Learning and Memory Capacity and NMDA Receptor Expression in Shen Deficiency Constitution Rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore material bases and neurobiological mechanisms of "Shen storing will" by observing learning and memory capacities and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor expressions in Shen deficiency constitution (SDC) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 40 SD rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Zuogui Pill (ZP) group, the Yougui Pill (YP) group, the blank control group (consisting of normal pregnant rats), 10 in each group. SDC young rat model (inherent deficiency and postnatal malnutrition) was prepared by the classic way of "cat scaring rat". Medication started when they were scared by cat. Rats in the ZP group and the YP group were administered by gastrogavage with ZP suspension 0.1875 g/mL and YP suspension 0.0938 g/mL respectively. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the blank control group and the model group by gastrogavage. All medication was given once per day, 5 days in a week for 2 consecutive months. Learning and memory capacities were detected by Morris water maze test. Expressions of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in hippocamus were detected by immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the blank control group, the latency period, total distance in Morris water maze test were longer in the model group (P < 0.05). All the aforesaid indices all decreased in the ZP group and the YP group, with statistical difference when compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of NR2A and NR2B in hippocamus were lower in the model group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). But when compared with the model group, they were obviously higher in the ZP group and the YP group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SDC rats had degenerated learning and memory capacities and lowered NMDA receptor expressions. ZP and YP could up-regulate learning and memory capacities and NMDA receptor expressions, thereby improving deterioration of brain functions in SDC rats.</p>

Expression and localization of vascular endothelial growth factor in the radial artery of the coronary artery bypass grafting patients with diabetes / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the quality of the radial artery for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from patients with diabetes by observing the morphology of the radial artery and detecting the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which may attribute to the long-term patency rate of the coronary artery bypass grafting.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples from 20 cases of diabetic and non-diabetic patients were prospective collected from June 2009 to December 2010. HE staining technique was used to test the morphology of radial artery through the observation of 20 cases of diabetic and 20 cases of non-diabetic patients who undergone CABG. The intimal thicken of the radial artery in the two groups of patients was compared. Western blot and immunofluorescence were then used to test the expression and location of VEGF in the two groups of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The radial artery endothelial thickening index and intima/media ratio were significantly higher in the diabetic patients when compared with non-diabetic patients (0.90 ± 0.28 vs. 0.29 ± 0.25, t = 7.27, P < 0.01; 0.90 ± 0.21 vs. 0.37 ± 0.18, t = 8.57, P < 0.01). The expression of VEGF in diabetic patients was significantly higher than non-diabetic patients as revealed by Western blot (1.20 ± 0.21 vs. 0.67 ± 0.15, t = 6.49, P < 0.01). Immunofluorescence showed that VEGF distributed in the cytoplasm of the endothelial cells of diabetic patients radial artery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Diabetic patient's radial artery intimal thickness is significantly higher than non-diabetic patient's. VEGF may be an important inflammatory cytokine which is leading the radial artery intima thickening in the diabetic patients. The choice of the radial artery grafts in diabetic patients for CABG should be careful.</p>

Prokaryotic expression of pig nuclear transcription factor-kappaB p65/p50 and its impacts on PRRSV proliferation / 病毒学报

This study aims to express pig nuclear transcription factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65/p50 fusion protein in E. coli Rosetta, and study its impacts on PRRSV proliferation in vitro. The p65 ORF and mature p50 encoding gene were amplified by RT-PCR, the products were cloned into the pET-21a(+) vector, then transformed into Escherichia coli Rosetta, recombinant fusion protein was expressed by IPTG induction, the expressed product was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western-Blot. The purified and re-folded p65/p50 was added to the 2% FBS DMEM, and the cytotoxicity on Marc145 was observed to select the optimum concentration. The effects of optimum concentration of p65/p50 on PRRSV proliferation activity were investigated by detecting PRRSV infection phase in the culture supernatant using real-time FQ-PCR method and drawing PRRSV one-step growth curve. The results showed the p65/p50-pET21a(+) prokaryotic expression vector were successfully constructed , recombinant p50 and p65 fusion protein was expressed abundantly in the form of inclusion body with molecular weight of 70kD, Western-Blot results showed that the rabbit anti-human p50 polyclonal serum, rabbit anti-human p65 purified antibody could bind specifically to p50 and p65 respectively. The optimum concentration of p65/p50 was 0.4 microg/mL. The real-time FQ-PCR results indicated that NF-kappaB p65/p50 could promote CPE appearance and PRRSV proliferation before CPE appeared, and suppress PRRSV proliferation after CPE appeared, and lower the virus titer levels significantly(P < 0.05). These results will provide some new insight of the pathogenic mechanism and treatment strategies of PRRS.