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Gene transcription and new protein synthesis regulated by epigenetics play integral roles in the formation of new memories. However, as an important part of epigenetics, the function of chromatin remodeling in learning and memory has been less studied. Here, we showed that SMARCA5 (SWI/SNF related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily A, member 5), a critical chromatin remodeler, was responsible for hippocampus-dependent memory maintenance and neurogenesis. Using proteomics analysis, we found protein expression changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) after the knockdown of SMARCA5 during contextual fear conditioning (CFC) memory maintenance in mice. Moreover, SMARCA5 was revealed to participate in CFC memory maintenance via modulating the proteins of metabolic pathways such as nucleoside diphosphate kinase-3 (NME3) and aminoacylase 1 (ACY1). This work is the first to describe the role of SMARCA5 in memory maintenance and to demonstrate the involvement of metabolic pathways regulated by SMARCA5 in learning and memory.
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Mice , Animals , Memory , Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly , Hippocampus/metabolism , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Chromatin/metabolism , Metabolic Networks and PathwaysABSTRACT
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Humans , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Human Body , MeridiansABSTRACT
Kidney injury and decreased chemosensitivity of tumor cells are obstacles with cisplatin (CDDP) chemotherapy. Down-regulation of the organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) is a key means to alleviate CDDP-induced kidney injury and increase chemosensitivity. Astragaloside IV (AS IV) is obtained from the well-known traditional Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus. This study explored the role of AS IV in preventing kidney injury and enhancing the antitumor effect of CDDP by suppressing OCT2 expression in kidney and MRP2 in tumors. This project was reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of Jilin University. The effects of AS IV on CDDP inhibition of tumor growth and promotion of apoptosis were assessed in Lewis lung tumor (LLC)-bearing mice by H&E and TUNEL staining. Kidney injury was assessed by serum biochemical parameters and H&E staining. We used Western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays to detect OCT2 and MRP2 expression in kidney and tumor. The concentration of CDDP in kidney and tumor was measured by HPLC-MS/MS. AS IV enhanced CDDP chemosensitivity by increasing tumor cell apoptosis and slowing tumor growth, and decreased kidney injury as evidenced by lower blood creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Co-administration of AS IV suppressed MRP2 overexpression induced by CDDP in tumor tissues and may be an important mechanism for enhancing CDDP chemosensitivity. Moreover, AS IV reduced CDDP-induced kidney injury in mice along with suppression of OCT2 expression in kidney. The concentration of CDDP was increased in tumor but decreased in kidney. In total, AS IV not only enhanced the antitumor effect of CDDP by suppressing MRP2 expression in tumor cells, but also decreased kidney injury induced by CDDP. The results provide new insight into the combined use of a chemotherapy drug and natural ingredients to treat cancer.
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italic>Bupleurum L. (Apiaceae) is an economically important genus, in which many species are of medicinal value. In this study, the complete plastid genomes (plastomes) of B. chinense DC. and B. boissieuanum H. Wolff were sequenced and their characteristics were investigated. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses were conducted with other published Bupleurum plastomes. The complete plastomes of B. chinense and B. boissieuanum were 155 458 and 155 800 bp in length, and both exhibited the typical quadripartite circular structure consisting of a large single copy region (LSC, 85 343 and 85 804 bp), a small single copy region (SSC, 17 495 and 17 410 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa/b, 26 310 and 26 293 bp), respectively. A total of 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes were identified from each of the two plastomes. Repeat sequences detected were similar in types and distribution patterns, but the numbers were slightly different. Comparative analyses revealed that the Bupleurum plastomes were highly conserved in length, structure, the guanine and cytosine (GC) content, and gene content and order, both intraspecifically and interspecifically, and no obvious expansion or contraction of the inverted repeat regions occurred. Sequence variation was lower within the same species than among different species, noncoding sequences (including intergenic regions and introns) showed a higher divergence than the protein-coding sequences, and sequences in the LSC and SSC regions were more divergent than those in the IR regions. In addition, 11 sequences with higher nucleotide diversity among species were detected in the LSC and SSC regions. All studied Bupleurum species were inferred forming a monophyletic group with a 100% bootstrap value. Bupleurum chinense and B. boissieuanum were phylogenetically closest to B. commelynoideum and B. falcatum, separately, with all three B. chinense accessions clustered into a distinct clade. These results provide genetic information for further species identification, phylogenetic resolution, and will assist in exploration and utilization of medicinal Bupleurum species.
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Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture and family exercise on the pain and quality of life in the patients withcervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Methods A total of 104 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was treated with cervical traction therapy, the exercise group were with traction therapy and family exercise, the Acupuncture group were with traction therapy and acupuncture, and the combined group were with traction therapy, family exercise and acupuncture. The short-form of McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) and WHO quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were compared between two groups. Results After treatment, the SF-MPQ were (5.8 ±1.0, 7.1 ±1.1, 7.9 ±2.1 vs. 9.3 ±1.1, F=44.897) and NPQ (12.9 ± 2.0, 15.5 ± 1.6, 15.9 ± 3.4 vs. 17.8 ± 1.9, F=69.730) in Comb. G, Acu. G, Exe. G were significantly lower than those in the Ctrl G. (P<0.01). The scores of physiology, psychology, society and environment of WHOQOL in the Comb. G, Acu. G and Exe. G after treatment were significantly higher than that in the Ctrl G. (F=154.216, 190.314, 65.227, 344.897, all Ps<0.001). Conclusions Four groups’ interventions are effective for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. The combined interventions have more positive impact on pain management and quality of life in patients.
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Objective@#To observe the effect of acupuncture and family exercise on the pain and quality of life in the patients withcervical spondylotic radiculopathy.@*Methods@#A total of 104 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was treated with cervical traction therapy, the exercise group were with traction therapy and family exercise, the Acupuncture group were with traction therapy and acupuncture, and the combined group were with traction therapy, family exercise and acupuncture. The short-form of McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) and WHO quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were compared between two groups.@*Results@#After treatment, the SF-MPQ were (5.8 ± 1.0, 7.1 ± 1.1, 7.9 ± 2.1 vs. 9.3 ± 1.1, F=44.897) and NPQ (12.9 ± 2.0, 15.5 ± 1.6, 15.9 ± 3.4 vs. 17.8 ± 1.9, F=69.730) in Comb. G, Acu. G, Exe. G were significantly lower than those in the Ctrl G. (P<0.01). The scores of physiology, psychology, society and environment of WHOQOL in the Comb. G, Acu. G and Exe. G after treatment were significantly higher than that in the Ctrl G. (F=154.216, 190.314, 65.227, 344.897, all Ps<0.001).@*Conclusions@#Four groups’ interventions are effective for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. The combined interventions have more positive impact on pain management and quality of life in patients.
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The aim of this study was to explore the neuroprotective effect and mechanism of XingNaoJing injections (XNJ) on cerebral ischemia injury and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method was applicated to establish the model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. BBB permeability after I/R injury was assessed with the leaking amount of Evans Blue and the expression of occludin and ZO-1. The expression of NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing (NLRP3) was checked to explore the inhibition of inflammation by XNJ. The results showed that XNJ could significantly increase the survival percent, decrease the infarct area and ameliorate neurological deficits and brain damage after I/R injury. Leaking amount of Evans Blue was reduced by XNJ, and the expression of tight junction protein, occludin and ZO-1 was also up-regulated by XNJ, which showed a role of protection on BBB disruption. The expression of NLRP3 was inhibited after exposure of XNJ, which was associated with inhibition of the inflammatory response. In summary, XNJ could suppress NLRP3 inflammasomes and improve BBB disruption and brain damage in rats after cerebral I/R injury, which provided a beneficial insight to further explore XNJ.
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OBJECTIVE@#To establish a novel method to isolate endothelial progenitor cells（EPC） from cryopreserved umbilical cord blood (cryoUCB), to investigate the biological characteristics of EPC and to improve the rate of EPC obtained from cryoUCB.@*METHODS@#Twelve cryoUCB samples during 2000 to 2001 years were collected from allogeneic cord blood bank, cryoUCB was thawed rapidly in a water bath at 37 ℃, total nucleated cells (TNCs) were washed by phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). TNCs were seeded onto fibronectin-coated dishes to isolate EPC. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to identify EPC. The function of EPC was identified in vitro, such as the incorporation of Dil-Ac-LDL and FITC-UEA-I, the formation of capillary-like structure in matrigel, and the release of VEGF by ELISA.@*RESULTS@#One to five cluster of cobble stone-like cells appeared at 2-3 weeks after seeding. Flow cytometric analysis showed that positive rates of CD31, CD34, CD144, and VEGFR (CD309) were（92.91±5.20）%, （30.0±23.27）%, （88.55±3.83）% and （67.21±12.12）% in passage 1 to passage 3 of EPC. EPC could uptake Dil-Ac-LDL and FITC-UEA-I, form capillary-like network on Matriget and release VEGF.@*CONCLUSION@#EPC had been successfully isolated from cryopreserved umbilical cord blood by this method with high stability and reproducibility. EPC can be obtained in 85% frozen umbilical cord blood. This method may lay a foundation to supply abundant EPC for clinical application.
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Cell Differentiation , Cells, Cultured , Endothelial Progenitor Cells , Fetal Blood , Reproducibility of Results , Stem CellsABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of bilateral hand function training on the hand function of stroke survivors.Methods Thirty-one patients with unilateral hand dysfunction after stroke were randomly divided into an experimental group of 16 and a control group of 15.Both groups were given 60 minutes of hand function training of their affected hands daily,five days a week for 4 weeks.The experimental group was additionally provided with 40 minutes of bilateral hand training on the basis of the aforementioned intervention.Before the treatment and after the 4 weeks,integrated surface electromyography (iEMG) signals were recorded from both hands' flexor and extensor muscles.Both groups were also assessed using the Fugl-Meyer motor assessment for the upper extremities (FMA-UE).Results After the treatment,the average iEMG of the flexor and extensor muscles during flexion and extension were significantly better than before the treatment in both groups.There was no significant difference between the two groups in their average iEMGs before the treatment,but afterward significant differences were observed in all the iEMG measurements.After the treatment the average total FMA-UE score of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group.Conclusion Bilateral hand function training is significantly more effective than unilateral training in promoting the recovery of flexor and extensor muscle function after a stroke.
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Abstract INTRODUCTION: Based on reports, infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is believed to induce the development of antibodies that are considered to be biological indicators for the diagnosis of some other diseases. However, conflicting results have been published regarding the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) in patients with tuberculosis. We aim to study the seroprevalence of ANCA in a population of Chinese patients with tuberculosis, which may lead to the misdiagnosis of vasculitic disorders. METHODS: The study was conducted from January 2016 to May 2017 to evaluate the presence of ANCA in 103 Chinese patients using indirect immunofluorescent assay. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed for anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) and anti-proteinase 3 (PR3) detection. RESULTS: Perinuclear ANCA (p-ANCA) was detected in 4.8% (5/103) of patients, whereas cytoplasmic ANCA (c-ANCA) was not detected; 1.9% (2/103) of patients with tuberculosis was positive for anti-MPO antibodies, and none had anti-PR3 antibodies. Both anti-MPO-positive patients were diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitides. CONCLUSIONS: ANCA positivity may be more related to vasculitis and immunological disorders than to a M. tuberculosis infection. Therefore, to improve diagnostic accuracy, patients with M. tuberculosis who are ANCA positive should be investigated for concurrent diseases, including the effects of drugs. Therefore, even in tuberculosis epidemic area, ANCA seropositivity, detected by ELISA, is still more suggestive of ANCA-associated vasculitides.
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Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Aged , Tuberculosis/blood , Tuberculosis/immunology , Tuberculosis/epidemiology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Seroepidemiologic Studies , China/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/blood , Middle AgedABSTRACT
To study the effects of different variable temperature drying modes on active components of roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza f. alba, and provide basis for its industrialized drying process. In order to ensure the content of active components, variable temperature drying modes were designed: low temperature at 30 ℃ and high temperature at 60 ℃, low temperature at 30 ℃ and high temperature at 70 ℃, low temperature at 30 ℃ and high temperature at 80 ℃, low temperature at 40 ℃ and high temperature at 60 ℃, low temperature at 40 ℃ and high temperature at 70 ℃, low temperature at 40 ℃ and high temperature at 80 ℃ and air dry oven was used for variable temperature drying process. Then HPLC method was used to determine the changes of active components in roots of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba under different temperature modes; and SPSS 17.0 was used to analyze the data. The results showed that the samples, which were first dried at 40 ℃ for six hours and then dried at 80 ℃ for three hours, had the highest contents in dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone Ⅰ and tanshinone ⅡA as compared with other kinds of drying methods, and the contents were 0.35, 2.76, 0.78, 4.47 mg•g⁻¹, respectively. Additionally, as compared with samples dried in the shade, the contents of dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone Ⅰ were increased 2.9% (P>0.05), 45.3% (P<0.05) and 34.5% (P<0.05), respectively; however, the content of tanshinone ⅡA was decreased by 44.1% (P<0.05). The water-soluble active components (rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B) of roots of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, had the highest contents when the samples were first dried at 30 ℃ for six hours and then 70 ℃ for three hours, and the contents were 3.83,55.44 mg•g⁻¹, increased by 62.3% (P<0.05) and 109.1% (P<0.05) respectively as compared with the samples dried in the shade. Variable temperature drying can significantly affect the contents of active components in roots of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba. As compared with the traditional process of shade-drying process, low temperature drying can significantly increase the content of water-soluble active components and also with significant promotion effect on the liposoluble components such as tanshinone ⅡA, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone Ⅰ. The variable temperature drying mode, can effectively shorten the process of drying and provide theoretical basis for industrial processing of roots of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba.
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Rabies is very common in Peoples Republic of China. Each year thousands of people die because of this disease, but rabies diagnosed in pregnancy is very rare. Case Presentation In this study, we report the case of a pregnant woman who was infected with the rabies virus after a dog bite. The symptoms of rabies appeared in labor and she died after pregnancy. Her baby and husband did not develop the disease. Conclusion The phenomenon that the newborn infant was healthy may be related to the protective role of placenta in resisting the invasion of the rabies virus or the absence of systemic viremia. The prompt administration of vaccines and anti-rabies immunoglobulin to the infant may have also contributed to his survival.
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Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Infant, Newborn , Survival Analysis , Vaccines/administration & dosage , Vaccines/analysis , Rabies virus/classification , Rabies virus/immunologyABSTRACT
Background Rabies is very common in People's Republic of China. Each year thousands of people die because of this disease, but rabies diagnosed in pregnancy is very rare. Case Presentation In this study, we report the case of a pregnant woman who was infected with the rabies virus after a dog bite. The symptoms of rabies appeared in labor and she died after pregnancy. Her baby and husband did not develop the disease. Conclusion The phenomenon that the newborn infant was healthy may be related to the protective role of placenta in resisting the invasion of the rabies virus or the absence of systemic viremia. The prompt administration of vaccines and anti-rabies immunoglobulin to the infant may have also contributed to his survival.(AU)
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Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Infant, Newborn , Rabies , Rabies virus , Bites and Stings , Immunoglobulins , Pregnant Women , Research ReportABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the risk factors for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in neonates.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty infants with PDA and 100 infants without PDA were enrolled. Chi-square test, Student's t test and the linear correlation analysis were used to study the clinical data. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the independent risk factors for PDA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of PDA was negatively correlated with the gestation age (r=-0.03, P<0.05) and birth weight (r=-0.04, P<0.05). Oxygen inhalation was a protective factor for the development of PDA. Fetal distress, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, oligohydramnios, cord entanglement, 1 minute Apgar score <8, maternal infection and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy were the independent risk factors for the development of PDA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The incidence of PDA can be reduced by preventing maternal infection, premature birth, low birth weight and hypoxia.</p>
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Apgar Score , Birth Weight , Ductus Arteriosus, Patent , Gestational Age , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility of repairing the long defects in rabbits by double-bridging technique and chitosan-collagen chambers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty Chinese rabbits were divided into three groups randomly. 15 mm defects in right facial nerve of rabbits were repaired in three groups: double-bridging (group I ), nerve autografts (group II), and normal control (group III). General observation, electrophysiological study, histological study and image analysis were performed 12 weeks postoperatively. All results were used to evaluate the nerve regeneration.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chitosan-collagen chambers were obviously degraded 12 weeks postoperatively and there was no foreign body reaction at this stage. They also restrain the formation of neuroma and provided a good microcircumambience for nerve regeneration. The recovery of nerve regeneration were good in group I. The nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of regenerated nerve were analyzed, which showed that there was no significant difference between the group I and group II (P > 0.05), but they all did not recover to normal level(P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Double-bridging technique is a simple method for treatment of long nerve defect and its effect is certain. Chitosan-collage chambers is suitable to implant into body in order to repair a nerve defect with excellent biocompatibility.</p>
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Animals , Rabbits , Chitosan , Collagen , Facial Nerve , Nerve RegenerationABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcome of botulinum A toxin(BTX-A)injection into external sphincter combined with oral baclofen in treatment of detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia(DESD)after spinal cord injury(SCI). Methods:A total of 38 urodynamic examination-confirmed DESD patients,male 31 and female 7,with an average age of (36.5?17.8)years old,were included in this study.200 U of BTX-A toxin was dissolved in 8 ml of normal saline and the solution was injected at 8 different sites(1 ml per site)of the external sphincter via a 5F flexible cystoscopic needle.On the second day,9 patients(BTX-A+baclofen group)were randomly selected for baclofen oral administration,3/d for 3 months; the other 26 patients were taken as control.Urodynamic examination was repeated in all patients 4 weeks later;the voiding diary and urodynamic outcomes were compared before and after treatment.The adverse and toxic effects were observed in the patients who were followed up for 2-9 months.Results:One month after treatment the voiding and storing functions of bladder were improved to different degrees,with the mean maximum uroflow rate(Qmax),the mean urine volume,the mean maximal cystometric capacity and the bladder compliance increased significantly and the mean postvoid residual urine volume and the mean maximal voiding pressure decreased significantly(all P