Objective:To analyze the manifestation and essence of the knowledge of Chinese animal zodiacs in normal and cognitive impaired Chinese elders by Animal Fluency Test (AFT).Methods:512 normal elders, 153 patients with amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 124 patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) were evaluated with AFT and other tests (the mini-mental state examination, auditory verbal memory test, etc).Results:AFT total correct numbers and non-zodiac-animal numbers rather than zodiac-animal numbers showed significant relationships with gender, education level, premorbid ability, general cognitive and memory functions (r=-0.107~0.311,P

Objective:To explore the curative effect of acupuncture combined with huanglian wendan decoction on the mild cognitive impairment after stroke.Methods:100 patients with mild cognitive impairment after stroke were enrolled in our hospital from June 2013 to August 2016 and randomly divided into two groups.The control group (n=50) accepted nimodipine,and the study group (n=50)accepted huanglian wendan decoction combined with acupuncture treatment based on the control group.The MMSE and MSSS scores were evaluated and compared,and the improvement of cognitive dysfunction and nervous dysfunction,quality of life were compared and analyzed.Results:After treatment,the MMSE,ADL scores of patients were remarkably decreased compared with those before treatment (P＜0.05),and the decreasing degree of study group was significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).The MSSS,MBI scores of both groups were significantly increased compared with those before treatment (P＜0.05),and the increasing degree of study group was significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).The effective rates of improvement in cognitive dysfunction and nervous dysfunction,quality of life of study group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions:Huanglian wendan decoction combined with acupuncture treatment was effective for the mild cognitive impairment after stroke and could improve the quality of life.

BackgroundThe study of the molecular mechanism of visual plasticity is helpful for the explaining and prevention of strabismus and amblyopia.The effect and significance of NogoA in the strabismus and amblyopia formation are attracting more attention.ObjectiveThe present study was to investigate the expression of NogoA in 21a area of visual cortex in strabismic-induced amblyopia cats and explore the possible molecular mechanism of strabismic-induced amblyopia.MethodsSixteen 4-week old clean cats were randomizedly divided into normal group and strabismic-induced amblyopia group and eight for each group.The strabismic-induced amblyopia models were created by cutting off the external rectus in 8 cats.Pattern visual evoked potentials ( P-VEP ) were recorded 1 week after operation and compared with normal cats,and depression of amplitude and prolongation of implied time of P100 wave were as the successful criterion of model.The 200 ml paraformaldehyde was infused via heart to fax the brain under the deep anesthesia and then the cats were sacrificed and the brain cortex sections were prepared.The morphology of 21a zone of cat visual cortex was examined by haematoxylin and eosin staining,and the expressions of NogoA in 21a area of visual cortex were detected by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antiNogoA antibody.The use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.ResultsThe implied time and amplitude ratio of VEP P100 wave were (98.10±7.07)ms and (0.83±0.14) in normal group,and those in strabismic-induced amblyopia group were (108.50±6.95 )ms and (0.35 ±0.09 ),showing significant differences between two groups (t=4.450,P=0.005 ; t =5.970,P =0.005 ).The numbers of neurons were similar in 21a area of visual cortex between the two groups,but the volume of the neurons was lessen in strabismic-induced amblyopia group.The positive cell densities for NogoA were ( 387.37±2.01 ) cells/mm2,( 354.58± 1.85 ) cells/mm2 and ( 289.68± 1.81 ) cells/mm2 in layer Ⅱ/Ⅲ,Ⅳ and V/V[ respectively in strabismic-induced amblyopia group,and those in normal group were ( 161.39± 1.98 ) cells/mm2,( 128.93 ± 1.26 ) cells/mm2 and ( 96.25 ± 1.49 ) cells/mm2,indicating a significant increase in model cats ( t =- 160.400,- 201.890,- 164.740,P =0.000 ).Conclusions NogoA may play an important role in the regulation of the sensitive developmental period of visual sense and its plasticity.

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on cell apoptosis(CA)and the ex- pression of insulin like growth factor 1(IGF_1)in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats'brains after cerebral ischemic- reperfusion(CIR).Methods Middle cerebral artery obturation(MCAO)was established by the suture embolic method.CA and the expression of IGF_1 in the hippocampal CA1 region were detected by immunohistochemical meth- ods and TUNEL staining,respectively.Results Compared with those in the normal and sham operation groups, apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the hippocampal CA1 region of the model group(P＜0.01),while the expression of IGF_1 was slightly enhanced and plasma staining was also slightly positive(P＜0.05).Apoptotic cells in the CA1 region in the electroacupuncture group were obviously fewer in comparison with the normal group(P＜0.01),while the expression of IGF_1 was distinctly increased and the plasma staining was also obviously positive(P＜0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture treatment has preventive and therapeutic effects on ischemia-reperfusion injury,and its mechanism might be related with up-regulating the expression of IGF_1 and inhibiting CA.

Objective To investigate the expression difference of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)between lung cancer and lung benign disease,and its relation to clinical characteristics and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),and to research the possible role of VEGF in the growth of lung can- cer.Methods The expression of VEGF and microvascular density(MVD)were detected in 60 lung cancer tissues and 30 lung benign disease tissues after operation by immunohistochemical method and put up statisti- cal analysis.Results The positive rate of VEGF expression(63%)and MVD(45.13?10.27)in lung cancer tissues were both higher than those in lung benign disease tissues(27%,33?6.49)(P

Objective:To highly express HIV-1p17 in E.coli and purify the protein.Methods:①Recombinant plasmid was constructed by inserting HIV-1p17 gene amplified by PCR into plasmid vector,pET28c;②The recombinant plasmid was expressed in BL21,BL21(DE3),BL21(DE3) plysS and HMS174(DE3) of E.coli separately;③The target protein were purified with Ni-NTA resin;④The purified protein was detected by western blot and ELISA.Results:The expression of the P17 protein in BL21(DE3) represented up to 32% of total protein in E.coli,which was the most amounts compared with other kinds of E.coli.The purity of the purified protein reached 95%.The purified protein was recognized by HIV-1P17McAb as well as by HIV-1 positive serum.Conclusion:The recombinant plasmid is highly expressed in BL21(DE3) of E.coli that can be proceeded to the immunocompetence and the bioactivity research.The method of Ni-NTA resin is simple with low protein losing and high purity.And the purified p17 can be employed in early detection of HIV-1 infection and prediction of the clinical progression.

Objective To investigate the executive function features of different subtypes of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Methods Sixty-four subjects with subcortical ischaemic vascular disease (SIVD) presumed by medical history and neuroimaging (cranial MRI) were recruited. The clinical and neuropsychological features of the 4 groups were compared: cognitive normal control (n=25), simple executive impairment of VCI-ND (s-VCI-ND, n=16), multi-domain impairment of VCI-ND (m-VCI-ND, n=26) and vascular dementia (VaD) patients (n=22). All participants underwent neuropsychological tests covering global cognitive function, executive function, memory function, language function and visual spatial skills. The executive tests included 15 independent subtest reflect set shifting, inhibition of prepotent responses, working memory, concept formation and fluency. Results Tower of Hanoi, self ordered pointing test and paced auditory serial addition test were not suitable for identification of VCI-ND because their finish rates were less 50%. Performance of trail making test (216.5±69.3 vs 137.4±37.9), Stroop color words test (115.4±30.1 vs 72.9±17.5), California cards sorting test-Chinese version (1.9±1.4 vs 2.7±1.2)and animal category fluency test(14.2±2.3 vs 17.7±4.4) had significant difference between s-VCI-ND group and cognitive normal control group (t=4.73, 5.72, 2.04 and 3.53, all P<0.05) and these tests were applicable and sensitive assessment tools in all executive tests. Time-consuming index showed more sensitivity than correct index in executive function. Neuropsychological deficits of m-VCI-ND patients showed lower than that of s-VCI-ND group and better than that of VaD patients. It was likely that the m-VCI-ND was a transition state between normal aging and VaD. Conclusion Executive dysfunction of VCI caused by SIVD is short of specificity. Some tests may appear earlier in screening of VCI-ND.

Objective To detect the genomic copy number variations(CNVs) of mice embryonic neural tissue with neural tube defects (NTDs) induced by methotrexate (MTX),and investigate the molecular genetic mechanisms between folic acid metabolism disorders and NTDs pathogenesis.Methods C57BL/6J NTD mice model was induced by MTX on gestational day 7.5,and the maternal serum and NTD embryonic neural tissues were collected;the array-comparative genomic hybridization(array-CGH) assay was utilized to analyze the whole genomic CNVs in NTD embryonic neural tissues;reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to confirm the positive results;the maternal serum concentrations of folic acid and related metabolites and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and enzymatic methods,respectively.Results ArrayCGH and RT-PCR results showed the 3 high confidence CNVs on XqE3,XqA1.1-qA2 and XqA1.1 in the NTD embryonic neural tissues.The NTD maternal serum concentrations of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate,5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid,S-adenosyl methionine and DHFR activity were reduced significantly compared with the control group,and there were statistical differences(all P ＜0.05).Conclusions There are obvious CNVs in embryonic neural tissue of NTD mice induced by MTX and folic acid dysmetabolism might cause mice embryonic neural tube developmental disorders through CNVs.

Objective To evaluate the value of CK34?E12,p63 and P504S immunostaining in diag- nosis of benign and malignant lesions of the prostate.Methods Expression of CK34?E12,p63 and P504S in 74 benign and malignant lesions of prostate,including 27 PC,6 HGPIN,10 LGPIN,3 AAH and 28 BPH were observed by immunohistochemical method.Results Expression of p63 and CK34?E12 were positive in AAH,LGPIN and BPH,all of PC were negative,the positive rate of HGPIN was 83.3%(5/6).There were sig- nificant differences in p63 and CK34?E12 expression between PC and AAH,HGPIN,LGPIN,BPH(P

Objective:To obtain oligonucleotide aptamers which can specifically bind to Bacillus anthracis spores by in vitro selection protocol-SELEX (system evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment).Methods:An in vitro synthesized 78 mer random DNA library (≤1014-15types of different DNAs ) was subjected to 15 rounds of selection using SELEX method against spores of B.anthracis vaccine strain A.16R. Binding of the aptamers to spores was visualized by biotin-streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase system.Results:PCR amplification band pattern of the first round selection was different from that of the ninth round. The binding assay demonstrated that D absorbance at 450 nm of the fifteenth round pool increased 9 times as compared with that of the first round , and the D absorbance increased with the increment of aptamers′ quantity binding to spores. Conclusions: A set of aptamers with considerable binding affinity to B.anthracis spores were successfully selected from the initial random DNA pool.