To study the protective effect of local mild hypothermia on the ischemic cerebral tissue, a model of middle cerebral artery(MCA) occlusion was prepared in Wistar rats which were randomly divided into the normal temperature group, FK 506 group, mild hypothermia group and control group. The radioactivity of calcineurin in ischemic cerebral tissue was measured in different time after MCA occlusion. The activity of calcineurin decreased 6 hours after ischemia in the normal temperature group and the FK 506 group, whereas no obvious change of calcineurin activity was observed in the mild hypothermia group, which had a significant difference. It is suggested that the local mild hypothermia treatment may inhibit the change of calcineurin activity in ischemic cerebral tissue, and has a tangible protective effect on the ischemic brain.

BACKGROUND: There is still no satisfactory therapy for thetreatment of cerebral infarction at present. Although sub-hypothermia is effective in the treatment of cerebral infarction, its side effect is relatively more. Local sub-hypothermia might have favorable effects in the treatment of cerebral infarction.OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effects of local sub-hypothermia on the ischemic brain tissues in rats to further explore its mechanism.DESIGN: A randomized controlled basic study based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Institute of neurology of a university hospital.MATERIALS: The study was conducted in the Animal Laboratory of Neurology, the First College for Clinical Medicine, Harbin Medical University between April 2000 and January 2002. Fifty male Wistar rats(cleanness grade) with a bodyweight of(250 ± 25) g were selected.INTERVENTIONS: Ten rats were randomly selected from the 50 rats and divided into normal group and sham-operation group with 5 rats each. The rest 40 rats were randomly divided into normal temperature cerebral ischemia group and local hypothermia cerebral ischemia group with 20 rats each. Rat cerebral middle-sized arterial ischemia model was established for local sub-hypothermia disposal.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Impacts on cerebral infarction volume,nerve function, and neuron-specific enolase(NSE) of rats in each group.RESULTS: The cerebral infarction volume at 48 hours after embolism in rats was ( 128.95 ± 13.42) or (84.90 ± 11.36) mm3 respectively, nerve function evaluation was( 1.60 ± 0. 24) or (0. 95 ± 0. 17), and serous NSE concentration was(13.55±4.07) or(9.19±3.42) μg/L in either sub-hypothermia group or normal temperature group, which were significantly different from each other.CONCLUSION: Local sub-hypothermia therapy has protective effects on ischemic cerebral neurons.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of local mild hypothermia on the ischemic cerebral tissues. Methods A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was prepared in Wistar rats to compare the difference of the cerebral infarction volume and neurologic function and the serum concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) between the local mild hypothermia group and the normal temperature group. Results It was found that the cerebral infarction volume was 84.90?11.36 and 128.95?13.42 mm 3 in the local mild hypothermia group and the normal temperature group, the neurologic function score 0.95?0.17 and 1.60?0.24, and the serum concentration of NSE 9.19?3.42 and 13.55?4.07ng/ml,respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that the local mild hypothermia treatment exerted protective effect on the ischemic neurons.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A variety of immunomodulators can improve the efficacy of low-dose chemotherapeutics. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a mushroom mycelia extract, has been shown to be a strong immunomodulator. Whether AHCC could enhance the antitumor effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via regulation of host immunity is unknown. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the current study Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with PBS, 5-FU (10 mg.kg-1.d-1, i.p), or AHCC (360 mg.kg-1.d-1, i.g) plus 5-FU, respectively, for 5 d. CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and NK in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels were measured by biochemical assay. IL-2 and TNFalpha in serum were measured using the RIA kit and apoptosis of tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. Bax, Bcl-2, and TS protein levels were measured by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA level was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diet consumption and body weight showed that AHCC had no apparent toxicity. AHCC could reverse liver injury and myelosuppression induced by 5-FU (P < 0.05). Compared to mice treated with 5-FU, mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had higher thymus index, percentages of CD3+, CD4+, and NK cells (P < 0.01), and ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood. Radioimmunoassay showed that mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had the highest serum levels of IL-2 and TNFalpha compared with the vehicle group and 5-FU group. More importantly, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU produced a more potent antitumor effect (P < 0.05) and caused more severe apoptosis in tumor tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the 5-FU group. In addition, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU further up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) (P < 0.01), while it down-regulated the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the claim that AHCC might be beneficial for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Agaricales ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Body Weight ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diet ; Drug Therapy ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorouracil* ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Interleukin-2 ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Liver ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Mice* ; Radioimmunoassay ; RNA, Messenger ; Thymus Gland ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha