Objective To measure the estrogen concentration of estrogen (E 2) in the culture medium of rat astrocytes (ASTs). Methods Astrocytes in brain cortex of the 2-day-old neonatal rats were collected and cultured. The number of astrocytes was counted and the concentration of estrogen was measured by ELISA method at 0, 7, 14, and 21 d after culture. Results The cell counts were 1?10 4/ml, 1.1?10 6/ml, 1.4?10 6/ ml, and 1.5?10 6/ml, respectively. The concentrations of E 2 were: 0 pg/ml, (117.03?21.32) pg/ml, (266.91?22.03) pg/ml, and (252.62?27.99) pg/ml, respectively. No estrogen was detected in the primary culture medium. The concentration of estrogen increased in a time-dependent manner and reached the peak at 14 d, and then decreased gradually but remained at a certain level. Conclusion E 2 is secreted by astrocytes in the brain cortex of the 2-day-old neonatal rats.

Objective To study the effect and the mechanism of astrocytes-derived estrogen on synaptic transmission. Methods Based on the model of pure cultures of neonatal cortical neurons, the experimental groups were designed as follows: pure neuron culture (group P), ACM culture (group A), mixed culture of AST and neuron (group M), E_ 2 culture (group E), ACM+tamoxifen (estrogen receptor antagonist) culture (group A+T ), tamoxifen culture (group T). The difference among these groups of synaptic transmission was recorded by patch clamp and presynaptic vesicle releasing kinetics was marked by a dye named FM4-64. Results The mean amplitude and frequency of miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs) of group P, A, M, E, A+T and T were: (20.5?2) pA, (13?4) min -1 ; (29.1?3) pA, (73?16) min -1 ; (31.3?3) pA, (78?20) min -1 ; (30.2?3) pA, (76?18) min -1 ; (24.5?2) pA, (35?10) min -1 ; (22.1?2) pA, (37?10) min -1 respectivily. The treatment of pure neuron culture with ACM increased synaptic transmission of pure cultured cortical neuron. Exogenic estradiol added into pure neurons can stimulate the effect of the ACM. Tamoxifen which was the antagonist of estrogen receptor could decrease most effect of ACM on synaptic transmission. The assaying of vesicle release marked by FM4-64 showed astrocytes-derived estrogenic enhancing synaptic transmission was at least mediated by strengthening presynaptic vesicle releasing. Conclusion The estrogen from astrocytes of neonatal rat cortex may enhance neuronal synaptic transmission mainly through estrogen receptor.

Objective To study the effect of astrocyte on synapse formation and the molecular mechanism. Methods Cortical astrocytes were isolated and purified from neonatal rats.On the 2h,7th day,14th day and 21th day after passage,we counted the number of astrocytes and the culture medium(astrocyte-conditioned medium,ACM)was harvested to measure the concentration of estrogen(E 2)by using ELISA techniques.Based on the model of pure culures of neonatal cortical neurons,the experimental groups were designed as follows:1.pure neuron cultures(group N);2.ACM cultures(group A);3.mixed cultures(group M);4.E 2 cultures(group E 2);5.ACM+Tamoxifen(estrogen receptor antagonist)cultures(group A+T);6.Tamoxifen cultures(group T).Then synaptic puncta in every group was stained and counted through immunofluorescence,and we also compared the differences in puncta number among those six groups(at 9th day in culture,number/per neuron). Results The numbers of astrocytes were:1?10 4/ml, 1.1?10 6/ml, 1.4?10 6/ml, 1.5?10 6/ml; The concentrations of E 2 were:(ng/L):0, 117?22, 266?22,252?27 respectively.No estrogen was detected in the primary culture medium.The concenteration of estrogen increased in correspondence with the culturing days and reached the peak around at the 14th day, then decreased gradually but kept at a certain high level,and the numbers of synaptic puncta of per neuron in group N,A,M,E 2,A+T,T were:14?3;79?5;83?8;80?6;32?3;29?3 respectively.The treatment of pure neuron culture with ACM increased the number of synapses on per neuron by up to 6 fold by comparison with pure neuronal culture.Exogenic estradiol added into pure neurons can mimick the effect of the ACM.Tamoxifen which is antagonist of estrogen receptor could decrease the effect of ACM by 75%.Conclusion The astrocytes of neonatal rat cortex do secrete E 2.Astrocyte-derived estrogen may be the molecule regulating the synaptic formation through estrogen receptors.

Objective To study the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on the recovery of neurological functional after cerebral infarction,and to discuss its possible mechanism.Methods Forty-five patients with cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a control group,an rTMS group and an rTMS plus HBO group,each group with 15 patients.The patients in the two treatment groups received 1 Hz rTMS to inhibit the unaffected hemisphere and 3 Hz rTMS to stimulate the affected hemisphere.One of the treatment groups also received HBO therapy,14 daily sessions.The National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) and the Barthel index (BI) were evaluated on the 1st,14th and 30th day of treatment.Results The neurological function scores of those in the rTMS group and the rTMS & HBO group improved significantly.On the 1st and 14th day,no significant difference in NIHSS or BI scores was observed among the three groups,but by the 30th day the average neurological functional score in the rTMS & HBO group had improved significantly compared with the control group.The rTMS plus HBO group showed significantly better improvement than the rTMS group in terms of BI scores,but no significant difference in average NIHSS and BI scores was observed between the rTMS group and the control group.Fifteen days after the treatments had finished,the follow up results showed the improvements of the patients in the rTMS plus HBO group were significantly better than those in the other groups.Conclusion For patients with cerebral infarction,rTMS combined with HBO therapy can improve neurological function more significantly than rTMS therapy alone.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a Chinese herbal formula for calming liver and suppressing yang on the protein expressions of vascular tissues in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and to explore the mechanism of efficacy. Methods: Twenty SHRs were randomly divided into model group and treatment group. Another 10 Wistar-Kyoto rats were selected as a normal control. SHRs in the treatment group were administered with the formula for calming liver and suppressing Yang for 4 weeks. During the course of treatment, blood pressure and heart rates were monitored every week and the ethology of rats, including irritability and rotation endurance was also evaluated. After treatment, thoracic aorta was obtained and its proteins were separated by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and database query. Results: The formula for calming liver and suppressing yang not only decreased the systolic blood pressure and heart rate, but also improved irritability degree and rotation endurance time of SHRs. This experiment had established the 2-DE graph of protein expressions of vascular tissues in SHRs. Compared with the normal group, the expressions of 15 proteins were down-regulated, and 12 proteins were up-regulated in vascular tissues of the model group. The formula for calming liver and suppressing yang treatment up-regulated expressions of 10 proteins in the 15 down-regulated proteins, and down-regulated 8 proteins in the 12 up-regulated proteins in vascular tissues of SHRs. After analysis, 16 obviously differentially expressed proteins were found, and 13 of them were identified. Conclusion: The formula for calming liver and suppressing yang can improve the ethology of SHRs. The mechanism is probably concerned with regulating the protein expressions of vascular tissues.

Brain ; pathology ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male

OBJECTIVETo observe differences of therapeutic effects among acupuncture bloodletting, penicillin and acupuncture bloodletting combined with penicillin for children acute tonsillitis and providea better treatment method in cli nic.

METHODSSeventy-five mild cases were selected into section of mild symptoms while seventy-five severe cases were selected into section of severe symptoms. Cases in the two sections then were divided into, an acupuncture bloodletting group, a penicillin group and a comprehensive group by random digital table method separately, 25 cases in each one. Qu-chi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Dazhui (GV 14), Shaoshang (LU 11) and Erjian (EX 11) were selected in the acupuncture bloodletting group, intravenous injection of penicillin sodium was applied in the penicillin group and acupuncture bloodletting combined with penicillin was applied in the comprehensive group. Efficacy assessment was conducted after 3 days in the section of mild symptoms and after 5 days in the section of severe symptoms.

RESULTSFor the section of mild symptoms, the total effective rate was 96.0% (24/25) in the comprehensive group and 92.0% (23/25) in the acupuncture bloodletting group, which were both superior to 68. 0% (17/25) in the penicillin group (P<0.05), but no statistical significance was seen between the comprehensive group and acupuncture bloodletting group (P>0.05). For the section of severe symptoms, the total effective rate was 96.0% (24/25) in the comprehensive group, which was obviously superior to 60.0% (15/25) in the acupuncture bloodletting group (P<0.01) and 68.0% (17/25) in the penicillin group (P<0. 05), and no statistical significance was seen between the acupuncture bloodletting group and penicillin group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of acupuncture bloodletting combined with penicillin is little different from that of acupuncture bloodletting for treatment of children acute tonsillitis with mild accompanied symptoms, which were both superior to intravenous injection of penicillin sodium. For severe accompanied symptoms, the efficacy of acupuncture bloodletting combined with penicillin is obviously superior to acupuncture bloodletting and penicillin.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Bloodletting ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Penicillins ; therapeutic use ; Tonsillitis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the effect of the midwife-leading labor pain management model on the pregnancy outcomes and pain control satisfaction.Methods The randomized grouping and single blind trial design were performed.One hundred and ten pregnant women were recruited and randomized into the control group (n=55) and intervention group (n=55).The control group received the routine prenatal examination by the outpatientdepartment obstetric doctors and intrapartum nursing care during labor.On this basis the intervention group participated in the labor pain educational course in the midwife clinic,and received the repeated pain assessment and pain management intervention during labor.Results There was no statistical difference in the delivery mode between the two groups(P＞0.05).The cesarean section rate without indication in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(x2 =6.798,P＜0.05).The average each item score of the labor pain education and pain control satisfaction in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion The midwife-leading labor pain management model can reduce the cesarean section rate without indication,and improves the satisfaction of labor pain education and pain control in pregnant women and parturients.

2 years),seizure frequency(≥1 time/month),persistence time(≥60 s),gene-ralized seizure were all associated with the incidence of the loss of neuron in ammonias.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent influencital factors for the loss of neuron in ammonias in children with temporal epilepsy included seizure frequency,persis-tence time and tape of seizure. Conclusions The loss of neuron in ammonias though 1H-MRS can be detected.The results of multivariate analysis verify that the development of the loss of neuron in ammonias may be associated with many factors including age of onset,course of di-sease,seizure frequency,persistence time and generalized seizure.In order to lower the incidence of the loss of neuron,early intervening treatment is very important.

Objective To prepare iRGD modified liposome(iRGD-LP)and evaluate their targeting efficiency in vitro and in vivo to colon cancer cell.Methods The iRGD-LP was prepared by film-ultrasonic method,its particle size and Zeta potential were evaluated.The cellular uptake efficiency of RKO cell to LP and iRGD-LP were evaluated in vitro and in vivo.Tumor spheroid model were constructed and the penetration efficiency of solid tumor were evaluated.Ectopic colon cancer nude mice model was constructed,and iRGD -LP distribution in the rat body were studied.Results The particle diameter of iRGD-LP was (109.4 ±12.9)nm with the Zeta potential of (4.2 ±1.47)mV.The cellular uptake efficiency of RKO cell to iRGD-LP were 3.2 times higher than that of LP(P<0.01).The tumor spheroid penetration test and iRGD-LP distribution in vivo imaging results showed iRGD-LP had the strongest fluorescence intensity.Conclusion The iRGD-LP might serve as a promising colon cancer delivery system of antitumor drugs.