Objective To study the effects of vitamin B_6(VitB_6) injection on small intestinal peristalsis in mice and its mechanisms.Methods The mice were divided into 12 groups:calcium chloride injection group(1 mg/10 g),neostigmine methylsulfate injection group(0.001 5 mg/10 g),atropine sulfate injection group(0.005 mg/10 g),their combination with VitB_6 injection and high/low dose treated groups,high dose VitB_6 injection group(5 mg/10 g),low dose VitB_6 injection group(0.5 mg/10 g) and physiologic saline group(0.1 mL/ 10 g ).After administration 30 minutes,mice were intragastric administration Indian ink(0.1 mL/g),and they were luxated and put to death 20 minutes later.The mice belly were cut open,the length of intestine and distance of Indian ink that had moved were measured,and then the ink progradation rate were calculated.Results Compared with control group,the high dose VitB_6 injection could inhibit normal intestinal peristalsis of mice markedly(P0.05).Conclusions VitB_6 injection can inhibit hyperanakinesia of small intestine in mice,especially high dose.And this will be provided as theory foundation on enterospasm treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the radiosensitizing effect of nitric oxide (NO) combined with radiation on esophageal cancer cell line TE-1.

METHODSMethyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to assess the effects of NO and radiation on TE-1 cells regarding inhibition of cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to examine the effect of NO and radiation on cell apoptosis and cycle. Reverse transcription polymerase chine reaction and Western blot were used to evaluete the effect of NO on mRNA and protein expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD).

RESULTSNO inhibited the proliferation of TE-1 cells while significantly enhancing their radiosensitivity. The application of NO combined with radiation significantly increased the apoptosis rate and G2/M phase proportion of TE-1 cells, with substantial decreases in the MnSOD mRNA and protein expression levels.

CONCLUSIONSNO reduces the MnSOD mRNA and protein expression levels by affecting TE-1 cell cycle, further inhibiting the apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells and enhancing the killing effect of radiation on esophageal cancer cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; therapeutic use ; Radiation Tolerance ; drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDGlaucoma can cause progressive damage to retinal ganglion cells. These cells can be classified as cells projecting to the superior colliculus and melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells, which project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This study was to investigate the effects of chronic intraocular pressure elevation on melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells in rats.

METHODSChronic intraocular pressure elevation was induced in one eye of adult Wistar rats by cauterization of three episcleral veins. Intraocular pressure was measured at different intervals with a rebound tonometer. Superior collicular retinal ganglion cells were retrogradely labeled from the superior colliculus with Fluorogold. Melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells were visualized by free-floating immunohistochemistry on whole-mount retinas. The number of labeled superior collicular and melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells were counted in the sample areas on flat-mounted retinas.

RESULTSCompared with contralateral control eyes, the numbers of both superior collicular and melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells were significantly reduced after 12 weeks of experimental intraocular pressure elevation ((2317.41 +/- 29.96)/mm(2) vs (1815.82 +/- 24.25)/mm(2); (26.20 +/- 2.10)/mm(2) vs (20.62 +/- 1.52)/mm(2), respectively). The extent of cell loss of the two types of retinal ganglion cells was similar. However, no morphologic changes were found in melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells.

CONCLUSIONBoth melanopsin-containing and superior collicular retinal ganglion cells were damaged by chronic ocular hypertension, indicating that glaucomatous neural degeneration involves the non-image-forming visual pathway.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glaucoma ; pathology ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; pathology ; Rod Opsins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo introduce a method for repairing and restoring hand function of the patients suffering from large surface area burn with scarce normal skin for reconstruction.

METHODSSeven patients (ten hands) were treated in our department from April 1994 to February 2001. The TBSA involved with second- or third-degree burns was 85%-96%. All the hands had severe scar contracture on the dorsum and lost most of their function. A scarred skin flap, based on the ulnar border of the hand was elevated integrally on the dorsum. A random-pattern abdominal flap at a less-scarred area was designed and elevated to cover the defect of the hand while the scarred skin flap of the hand was transferred to the donor site of the abdominal flap.

RESULTSAll patients were followed for 0.5 to 4 years postoperatively. The range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint and the space capacity of the first web were greatly improved. All patients regained self-care ability.

CONCLUSIONSThis method is simple and has satisfactory results. Under the circumstances where normal skin was not available for reconstruction, the function of the burned hand could be greatly improved by this method.

Abdominal Wall ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; surgery ; Female ; Hand Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Surgery, Plastic ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the diagnostic criteria of thyroid solid nodules by high-frequency ultrasound,elastography and ultrasound contrast.Methods Totally 87 patients with thyroid solid nodules underwent high-frequency ultrasound,elastography and ultrasound contrast before surgery,distinguishing benign from malignant lesions was executed based on pathological results,and according to the pathological character the image features by the three measures were compared.There were 40 patients divided into a control group going through the examination by high-frequency ultrasound,and 47 ones into an observation group with the examinations by the three measures.Pathological results were used as gold standard,and the two groups were compared on diagnostic sensitivity.Results High-frequency ultrasound showed significant differences of benign and malignant nodules in equal echo,very low echo,irregular peripheral halo,rates of clear nodule boundary and aspect ratio higher than as well as microcalcification (x2--4.603,17.394,5.833,14.832,10.107 and 27.392,and all Pvalues were less than 0.05).There were 85％ benign nodules gained grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ elastography images,81.82％malignant nodules had grade Ⅲ and ⅣV elastography images,and there were significant differences between benign and malignant nodules (x2=53.42,P=0.00).Ultrasound contrast found annular enhancement in most of benign nodules (x2=39.16,P＜0.01) while uneven enhancement in most of malignant nodules (x2=40.28,P＜0.01),and the nodule ranges increasedsignificantly after contrast (t=2.19,P＜0.05).The observation group had the sensitivity being 82.86％,which was statisticallyhigher than 59.38％ in the control group (x2=4.537,P--0.033).Conclusion High-frequency ultrasound,elastography and ultrasound contrast all show the manifestations of thyroid solid nodules,and the comprehensive application of the above three measures contributes to determining the nature of the nodules.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of low-temperature plasma on inactivation of bacterial spores and explore the mechanism.

METHODSDielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was employed to generate the atmospheric low-temperature plasma for treatment of B.subtilis var. niger spores with the gas spacing of 3, 4 and 5 and treatment time intervals of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 s. The survived colonies was counted with plate counting method, and the killing log value (KLV) at different treatment times was calculated. The inactivation effect of electric field on B.subtilis var.niger spores was also investigated and the spores treated with low-temperature plasma were observed with transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSWith the gap spacing of 3, 4 and 5 mm, the KLV of low-temperature plasma on B.subtilis var.niger spores within 25, 30 and 35 s of exposure was more than 5. The germicidal effects of the electric field on B. subtilis var.niger spores were rather poor. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated total destruction of the surface and interior structure of the spores by low-temperature plasma.

CONCLUSIONSLow-temperature plasma is effective for inactivation of the bacterial spores with a time and dose dependence. The penetrating effect of charged particles and oxygenation effect of the reactive oxygen species might play a dominant role in plasma-induced bacterial spore inactivation, while the role of electric field is negligible.

Bacillus subtilis ; growth & development ; Cold Temperature ; Microbial Viability ; Plasma Gases ; pharmacology ; Spores, Bacterial ; growth & development ; Sterilization ; methods

Aim To investigate the effect of thioester-ase superfamily member 4(THEM4)expression on col-lagen secretion in human renal proximal tubular epithe-lial cells (HKC)treated with high glucose. Methods In order to examine the direct effect of THEM4 ex-pression vector on PI3K/ Akt pathway and collagen se-cretion,pYr-ads-4-THEM4 expression vector was con-structed and transfected into the HKC with lipo-fectamine 2000 in vitro. HKC cells were randomly di-vided into four groups:normal glucose group (Con-trol),high glucose group (HG),high glucose plus pYr-ads-4-THEM4 vector group (HG + THEM4 vec-tor) and high glucose plus pYr-adshuttle-4 vector group (HG + V vector). After 48 h with HG stimula-tion,the cells were collected for extraction of protein and phospho-Akt (Ser 473),THEM4,TGF-β1 andα-SMA protein expression were examined by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining respectively. Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ were detected using the competitive sandwich ELISA kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results High glucose inhibited THEM4 expression,and induced increased phospho-Akt (Ser 473),TGF-β1,α-SMA and secreted ColⅠand secre-ted Col Ⅲ in HKC cells. Up-regulation of THEM4 re-versed high glucose-induced decreased THEM4,in-creased phospho-Akt (Ser 473),TGF-β1,α-SMA, secreted Col Ⅰ and secreted Col Ⅲ in HKC cells. Conclusion The up-regulation of THEM4 may de-crease Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ secretion by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt and down-regulating the expres-sion of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in high glucose-induced HKC cells.

Aim To observe the effect of thioesterase superfamily member 4 ( THEM4 ) expression on extra-cellular matrix ( ECM ) accumulation in the kidney of diabetic mice .Methods For in vivo vector delivery experiment , male CD1 mice were randomly divided in-to four groups: normal control mice ( Control group ) , diabetic mice ( DM group ) , diabetic mice receiving pYr-ads-4-THEM4 vector ( DM+THEM4 vector ) and diabetic mice receiving pYr-adshuttle-4 vector ( DM+V vector ) .pYr-ads-4-THEM4 vector or pYr-adshuttle-4 vector ( 1 mg · kg -1 ) were mixed with TransIT-EE Hydrodynamic Delivery Solution from Mirus Co .and injected into tail vein once a week for four weeks after STZ injection.Four weeks later, mice were sacrificed and Western blot , immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of phospho-Akt(Ser 473), THEM4, TGF-β1, α-SMA, Col Ⅲ, FN proteins and THEM4 mRNA in kidneys respectively . Results THEM4 decreased in kidney of diabetes mel-litus accompanied with increased phospho-Akt ( Ser 473), TGF-β1, α-SMA and ECM.The delivery of pYr-ads-4-THEM4 vector increased THEM4 expression and decreased phospho-Akt (Ser 473), TGF-β1, α-SMA and ECM deposit in kidneys of diabetic mice . Conclusion The up-regulation of THEM4 may pre-vent ECM deposit by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt and down-regulating the expression of TGF-β1 andα-SMA in kidneys of diabetic mice .

Purpose To investigate the relations of THEM4/Akt expression and extracellular matrix deposit in kidney of diabetic mice. Methods Diabetic mice models were successfully established by intraperitoneally injected STZ. Both normal control mice and diabetic mice were raised for 8 week until they were sacrificed. Western blot, immunohistochemistry and realtime PCR were used to detect the expression of THEM4, phospho-Akt (Ser 473), TGF-β1, a-SMA, Col Ш, FN protein and THEM4 mRNA in the kidneys of normal mice and diabetic mice. Results Compared to normal control mice, THEM4 expression decreased by 37.7％ followed by 3.66, 1.29 2.33, 1.99 and 2.82 times increased of phospho-Akt (Ser473), TGF-β1, a-SMA, Col Ш and FN in kidney of diabetes mellitus. Extracellular matrix accumulation was found in renal interstitial region of diabetic mice. Conclusion The decreased THEM4 might cause extracellular matrix deposit in kidney of diabetic mice by upregulating the phosphorylation of Akt and TGF-β1, α-SMA expression in diabetic mice.

Objective To evaluate the effects of diphenylhydantoin sodiumpolybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (DPH-PBCA-NPs) and DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80on rat models of epilepsy, and investigate the advantage of nanoparticle as the drug delivery system.Methods The rat models of acute epilepsy induced by lithium pilocarpine were established and randomly divided into 5 groups: group Ⅰ (performing injection of DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80), group Ⅱ (performing injection of DPH-PBCA-NPs), group Ⅲ (performing injection of diphenylhydantoin sodium), group Ⅳ (performing injection of PBCA-NPs) and group Ⅴ (performing injection of physiological saline). The changes of electroencephalogram (EEG) manifestations of these rats were observed by using video-EEG monitoring; and their behavioral changes were noted too.Results The lithium pilocarpine induced rat models of acute epilepsy were successfully established and their status epilepticus were confirmed by EEG and their behaviors. The effective rate of DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80 and DPH-PBCA-NPs was 91.67% and 54.55%, respectively;the effective rate of rats in group Ⅲ was 50%, and the effective rate of rats in group Ⅳ and Ⅴ was 0%;DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80 enjoyed a better effect than DPH-PBCA-NPs and DPH (P＜0.05). Conclusion DPH-PBCA-NPs and DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80 can be used to improve the behaviors of rats with acute epilepsy and modify the results of EEG of these rats.Nanoparticles as drug delivery system can help the drugs having their effects much quickly and effectively.