Effects of density on growth and gene transcription characteristics of Rehmannia glutinosa / 中国中药杂志

The present study analyzed the effects of planting density on the development, quality, and gene transcription characte-ristics of Rehmannia glutinosa using 85-5 and J9 as materials with three planting densities of 5 000, 25 000, and 50 000 plants/Mu(1 Mu≈667 m~2). The agronomic characteristics of leaves and tuberous roots, the content of catalpol and acteoside, and the changes of gene expression were determined. The results showed that the leaf size, the diameter of tuberous root, leaf biomass, tuberous root number, and tuberous root biomass per plant at low density were significantly higher than those of medium and high densities. The content of catalpol and acteoside in leaves was higher at high density. The content of catalpol in tuberous roots was higher at low density, and the change trend was similar to that in leaves, while the content of acteoside in tuberous roots was higher at high density. Transcriptome analysis found that about 1/2 of the expansin genes could change regularly in response to density treatment, which was rela-ted to the development of tuberous roots. The change trend of the gene expression of multiple catalytic enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of catalpol and acteoside was consistent with that of their content, which was presumedly involved in the accumulation and regulation of density-responsive medicinal components. Based on the analysis of the development, medicinal components, and gene expression characteristics of R. glutinosa at different densities, this study is expected to provide an important basis for regulating the quality and yield of medicinal materials of R. glutinosa by managing the planting density.

Aerobic exercise reduces the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and inflammatory factors in hippocampus of mice with insulin resistance / 生理学报

The aim of the present study was to observe the expression of pyroptosis- and inflammation-related proteins in the hippocampus of mice with insulin resistance (IR) after aerobic exercise, and to explore the possible mechanism of exercise to improve IR. C57BL/6J male mice of 6 weeks old were randomly fed with normal diet (n = 12) and high-fat diet (HFD) (n = 26) for 12 weeks respectively. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed to determine whether IR occurred in HFD mice. Then the mice were randomly divided into control group (n = 12), IR group (n = 10) and IR + aerobic exercise group (AE, n = 10). Mice in AE group performed a 12-week progressive speed treadmill training after being adapted to the treadmill for one week. After the intervention, the expression of pyroptosis- and inflammation-related proteins in hippocampus was detected by Western blot. The results showed that compared with control group, NFκB, Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), pyroptosis-related proteins like pro-Caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), GSDMD-N, and inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-18 were significantly increased. The inflammasome-related protein NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7) and pyroptosis-related protein Caspase-1 showed an increasing trend, but there was no significant difference. Compared with the IR group, progressive speed treadmill training significantly reduced the expression of NFκB, NLRP3, NEK7, ASC, pro-Caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β, and IL-18 in the hippocampus of mice with IR. These results suggested 12-week progressive speed treadmill training can significantly reduce the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of mice with IR, and inhibit pyroptosis.

Effects of 17-AAG on neurons apoptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation and recovery / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) in neurons apoptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation and recovery (OGD/R).Methods Primary rat neurons were cultivated in vitro,and OGD/R model was reproduced.Neurons were exposed to OGD for 0.5h,1h and 2h,and then reperfusion for 24h,the effect of OGD/R on neurons apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay.On OGD/R,neurons were treated with different concentrations of 17-AAG (0.5,1.0 and 2.0μmol/L),and the effect of 17-AAG on OGD/R treated neurons apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay.Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70).HSP70 interference lentivirus was then constructed.The effect of HSP70 interference on the neurons apoptosis treated with OGD/R and 17-AAG was detected by TUNEL assay.Results OGD/R significantly induced neurons apoptosis,and the rate of neurons apoptosis increased with the increase of OGD time.17-AAG obviously inhibited the neurons apoptosis induced by OGD/R,and the higher the 17-AAG concentration,the more obvious the inhibition.OGD/R significantly suppressed the expression of HSP70 protein in neurons,and 17-AAG obviously reversed the inhibition of HSP70 protein expression induced by OGD/R.However,HSP70 lentivirus interference markedly reversed the protective effect of 17-AAG on OGD/R treated neurons.Conclusion 17-AAG may inhibit the apoptosis of OGD/R treated neurons by up-regulating HSP70.

Cement Embolus Trapped in the Inferior Vena Cava Filter during Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

A 58-year-old female patient, diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung, underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty at the L4 vertebral body due to painful spinal metastases. Because of deep venous thrombosis of the left femoral and iliac veins, an inferior vena cava filter had been placed before vertebroplasty. Bone cement migrated into the venous bloodstream and then was being trapped within the previously placed filter. This case illustrates that caval filter could capture the bone cement and prevent it from migrating to the pulmonary circulation.

Cerebral lipiodol embolism following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: a report of two cases and literature review / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Cerebral lipiodol embolism (CLE) is an extremely rare complication of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. To our knowledge, only 11 cases have been previously reported. We recently encountered two cases of CLE in our clinical work. Reviewing the 11 cases in the literature and the two cases in our report indicates that large dose lipiodol infusion and absence of particulate embolization should be avoided. The presence of a right-to-left shunt and inferior phrenic artery injection seems to increase the risk of CLE. More caution should be taken in these situations.

Improved circulation in ocular ischemic syndrome after carotid artery stenting / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Ocular ischemic syndrome is a chronic ischemic eye disease including a series of ischemic ocular and brain syndromes caused by carotid artery occlusion or stenosis. Because of the different degrees of ischemia, clinical manifestations of ocular ischemic syndrome are diverse, and it is difficult to diagnose in the initial stage. The main strategy to treat ocular ischemic syndrome is elimination of carotid stenosis. We presented a patient who recovered dramatically after carotid artery stenting. The pre-stenting arm-retinal circulation time of the patient’s left eye was prolonged, and a large amount of microaneurysm appeared at the posterior polar and mid-peripheral aspects of the left retina. The post-stenting arm-retinal circulation time of the left eye decreased to 16.3 seconds, and the microaneurysm almost disappeared.

Anti-hypoxia protective role of the effective component extracted from angelia injection / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate anti-hypoxia protective roles of the effective component extracted from angelia injection using hypoxia injury model in mice and ECV304 cells separately.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The survival time of mice was observed separately under normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia. The activity of ECV304 cells was tested by MTT assay, and the mortality rate was examined by Trypan blue exclusion assay to evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After exposed to hypoxia the survival time of mice was increased in medicine groups,compared with the control groups (P < 0.05). The cell survival rate was decreased and the cell mortality rate was increased after cells were exposed to hypoxia,while the cell survival rate was significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the cell mortality rate was significantly decreased (P < 0.1) in the medicine groups compared with the control groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effective component extracted from angelia injection can protect against the injury induced by hypoxia.</p>