[Expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction].

Objective: To study the expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: We established the model of prolactinoma in 20 male Westar rats by peritoneal injection of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and treated the control rats with normal saline (n = 10) or sterilized arachis oil (n = 10). After 8 weeks, we performed the apomorphine test and measured the weight of the pituitary gland and the levels of serum prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) to confirm the successful construction of the prolactinoma-induced ED model.

The Double Roles of the Prostaglandin E2 EP2 Receptor in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), a subtype of stroke, brings high morbidity and mortality to human beings. Multiple studies indicated that neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, cytotoxicity resulted from the degradation products of blood clot play vital roles in ICH-induced secondary brain injury, which contributes to deterioration of neurological outcome. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a type of prostanoids commonly up-regulated in these progresses, is proved to modulate numerous cellular and molecular processes by activating EP2 receptor after ICH.

The hidden dysfunction of otolithic organs in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Objective: To define the profiles of ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP and cVEMP, respectively) in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss (PSHL).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with PSHL and 20 healthy volunteers were investigated. The patients' medical records were collected and analyzed.

The anti-tumor effect of a polypeptide extracted from Tegillarca granosa Linnaeus on renal metastatic tumor OS-RC-2 cells.

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma is a type of malignant tumor often diagnosed in the urinary system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-tumor effects and mechanisms of a polypeptide, Haishengsu (TG-1), with different concentrations (125, 250, 500 mg/kg) on renal metastatic tumor OS-RC-2 cells.

Material And Methods: We first established the renal metastatic tumor model.

[Effect of orexin-A and orexin-1 receptor antagonist injected into the fourth ventricle of rats on food-intake and spontaneous physical activity].

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of orexin-A and orexin-1 receptor (OX1R) antagonist injected into the fourth ventricle of rats on food-intake and spontaneous physical activity (SPA). Obese rat model was induced by high fat diet. Different doses of orexin-A or SB334867, an OX1R antagonist, were injected into the fourth ventricle of obese and normal rats respectively.

Nesfatin-1 signaling in the basom edial amygdala modulates the gastric distension-sensitive neurons discharge and decreases gastric motility via melanocortin 3/4 receptors and modified by the arcuate nucleus.

Nesfatin-1 is a novel anorexigenic peptide that regulates feeding behavior and gastrointestinal function. This study aimed to explore the effects of nesfatin-1 on gastric distension (GD)-sensitive neurons in the basomedial amygdala (BMA) and the potential mechanism for nesfatin-1 to regulate gastric motility through the arcuate nucleus (Arc). The projection of nerve fiber and expression of nesfatin-1 were observed by retrograde tracing and fluo-immunohistochemistry staining.

Overexpression of cofilin 1 in prostate cancer and the corresponding clinical implications.

Cofilin 1 (CFL1) is a cytoskeletal protein and overexpression of the protein has been associated with aggressiveness in certain types of malignancies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical implications of CFL1 expression in prostate cancer (PCa). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections obtained from 111 patients with PCa and 47 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

[Influence of fire disturbance on aboveground deadwood debris carbon storage in Huzhong forest region of Great Xing'an Mountains, Northeast China].

Based on the field inventory data, the aboveground deadwood debris carbon storage under different fire severities was analyzed in Huzhong forest region of Great Xing' an Mountains. The results showed that the fire severity had a significant effect on aboveground deadwood debris carbon storage. The deadwood debris carbon storage was in the order of high-severity > low-severity > unburned in Larix gmelinii stands, and mixed conifer-broadleaf stands ( L.

Statistical Analysis of Hurst Exponents of Essential/Nonessential Genes in 33 Bacterial Genomes.

Methods for identifying essential genes currently depend predominantly on biochemical experiments. However, there is demand for improved computational methods for determining gene essentiality. In this study, we used the Hurst exponent, a characteristic parameter to describe long-range correlation in DNA, and analyzed its distribution in 33 bacterial genomes.

Sediment Profile and Fluxes of Mercury and Methyl Mercury in Weihe Watershed in Henan, China.

Sediment core samples were collected from the Weihe River in February and August 2013. Cores were sectioned and analyzed for total Hg (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg). THg in sediment cores ranged from 156 to 282 ng g(-1) in February, and from 172 to 300 ng g(-1) in August.

A 13-year retrospective study evaluating the efficacy of using air-fluidised beds for toxic epidermal necrolysis patients.

Objectives: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a potentially life-threatening dermatological disease involving large areas of skin loss with systemic symptoms. This study evaluated the efficacy of air-fluidised bed therapy for TEN patients.

Methods: Of 27 people with TEN, 11 used air-fluidised beds (the air-fluidised group) and 16 used standard beds (the control group).

Intramuscular nerve distribution in bladder and the relationship between intramuscular ganglia and bladder function in man and dog.

In clinical, the relationship between bladder intramuscular nerve and function is also elusive. This study aims to compare the bladder intramuscular nerve distribution and its characteristics and significance in human and dog. Eleven dogs' bladders were stained by Sihler's and HE techniques.

Downregulation of microRNA-100 enhances the ICMT-Rac1 signaling and promotes metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Metastasis is responsible for rapid recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and poor survival of HCC patients. Here we showed that miR-100 downregulation in HCC tissues was significantly associated with venous invasion, advanced TNM stage, tumor nodule without complete capsule, poorer cell differentiation, and shorter recurrence-free survival. Both gain- and loss-of-function studies showed that miR-100 dramatically suppressed the ability of HCC cells to migrate and to invade through Matrigel in vitro.

The effects of nesfatin-1 in the paraventricular nucleus on gastric motility and its potential regulation by the lateral hypothalamic area in rats.

The current study investigated the effects of nesfatin-1 in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) on gastric motility and the regulation of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Using single unit recordings in the PVN, we show that nesfatin-1 inhibited the majority of the gastric distention (GD)-excitatory neurons and excited more than half of the GD-inhibitory (GD-I) neurons in the PVN, which were weakened by oxytocin receptor antagonist H4928. Gastric motility experiments showed that administration of nesfatin-1 in the PVN decreased gastric motility, which was also partly prevented by H4928.

Effects of exogenous nesfatin-1 on gastric distention-sensitive neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala and gastric motility in rats.

Nesfatin-1 is a novel brain-gut peptide identified in several brain regions associated with feeding and gastrointestinal function. Our study explored the effects of nesfatin-1 in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CNA) on the activity of gastric distention (GD)-sensitive neurons, gastric motility, and the potential regulation mechanisms by the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). Following retrograde injection of fluorogold (FG) into the DMV, we found that nesfatin-1/FG dual-labeled neurons were detected in the CNA, which indicates that some of the nesfatin-1-immunoreactive neurons arising from the DMV may project to the CNA.

Antitumor effects of a polypeptide isolated from Tegillarca granosa linnaeus and the related molecular mechanism.

This study is to investigate the anticancer effects and mechanisms of Tegillarca granosa Linnaeus-1 (TG-1) on renal carcinoma OS-RC-2 cells in vitro. The proliferation of OS-RC-2 cells was evaluated under various concentrations of TG-1 using MTT assay. The apoptosis of OS-RC-2 cells was analyzed using acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining.

The carboxyl-terminal tail of Noxa protein regulates the stability of Noxa and Mcl-1.

The BH3-only protein Noxa is a critical mediator of apoptosis and functions primarily by sequestering/inactivating the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein Mcl-1. Although Noxa is a highly labile protein, recent studies suggested that it is degraded by the proteasome in a ubiquitylation-independent manner. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of Noxa degradation and its ability to regulate the stability of Mcl-1.

[Effects of microporous porcine acellular dermal matrix combined with bone marrow mesenchymal cells of rats on the regeneration of cutaneous appendages cells in nude mice].

Objective: To observe the effects of microporous porcine acellular dermal matrix (ADM) combined with bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMMCs) population containing bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) of rats on the regeneration of cutaneous appendages cells in nude mice.

Methods: Split-thickness dermal grafts, 20 cm×10 cm in size and 0.3 mm in thickness, were prepared from a healthy pig which was sacrificed under sanitary condition.

Central nesfatin-1 influences the excitability of ghrelin-responsive gastric distension neurons in the arcuate nucleus and reduces gastric motility in rats.

Although the novel satiety peptide nesfatin-1 has been shown to regulate gastric motility, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. The study aimed to explore the effects of nesfatin-1 on ghrelin-responsive gastric distension (GD) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (Arc), and potential regulation mechanisms of gastric motility by the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Single-unit discharges in the Arc were recorded extracellularly, and gastric motility in conscious rats was monitored during the administration of nesfatin-1 to the Arc or electrical stimulation of the PVN.

Triptolide markedly attenuates albuminuria and podocyte injury in an animal model of diabetic nephropathy.

Triptolide is a major active component of Hook F, which exerts marked immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory and podocyte-protective effects. In this study, the ability of triptolide to inhibit inflammation and attenuate podocyte injury was examined in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Type II diabetic rats with DN were treated with triptolide at a dose of 100 μg.

Involvements of the lateral hypothalamic area in gastric motility and its regulation by the lateral septum.

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) pre-dominantly produced in the stomach. Recent studies have shown that it may promote food intake and gastric motility. We aim to explore effects of ghrelin on the gastric distension (GD) sensitive neurons and gastric motility in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), and the possible regulation by the lateral septum.

The stimulating effect of ghrelin on gastric motility and firing activity of gastric-distension-sensitive hippocampal neurons and its underlying regulation by the hypothalamus.

Ghrelin is an acylated peptide originally identified in the rat stomach as the endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) that promotes gastric motility. Our aims were to explore the effects of ghrelin on gastric-distension-sensitive neurons in the hippocampus and the potential for ghrelin to regulate gastric motility through the arcuate nucleus (Arc). Single-unit discharges in the hippocampus were recorded extracellularly, and gastric motility in conscious rats was monitored.

Curcumin improves expression of ghrelin through attenuating oxidative stress in gastric tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic gastroparesis rats.

The study was performed to investigate the improved effect of curcumin on gastrointestinal function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Curcumin was administrated intragastrically at a dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day to diabetic rats. After 28 days of treatment, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in gastric mucosa was assayed.

[Effects of sampling plot number on tree species distribution prediction under climate change].

Based on the neutral landscapes under different degrees of landscape fragmentation, this paper studied the effects of sampling plot number on the prediction of tree species distribution at landscape scale under climate change. The tree species distribution was predicted by the coupled modeling approach which linked an ecosystem process model with a forest landscape model, and three contingent scenarios and one reference scenario of sampling plot numbers were assumed. The differences between the three scenarios and the reference scenario under different degrees of landscape fragmentation were tested.

Effects of ghrelin on gastric distention sensitive neurons in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus and gastric motility in diabetic rats.

This study was performed to observe the effects of ghrelin on the activity of gastric distention (GD) sensitive neurons in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus (Arc) and on gastric motility in vivo in streptozocin (STZ) induced diabetes mellitus (DM) rats. Electrophysiological results showed that ghrelin could excite GD-excitatory (GD-E) neurons and inhibit GD-inhibitory (GD-I) neurons in the Arc. However, fewer GD-E neurons were excited by ghrelin and the excitatory effect of ghrelin on GD-E neurons was much weaker in DM rats.