Objective To investigate the effects of direct current electric fields on the orientation responses of vascular endothelial cells and the influence of the cytoskeleton filament actin on the orientation responses of cells in direct current electric fields. Methods Cultured vascular endothelial cells, with or without treatment with the actin inhibitors cytochalasin B or Y27632, were exposed to a direct current electric field of 200 mV/mm, and cell images were taken at 0, 4 and 8 hours during the exposure. Cells not exposed to the electric field were used as a control.Cell orientation was quantified using an image analyzer. Immunofluorescence staining of the cells for F-actin was observed through confocal microscopy. Results Cells in the control cultures oriented randomly with no predominant polarity. Cells exposed to the direct current electric field showed significant re-orientation to align their long axes perpondicular to the field vector. Neither cytochalasin B nor Y27632 reduced the re-orientation induced by the field, and earlier orientation response was observed in Y27632-treated cells. F-actin staining showed that the orientation of F-actin stress fibres was at random in control cells and perpendicular to the field vector in the field-exposed cells without any drug treatment. Although the formation of stress fibres was inhibited in the cytochalasin B-or Y27632-treated cells, the cells in the direct current electric fields kept their re-orientation responses, similar to the cells without any drug treatment. Conclusions A direct current electric field can induce vascular endothelial cells to re-orient, but the re-orientation response is independent of actin polymerization and actin stress fiber formation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the polymorphism of genotype of site-1296 in alpha2A-AR receptor gene and the susceptibility of vestibular function. METHOD: Ninety-four blood samples were collected from pilot cadets, consisting of susceptible and tolerance groups to vestibular function. Genomic DNA was isolated, and the coding region of alpha2A-AR receptor gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were analyzed by gene sequencing. Gene frequency was calculated, and, the coincidence between the polymorphism of alpha2A-AR receptor gene in the groups and Hardy-Weinberg balance was evaluated. The allele frequency of the two groups was compared by Chi square test. RESULT: G/C polymorphism was existed in Site-1296 of alpha2A-AR gene regulation zone, including GG, GC, CC. The express of GG Genotype in susceptible group exceeded that of the other group. There were significance differences in both genotype constituent ratio and alleles frequency of the two groups. CONCLUSION The polymorphism of genotype of site-1296 in alpha2A-AR receptor gene is possibly correlated with the susceptibility to vestibular function.
Adult ; Alleles ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 ; genetics ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of endoscopic ethmoid and maxillary surgery on chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. METHOD: A total of 54 cases of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis were treated by endoscopic ethmoid and maxillary surgery between 2003 and 2004, undergoing postoperative follow-up of more than one year. Age of patients ranged from 17 to 60 years, with a mean of 35 years. All of them were identified with nasal endoscopy and CT before surgery. RESULT: Fifty (92.59%) of 54 cases showed their nasal obstruction symptoms were relieved completely or improved significantly, with nearly normal infraturbinal appearance. CONCLUSION Endoscopic ethmoid and maxillary surgery is an effective approach for the treatment of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis, with good preservations of infraturbinal structure and function.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Ethmoid Sinus ; surgery ; Ethmoid Sinusitis ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; surgery ; Maxillary Sinusitis ; complications ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis ; complications ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult