OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Astragali Radix on the denervated tibial muscle atrophy in rats, and discuss its mechanism.

METHODTotally 60 SPF-grade Sprague-Dawley rats were selected in the common peroneal nerve crush model, and then randomly divided into 6 groups: Astragali Radix high-dose, medium-dose, low-dose groups, the Mecobalamin group, the model group, and the sham operation group. They were administered with drugs after the operation. At 18 d, the pathological section staining and morphological analysis were performed. The wet-weight ratio and section area of tibial muscles were also measured. The real-time fluorescence quantification was adopted to detect the differential expression between Angptl4 and PI3K genes.

RESULT(1) Wet-weight ratio: The wet-weight ratio in Astragali Radix high-dose, medium-dose groups was much higher than that in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) Section area: The sham operation group was higher, with regular morphology; Whereas the model group showed significant decrease, with chaotic structure and obvious connective tissue proliferation; Astragali Radix groups and the mecobalamin group showed relatively small section areas, with chaotic structure and unobvious connective tissue proliferation. Compared with the model group, Astragali Radix groups showed significant increase (P < 0.01). (3) Motor end plate: The sham operation group was in uniform brownish black color and oval or round shape; Astragali Radix medium-dose and high-dose group and the mecobalamin group showed rough line edges; Astragali Radix medium-dose and low-dose groups and the model group showed decline in the number, with irregular morphology, rough line edges and a light color. (4) Angptl4 and PI3K: Compared with the model group, the Astragali Radix high-dose group showed significant increase (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAstragali Radix has a significant effect in preventing and treating denervated tibial muscle atrophy. It may delay the muscle atrophy by increasing Angptl4 and PI3K gene expressions.

Angiopoietin-like 4 Protein ; Angiopoietins ; genetics ; Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Muscular Atrophy ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibia

Abstract; Aim To explore the differences of 2,4-dinitrofluoro- benzene ( DNFB) -induced allergic contact demiatitis (ACD) models with different modeling cycles for the study of skin itch¬ing and inflammation, so as to provide reference and basis for the identification and selection of a more suitable animal model.Methods DNFB was used as a sensitizer, 0.5% DNFB was used to build a 2-week ACD model, and after 5-day sensitiza¬tion, the modeling site was administered once every other day and repeated four times.0.15% DNFB was used to build a 5- week ACD model, and after one week of treatment, DNFB was applied to the modeling site twice a week for four weeks.Behav¬ioral videos were recorded for 60 minutes alter each application of DNFB on the back of the neck for 24 hours.After modeling, Ig-K levels in serum were detected by KLISA, and the skin at the modeling site was stained for histopathology and observed.Results The entire modeling process of both modeled ACD mice was accompanied by severe scratching response after re¬peated skin exposure to DNFB, and the number of scratching significantly increased (P <0.01).Histopathological results showed epidermal thickening ( P < 0.01 ) , hyperkeratosis and inflammatory cell infiltration (P <0.01) in both modeling meth¬ods, and senmi Ig-F levels were significantly elevated ( P < 0.01).Conclusions The contact dennatitis model caused by DNFB is very stable, showing typical pruritus symptoms, severe dermatitis injury and inflammatory immune response, but the 5- week model may have more typical symptoms and allow enough time to observe the effect of the drug, which provides further ex¬perimental basis and evidence for pruritus and inflammation re¬lated drug research.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; metabolism ; Aged ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Plasmacytoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology

Objective To investigate the relationship between cysteine-rich protein 61 ( Cyr61 ) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase ( PI3K ) signal pathway on cell proliferation and apoptotic in human ovarian carcinoma cells.Methods Recombinant human Cyr61 (rhCyr61) was pretreated with ovarian carcinoma cells.The expression of Cyr61 protein was detected by confocal spectral microscopy.Then treated the ovarian carcinoma cells with PI3K transduction inhibitors (LY294002) for 24 hours.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry (FCM).Cell viability was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method.The mRNA expressions of Cyr61,the protein levels of protein kinase B ( PKB),phospho-PKB and Cyr61 were assaved by real time-PCR and western blot analysis,respectively.Results The Cyr61 and phospho-PKB protein expression in two ovarian carcinoma cells (OV2008 and OVCAR-3 ) were increased in rhCyr61pretreated group.The decreasing of cell apoptosis [ ( 1.4 ±0.9)％,(2.1 ± 1.0)％ ] and increasing of cell proliferation [ ( 124.0 ± 1.8)％,( 133.0 ±2.2)％ ] was detected in the same time,compared with negative control group,there were significant difference ( P ＜ 0.05 ).After exposed to LY294002 for 24 hours,the apoptosis rate of OV2008 and OVCAR-3 in pretreated with rhCyr61 group exposed to LY294002 were (21.1 ± 1.6)％ and (26.4 ± 1.5 )％,respectively.Cells viability [ (59.0 ± 2.3 )％,(51.0 ± 2.0)％ ]was also significantly decreased in OV2008 and OVCAR-3 pretreated with rhCyr61 cells.Meanwhile,the mRNA expressions of Cyr61 (3.2 ± 0.8,6.2 ± 1.1 ) and the protein levels of phospho-PKB and Cyr61 were greatly decreased.Compared with negative control group,there were significant difference in OV2008 and OVCAR-3 cells (all P ＜ 0.0l ).Conclusions The activation of PI3K intracellular signaling pathways may lead to up-regulation of Cyr61 expression.Block PI3K signal pathway could significantly inhibit the expression of Cyr61,and may promote the apoptotic effects and inhibit the cell growth of ovarian carcinoma cells.

Objective To determine the aromatase protein expression in A549 cell and to investigate the effects of 17? estrogen (E 2), testosterone (T), estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen (TAM), and aromatase inhibitor DL aminoglutethimide (AMIN) on the growth and proliferation of A549 cells. Methods The expression of aromatase protein was determined by immunohistochemical methods. The changes of cell cycle and cell number before and after treatment with E 2, T, TAM, and AMIN were measured by flow cytometry and tetrazolium method (MTT). Results The aromatase protein was positively expressed in A549 cells. The aromatase inhibitor AMIN and 5?10 -7 mol/L TAM could inhibit the growth of A549 cells and block them in G 0/G 1 phase ( P

Apoptosis ; Down-Regulation ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology

Adult ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Empyema, Pleural ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; virology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Male ; Pleural Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Radiography

Background Traction of epiretinal membrane results in macular morphologic change and visual functional impairment in eye with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IERM),therefore figuring out their relationship is helpful for evaluation of disease prognosis.Objective This study was to observe the morphological change of macula and microstructure,and analyze the relationship between retina thickness,integrity of cone outer segment tips (COST) line in fovea and visual acuity.Methods This was a retrospective case-observational study.Fifty-six consecutive cases diagnosed as IERM in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from March 2011 to December 2011 were enrolled in this study,and all the patients showed unilateral IERM with the normal fellow eyes.Sixteen patients were males and 40 were females,with a mean age of (61.05 ± 6.58) years old.Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) examination was performed on the eyes,and Macular Cube (512×128) and HD 5 Line program were selected.Mean retinal thickness of central area (＜1 mm diameter),inner ring area (1-3 mm diameter) and outer ring area (＞3-6 mm diameter) of macula and the status of COST line (intact or fractured) was recorded.Mean thickness of whole macular areas and the difference of foveal microstructure were compared,and the correlation between retinal thickness and visual acuity was analyzed using Pearson linear correlation analysis.Related parameters including age,visual acuity,retinal thickness were also compared between the continuous COST lines group and the fractured COST lines group by independent sample t test.Results The flatted or disappeared fovea was seen in IERM eyes on the SD-OCT image.Retinal thicknesses were (446±89)μm,(418±64)μm and (328±34)ttm in the central area,inner ring area and outer ring area of macula in the IERM eyes,exhibiting significant increasing in comparison with (250±22) μm,(319±17) μm and (279±17) μm in the normal fellow eyes (t=13.370,9.523,7.769,all P =0.000).Significantly negative correlations were found between the visual acuity and the central macular thickness,inner ring thickness or outer ring thickness (r=-0.686,-0.653,-0.417,P＜0.05).In the IERM eyes,COST band was intact in 20 eyes and lack in 36 eyes.Compared with COST band intact group,aging,worse vision and increased retinal thickness were seen in the COST band absent group (t =2.109,P =0.039 ; t =-4.093,P =0.000 ; t =6.669,P=0.000;t=5.376,P=0.000;t=4.247,P=0.000).COST band was clear in all the normal fellow eyes on the SD-OCT image.Conclusions Increase of macular thickness and disruption of COST band reflect the visual function damage in IERM eye.Deficiency of COST band on OCT image seems to be an early indication of photoreceptor damage.Incomplete fovea COST band is often seen in older patients.

Objective To approach the method for improving the intellectual development,of whom had suffered from parity′s brain damage.Methods The patients were divided into 2 groups randomly(age range from 7 days to 18 months) who were observed and compared for 3 years.Group A was bundle of intervention which had been under early intervention program since infant.Group B was bundle of comparing of which had not been under early intervention.Results Observed for 6 months and 12 months,the intellectual development of group A was prior to that of group B(age 6 months P