Gaofeng Zeng

Protective Effects of Ginger Root Extract on Alzheimer Disease-Induced Behavioral Dysfunction in Rats

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of a traditional Chinese medicinal ginger root extract (GRE) to prevent behavioral dysfunction in the Alzheimer disease (AD) rat model. Rat AD models were established by an operation (OP) in which rats were treated with a one-time intra-cerebroventricuIar injection of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) and continuous gavage of aluminum chloride every day for 4 weeks. GRE was administered intra-gastrically to rats. After 35 days, learning and memory were assessed in all of the rats. Brain sections were processed for immunohistochemistry and Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) and Nissl staining. The latency to show significant memory deficits was shorter in the group that received OP with a high dose of GRE (HG)(OP+HG) than in the groups that received OP with a low or moderate dose of GRE (LG, MG)(OP+LG, OP+MG) (p<0.05). The expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the OP+MG and OP+LG groups was up-regulated compared to the OP+HG groups (p<0.05). The rats in the OP+HG groups had lower levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and malondialdehyde (MDA) expression than the rats in the OP+MG and OP+LG groups (p<0.05). This experiment demonstrates that the administration of GRE reverses behavioral dysfunction and prevents AD-like symptoms in our rat model.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the bone protective effect of phytoestrogens on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.

Phytoestrogens are candidate drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. Many experiments have been designed to investigate the preventive effects of phytoestrogens for osteoporosis; however, it is easy for a single dissenting result from animal experiments to mislead clinical investigations. Herein, we use meta-analysis to assess the evidence for a protective effect of phytoestrogens on ovariectomized rat models of osteopenia. With respect to osteoporosis, PubMed and Web of Science were searched from January 2000 to March 2013 for relevant studies of phytoestrogens in ovariectomized rats. Two reviewers independently selected and assessed the studies. Data were aggregated using a random effects model. Meta-analysis revealed that the phytoestrogen treatment group demonstrated a significantly higher femur bone mineral density and trabecular bone and lower bone turnover markers (serum alkaline phosphatase and serum osteocalcin) compared with the control ovariectomized group, thus showing a bone protective effect of phytoestrogens in ovariectomized rats. Subsequent sensitivity analyses indicated that the effect of phytoestrogens on serum alkaline phosphatase and serum osteocalcin are not robust. Despite the high heterogeneity in the systematic review of animal experiments, the present results indicated that phytoestrogens may offer the most potential for the prevention of bone loss by reducing the expected loss of trabecular bone and bone mineral density. Their effects are likely due to inhibition of bone resorption, but their benefits on bone formation are still unclear. Further studies are needed to assess the effect of phytoestrogens on bone formation and the efficacy and safety of individual phytoestrogens.

Protective effects of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide on ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE To assess the ability of traditional Chinese medicine Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide to prevent bone loss in the ovariectomized rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS PSP was administered intragastrically to the rats. After 35 days, the total body bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed in all of the rats. All sections were processed for immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining (H.E.). RESULTS BMD was lower in the ovariectomized group (OVX, 0.163 g/cm(2)), the group that received a moderate dose of PSP on OVX animals (OVX+MP, 0.163 g/cm(2)) and the group that received a low dose of PSP on OVX animals (OVX+LP, 0.162 g/cm(2)) than in the sham-operated group (SHAM, 0.180 g/cm(2)), the OVX+E(2) group (OVX+E(2), 0.176 g/cm(2)) and the group that received a high dose of PSP on OVX animals (OVX+HP, 0.174 g/cm(2)) (P<0.05). Clear arrangements of bone trabeculae were observed in the OVX+E(2) and OVX+HP. The expression of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the OVX, OVX+MP and OVX+LP was down regulated compared to the SHAM, OVX+E(2) and OVX+HP (P<0.05). The rats in the OVX+E(2) and OVX+HP had lower levels of bone Gla protein (BGP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) expression than the rats in the OVX, OVX+MP and OVX+LP (P<0.05). CONCLUSION This experiment demonstrates that the administration of PSP to ovariectomized rats reverses bone loss and prevents osteoporosis.

The Role of IL-17 Promotes Spinal Cord Neuroinflammation via Activation of the Transcription Factor STAT3 after Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat

Study Design. In this study, we investigated the role of IL-17 via activation of STAT3 in the pathophysiology of SCI. Objective. The purpose of the experiments is to study the expression of IL-17 and related cytokines via STAT3 signaling pathways, which is caused by the acute inflammatory response following SCI in different periods via establishing an acute SCI model in rat. Methods. Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan hind limb locomotor rating scale was used to assess the rat hind limb motor function. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression levels of IL-17 and p-STAT3 in spinal cord tissues. Western blotting analysis was used to determine the protein expression of p-STAT3 in spinal cord tissue. RT-PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression of IL-17 and IL-23p19 in the spleen tissue. ELISA was used to determine the peripheral blood serum levels of IL-6, IL-21, and IL-23. Results. Compared to the sham-operated group, the expression levels of IL-17, p-STAT3, IL-6, IL-21, and IL-23 were significantly increased and peaked at 24 h after SCI. The increased levels of cytokines were correlated with the SCI disease stages. Conclusion. IL-17 may play an important role in promoting spinal cord neuroinflammation after SCI via activation of STAT3.

Treatment Results in the Different Surgery of Intradural Extramedullary Tumor of 122 Cases

Study Design A retrospective study of intradural extramedullary tumor. Objective To compare the treatment results in the different surgeries of spinal intradural extramedullary tumor. Methods The study retrospectively reviewed 122 patients. The minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group was divided into Group A (hemilaminectomy + tumor microscopic excision) and Group B (laminectomy + tumor microscopic excision + pedicle screw fixation). Meanwhile, the non-MIS group was divided into Group C (hemilaminectomy + tumor excision), Group D (laminectomy + tumor excision), and Group E (laminectomy + tumor excision + pedicle screw fixation). In order to study postoperative spinal stability, we simultaneously divided all of the subjects into three categories, namely Group HE: hemilaminectomy + tumor excision; Group LE: laminectomy + tumor excision; and Group LEPSF: laminectomy + tumor excision + pedicle screw fixation. Results The MIS group exhibited fewer postoperative complications (p<0.05), better short-term clinical efficacy (p<0.05) and less non-surgical cost (p<0.05) than in non-MIS group. The rate of postoperative spinal instability in hemilaminectomy was lower than in laminectomy in a single spinal segment (p<0.05). The rate of postoperative spinal instability in laminectomy + pedicle screw fixation was lower than in hemilaminectomy and laminectomy in two or more spinal segments (p<0.05). Conclusion In the case of appropriate surgical indications, minimally invasive surgery for intradural extramedullary tumor is a useful method that can successfully produce good clinical results and reduce non-surgical cost. In addition, pedicle screw fixation helps avoid spinal postoperative instability.

Treatment Results in the Differential Surgery of Intradural Extramedullary Schwannoma of 110 Cases

Study Design A retrospective study of intradural extramedullary schwannoma. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare treatment results in the differential surgery of intradural extramedullary schwannoma. Background A reference guide to the surgical procedures available to treat intradural extramedullary schwannoma has not yet been established. Methods The study retrospectively reviewed 110 patients: Group A: laminectomy+microscopic excision; Group B: hemilaminectomy+microscopic excision; Group C: laminectomy+microscopic excision+pedicle screw fixation. Researchers selected patients for this retrospective review by applying the following criteria: 1) back pain spread out from the tumor level, sensory and motor loss; 2) treatment by surgery; 3) clinical diagnosis made by physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pathology; 4) a minimum clinical and radiologic follow-up of 12 months. The clinical outcomes were assessed by comparing the Visual Analogue Pain Scores (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopedic Association Scores (JOA score). The study also performed a cost-effectiveness analysis. Results Cervical vertebrae: The estimated blood loss in Group B was significantly less than in Group C (P<0.05) (Table 1). Thoracic vertebrae: The duration of hospital stay and estimated blood loss in Group A was significantly less than in Group C (P<0.05) (Table 2, 3). Lumbar vertebrae: The resection rate in Group C was significantly higher than in Group A and Group B (P<0.05) (Table 4). Treatment in Group B was the least expensive, and therefore, the most cost-effective. Conclusion In the case of appropriate surgical indications, the study suggests that hemilaminectomy+microscopic excision is advantageous in the removal of cervical schwannoma, and that laminectomy+microscopic excision is advantageous in the removal of thoracic schwannoma; lumbar intradural extramedullary schwannoma can be managed by laminectomy+microscopic excision+pedicle screw fixation.

A systematic review on comparison of symptoms improvement with two surgical methods for intraspinal tumor

Conservative therapy for intraspinal tumor is mentioned very often in the literature. However, there is no clear reference on surgical method choices for intraspinal tumors. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to investigate the difference of preoperative and postoperative symptoms between the hemilaminectomy (HEM) and laminectomy (LAM) on intraspinal tumor. A computer based online search of the computerized data bases MEDLINE and PUBMED and EMBASE and ISI Web of Science for articles published from 1970 to January 2011 was performed. Studies that compared hemilaminectomy with laminectomy were included. Data were evaluated by RevMan 5.0 for the systematic review. Six eligible trials including 409 intraspinal cases were considered. The systematic review indicates that hemilaminectomy was more efficient in the improvement of early symptoms than laminectomy. The combined odds ratios (OR) were 2.82, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) (1.75–4.54). The systematic review indicates that hemilaminectomy was more efficient than laminectomy in the improvement of advanced symptoms. The combined OR was 2.42, with 95% CI (1.56–3.74). In the case of appropriate surgical indications, the choice of hemilaminectomy was better for improving symptoms as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, infection, poor circulation and other possible complications for patients with intraspinal tumor.

Bone protective effects and mechanism of Polygonatum Sibiricum Polysaccharide in ovariectomized rat

Objective: To assess the bone protective effects and mechanism of Polygonatum Sibiricum Polysaccharide (PSP) in ovariectomized rat. Methods: 60 female SD rats were randomly separated into 6 groups:control group (n=10); ovariectomized group (OVX) (n=10); the OVX + E2 group(OVX + E2) (n=10); the high-dose OVX + PSP group (OVX + HZ) (n=10); the moderate-dose OVX + PSP group (OVX + MZ) (n=10); the low dose OVX + PSP group (OVX + LZ) (n=10). PSP was administered intragastrically to the rats. After 35 days, the total body Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed in the rats. All sections were processed for hematoxylin-eosin staining (H.E.), and Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), and Bone Gla protein (BGP) immunoreactivity was assessed. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) levels were assessed using commercially available ELISA kits. Results:The expression of BMP and bFGF were significantly increased in OVX+HP. The expression of TRAP, TNF-α, BGP and BALP were significantly decreased in OVX+HP. BMD was significantly increased in OVX+HP(vs. OVX, P&#60;0.05).Conclusion: The results of this experiment demonstrate that PSP can increase the expression of bFGFand BMP while reducing the expression of TRAP, BGP, TNF-α and BALP. The administration of PSP to ovariectomized rats reverses bone loss and prevents osteoporosis.

Bone protective effects and intervention mechanism of α-Zearalanol in ovariectomized rat

Objective: To assess bone protective effects and intervention mechanism of α-Zearalanol in ovariectomized rat. Methods: 60 female SD rats were randomly separated into 6 groups:control group (n=10); ovariectomized group (OVX) (n=10); the OVX + E2 group(OVX + E2) (n=10); the high-dose OVX + α-ZAL group (OVX + HZ) (n=10); the moderate-dose OVX + α-ZAL group (OVX + MZ) (n=10); the low dose OVX + α-ZAL group (OVX + LZ) (n=10). α-ZAL was administered intragastrically to the rats. After 35 days, the total body Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed in the rats. All sections were processed for hematoxylin-eosin staining (H.E.), and Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), and Bone Gla protein (BGP) immunoreactivity was assessed. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) levels were assessed using commercially available ELISA kits. Results: The expression of BMP and bFGF were significantly increased in OVX + MZ and OVX + LZ. The expression of TRAP, TNF-α, BGP and BALP were significantly decreased in OVX + MZ and OVX + LZ. BMD was significantly increased in OVX + MZ and OVX + LZ (vs. OVX, P&#60;0.05). Conclusion: The results of this experiment demonstrate that α-ZAL can increase the expression of bFGF and BMP while reducing the expression of TRAP, BGP, TNF-α and BALP. The administration of α-ZAL to ovariectomized rats reverses bone loss and prevents osteoporosis.