Background: The increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) induced by ischemia/hypoxia is generally correlated with alteration of tight junctions (TJs). DL-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects after ischemic injury. However, few studies have assessed the correlation between NBP and TJs. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of NBP on the TJ proteins claudin-5, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and occludin during brain ischemia. Methods: A chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) Sprague-Dawley rat model was established, and NBP (20, 40, or 80 mg/kg, gavage, once a day) treatment was performed for 14 days. NBP (0.1 or 1.0 μmol/L) pre-treatment was applied to an in vitro hypoxia microvascular endothelial cell model (1% O₂, 24 h). BBB permeability was assessed by performing the Evans blue assay. The expressions and localization of claudin-5, ZO-1, occludin, phosphorylated/total protein kinase B (p-Akt/Akt), phosphorylated/total glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β)/GSK-3β, and β-catenin/β-actin were evaluated by Western blotting or immunofluorescence. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured by flow cytometry analysis. TJ ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: In CCH rats, treatment with 40 and 80 mg/kg NBP decreased the Evans blue content in brain tissue (9.0 ± 0.9 μg/g vs. 12.3 ± 1.9 μg/g, P = 0.005; 6.7 ± 0.6 μg/g vs. 12.3 ± 1.9 μg/g, P < 0.01), increased the expression of claudin-5 (0.79 ± 0.08 vs. 0.41 ± 0.06, P < 0.01; 0.97 ± 0.07 vs. 0.41 ± 0.06, P < 0.01), and elevated the ZO-1 protein level (P < 0.05) in brain microvascular segments in a dose-dependent manner in comparison with the corresponding values in the model group. There was no significant difference in occludin expression (P > 0.05). In the hypoxia cell model, NBP pre-treatment improved TJ ultrastructure, decreased intracellular ROS level, and increased the expression of claudin-5 (P < 0.01) and ZO-1 (P < 0.01) in comparison with the corresponding values in the hypoxia group. NBP treatment also elevated the relative expression levels of p-Akt/Akt, p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β, and β-catenin/β-actin in comparison with the corresponding values in the hypoxia group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion NBP improves the barrier function of BBB against ischemic injury by upregulating the expression of TJ proteins, possibly by reducing oxidative stress and activating the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objectives: To explore the clinical experience for a bridge therapy of percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) in treating the patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Methods: A total of 37 patients with severe AS who were not suitable for surgical valvular replacement received PBAV in our hospital from 2011-03 to 2017-03 were retrospectively studied. The patient's mean age was (74±12) years, their clinical and anatomical features, efficacy and safety of operation were observed and the outcomes were evaluated by follow-up study. Results: Patients presented the high surgical risk and worse cardiac function, 50% of them had bicuspid leaflet morphology with severe calcification [HU850=(856.0±658.2) mm3]. Balloon size was chosen by the intra-operative supra-annular diameters; at 7 days after operation, aortic valve orifice area (AVOA) was increased from (0.37±0.10) cm2to (0.87±1.10) cm2, the mean trans-aortic valve gradient pressure decreased form (55.1±22.9) mmHg to (44.8±17.8) mmHg, P<0.001 and LVEF elevated form(35.8±14.3)% to(41.0±12.2)%,P<0.001.There were 4 patients died in hospital,1 received permanent pacemaker and 1 developed severe aortic valve regurgitation. The patients were followed-up for (16.5±11.1)months after operation, 13/37 (35.1%) patients were in transition to surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Conclusions: PBAV may have good early clinical efficacy in severe AS patients who were not suitable for surgical valvular replacement and TAVR; PBAV could be expected to become a bridge therapy, smaller supra-annular diameter was safe and effective for patients having bicuspid leaflet with severe calcification.

As our country steps into the aging society gradually, the number of cognitive impairments and the prevalence rate are increasing yearly. The family and society bear a heavy burden. It is more important to explore the more direct and Objective morphological changes of cognitive impairment through neural structural imaging , which is better for early diagnosis, intervention and delay or even prevent its progress. Here we present a review of this topic focusing on neural structural imaging in the assessment of cognitive impairment.

Objective: To observe the effect of poloxamer 188 (P188) on megakaryocyte cultivation and induction from cord blood mononuclear cells in order to obtain more megakaryocyte progenitor cells (MPC). Methods: The cord blood mononuclear cells were isolated and inoculated in cell culture bag or cell culture flask respectively. The WIGGENS shaker and cell culture bags were used to mimick WAVE Bioreactor for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, and the P188 was added to induction medium, The cells were detected for morphology, surface marker, viability, and number on day 14. Results: In the two-dimensional (2D) culture, CD41(+), CD41(+)/CD61(+), CD61(+) megakaryocytic numbers increased significantly after adding P188 (all P<0.01). And in the 3D culture of adding P188, the cell volume became larger and the nuclear shape was irregular, the cytoplasm appeared magenta granules, and the megakaryocyte cells became more mature. By 3D culture, the expression of CD41/CD61 was (36.30±1.27)% vs (23.95±1.34)%, hence the differentiation for MPC was significantly higher than that in the 2D group (P<0.01). Furthermore, adding P188 in 3D culture resulted in highest differentiation efficiency for MPC [(59.45±1.20)%]. There were no significantly differences in terms of cell viability and cell number among 3D culture containing P188, 2D and 3D culture groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: 3D culture was beneficial for the differentiation of MPC, but the cell viability was lower than 2D group; However, the satisfied cell growth and better induction efficiency were obtained by adding of P188, which might provide a new method of megakaryocytes production for clinical application.
Bioreactors ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; Megakaryocytes ; Poloxamer

The study aims at predicting ecological suitability of Ephedra intermedia in China by using maximum entropy Maxent model combined with GIS, and finding the main ecological factors affecting the distribution of E. intermedia suitability in appropriate growth area. Thirty-eight collected samples of E. intermedia and E. intermedia and 116 distribution information from CVH information using ArcGIS technology were analyzed. MaxEnt model was applied to forecast the E. intermedia in our country's ecology. E. intermedia MaxEnt ROC curve model training data and testing data sets the AUC value was 0.986 and 0.958, respectively, which were greater than 0.9, tending to be 1.The calculated E. intermedia habitat suitability by the model showed a high accuracy and credibility, which indicated that MaxEnt model could well predict the potential distribution area of E. intermedia in China.

Based on the summary information of 194 literatures of related fields in CNKI,the paper analyzes the overall development trend,main branches,and mature research topics of the building of health information management textbooks in China since the 21st century,reveals the existing problems at present,and puts forward the basic orientation and thinking of textbooks building in the current phase.

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC-ELSD fingerprint of the whole herbs of Morina nepalensis and perform the correlation analysis of chemical components of the herb and nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition.

METHODHPLC-ELSD assay was performed to evaluate 10 batches of M. nepalensis herbs. The chromatographic conditions were as following: Eclipse XDB C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm), water (A) and acetonitrile (B) as a gradient mobile phases, flow rate 1.0 mL x min(-1), and column temperature at 35 degress C. Evaporative light-detection conditions: atomization temperature at 104 degrees C, the flow rate of N2 2.8 L x min(-1) and 10 microL sample injection. Chromatographic fingerprint was developed, and the inhibition activity of production of NO in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages was also analyzed. The similarity and correlation analysis between the HPLC-ELSD fingerprints and NO production inhibition were carried out by PLS method.

RESULTThe common mode for M. nepalensis herb fingerprint was established, including 15 common characteristic peaks. Among them, 7 peaks were positively correlated with the NO production inhibition. According to the assessment on the similarity of 10 batches of samples, a similarity of over 0.90 were shown in HPLC-ELSD fingerprint and all samples were separated into two groups.

CONCLUSIONThis method can be used to assess the quality of M. nepalensis, which provides a reliable method for scientific assessment and quality control.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Caprifoliaceae ; chemistry ; Cell Line ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; immunology

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 320-row CT angiography (CTA) in the microsurgery of parasagittal meningiomas. Methods Thirty-eight patients with parasagittal meningiomas, admitted to our hospital from May 2008 to August 2010 and confirmed by CT and MR1,were examined with the 320-row CTA to observe the relations between tumor blood vessels and brain vessels, and between the tumor and the skull. Results The 320-row CTA provided clear three-dimensional images of the meningioma and its relations with the adjacent vessels and the skull. The condition of blood flow in the parasagittal sinus was shown and the proper surgical approach to remove the neoplasm was demonstrated. Simpson graded Ⅰ and Ⅱ resection was achieved in 26 and 12 patients,respectively. All the patients recovered well without postoperative deaths. Temporary paralysis or aggravated paralysis was noted in 8 after the operation and 5 of them recovered. Conclusion The 320-row CTA, being able to provide images of the parasagittal meningioma, and demonstrating its relations with the skull, adjacent vessels and sagittal sinus, can supply the vital information to choose the proper surgical approach and provide the useful message to manage the sinus during the operation, which has a great value in preoperative evaluation of the parasagittal meningioma.

Animals ; Female ; Gangliosides ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Lead ; toxicity ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo detect the changes in intestinal mucosal permeation in rats with methotrexate-induced small intestinal damage and investigate the protective effects of Changyanqing decoction.

METHODSRat enteritis model was established by methotrexate (MTX) and sodium chloride. The rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group and Changyanqing decoction group, and Changyanqing decoction (100 mg/kg) or saline was administered daily in the corresponding groups by gastric irrigation for 6 days. The disease activity index (DAI), colonic mucosal damage index (CMDI) and histological score (HS) of the rats were observed and evaluated. The levels of mRNA expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of IL-10 was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and IkappaB expression was determined with Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the model group showed significantly increased DAI, CMDI and HS. The DAI, CMDI, and HS in rats treated with Changyanqing decoction were significantly decreased in comparison with those in the model group (P<0.01). The expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were significantly higher in MTX-treated group than in the control group. The expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA in the Changyanqing group and NAC group were significantly lower, but IL-10 significantly higher than those of the MTX group. In MTX group, obvious NF-kappaB activation was observed, whose expression was significantly stronger in the cell nuclei, and the IkappaB in the cytoplasm was markedly degraded.

CONCLUSIONChangyanqing decoction offers protection on intestinal mucosa by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation to reduce TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA expressions and increase IL-10 expression.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Intestine, Small ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism