Apelin is the endogenous ligand of a G protein-coupled receptor called APJ, its propeptide is an X-linked and coded peptide with 77 amino acids. Apelin/apelin receptor system is widely distributed in the body and is involved in various physiological and pathological regulations. It has been demonstrated that apelin is associated with the occurrence and development of many diseases, including angiocardiopathy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, nephropathy, cancer, endocrine disease, and so on. Currently, studies on apelin in nervous system have been developed gradually. This article focuses on apelin and summarizes the distribution and pathophysiological roles of apelin in nervous system, as well as in the occurrence and development of diseases associated with nervous system.

Objective To investigate the effects of bortezomib on cellular migration and invasion ability in cuhured human prostatic cancer cells DU145 and its mechanism.Methods Transwell method was used to detect cell migration.Invasion was assayed by Matrigel-coated invasion chambers.Expressions of FAK and Tyr397 proteins were analyzed by Western blot.Results After treated by bortezomib at the concentration of 10,20 nmol/L for 24 h,the invasion index of DU145 cells were (69.05±10.56) and (52.55±6.98),they were gradually reduced compared with untreated group (81.55±10.56) (P ＜ 0.05).The migration index were (39.35±6.45),(32.05±4.22),they were also reduced compared with untreated group (58.75±5.41) (P ＜ 0.05).The group of treated by bortezomib showed Tyr397 protein expression had been suppressed.However FAK protein had not marked change.Conclusions FAK is involved in the regulation of cellular migration and invasion function.Bortezomib might inhibit cells migration and invasion function by down regulation of Tyr397 expression.

Objective To study the signal transduction pathway of norepinephrine (NE)-induced expressions of oncogenes c-fos and c-myc in the rat heart. Methods mRNA levels of c-fos and c-myc in the left ventricle of the Langendorff-perfused rat heart was quantitated by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results NE increased the expressions of c-fos and c-myc while the effects of NE on the expressions of c-fos and c-myc were blocked by ? 1-adrenergic blocker prazosin (5?10 -6 mol/L) completely. Neomycin (5 mmol/L) and ruthenium red (10 ?mol/L) decreased the NE-induced c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels. Conclusion NE can induce the expressions of oncogenes c-fos and c-myc in the ventricle mediated by ? 1-adrenergic receptor. The signal transduction pathway of NE-induced c-fos and c-myc expressions may be associated with inositol phosphates-Ca 2+ system and diacylglycerol-protein kinase C system.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate ( MgIG) in the treatment of patients with liver damage after closed abdominal trauma. Methods:Totally 84 cases of patients with closed abdominal trauma were randomly divided into the observation group (n=42) and the control group (n=42) according to the random number table. The control group was given the conventional treatment, while the observation group was treated with MgIG additionally. The treatment course was 14d. The clinical efficacy and the level changes of albumin, prealbumin, TBiL, AST and ALT before and after the treatment in the two groups were stud-ied and compared, and the adverse reactions during the treatment course were also compared between the groups. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group (90. 48%) was significantly higher than that of the control group(69. 05%, P<0. 05). After the treatment, the plasma albumin and prealbumin levels in both groups were significantly increased (P<0. 05), and those in the ob-servation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0. 05). The serum TBiL, AST and ALT levels in both groups were significantly decreased after the treatment (P<0. 05), and those in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0. 05). There was no serious adverse reaction during the treatment course in both groups. Conclusion:MgIG in the treatment of liver damage after closed abdominal trauma shows notable effect, which can improve liver function obviously with high safety and reliability.

Objective To investigate the prevention and mechanism of Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESW) induced renal Injury by pre-treating kidneys with low-energy shock waves(LESW).Methods Forty healthy female domestic rabbits were surgically managed to the mono-nephron models and random divided into 4 groups consisting of ten each: Control,LESW,ESW and ESWL plus LESW pretreated groups.LESW group received 100 LESW,ESW group received 1500 standard ESW,and same dose on ESW group except 100 LESW pretreatment in ESW plus LESW pretreated group.The rabbit kidney tissues were obtained 24 hours after ESW.Activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels in the renal tissue,and the level of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) in urinary were measured.Renal cell apoptosis was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP Nick End Labelling(TUNEL).Results The MDA,the urinary level of NAG and rate of apoptosis in the LESW groups were reduced(P<0.01),and the activity of SOD increased significantly(P<0.05) as compared with ESW group,and these changes in LESW group had no statistics difference compared with the control group(P>0.05).Conclusions LESW pretreatment protocol substantially limits the renal injury that often caused by ESW.LESW may suppress oxidative stress and antagonize the process of renal cellular apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of air-conducted ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential(oVEMP) in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). So as to understanding the range and the degree of the vestibular system damage in patients with SSHL. METHOD: Thirty-five cases of unilateral SSHL were enrolled as the observing group from December in 2013 to December in 2014. 500 Hz air-conducted tone burst was employed as stimulation. Fifity-five healthy young subjects were recruited as the control group. The results were compared between the affected ears, the contralateral ears and the normal controls. RESULT: Thirty-five patients with SSHL, 31 of them in both ears lead to oVEMP Waveform, 4 sick ears did not elicit oVEMP waveform, extraction rate of 88%. 95 dBHL air-conducted get the latencies of P1 and N1, P1-N1 interval, peak-to-peak P1-N1 amplitude in healthy ear were (11.92 ± 0.85)ms; (17.07 ± 1.04)ms, (5.15 ± 0.69)ms, (5.44 ± 2.53) µv. 95 dBHL air-conducted get the latencies of P1 and N1, P1-N1 interval, peak-to-peak P1-N1 amplitude in sick ear were (12.16 ± 0.76) ms; (16.94 ± 2.57)ms, (5.16 ± 0.73)ms, (2.89 ± 1.66) v. The 55 cases (110 ears) were elicited P1-N1 complex typical, extraction rate was 100%. The threshold of oVEMP examination was (82.23 ± 2.92) dBHL, 95 dBHL air-conducted get the latencies of P1 and N1, P1-N1 interval, peak-to-peak P1-N1 amplitude in these healthy young people were (11.53 ± 0.80)ms, (16.61 ± 0.87) ms, (5.18 ± 1.04) ms, (5.96 ± 2.59) µv, there were no significant differences between the affected ears, the contralateral ears and the normal controls in the latencies P1 and N1, P1-N1 interval. The wave amplitude in SSHL were lower than the healthy ear and the healthy control group. CONCLUSION Through the detection of oVEMP in patients with SSHL,we observed that P1-N1 wave amplitude decreased, and it may be related to the damage of the utricle and vestibular nerve.
Case-Control Studies ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Saccule and Utricle ; pathology ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ; Vestibular Nerve ; pathology ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the hemodynamic changes of contralateral vertebral arteries with transcranial Doppler (TCD)in patients with subclavian artery steal syndrome. Methods Forty-five outpatients or inpatients with subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion confirmed by TCD and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI)and treated at Baoan District Center Hospital of Shenzhen from March 2012 to April 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the TCD detection,the degrees of intracranial arterial steal were divided into 4 groups:non-blood steal (n=8 ),blood steal phase Ⅰ(n=21 ),phase Ⅱ(n=11 ), and phase Ⅲ(n =5 );45 healthy subjects from Baoan District Central Hospital were used as a control group. The contralateral vertebral artery hemodynamic indexes of each blood steal group were detected respectively,and they were compared with the control group. Results Of the patients without blood steal,6 patients had mild subclavian artery stenosis,2 had moderate stenosis;of the patients with phase I blood steal,12 had mild subclavian artery stenosis,9 had moderate stenosis;of the patients with phaseⅡblood steal,3 had moderate subclavian artery stenosis,7 had severe stenosis,and 1 had occlusion;of the patients with phase Ⅲ blood steal,3 had severe subclavian artery stenosis,2 had occlusion. The degree of blood steal was positively correlated with the lesion degree of subclavian artery stenosis (r=0. 78, P<0. 05). TCD findings revealed that the contralateral vertebral artery systolic blood flow velocities in patients with phase Ⅰ,Ⅱ,andⅢsteal groups were 70 ± 23,85 ± 30,and 104 ± 32 cm/s,respectively;their mean flow velocities were 39 ± 10,46 ± 16,and 54 ± 17 cm/s,respectively;their pulsatility indexes were 1. 17 ± 0. 20,1. 27 ± 0. 31,and 1. 43 ± 0. 36,respectively,and they were all significantly higher than 49 ± 9,34 ± 7,and 0. 66 ± 0. 08 cm/s of the control group (all P<0. 01),and 50 ± 11,34 ± 10,and0.68±0.12cm/s of the non-blood steal group (all P<0.01),and there were significant differences among the steal blood groups in each phase (all P <0. 01 ). Conclusion Detecting the hemodynamic indexes of contralateral vertebral arteries using TCD can preliminaryly assess the subclavian artery lesions and their steal degree.

Objective To determine whether autologous skeletal myoblasts implantation improves the cardiac function after myocardial infarction and the possible mechanism. Methods Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in rabbits. At 2 weeks, 1. 34 × 107 to 1.75 × 107 autologous skeletal myoblasts were infused into the lesion via direct intramuscular injection. In the control group, the postinfarction hearts were infused with medium alone. Buxco invasive cardiac function testing and histopathological examination were utilized to evaluate the functional and structural changes in the myocardium 4 weeks later. Results Both maximum rising rate of the left intraventricular pressure [+dp/dtmax,( 1 217.77 +89.91 )mmHg/s vs. (897.83 ±70.04) mmHg/s] and maximum falling rate of the left intraventricular pressure [- dp/dtmax,( -1174.58 ± 91.5 ) mmHg/s vs. ( - 753.67 ± 69.66 ) mmHg/s] were improved in the myoblast transplanted group compared with medium infusion group. The positive desmin immunostaining skeletal myofibers in the myocardium were found throughout the infracted areas and the border zone. Conclusion Autologous skeletal myoblasts can establish muscle tissue when transplanted into postinfarction hearts, and this mucle can treat myocardiac infarction effectively.

Objective To study the signal transduction pathway for myocyte contraction induced by Substance K (SK) in rats. Methods The fluorescent Ca 2+ indicator Fluo 3AM was used to quantitate the calcium signal directly in the primary cultured myocardial cells. Changes of free Ca 2+ concentration in cardiac myocytes were detected by flow cytometry. The phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, neomycin and IP3 receptor antagonist, heparin, were used to block signal system of phosphates Ca 2+ in order to investigate whether they took part in the SK induced changes of [Ca 2+ ]i in myocytes. Results SK(1.78?10 -5 mol/L) elevated [Ca 2+ ]i in myocytes. The effects could be blocked by neomycin and heparin. Conclusion SK can elevate [Ca 2+ ]i in myocyte, which may be mediated by a signal system of phosphates Ca 2+ .

Objective · To study the metabolite profiles on patients of ischemic stroke using metabonomics approach. Methods · The serum samples from the 29 patients with ischemic stroke and 31 healthy controls were analyzed by gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) coupled multi-dimensional statistical methods to find differential metabolites in two groups. Results · Orthogonal partial least squares analysis (OPLS) model was generated based on identified metabolites and shown clear discrimination from patients and healthy controls. Some serum metabolite levels were significantly altered in patients. Six up-regulated metabolites included γ- aminobutyric acid, glutaric acid, glyceric acid, gluconic acid, lactobionic acid, and cholesterol, and nineteen down-regulated metabolites included citric acid, aconitic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, β-alanine, and glycerol-3-phosphate. Conclusion · Amino acid metabolism, glycometabolism and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle are disturbed in patient of ischemic stroke. The metabonomic approach has great potential to understand the underlying mechanisms of stroke in ischemic patients.