OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of monotropein on motor function recovery of mice with spinal cord injury (SCI) and explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Forty-five adult female C57BL/6 mice were randomized equally into sham operation group, SCI group, and SCI group with daily intraperitoneal monotropein injection. The mice in the former two groups received daily saline injections. Motor function of the mice was evaluated using BMS scores, slant plate test, and footprint analyses. Pathological changes and neuronal counts in the spinal cord were observed using HE, LFB, and Nissl staining. The biological functions of monotropein were explored using GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. NeuN/cleaved caspase-3 immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting were used to detect neuronal apoptosis in the spinal cord of the mice. In cultured HT22 cells, the effect of monotropein on TNF-α-induced cell apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL staining and Western blotting. In monotropein-treated HT22 cells and SCI mice, the changes in the PI3K/AKT pathway were examined, and the effect of a PI3K/AKT pathway activator (IGF-1) on HT22 cell apoptosis and motor function recovery of SCI mice were observed. RESULTS: SCI mice with monotropein treatment showed significantly improved motor functions with reduced SCI areas and increased myelin retention and neuron counts in the spinal cord. Bioinformatics analysis suggested a role of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in mediating the anti-apoptotic effects of monotropein. In SCI mice, monotropein obviously reduced apoptotic neurons, decreased expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax and increased Bcl-2 expression in the spinal cord. In HT22 cells, monotropein significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced apoptosis and PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Treatment with IGF-1 obviously increased apoptosis of HT22 cells and exacerbated locomotor dysfunction in SCI mice. CONCLUSIONS Monotropein promotes motor function recovery in SCI mice by reducing neuronal apoptosis possibly by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Animals ; Spinal Cord Injuries/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Female ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Neurons/pathology* ; Recovery of Function

Objective To study the prevalence,risk factors of overactive bladder (OAB) in middle-aged and senior residents in Zhengzhou China.Methods A randomized,community-based,crosssectional study was performed on 10 160 residents aged 40 or older in urban area of Zhengzhou by using a stratified system sampling approach.A questionnaire including the subjects' basic information,previous history,present history,the Chinese overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) was filled on site.The diagnostic criteria for OAB was 'an urgency score for Question 3 of 2 or more,and an OABSS of 3 or more'.Chisquare test was used to determine the differences of prevalence between genders,age groups,BMI and people with and without diabetes mellitus (DM).A pairwise comparison was conducted between different age,BMI group by using Bonferroni method.Results A total of 10 160 residents were investigated and finally 9805 (96.5％) were qualified for final statistical analysis.The mean age was (57.9 ± 9.7) years.The overall prevalence of OAB was 2.1％ (209/9805),of which,with OABdry 1.0％,and OABwet 1.1％.Male subjects were more likely suffered from OAB than female,with 2.7％ (84/3129) versus 1.9％ (125/6676).The prevalence of OAB in both male and female increased with age.There was no significant difference in the prevalence of male and female before the age of 60 years (1.2％ versus 1.4％,P ＞ 0.05) and more common in men than in women after the age of 60 years (4.6％ versus 2.6％,P ＜ 0.05).The prevalence of the subjects with DM was significantly higher than those without DM (P ＜ 0.05).The subjects with BMIs of 30 or more were nore likely to have OAB (3.2％ versus 1.8％,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The prevalence of OAB increases with advancing age.The prevalence of male is higher than female after the age of 60 years.The diabetics and obese people are more likely to have OAB.

Objective To investigate the causes of and prevention for cerebral complications in perioperative period in patients with carotid stenosis. Methods The causes and treatment of cerebral complications among 133 cases of carotid stenosis during perioperative period from May 2004 to Jun 2009 were analysed retrospectively. Results Among 133 cases, 94 cases underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and 39 cases had carotid artery stenting(CAS). Cerebral complications developed in 16 cases including 3 cases of more than two attacks. 5 cases suffered from tansient ischemia attacks (TIA)or cerebral ischemia before operation. 5 developed TIA or cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHPS) among those undergoing CEA and 4 developed TIA or CHPS among CAS cases. During postoperative period, 8 cases developed TIA, CHPS,cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage. Conclusions Prevention and treatment of cerebral complications is extremely important durning surgical therapy of carotid stenosis.

Objective To observe the clinical effects and complications of primary trigeminal neuralgia treatment with radiofrequency thermocoagulation on gasserian ganglion. Methods Under the guidance of C-arm or DSA and with Hartel method, we percutaneously punctured the oval foramen to gasserian ganglion and performed radiofrequency times. Results Pain was completed eliminated in 53 of the 56 patients, which was regarded as degree Ⅰ of clinical cure with the curativeness rate being 96.4%; 1 case was of degree Ⅱ; 1 case was of degree Ⅲ; 1 case had no effect. The rate of satisfactory effectiveness was 96.4% and the total rate of efficacy was 98.2%. No severe complications were observed. Conclusion Radiofrequency thermocoagulation is a safe and effective method to treat primary trigeminal neuralgia with few severe complications.

Objective To understand the clinical significance of membrane receptors of interleukin-2 (CD25) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with gastric cancer. Methods CD25 percentages in PBL from 110 patients with gastric cancer and 100 normal individuals were examined by flow cytometry. Results were analyzed clinically and pathologically. Results Mean CD25% in PBL from normal individuals and patients with gastric cancer were 17.24±5.33 and 22.47±6.82, respectively, and the difference was significant (P<0.01). Abnormally elevated CD25% in PBL from patients with gastric cancer were correlated with tumor site, macropathology type, tumor size, differentiation degree and clinical stage. Conclusion Measuring CD25% in PBL from gastric cancer patients before surgery may provide a reference for diagnosis, immune treatment and judging prognosis.