【Objective】 To observe the effect of puerarin on the concentration of Ca²⁺ and the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampal neurons of vascular dementia (VD) rats so as to explore the mechanism of puerarin in protecting nerve cells. 【Methods】 Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, and puerarin intervention group. The vascular dementia model was established by ligating bilateral common carotid arteries at intervals of 3 days. Two weeks after the operation, the learning and memory abilities of the rats were evaluated by Morris water maze, and the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus of the rats was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The mean fluorescence intensity was measured by flow cytometry to represent the intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration. 【Results】 In the puerarin intervention group, the rats’ escape latency in Morris water maze was significantly shortened, the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus was significantly increased, and the concentration of Ca²⁺ in hippocampal neurons was decreased. Compared with the model group, the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Puerarin has neuroprotective effect on VD rats, and its mechanism may be related to the decrease of Ca²⁺ concentration in hippocampal neurons and the up-regulation of BDNF expression.

Means of information technology can achieve information sharing and optimize the management process, and tackle the challenges encountered in the process of ophthalmic day surgery, namely surgery appointment, patient education, ward management and patient follow-up. The authors analyzed the current situation and challenges of day surgeries at an ophthalmic hospital, and presented its practices in building and using the day ophthalmic surgery informationized management system by such information technology means as cloud computation, artificial intelligence and face recognition. This system comprised the day surgery pre-hospitalization management system, Internet platform for wards, follow-up management platform, electronic medical archiving of day surgery, and specialized nursing robot for day surgery process. As compared with the data one year before and after the system in place, the rate of missed surgery, unplanned secondary surgery and patient satisfaction before and after, fell from 2.40% and 0.24% before to 1.00% and 0.08% after. In addition, patient satisfaction increased from 94.5% before to 99.1% after. All the differences were significant statistically( P<0.01). This system can help patients in medical access, and ensure the medical safety and efficiency of day surgeries, serving as a good reference for ophthalmic departments of other hospitals in building their informationized system for ophthalmic day surgeries.

Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is a sleep disorder that is easily missed diagnosed and misdiagnosed in Neurology. Its long-term existence can seriously affect the quality of life of patients; therefore, early and accurate identification of EHS and early intervention are very important. This article summarizes the recent advance in EHS in recent years from the aspects of etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis as follows, in order to deepen the understanding of clinical colleagues.

Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is a sleep disorder that is easily missed diagnosed and misdiagnosed in Neurology. Its long-term existence can seriously affect the quality of life of patients; therefore, early and accurate identification of EHS and early intervention are very important. This article summarizes the recent advance in EHS in recent years from the aspects of etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis as follows, in order to deepen the understanding of clinical colleagues.

Objective To assess the association between early adiposity rebound (AR) and indices of obesity and metabolic risk in 5-year-old children. Methods Based on Ma’anshan Birth Cohort Study (MABC), single live births born in Ma'anshan of Anhui province from October 2013 to April 2015 were followed for up to 5 years consecutively. As of August 2019, 720 children with continuous measurements (≥8 times) and metabolic indicators were obtained. Physical examination and laboratory tests were used to obtain information on the birth status, length/height, weight, waist circumference, body composition and metabolic indicators of children. The 2 test, F test, t-test, non-parametric test, general linear model and logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. Results 43.5% of the children had AR≤4 years. After controlling for gender, it was found that earlier AR was associated with overweight/obesity (OR=2.71, 95%CI: 1.81~4.05), larger waist circumference (OR=1.88, 95%CI: 1.25~2.82), and body fat percentage ≥90th percentile (OR=2.09, 95%CI: 1.26~3.48). In the earlier AR group, the insulin resistance and metabolic score were higher, but the difference was not statistically significant. At 5 years of age, the prevalence of obesity and overweight was 6.0% and 12.8%, respectively. Children with overweight/obesity, larger waist circumference, higher waist-to-weight ratio and body fat percentage ≥ 90th percentile were associated with higher insulin resistance and metabolic score, and all the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Conclusion Earlier AR increased the risk of overweight/obesity, larger waist circumference, and body fat percentage ≥90th percentile at age of 5 years. Each index of the commonly used measures of childhood obesity was closely related with insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors at 5 years old.

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of enhanced peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) pathway against apoptosis of long-term cultured primary nerve cells. METHODS: A natural aging model was established in primary rat nerve cells by long-term culture for 22 days. The cells were divided into control group, 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, and 10 μmol/L GW9662 intervention groups, and 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, and 10 μmol/L pioglitazone intervention groups. The cell viability was assessed using MTT assay and the cell morphological changes were observed after the treatments to determine the optimal concentrations of GW9662 and pioglitazone. Double immunofluorescence labeling and flow cytometry were used to observe the changes in the number of viable cells and cell apoptosis following the treatments; immunocytochemical staining was used to assess the changes in the anti-oxidation ability of the treated cells. RESULTS: The optimal concentrations of GW9662 and pioglitazone determined based on the cell viability and morphological changes were both 1 μmol/L. Compared with the control group, GW9662 treatment significantly lowered while pioglitazone significantly increased the total cell number and nerve cell counts ( < 0.05), and nerve cells in the cell cultures maintained a constant ratio at about 80% in all the groups ( > 0.05). GW9662 significantly enhanced while pioglitazone significantly lowered the cell apoptosis rates compared with the control group ( < 0.05). GW9662 obviously lowered SOD activity and GSH content in G group ( < 0.05) and increased MDA content in the cells ( < 0.05), and pioglitazone resulted in reverse changes in SOD, GSH and MDA contents in the cells ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Activation of PPARγ pathway protects long-term cultured primary nerve cells by enhancing cellular anti-oxidant capacity and reducing cell apoptosis, suggesting a potential strategy for anti-aging treatment of the nervous system through intervention of the PPARγ pathway.
Anilides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Pioglitazone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats

Objective To explore the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in different brain regions of aging rats. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomized equally into negative control group, D-galactose group, EPO treatment group, and positive control group. Rat models of subacute aging were established by continuous subcutaneous injection of 5%D-galactose. Immunohistochemical staining was used to analyze the variation of BDNF expressions in different brain regions of the aging rats with different treatments. Results Significant brain region-specific differences in BDNF expression were found among the rats in different groups. Compared with those in the negative control group, the numbers of BDNF-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region, CA3 region, dentate gyrus (DG) and frontal cortex were all decreased obviously in D-galactose group (P<0.05) but increased in both EPO group and the positive control group (P<0.05) without significant differences between the latter two groups. In the rats in the same group, the number of BDNF-positive cells varied markedly in different brain regions (P<0.05), and the expression level of BDNF was the highest in the frontal cortex followed by the hippocampal CA3 region and the dentate gyrus, and was the lowest in the hippocampal CA1 region. Conclusion Treatment with rhEPO enhances the expression of BDNF in rat neural cells, suggesting that rhEPO may protect the nervous system from aging by regulating the BDNF pathway.

Objective To explore the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in different brain regions of aging rats. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomized equally into negative control group, D-galactose group, EPO treatment group, and positive control group. Rat models of subacute aging were established by continuous subcutaneous injection of 5%D-galactose. Immunohistochemical staining was used to analyze the variation of BDNF expressions in different brain regions of the aging rats with different treatments. Results Significant brain region-specific differences in BDNF expression were found among the rats in different groups. Compared with those in the negative control group, the numbers of BDNF-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region, CA3 region, dentate gyrus (DG) and frontal cortex were all decreased obviously in D-galactose group (P<0.05) but increased in both EPO group and the positive control group (P<0.05) without significant differences between the latter two groups. In the rats in the same group, the number of BDNF-positive cells varied markedly in different brain regions (P<0.05), and the expression level of BDNF was the highest in the frontal cortex followed by the hippocampal CA3 region and the dentate gyrus, and was the lowest in the hippocampal CA1 region. Conclusion Treatment with rhEPO enhances the expression of BDNF in rat neural cells, suggesting that rhEPO may protect the nervous system from aging by regulating the BDNF pathway.

Background:Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine( SLC)is involved in lymphoid homing and anti-tumor immune response,and has a chemotactic effect on intestinal lymphocytes. Several animal studies have shown that SLC is involved in the occurrence and development of ulcerative colitis( UC). Aims:To investigate the expression and significance of SLC in UC. Methods:Forty active UC patients from Dec. 2010 to Dec. 2012 at Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were enrolled,and 20 healthy volunteers were served as controls. Expression of SLC in the colon mucosa was detected by immunohistochemistry,and its relationship with severity of UC was analyzed. Results:SLC was positively expressed in all UC patients,while was negatively or weakly positively expressed in controls. Expression of SLC in UC patients was significantly higher than that in controls(4. 16 ± 0. 78 vs. 0. 52 ± 0. 11,P<0. 05). Expression of SLC was correlated with the severity of involvement of UC. Conclusions:Expression of SLC participates in development and progress of UC. SLC may play an important role in the induction of local damage and pathological changes of UC.

Objective To analyze the effect of high and low dose radiation on the expressions of Th1,Th2 and Th3 /Tr1 related-genes in mice thymocytes and investigate the possible underlying molecular mechanism.Methods ICR mice were randomly divided into low-dose group (0.075 Gy),high-dose group (2.0 Gy) and sham-control group.The mouse thymus tissue was extracted at 16 hours after irradiation and the expressions of Th1-Th2-Th3 related genes were measured by PCR array.Results Eight genes were up-regulated and five genes were down-regulated after low dose radiation (0.075 Gy);while 54 genes were up-regulated and three genes were down-regulated after high dose (2.0 Gy) radiation.These genes included Th1 cell related genes,Th2 cell related genes,Th3/Tr1 cell related genes,Th1/Th2 immune response genes and transcription factor related genes.Low dose radiation induced up-regulation of Stat4 and Socs1 of genes related to the Th1 cells,and it induced down-regulation of IL-4ra,Cebpb,Gata3 and Tgfb3 associated with Th2 and Th3 cells,which lead to Sftpd genes up-regulation of Th1 immune response eventually.The high dose radiation up-regulated all of Th1,Th2 and Th3/Tr related genes and also enhanced the expressions of Cd86,IL-18,IL-10 and Irf4 genes related to Th2 immune response,but it did not alter the gene expression of Th1 immune response.Conclusions Low-dose radiation induces Th1-type immune response,while high doses radiation triggers Th2 type immune response.