Objective In order to further study the role of gap junction(GJ) in growth control; and explore the possible mechanisms for the inhibition of GJ formation. Method A monoclonal antibody,called ND6, which is specific for MIP(major intrinsic protein)in the plasma membrane of eye lens fiber cells in chicken,was injected into the right eyes of chicken embryos at development stage 20, while the left eyes were not injected and served as controls. The size of the lenses was measured 24 hours after the ND6 treatment; the protein phosphorylation of the lenses, including intact and homogenized lenses was also analyzed 24 hours after the ND6 treatment. Results The size of the lenses from treated eyes was significantly larger than those of the control ones( P

0.05).Microscopic morphology has also been observed, no visible damage could be found in the structure of lenses from eyes injected with ouabain (figs 3 and 4). Serial sections of paraffin-embedded lenses show that the number of fiber cells increased significantly in experimental samples treated with ouabain at a concentration of 0.1 ?M(table 4, P

Objective:To compare the effects of conservative oxygen therapy and conventional oxygen therapy on the efficacy and prognosis of mechanical ventilation support in patients with severe pneumonia.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled study were conducted, 110 patients with severe pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) of Hefei First People's Hospital from May 2019 to May 2021 were selected and divided into conventional oxygen therapy group (51 cases) and conservative oxygen therapy group (55 cases) according to random number table method. Patients in both groups were treated with invasive to non-invasive sequential mechanical ventilation strategy, and the target of oxygen therapy in the conventional oxygen therapy group was set as the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2) > 150 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) or pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2) > 0.96. In the conservative oxygen therapy group, PaO 2 was set at 70-100 mmHg or SpO 2 at 0.90-0.92. The changes of blood gas analysis, mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay time, ICU mortality, new organ dysfunction and infection more than 48 hours after admission were observed in two groups before and after treatment. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the difference in cumulative survival rate between the two groups. Results:After treatment, pH value, PaO 2 and oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) in both groups were significantly higher than before treatment, and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2) was significantly lower than before treatment. pH value in the conservative oxygen therapy group was significantly higher than that in the conventional oxygen therapy group (7.4±0.1 vs. 7.3±0.3). PaO 2, PaCO 2 and PaO 2/FiO 2 were significantly lower than those in conventional oxygen therapy group [PaO 2 (mmHg): 68.9±4.7 vs. 75.2±6.0, PaCO 2 (mmHg): 42.1±5.6 vs. 50.5±7.5, PaO 2/FiO 2 (mmHg): 329±126 vs. 365±108, all P < 0.05]. The mechanical ventilation time in the conservative oxygen therapy group was significantly longer than that in the conventional oxygen therapy group (days: 19.7±3.5 vs. 13.9±4.5, P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in ICU hospitalization time between the conservative oxygen therapy group and the conventional oxygen therapy group (days: 26.5±5.0 vs. 25.5±4.6, P > 0.05). Compared with the conventional oxygen therapy group, the ICU mortality, the incidence of nosocomial bloodstream infection, and the incidence of liver insufficiency, shock, and ICU acquired weakness (ICUAW) were decreased significantly in the conservative oxygen therapy group [ICU mortality: 27.3% (15/55) vs. 45.1% (23/51), liver insufficiency: 1.8% (1/55) vs. 7.8% (4/51), shock: 3.6% (2/55) vs. 9.8% (5/51), ICUAW: 5.5% (3/55) vs. 11.8% (6/51), the incidence of new bloodstream infection: 5.5% (3/55) vs. 11.8% (6/51), all P < 0.05]. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate of the conservative oxygen therapy group was significantly higher than that of the conventional oxygen therapy group (72.7% vs. 54.9%; Log-Rank test: χ 2 = 4.244, P = 0.039). Conclusion:Conservative oxygen therapy can reduce ICU mortality, the incidence of shock, liver insufficiency, ICUAW, and bloodstream infection in patients with severe pneumonia, but prolong mechanical ventilation time.

Objective:To investigate the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on acute myocardial injury in rats with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:Twenty-four healthy male SD rats, aged 8-10 weeks with a body weight of 250-300 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table method: sham operation group, high-level SCI group (SCI group), high-level SCI+AS-IV group (SCI+AS-IV group) and high-level SCI+AS-IV+silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor EX527 group (SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group), with 6 rats in each group. The SCI model was established using the modified Allen method and the sham operation group underwent the spinal cord exposure only. In the SCI+AS-IV group, 40 mg/kg of AS-IV was injected intraperitoneally immediately after injury. SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group received an intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg EX527 at one hour before injury and another injection of 40 mg/kg AS-IV in the same way immediately after injury. The sham operation group and the SCI group received an equal volume of saline via intraperitoneal injection. Immediately after awakening from injury, the hind limb motor function of the rats in each group was observed, recorded and then evaluated using the BBB method. At 24 hours after injury, the ultrastructure of the cardiomyocytes was examined under a transmission electron microscope; the levels of serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), myocardial tissue inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β were quantified by the ELISA method; the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of the myocardial tissue was assessed utilizing the dihydroethidium (DHE) assay; biochemical analyses were employed to determine the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations; mRNA and protein expression levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), gasdermin D (GSDMD), SIRT1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) were examined using RT-PCR and Western blot; cardiomyocyte pyroptosis rate was evaluated by caspase-1 and TUNEL double-labeled fluorescence staining.Results:Immediately after awakening from injury, the sham operation group exhibited normal hind limb activity, with BBB scores of 21(21, 21)points, while the remaining groups displayed flaccid paralysis in both hind limbs, accompanied by the cessation of spontaneous excretion, with BBB scores of 0(0, 0)points. At 24 hours after injury, transmission electron microscopy did not reveal any significant abnormalities in the ultrastructure of the myocardiomyocytes in the sham operation group, while changes of varying degrees were observed in the SCI group. The ELISA results indicated that at 24 hours after injury, the serum cTnI level in the SCI group was (1 435.3±148.1)pg/ml, higher than (619.6±95.4)pg/ml in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the cTnI level was (1 154.0±80.0)pg/ml in the SCI+AS-IV group, lower than that in the SCI group ( P<0.01); the cTnI level was (1 321.8±50.2)pg/ml in the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group, higher than that in the SCI+AS-IV group ( P<0.05). The levels of IL-18 and IL-1β in the myocardial tissue in the SCI group were (493.0±145.0)pg/ml and (936.7±93.2)pg/ml, higher than (131.1±62.5)pg/ml and (281.7±83.6)pg/ml in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the levels of IL-18 and IL-1β in the SCI+AS-IV group were (182.4±45.6)pg/ml and (573.4±99.5)pg/ml, lower than those in the SCI group ( P<0.01); the levels of IL-18 and IL-1β in the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group were (337.4±72.0)pg/ml and (742.6±82.7)pg/ml, higher than those in the SCI+AS-IV group ( P<0.05), yet lower than those in the SCI group ( P<0.01). At 24 hours after injury, DHE and biochemical assays showed that the levels of ROS and MDA in the myocardial tissue in the SCI group were (65±6)% and (1.97±0.27)nmol/mg, higher than (19±10)% and (1.03±0.16)nmol/mg in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the ROS and MDA levels in the SCI+AS-IV group were (37±10)% and (1.39±0.11)nmol/mg, lower than those in the SCI group ( P<0.01); the ROS and MDA levels in the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group were (52±7)% and (1.70±0.14)nmol/mg, higher than those in the SCI+AS-IV group ( P<0.05). The SOD level in the myocardial tissue of the SCI group was (658.48±77.56)U/mg, lower than (1 059.55±71.91)U/mg in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the SOD level in the SCI+AS-IV group was (901.74±32.30)U/mg, higher than that in the SCI group ( P<0.01); the SOD level in the myocardial tissue in the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group was (799.86±26.70)U/mg, lower than that in the SCI+AS-IV group ( P<0.05). At 24 hours after injury, RT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD in the myocardial tissue of the SCI group were 2.07±0.25, 2.46±0.28 and 1.82±0.12 respectively, which were higher than 1.10±0.13, 0.95±0.17 and 1.03±0.08 in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD in the SCI+AS-IV group were 1.47±0.24, 1.51±0.16 and 1.42±0.13 respectively, which were lower than those in the SCI group ( P<0.01); the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD in the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group were 1.93±0.28, 1.97±0.31 and 1.65±0.16 respectively, which were higher than those in the SCI+AS-IV group, yet lower than those in the SCI group ( P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α in the myocardial tissue in the SCI group were 0.41±0.09 and 0.56±0.07, lower than 1.20±0.14 and 1.29±0.20 in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α in the myocardial tissue in the SCI+AS-IV group were 0.78±0.08 and 1.01±0.19, higher than those of the SCI group ( P<0.01); the mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α in the myocardial tissue of the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group were 0.53±0.12 and 0.72±0.22, lower than those of the SCI+AS-IV group ( P<0.05). At 24 hours after injury, the western blot analysis showed that the protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD in the myocardial tissue in the SCI group were 1.00±0.20, 0.60±0.19 and 0.77±0.15 respectively, which were higher than 0.27±0.09, 0.18±0.10 and 0.28±0.08 in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD in the SCI+AS-IV group were 0.59±0.10, 0.25±0.11 and 0.33±0.11 respectively, lower than those in the SCI group ( P<0.01); the protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD in the myocardial tissue in the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group were 0.85±0.15, 0.54±0.12 and 0.55±0.13 respectively, higher than those in the SCI+AS-IV group ( P<0.05). The protein expression levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α in the myocardial tissue in the SCI group were 0.44±0.16 and 0.28±0.10, lower than 0.93±0.22 and 0.75±0.16 in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the protein expression levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α in the myocardial tissue in the SCI+AS-IV group were 0.78±0.19 and 0.55±0.12, higher than those in the SCI group ( P<0.01); the protein expression levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α in the myocardial tissue in the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group were 0.46±0.16 and 0.35±0.07, lower than those in the SCI+AS-IV group ( P<0.05). At 24 hours after injury, caspase-1 and TUNEL double-labeled fluorescence staining showed that the cardiomyocyte pyroptosis rate in the SCI group was (34.5±6.7)%, higher than (5.3±2.9)% in the sham operation group ( P<0.01); the cardiomyocyte pyroptosis rate in the SCI+AS-IV group was (13.4±3.0)%, lower than that in the SCI group ( P<0.01); the cardiomyocyte pyroptosis rate in the SCI+AS-IV+EX527 group was (22.5±5.9)%, higher than that in the SCI+AS-IV group ( P<0.01), yet lower than that in the SCI group ( P<0.01). Conclusions:AS-IV can significantly reduce acute myocardial injury in rats with high-level SCI. Its mechanism may involve activating the myocardial SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway, protecting the mitochondria, enhancing the ability to resist oxidative stress, and effectively inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis pathway.

Objective To experimentally verify the precision and accuracy of determining tritiated water in ambient air using the desiccant adsorption sampling–high temperature negative pressure desorption of liquid water (containing HTO)–liquid Scintillation counter method, and to provide technical support for developing standard methods for monitoring tritiated water in ambient air. Methods The relative standard deviation and recovery of multi-group samples were verified by collecting, testing, and analyzing environmental samples with different activity concentrations. The uncertainty of the method was evaluated, the main uncertainty components were identified, and the reliability of measurement results was analyzed. Through experimental comparison of different methods, the differences in the test results of different methods were examined. Results The relative standard deviation of multiple samples ranged from 6.7% to 7.9%, the recovery ranged from 95.7% to 97.3%, and the uncertainty was greatly affected by the sample counting rate, with no significant difference as compared to condensation sampling method. Conclusion The precision and accuracy of this method meet the requirements of environmental authorities for monitoring tritiated water in ambient air, and it can be widely used in the monitoring of tritiated water in ambient air.