Objective To investigate the mechanism and effect of the spinal cord outlet of the skull base on Chiari Ⅰ malformation with syringomyelia.Methods The cervical spinal cord stem angle (Anbc),slope angle of cervical vertebra (Ansc) of Chiari Ⅰ malformation were measured.In foramen magnum (Llf) and anterior vertebral canal level (Laf),spinal canal(Ac),spinal cord (As) and inferior hernia area (Ah) were measured.Angle,area and ratio were compared in Chiari Ⅰ malformation with syringomyelia,Chiari Ⅰ malformation without syringomyelia and normal control group.Results Ansc,Anbc-Ansc had significant differences among control group and Chiari Ⅰ malformation patients (all P＜0.001).In Llf,Laf,As had significant differences among three groups (all P＜0.05),further comparison of the two showed there were significant differences between Chiari Ⅰ malformation with syringomyelia patients and control group,Chiari Ⅰ malformation without syringomyelia patients and control group in Llf(all P＜0.05).In Llf,Laf,Ac in Chiari Ⅰ malformation with syringomyelia was smaller than control group (P＜0.05).Ah in Llf,Lafand Lh in Llf had no statistical significant difference between Chiari Ⅰ malformation with and without syringomyelia patients (all P＞0.05).In Llf,Laf,As/Ac had statistical significant difference among Chiari Ⅰ malformation with and without syringomyelia patients,control group (all P＜0.001),further comparison of the two showed As/Ac in Llf had statistical significance difference between Chiari Ⅰ malformation with syringomyelia patients and control group (P＜0.05),As/Ac in La had statistical significance difference between Chiari Ⅰ malformation with syringomyelia patients and control group,between Chiari Ⅰ malformation without syringomyelia patients and control group (all P＜0.05),Conclusion The cervical spinal cord,Ansc reducing,narrow vertebral proportion increase are important factors to promote Chiari Ⅰ malformation syringomyelia.

In order to identify genes involved in floral transition and development of the orchid species, a full-length APETALA1/FRUITFULL-like (AP1/FUL-like) MADS box cDNA was cloned from Cymbidium faberi (C. faberi) sepals and designated as C. faberi APETALA1-like (CfAP11], JQ031272.1). The deduced amino acid sequence of CfAP11 shared 84% homology with a member of the AP1/FUL-like group of MADS box genes (AY927238.1, Dendrobium thyrsiflorum FUL-like MADS box protein 3 mRNA). Phylogenetic analysis shows that CfAP11 belonged to the AP1/FUL transcription factor subfamily. Bioinformatics analysis shows that the deduced protein had a MADS domain and a relatively conservative K region. The secondary structure of CfAP11 mainly consisted of alpha helices (58.97%), and the three-dimensional structure of the protein was similar to that of homologues in Roza hybrida, Oryza sativa and Narcissus tazetta. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) results reveal low levels of its mRNA in roots, lower levels in leaves during reproductive period than vegetative period, and higher levels in pedicels at full-blossom stage than at bud stage. These results suggest that CfAP11 is involved in floral induction and floral development. Additionally, we observed higher levels of CfAP11 expression in pedicels and ovaries than in other tissues during full-blossom stage, which suggests that CfAP11 may also be involved in fruit formation in certain mechanism.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Flowers ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; MADS Domain Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Orchidaceae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis

Objective To observe the effect of aralia saponins on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the kidney of diabetic nephropathy mice.Methods After 10 days of adaptive feeding,90 clean Kunming mice were randomly divided into the normal group (n =10) and 5 model groups (model group,positive drug benazepril intervention group,aralia saponins low,middle and high doses treatment groups).Excepted the normal group,the kidney damage model of type 2 diabetes mellitus in mice was induced by high-fat and high-sugar diet for one month plus disposable streptozotocin (STZ).The model was successfully constructed and killed after 6 weeks of treatment.A total of 25 mice failed to establish the model.And totally 55 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 11 mice in each group.The serum changes of blood urea nitrogen (BUN),serum creatinine (SCr),insulin,inflammatory factors interleukin-1α (IL-1α),interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in each group were detected.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and MMP-9 protein in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results Compared with the normal group,the levels of blood glucose,insulin,BUN,SCr,IL-1α,IL-6 and TNF-α in the model group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05).The above indexes were decreased in positive drug group and aralia saponins treatment groups.The contents of insulin,BUN and SCr in the high dose of aralia saponins group were significantly lower than those parameters in benazepril group (P ＜ 0.05).In addition,the contents of blood glucose,IL-1α,IL-6 and TNF-α in the three dose aralia saponins groups were significantly lower than those parameters in the benazepril group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the normal group,the expression level of VEGF protein in the model group was significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05),and the expression level of MMP-9 protein was significantly lower (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the model group,both benazepril and aralia saponins can reduce VEGF (P ＜ 0.05),increase MMP-9 (P ＜ 0.05).In addition for VEGF and MMP-9,the high dose of aralia saponins group and benazepril group was basically same.Conclusions Aralia saponins can significantly reduce blood glucose,insulin and serum inflammatory factors,while downregnlate VEGF and increase MMP-9 protein levels,thereby protecting the kidneys of diabetic nephropathy mice.

Objective To study the effect of aralia total saponins on renal function of type 2 diabetic mice, and its effect on the Bax and Bcl-2 protein in renal tissues, in order to provide some references for the development of aralia total saponins. Methods The mice were divided into the normal group, model group, positive control group, low, medium and high dose aralia total saponins group by random number method. Except the normal group, the others were received with high-fat diet for one month+one-time large dose of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce type 2 diabetic model, and then the mice in the normal group and the model group were intragastrically administered with the same volume of normal saline, and the mice in the positive control group was given 1 mg/kg of benazepril solution, and the low, medium and high dose groups were given 30, 60, 120 mg/kg aralia total saponins. The body weight of 1 ml/kg mice was intragastrically administered once a day. After treatment for 6 weeks they were sacrificed, and the serum insulin, and SOD and MDA levels were measured, the urine creatinine (Cr), urea nitrogen (UN), and uric acid (UA) levels were also measured. The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in kidney tissues. Results Compared with the model group, the blood glucose and insulin resistance index in the low, medium and high doses aralia total saponins group were significantly decreased (P<0.05); the levels of urine UN, Cr and UA significantly decreased (P<0.05); The serum SOD level increased and the MDA level significantly decreased (P<0.05). The average gray value of Bcl-2 increased (92.26 ± 11.36, 107.17 ± 9.26, 132.65 ± 8.45 vs. 56.42 ± 16.24) in kidney tissue. The average gray value of Bax (152.62 ± 9.86, 124.48 ± 10.36, 92.29 ± 10.10 vs. 171.38 ± 15.18) significantly decreased ( P<0.05); Bax protein (0.81 ± 0.06, 0.75 ± 0.07, 0.52 ± 0.09 vs. 2.02 ± 0.09) significantly decreased, but Bcl-2 protein (0.92 ± 0.08, 0.94 ± 0.12, 1.27 ± 0.07 vs. 0.30 ± 0.09) significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusions The aralia total saponins can reduce blood sugar levels, meanwhile improve renal function in type 2 diabetic mice. The mechanism may be may be that aralia total saponins could improve the antioxidant capacity and inhibition of renal cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of a Chinese medicine formula GAPT, a combination containing Chinese herbs ginseng,Acorus tatarinowii, Polygala and tuber curcuma, on the behavior and cholinergic system in mice with scopolamine-induced memory impairment, and to explore the neuroprotective mechanism of GAPT. Methods ICR mice were randomly divided into normal control group(solution of 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose, CMC), model group (0.5% CMC),positive control group(donepezil, 0.92 mg/(kg·d)), GAPT high, medium and low dose groups(20 mg/(kg·d),10 mg/(kg·d),5 mg/(kg·d)),18 mice in each group, were given intragastric gavage once a day for 30 days. After the last administration,the control group and model group received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline,and the other groups intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine(3 mg/(kg·d)), dissolved in 0.9% normal saline. Morris water maze test was performed to assess the learning and memmory ability. Then the mice were killed and the Ach content and AchE and ChAT activity in the cortex and hippocampus were detected. Results GAPT increased the swimming dis-tance,swimming time and the residence time in target quadrant of the model mice,increased the content of Ach and the ac-tivity of ChAT,and decreased the activity of AchE in the brain of the model group. Conclusions GAPT can improve the learning and memory ability of mice induced by scopolamine,and its mechanism may be related to cholinergic system.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in plain-sand areas and loess hilly areas of Gansu province.Methods:A total of 1 599 T2DM patients who participated in chronic disease and risk factors monitoring and basic public health service management were selected by multi-stage stratified random sampling method in the sandy plain areas and loess hilly areas of Gansu province. Questionnaire survey, physical measurement and laboratory tests were performed. Multivariate binary logistic model was used to analyze the influencing factors.Results:The prevalence of DKD was 22.1% (174/787) among T2DM patients in the sandy plain areas and 19.1%(155/812) in the loess hilly area, respectively. Hypertension ( OR=3.022), hyperuricemia ( OR=2.114) and HbA1c≥7%( OR=2.231) were the risk factors for DKD in the plain-sand areas, and the risk of DKD increased with age. In the loess hilly areas, female sex ( OR=0.379) was the protective factor for DKD; while duration of disease≥10 years ( OR=2.476), hyperuricemia ( OR=1.907), HbA1c≥7% ( OR=1.927) were the risk factors for DKD; and the risk of DKD increased with the increase of age, and decreased with the increase of per capita monthly income. Conclusions:The prevalence of DKD and its influencing factors are different between sandy plain areas and loess hilly areas in Gansu province. The prevention and treatment of hypertension should be given more attention in sandy plain areas. In addition, the screening of DKD should be conducted among T2DM patients, particularly for those with old age, hyperuricemia and HbA1c≥7% in both areas of the province.