BACKGROUND: As a combination of reverse transcription (RT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), RT-PCR has been used to detect gene expression levels in cells and tissues, RNA virus contents in cells and specific gene cloned cDNA sequences.OBJECTIVE: To detect the inhibitory effcet of Stealth siRNAs on the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1).METHODS: There were blank control, empty vector transfection, stealth-48, stealth-166, and stealth-594 groups. Three stealth siRNAs aimed at different sequences in TGF-β1 mRNA were made, and were then transfected into BALB/c mouse lung fibroblasts in vitro. The expressions of TGF-β1 and connective tissue growth factor were detected by RT-PCR.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In different time periods, the TGF-β1 expression was differentially depressed by three stealth siRNAs, especially stealth-166. The inhibitory effects varied with time, which could be detective at 48 hours,reached the peak at 72 hours and then began to attenuate at 96 hours. Our findings show that the inhibitory effect of stealth siRNAs on the TGF-β1 expression in mouse lung fibroblasts can be detected by RT-PCR.

Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of delayed radiation-induced brain injury. Methods 21 patients with delayed radiation-induced brain injury were diagnosed by CT, MRI and MRS, and were treated with dehydration, corticosteroid, neuroprective drugs and hyperbaric oxygen or surgery. Results The symptoms of 66.7% patients were obviously improved, 19.0% patients partly recovered and the symptoms of 14.3% patients were not obviously improved. Conclusion The early diagnosis and reasonable treatment could decrease delayed radiation-induced brain injury to minimal extent. The operative treatment should be performed in the patients who had operative indicators. And it was important to prevent the occurrence of delayed radiation-induced brain injury.

Objective To investigate the effect of astragaloside,one of the active components of astragalus membranaceus,on myocardial nerve growth factor(NGF)expression in murine myocarditis model with coxsackievirus B(CVB_3).Methods One hundred Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups.Group A [n=10,treated with carboxymethylcellulose(CMC) 0.1 mL,ig,for 1 week] were served as normal controls group and group B(n=10,treated with 9% astragaloside 0.1 mL,ig,for 1 week)as high-dose control.Eighty infected mice treated with CMC and 1%,3%,9% astragaloside 0.1 mL,ig,for 1 week (n=20 in each group)were served as group C(myocarditic control group),D(low-dose intervention group),E(middle-dose intervention group),F(high-dose intervention group),respectively.The mice were killed and their hearts were removed after 14 days.The expression levels of NGF mRNA and protein in the myocardium were examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results The mortality was significantly reduced in 9% astragaloside treated infected mice that was 10%(2/20)vs 45%(9/20)in group C(P

AIM:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of balloon dilatation in infants with lacrimal passage obstruction.METHODS:Totally 86 patients (116 eyes) with lacrimal duct obstruction from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 were randomly divided into two groups according to the digital table.The observation group (43 cases, 60 eyes) were operated with balloon dilatation and the control group (43 cases, 56 eyes) were treated with duct exploratory operation.The patients were followed up for 6mo to compare the efficacy.RESULTS:At the 6mo postoperatively, the primary cure rate and total cure rate in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group.There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Balloon dilatation operation is safe, and its clinical efficacy is better than lacrimal duct exploratory operation, is an effective way to treat lacrimal duct obstruction in infants.

AIM: To investigate the effects of propofol on the expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in the hippocampus and the cognitive function in neonatal rats.METHODS: The 7-day-old rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the rats in control (CON) group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline for 7 d;the rats in single dose of propofol anesthesia (SP) group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline for 6 d and with propofol on the 7th day;the rats in repeated dose of propofol anesthesia (RP) group were intraperitoneally injected with propofol for 7 d.Blood glucose and blood gas analysis were tested in 6 rats of each group.The rats were randomly selected from each group to isolate the hippocampal tissues at 2 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 30 d after the last injection.The spatial learning and memory functions of the other rats aged 25 d were determined by Morris water maze.The morphological changes of the hippocampus were observed by HE staining and Nissl's staining.The expression of tPA and MMP9 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.RESULTS: Compared with group CON, the protein expression of tPA and MMP9 in RP group was significantly decreased at each time point, while no significant decrease was observed in SP group except at the time point of 24 h.Compared with CON group, the mRNA expression of tPA and MMP9 was down-regulated obviously in RP group, which was not significantly down-regulated in SP group.From the 3rd training day of Morris water maze beginning, the escape latency was prolonged, and the space exploration time and the number of crossing the original platform location were reduced in RP group compared with CON group and SP group, while no significant difference was observed between CON group and SP group.Compared with CON group, the number of nerve cells reduced and nerve cells arranged in disorder in the hippocampus in RP group.Moreover, the number of Nissl body decreased significantly and finally developed into neuronal degeneration and necrosis in RP group, and no significant difference between SP group and CON group was observed.CONCLUSION: Repeated dose of propofol anesthesia leads to long-term cognitive dysfunction in neonatal rats, which may be related to the down-regulation of tPA and MMP9 expression and destruction of normal morphology and function of neurons in hippocampus, whereas single dose of propofol anesthesia has no such effects.

Early diagnosis and early intervention for cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke can delay disease progression and prevent the occurrence of dementia.This article reviews the advances in research on ischemic stroke caused each risk factor for cognitive impairment.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis

One strain of Pseudoalteromonas sp. E18 was isolated from the sea mud of Ningbo, Zhejiang. It can produce indigo pigment. The morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics of the bacterium were studied. The indigo pigment was also extracted. The results showed that the maximum absorption peak of the pigment was at 579nm. The pigment was stable to UV, Na_2SO_3,It was also stable at pH 3～9. The pigment was unstable to the sunlight and high concentration H_2O_2. Temperature of 60℃～80℃ could increase the hue while temperature higher than 90℃ could reduce the hue.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of urinary leukotriene E4(LTE4) in children with respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) bronchiolitis.Methods Forty infants with bronchiolitis were enrolled for the identification of RSV-Ag from the nasopharyngeal secretions.Forty cases who were found to be positive of RSV were put into RSV bronchiolitis group.According to the severity of illness,the infants in RSV bronchiolitis group were separated into 2 subgroups:mild illness group (24 cases) and moderate illness group (16 cases).Thirty healthy children were chosen as healthy control group.Urine of the patients in RSV bronchiolitis group was collected in acute phase (on the 1st day) and recovery phase (on the 7th day after the admission).Urine of children in control group was collected .Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assay the level of urinary LTE4.Results The levels of LTE4 in healthy control group (M,Q) were 1.28 pmol?mmol-1,1.72 pmol?mmol-1,while the levels of LTE4 in acute phase in RSV bronchiolitis group (M,Q were 30.52 pmol?mmol-1,23.56 pmol?mmol-1,and the levels of LTE4 in recovery phase in RSV bronchiolitis group (M,Q) were 3.98 pmol?mmol-1,3.43 pmol?mmol-1.Urinary LTE4 levels in acute phase in RSV bronchiolitis group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group (P

Aim To investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 down-regulation in the learning and memory dysfunction induced by propofol treatment in rats.Methods 7-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=18):control group(NS group) and repeated doses of propofol group(RP group) was intraperitoneally injected with normal saline and propofol respectively for consecutive seven days, single dose of propofol group(SP group) were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline first for consecutive six days, and then injected with propofol on 7th day.The blood gas and glucose levels were monitored of six rats randomly selected from each group.Morris water maze was conducted to test the learning and memory functions of the remaining rats.The expression of MMP-9, BDNF and caspase-3 was detected by Western blot, and the hippocampal neuron apoptosis was determinated by TUNEL staining.Results Compared with NS group and SP group, the escape latency in RP group was prolonged significantly, exploration time and the number of crossing the platform in RP group were markedly decreased(P<0.05).The expressions of MMP-9 and mBDNF in RP group declined, but the expression of proBDNF and the ratio of proBDNF/mBDNF in RP group were higher than those in NS group and SP group(P<0.05).Compared with NS group and SP group, the number of apoptotic neurons and the expression of cleaved-caspase-3 in RP group were increased significantly, but the expression of pro-Caspase3 in RP group was reduced(P<0.05).There was no difference between SP group and NS group regarding all the results(P>0.05).Conclusions Repeated exposure to propofol can lead to a decline in long-term learning and memory functions in neonatal rats, which may be related to the down-regulation of MMP-9 expression, proBDNF and mBDNF conversion disorder in hippocampus and the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.However, single exposure to propofol has no significant effect.