Objective To evaluate the murine model of dry eye induced by hyperosmolar saline. Methods Sixty female BALB/c mice at the age of 6 -8 weeks were randomly divided into blank group,control group and experimental group,20 in each group. Mice in control and experimental groups were treated with 308 mOsmol/L and 500 mOsmol/L sodium chloride solution,respectively,5 times a day. Mice in blank group were not treated with sodium chloride solution. Schirmer test,fluorescein staining,corneal scoring,rose bengal staining,tear ferns experiment,corneal epithelial HE staining and thickness measurement,conjunctival epithelial PAS staining and Goblet cell counting were conducted on days 0,7,14,28,and 42,respectively. Corneal surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy on day 42. Results No significant difference was found in the above parameters on day 0 between the two groups. On day 7,the volume of tears was significantly smaller in experimental group ( 2. 3 ? 0. 4 mm) than in blank group ( 3. 0 ? 0. 5mm) and control group ( 3. 1 ?0. 5 mm) ( P

0.05).Significant difference existed in the coliform qualification rate in the source water samples taken at various times (P0.05).However,significant difference existed in qualification rate of bacteria,fecal coliform,free chlorine residual (P

Objective To investigate the effects of tagged fluid and substraction in CT virtual colonoscopy (CTVC) on the conspicuity of polyps and to confirm the optimal attenuation value and the optimal viewing window. Methods Polyps measured 3-10 mm were created in fresh porcine colon in vitro and submerged in saline and mixed with positive contrast medium for the CT values of 200 HU, 400 Hu, 600 HU, and 800 HU. Polyps were measured before and after substraction and compared with those in the control group. The effects of different viewing windows and different attenuation values on the measurement and conspicuity of polyps were analyzed. Results The optimal attenuation value of tagged fluid was 800 HU and the optimal viewing window was colon (-150 HU, 1 500 HU) and bone (500 HU, 2 500 HU). Conclusion The combination of tagged fluid and CT substraction can improve the conspicuity of small polyps covered by colonic fluid.

BACKGROUND: Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis is mainly featured as the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in renal interstitium. The tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (TEMT) is important to the pathogenesy of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of sodium ferulate (SF) on TEMT, and ECM main components such as collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and fibronectin, in rat renal tubular epithelial cellsinduced by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF- β1)- DESIGN: Randomized and controlled experimental study based on cells. SETTING: Department of Kidney in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. MATERIALS: Rat renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) originated from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), were offered by the laboratory of Department of Nephrology in Australian Monash Medical Center. Cell strain used in this study was cultured at the 36th passage. SF white crystal with water solubility and more than 98.0% purify, was from Chengdu Hengda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Different concentrations of SF (125,250, 500μreel/L) were designed in this study. Rabbit anti-rat α-smooth muscle actin (α -SMA) was produced by Wuhan Boster Company. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was the produced of Shanghai Senxiong Science and Technology Co.,Ltd. Human recombinant TGF- β1 was produced by R&D Company. DNA Engine OpticonTM real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction apparatus was the product of MJ Research Company. METHODS: Rat renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) cultured in vitro were divided into five groups. Control group was added with serum-contained DMEM; TGF-β1-induced group was added with TGF-β1 at final concentration of 5 ng/L; SF at different concentrations groups were added with 125, 250, 500 μ mol/L SF and TGF- β1 at final concentration of 5 ng/L,respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The contrast phase microscope, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ELISA method were used to detect TEMT of NRK52E cells induced by TGF-β1 and levels of collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and fibronectin in the supernatant. RESULTS: Morphology of NRK52E cells: Compared with control group, TGF-β1 could induce the transdifferentiation of NRK52E cells, showing fibroblast-like in morphology after 3 days, which were previously the typical road stone-like epithelial cells. In three different concentration SF groups, the morphologic transformation stimulated by TGF-β1 could be partly ameliorated in a dose-dependent manner. Expression of α-SMA mRNA: Compared with control group, 5 ng/L TGF- β1 enhanced expression of α-SMA at 6 hours, and reached a peak at 72 hours; SF depressed the expression in a dose-dependent manner at 72 hours (P < 0.05). Changes of ECM: After induced by 5 ng/L TGF- β1 for 72 hours, the levels of collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and fibronectin in the supernatant increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas SF decreased these levels in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TGF- β1 induces the TEMT, and promotes the secretion of collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and fibronectin. SF can inhibit TGF- β1-induced TEMT In a dose-dependent manner.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tonsillectomy ; methods ; Young Adult

The effect of globular adiponectiin (gAd)on the function of NIT-1 cells under high glucose medium was investigated. The results showed that gad could completely block the increase of NADPH oxidase components p47phox expression and recover mRNA expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-I ,paired box gene 6,glucose transpoter 2,and glucokinase except neurogenic differentiation factor 1 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Whereas,impaired insulin secretion and mRNA expression at high glucose concentration were not significantly improved by gAd.

This article aimed to study the antigenicity of nucleocapsid proteins (NPs) in six pathogenic phleboviruses and to provide theoretical evidence for the development of serological diagnostic reagents. NPs of six pathogenic phleboviruses were expressed and purified using a prokaryotic expression system and rabbits were immunized with individual recombinant NPs. Cross-reactions among NPs and rabbit sera were determined by both indirect ELISA and Western blotting analyses, and the sera titer was determined by indirect ELISA. Furthermore, sera from SFTS patients were also detected by each recombinant NP as a coating antigen using indirect ELISA. The cross-reactions and the sera titer were subsequently determined. Both the concentration and purity of recombinant NPs of six pathogenic phleboviruses met the standards for immunization and detection. The results of indirect ELISA and Western blotting showed that each anti-phlebovirus NP rabbit immune serum had potential serological cross-reactivity with the other five virus NP antigens. Furthermore, the sera from SFTS patients also had cross-reactivity with the other five NP antigens to a certain extent. Our preliminary study evaluated the antigenicity and immune reactivity of six pathogenic phleboviruses NPs and laid the foundation for the development of diagnostic reagents.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; Cross Reactions ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Phlebotomus Fever ; diagnosis ; immunology ; virology ; Phlebovirus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Rabbits

For the current problems of the development of clinical pathways, a solution of clinical pathway information based on data mining is put forward in the paper. Using data mining techniques, the clinical pathway adapt to the conditions of the hospital is mined from the large amount of data available from the hospital, which reduces the development cycle and cost. The solutions of clinical path information based on data mining engine links seamlessly with existing hospital systems, which will provide a new way of thinking to the development of clinical pathways.
Critical Pathways ; Data Mining ; methods ; Research Design

Combining the speed of two-dimensional detection with the precision of three-dimensional detection, an automatic algorithm based on high resolution CT images is proposed to identify nodules in this paper. Nodule candidates are extracted by a two-dimensional convergence index (CI) filter, then a three-dimensional Hessian matrix detection filter is introduced to reduce false positive lung nodules, Experiments show that the algorithm is effective with a sensitivity of 90% and the false positive lung nodules per slice is 0.33.
Algorithms ; False Positive Reactions ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective To investigate the clinical value of ~(99)Tc~m-ethylenedicysteine (EC) diuretic renography (DR) in pre-and post-operative pediatric congenital hydronephrosis.Methods The DR with injection of Furosemide at 15 min of forty children with hydronephrosis was retrospectively studied.The preoperative renal blood perfusion rate (BPR),effective renal plasma flow (ERPF),grade of hydronephrosis,renogram and renal dynamic imaging of pre- and post-operative kidneys were compared.The t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used for data analysis.Results (1) Of 40 pathological kidneys,the BPR increased 5.99% (t=-5.13,P＜0.01)from pre-operative to post-operative:(34.05±11.07)% to (40.04±8.56)%.The ERPF increased 12.48 ml/min(t=-4.35,P＜0.01) from pre-operative to post-operative:(57.81±34.32)ml/min to(70.29±5.37)ml/min.(2)The grade of hydronephrosis of 40 pathological kidneys improved significantly(Z=-2.64,P＜0.01) with the mean sum of ranks of 47.21 pre-operatively to 33.79 post-operatively.(3) As the hydronephrosis worsened,the collecting system became bigger,the renal parenchyma became thinner,the extent of intrarenal parenchymal photopenia became larger and the response to diuretic challenge in pathological kidneys decreased or became totally irresponsive.(4)Thirty-seven cases of obstruction at ureteropelvic junction (UPJO) and 3 cases at ureterovesical junction (UVJO) were diagnosed by DR,which were all confirmed by surgery.Conclusions DR is a reliable method to evaluate pediatric congenital hydronephrosis.It can accurately reflect the grade and (or) severity of the disease,guide therapy and assess the therapeutic success of operation.