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Background Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an immune related receptor.It plays an important role in inducing inflammation response.The inflammatory response secondary to optic nerve crush will results in serious retinal damage.It is worthy of studying the expression and effect of TLR4 in retina after optic nerve crush.Objective This experimental study was to explore the role of TLR4 in the loss of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) after optic nerve crush.Methods Twenty-four SPF adult health Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in the study and radomized into two groups based to the experimental time.The optical nerve crush models were established by crushing the optical nerve in the right eyes of the rats,and the left normal eyes served as controls.The rats were sacrificed by over anesthesia and retinas were isolated 3 days and 7 days after operation.Expression of TLR4 in the retinas was detected using immunofluorescence method.Reverse trancription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot were applied respectively for the detection of TLR4 mRNA and protein in the retinas.The apoptosis of RGCs was evaluated using TUNEL staining.The use and care of experimental animals followed theGuide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of NIH.This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center.Results The expression of TLR4 in rat retinas presented with green fluorescence mainly in the inner layer of retinas.The fluorescence was enhanced in the model 3 days group and the model 7 days group compared with the corresponding control groups.The relative expressing values of TLR4 mRNA in the retinas were 2.92±0.06and 3.92±0.12 in the model 3 days and 7 days groups,respectively,which were significantly higher than 2.87±0.12and 3.44±0.17 in the control 3 days and 7 days group (t3d =-12.888,P＜0.001 ;t7d =-4.669,P=0.010).In the model 3 days group and model 7 days group,the grey values of TLR4 protein were 1.14±0.05 and 1.49±0.03,and those in the control 3 days and 7 days groups were 0.99 ± 0.09 and 1.38 ± 0.07,showing significant differences between them(t3d =-11.324,P＜0.001 ;t7d =-5.638,P=0.005).Apoptotic RGCs were obviously increased in the optic nerve damage group in comparison with the control group.Conclusions The TLR4 is over-expressed in the inner layer of retina after optic nerve crush,which suggestes that TLR4 is probably involved in the loss of RGCs after optic nerve crush.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the gold standard for degenerative cervical disease,which would be replaced by cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) with the wide application of CDA. But, the mid- and long-term outcomes of ACDF versus CDA remain controversial.OBJECTIVE: To compare the mid- and long-term outcomes of ACDF and CDA in the treatment of single-level cervical spondylosis.METHODS: PubMed, Medline, EMbase, Cochrane, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang databases were searched for randomized controlled trials addressing CDA versus ACDF for single-level cervical spondylosis published before August 2016. The quality of trails was strictly evaluated, the data were extracted and a meta-analysis was performed on ReviewManager5.3 software.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Totally 15 randomized controlled trials involving 2781 patients were included, with 4-10 years of follow-up. (2) Meta-analysis results showed that compared with ACDF, CDA had better SF-36 scores,larger range of motion at operation level, lower the Neck Disability Index, and Visual Analogue Scale scores for arm pain,lower reoperation rate at operation level and adjacent level at mid- and long-term follow-up. (3) The Visual Analogue Scale scores for neck pain, neurologic success and all-complication rate did not differ significantly between two groups.(4) These results manifest that CDA is superior to ACDF in the mid- and long-term outcomes for single-level cervical spondylosis; however, further large-scale, multi-center and high-quality randomized controlled trials will be necessary.

This paper was aim to screen microorganisms with attenualed efficiency for Chinese medicine containing aristolochic acid A by liquid-state fermentation. Twelve Chinese medicine were detected by UPLC and aristolochic acid A was only founded in four species of Aristolochia, those were Caulis Aristolochiae Manshuriensis, Aristolochiae Radix, Aistolochia Contorta Bunge and Herba Aristolochiae Mollissima,but not in the others. With the four Chinese medicine containing aristolochic acid A as raw material, ten microorganisms were tested, and the content of aristolochic acid A was detected by UPLC. The results showed that one microorganism can decrease content of aristolochic acid A in all those four Chinese medicine.
Aristolochic Acids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fungi ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; microbiology

OBJECTIVEConditioned taste preference (CTP) is a taste learning reflex by which an animal learns to prefer a substance which tastes not well and has been studied with much interest in recent years. However, the neural substrates of CTP are less known. This study aimed to determine the possible neural path- ways of CTP and whether serum leptin level and the leptin receptor (OB-Rb) in the hind brain are involved following CTP formation.

METHODSWe established CTP of quinine in rats with a 2-bottle preference test. The serum leptin concentrations were detected, the expression of c-fos in the rat brain was tested to determine the nuclei in relation with establishment of CTR Finally, the OB-Rb mRNA expression was examined by RT-qPCR assay in parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) of the hind brain.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the level of serum leptin was higher in the CTP group (4.58 ± 0.52 vs 1.67 ± 0.25 µg/L, P < 0.01); increased c-fos positive cells were found in the anterior hypothalamus (AH, 221.75 ± 4.96 vs. 178.50 ± 6.63 cells/mm², P < 0.05), the basal lateral amygdala (BLA, 70.75 ± 6.17 vs 56.50 ± 3.62 cells/ mm², P < 0.05) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST, 41.25 ± 1.32 vs 32.50 ± 1.02 cells/mm², P < 0.05). But in ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH, 20.75 ± 2.73 vs 38.5 ± 1.54 per 1 mm², P < 005), PBN (21.50 ± 2.24 vs 36.25 ± 1.49 cells/mm², P < 0.05) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA, 22.25 ± 1.53 vs 35.50 ± 2.11 cells/mm², P < 0.05), the number of c-fos positive cells was decreased in the CTP group. In addition, we found OB-Rb mRNA expression in PBN of CTP group rats was higher than that of control group (0.95 ± 0.055 vs 0.57 ± 0.034, P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference of OB-Rb mRNA expression in NST between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONNuclei AH, BLA, NST, VMH, PBN and CeA participate in the formation of CTP. Leptin and its receptor in PBN may be involved in the formation and maintenance of CTP.

Animals ; Conditioning (Psychology) ; Leptin ; blood ; Rats ; Receptors, Leptin ; physiology ; Rhombencephalon ; physiology ; Taste ; physiology

Animals ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; analysis ; physiology ; Sclerosis

Objective To observe the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) for poor-risk non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Methods Ten patients with poor-prognosis NHL were enrolled from October 2003 to October 2008 in our institute. Ten patients were treated by APBSCT with CY+TBI conditioning regimen (Two patients of them were treated by Double-APBSCT with MEC conditioning regimen). Results Hematopoietic reconstitution was observed in all patients.The time of neutrophil count ≥0.5×109L and platelet≥20×109/L were at day 10 (range: 7-14) and day 16 (range: 10-37), respectively. All patients achieved complete remission (CR) after transplantation. Severe toxicity and transplant related mortality were not observed. After a median follow-up of 24 (10-84) months,seven cases were in event-free survival and three cases relapsed. One of three relapsed patients died from progression of disease, the other was still alive after treatment. Conclusion APBSCT in the treatment of patients with poor-prognosis NHL is a safe, convenient and efficient treatment.

Objective:To investigate the promoting effect of Ginsenoside Ro on the differentiation of THP-1-derived dendritic cells (DCs) induced by GM-CSF and IL-4.Methods: Sensitive leukemia-derived DC cell line was screened first.Then,the selected sensitive cell line THP-1 was stimulated to differentiate into DCs by cytokines (GM-CSF and IL-4) and small(5 μmol/L),middle(10 μmol/L),and large (20 μmol/L) dose of Ginsenoside Ro respectively.The expressions of CD1a,MHCⅡ and CD86 of leukemia-derived DCs were detected by flow cytometry.In addition,the transcription levels of CD1a,CD86 and MHCⅡ of leukemia-derived DCs were detected by RT-PCR.ELISA was used to measure the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the culture supernatant.Results: THP-1 was the sensitive leukemia cell line which could be induced to differentiate into DCs by cytokines.Compared with cytokine stimulation alone,the expression of CD1a,MHCⅡ and CD86 in leukemia-derived cells was significantly increased after the stimulation of Ginsenoside Ro combined with cytokine(P<0.05).The CD1a,CD86 and MHCⅡ mRNA expression was significantly increased after the treatment of Ginsenoside Ro combined with cytokine(P<0.05).Moreover,the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in culture supernatant were significantly increased (P<0.05) after the stimulation of Ginsenoside Ro in combination with cytokines.Conclusion: Ginsenoside Ro can significantly promote the differentiation of leukemia-derived DCs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of total flavonoids of Elsholtzia splendens (TFES) on isolated ischemia/reperfusion rat hearts and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSHearts isolated from male SD rats were perfused on the Langendorff apparatus and subjected to global ischemia for 30 min followed by 120 min of reperfusion. The cardiac infarct size was measured by TTC staining. Hemodynamic parameters and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the coronary effluent were measured. Absorbance at 520 nm was determined in isolated cardiac mitochondria exposed to 200 micromol/L CaCl2 to detect the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.

RESULTSPretreatment with TFES (1, 10, 100 microg/ml) for 5 min decreased infarct size and LDH release and improved the recovery of the left ventricular developed pressure. In mitochondria, the decrease of absorbance at 520 nm evoked by CaCl2 was greatly inhibited by TFES.

CONCLUSIONTFES prevents myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and this cardioprotective effect is probably via inhibiting mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening.

Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flavones ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; drug effects ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; drug effects ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the consensus and controversies on delineation of radiotherapy target volume for patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods Study questionnaires were designed by radiation oncologists in Peking University School of Oncology. The forms were sent through email to radiation oncologists in 10 radiation departments in China and 2 departments in US in November,2007. The brief introduction and PET/CT digital data of one patient with NSCLC were sent to radiation oncologists in 10 departments in Beijing. On Jan. 12,2008,the case discussion was held by more than 300 radiation oncologists from Beijing,Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Results All receivers of the questionnaire responded . The set up error was 5-7 mm . For patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with radiotherapy concurrently with near full dose chemotherapy,ll out ot 12 responding departments defined planning target volume(PTV) of primary tumor as gross tumor volume(GTV) plus 6-8 nun plus set-up error and respiratory movements ,and only one defined PTV as GTV plus set-up error and respiratory movements. For PTV of the mediastinal lymph nodes in the same patient,9 out of 12 responding departments defined PTV as GTV plus 6-8 mm plus set-up error and respiratory movements,and 3( of China) out of 12 defined PTV as GTV plus set-up error and respiratory movements. Stereotactic body .radiotherapy with high fraction dose was used in 11 out of 12 responding departments with fraction dose varying from 6 to 20 Gy,including 6 of which defined PTV of primary tumor as GTV plus 6-8 mm plus respiratory movements and set-up error, and 5 defined PTV of early stage lung cancer as GTV plus respiratory movements and set-up error. The consensus on delineation of primary tumor of the case discussion was that the appropriate window width and window level were 1600 Houasfield Units(HU) and -600 HU for lung window,and 400 HU and 20 HU for mediastinal window. The controversies was focused on whether the CTV for metastatic lymph nodes should be restricted as GTV plus 6-8 mm or enlarged to enclose all the involved lymph node region. Conclusions PIT of primary tumor and mediastinal metastatic lymph nodes should be GTV plus 6-8 mm plus respiratory movements plus set-up error. The basic controversies of target delineation are focused on the fraction dose and PIT range for early stage NSCLC, and on the possibility of defining the PIT as GTV plus respiratory movements and set-up error when treated with concurrent radiotherapy and full dose chemotherapy for locally advanced NSCLC.