Effect of acupuncture combined with lower limb gait rehabilitation robot on improving walking function in stroke patients with hemiplegia.

BACKGROUND: No study has yet demonstrated the effect of lower limb gait rehabilitation robot treatment combined with acupuncture on stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of acupuncture combined with lower limb gait rehabilitation robot on walking function in patients with hemiplegia after stroke. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with hemiplegia after stroke were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. The control group received regular rehabilitation training and acupuncture therapy; the intervention group was additionally trained by AiWalker-I lower limb gait robot. Both groups received 5 sessions a week for 4 weeks. Walking function parameters were assessed before and after the 4-week treatment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in all parameters between the two groups in baseline (P > 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, all parameters including the effectiveness of functional ambulation category (FAC), time up and go test (TUGT) time, Wisconsin gait scale (WGS) score, walking spatiotemporal parameters were all significantly improved in both groups with a significant better effect in the intervention group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with lower limb gait rehabilitation robot training has a positive effect on correction of abnormal gait and improvement of walking ability of hemiplegic patients after stroke.

[Main sources of soil phosphorus and their seasonal changes across different vegetation restoration stages in karst region of southwest China]. / è¥¿å—å–€æ–¯ç‰¹åŒºåŸŸä¸åŒæ¤è¢«æ¢å¤é˜¶æ®µåœŸå£¤ç£·ä¸»è¦æ¥æºåŠå ¶å­£èŠ‚å˜åŒ–.

Investigating the main sources of soil phosphorus and their seasonal variations across different vegetation restoration stages in karst region of southwest China can deepen our understanding of soil phosphorus cycling during vegetation restoration, and provide scientific reference for the controlling of rocky desertification. Taking the typical karst ecosystems at different vegetation restoration stages in Guilin, Guangxi as the research objects, we conducted a one-year field experiment with three treatments: vegetation restoration for about 10 years (R10), 30 years (R30) and 50 years (R50). We collected rainfall based on precipitation frequency, as well as soil, fresh litter and root samples in each season to measure the concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) in rainfall, the contents of TP and available phosphorus (AP) in soil, and the contents of TP in fresh litter and roots. In combination with litter phosphorus storage and soil microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), we analyzed the contributions of phosphorus input to soil from different phosphorus sources. The results showed that soil TP content increased initially and then decreased with vegetation restoration, with a seasonal pattern of autumn > summer > spring > winter. Soil AP content was low in all treatments, with higher levels in summer and winter than in spring and autumn. Soil MBP content increased with vegetation restoration, with a seasonal variation pattern of spring >autumn > summer > winter. The annual phosphorus input from rainfall was 0.78 kg·hm-2 with the highest value in spring. The annual phosphorus input from fresh litter in the R10, R30, and R50 treatments was 2.42, 10.64 and 5.03 kg·hm-2. Phosphorus storage in litter was 1.23, 5.32 and 3.45 kg·hm-2. The annual phosphorus input from plant roots was 5.18, 12.65, and 5.96 kg·hm-2, respectively. The highest levels of the above parameters always occurred in the R30 treatment. There was a significant positive correlation between soil TP content and plant root phosphorus input, and a significant negative correlation between soil AP content and rainfall phosphorus input. In summary, the contribution of phosphorus input from different sources to soil phosphorus pool varied across different vegetation restoration stages in the karst region of southwest China. Roots are the main source of soil phosphorus, followed by litters. Phosphorus entering the soil through wet deposition is very limited. Soil microorganisms also contribute to soil phosphorus reserve.

Polyphenols from Broussonetia papyrifera Induce Apoptosis of HepG2 Cells via Inactivation of ERK and AKT Signaling Pathways.

The extract of Broussonetia papyrifera has been proved to have antitumor activity. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by polyphenols from Broussonetia papyrifera (PBPs). The results revealed that PBPs inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis showed that PBPs increased the apoptosis ratio of HepG2 cells significantly. PBPs increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) level of HepG2 cells. PBPs induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Western blotting showed that PBPs upregulated the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and the expression level of Caspase-3, and activated p53 in HepG2 cells. The inhibition of proliferative relative signals (protein kinase B, PKB/AKT) and survival relative signals (extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK) were also observed in PBP-treated HepG2 cells. Our findings suggest that apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by PBPs is mitochondria-mediated via inactivation of ERK and AKT signaling pathways.

Neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year in offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To study the metabolic derangements in the second half of pregnancy caused by gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM), on the short term neurodevelopment of infants. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study of 555 mother-child pairs were recruited, which included 177 GDM patients and 378 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance as controls. Clinical and demographic characteristics were obtained at enrollment, birth and follow-up. Neurodevelopment was examined with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development V.1 mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI). Fatty acids (FA) were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and triglyceride (TG). The scores of MDI and PDI of control group were higher than those of GDM group. The regression analysis showed that maternal age and saturated fatty acid (SFA) were independently associated with lower scores on the MDI whereas gestational age and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were associated with higher scores; in addition, lower scores on the PDI were associated with FPG and neonatal weigh associated with higher scores. CONCLUSION: SFA, DHA and FPG as indicators of lipid metabolism were associated with neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year in offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Control the level of blood glucose and lipid during pregnancy and the appropriate supplementation of DHA during pregnancy in the second half of pregnancy may be beneficial to the neurodevelopment of infants.

A tumor-to-lymph procedure navigated versatile gel system for combinatorial therapy against tumor recurrence and metastasis.

Application of cancer vaccines is limited due to their systemic immunotoxicity and inability to satisfy all the steps, including loading of tumor antigens, draining of antigens to lymph nodes (LNs), internalization of antigens by dendritic cells (DCs), DC maturation, and cross-presentation of antigens for T cell activation. Here, we present a combinatorial therapy, based on a α-cyclodextrin (CD)-based gel system, DOX/ICG/CpG-P-ss-M/CD, fabricated by encapsulating doxorubicin (DOX) and the photothermal agent indocyanine green (ICG). Upon irradiation, the gel system exhibited heat-responsive release of DOX and vaccine-like nanoparticles, CpG-P-ss-M, along with chemotherapy- and phototherapy-generated abundant tumor-specific antigen storage in situ. The released CpG-P-ss-M acted as a carrier adsorbed and delivered antigens to LNs, promoting the uptake of antigens by DCs and DC maturation. Notably, combined with PD-L1 blocking, the therapy effectively inhibited primary tumor growth and induced tumor-specific immune response against tumor recurrence and metastasis.

[Selection and validation of internal reference genes for qPCR in Polygonatum cyrtonema tubers at different development stages and in response to abiotic stress].

In order to analyze the expression of genes involved in steroidal saponin biosynthesis pathway in Polygonatum cyrtonema tubers, it is very important to select internal reference genes that are stably expressed at different development stages and in response to abiotic stress. According to the previously established P. cyrtonema transcriptome database and reported internal reference genes in plant, this study systematically analyzed eight candidate internal reference genes including histone H2 A, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, ACTIN, ß-tubulin, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme-E2-10, elongation factor 1-alpha isoform, 18 S rRNA and α-tubulin 4 for expression stability in P. cyrtonema tubers at different development stages and in response to methyl jasmonate(MeJA) stress by using Real time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qPCR). Based on the statistical analysis of qPCR results by using GeNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper softwares, the expression of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme-E2-10 and elongation factor 1-alpha isoform are the most stable in P. cyrtonema tubes at different development stages and in response to MeJA stress. The two internal reference genes were further validated by analyzing the expression of 4 genes involved in steroidal saponin biosynthesis pathways. In conclusion, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme-E2-10 and elongation factor 1-alpha isoform can be used as the most appropriate internal reference genes for qPCR analysis in P. cyrtonema. This study also provide a foundation for future investigate the molecular mechanism of steroidal saponin biosynthesis pathways in P. cyrtonema.

[Flavonoid glycosides from dried and nearly ripe fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from the dried and nearly ripe fruits of Evodia (Euodia) rutaecarpa. METHOD: The compounds were separated and purified by solvent and chromatographic methods. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic techniques. RESULT: Fifteen compounds were separated from the normal butanol extracts of the 70% aqueous ethanol extract of the dried and nearly ripe fruits of E. rutaecarpa. Among of them, four compounds were reported in the essay and identified as diosmetin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (2), diosmin (3) and chrysoeriol-7-O-rutinoside (4). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1, 3 and 4 were separated from the dried and nearly ripe fruits of E. rutaecarpa for the first time.

New glycosidic alkaloid from the nearly ripe fruits of Euodia rutaecarpa.

A new natural product, 10-hydroxyrutaecarpine (1), and a rarely new glycosidic alkaloid, rutaecarpine-10-O-rutinoside (2), along with the known compounds rutaecarpine (3), evodiamine, wuzhuyuamide-I, and dehydroevodiamine were isolated from the butanol fraction of 70% ethanol aqueous extract of the dried and nearly ripe fruits of Euodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data.

Simultaneous determination and pharmacokinetic analysis of seven alkaloids and two flavonoids from rat plasma by HPLC-DAD after oral administration of Wuzhuyu decoction.

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination and pharmacokinetic analysis of seven alkaloids dehydroevodiamine (DHED), 10-hydroxyrutaecarpine (HDR), evodiamine (EDM), rutaecarpine (RCP), 1-methyl-2-n-nonyl-4(1H)quinolone (MNQ), evocarpine (ECP), and dihydroevocarpine (DHE), and two flavonoids isorhamnetin-7-O-rutinoside (RIM) and diosmetin-7-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (GRD) in rat plasma after oral administration of Wuzhuyu decoction. The flow rate was kept at 1.0 ml/min and the detection wavelength was set at 300 nm. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.5013-30.076 µg/ml for DHED, 0.2161-21.608 µg/ml for RIM, 0.161-12.876 µg/ml for HDR, 0.2146-21.457 µg/ml for GRD, 2.0464-40.928 µg/ml for EDM, 1.0398-31.194 µg/ml for RCP, 0.5970-35.818 µg/ml for MNQ, 0.8371-20.928 µg/ml for ECP, and 0.5167-31.003 µg/ml for DHE. The precision (relative standard deviation (RSD), %) for all was less than 10% and the accuracy (relative error (RE), %) was within ± 10%. The results demonstrated that the assay had remarkable reproducibility with acceptable accuracy and precision. The lower limit of quantifications for the compounds in plasma ranged from 0.12 to 0.23 µg/ml and the lower limit of detections ranged from 0.024 to 0.076 µg/ml. This validated method has been successfully applied in the pharmacokinetics study of seven alkaloids and two flavonoids after orally administrating the Wuzhuyu decoction to rats.

[Molecular mechanism of Wulongdan for improving the learning and memory abilities of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Wulongdan on the learning and memory abilities of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia and explore the mechanisms. METHODS: Male SD Rat models of chronic cerebral ischemia were established by permanent ligation of the bilateral carotid arteries. Three weeks after the operation, the rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, chronic cerebral ischemia group (model group), high-dose drug group, low-dose drug group and Yinxingye group and received the corresponding treatments on a daily basis for 5 consecutive weeks. Morris water maze was used to assess the learning and memory abilities of the rats, and Western blotting was carried out for detecting the expressions of NR1 and NR2B in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the rats in high-dose drug, low-dose drug and Yinxingye groups showed significantly shorter time of finding platform in Morris water maze test (P<0.05 or 0.01). The rats in the model group showed significantly lowered expressions of NR1 and NR2B of the cortex and hippocampus than those in the sham-operated group (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, the high-dose Wulongdan group and Yinxingye group both showed significantly increase expressions of NR1 and NR2B (P<0.01), but their expression levels still remained significantly lower than those in the sham-operated group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Wulongdan can enhance the learning and memory abilities of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia, the mechanisms of which may involve increased expressions of NR1 and NR2B in the hippocampus and cortex.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of some novel 6-alkoxy(phenoxy)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-amine derivatives.

Starting from phthalic anhydride, several new 6-alkoxy(phenoxy)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-amine derivatives were synthesized as potent anti-inflammatory agent. The study showed that the compounds 6h (6-(2-chlorophenoxy)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-amine) and 6s (6-(4-aminophenoxy)-[1,2,4] triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-amine) exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory activity (81% and 83% inhibition, respectively, at 0.5 h after i.p. administration) which were slightly more potent than the reference drug Ibuprofen (61%). Furthermore, the peak activity of 6h and 6s was observed at the 3 h after p.o. administration, and they exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory activity than Ibuprofen at the dose of 50 mg/kg at the peak time.

[The change of activity of protective enzyme around sprout tumble of Pinellia ternate under high temperature stress].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change of the activity of protective enzyme to avoid sprout tumble of Pinellia ternata. METHOD: A high temperature stress was given to P. ternata. Then the activity of protective enzyme (SOD, POD and CAT) and the content of membrane lipid peroxidation (MDA) were detected after different treating days. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: By stress time increasing, the content of MDA in lamina and petiole increased obviously, but it increased invisibly in tuber. After high temperature stress, the activity of both SOD and CAT decreased gradually. The activity of POD increased at first but then decreased rapidly.

[Studies on fluoride concentration and cholinesterase activity in rat hippocampus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the accumulation of fluoride in rat hippocampus and its effect on cholinesterase activity. METHODS: Rats were subchronically exposed to NaF, and fluoride concentration and cholinesterase activity in rat hippocampus were determined. RESULTS: Fluoride concentration in rat hippocampus was significantly correlated with the dosage of fluoride, and there were significant differences among high dosage group [(13.03 +/- 1.79) micro g/g], low dosage group [(9.83 +/- 0.92) micro g/g] and control [(8.27 +/- 1.11) micro g/g], P < 0.01. Acetylcholinesterase activities among three groups [(0.111 +/- 0.031) micro mol/mg, (0.143 +/- 0.025) micro mol/mg, (0.183 +/- 0.027) micro mol/mg] were also significantly different (P < 0.01), which was negatively correlated with fluoride concentration in rat hippocampus (r = -0.700, P < 0.01). The activity of butylcholinesterase in high dosage group [(0.041 +/- 0.010) micro mol/mg] was different from that of control [(0.067 +/- 0.025) micro mol/mg, P < 0.05], but the activity was not significantly related with fluoride concentration in rat hippocampus (r = -0.317, P = 0.094). CONCLUSION: Fluoride may go through the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in rat hippocampus, and inhibit the activity of cholinesterase.