Brain ; abnormalities ; Cerebral Cortex ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nervous System Malformations ; diagnosis ; Prognosis

Objective To investigate functional homooligomeric GABAρ1 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes and the modulation of divalent cations. Methods　GABAρ1 cDNA from human retina was transcribed in vitro to obtain sense ρ1 mRNA, which was microinjected into Xenopus oocytes. Two-electrodes voltage clamp technique was performed to record GABA-induced currents. Results　 Expressed receptors were found to have similar properties to GABAC receptors characterized in the retina. Cl-currents induced by GABA were blocked by picrotoxin instead of bicuculline. GABA-induced currents reversed at -19±2.5 mV, and EC50 was 3.3 μmol/L. Zn+　+ modulated GABA-induced currents with an IC50=9.6 μ mol/L. Ni+　+, Cu+　+ and Cd+　+ inhibited GABA ρ1 obviously, too. Their rank order of potency was Zn+　+>Ni+　+>Cu+　+>Cd+　+. Conclusion　Zinc(10　μmol/L) inhibited GABA-induced currents in a competitive manner, and its action was sensitive to extracellular pH. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that substitution of a single histidine residue (H44 and H48) failed to affect zinc sensitivity.

The effects of somatic and visceral nociceptive stimulation on neurons of dorsal commissural nucleus in sacral spinal cord were studied in pentobarbitone anesthetized cats using extracellular recording techniques. The results indicated that all neurons deriving input from Aδ fibers of the pelvic nerve were either nociceptive specific or wide dynamic range neurons, and could be activated by mechanical or intense electrical stimulation of the respective receptive fields including perianal region. The above results suggest that the Aδ afferents innervation of the pelvic organ is important in nociception.

Objective To quantify the normal range of the ultrasonically measured thickness of the masseter which is related to the variation of the facial morphology in different young individuals. Methods The masseter thickness of 50 young healthy adults (25 men and 25 women) was measured bilaterally under relaxed conditions and with maximal clenching by a real-time ultrasound imaging technique. The relation between masseter thickness and facial morphology was also observed. Results Under relaxed conditions, the mean thickness of the muscle in men was (11.83±1.19)mm, and under contracted conditions, (15.51 ±1.40)mm. In women, the respective measurements were(9. 84 ± 1. 03)mm and(13.02 ± 1.10)mm. In men thethickness of masseter had a negative linear correlation to the indices of FH/FWa (the ratio of the anteriorfacial height to the intergonial width) and FWz/FWa (the ratio of the bizygomatic facial width to the intergonial width). Conclusions The mean thickness of the masseter in men was larger than that in women,and the thickness of the mascle was related to the male facial morphology.

AlM: To monitor long - term changes of matrix metalloproteinase-2 ( MMP-2 ) in human tears fluid after laser in situ keratomileusis ( LASlK) .
METHODS: Thirty - two myopia cases ( 64 eyes ) underwent uneventful LASlK were enrolled in the study. Tear fluid were collected and MMP-2 expression was analyzed by Western - bolt assay preoperatively and postoperatively on 15d, at 1, 3mo, and 1a.
RESULTS:LASlK increased the concentration of MMP-2 in human tear fluid. At 15d postoperatively, the magnitude of MMP-2 was 1. 4 times that of preoperative, thereafter subsided, but didn't return to preoperative level by 3mo ( P < 0. 05 ). Up to 1a after surgery, the concentration of MMP-2 almost recovered (P>0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: MMP- 2 is significantly expressed in human tear fluid after LASlK, then subsided with time, but didn't return to preoperative level by 3mo and almost recovered up to 1a, indicating wound healing of LASlK would continue up at least 3mo after surgery and almost recovered 1a postoperatively.

Based on the 2 x 2 contingency table, by using multi-species relevance (variance ratio, VR), chi2-test, Ochiai index, Dice index, Jaccard index, t-test of v/x and F-test of Morisita, s index, the interspecific relationships and the spatial distribution pattern between 20 dominants in Kangding Zheduo Mountain of Sichuan province were studied. The results indicated that the interspecific association between dominants of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum community in this area did not show significant association, which suggested that the S. hexandrum community was in mature stage, and showed stronger independency, among total 190 pairs in 20 dominant species, 2 species pairs exhibited extremely significantly positive association, 12 species pairs showed significantly positive association, 6 species pairs exhibited significantly negative association and there were no pairs showed extremely significantly negative association. S. hexandrum in community did not show significant association, which indicates they are independent in community, the spatial distribution pattern of S. hexandrum is characterized by random distribution.
Berberidaceae ; classification ; growth & development ; Biodiversity ; China ; Ecosystem ; Endangered Species ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development

AIMTo prepare TK-gene nanoparticles and investigate its expression.

METHODSBiodegradable and biocompatible polymer polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) was used to prepare recombinant plasmid pEGFP-AFP nanoparticles by double-emulsion evaporation technique. The characteristics of the nanopticicles including morphology, entrapment efficiency was investigated. The expression of TK gene was also investigated by MTT assay, which could determine the dying cells after the addition of gancyclovir (GCV). The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7221 cells and human normal parenchymal Chang liver cells were assessed by flow cytometric analysis.

RESULTSThe resulting plasmid-nanoparticles had regular spherical surface and a narrow particle size with a mean diameter of (72 +/- 12) nm, The average entrapment efficiency was 91.25%, the enhanced transfection efficiency and ability protecting plasmid DNA from degraded by nuclease or sonication due to nanoparticles encapsulation.

CONCLUSIONDNA-nanoparticles need further study as gene delivery system.

Biocompatible Materials ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Genes, Reporter ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; enzymology ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Luminescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Plasmids ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Polymers ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe the effect of fructose(Fru),glucose (Glc)and exogenous nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside(SNP)on the germination of Psychotria rubra(Lour.)Poir. seeds under drought stress,and to explore the optimal concentration for clearing the drought stress. Methods We established the drought stress model of Psychotria rubra(Lour.)Poir. seeds with 15％(volume fraction)PEG6000 and 0.4 mol/L D-mannitol, measured the germination rate and germination index of Psychotria rubra (Lour.)Poir. seeds under drought stress combined treatment with different concentrations of Fru (0,300,500 μmol/L),Glc (0,300,500 μmol/L) and SNP(0 , 100 , 200 μmol/L). Results The germination process of Psychotria rubra(Lour .) Poir . seeds was significantly suppressed by drought stress. Fru,Glc and SNP could significantly promote the germination of Psychotria rubra (Lour.) Poir. seeds under drought stress. The optimal condition for clearing drought stress induced by 15％ PEG6000 was Fru 300 μmol/L, Glc 500 μmol/Land SNP 200 μmol/L, and the germination rate was 95％ under the optimal condition . The optimal condition for clearing drought stress induced by D-Mannitol was Fru 500 μmol/L, Glc 500 μmol/L and SNP 100 μmol/L, and the germination rate arrived to100％. Conclusion Fru,Glc and SNP can significantly alleviate the negative impact induced by drought stress for the Psychotria rubra(Lour.)Poir. seed germination,improve the drought-resistant ability of the seeds.

Objective To compare the pharmacognosy characteristics of aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa Linn.f. and Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem.. Methods Fresh aerial roots were harvested and were used as the experimental samples. Stereoscopy was used for the observation of macroscopic appearance of Ficus microcarpa Linn.f. and Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem.,and the microscope was used for the examination of their microscopic features of the velamen surface, cross section of root tip, cross section and longitudinal section of the posterior root, and powder. Results The appearance characteristics of the two species were as follows:the number of aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa Linn. f. was more,and the diameter was smaller than that of Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. The root tips of Ficus microcarpa Linn. f. aerial roots were light yellow turning to yellow-white, covered with gray or yellowish-white lenticels;the root tips of Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. aerial roots were light yellow or yellow, covered with gray lenticels. Microscopic identification results of the two plants were as follows:the primary xylems of transverse section of root tips and posterior roots of Ficus microcarpa Linn.f. and Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. were different,the former being five to seven heptarch,and the latter being six to eleven heptarch. Both of the two species had non-articulated unbranched laticifers in their longitudinal section of posterior root, and the diameter of Ficus. elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. was slightly larger than that of Ficus microcarpa Linn. f.. The powder of Ficus microcarpa Linn. f. was red brown,with spiral and pitted vessels;Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. was yellow brown,with single small and large pitted vessels,and the color of its fiber was shallow or nearly colorless or even transparent, with lines of cluster crystal. Conclusion The results will provide evidence for the identification , exploitation and utilization of Ficus microcarpa Linn . f . and Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of ligustrazine and Radix Astragalus (Chinese drugs for supplementing qi and activating blood circulation) on uterine mucosa stromal cyto-chemotactic factor RANTES and receptor CCR5 expression.

METHODSThe eutopic and ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EMSC) isolated and purified from 10 patients with ovarian endometrial cyst were selected as the experimental group, while those from 10 patients with benign lesion were selected as the control group. After they were intervened by different factors, including astragalus injection (AI), ligustrazine injection (LI), AI + LI, and Danazol, the expression levels of RANTES and CCR5 in the cells were detected by ELISA and RT-PCR.

RESULTSRANTES expressions in eutopic and ectopic EMSC were different insignificantly (P > 0.05). The ectopic EMSC RANTES expression was 13.602 +/- 3.358 ng/L and eutopic EMSC RANTES was 12.850 +/- 7.997 ng/L in the positive control group, which was significantly higher than that in the negative control group (both being 0.027 +/- 0.016 ng/L, P <0.05), and the ectopic EMSC expressions after intervened with Chinese drugs were significantly lower than that in the positive control group (P <0.05). CCR5 expression in ectopic EMSC was 0.759 +/- 0.039 ng/L, which was higher than that in eutopic EMSC (0.249 +/- 0.026 ng/L, P <0.05). Ectopic EMSC CCR5 expression was higher in the positive control group than that in the negative control group (0.759 +/- 0.039 ng/L vs 0.478 +/- 0.094 ng/L, P <0.05). Similar situation also was shown between the positive and negative control groups in terms of eutopic EMSC CCR5 expression (0.249 +/- 0.026 ng/L vs 0.131 +/- 0.021 ng/L, P < 0.01), and the expression was significantly lower in all the Chinese drugs treated EMSC groups as compared with that in the positive control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCCR5 expression was higher in ectopic EMSC than that in eutopic EMSC. Ligustrazine and Radix Astragalus could down-regulate the auto-secretion of RANTES and CCR5 in patients with endometriosis.

Adult ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL5 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endometriosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endometrium ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Receptors, CCR5 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism