Background Retinal ischemia reperfusion injury (RIRI) is a common pathological process of many retinal vascular diseases with comprehensive pathogenesis mechanism.Researches showed that apoptosis of retinal cells and nerve fiber loss is the finally common pathway of RIRI,and Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway is a newly discovered signal transcript channel in recent years,which is involved in varieties of pathological processes.However,whether JAK-STAT pathway is associated with RIRI is still unelucidated.Objective This study was to investigate the time course of activation of JAK-STAT signal pathway and its significance during RIRI.Methods Forty clear adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into RIRI 6-hour,12-hour,24-hour and 48-hour groups.RIRI models were induced in lateral eyes of the rats by perfusing normal saline solution into the anterior chamber to elevate intraocular pressure (IOP) to 110 mmHg for 60 minutes and then allowing reperfusion,and the fellow eyes of the rats served as normal control group.The rats were sacrificed and the eyeballs were enucleated at 6,12,24 and 48 hours after reperfusion.The expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 protein (absorbance) in the retinas were located and detected by immunohistochemistry,and the relative expression levels of JAK2 and STAT3 mRNA in the retinas were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.The use and care of the rats followed the ARVO Statement.Results Immunohistochemistry showed that JAK2 and STAT3 were faintly expressed in inner nuclear layer and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the normal control group and strongly expressed in various RIRI groups.Significant differences were found in the expression intensities of JAK2 and STAT3 protein among the five groups (F =88.735,96.625,both at P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the normal control group,the expression intensities of JAK2 and STAT3 were enhanced in RIRI groups,with the peak values in RIRI 12-hour group (JAK2:t=4.308,5.559,5.315,4.726;all at P＜0.01.STAT3:t=5.047,7.843,6.281,4.887;all at P＜0.01).The thickening of inner retinal layer,loosening of retinal tissue,vacuolus degeneration of cells and decrease of RGCs were seen in the RIRI eyes.The relative expressing levels of the JAK2 mRNA and STAT3 mRNA in the retinas were significantly different among the groups (F =111.239,129.539;both at P＜0.01),and the relative expressing levels of JAK2 mRNA and STAT3 mRNA in the retinas were significantly increased in RIRI 6-hour,12-hour,24-hour and 48-hour groups in comparison with the normal control group (JAK2 mRNA:t=3.504,5.102,4.679,4.213;all at P＜0.01.STAT3 mRNA:t =6.541,8.787,5.693,5.898;all at P＜0.01).Conclusions The retinal morphology appears to be abnormal and RGCs are evidently decreased in rat eyes with RIRI,and the expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in the retinas are simultaneously up-regulated,indicating that JAK-STAT signal pathway is involved during the RIRI process.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and effect of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE)on guiding the occlusion of the soft-rim atrial septal defect(ASD).Methods Sixty two patients with the soft-rim ASD were enrolled.The size of ASD was measured and rim of ASD was observed by TTE on various views by using color Doppler system with tissue harmonic function before occlusion,and filmy rim of ASD with flapping which could not sustain occluder was eliminated.The size of occluder was selected by integratively judging the size of ASD and"sustainable diameter of ASD"The waist size of occluder was measured after releasing occluder and compared with the longest diameter of ASD and"sustainable diameter of ASD"measured by TTE.Results The longest diameter of ASD measured by TTE before occlusion was 11-35 mm[average(21.6±5.2)mm],the "sustainable diameter of ASD"was 15-37 mm[average(25.6±5.(J)mm],the size of selected occluder was 18-44mm[average(30.7±5.5)mini and the waist size of released occluder was 13-35 mm[average(24.2±5.6)mm].Fine correlation was existed between the longest diameter of ASD measured by TTE and the waist size of released occluder(r=0.86,P＜0.000I).Morever,improved correlation was found between the"sustainable diameter of ASD"measured by TTE and the waist size of released occluder(r=0.89,P＜0.0001).Occluder was firmly fixed without falling in all patients.Conclusions TTE with tissue harmonic function can be used to measure the size of soft-rim ASD and the"sustainable diameter of ASD".It is a feasible,and effective method on guiding occlusion of soft-rim ASD.

Objective: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on rat with diet induced obesity (DIO) and to explore the possible neurochemical mechanisms using the technique of immumohistochemisty. Methods:To establish DIO rat model by feeding the animals with high fat diet for 14 weeks. DIO rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) 2Hz EA group, (2) 100Hz EA group, (3) restrain control group,(4) diet resistance (DR) group,(5) DIO group and (6) normal control group. EA treatment: (1) The acupoints used were Zusanli and Sanyinjiao on both legs. (2) The intensities of stimulation were 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5mA for 10 mins each. EA treatment was administered 3 times per week. Food intake and body weight were measured daily for 4 weeks. (3) The changes of the expression of ? melanocyte stimulating hormone (? MSH) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) were measured with immunohistochemical semiquantitative analysis. Results: (1) The food intake and body weight of 2 Hz EA group and 100 Hz EA group were decreased significantly compared with the restrain control group and DIO group. (2) The number of ? MSH positive cells in hypothalamic ARC in 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz EA group was significantly higher than that in restrain control group and DIO group. The number of ? MSH positive cells in hypothalamic ARC in DIO group is significantly lower than those in DR group or normal control group. Conclusion: A decrease of ? MSH level in hypothalamus may be associated with diet induced obesity. The therapeutic effect on obesity produced by EA may be accounted for by the stimulation of pro opio melanocortin neurons in hypothalamic ARC to release ? MSH, which inhibits food intake , resulting in a decrease of body weight.