Aim This was to study the effects of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HYSA)on iNOS expression in rats following focal cerebral ischemia. Methods Rat cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The expression levels of iNOS were examined using immunohistochemical method. The neurological outcome and the cerebral infarct area were evaluated. Results The expression levels of iNOS in HYSA groups were significantly lower than those in ischemic model group. Treatment with HYSA also decreased the cerebral infarct area and the neurological deficit score. Conclusion HYSA induced down regulation of iNOS expression, which may mediate the protective effect of HYSA on cerebral ischemia.

Objective: To study the pharmacological effects of Zhong Feng Kang on model mice with cerebral ischemia and after restoration of blood flow. Methods: To make the model of cerebral ischemia and after restoration of blood flow with thread embolism, and measure the area of cerebral infarction and observe cerebral pathologic change. Results: Zhong Feng Kang could reduce the area of cerebral infarction, improve cerebral pathologic change on model mice. Conclusion: The results confirmed that the clinical data of Zhongfengkang would provide a basis of pharmaceutical application

Objective To evaluate the effect of 5? reductase inhibitor on vascularity of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods Sixty male adult rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (15 per group): normal control, BPH control group, the group of 5? reductase inhibitor treatment during hyperplasia and the group of treatment after hyperplasia. Immunohistochemistry combined with computer assisted image analysis system were performed to examine the expression of factor Ⅷ related antigen, PCNA and VEGF in the prostatic tissue for all rats. Results The microvessel density(MVD) and the expressions of PCNA and VEGF were much less in treatment during hyperplasia and treatment after hyperplusia than that in BPH control group( P

Cell culture plays an important role in virology. It provides a platform for the detection and isolation of viruses as well as for the biochemistry and molecular biology based studies of viruses. In the present work, a new system that could permits multiple (different) cell lines to be simultaneously cultured in one dish was developed. In the system, each cell line was cultured in an isolated zone in the same dish or well and the system is therefore called an isolated co-culture system. The usefulness of this novel approach for virus isolation was demonstrated using a model system based on adenovirus.

Objective To explore the imaging characteristics of common malignant sinonasal tumors for improving the diagnostic accuracy of the disease. Methods Radiological and clinical data of 78 patients with sino-nasal malignant tumors confirmed by pathological examination were retrospectively analyzed. Results Sinonasal malignant tumors lacked imaging specificity. Most of CT showed uneven soft tissue densities with unclear boundary and destruction of bone which invaded the soft tissue outside of the cavity including orbit or intra-cranium. There was moderate to remarkable enhancement of the lesion. T1WI in MR demonstrated homo-and hypo-intense signal , while T2WI revealed homo- and hyper-intense signal ,and post contrast MR imaging displayed heterogeneous con-trast enhancement. There was no significant statistical difference between CT and MRI in the detection rate of ma-lignant tumors(P > 0.05),but CT in combination with MRI improved the positive rate of detection(P < 0.05). Conclusions The imaging of sinonasal malignant tumors is complicated and lacks specificity. For complicated si-nonasal malignant tumors,enhanced CT in combination with MRI should be used to determine the nature and limi-tation of the tumor,and its relationship with the surrounding structures,resulting in improvement of the diagnostic accuracy of the disease.

This study was aimed to prepare the spraying agent of prescriptions of Miao nationality herb and investigate the effect of Miao nationality herbs spray for serum SOD, MDA, and expression of Fas and Caspase-3 mRNA in lung tissues of silica-treated rats. The healthy SD rats were divided into 5 groups. Silica dust suspension was used in the model establishment of 4 groups. After the model was successfully established, 3 groups were randomly selected and given glucocorticoids atomization inhalation, Miao nationality herbs spray, Miao nationality herbs spray combined with intragastric administration of herbal medicine, respectively. After 40-day treatment, water-solubletetrazolium salt (WST-1) was used in the detection of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD). Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) was used in the detection of malondialdehyde (MDA). The mRNA expression variance of the Fas and Caspase-3 were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that compared with the silica dust suspension group, the SOD activity of serum in the Miao nationality herbs spray group was significantly increased (P< 0.05). MDA content and the mRNA of Fas and Caspase-3 were significantly lower in the Miao nationality herbs spray group (P< 0.05). It was concluded that Miao nationality herbs spray group was able to increase the SOD activity of serum, decrease MDA content, and obviously decrease the expression of Fas and Caspase-3 of lung tissues among silica dust suspension rats.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and the experience of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) on recurrence of primary hyperoxaluria (PH) type I after renal transplantation. Methods One case presenting with unexplained rapid decline of renal allograft function after allogeneic renal transplantation was discussed by MDT. The role of MDT in diagnosing rare hereditary diseases and improving the long-term survival of renal transplant recipients was summarized. Results After MDT consultation, the patient was diagnosed with recurrence of PH type I. Routine immunosuppressive regimen was initiated after the exclusion of rejection. The patient was instructed to drink a large quantity of water, and given with high-quality protein and low-phosphorus diet, vitamin B6, calcium and other conservative therapies to actively prevent and treat postoperative complications. The deterioration of renal graft function was delayed. Nevertheless, regular hemodialysis was resumed at 5 months after renal transplantation until the submission date of this manuscript. Conclusions Recurrence of PH type I after renal transplantation is relatively rare. The main clinical manifestations are recurrent kidney stones and decreased renal function with multiple complications and poor prognosis. The condition of the patient is consulted by MDT for confirming the diagnosis, determining the optimal treatment scheme, delaying the progression and improving the clinical prognosis.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan (PC6) on arrhythmia during acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in rats. Methods: A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley male rats were used. Ten rats were randomly selected as the blank group, and the remaining 30 rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with 15 rats in each group. Before modeling, rats in the EA group received one session of EA intervention at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) for 30 min; the other groups were treated with the same grasping and anesthesia for 30 min without intervention. PowerLab physiological recorder was used to record electrocardiograph within 30 min of infarction. After the experiment, cardiac tissue and serum were collected from rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphological changes of myocardial tissue in the ventricular infarction area of rats in each group. The expression of Cx43 protein in the myocardium of each group was detected by Western blotting (WB). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in myocardial tissue and the serum content of endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) in rats. Results: There was no statistical difference in arrhythmia score between the EA group and the model group, but the total duration and average duration of arrhythmia in the EA group were decreased (P<0.01). HE staining showed that compared with the blank group, myocardial cells in the model group were disorganized and seriously damaged. The pathological changes in the EA group were similar to those in the model group, but the damage was relatively minor. The results of WB showed that compared with the blank group, the Cx43 expression in myocardial tissue of the model group was decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the Cx43 expression in the EA group was increased (P<0.01); compared with the blank group, the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in myocardial tissue of the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the EA group was increased (P<0.01). ELISA results showed that compared with the blank group, the serum EDLF content in the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the EDLF content in the EA group was decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: EA at Neiguan (PC6) can delay and reduce the onset of arrhythmia during myocardial infarction in the rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. Its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the Cx43 expression in myocardial tissue, improvement of the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in myocardial tissue, and increase in the content of serum EDLF.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Rome III criteria separated chronic constipation into functional constipation (FC) and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C), but some researchers questioned the partitioning and treated both as distinct parts of a continuum. The study aims to explore the similarity and diversity of brain white matter between FC and IBS-C. METHODS: The voxel-wise analysis of the diffusion parameters was used to quantify the white matter changes of female brains in 18 FC patients and 20 IBS-C patients compared with a comparison group with 19 healthy controls by tract-based spatial statistics. The correlations between diffusive parameters and clinical symptoms were evaluated using a Pearson’s correlation. RESULTS: In comparison to healthy controls, FC patients showed a decrease of fractional anisotropy (FA) and an increase of radial diffusivity (RD) in multiple major fibers encompassing the corpus callosum (CC, P = 0.001 at peak), external capsule (P = 0.002 at peak), corona radiata (CR, P = 0.001 at peak), and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF, P = 0.002 at peak). In contrast, IBS-C patients showed FA and RD aberrations in the CC (P = 0.048 at peak). Moreover, the direct comparison between FC and IBS-C showed only RD differences in the CR and SLF. In addition, FA and RD in the CC were significantly associated with abdominal pain for all patients, whereas FA in CR (P = 0.016) and SLF (P = 0.040) were significantly associated with the length of time per attempt and incomplete evacuation separately for FC patients. CONCLUSION: These results may improve our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying different types of constipation.
Abdominal Pain ; Anisotropy ; Brain ; Constipation ; Corpus Callosum ; Diffusion ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; External Capsule ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; White Matter