Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II is involved in the transmission and regulation of nociception in naïve and morphine-tolerant rat nucleus accumbens

Background@#Synaptic plasticity contributes to nociceptive signal transmission and modulation, with calcium/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) playing a fundamental role in neural plasticity. This research was conducted to investigate the role of CaMK II in the transmission and regulation of nociceptive information within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of naïve and morphine-tolerant rats. @*Methods@#Randall Selitto and hot-plate tests were utilized to measure the hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) in response to noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli. To induce chronic morphine tolerance, rats received intraperitoneal morphine injection twice per day for seven days. CaMK II expression and activity were assessed using western blotting. @*Results@#Intra-NAc microinjection of autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP) induced an increase in HWLs in naïve rats in response to noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli. Moreover, the expression of the phosphorylated CaMK II (p-CaMK II) was significantly decreased as determined by western blotting. Chronic intraperitoneal injection of morphine resulted in significant morphine tolerance in rats on Day 7, and an increase of p-CaMK II expression in NAc in morphine-tolerant rats was observed. Furthermore, intra-NAc administration of AIP elicited significant antinociceptive responses in morphine-tolerant rats. In addition, compared with naïve rats, AIP induced stronger thermal antinociceptive effects of the same dose in rats exhibiting morphine tolerance. @*Conclusions@#This study shows that CaMK II in the NAc is involved in the transmission and regulation of nociception in naïve and morphine-tolerant rats.

Effects of Jianpi Qingchang Decoction Combined with Calcitriol on IL-17 and IFN-γ in Ulcerative Colitis Rats / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of Jianpi Qingchang Decoction combined with Calcitriol on the expressions of IL-17 and IFN-γ in colitis in rats with ulcerative colitis; To discuss the mechanism of action. Methods Experimental rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, Mesalazine group, Calcitriol group, Jianpi Qingchang Decoction+Calcitriol group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group, other groups were given TNBs for modeling. The administration began on the 3rd day after modeling. All rats were weighed and sacrificed on the 11th day after administration. The disease activity index (DAI) were calculated and the colon histopathological (HPS) were evaluated under microscope. The mRNA and protein expressions of IFN-γ and IL-17 in colonic mucosa were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the control group, the DAI and HPS of the model group increased significantly (P<0.01); Compared with the model group, the DAI and HPS of administration groups were reduced significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA and protein expressions of IFN-γ and IL-17 in Mesalazine group and Jianpi Qingchang Decoction+Calcitriol group decreased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion Jianpi Qingchang Decoction combined with Calcitriol can down-regulate IL-17 expression, decrease the activity of immune cells, reduce the secretion of inflammatory cells, and lessen the damage of colonic mucosa by regulating Th17 cells.

Development of FTIR fingerprint for identification of armand clematis stem (Chuanmutong) and related herbs / 中国中药杂志

Armand clematis stem (Clematidis Armandii Caulis, Chuanmutong) is a widely used Chinese herb to disinhibit urine and relieve stranguria. It is difficult to be identified owing to its various macroscopic feature and unknown characteristic compounds. Thus, total of 24 Chuanmutong samples and 7 related herbs including four manshurian aristolochia stem (Aristolochiae Manshuriensis Caulis, Guanmutong) and three akebia stem (Akebiae Caulis, Mutong) samples were collected and analyzed in the range of 4 000 - 400 cm⁻¹ by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and two-dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopy (2D-FTIR) techniques. The FTIR spectra of 24 Chuanmutong samples are consistent in the spectrum profiles, position and intensity of characteristic peaks. 20 of the 24 Chuanmutong samples were randomly selected as calibration samples to calculate and simulate mean spectrum. This mean spectrum is named as FTIR fingerprint of Chuanmutong with characteristic peaks at 3 412, 2 932, 1 739, 1 639, 1 509, 1 456, 1 426, 1 376, 1 332, 1 261, 1 159, 1 035, 897 ,609 cm⁻¹. Meanwhile, the limited level (Mean-3σ=0.992 6) to identify true or false Chuanmutong by correlation coefficient of FTIR spectra was calculated based on the 20 Chuanmutong calibration samples. Then, the rest 4 Chuanmutong, 4 Guanmutong and 3 Mutong samples were used as validation samples to evaluate the identification efficacy. The result shows that the FTIR spectra of 4 Chuanmutong validation samples were similar to the fingerprint. Their correlation coefficients of FTIR spectra were over the limited level and accepted as Chuanmutong. However, the spectra of Guanmutong and Mutong were significantly different from Chuanmutong fingerprint. The correlation coefficients of Guanmutong (0.902 1-0.940 4, n=4) and Mutong (0.954 9-0.978 9, n=3) FTIR spectra were less than the limited level and rejected from Chuanmutong. Furthermore, the number, position and intensity of auto-peaks on the 2D-FTIR were drastically different among the three herbs. It is concluded that the developed FTIR fingerprinting can be rapidly and accurately identify Chuanmutong and differentiate from related herbs.

Effects of Bushen Wenyang Huayu Recipe on Expressions of HIF-1α, PHD2, and VHL in Endometriosis Rats with Shen Yang Deficiency Blood Stasis Syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Bushen Wenyang Huayu Recipe (BWHR) on hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), proline hydroxylase2 (PHD2), von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL) suppressor gene expressions in endometriosis (EM) rats with Shen yang deficiency blood stasis syndrome (SYDBSS), and to explore the pathogenesis of EM and the mechanism of BWHR for treating EM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 50 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the blank control group, the sham-operation group, the model group, the Chinese medicine (CM) group, and the Western medicine (WM) group, 10 in each group. Rats in the blank control group and the sham-operation group were fed routinely. Rats in the rest 3 groups received 30-day "extended refrigerator freezing and ice water immersion" and combined with " autotransplantation" to establish EM rat model with SYDBSS. One Milliliter BWHR at 3.33 g/mL was administered to rats in the CM group by gastrogavage. Gestrinone at the daily dose of 0. 5 mg/kg was administered to rats in the WM group by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the model group, the blank control group, and the sham-operation group. The size and morphology of ectopic foci in rats were observed after 4 weeks of medication. Expressions of serum CA125, plasma cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Morphological changes of eutopic endometrium and ectopic tissue were observed under the optical microscope by HE staining. Protein expressions and contents of HIF-lα, PHD2, and VHL were detected by immunohistochemical SABC method and Western blot. mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, PHD2, and VHL were detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ectopic foci grew significantly in the model group. Their volumes were obviously contracted after treated by CM and WM. Compared with the blank control group and the sham-operation group, serum CA125 and plasma cGMP obviously increased, cAMP obviously decreased (P < 0.05); expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all decreased (P < 0.05); mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, levels of CA125 and cGMP obviously decreased; cAMP levels obviously increased, expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all increased, mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all increased in the WM group and the CM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CM group, PHD2 protein contents were higher in the WM group (P < 0.05). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with PHD2 (r = -0.799, P = 0.00). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with VHL (r = -0. 625, P = 0.003).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BWHR could effectively treat EM. Its mechanism might be associated with reducing contents of HIF-1α, serum CA125, and plasma cGMP, and up-regulating expressions of PHD2, VHL, and cAMP.</p>

Investigation on basic experiment teaching of functional science and its reflection / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective To understand the basic experimental teaching of functional science in order to promote transformative learning. Methods Random sampling questionnaire survey was con-ducted among 274 students (2011 grade, 5-year-program) majored in clinical medicine, medical lab-oratory and medical imaging in Kunming Medical University. Investigation primarily aimed at the stu-dents' learning attitude, learning objectives, and teaching content. Excel 2003 was used for data en-try, percentage of each questionnaire option was calculated and the findings were directly described. Results 94.76%(253/267) students preferred basic experiment; 82.40%(220/267) students hoped to open long term laboratory;97.38%(260/267) students thought that basic experiment could help pro-mote understanding and theoretical knowledge of physiology; 98.50%(262/267) students thought the explain of the basic theories and the operation prior to each experiment were good; 78.27%(209/267) students were willing to strengthen the basic operation while only 59.18%(158/267) students would like to analyze the experiment results. Conclusions Basic experiment of functional science is wel-comed by students. Due to the lack of independent thinking ability of students, experiment course should de designed to promote interest-oriented transformative learning and to culture transformation perspective, finally achieving the transformative learning.

Correction of shortened and broaden prolabium deformity with double flag-shaped flaps following bilateral cleft lip repair / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correction for shortened and broaden prolabium deformity following bilateral cleft lip repair.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We designed the upper lip double flag-shaped flaps. The quadrilateral original surgical scar (flap flag pole part) was resected and the incision was made along the direction of nasolabial groove at the nostrils bottom to form two flag-shaped flaps (the section of the flag face). Lip tubercle were tracted and blunt dissection of upper philtrum were performed to form a wound, 4-6 mm in width. The flag-shaped flaps on both sides were rotated to the central, in order to form a new nasal base and new prolabium, followed by V-Y or Z plasty procedure to correct the defect of tubercle and vermilion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>10 cases were enrolled for the clinical application from January 2008 to December 2012. The height of the prolabium was lengthened by 4-6 mm after operation, which fundamentally corrected shortened and broaden prolabium deformity after bilateral cleft lip operation. The procedure can also correct the depression or defect of tubercle, too wide philtrum, philtrum column scar and the deformity of vermilion border continuity. The patients were followed up for a period of 3 months to 3 years with satisfactory results.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Double flag-shaped flaps of the upper lip at the nostrils bottom is a simple and good surgery method to correct the shortened and broaden prolabium deformity following bilateral cleft lip repair.</p>

Correlation between ERp57 and pregnancy of intrauterine insemination / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between the pregnancy rate of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and the ERp57 expression level in donor sperm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two sperm samples were divided into 3 groups according to the pregnancy rate: Group A (n = 16, pregnancy rate = 0), B (n = 13, pregnancy rate 10%-20%) and C (n = 13, pregnancy rate > or = 20%). The optical density (OD) was normalized to the beta-tubulin band for the evaluation of the ERp57 level.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>OD (ERp57/Tubulin) was 0.95 +/- 0.24 in Group A, 1.33 +/- 0.43 in Group B and 1.33 +/- 0.39 in Group C. The ERp57 expression level was significantly lower in Group A than in B and C (P < 0.05), with no significant differences between the latter two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ERp57 expression level in donor sperm could be used as an index to predict the pregnancy rate of IUI and to avoid IUI failure by removing low-level donor sperm.</p>