Aim To investigate the effects of isoliquiritigenin(ISL) on cognition dysfunction and brain energy metabolism following repeated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice.Methods Mouse models of learning and memory deficits were made by repeated occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries and reperfusion. Step-down test and Y-maze task were used to examine the learning and memory abilities of mice. The brain energy state was analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatogra phy. Results ISL 10, 20 and 40 mg?kg -1 ig reduced the n umber of errors and extended the latency of memory in step-down test, decreased the number of cumulated stimulation and increased the number of right choices i n Y-maze task. ISL(10, 20, 40 mg?kg -1) increased the levels of ATP, ener gy charge (EC) and total adenine nucleotides(TAN) in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion The results suggest that ISL improves cognition dysfun ction induced by repeated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice, which may be r elated to the improvement of brain energy metabolism.

Objective To improve standards of diagnosis and therapy for acute focal bacterial nephritis bY comparing the characters of acute focal bacterial nephritis and acute pylonephritis.Methods Thirty-five patients of upper urinary tract infection whoever accepted ultrasonographic and computed tomographic (CT) examinations in Beijing Hospital from January 2007 to January 2013 were studied retrospectively.Eighteen patients were diagnosed as acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) according to CT imaging features,the other 17 patients were diagnosed as acute pyelonephritis (non-AFBN).The clinical feature,laboratory and imaging examination were compared between the two groups.Results Leukocyte count,percentage of neutrophil,fasting blood-glucose,ESR,NAG/Cre of urine,the combination of more than one kind of antibiotics and duration of antibiotic treatment were higher or much more in AFBN group patients than non AFBN patients,the differences between two groups were statistical significance(P ＜ 0.05).Urine microorganism culture was mainly Escherichia coli no matter in AFBN group or non-AFBN group,microorganism species of AFBN patients were more complex than non-AFBN patients.The most common contrast-enhanced CT feature of AFBN included local distribution of inflammatory area,wedge-shaped or unregular-shaped hypodense lesions on bilateral or single kidney,and mass-like hypodense lesions in more severe cases.NAG/CRE of urine was higher in AFBN group patients with bilateral kidney lesions than with single kidney lesions and non AFBN patients.The remission time of AFBN and non-AFBN was (3.4 ± 2.9) d,(3.0 ± 1.8)d respectively.The relapsing rate of AFBN and non-AFBN within half a year was 2/18,2/17,respectively.Conclusions The symptoms of acute focal bacterial nephritis are not specific.Abdominal contrast-Enhanced CT,ESR,leukocyte count,urine NAG/CRE are probably a predictor of AFBN.Antibiotic treatment with appropriate usage and sufficient duration could bring satisfactory outcomes and prognosis in acute focal bacterial nephritis and pyelonephritis patients.

To study the status of homozygous deletions of MTS1/p16 gene in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (LSCC) and to discuss the relations of homozygous deletions to the pathological grade and clinical stage of the tumor,Fifty-nine primary LSCC were examined for homozygous deletions of the MTS1/p16 gene by comparative PCR.Three specimens were eliminated for being incapable of comparison with others.Homozygous deletions of the MTS1/p16 gene were found in 9 of 56 tumors (16.07%).The rates of homozygous deletions of MTS1/p16 gene in well,medially,poorly differentiated tumors were 17.24%(5/29),11.76%(2/17),and 20.00%(2/10) respectively.There had no significant difference in various pathological grades of tumors.Homozygous deletions rates of tumors in stagesⅠ～Ⅱand in stagesⅢ～Ⅳwere 5.41% (2/37) and 36.84%(7/19) respectively.The rate of homozygous deletions in stages Ⅲ～Ⅳtumors was significantly higher than that in stagesⅠ～Ⅱ(P＜0.01).Homozygous deletions of the MTS1/p16 gene were correlated well with clinical stages.Our data suggested that homozygous deletions of MTS1/p16 gene might be one of the genetic events in the development of the tumor and might play a role in malignant progression of LSCC.

Objective:To clone human nm23-H1 c DNA gene and to recombine it into adenovirus vector.Methods:Nm23 -H1cDNA fragment was amplified from human liver by reverse transcription-polym erase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and cloned into pMD18-T plasmid. The gene was exa mined by sequencing. Then pAd-Shuttle-CMV vector containing nm23-H1 was const ructed. Results:The results showed that the gene fragment cloned in pMD18-T was coincident with the sequence of nm23-H1.A pAd-Shuttle -CMV v ector containing nm23-H1 gene with correct order was con firmed by Kpnl digestion. Conclusion:nm23-H1 may be cloned into recombined adenovirus vector pAd-Shuttle-CMV.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; metabolism ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein ; metabolism ; Erythroblasts ; cytology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; bcl-X Protein ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cavernous Sinus ; injuries ; Female ; Humans ; Hypophysectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Intraoperative Complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the level Ⅰb contouring,dose analysis and regional recurrence in level Ⅰb lymph node-negative (Ⅰb-negative) nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated by intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Methods One hundred ninety newly-diagnosed,Ⅰb-negative NPC patients treated by IMRT were enrolled.Level Ⅰb contouring and dose prescribing in this cohort were classified into planned prophylactic irradiation (PPI) group (56 cases) and non-planned prophylactic irradiation (non-PPI) group (134 cases).The mean dose (Dmean) of the level Ⅰb bilaterally and submandibular glands (SMGs) was recorded for comparison.Results After a median follow-up of 47 months,there was no level Ⅰb regional recurrences noted in the entire group.The mean doses of level Ⅰb and the submandibular glands were significantly lower in the non-PPI group than those in the PPI group as follows:(50.81±5.37) Gy vs (59.68±3.32) Gy for the left level Ⅰb,(51.55±5.02) Gy vs (59.66±3.85) Gy for the left submandibular gland,(51.55±5.02) Gy vs (59.66±3.85) Gy for the right level Ⅰb and (57.25±4.69) Gy vs (63.41±2.88) Gy for the right submandibular gland (all P =0.000).Conclusion In this retrospective analysis of non-randomized single institute data,it seems unlikely that PPI to level Ⅰb is necessary in Ⅰb-negative NPC patients treated by IMRT.

Objective To study the effect of NLK on TGFβsignaling pathway and explore the molecular mechanism .Methods Protein stability assay was used to determine the influence of NLK on the degradation of Smad 4 .In vivo ubiquitination assay was applied to detect the effect of NLK on the ubiquitination of Smad4 .Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the effect of NLK on CAGA‐luc and 3TP‐luc ,the responsive reporter of TGFβ signaling pathway .Real time PCR was applied to examine the effect of NLK on the expression of p21 and PAI‐1 ,the target genes of TGFβsignaling pathway .Results In HEK293T cell ,over ex‐pression of NLK promotes the degradation and ubiquitination of Smad4 .In HEK293T cells ,Ectopic expression of NLK inhibits the activity of CAGA luc and 3TP luc stimulated by TGFβ.In HepG2 cells ,over expression of NLK inhibits the expression of p21 and PAI 1 ,the target genes of TGFβsignaling pathway .Conclusion NLK promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of Smad4 ,conse‐quently inhibits TGFβsignaling pathway .

BACKGROUND: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a non-inflammatory, bilaterally progressive, retinal degeneration characterized by loss of photoreceptor cells via an apoptotic mechanism, and it eventually leads to blindness.Research shows that the traditional Chinese medicines of Astragalus has great prospect on blocking the progression of RP disease.OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effect of Astragalus on N-methylN-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and provide the optimal treatment for RP in humans.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment.SETTING: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical College.MATERIALS :The experiment was completed in Pharmacological Laboratory of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, Sun Yat-sen University between March to December 2004. Totally 114 female SD rats were purchased from the Animal Center of Zhongshan Medical College, Sun Yat-sen University.MNU was purchased from Sigma Company of America. Astragalus injection was purchased from Chengdu Diao Jiuhong Pharmaceutical Factory (Batch No. Z99060535, 2 mL/ampoule, main ingredient: Astragalus).METHODS: Among 114rats, 30 were for morphometric analysis of retinal layers, 30 were for detection of apoptosis and 54 were for detection of NF-κB p65 activity. All of them were randomly divided into different groups and each group had 6 rats. Astragalus at doses of 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg were injected intraperitoneally into 47-day rats once a day. Meanwhile, a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg MNU was given to 50-day rats in model and Astragalus groups. At different intervals after MNU treatment,the animals were sacrificed. Retinal damage was evaluated based on retinal thickness, the apoptotic index of the photoreceptor cells was detected by TUNEL labeling and the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB p65 was analyzed according to transcription factor assay kit.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of retinal thickness, apoptotic index and the activity of nuclear NF-κB p65.RESULTS: Totally 114 rats entered the result analysis. Pretreatment with Astragalus could dose-dependently suppress MNU-induced photoreceptor cell loss and decreased the apoptotic index. Astragalus at dose of 10 g/kg also time-dependently up-regulated the activity of nuclear NF-κB p65.However, protective effect of Astragalus on MNU-induced central retinal damage was not found.CONCLUSION: Astragalus partially protects against MNU-induced retinal damage by up-modulating the activity of nuclear NF-κB p65 to inhibit apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of β-glucuronidase mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)tissue and the clinicopathologic factors.Methods The expressions of β-glucuronidase mRNA in 25 samples of HCC tissue and 10 samples of normal hepatic tissue were detected by RT-PCR,and the relationship between β-glucurenidase mRNA in HCC tissue and clinicopathologic factors was analyzed.Results The expression of β-glucuronidase mRNA in HCC tissue was not influenced by the age of patient,tumor size and alpha-fetoprotein level.The expression of β-glueuronidase mRNA in patients with portal vein tumor thrombus or lymph node metastasis Was significantly higher than those without(t=7.857,9.341,P＜0.05).Conclusions The expression of β-glucuronidase mRNA is closely related to the existence of portal vein tumor thrombus and lymph node metastasis.β-glucuronidase may play a role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC.