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Objective To study the effects of Dengzhan Shengmai (DZSM) capsules on the autophagy in brains after cerebral Isch-emia-reperfusion in rats. Methods 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham group (n=10), 3-methyladenine (3-MA) group (n=10), 3-MA-control group (n=10), DZSM group (n=10) and DZSM-control group (n=10). The middle cerebral arteries were occluded for 1 hour and re-perfused in all the rats except the sham group. The 3-MA and 3-MA-control groups were injected 3-MA or normal saline (NS) into the right lateral ventricle 1 hour before operation. The DZSM and DZSM-control groups accepted DZSM or NS by gavage daily for 3 days since 4 hours after reperfusion. The rats were assessed with Longa's score 3 days after operation, and the expression of microtubule-associat-ed protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin1 in the brain were detected with immunofluorescent labeling and Western blotting;and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected with chemiluminescence in the DZSM and DZSM-control groups. Results The expression of LC3 and Beclin1 increased in the ipsilateral ischemic hemisphere, especially in the cortex and striatum surrounding the infarct core (P<0.001, compared with the sham group). The expression of LC3 and Beclin1 decreased in the 3-MA group compared with the 3-MA-control group (P<0.001), with the decrease of Longa's score (P<0.001). The expression of LC3-II and Beclin1 decreased in the DZSM group com-pared with the DZSM-control group (P<0.001), with the decrease of Longa's score (P<0.001) and level of ROS (P<0.001). Conclusion Inhi-bition of autophagy after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion plays a role in neuroprotection, which may be a way of DZSM to work.
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Objective To observe the effects of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule on β-amyloid protein (Aβ) deposition in the brain and learning and memory function in renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRSP).Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (5 rats per group):normal group,shamoperated group,hypertension with Dengzhan Shengmai capsule treatment group and hypertension with normal saline (NS) treatment group.Renovascular hypertensive models were created by clipping two-kidney.Dengzhan Shengmai capsules were dissolved in sterile 0.9％ NS and were administered (20 mg · kg-1 per day) by daily gavage for 4 weeks.In the NS group,hypertensive rats were given saline in the same volume.Immunofluorescent labeling and western blot were used to detect the expression of Aβ,NF-κB,IL-1β,TNF-α in the brain,respectively.Learning and memory function were detected by Morris water maze.Results RHRSP significantly increased Aβ deposition in the cerebral cortex and impaired memory function in rats.Dengzhan Shengmai capsule treatment significantly lowered the blood pressure compared with NS treatment((157.45±11.58) mmHgvs (197.76±10.12) mmHg).In addition,the levels of Aβ,NF-κB p65,IL-1β,TNF-α protein were significantly reduced,by Dengzhan Shengmai caspule treatment.The escape latency was shortened((24.64±4.57) s vs (37.17±3.87)s),while the frequency of passing through the platform quadrant(5.39±0.12 vs 3.05±0.28) and the dwell time((27.34±3.67) s vs (16.83±5.76)s) (all P＜0.01) in the platform quadrant were significantly increased by Dengzhan Shengmai capsule treatment.Conclusions Dengzhan Shengmai capsule may reduce Aβ deposition in brain and improve learning and memory function by anti-inflammatory effects in RHRSP.
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As a therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke,neuroprotective agents are used to antagonize a series of harmful molecular biological events in cerebral ischemia.This article reviewes the current status of neuroprotective agents in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke,and the challenges from pre-clinical evidences translating into the clinical trials.The vascular endothelial cells,glial cells and neurons should be studied as a whole.
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To analyze clinical, neuro-electrophysiologocal, imaging and pathological characteristics of Hirayama disease (HD) and review its relevant literatures to improve its diagnosis. Clinical data of two HD cases admitted to Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou during 2005 to 2008 were analyzed with literatures review. HD occurred more in males, often onset at their adolescence with muscular weakness and atrophy in one or two upper limbs, but without sensory dysfunction or pyramidal signs. Neuro-electrophysiology showed neurogenic abnormality in the body areas dominated by the 4th cervical vertebra to the 1 st thoracic vertebral (C4-T1) spinal nerves in all the patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed slight atrophy of the lower cervical spinal cord at routine position and its compression and forward displacement to varied extent at flexion position, with posterior epidural capsular space widening, crescent or striped high signal, and voids of vessels in some patients. Enhancement magnetic resonance scanning showed crescent sign enhanced in some patients. Biopsies of the inflicted muscles appeared slight neurogenic abnormality in some cases, and normal in other cases. HD is rarely seen clinically, but it can usually be diagnosed according to its symptoms, neuro-electrophysiology and MRI.
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Objective To summarize the clinical and imaging features of subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) and its complications and prognosis. Methods The clinical data of 502 cases of SAH were retrospectively analyzed and summarized. Results There were 84.3 % (423/496) patients sufferring from intense headache, dizziness or vertigo (13. 1%, 66/496 ), disturbance of consciousness ( 27. 5%, 138/496 ), partial neurologic impairment (58.2% ,292/496) ,meningeal irritation sign(72.5% ,364/496). The positive rate of digital subtraction angiogra-phy was 54.1% (93/172). Aneurysm was the common reason of SAH (20. 1%, 101/496). Prognosis in most pa-tients was better,but the old patients suffered from high mortality. Conclusions The cause and clinical manifesta-tion of SAH varies,cerebral angiography often could help find the cause of SAH. Most SAH patients recover well.
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@#Biological scaffolds imitate the structure and function of extracellular matrix,and so good biocompatibility is essential for it.The materials in neural tissue engineering mainly include natural biomaterial and artificial biodegradable materials presently.This article has reviewed the biological function of materials mostly used in neural tissue engineering.
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@#Objective To explore the relationship between the hematoma enlargement after intracerebral and level of blood glucose after admitted.Methods Data of all patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were reviewed retrospectively.All 225 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were divided into the hematoma enlargement group and non-hematoma enlargement group according to Brott's diagnostic criteria.The relationship between the hematoma enlargement and level of blood glucose in patients after admitted was analyzed statistically.Results The incidence of hematoma enlargement correlated significantly with level of blood glucose after admitted(P<0.01).The level of blood glucose of patients with hematoma enlargement after admitted increases more than those of patients without hematoma enlargement(P<0.01).Conclusion If blood glucose over 7.8 mmol/L,the attention should be paid for occurrence of hematoma enlargement,and some effective treatment to lower the level of blood glucose should be taken to improve prognosis of the patients.
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BACKGROUND: It is a researching tendency for tissue engineering to develop compound, bionic, biological-active and intelligent materials, which are characterized by biological activity and can promote proliferation and differentiation of stem cells and tissue regeneration. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the application and development of scaffold materials for nerve tissue engineering. RETRIEVAL STRATEGY: A computer-based online search was conducted in Pubmed and V6.32 database of VIP Information Resource System for English language publications containing the key words of "nerve tissue engineering, tissue engineering, neural, neural stem cells, Schwann cell, biomedical materials, scaffold" from January 2001 to June 2007. There were 123 literatures in total. Inclusion criteria: ① articles about nerve repair with tissue engineering; ② current published literatures in the same field or in authoritative journals. Exclusion criteria: duplicated researches. LITERATURE EVALUATION: Articles are mainly derived from basic researches on scaffold materials for nerve tissue engineering, including resource, physical and chemical properties and compatibility with neural stem cells and Schwann cells. Among 36 involved literatures, there were 6 reviews, statement and lectures, and the other articles are basic researches. DATA SYNTHESIS: ① Up to now, there are no significantly researching breakthroughs about regeneration and repair after nerve injury in clinic. With the discovery of adult neural stem cells and the development of material and cell culture techniques, tissue engineering brings prospect for the treatment of nerve injury. ② Scaffold imitates the structure and function of extracellular matrix (ECM) and plays a key role in replacing extracellular matrix. It is a core for tissue engineering to look for seed cells with strong regeneration capacity and biological materials adapted to cell survival. ③ Researches demonstrate that the resource of scaffold materials for nerve tissue engineering is plentiful. Gelatine, collogen, polylactic acid hybrid materials, chitosan and acellular extracellular matrix are all considered as biocompatibility, security and stable physical and chemical characteristics. Therefore, they have a greatly applied prospect for tissue engineering. ④ There are still many difficulties of scaffold for nerve tissue engineering. It is important significance to optimise tissue construction technique and accelerate clinical application and industrial development of tissue engineering technique via further exploring basic problems, systemically elucidating formation and maturity of tissue engineering and investigating basic scientific problems and internal mechanism during prognosis in vivo. While, tissue engineering will certainly become a hot topic in the future. CONCLUSION: Researches on scaffold for nerve tissue engineering have obtained some achievements, but there are still many difficulties.
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Chinese cobra (Naja naja atra) cardiotoxins are three-fingered family with 60～62 amino acids bind by four disulfide bonds. CardiotoxinⅢ (CTXⅢ) is one of the major toxic component which can cause hemolysis and cytotoxicity. However, there is no report on the fusion expression of CTXⅢ in soluble form so far. The cloning, expression and purification of recombinant CTX Ⅲ (rCTXⅢ) from Naja naja atra in E. coli and in yeast Pichia pastoris were reported here. CTXⅢ gene, fused with enterokinase in E.coli His-patch Thioredoxin expression system, were expressed in soluble form and released by osmotic-shock treatment. CTX Ⅲ gene was also cloned and expressed in the methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris pPIC9K expression vector in the first time. The yield of the secretion level was 9.5 mg/L. Using straightforward one-step chromatography procedure, the rCTXⅢ, with three additional amino acids (GYT) at the N-terminal site, was purified to a purity of more than 90% and recovery yield of 65%. The purified rCTX Ⅲ was further characterized by cytotoxic assay with IC50 4.66μg/ml. An effective expression and purification system for recombinant CTXs in P. pastoris was developed, this system will permit us the ready isolation of active cardiotoxins. This protocol can also be easily used for the production of the toxin in a larger scale with low cost.