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Aim To investigate the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on cognitive function in APP/PS 1 double- transgenic mice, and to explore the regulatory mechanism of ellagic acid on the level of oxidative stress in the hippocampus of double-transgenic mice based on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (PI3K/AKT/GSK-3 β) signaling pathway. Methods Thirty-two SPF-grade 6-month-old APP/PS 1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into four groups, namely, APP/PS 1 group, APP/PS1 + EA group, APP/PS1 + LY294002 group, APP/PS 1 + EA + LY294002 group, with eight mice in each group, and eight SPF-grade C57BL/6J wild type mice ( Wild type) were selected as the blank control group. The APP/PS 1 + EA group was given 50 mg · kg
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Objective To investigate the effects of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on early-stage apoptosis in steonecrosis of rabbit femoral head .Methods The 24 rabbits were randomly divided into three groups :normal control group ,model group ,and PNS group .In model group ,equine serum (10 mL/kg) and methylprednisolone (40 mg/kg) were injected alternatively to induce osteonecrosis of the femoral head .In PNS group ,PNS (50 mg/kg , i .v .) was administered continuously before methylprednisolone management .In control group ,the rabbits were fed routinely .TUNEL method was used to detect apoptotic cells .Caspase-3 activity in the femoral head was measured by caspase-3 assay kit . Immunohistochemistry method and Western blot analysis were applied to detect the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax .Results In model group ,typical appearance of apoptotic cells was observed in the femoral head by TUNEL staining (P< 0 .05) .PNS treatment significantly inhibited cell apoptosis of the femoral head in model group .Furthermore ,pretreatment with PNS significantly reversed the inhibition of Bcl-2 expression , augmentation of Bax expression and caspase-3 activity ( P< 0 .05 ) . Conclusion PNS could up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 ,down-regulate that of Bax ,reduce the activity of caspase-3 ,and inhibit cell apoptosis of the femoral head .
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OBJECTIVE: To establish a practical, convenient and accurate method of DNA molecular marker for the identification of Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum. METHODS: Phenol extraction method and salting-out method were used to extract mtDNA from Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum and its adulterants. Cyt b mtDNA sequences of Chinemys reevesii and other turtle species were downloaded from GenBank. Species specific PCR primers were designed according to the differential DNA fragments of Cyt b genes, and Cyt b gene segment was amplified by PCR technique and sequenced. RESULTS: The complete 16.6 kb mtDNA was extracted from all samples by the two extraction methods. The specific primers could only amplify the Cyt b gene sequence of Chinemys reevesii, and its fragment was about 319 bp. The result of sequencing indicated that the homologous similarity was 100% with Chinemys reevesii. CONCLUSION: Salting-out method is suitable for the DNA extraction from Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum. The primers are specific to Chinemys reevesii and can be used to distinguish Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum from its adulterants. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.