AIM:To observe the neuroprotective effects of total saponins of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim(TST)on rats with vascular dementia(VD)and explore the drug's impact on astrocytes and the Sonic Hedgehog(Shh)pathway as well as its mechanisms of action.METHODS:A rat model of vascular dementia was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.Subsequently,the rats were randomly divided into four groups:donepezil hydrochloride group,TST group,model group,and sham group,with 18 rats in each group.After 5 weeks of gavage,samples were collected.Cognitive function was evaluated by the water maze test.Histopathological changes in brain tissue were examined with HE and Nissl staining.The ultrastructure of astrocytes was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.The localization and expression of the neuronal nuclear antigen(NeuN),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),Shh,and glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1(Gli1)were identified using immunohistochemistry.Immunofluorescence was also employed to exam-ine the expression of NeuN and GFAP.Finally,Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of NeuN,GFAP,Shh,Patched 1(Ptch1),Gli1,Bax,Bcl-2,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-10(IL-10)in the hippocampus.RESULTS:Compared to the sham group,the model rats demonstrated prolonged escape latency,disorga-nized and loosened neuronal arrangement in the hippocampus and cortex,reduced Nissl bodies,and significant neuronal damage.Astrocytes displayed chromatin aggregation,swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae structures,and swollen endoplasmic reticulum regions.The expression of NeuN,Shh,and Gli1 positive cells significantly decreased,while GFAP positive cells significantly increased.Additionally,the protein levels of NeuN,Shh,Ptch1,Gli1,IL-10,and Bcl-2 in the hippocampus were reduced(P＜0.05),whereas those of GFAP,Bax,and TNF-α were elevated(P＜0.01).Com-pared to the model group,the donepezil hydrochloride and TST groups effectively improved the aforementioned indicators.CONCLUSION:Total saponins of trillium tschonoskii maxim can effectively alleviate pathological damage to neurons in VD rats,thereby improving learning and memory abilities.The underlying mechanisms may involve inhibiting the overacti-vation of astrocytes,activate the Shh/Ptch1/Gli1 signaling pathway,suppress neuroinflammation,and reduce neuronal apoptosis.

AIM:To observe the neuroprotective effects of total saponins of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim(TST)on rats with vascular dementia(VD)and explore the drug's impact on astrocytes and the Sonic Hedgehog(Shh)pathway as well as its mechanisms of action.METHODS:A rat model of vascular dementia was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.Subsequently,the rats were randomly divided into four groups:donepezil hydrochloride group,TST group,model group,and sham group,with 18 rats in each group.After 5 weeks of gavage,samples were collected.Cognitive function was evaluated by the water maze test.Histopathological changes in brain tissue were examined with HE and Nissl staining.The ultrastructure of astrocytes was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.The localization and expression of the neuronal nuclear antigen(NeuN),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),Shh,and glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1(Gli1)were identified using immunohistochemistry.Immunofluorescence was also employed to exam-ine the expression of NeuN and GFAP.Finally,Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of NeuN,GFAP,Shh,Patched 1(Ptch1),Gli1,Bax,Bcl-2,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-10(IL-10)in the hippocampus.RESULTS:Compared to the sham group,the model rats demonstrated prolonged escape latency,disorga-nized and loosened neuronal arrangement in the hippocampus and cortex,reduced Nissl bodies,and significant neuronal damage.Astrocytes displayed chromatin aggregation,swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae structures,and swollen endoplasmic reticulum regions.The expression of NeuN,Shh,and Gli1 positive cells significantly decreased,while GFAP positive cells significantly increased.Additionally,the protein levels of NeuN,Shh,Ptch1,Gli1,IL-10,and Bcl-2 in the hippocampus were reduced(P＜0.05),whereas those of GFAP,Bax,and TNF-α were elevated(P＜0.01).Com-pared to the model group,the donepezil hydrochloride and TST groups effectively improved the aforementioned indicators.CONCLUSION:Total saponins of trillium tschonoskii maxim can effectively alleviate pathological damage to neurons in VD rats,thereby improving learning and memory abilities.The underlying mechanisms may involve inhibiting the overacti-vation of astrocytes,activate the Shh/Ptch1/Gli1 signaling pathway,suppress neuroinflammation,and reduce neuronal apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on the functional status of Kupffer cells (KCs) and immune environment after liver transplantation and explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: KCs were isolated from rats and assessed for phagocytic activity and viability using ink and Trypan blue staining. The cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or in combination with PNS treatment at 0, 10 or 20 μmol/L. The expressions of the inflammatory factors and the oxidative stress products in the cells and the supernatant were assayed with Western blotting and ELISA; the expression of CD206 was detected using immunofluorescence assay, and the expressions of NF-κB and Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway proteins were detected using Western blotting. We established an orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) model in rats and assessed the effect of 200 mg/kg PNS on the graft function, inflammatory factors, pathology of the liver tissue, hepatocyte apoptosis and survival time of the rats in comparison with those in rats receiving a sham operation or PBS treatment following LT. RESULTS: Treatment with PNS significantly lowered the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress products and increased the levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and SOD in a concentration-dependent manner in the KCs ( < 0.05). Immunofluorescence assay showed that PNS treatment obviously increased the expression of CD206 in the KCs. PNS treatment also significantly reduced the expressions of IRAK4, p-IKK, p-IκB, p-p65 and Keap1 proteins and increased the expression levels of Nrf2 and ARE proteins in the KCs ( < 0.05). In the rat models of LT, PNS treatment significantly improved the liver graft function, lowered the expression of the pro-inflammatory factors, and reduced hepatocyte apoptosis as compared with PBS treatment. PNS treatment obviously alleviated pathological changes in the liver graft and significantly prolonged the survival time of the rats following LT ( < 0.05). In addition, injection of GdCl to block KC function resulted in severe acute graft rejection in the rats regardless of PNS treatment ( > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS PNS can reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress in activated KCs by inhibiting NF-κB and Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathways and promote the polarization of KCs into M2 phenotype to prolong the survival time of rats after LT.
Animals ; Graft Rejection ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; Panax notoginseng ; Rats ; Saponins

Spinal cord injury is a kind of central nervous system injury disease caused by trauma. It was found that the up-regulation of autophagy after spinal cord injury could promote the repair of spinal cord injury. Under the condition of stress, autophagy can reduce the number of misfolded proteins and damaged organelles in cells to maintain the stability of intracellular environment. Chinese medicine with Huoxue Quyu Tongluo (against stasis obstructing meridian) efficacy has attracted much attention in the treatment of spinal cord injury, which may associate with the role of regulation of autophagy.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of BPPV in patients with Meniere’s Disease(MD),and to investigate the diagnostic and predictive values of VEMP in patients with MD and BPPV.Methods A total of 1 1 6 patients previously diagnosed MD were followed up through telephone about their BPPV-like attacks.We recorded the detailed history of BPPV-like attacks,and provided them with complete Dix-Hallpike and roll tests if patients were on their BPPV-like attacks.Results In all,4 patients'histories supported BPPV,and 4 patients were found with BPPV.The prevalence of BPPV in patients with MD was 3 .4%(4/1 1 6 ).Meniere's symptoms preceded the on-set of BPPV in 8 patients.In 4 confirmed BPPV patients with Meniere's disease,BPPV was limited to the same ear as the MD in 2 cases,and 1 had contralateral BPPV,and 1 was uncertain.Six histories supported or confirmed BP-PVpatients with high abnormal oVEMP rates (5/6).Four in this 5 (80%)had abnormal oVEMP of the same MD ear.The single repositioning procedures can improve vertigo and eliminated positional nystagmus in cases of BPPV associated with MD.Conclusion In the present study,the prevalence of BPPV in patients with MD was 3 .45%.De-tailed medical histories combined with Dix-Hallpike and roll tests and VEMP tests can identify BPPV in patients with MD.

Objective:Observed activity of adjuvant arthritis ( AA) rats Hedgehog signaling pathway and explore the effect of Cyclopamine on rat arthritis and kidney injury.Methods:40 rats were randomly divided into control group,Cyclopamine group,AA+Cyclopamine group and AA model group.We used Freund′s complete adjuvant rat model with Cyclopamine intraperitoneal injection.By measuring paw swelling, systemic inflammation and arthritis semi-quantitative assessment methods of rats to evaluate the model.HE staining was used to detect the renal pathological changes of rats.Western blot was used to detect kidney Gli1 protein expression levels of the rats.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the rat kidney TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-6 expression.Results:After using Cyclo-pamine,the AA rat paw swelling reduced and arthritis refers relieved significantly.Compared with the control group,Cr,BUN and organ coefficient increased significantly in AA model group, and the difference was statistically significant.Meanwhile renal TEM detection appeared obvious pathological changes in rats of AA model group.After using cyclopamine,the content of Cr,BUN and organ coefficient change reduced significantly, so did the pathological.Western blot detected kidney tissue Gli1 protein in each group.Compared to control group,there was no significant difference in Cyclopamine group.AA model group and AA+Cyclopamine group Gli1 protein expression was significantly higher compared with Cyclopamine Gli1 protein group,the difference was statistically significant.AA model group and AA Cyclopamine group Gli1 protein expression was significantly higher,the difference was statistically significant.Compared to the AA model group,AA+Cyclopamine group Gli1 protein levels have decreased significantly,the difference was statistically signifi-cant.Immunohistochemical assay detection found that kidney tissue proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-6 expression and semi-quantitative score changed.Compared with the control group, TNF-α, IFN-γexpression of AA model group were significantly increased.After using Cyclopamine,the expression of TNF-α,IFN-γin kidney of AA model reduced significantly.IL-6 expression in AA model group was significantly higher than the control group.Conclusion:Cyclopamine AA can relieve arthritis and kidney injury in rats with arthritis AA,the Hh pathway was on activity state in the process,may altered expression of inflammatory factors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the abnormal conditions of the affected ear and the contralateral ear of patients with unilateral Meniere's disease and the prevalence of bilateral abnormalities among these unilateral Meniere disease population, providing reference for the clinical treatment strategies for Meniére disease. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 106 Meni6re disease cases was performed, the abnormal incidence of the affected ears, the contralateral ears and the bilateral abnormalities were calculated, and the disease characteristics were analyzed. RESULT: The bilateral ears abnormal incidence of unilateral Meniére disease was 35. 85% (38/106); the cochlear symptoms of the contralateral ears often occurred 2. 25 years later of the symptoms of Meni6re disease; contralateral cochlear symptoms included at least two symptoms of tinnitus, deafness and ear fullness; 39. 47%(15/38) patients with bilateral abnormalities would appear binaural hearing impairment. CONCLUSION This study showed that about one-third of unilateral Meniére diseases have binaural symptoms, among which about one-third would occur bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the course of disease and the symptoms of the contralateral ear before taking damage or destructive method for treating Meniére's disease clinically.
Cochlea ; physiopathology ; Deafness ; Ear ; abnormalities ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meniere Disease ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the result of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) of primary benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV)and to identify the characteristics in VEMP examination of the primary BPPV and to observe the relevance of patients with primary BPPV and abnormal VEMP with hearing loss. METHOD: Patients with primary BPPV were tested with pure tone audiometry, videonystagmograph and VEMPs test. We analyzed the difference in the two groups with normal hearing and hearing loss, discussed the etiology and pathogenesis. RESULT: Primary BPPV comprised 23.0% with hearing lost, 77.0% hearing normal. The results of oVEMP were abnormal in 79. 7% (59/74) of the cases; and the results of cVEMP were abnormal in 66. 2% (49/74) of the cases; oVEMP and cVEMP differences to the diagnosis of primary BPPV (P<0. 05); oVEMP and cVEMP differences to the diagnosis primary BPPV with hearing lost (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION oVEMP detection positive rate of primary BPPV is higher than cVEMP,which may be due to otolithic particles falling from the utricle; positive rate of cVEMP in primary BPPV with hearing loss is higher than that of oVEMP, which may related to the cochlear and sacculus occured in the same embryonic tissue structure.
Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; physiopathology ; Cochlea ; Hearing Loss ; etiology ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Otolithic Membrane ; Saccule and Utricle ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials

OBJECTIVE: To explore the roles of otolith organs in the occurrence and recurrence of primary benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) by vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test. METHOD: We enrolled 17 recurrent primary BPPV patients and 42 non-recurrent primary BPPV patients between September 2014 and November 2014. All patients underwent VEMP tests, including cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) tests. The abnormal case was defined as non-elicitation or asymmetry rate between bilateral sides is larger than 29%. RESULT: Significant difference was found in abnormal rate between cVEMP and oVEMP (P < 0.05 ) in BPPV patients. The abnormal rate of oVEMP was higher than that of cVEMP. Significant difference was found in abnormal rate in oVEMP test between recurrent and non-recurrent groups (P < 0.01) but not in cVEMP( P > 0.05). No significant difference was found in sex and age between recurrent and non-recurrent groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The impairment of otolith organs, especially the utricle, is related to primary BPPV. Dysfunction of utricle may play a role in recurrence of BPPV. Recurrence of BPPV is not correlated with sex and age.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Otolithic Membrane ; physiopathology ; Recurrence ; Saccule and Utricle ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials

Objective To classify and grade the environments with Oncomelania hupensis snails inside embankment in marsh-land and lake areas,so as to improve the work efficiency and realize the systematic management. Methods The schistosomiasis endemic area Liaodi and Xiongdi villages in Jiangling County,Hubei Province were selected as the experiment villages,and the environments with snails in the two villages were divided into sections with a length of 500m,then the snail situation were sur-veyed by the systematic sampling method with 10m and 50m a frame respectively. The environments were classified according to the discovery of infected snails and wild fecal contamination,and the numbers of sites with snails and their areas in different class-es were recorded. Meanwhile,the data of sites with infected snails in Jingzhou City during the recent 5 years were collected and graded according to the average density of snails,so as to discuss the correlativity between the grades of environments with snails and the numbers of sites with infected snails and the occurrence rate of frames with snails. Results There were 1 967 sites with in-fected snails in Jingzhou City during the recent 5 years,and there was a positive correlation between the grades of environments with snails and the occurrence rate of frames with snails(rs=0.77,P<0.01),when the grade was 5,the constituent ratio of num-bers of sites with infected snails was 3.1%,and when the grade was 2-3,the ratio raised to 56.3%. There were 39 sites with snails in the two villages,the Class 1,2 and 3 environments included 1,18 and 20 sites,with the areas of 1 080,51 640 m2 and 41 220 m2 , respectively. There were no statistically significant difference between the grades divided by snail survey with 10m and 50m a frame(χ2=4.667,P>0.05),but the time-consuming of the former was 3 times of the latter. Conclusions The classification and grading of the environments with snails inside embankment in marshland and lake areas can master the key point of the snail survey. The subsection and setting frames at a suitable distance can save time and manpower,improve work efficiency,as well as understand the distribution of snail status of the environment with snails,which can realize the sort management of the snail envi-ronments inside embankment.