AIM: To assess the changes of macular thickness of acquire immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS) patients.
METHODS:The study based on the data analysis of 38 human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) positive patients ( 64 eyes ) . According to CD4 count and whether cytomegalovirus retinitis ( CMVR) happened, the patients were divided into 3 groups. Group A included 16 patients (32 eyes), in which CD4 count was < 50cells/μL and CMVR did not happen. Group B included 10 patients ( 20 eyes), in which CD4 count was>50cells/μL and CMVR did not happen. Group C included 12 patients (12 eyes), in which CD4 count was < 50cells/μL and CMVR just happened. Group D included 10 healthy people ( 20 eyes ) , as normal control group. By using optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) , thickness of retina along with a 1mm diameter circle centered on macular was evaluated.
RESULTS:The mean foveal thicknesses in groups A, B, C and D were 254. 03±15. 63μm, 263. 11±17. 12μm, 304. 50±50. 62μm and 257. 64±8. 54μm in order. Compared with foveal thickness in each group, there were significant differences in general (F=12. 933, P=0. 000). The mean foveal thickness in groups CMVR increased, which was of significant difference (P= 0. 000), compared with other groups.
CONCLUSION: CMVR can impair the structure and function of macular, which then seriously affects the visual function of patients. It's helpful to understand the progress and prognosis of CMVR disease by observing macular structure with OCT in early time.

BACKGROUND: Clerodendron bungei steud(CBS) is a tree from genera of Verbena L. In the present pharmacological studies, CBS has showed anti-inflammatory, antineoplasic, nonspecific immunity-enhancing effects. Myoelectric effect of stimulating uterus round ligament is related with agitating adrenergic α receptor. The experiments about analgesic effect are few.OBJECTIVE: To observe the antinociceptive effect of ethanol extract of CBS in mice through hot plate and writhing tests.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment with animals as subjects.SETTING: Departmcent of Pharmmacology, Gannan Medical College.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Department of Pharmacology, Gannan Medical College from March to June 2004. A total of 120Kunming white mice, weighing(20 ± 2) g were provided by the Experiment Animal Center of Gannan Medical College.INTERVENTIONS: In the writhing test, 50 mice were randomly divided into normal saline, aminopyrine group(0. 1 g/kg), morphine group(0.01 g/kg)and extract of CBS groups(20 g/kg, 40 g/kg) . There were 10 mice in each group. Forty minutes after intraperitoneal injection. 6 mL/L acetic acid (10 mL/kg) was injected intraperitoneally, 5 minutes later, the number of writhing body and inhibitory rate of writhing body were observed for 10minutes. In hot plate test, 40 mice were randomly divided into normal saline group, morphine group(0.01 g/kg) and extract of CBS groups(20 g/kg,40 g/kg). There were 10 mice in each group. After intraperitoneal injection,the mice were put on the hot plate, and the temperature was(55 ±0.5) C. The pain threshold was recorded 15, 30 and 60 minutes after administration. And 30 white mice were randomly divided into naloxone 0. 04 g/kg + morphine 0.01 g/kg group, aloxone 0.04 g/kg + extract of CBS 40 g/kg group,naloxone 0.04 g/kg + normal saline group for hot plate test antagonized by naloxone(40 mg/kg) . The mice were injected intraperitoneally. The duration of pain reaction were recorded 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after administration.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The number of writhing body and inhibitory rate of writhing body; ② The duration of pain reaction; ③ The pain threshold in the hot-plate test after antagonized by naloxone were calculated.RESULTS: All the 120 white mice entered the result analysis. ① The number of writhing body and inhibitory rate of writhing body: The number of writhing body was 2.4 ± 2.5 and 0. 6 ± 1.7 in the 20 and 40 g/kg extract of CBS injection group respectively and the inhibitory rate of the pain reaction caused by 6 mL/L acetic acid was 93.3% and 98.3% respectively. ② The pain threshold at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after administration in the hot plate test: the pain threshold was[(121.2±98.7) s, (191.2±78.6) s,(133. 1 ± 91.1 ) s] at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after injection of 20 g/kg extract of clerodendron bungei steud; it was[(233.9 ±70.4) s, (219.6 ±78.2) s,(218.3 ±92.6) s at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after 40 g/kg extract of CBS being given. The pain threshold in the extract of CBS groups was all higher than that in the control group respectively[ (13.7 ± 15.2) s, (9.7 ± 12.5) s,(22. 1 ± 15.6) s] ( P ＜ 0.01 -0. 001) . ③ In naloxone antagonized morphine test, the pain threshold at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after administration in morphine 0.01 g/kg+naloxone 0.04 g/kg group[(1.7±5.2) s (6.4 ± 8.6) s, (21.8 ± 34.0) s]was obviously smaller than that in the extract of CBS 40 g/kg +naloxone 0. 04 g/kg group[(124.9 ±79.4) s,(139.3±72.9) s, (137.9±60.8) s](P ＜0.001).CONCLUSION: Ethanol extract of CBS has strong analgesic effect and this is not manifested through the activation of opioid receptors.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of axial diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) for gliomas grading at 3 .0T MRI , analyze the characteristics of different grades gliomas of axial DTI in order to improve diagnostic accuracy .Methods A retrospec‐tive analysis was performed involving a group of 37 cases of high grade glioma and 26 cases of low grade glioma confirmed by the pathological results in affiliated hospital of Luzhou medical college ,observation analysis was obtained in axial DTI ,peritumoral neu‐rofibrillary was divided into three types :displacement ,interruption and neurofibrillary tangles(NFT) .Results among the 26 cases of low grade glioma ,there were 18 cases of displacement ;8 cases of interruption ,no NFT ;among the 37 cases of high grade glio‐mas ,there were 9 cases of displacement ,21 cases of interruption ,and 7 cases of NFT (1 case of frontal lobe ,6 cases of temporal lobe);ordinal variables rank sum test in two independent samples between high grade glioma group and low grade glioma showed significant differences(Z= -3 .756 ,P<0 .05);χ2 test showed no significant difference(P>0 .05) ,frontal lobe appeared NFT in 1 case ,accounting for 2 .7% (1/37) ,temporal lobe appeared NFT in 6 cases ,accounting for 16 .2% (6/37) .Conclusion Peritumoral neurofibrillary of the low grade gliomas more performed displacement ,the high grade gliomas show more interrupts and NFT at 3 .0T MRI ,NFT in high grade gliomas is often seen in the temporal and frontal lobe .

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are a kind of stem cells with multi-directional differentiation ability and play an important role in the healing of fractures. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore how to promote the BMSCs migration in vivo, thereby promoting bone defect repair.OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of different concentrations of musk ketone on in vivo migration of exogenous BMSCs, and to preliminarily explore the mechanism of fracture healing and cited theory.METHODS:A rat model of skull defects was made. Passage 3 BMSCs were harvested by using adherence method,labeled with DAPI, and then injected via the tail vein into the model rats. After that, the rats were intragastrically administrated with 0 (blank control), 42 (low dose), 84 (middle dose), 168 μL/kg (high dose) musk ketone, respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The number of exogenous BMSCs in the defect region, and the expression of stem cell factor and Fractalkine showed a significant increase in the low- and middle-dose groups compared with the high-dose and blank control groups. These findings indicate that the low- and middle-dose musk ketone can promote the in vivo migration of exogenous stem cells.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of serum clara cell secretory protein(CC16),total immunoglobulin E(TIgE)and eosinophil cationic protein(ECP)in children with asthma.Methods Serum were collected from 59 cases during asthmatic acute attacks,29 asthmatic children who were in mild conditions,and 30 cases who were in moderate to severe conditions,and 30 healthy children.Serum CC16 concentration were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),TIgE and ECP concentration were measured by uniCAP100.Results The levels of CC16 in serum of asthmatic children during acute attacks were significantly lower than that in control group(t=2.93 Pa

Objective To investigate the protective effect of genistein on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats,and explore the underlying mechanisms.Methods Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: saline control(S), genistein alone(G),lipopolysaccaride(LPS) alone(L),and genistein pretreatment(G+L).Each treatment group consisted of eight animals.Animals were observed for 6h after LPS challenge,and the wet/dry(W/D) weight ratio of the lung and the protein contents of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were used as indexes of lung injury.Neutrophil recruitment and activation were evaluated by BALF cellularity and myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity.RT-PCR analysis was performed with lung tissue to assess the gene expression of ICAM-1.The histopathologic changes were also observed using the H&E stains of lung tissue.Results Lung injury parameters,including the wet/dry weight ratio and protein content in BALF,were significantly higher in the L group than in the S group(P

NS2 and NS3 are two post-transcriptional gene silencing suppressors that are encoded by Rice stripe virus. Gene silencing suppressors are always related to the pathogenicity of viruses. In this study, the cDNA of NS2 and NS3 were recombined by overlapping PCR assays, ligated to the RNAi vector, and inserted into the PXQ expression vector using Pst I; the expressed vector was transferred into calluses induced from seeds of the japonica rice cultivar, 'Nipponbare', using an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Thirty-one T0 transgenic plants were selected by G418 screening. PCR and southern blot analyses confirmed that the target gene was transformed into transgenic rice successfully, and different transgenic plants contained various copies of the gene. The disease resistance assay revealed that T0 transgenic rice had a delayed onset of RSV for approximately 10-20 d, and the accumulation of virus in the transgenic plants was reduced by 30%-50%. This was related to the delayed onset of disease.
Disease Resistance ; Oryza ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Plant Diseases ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; RNA Interference ; Tenuivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

Lycii Cortex, a popular herb medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, is used to treat different inflammation-related diseases. The aim of our work is to find the key constituents inhibiting NF-kappaB, a key regulator of inflammation. In the investigations of cell-based in vitro assays of extracts, we found that both ethyl acetate extract and methanol extract of Lycii Cortex inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced activation of NF-kappaB. Through bioassay-guided fractionation, we identified 4 phenolic amides including trans-N-(p-coumaroyl) tyramine (1), trans-N-feruloyltyramine (2), trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (3), and dihydro-N-caffeoyltyramine (4). Four phenolic amides showed differently inhibitory activities on TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation. Trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (3) was identified as the key component with an IC50 of 18.41 micromol x L(-1). It was suggested that the hydroxyl group at C-3 in trans-N-caffeoyltyramine might be a key binding site and its C-7,8-double bond might play an important role on NF-kappaB inhibitory activities as the link of the conjugation of pi electrons leading to a partial planar conformation. It might be inferred that the biological activity of compound 3 is attributed to the structure of Michael reaction acceptor containing alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones and benzene along with hydroxyl group in o-diphenol.
Biological Assay ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; antagonists & inhibitors ; immunology ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; immunology

Objective To discuss the methods of selecting different shapes occluder and to evaluate the feasibility,safety and efficacy of them in transcatheter closures of congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) in children.Methods Transcatheter closures were performed in 226 children with congenital VSD,age ranging from 2 to 14 years(mean 5.62 years) under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and fluoroscopy.There were 14 patients with intracristal VSD,209 patients with perimembranous VSD and 3 patients with muscular VSD.Left ventriculography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed repeatedly after the procedure to assess the effect of occlusion.The echocardiography and electrocardiography were scheduled before discharge,1,6 and 12 months for the follow-up.Results The occluders were deployed successfully in 211 patients.The successful rate was 93.4%.Thin waist shape occluders,were deployed in 7 patients;equal side shape occluders,were deployed in 191 patients;eccentric shape occluders were deployed in 12 patients,and muscular defect occluders were deployed in 1 patient.There were no complications encountered during or after closure.Conclusions It is very important in transcatheter closure of congenital in children to select different shape occluder according to pathologic characteristics.In general,equal side shape occluder is suita-ble for a large number of defect and it is easy for deployment.In some conditions,the other shape occluder may be necessary.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3)and the stability of carotid artery plaque,and explore MMP-3's prediction role on the attack and relapse of acute ischemic cerebrovascular events.Methods 100 patients with the first ever acute cerebral infarction,100 patients with chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency(CCCI)and 40 persons without cerebrovascular diseases were enrolled in this study.According to the carotid ultrasound examination,100 cerebral infarction patients were divided into three subgroup: unstable plaque group(45 patients,mixed plaque,soft plaque),stable plaque group(35 patients,plaque Group)and endometrial coarse group(25patients).Matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3)levels of all the subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(as basal level).All the subjects were followed up for one year to observe cerebral infarction events.Serum MMP-3 levels of each group,and the basic serum MMP-3 levels were compared among patients who were attacked or relapsed cerebral ischemic with those who had not been attack cerebral ischemic during this period of time.Results 5 patients in the cerebral infarction group had relapse (5%),2 patients in the CCCI group were attacked by cerebral ischemic(2%),and no one in the normal control group was attacked by cerebral ischemic.Serum MMP-3 levels in the acute cerebral infarction group were significantly higher than CCCI group,and both groups were significantly higher than normal control group (P ＜0.05).The basic serum MMP-3 levels in all patients who were attacked by cerebral ischemic were significantly higher than those who had not been attack by cerebral ischemic during this period of time(P ＜0.05).The serum MMP-3 levels of the unstable plaque group were significantly higher than stable plaque group.And both groups were significantly higher than endometrial coarse group(P ＜0.05).Conclusions Elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3)might have something with the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque,and participate the attack and the relapse of acute cerebral infarction.Determination of MMP-3 might be used to predict the attack and relapse of acute cerebral infarction.