In order to understand the alcohol's toxicity to the quantitative alternations of synapses in mouse visual cortex, the expression of synaptophysin after prenatal alcohol exposure was investigated. In present study, the experimental mice at P0, P7, P14 and P30 were grouped, as control, 2 g x kg(-1) alcohol treatment and 4 g x kg(-1) alcohol treatment. The pre-synaptic elements which were used to represent synapses were marked with synaptophysin (a synaptic vesicle associated protein) by immunocytochemistry technique. The synaptophysin positive boutons in layer VI of visual cortex were imaged under laser confocal microscope. With stereological methods, the number cal density of synapse in visual cortex was calculated in different groups at various ages. Moreover, Western blotting was carried out to detect the expression of synaptophysin in visual cortex. The results showed that prenatal alcohol exposure could cause synaptic loss with long-term effect and in a dose dependent manner. For instance, there were significant difference among the different treatment groups of P0, P14 and P30 as well (P < 0.05). Western blotting supported the results of immunofluorescent labeling. In conclusion, prenatal alcohol exposure can induce the synaptic loss dose dependently and with long-term effect. Our findings implicate that the synaptic loss with long-term effect in CNS probably contributes to the lifelong mental retardation and memorial lowliness associated with childhood FAS.

BACKGROUND: Stem cell transplantation in repairing infarct myocardium and in improving cardiac function has been widely accepted. However, whether transplanted cells and host cells formed an effective electricity and mechanical couple, whether a relevant independent electrical system with contractile function formed or whether severe malignant ventricular arrhythmia formed, are still unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate electrophysiological abnormaltiy and left ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial infarction following allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized controlled animal study was performed at the Experimental Center, Guangxi Medical University from December 2005 to October 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 120 healthy Wistar rats were equally randomized into normal control, sham operation, saline control and cell transplantation groups. Healthy Wister rats aged 1 month were selected to harvest bone marrow.METHODS: At the third passage, rat BMSCs were collected and treated with 5-aza, and differentiated into cerdiomyocytes.BMSCs were labeled with DAPI at 2 hours before transplantation. In the saline control and cell transplantation groups, rat models of myocardial infarction were established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. In the sham operation group, the coronary artery was not ligated, but only braid. At 7 days following ligation, BMSCs in the cell transplantation group at 2×10-1/L were infused into the edge and center of myocardial infarct region by multipoint injection. Rats in the other three groups were subjected to an equal volume of saline.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Electrocardiogram and cardiac electrophysiology were performed. Ultrasonic cardiography was used to detect left ventricular function. Infarct size was determined. DAPl-labeled donor cell migration and distribution was observed with a fluorescence microscope.RESULTS: BMSCs could differentiate into cardiacmuscle cell-like cells which were capable of pulsing spontaneously, expressing cardiactoponin T and forming myofilament in vitro. Compared with the saline control group, PR interval, QRS duration and ventdcular effective refractory period shortened, ventricular fibrillation threshold increased at 4, 8 and 12 weeks (P < 0.05); left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole reduced, and left ventricular ejection fraction and shortening traction was significantly increased (P< 0.05). At 8 and 12 weeks, infarct size was significantly smaller (P < 0.05). At 4 weeks, DAPl-labeled BMSCs could be seen under the fluorescence microscope, and still could he detected at 12 weeks. However, the fluorescence became weak with prolonged time.CONCLUSION: BMSCs have the plasticity of differentiating into cardiac muscle cell-like cells, which can modulate theelectrophysiological abnormality and left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of momordica charantia polysaccharides(MCP)on depressive animal model induced by chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)and explore the underlying mechanisms.METHODS We established CSDS depressant mouse model and treated CSDS mice with MCP.Sucrose preference,forced swim test(FST)and social interaction test(SIT)were used to measure behaviors changes.We used ELISA,Q-PCR and western blot to test the levels of cytokines in the hippocampus. RESULTS The results showed that chronic administration of MCP(100,200 and 400 mg·kg-1)significantly prevented depressive-like behaviors in mice as assessed by social interaction (SIT), tail suspension (TST) and sucrose preference tests (SPT).It was showed that the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-β)concentra-tions,up-regulation of JNK3,c-Jun,and P-110β protein expressions in the hippocampus of CSDS model. Moreover,reduction activity of PI3K and phosphorylation level of protein kinase B(AKT)was also observed in the hippocampus of CSDS model.All above phenomenon were reversed after MCP intervened.Further-more,the protective effects of MCP on the CSDS mice were partly inhibited by the specific phosphati-dylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)inhibitor, LY294002. CONCLUSION The protective effects of MCP against depressive-like effects in CSDS mice might reduce neuroinflammatory and involve in attenuation of JNK3/PI3K/AKT pathway in the hippocampus.

AIM: To explore the curative effect of methylprednisolone with octreotide retrobulbar injection therapy on thyroid associated ophthalmopathy.
METHODS:Fifty- one cases ( 96 eyes ) with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy were treated with methylprednisolone ( 500mg/d ) for 3d, and then retrobulbar injection of octreotide (0. 1mg/mo) for 3mo in one course. Symptoms and signs of the patients were observed before and after the treatment course.
RESULTS: Symptoms of 49 cases were improved significantly. In all cases, the mean value of exophthalmus of the patients was significantly decreased after the treatment by 3. 1 ± 1. 4mm. The height of palpebral fissure was significantly decreased after the treatment by 2. 4 ± 0. 9mm, there were statistically significant difference before and after treatment (P<0. 05).
COCLUSION: Methylprednisolone with octreotide retrobulbar injection therapy can improve symptoms and signs of the patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy with high safety and no obvious side effect.

Animals ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Physical Endurance ; physiology ; Quadriceps Muscle ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Objective To explore the humanistic care in the treatment of esophageal cancer patients, reducing surgery anxiety,fear,eliminate the negative psychology,reduce complications and promote early recovery.Methods We continuously strengthened the ideological education of nurses in our hospital and gave psychological preoperative care and enthusiastic postoperative care to 76 esophageal cancer patients since November 2008.then the nursing effect was observed.Results 74 cases(97.37%) surgery patients did not suffer a variety of complications due to emotional tension and fear,they kept quiet and stable vital signs during the operation.Postoperative follow-up showed 75 patients(98.68%) were satisfied with the service.Conclusions Application of humanistic care in patients with esophageal cancer throughout the nursing process can make patients feel the warmth of human caring,so as to reduce anxiety,fear and take the initiative with the operation.It is crucial for the entire success of the operation.

The leading cause of drug withdrawal from market and clinical trials failure is drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Varying clinical, histological and laboratory features of DILI, as well as undefined underlying mechanisms, hinder patients to be diagnosed in the early-stage of the disease and receive effective treatments. Conventional indicators, like serum transaminases and bilirubin, have inevitable limitations referring to sensitive prediction and specific detection of DILI. In order to reduce the occurrence of DILI, researchers have attempted to discover potential biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity from blood and urine in recent years. This article aims to review recent advances in biomarkers of DILI.
Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To compare the effect of kidney-tonifying blood-activating recipe (KBR) and Aescuven Forte Tablets ( AFT) in improving the sperm quality of varicocele-induced male sterility, thus to optimize the therapeutic therapy for varicocele-induced male sterility. Methods A total of 102 varicocele-induced male sterility with abnormal sperm parameters after conservative treatment were randomized into KBR group (N=53) and AFT group ( N=49) . KBR group was given KBR plus natural vitamin E and AFT group was given AFT plus natural vitamin E, and the treatment lasted for 8 continuous weeks. Before and after treatment, the quality of seminal fluid was analyzed, sperm quantization parameters such as total number of sperm (TNS) , total number of progressive motility sperm ( TNPS) , total number of normal form sperm ( TNNS) and total number of nor mal form and progressive motility sperm ( TNNPS) were observed, and the improvement rate of sperm quantization parameter was compared. Results (1) Before treatment, the differences of TNS, TNPS, TNNS and TNNPS were insignificant between the two groups ( P>0.05) . After treatment, TNNS was not improved in AFT group ( P>0.05) , but TNS, TNPS, TNNPS were much improved in both groups ( P<0.01 compared with those before treatment) . The improvement of KBR group was superior to that of AFT group ( P<0.05) . ( 2) The improvement rate for TNS, TNPS, TNNS, TNNPS was 90.57%, 79.25%, 67.92%, 77.36%in KBR group, and was 75.51%, 73.47%, 28.57%, 61.22% in AFT group respectively. The improvement rate for TNS and TNNS in KBR group was superior to that in AFT group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) . Conclusion Varicocele-induced male sterility patients usually have the syndrome of kidney deficiency and blood stasis, so KBR, which has the function of tonifying kidney and activating blood, has synergistic action on the effect of AFT in improving sperm quality of varicocele-induced male sterility patients.

To confirm the etiology of a dead case for a 6 year-old female Ailurus fulgens,one strain of the predominant bacteria from pathologic tissues(heart,liver,spleen,lung and other samples) of the dead Ailurus fulgens were examined and isolated.The isolate was named R1 and no other bacteria were isolated.The bacterial etiological examination(morphological characteristics,biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA gene detection)of R1 showed that it was identifed as K.peneumoniae.Artificial infection to mice about R1 was also conducted in this study.R1 had strong pathogenicity to mice and the LD50 is 6.5 × 104 CFU/mL.Moreover,the clinical and pathological features of the dead mice were consistent with that of the Ailurus fulgens.To find effective therapeutic drugs of curing other Ailurus fulgens,antibiotic sensitivity test of R1 was conducted,and the results revealed that R1 was highly sensitive to cefotaxime et al,moderately sensitive to amikacin and resistant to penicillin.These data showed that K.peneumoniae was bacterial pathogen leading to death of the Ailurus fulgens and it had strong resistance to penicillins,macrolides and virginiamycin and it had broad drug resistance spectrum.However,R1 is sensitive to cephalosporins and aminoglycoside antibiotics.

AIM:TodetecthemoglobinA1c(HbA1c)andparametersofbloodglucosefluctuationinChinesenewlydiag-nosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and further to specify the factors that were related to mean blood glucose (MBG) in this population.METHODS:Newly diagnosed T2DM patients (n=90) from 4 hospitals in Guangdong province were enrolled, and subjected to 3 d continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) after testing for HbA1c and other laboratory tests.Blood glucose data collected during CGM were used to calculate MBG and parameters of blood glucose fluctuation.RESULTS: Correlation analysis revealed that MBG was significantly related to all parameters of blood glucose fluctuation, HbA1c, fast plasma glucose ( FPG) and 2 h postprandial glucose (P<0.01), but not to sex, age or blood lipid profile.Further analysis utilizing step-wise general linear model showed that HbA1c, absolute means of daily difference ( MODD) , difference between maximal and minimal glucose ( DMMG) and FPG had the strongest relation to MBG.CONCLUSION: Factors affecting MBG of the newly diagnosed T2DMpatients in our country include HbA1c, FPG, DMMG and MODD, and thus it may be prone to misleading results that only HbA1c is applied to estimate MBG in this population.