Objective To study the effects of naked DN A encoding vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF 165 )on cerebra l infarction in rats. Methods Following establishme nt of a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MACO) model by nylon suture embolization in Wistar rats, the puCCAGGS/hVEGF 165 was directly injected i nto the ischemic tissues through skull hole. Seven days later, the rats were sac rificed. The infarct volume was measured by 2% TTC staining technique, then the expression of VEGF 165 gene and vascular proliferation were measured by use of RT-PCR and immumohistochemistry methods. Results Expression of VEGF 165 mRNA and VEGF protein in the therapy group increas ed. Compared with the control group, the number of vessels of the therapy group was significantly higher (50.76/HPF vs 40.67/HPF)( P

Objective To estimate the effects ot rosiglitazone on cultured HaCaT human keratinocytes and their possible mechanism.Methods HaCaT cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations ( 10,20,40,80 μ mol/L) of rosiglitazone or solvent for 24,48,72 and 96 hours,respectively.Cell proliferation was detected with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.Western blot was performed to measure the protein expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1.Results Compared with the solvent-treated cells,the proliferation of HaCaT cells was significantly inhibited by 18.9％,23.7％,35.1％ and 44.6％ (all P＜ 0.05) after treatment with rosiglitazone of 10,20,40 and 80 μmol/L,respectively,for 48 hours.The expressions of β-catenin and cyclin D 1 were significantly lower in rosiglitazone-treated HaCaT cells than in solvent-treated cells (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Rosiglitazone could inhibit the proliferation of HaCaT cells,likely by downregulating the expressions of β-catenin and cyclin D 1.

Objective To study the electroacupuncture effects of the single point Zusanli or Sanyinjiao on simple obese rats and to observe the regulation of fat metabolism.M[ethods Before and after the treatment,the body weights and lengths of rats in each group were measured tO calculate the Lee's index;besides,total cholesteriol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in the rat blood were also determined.Finally,the rats were treated and observed for tWO courses,and SPSS11.5 statistical software was employed to conduct statistical analysis of the experimental data.Results A significant difference was observed about the effects on the height,weight,Lee's index,TC and TG between treatment group and the model group or normal control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01),but no significant difference between treatment group and normal control group (P>0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture of Zusanli and Sanyinjiao points has effects on simple-obesity rats,which can make weight loss and decrease Lee's index,TC and TG levels.The underlying mechanism may relate to the improvements of fat metabolism.

AIM:To explore the effects of moderate-altitude exposure on intestinal flora in healthy individuals.METHODS:The aid-Tibet cadres,who were sent to work from Guangdong(average altitude<50 m)to Nyingchi(average altitude of 2 900 m),were recruited.A total of 76 samples were collected,including 42 samples from healthy adults with plateau living for 0 day and 34 samples from healthy adults with plateau living for 6 months.Fecal samples DNA were ex-tracted,sequenced by the 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology and analyzed bioinformatically.RESULTS:Compared with the base group,α diversity was increased(P=4.00×10-4)and β diversity was decreased(P=1.00×10-3).After moderate altitude exposure,the relative abundance of phylum Proteobacteria(|LDA|>4,P<0.05),genus Escherich-ia-Shigella,species Enterococcus_faecalis,Haemophilus_influenzae and Helicobacter_sp._UNSW1.7sp decreased(adjust-ed P<0.05),wheras the relative abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes(|LDA|>4,P<0.05),genus Butyricimona,species Lactobacillus_sp._RA2113(s)and Butyricimonas_sp._Marseille-P2440(s)increased(adjusted P<0.05).The function-al prediction by PICRUSt showed a decrease in the relative abundance of pathway related to xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism,membrane transport and amino acid metabolism(adjusted P<0.05).Conversely,the relative abundance of pathway related to biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites and nucleotide metabolism was increased(adjusted P<0.05).Finally,the results of microbiome phenotype prediction by BugBase showed that moderate altitude exposure im-proves the gut microbiota functions involving anaerobic oxygen tolerance and gram positive(adjusted P<0.05).And bacte-ria containing facultatively anaerobic oxygen tolerance,oxidative stress tolerance,gram negative and biofilm formation in the six-group decreased significantly compared with those in base group(adjusted P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Moderate altitude exposure impacts the diversity,abundance and function of intestinal flora in healthy population,suggesting that al-titude factors may have some influence on gut microbiota.