Overall adjustment acupuncture improves osteoporosis and exerts an endocrine-modulating effect in ovariectomized rats.

Background: Acupuncture is a widely practiced, convenient, and safe treatment modality within complementary and integrative medicine. Increasing studies have revealed the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of osteoporosis in both human and non-human subjects. The aim of the present study was to assess the improvement of osteoporosis after overall adjustment acupuncture (OA) as well as its endocrine-modulating effect in an ovariectomized rat model.

Spatiotemporal Change of Net Primary Productivity and Its Response to Climate Change in Temperate Grasslands of China.

The temperate grasslands in China play a vital part in regulating regional carbon cycle and climate change. Net primary productivity (NPP) is a crucial index that reflects ecological function of plants and the carbon sequestration capacity of grassland ecosystem. Climate change can affect NPP by changing vegetation growth, but the effects of climate change on the NPP of China's temperate grasslands remain unclear.

The Stem Cell Potential of O-2A Lineage Astroglia.

Astrocytes are the most common glial type in the central nervous system. They play pivotal roles in neurophysiological and neuropathological processes. Mounting evidence indicates that astrocytes may act as neural stem cells and contribute to adult neurogenesis.

Effect of Acupoint Embedding on Serum Leptin and Hypothalamus Leptin Receptor Expression in Rats with Simple Obesity.

Background: Acupoint embedding treatment on obesity has been applied in clinical practice for many years and has achieved obvious efficacy. However, animal experimental studies on acupoint embedding are relatively few, and its mechanism remains unclear.

Methods: We established a simple obese rat model using a high-fat diet for 8 weeks.

Acupuncture treatment on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder in childhood. Acupuncture treatment of ADHD has formed a relatively systematic theoretical and clinical treatment system which achieved satisfactory results. However, there has been no systematic evaluation of its effectiveness and safety.

Engrafted primary type-2 astrocytes improve the recovery of the nigrostriatal pathway in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disorder characterized by a progressive loss of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and a depletion of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the striatum. Our published results indicate that fasciculation and elongation protein zeta-1 (FEZ1) plays a role in the astrocyte-mediated protection of dopamine neurons and regulation of the neuronal microenvironment during the progression of PD. In this study, we examined the effects of engrafted type-2 astrocytes (T2As) with high expression of FEZ1 on the improvement of the symptoms and functional reconstruction of PD rats.

Fasciculation and Elongation Protein Zeta-1 Expression in Reactive Astrocytes in a Rat Model of Frontal Lobe Injury.

There are reports that depression induced by frontal lobe injury (FLI) has a devastating effect on human mental health. We previously reported that fasciculation and elongation protein zeta-1 (FEZ1) was essential for astrocytic protection of dopamine neurons. Studies of glutamate-glutamine cycle in mental illness have been reported, whereas not from the perspective of astrocytes.

Brn4 promotes the differentiation of radial glial cells into neurons by inhibiting CtBP2.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are pluripotent cells that are capable of differentiating into neurons and considered as the most promising cell source for cell replacement therapy. However, the difficulty in inducing neuronal differentiation and maturation from NSCs is a major challenge for their clinical application. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuronal differentiation of NSCs can provide a basis for expanding their uses.

Brain lipid-binding protein promotes proliferation and modulates cell cycle in C6 rat glioma cells.

Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors affecting adults. Four grades of gliomas have been identified, namely, grades I-IV. Brain lipid-binding protein (BLBP), which functions in the intracellular transport of fatty acids, is expressed in all grades of human gliomas.

IDH1 R132H Mutation Enhances Cell Migration by Activating AKT-mTOR Signaling Pathway, but Sensitizes Cells to 5-FU Treatment as NADPH and GSH Are Reduced.

Aim Of Study: Mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) gene were recently discovered in vast majority of World Health Organization (WHO) grade II/III gliomas. This study is to understand the effects of IDH1 R132H mutation in gliomagenesis and to develop new strategies to treat glioma with IDH1 R132H mutation.

Materials And Methods: Over expression of IDH1 R132H in U87MG cells was done by transfecting cells with IDH1 R132H plasmid.

Nrf2 inducer and cncC overexpression attenuates neurodegeneration due to α-synuclein in Drosophila.

The study of the genes that are related to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) will improve our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the development of PD. α-Synuclein is a major protein component of Lewy bodies, which are characteristic structures of PD pathology. Mutations in α-synuclein are closely related to the early onset of autosomal dominant PD.

Applied anatomical study of the modified anconeus flap approach.

Purpose: Conventional surgical therapy for an intercondylar humerus fracture might result in multiple potential complications. Our study was conducted to evaluate the modified anconeus flap approach by adequately exposing the distal humeral articular surface, avoiding osteotomy of the olecranon and transection of the main part of the triceps brachial tendon from the olecranon.

Methods: Preparations of 20 upper limb specimens from adult cadavers were used in this study.

Expression pattern of transcription factor SOX2 in reprogrammed oligodendrocyte precursor cells and microglias: Implications for glial neurogenesis.

Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (OPCs) can revert to multipotential Neural Stem-Like Cells (NSLCs) which can self-renew and give rise to neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes when exposed to certain extracellular signals. This is a significant progress to understand developmental neurobiology, in particularly the possibility of converting glia to stem cells for the treatment of neurological disorders. Similarly, recent findings revealed that brain-resident microglias (MGs) can be converted to multipotential state through de-differentiation.

Differentiation of human embryonic germ cells and transplantation in rats with acute myocardial infarction.

Human embryonic germ cells (hEGCs) are stem cells cultured from primordial germ cells, which reside in human embryonic genital ridges . In this study, hEGCs were induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes by treatment with ascorbic acid and the effects of hEGC transplantation on rat models of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were investigated. hEGCs were incubated with differentiation medium containing ascorbic acid at various concentrations.

Anatomical study of the communicating branches of cords of the brachial plexus and their clinical implications.

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and patterns of the communicating branches of cords of the brachial plexus (BPs). This study was performed with 50 fixed adult cadavers (all 100 sides). The BPs were exposed, the presence of the communicating branches of BPs were determined, measured, and photographed.

Curcumin inhibits LPS-induced CCL2 expression via JNK pathway in C6 rat astrocytoma cells.

The important role of neuroinflammation in many chronic and acute pathological conditions of the central nervous system is widely recognized. Curcumin is a major component of turmeric and reportedly has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of curcumin on lipopolysacharide (LPS)-induced chemokine CCL2 (or monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1) production and whether the effect is mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the rat astrocytoma cell C6.

Anatomical study and clinical significance of the rami communicantes between cervicothoracic ganglion and brachial plexus.

The aim of this study was to provide a detailed characterization of the rami communicantes between the stellate (or cervicothoraic) ganglion (CTG) and brachial plexus (BP). Rami communicantes of 33 fixed adult cadavers were macroscopically observed, and connection between CTG and spinal nerves and branching was investigated. In all cases, except one, the hibateral medial rami communicantes was found to be positioned symmetrically between the CTG and C7, C8 spinal nerves.

Regulated expression of pancreatic triglyceride lipase after rat traumatic brain injury.

Pancreatic triglyceride lipase (PTL), an enzyme of digestive system, plays very important roles in the digestion and absorption of lipids. However, its distribution and function in the central nervous system (CNS) remains unclear. In the present study, we mainly investigated the expression and cellular localization of PTL during traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Expression of fasciculation and elongation protein zeta-1 (FEZ1) in cultured rat neonatal astrocytes.

Astrocytes play a more important role than simply providing physical support for neurons, however, the function(s) of type 1 and type 2 astrocytes (T1As, T2As), remains unclear. A DNA microarray was used to identify gene expression in cultured T1As and T2As isolated from postnatal day 1 rat cortex. Ninety-nine of the 138 differentially expressed genes were involved in a diverse number of processes.

The expression patterns of beta1,4 galactosyltransferase I and V mRNAs, and Galbeta1-4GlcNAc group in rat gastrocnemius muscles post sciatic nerve injury.

Glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications. It is clear that the single step of beta1,4-galactosylation is performed by a family of beta1,4-galactosyltransferases (beta1,4-GalTs), and that each member of this family may play a distinct role in different tissues and cells. beta1,4-GalT I and V are involved in the biosynthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides and play roles in sciatic nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury.

Expression change of beta-1,4 galactosyltransferase I, V mRNAs and Galbeta1,4GlcNAc group in rat sciatic nerve after crush.

Glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications. It is clear that the single step of beta-1,4-galactosylation is performed by a family of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferases (beta-1,4-GalTs), and that each member of this family may play a distinct role in different tissues and cells. beta-1,4-GalT I and V are involved in the biosynthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides.

The role of TNF-alpha and its receptors in the production of Src-suppressed C kinase substrate by rat primary type-2 astrocytes.

Src-suppressed C kinase substrate (SSeCKS), an in vivo and in vitro protein kinase C substrate, is a major lipopolysaccharide (LPS) response protein which markedly upregulated in several organs, including brain, lung, heart, kidney, etc., indicating a possible role of SSeCKS in inflammatory process. In the central nervous system (CNS), astrocytes play a pivotal role in immunity as immunocompetent cells by secreting cytokines and inflammatory mediators, there are two types of astrocytes.

The role of TNF-alpha and its receptors in the production of beta-1,4 galactosyltransferase I and V mRNAs by rat primary astrocytes.

Glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications. It is clear that the single step of beta-1,4-galactosylation is performed by a family of beta-1, 4-galactosyltransferases (beta-1,4-GalTs), and that each member of this family may play a distinct role in different tissues and cells. beta-1,4-GalT I and V are involved in the biosynthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides.

The role of TNF-alpha and its receptors in the production of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase I mRNA by rat primary type-2 astrocytes.

beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase I (beta-1,4-GalT I) plays an important role in the synthesis of the backbone structure of adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction. The expression of beta-1,4-GalT I mRNA increased in primary human endothelial cells after exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). In the central nervous system (CNS), astrocytes play a pivotal role in immunity as immunocompetent cells by secreting cytokines and inflammatory mediators, there are two types of astrocytes.

A2B5 lineages of human astrocytic tumors and their recurrence.

Astrocytomas are very common intracranial glial cell neoplasms with an inherent tendency to progress. However, the heterogeneity of the morphological features and clinical behavior of the tumors makes accurate prognosis based on the histopathological grading system very difficult. Studies demonstrated that astrocytes have two distinctive cell lineages, and tumors arisen from these two astrocytic lineages have been speculated to have different biological and clinical manifestations.