Periventricular leukomalacia ( PVL) is the most distinctive and characteristic brain injury in premature infants, which may result in nervous system sequelae, and affect motor development and quality of life of the infants. PVL lacks specific symptoms and the diagnosis of PVL depends on imagine. Transcranial ultrasound could make initial diagnosis and prognostic evaluation for PVL. Combined with MRI, it can assess the degree of the white matter damage and predict the possible adverse consequences, which could provide evi-dence for early treatment. The changes of brain imaging and their impact on the prognosis of PVL in preterm newborn was reviewed in this article.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To study the effect of thrombopoietin ( TPO) on chemical hypoxia-induced apoptosis of the Rattus norvegicus adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells.METHODS:The cultured PC12 cells were randomly divided into normal control group, cobalt chloride ( CoCl2 ) group, CoCl2 +TPO group and TPO group.The cell viability was mea-sured by MTT assay.The effect of TPO on CoCl2-induced cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining.The intracellular reactive oxygen species ( ROS) were detected by fluorescence microscopy, and the chan-ges of the mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMT) were determined by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.RE-SULTS:Chemical oxygen agent CoCl2 significantly inhibited the growth of PC12 cells (P<0.01).The apoptotic rate in CoCl2 group was obviously higher than that in control group ( P<0.05) , while the apoptotic rate in CoCl2 +TPO group was obviously lower than that in CoCl2 group (P<0.05).TPO decreased the production of ROS, and inhibited the decrease in MMP induced by CoCl2(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: TPO has a protective effect against CoCl2-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells by decreasing the production of ROS and inhibiting the decrease in MMP.

AIM: To investigate the role of brainstem auditory evoked potential(BAEP) in the early diagnosis of diabetic central neuropathy (DCN) and to probe into the relationship between plasma nitric oxide (NO) and DCN. METHODS: Experimental diabetes(ED) rat model was used. BAEP and plasma NO were measured dynamically after ED modeling. RESULTS: The peak latency (PL) of Ⅰ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and V and the interpeak latency (IPL) of I-III and III-V of BAEP in ED group prolonged after 4 weeks of ED modeling (P＜0.05). All PL and IPL of BAEP prolonged after 6 weeks、8 weeks and 10 weeks (P＜0.01). The plasma NO increased to the top in ED group at 2 weeks and then decreased gradually. There was negative correlation between plasma NO and PL and IPL of BAEP. CONCLUSION: BAEP was sensitive and valuable in the early diagnosis of DCN. Reduction of plasma NO may play a role in the pathogenesis of DCN.

AIM: To investigate the role of brainstem auditory evoked potential(BAEP) in the early diagnosis of diabetic central neuropathy (DCN) and to probe into the relationship between plasma nitric oxide (NO) and DCN. METHODS: Experimental diabetes(ED) rat model was used. BAEP and plasma NO were measured dynamically after ED modeling. RESULTS: The peak latency (PL) of Ⅰ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and V and the interpeak latency (IPL) of I-III and III-V of BAEP in ED group prolonged after 4 weeks of ED modeling (P

AIM: To observe the relationship between noradrenaline and the synaptic configuration in rat hippocampus CA3 area. METHODS: Noradrenergic system injured models were produced by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine into rats' bilateral dorsal noradrenergic bundle. Then Y-type maze tests and elicitation of P3-like were carried out respectively before and after the model was established. The parameters of synaptic configuration in the hippocampus CA3 areas were also analyzed quantitatively. RESULTS: The decreases in the thickness of postsynaptic density material, the curvature of synaptic interface and the occurrence of perforated synapses, and the increase in the width of synaptic cleft were observed. CONCLUSION: The normal noradrenalin level in hippocampus is necessary to maintain the normal synaptic interface ultrastructure in hippocampus CA3 area.

Objective To observe the effect of Xiaochaihu decoction(XCD) on experimental endometriosis in rats.Methods Rat models of endometriosis were established and the effect of XCD were evaluated by measuring the volume of ectopic endometrium (EE) and its ultrastructure with transmission electron microscopy.Results After treatment,moderate and high-dosage of XCD(10g/kg and 15g/kg respectively) could markedly inhibit endometrial explant growth and decrease the volume of EE(P 0.05).Meanwhile,the glandular cells in the endometrium after treatment in the moderate and high-dosage groups showed characteristic features of apoptosis:cellular atrophy,condensation of cytoplasm and nuclear chromatin and increase of their density,occurrence of the intercellular apoptotic bodies as well as degeneration and necrosis of stromal cell.Conclusion XCD has obvious effects in inhibiting ectopic endometrium and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of cell death (including apoptosis and necrosis) by regulating the immune function.

AIM: To establish a reversed-phase HPLC method of determining three kinds of berberine type alkaloids(jatrorrhizine,palmatine and berberine) in Rhizoma Coptidis and Jinqi Jiangtang Tablet(Flos Lonicerae japonicae,Rhizoma Coptidis and Radix Astragali) METHODS: RP-HPLC was used for determination.The separation was carried out on Diamonsil C_(18)column(4.6 mm?250 mm,5 ?m) with the mobile phase containing acetonitrile-0.1 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate(30(∶)70) and a detective wavelength was at 345 nm.The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. RESULTS: The average contents of jatrorrhizine,palmatine and berberine in Rhizoma Coptidis and Jinqi Jiangtang Tablet were 1.34%,1.61%,7.12% and 0.35%,0.64%,1.54% respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is simple,accurate with a good recovery and repeatability and can be used to control the quality of Rhizoma Coptidis and Jinqi Jiangtang Tablet.