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05 August 2013, Volume 8 Issue 22 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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Olive leaf extract inhibits lead poisoning-induced brain injury Yu Wang, Shengqing Wang, Wenhui Cui, Jiujun He, Zhenfu Wang, Xiaolu Yang 2013, 8 (22):  2021-2029.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.001 Abstract ( 213 )   PDF (392KB) ( 2024 )   Save Olive leaves have an antioxidant capacity, and olive leaf extract can protect the blood, spleen and hippocampus in lead-poisoned mice. However, little is known about the effects of olive leaf extract on lead-induced brain injury. This study was designed to determine whether olive leaf extract can inhibit lead-induced brain injury, and whether this effect is associated with antioxidant capacity. First, we established a mouse model of lead poisoning by continuous intragastric administration of lead acetate for 30 days. Two hours after successful model establishment, lead-poisoned mice were given olive leaf extract at doses of 250, 500 or 1 000 mg/kg daily by intragastric administration for 50 days. Under the transmission electron microscope, olive leaf extract attenuated neuronal and capillary injury and reduced damage to organelles and the matrix around the capillaries in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex in the lead-poisoned mice. Olive leaf extract at a dose of 1 000 mg/kg had the greatest protective effect. Spectrophotometry showed that olive leaf extract significantly in-creased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phospha-tase, while it reduced malondialdehyde content, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining revealed that olive leaf extract dose-dependently decreased Bax protein expression in the cerebral cortex of lead-poisoned mice. Our findings indicate that olive leaf extract can inhibit lead-induced brain injury by increasing antioxidant capacity and reducing apop-tosis. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Neuroprotective effects of rutaecarpine on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury Chunlin Yan, Ji Zhang, Shu Wang, Guiping Xue, Yong Hou 2013, 8 (22):  2030-2038.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.002 Abstract ( 200 )   PDF (210KB) ( 1068 )   Save Rutaecarpine, an active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Tetradium ruticarpum, has been shown to improve myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. Because both cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are forms of ischemic vascular disease, they are closely related. We hypothesized that rutaecarpine also has neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. A cerebral ischemia reperfusion model was established after 84, 252 and 504 μg/kg rutaecarpine were given to mice via intraperitoneal injection, daily for 7 days. Results of the step through test, 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride dyeing and oxidative stress indicators showed that rutaecarpine could improve learning and memory ability, neurological symptoms and reduce infarc-tion volume and cerebral water content in mice with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. Rutaecarpine could significantly decrease the malondialdehyde content and increase the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in mouse brain. Therefore, rutaecarpine could improve neurological function following injury induced by cerebral ischemia reperfusion, and the mechanism of this improvement may be associated with oxidative stress. These results verify that rutaecarpine has neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia reperfusion in mice. Related Articles | Metrics

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Poxue Huayu and Tianjing Busui Decoction for cerebral hemorrhage Jixiang Ren, Xiangyu Zhou, Jian Wang, Jianjun Zhao, Pengguo Zhang 2013, 8 (22):  2039-2049.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.003 Abstract ( 241 )   PDF (459KB) ( 2103 )   Save This study established a rat model of cerebral hemorrhage by injecting autologous anticoagulated blood. Rat models were intragastrically administered 5, 10, 20 g/kg Poxue Huayu and Tianjing Busui Decoction, supplemented with Hirudo, raw rhubarb, raw Pollen Typhae, gadfly, Fructrs Trichosanthis, Radix Notoginseng, Rhizoma Acori Talarinowii, and glue of tortoise plastron, once a day, for 14 consecutive days. Results demonstrated that brain water content significantly reduced in rats with cerebral hemorrhage, and intracerebral hematoma volume markedly reduced after treat-ment. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tyrosine ki-nase B and vascular endothelial growth factor expression noticeably increased around the sur-rounding hematoma. Reverse transcription-PCR revealed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tyrosine kinase B mRNA expression significantly increased around the surrounding hematoma. Neurologic impairment obviously reduced. These results indicated that Poxue Huayu and Tianjing Busui Decoction exert therapeutic effects on cerebral hemorrhage by upregulating the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Resveratrol improves cognition and reduces oxidative stress in rats with vascular dementia Xingrong Ma, Zhikun Sun, Yanru Liu, Yanjie Jia, Boai Zhang, Jiewen Zhang 2013, 8 (22):  2050-2059.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.004 Abstract ( 178 )   PDF (207KB) ( 1499 )   Save Resveratrol possesses beneficial biological effects, which include anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. Recently, resveratrol has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects in models of Parkinson’s disease, cerebral ischemia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, its effects on vascular dementia remain unclear. The present study established a rat model of vascular dementia using permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. At 8–12 weeks after model induction, rats were intragastrically administered 25 mg/kg resveratrol daily. Our results found that resveratrol shortened the escape latency and escape distances in the Morris water maze, and pro-longed the time spent percentage and swimming distance percentage in the target quadrant during the probe test, indicating that resveratrol improved learning and memory ability in vascular dementia rats. Further experiments found that resveratrol decreased malonyldialdehyde levels, and increased superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of vascular dementia rats. These results confirmed that the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol on vascular dementia were associated with its anti-oxidant properties. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Shuyusan-containing serum protects SH-SY5Y cells against corticosterone-induced impairment Liping Chen, Zhigao Sun, Fawei Wang, Chengyong Xu, Miao Geng, Hongyan Chen, Dongmei Duan 2013, 8 (22):  2060-2068.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.005 Abstract ( 187 )   PDF (351KB) ( 1743 )   Save The Chinese herb Shuyusan, whose main constituent is jasminoidin, has been shown to protect SH-SY5Y cells against corticosterone-induced damage. SH-SY5Y cells injured by 400 μmol/L corticosterone were treated with 5 and 30 μg/mL Shuyusan-containing serum. Results revealed that Shuyusan-containing serum elevated the survival rate of SH-SY5Y cells, reduced Bax expression, increased Bcl-2 expression, markedly elevated brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression, and blocked cell apoptosis. Moreover, the effect of high-dose (30 μg/mL) Shuyusan-containing se-rum was more remarkable. Therefore, Shuyusan-containing serum appears to protect SH-SY5Y cells against corticosterone-induced impairment by adjusting the expression of apoptosis-associ- ated proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Moreover, high-dose Shuyusan-containing se-rum has a protective effect on high-dose corticosterone-induced impairment. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Electroacupuncture at He-Mu points reduces P2X4 receptor expression in visceral hypersensitivity Xinxin Guo, Jifei Chen, Yuan Lu, Luyi Wu, Zhijun Weng, Ling Yang, Yuhu Xin,Xianming Lin, Yi Liang, Jianqiao Fang 2013, 8 (22):  2069-2077.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.006 Abstract ( 186 )   PDF (379KB) ( 2355 )   Save null References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Neuronal-like cell differentiation of non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells Yuxin Wu, Jinghan Zhang, Xiaoming Ben 2013, 8 (22):  2078-2085.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.007 Abstract ( 215 )   PDF (299KB) ( 1988 )   Save Non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells from C57BL/6J mice were sepa-rated and cultured using the “pour-off” method. Non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells developed colony-forming unit-fibroblasts, and could be expanded by supplementation with epidermal growth factor. Immunocytochemistry showed that the non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells exposed to basic fibroblast growth fac-tor/epidermal growth factor/nerve growth factor expressed the neuron specific markers, neurofilament-200 and NeuN, in vitro. Non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells from β-galactosidase transgenic mice were also transplanted into focal ischemic brain (right corpus striatum) of C57BL/6J mice. At 8 weeks, cells positive for LacZ and β-galactosidase staining were observed in the ischemic tissues, and cells co-labeled with both β-galactosidase and NeuN were seen by double immunohistochemical staining. These findings suggest that the non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells could differentiate into neuronal-like cells in vitro and in vivo. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Acetylcholine secretion by motor neuron-like cells from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells Xueyuan Liu, Dehua Li, Dong Jiang, Yan Fang 2013, 8 (22):  2086-2092.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.008 Abstract ( 248 )   PDF (296KB) ( 1566 )   Save Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were isolated by a double enzyme digestion method. The third passage of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells was induced with heparin and/or basic fi-broblast growth factor. Results confirmed that cell morphology did not change after induction with basic fibroblast growth factor alone. However, neuronal morphology was visible, and microtu-bule-associated protein-2 expression and acetylcholine levels increased following induction with heparin alone or heparin combined with basic fibroblast growth factor. Hb9 and choline acetyltransferase expression was high following inductive with heparin combined with basic fibro-blast growth factor. Results indicate that the inductive effect of basic fibroblast growth factor alone was not obvious. Heparin combined with basic fibroblast growth factor noticeably promoted the dif-ferentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into motor neuron-like cells. Simultaneously, umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells could secrete acetylcholine. Related Articles | Metrics

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Migration capacity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells towards glioma in vivo Cungang Fan, Dongliang Wang, Qingjun Zhang, Jingru Zhou 2013, 8 (22):  2093-2102.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.009 Abstract ( 186 )   PDF (457KB) ( 2242 )   Save High-grade glioma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults. The poor prognosis of glioma, combined with a resistance to currently available treatments, necessitates the develop-ment of more effective tumor-selective therapies. Stem cell-based therapies are emerging as novel cell-based delivery vehicle for therapeutic agents. In the present study, we successfully isolated human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by explant culture. The human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were adherent to plastic surfaces, expressed specific surface phenotypes of mesenchymal stem cells as demonstrated by flow cytometry, and possessed multi-differentiation potentials in permissive induction media in vitro. Furthermore, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated excellent glioma-specific targeting capacity in established rat glioma models after intratumoral injection or contralateral ventricular administration in vivo. The excellent glioma-specific targeting ability and extensive intratumoral distribution of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells indicate that they may serve as a novel cellular vehicle for delivering therapeutic molecules in glioma therapy. Related Articles | Metrics

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Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is highly sensitive for lipid-soluble metabolites Haiyang Dai, Bikai Hong, Zhifeng Xu, Lian Ma, Yaowen Chen, Yeyu Xiao, Renhua Wu 2013, 8 (22):  2103-2110.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.22.010 Abstract ( 196 )   PDF (219KB) ( 2031 )   Save null References | Related Articles | Metrics