Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanism of phycocyanin in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.Methods The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion reperfusion(MCAO/R) was established using the intraluminal filament occlusion with healthy adult male Wistar rats treated by phycocyanin.The apoptosis and the expression of bFGF and FGFR-1,IGF-1 and IGF-1R,iNOS and SOD were respectively determined by TUNEL and immunohistochemical staining to evaluate the effects of phycocyanin on above indexes.Results ① The rats showed neurobehavioral function disorders and the number of nerve cells reduced while apoptotic cells increased in ischemic area after ischemic reperfusion.In phycocyanin group,the number of apoptotic cells reduced siginificantly during reperfusion 12h~3d and the neurobehavioral function was better than that those in control group during reperfusion 7~14d.② In control group,the expressions of bFGF and FGFR-1 increased successfully from reperfusion 6h and reached a maximum at 1d,then subsided gradually in cortex and striatum.In phycocyanin group,the numbers of bFGF and FGFR-1 positive cells were higher than those in control group at the same time-points,which were significantly at reperfusion 1d and 12h~3d respectively.③ The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R increased in cortex and striatum following cerebral ischemic and reperfusion.In phycocyanin group,the numbers of IGF-1 and IGF-1R positive cells in each time-point were higher than those in control group,which was significantly during reperfusion 6h~1d.④ In cotex and striatum,the iNOS and SOD expressed strongly and keep high level during 6h~7d with the maximum at reperfusion 1d.In phycocyanin group,iNOS expressed significantly higher during 12h~1d whlie SOD lower during 6h~1d than those in control group at the same time-point.Conclusion Phycocyanin might play a intrinsic antioxide effect by up-regulating SOD and down-regulating iNOS to inhibit neuronal apoptosis,and enhance the neuronal repairation by means of inducing the expressions of bFGF and IGF-1 following cerebral ischemic reperfusion in rats.

Objective To observe the effect of triptolide combined with gemcitabine on proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells ,and to analyze the relevant mechanisms .Methods After treated with TPL ,GEM or TPL combined with GEM in vitro , PANC-1 cells proliferation was accessed by MTT assay and the interaction between the two drugs was calculated .Apoptotic mor-phological changes and apoptosis rate of the cells were investigated by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry ,respectively .The expression of signal transduction and transcription factor 3(STAT3) ,cysteine aspartate specific proteases-3(caspase-3) protein were detected by Western blot analysis .Results TPL ,GEM or TPL combined with GEM could significantly inhibit the prolifera-tion of PANC-1 cells ,and the combination of the two drugs had a synergistic effect .The cells of the TPL group ,GEM group ,as well as the combined group showed typical apoptotic morphological changes .Compared with the TPL group and GEM group ,the number of apoptotic cells of the combined group increased significantly .Compared with the control group ,the cells apoptosis rate of the TPL group ,GEM group and combined group was significantly increased (P< 0 .05) ,and the apoptosis rate of the the combined group was significantly higher than that of the monotherapy group(P<0 .05) .TPL combined with GEM synergistically inhibited p-STAT3 protein expression and activated caspase-3 protein expression .Conclusion TPL combined with GEM can synergistically in-hibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells ,its mechanism is related to the inhibition of STAT 3 sig-naling pathway ,promotion the expression of caspase-3 protein .

Objective To investigate Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) protein expression in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma,and to evaluate the relationship between TLR4 protein expression and angiogenesis.Methods Sixty-two surgically resected human pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens and 35 normal para-cancerous tissues were investigated for TLR4 protein expression by immunohistochemical SP methods,and CD31 antibody was used to mark microvascular endothelial cells and determine the microvessel density (MVD).The correlation among TLR4 protein expression and MVD and clinicopathologic features of pancreatic adenocarcinoma were analyzed.Results TLR4 protein positive expression rate and MVD in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma was 74.2％ (46/62) and 47.3 ± 13.5,respectively,which were significantly higher than those in the normal pancreatic tissue [17.1％ (6/35),12.6 ±4.8; P ＜0.01].TLR4 protein positive expression rate in the cases with lymph node metastasis was 83.8％,which was significantly higher than that in the cases without lymph node metastasis (60.0％,P =0.036).TLR4 protein positive expression rate in the patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ of TNM classification was 85.3％,which was significantly higher than that in the patients with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ (60.7％,P=0.028).MVD was closely related to tumor size,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (P =0.008,0.036,0.010).There was a strong positive correlation between TLR4 protein expression and MVD (r =0.534,P ＜0.01 ).Conclusions TLR4 protein expression is closely related to the development and progression of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its potential mechanism is related to the promotion of tumor angiogenesis.

Objective To analyze the imaging features of mycobacterium in AIDSpatients.Methods Twenty-three cases of mycobacterium tuberculosis and 13 patients of non-tuberculous mycobacteria were proved etiologically and included in this study.All patients underwent X-ray and CT examinations,imaging data were analyzed and compared.Results The imaging findings of mycobacterium tuberculosis in AIDS patients included consolidation (n =11),pleural effusion (n =11),mediastinal lymphadenopathy (n =11).Pulmonary lesions were always diffuse distribution,and 14 patients of extrapulmonary tuberculosis were found.Pulmonary lesions in non-tuberculous mycobacteria tend to be circumscribed.Conclusions Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in AIDS patients is more common and usually combined with other infections.Imaging features are atypical.

Objective To investigate the role of TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway in inhibited invasion ability of pancreatic cancer cells caused by triptolide (TP).Methods PANC1 cells were divided into parental cells group,TP group,lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group and TP + LPS group.50 ng/ml of TP was added in culture medium in TP group,and 1 μg/ml of LPS was added in culture medium in LPS group,while 50 ng/ml of TP was pretreated for 2 h and 1 μg/ml of LPS was added in culture medium in TP + LPS group.All the ceils were cultured for 24 h.The TLR4 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA and protein expression were evaluated by real-time PCR and Western blot.The NF-kB activity was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay system.The invasion ability of pancreatic cancer cells was evaluated by transwell invasion chamberassay.Results The TLR4 mRNA expressions in parental cells group,TP group,LPS group and TP + LPS group were 0.41 ± 0.06,0.46 ± 0.10,0.20 ± 0.04,0.25 ± 0.06 ; the TLR4 protein expressions were 0.55 ±0.06,0.55 ±0.06,0.18 ±0.04,0.13 ±0.00; the activities of NF-kB were 13.0 ±3.0,31.6 ±4.3,7.3 ±1.5 and 10.8 ± 2.1,and the numbers of invasion cell were (56.8 ± 8.6),(104.5 ± 12.8),(32.0 ± 5.7) and (46.8 ± 7.0) ; the MMP-9 mRNA expressions were 0.36 ± 0.05,0.58 ± 0.07,0.18 ± 0.03,0.30 ± 0.004 ;the MMP-9 protein expressions were 0.31 ± 0.04,0.53 ± 0.08,0.11 ± 0.02,0.15 ± 0.00.In LPS group,TLR4 mRNA and protein expressions were not statistic significant when compared with those in parental cells group,but the activities of NF-kB,the numbers of invasion cell,MMP 9 mRNA and protein expressions were statistically increased when compared with those in parental cells group (t =8.654,7.593,6.655,4.982,P ＜0.01).TLR4 mRNA and protein expressions,activities of NF-kB,the numbers of invasion cell,MMP 9 mRNA and protein expressions in TP group were significantly lower than those in parental cells group (t =-7.609,-9.948,-4.176,-5.915,-8.179,-9.948,P＜ 0.01).TLR4 mRNA and protein expressions,activities of NF-kB,the numbers of invasion cell,MMP 9 mRNA and protein expressions in TP +LPS group were significantly lower than those in LPS group (t =-4.437,-14.805,-10.506,-9.700,-9.055,-8.932,P＜ 0.01).Conclusions TP can inhibit pancreatic cancer cell invasion,and the mechanism is related to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway and down-regulation of MMP-9 expression.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a kind of neurotrophic factor and protects from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, the expression of IGF-1 is associated with the attack of ischemic stroke. The effects of IGF-1 and its receptor (IGF-1R) on neurobehavioral function are to be further studied.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of IGF-1 and IGF-1R on neurobehavioral function in rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation.SETTING: Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College.MATERIALS: The experiments were carried out in Shandong Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Brain diseases. Twenty-eight healthy adult Wistar rats of clean degree, weighing 220-260 g, were provided by the experimental animal center of Shandong University.METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into experimental group (n =24) and sham-operated group (n =4). The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) models were established by inserting a thread through left external-internal carotid arteries. The sham-operated rats were given the same treatments except inserting thread. ①Neurologic deficit test: The rats in the experimental group were assessed according to Bederson standard after 1-hour ischemia and 6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion respectively. The sham-operated rats were assessed at corresponding time points; Without neurologic deficit was marked as 0 point; flexion of anterior claws as 1 point; unable to act against the pushing from the contralateral side as 2 points; circling while walking as 3 points; shaking as 4 points;unconscious mind as 5 points. ② Sample collection and treatment: The samples in the experimental group were collected after 1-hour ischemia and 6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion, and those in the sham-operated group ere collected at 24 hours postoperatively. The rats were anesthetized, brain samples were got at about 5 mm posterior to optic chiasma after brains were removed completely, then serial coronal sections (5 μm) were prepared, and 1 from 10 sections was stuck to the cover glasses treated with poly-L-lysine. ③ Morphological observation of neurons: The neurons in brain were observed by toluidine blue staining. ④ Detection of IGF-1 and IGF-1R: The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum were detected with immunohistochemical technique, 4 fields were randomly selected to count the positive cells under high-power microscope (×400).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The neurologic deficit; ② Morphological changes of neurons in brain; ③ Expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum.RESULTS: All the 28 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① The neurologic deficit: The scores of neurologic deficit were (1.50±058) and (1.50±0.78) in rats after 7 and 14-day reperfusion, which were lower than that in rats after 6-hour reperfusion [(3.00±0.00), P ＜ 0.05]. ② Morphological changes of neurons in brain: The neurons in ischemic area appeared as paryopyknosis and became irregular in shape, there were obvious gaps around the cells, also deeply stained as purplish blue, nucleolus disappeared, and there were many scattered cellular fragments. ③ Expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum: The numbers of IGF-1 positive cells in cortex were (8.75±2.06), (11.13±1.14),(19.75±3.18), (17.38±3.11 ) and (11.23±2.28) respectively in rats after 6, 12-hours and 1, 3, 7-day reperfusion, which all were higher than that in sham-operated rats [(3.88±1.46), P ＜ 0.05], the numbers of IGF-1 positive cells in striatum were(8.25±2.21), (11.34±2.21), (18.23±2.64), (18.56±2.34) and (11.31±2.14) respectively in rats after 6, 12 hours and 1, 3, 7days reperfusion , which were also higher than that in sham-operated rats [(4.12±2.24), P ＜ 0.05]. The numbers of IGF-1R positive cells in cortex were (7.63±1.50), (10.50±2.34), (15.55±3.12), (15.37±3.01), (8.86±2.75) respectively in rats after 6, 12-hours and 1,3,7-day reperfusion, which all were higher than that in sham-operated rats [(4.13±1.81), P ＜0.05]. Those in striatum were (8.33±2.31), (10.24±2.09), (14.72±2.17), (14.24±2.77), (8.38±2.05), which were also higher than that in sham-operated rats [(3.76±2.35), P ＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION: The neurological function is damaged after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, but it has a trend of self-recovery. The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R are mainly distributed in cortex and striatum. Higher expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R maintain during 12 hours to 7 days after reperfusion and have a peak value at 1-3 days, which suggests that early expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R are certain related to the recovery of neurological function.

BACKGROUND: Brain injury can induce the increased expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in brain,whereas FGFR is a very important player in the cell proliferation and differentiation, angiogenesis, skeletogeny, etc.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of bFGF and its receptor on neuronal apoptosis following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.DESIGN: A randomized grouping design and animal experiment.SETTING: Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College.MATERIALS: Twenty-eight healthy adult Wistar rats of clean degree, weighing 220-260 g, were provided by the experimental animal center of Shandong University. Rabbit-anti-rat bFGF and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1(FGFR-1) monoclonal antibodies were provided by Wuhan Boster Biological Technology, Co.,Ltd.METHODS: The experiment was carried out in Shandong Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Brain diseases.① The rats were randomly divided into experimental group (n =24) and sham-operated group (n =4). Models of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) were established by thread occlusion via left external-internal carotid arteries, and 4 rats in the experimental group were sampled at 1-hour ischemia/6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion respectively. The rats in the sham-operated group were given the same treatment without inserting thread.After anesthesia, the brain was removed completely by cutting head, then the brain tissue at about 5 mm posterior to optic chiasma was cut down, then serial coronal sections (5 μm) were prepared. ② The brain tissues were stained with ematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the forms of neurons were observed under microscope. ③ TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method: there were buffy granules in nucleus which was positively stained (apoptosis). Four fields were randomly selected from cortex and striatum to count positive cells under high-power microscope (×400). ④ The sections were stained with rabbit-anti-rat bFGF and FGFR-1 monoclonal antibodies, 4 fields were randomly selected from cortex and striatum to count positive cells under high-power microscope (×400).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Apoptosis and the expressions of bFGF and FGFR-1.RESULTS: All the 28 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① In the experimental group, the neurons in the ischemic sites were obviously decreased, some neurons appeared as paryopyknosis and became irregular, also deeply stained as purplish blue, nucleolus disappeared, and there were many scattered cellular fragments. ② In the sham-operated group, there were a few apoptotic neurons in the brain tissue, and the apoptotic neurons were obviously increased after ischemia, which mainly observed in cortexes and striatums of frontal and paritetal lobes. In the experimental group, apoptotic cells in cortexes began to increase gradually at 6 hours, and there were more cells at 12hours and 3 days, which reached the peak value at 1 day, and began to decrease at 3 day, but there were still more apoptotic cells at 14 days than in the sham-operated group. The number of apoptotic neurons and the changing trend in striatums were generally the same as those in cortexes (P ＞ 0.05). ③ In the sham-operated group, there were weak bFGF expression in the neurons of brain tissue, but there were fewer lightly stained positive cells. After cerebral ischemia, the bFGF expressions were increased, mainly observed in cortexes and striatums. The bFGF expression appeared at 6 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, and the number was increased gradually and deeply stained as the time of reperfusion prolonged (Figure 3), it reached the peak value at 1-3 days, and then weakened gradually, but it was still higher than in the sham-operated group at 14 days [(5.01 ±1.71), (5.21 ± 1.62) cells/visual field; (2.03± 1.73),(2.46± 1.38) cells/visual field, P ＜ 0.05]. ④ In the sham-operated group, lightly stained FGFR-1 positive cells could be observed in brain tissue. At 6 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, the FGFR positive cells began to increased in cortexes and striatums, which were the most at 1-3 days, and gradually decreased after 3 days, and the number was still a little more than that in the sham-operated group at 14 days [(5.01± 1.41), (5.20± 1.33) cells/visual field; (2.25±1.67),(2.32± 1.61 ) cells/visual field].CONCLUSION: After cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, the expressions of endogenous bFGF and FGFR-1 may be activated in cortex and striatum, then inhibit the neuronal apoptosis, and play its neuroprotective role.

Objective To study the effects of phycocyanin on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9(MMP-2 and MMP-9) after focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion in rats.Methods A rat middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R) model was built up using the intraluminal filament method and treated by phycocyanin.The brain water content(BWC) was calculated with dry-wet method and the Evans blue(EB) of the brain was measured with the method of colorimetry.The expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were determined by immunohistochemical assay.Results The BWC and EB of the brain increased after cerebral ischemic reperfusion and peaked at reperfusion 2d,and decreased after applying phycocyanin.In control group,the upregulation of MMP-2 began at ischemic reperfusion 24h,reached a maximum at 3～7d,then subsided gradually,but was still in high level at 14d.In phycocyanin group,the expressing time-phase pattern of MMP-2 was similar to and significantly lower than that in control group at same time.In control group,the upregulation of MMP-9 began at ischemic reperfusion 6h,increased at 12h and reached a maximum at 2d,then subsided gradually at 3d to sham group level at 14d.In the phycocyanin group,the expression of MMP-9 was significantly lower than that in control group,and the time-phase pattern of MMP-9 was similar to that in control group.Conclusions Phycocyanin might play an neuroprotective effect by down regulating the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 to reduce brain edema after cerebral ischemic reperfusion.

Objective To investigate the effects of inosine on the neuronal apoptosis and the expression of cytochrome C mRNA after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats,and to explore the neuroprotective mechanisms of inosine. Methods SD rats model of focal ischemic reperfusion was induced by intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with a nylon monofilament suture. Inosine (100 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally twice following MCAO. Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidy1 transferase-mediated uridine 5'-triphosphate-biotin nick end -labeling (TUNEL) staining. In situ hybridization was performed to examine the expression of cytochrome C mRNA. Results TUNEL-positive cells were observed 2 h after reperfusion and peaked at 1 d and 2 d after reperfusion in cortex and striatum respectively. Inosine reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells at and after reperfusion 12 h. Cytochrome C mRNA expressed in cortex and striatum of ischemic hemisphere as early as at 2 h after reperfusion and reached a peak at 12 h and 1 d in cortex and striatum respectively. Inosine could diminish the expression of cytochrome C mRNA at and after reperfusion 12 h. Conclusions Inosine might play a neuroprotective role by inhibiting the neuronal apoptosis and the expression of cytochrome C mRNA which were induced by cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.

Objective To study the gene expressions of nestin and stem cell factor(SCF)in neurons after ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat brain. Methods Thirty-six adult female rats were subject to left middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1.5h and different hours of reperfusion. In site hybridization was used to examine the expression of nestin and SCF mRNA in the rats subjected to 2h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 2d, 3d, 7d, 14d of reperfusion and sham-operation group (n=4). Results (1) Nestin expression in cortex, striatum and extraventricular zone was weak in the sham-operation group, and increased markedly in the ischemic hemisphere compared with sham-operation group except of reperfusion 2h in cortex, 2h, 6h in striatum, 2h, 6h and 14d in extraventricular zone. (2)SCF expression in cortex, striatum and extraventricular zone was weak in the sham-operation group, and increased markedly in the ischemic hemisphere compared with sham-operation group except of reperfusion 2h, 6h, 12h in cortex, 2h, 6h in striatum, 2h and 14d in extraventricular zone. Conclusion It is suggested that SCF expression might enhance the proliferation of neural stem cells following ischemia-reperfusion in rats.