Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion pretreatment on caspase-3 expression in cortex of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods Twenty-one male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, sham group (n=6), model group (n=8) and moxibustion pretreatment group (n=7). Focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury rat model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 hours followed by reperfusion. Brain infarct was ex-amined by TTC staining. Brain morphology was shown by HE staining and the ultrastructure of cell was observed with elec-tron microscope. Caspase-3 expression in cortex was examined by immunofluorescence histochemistry. Results The per-centage of infarct volume [(24.9±4.7)%] in moxibustion pretreatment group was much smaller than that [(45.8±4.6)%] in mod-el group. Nerve cells in moxibustion pretreatment group experienced less morphological and structural changes than those in model group, and caspase-3 positive cells (39.17 ± 7.28) in moxibustion pretreatment group were less than those (58.17 ± 16.53) in model group. Conclusion Moxibustion pretreatment could attenuate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, which might be through decreasing caspase-3 expression.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of natural type ginsenoside Rg2 (Rg2) and its stereoisomers [20 (R)-Rg2 and 20 (S)-Rg2] at different concentrations on oxygen-glucose deprivation/ reperfusion (OGD/R) induced cortical neuronal injury model in vitro, and to explore the mechanism, and compare their differences of action.

METHODSCortical neurons after 7-day culture were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the control group, the model group, the Rg2 group, 20 (R) -Rg2 group, and 20 (S) - Rg2 group. Cortical neurons in the Rg2 group, 20 (R)-Rg2 group, and 20(S)-Rg2 group were pretreated with 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L Rg2, 20 (R) -Rg2, and 20 (S) -Rg2 for 24 h to prepare OGD/R model. The cell survival rate, the activity of Caspase-3, the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected 24 h later.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, cell survival rates and activities of SOD obviously decreased, the activity of Caspase-3, Ca2+ fluorescent optical gray value, and contents of MDA significantly increased with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, cell survival rates and activities of SOD obviously increased, the activity of Caspase-3, Ca2+ fluorescent optical gray value, and contents of MDA significantly decreased in 20 μmol/L Rg2 group, 40 μmol/L 20 (R) -Rg2 group, and 80 μmol/L 20 (S) -Rg2 group (P < 0.05). Compared with 20(S)-Rg2 group, cell survival rates increased and contents of MDA significantly decreased in 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L Rg2 and 20 (R)-Rg2 groups (P < 0.05). The activity of Caspase-3 decreased and contents of SOD increased in 80 μmol/L 20 (R)-Rg2 group, and 40, 80 μmol/L Rg2 groups (P < 0.05). Ca2+ fluorescent optical gray value decreased in 40, 80 μmol/L Rg2 and 20 (R)-Rg2 groups (P < 0.05). Compared with 20 (R)-Rg2 group, Ca2+ fluorescent optical gray value decreased in 80 μmol/L Rg2 group (P < 0.05); contents of SOD increased in 40 and 80 μmol/L Rg2 groups (P < 0.05); contents of MDA decreased in 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L Rg2 groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRg2 and its stereoisomers could improve cell vitality of cortical neurons against OGD/R induced injury. This might be related to improving anti-apoptotic capacities and antioxidant abilities, and reducing Ca2+ inflow. Besides, the neuroprotective effect of 20 (R) -Rg2 was better than that of 20 (S) -Rg2, but inferior to that of Rg2.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; Humans ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Oxygen ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; Stereoisomerism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo confirm diagnosis of a special case with chief complaints of abdominal pain and dyskinesia of lower extremities.

METHODSThe clinical symptoms, signs, MRI, pathological findings and the results of blood test for microfilaria were analyzed.

RESULTSThe patient was a 6-year old girl who had abdominal pain for 10 days dyskinesia of lower extremities for 6 days accompanied by difficulty in urination and defecation. There was tenderness on T7-9 spinous process, sensory dullness below the umbilicus. Babinski's and Oppenheim's sign were bilaterally positive, and ankle clonus was positive. MRI showed space occupying change in the vertebral canal at T7-9 level. The mass of 2 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm size was removed by surgical operation and histopathological study showed obvious fibrous tissue proliferation accompanied by eosinophil, lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltration around a worm-like structure. Night time blood test performed at 23:00 confirmed the presence of microfilaria.

CONCLUSIONThe diagnosis of filariae in vertebral canal could be confirmed.

Animals ; Child ; Female ; Filariasis ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; complications ; Filarioidea ; Humans ; Spinal Canal ; parasitology ; pathology ; Spinal Diseases ; etiology ; parasitology

Objective To assess the clinical application of contrast-enhanced MR angiography using three-dimensional(3D)time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics(CE-MRA 3D-TRICKS).Methods TRICKS is a high temporal resolution(2—6s)MR angiographic technique using a short TR(2.8— 4.0 ms)and TE(0.9—1.3 ms),partial echo sampling and the central part of the k-space being updated more frequently than the peripheral part of the k-space.Pre-contrast mask 3D images are first acquired and 15--20 sequential 3D images following bolus injection of Gd-DTPA are then acquired.Results Thirty patients underwent contrast-enhanced MR angiography using TRICKS.Twelve vertebral arteries were well displayed on TRICKS.Seven of them showed normal,bilateral vertebral artery stenosis was shown in 1 case, and unilateral vertebral artery stenosis was shown in 4 wth aecompaning ipsilateral carotid artery bifurcation stenosis in one case.Bilateral renal artery showed normal in 4 cases,and the artery in transplanted kidney showed normal in one case and stenosis in another case.The cerebral artery showed normal in 2 cases, sagittal sinus thrombosis was detected in one case and intracranial arteriovenous malformation in one case. Pulmonary artery displayed normal in 3 cases,pulmonary artery thrombosis was seen in one case and pulmonary sequestration's abnormal feeding artery and draining vein was revealed in one case.The feeding artery in left lower limb fibrolipoma was showed in one case.The radial-ulnar artery artificial fistula stenosis was seen in one case,and left antebrachium hemangioma was showed in one case.Conclusion TRICKS can clearly delineate the whole body vascular system and can reveal any vascular abnormality.It is convenient and with high successful rate,which make it the first method of choice in displaying vascular abnormality.

OBJECTIVETo study the value of MRI in the diagnosis of cerebral sparganosis in children.

METHODSThe MRI appearances of 17 children with cerebral sparganosis proven by pathology or serological test were retrospectively studied. The diagnostic accuracy rate of cerebral sparganosis was compared before and after knowing the imaging features of this disease.

RESULTSEnhanced MRI was performed in 12 cases, and all of them demonstrated abnormal enhancement. Peripheral ring-type, tortuous beaded shape or serpiginous tubular shape enhancement were found in 8 cases. After analysis of follow-up MRI for 7 cases, a change in location and shape of lesions was found in 2 cases. Typical MRI patterns of cerebral sparganosis included abnormal enhancement such as peripheral ring-type, tortuous beaded shape or serpiginous tubular shape enhancement, and changes in location and shape of lesions in the follow-up MRI. The diagnostic accuracy rate for the 17 cases of cerebral sparganosis at the first visit, after first imaging examination and after several follow-up MR examinations were 0%, 11.8% and 28.6%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy rate of this disease increased to 64.7%, 70.6% and 85.7% respectively after the radiologists were trained in the imaging characteristics of the disease.

CONCLUSIONSMR findings in children with cerebral sparganosis are specific. Mastering correctly the typical imaging features of the disease can be very helpful in reducing the rate of clinical misdiagnosis.

Adolescent ; Central Nervous System Helminthiasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sparganosis ; diagnosis ; pathology

Adult ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; diagnosis ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Thrombosis ; diagnosis

To observe the efficacy and safety of apatinib in the treatment of advanced bone and soft tissue sarcoma, and to analyze the possible related factors affecting the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients. Methods: Twenty-one patients with ad-vanced bone and soft tissue sarcoma admitted to the Department of Orthopaedics, Yunnan Cancer Hospital from June 2017 to Sep-tember 2018, were treated with apatinib tablets. The main efficacy index was progression free survival (PFS), and the secondary effica-cy index was overall survival (OS). Clinical efficacy was evaluated according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) 1.1, and overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety were olserved according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) 4.0 standard. Results: All of the 21 patients were followed up. At the last follow-up time point, March 31st, 2019, there were no CR, 2 patients (9.5%) with PR, 7 patients with SD (33.3%), and 12 patients with PD (57.1%). The ORR was 9.5%, the DCR was 42.8%, the medi-an PFS was 8 months, and the median OS was 14 months. The patient's gender, age, ECOG score, tissue source, surgery, or chemother-apy had no statistically significant effect on PFS (P>0.05). Only the history of radiotherapy before taking apatinib was a factor for pa-tients with PFS. The effect was statistically significant (P<0.05), and patients with a history of radiotherapy had a lower PFS than pa-tients without a history of radiotherapy. The adverse reactions of gradeⅢand above had hand-foot syndrome (14.3%), pneumotho-rax (14.3%) and anemia (4.8%). Conclusions: Apatinib has a certain effect for advanced bone and soft tissue sarcoma. The adverse re-actions are generally predictable, controllable and reversible. Apatinib can be a choice for patients with advanced bone and soft tissue sarcoma with good treatment adherence and no other treatment options.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of oxidative stress on the accumulation of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) within C2C12 myogenic cells. METHODS: Heat shock response (42 degrees C for 1 h and recovery for 12 h at 37 degrees C) was used to induce the expression of heat shock protein 70. We constructed a recombinant plasmid of HSP70 with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). After being transfected transiently into C2C12 cells, immunoblotting was used to detect the expression of HSP70 induced by heat shock response and transfection. Immunocytochemistry, fluorescent microscopy and immunoblotting were used to detect the translocation of HSP70. RESULTS: Immunoblotting showed that the overexpression of HSP70 was induced by heat shock response and transient transfenction. HSP70 localized within the cytoplasm of the normal cells, but HSP70 translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and the nucleolus at 1 h after the treatment of oxidative stress (0.5 mmol/L H2O2) by using immunocytochemistry, fluorescent microscopy and immunoblotting for cellular partial proteins. CONCLUSION Oxidative stress may induce the accumulation of heat shock protein 70 within the nucleolus.
Cell Nucleolus ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Myoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology

0.05).IL-4 in group S0 was significant higher than that in group C(t=11.65 P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of bufalin combined Gefitinib on lung cancer H1975 cells, and to explore its potential mechanisms for anti-tumor.

METHODSThe cytostatic effects of bufalin (1 -100 nmol/L), gefitinib (0.1-20 micromol/L), and bufalin plus gefitinib on H1975 cells were evaluated by MTT assay. Their effects on apoptosis of H1975 cells were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). Their effects on expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Met signal pathway related proteins in H1975 cells were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSResults of MTT assay showed that gefitinib over 5 micromol/L could inhibit H1975 cells. But combined therapy of bufalin and gefitinib could potently inhibit the growth of H1975 cells. Results of FCM showed the apoptotic rate was 61.64% +/- 5.61% in the bufalin plus gefitinib group, obviously higher than that of the bufalin group (18.34% +/- 3.42%) and the gefitinib group (7.32% +/- 1.08%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Results of Western blot showed the protein expressions of p-EGFR, p-Met, p-Akt, and p-mTOR in H1975 cells could be markedly down-regulated by bufalin plus gefitinib.

CONCLUSIONSCombination of bufalin and gefitinib potently inhibited the growth of H1975 cells, and induced cell apoptosis. The potential mechanism for anti-tumor might be involved in blocking EGFR-PI3k/Akt pathway.

Bufanolides ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Quinazolines ; pharmacology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects