OBJECTIVETo study the effects of immunoglobulin on the neuronal expression of IL-1beta and IL-1ra and the neuronal death at hippocampus in rats with convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazol.

METHODSThe epilepsy model was established by injecting intraperitoneally pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) into Wistar rats. Forty-five rats were randomly divided into three groups, normal control group, PTZ plus intravenous immunoglobulin (PTZ-IVIG); PTZ plus normal saline (PTZ-NS). Neuronal death was assessed by light microscopy with the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and with in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). IL-1beta and IL-1ra expressions were examined by histochemistry.

RESULTSThe ratio of IL-1beta/IL-1ra at hippocampal CA(1) region in PTZ-IVIG group (0.5 +/- 0.1) was significantly lower than that in PTZ-NS group (1.9 +/- 0.5, t = 12.9, P < 0.05). Apoptotic cell numbers at the hippocampal CA(1) region were significantly decreased in the PTZ-IVIG group, compared to PTZ-NS group (t = 27.1, P < 0.05). The numbers of positive cells were 16.4 +/- 3.3/1000 microm(2) in the former and 41.7 +/- 3.5/1000 microm(2) in the latter. Necrotic cell numbers at the hippocampal CA(1) region were significantly decreased in the PTZ-IVIG group (19.0 +/- 2.6/1000 microm(2)), compared to PTZ-NS group (42.3 +/- 4.9/1000 microm(2), t = 20.9, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONImmunoglobulin could inhibit neuronal death induced by convulsion and its possible mechanism might be the regulation of IL-1 system in neurons.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; pharmacology ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Pentylenetetrazole ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo clarify if programmed cell death mechanisms induced by seizures take part in the necrotic process of neurons.

METHODSSeizure was induced by pilocarpine (P) in Sprague-Dawley adult rats which were allowed to recover for 24 or 72 hours before perfusion-fixation. Neuronal death was assessed by light microscopy with the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and with in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression were examined by histochemistry.

RESULTSTwenty-four and 72 hours after seizures, neuronal death in hippocampus CA1 region was morphologically necrotic. TUNEL-positive and morphologically necrotic cells increased in the hippocampal CA1 region at 72 hours after seizures, there was significant difference compared with controls (P < 0.001). Bax expression was also increased in the hippocampal CA1 region at 72 hours after seizures (P < 0.001), but Bcl-2 expression did not increase, while Bcl-2/Bax ratio decreased.

CONCLUSIONSeizures induced late-onset neuronal necrosis was accompanied by programmed cell death mechanisms.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

BACKGROUNDIt is unclear whether a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) would impact the effect of catheter ablation on persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to compare the effect of catheter ablation on persistent AF with and without a history of PAF.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-three patients underwent catheter ablation of persistent AF lasting for > 1 month and were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had a history of PAF or not. Group I consisted of persistent AF patients with a history of PAF, and group II consisted of persistent AF patients without such a history. All patients received catheter ablation focused on pulmonary vein isolation and were observed for arrhythmia recurrences, which were defined as documented episodes of AF or atrial tachycardia after a blanking period of 3 months.

RESULTSOne hundred and three patients (60.9%) in group I and sixty-six patients (39.1%) in group II were successfully followed and included in analysis. There were no significant differences in clinical and echocardiographic characteristics between both groups except for a younger age and more male patients in group II. After (15.5 ± 10.7) months of follow-up, 59 (57.3%) patients in group I and 49 (74.2%) patients in group II maintained sinus rhythm free of anti-arrhythmia drugs (P = 0.025). Multivariate analyses found left atrial anteroposterior diameter (P = 0.006) and persistent AF with a history of PAF (OR 1.792, 95%CI 1.019 - 3.152; P = 0.043) as the only independent statistical predictors of arrhythmia recurrences.

CONCLUSIONThe arrhythmia recurrence rate of catheter ablation based on pulmonary vein isolation in persistent AF with a history of PAF was higher than those without a history of PAF.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Compound Shenhua Tablet (, SHT) on the sodium-potassium- exchanging adenosinetriphosphatase (Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase) in the renal tubular epithelial cells of rats with acute ischemic reperfusion and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of SHT on renal ischemic reperfusion injury (RIRI).

METHODSFifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham surgery group, model group, astragaloside group [150 mg/(kg·d)], SHT low-dose group [1.5 g/(kg·d)] and SHT high-dose group [3.0 g/(kg·d)], with 10 rats in each group. After 1 week of continuous intragastric drug administration, surgery was performed to establish the model. At either 24 or 72 h after the surgery, 5 rats in each group were sacrificed, blood biochemistry, renal pathology, immunoblot and immunohistochemical examinations were performed, and double immunofluorescence staining was observed under a laser confocal microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the sham surgery group, the serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were significantly increased, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase protein level was decreased, and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) protein level was increased in the model group after the surgery (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the SCr, BUN, pathological scores, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, and the KIM-1 protein level of the three treatment groups were significantly improved at 72 h after the surgery (P<0.05 or P<0.01). And the SCr, BUN of the SHT low- and high-dose groups, and the pathological scores of the SHT high-dose group were significantly lower than those of the astragaloside group (P<0.05). The localizations of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and megalin of the model group were disrupted, with the distribution areas overlapping with each other and alternately arranged. The severity of the disruption was slightly milder in three treatment groups compared with that of the model group. The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that the SHT high-dose group had a superior effect as compared with the astragaloside group and the SHT low-dose group.

CONCLUSIONSThe SHT effectively alleviated RIRI caused by ischemic reperfusion, promoted the recovery of the polarity of renal tubular epithelial cells, and protected the renal tubules. The therapeutic effects of SHT were superior to those of astragaloside as a single agent.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Creatinine ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Immunoblotting ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Tubules ; blood supply ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-2 ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Saponins ; analysis ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of a traditional Chinese medicinal compound known as Fufang Shenhua Tablet (SHP) on the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) during renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats.

METHODSA total of 28 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) pseudo-operation control group, (2) ischemia-reperfusion model group, (3) Astragaloside group, (4) high-dose SHP group, and (5) low-dose SHP group. There were four rats in the pseudo-operation group and six rats in each of the other groups. The accepted ischemia-reperfusion model was established after a 7-day gavage intervention, and pathological changes and renal function were observed, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect interleukin 8 (IL-8) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels, as well as immunohistochemical staining to detect altered levels of TLR2 and TLR4 expression in renal tissue.

RESULTSAfter 24 h, renal pathological damage and the expression levels of serum creatinine (Scr), IL-8, IFN-γ, TLR2, and TLR4 were significantly higher in the model group as compared with the pseudo-operation group (P<0.05). In addition, at 24 h the above indicators decreased significantly in the Astragaloside group, high-dose SHP group and low-dose SHP group as compared with the ischemia-reperfusion model group (P< 0.05). TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels were significantly reduced in the SHP treatment and Astragaloside group as compared with the pseudo-operation group (P<0.05). Further, the high-dose SHP group showed significantly less renal damage score and decreased levels of TLR expression than those of low-dose SHP group and Astragaloside group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHP can alleviate the renal structural and functional damage caused by IRI-induced AKI in rats by reducing the damage of renal pathology, which may reduce inflammatory cytokine levels by downregulating the expression of TLRs in renal tissue in a dose-dependent manner.

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; Tablets ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDRadiofrequency (RF) ablation has become a widely accepted treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to identify the efficacy and safety of pulmonary vein (PV) ablation with ethanol and to explore an alternative energy source for catheter ablation of AF.

METHODSTwelve open-chest mongrel dogs were randomized into ethanol ablation group and control group. Both the injections and electrophysiological mapping procedures were performed epicardialy. In ethanol ablation group (n = 6), injections were performed to circumferentially ablate the root of each PV (0.2 ml each site, 3 mm apart) with 95% ethanol using an 1 ml injector. In control group (n = 6), saline was injected other than ethanol. PV isolation was confirmed with a circular catheter immediately after the procedure and at follow up of 30 days. PV isolation was defined as the absence of PV potentials at each electrode of the circular catheter positioned at the PV side of the lesions, as well as complete conduction block into left atrium (LA) during PV pacing.

RESULTSPV electrical isolation with complete bidirectional conduction block was achieved with ethanol immediately and at 30 days in 95% of PVs, while saline injection caused only transient conduction changes between LA and PVs. In ethanol group, histologic analysis showed transmural lesions at 30 days. And there was no evidence of PV stenosis or thrombus formation. Mean LA diameter was not significantly different between baseline and 30 days.

CONCLUSIONEthanol is a safe energy source to effectively isolate PV in canine model and may be promising in endocardial ablation procedure of AF patients in the future.

Animals ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Dogs ; Electrophysiology ; Ethanol ; Pulmonary Veins ; physiology ; surgery ; Random Allocation

BACKGROUNDThe N400 component of event-related potentials (ERP) has recently drawn widespread attention at home and abroad. This study was to explore the relationship between N400 changes and risperidone treatment and rehabilitation infirst-episode schizophrenia (FES).

METHODSERP component N400 was recorded by Guangzhou Runjie WJ-1 ERP instruments, in 58 FES before and 6 months, 15 months after risperidone treatment, and in 62 normal controls. The patients' syndromes were assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). And the stimuli are Chinese sentences with matching (congruent) or mismatching (incongruent) ending words.

RESULTSN400 latencies were prolonged, and amplitudes were decreased in Cz, Pz, Fz, C3, C4, in FES compared with in NC, before treatment. The prolonged N400 latencies and decreased amplitudes were negatively correlated with the patients' positive scale and total scale of PANSS. There are significant differences of N400 amplitudes and latencies in 6 months and 15 months follow-up after treatment. Before treatment, 6 months and 15 months after treatment, N400 latencies are 446 ± 35 ms, 440 ± 37 ms, 414 ± 31 ms (F = 9.72, P < 0.01) in incongruent situation; N400 amplitudes are 5.2 ± 4.6 μV, 5.7 ± 4.8 μV, 7.3 ± 5.0 μV (F = 2.06, P > 0.05) in congruent situation, and 8.5 ± 5.9 μV, 10.1 ± 5.0 μV, 11.9 ± 7.0 μV (F = 3.697, P < 0.05) in incongruent situation.

CONCLUSIONSN400 could be used to predict the effects of treatment of schizophrenia to some degree. The linguistic and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia can be improved by antipsychotic drugs.

Adult ; Evoked Potentials ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Risperidone ; therapeutic use ; Schizophrenia ; drug therapy ; rehabilitation

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of Shenhua Tablet (, SHT) on the toll-like receptors (TLRs)-mediated signaling pathways in a rat model of kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). METHODS: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham surgery, model control, astragaloside (150 mg•kg•d), low- and high-dose SHT (1.5 and 3.0 g•kg•d, repectively) groups. One week after drug treatment, rats underwent surgery to establish the IRI models. At 24 h and 72 h after the modeling, serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were analyzed; pathological damage were scored after periodic acid-Schiffstaining. TLR2, TLR4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) protein and mRNA expressions were detected by inmmunohistochemistry, Western blot and qPCR. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) protein expressions were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, the model group exhibited severe change in renal function (Scr: 189.42±21.50, P<0.05), pathological damage (damage score: 4.50±0.55, P<0.05), and the expression levels of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, TNF-α, IL-6 were significantly higher than other groups. Meanwhile, the levels of TLRs in model group showed upward tendency from 24 to 72 h, unparalleled with pathological and functional changes. The aforementioned parameters were alleviated to a certain extent, and, in addition to TLRs, presented the obvious downward trending from the 24 to 72 h after the intervention in the SHT and astragaloside groups relative to the model (P<0.05); in particular, the most significant mitigation of these changes was observed in the SHT-H group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION TLRs may be an important spot to treat and research in acute kidney injury. SHT could effectively mitigate renal injuries and promote recovery of IRI injuries through suppression of degeneration induced by up-regulation of TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels in the MyD88-dependent signaling pathway and exhibit some dose dependence.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Male ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; analysis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tablets ; Toll-Like Receptors ; analysis ; drug effects ; genetics