OBJECTIVETo explore the impact and mechanism of electro-acupuncture (EA) on olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplantation of spinal cord injury (SCI) axonal regeneration.

METHODSIn the experiment, 72 adult Sprague Dawley male rats weighted (220±20) g underwent contusion and transection method to cause the T9 model of spinal cord injury, were randomly divided into four groups involving model group, EA group,OECs group,and EA+OECs group. 5% fluorescein gold (FG) solution of 0.5 µl was injected into rats' spinal cord at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after SCI, a series of tests were performed including fluorescein gold(FG) retrograde tagging, BBB scores.

RESULTS(1)The BBB scores level among four groups had no differences from the 1st day to the 1st week after the SCI (P>0.05). From the 3rd week after the SCI, the BBB scores level in EA+ OECs group were obviously higher than that of other groups (P<0.05). (2)The result of the fluorescein gold (FG) retrograde tagging showed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment FG positive nerve fibers were observed in SCI region. In EA+OECs group the number of FG positive nerve fibers was more than other three groups, and the fibers were more regularly arranged than other three groups.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of electro-acupuncture and OECs transplantation can recover the pathway of nerve conduction and promote nerve fibers regeneration and hind limb function recovery for SCI rat, and can guide the trend of the axonal regeneration.

Animals ; Axons ; physiology ; Cell Transplantation ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; Olfactory Nerve ; physiopathology ; transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; therapy

The study of sarcosaphagous insects is a subspecialty in forensic medicine based on the knowledge of entomology. It could help to determine the time of death, especially the postmortem interval in decomposed cases. This paper explores its history, species and erosion process of sarcosaphagous insects. It reviews the species identifying methods with molecular biology and entomological morphology. Details of its application in estimating postmortem interval in recent years and study of sarcosaphagous insects in the field of forensic medicine are summarized.
Animals ; Cadaver ; Death ; Diptera/physiology* ; Entomology/methods* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Larva/growth & development* ; Postmortem Changes ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the anti-renal fibrosis effect of Paidu Baoshen Pill (PBP) on 5/6 nephrectomized rats and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSTotally 50 SD male healthy rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n = 10), the sham-operation group (n = 10), and the nephrectomy model group (n = 30) according to the proportion of 1:1:3. Rats in the sham-operation group had their renal capsule isolated without nephrectomy. Rats in the nephrectomy model group had their kidneys 5/6 nephrectomized. Then 24 h urine was collected and 24 h urinary protein (24 h UP) detected. Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatitine (SCr) were also tested. According to the SCr level 30 rats of the model group were further randomly divided into the model group, the PBP group, and the Niaoduqing Granule (NG) group, 10 in each group. Rats in the PBP group and the NG group were respectively administered with PBP (at the daily dose of 1.0 g/kg) and NG (at the daily dose of 3.33 g/kg) by gastrogavage (they were dissolved in distilled water). At the same time, 2 mL distilled water was administered by gastrogavage to rats in the normal control group, the sham-operation group, and the nephrectomy model group, once daily for 4 successive weeks. Mental conditions, activities, hair color, shape of stool, and the body weight were observed during administration. After 4 weeks, urine was collected to detect 24 h UP. Blood was sampled to detect SCr, BUN, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), type III procollagen (PC III), collagen type IV (Col IV), laminin (LN), and fibronectin (FN). After rats were killed, their left remnant renal tissues were collected for pathological examinations. The protein expression quantity of TGF-β1 and FN was detected by immunohistochemical method. mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and FN were detected using real time fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the above indices between the normal control group and the sham-operation group (P > 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, rats' general condition was poorer in the model group, their body weight grew slower, and 24 h UP increased; serum levels of BUN, SCr, TGF-β1, PC III, Col IV, LN, and FN increased; the residual renal pathological lesion was serious; expression levels of TGF-β1, TGF-β1, mRNA, FN, and FN mRNA increased in the renal tissue (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, rats' general condition was better, their body weight grew faster, 24 h UP reduced (P < 0.05), blood levels of BUN and SCr decreased significantly (P < 0.01), serum levels of TGF-β1, PC III, CoL IV, LN, and FN decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the residual renal pathological lesion was attenuated in the PBP group and the NG group; expression levels of TGF-β1, TGF-β1, mRNA, FN, and FN mRNA decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the NG group, blood levels of SCr and FN, and expression levels of FN and FN mRNA decreased more in the PBP group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPBP had the effect of anti-renal fibro- sis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Down-regulating expression levels of TGF-β1, and FN from gene transcription and protein translation levels might be one of its mechanisms.

Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Collagen Type IV ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fibronectins ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; Laminin ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Objective:To establish an atomic absorption spectrometry to determine the content of eight trace elements of Yu Salvia miltiorrhiza in different growth stages，namely K，Cu，Na，Mg，Fe，Zn，Ca and Mn. Method:Micro-digestion-atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the trace elements in the roots of Yu S. miltiorrhiza. The HPLC method was used to determine the content of active constituents of Yu S. miltiorrhiza. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis were used to evaluate the results. Result:The contents of trace elements in Yu S. miltiorrhiza in different growth periods were significantly different. Cu had a significant positive correlation with the growth period，while Zn，Ca and Mn had significant negative correlations with the growth period. The comprehensive score of Yu S. miltiorrhiza in December was the best. The content of index components was negatively correlated with Mn，Zn and Ca，and positively correlated with Cu，Fe and Na. In soil，Mg，Fe，Ca and Mn were correlated with Zn，Ca and Mn，while Mn was negatively correlated with Cu. The content of K and Mg in the crude drug increased gradually with the change of the growth period，and the overall score of annual Yu S. miltiorrhiza was the best. Conclusion:The change of trace elements in Yu S. miltiorrhiza in different periods has certain regularity. Trace elements in soil have impacts on trace elements in medicinal materials. Trace elements in medicinal materials are closely correlated with index components and quality of medicinal materials.