BACKGROUND:Cerebral ischemia tolerance can promote proliferation of autologous neural stem cells in the hippocampus of cerebral infarction rats, but panaxtrial saponins effects on the proliferation of autologous neural stem cells in the brain have not been reported. OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship of panaxtrial saponins, ischemic preconditioning and proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in the hippocampus of rats at 7 days after cerebral infarction, and to observe the effect on neurobehavioral scores of rats after cerebral infarction. METHODS:Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were included and randomly divided into five groups:sham group, ischemia group, ischemic control group, ischemic preconditioning group, and panaxtrial saponins group. In the latter four groups, acute models of cerebral infarction were established using Zea-Longa method. In the sham group, only an incision was made on the neck. The focal-focal ischemic tolerance models were established with twice suture method in the ischemic preconditioning and panaxtrial saponins groups. Sham operation was instead of ischemic preconditioning in the ischemic control group. In the panaxtrial saponins group, rats were given intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg panaxtrial saponins at 7 days before modeling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 7 days of cerebral infarction, the neurobehavioral score and the number of neural stem cells in the hippocampus were significantly increased in the ischemia group (P<0.01);compared with the ischemia group, the neurobehavioral scores were lowered in the ischemic preconditioning and panaxtrial saponins groups (P<0.01), while the number of neural stem cells in the hippocampus was increased (P<0.01). However, there was no difference between the ischemic preconditioning and panaxtrial saponins groups (P>0.05). In addition, differences in the neurobehavioral scores and the number of neural stem cells in the hippocampus were insignificant between the ischemic control group and ischemia group (P>0.05). These findings indicate that panaxtrial saponins can play a role similar to ischemic tolerance, and thus improve neurologic impairment in rats with cerebral infarction.

Objective To investigate the effect of brain ischemic preconditioning (IP) combined with traditional Chinese medicine three seven three alcohol saponin (PTS) on proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells and the mRNA expressions of delta opioid receptor (DOR),Bax,Bcl-2 in hippocampus at 7d post middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).Methods The focal-focal ischemic tolerance models were established with twice suture method.80 SD rats were included and randomly divided into 5 groups:sham group,MCAO group,sham+ MCAO group,IP+ MCAO group,PTS+MCAO group (n=16 each).We chose 10 SD rats from each group to evaluate their neurological status,and made BrdU fluorescent immunolabeling.In addition,we chose the other 6 SD rats to detect the expression levels of DOR,Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA in ischemic region in hippocampusby using RT-PCR.Animals were given one set of BrdU injections (on day 6,three times,4h apart,50mg/kg) to label the proliferating cells.The neurological status was assessed by using Zea Longa neurological deficit scores at 7 days following cerebral infarction.Results Zea longa neurologic deficit scores in MCAO group and sham+ MCAO) group had significantly differences with IP+ MCAO group and PTS+ MCAO group respectively at 7d post MCAO(P＜0.01).There was no significant differeuce in Zea-longa neurologic deficit scores between MCAO group versus sham+ MCAO group,and IP+ MCAO group versus PTS+ MCAO group(P＞0.05).The number of BrdU+ ceils in hippocampus had significant differences between IP+ MCAO and PTS+ MCAO groups at 7d post MCAOand three groups of sham,MCAO and sham+ MCAO respectively (P＜0.01).There was no difference in the number of BrdU+ cells between MCAO versus Sham + MCAO groups and IP + MCAO versus PTS+MCAO groups(P＞0.05).DOR and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels were higher and Bax mRNA expression level was lower in IP+ MCAO group than in MCAO,Sham+ MCAO and PTS+MCAO groups (P＜0.01).There were no significant differences in DOR,Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expressions among MCAO,Sham + MCAO and PTS + MCAO groups (P＞ 0.05).Conclusions Acute cerebral infarction can induce the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in hippocampus in SD rats.IPC can facilitate the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in hippocampus afteracute cerebral infarction,improve the symptoms of neurologic dysfunction,increase DOR and Bcl 2 mRNA expressions,and reduce Bax mRNA expression in SD rats.PTS can facilitate the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in hippocampus after acute cerebral infarction in SD rats,and improve the symptoms of neurologic dysfunction,but it has no influence on the expressions of DOR,Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA.

Objective To explore the effect of δ-opioid receptor (DOR)on ischemic tolerance of rat brain.Methods The focal ischemic tolerance models of Sprague Dawley rats were established using the twice suture method with the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).A total of 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group,ischemia (MCAO) group,sham +ischemia (sham+ MCAO) group and ischemic preconditioning + ischemia (IP+ MCAO) group (n=6,each).The neurological status was assessed using Zea-Longa neurological deficit scores at 7 days after cerebral infarction.The mRNA expressions of DOR,Bax,Bcl-2 in hippocampus in ischemic rat brain were detected by RT-PCR method.Results The Zea-Longa neurological deficit scores were 0.0±0.0,2.6±0.5,2.8±0.6 and 1.5±0.6 in Sham group,MCAO group,Sham+MCAO group and IP+ MCAO group,respectively at 7 days after cerebral infarction.The scores had significant differences among MCAO group,Sham+ MCAO group and IP+ MCAO group (both P＜0.01),but no difference between MCAO group and Sham+MCAO group(P＞0.05).The mRNA expressions of DOR and Bcl-2 were higher and Bax mRNA expression was lower in IP+MCAO group than in MCAO and Sham+ MCAO groups (all P＜0.01).Conclusions Ischemic preconditioning may increase the mRNA expressions of DOR and Bcl-2,reduce Bax mRNA expression,and improve the neurological status in rats.

Objective To investigate whether methamphetamine (METH) can enhance human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection in macrophages and the possible mechanism.Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from eight healthy adult donors.Monocytes were isolated from blood samples and then cultured in vitro to induce differentiation to macrophages.These macrophages were treated with METH and/or dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) antagonist,and then infected with HIV Bal strains.The levels of HIV RNA were measured in HIV Bal-infected macrophages by RT-PCR analysis.The real-time RTPCR was performed for the quantification of cellular DRD1.Results METH promoted HIV replication in macrophages in a dose and time dependent manner.This METH-mediated enhancement of HIV infection and replication in macrophages could be blocked by the DRD1 antagonist (SCH23390).Moreover,METH could induce the expression of DRD1.Conclusion METH might play a co-factor role in HIV infection in human macrophages by up-regulating the expression of DRD1.

Using engineering fluid dynamics (EFD) softwares,we conducted a study on the simulation of flow field in vessel which was partially blocked by a clamp. The flow field of the partial block vessel was studied once more in real vessel when methylene blue as a marker was injected into the vessel. The change in the characteristics of blood flow was observed by way of computer imitation and methylene blue show. It was found that some defect might appear in the conventional method which partially blocked the vein.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Computer Simulation ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; methods ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Software

A new-designed axial flow blood pump, dived by magnetic coupling and using internal hollow brushless DC motor and inlet and outlet in line with impeller, was tested in mimic circuit. The results showed good performance of the new pump and indicated that its hydrodynamic characteristic can meet the demands of clinical extracorporeal circulation and auxiliary circulation.
Assisted Circulation ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; instrumentation ; Hydrodynamics ; Magnetics

BACKGROUND: Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) can significantly improve the outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to describe the ACS use rates among preterm infants admitted to Chinese neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and to explore perinatal factors associated with ACS use, using the largest contemporary cohort of very preterm infants in China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled all infants born at 24 +0 to 31 +6 weeks and admitted to 57 NICUs of the Chinese Neonatal Network from January 1st, 2019 to December 30th, 2019. The ACS administration was defined as at least one dose of dexamethasone and betamethasone given before delivery. Multiple logistic regressions were applied to determine the association between perinatal factors and ACS usage. RESULTS: A total of 7828 infants were enrolled, among which 6103 (78.0%) infants received ACS. ACS use rates increased with increasing gestational age (GA), from 177/259 (68.3%) at 24 to 25 weeks' gestation to 3120/3960 (78.8%) at 30 to 31 weeks' gestation. Among infants exposed to ACS, 2999 of 6103 (49.1%) infants received a single complete course, and 33.4% (2039/6103) infants received a partial course. ACS use rates varied from 30.2% to 100% among different hospitals. Multivariate regression showed that increasing GA, born in hospital (inborn), increasing maternal age, maternal hypertension and premature rupture of membranes were associated with higher likelihood to receive ACS. CONCLUSIONS The use rate of ACS remained low for infants at 24 to 31 weeks' gestation admitted to Chinese NICUs, with fewer infants receiving a complete course. The use rates varied significantly among different hospitals. Efforts are urgently needed to propose improvement measures and thus improve the usage of ACS.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use*