AIM: To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib on kidney injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN) rat and the underlying mechanism.METHODS: The rat model of DN was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at dose of 55 mg/kg.One week after STZ injection, the rats with blood glucose level exceeding 16.7 mmol/L were identified as diabetic.Diabetic rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: STZ group and STZ+erlotinib group.In addition, the normal rats were used as control group.The rats in STZ+erlotinib group were treated with erlotinib at 100 mg·kg-1·d-1 for 4 weeks(5th~8th week).The fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum creatinine (SCr) and 24 h urine protein were measured.The pathological changes of the kidney were observed by HE staining and Masson staining.The protein levels of EGFR, p-EGFR, transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), Smad2/3, p-Smad2/3, collagen Ⅳ (ColⅣ) and fibronectin in the kidney tissues were determined by Western blot.The reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the renal tissues were futher analyzed.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the levels of FBG, 24 h urine protein and Scr were significantly increased in STZ group (P<0.01).Compared with STZ group, the levels of FBG, 24 h urine protein and SCr in STZ+erlotinib group were markedly decreased (P<0.05).In additon, the glomerular structure was restored to normal, the proliferative degree of mesangial cells markedly attenuated, and the epithelial cells were in alignment in STZ+erlotinib group.Moreover, erlotinib significantly inhibited the protein levels of p-EGFR, TGFβ1, p-Smad2/3, ColⅣ and fibronectin in the kidney tissues of STZ rats.In addition, erlotinib also significantly inhibited the levels of ROS and MDA in the kidney tissues of STZ rats.CONCLUSION: Erlotinib ameliorates STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy possibly through inhibiting the activation of EGFR/TGFβ1-Smad2/3 signaling pathway in association with suppression of fibrosis and oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on protection of rat hippocampal neurons after cultured with high glucose concentrations.Methods Hippocampal neurons of neonatal SD rat were cultured in serum-free medium and divided into normal group,high glucose group and high glucose BDNF group.The morphological changes of the neurons were observed under inverted fluorescence microscope.Immunofluorescence stain for Map2 was performed to identify the purity of neurons.The survival of the neuron were tested by PI/Hoechest33342 staining.Results Compared with the normal group [survival rate (96.11 ± 1.63) ％],the number of PI positive neurons were significantly increased in the high glucose group [survival rate (76.29 ± 6.74) ％].Treatment with BDNF [survival rate (93.47 ±2.43) ％] significantly reduced the number of PI positive cells.Conclusion BDNF can protect rat hippocampal neurons from apoptosis induced by high glucose.

Objective To assess the effects of eszopiclone (ESZ) on the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time and spontaneous activity in mice exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia.Methods 120 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups by using two factors 2×3 levels factorial design,in which two factors were interventions (ESZ and 0.9％ sodium chloride,2 levels) and altitudes (800 m,3500 m and 6000 m,3 levels).The pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping test and the open field test were engaged to assess the effects of ESZ on sleeping time and spontaneous activity.Results (1) The drug and altitude had no interaction in the results of both the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping test and the open field test(P＞0.05).(2)The time of pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping of mice in the groups of ESZ at each altitudes were (37.77± 18.22) min,(37.02± 13.67) min,(95.67±47.68)min and in the groups of NS were(17.78± 14.10) min,(15.09± 12.46) min,(39.54±28.24) min respectively,and the sleep time in ESZ groups were significantly longer than those in the groups of NS (P＜0.05).The time of pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping were longer in group of 6000 m than those in the other two groups,both the ESZ and NS groups (P＜0.05).(3)No significant difference was found in the open field test between the ESZ and NS groups in the same altitude(P＞0.05) ; while the mice at the altitude of 6000 m in groups of ESZ and NS decreased compared with the groups at the altitude of 800 m after the relevant drugs intra-perineally for 6 h (P＜0.05).Conclusion ESZ may prolong pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time especially at the altitude of 6000 m and with no influence on the spontaneous activity in mice exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia.High altitude at 6000 m may prolong the sleep time induced by pentobarbital sodium and reduce the spontaneous activities.

Iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation is one of the severe adverse events of endoscopic therapeutic procedure. For acute iatrogenic perforation,management by endoscopic techniques is a simple and rapid modality to close the perforation with minimal invasiveness and avoiding the traditional surgical trauma. Endoclips,suture with special instruments,covered stents,degradable sheets combined with tissue adhesive,and combined endoscopic techniques such as snares combined with endoclips,are the major endoscopic therapeutic modalities for closure of iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation. In this article,the current status and progress of endoscopic management for acute iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation were reviewed.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of L-carnitine in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia based on current clinical evidence.

METHODSWe searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang Database from the establishment to April 2014 for the published literature on the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia with L-carnitine. We conducted literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the methodological quality of the included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by statistical analysis with the RevMan 5. 2 software.

RESULTSSeven randomized controlled trials involving 751 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia met the inclusion criteria, and 678 of them were included in the meta-analysis. L-carnitine treatment achieved a significantly increased rate of spontaneous pregnancy as compared with the control group (RR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.87, P = 0.0002). After 12-16 and 24-26 weeks of medication, total sperm motility (WMD = 5.21, 95% CI 2.78 to 7.64, P < 0.0001 and WMD = 9.29, 95% CI 1.28 to 17.29, P = 0.02) and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (WMD = 12.44, 95% CI 4.58 to 20.31, P = 0.002 and WMD = 9.76, 95% CI 3.56 to 15.97, P = 0.002) were remarkably higher than those in the control group, but no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm concentration between the two groups (WMD = 4.91, 95% CI -2.63 to 12.45, P = 0.2 and WMD = 0.93, 95% CI -3.48 to 5.34, P = 0.68). After 12-16 weeks of treatment, the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was markedly decreased in the L-carnitine group as compared with the control (WMD = -2.48, 95% CI -4.35 to -0.61, P = 0.009), but showed no significant difference from the latter group after 24-26 weeks (WMD = -4.38, 95% CI -9.66 to 0.89, P = 0.1). No statistically significant difference was found in the semen volume between the two groups after 12-16 or 24-26 weeks of medication (WMD = -0.13, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.18, P = 0.42 and WMD = 0.28, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.58, P = 0.07). No serious L-carnitine-related adverse events were reported in 4 of the randomniized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONThe current evidence indicates that L-carnitine can improve spontaneous pregnancy and semen parameters in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, with no serious adverse reactions.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

Objective To investigate the effects of enteral nutrition with galactooligosaccharides (GOS) on serum inflammatory cytokines in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation control group, SAP with enteral nutrition (EN) group and SAP with EN supplemented with GOS (GOS-EN) group, and each group was divided into 4 d and 7 d subgroups according to the time that animals were sacrificed (n=8 in each subgroup). Rat SAP models were established by injection of 38 g/L sodium taurocholate beneath the pancreatic capsule. The serum amylase, inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-10 were detected. Results At each time point, the levels of serum amylase in all SAP groups were significantly higher than those in sham operation control group (P < 0.01), and the levels in GOS-EN group were significantly lower than those in EN group (P < 0.01). The levels of serum TNF-α and IL-10 in all SAP groups were significantly higher than those in sham operation control group (P < 0.01), while the levels of IL-2 in all SAP groups were significantly lower than those in sham operation control group. The levels of TNF-α in GOS-EN group were significantly lower than those in EN group (P <0.05), while the levels of IL-2 and IL-10 and the ratio of IL-10/TNF-α were significantly higher than those in GOS-EN group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Early EN supplemented with GOS could modulate the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory response.

The aims of microbiology experiment teaching are not only to cultivate the students’ capacity of basic operation,but also to expanse their knowledge scope.We applied the bacterial diversity on the teach-ing class to make the students understand the progress of microorganism genomics research.It is helpful to cultivate the students’ innovative spirit and ability.Easy to work,clear result and low cost facilitated the spread of this experiment in the university.

Objective To examine the effects of acute hypobaric hypoxia on abilities of learning and memory,the water content in brain,the level of nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in hippocampus of mice.Methods The acute hypobaric hypoxia environment were made by putting the mice in a hypobaric chamber simulated at altitude of 6 000 meters for 8 hours.The capabilities of learning and memory of mice were detected by Morris water maze test.The content of water in hippocampus were examined by measuring the ratio of dry/wet weight,and the level of NO and ET-1 in brain was detected by colorimetric method.Results Morris water maze test showed that the mean escape latency of mice in the hypobaric hypoxia group were longer than that in the normobaric normoxia group((44.60±7.80) s vs (26.39±8.44)s,P＜0.01),and the target quadrant residence time were decreased((19.78±2.74) s vs (22.98±6.14)s,P＜ 0.05).Compared with the normobaric normoxia group (NO:(2.37 ± 1.07) μmol/gProt,ET-1:(38.87 ± 6.17) ng/L),the water content in brain of mice in the hypobaric hypoxia group was increased (P＜ 0.05),meanwhile,both the level of NO ((4.48 ± 1.45) μmol/gProt) and ET-1 ((52.09±6.75)ng/L) in brain were increased too(P＜0.01).Conclusion Hypobaric hypoxia can decrease the abilities of learning and memory of mice,and these changes might be related with the increased water content and the increased level of NO and ET-1 in hippocampus of mice.

BACKGROUND: Insufficiency of donor heart and ethics are the major obstacles to heart transplantation. Theoretically, a tissue-engineered heart is an important means to solve the donor heart insufficiency. OBJECTIVE: To review the scaffold materials, seed cells and cell incubation methods in the construction of tissue-engineered heart, thus providing references for the future study on the tissue-engineered heart.METHODS: A retrieval of PubMed and Web of Science databases was performed for the articles addressing the construction of tissue-engineered heart from 2004 to 2016. Totally 2 921 articles were searched, and finally 53 eligible articles were included in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In vitro organ culture and the function of tissue-engineered heart are the difficulties in the construction of tissue-engineered heart.In vitro construction of tissue-engineered heart requires the supply of nutrients,gases,temperature and corresponding electrical stimulation. Myocardial cells, scaffold materials and organ culture system are indispensable for the tissue-engineered heart construction. Therefore, it is highly important to optimize the decellular process, select an ideal seed cell and improve its adhesion, proliferation and differentiation, improve the electrophysiological properties of the tissue-engineered heart by gene regulation, and confirm the long-term safety of the tissue-engineered heart.

Objective To transplant the umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(UCMSCs) derived from human umbilical cord into cisterna magna of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE) rat model,and to observe their survival,proliferation and differentiation in the rat brain.Methods UCMSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord of babies delivered after full-term normal cesarean section,and labeled by bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU).Pregnant rats were randomly divided into experimental group(n=6) and control group(n=1).HIE models were built by ligating both sides of the uterine arteries of full-pregnant rats(21 days) in experimental group rats for 15 minutes.The neonatal rats in experimental group were divided into stem cells group(n=24) and PBS group(n=19) at random.The labeled UCMSCs were injected into cisterna magna of the rats in stem cells group,while PBS was injected into the rats of PBS group.In 1,2,3 and 4 weeks after transplantation,the brain tissue section slides were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies against BrdU,Nestin,neuron specific enolase(NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),and thionin.Control group with normal delivery was tested as concurrent control.Results At 1 week after transplantation,BrdU,Nestin,NSE and GFAP positive cells were found in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of the rats in stem cells group rats.The number of BrdU-positive and Nestin-positive cells increased(Pa0.05).The NSE-positive and GFAP-positive cells gradually increased from 1-4 weeks post transplantation and comparisons between groups had statistical significance(Pa