ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE Lychee seed, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, recently were reported to improve the learning and memory abilities in mice. However, it is still unclear whether lychee seed saponins (LSS) can improve the cognitive function and associated mechanisms. METHODS In present studies, we established the Alzheimer disease (AD) model by injecting Aβ25-35 into the lateral ventricle of rats. Then the spatial learning and memory abilities of LSS- treated rats were evaluated with the Morris water maze, meanwhile the protein expressions of AKT, GSK3β and Tau in the hippo?campal neuron were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS The results showed LSS can improve the cognitive functions of AD rats through shortening the escape latency, increasing the number across the platform, platform quadrant dwell time and the percentage of the total distance run platform quadrant. The protein expression of AKT was significantly up-regulated and that of GSK3β and Tau were decreased remarkably in the hippocampal CA1 area. CONCLUSION Our study is the first to show that LSS significantly improve the cognitive function and prevent hippocampal neuronal injury of the rats with AD by activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, suggesting LSS may be developed into the nutrient supplement for the treatment of AD.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the therapeutic effects,toxic side effects of late-course three dimensional conformal radiotherapy plus chrono-chemotherapy(DDP+5-FU/CF) and conventional radiotherapy plus chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Eighty-six NPC patients admitted from Feb. 2001 to Jan. 2002 were divided randomly into two groups:1.Chrono-chemotherapy + late course three dimensional conformal radiotherapy(CCR) group—44 patients were treated by late course three dimensional conformal radiotherapy plus chrono-chemotherapy, and 2.Routine-chemotherapy-radiotherapy (RCR) group—42 patients were treated by routine chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. The patients in CCR and RCR group were comparable in age, KPS, stage and pathology. All patients were treated by combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with chemotherapy stared 2 weeks ahead of radiotherapy. Chemotherapy: Braun pump was used in all drug infusions;1.CCR group—DDP 80?mg/m2 starting from 10:00 until 22:00,5-Fu 750?mg/d/m2 starting from 22:00 until 10:00 next day, CF 200?mg/d/m2 starting from 10:00 every day, infused at normal speed. These drugs were given for 3 days, 14 days as one cycle, totally 2 cycle, and 2.RCR group—with the same drugs at the same total dose, only with the difference being DDP and CF given QD, starting from 10:00 but at the normal speed. 5-Fu was given throughout the day and continuously for 3 days, totally for 2 cycles. Radiotherapy: linear accelerator irradiation was given to either group. Composite facio-cervical field + anterior cervical tangential field to D_T 40?Gy/4w, followed by the coned down per-auricular field plus anterior tangential field or ?beam irradiation. In CCR group, after D_T 40gy/4w, late course 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3DCRT) was used to add D_T 30?Gy/3w. In RCR group, routine radiotherapy of 40?Gy/w was supplemented with 30?Gy/3w. The total dose in either group was 70?Gy/7w at the nasopharynx, D_T60-70?Gy/6-7w at the neck, as cure while 50?Gy/5w for prophylaxis. Results The CR and PR of the CCR group was 45.5% and 95.5%, while the CR and PR of RCR group was 23.8% and 71.4% respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups in CR and PR (P