OBJECTIVE To analyze impulsive-like behaviors of SD rats induced by pramipexole in Y-maze avoidance tasks. METHODS Behaviors of SD rats in Y-maze avoidance tasks were recorded with a camera and analyzed by Noldus Etho Vision XT8 software after acute subcutaneous injection of pramipexole(0.1,1 and 10 mg · kg-1),including right reaction numbers of 20 consecutive avoidance tasks,shuttle number of times between the three arms of Y-maze, distance covered in Y-maze and time spent in safe arms during 20 consecutive avoidance tasks. Then,the prepulse inhibition(PPI)of the startle reflex test was used to assess the effect of pramipexole on sensorimotor gating (SG). Effects of pramipexole on the dialyzed content of monoamine neurotransmitter and its metabolites in the striatum and amygdala of SD rats were measured by microdialysis in vivo. RESULTS Compared with normal control group,the rats of pramipexole group showed a significant increase in the shuttle number of times and distance covered in Y-maze between Y-maze avoidance tasks(P<0.01),but a statistically significant decrease in the time spent in safe arms(P<0.01),while the number of right reactions in Y-maze avoidance tasks was not changed. Such premature responses were quite similar to certain impulsive-compulsive behaviors in rodent models,such as five-choice serial reaction time tasks. In the PPI test,pramipexole displayed an impairing effect on SG(P<0.01). The microdialysis results showed that there was an increase of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the striatum of pramipexole group, but not statistically significant. Monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites were not significantly changed in the amygdala. CONCLUSION Pramipexole can induce impulsive-compulsive behaviors in Y-maze avoidance tasks,which might be attributed to impaired SG.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effect of sGC003,a novel agonist of soluble guanylate cyclase,on endothelin-1(ET-1)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. METHODS Cardiomy?ocytes were isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats using serial enzymatic digestion and then incubated with ET-1 10 nmol·L-1 in the absence or presence of sGC003 0.01,0.1 and 1.0μmol·L-1. Hyper?trophic responses including the cardiomyocyte area(Image-Pro Plus 6.0),the expression of atrial natri?uretic peptide gene(ANP)mRNA(RT-PCR method)and total protein content(BCA method)were detect?ed. RESULTS After 48 h stimulation with ET-1 10 nmol·L-1,the cardiomyocyte area increased by 80%(P<0.01),the total protein content increased by 120%(P<0.01) and the expression of ANP mRNA up-regulated by 140%(P<0.01). sGC003 0.01,0.1 and 1.0μmol · L-1 elicited antihypertrophic actions, including inhibition of ET-1-mediated increase in the cardiomyocyte area(P<0.01),raised total protein content(P<0.05)and upregulation of ANP mRNA(P<0.05). CONCLUSION sGC003 has protective,car?diomyocyte-selective antihypertrophic effects in vitro.

Objective To optimize purification technology of total flavonoids in Callicarpa nudiflora Hook. et Arm. by macroporous adsorption resin. Methods Macroporous resin models including AB-8, D-101, HP-20, HP2MG, were optimized by static adsorption and desorption experiments regarding to adsorption rate and desorption rate of total flavonoids. Purification technology parameters of total flavonoids were optimized by single factor test. Results HP-20 macroporous resin presented the best purification efficiency,the optimum purification conditions were that taking 4. 46 mg·mL-1 of total flavonoidsat pH 3. 0, loading at 3 BV·h-1, washed with 3BV of water at 3 BV·h-1,then eluted with 4 BV 75% ethanol at 2 BV·h-1, finally obtaining the total flavonoids from the dry extract of Callicarpa nudiflora Hook. et Arn. with the purity of 47. 4%. Conclusion HP-20 macroporous resin is suitable for preliminary purification of total flavonoids in Callicarpa nudiflora Hook. et Arn.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of delineating subvolume target in radiotherapy for brain tumors using Gd-based contrast clearance difference.Methods:Twenty-six patients with malignant brain tumors were scanned with MRI. The first and second acquisitions of standard T 2-weighted images (T 2WI) and T 1-weighted images (T 1WI) were performed at 5 min and 60 min after injection of contrast agent. Delayed contrast extravasation (DCEM) MRI computed by Brainlab comprised regions of contrast agent clearance representing active tumors and regions of contrast accumulation representing non-tumor tissues. Based on T 2WI images, 14 patients with liquefaction necrosis were divided into group A, and 12 patients without liquefaction necrosis into group B, respectively. Then, gross target volume (GTV) was delineated on T 1WI images. Based on the GTV, active tumor (GTV tumor) and non-tumor regions (GTV non-tumor) were delineated on T 1WI-DCEM fusion images, while liquefaction necrosis (GTV liquefaction) and non-liquefaction (GTV non-liquefaction) were delineated on T 1-T 2WI fusion images. Finally, the differences between different subvolumes were compared by paired t-test. Results:In group A, the GTV non-liquefaction and GTV liquefaction were (13.65±18.15) cm 3 and (6.30±7.57) cm 3. The GTV tumor was (10.40±13.52) cm 3 and the GTV non-tumor was (9.55±14.57) cm 3. The GTV non-liquefaction was significantly increased by 16.3% on average compared with the GTV tumor ( P<0.05). The GTV non-tumor was significantly increased by 16.3% on average compared with the GTV liquefaction ( P<0.05). In group B, The GTV non-tumor was significantly reduced by 68.8% on average compared with the GTV tumor ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with T 2WI, DCEM has advantages in identifying the liquefaction area and can clearly differentiate the subvolume of active tumors from non-liquefaction necrosis. DCEM provides evidence for guiding the delineation of subvolume in primary and metastatic brain tumors.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of different reconstruction images on cardiac dose evaluation by comparing the differences between 4D-CT series and special reconstruction images in evaluating the dose-volume index of cardiac structures.Methods:ECG 4D-CT series were scanned in 15 female patients with left breast cancer. The images of 0-95% 20 phases were reconstructed at an interval of 5% cardiac cycle. The maximum intensity projection (MIP), minimum intensity projection (MinIP), average intensity projection (AIP) and sum intensity projection (SIP) images were obtained by special reconstruction of 4D-CT series. Left ventricle (LV) and left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) were delineated on 4D-CT and special reconstruction series, respectively. The intensity-modulated radiation therapy plan of the left breast cancer was designed on the basis of 0% phase, and the cumulative dose (Dose-cumulate) of 20 phases was obtained by deformation registration. The doses of 0% phase were deformed and registered to MIP, MinIP, AIP and SIP images to obtain the corresponding dose distribution. The dose-volume indexes of LV and LADCA based on different CT images were compared.Results:In the evaluation of dose-volume index of LV, compared with 4D-CT series, the change rates of V 5Gy, V 30Gy, V 40Gy, D max and D mean on MIP images were 3.8%, 2.0%, 0.9%, 3.8% and 1.7%, respectively. There was significant difference in V 5 and D max between MIP and 4D-CT (both P<0.05). Compared with 4D-CT, the change rates of D max on MinIP, SIP and AIP images were 2.5%, 3.1% and 1.5%, respectively (all P<0.05). In the evaluation of dose-volume index of LADCA, only the change rate of D max on four special reconstructed images was<5%( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the dose-volume evaluation of LV, the V 30Gy, V 40Gy and D mean obtained by MIP are basically equivalent to those obtained by 4D-CT series, which can be used to substitute 4D-CT series to evaluate the dose-volume. The special reconstruction image of LADCA can not replace 4D-CT series.

From an aqueous extract of Lonicera japonica flower buds, sixteen compounds were isolated by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over macroporous resin, MCI gel, silica gel, and sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis as 6'-O-acetylvogeloside (1), 6'-O-acetylsecoxyloganin (2), dichlorogelignate (3), guanosinyl-(3' --> 5')-adenosine monophosphate(GpA,4) , 5'-O-methyladenosine (5), 2'-O-methyladenosine (6), adenosine (7), syringin (8), methyl 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl caffeate (9), (-)-dihydrophaseic acid 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), ketologanin (11), 7α-morroniside (12), 7β-morroniside (13), kingiside (14), cryptochlorogenic acid methyl ester (15), and 6-hydroxymethyl-3-pyridinol (16). All the compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time, compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds, 3 and 5 are new natural products, and 4 is the first example of dinucleoside monophosphate isolated from a plant extract.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of the CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy for the solitary pulmonary nodules smaller than 15 mm in diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2002 and May 2003, we evaluated twenty-five patients (11 men, 14 women, mean ages: 52.5 years) who had solitary pulmonary nodules, which we could not discriminate as being benign or malignant on the CT findings. All the subjects had CT-guided percutaenous cutting needle biopsy (PCNB) performed on them at our institution. A definitive diagnosis of benignity or malignancy was established to retrospectively analyze the patient's records. We evaluated the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and complications of PCNB for the definitive diagnosis of benignity or malignancy. The sensitivity and specificity of PCNB were determined using the Chi-square test, and the correlations with pneumothorax and emphysema after biopsy were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: In two nodules of the twenty-five nodules, no definitive diagnosis could be established. Of the remaining twenty-three nodules, 7 (30.4%) were malignant and 16 (69.6%) were benign. Twenty (87%) of the twenty-three definitively diagnosed nodules were correctly diagnosed with PCNB. Of the twenty nodules, 6 (30%) were malignant and 14 (70%) were benign. The sensitivity and specificity of the malignant nodules were 85.7% (6/7) and 100% (16/16), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the benign nodules were 87.5% (14/16) and 85.7% (6/7), respectively. Post-biopsy complication occurred in nine patients (36%): Hemoptysis (n=4, 16%) and pneumothorax (n=5, 20%). However, there was not a statistical significance between pneumothorax and emphysema after biopsy (r=0.3, p=0.15). CONCLUSION: When CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy of the solitary pulmonary nodules smaller than 15 mm in diameter was performed without an on-site cytopathologist, we know that PCNB can yield high diagnostic accuracy and very few complications.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Emphysema ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Needles* ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule*

The relationship between tyrosine phosphorylation (TP) and protein expression of insulin receptor (InsR) and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was investigated. The InsR expression and TP in skeleton muscle tissue were determined by Western blotting and immunoprecipitation in women with GDM (GDM group, n=22), normal pregnant women (normal pregnancy group, n=22) and normal non-pregnant women (normal non-pregnant group, n=13). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were measured by oxidase assay and immunoradioassay. The results showed that the levels of FPG (5.61±0.78 mmol/L), FINS (15.42±5.13 mU/L) and Homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) (1.21±0.52) in GDM group were significantly higher than those in normal pregnancy group (4.43±0.46 mmol/L, 10.56±3.07 mU/L and 0.80±0.31 respectively) (P<0.01). The levels of FINS and HOMA-IR in normal pregnancy group were significantly higher than those in normal non-pregnant group (7.56±2.31 mU/L and 0.47±0.26 respectively) (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the InsR expression level among the three groups (P>0.05). TP of InsR with insulin stimulation was significantly decreased in GDM group (0.20±0.05) as compared with normal pregnancy group (0.26±0.06) (P<0.01). TP of InsR with insulin stimulation in normal pregnancy group was lower than that in normal non-pregnant group (0.31±0.06) (P<0.01). TP of InsR with insulin stimulation was negatively related with HOMA-IR in GDM group (r=-0.525, P<0.01). There was no correlation between the protein expression of InsR and HOMA-IR in GDM group (r=-0.236, P>0.05). It was suggested that there is no significant correlation between the protein expression of InsR in skeletal muscle and IR in GDM, but changes in TP of InsR are associated with IR in GDM.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess supplementary motor area (SMA) activation during motor, sensory, word generation, listening comprehension, and working memory tasks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen healthy right-handed subjects (9M, 7F) were imaged on a Siemens 1.5T scanner. Whole brain functional maps were acquired using BOLD EPI sequences in the axial plane. Each paradigm consisted of five epochs of activation vs. the control condition. The activation tasks consisted of left finger complex movement, hot sensory stimulation of the left hand, word generation, listening comprehension, and working memory. The reference function was a boxcar waveform. Activation maps were thresholded at an uncorrected p=0.0001. The thresholded activation maps were placed into MNI space and the anatomic localization of activation within the SMA was compared across tasks. RESULTS: SMA activation was observed in 16 volunteers for the motor task, 11 for the sensory task, 15 for the word generation task, 5 for the listening comprehension task, and 15 for the working memory task. The rostral aspects of the SMA showed activity during the word generation and working memory tasks, and the caudal aspects of the SMA showed activity during the motor and sensory tasks. Right (contralateral) SMA activation was observed during the motor and sensory tasks, and left SMA activation during the word generation and memory tasks. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that SMA is involved in a variety of functional tasks including motor, sensory, word generation, and working memory. The results obtained also support the notion that functionally specific subregions exist within the region classically defined as the SMA.
Brain ; Comprehension ; Fingers ; Hand ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term ; Volunteers

Iliolumbar artery injury is a rare but well-known complication of abdominal trauma and is usually associated with pelvic bone fracture. If a pseudoaneurysm develops and ruptures, it is a serious condition due to the enduing massive intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal bleeding. Superselective embolization has become the most effective treatment for pelvic hemorrhage caused by iliolumbar artery injury in which early detection and treatment are very important. We report a case of successful transarterial embolization of a pseudoaneurysm following blunt trauma in 32-year-old female.
Adult ; Aneurysm, False* ; Arteries* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pelvic Bones ; Rupture