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Objective This study elucidated the neuroprotective mechanisms of scutellarin in microglia and astrocytes during the progression of neuropathology in cerebral ischemia. Methods Network pharmacology was first used to filtrate the core targets and pathways. Arising from this, JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway was specifically identified and experimentally verified. Expression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling related proteins in TNC-1 astrocytes subjected to different treatments with BV-2 microglia conditioned medium (CM) was then analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Along with the above, expression of the various biomarkers was also evaluated in astrocytes given pretreatment with AG490, the JAK2/STAT3 signaling inhibitor. In tandem, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats was performed in different experimental groups to detect the expression of the above biomarkers in the cerebral astrocytes. Results Network pharmacology suggests that JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is one of the mechanisms by which scutellarin can mitigate the cerebral ischemia damage. In TNC-1 astrocytes, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 expression was significantly up-regulated in microglia CM group. Scutellarin promoted the up-regulation of various markers, and of note, AG490 neutralized the effect of scutellarin. In vivo at 1, 3, and 7d after MCAO, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 expression was significantly increased. Consistent with in vitro results, the rise in expression was augmented by scutellarin. Conclusion It is concluded from this study that scutellarin exerts its neuroprotective effects via activated microglia by activating the astrocyte JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. This has given the herbal compound a firm experimental basis for its clinical application.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of the methionine-to-lysine ratio (MLR) in a low-protein (17%) starter on the growth, blood, digestive traits, and carcass traits of goat kids. Forty-five goat kids were assigned to one of three different starter groups (MLR): A (0.29), B (0.31), or C (0.33). During the six-week trial, growth and blood parameters were evaluated every 2 weeks, and digestive traits were evaluated from 0 to 14 days during the treatment. At the end of the treatment period, five goat kids from each group were slaughtered to measure their carcass traits. Results showed no significant growth differences among the groups. Blood parameters were in a normal range and without significant differences. There were no significant differences in digestive traits among the three groups. For carcass traits, group C had significantly higher carcass and heart weights (P

Physiological fatigue and toxic effects are commonly associated with chemotherapy. Beef extract (BE) is a nutritional supplement obtained by cooking beef. The present study examined the effects of several BE concentrations on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced fatigue and toxic effects in mice. Results showed BE supplementation ameliorated 5-FU-induced body and organ weight loss. All BE + 5-FU groups demonstrated increased grip strength (135.3–163.2 g), endurance time (567.3–911.3 s), and movement distance (23623–31225 cm) when compared with the 5-FU group (97.6 g, 265.2 s, and 13916 cm). Hepatic and muscular (0.76 and 1.06 mg/g) glycogen levels were maintained in the BE-3x + 5-FU group when compared with the 5-FU group (0.44 and 0.58 mg/g). Moreover, catalase (liver and muscle) and glutathione peroxidase (liver) activities were enhanced. The serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and histopathological changes were ameliorated in the BE-2x + 5-FU and BE-3x + 5-FU groups. BE supplementation could provide a novel strategy for managing 5-FU-induced fatigue and toxic effects.

BACKGROUND: Gastrodin (GAS) has been proven to play a therapeutic role in a variety of neurological diseases by affecting activated astrocytes, however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully illustrated. This study aimed to investigate if GAS exerts the neuroprotective effect through regulating the Notch signaling pathway involved in reactive astrocytes. METHODS: Astrocyte cell lines (TNC1 cells) were cultured in vitro. The hypoxic-ischemic cell model was prepared using the oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) method, GAS’s pretreatment concentration was 0.34 mM, intervention for 1 hour. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Transwell migration assay, immunofluorescent staining (double staining), and Western blotting were used to observe the effects of OGD or GAS interference on the function of astrocytes, and the changes of key protein expressions in the Notch signaling pathway were analyzed. RESULTS: GAS had no obvious toxic effect on TNC1 astrocytes under physiological conditions. Following OGD, GAS can not only improve cell viability and migration, but also regulate the production of inflammatory mediators. We also found that OGD significantly increased the expression of key proteins related to the Notch signaling pathway, Notch-1, intracellular Notch receptor domain (NICD), recombining binding protein suppressor of hairless (RBP-JK), transcription factor hairy and enhancer of split-1 (Hes-1) in TNC1 astrocytes, which was significantly inhibited by GAS. In addition, GAS inhibited the OGD-induced expression of TNC1 astrocyte tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and enhanced the expression of nutrient factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). The Notch signaling pathway specific inhibitor, N-[N-(3,5-Difluorophenacetyl)-1-alany1]-S-phenyglycine t-butylester (DAPT), could significantly enhance the effect of GAS on TNC1 astrocytes after OGD, such as the inhibition of inflammatory factors and the up-regulation of neurotrophic factors. CONCLUSIONS: GAS exerts dual effects on astrocytes via regulation of the Notch signaling pathway. We found that it could inhibit the pro-inflammatory factors mediated by astrocytes, and also promote the secretion of neurotrophic factors by astrocytes. These results provide a new biological mechanism for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases by GAS.

Cerebral ischemia affects many especially with the ageing population. The ensuing ischemic reactions include oxidative stress, inflammation, and excitotoxicity among others. In the search for effective therapeutic strategies for cerebral ischemia, activated microglia which are the key player in neuroinflammation are now recognized as a potential therapeutic target. Microglia possess both neurotoxic and neuroprotective roles. They are protective by continuously surveilling the microenvironment, phagocytosing dead cells, secreting trophic factors and sculpting the neuronal connections by removing axons and pruning excess synapses. On the other hand, hyperactivated microglia may impair cerebral oxidative metabolism, and produce excessive proinflammatory mediators that may exacerbate the brain damage. In view of this, suppression of microglial activation has been considered a therapeutic strategy to mitigate microglia-based neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia. However, balancing the neuroprotective and neurotoxic roles of activated microglia remains a challenging issue. Many traditional Chinese herbal agents have been used in clinic for treatment of cerebral ischemia. Here, we provide an overview of five common Chinese herbs targeting specifically microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia. It is hoped that a common parallel may be drawn from their beneficial effects especially in the latter pathological conditions for their better and effective use in the future.

To investigate the risk factors of pinhole infection in the fractured lower limbs after external fixation.The case-control study was designed. From May 2009 to May 2014, the clinical data of 272 patients with lower limb fracture treated by external fixation device were collected. All the patients were divided into two groups according to post-operative pinhole infection. There were 29 cases in the case group including 23 males and 6 females. The age of patients in case group ranged from 25 to 77 years old,with the average age of (53.41 ± 12.77) years old. There were 243 cases in control group including 217 males and 26 females. The age of patients in the control group ranged from 27 to 78 years old, with the average age of (48.71 ± 11.87) years old. There were nine risk factors observed in our study including age, gender, fixed time by external fixation device, diabetes, time in bed, smoking, operation condition of other parts in the body, infection condition of other parts in the body.The results of univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences among age (χ² = 15.708, P0.001), fixed time by external fixation device (χ² = 11.940, P0.001), severity of the lower limb fracture (χ² =15.438, P0.001), diabetes (χ² = 8.519, P = 0.004) and time in bed (χ² = 7.165, P = 0.007) between case group and control group. The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of pinhole infection after fixed by external fixation device in the lower limb fracture were the advanced age (OR = 8.327, P0.001), fixed time by external fixation device (OR = 6.795, P0.001), diabetes (OR = 4.965, P = 0.001) and time in bed (OR = 4.864, P = 0.008).The advanced age, long fixed time, diabetes and long time in bed could increase the risk of pinhole infection after external fixation in the lower limbs with fracture.

To address the heat-conduction problem of multilayer materials for thermal contact resistance, this paper proposes an innovative solution: the finite element method. The direct heat-conduction problem can be regarded as a virtual element for thermal contact resistance. There is hardly any error between the result generated from the finite element method and those generated from the analytic method and the analog resistance method. For an inverse heat-conduction problem, on the basis of the consideration that air may enter to form the thermal resistance once a material cracks, GAMAS [1] (genetic algorithms based on migration and artificial selection) and the finite element method are used to simulate the transient temperature on the boundary and, plus a temperature measurement error, detect the location where the multilayer materials crack inversely and correctly.

Expression of angiotensin II (Ang II) and its receptors (AT1/AT2) is undetected in the mature microglia in normal brain. We report here that the immunoexpression of Ang II and AT1/AT2 was altered in activated microglia notably at 1 week in rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Immunolabeled activated microglia were widely distributed in the infarcted cerebral tissue after MCAO. By enzyme immunoassay, Ang II protein expression levels of the ischemic tissues were decreased drastically at 12 h after ischemia, then rose rapidly at 3 days and 1 week after MCAO when compared with the control. On the other hand, AT1 and AT2 receptor mRNA and protein levels were up-regulated after MCAO, peaking at 12 h, but declined thereafter. Expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA and protein levels was concomitantly increased. Edaravone significantly suppressed Ang II and AT1/AT2 receptor expression as well as that of TNF-α and IL-1β suggesting that microglia-derived Ang II can act through an autocrine manner via its receptor that may be linked partly to the production of proinflammatory cytokines. We conclude that neuroinflammation in MCAO may be attenuated by Edaravone which acts through suppression of expression of Ang II and its receptors and proinflammatory cytokines in activated microglia.

To investigate the effects of tamoxifen (TMX) combined with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.A total of 183 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia were randomly divided into a TMX + CoQ10 group (n = 63), a TMX group (n = 61) and a CoQ10 group (n = 59). At the end of 3 and 6 months of treatment, semen analyses and hormone tests were performed, and the results were compared with those obtained before the treatment.Compared with the pre-treatment results, the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) and sperm concentration were significantly elevated in the TMX + CoQ10 and TMX groups (P0.05), but showed no significant difference in the CoQ10 group (P0.05); sperm motility and morphologically normal sperm were increased significantly in the TMX + CoQ10 and CoQ10 groups (P0.05), and slightly in the TMX group but with no statistically significant difference (P0.05).Tamoxifen combined with CoQ10 can significantly improve sperm concentration, motility and morphology in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

To evaluate the clinical application of digital photography in special color teeth, and to explore the role and the problems s of digital photos to improve cosmetic effect.Digital photography combined visual color-matching was applied in 50 cases with special color teeth in ceramic restorations selected randomly. Then the satisfactory degree of the patients and dentists was evaluated and the value of L*a*b* between prosthesis and its neighbors was collected by self-developed software Dental ImgShop. Chroma (C(ab) )and hue (h(ab) degrees ) were calculated according to the value of a and b. The data was analyzed with paired t test using SAS6.12 software package, so as chromatic aberration (deltaE).The satisfactory degree of the patients was 98%, and the satisfaction degree of the dentists was 94%. The range of L, a ,b C(ab), h(ab) degrees of special color teeth was 54.50-92.29, -0.97-8.12,-0.73-20.85,0.85-21.34,29.73-89.20, respectively. There was no significant difference between the prosthesis and their neighbors statistically (P0.05). The mean value of chromatic aberration (deltaE) was 0.948(0.136-3.45), and only 3 cases were unacceptable (deltaE/=2).Digital photography could record and transmit the color information of special color teeth more exactly, and could improve the patients satisfaction and the cosmetic effect in color measuring. Supported by Research Fund of Natural Science for Young Scholars of Minhang Central Hospital.

To investigate the toxicity of alpha-terthienyl to the larvae of Aedes albopictus, its influencing factors and effect on the larva development.Under experimental ultraviolet-A (UVA), the number of dead,pupal or eclosive mosquito larvae was determined on the condition of different doses of alpha-terthienyl and different disposal time in the dark; the number of dead larvae was also determined under sunlight on the condition of different doses of alpha-terthienyl and different disposal time to water.The LC50 of alpha-terthienyl to Aedes albopictus larvae was 2.37 microg/L under UVA. The best effect was shown when the larvae were incubated with alpha-terthienyl 3 h in dark. Alpha-terthienyl could significantly inhibit the larva development and the emergence of the pupae. Under strong sunlight, the larvae were quickly killed by high concentration alpha-terthienyl. The 24 hours effect of alpha-terthienyl was better when it was applied at 5 AM than that of at 10 AM and 1 PM.Alpha-terthienyl is an effective, practicable larvicide which prohibits the growth and development of the larvae of Aedes albopictus.

To report the method and effects of anatomical reduction by retro-mandibular incision and miniplate rigid fixation for condylar and subcondylar fractures.Twenty-four condylar neck and subcondylar fractures including 18 unilateral and 6 bilateral in 24 consecutive patients were studied. The fractures were approached by retromandibular incision and miniplate rigid fixation. Postoperative follow up was 3 to 6 months. The treatment results were evaluated including occlusion,joint functions as well as radiographic assessment of condylar changes.The average mouth opening deviation was 6.2mm before operation, which reduced to 1.4mm 3 months after surgical treatment,3 patients had malocclusion,2 had facial nerve damages.Miniplate rigid fixation by retromandibular incision based on anatomical reduction is an effective procedure in treating severely displaced and dislocated neck of condyle and subcondylar fractures.

To explore possible mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis by investigating the ultrastructural dynamic changes of liver tissue, especially several kinds of cells related to hepatic fibrosis.Murine schistosomal hepatic fibrosis model was established by infecting mice with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae. Routine transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the liver tissue. H.E. staining was used for examining the pathological changes.H.E. staining showed that the model was established successfully. Ultrastructural observation showed that at the 6th week after infection, the necrosis of hepatocytes around the acute granulomas occurred; the number of sinusoidal endothelial fenestrae and vitamin A droplets in fat-storing cells decreased; large phagosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum could be seen in the cytoplasm of Kupffer's cells. At the 8th week, steatosis was found in some hepatocytes, some microvilli emerged on a few inter-hepatocytic surfaces and the inter-hepatocytic spaces were enlarged. Large collagen fibrillar bundles filled in the perisinusoidal spaces, and capillarization of hepatic sinusoids was observed. Secretory vesicles filled with collagen fibrils appeared in the cytoplasm of fat-storing cells with large amount of collagenous fiber bundles surround the cells. Rough endoplasmic reticulum increased in Kupffer's cells. At the 10th week, fat-storing cells were activated and transformed into myofibroblasts. At the 12th week, the number of myofibroblasts decreased but that of fibroblasts and fiber cells increased.Activation of fat-storing cells and transformation from fat-storing cells into myofibroblasts are the critical link in the development of hepatic fibrogenesis following schistosome infection. Kupffer's cells, necrotic hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells may relate to the activation of fat-storing cells. Capillarization of hepatic sinusoids possibly accelerates the development of hepatic fibrosis.