OBJECTIVEThe objective of this article was to review the current advances in diagnostic methods for Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).

DATA SOURCESData used in this review were retrieved from PubMed (1970-2013). The terms "Acanthamoeba keratitis" and "diagnosis" were used for the literature search.

STUDY SELECTIONData from published articles regarding AK and diagnosis in clinical trials were identified and reviewed.

RESULTSThe diagnostic methods for the eight species implicated in AK were reviewed. Among all diagnostic procedures, corneal scraping and smear examination was an essential diagnostic method. Polymerase chain reaction was the most sensitive and accurate detection method. Culturing of Acanthamoeba was a reliable method for final diagnosis of AK. Confocal microscopy to detect Acanthamoeba was also effective, without any invasive procedure, and was helpful in the early diagnosis of AK.

CONCLUSIONClinically, conjunction of various diagnostic methods to diagnose AK was necessary.

Acanthamoeba Keratitis ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Visual Acuity ; physiology

Objective To explore how to improve the diagnosis and surgical treatment of primary gallbladder carcinoma. Methods The clinical data of 59 patients with primary gallbladder carcinoma underwent operative treatment in our hospital from January 1985 to December 1999 were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were 22 males and 37 females in this series (M:F=1:1.68). 59%(35/59) patients were complicated by gallstone. Right upper quadrant abdominal pain, jaundice and abdominal mass were the major clinical manifestations. 34 cases underwent cholecystectomy with 57%(34/59) resection rate. Pathological examination showed that gallbladder carcinomas accounted for 94%. Postoperative 1-,3-,5-year survival rates were 36%(21/59), 20%(12/59)and 10%(6/59), respectively. The postoperative survival rate of the early stage patients was higher than that of the advanced patients(P

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the regulatory role of the long non-coding RNA LINC00926 in pyroptosis of hypoxia-induced human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and explore the molecular mechanism. METHODS: HUVECs were transfected with a LINC00926-overexpressing plasmid (OE-LINC00926), a siRNA targeting ELAVL1, or both, followed by exposure to hypoxia (5% O2) or normoxia. The expression of LINC00926 and ELAVL1 in hypoxia-treated HUVECs was detected using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and the levels of IL-1β in the cell cultures was determined with ELISA. The protein expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins (caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1 and NLRP3) in the treated cells were analyzed using Western blotting, and the binding between LINC00926 and ELAVL1 was verified with RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. RESULTS: Exposure to hypoxia obviously up-regulated the mRNA expression of LINC00926 and the protein expression of ELAVL1 in HUVECs, but did not affect the mRNA expression of ELAVL1. LINC00926 overexpression in the cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, increased IL-1β level and enhanced the expressions of pyroptosis-related proteins (all P < 0.05). LINC00926 overexpression further up-regulated the protein expression of ELAVL1 in hypoxia-exposed HUVECs. The results of RIP assay confirmed the binding between LINC00926 and ELAVL1. ELAVL1 knockdown significantly decreased IL-1β level and the expressions of pyroptosis-related proteins in hypoxia-exposed HUVECs (P < 0.05), while LINC00926 overexpression partially reversed the effects of ELAVL1 knockdown. CONCLUSION LINC00926 promotes pyroptosis of hypoxia-induced HUVECs by recruiting ELAVL1.
Humans ; Caspase 1 ; ELAV-Like Protein 1 ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Pyroptosis ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Cell Hypoxia

OBJECTIVETo explore effect of Qindan Fuzheng Capsule (QFC) on ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes injured by high microwave radiation in rats.

METHODSEighteen adult Wistar rats were equally divided into 3 groups in random: rats in Group A were untreated as the normal control, rats in Group B received 6 min microwave radiation (100 mW/cm2 high power) to cause injury of cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes, and Group C received the same radiation but treated with QFC perfusion, 2 mL (equivalent to 4.75 g crude drug) once a day, for 7 successive days, starting from 6 h after radiation. All rats were sacrificed 7 days later, their fresh tissue of heart apex and right lobe of liver were taken and prepared to routine transmission electron microscopy specimen for ultrastructural observation.

RESULTSCompared with Group A, different degrees of ultrastructural changes on nuclei and organelle were observed in Group B and C, but the injury in Group C was significantly milder than that in Group B, showing normal sized cells with good structure approximate to the morphology in Group A.

CONCLUSIONSQFC showed protective effect on microwave radiation injured ultrastructural changes in rats' cardiomyocytes and hepatocyte. Its mechanism was possibly correlated with the suppression of lipid peroxidation and the improvement of metabolism in myocardial and hepatic cells.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Glucocorticoid as adjunctive drug before and after the surgery for retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment. It has obvious effects in controlling inflammation and improving choroidal detachment, which creates favorable conditions for the operation. However, the ophthalmologists have different opinions on the effects of postoperative retinal reattachment rate and improvement of visual function. There has been controversy about whether to use hormones before surgery, the time of use and the way they are used. This article will review the relevant knowledge. In order to provide a more accurate and feasible reference for clinical treatment.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Sophoral flavones on proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFb) induced by high glucose and its underlying mechanism. Cardiac fibroblasts were exposed to different concentration of D-glucose (15, 25 and 35 mmol·L^-1) at different time point (24, 48 and 72 h) in order to determine cell proliferation, and the model group was established by culturing CFb with 25 mmol·L^-1D-glucose for 48 h. Sophoral flavones (12.5, 25 and 50 mg·L^-1) were employed for intervention. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and the levels of transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ were measured by ELISA. In addition, flow cytometry was employed to detect the cell cycle; while the protein expression of prohibitin (PHB) was observed via immunocytochemistry and Western blot. This animal experiment had been approved by Jilin Medical University Experiment Animal Ethics Review Committee. The results showed that 25 mmol·L^-1 glucose could promote the proliferation of CFb; and the contents of TGF-β₁, MMP-2, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ in the model group were higher than that of control (P<0.05). The number of cells in S and G₂ phase increased under high glucose condition. In the model group, PHB translocation occurred at 6 h and protein expression decreased at 48 h (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, 12.5-50 mg·L^-1 Sophoral flavones reduced the contents of TGF-β₁, MMP-2, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ, increased the number of G₁ phase cells, and increased the expression of PHB protein at 48 h (P<0.05), with no effect on the nuclear translocation of PHB. These results indicated that Sophoral flavones could prevent the proliferation of CFb induced by high glucose, the mechanism of which may be related to increasing the expression of PHB protein.

Teaching quality is directly related to the performance of universities in fostering talents. Being innovative, high-level, and challenging (IHC) is the basic goal of course reform at universities in the new era. It is essential to reform the contents and teaching mode to improve the IHC properties of the existing courses. We first designed the three-dimensional goals of Molecular Biology Experiment teaching and the contents to support these goals. Then, we pinpointed the common points shared by blended teaching and experiment course, and designed the ways of blended teaching for the course. The reformed course contents and teaching mode have enhanced its IHC properties, and achieved good teaching performance. This paper provides a reference for the reform of experiment courses in universities.
Humans ; Molecular Biology ; Students ; Universities

To establish the suspension culture system of Silybum marianum cell and study the effects of different factors on silybin content. Orthogonal test was adopted to determine S. marianum cell suspension culture system and HPLC to silybin content.. The best growth cycle of cell suspension culture was defined when cultured in liquid MS medium with 6-BA 1.5 mg/L + NAA 1.0 mg/L + ZT 1.5 mg/L, light 12 h/d, pH value = 7, revolution = 110 r/min. The effects of salicylic acid, chitosan, and sodium nitroprusside on cell suspension culture were investigated. When the concentration of three impact factors were 0.05, 3, and 1 μ g/L, respectively, the growth amount of S. marianum cell reached the maximum, i. e. At the same time, the silybin content also reached the maximum. The established cell suspension culture system is suitable to use for the rapid propagation of S. marianum. Chitosan and sodium nitroprusside at proper concentration are benifit to the growth of suspensious cells and accumulation of silybin.

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of one patient with pneumocephalus caused by congenital mastoid dysplasia, and to clarify the clinical features, diagnostic methods and treatment strategies of intracranial accumulation of pneumocephalus. Methods: The patient with ineffective right upper limb activity accompanied stupid speech for 12 h was admitted to hospital. After admission, the head CT and MRI examination were performed again, and the patient was diagnosed as pneumocephalus. The paitent scheduled for stoma repair, neurotrophic treatment, infection prevention and other symptomatic treatments were performed after operation; the patient was instructed avoid cough forcefully, blowing nose, defecating and sneezing to increase the intracranial pressure. Results: Due to congenital dysplasia of mastoid wall, local thinning bones and intense swimming choking cough of the patient destroyed the intracranial pressure balance to form pneumocephalus, the patient scheduled for stoma and damaged dura repair; when discharged from hospital, the patient's right upper limb muscle strength and language function returned to normal; the head CT results showed that pneumocephalus disappeared completely. Conclusion: Pneumocephalus is common in clinic, and its reason is diversiform; it should be combined with the patient's history and imaging findings to explore the causes, the most reasonable treatment measures should be performed in order to relieve the patient's symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, and promote the recovery of neural function.