Cardioprotective effects of a proanthocyanidin-rich fraction from Croton celtidifolius Baill: Focus on atherosclerosis

Proanthocyanidins are the most abundant polyphenols in human diets. Epidemiological studies have pointed to proanthocyanidins as promising molecules that could prevent the development of several coronary syndromes by inhibiting the atherogenic process. The present study was designed to investigate the antiatherogenic effects of a proanthocyanidin-rich fraction (PRF) obtained from Croton celtidifolius Baill (Euphorbiaceae) barks. In isolated human LDL, PRF caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of Cu²⁺-induced oxidative modifications, evidenced by the increasing of the lag phase of lipid peroxidation and decreasing in the oxidation rate (V_max), moreover, the protein moieties from LDL were protected against Cu²⁺-induced oxidation. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), PRF reduced the ROS production stimulated by oxidized LDL. Herein, we demonstrate that oral treatment with PRF improved endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in hypercholesterolemic LDL receptor knockout mice (LDLr^−/−), however, the fraction did not modify plasma lipids and atherosclerotic lesion size in this experimental model. Finally, our results showed for the first time that PRF prevent isolated LDL oxidation, decrease oxidative stress in endothelial cells and improve endothelial function in mice.     

Genetic association analysis of NRG1 with methamphetamine-induced psychosis in a Japanese population

The neuregulin 1 gene (NRG1) has been identified as a candidate gene for schizophrenia in a linkage study in the Icelandic population. Recent evidence also suggested that it might be related to the neurodevelopmental hypothesis and glutamate hypothesis for schizophrenia. Because the symptomatology of methamphetamine (METH) use disorder with accompanying psychosis is similar to that of patients with schizophrenia, NRG1 is an appropriate candidate gene for METH-induced psychosis. We conducted a case-control association study between NRG1 and METH-induced psychosis in a Japanese population (184 subjects with METH-induced psychosis and 534 controls). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject. We selected four SNPs (SNP8NRG221533, SNP8NRG241930, SNP8NRG243177, and rs3924999) in NRG1 from previous reports. No significant association was found between NRG1 and METH-induced psychosis in the allele/genotype-wise or haplotype-wise analyses. In conclusion, NRG1 might not contribute to the risk of METH-induced psychosis in the Japanese population.     

Differential effects of antipsychotics on hippocampal presynaptic protein expressions and recognition memory in a schizophrenia model in mice

We compared the effects of subchronic clozapine and haloperidol administration on the expression of SNAP-25 and synaptophysin in an animal model of schizophrenia based on the glutamatergic hypothesis. Mice were first treated with a non-competitive NMDA antagonist MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg/day) or saline for 5 days, and then clozapine (5 mg/kg/day), haloperidol (1 mg/kg/day) or saline was administered for two weeks. The locomotion test, as a behavioral model of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, was applied after MK-801/saline administration on day 6 for acute effects and after antipsychotic/saline administration on day 19 for enduring effects on mice activity. Memory function was assessed by the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) test, one day after the last day of antipsychotic/saline administration (day 20). Western Blotting technique was used to determine SNAP-25 and synaptophysin expressions in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Both antipsychotics reversed the enhanced locomotion effects of MK-801. MK-801 and haloperidol decreased recognition memory performance. On the other hand, clozapine did not compromise memory. It also did not reverse the negative effects of MK-801 on memory performance. MK-801 did not change SNAP-25 and synaptophysin expressions in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Clozapine increased hippocampal SNAP-25, decreased hippocampal synaptophysin expression, whereas frontal SNAP-25 and synaptophysin expressions remained unchanged. Haloperidol had no effects on levels of SNAP-25 and synaptophysin in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. These findings support the idea that the differential effects of clozapine might be related to its plastic effects and synaptic reorganization of the hippocampus.     

灵芝三萜类化合物对AD大鼠学习记忆能力和ACh含量的影响

目的:探讨灵芝三萜类化合物(ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids,GLT)对阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer disease,AD)的防治作用及其机制.方法:将自然衰老模型大鼠60只随机均分为6组,模型组(NS 10 mL·kg-1)、GLT低、中、高剂量组(0.25,0.5,1.0g·kg-1)、阳性对照组(健脑胶囊0.38 g·kg-1)及溶媒对照组(食用油10 mL·kg-1);5月龄大鼠10只为正常对照组(NS 10 mL·kg-1).连续ig给药60 d后,Morris水迷宫检测大鼠学习记忆能力;光化学法检测脑组织乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)、乙酰胆碱转移酶(ChAT)活性.结果:自然衰老模型大鼠逃避潜伏期延长、搜索距离增加,探索时间及探索距离百分比减少,显示学习记忆障碍,脑组织AChE活力升高、ChAT活力降低.自然衰老模型大鼠用GLT ig 60 d后,学习记忆成绩明显提高,AChE活力降低、ChAT活力升高.结论:GLT对AD有防治作用,其作用机制可能和提高脑内乙酰胆碱(ACh)含量有关.     

广西圆斑蝰蛇毒中提取的NGF对Aβ25-35诱导的AD模型小鼠脑乙酰胆碱及其代谢酶含量的影响

目的观察广西圆斑蝰蛇毒中提取的NGF对Aβ25-35诱导的AD模型小鼠胆碱能神经系统的影响。方法采用脑立体定位仪自侧脑室注射Aβ25-35建立AD小鼠模型,分别给予不同剂量NGF对AD小鼠进行治疗,测定不同实验组小鼠脑组织乙酰胆碱（Ach）含量变化及乙酰胆碱脂酶（AchE）和胆碱乙酰转移酶（ChAT）活性变化。结果广西圆斑蝰蛇毒NGF呈剂量依赖性的对AD小鼠脑内胆碱能系统产生调节作用。与模型组比较,NGF中剂量组（0.4μg·μL^-1与高剂量组（0.56μg·μL^-1小鼠脑组织AchE活性均有显著降低（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,且各剂量组间呈逐渐下降的趋势;各剂量组（0.28,0.40,0.56μg·μL^-1小鼠脑组织Ach含量均显著增加（P〈0.05）,其中高剂量组（0.56μg·μL^-1ChAT活性明显升高（P〈0.05）,且各剂量组间这两个指标均呈逐渐上升的趋势。结论广西圆斑蝰蛇毒NGF可促进ChAT的表达,增加Ach的合成;降低脑组织AchE的活性,抑制Ach分解,增加脑内Ach含量,改善AD模型小鼠的学习、记忆障碍。     

腰骶神经节异位致腰腿痛(附5例报告)

论文对５例腰骶神经节变异和１例神经鞘膜瘤的诊治，目的：对其神经节变异的认识，以及与神经鞘膜瘤的鉴别加以讨论。方法：从１９９４－１９９６年，搜集到５例神经节异位，另有１例为神经鞘膜瘤，全部病例均为男性，年龄２３－５８岁，平均４２岁，职业均为体力劳动者，异位的部位，Ｌ３，４间隙左侧１例，Ｌ４，５间隙右侧１例，Ｌ５Ｓ１间隙右侧２例，Ｌ５Ｓ１间隙左侧１例，全部病例均手术治疗，结果：认为腰骶神经节变异是解剖生理变异，一般不会产生症状，只有合并侧隐窝狭窄时才会出现症状，所以常误诊为“腰椎间盘突出症”，结论对神经节异位ＣＴ有助于诊断，而磁共振要高于ＣＴ，与神经鞘膜瘤的鉴别影像学者很难将两者区分开来，手术是较好的鉴别方法，对于神经节不能冒然切除     

Low Coronary Wall Shear Stress Is Associated With Severe Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Objectives

This study investigated the relationship between low wall shear stress (WSS) and severe endothelial dysfunction (EDFx).