This article analyzes the forward and backward feedback pathways between cones and horizontal cells in the Cascade model and sets up a Hopfield Network to simulate the interaction mechanism.Additionally,it appears that the phase character of horizontal cell is connected with spectrum and a CMAC Network is established to simulate the mapping process.This article aims to indicate that the mapping of horizontal cell and spectrum might be the underlying way for retina to code the signal from spectral input.

BACKGROUND: Non-adherence to fluid restrictions is common in patients maintained on hemodialysis prior to and after kidney transplantation,which has a profound influence on the development and transfer of illness of the patients.Mental factors have great influences on adherence to fluid restrictions.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of rational-emotive therapy on adherence to fluid restrictions of patients maintained on hemodialysis prior to and after kidney transplantation.METHODS: In total 100 patients maintained on hemodialysis were randomly assigned to an intervention group(n = 50)and a control group(n = 50).The control group received the conventional therapy.At the same time,the intervention group received the conventional therapy combined with rational-emotive therapy.All cases were assessed with the Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90)and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire(MCMQ)prior to and after intervention.Clinical indices related to adherence to fluid restrictions were measured three successive times and the average score of each index was calculated.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Forty-eight patients from the intervention group and 44 patients from the control group accomplished the study.After intervention,the scores of the two subscales,confronce and avoidance,were significantly higher than those in the control group(P < 0.05).However,some scores were significantly lower than those in the control group,including the score of acceptance/resignation subscale of MCMQ,total average score of SCL-90,the score of somatization,obsessive-compulsive,interpersonal sensitivity,depression,anxiety,hostility,photic anxiety and additional items,and the score of four clinical indices related to adherence to fluid restrictions(the ratio of interdialysis weight gain to dry weight,mean systolic blood pressure,mean diastolic blood pressure,and mean ultrafiltration volume prior to hemodialysis)(P < 0.05).All these findings suggest that rational-emotive therapy can effectively amend the coping modes and the mental states of the patients,and then improve their adherence to fluid restrictions.

AIM and METHODS: To investigate the effect of electrical stimulation of ventlal septal area (VSA) on discharge of pyrogen - treated thermosensitive neurons in preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH) region, the discharging rate of thermosensitive neurons in the POAH region of 32 New Zealand white rabbits were recorded by using extracellular microelectrode techinque. RESULTS: (1) Intraceretroventricularly (i c v) injection of interleukin - 1?(IL - 1?) caused decrease of discharging rate of warm - sensitive neurons and increased in discharging rate of cold - sensitive neurons in POAH regions. (2) These effects could be reversed by electrical stimulation of VSA. CONCLUSION: VSA may play a central role of negative regulation in thermoregulation of pyrogen - treated animal.

Objective To investigate the spectrum,diagnosis,time of therapy and management of the congeni-tal heart disease(CHD)in patients with Down′s syndrome(DS).Methods A retrospective report was undertaken of 96 cases in children with DS accompanied by CHD in Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Beijing Anzhen Hospital Af-filiated to Capital Medical University.Data were collected and analyzed about their clinical characteristics,and types of cardiovascular abnormalities,and the important laboratory examinations such as echocardiography and catheterization as well as the procedures of diagnosis and treatments were summarized.Then the interventions,complications and prognosis of different patients were estimated.Results (1)Single congenital heart disease was found in 33 cases (34.38%),a-mong which ventricular septal defect was the most common (14 cases,14.58%),followed by atrioventricular septal de-fect and atrial septal defect (equally,7 cases,7.29%).Multi -cardiovascular abnormalities were discovered in 63 ca-ses,and patent ductus arteriosus turned out to be the most common (42 cases,66.67%).(2)Cat-heterization was car-ried out in 18 cases of serious pulmonary arterial hypertension,and 8 cases were proved resistant pulmonary arterial hy-pertension without operation opportunity.The other 8 cases were estimated as high pulmonary arterial hypertension and medical therapy was suggested before reassessment to reduce surgical risks.(3)Operations were undertaken in 61 ca-ses,among which percutaneous interventional occlusion was performed in 7 cases and surgical interventions were per-formed in 54 patients,in which perioperation complications and death were found in 5 cases and 4 cases,respectively. Conclusions Operation interventions are practicable and most cases recovered well with systematic examinations and assessment in patients with DS and cardiovascular malformations.Early diagnosis and timely interventions are highly suggested.Also close attentions should be paid to follow -up and re -estimation after medical therapy.

AIM: To investigate effects of Retinervus luffae fructus (RLF) on level of serum lipid and body weight in hyperlipidemia rats. METHODS: Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (A), hyperlipidemia group (B), hyperlipidemia + RLF group (C), RLF group (D). Both group A and C were fed normal diet every day, while group B and group D fed high fat diet. Meanwhile, group C and D were administered with RLF solution at the dose of 10 mL/kg, respectively for 14 days, while group A and B were administered with drinking water. RESULTS: (1) At the end of experiment, a significant reduction was found in the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) of group C animals treated with RLF solution; (2) The levels of serum TC of group D was progressively decreased compared to the level of serum TC at the beginning of experiment; (3) The level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of group C remained unaltered 8d after treatment with RLF solution; (4) The body weight in group C was obviously lower than that in group B. CONCLUSION: RLF had an obvious hypolipidemic effect on hyperlipidemia rats. It can inhibit the decrease in the HDL-C and the increase of body weight in rats. [

Abstract］　AIM and METHODS:The recent work from our laboratory showed that ventral septal area (VSA) played a negative-regulatory central role in thermoregulation during endogenous pyrogen-induced fever. In order to further investigate the role of VSA in the antipyretic mechanism, we observed the effects of electrical stimulation of VSA on firing characteristics of thermosensitive neurons in preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH) by using extracellular microelectrode technique on 32 New Zealand white rabbits treated with interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) intracerebroventriculary (ICV). RESULTS:(1)Injection of IL-1β decreased discharging rate of warm-sensitive neurons in POAH. Electrical stimulation of VSA remarkably decreased thermosensitive coefficient of warm-sensitive neurons. (2)Injection of IL-1β caused increase in discharging rate of cold-sensitive neurons in POAH. Electrical stimulation of VSA remarkably increased thermosensitive coefficient of cold-sensitive neurons. CONCLUSTION:VSA may have an antipyretic effect through affecting the firing characteristics of thermosensitive neurons in POAH during IL-1β-induced fever.

Objective To analyze the effects of fertilization methods and sperm sources in intra‐cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on the developmental capacity of surplus embryos .Methods A retrospective study was carried out to compare the blasto‐cyst rate of the surplus embryos from 2 697 patients .According to the fertilization methods ,the embryos were divided into IVF group and ICSI group .According to sperm sources ,the ICSI group was divided into ejaculated group and testicular sperm group . The rates of blastocyst formation and good quality blastocysts were compared between different fertilization methods and sperm sources .Results There were 8 426 embryo developed in 2 697 patients .The blastocyst formation rate of surplus embryos was high‐er in the IVF group(n=1 048 ,53 .18% ) than that in the ICSI group(n=1 378 ,49 .27% ) ,but with no statistically significant differ‐ent(P> 0 .05) .The rates of blastocyst were not statistically significant different between the IVF group and in the rescue ICSI group(P>0 .05) .The rates of blastocyst were not statistically significant different between the ejaculated group and the testicular sperm group(P>0 .05) .Conclusion There were not statistically significant different of the rate of blastocyst between different fer‐tilization methods and sperm sources in ICSI .

Objective To investigate the role and potential mechanism of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in the inflammatory response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.Methods The adult male Wistar rats were randomly (random number) divided into seven groups:control group (n =6),sham operation group (n =6),TBI group (n =24),sham operation + normal saline group (n =6),sham operation + Y320 (an immunomodulator acts as an inhibitor of IL-17A) group (n =6),TBI + normal saline group (n =6) and TBI + Y320 group (n =6).The TBI model of rat was established by using free-falling-body impact device.The levels of IL-17A and nuclear transcription factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) in the cerebral cortex were assayed by using Western Blot.The capability of leaming and memory of rats was assessed by Morris water maze.The beam balance test was employed to evaluating the neurological motor performance and the capability of balance.Results Compared with the sham operation group,the levels of IL-17A and NF-κB p65 in the cerebral cortex of TBI,TBI + saline and TBI + Y320 groups increased significantly (P ＜0.05) and peaked at the 3rd day after TBI.Compared with TBI + normal saline group,the level of NF-κB p65 was significantly down regulated by Y-320 (P ＜ 0.05) at the 3rd day after TBI in TBI + Y320 group.The lengths of latency time required for rats to escape to the platform area in TBI + normal saline group were (57.72±3.29) s,(55.63±3.85) s,and (55.02±3.92) sat the3rd,5th and7th days after TBI,respectively;while those in TBI + Y320 group were (35.45 ± 3.04) s,(30.98 ± 2.92) s,and (23.90 ±2.51) s at the 3rd,5th and 7th days after TBI,respectively.Thus,the capability of learning and memory of rats in TBI + Y320 group was improved significantly 3d,5d and 7 days after TBI (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions This study shows IL-17A is involved in the process of secondary brain injury after TBI,and associated with inflammation by activating the NF-κB p65 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s transplanted into rats exposed to silica dust can home to the injured lung, but the homing effects via different ways are stil unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To comparatively observe the distribution of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s transplanted via different ways into rats exposed to silica dust.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s of donor rats were isolated through whole bone marrow adherent method and transfected by Lv-eGFP. Receptor rats were exposed to silica dust through windpipe injection and randomly divided into intravenous injection and intratracheal injection groups. Then, transfected bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s were injected via the vein and trachea into acceptor rats. The acceptor rats were kil ed at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 after transplantation to take the lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, and brain tissue that were made into frozen sections and observed under fluorescence microscopy. The intensity of green fluorescence (absorbance value) was analyzed using image analysis software.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Strong, wide and lasting green fluorescence was both observed in the lung tissue of intravenous injection and intratracheal injection groups, which was especial y remarkable around the bronchus and blood vessels. The fluorescence intensities of both two groups were slightly decreased with time, but there was no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The fluorescence in the other organs of both two groups was also observed at early stage. It was stronger and wider in the liver, spleen and heart, while fainter and less in the kidney and brain, and reduced with time in al the organs. Fluorescence could be observed few and faint only in the liver and spleen at late stage, and could hardly be seen in the brain. The fluorescence intensities of the liver, spleen, heart, kidney and brain had no significant difference between the two groups at the same time (P>0.05), but the fluorescence intensity in the brain at the 1st week showed significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). These findings indicate that the intravenous injection and intratracheal injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s have similar homing effects in rats exposed to silica dust.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels transplantationvia the trachea can relieve the lung injury of rats exposed to silica dust, but their distribution and migrationin vivois stil unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the distribution and homing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels transplanted via the trachea into rats exposed to silica dust. METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels from Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated through bone marrow adherent method and transfected with lentivirus carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (Lv-eGFP). Trypan blue staining and cel counting kit-8 were applied to assay the viability and proliferation of the transfected and untransfected cels. Sprague-Dawley rats, SPF level, were randomized into control group and silica dust exposure group. Rats in the two groups were respectively injectedvia the trachea with 1 mL of sterile silica dust suspensions (40 g/L) and 1 mL of normal saline. At 2 days after modeling, 2.2×106 transfected bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were injected via the trachea into the rats of control group and silica dust exposure group. Rats were kiled at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 after transplantation, and the distribution and intensity of green fluorescence in the lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, and brain tissue were observed under the fluorescence microscopy by frozen sections and analyzed using imaging analysis software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: When the multiplicity of infection was 50, there were no significant differences between the viability and proliferation activity of the transfected and untransfected cels (P > 0.05). After transplantation of transfected bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels, strong green fluorescence was observed widely in the lung, especialy around the bronchus and blood vessels, and stil obvious at the 4th week. The fluorescence of other organs also could be observed at the 1st week. It was strong and wide in the liver, spleen and heart, while faint and less in the kidney and brain, and al reduced with time. It shows bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels transplantedvia the trachea into rats exposed to silica dust can be homing to the injured lung of rats.