Exercise improves depressive symptoms by increasing the number of excitatory synapses in the hippocampus of CUS-Induced depression model rats.

Exercise has been considered for the treatment of depression, but the mechanism by which exercise improves depression is still unclear. To clarify the mechanism, rats were randomly divided into the control, chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)/standard and CUS/running groups. The rats in the CUS/running group ran for four weeks. In this study, a sucrose preference test (SPT) was used to evaluate the depression-like symptoms in the rats, and western blot, immunohistochemical and stereological analyses were performed to study the expression of synaptic-related proteins in the hippocampus and the changes in excitatory synapses in each sub-region. The results show that sucrose preference in the CUS/standard group was significantly lower than that in the control group, but in the CUS/running group, sucrose preference was higher than that in the CUS/standard group. Surprisingly, there was no difference in the synaptic-related proteins in the hippocampus among groups. The CUS/standard group exhibited fewer spinophilin+ (Sp+) dendritic spines representing excitatory synapses in CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus than the control group, whereas the CUS/running group exhibited significantly more Sp+ dendritic spines in these regions than the CUS/standard group, indicating that excitatory synapses were reduced in depressed rats and that running exercises could reverse this change. We hypothesize that the changes in the number of excitatory synapses better reflect the changes in depressive symptoms than the level of synaptic proteins and that the effect of exercise on excitatory synapses in the sub-regions of the hippocampus may be an important structural indicator of the improvement of depressive symptoms.

White matter atrophy and myelinated fiber disruption in a rat model of depression.

Brain imaging and postmortem studies have indicated that white matter abnormalities may contribute to the pathology and pathogenesis of depression. However, until now, no study has quantitatively investigated white matter changes in depression in rats. The current study used the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model of depression. Body weight and sucrose preference test (SPT) scores were assessed weekly. Upon successfully establishing the CUS animal model, all animals were tested using the SPT and the open field test (OFT). Then, transmission electron microscopy and unbiased stereological methods were used to investigate white matter changes in the rats. Compared with the control group, the body weight and sucrose preference of the CUS rats were significantly decreased (p < .001, p < .001, respectively). In the OFT, the total time spent and the total distance traveled in the inner area by the CUS rats were significantly lower than those of the control group (p = .002, p = .001, respectively). The stereological results revealed that white matter volume, the total volume, and the total length and mean diameter of myelinated fibers in the white matter of the CUS rats were significantly decreased compared to the control rats (p = .042, p = .038, p = .035, p = .019, respectively). The results of this study suggested that white matter atrophy and disruption of myelinated fibers in the white matter may contribute to the pathophysiology underlying depression, which might provide new targets for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for depression.

Running exercise protects the capillaries in white matter in a rat model of depression.

Running has been shown to improve depressive symptoms when used as an adjunct to medication. However, the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of running are not fully understood. Changes of capillaries in white matter have been discovered in clinical patients and depression model rats. Considering the important part of white matter in depression, running may cause capillary structural changes in white matter. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) rats were provided with a 4-week running exercise (from the fifth week to the eighth week) for 20 minutes each day for 5 consecutive days each week. Anhedonia was measured by a behavior test. Furthermore, capillary changes were investigated in the control group, the CUS/Standard group, and the CUS/Running group using stereological methods. The 4-week running increased sucrose consumption significantly in the CUS/Running group and had significant effects on the total volume, total length, and total surface area of the capillaries in the white matter of depression rats. These results demonstrated that exercise-induced protection of the capillaries in white matter might be one of the structural bases for the exercise-induced treatment of depression. It might provide important parameters for further study of the vascular mechanisms of depression and a new research direction for the development of clinical antidepressant means. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:3577-3586, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Development of andrographolide colon-targeting release pellets based on quality by design (QbD) approach / 中草药

Objective: To optimize andrographolide pellet by using a quality by design (QbD) approach. Methods: Usingthe cumulative in vitro release as evaluation index, the single-factor investigation and hazard analysis were used to study the core and coating process of andrographolide colon-targeting pellets, and the central composite design-response surface method was used to optimize and predict the three key factors of plasticizer dosage, aging time, and coating weight gain. Results: The optimum coating process parameters were as following: plasticizer dosage of 3 g, coating weight gain of 20%, and aging time of 1 h. The process had been verified that the optimal formulation process had a cumulative in vitro release of 6.9% in the acid phase (0.1 mol/L HCl)-buffered salt phase (pH 6.0) and a cumulative in vitro release of more than 90% in the pH 7.2 buffered salt phase. Conclusion: It is feasible to apply the QbD concept optimization in the study of andrographolide colon-targeting pellets.

Construction and Clinical Implications of ECG 3D RR-interval Scatter Plots / 中国循环杂志

Objectives: To plot and analyze ECG three-dimensional (3D) RR scatter plots in patients with various diseases in order to find the correlation between the graphic features and various diseases. Methods: According to ECG data provided by Physio Bank website, 3D RR scatter plots were constructed and analyzed by means of Matlab platform programming and clustering algorithm in following clinical settings: normal sinus rhythm,?arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AF), sudden cardiac death and chronic heart failure (CHF). Results: 3D RR scatter plots of normal sinus rhythm, arrhythmia, AF, sudden cardiac death and CHF were converged into several categories, all had the features of ultimate, stability and attraction. Significant differences on the number of clusters, clustering degrees and distribution ranges were observed among subjects with normal sinus rhythm, arrhythmia, AF, sudden cardiac death and CHF. Conclusions: 3D RR scatter plots had diversified distributions in different diseases, it can be divided into multiple categories with multi-distribution features. 3D RR scatter plots can clearly define the overlapping parts of 2D scatter diagram and are helpful to distinguish different diseases in a more accurate mode, future studies are warranted to explore the underlying clinical implications of the multiple parameters derived from the 3D RR scatter plots.

Protective effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on α-naphthylisothi-induced acute liver injury in rats / 中华消化杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects and mechanism of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on α-naphthylisothi (ANIT)-induced cholestatic liver injury in rats.MethodsA total of 48 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected.Fouty-two rats were gavaged with ANIT (100 mg/kg) to induce acute liver injury,six rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the liver injury and the rats left were evenly divided into control group which were gavaged with saline and UDCA group which were gavaged with UDCA (20 mg/kg).Six rats were sacrificed at 48 hours,72 hours and 96 hours after modeling.The six untreated rats were set as blank control group.Serum and liver tissues of all rats were kept after sacrificed.Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),total bilirubin (TBil) and total bile acid (TBA) were tested,interleukin-10 (IL-10),interleukin-6 (IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of multidrug resistance associated protein2 (Mrp2) at mRNA level in liver tissue was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the inflammatory reaction activity of liver tissues was inspected with Haematoidin-Eosin (HE)staining under microscope.ResultsAt 48 hours after liver injury modeling,serum TBil (143.80± 12.08) μmol/L vs.(178.50±15.19) μmol/L,TBA (13.15±3.81) μmol/L vs.(21.68±7.93)mol/L,IL-10 (44.13±3.68,37.15±6.25 ng/L),IL-6(50.80±2.09,57.32±4.63 ng/L) and TNF-α (17.53±0.84) ng/L vs,(19.10±1.64) ng/L of UDCA group and control group were compared,and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01 or P＜ 0.05).At 72 hours after liver injury modeling,serum ALT (721.67±97.54) U/L vs.(929.50±148.29) U/L and IL-10 (54.68±6.79)ng/L vs.(43.85±4.08) ng/L of UDCA group and control group were compared,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).At 96 hours after liver injury modeling,serum ALT (156.83±14.99) U/L vs.(250.67±42.29) U/L,AST (143.67±27.45) U/L vs.(206.00±63.94) U/L and TBil (23.53±5.08) μmol/L vs.(34.02±9.98) μmol/L of UDCA group and control group were compared,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).The differences of Mrp2 expression at mRNA level in liver tissues between UDCA group and control group at 48 hours (0.77 ± 0.21,0.46 ± 0.25),72 hours (2.27 ±0.84,1.10 ±0.38) and 96 hours (3.64±0.54,2.75±0.69) after liver injury modeling were statistically significant (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).ConclusionThe mechanism of the protective effects of UDCA on ANIT-induced liver injury may be related with the regulation of serum cytokines and liver Mrp2 expression.

Clinical features and genetic sequences of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus in a new-epidemic region of Zhejiang Province, China / 中华传染病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics,epidemiology of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus (SFTSV) infection and genetic sequences of SFTSV.MethodsClinical data of five cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)from Zhoushan Hospital during May 2011 to July 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.SFTSV gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).CD3+ CD4+ and CD3+ CD8+T lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry (FCM).The sequences of isolated SFTSV strains were compared with those in GenBank. ResultsThe symptoms of continuous high fever,sore muscles,enlarged superficial lymph nodes,abdominal pain,diarrhea with gastrointestinal hemorrhage were observed.The white blood cells,platelets and CD3+ CD4+ T lymphocytes were progressive decreased in acute phase with the minimum of (0.97-2.00) × 109/L,(12-42) × 109/L and 7.52％-20.39％,respectively.The SFTSV was isolated from the sera of two patients.The sequences were compared with SFTSV sequences in GenBank.The homology of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene was 96％ compared with BX-2010,L-WWG,LN3,JS4,SD4,HN6 and AH12; the glycoprotein gene was 94％ ; N protein gene was 95％ compared with JS4,SD4 and LN4.The homology of the above three genes between two isolates was 99％.ConclusionsOur results suggest that SFTSV is sporadic in Zhejiang Province which is probably from native epidemic focus.SFTS is progressive and severe with acute onset.Multiple organ dysfunction is common in severe eases.

Analysis of the therapeutic effect of esophagectomy with extended 2-field lymph node dissection for esophageal carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the surgical effect and clinical application value of esophagectomy with extended 2-field lymph node dissection for patients with esophageal carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 1987 to December 2008, 1690 patients with esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy with extended 2-field (thoracic and abdominal) dissection of lymph nodes. Patients with the middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy, and patients with upper thoracic esophageal cancer underwent Akiyama esophagectomy. 2-field (thoracic and abdominal) lymph node metastases information and the 1, 3, 5, 10-year survival rates were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lymph node metastases were found in 713 patients. The lymph node metastases rate was 42.2% (713/1690).Thoracic lymph node metastasis rate was 39.3% (665/1690), among which in the right pleural apical para-tracheal triangle was 20.7% (349/1690), in the posterior upper mediastinum was 26.3% (444/1690), in the lower mediastinum was 18.2% (307/1690). Abdominal lymph node metastasis rate was 20.1% (339/1690). THE Postoperative complication rate was 16.4% (278/1690), among which the pulmonary complication rate ranking the first, was 43.6% (136/312). The operative mortality rate was 0.2%. The 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 88.2% (1388/1574), 63.5% (868/1367), 54.8% (705/1287) and 30.8% (232/754), respectively. The 5-year survival rate in patients without lymph node metastasis was 76.2% (448/588), but that in patients with lymph node metastases was 36.8% (257/669).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results of this study demonstrated that Ivor-Lewis and Akiyama esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection exposes the operation fields clearly and make radical lymphadenectomy thoroughly, especially the lymph nodes in the posterior upper mediastinum around the recurrent laryngeal nerve and in the right pleural apical para-tracheal triangle. It is essential that patients with esophageal carcinoma with lymph node metastases should undergo esophagectomy with extended 2-field dissection of lymph nodes. This can elevate the postoperative 5-year survival rate remarkably.</p>

Isolation and Purification of Exopolysaccharide from the Fermentation Broth of Bacillus sp. and Its Antioxidant Effect / 微生物学通报

Based on the Bacillus sp., isolated from Lop Nur Desert, the technology of separation and purification and the antioxidant effect were studied. After centrifugation and vacuum filtration, the deproteinization of supernatant was operated with Sevag reagent. The crude exopolysaccharide (EPS) was obtained by precipitation with ethanol. The optimum conditions for the isolation were as follow: pH 7.0, temperature 4?C, time 1.5 h, and material to ethanol ratio 1: 4. Dissolved in water, the crude EPS was fractional separated on activated carbon column (1.5 cm ? 24 cm), eluted with distilled water, 60% ethanol, 95% ethanol, and the main fraction was collected. Then the EPS was purified on Sephadex G-100 gel column, eluted with NaCl (0.2 mol/L). Fractions (4 mL, each) were also combined according to total sugar by phenol-sulfuric acid method and protein content was determined by Coomassie brilliant blue. The results showed that EPS was relatively homogeneous glycoprotein. The data of antioxidation in vitro showed that the EPS had a high antioxidant activity, which could quench hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical and had antilipid peroxidation activity. All of these indicated that EPS was a good natural antioxidant.

Right para-tracheal triangle lymphadenectomy for esophageal carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in the right para-tracheal triangle (RPT) of esophageal carcinoma patients and the technique of dissection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>On the top of double mediastinal and abdominal lymphadenectomy, 333 esophageal carcinoma patients received RPT lymphadenectomy through the right pleural apical approach from 1990 to 2001.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In these 333 patients, the lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate in the RPT was 36.40%. A total of 457 nodes among 2 159 nodes removed gave a metastasis degree of 24.96%. The LNM rates in RPT for cervical, upper third, middle third, and lower third segments of esophagus were 66.67%, 45.45%, 34.19% and 15.79% (P < 0.05), while their respective metastasis degrees were 44.44%, 27.04%, 24.32% and 18.92% (P > 0.05). The frequency of positive nodes in the RPT for PTI, PT1, PT2, PT3 and PT4 was 0, 17.24%, 28.7%, 45.16% and 53.57%, while those of metastasis degree were 0, 8.77%, 17.62%, 33% and 41.17% (P < 0.01). The frequency of LNM in the RPT in papillary, erosive, patch-like and covert type of early tumor was 40%, 3.85%, 0 and 0 (P < 0.05), while those of the metastasis degree were 29.41%, 1.82%, 0 and 0 (P < 0.01). Higher rate of LNM in progressive stenotic esophageal carcinoma was observed compared with those of the other gross types (56.52%, P < 0.05), so was the degree (P < 0.01). The frequency of LNM in the RPT for mono-focal and multi-focal tumor was 34.98% and 70% without significant difference (P > 0.05), while the degree was 24.29% and 53.33% (P < 0.05). Postoperative complications were: leak (0.6%), and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (1.2%). No injury of vein or infra-clavicular artery, tracheal damage or mortality occurred.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>1. The lymph node metastasis from esophageal carcinoma has a tendency of wide spread and right para-tracheal triangle is an important region to be doomed. 2. With location, depth of tumor invasion and differentiation of tumor as major factors affecting LNM of esophageal carcinoma, dissection of this region should be paid more emphasis. 3. In early lesions, higher frequency of LNM in the RPT is found in papillary and erosive lesions than in the other macroscopic types. 4. Exposing the RPT, lymph node by dissection through a right pleural apical approach is very important and significant.</p>