Hypoglycaemic effect of the lyophilised aqueous extract of Ajuga iva in normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypoglycaemic effect of the lyophilised aqueous extract of the whole plant of Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber (Labiatae) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Single and repeated oral administration of the extract of Ajuga iva L (AI) at a dose of 10 mg/kg produced a slight and significant decrease in plasma glucose levels in normal rats 6 h after administration and after 3 weeks of treatment. AI reduced plasma glucose levels of streptozotocin diabetic rats from 337±9.3 to 102.2±17.7 mg/dl after 6 h of oral administration (P<0.001). Repeated oral administration of AI to streptozotocin diabetic rats significantly decreased the plasma glucose levels after 1 week of treatment (112±14.4 mg/dl at 1 week vs 337±9.3 mg/dl at the baseline values, (P<0.001). It continuously decreased thereafter and showed a rapid normalisation after 1 week of AI treatment. It is concluded that these results demonstrated that the water extract of the whole plant of AI possess a strong hypoglycaemic effect in diabetic rats, and support therefore, its traditional use in diabetes mellitus control.     

Epileptic negative myoclonus in a newborn with hemimegalencephaly

PURPOSE: We report the case of a male newborn with Ohtahara syndrome and right hemimegalencephaly who presented epileptic negative myoclonus in the first days of life. METHODS: Prolonged polygraphic studies were performed, as well as MRI and a full clinical examination. RESULTS: EEG showed a constant and nonreactive pattern of burst suppression. There were several kinds of electro-clinical seizures (generalized myoclonia, short atonias, typical spasm and tonic spasms) at the beginning of the EEG's burst. The periods of EMG silence, lasting less than 300 ms, were associated with stereotyped EEG transients. CONCLUSIONS: Epileptic negative myoclonus can be observed also in neonatal age. The short transient impairment of motor function observed in the newborn seems linked to the slow component of spike-wave discharge, but its mechanism is still not clear.     

New bone-seeking agent: Animal study of Tc-99m-incadronate

OBJECTIVE: Disodium cycloheptylaminomethylenediphosphonate monohydrate (incadronate disodium) is a third-generation bisphosphonate compound which potently inhibits bone resorption, and a highly effective drug in the treatment of metastatic bone disease. We first labeled incadronate disodium with 99mTc, and examined its biodistribution and bone uptake after intravenous injection in rats to assess its potential for clinical use as a bone-seeking agent for judgment of the therapeutic effect of incadronate on bone metastases. Bone scan with 99mTc-labeled incadronate (99mTc-incadronate) may yield important information prior to the use of incadronate for treatment of bone metastases. METHODS: Synthesis of 99mTc-incadronate was carried out by reduction of 99mTc-pertechnetate in the presence of SnCl2 and N2 gas. Normal rats were injected with 18.5 MBq (0.5 mCi) 99mTc-incadronate in a volume of 0.1 ml intravenously and then sacrificed at 15 min, 30 min, 1 h or 2 h (six rats at each time point) after injection. Samples of muscle, stomach, small intestine, kidney, liver and bone (femur) were taken and weighed. In addition, a 1-ml sample of blood was drawn from the heart, and urine was taken from the urinary bladder immediately after sacrifice. Samples were measured for radioactivity and expressed as percent uptake of injected dose per gram or per milliliter (% ID/g or ml). Bone-to-blood and bone-to-muscle uptake ratios were determined from the % ID/g or ml values for these organs. RESULTS: The greatest accumulation of 99mTc-incadronate was found in bone. Radioactivity in bone was as high as 3.22 +/- 0.68% ID/g at 2 hours after injection. Scintigraphic images of 99mTc-incadronate in normal rats revealed highly selective skeletal uptake. CONCLUSION: 99mTc-incadronate exhibited high uptake in bone, and relatively low uptake in soft tissue, suggesting that it may be useful as a bone-seeking agent for judgment of the therapeutic effect of incadronate on bone metastases, by determining the degree of its accumulation in metastatic bone lesions.     

近代民众和医生对鼠疫的观察与命名

从近代民众和民间医生的视野,探究他们如何描述鼠类活动和患者症状,以及如何命名鼠疫,对于鼠疫辨别是有帮助的,虽然民众和医生对鼠类活动和患者症状有相当的认识,但并没有将鼠疫和其他传染病区分,对于鼠疫的命名,和以往相比,依然复杂多样。     

脐血间充质干细胞静脉移植治疗新生大鼠缺氧缺血性脑损伤

目的探讨脐血间充质干细胞（MSCs）静脉移植治疗新生鼠缺氧缺血性脑损伤（HIBD）的可行性。方法将脐血MSCs移植前以DAPI标记，移植鼠在HIBD后第2周经鼠尾静脉注入脐血MSCs，于移植后第1、2和4周随机处死，行脑组织病理形态学观察，并取海马回相同部位的缺血脑组织切片，荧光镜下观察DAPI阳性细胞数。结果脐血MSCs经尾静脉移植后4周，各组鼠死亡率无显著差异，移植组脑病变率显著低于HIBD组，且该组脑组织病变仅偶见轻度，大多接近于正常，未见到重度脑组织病变发生；HIBD后1周左侧大脑缺血水肿区仍见神经细胞肿胀，细胞外间隙增宽，移植治疗1周后左侧脑组织水肿已明显减轻，上述病理组织学变化已不明显，大鼠病灶侧脑内，可见大量的DAPI阳性细胞分布，集中分布于病灶区周围，与宿主脑有机整合，没有明显的界限。结论脐血MSCs移植治疗新生鼠HIBD可以减轻脑水肿和脑损伤，在移植过程中MSCs可以透过血脑屏障并分布在损伤的脑组织周围，未见植入反应和其他任何副作用。     

早期高压氧治疗对缺氧缺血性脑损伤新生大鼠的远期保护作用

目的：高压氧(hyperbaricoxygen,HBO)在缺氧缺血性脑损伤(hypoxic-ischemicbraindamage,HIBD)中的应用及疗效仍存在争议。至目前为止,HBO在新生动物HIBD中的实验研究不多,这些实验注重近期病理和生化结果的评价,缺乏远期功能评价指标。该实验评价早期HBO治疗对HIBD新生大鼠远期脑病理和行为的影响。方法：7日龄大鼠随机分为对照组(n=18)、HIBD组(n=17)和HBO组(n=17,HIBD后0.5~1h开始2个绝对大气压HBO治疗,稳压30min/次,每日1次,共2d),以大鼠37~41日龄的学习记忆功能(Morris水迷宫实验)和42日龄的脑形态组织学(脑重量、海马CA1区存活神经元数、AchE纤维面积和NOS神经元数)来判断干预效果。结果：HIBD组学习记忆功能严重不良伴有脑形态组织学的明显缺损,与对照组比较水迷宫实验的平均逃逸潜伏期(EL)延长(56.35±22.37svs23.07±16.28s);搜索时间和搜索距离缩短(29.29±6.06svs51.21±4.59s)和(548±92cmvs989±101cm),左脑重量减轻(0.601±0.59gvs0.984±0.18g);CA1区存活神经元数减少(100±27个/mmvs183±8个/mm);AchE纤维面积减少(18.50±2.24)%vs(27.50±2.18)%,NOS神经元数减少(19.25±4.33个/mm2vs33.75±5.57个/mm2)以上两组比较均P<0.05。HBO组学习记忆功能不良改善,脑形态组织学缺损减轻,与对照组比较差异有显著性,EL为39.17±21.20s;搜索时间为36.84±4.36s;搜索距离686±76cm;脑重量0.768±0.85g;存活神经元数133±25个/mm;AchE纤维面积(21.94±2.73)%(均P<0.05)。结论：早期HBO治疗在一定程度上改善了HIBD所引起的学习记忆功能不良并减轻了HIBD所导致的远期脑形态组织学缺损。     

雄激素对新生大鼠缺氧缺血脑损伤的保护作用及机制研究(英文)

目的：雄激素对缺氧缺血后脑损伤有神经保护作用,但其作用机制尚不完全清楚。该研究探讨雄激素对缺氧缺血性脑损伤(HIBD)的保护作用及其可能的机制。方法：64只7日龄SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、HIBD对照组和雄激素干预组。通过结扎左颈总动脉和吸入8%氧气和92%氮气的混合气体制备新生鼠HIBD模型。假手术组仅做颈正中切口,游离左颈总动脉,不结扎,不行低氧处理。雄激素干预组在模型制成后即刻注射丙酸睾丸酮(25mg/kg)。缺氧缺血(HI)后6h、24h、72h、7d取脑组织制作石蜡切片,用免疫组化法观察Bcl-2和Bax蛋白在各组大鼠皮质和海马表达的动态变化。HI后6h、24h、48h断头取脑制作脑匀浆,测定SOD活性和MDA含量。结果：假手术组大鼠左脑的皮质及海马可见少量Bcl-2蛋白和Bax蛋白免疫阳性细胞表达,与HIBD对照组和雄激素干预组比较差异均有显著性意义(P<0.01)。雄激素干预组HI后6h、24h、72hBcl-2蛋白在皮层和海马的表达水平明显高于HIBD对照组(P<0.05或0.01)。雄激素干预组Bax蛋白的表达水平在HI后24h显著低于HIBD对照组(P<0.05),其他时间点两组Bax蛋白的表达无明显差别。与假手术组比较,HIBD对照组HI后6h大鼠脑组织中SOD活性明显降低,MDA含量明显增加(P<0.05)。HIBD对照组HI后24hSOD活性降至最低值,MDA含量升至最高。雄激素干预增加了SOD活性,雄激素干预组HI后6h、24h、48hSOD活性均明显高于HIBD对照组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05或0.01)。雄激素干预亦导致了脑组织中MDA含量降低,雄激素干预组HI后6h、24hMDA含量均明显低于HIBD对照组,差异有显著性意义(分别P<0.05、P<0.01)。结论：雄激素发挥脑保护作用可能通过上调Bcl-2蛋白、下调Bax蛋白表达以及通过减少抗氧化剂的消耗和抑制氧自由基的生成,从而减轻缺氧缺血后神经细胞的损伤。     

不同血糖水平对缺氧缺血新生大鼠脑内葡萄糖转运蛋白基因表达的影响研究

目的：葡萄糖转运蛋白(GLUT)基因及其产物在调节脑内能量代谢方面有重要作用,近来葡萄糖在围产期缺氧缺血损伤中的作用正日益受到关注。该研究拟探讨不同血糖水平对缺氧缺血新生大鼠脑内GLUT3基因表达的影响,评估葡萄糖的缺氧缺血脑保护作用。方法：对7日龄SD新生大鼠通过调节25%葡萄糖的注射次数及时间或禁食12h,分别建立单纯低血糖组,缺氧缺血(HI)组,HI前低血糖组,HI后低血糖组,HI前轻度高血糖组,HI后轻度高血糖组,HI前重度高血糖组以及HI后重度高血糖组;另设正常组和假手术组。应用RT-PCR方法,分别在HI后2,24,48,72h及7d对各组新生大鼠脑内GLUT3基因进行测定。结果：正常组GLUT3基因表达量随日龄增加而表达量增高,HI可引起GLUT3基因表达量的短期上调,至HI后72h及7d则非常显著低于正常组(均P<0.01)。HI前低血糖组GLUT3基因表达量在各缺氧缺血组中为最低,尤其在HI后72h显著低于HI组(P<0.05)。HI前重度高血糖可明显上调GLUT3基因表达量,在HI后大部分时段的GLUT3基因表达量均显著高于其余各组(P<0.05或0.01)。HI前轻度高血糖对GLUT3基因表达的影响不如HI前重度高血糖组。在HI后无论轻或重度高血糖组以及HI后低血糖组,其GLUT3基因的表达时相均与HI前低血糖组类似。结论：结果提示HI前低血糖可使GLUT3基因表达和产物合成明显下调、脑病理改变加重;HI前重度高血糖则使GLUT3基因表达和产物合成明显上调、脑病理改变显著改善;在缺氧缺血前预先补充足量葡萄糖,有可能在一定程度上提高脑内应对缺氧缺血的侵袭、改善缺氧缺血程度的能力。     

磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶和P21ras在高血压血管平滑肌细胞中表达增强

目的探讨高血压血管平滑肌细胞增生和ERK激活的机制。方法采用免疫组织化学和Westernblotting技术,对比观察肾血管性高血压和自发性高血压大鼠肾细小动脉平滑肌细胞中磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(ERK1/2)和P21ras表达。结果实验期间,Wistar肾血管性高血压组动脉血压从(104±18)mmHg升高到实验结束时的(198±33)mmHg,自发性高血压大鼠16周龄时的血压为(163±23)mmHg。肾血管性高血压组肾小球发生了明显的纤维化(P<0.05),自发性高血压大鼠肾小球纤维化等与对照组无显著性差异。肾血管性高血压组入球动脉、小叶间动脉、叶间动脉和弓形动脉血管平滑肌细胞中磷酸化ERK1/2染色阳性率分别为7.09%、14.57%、29.44%和13.63%,均明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。自发性高血压大鼠入球动脉、小叶间动脉、叶间动脉和弓形动脉血管平滑肌细胞中磷酸化ERK1/2染色阳性率分别为16.09%、24.17%、32.44%和18.61%,均明显高于对照组(P<0.01);肾血管性高血压组和16周龄自发性高血压大鼠入球动脉、小叶间动脉和弓形动脉平滑肌细胞中P21ras的阳性率明显高于对照组(P<0.01);Westernbloting检测可见高血压组和16周龄自发性高血压大鼠肾组织磷酸化ERK1/2和P21ras蛋白含量明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。结论在大鼠两肾一夹型高血压和自发性高血压时,P21ras基因表达增加使部分血管平滑肌细胞丝裂原激活蛋白激酶系统激活,导致部分小动脉血管平滑肌细胞增生。     

雷米普利预适应对大鼠心脏延迟性的保护作用

目的探讨雷米普利预适应对大鼠离体心脏缺血-再灌注损伤的延迟性保护作用及机制。方法离体大鼠心脏采用Langendoff灌流法建立心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型。35只大鼠随机分为5组：（1）对照组；（2）缺血-再灌组（I／R组）；（3）雷米普利预处理组（Ramipril 0．05mg／kg）；（4）雷米普利预处理组（Ramipril 0．1mg／kg）：（5）HOE140＋雷米普利预处理组（HOE1400．1mg／kg＋Ramipril 0．1mg／kg）。每组7只。记录左室内压（LVP）、左室内压最大上升速率（＋dp／dtmax）、左室舒张末压（LVEDP）、心率（HR），定时收集冠脉流出液测量冠脉流量（CF）和肌酸激酶（CK）活性。再灌注结束后采用分光光度法测定心肌组织中丙二醛（MDA）含量。结果（1）与对照组比较，I／R组缺血-再灌注后10、20、30min可显著降低LVP和＋dp／dt max（P〈0.01），升高LVEDP（P〈0．01），降低CF（P〈0．01），缺血-再灌注后10、20min显著降低HR（P〈0．01）；（2）与I／R组比较，Ramipril 0．05mg／kg组缺血-再灌注后20、30min可显著升高LVP（P〈0．01）及增加CF（P〈0．05）；缺血-再灌注后10、20、30min可显著升高＋dp／dtmax（P〈0.01），降低LVEDP（P〈0.01）；（3）与I／R组比较，Ramipril 0．1mg／kg组缺血-再灌注后10、20、30min可显著升高LVP（P〈0．01），升高＋dp／dtmax（P〈0.01），降低LVEDP（P〈0.01）；增加CF（P〈0.05）；（4）与Ramipril 0．1mg／kg组比较，HOE1400．1mg／kg＋Ramipril 0．1mg／kg组缺血-再灌注后10、20、30min可显著降低LVP（P〈0.05）；降低＋dp／dtmax（P〈0．05）；升高LVEDP（P〈0.05）；降低CF（P〈0．05）；（5）I／R组缺血-再灌注后10、20、30minCK与对照组比较，均有显著性差异（P均〈0.01）；Ramipril 0．05mg／kg组及Ramipril 0．1mg／kg组缺血-再灌注后10、20、30minCK与I／R组比较，均有显著性差异（P均〈0.01）；HOE1400．1mg／kg＋Ramipril 0．1mg／kg组缺血-再灌注后10、20、30minCK与Ramipril 0．05mg／kg组及Ramipril 0．1mg／kg组比较，均有显著性差异（P均〈0.01）；（6）实验前24h舌下静脉注射雷米普利0．05mg／kg或0．1mg／kg均可显著降低缺血-再灌注心肌组织中MDA含量。结论雷米普利对缺血再灌注诱导离体大鼠心肌损伤具有延迟性保护作用，其机制可能是与激活缓激肽B2受体，减少缓激肽降解有关。