Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the potential effect of Guizhi plus Gegen Decoction (GGD) in improving learning and memory of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced neuroinflammatory mice and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSTotally 63 male ICR mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control (n = 13), the model group (n = 13), the low dose GGD group (n = 10), the high dose GGD group (n = 14), and the positive control group (n = 13). Mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (0.33 mg/kg) to induce Alzheimer's disease (AD) model. Mice in the high and the low dose GGD groups were administered with 12 g/kg or 6 g/kg by gastrogavage for 4 successive weeks. Mice in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with minocycline (50 mg/kg) for 3 days. By the end of treatment LPS were injected 4 h before behavior test each day, and then behavior test was conducted in mice of each group. Effect of GGD on learning and memory of AD mice was observed by using open field test, novel object recognition task, and Morris water maze.

RESULTSOpen field test showed there was no statistical difference in the movement time and the movement distance among all groups (P > 0.05), suggesting that LPS and GGD had no effect on locomotor activities of mice. In novel object recognition test, AD mice spent significantly shorter time to explore novel object after they were induced by LPS (P < 0.05), while for AD mice in the low and high dose GGD groups, their capacities for exploration and memory were significantly improved (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). Results of Morris water maze showed that AD mice exhibited increased escape latency (P < 0.05) and spent much less time in swimming across the original platform (both P < 0.05). However, AD mice in the low and high dose GGD groups had obvious shortened latency and increased time percentage for swimming (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGGD possessed certain improvement in learning and memory disorder of LPS induced AD mice.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neuritis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Phytotherapy

Objective To explore what kind of role serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 18 ( IL-18) play in the relationship between type D personality and acute coronary syndrom (ACS)prognosis.Methods Serum levels of IL-6,IL-18 in all 214 ACS patients were measured with ELISA.According to the scores of type D personality scale(DS14) ,the subjects were divided into the group with type D personality (50 cases)and the one without type D personality ( 164 cases).The serum IL-6 and IL-18 level between the two groups were detected and analyzed.Results There were 23.36% ACS patients with type D personality.The serum IL-6, IL-18levels of the group with type D in ACS acute stage and ACS recovery stage were (2.340 ± 0.081 )OD, (2.016 ±0.023 ) OD and ( 1.460 ± 0.070 ) OD, ( 1.313 ± 0.012 ) OD respectively, significantly higher than those of the group without type D (2.178 ± 0.180)OD, ( 1.849 ± 0.159)OD and ( 1.387 ± 0.091 )OD, ( 1.196 ± 0.132 ) OD respectively(P＜0.01).Conclusion At home and abroad ,there are similar amount of ACS patients with type D personality.The high serum IL-6 and IL-18 levels may play an important role in pathogenesis of relationship between type D personality and ACS poor prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the effects of gender and age on median-effective target plasma concentration(EC50)of propofol administered by target controlled infusion(TCI)causing respiratory depression.Methods Eighty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 40-79 yr,with body mass index 18-25 kg/m2.undergoing general anesthesia were divided into 4 groups(n=20 each):1 middle-aged male group(MA);Ⅱ middle-aged female group(FA);Ⅲold male group(MO) and Ⅳo ld female group(FO).No premedication was administered.Propofol Was administered by TCI for 15 min,using TCI system incorporating Marsh pharmacokinetic model.EC50 Was determined by up-end-down sequential trial.The target plasma concentration(Cr)was set at 3.1μg/ml in the first Patient in each group.Each time Cr increased/decreased by 10%in the next patient depending on whether or not the respiratory depression occurred.Respiratory depression was defined as RR<8 bpm,Vr≤5 ml/kg,end-tidal PCO2≥50 mm Hg,SaO2≤94%and/or apnea≥15s.Results The EC50 and 95%confidence interval of propofol TCI causing respiratory depression were 6.40(6.09-6.72)μg/ml in group MA,5.93(5.54-6.34)μg/ml group FA,4.58(4.32-4.91)μg/ml in group MO and 4.37(4.14-4.61)μg/ml in group FO.EC50 was significantly lower in group FO than in group FA and in group MO than in group MA,but there Was no significant difference in EC50 between group MA and group FA or between group MO and FO. Conclusion The potency of propofol given by TCI causing respiratory depression is increased in the old patients as compared with the middle-aged patients and is not related to sex.

Objective To isolate and identify the adult neural stem cells from the parenchyma of spinal cord in adult mouse.Methods The parenchymal spinal cord from adult mouse was dissected and dissociated by mechanical trituration.The tissue suspension was cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with EGF and B27.The cell colonies generated from a single cell were screened by limited dilution and incubated with BrdU.The cell colonies were transferred into medium with serum to induce differentiation.The cells were identified with antibodies to Nestin,BrdU,MAP2 and GFAP by immunofluorescence staining.Results The cells were cultured for seven days to generate proliferative neurospheres.The majority of cells in these neurospheres expressed Nestin and were differentiated into MAP2-positive cells and GFAP-positive cells in medium containing with fetal bovine serum.Conclusion A significant number of neural stem cells are present in the parenchymal adult mouse spinal cord and can proliferate and also give rise to neurons and glia in vitro.

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of ilioinguinal approach with short infrapectineal buttress plate fixing posterior column for patients with complex acetabular fractures. Methods Data of 29 consecutive patients (male 22, fe?male 7, age range 25-72 years, average age 53 ± 6.3 years) with complex acetabular who had operated by single ilioinguinal ap?proach with infrapectineal buttress plate from September 2008 to August 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. According to Letour?nel?Judet classifications, there were 4 cases of anterior column and posterior hemi?transverse, 11 cases of associated both?column, 4 of T?shaped and 6 with seagull sign. The acetabular fractures model was printed preoperatively by 3D printing technique for sur?gical simulation, open reduction and internal fixation through single ilioinguinal approach with a short infrapectineal plate fixing posterior column, particularly an ox horn shape K?wire sleeve was developed for drilling and screw insertion using flexible screw?driver. Clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes assessed by the modified Merle d’Aubigné score were collected. Results Two patients were lost to follow?up, including one patient who died at 15 days postoperative because of pulmonary embolism, and the other one who had moved abroad at 12 months postoperative. The remaining 27 (93%) had a mean follow?up of 40 months (range, 24-75 months). The operating time was 180±35.5 min;the time for the fracture union was 3.5±0.9 month;blood loss during the operating was 500±43.9 ml;no case had fracture re?displacement. At the latest follow?up, radiographic grades were excellent in 17, good in 8, poor in 4, including one poor patient who had a total hip arthroplasty (3%) at 35 months after the internal fixation. The average modified Merle d’Aubigné score was 16 (range, 10-18), and categorized as excellent in 12, good in 8, fair in 5, and poor in 2. Three patients had developed deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities, and one of them died of pulmonary embo?lism 15 days after operation; two cases of deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity were found 3-4 days after operation. Thrombosis disappeared 6 months after anticoagulant therapy by warfarin. One case who had superficial wound infection after oper?ation was treated by anti?infection and VSD negative pressure, and incision was healed after one month. One case with poor quality of fracture reduction and seagull sign was treated with total hip arthroplasty after 35 months because of traumatic arthritis. The to?tal complication rate was 24%(7/29). Conclusion In the patient with complex acetabular fractures combining posterior column medial displacement, single Ilioinguinal approach with infrapectineal buttress plates could achieve a stable concentric hip joint, and immediate postoperative ambulation can result in reasonable clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the resuscitation promoting role of resuscitation promoting factor and the initial bacteria amount of dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

METHODSMycobacterium tuberculosis (dormant bacteria) was cultured for 100 days, then diluted into 1 mg/ml concentration with 7H9, and further diluted into 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, and 0.03125 mg/ml. Twelve new tubes added with 5 ml 7H9 and divided into two groups: the first group was added with the resuscitation-promoting factor protein, and the second group as control was added with 7H9. In each group the above diluted solutions were added. The tubes were located at 37 degrees C for culture. Optical density (OD) was detected on day 15, 25, 30, and 35. From each tube 1 microl culture solution was plated on 7H11 medium for colony counting.

RESULTSOD detection showed that bacteria proliferation in each group had positive linear correlation (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), indicating that the resuscitation-promoting factor played a similiar role in solutions with different dilution concentrations. 7H11 results and the OD results show that these two detection methods in each group had linear correlation (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), indicating that these two methods showed consistent test results.

CONCLUSIONThe resuscitation-promoting factor has no effect on the resuscitation of dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its initial bacteria amount.

Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; physiology ; Resuscitation

OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid, inexpensive, and simple drug susceptibility test (DST) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) and evaluate its feasibility.

METHODWe used nitrate reductase combined with mycobacteriophage assay (PhaB-NRA) to test 49 clinical M. tb isolates of, and the results were compared with those of PhaB-NRA and traditional absolute concentration method.

RESULTSThe sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PhaB-NRA for rifampicin were 89.1%, 91.67%, and 89.8%; on the contrary, those of isonicotinyl hydrazide were 86.21%, 90.0%, and 87.8%, respectively. The coincidence between PhaB-NRA and traditional assay were 0.746 for rifampicin and 0.750 for isonicotinyl hydrazide.

CONCLUSIONSPhaB-NRA is an inexpensive, rapid, and simple DST method. It is a promising rapid screening technique for DST of M. tb.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Biological Assay ; methods ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; methods ; Mycobacteriophages ; physiology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; Nitrate Reductase ; metabolism ; Rifampin ; pharmacology ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in pulmonary artery protein kinase C (PKC) activity in rats with chronic inflammatory pulmonary hypertension (PHT).

METHODSChronic inflammatory PHT was induced in rats with monocrotaline. The PKC activities in the rat pulmonary arteries were measured by radioactive assay during the development of PHT.

RESULTSWith the development of chronic inflammatory PHT, the total and cytosolic fractions of PKC activity in PHT rat pulmonary arteries increased initially with subsequent decrease (Plt;0.05), but the membranous fraction of PKC activity and the membrane-to-cytosol PKC activity ratio increased continuously (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of PKC activity and the translocation of PKC might be associated with the development of chronic inflammatory PHT in rats.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; Male ; Monocrotaline ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Rome III criteria separated chronic constipation into functional constipation (FC) and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C), but some researchers questioned the partitioning and treated both as distinct parts of a continuum. The study aims to explore the similarity and diversity of brain white matter between FC and IBS-C. METHODS: The voxel-wise analysis of the diffusion parameters was used to quantify the white matter changes of female brains in 18 FC patients and 20 IBS-C patients compared with a comparison group with 19 healthy controls by tract-based spatial statistics. The correlations between diffusive parameters and clinical symptoms were evaluated using a Pearson’s correlation. RESULTS: In comparison to healthy controls, FC patients showed a decrease of fractional anisotropy (FA) and an increase of radial diffusivity (RD) in multiple major fibers encompassing the corpus callosum (CC, P = 0.001 at peak), external capsule (P = 0.002 at peak), corona radiata (CR, P = 0.001 at peak), and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF, P = 0.002 at peak). In contrast, IBS-C patients showed FA and RD aberrations in the CC (P = 0.048 at peak). Moreover, the direct comparison between FC and IBS-C showed only RD differences in the CR and SLF. In addition, FA and RD in the CC were significantly associated with abdominal pain for all patients, whereas FA in CR (P = 0.016) and SLF (P = 0.040) were significantly associated with the length of time per attempt and incomplete evacuation separately for FC patients. CONCLUSION: These results may improve our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying different types of constipation.
Abdominal Pain ; Anisotropy ; Brain ; Constipation ; Corpus Callosum ; Diffusion ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; External Capsule ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; White Matter