Objective To examin and analyze the structure, ultrastructure and the circulation of the spleen ellipsoid in the soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiseus sinensis. Methods Twelve turtles were used and observed by light- and electron-microscopy and injection of ink suspension in this study. Results The spleen white pulp was consisted of the periarteriolar lymphatic sheath (PALS) and periellipsoidial lymphatic sheath (PELS). There was no lymphoid nodule in the spleen. Red pulp included splenic cords and splenic sinusoids. The marginal zone was not found in the turtle spleen. When the central arteriole left out of the PALS, it divided into several ellipsoid capillaries which were surround by the PELS. The end of the ellipsoid capillary opened directly to the splenic cord and the blood cells then entered into the splenic sinusoid through the gap between the endothelial cells. The ellipsoid capillary was consisted of simple cuboidal epithelium with an uncompleted basement membrane. The ellipsoid wall was consisted of supporting cells,ellipsoid-associated cells and reticular fibres. Lymphocytes and red cells were always found on the ellipsoid wall. After 40min of the injection of ink suspesion, much carbon particles of ink were restricted on the wall. Conclusion The ellipsoid capillary in the soft-shelled turtle, just like the high endothelial venule, was the important passage of the lymphocytes and blood cells going out and into the lymph tissue. The splenic circulation in the turtle belongs to the opening model.

Objective To evaluate the effect of electric vagal stimulation on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats.Methods Thirty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,aged 18-20 months,weighing 390-550 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),surgery group (group S),and electric vagal stimulation group (group V).Incision of the right carotid sheath was performed,and the vagal nerve was exposed after anesthesia in S and V groups.The right vagus nerve was stimulated for 30 min with continuous electric rectangular pulses (1 ms,10 Hz,1-2 V) after surgery in group V.The Morris water maze place navigation test was performed at 4,3,2 and 1 days before surgery and 2 days after surgery.The cognitive function was assessed using spatial probe and open field tests conducted at 2 days after surgery.The escape latency,the number of crossing the platform,the number of crossing the grid,the number of standing on the back legs,and the time animals spent in the central square were recorded.After the end of behavioral testing,venous blood samples were collected from the jugular vein for determination of concentrations of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with group C,the number of crossing the platform,the number of crossing the grid,and the number of standing on the back legs were significantly decreased,the escape latency and the time animals spent in the central square were significantly prolonged,and the concentrations of serum TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased at 2 days after surgery in group S (P＜0.05).Compared with group S,the number of crossing the platform,the number of crossing the grid,and the number of standing on the back legs were significantly increased,the escape latency and the time animals spent in the central square were significantly shortened,and the concentrations of serum TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased at 2 days after surgery in group V (P＜0.05).Conclusion Electric vagal stimulation can improve the postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the health status of the thyroid and related influencing factors in the seamen in Zhoushan, China.

METHODSA total of 136 coastal seamen (coastal group), 104 deep-sea seamen (deep-sea group), and 272 base staff (base group) who underwent physical examinations in 2014 were selected. Questionnaire survey and ultrasound were performed, and levels of thyroid hormone and urinary iodine were measured.

RESULTSCompared with the coastal group and the base group, the deep-sea group had a significantly higher rate of abnormal ultrasound findings (49.04% vs 30.88%/28.67%, P<0.05), as well as a significantly higher rate of abnormal serum free thyroxine (FT4) (25.00% vs 9.56%/6.25%, P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that in the coastal group, the risk factors for thyroid abnormality on ultrasound were obesity shown by body mass index (BMI) (OR=2.55, 95% CI=1.13~4.13) and annual working time>6 months (OR=4.25, 95% CI=2.02~8.26) (both P<0.05); in the deep-sea group, the risk factors for thyroid abnormality on ultrasound were obesity shown by BMI (OR=3.45, 95% CI=1.28~7.02) and annual working time>6 months (OR=5.33, 95% CI=3.18~9.23) (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe thyroid abnormality in deep-sea seamen is caused by various reasons and is correlated with annual working time, working environment and area, and iodine nutritional status.

Body Mass Index ; China ; Health Status ; Humans ; Iodine ; urine ; Male ; Naval Medicine ; Occupations ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Thyroxine ; blood ; Ultrasonography

Objective Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely used as a spice in cooking and as a medicinal herb in traditional herbal medicine. The present study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ginger oil in experimental animal models. Methods The analgesic effect of the oils was evaluated by the acetic acid and hot-plate test models of pain in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of the oil was investigated in rats, using rat paw edema induced by carrageenan, adjuvant arthritis, and vascular permeability induced by bradykinin, arachidonic acid, and histamine. Indomethacin (1 mg/kg), Aspirin (0.5 g/kg) and Dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg) were used respectively as reference drugs for comparison. Results The ginger oil (0.25-1.0 g/kg) produced significant analgesic effect against chemically- and thermally-induced nociceptive pain stimuli in mice (P < 0.05, 0.01). And the ginger oil (0.25-1.0 g/kg) also significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema, adjuvant arthritis, and inflammatory mediators-induced vascular permeability in rats (P < 0.05, 0.001). Conclusion These findings confirm that the ginger oil can be used to treat pain and chronic inflammation such as rheumatic arthritis.