ObjectiveTo investigate whether Carthamus tinctorius L.-derived nanovesicles （CDNVs） can alleviate angiotensin Ⅱ （ANGⅡ）-induced cardiomyocyte （H9C2） hypertrophy by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. MethodsCDNVs were isolated and purified by ultracentrifugation combined with sucrose density gradient centrifugation， and their morphology and particle size distribution were identified by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Rat H9C2 cardiomyocytes were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into the normal control group （NC）， ANGⅡ （1.0 μmol/L） group， ANGⅡ+CDNVs group， and ANGⅡ+CDNVs+NF-κB activator 1 group. After 24 h of intervention， cell viability was detected by the CCK-8 assay， the expression of myocardial hypertrophy-related genes （ANP， BNP） was determined by qPCR， the relative cell area was measured by phalloidin staining， the expression of hypertrophy marker proteins and NF-κB pathway proteins （P-p65/p65， P-IκBα/IκBα） was examined by Western blot， and nuclear translocation of p65 was observed by immunofluorescence. Subsequently， NF-κB signaling pathway agonist activator 1 was added， and the expression of myocardial hypertrophy marker proteins and NF-κB pathway proteins was detected. ResultsCDNVs exhibited a typical round-like vesicle structure with an average particle size of 140.4 nm， which was consistent with the morphological characteristics of exosomes. ANGⅡ at concentrations of 0.1-1.0 μmol/L had no significant effect on cardiomyocyte viability. Compared with the NC group， ANGⅡ significantly upregulated the gene expression of ANP and BNP， increased the relative surface area of cardiomyocytes， elevated the levels of myocardial hypertrophy marker proteins and NF‑κB pathway proteins， and promoted the nuclear translocation of p65 （P<0.05）. Following treatment with CDNVs， all the above indicators were markedly reduced in comparison with the ANGⅡ group （all P<0.05）. However， all these experimental results were reversed after the addition of an NF‑κB agonist. ConclusionCDNVs alleviate ANGⅡ-induced H9C2 cell hypertrophy by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of fetal tethered cord (TC) prenatally diagnosed by MRI.Methods:Clinical data of 38 fetuses diagnosed as having TC by MRI, including 36 singletons and two fetuses who were both one of dichorionic diamniotic twins, were retrospectively collected and analyzed in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from January 2015 to August 2019. According to whether conus medullaris was located above the bladder or reached the lower edge of the bladder, all cases were divided into high or low groups. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups using Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test. Results:(1) The gestational age at MRI was (25.5±4.7) weeks. Among the 38 cases, 14 (36.8%) were isolated TC, 24 (63.2%) were complicated by other anomalies. The meningocele was responsible for the most (39.5%, n=15). The results of the ultrasound were consistent with those of MRI in 24 cases (63.2%). While in the other 14 cases (36.8%), the ultrasound only showed vertebral body's abnormal morphology, after which further MRI examination revealed a tethered cord. (2) Twenty-nine women (76.3%) chose to terminate the pregnancy. One patient (2.6%) underwent fetal reduction at 23 gestational weeks (one normal twin was delivered prematurely), and one (2.6%) was lost to follow-up. Seven (18.4%) cases continued the pregnancies to delivery. The postnatal follow-up period was 8.1 months (4.0 to 54.9 months). Two infants without comorbidities showed normal growth and development. Another three cases underwent surgeries after birth, and two cases died in the neonatal period. (3) The average width of the medullary cone was (2.5±0.8) cm. There was no significant difference in the spinal cord width between the high [(2.5±0.8) cm, n=34] and low group [(2.7±1.1) cm, n=4]. Six pregnancies (17.6%) in the high group was continued to delivery, and one of the neonates died of severe hydrocephalus. One patient in the low group (1/4) was delivered, while the baby died of neonatal asphyxia. Conclusions:Fetuses with isolated TC are prone to have a good prognosis. Further study should focus on the relation between the high or low position of the conus medullaris and pregnancy outcomes.

BACKGROUND: An ideal repairing material characterizes by both great biocompatibility and osteogenesis ability. Any biomaterials should meet excellent biological security and biocompatibility prior to clinical application.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biocompatibility and the biological security of the TiO_2-Ag-nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide66 (TiO_2-Ag-nHA/PA66) composite.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized controlled duplicated design was performed in Chongqing Medical University from July 2008 to July 2009.MATERIALS: A total of 40 Kunming mice aged 3 weeks and of clean grade and 32 healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were provided by Experimental Animal Center of Chongqing Medical University. TiO_2-Ag-nHA/PA66 composite powder (10 g),TiO_2-Ag-nHA/PA66 composites (n=32, 5 mm ×25 mm), and TiO_2-Ag-nHA/PA66 composites (n=32, 3 mm × 5 mm) were provided by Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials of Sichuan University.METHODS: General toxicity test: Forty mice were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Composite powder was used to prepare leaching liquor which was treated on experimental mice by an intraperitoneal injection. While, an equal amount saline was inserted into the control mice. Intramuscular implanting test: The 16 rabbits were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Two TiO_2-Ag-nHA/PA66 composite (5 mm × 25 mm) were implanted into left and right erector spinae, respectively. A similar surgery with the exception of implantation was performed on the control rabbits. Intrabony implanting test: The resting 16 rabbits were implanted one TiO_2-Ag-nHA/PA66 composite (3 mm × 5 mm) into left and right lateral epicondyle, respectively. Hemolytic test: A 8-mL anti-coagulation blood was obtained and added with composite powder (0.1,0.15, and 0.2 g).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Biocompatibility and biological security of TiO_2-Ag-nHA/PA66 composite.RESULTS: General toxicity test demonstrated that mice in the two groups had good activity and eating, normal breathing, stable body mass, no paralysis, convulsion, and death. Intramuscular implanting test and intrabony implanting test showed that there was no significant difference in levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, urea nitrogen, and creatinine and leukocyte numbers between the two groups before implantation and at day 4,1 week, and 2 weeks after implantation (P> 0.05).In particular, there was no significant difference in the experimental group at varying time points (P> 0.05). Intramuscular implanting test indicated that tissue sections in the experimental group displayed coated tissue of materials. The inflammatory variation in the experimental group was generally similar to that in the control group. Intrabony implanting test indicated that tissue sections in the experimental group displayed new bone formation. Hemolytic test suggested that hemolytic ratio of three varying concentrations of TiOrAg-nHA/PA66 composites was less than 5%, which met the normal criterion.CONCLUSION: TiO_2-Ag-nHA/PA66 composite has a good biocompatibility and biological security.

BACKGROUND: There are no effective methods to cure Alzheimer disease (AD). Now, researches have shown that panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) play an important role in improving AD, but its mechanism is unclear.OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effect of PNS characterized by removing blood stasis to stop bleeding and promoting blood circulation to relieve pain on pathological lesion of cholinergic neuron in rat with AD.DESIGN: Completely randomized grouping design and controlled study.SETTING: Neuroscience Institute of Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University.MATERIALS: This experiment was completed in the Chinese Herb Pharmacodynamic Laboratory of Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University between June 2003 and April 2005. A total of 90 health Wistar rats of clean grade and half gender were selected in this study. Among them, there were 75 old rats with 15 months old and 15 young rats with 3 months old. METHODS: This experiment was completed in the Chinese herb Pharmacodynamic Laboratory (Key Laboratory) of Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University between June 2003 and April 2005. ① A total of 90 healthy Wistar rats of clean grade and half gender were selected in this study. Among them, there were 75 old rats with 15 months old and 15 young rats with 3 months old. Fifteen young rats with 3 months old were regarded as young control group, and other 15 selected from 75 rats with 15 months old were regarded as old control group. The rest 60 rats were modeled on the basis of subacute injury induced by intravenous injection of D-galactose and bilateral cerebral Meynert basal nuclei injured by ibotenic acid. Parallel control was performed with saline on rats in young control group and old control group under the same condition. ② Two weeks later,survival modeling rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: model group,high-dosage PNS group, low-dosage PNS group and huperzine A group with 12 in each group. Rats in high-and low-dosage PNS groups were perfused with 200 and 100 mg/kg PNS (provided by Yunnan Yuxi Weihe Pharmaceutical Factory), respectively, once a day; rats in huperzine A group were perfused with 0.3 mg/kg huperzine A once a day for 4 weeks; rats in model group, young control group and old control group were perfused with the same volume of saline for 4 weeks. ③ After administration, pathological sections of brain tissue were cut, and immunologic-reaction activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), morphological changes and numbers of positive neuron in cerebral sections were determined by immunohistochemistry analysis. ChAT immuno-positive neurons were analyzed with IBAS imaging analysis system to assay average area of section and average absorbance (A), and amount of ChAT immuno-positive neurons was calculated with microscope micrometer. ④ Measurement data were compared with single-factor analysis of variance.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effect of PNS on distribution of cholinergic neuron and ChAT content in cerebral tissue of AD rat models.RESULTS: A total of 75 old rats and 15 young rats entered the final analysis. ① Amount of ChAT immuno-positive neurons was the most, and the color was the deepest in young control group; amount of ChAT immuno-positive neurons was higher in high-dosage PNS group than that in huperzine A group and model group; ChAT immuno-positive neurons were smaller in model group than those in other goups, and the amount was decreased obviously. Axis-cylinder and dendrite of soma were shortened remarkably. ② Amounts of ChAT immuno-positive neurons in basal forebrain were less in model group than those in other groups (P ＜ 0.05), less in lowdosage PNS group, huperzine A group and model group than those in old control group (P ＜ 0.05), less in huperzine A group and model group than those in high- and low-dosage PNS group (P ＜ 0.05), and less in young control group than those in other groups (P ＜ 0.05). The mean A value of ChAT immuno-positive neurons in basal forebrain was similar to amounts in each group. Average area of section of ChAT immuno-positive neurons in basal forebrain was smaller in low-dosage PNS group and model group than that in young control group (P ＜ 0.05), and differences in other groups were not significant (P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: PNS plays a protective role in pathological lesion of cholinergic neuron in AD rat models. PNS can also increase survival amount and quality of cell and increase content and activity of ChAT so as to protect and improve central cholinergic system, and inhibit aging and dementia through improving and repairing injured cholinergic neurons.

AIM: The contents of pachymic acid in Poria in different parts and in different localities were measured and compared. METHODS: 9 samples were measured with HPLC. RESULTS: The content of pachymic acid in Fushen is the highest in different parts and the content of pachymic acid in Guangxi province is the highest in five localities. CONCLUSION: The content of pachymic acid was obviously variable in different parts and this result made the basis of the application of with the different parts of Poria. The content of pachymic acid wasn't obviously variable in different localities.