Folium Sennae and emodin reverse airway smooth muscle contraction.

The objective of this project was to find a bronchodilatory compound from herbs and clarify the mechanism. We found that the ethanol extract of Folium Sennae (EEFS) can relax airway smooth muscle (ASM). EEFS inhibited ASM contraction, induced by acetylcholine, in mouse tracheal rings and lung slices.

Azithromycin inhibits muscarinic 2 receptor-activated and voltage-activated Ca permeant ion channels and Ca sensitization, relaxing airway smooth muscle contraction.

Azithromycin (AZM) has been used for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, the effects and underlying mechanisms of AZM remain largely unknown. The effects of AZM on airway smooth muscles (ASMs) and the underlying mechanisms were studied using isometric muscle force measurements, the examination of lung slices, imaging, and patch-clamp techniques. AZM completely inhibited acetylcholine (ACH)-induced precontraction of ASMs in animals (mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits) and humans.

Extract Inhibits Contraction of Airway Smooth Muscle.

β-adrenoceptor agonists are commonly used as bronchodilators to treat obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), however, they induce severe side effects. Therefore, developing new bronchodilators is essential. Herbal plants were extracted and the extracts' effect on airway smooth muscle (ASM) precontraction was assessed.

Polygonum aviculare L. extract and quercetin attenuate contraction in airway smooth muscle.

Because of the serious side effects of the currently used bronchodilators, new compounds with similar functions must be developed. We screened several herbs and found that Polygonum aviculare L. contains ingredients that inhibit the precontraction of mouse and human airway smooth muscle (ASM).

Distinct Effects of Ca Sparks on Cerebral Artery and Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Tone in Mice and Humans.

The effects of Ca sparks on cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) tone, as well as the underlying mechanisms, are not clear. In this investigation, we elucidated the underlying mechanisms of the distinct effects of Ca sparks on cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) tone. In CASMCs, owing to the functional loss of Ca-activated Cl (Clca) channels, Ca sparks activated large-conductance Ca-activated K channels (BKs), resulting in a decreases in tone against a spontaneous depolarization-caused high tone in the resting state.

Hypertonic saline inhibits airway smooth muscle contraction by inhibiting Ca sensitization.

The effects of hypertonic solution on airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. We found that hypertonic saline (HS) inhibited acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contraction of ASM from the mouse trachea and human bronchi. In single mouse ASM cells (ASMCs), ACh induced an increase in intracellular Ca that was further enhanced by 5% NaCl, indicating that the HS-induced inhibition of ASM contraction was not mediated by a decrease in cytosolic Ca .

Imaging findings of abdominal peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor: report of four cases with pathological correlation.

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (peripheral PNETs) are rare in the abdomen. We report the imaging findings of four peripheral PNETs arising in the abdomen. Three were ill-demarcated tumors and one was a well-demarcated tumor, with extensive local invasion and lymph node metastasis in two cases, respectively.

[Analysis for skeletal age less than "age" in judicial expertise in 303 cases].

Objective: To discuss the phenomenon and the possible causes for the skeletal age less than the "real age" in the judicial expertise.

Methods: With referring to the skeletal age verification value provided by the inspection sample pertaining to CHN scoring method, combining with the relevant materials such as "age" and "residence" information provided by the police authority while performing expertise, as well as tracking down and re-visiting some cases, we retrospectively analyzed 829 cases.

Results: There were 303 cases for the skeletal age less than "real age" in total, which accounted for 36.

Value of CT in the diagnosis and follow-up of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors. Computed tomography (CT) often shows exophytic gastrointestinal masses with cystic changes, necrosis or fistula formation, and heterogeneous enhancement. After Gleevec therapy, the primary tumor, its metastases, and its recurrences can develop cystic changes and decrease in size, these findings can be satisfactorily monitored by CT.

Loss of synaptophysin-positive boutons on lumbar motor neurons innervating the medial gastrocnemius muscle of the SOD1G93A G1H transgenic mouse model of ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a common form of motor neuron disease (MND) that involves both upper and lower nervous systems. In the SOD1G93A G1H transgenic mouse, a widely used animal model of human ALS, a significant pathology is linked to the degeneration of lower motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord and brainstem. In the current study, the number of presynaptic boutons immunoreactive for synaptophysin was estimated on retrogradely labeled soma and proximal dendrites of alpha and gamma motor neurons innervating the medial gastrocnemius muscle.

Impaired extracellular secretion of mutant superoxide dismutase 1 associates with neurotoxicity in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Mutations in the intracellular metalloenzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are linked to neurotoxicity in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by an unclear mechanism. Golgi fragmentation and endoplasmic reticulum stress are early hallmarks of spinal motor neuron pathology in transgenic mice overexpressing mutant SOD1, suggesting that dysfunction of the neuronal secretory pathway may contribute to ALS pathogenesis. We therefore proposed that mutant SOD1 directly engages and modulates the secretory pathway based on recent evidence of SOD1 secretion in diverse human cell lines.

Magnetic resonance imaging reveals neuronal degeneration in the brainstem of the superoxide dismutase 1 transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming the preferred neuroimaging modality for the diagnosis of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A useful animal model of ALS is the superoxide dismutase 1G93A G1H transgenic mouse, which shows many of the clinico-pathological features of the human condition. We have employed a 4.

Leukemia inhibitory factor promotes recovery of locomotor function following spinal cord injury in the mouse.

We describe an easy, minimal, rapid, and reproducible model of mouse spinal cord injury (SCI) that results in permanent paralysis involving one hind limb. We used this model to evaluate whether the paralysis can be prevented using two known neuroprotective drugs, namely leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and minocycline (MIN). Mice in the control vehicle (VEH) and MIN groups with SCI had negligible recovery of locomotor behavior.