Background Inherited retinal degeneration,one of the major causes of blindness worldwide,comprises a large number of disorders characterized by a slow and progressive retinal degeneration.Interleukin-1 (IL-1)was recognized to be involved in inherited retinal degeneration.Whether IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) can arrest retinal degeneration is worthy of investigation.Objective This study was to investigate the effects of IL-1ra on photoreceptor apoptosis in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats.Methods The use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.The SPF RCS rats aged 9,15,16,25,30,35,40,50 and 60 postnatal days were collected,with 9 rats for each age group.Retinal sections were used for the TdT-mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) cell apoptosis assay.1 μl of IL-1ra (1.8 g/L) was intravitreally injected in the right eyes of 9 RCS rats aged 15 postnatal days and PBS was used in the same way in the fellow eyes.The injection procedure was repeated on the 20 th and 25 th day,respectively.The rats were sacrificed on the 30 th day and retinal sections were prepared for the TUNEL assay.The differences in the percentage of the positive cellular nuclei area among different ages of rats were compared by one-way ANOVA,and the differences in retinal layer thickness between IL-1ra injection group and PBS injection group were assessed by paired t test.Results Photoreceptor apoptosis appeared in 20-day-old RCS rats and progressed and peaked in 30 and 35-day-old rats and then reduced,showing a significant difference among rat of various age groups (F=28.020,P＜0.01).Images from TUNEL assay showed a weaker and less TUNEL staining in the IL-1ra injected eyes than the PBS injected eyes in 30-day-old rats.The total area and relative area of TUNEL positive nuclei were (223.052±153.092) μm2 and (2.206±1.531) ％ in the IL-1ra injected group,and those in PBS injected group were (1235.050±359.767) μm2 and (7.269± 1.624) ％,with a significant difference between them (t =4.370,t=3.250,P＜0.01).The cone and rod thickness was (15.324±9.035) μm in the IL-1ra injected group and (49.566±4.605)μm in the PBS injected group,showing a significant difference (t =22.674,P＜0.01).However,no significant difference was seen in the outer nuclear layer thickness between the two groups (t =0.268,P＞0.05).Conclusions IL-1 participates in the pathogenesis and development of inherited retinal degeneration of RCS rats.The use of IL-1ra might be a potential approach in the treatment of inherited retinal degeneration.

Objective To study changes of phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate(c-AMP) response element binding protein in hippocampus(CA1) of neonatal rats after cerebral hypoxic-ischemia(HI)and effects of gangliosides (GM1)on the p-CREB.Methods An animal model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemia brain damage was established. Changes of p-CREB in hippocampal CA1 was detected with immunohistochemical methods.Results The p-CREB levels in the CA1 of HI and GM1 groups increased transiently and then decreased quickly, but there was no significant difference between HI and GM1 group.Conclusion The p-CREB levels in the CA1 of HI group increase transiently and then decrease quickly after HI ;GM1 has little effect on p-CREB in the CA1 after HI.

Objective To observe the effect of circadian rhythm on hypnotic median effective dose( ED50) of ketamine. Methods Sixty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups which had 15 mice in each group. They were intraperitoneally injected with ketamine at different times of 2 Am,8 Am,2 Pm and 8 Pm, respectively. Righting reflex was recorded and the value of ED50 was measured with sequential experimental method. Results The hypnotic ED50 of ketamine at 2 Am was(54.57?0.82) mg/kg, with 95% confidence limit of ED50 38.06-78.22 mg/kg;ED50 was(49. 27?0. 12) mg/kg at 8 Am, with 95% confidence limit of ED50 40. 21-60. 37 mg/kg;ED50 at 2 Pm was (42.28?0.21) mg/kg, with 95% confidence limit 37.35 - 47 83 mg/kg;and ED50 at 8 Pm was(57.42?0.14) mg/kg, with 95% confidence limit 37.51-73 72 mg/kg,respectively. The ED50 were significant different at 2 Pm and 8 Pm. However, there were no significant difference in ED50 value among other groups. Conclusion The hypnotic effect of ketamine has circadian rhythm - dependent.

Objective To evaluate the short-term curative effect and the safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy by using microspheres and lipiodol for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A total of 87 patients with pathologically proved HCC were randomly divided into the study group (n=44,using embospheres of 100-300 μm in diameter together with lipiodol) and the control group (n=43,using gelfoam particles of 350-560 μm in diameter together with lipiodol).Postopertaive biochemical (liver function and AFP) findings and imaging (CT and/or MRI) manifestations were recorded,and the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were analyzed.Results TACE was performed in all 87 patients.After the treatment,both the disease benefit rate and the postoperative reduction in AFP level in the study group were remarkably better than those in the control group (P＜0.05),but postoperative liver function indexes were not significantly different from the preoperative ones (P＞0.05).The average number of interventional therapy within the follow-up period of 6 months in the study group was smaller than that in the control group (P＜0.05).No statistically significant differences in 6-,12-and 18-month survival rates existed between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion In treating HCC,TACE by combination use of microspheres and lipiodol is safe,its short-term curative effect is more obvious than TACE by combination use of gelfoam particles and lipiodol,and it can reduce the times of interventional procedure.Before TACE,careful planning of the pre-treatment of hepatic artery-portal vein fistula and the superselective catheterization with micro catheter should be taken into consideration.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the protein and gene expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex of type 2 diabetic rats with cognitive impairment (CI), and to explore the mechanism of EA in improving the learning and memory abilities. Methods: A total of 100 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a normal group (n=10) and a model group (n=90) by random number table method. Rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with a small dose of streptozotocin (STZ) to establish the type 2 diabetic models, after being fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet for 1 month. Twenty CI rats were selected from the 50 successful model rats by the Morris water maze (MWM) test and randomly divided into a model group and an EA group according to the blood glucose level and MWM data (n=10). Rats in the EA group received acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Neiting (ST 44) and Yishu (Extra), of which Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiting (ST 44) were stimulated by EA apparatus, 20 min/time, once a day for 6 d a week and 4 consecutive weeks. The rats in the model and the normal groups were fixed without treatment. After 4-week treatment, the random blood glucose level of the rats was measured; the learning and memory abilities of rats were measured by MWM; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect apoptotic cells; Western blot (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the protein and gene expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex. Results: After modeling, the random blood glucose level and the escape latency tested by MWM were significantly increased, and the number of crossing the platform tested by the MWM was decreased in the EA and model groups, and were significantly different from those in the normal group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the differences between the model group and the EA group were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). After 4-week treatment, the random glucose level and the escape latency tested by MWM were significantly increased (both P<0.05), and the number of crossing the original platform tested by the MWM was significantly reduced (P<0.01), the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly increased (all P<0.001), the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced (both P<0.001), and the number of neuron apoptosis was significantly increased (P<0.001) in the model group than in the normal group; the random blood glucose level was significantly reduced (P<0.05), the escape latency tested by MWM was significantly shortened (P<0.05), and the number of crossing the original platform tested by MWM was significantly increased (P<0.05), the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced (all P<0.001), the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and the number of neuron apoptosis was significantly reduced (P<0.001) in the EA group than in the model group. Conclusion: EA can improve the learning and memory damages induced by type 2 diabetic model rats with CI; the action mechanism may be achieved via anti-apoptosis.

Objective To explore the relationship between social participation and needs for rehabilitation of the disabled in Guangdong Province and to make a proposal for developing the rehabilitation strategies. Meth-ods The data of the Second National Sample Survey of Disabled Persons in Guangdong Province was used in this study. Ranked data analysis was made with the sub-items of the social participation assessment and the main needs of the disabled individuals. Results Significantly statistical differences were revealed with regard to the constitu-ent ratio of needs for rehabilitation services among people with different degrees of difficulties in social participation caused by hearing and visual impairments as well as physical and mental disabilities. No significant difference was found in terms of the constituent ratio of rehabilitation needs among those with difficulties in speech and those with psychiatric diseases. The major rehabilitation needs focused on medical service, assistive apparatus support and functional trainings. Conclusions The rehabilitation needs were different among different categories of disabled persons. Rehabilitation services should be provided accordingly.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible relationship between variation of coxsackievirus B3 (CoxB3) VP1 sequence from cerebrospinal fluid of children with severe and mild central nervous system (CNS) infection and damage to CNS in children from Shandong province.

METHODSThe enteroviruses were detected using VP1 typing and sequencing primer for enteroviruses from 73 enterovirus-infected cases confirmed by detection of cerebrospinal fluid by enteroviruses common primer. VP1 sequences (450 nucleotides) were determined and analyzed for 21 CoxB3 enteroviruses strains isolated in Qingdao and Binzhou, and were compared with that of BLAST search procedures from GeneBank in NCBI. The variation of VP1 gene and amino acids sequence of CoxB3 enteroviruses was analyzed for severe and mild CNS infection.

RESULTSThe nucleotide homogeneity of these CoxB3 appeared to be 97% - 99%, however, the homogeneity among different genotypes were 83% - 76%. Replacement of glutamine by histidine at amino acid locus 856 of VP1 CoxB3 was found in 4 cases with severe encephalitis. There were different variation in VP1 nucleotide sequence of CoxB3 in 3 cases with mild encephalitis and 14 cases with meningitis, but amino acids sequences had no regular variation. The modified Glasgow's coma score was below 7 in all the 4 cases with severe encephalitis. Of these 4 cases, 3 had consciousness disturbance for less than 3 days. Lethargy, restlessness and psychiatric symptoms were major manifestations, of whom 3 also had dysphagia, 1 had encephalatrophy obviously, Glasgow's coma score was 3, deep coma lasted for 9 days, and had concomitant fatal epileptic attacks. Of these 4 cases, 2 completely recovered, 1 had high muscle tone, 1 remained under anti-epileptic drug treatment at follow-up 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONThere were a small epidemic of CoxB3 CNS infection in children in 2005 in this area. The amino acid variation of CoxB3 VP1 possibly caused increased viral virulence and caused damage to CNS.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Capsid Proteins ; cerebrospinal fluid ; genetics ; Central Nervous System ; pathology ; virology ; Child ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; cerebrospinal fluid ; epidemiology ; virology ; Encephalitis ; virology ; Enterovirus B, Human ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Virulence

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor worldwise. The incidence rate of HCC is high and is easy to metastasis and recurrence, which seriously affects human health. Traditional chemical drugs have some challenges such as toxicity, side effects, and multidrug resistance, thus it is urgent to find new drugs and effective targets. Here we synthesized a novel chemical, protonic bis-phenanthroline (H-BP), and the antitumor effect was investigated in the study. The results showed that H-BP could selectively inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and cause HCC apoptosis. And also, in HCC tumor-bearing mice, H-BP could effectively prevent the growth of tumor mass, even completely eliminate the tumor at medium dose (5 mg·kg^-1) and high dose (10 mg·kg^-1), and meanwhile H-BP has no significant effect on the body weight of mice. The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Southwest University, and the experimental operation was strictly carried out in accordance with the ethical principles of animal use and care. Mechanism studies showed that H-BP induced HCC apoptosis was related to down-regulation the expression of pleomorphic adenoma gene like-2 (PLAGL2), a oncogene transcription factor, resulting in the down-regulation of PLAGL2 downstream proteins hypoxia inducible factor and β-catenin. This study not only introduces the dimerization method to form novel compounds that will provide a new approach for drug design, but also suggests that PLAGL2 may be an effective target in tumor therapy.

Adult ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Hyperemesis Gravidarum ; etiology ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo detect the methylation status of p16 gene promotor in DNA derived from plasma and blood cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) , and it's relationship with clinical symptoms.

METHODSp16 promotor methylation in plasma and peripheral blood cells (PBCs) DNA were simultaneously detected with the methylation specific PCR (MSP) method in 24 active SLE patients, 21 inactive SLE patients, as well as 20 healthy controls.

RESULTSIn the plasma DNA, p16 gene methylation ratio (MP%) was higher in SLE patients than in the healthy controls (64.4% vs. 5.0%, P < 0.05). MP% in the active SLE patients was significantly higher than that in the inactive SLE patients (83.3% vs. 42.9%, P < 0.05). In the PBCs, p16 gene methylation ratio (MC%) in the healthy controls was significantly higher than that in SLE (80.0% vs. 48.9%, P < 0.05). MC% in the active SLE patients (29.2%) was the lowest among three groups. There was no significant difference between the inactive SLE patients and healthy controls (71.4% vs. 80.0%, P > 0.05). Each patient could be judged as one of the four methylation patterns: MP/MC, UP/MC (UP: unmethylated plasma p16) , MP/UC (UC: unmethylated PBCs p16) , and UP/UC. The ratios of MP/ MC and UP/UC were similar between the active and inactive SLE patients. However, different distributions of other two patterns were found in the active and inactive SLE patients as UP/MC 4.2% vs. 42.9% (P <0.05) and MP/UC 58.3% vs. 14.3% (P < 0.05), respectively. The active SLE patients with MP/UC and the inactive SLE patients with UP/MC showed different clinical symptoms and laboratory examinations. Significant correlation was found between the disease activity index for lupus patients (SLEDAI) scores and MP% (r = 0.93), between the SLEDAI scores and MC% (r = - 0.96) also between MC% and MP% (r = - 0.79).

CONCLUSIONThe p16 methylation assay provides available information for the diagnosis, judgment of disease activity, as well as novel insights into the pathogenesis underlying this disease.

Adult ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics