Objective:To investigate the effects of microgroove surface morphology on the adhesion and proliferation of the human gin-gival fibroblasts(HGFs).Methods:Microgroove surfaces of titanium were fabricated by photolithography with parallel grooves of 15,30 or 60 μm in width and 5 μm or 10 μm in depth.The groups of the samples were denoted as T15 /5,T15 /10,T30 /5,T30 /10,T60 /5 and T60 /10.Smooth titanium surface(T0)was used as the control.The surface topography was observed by enviroment SEM(ES-EM).HGFs were cultured on the topographically modified surfaces.Morphology was observed by SEM.Cell proliferation was examined by CCK-8 kit.Results:HGFs on the microgroove surfaces had “contact guidance”parallel to the microgrooves,whereas the cells on T0 were oriented randomly.Cell proliferation was promoted and kept for longer period on T60 /10 surface.Conclusion:Surfaces of mi-crogrooves with increasing groove width and depth may achieve “contact guidance”for HGFs and promote cell proliferation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of microgroove surfaces of titanium on the adhesion and cell cycle progression of human gingival fibroblasts(HGFs).Methods:Microgroove titanium surfaces were fabricated on silicon plate by photolithography with parallel grooves:1 5,30 and 60 μm in width and 5 μm and 1 0 μm in depth,the groups were denoted as T1 5 /5,T1 5 /1 0,T30 /5,T30 /1 0, T60 /5 and T60 /1 0,respectively.Smooth titanium surfaces (T0)were used as the controls.Surface topography were observed by ES-EM.HGFs were cultured on the microgroove surfaces.Morphology of “contact guidance”was observed by immunofluorescence tech-nique.Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by Flow cytometry.Results:HGFs on the microgroove surfaces had “contact guidance”par-allel to the microgrooves,whereas the cells on T0 were oriented randomly.T60 /1 0 group had the highest percentage of S phase cells, followed by T30 group and T1 5 group,but still higher than that in the control group.In groups with higher groove width (T60 group and T30 group),the increase of groove depth benefited the increase of S phase percentage,while in T1 5 group,the increase of groove width decreased the S phase percentage.Conclusion:Surfaces of microgrooves with different dimensions achieved “contact guidance”for the cultured HGFs.The surfaces with increasing groove width and depth benefit the cell cycle progression.

PurposeTo observe the effects of blocking the renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system at different sites in experimental congestive heart failure (CHF)rats. Methods Six weeks after coronary ligation, rats( n = 66)were randomized to benalapril, losartan, spironolactone, placebo, and treated for 6 weeks. Sham-operated rats( n = 18) served as controls. Six weeks later left ventricular hemodynamics were measured. Results In the hemodynamic variables, HR was not significantly different between groups. Compared four treatment groups with sham-operated group, LVEDP increased, LVPSP and ± dp/dtmax decreased (P＜0.05). Compared with placebo group,all data in spironolactone group were not significantly different, LVEDP, mortality in benalapril group and in losartan group decreased, LVPSP and ± dp/dtmax in benalapril group and in losartan group increased(P ＜ 0.05). ConclusionsAdministration of ACEI and Ag Ⅱ-AT1 antagonist are effective in preventing from cardiac function deterioration, while spironolactone treatments are not. Spironolactone has tendency in decreasing LVEDP.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of isoflurane anesthesia on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) in neonatal rat hippocampus.MethodsForty-eight SD rats of both sexes,aged 7 days,weighing 12-17 g,were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n =24 each):control group (group C) and isoflurane anesthesia group (group Ⅰ).In group Ⅰ,the rats were exposed to2.5％ isotlurane for 3 min and then 1.5％ isoflurane was inhaled for 4 h,while in group C the rats were exposed to air for4 h.Arterial blood samples were collected immediately after anesthesia for blood gas analysis and for determination of the blood glucose concentration.Five rats in each group were sacrificed at 0,6,24 and 48 h after anesthesia (T1-4) and hippocanpi were removed for determination of the expression of potassiumchloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2),potassium-chloride cotrmsporter 1 (NKCC1),BDNF and p-ERK by Western blot.NKCC1/KCC2 ratio was calculated.ResultsAcid-base imbalance,hypoxemia and glycopenia were not found immediately after anesthesia in both groups.Compared with group C,KCC2 expression was significantly down-regulated and NKCC1/KCC2 ratio was increased at T3 and T4,and the expression of BDNF and p-ERK was dewn-regnlated at T1 and T2 in group Ⅰ (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in NKCCI expression at each time point between groups Ⅰ and C ( P ＞ 0.05 )、ConclusionIsoflurane anesthesia delays the neuronal development in neonatal rat hippocampus through down-regulating the expression of BDNF and p-ERK.

Objective To investigate the effects of isoflurane anesthesia on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the dentate gyrus of neonatal rats.Methods Ten SD rats,aged 7 days,weighing 16-20 g,were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n =5 each):control group (group C) and isoflurane group (group 1) .The rats in group Ⅰ inhaled 2.5％ isoflurane for 3 min for induction and then anesthesia was maintained with 1.5 ％ isoflurane for 4 h,while the rats in group C only breathed the room air for 4 h.Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) 100 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally right before the induction and after the end of administration to label NSCs and their progeny in the dentate gyrus.At 24 h after the 2nd administration of BrdU,double immunofluorescence for BrdU and NeuroD (a marker of neuroblasts and immature neurons) was used to assess NSC proliferation and neuronal differentiation.Results Compared with group C,the number of BrdU+ cells in group Ⅰ was significantly decreased,whereas the fraction of NeuroD+/BrdU+ differentiated cells was increased in the dentate gyrus( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ).Conclusion Isoflurane anesthesia suppresses the proliferation of NSCs and induces neuronal differentiation of NSCs in the dentate gyrus of neonatal rats.

To evaluate the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose(TFG)in outpatients with essential hypertension and the influencing factors.Methods 1026 essential hypertensive outpatients aged 15-87 years[531 males and 495 females,mean age(51.6±12.5)years]who visited Xuanwu hospital between February 2004 and January 2007 were recruited in the study.Their medical history,blood pressure,height,weight,waist ircumferences(WC),hip circumference(HC),fasting plasma glucose(FPG),TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C were detected and analyzed.Results The abnormal rate of FPG in hypertensive outpatients was 38.5% and incidence of IFG was 30.5%.The differences of gender,systolic blood pressure,BMI,waist-to-hip ratio(WHR),TG,TC between the normal glucose group and the IFG group were significant Gender,family history of diabetes mellitus,TC and LDL-C enter into the logistic regression model(P<0.05).Conclusions The detection rate of IFG is high in hypertensive outpatients and it is related with gender,family history of diabetes mellitus and disorders of lipid metabolism.

Objective To assess the efficacy of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the ablation of feeding-artery in uterine fibroids.Methods A total of 45 women with uterine fibroids who had children accepted HIFU treatment.Color Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasound were used to target the supply vessels entered the fibroid.HIFU treatment was focused primarily on locations where supplying vessels entered the fibroid.Conventional ultrasound,color Doppler ultrasound,contrast-enhanced ultrasound and MRI were performed before and after HIFU treatment to observe the changes of imaging.Results After HIFU treatment,the volume of uterine fibroids decreased to certain extent.The blood signals decreased or disappeared in the treated regions.Bewteen two groups of the uterine fibroids diamete ≥5 cm and ＜5 cm,there were significant differences in the percentage of the nonperfusion regions in the volume of uterine fibroids (≥70％,P ＜0.05).Conclusions Ablation of feeding artery by HIFU is an effective treatment for the uterine fibroids.HIFU treatment is effective for the ablation of feeding-artery in uterine fibroids whose diameter less than 5 cm.

Objective To evaluate early diagnostic value of quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in acute radiation-induced liver injury.Methods Sixty female rats were divided into two groups:50 rats in an experimental group (model group) and 10 rats in a negative control group.The rats in model group were radiated with stereotactic single dose of 20Gy on their liver to establish acute radiationinduced liver injury models.Each 10 rats from model groups and 2 rats from control group were randomly selected and underwent CEUS and histopathological examination on the 3,7,14,21,28 days after radiation.The degree of injury was classified into four groups according to pathological grading:non-injured group,mild injured group,moderated injured group and severe injured group.The dynamic images of CEUS were off-line analysis and the parameters of arrival time of contrast agent to hepatic artery (HAAT),the arrival time of contrast agent to hepatic vein (HVAT),and the transit time of hepatic artery-hepatic vein (HAHVTT) were recorded.Time intensity curve (TIC) of liver parenchyma drawn by the software of quantitative analysis was used to obtain quantitative parameters including time to peak (TTP) and peak intensity (PI).Results Along with the severity degree of radiation-induced liver injury,the quantitative parameters,PI decreased while TTP extended.PI of mild injured group,moderated injured group and severe injured group were lower than that of non-injured group (P ＜0.05).TTP of the three liver injuried groups was higher than non-injured group (P ＜0.05).The quantitative parameters HA-HVTT of moderated injured group and severe injured group were decreased than the non-injured group (P ＜0.05),whereas the difference between mild injured group and non-injured group was not significant.Conclusions Quantitative analysis of CEUS can provide a certain value for early diagnosis in acute radiation-induced liver injury.

AIM: To investigate the dynamic alteration of cardiac collagen metabolism in mice with acute,chronic myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).METHODS: BALB/c mice infected with coxsackievirus B_3 were used to establish animal models of acute,chronic myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy,while uninfected animals were also prepared and served as controls.After verification of models by histopathological methods and echocardiography,serum concentration of aminoterminal propeptide of type Ⅲ procollagen(PIIINP),aminoterminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen(PINP) and carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen(PICP) in each group of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1(MMP1) and its tissue inhibitor(TIMP-1) were determined by Western blotting analysis.The MMP-1 activity was also detected.RESULTS: Marked myocardial fibrosis was observed in all groups of CVB_3-infected mice.Reparative fibrosis,promotion of synthesis and degradation of cardiac collagens were presented in heart tissue of acute myocarditis mice. Both reparative and reactive fibrosis,enhanced synthesis and lightened degradation of collagen were present in chronic myocarditis,while reactive fibrosis and excess collagen synthesis were confirmed in DCM.Expression and activity of(MMP-1) was progressively decreased.TIMP-1 showed unchanged.The ratio of MMP-1/TIMP-1 was progressively descended.CONCLUSION: Collagen metabolism was special in different phase of viral heart diseases,which may play different roles in the progression and prognosis of these kinds of disease.

Objective To evaluate the effects of ulinastatin pretreatment on cognitive dysfunction induced by chronic exposure to ketamine in immature mice.Methods Thirty-six healthy male C57BL/6 mice,aged 21 days,weighing 20-30 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =12 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),ketamine group (group K),and ulinastatin pretreatment group (group U).In K and U groups,ketamine 30 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally three times a day at 30-minute intervals for 21 consecutive days,while in group U,ulinastatin 50 000 U/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min before the first injection of ketamine everyday.Cognitive function was assessed using Morris water maze and open field tests at 24 h after the last administration of ketamine.Mice in each group were sacrificed immediately after the end of the tests and hippocampi were harvested to determine the contents of interleukin-6 (IL-6),IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) using ELISA.Results Compared with group C,the escape latency was significantly prolonged,the time spent in the original platform and in the central area for the open field was shortened,the frequency of crossing the original platform was decreased,and the contents of IL-1,IL-6,and TNF-α were increased in group K (P ＜ 0.05),while there were no significant differences in the indexes mentioned above in group U (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group K,the escape latency was significantly shortened,the time spent in the original platform and in the central area for the open field was prolonged,the frequency of crossing the original platform was increased,and the contents of IL-1,IL-6,and TNF-α were decreased in group U (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Ulinastatin pretreatment can improve cognitive dysfunction induced by chronic exposure to ketamine in immature mice,and inhibition of inflammatory responses in hippocampi may be involved in the mechanism.