[Effects of electroacupuncture preconditioning on expression of nitric oxide synthase and glial fibrillary acidic protein in cortex of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning on the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), inducible nitric synthase (iNOS) and glial fibrilliary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cortex of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) rats so as to explore its underlying mechanism in the protection of ischemic cerebral tissue. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into sham operation (sham), model, and EA preconditioning groups (n = 8 in each group). The CI/R model was induced by intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion .(MCAO) with a nylon monofilament suture. Before modeling, EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 3 V) was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20) and "Dazhui"(GV 14) for 30 min, once daily for 7 consecutive days. The neurologic impairment score was assessed by using Longa standards and the survival number of neurons in the local ischemic cerebral cortex was determined after Nissl staining, and the expression of nNOS, iNOS and GFAP in the cerebral cortex was detected using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological deficit score of the rats in the model group was significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the number of survival neurons of the ischemic cortex was obviously decreased (P < 0.01), and the expression levels of nNOS, iNOS and GFAP were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.01). In the EA preconditioning group , the neurological deficit score, the expression levels of nNOS and iNOS were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.01), while the number of the survival neurons and GFAP expression level in the ischemic cerebral cortex were obviously higher in the EA preconditioning group in compared with the model group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: EA preconditioning can protect the ischemic cerebral cortex tissue from injury in CI/R rats, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expression of nNOS and iNOS, and up-regulating the expression of GFAP.

[Effects of electroacupuncture combined with compound Salviae Miltiorrhizae tablet on the expressions of brain derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in hippocampus CA1 of chronic cerebral ischemia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with Compound Salviae Miltiorrhizae Tablet (CSMT) on the expressions of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hippocampus CA1 of chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) rats. METHODS: Totally 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the CSMT group, the EA group, and the EA +CSMT groups, 10 in each group. The CCI model was prepared by permanent bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion. One week after modeling, CSMT at 0.75 g/kg was given to rats in the EA + CSMT group and the CSMT group by gastrogavage, once daily, for 5 successive weeks. EA at Baihui (DU20) and Dazhui (DU14) was performed to rats in the EA group and the EA + CSMT group, lasting for 30 min, once daily, for 5 successive weeks. The expressions of BDNF and VEGF in the hippocampus CA1 area were detected by immunohistochemical assay and image analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the number of positively expressed BDNF and VEGF neurons and their expression intensity in the hippocampus CA1 of the model group obviously decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the number of positively expressed BDNF and VEGF neurons and their expression intensity in the hippocampus CA1 of the CSMT group, the EA group, and the EA + CSMT groups obviously increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The number of positively expressed BDNF and VEGF neurons and their expression intensity were obviously higher in the EA + CSMT group than those of the CSMT group and the EA group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: EA combined with CSMT could significantly increase the expressions of BDNF and VEGF in the hippocampus CA1 of CCl rats. Besides, their effects were significantly higher than those of the CSMT group or the EA group.

[Detection of urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder is a common malignant neoplasm of the genitourinary system. This study was to analyze chromosome aberrations in urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Chinese, and evaluate the possibility and validity of multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) in detecting urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. METHODS: The probes of chromosome 3, 7, 17 centromeres and 9p21 region were labeled by random primer method. M-FISH was performed on interphase nuclei of 57 samples of urothelial carcinoma to analyze the correlations of chromosome aberration to diagnosis and pathology of urothelial carcinoma. RESULTS: The rate of aneuploidy was 47.4% for chromosome 3, 50.9% for chromosome 7, 56.1% for chromosome 17, and 59.6% for chromosome 9p21 in urothelial carcinoma. All the aberrations had no correlations to tumor stage. The aberrations of chromosomes 3, 7, 17 were significantly correlated to pathologic grade (P<0.01). As using the 4 chromosome probes in combination, the sensitivity for detecting urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder was 54.4%. CONCLUSION: M-FISH may be helpful for detecting urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder.