Objective To evaluate ketamine-induced cerebral protection in mice with traumatic brain injury (TBI) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods Thirty-two pathogen-free healthy male C57BL/6 mice,aged 8 weeks,weighing 26-30 g,were divided into 4 groups using a random number table:control group (group C,n=7),ketanine group (group K,n=7),TBI group (n=9) and TBI plus ketamine group (group TBI+K,n =9).TBI was produced with a pneumatically driven controlled cortical impact device.Ketamine 150 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at l h after operation in TBI+K and K groups,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in TBI and C groups.Open field test was conducted at 24 h,72 h and 7 days after operation.The animals in TBI and TBI+K groups were scanned by T1-weighted MRI at 6,24 and 72 h after operation,the animals in C and K groups were scanned by MRI at 24 h after operation,and the development of cerebral edema was observed.Results MRI scan showed no cerebral edema in C and K groups,and different degrees of cerebral edema were found in TBI and TBI+K groups.Compared with group C,the locomotor distance was significantly shortened at 24 and 72 h after operation in group TBI (P＜0.05).Compared with group TBI,the size of cerebral edema was significantly decreased,and the locomotor distance was prolonged at 24 and 72 h after operation in group TBI+K (P＜0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion MRI method further clarifies that ketamine can produce cerebral protection to some extent in mice with TBI.

To evaluate the visual performance of the patients with traumatic corneal astigmatism, after the treatment of topography guided off-flap epipolis laser in situ keratomileusi (off-flap Epi-LASlK).
●METHODS: This prospective clinical study was comprised of 21 eyes of 21 patients with irregular corneal astigmatism caused by trauma, they were treated by off-flap Epi - LASlK from July 2012 to December 2013. The data included uncorrected visual acuity ( UCVA), best spectacle - corrected visual acuity ( BSCVA ), contrast sensitivity 1, 6mo before and after surgery; the healing area percentage of corneal epithelia, the healing time of corneal epithelia and pain score at 3d after surgery.
●RESULTS: Postoperative 1mo both UCVA and BSCVA were improved significantly than that before surgery (t =15. 703, 4. 351, P< 0. 05); Compared with the 1mo after surgery, UCVA at 6mo after surgery raised significantly (t= 6. 867, P <0. 05). There was no statistical significance between 6 and 1mo after surgery about BSCVA (t= 1. 497, P = 0. 140 ). After surgery, mean spherical equivalent (SE) was reduced from -2. 43±3. 02D to -0. 23±0. 49D (P<0. 05), and the mean cylinder was reduced from -1. 86± 2. 23D to - 0. 46 ± 1. 03D (P< 0. 05). Postoperative 1mo,4 kinds of spatial frequency and contrast sensitivity had no significant difference compared with the preoperative (P>0. 05 ). Postoperative 6mo except the 3c/ d spatial frequency, the remaining 3 spatial frequency contrast sensitivity compared with those before operation were significantly improved ( P < 0. 05 ). The healing area percentage of corneal epithelia was 92. 46% ±8. 24% (80% -100%) at 3d after surgery; The healing time of corneal epithelia was 3. 50 ± 1. 56d; Pain scores at 3 and 7d after surgery was 1. 54±1. 32 and 0. 04±0. 64, respectively.
●CONCLUSlON: Topography-guided off-flap Epi-LASlK is safe and effective in treating the patients with traumatic corneal irregular astigmatism. The operation can improve both the contrast sensitivity and the visual performance.

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility of MTT colorimetric assay for testing the in vitro chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells to 5 fluorouracil (5-Fu).

METHODSThe chemosensitivity of human breast carcinoma cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435S to 5-Fu at different concentrations was evaluated with MTT assay.

RESULTS5-FU treatment resulted in dose-dependent growth inhibition of the breast cancer cells with both low and high metastatic capacities.

CONCLUSIONSMTT assay may help select appropriate chemotherapeutic agents and provides evidence for individualized chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorimetry ; methods ; Coloring Agents ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Tetrazolium Salts

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Pinggan Qianyang Recipe (PQR) on inhibiting angiotensin II (Ang II) induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and changes of DNA methylation.

METHODSVSMCs were cultured using tissue explant method, and PQR containing serum was prepared. Primarily cultured VSMCs were divided into four groups, the normal group, the model group, the folate group (folic acid intervention) , and the PQR group. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs was duplicated by Ang II. After 24-h Ang II induced culture, 40 microg/mL folic acid was added to the folate group for 48 h, while 5% PQR containing serum was added to the PQR group for 48 h. The cell growth curve of VSMCs was drawn by using Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8). The proliferative activity of VSMC was determined by MTT assay. The migration of VSMCs was measured by Millicell chamber. The general level of cytosine methylation in cell nucleus was detected via 5-mC antibodies immunofluorescence, and mRNA expression levels of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) were measured by Real-time q-polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR).

RESULTSVSMCs were promoted by Ang II at 10(-6) mol/L for 24 h. Compared with the normal group, the proliferative activity and migration quantity of VSMCs obviously increased, and DNA methylation level obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the cell growth, proliferative activity and migration quantity of VSMCs obviously decreased and the general DNA methylation level increased in the folate group and the PQR group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression of DNMT1 decreased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, mRNA expression of DNMT1 in Ang II induced VSMCs was obviously enhanced in the folate group and the PQR group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPQR could inhibit Ang II induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and cause high genomic DNA methylation level. Changes of DNA methylation might be associated with DNMT1 expression.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects

The c-Abl nonreceptor tyrosine kinase is activated in the cellular responses to genotoxic, oxidative and other forms of stress. Using tagged forms of c-Abl, the present studies demonstrate that c-Abl forms homodimers in cells. The results show that the c-Abl N-terminal regions interact with the corresponding C-terminal regions of both partners in the dimmer. Specifically, the c-Abl SH3 domain binds to a proline-rich motif at amino acids 958-982 in the c-Abl C-terminal region. Deletion of the proline-rich motif disrupts dimmer formation. These findings provide the first evidence that c-Abl forms homodimers and indicate that homodimerization can contribute to the regulation of c-Abl activity.
Humans ; Protein Multimerization ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl ; genetics ; metabolism ; src Homology Domains

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of amlodipine, benidipine and nifedipine on myocardial hypertrophy and evaluate the underlying mechanism.

METHODSMyocardial hypertrophy model was created by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in C57 BL/6 mice, and plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured 7 days after surgery to confirm the sympathetic activation. The 3 drugs were administered in TAC mice for 7 days and cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated according to the heart-to-body weight ratio (HW/BW). Effects of those drugs on the protein synthesis stimulated by phenylephrine in cultured neonatal cardiac myocytes were also examined.

RESULTSHW/BW and plasma concentrations of catecholamine were significantly increased in TAC mice one week after surgery in comparison with to sham-operated mice. One week after TAC, the HW/BW ratio was significantly lower in the amolodipine but not nifedipine-treated group than in the TAC group. Administration of nifedipine via minipump infusion for one week did not decrease HW/BW ratio. Treatment with amlodpine or benidipine, but not nifedipine, decreased the neonatal rat myocyte protein synthesis induced by phenylephrine stimulation.

CONCLUSIONAntihypertrophic effect of DHEs on myocardium is dependent on their potential of blocking N-type calcium channel, and the underlying mechanism involves the sympathetic inhibition.

Amlodipine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Calcium Channels, N-Type ; drug effects ; Cardiomegaly ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Dihydropyridines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nifedipine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective To detect the MSX1 gene mutation in a Chinese family with oligodontia.Methods Blood samples were obtained from seven affected and seven unaffected individuals in the pedigree.All exons and flanking intronic boundaries of the MSX1 gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction technique and then directly sequenced.The website of bioinformatics was used to predict the effect of the mutation on the function.Results A splicing mutation(IVS1-2A＞G)was found at position-2 near the 3'end of the IVS1 of MSX1.which made a change of the intron 1 splice acceptor site.None of the mutation was found in normal individuals of the family and in 100 unrelated healthy matched control individuals.Conclusions IVS1-2A＞G was a novel splicing mutation identified in the MSX-1 gene and it might be responsible for nonsyndromic oligodontia in this family.

Objective To explore the real-time dynamic blood glucose monitoring effect of subcutaneous dynamic glucose monitoring system ( DGMS) in intensive insulin therapy of postoperative stress hyperglycemia in patients with cancer .Methods One hundred and thirty-six cancer patients with continuous postoperative hyperglycemia were randomly divided into the observation group ( DGMS group ) and the control group (fast and trace blood glucose monitoring group ), each with 68 cases.All patients received the intensive insulin therapy . The daily average blood glucose , insulin dosage in the sever days , the incidence of hypoglycemia , the incidence of wound infection and pulmonary infection , the levers of IL-6 and CRP and the days in ICU were compared between two groups .Results The average blood glucose from first day to seventh day in the observation group were respectively (10.9 ±7.5), (7.1 ±3.4), (6.7 ±3.9), (6.9 ±3.6), (6.8 ±3.5), (6.7 ±3.5), (6.7 ±3.6) mmol/L, and were better than (11.1 ±7.7), (7.6 ±5.4), (7.3 ±5.6), (7.9 ±4.9), (7.4 ±4.4), (7.7 ±4.1), (7.7 ±4.2) mmol/L in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t =1.989, 2.221, 2.156, 2.143, 2.857, 2.263, 2.274,respectively;P<0.05).The average blood glucose in the seven days in the observation group was (7.1 ±3.2) mmol/L, and was better than (7.9 ±5.3) mmol/L in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.951, P<0.05).The insulin dosage in the seven days in the observation group was (163.9 ± 34.2) U, and was lower than (192.2 ±45.6) U in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.712, P<0.05).The incidence of hypoglycemia , wound infection and pulmonary infection were respectively 2.94%, 1.47%, 8.82%in the observation group, and were lower than 11.76%, 5.88%, 22.05%in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2 =3.886, 4.781, 4.561, respectively;P<0.05).The level of IL-6 was (34.6 ±7.8) ng/L, the level of CRP was (121.3 ±23.2)mg/L, the days in ICU were (14.6 ±10.3) d in the observation group, and were better than (41.1 ±6.3) ng/L, (162.2 ±32.1)mg/L, (16.1 ±13.4) d in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (t=2.955, 3.126, 2.115, respectively; P <0.05).Conclusions The DGMS method can effectively maintain the target blood glucose , and reduce the incidence rate of the complications in the control of blood glucose.Compared with the bedside fast and trace blood glucose monitoring , the DGMS method is safer and more effective to implement the intensive insulin therapy of postoperative stress hyperglycemia in patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of oral propranolol in the treatment of periorbital proliferating phase infantile hemangioma.

METHODSA retrospective review of patient medical records was performed. 12 patients (9 female, 3 male; 1.5-8.5 months, average 3.3 months) with periorbital proliferating phase infantile hemangioma underwent oral propranolol therapy. The dosage was slowly increased to 2 mg/kg daily in divided doses for a mean duration of 16 weeks (range 4 weeks-41 weeks). Therapeutic outcomes and safety were established by evaluating colour, size of lesion, duration of treatment and side-effects of treatment before and after treatment.

RESULTSOf these, 9 had a signification reduction in colour and size of the lesions, 2 had no further growth. 1 is stopped therapy due to hypotension after drug administration. 11 other patients, although mild adverse effects were noted, no symptoms were severe enough to discontinue treatment.

CONCLUSIONSPropranolol appears to be a safe and effective treatment in the management of periorbital proliferating phase infantile hemangioma.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hemangioma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Orbital Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Propranolol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of Vam3 which is one of the dihydroxystilbene compounds on expressions of ICAM-1 in the lungs of OVA-induced asthmatic mice and the mechanisms of anti-airway inflammation. Balb/c mice were challenged with OVA inhalation. Lung tissues were stained with Mayer's hematoxylin and eosin for histopathologic examination. The expression of ICAM-1 in the lungs of mice was analyzed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry method. The NF-kappaB activities were detected by NF-kappaB-luc reporter genetic transient transfection method. The activities of MMP-9 induced by LPS, TNF-alpha and PMA in THP-1 cells were determined by gelatin zymography method. The results showed that Vam3 could inhibit the expression of ICAM-1 in the OVA-induced mouse model. In addition, Vam3 could significantly suppress the activities of NF-kappaB in A549 cells and MMP-9 in THP-1 cells induced by LPS, TNF-alpha and PMA. These results suggested that Vam3 could alleviate the asthmatic inflammation by decreasing ICAM-1 expression in asthmatic mice, down regulating NF-kappaB and MMP-9 activities. Compound Vam3 showed inhibitory effects on inflammatory signal pathways involved in asthma.
Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Ovalbumin ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology