AIM: To investigate the effects of naringenin on laser-induced experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rat models,ocular blood flow in rabbit eyes and retinal function recovery after ischemic insults in rat eyes.membrane. Naringenin 10g/L(20mg/kg) was given once-daily through intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks after laser treatment. The development of CNV was determined by fluorescein angiography(FA) performed on weeks 2 and 4. The colored microsphere technique and electroretinography method were used for the study of ocular blood flow and retinal function recovery,respectively.RESULTS: The choroidal blood flow in elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) rabbit eyes was significantly increased by 10g/L naringenin solution as compared to control group(P<0.05) . The retinal function recovery after ischemic insults in rat eyes indicated significant increase of b-wave recovery in treated group,as compared to control group(P<0.05).The intensity of fluorescein leakage from the photocoagulated lesions decreased significantly in treated group,compared to the control group(75.8%-95.0%,P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Naringenin could prevent the development of CNV on laser-induced experimental rat models,increase the choroidal blood flow in elevated IOP rabbit eyes and be beneficial on retinal function recovery in ischemic rat eyes.

This is designed to analyze and summarize medication rules for treating senile dementia with Chinese medicine in CNKI according to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) inheritance auxiliary system. Collect documents in CNKI that account treating senile dementia with Chinese formula; filter and establish a formula database, and then to search for medication rules on the TCM inheritance auxiliary system. It is filtered that 104 formulas are used for treating senile dementia screening treat senile dementia, involving 147 kinds of Chinese medicine. Tonic medicine are most frequently used, followed by the medicine of activating blood circulation and resuscitating; medicine pair most used is Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort-Acorus tatarinowii, accounting for 27.9% of all formula. And then 8 core pairs and 4 new formulas are evolved. Analysis on formulas for treating senile dementia filtered form CNKI by TCM inheritance auxiliary system shows prescription is mainly tonifying, activating blood circulation and resuscitating, that reveals prescription rules, to provide a reference for clinical treatment.
Databases, Factual ; Dementia ; drug therapy ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the behavioral development in adolescent rats of perinatal hypothyroidism and its relation to androgen receptor (AR) gene expression in the hippocampus.

METHODSPerinatal hypothyroidism was induced by gavages 50 mg/d of propylthiouracil solution in 48 dams starting at embryonic day 15 through the lactation period. Twenty-four pups (M:F=1) of perinatal hypothyroidism were injected intraperitoneally with 2 microg T(4)/100 g BW daily from the day of birth to the age of 21 days (treatment group); 24 pups (M:F=1) without treatment were designated as hypothyroidism group. And 24 normal pups (M:F=1) served as the control group. The effects of perinatal hypothyroidism on the abilities to learn and retain memory traces and on behavior were observed in rats of both sexes at 60 days. Experiments were performed using models of conditioned "open" field test and passive avoidance reflexes. Hippocampus samples were collected and AR mRNA was detected by competitive RT-PCR.

RESULTPerinatal hypothyroidism caused an increase of crossing number and decrease of rearing and defecation in both sexes. In treatment groups, only the crossing number in male didn't reach the normal level (P >0.05). In passive avoidance test, hypothyroidism groups showed more mistakes in both sexes and shorter latencies in males, the females performed better than males (P <0.01). The treatment groups performed significantly better than the age-matched hypothyroidism groups and reached the normal level (P >0.05). AR mRNA levels in hippocampus of hypothyroid group were lower than those of the controls in males, and the levels in treatment groups were significantly higher in comparison with the hypothyroidism groups (P <0.01). There were no significant differences among the three female groups (P >0.05). In male group, there was negative correlation between the number of crossing and AR mRNA in the hippocampus (r=-0.537, P=0.001), negative correlation between the number of mistake and AR mRNA (r=-0.532, P=0.001), and positive correlation between the latency and AR mRNA (r=0.564, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONPerinatal hypothyroidism results in hyperactivity and anti-anxiety effects on adolescent rats, the sex difference is depleted, and also causes learning and memory impairment but the degree of influence higher in male than female. The decreased level of AR mRNA expression in hippocampus contributes to the change of behavioral ability in adolescent male.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Behavior, Animal ; Female ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Hypothyroidism ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Androgen ; metabolism ; Sex Factors

Background Erythropoietin (EPO) has a protective effect on retinal neurons in many retinal diseases,but regarding the effect of EPO on apoptosis of retinal photoreceptor cells in retinal detachment (RD) is uncompletely clear.Objective This study was to investigate the protective effect of endogenous EPO on photoreceptors in a rat model of RD and explore its possible mechanism.Methods Seventy-two Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to control group,RD group,RD+PBS group,RD+erythropoietin soluble receptor (EPOsR) 2, 20, 200ng groups with 12 rats for each group.1.4% hyaluronic acid was slowly injected into the subretinal space to induce RD in rats,and PBS or 2,20 or 200ng EPOsR was then injected into the vitreous space.On day 3 after RD,apoptotic photoreceptors were detected using transferase-mediated dUTP nickend labeling (TUNEL),and caspase-3 activity was assessed by Western-blot and immunofluorescence staining.On day 14 after RD,retinal histopathologic examination was carried out and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness was measured under the light microscope.The use of animals complied with the Statement of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Results Apoptotic photoreceptors were seen in ONL of rats of the RD group.Apoptotic photoreceptors were gradually increased with the elevation of EPOsR dose in the vitreous cavity.Western blot and immunofluorescence consistently showed that the gray scale of caspase-3 activity was 0.15±0.04,0.49±0.03,0.50±0.07,0.63±0.03,0.69±0.04 and 0.83±0.04 in the normal group,RD group,RD +PBS group,RD+EPOsR 2,20,200ng groups respectively with statistically significant differences (F=76.016;P=0.000),and caspase-3 activity was considerably stronger in the RD+EPOsR 200ng group than the other groups (P＜0.01).On day 14 after RD,the ONL thicknesses in the normal control group,RD group,RD+PBS group,RD+EPOsR 2,20,200ng groups were (47.39±3.39)μm,(33.96±3.54)μm,(31.83±5.21)μm,(31.40±2.63)μm,(24.99±2.06)μm and (19.30±3.71)μm,showing significant differences among these groups (F=44.733,P=0.000).ONL thicknesses the groups treated with different doses of EPOsR were markedly thinner than that of the RD group and RD +PBS group (P＜0.01).Conclusion EPOsR induces apoptosis of retinal cells and enhances the activity of caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner.Endogenous EPO can protect photoreceptors against anoxia-mediated damage in RD eyes through decreasing caspase-3 activity and inhibiting apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo analyze 68 pediatric cases with functional univentricle heart who underwent bidirectional Glenn procedure during from April 1998 to December 2005.

METHODSThere were 47 males and 21 females in this group, aged from 5 months to 14 years old and weighed from 6.7 to 30.0 kg. Among them, 39 cases were received bidirectional Glenn procedure on the right side, 13 cases on the left side and 16 cases on both sides. Three cases had the pulmonary artery banded; one case had the pulmonary artery ligated;one case had the original A-P shunt cut off; six cases had the PDA ligated; four cases had the MAPCAs cut off; one case had TAPVC corrected contemporarily; two cases of PAPVC were also corrected; four cases had the atrial-ventricular valve repaired.

RESULTSThree cases died. The mortality was 4.4%. The mean post-operative pressure of super vena cava was (15.9 +/- 2.4) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), higher than the pre-operative one (8.3 +/- 1.8) mm Hg (P < 0.01). The mean post operative SpO(2) was (89.3 +/- 4.2)%, higher than the pre-operative one (78.4 +/- 6.0)% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBidirectional Glenn procedure is of satisfied effect on surgical treatment for functional univentricle heart. The persistent forward flow from pulmonary artery should be reserved in bidirectional Glenn procedure.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fontan Procedure ; methods ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tricuspid Atresia ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequency and intensity of Candida spp. incidence from the oral cavities of the healthy elderly in Chengdu, and to study the role of the dentures in the distribution of oral Candida spp.

METHODSA total of 212 individuals(age > 60 years) were divided into four groups: A1 (48 man with dentures), B1 (61 man without dentures), A2 (53 women with dentures) and B2 (50 women without dentures). Samples of their oral flora were obtained by rinsing with 10 mL PBS solution. The samples were centrifuged and resuspended in PBS (500 microL), and plated onto Sabouraud's dextrose agar. CHROMagar Candida, sugar assimilation patterns (API 20C AUX tests) were used to determine Candida spp. The total number of yeast colonies on the plates was considered as the relative intensity of oral Candida.

RESULTSCandida spp. was isolated from 116 healthy elderly individuals (54.72%), such as C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, C. guilliermondii, C. tropicalis, etc. The frequency of Candida spp. in A1, B1, A2 and B2 was 66.67%, 36.07%, 64.15%, and 56.00%, respectively. The frequency of C. albicans in A1, B1, A2 and B2 was 56.25%, 21.31%, 56.60% and 38.00%, respectively. The frequency of Candida spp. and the intensity of Candida spp. were greater for individuals in the denture-wearing group than that in the control.

CONCLUSIONThe frequency and intensity of Candida spp. incidence from the healthy elderly are closely correlated with denture-wearing, and the differences of the frequency and intensity of Candida spp. incidence in the elderly are due to the differences of frequency and intensity of C. albicans incidence.

Aged ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; Candidiasis, Oral ; Culture Media ; Dentures ; Female ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study the association of human epidermal growth factor receptor family molecules expression in gastric cancer tissues with the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 161 patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital between January 2006 and January 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The expression of HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Association of the expression of HER family with the prognosis of patients was examined. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival.

RESULTSHigh expression rates of HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 were 46.0% (74/161), 10.6% (17/161),55.9% (90/161) and 68.3% (110/161) respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that high expression of HER3 was associated with tumor invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, stage, neurovascular invasion, and overall 4-year survival. High expression of HER4 was associated with tumor distant metastasis and stage. High co-expression of HER2 and HER3 was associated with overall 4-year survival (P=0.023). Multivariate analysis revealed that high expression of HER3 and stage were prognostic independent factors.

CONCLUSIONUp-regulated expression of HER3 is associated with the poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-3 ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-4 ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

The essence of endogenous turbidity in Chinese medicine (CM) is different from cream, fat, phlegm, retention, damp, toxicity, and stasis. Along with the development of modern scientific technologies and biology, researches on the essence of endogenous turbidity should keep pace with the time. Its material bases should be defined and new connotation endowed at the microscopic level. The essence of turbidity lies in abnormal functions of zang-fu organs. Sugar, fat, protein, and other nutrient substances cannot be properly decomposed, but into semi-finished products or intermediate metabolites. They are inactive and cannot participate in normal material syntheses and decomposition. They cannot be transformed to energy metabolism, but also cannot be synthesized as executive functioning of active proteins. If they cannot be degraded by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome into glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, and other basic nutrients to be used again, they will accumulate inside the human body and become endogenous turbidity. Therefore, endogenous turbidity is different from final metabolites such as urea, carbon dioxide, etc., which can transform vital qi. How to improve the function of zang-fu organs, enhance its degradation by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome is of great significance in normal operating of zang-fu organs and preventing the emergence and progress of related diseases.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of strychnos alkaloids on the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells.

METHODSStrychnos alkaloids free of strychnine and brucine were extracted from Strychnos nux vomica, and the effects of Strychnos alkaloids on the survival of HEK293 and PC12 cells were evaluated using MTT assay. In vitro cultured adult rat neuroprogenitor cells isolated from the hippocampus were treated with different concentrations of Strychnos alkaloids for 2 days, and the cell proliferation was assessed using BrdU incorporation assay.

RESULTSAt the concentration above 0.5 mg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced toxic effect against HEK293 cells (P<0.0001), while for PC12 cells, Strychnos alkaloids inhibited the cell survival at the concentration as low as 5 microg/ml (P<0.0001). After 2 days of exposure to 50 microg/ml Strychnos alkaloids, the neuroprogenitor cells showed significantly decreased number of BrdU-positive cells (P<0.01), but the total cell number remained stable when compared with that of the control cells (P>0.05), whereas at the concentration of 100 microg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced obvious cytotoxicity against the neuroprogenitor cells.

CONCLUSIONStrychnos alkaloids can significantly inhibit the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells, and this effect is probably selective, suggesting the potential of Strychnos alkaloids as a new drug for treatment of neurocytoma.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Humans ; Neurons ; cytology ; PC12 Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Strychnos ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism for the apoptosis of hippocampus neuron induced by hypothyroidism in perinatal rats.

METHODSHypothyroidism was induced by administration of propylthiouracil (PTU, 50 mg/d) solution to the dams from gestational day 15 by gavage. Pups from both hypothyroid and control groups were harvested at 1, 5, 10 and 15d, respectively. Blood samples were collected at the time of death for the determination of thyroid hormone. Serum free triiodothyronine (FT(3)) and free thyroxine (FT(4)) were measured by chemoluminescence. Hippocampus specimens were collected from the control and hypothyroid pups.Mitochondia was examined under transmission electron microscopy. Translocation of apoptogenic molecules (Bax, cytochrome C and AIF) and activation of caspase-3 were analyzed by Western Blotting.

RESULTSignificantly low circulating FT(3) and FT(4) levels confirmed the hypothyroid status of the experimental pups. Electron microscopy showed that altered morphology of mitochondria significantly increased under hypothyroid conditions. The expression of Bax in the cytosol of hypothyroid pups was higher than that of control pups at all stages of development (P<0.05),and significantly higher in mitochondria (P<0.001). The expression of cytochrome c in the cytosol of hypothyroid pups was significantly higher than that of control pups at all stages of development (1,10 and 15 d:P<0.05, 5d: P<0.001), and lower in mitochondria (P<0.05). The expression of AIF in the cytosol of hypothyroid pups was higher than that of control pups at all stages of development (P<0.001), and significantly lower in mitochondria (1, 5d: P<0.001, 10, 15 d: P<0.01). he expression of caspase-3 P20 in the cytosol of hypothyroid pups was significantly higher as compared with that of the age-matched controls (1, 15d: P<0.01, 5,1 0 d: P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe intrinsic death pathway in mitochondria may be one of the mechanisms with which hypothyroid induces apoptosis of hippocampus neuron in developing rats.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Hypothyroidism ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Neurons ; pathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; pathology ; Propylthiouracil ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar