Objective To study the effect of indole- 2,3-dione on the content and release of monoamine neurotransmitters in rat brain.Methods The Wistar rats were given indole-2,3-dione (50,200mg?kg~(-1),ip), and the content of acetylcholine(Ach) and dopamine(DA) in corpus striatum were detected two hours later;the releases of DA,5-hydroxy-tryptamine(5-HT) and norepinephrine(NE) in cortex and corpus striatum slices were examined before and after perfusion with the artificial cerebrospinal fluid(ACSF)that contained indole-2,3-dione. Results The rats given indole-2,3-dione were observed higher concentration of Ach and DA in their corpus striatum compared with that in cortex. Moreover the results also showed indole- 2,3-dione promoted the release of DA in cortex and corpus striatum slices. Conclusion Indole-2,3-dione can regulate the balance between Ach and DA release in rat brain.

To investigate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients in northern Shaanxi Province,139 patients and 43 healthy controls were recruited.All the plasma was screened for IgG antibody of Toxoplasma gondii.Then,the association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and HBV were analyzed.Results showed that the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection was relative low with just 5.04％ in HBV patients but zero in healthy control.Most of those infected with toxoplasma gondii were male,HBeAg positive or with higher HBV viral load.However,no significant relationship was found between Toxoplasma gondii infection and gender,HBeAg status or viral load in univariate analyses.This study indicated the relative low infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii,which had no association with HBV infection in northern Shaanxi Province.

BACKGROUND:The incidence of intestinal necrosis during liver transplantation is low, and most of them abandon transplantation and thus leading to death. OBJECTIVE:To retrospectively analyze the reasons which result in smal intestinal necrosis during liver transplantation, and to explore the viable treatment options. METHODS:The clinical data of 207 patients were reviewed, two patients complicated with smal intestinal necrosis during liver transplantation. Case 1 underwent liver transplantation combined with necrotic smal bowel resection. Case 2 abandoned liver transplantation, and received conservative treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Both of the two patients had preoperative portal system thrombosis. In Case 1, there was upper gastrointestinal bleeding before transplantation, and repeated application of hemostatic drugs could increase the thrombosis and thus resulting smal intestinal necrosis. At 10 days after liver transplantation, the patients complicated with intestinal fistula and were treated with fistulation. After fistulation, the patient suffered from abdominal cavity and lung infections. At 7 days after anti-infection treatment and immunosuppressant stopped, the infections were cured. At 40 days after fistulation, the intestinal fistula was healed and the patient was discharged after rehabilitation. After fol owed-up for 2 years, the patient was stil healthy living. The Case 2 suffered with mass ascites which lead to abdominal compartment syndrome, the intestinal venous disorders lead to extensive smal bowel necrosis. At 2 days after abandon the liver transplantation, the patient was dead because of multiple organ failure. The patients who waiting for liver transplantation had preoperative portal system thrombosis, abdominal pain and abdominal distention, should be pay attention to intestinal necrosis. Patients with smal bowel necrosis during liver transplantation can be cured with liver transplantation combined with necrotic smal bowel resection.

Objective:To analyze the effect of Croton leaf on ERK1/2 pathway in hippocampal of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.Methods:A total of 216 SD male rats were divided into sham operation group, model group, nimodipine group, low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups of croton leaf according to random nubmer table method, with 36 rats in each group. The MACO model of rats was prepared by the method of wire embolization. The high, medium and low dose groups were intragastrated with the water decoction 0.06 g/ml, 0.12 g/ml and 0.18 g/ml of Croton leaf; nimodipine group was intragastrated with nimodipine suspension 1.08 g/L; sham operation group and model group were intragastrated with equal volume of normal saline. Garcia JH score was used to conduct neurological function score, and HE staining was used to observe the morphology of hippocampal neurons after 7 days of continuous administration. Apoptosis of hippocampal CA3/DG region was detected by TUNEL assay. Western Blot was used to detect the expression of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 proteins.Results:Compared with the model group at simultaneous point, the neurological function scores of low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups of Croton leaf increased ( P<0.01), the number of apoptotic cells decreased ( P<0.01), the expression of p-ERK1/2 / ERK1/2 [1 d: (0.22±0.03, 0.34±0.02, 0.46±0.01 vs. 0.19±0.02); 3 d: (0.38±0.02, 0.50±0.02, 0.68±0.02 vs. 0.27±0.02); 7 d: (0.29±0.03, 0.43±0.02, 0.59±0.02 vs. 0.21±0.03)] in hippocampus of the low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups of Croton leaf significantly increased ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Croton leaf could regulate the expression of ERK1/2 pathway protein upward, effectively improve the neural function and resist the apoptosis of hippocampal CA3/DG area of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND:Croton cream can activate ERK pathways and have anti-apoptotic effects on neuronal cells.It is not clear whether it synergistically exerts anti-apoptotic effects by inhibiting the activation of JNK and p38 pathways. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects and mechanisms of croton cream on neuronal damage and apoptosis in the ischemic cortex of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS:(1)Ninety Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,croton cream low-dose group,croton cream medium-dose group,croton cream high-dose group and nimodipine group,with 15 rats in each group.Except for the sham operation group,animal models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were prepared in rats by the thread method.Rats in the three croton cream groups were given 20,40,and 60 mg/kg croton cream,respectively.Rats in the sham operation and model groups were given the same amount of normal saline,once a day,for 7 consecutive days.The optimal concentration of croton cream,namely the high dose of croton cream,was selected based on neurological deficit score,TTC staining,brain tissue water content,hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining.(2)Another 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,croton cream group,JNK inhibitor group,croton cream+JNK inhibitor group,p38 MAPK inhibitor group,croton cream+p38 MAPK inhibitor group,and nimodipine group,with 15 rats in each group.Animal models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were prepared using the thread method in all the groups except in the sham operation group.Thirty minutes before modeling,10 μL of SP600125(JNK inhibitor)and 10 μL of SB203580(p38 MAPK inhibitor)were injected into the lateral ventricle of the rats,respectively.Rats in croton cream groups were intragastrically given 60 mg/kg croton cream.Seven days later,the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway,apoptosis-related proteins and cell apoptosis were detected by western blot,TUNEL staining and flow cytometry,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham operation group,neurological deficit score,cerebral water content,cerebral infarction volume and apoptosis rate were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05),where nerve cells showed scattered distribution.Compared with the model group,neurological deficit score,water content of brain tissue and cerebral infarction volume were significantly decreased in the croton cream medium-dose group,high-dose group and nimodipine group(P<0.05),and the pathological morphology of nerve cells was significantly improved.(2)Compared with the JNK inhibitor group,p-JNK/JNK,p-p38/p38 and Bax expressions in rat brain tissue and the apoptotic rate were significantly decreased in the croton cream+inhibitor groups(P<0.05),while the expression of and Bcl-2 was significantly increased(P<0.05).To conclude,croton cream may inhibit the activation of JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and reduce neuronal apoptosis to achieve neuroprotective effects in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.