Choice Reminder Modulates Choice-Induced Preference Change in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: Choices not only reflect preference but also shape preference. The choice-induced preference change (CIPC) occurs when making a decision modifies people's attitudes about the options. When people rate a series of items and then must choose between 2 items rated as equally attractive, they later rate the unchosen item as less attractive than before. One explanation is that the choice and the equal preference for 2 options cause a psychological discomfort known as cognitive dissonance, which can be reduced by changing the preference. The current study aims to investigate the age-related differences in the CIPC effect, and how an explicit reminder of the previous choice modulates this effect. METHODS: Using an artifact-controlled free-choice paradigm, with a sample of 79 younger and 76 older participants, we manipulated the choice reminder in 2 experiments. RESULTS: We found that compared with young adults, older adults are less susceptible to CIPC when their previous choices were not explicitly reminded. After boosting the salience of choice-preference incongruency by reminding participants of their previous choices, older adults showed comparable CIPC as young adults. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that older adults tend to downweigh the information that leads to cognitive dissonance and use this strategy only when such information is relatively implicit. The diminished CIPC in older adults could be one of the emotional regulation strategies that older adults engage in to maintain positive emotional states when making difficult decisions.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of hippocampal Caspase-3 in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression level of Caspase-3, so as to explore its mechanism in inhibiting apoptosis after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. METHODS: SD male rats were randomly divided into sham-operation, model, EA and Caspase-3 inhibitor groups (n=20 rats in each group). The focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury rat model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Rats of the EA group received EA at "Hegu" (LI4), "Chize" (LU5), "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on the affected side for 20 min. Rats of the inhibitor group were given intracerebroventricular injection of inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK 5 µg before modeling. The neurological deficit scores (NDS) were assessed by using Longa's method, the infarct size of the brain assessed after staining with 2% triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The apoptosis index of nerve cells were observed by TUNEL staining, PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Caspase-3 in the hippocampus, separately. RESULTS: After modeling, the NDS, infarct volume, the apoptosis index of hippocampus CA1 area, and Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly increased in the model group compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.01). After intervention, the NDS, infarct volume, the apoptosis index, Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels were all significantly decreased in the EA and Caspase-3 inhibitor groups re-levant to the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can improve the neurological function in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats, which may be related to its effect in inhibiting of Caspase-3 expression.

Application of animal experimental models in the research of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a relatively common but serious mental illness that results in a heavy burden to patients, their families, and society. The disease can be triggered by multiple factors, while the specific pathogenesis remains unclear. The development of effective therapeutic drugs for schizophrenia relies on a comprehensive understanding of the basic biology and pathophysiology of the disease. Therefore, effective animal experimental models play a vital role in the study of schizophrenia. Based on different molecular mechanisms and modeling methods, the currently used experimental animal experimental models of schizophrenia can be divided into four categories that can better simulate the clinical symptoms and the interplay between susceptible genes and the environment: neurodevelopmental, drug-induced, genetic-engineering, and genetic-environmental interaction of animal experimental models. Each of these categories contains multiple subtypes, which has its own advantages and disadvantages and therefore requires careful selection in a research application. The emergence and utilization of these models are promising in the prediction of the risk of schizophrenia at the molecular level, which will shed light on effective and targeted treatment at the genetic level.

Compositional Variation and Functional Mechanism of Exosomes in the Articular Microenvironment in Knee Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability worldwide with increasing age. Knee OA (KOA) is the most prevalent type of OA. Recently, it is considered that KOA is a whole joint disease, including articular cartilage, subchondral bone, synovium, ligaments, joint capsules, and muscles around the joint. Exosomes in knee joint are mainly secreted by articular chondrocytes and synoviocytes. They participate in cell and tissue cross-talk by carrying a complex cargo of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, etc. Under normal conditions, exosomes maintain the microenvironmental homeostasis of the joint cavity. Under pathological conditions, the composition and function of exosomes changes, which in turn, disrupts the balance of anabolism and catabolism of articular chondrocyte and facilitates inflammatory responses, thus accelerating KOA progression. As a regenerative medicine, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promised to facilitate repair of degenerated cartilage and decelerate OA process. The therapeutic function of MSC mainly depends on MSC-derived exosomes, which can restore the homeostasis of the articular microenvironment. In the future, the specific mechanism of exosomes for OA treatment needs further elucidation, and the treatment effect of exosomes for long-term and/or severe OA needs further exploration.

Save your gut save your age: The role of the microbiome in stem cell ageing.

The tremendous importance of microbiota in microbial homoeostasis, alterations in metabolism and both innate and adaptive immune systems has been well established. A growing body of evidence support that dysbiosis or compositional changes in gut microbiota is linked to the ageing of stem cells in terms of dysregulations of metabolism, aberrant activation of the immune system as well as promoting epigenetic instability of stem cell. In this concise review, we elucidate recent emerging topics on microbiotic alterations and underlying mechanisms in stem cell ageing.

[Experimental study on antitumor effects of extracts from Actinidia argutaor].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the inhibitory effect of extract from Actinidia argutaor on in vivo and in vitro carcinomata, and explore its mechanism. METHOD: The in vivo S180 and H22 model were used to observe the effect of A. argutaor on inhibitory rate of carcinomata, organ relative weight of spleen and thymus gland and the release of tumor necrosis factor. A549 cells were exposed to extract from A. argutaor with different concentrations for 24, 48, 72 hours. MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibiting effects of extract from A. argutaor on the proliferation of the cells. Flow cytometry was applied to detect cell cycle. RESULT: The inhibitory effects of the extracts on in vivo and in vitro carcinomata were observed, the inhibitory rate for S180 and H22 line was 33.32% and 34.62% respectively. The extracts could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells during G0-G1 period and significantly decrease the cell ratio of S stage. CONCLUSION: The extracts from A. argutaor showed a good antineoplastic activity.

[Study on vitro release and transdermal behaviors of Yulian cataplasm].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the regularity of Yulian Cataplasm in vitro release and transdermal behaviors. METHOD: Improved Franz diffusion devices was used with four index ingredients as evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine that were determined by HPLC in one mobile phase. RESULT: The release rates of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine were 0.0239, 0.0156, 0.0725, 0.8191 mg x cm(-2) x h(-1/2), respectivley. The transdermal rates of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine were 1.256, 1.0302, 2.8029, 20.919 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1), respectively. CONCLUSION: The releasing process of all index is in accordance with Higuchi equation and the transdermal proccess is in accordance with zero-level equation.

[Determination of evodiamine and rutaecarpine of compound Wuzhuyu cataplasm in plasma by SPE-HPLC: application to its pharmacokinetics].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a SPE-HPLC method for the determination and pharmacokinetic study of evodiamine and rutacarpine in rat plasma. METHOD: A Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used with acetonitrile-water-tetrahydrofuran-acetic acid (51:48:1:0.1) as a mobile phase and at a flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1), and the UV detection was at 225 nm. The column temperature was 35 degrees C. After the analytes were extracted from the plasma of rats by solid phase extraction (SPE), the content of evodiamine and rutaecarpine was measuared by HPLC method using halcinonide as an internal standard solution. RESULT: After transdermal administration to rats, the pharmacokinetic behavior of evodiamine and rutaecarpine belongs to the one-compartment model. The main pharmacokinetic parameters was as follows: K(a) 0.224 h(-1) and 0.220 h(-1), K(e) 0.114 h(-1) and 0.118 h(-1), C(max) 0.211 mg x L(-1) and 0.272 mg x L(-1), T(peak) 6.132 h and 6.102 h, respectively. CONCLUSION: The method in this study is simple, rapid and sensitive. It is proved to be suitable for pharmacokinetic study of evodiamine and rutaecarpine.

[Advances in the studies of Oroxylum indicum].

According to documents of recent fifty years the article summarized the herbalogical study, processing, chemical constituent, quality standard, pharmacologic action and clinical study of Oroxylum indicum. The chemical constituents mainly are flavonoids, glycoside and volatile oil. It also contains pterocarpan and rhodioside with p-hydroxyphenylethanols and cyclohexanols. Quantitative index was added in the quality standard of china pharmacopeia since 1995, but the quantitative standard is blank at the present, and the baicalin was mostly used for quantitative standard in the documents which lack of mark. Baicalein -7-O-diglucoside didn't existed in the other plants. It's mark will do good to the enhancement of quality standard. Pharmacologic action and clinical study were mainly anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenesis, antibiosis, anticancera,and coughing.

[Studies on effect of microemulsion in enhancing solubility of baicalin and puerarin].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of O/W Microemulsion in enhancing solubility of baicalin and puerarin. METHOD: The Pseudo-ternary phase diagram was employed to selected the formulations of O/W microemulsion. The partical size of microemulsion, and solubility of baicalin and puerarin in water, oil phase, surfactant, microemulsion and alcohol were determined, respectively. RESULT: 11 types of microemulsion formulations have the effect in enhancing the solubility of baicalin and puerarin; the solubility of Baicalin in microemulsion is higher as 5-15 times than it in water, the solubility of Puerarin in microemulsion is higher as 3 - 4 times than it in water. CONCLUSION: Microemulsion is good in enhancing solubility of effective compounds extracted from Chinese medical herbs.

[Changes in level of organic acids in fructus crataegi after processing].

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the organic acids level in fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida var. major before and after processing. METHOD: The amount of total organic acids and individual citric acid, malate acid, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid in fruit of C. pinnatifida var. major before and after processing were determined by pH titration and HPLC analysis. RESULT: Good linear relationship between peakarea and amount was noted for 0.28-9.02 microg of malate acid, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. Regression equation was Y = 2344.7 + 49309.6 X. Good linear relationships between the logarithm of peak area and amount were noted for 0.348-1.74 microg of usolic acid and 0.498-2.48 microg of oleanolic acid, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998 in each case. Regression equations were Y = 1.3628 X + 5.9508 and Y = 1.4447 X + 5.8236, respectively. CONCLUSION: The lipid-soluble organic acids mostly remain whereas only about 70% of the water-soluble acids remain after processing in fruit of C. pinnatifida var. major.

[Application of evaporative light-scattering detector in analysis of the active constituents in Chinese herbal medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To review the application of Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector in analysis of the active constituents in Chinese herbal medicine. METHOD: Papers on the assay of the active compounds of Chinese herbal medicine by HPLC-ELSD method were collected. RESULT: Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector has been widely used in assaying the compounds which have no UV absorption or when wavelengths for maximal UV absorption are under 200 nm in natural products. CONCLUSION: Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector will have a more widely application in analysis of constituents in Chinese herbal medicine.

[Application of pattern recognition to quality assessment of the traditional Chinese medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To review the application of the pattern recognition to quality assessment of the Chinese Traditional Medicine. METHOD: Papers of application of chemical pattern recognition, pattern recognition of stereoscopic features and artificial neural networks to quality assessment of the Chinese Traditional Medicine were collected and the application of different method was reviewed. RESULT: IR, UV, GC, GC-Mass and the sum mass spectra were used to evaluate the chemical character of different samples, and the microscopic features of the epidermis were scored quantitatively by stereology and image analysis on the basis of classical taxonomy,. BP networks were also widely used. CONCLUSION: Chemical pattern recognition, pattern recognition of stereoscopic features and artificial neural networks are of important use in quality assessment of material medica.