasound in an animal model to detect early heterotopic ossification (HO) after brain-traumatic/burn/tenotomy.Methods:Forty-four rats were randomly divided into two groups. Rats in experimental group ( n=22) were operated to build brain-traumatic/burn/tenotomy model and others in control group ( n=22) underwent only skin incision injury. Color Doppler ultrasound, X-ray film examination at 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks post-injury were performed to follow up the progression of HO in both groups respectively. Histology was used to confirm bone formation. Results:In the experimental group, disorder structure with a hypoechoiccore in treated Achilles tendon was visualized using color Doppler ultrasound in the 2nd week. Additional tiny hyperechoic foci were observed in the 3rd week, which increased in the fourth week and fused into a mineralized island in the sixth week. No obvious abnormality was found in control group at the aforementioned time point. X-ray could detect heterotopic bone tissue in the sixth week in the experimental group but not in the control group. X-ray and HE stainning had confirmed bone formation in the tenth week in the experimental group.Conclusions:Color Doppler ultrasound can detect early HO and continuously follow up the progression of HO.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical efficacy and technical characteristics of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discecomy in the treatment of upper lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: The clinical data of 9 patients with upper lumbar disc herniation underwent percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discecomy from January 2012 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 6 males and 3 females, aged 26 to 79 years, including 2 patients with L disc herniation and 7 patients with L2, 3 disc herniation. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopeadic Association (JOA) score were recorded before and after surgery. The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the modified Macnab standard. RESULTS: All 9 patients were followedup, and the follow-up time was 1 day and 3 months after surgery. The operation time was 1.5 to 2.9 h and postoperative hospital stay was 5 to 8 d. No cerebrospinal fluid leakage or spinal cord injury occurred during the operation. Preoperative and postoperative at 1 day, 3 months, the VAS scores of 9 patients were 7 to 8 scores, 1 to 3 scores, 0 to 1 case, JOA scores were 5 to 7 scores, 15 to 24 scores, 21 to 26 scores, respectively. The improvement rate of JOA was 36.4% to 78.3% on the first day and 65.2% to 87.5% three months after operation. According to modified Macnab standard to evaluate effect, 4 cases got excellent results, 4 good, 1 fair. CONCLUSION Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discecomy has reliable therapeutic effect for upper lumbar disc herniation in line with the indications, and it has the characteristics of small trauma and short operation time, so it is more suitable for middle aged and elderly patients with poor physique and can replace part of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
Adult ; Aged ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendoscopy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the anti-virus effects of andrographolide (AD) on the retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) signaling pathway when immunological cells were infected with H1N1.

METHODSLeukomonocyte was obtained from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and immunological cells were harvested after cytokines stimulation. Virus infected cell model was established by H1N1 co-cultured with normal human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE). The optimal concentration of AD was defined by methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. After the virus infected cell model was established, AD was added into the medium as a treatment intervention. After 24-h co-culture, cell supernatant was collected for interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection while immunological cells for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe optimal concentration of AD for anti-virus effect was 250 μg/mL. IL-4 and IFN-γ in the supernatant and mRNA levels in RLRs pathway increased when cells was infected by virus, RIG-I, IFN-β promoter stimulator-1 (IPS-1), interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7, IRF-3 and nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) mRNA levels increased significantly (P<0.05). When AD was added into co-culture medium, the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were lower than those in the non-interference groups and the mRNA expression levels decreased, RIG-I, IPS-1, IRF-7, IRF-3 and NF-κB decreased significantly in each group with significant statistic differences (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe RLRs mediated viral recognition provided a potential molecular target for acute viral infections and andrographolide could ameliorate H1N1 virus-induced cell mortality. And the antiviral effects might be related to its inhibition of viral-induced activation of the RLRs signaling pathway.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; DEAD Box Protein 58 ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; virology ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; immunology ; virology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; virology ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; drug effects ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of down-regulation of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) expression on cell proliferation and cell cycle of gastric carcinoma cells, and its possible molecular mechanism.

METHODSControl siRNA and AEG-1 siRNA were transfected into gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells. 48 h after transfection, the cells were divided into 3 groups including untransfected, siRNA control and AEG-1 siRNA transfection groups. Expressions of AEG-1 mRNA and protein in the 3 group cells were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot. The changes of cell proliferation were examined using CCK-8 kit, and the cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Finally, expressions of cell proliferation and cell cycle related proteins were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSReal-time quantitative PCR and Western blot demonstrated that compared with the untransfected and siRNA control groups, expressions of AEG-1 mRNA and protein were significantly down-regulated in the AEG-1 siRNA transfection group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the untransfected and siRNA control groups (P > 0.05). Furthermore, in vivo experiment confirmed a significant down-regulation of AEG-1 protein in the AEG-1 siRNA transfection group (P < 0.05). In addition, AEG-1 siRNA obviously inhibited the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells at different time points after transfection with AEG-1 siRNA. The percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase in the AEG-1 siRNA transfection group [(61.26 ± 1.25)%] was significantly higher than those in the untransfected group [(46.17 ± 1.91)%] and siRNA control group [(46.46 ± 1.96)%], and there was a significant difference between them (all P < 0.001). Furthermore, the result of Western blotting revealed that down-regulation of AEG-1 expression evoked the down-regulation of cdk2 and cyclin D1 expressions and elevation of p21 expression in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONSThe inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest mediated by down-regulation of AEG-1 expression may be closely associated with the changes of expression of cell cycle related proteins including cdk2, cyclin D1 and p21.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

AIM: To investigate the changes in retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)and macular retinal thickness(MRT)in children with refractive abnormalities and amblyopia, and their predictive value of outcome.METHODS: A total of 168 children with myopic refractive abnormalities and monocular amblyopia admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to October 2022 were selected as the observation group, with 118 cases of mild to moderate amblyopia and 50 cases of severe amblyopia, and 168 children with normal vision were included as the control group in a 1:1 ratio during the same period. The changes of RNFL and MRT in two groups of children were statistically counted, and the correlation between the severity of refractive abnormalities and RNFL and MRT in children with amblyopia was analyzed. Additionally, the observation group was divided into effective subgroup and ineffective subgroup based on the therapeutic effect. The general information, as well as RNFL and MRT of the effective subgroup and the ineffective subgroups before and after treatment were compared. Logistic was used to analyze the factors influencing efficacy, and ROC curves was plotted to analyze the predictive value of RNFL and MRT alone or in combination for efficacy.RESULTS: RNFL and MRT of cases of severe amblyopia were higher than those of the mild to moderate amblyopia and the control groups(all P<0.05); the severity of amblyopia in children with refractive abnormalities is positively correlated with RNFL and MRT(rs=0.745 and0.724, both P<0.001); among patients of mild to moderate and severe, there were statistically significant differences between the effective and ineffective subgroups in terms of initial treatment age, fixation form, treatment compliance, as well as RNFL, MRT, and their differences before and 1mo postoperatively(all P<0.05). Logistic analysis showed that initial treatment age, fixation nature, treatment compliance, RNFL and MRT before and 1mo postoperatively were all factors influencing the therapeutic effect of amblyopia with refractive abnormalities in children(all P<0.05); after 1mo of treatment, the combined prediction of RNFL and MRT was significantly better than that of single prediction in children with mild to severe amblyopia.CONCLUSION:There are differences in RNFL and MRT in children with abnormal refractive amblyopia, and they are closely related to the different degrees and curative effects of children. The combination of RNFL and MRT after 1mo of treatment has certain value in predicting children with different degrees of abnormal refractive amblyopia.

Objective:To establish the ultra-performance liquid chromatography （UPLC） fingerprints of Artemisiae Argyi Folium and Artemisiae Argyi Folium processed with four excipients， and quantitatively analyze the 8 phenolic acids and flavonoids contained in them， in order to explore the quality evaluation method of Artemisiae Argyi Folium processed with four excipients. Method:UPLC was used with Shim-pack XR-ODS C₁₈ column （2.0 mm×75 mm， 2.2 µm）， mobile phase of acetonitrile （A） -0.2% formic acid aqueous solution （B） for gradient elution （0-1 min， 10%A； 1-2 min， 10%-15%A； 2-17 min， 15%-18%A； 17-24 min， 18%-28%A； 24-36 min， 28%-38%A； 36-41 min， 38%-60%A； 41-45 min， 60%-100%A）， detection wavelength of 330 nm and flow rate of 0.2 mL·min^-1. The UPLC fingerprints of Artemisiae Argyi Folium before and after processing were established， and analyzed by chemometrics. Contents of 5-caffeoylquinic acid， 3-caffeoylquinic acid， 4-caffeoylquinic acid， 3，4-dicaffeoylquinic acid， 3，5-dicaffeoylquinic acid， 4，5-dicaffeoylquinic acid， jaceosidin and epuatilin in the decoction pieces were determined. Result:The fingerprints of Artemisiae Argyi Folium before and after processing were established， and the UPLC characteristic chromatograms of Artemisiae Argyi Folium before and after processing had good consistency， and the similarity was >0.94. Compared with Artemisiae Argyi Folium， the contents of 3-caffeoylquinic acid and 3，4-dicaffeoylquinic acid had no significant change after processing， the contents of jaceosidin and epuatilin decreased after processing， while the contents of 5-caffeoylquinic acid， 4-caffeoylquinic acid and 4，5-dicaffeoylquinic acid increased significantly （P<0.01）， their average increasing rates were 32.50%， 66.83%， 29.39%， respectively. And content of 3，5-dicaffeoylquinic acid was significantly decreased （P<0.01） ， and the average reduction rate was 51.25%. Conclusion:The contents of chemical components in Artemisiae Argyi Folium and Artemisiae Argyi Folium processed with four excipients have changed to a certain extent. Among them， 5-caffeoylquinic acid， 3，5-dicaffeoylquinic acid， 4-caffeoylquinic acid and 4，5-dicaffeoylquinic acid can be used as the key indicators for quality evaluation of Artemisiae Argyi Folium before and after processing.

Objective:To study the quality evaluation method of Cyperi Rhizoma processed with four excipients. Method:Ultra-performance liquid chromatography （UPLC） fingerprints of raw products and processed products with four excipients of Cyperi Rhizoma were established， and the changes of chemical components in the fingerprints before and after processing were compared by chemometric analysis. The mobile phase was consisted of methanol （A）-water （B） for gradient elution （0-10 min， 5%-40%A； 10-30 min， 40%-70%A； 30-40 min， 70%A） at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min^-1. The injection volume was 3 μL， the column temperature was 35 ℃， and the detection wavelength was 280 nm. The content changes of main index components in Cyperi Rhizoma before and after processing were compared by UPLC. The mobile phase was methanol-water （75∶25） and the detection wavelength was 242 nm. Result:Processing with four excipients had a significant impact on the overall characteristics of chemical components in the fingerprint of Cyperi Rhizoma. A total of 28 characteristic peaks were identified in fingerprints of the raw and processed products. Among them， peaks 1， 2 and 4 were specific peaks of the processed products， peak 5 was characteristic peak of the raw products. Peak 2 was identified as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural， peak 24 as cyperenone and peak 27 as α-cyperone. The 5-hydroxymethylfurfural produced by the processing with four excipients came from rice vinegar， rice wine and Maillard reaction of polysaccharides in Cyperi Rhizoma. The results of determination showed that there was no significant difference in the content of cyperenone after processing， but the content of α-cyperone decreased significantly. Conclusion:In the process of Cyperi Rhizoma processed with four excipients， there are new components produced by structural transformation， which are accompanied by changes in the content of index components. In this study， the quality of raw and processed products of Cyperi Rhizoma can be rapidly and effectively evaluated from qualitative and quantitative aspects.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks were spreading rapidly around the world in early 2020. This disease is within the category of "damp epidemic" and "damp toxin epidemic" in traditional Chinese medicine, with lung and spleen as the lesion focuses, while dampness and toxin as especially prominent properties. Through clinical observation, we found that dampness would often transform into damp heat during the development and evolution of the disease, and the "triple energizer" treatment was an important therapeutic method, eliminating pathogens through purgation and diuresis: for those with damp-heat accumulation toxin diffused to the triple energizer, we could use Ganlu Xiaodudan as primary prescription, which can spread the upper part, smooth the middle part and infiltrate the lower part, so as to provide a way out for the pathogenic factors and regulate Qi movement. For those with damp-heat in Shaoyang channel, we could use Haoqin Qingdantang to clear heat and promote diuresis, harmonize Shaoyang, eliminate damp-heat and epidemic pathogenic factor. For those with pathogen hidden in membrane source dampness trapping and hidden heat, we could use Dayuanyin to eliminate pathogens between interior and exterior parts, and regulate Qi movement. At the same time we shared three typical cases treated in Wuhan, and conducted an in-depth analysis in this study. Clinically, the method of elimination of pathogens through purgation and diuresis is mainly used in the early and middle stage of this disease. When the disease is still located in Qi system, it also can be applied to mild, ordinary patients and severe patients that have accurate syndrome differentiation. In such cases, it can effectively improve symptoms, reduce pathogenic toxin, truncate and reverse the course of disease, give way to pathogen, and avoid disease aggravating.