Objective To investigate the effects of chronic ethanol exposure and withdrawal on the expression of actin-binding protein cofilin,p-cofilin and cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (cdk5) in the nucleus accumbens and striatum in rat brain.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into one control group and three experimental groups.In the experimental groups,ethanol was administered in drinking water at the concentration of 6％ (V/V) for two months.Rats in control group drank normal drinking water.After two months ethanol was removed and ethanol withdrawal syndromes were evaluated.Rats were sacrificed on withdrawal 0 h,withdrawal 6 h and withdrawal 2 d.The expression levels of cofilin,p-cofilin(ser3)and cdk5 in the rat brain were measured by immunohistochemistry methods.Results Withdrawal syndrome scores of ethanol fed rats were obviously higher than those of control rats after ethanol was removed,the highest score occurred at 6 h after ethanol withdrawal.In the nucleus accumbens area of rat brain,the levels of cofilin on withdrawal 0 h significantly decreased compared with control group ((0.31±0.05),(0.39± 0.05),P＜ 0.05).The levels of cdk5 on withdrawal 0 h and withdrawal 6 h significantly increased compared with control group((0.36±0.07),(0.34±0.07),(0.25±0.05),P＜0.05).In the striatum of rat brain,the levels of cofilin on withdrawal 0 h significantly decreased compared with control group ((0.26±0.04),(0.34±0.05),P＜0.05).The levels of p-cofilin on withdrawal 6 h significantly increased compared with control group((0.43±0.06),(0.30±0.06),P＜0.01).The levels of cdk5 on withdrawal 0 h significantly increased compared with control group((0.35±0.06),(0.26±0.05),P＜0.05),and the levels of cofilin on withdrawal 6 h significantly decreased compared with control group((0.37±0.06),(0.26±0.05),P＜0.01).Conclusion Chronic ethanol exposure can induce the development of ethanol dependence,and it accompanies with changes in the expression of actin-binding protein and cdk5 in the brain of rats.

Abortion, Missed ; chemically induced ; Adult ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

Objective To observe the effects of vitamin C (VC) and E (VE) on the uhrastrueture of liver, kidney and brain tissue of fluorosis rats. Methods One hundred and twenty Wistar rats were chosen as the experimental animals and were divided into 9 groups randomly. The control group were given distilled water and the fluoride exposed group were given distilled water containing sodium fluoride 150 mg/L. The throe VC-fluoride exposed groups were given VC orally in a dose of 50,100,150 mg·kg-1.d-1, respectively, and the three VE-fluoride exposed groups were given VE of 25,50,75 mg·kg-1·d-1, respectively. The VC-VE-fluoride exposed group were given VC of 100 mg·kg-1·d-1and VE of 50 mg·kg-1·d-1at the same time of high fluoride water intake. The rats were sacrificed after 9 months and the ultrastructure changes on liver, kidney and brain tissues of each group were observed under transmission electron microscope(TEM). Results The uhrastrueture of liver, kidney and brain showed pathologic changes in the rats that drank water containing high eoneentrations of sodium fluoride. ①Edema of hepatocytes, smeared mitochontria and nuclear matrix, lipid droplet in eytoplasm of hepatocytes, margination of nueleohs as well as obvious swelling of liver sinusoidal endothelial were observed in fluoride exposed group. ② There were marginafion of heterochromatin, expansion of cell space and endoplasmic reticulum in the kidney after the exposure to excess fluoride.③Signifieant changes were found on glial eells on the brain, including cell swelling, increase and marginafion of heterochromatin in the fluoride exposure group. There were no significant uhrastrueture changes in the VC or VE intervention group, while the VC-VE-fluoride exposure group was almost the same as the control group. Conclusions Fluoresis may cause damage on liver, kidney and brain in rats. VC and VE, alone or combined, have protective effects, and the combined supplementation was stronger than single supplementations.

This study was aimed to apply the electronic nose (E-nose) in the research of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The discussion was made on difficulties of using E-nose. The solution plan was proposed and the discrimination model was established. It provided a simple, rapid and effective analysi method in the identification of TCM. It also provided new ideas for the research and application of gas sensor arrays. E-nose was used in the ex-traction of TCM scent characteristics. Based on ion mobility spectrometry of MOS sensor, the fingerprint of TCM scent was established. The maximum response value of the sensor was used as analysis index. According to the diffi-culties of identification, two solution plans were proposed. Firstly, different detectors were employed to complete the classification. Secondly, radial basis function (RBF) and random forests (RF) were combined and then a cascade classifier was constructed in order to achieve the maximum of information obtained in conditions where the number of measurements, metal oxide semiconductor sensors in E-nose was limited. The results showed that both plans were accurate and practical with relatively high upper correct judge rate and better cross-validation (The highest upper correct judge rates were 95% and 100%, 96% and 80%, respectively). It was concluded that this study firstly ap-plied cascade classifier in the establishment of TCM identification by E-nose. With limited amount of sensors, the maximum information was received through data mining. Using E-nose in the identification of TCM was rapid and accurate. The established pattern recognition method was maneuverable with accurate identification rate and stability compared to conventional sensory identification method. It provided a simple and rapid analysis method for the iden-tification of TCM.

Objective To provide a practicable method for the complete display and localization of the posterolateral structures (PLS) of the normal knee through MRI study. Methods 30 tibial bone specimens were observed to establish the bony landmark for localizing the knee. In 50 cadaver knees, the angles between lateral tibial plateau and the long axis of the individual structure of PLS were measured. Then the scan methods of the oblique MR images were determined based on above results. The routine and oblique scans of T 1WI were performed in 40 normal knees. The display effect and appearance of the PLS were observed on MRI. Results The lateral tibial plateau was a stable bony landmark for measuring and localizing of the knee. In the 40 normal knees, The fibular collateral ligament could be intactly displayed on 70? posterior coronal oblique images in 34 cases (85%). The popliteus could be better seen on either 45? medial sagittal oblique in 34 cases (85%) or 60? posterior coronal oblique planes in 36 cases (90%). The popliteofibular ligament could be intactly appreciated on both 60? posterior coronal oblique in 32 cases (80%) and 70? lateral sagittal oblique images in 34 cases (85%). Although the arcuate ligament and the fabellofibular ligament could occasionally be seen on routine and oblique images, but the display rate was lower. Conclusion The oblique MR imaging can intactly display the main structures of PLS, and can be useful in diagnosing the injuries in those structures.

Objective To report the clinical effect of primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods A retrospective study was accomplished on the clinical data of 13 AMI patients who underwent PCI from March 2004 to April 2006.Results The infarct-related artery (IRA)was successfully recanalized by primary PCI for 12 AMI patients,without major complications occurred in these cases during hospitalization.Conclusion Primary PCI should be firstly chosen for treatment of AMI in the hospitals which could carry out PCI.

To improve 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase(KSDH) activity and the transformation level for androst-4-ene-3,17-dione, 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase gene(ksdD) from Arthrobacter simplex was cloned into plasmid pWB980 and expressed in B. subtilis WB600 under the control of promoter P43. The molecular weight of expressed enzyme was about 55kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. The activitities assayed by spectrophotometrical method of intracellular and extracellular soluble enzyme were 110?0.5mU and 15?0.6mU per milligram of protein respectively. The transformation rate of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was 45.3%. Compared with Arthrobacter simplex, the enzyme activity of KSDH expressed in B. subtilis was improved about 30 fold, and the transformation level of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was improved about 10 fold. The recombinant B. subtilis cells used in biotransformation of steroids provided a new way for steroid medicines production.

Objective To study the interobserver variabilities and the differential diagnosis value of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System-Ultrasound (BI-RADS-US) lexicon for small ( ≤ 2 cm) breast nodules. Methods Between January 2009 and December 2011, 289 patients with small (≤2 cm) breast nodules (n=317) were included. According to sizes, the lesions were divided into two groups, i.e., 0-1 cm (n=160) group and 1-2 cm (n=157)group. Each lesion was described independently by 3 radiologists using BI-RADS-US lexicon. Interobserver variabilities were assessed by Kappa test. Chi-square test was used to compare the frequency difference of the descriptors between malignant and benign lesions. Sensitivity, speciifcity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negtive predictive value were calculated. Results (1)Moderate agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin, echo pattern, surrounding tissue and calciifcations (κ=0.44, 0.57, 0.48, 0.43, 0.51 and 0.57) in 0-1 cm group. Substantial agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin and echo pattern (κ=0.65, 0.61, 0.64 and 0.63) in 1-2 cm group. (2)Irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo and microcalciifcations were more frequently found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 0-1 cm group [52.3% (34/65) vs 20.0% (19/95), 38.5%(25/65) vs 13.7%(13/95), 75.4%(49/65) vs 32.6%(31/95), 18.6%(12/65) vs 0 (0/95) and 10.8%(7/65) vs 2.1%(2/95);χ2=18.19, 13.08, 28.22, 16.39 and 3.95;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.047]. Similarly, irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were signiifcantly more frequent found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 1-2 cm group [74.2%(49/66) vs 12.1%(11/91), 36.3%(24/66) vs 5.5%(5/91), 93.9%(62/66) vs 22.0%(20/91), 37.9%(25/66) vs 3.3%(3/91), 30.3%(20/66) vs 7.7%(7/91), 15.2%(10/66) vs 0 (0/91) and 16.7%(11/66) vs 4.4%(4/91);χ2=62.59, 24.21, 79.40, 31.22, 13.73, 12.30 and 6.67;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.010]. (3)In both groups, a good sensitivity was demonstrated (75.4%&93.9%) when using the non-circumscribed margin as a criterion for malignancy, and high speciifcity was achieved in two groups (80.0%-100%and 87.9%-100%) when other descriptors including irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were used as differentiation criteria. Conclusions Good interobserver agreement can be achieved using the BI-RADS-US lexicon in the diagnosis of small breast nodules. Non-circumscribed margin are proved as the most valuable sign for screening malignant breast lesions ≤ 2 cm. High speciifcity was found for irregular shape, nonparallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, Cooper′s ligament changes and microcalciifcations, which can help biopsy and preoperative diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo observe the regulatory effects of psoralen, oleanolic acid, and stilbene glucoside, three active components of psoralea fruit, glossy privet fruit and tuber fleeceflower root respectively, on Aβ25-35induced self-renewal and neuron-like differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs).

METHODSEmbryonic NSCs werein vitro isolated and cultured from Kunming mice of 14-day pregnancy, and randomly divided into the control group, the Aβ25-35 group, the Aβ25-35 +psoralen group, the Aβ25-35 +oleanolic acid group, and the Aβ25-35 + stilbene glucoside group. The intervention concentration of Aβ25-35 was 25 µmol/L, and the intervention concentration of three active components of Chinese medicine was 10(-7)mol/L. The effect of three active components of Chinese medicine on the proliferation of NSCs was observed by counting method. The protein expression of Tubulin was observed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The ratio of Tubulin+/DAPI was caculated. Results Compared with the control group, the sperical morphology of NSCs was destroyed in the Aβ25-35 group, the counting of NSCs, the expression of Tubulin protein, and the ratio of Tubulin /DAPI all decreased (P <0.01, P <0.05). Compared with the Aβ25-35 group, the counting of NSCs, the expression of Tubulin protein, and the ratio of Tubulin + /DAPI all increased in the three Chinese medicine treated groups (P <0. 01, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONS25 µmol/L Aβ25-35 could inhibit self-renewal and neuron-like differentiating of NSCs. But psoralen, oleanolic acid, and stilbene glucoside could promote self-renewal of NSCs and neuron-like differentiation.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; physiology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Female ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; Peptide Fragments ; physiology ; Pregnancy