Antinociceptive effects of galanin in the nucleus accumbens of rats.

It has been demonstrated that galanin plays important roles in the modulation of nociceptive information in rats. The present study is performed to investigate the regulating role of galanin in nociception in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rats. Intra-NAc administration of galanin induces dose-dependent increases in the hindpaw withdrawal latency (HWL) to noxious thermal and mechanical stimulation in rats.

Inhibition of CaMKII activity in the nucleus accumbens shell blocks the reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior in rats.

The Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) may be a core component in the common molecular pathways for drug addiction. Moreover, studies using animal models of drug addiction have demonstrated that changing CaMKII activity or expression influences animals' responses to the drugs of abuse. Here, we explored the roles of CaMKII in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell in the extinction and reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior.

Total flavonoids of Bidens bipinnata L. a traditional Chinese medicine inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines of vessel endothelial cells stimulated by sera from Henoch-Schönlein purpura patients.

Objectives: Bidens bipinnata L. is well known as a traditional antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic medicine in China. This study was designed to evaluate the role of total extracted flavonoids from B.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 up-regulates the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 in pancreatic cancer cells under hypoxic conditions.

Background & Aims: Hypoxia is a common characteristic of solid tumors. Recent studies confirmed that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a significant role in cancer invasion and progression. In this study, the correlation between the expression of TLR4 and the change of the protein level of Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) was studied.

Repeated paired-testing impairs extinction of morphine-induced conditioned place preference dependent on the inter-test interval in rats.

Using exposure to morphine- and saline-paired sides alternatively as the extinction training procedure, we find that post-retrieval extinction training enhances or hinders the extinction of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) dependent on the retrieval-extinction training intervals. Here, we examine the influence of post-retrieval extinction training with repeated paired testing on extinction of morphine-induced CPP of rats. Our results demonstrate that paired-testing with a 10-min inter-test interval does not influence the extinction of CPP, while post-retrieval extinction training blocks the extinction of CPP with a 3-h retrieval-extinction interval.

[Prognosis analysis of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation: a single-center study of 38 cases].

Objective: To analyze the prognosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients (37 males; 1 female) with HBV-related end-stage liver disease underwent liver transplantation at our institute between December 1998 and November 2009 and experienced HBV recurrence. Clinical data from pre-transplant and follow-up examinations were retrospectively retrieved from medical records, and included serologic indices of HBV (HBV DNA, markers of liver function) and histological findings from liver biopsy.

[Isolation and biological characterization of human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells].

Objective: To establish in vitro culture procedure for human amniotic fluid-derived CD117 positive stem cells, and to identify the characteristics of CD117 positive stem cells.

Methods: 86 amniotic fluid samples (10 mL of each) were obtained by second-trimester amniocentesis. Isolation of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells expressing CD117 antigen was performed via magnetic cell sorting using the CD117 MicroBead Kit.

[Adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation with 94 cases report].

Objective: To investigate the donor evaluation, surgical protocol, and the complication for the adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (AALDLT).

Methods: There were 94 cases of AALDLT were performed by the same surgical team from January 2007 to August 2010. Patients aged from 18 to 74 years.

Transient ureteral obstruction prevents against kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury via hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α activation.

Although the protective effect of transient ureteral obstruction (UO) prior to ischemia on subsequent renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury has been documented, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be understood. We showed in the current study that 24 h of UO led to renal tubular hypoxia in the ipsilateral kidney in mice, with the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α, which lasted for a week after the release of UO. To address the functions of HIF-2α in UO-mediated protection of renal IRI, we utilized the Mx-Cre/loxP recombination system to knock out target genes.

[Protective effect of new adenosine analog B2 against serum deprivation-induced PC12 cell injury].

This study is to investigate the effect of compound B2 on the damage of PC12 cells induced by serum deprivation and to explore its related mechanisms. The binding characteristics of B2 to rat striatum adenosine A2A receptor was studied by radioligand 3H-MSX-2 binding assay. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay.

A natural squamosamide derivative FLZ inhibits homocysteine-induced rat brain microvascular endothelial cells dysfunction.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is believed to induce endothelial dysfunction, which is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and vascular diseases. Compound FLZ is a novel synthetic squamosamide cyclic analog with several phenolic hydroxy groups, and exhibits strong anti-oxidative and neuroprotective activities in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's models. In the present study, we examined the actions of FLZ against homocysteine-induced injury to primary cultured rat brain microvascular endothelial cell (rBMECs).

[Application of double source multidetector computed tomography in visualization of cardiac veins].

Objective: To evaluate the value of double source multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in visualization of cardiac veins in patients with chronic heart failure.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with chronic heart failure (aged 65.4 ± 8.

Invasive fungal infection after liver transplantation: risk factors and significance of immune cell function monitoring.

Objective: Monitoring immune status in transplant recipients is essential for predicting the risk of infections. The aims of the study were to identify the correlation of a low ImmuKnow adenosine triphosphate (ATP) value with the development of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and whether this is an independent risk factor for IFIs in liver recipients.

Methods: We followed up 248 liver recipients who developed 157 infectious episodes.

Effects of Chinese herbal cataplasm Xiaozhang Tie on cirrhotic ascites.

Background: Conventional methods of treating cirrhotic ascites are inadequate. We sought to identify a novel, effective approach to relieve the suffering of patients with cirrhotic ascites.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the efficacy of Xiaozhang Tie, a traditional Chinese herbal cataplasm composed of dahuang (Rheum palmatum L.

Post-retrieval extinction training enhances or hinders the extinction of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in rats dependent on the retrieval-extinction interval.

Rationale And Objective: Drug-associated memories are hypothesized to underlie the high risk of relapse in addiction. Recent studies show that post-retrieval extinction training erases fear memories by reconsolidation blockade. Here, we examine the efficacy of this non-invasive procedure in rats with drug-associated memories and explore the underlying mechanisms by varying retrieval-extinction intervals.

[Construction and expression of recombinant plasmid to initiate polarization and activation of regulatory T cells].

In order to construct a recombinant plasmid initiating the polarization and activation of the regulatory T cells (Treg), the fragments of hTGF-β1 and C2-C4 of gp120 amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pCR2.1 vector respectively. hTGF-β1 and C2-C4 DNA fragments were obtained, then sub-cloned to generate the prokaryotic expression vector named pET-28a/C2-C4-Linker- hTGF-β1.

[Sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsive effects of an adenosine analogue WS090501].

This study is to examine the sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsive effects of an adenosine analogue, WS090501. The spontaneous locomotor activity was recorded by open field equipment, and the EEG of rats was recorded by polyphysiograph. Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure model was used.

Diagnostic value of 64-slice dual-source CT coronary angiography in patients with atrial fibrillation: comparison with invasive coronary angiography.

Objective: We wanted to evaluate the image quality and diagnostic value of 64-slice dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography in patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib).

Materials And Methods: The coronary arteries of 22 Afib patients seen on DSCT were classified into 15 segments and the imaging quality (excellent, good, moderate and poor) and significant stenoses (≥ 50%) were evaluated by two radiologists who were blinded to the conventional coronary angiography (CAG) results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for detecting important coronary artery stenosis were calculated.

[Effect of scopolamine on depression in mice].

Based on the report of previous clinical study which showed cholinergic receptor antagonist scopolamine had antidepressant activity, this study was to investigate the antidepressant activity of scopolamine and explore its effective dose in mice, and to evaluate the effect of scopolamine on the central nervous system and learning/memory ability at its antidepressant effective dose. Tail suspension test, forced swimming test, step-down passive avoidance test and open field test were used to evaluate its effects on mice. Compared with the vehicle control group, single-dose administration of scopolamine (0.

Reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in cortex and hippocampus involved in the learning and memory deficit in molarless SAMP8 mice.

Background: The molarless condition has been reported to compromise learning and memory functions. However, it remains unclear how the molarless condition directly affects the central nervous system, and the functional consequences on the brain cortex and hippocampus have not been described in detail. The aim of this study was to find the molecular mechanism related with learning and memory deficit after a bilateral molarless condition having been surgically induced in senescence-accelerated mice/prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, which may ultimately provide an experimental basis for clinical prevention of senile dementia.

[Coupling analysis of agro-ecolomic system in gully area of Loess Plateau in 1949-2008: a case study in Changwu County of Shaanxi Province].

Based on the analysis of the coercing and dynamic evolution relationships between agro-economic system and agro-ecological system, and by using modified entropy method, the weight of each evaluation index for the agro-ecolomic system in Changwu County of Shaanxi Province was determined, and, by employing coupling degree model, the coupling processes of agro-ecolomic system in the gullyarea of Loess Plateau were investigated. From 1949 to 2008, the agro-ecolomic system in the County experienced three stages of "traditional extensive agriculture", "agricultural mechanization", and "agricultural pre-modernization". In corresponding to the implement of national macro policies, the coupling degree of the agro-ecolomic system reached two peaks standing for utmost increasing phase and three valleys standing for coordinate development phase.

Different physiological properties of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in nucleus accumbens shell neurons between adult and juvenile rats.

Studies have demonstrated the changes of the physiological characteristics of nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons with the postnatal development of rats. In the present study, spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) were recorded in the slices of NAc shell (NAcS) of adult and juvenile rats. Our results demonstrate that both the average amplitude of sEPSCs and the average frequency of sEPSCs in the NAcS slices of adult rats decreased significantly than that in juvenile rats.

Inhibitory effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on long-term potentiation induced in hippocampal slices of rats.

It is well known that hippocampus plays important roles in learning and memory. Both calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and CGRP receptors are found in hippocampus. In the present study we explored the influence of CGRP on long term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal Schaffer collateral-CA1.

[Construction of lentiviral vector carrying mouse RORγt and expression of RORγt in 293FT cells].

This study was aimed to construct a lentiviral vector carrying mouse RORγt and glp gene, and to detect the expression of RORγt in the 293FT cells. The RORγt fragment was amplified by RT-PCR from mouse thymus and cloned into PCR 2.1 vector.