To investigate the effects of Xiaoyao Powder, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treatment of depression, on monoamine neurotransmitters in hippocampus of rats with postpartum depression (PPD).

Objective To explore the effects of low dose intravenous minocycline on neurological function and the expression of RGMa in rats after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Methods Fifty-five adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group and minocycline-treat?ed group. The cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model was established by 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion. At 2 weeks after ischemia reperfusion, the expression levels of RGMa and growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) were ana?lyzed by using immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively. Neurological functional recovery was evaluated us?ing both the modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and staircase test at 2, 7,14 and 28 d after ischemia reperfusion. Results Minocycline at a dose of 3 mg/kg via the caudal vein significantly reduced the expression of RGMa protein (0.53± 0.08 vs. 1.17±0.15, P<0.05) and enhanced the expression of GAP-43 protein (0.94±0.10 vs. 0.57±0.09, P<0.05) in isch?emic cortex 2 weeks after ischemia reperfusion. Moreover, minocycline could reduce mNSS and improve forelimb motor function when compared to the I/R group (P<0.05). Conclusions Low dose intravenous minocycline (3 mg/kg) can im?prove neurological functional recovery in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion and the mechanism may be re? lated to the down-regulation of RGMa expression and up-regulation of GAP-43 expression.

Objective To investigate the anti-migratory and anti-invasive effect of somatostatin receptor type 2(SSTR2) gene transfection mediated by adenovirus in human pancreatic carcinoma cell and the mechanisms involved in this effect.Methods The full length human SSTR2 cDNA was introduced into pancreatic cancer cell line BXPC-3 by adenovirus-mediated transfection,and stable expression of RNA and protein of SSTR2 were detected by RT-PCR and Westen-blot.The Matrigel coated Transwell was used to detect the migratory and invasive ability of SSTR2expressing cells,Adv-GFP control cells and mock control cells.Furthermore,the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2(TIMP-2) were detected by RT-PCR method in these cells.Results The stable expression of SSTR2 was detected in BXPC-3 cells transfected by Adv-GFP-SSTR2.A dramatic decrease of BXPC-3 expressing SSTR2 cell(migrated) through a Matrigel-coated filter was observed,as compared with Adv-GFP control cells and mock control cells(P

Objective To investigate the effects of minocycline on cell viability and neurite outgrowth of pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) after oxygen‐glucose deprivation(OGD) injury .Methods PC12 cells were exposed to OGD insult for 2 ,4 ,6 ,8 h to estab‐lish a cerebral ischemia model in vitro .High‐differentiated PC12 cells were cultivated and randomly divided into three groups :con‐trol group ,OGD group and various doses of minocycline(0 .1 ,1 .0 ,10 .0 μM) treated group .24 h after OGD‐reperfusion ,PC12 cells viability was assessed by CCK‐8 assay ,the neurite was labeled with MAP‐2 by immunofluorescence and neurite length was meas‐ured by the Image‐Pro Plus 7 .0 software ,GAP‐43 protein expression was determined by Western blotting .Results Compared to the OGD groups ,minocycline induced a concentration‐dependent increase in cells viability [(46 .1 ± 2 .9)% vs .(77 .0 ± 2 .5)% ,P<0.01],improvedneuriteoutgrowthandincreasedtheexpressionofGAP‐43proteininPC12cellsafterOGDinjury([(0.34±0.04) vs .(2 .11 ± 0 .10) ,P<0 .01] .Conclusion Minocycline could protect against oxygen glucose deprivation injury and promote neurite outgrowth .This finding suggests minocycline may be a novel therapy for cerebral ischemia .

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)for female traumatic urethral stricture.Methods Fifteen female patients with traumatic urethral stricture were examined by using TRUS and urethrography and the examination results were compared with op-eration findings.Results The ultrasonography results of all patients were in consistency with their operation findings,while the urethrography results of six patients were different from their operation findings.Conclusion TRUS is of great value in the diagnosis of female traumatic urethral stricture.

Objective To observe the effect of antisense hypoxia inducible factor-1?(HIF-1?) on (chemosensitivity) of human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 under hypoxia. Methods BxPC-3 cells were divided into 3 groups:(1)BxPC-3 cells were non-transfected with antisense HIF-1? plasmid and exposed to 0.5% O_2 for 4hr(hypoxia control);(2)normoxic BxPC-3 cells were non-transfected with antisense(HIF-1?) plasmid(normoxia control);(3)BxPC-3 cells were transfected with antisense HIF-1? plasmid and exposed to 0.5% O_2 for 4hr(experimental group).Expression of HIF-1? and survivin was detected by RT-PCR and Western Blot.Growth inhibition rates and apoptosis rates of BxPC-3 cells under different(dosages) of chemotherapeutic agents(5-fluorouracil,doxorubicin and gemcitabine) were measured by MTT(colorimetric) assay and flow cytometry (FCM).Results Expression of HIF-1? was obviously down-regulated and at the same time susvivin expression was markedly down-regulated in experimental group(P

Objective To explore the expression and clinical significance of EphA2 and E-cadherin in (pancreatic) cancer tissue and cells.Methods The expression of EphA2 and E-cadherin in 56 pancreatic(carcinomas) and 23 adjacent noncancer tissues were studied by immunohistochemistry,and their relationship to clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed.RT-PCR was performed to explore the expression of EphA2,BXPC-3,PC-3 and PANC-1 in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines.Results In pancreatic carcinomas tissuse showed increased EphA2 expression and reduced E-cad expression which compared with adjacent noncancer tissues.The expression level of EphA2 had a significant positive relationship with tumor differentiation degree,lymphatic metastasis and clinical stage.However,the expression level of E-cadherin had negative relationship with both the tumor clinical stage and lymphatic invasion.Furthermore,a significant negative relationship(between) the expression of EphA2 and E-cadherin was observed.The expressions of EphA2 were higher in high-invasive cell lines PXPC-3 and Panc-1 than in low-invasive cell line PC-3.Conclusions The(expression) and/or abnormal function of EphA2 and E-cadherin may together be involved in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer;the combined measurement of these two proteins may be useful for(determination) of metastatic potency of pancreatic carcinoma.

Objective To observe the results and reality of transurethral resection of bladder tumor(TUR-Bt) with upside down loop and plsamakinetic in the prevention of obturator nerve reflex.Methods A total of 211 patients with lumbar anesthesia received TUR-Bt.Firstly,the tumor tower above bladder wall was cut with the traditional way.When intraoperative findings were obturator nerve reflex,or to the obturator nerve mapping area,operation should be changed to superimpulse plasma column electrode vaporization to cut off residual tumor tissue,then after flipping the loop,the residual tumour was resected with upside-down loop from the tumour side wall.Results In 211 cases,192 cases had a little obturator nerve reflex,but the movement of body was not obvious,which did not influence the operation.The serious complication,such as perforation of bladder and injury of nerve and vessel,did not occur.Conclusions The lateral resection of bladder side wall tumour with upside-down loop can effectively avoid strong obturator nerve reflex,which is safe,uncomplicated,and efficacious and it does not increase the additional outlay and hurt.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of low-intensity warfarin anticoagulation in over 80-year-old patients with nonvascular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Methods The 180 NVAF patients aged over 80 years were randomly assigned into 2 groups: 90 patients in lowintensity warfarin anticoagulation group (target value of INR 1.6-2.0), the other 90 patients in standard-intensity warfarin anticoagulation group (target value of INR 2. 0-3.0). All patients were followed up in outpatient-department for one year. Main outcome measures included the incidence rates of bleeding and thromboembolic events, and secondary outcome measures included the warfarin dosage and times of INR＞3.0. Results The incidence rate of thromboembolic events was 4.4% (4/90) in low-intensity group and 3.3% (3/90) in standard-intensity group with no statistically significant difference between these two groups (P＞0. 05). However, the incidence rate of hemorrhage was significantly lower in low-intensity group than in standard-intensity group [5.6% (5/90) vs. 16.7%(15/90), P＜0. 05]. Meanwhile the warfarin dosage was significantly lower in low-intensity group than in standard-intensity group [(1. 55±0. 63) mg vs. (2.31±0.57) mg, P＜0.05]. The times of INR＞3.0 were less in low-intensity group than in standard-intensity group (P＜0. 05). Conclusions Therapy with low-intensity warfarin anticoagulation in NVAF patients aged over 80 years may be equally effective as, but safer than that with standard-intensity warfarin.

OBJECTIVETo further demonstrate the cognition upon the prominent effect of Yiguanjian and Xiayuxue Decoction on the CCI4 induced rat model of chronic liver fibrosis which have been verified in the previous studies. From the viewpoint of detecting TCM syndrome by recipe used, through this cognition the pathological features of the liver injury model manifesting a syndrome of "Gan-yin deficiency with blood stasis obstructing collaterals" were further explored.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly divided into the normal group, the model group, and the three medicated groups. All rats, except those in the normal group, were made into chronic liver injury model by subcutaneously injecting CCI4 for 12 weeks. Medication for the three medicated groups began from the 9th week after modeling, with oral administering of Yiguanjian (YGJ, a recipe has been verified to be effective for liver injury and fibrosis), Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (LWDH, a recipe with effects similar to YGJ) and Yinchenhao Decoction (YCHD, a recipe functioned differently) respectively for four weeks. Rats were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, changes of hepatic function, liver pathology and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content in the liver tissue were detected, and contents of Afamin and mRNA expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in the liver tissue were assayed as well with Real-time PCR.

RESULTSAs compared with the normal group, the pathological figures of the chronic liver injury and fibrosis and hepatic function deterioration obviously appeared in the model rats, with the liver content of Hyp and alpha-SMA mRNA expression increased, and Afamin mRNA expression decreased significantly. In the YGJ treated group, the hepatic collagen hyperplasia and deteriorated hepatic function alleviated significantly after treatment, with content of Hyp significantly lowered, and mRNA expressions of alpha-SMA and Afamin restored to some extent (P < 0.05); the same effects on mRNA expressions of alpha-SMA and Afamin were shown in the LWDH treated group, also a decreasing trend of Hyp content (0.05 < P < 0.1), and a significant decreasing of alanine transaminase (ALT) activity was found; while in the YCHD treated group these pharmacological effects mentioned above were not observed at all.

CONCLUSIONThe pharmacological effects of LWDH and YGJ were similar to some degree, which gives support to the cognition that the feature of chronic liver injury model rat induced by CCI4 is attributable to yin-deficiency sydrome.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis ; drug therapy