Objective To observe the effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on the recovery of axoplasmic transport following incomplete injury of the optic nerves (ON) of the adult rats. Methods Moderate injury of the optic nerves of 50 adult female rats was induced by crushing the optic nerves for 10 seconds using hemostatic forceps. Recombinant human CNTF (rhCNTF) was injected into the vitreous cavity of CNTF treated group at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after injury. However, the same volume of distilled water was injected into the vitreous cavity of the control rats. The changes of axoplasmic transport were assessed by anterograde labelling combined with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after injury. Results The labelling density at ON distal to the site of injury by HRP obviously decreased at 1 and 2 weeks after injury, and gradually enhanced at 4 weeks and peaked at 8 weeks after injury. The recovery ratios of axoplasmic transport in CNTF treated group and control group at 8 weeks after injury were 31 86% and 12 87%, respectively. No HRP reaction product was observed in the superior colliculus at 1 and 2 weeks after injury. There was significant difference of the HRP anterograde labeling density in ON and the superior colliculus between the CNTF treated group and the control group during 4 to 12 weeks after injury ( P

Glaucoma is a progressive optic nerve disease, it can cause structural changes of the optic nerve, resulting in irreversible damage of visual function. Early diagnosis is the key to treat the disease at an early stage to stop or delay the progression of visual functional defects. New technologies, including optic nerve and nerve fiber layer structural tests and visual functional tests, increased the diagnosis rate of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) at an early stage.

Heavy metal pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems today. Biosorption, regarded as a cost-effective biotechnology for treating heavy metal of low concentration in wastewater, has not been utilized at large scale successfully. It’s helpful to increase the knowledge of biosorption mechanism and decreasing the costs of biosorbents for the biosorption application. The yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an ideal biomaterial to be used for exploring the mechanism and for actual utilization because of its unique characteristics in spite of its relatively mediocre capacity of metal uptake to other fungi. The yeast can grow easily in cheap media, and is widely used in food and beverage manufacture. It’s also a safe by-product in large quantity as a waste of the fermentation industry, and easily manipulated at molecular level. The metal uptake specifically by S. cerevisiae was addressed. Firstly, it was discussed to use dead or live cells in biosorption . The yeast can absorb toxic heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, etc), precious metals (Au, Ag, Pd, etc) and radionuclides (U, Am, etc). Secondry, metal-binding capacity of various heavy metals by S. cerevisiae in different conditions were compared. Lead and uranium, for instances, can be effectively removed from dilute solutions, while copper is not easily removed. Thirdly, various mechanism of metal uptake by S. cerevisiae were summarized in details according to the position in which metals are located. Metal uptake process is influenced by the ratio of the initial concentration of metal ions and the concentration of biomass. Cellular wall and its components are important for metal uptake. Functional groups for metallic ion fixation have been identified. Uptake is typically accompanied by ion exchange and complexation, sometimes with precipitation (for Pb) and redox (for Au or Ag). Intracellularly accumulated metal is associated with the cell membrane, vacuole and GSH, but may also be bound to other cellular organelles and biomolecules. The equilibrium and kinetic models used in the metal-yeast biosorption systems were also introduced. In most cases, classic Langmiur model and Freundlich model, widely used to describe single metal biosorption system of equilibrium, fit the experimental data very well. Pseudo-second order equation is often employed to describe biosorption process by S. cerevisiae. Finally, futher researches in metal biosorpiton by S. cerevisiae were proposed.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Animals ; Female ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; toxicity ; Particulate Matter ; toxicity ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sulfur Dioxide ; toxicity ; Uteroglobin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of total glucosides of Verbena officinalis on chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP)in mice and its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. METHODS:60 mice were randomized into normal group(normal saline),model group(normal saline),positive group(Qianliekang tablet 1.5 g/kg)and total glucosides of V. officinalis high-dose, medium-dose and low-dose groups(0.2,0.1,0.05 g/kg),with 10 mice in each group. CNP model was induced in those groups ex-cept for normal group;mice were given relevant medicine once a day for consecutive 21 days since 8th day of modeling. The white blood cell count,lecithin corpuscle density and pathological changes of prostate samples were observed. 50 mice were randomly di-vided into model group(normal saline),positive group(Aspirin tablet 0.3 g/kg or Dexamethasone acetate tablet 0.01 g/kg)and to-tal glucosides of V. officinalis high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups(0.2,0.1,0.05 g/kg);they were given relevant medi-cine intragastrically once a day for consecutive 7 days. The xylene-induced ear swelling test (Aspirin tablet as positive drug) and cotton-pellet granuloma test (Dexamethasone acetate tablet as positive drug) were conducted to determine the the degree of ear swelling and the net weight of granuloma. The acetic acid writhing test and hot plate test(Aspirin tablet as positive drug)were car-ried out to determine the latency period of writhing,the times of writhing within 20 min and pain threshold. RESULTS:Compared with model group,white blood cells count of prostate tissue were lowered while the density of lecithin corpuscles were increased significantly in medicine groups;the pathology of prostate tissue were improved significantly in positive group and total glucosides of V. officinalis high-dose and medium-dose groups,and mostly were 0 and Ⅰ grade. The degree of ear swelling and the net weight of granuloma were markedly reduced in positive group and total glucosides of V. officinalis high-dose and medium-dose groups;the times of writhing within 20 min decreased in medicine groups,and the latency period of writhing prolonged and pain threshold in-creased in positive group and total glucosides of V. officinalis high-dose group. All of the results showed statistical difference(P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Total glucosides of V. officinalis can improve CNP in mice,and shows good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Energy Metabolism ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; blood ; Male ; Pressure ; adverse effects ; Rabbits ; Serum ; enzymology

Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; blood ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Weight-Bearing

Objective:To establish a method for determining the immunological activity of ribonucleic acid. Methods: Leucocyte adherence inhibition test ( LAI) was applied, and the important parameters of LAI including the mouse strain, drug concentration, treatment time, content of buffer solution and cell density were researched. The immunological activity of RNAⅠ, Ⅱand Ⅲ was re-spectively determined by the method. Results:Stable and reliable parameters were obtained: the sample concentration was 10 mg· ml-1 , the treatment time was 2 hours, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were necessary for the buffer solution, and the cell density was about 4 × 107 cell·ml-1 . The strain of mouse showed no effect on the results. As a result, the determination method for immunological activity was established. Using the method, the immunological activity of RNA Ⅰ,Ⅱand Ⅲ was determined 3 times, and the results met the re-quirements with RSD below 20%. Conclusion:The method is suitable for determining the immunological activity of RNA.

Along with the development of biomarkers, the diagnostic criterion for early AD is continuously progressing until the preclinical stage of AD, on the base of which, the conception of subjective cognitive decline was raised.In order to highlight new ideas of the early diagnosis for AD in its preclinical stage, the current paper will talk about SCD in connection with neuroimaging tech-niques and examination of cerebrospinal fluid.

Objective To observe the effects of Danhong Injection in the treatment of lacunar cerebral infarction, Methods 82 patients with lacunar cerebral infarction were randomly recruited into a treatment group (n=42) and a control group (n=40). The treatment group was treated with Danhong Injection, 30ml/d for once, while the control group was treated with Danshen Injection, i.v. 20ml/day for once. Both groups were treated for 14 days. Results The total effective rate was 97.62% and 77.50% in the treatment group and the control group respectively, showing significant difference (χ~2=4.65, P< 0.05) . Conclusion Danhong Injection is better than Danshen Injection in treatment of lacunar cerebral infarction.