Regulation of redox signalling and autophagy during cardiovascular diseases-role of resveratrol.

Cardiovascular diseases remain one of the major health problems worldwide. The worldwide research against cardio-vascular diseases as well as genome wide association studies were successful in indentifying the loci associated with these prominent life threatening diseases but still a substantial amount of casualty remains unexplained. Over the last decade, the thorough understanding of molecular and biochemical mechanisms of cardiac disorders lead to the knowledge of various mechanisms of action of polyphenols to target inflammation during cardiac disorders. The present review article is focused on role of phytochemical resveratrol in regulation of redox signalling, autophagy and inflammation during cardiovascular pathology.

Color Doppler ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injection combined with an ankle foot brace for treating lower limb spasticity after a stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of the color Doppler ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection combined with an ankle foot brace (AFO) for treating lower limb spasticity after a stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 103 post-stroke patients with lower limb spasticity were divided into three groups: the control group treated with conventional therapy and rehabilitation training, the observation group treated with conventional therapy, rehabilitation training and botulinum toxin type A injection, the treatment group treated with AFO plus the same treatment received by the observation group. The muscle spasms were evaluated using the Clinic Spasticity Influx (CSI), movement with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), dynamic and static balance with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and daily life activities with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), respectively. RESULTS: Compared the first month after treatment with the prior treatment, there were significant differences in CSI, FMA and FIM scores in both control group and the observation group (p < 0.05). However, no differences were noticed in the control group (p > 0.05). Compared the third and sixth month after treatment with prior treatment, there were significant differences in these three groups (p < 0.05). In terms of treatment time, the BBS scores were always higher in all three groups after one month, three months and six months treatment than prior treatment (p < 0.05), and there were significant differences in third month and sixth month after treatment compared with the first month treatment (p < 0.05). Compared the third month after treatment with the sixth month, there were significant differences in all three groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The color Doppler ultrasound-guided BTX-A injection combined with AFO can effectively promote patients with post-stroke lower limb spasticity in lower limb muscle spasm, movement, balance and daily life activities.

Autoimmune thyroid disease: mechanism, genetics and current knowledge.

Recent epidemiological studies recognized a steady increase in the incidence of different autoimmune endocrine disorders, including autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). The etiology of AITD is multifactorial and involves genetic and environmental factors and apparently with a strong preponderance in females. There are mainly two types of AITD, Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease and both of these show strong association in age groups above 45-50 years. Among environmental factors smoking and alcohol have significant effects, both protective as well as for aggravating the disease, even though the precise nature of these effects are not clearly known. There are elevated levels of circulating antibodies against the thyroid proteins, mainly thyroid oxidase, thyroglobulin and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, in patients with Graves' disease or Hashimoto's disease. Linkage and association studies in AITD identified several major genes that are relevant for the onset of AITD, including the thyroid-specific genes, thyroglobulin and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and also many immune-regulatory genes. In this review we addressed many aspects of AITD including disease mechanisms, involved thyroid antigens, environmental factors and genetic factors.

A new bimetallic assembly magnet [[Ni(tn)2]5[FeIII(CN)6]3]n(ClO4)n.2.5nH2O (tn = trimethylenediamine) with a novel 3-D tunnel structure.

A novel molecular-based magnet of three-dimensional (3-D) cyanide-bridged bimetallic assembly, [[Ni(tn)2]5[FeII(CN)6]3]n(ClO4)n.2.5nH2O where tn = trimethylenediamine, was synthesized and structurally characterized. The compound with an asymmetric unit of C24H52.5Cl0.5Fe1.5N19Ni2.5O3.255 crystallized in the monoclinic system of the space group P2(1)/n with a = 10.173(3) A, b = 16.053(2) A, c = 26.309(3) A, beta = 91.30(2) degrees, and Z = 4. The assembly has a 3-D network structure extended by three different types of FeIII-CN-NiII-NC-FeIII linkages. The iron (FeIII) atoms are located in two different chemical environments, which were confirmed by Mössbauer experimental results. The nickel (NiII) atoms have three different coordination environments. Cryomagnetic properties revealed that 3-D magnetic ordering occurs over the lattice below the Curie temperature around 10 K.

[The development of mouse bioreactor expressing human tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in mammary gland by transfecting spermatozoa in testicular duct].

The most established methods for development of transgenic animals are the microinjection of DNA into the fertilized eggs, but it is still a procedure of certain complexity and high cost. Therefore, the idea of using sperm as a vehicle to carry exogenous DNA into eggs is very attractive, and there have been some successful reports. Though the methods are rather simple they sometimes have low reproducibility. To improve the technique we transinfected the spermatozoa in testicular duct, not in vitro, to produce mice which expressed human tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in mammary gland. The results demonstrated that: (1) 5 transinfected mice mated 10 female mice in 10 days after operation, (2) 79 founders were developed and 42 survived, (3) using PCR to detect foreign DNA integrated into the genome of founders, 7 out of 42 founders were positive (16.67%), (4) The expression level of tPA was 48-80 ng/ml in the milk of 5 PCR positive founders and (5) the foreign DNA integrated into the genome was detected in 2 out of 4 1st offspring by PCR technique.