Shikonin induces hepatocellular carcinoma cell apoptosis by suppressing PKM2/PHD3/HIF-1α signaling pathway / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanism of shikonin-induced death of human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.@*METHODS@#Cultured SMMC-7721 cells and normal hepatocytes (L-02 cells) were treated with 4, 8, or 16 μmol/L shikonin, and the changes in cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. The levels of ATP and lactic acid in the cell cultures were detected using commercial kits. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining were used to determine the relationship among pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), prolyl hydroxylase 3 (PHD3), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). The expressions of PHD3, PKM2, HIF-1α, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and Bcl-2 in SMMC-7721 cells were detected with Western blotting, and cell apoptosis was analyzed with annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The effects of RNA interference of PKM2 on PHD3 and HIF-1α expressions in SMMC-7721 cells were detected using Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#The IC50 of shikonin against SMMC-7721 and L-02 cells was 8.041 μmol/L and 31.75 μmol/L, respectively. Treatment with shikonin significantly inhibited the protein expressions of PKM2, HIF-1α and PHD3 and nuclear translocation of PKM2 and HIF-1α in SMMC-7721 cells. Coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining confirmed that shikonin inhibited the formation of PKM2/PHD3/HIF-1α complex and significantly reduced the contents of lactic acid and ATP in SMMC-7721 cells (P < 0.05). The expressions of PHD3 and HIF-1α decreased significantly after PKM2 knockdown (P < 0.05). Shikonin treatment significantly increased the apoptosis rate, enhanced the expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and decreased Bcl-2 expression in SMMC-7721 cells (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Shikonin induces apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells possibly by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis through the PKM2/PHD3/HIF-1α signaling pathway to cause energy supply dysfunction in the cells.

Changes in cardiovascular function and related psychophysiological pathways in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder / 生理学报

This study was aimed to investigate the cardiovascular function in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the potential association with the activities of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the medial habenular nucleus (MHb). Multi-channel in vivo recordings were used to simultaneously acquire spontaneous neuronal firing and peripheral physiological indices, and FluoroGold (FG) retrograde tracing technique was used to observe the projections of labeled neurons in the MHb. The results showed that the discharge frequency of RVLM and MHb neurons, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the PTSD group were all increased significantly compared with those in control group (P < 0.05). MHb neurons were retrogradely labeled by FG through microinjection (4% FG, 0.5 μL) into the RVLM. In the control group, electrical stimulation in the MHb increased heart rate (HR) at 100-300 μA (P < 0.05), elevated SBP and MAP at 200-300 μA (P < 0.05), and remarkably increased the RVLM neuronal discharge frequency at 100-500 μA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In the PTSD group, however, only the discharge frequency of RVLM neurons was increased by the electrical stimulation at 100-300 μA (P < 0.05). These results suggest that cardiovascular activities of the PTSD model rat are enhanced, and this change may be related to the activity changes of RVLM and MHb and the potential connection between the two nuclei.

Claudin 14/15 play important roles in early wallerian degeneration after rat sciatic nerve injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#Wallerian degeneration (WD) is an antegrade degenerative process distal to peripheral nerve injury. Numerous genes are differentially regulated in response to the process. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear, especially the early response. We aimed at investigating the effects of sciatic nerve injury on WD via CLDN 14/15 interactions in vivo and in vitro.@*METHODS@#Using the methods of molecular biology and bioinformatics analysis, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which claudin 14/15 participate in WD. Our previous study showed that claudins 14 and 15 trigger the early signal flow and pathway in damaged sciatic nerves. Here, we report the effects of the interaction between claudin 14 and claudin 15 on nerve degeneration and regeneration during early WD.@*RESULTS@#It was found that claudin 14/15 were upregulated in the sciatic nerve in WD. Claudin 14/15 promoted Schwann cell proliferation, migration and anti-apoptosis in vitro. PKCα, NT3, NF2, and bFGF were significantly upregulated in transfected Schwann cells. Moreover, the expression levels of the β-catenin, p-AKT/AKT, p-c-jun/c-jun, and p-ERK/ERK signaling pathways were also significantly altered.@*CONCLUSION@#Claudin 14/15 affect Schwann cell proliferation, migration, and anti-apoptosis via the β-catenin, p-AKT/AKT, p-c-jun/c-jun, and p-ERK/ERK pathways in vitro and in vivo. The results of this study may help elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the tight junction signaling pathway underlying peripheral nerve degeneration.

Including preparation of cinnamon oil by vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer VA64-Soluplus spray-dried microspheres / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the applicability of the spray-dried microspheres of vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer VA64-Soluplus for inclusion of cinnamon oil (CO) and compare with traditional inclusion technology of β-cyclodextrin. Methods: HPLC was used to determine the encapsulation rate of inclusion complex. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the inclusion complex; The dissolution and stability of the inclusion complex was investigated by in vitro release test and accelerated stability test; The pharmacokinetic and analgesic efficacy tests were used to examine the bioavailability and efficacy of the inclusion complex. Results: The encapsulation rate of microsphere inclusion complex and β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was (98.38 ± 0.30)% and (86.51 ± 0.52)%, respectively. Observation of the inclusion complex under TEM showed a uniform spherical-like structure with uniform dispersion; Observation under SEM showed that the inclusion complex was spherical with a concave surface; The endothermic peak of volatile oil of cinnamon in DSC and the diffraction peak in XRD disappeared. The cinnamon volatile oil was dispersed in theinclusion complex in the form of non-aggregation; The cumulative release rates of cinnamon volatile oil, microsphere inclusion complex and β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex in in vitro dissolution experiments were 97.05%, 93.36% and 80.26%, respectively; Accelerated stability test at 60 ℃ showed that the loss rate of volatile oil of microsphere inclusion complex was significantly lower than that of cinnamon volatile oil and β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex; Pharmacokinetics showed that the AUC0-∞ of cinnamon essential oil, microsphere inclusion complex and β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex were basically the same; Pharmacodynamics showed that the analgesic rates of cinnamon volatile oil in the three groups were 53.0%, 47.5% and 21.1%, respectively. Conclusion: The stability of cinnamon volatile oil was enhanced by the combination of spray-dried microspheres of vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer VA64-Soluplus. The in vitro release, bioavailability and analgesic efficacy of microsphere were basically consistent with the volatile oil of cinnamon volatile oil, and it was superior to the inclusion compound of β-cyclodextrin. The vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer VA64-Soluplus microsphere inclusion compound had better water solubility. This study provides a new method for the inclusion of volatile oil.

Clinical observation on prevention of chemotherapy infection in gastric cancer by moxa-stick moxibustion plus rhG-CSF and its effect on immune function / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the effect of moxa-stick moxibustion plus recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) in preventing chemotherapy infection in gastric cancer and its effect on immune function. Methods: A total of 70 patients with gastric cancer treated by chemotherapy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 35 cases in each group. The control group was given rhG-CSF, and the observation group was given additional moxa-stick moxibustion on the basis of rhG-CSF. Both groups were treated for 2 chemotherapy cycles, totally 6 weeks. The number of patients with infection, the duration of infection and the duration of continuous use of antibiotics were observed. The leukocytes and granulocytes counts, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured before and after treatment, and the levels of CD4, CD8 and natural killer (NK) cells were analyzed. Results: The infection rate of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), and the duration of infection and the duration of continuous use of antibiotics were also shorter (P<0.05). After treatment, the leukocytes and granulocytes counts in the two groups were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ of the patients in the two groups were improved (all P<0.05), and there were significant differences between the observation group and the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the numbers of CD4, CD8, and NK cells in the observation group increased significantly (all P<0.05), but the changes in the control group were not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Moxa-stick moxibustion plus rhG-CSF can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of chemotherapy infection in gastric cancer, increase the leukocytes and granulocytes counts, and regulate the levels of inflammatory factors, which may be related to the improvement of the immune function of the patients.

Electrophysiological phenotypes of synaptic transmission and neural network in hippocampal neurons of the α7-nAChR knockout mice / 生理学报

It was reported that α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) knockout (α7 KO) mice showed few functional phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of α7 KO on the electrophysiological characteristics of hippocampus in mice. The effect of α7 KO on hippocampal CA3-CA1 synaptic transmission in mice was evaluated by standard extracellular field potential recordings. The electrophysiological phenotype of γ-aminobutyrate A receptors (GABA-Rs) of single hippocampal neuron was detected by perforated patch-clamp recordings. The results showed that, the slope of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) and carbachol-induced theta oscillation were significantly decreased in the hippocampal CA1 neurons of α7 KO mice, compared with those of wild type mice. Under the treatment of GABA-R agonist muscimol, the I-V curves of both the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 neurons of α7 KO mice shifted towards depolarizing direction obviously, compared with those of wild type mice. These results suggest that the hippocampal CA3-CA1 synaptic transmission in α7 KO mice was significantly impaired and GABA-R maturation was significantly delayed, indicating that the deletion of α7-nAChR gene could significantly change the electrophysiological function of the hippocampus. The results may provide a new understanding of the role of α7-nAChR in hippocampal function and associated diseases.

Screening of monomers from traditional Chinese medicine for specifically inhibiting brafV600E CT26 cells / 中国药理学通报

Aim: To screen BRAFV600E CT26 cell inhibitors from monomers of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Methods CT26 cell line was constructed with lentivirus plasmid to stably express BRAFV6C0E. The proliferation, migration and expression of related proteins in MEK/ERK signaling pathway were detected. The monomers of TCM were detected for biological activities as potential BRAF inhibitors by Discovery Studio 4. 0, and further evaluated by MTT assay. Results: The proliferation and migration of BRAFV6C0E CT26 cells were obviously strengthened compared with wild type control. The expressions of proteins in MEK/ ERK pathway were also activated in BRAFV6C0E CT26 cells. Compared with wild type control, Aloin, Angoroside C and Cyasterone exhibited the potent effect against BRAFV600E in CT26 cells (P <0. 05), and could down-regulate the expression of BRAFV600E. Conclusion: Aloin, Angoroside C, Cyasterone might be the potent inhibitors against BRAF for colon treatment.

Apelin in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus improves cardiac function in surgical trauma rats / 生理学报

Apelin is a novel endogenous active peptide. The aim of this study is to investigate whether apelin in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) can improve the cardiac function in rats subjected to thoracic surgery trauma, and whether it is involved in the protective effect of electro-acupuncture (EA). Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into non-stressed group (control), thoracic surgical trauma stressed group (trauma) and bilateral Neiguan EA applied on thoracic surgical trauma stressed group (trauma + EA-PC 6). The mRNA expressions of apelin receptor (APJR) and apelin in the PVN were detected by real time-PCR. The exogenous apelin-13 (6 mmol/L, 0.1 μL) was microinjected into the rat PVN in the thoracic trauma group, and the effects of apelin-13 on the blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and the discharge of rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) neurons were observed through the simultaneous recording technology by polygraph. The results showed that the APJR mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the rats of trauma group as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05), and a decline trend of apelin mRNA expression was also observed. EA application at bilateral Neiguan acupoints partially recovered the decline of APJR and apelin mRNA expression by the treatment of thoracic trauma. Both mean arterial pressure and HR in the thoracic surgical trauma group were significantly increased by the microinjection of exogenous apelin-13 into the PVN (P < 0.05), and the single-unit discharge rate of RVLM neurons also had an increasing trend. These results suggest that apelin in the PVN can improve the cardiac function of thoracic surgical trauma rats, and may be involved in the protective effects of EA.

Effect and mechanism of baicaIin and geniposide on excitotoxicity of acute cerebral ischemia / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Based on the methods of microdialysis,HPLC-MS/MS and gene chip tech-nology,the mechanism of Baicalin and Geniposide(BC/GP)against excitatory amino acid toxicity in ce-rebral ischemia was studied. This will provide guidance for the clinical application of BC/GP and the study of excitatory amino acid toxicity in cerebral ischemia.METHODS (1)Microdialysis technique and HPLC-MS/MS was performed to study the pharmacodynamics of BC/GP against cerebral ischemia. ①18 SD rats with body weight of(280±20)g were randomly divided into control group,treatment groups with BC/CP at low dose,medium dose and high dose(equal to the dosage of crude drugs for 30 mg·kg-1, 45 mg·kg-1and 60 mg·kg-1respectively).Rats in each group were given intragastric administration for seven days to establish cerebral ischemia model. Then, microdialysis probe was applied to collect cerebrospinal fluid from hippocampus before and after cerebral ischemia. ② First, we established the HPLC-MS/MS method for measuring drugs and excitatory amino acids.Then we detected the microdi-alysis samples and observed their changes in animals.(2)The mechanism of BC/GP against excitatory toxicity of cerebral ischemia were observed at gene level by chip technique. ① 16 SD rats with body weight of 240±20 g were randomly divided into sham group, model group, treatment group of BC(60 mg·kg-1),treatment group of GP(60 mg·kg-1)and treatment group of BC/GP(7:3)(60 mg·kg-1).Rats in eachgroup were given intragastric administration for seven days to establish cerebral ischemia model. Then the rats were sacrificed,and the hippocampus were rapidly harvested and stored at-80℃for further detection. ②After the quality inspection of the hippocampal,the qualified samples were subjected to detect the levels of neurotransmitter receptor gene in the ischemic of rats by gene chip technology.Finally,the results were analyzed by the method of Δ ΔCt.RESULTS (1)Only three compounds includ-ed GP,glutamic acid and aspartic acid were detected in microdialysis samples by HPLC-MS/MS.The concentration of GP increased and lasted for 120 min with a significant dose-dependent after cerebral ischemia.Compared with low dose group,the AUC(0-t),MRT(0-∞),Cmaxand t1/2zin high-dose group showed significant difference(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the levels of glutamic acid and aspartic acid in the treatment groups decreased significantly,especially in the middle and high dose groups.(2) 89 genes in the neurotransmitter receptor gene signaling pathway were detected by gene chip technol-ogy. There were 22 genes with |Fold Regulation|>1.5 in the model group, compared with the sham group.Five of the 22 genes showed statistically significant differences,including Grin2c(2.9026),Chrna7 (-1.5877), and Tacr2 (-1.7695). Htr3a (-1.8172) and Grm6 (-2.3527). There were 5 genes with |Fold Regulation|>1.5 in the BC group, compared with the model group, Two of them exhibited statistically significant differences,including Brs3(1.797)and Grin2c(-1.7979).There were 14 genes with|Fold Reg-ulation|>1.5 in the GP group, compared with the model group. Three of them displayed statistically significant differences,including Hcrtr2 (-1.6584), Sctr (-3.8524) and Grin2c (-4.8408). Compared with model group, the genes of |Fold Regulation|>1.5 in BC/GP (7:3) group are 5, and only one of them showed a significant differences. CONCLUSION (1)After administration of BC and GP,GP can cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce the release of excitatory amino acids in the hippocampus. (2) BC/GP can inhibit the interaction between excitatory amino acids and excitatory amino acid receptors and attenuate the toxicity of excitatory amino acids by down-regulating the expression of glutamic acid receptor Grin2c gene.(3)BC/GP may exert their brain protection effect by reducing the release of excit-atory amino acids and inhibiting the expression of excitatory amino acid receptors.

Effects of baicalin-gardenoside pairing on 5-lox/CysLTs/CysLT pathway of cerebral ischemic injury rats / 中成药

AIM To study the effects of baicalin and gardenoside pairing on 5-lox/CysLTs/CysLT pathway of rats with cerebral ischemia injury.METHODS SD rats randomly assigned into control group,model group,baicalin and gardenoside pairing groups (7 ∶ 3,dosed at 30,45,60 mg/kg,respectively) in their cerebral ischemia recovery period were simulated with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) if necessary.After a week of natural recovery,the drugs' pharmacodynamic effects were evaluated by the neurofunctional scoring and HE staining,their impact on the content of CysLTs was determined by ELISA,and the influence on the expression of 5-lox,CysLT1 and CysLT2 was detected by western blot.RESULTS One-week consecutive administration of baicalin and gardenoside pairing contributed to a reduction in infiltration and tissue edema of ischemic cells.If compared with pMCAO group,the baicalin and gardenoside pairing groups were observed with significantly lowered scores of neurologic functioning,inhibited microglia activation,decreased content of CysLTs and down-regulated expression of 5-LOX,CysLT1 and CysLT2 (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION Baicalin and gardenia pairing's alleviating effect to the damage of cerebral ischemia may be associated with its inhibition on microglia activation and 5-lox/CysLTs/CysLT signaling pathway,and thus an inflammatory impairment reduction.

Analysis on job burnout status in personnel of community public health service in Wanzhou District,Chongqing City / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the job burnout status and its influencing factors in personnel of community public health service in Wanzhou District of Chongqing. METHODS: By stratified cluster sampling method,220 workers in community public health service in Wanzhou District of Chongqing City were selected and investigated by Maslach Burn-out Inventory-general Survey. Their job burnout situation and influencing factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The median( the 25 th and 75 th percentiles) of dimension scores of emotional exhaustion,cynicism,and low sense of personal achievement of these 220 workers were 1. 1( 0. 6,2. 4),0. 5( 0. 0,1. 5),4. 7( 2. 3,6. 0) respectively. In each dimension,the ratios of moderate and severe job burnout were 33. 2%,20. 0%,and 40. 9%. Workers whose monthly income was less than2 000 yuan had a higher emotional exhaustion score than those who owed more than 2 000 yuan and more than 2 500 yuan per month( P < 0. 05); workers who work less than 15 years had a higher score in cynicism than those work over 15 years and 25 years( P < 0. 05). The multiple regression analysis results showed that low sense of personal achievement was related to genders( P < 0. 01),and the score of male was lower than that of female. CONCLUSION: Job burnout in workers of community public health service is severe,the degree of job burnout is mainly influenced by monthly income,gender,and length of service.

Compound Tufuling Granules (characters: see text) regulate glucose transporter 9 expression in kidney to influence serum uric acid level in hyperuricemia mice / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Compound Tufuling Granules ([characters: see text], CTG) on regulating glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9) expression in the kidney to influence the uric acid excretion by the kidney and serum uric acid (SUA) level in hyperuricemia mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty Kunming male mice were randomly divided into the control group, model group, benzbromarone group, and CTG high-, middle- and low-dose groups. The yeast extract and uricase inhibition method were used to build hyperuricemia model, and the corresponding drugs were administrated on the 7th day. On the 21st day the 24-h urine was collected, on the 22nd day the blood was collected, the SUA level was detected by uricase colorimetry, and the mRNA and protein expressions of GLUT9 were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, the levels of SUA and the mRNA and protein expressions of GLUT9 were significantly decreased, and the fraction excretion of uric acid (FEUA) was significantly increased in the CTG groups and benzbromarone group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the above indicators between the CTG high-dose group and benzbromarone group (P>0.05). SUA is positively related to the GLUT9 mRNA and protein expressions in the kidney (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CTG can significantly reduce the SUA and increase the FEUA. In addition, CTG can effectively inhibit the mRNA and protein expressions of GLUT9 in the kidney of hyperuricemia mice to inhibit the uric acid re-absorption, promote uric acid excretion and reduce SUA.</p>

Inhibitory effects of propofol on excitatory synaptic transmission in supraoptic nucleus neurons in vitro / 生理学报

The present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects of intravenous general anesthetic propofol (0.1-3.0 mmol/L) on excitatory synaptic transmission in supraoptic nucleus (SON) neurons of rats, and to explore the underlying mechanisms by using intracellular recording technique and hypothalamic slice preparation. It was observed that stimulation of the dorsolateral region of SON could elicit the postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) in SON neurons. Of the 8 tested SON neurons, the PSPs of 7 (88%, 7/8) neurons were decreased by propofol in a concentration-dependent manner, in terms of the PSPs' amplitude (P < 0.01), area under curve, duration, half-width and 10%-90% decay time (P < 0.05). The PSPs were completely and reversibly abolished by 1.0 mmol/L propofol at 2 out of 7 tested cells. The depolarization responses induced by pressure ejection of exogenous glutamate were reversibly and concentration-dependently decreased by bath application of propofol. The PSPs and glutamate-induced responses recorded simultaneously were reversibly and concentration-dependently decreased by propofol, but 0.3 mmol/L propofol only abolished PSPs. The excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) of 7 cells increased in the condition of picrotoxin (30 µmol/L, a GABA(A) receptor antagonist) pretreatment. On this basis, the inhibitory effects of propofol on EPSPs were decreased. These data indicate that the presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms may be both involved in the inhibitory effects of propofol on excitatory synaptic transmission in SON neurons. The inhibitory effects of propofol on excitatory synaptic transmission of SON neurons may be related to the activation of GABA(A) receptors, but at a high concentration, propofol may also act directly on glutamate receptors.

Inhibitory effects of propofol on supraoptic nucleus neurons of rat hypothalamus in vitro / 生理学报

To investigate the effects of novel intravenous general anesthetic propofol on membrane electrophysiological characteristics and action potential (AP) of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) neurons and possible ionic mechanisms, intracellular recordings were conducted in SON neurons from the coronal hypothalamic slice preparation of adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The results showed that bath application of 0.1 mmol/L propofol induced a significant decline in resting potential (P < 0.01), and higher concentrations of propofol (0.3 and 1.0 mmol/L) decreased time constant and slope resistance of cell membrane (P < 0.01). Under the hyperpolarizing current pulses exceeding 0.5 nA, an anomalous rectification was induced by hyperpolarization-activated cation channel (I(h) channel) in 11 out of 18 tested SON neurons. Bath of propofol reversibly decreased the anomalous rectification. Moreover, 0.1 mmol/L propofol elevated threshold level (P < 0.01) and decreased Max L. slope (P < 0.05) of the spike potential in SON neurons. Interestingly, 0.3 and 1.0 mmol/L propofol nullified APs in 6% (1/18) and 71% (12/17) tested SON neurons, respectively. In the SON neurons where APs were not nullified, propofol (0.3 mmol/L) decreased the amplitude of spike potential (P < 0.05). The higher concentrations of propofol (0.3 and 1.0 mmol/L) decreased firing frequencies evoked by depolarizing current pulses (0.1-0.7 nA), and shifted the current intensity-firing frequency relation curves downward and to the right. These results suggest that propofol decreases the excitability of SON neurons by inhibiting I(h) and sodium channels.

Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on DNA excision repair-related proteins of bone marrow cell in cyclophosphamide-induced mice / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the molecular biological mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for relieving myelosuppression and increasing white blood cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and twenty-four clean male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, an acupuncture group and a moxibustion group, 56 mice in each group. The model of myelosuppression was made with Cyclophosphamide. In the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group, acupoints "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Geshu" (BL 17), "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) were used for treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion, respectively, while, in the control group and the model group, there were no treatment carried out except catching and fixing. The changes of bone marrow cell DNA pol beta and XPD between the 2nd and 7th day were examined with immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion markedly up-regulated the expression of bone marrow cell DNA pol beta and XPD, and promoted the base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair, which leads to the relieving Cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression and increasing the number of white blood cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For acupuncture and moxibustion, one of the bone major mechanisms in relieving post-chemotherapy myelosuppression, protecting hemopoietic function and increasing the white blood cells is that it can promote the repair of the bone marrow cell DNA excision and protect hemopoietic cells from injury by chemical drugs.</p>

Experience of professor Sun Liuhe in treating facial peripheral paralysis / 中国针灸

Professor Sun Liuhe is engaged in medical service for over 40 years. He is deeply involved in research on intractable and complicated diseases. Especially, in treating facial paralysis, he makes diagnosis and treatment based on overall analysis of symptoms and causes, differentiation of syndrome for etiology. Without confining himself to ancient treatment methods, by applying both acupuncture and Chinese medicine, selecting auxiliary acupoints according to differentiation of meridians related to illness, as well as considering anatomy. Professor Sun holds ancient and modern therapeutic methods, brings forth ideas of using new acupoints to prevent perversion based on pulse tracings, and uses cutting therapy for the cases suffering from facial paralysis for a long time. This method can shorten treatment courses, to a great extent, and achieve good therapeutic effects on intractable facial paralysis, which has revealed distinctness of acupuncture therapy.

Screening Analysis of Neonatal Congenital Hypothyroidism and Phenylketonuria in Lianyungang Area / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the incidence and distribution features of neonatal phenylketonuria(PKU) and congenital hypothyroidism(CH) in Lianyungang area.Methods The heel blood samples dried on filter paper was collected from newborns after 72 hours.As the screening indicators,PKU was detected through serum phenylalanine concentration(Phe) detection by Guthrie′s bacterial inhibition assay and CH was detected through serum thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) levels detection by time-resolved fluorometry(TRFIA) or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results Sixty-four children with CH were diagnosed and the rate of CH was 1∶2423,41 patients were examined by thyroid gland nuclein kinescope picture,among which there were 23 patients whose thyroid glands were unusal.These patients lived in 45 towns(streets),which had no difference between men and women,city and country side.A couple of twins were screened for CH;15 cases of PKU was detected with an incidence of 1∶10 339.These patients′ parents were neither consanguineous marriage nor dominance hereditary family history.Their physical and mental development were similar to the same age children after interventive treatment.Conclusions The distribution of CH and PKU is diffuse in Lianyungang.Neonatal screening is the only valid means to find patients with CH and PKU.