Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Ligation ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

AlM: To study the therapeutic effect of external-route microsurgery forrhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
METHODS: ln 55 patients ( 55 eyes ) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, drainage of subretinal fluid, examination of locating the holes, sclera cryotherapy, scleral buckling, and vitreous cavity injection of filtrated air were performed under surgical microscope.
RESULTS:The retinal reattachment occurred in 50 cases after the primary surgery. The final rate of reattachment was 91% during 6 - 12mo follow - up. The retinal reattachment occurred in 1 case ( recurrent retinal detachment) after the secondary surgery and in 4 cases ( recurrent retinal detachment ) after vitrectomy. The eyesight was improved with different degrees in 55 cases.CONCLUSlON: The external- route microsurgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is simple, safe and effective.

The stems and branches of Hypericum petiolulatum were extracted by alcohol and liquid-liquid extraction. Seven furofuran lignans were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract of H. petiolulatum by using silica gelchromatography, Sephadex LH-20 chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by the spectroscopic methods as pinoresinol (1), medioresinol (2), 8-acetoxypinoresinol (3), epipinoresinol (4), (+)-syringaresinol (5), (+)-1-hydroxysyringaresinol (6) and erythro-buddlenolE (7). All the isolates were firstly found in H. petiolulatum. In the bioassay, compound 7 showed remarkable antioxidative activity inhibiting Fe(+2)-cystine induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation with inhibitory rate 38% at a concentration of 1 x 10(-6) mol · L(-1) (positive control Vit E with the inhibitory rate of 35% at the same concentration).
Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hypericum ; chemistry ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rats

AIM:To explore the effect of curcumin(Cur)and curcuminoids(Y20 and 6B)on the expression of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor(SLPI), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)and the possible mechanism.METHODS:BEAS-2B cells incubated with SP were set up as an inflammation model of pneumonia.The mRNA levels of SLPI at 1 h,3 h,6 h and 9 h,and the mRNA expression of TNF-αand IL-1βat 3 h,6 h and 9 h in control group,SP infection group,Cur treatment group,Y20 treatment group and 6B treatment group were measured by qPCR.The protein levels of TNF-αand IL-1βin the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA.The protein levels of Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2)and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB(p-NF-κB) p65 at 3 h,6 h and 9 h were determined by Western blot.RESULTS:The mRNA level of SLPI was increased in Cur, Y20 and 6B treatment groups compared with SP group(P<0.05).The protein levels of TLR2 and p-NF-κB p65 were sig-nificantly increased after SP stimulation.After treatment with Cur,Y20 and 6B,the protein levels of TLR2 and p-NF-κB p65 were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The levels of TNF-αand IL-1βwere significantly increased after SP stimula-tion.Cur,Y20 and 6B significantly decreased the levels of TNF-αand IL-1βin the supernatant(P<0.05).CONCLU-SION: Cur, Y20 and 6B increase SLPI expression, reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-αand IL-1β. The possible mechanism might be associated with inhibiting TLR 2 expression and down-regulating the transcriptional activity of NF-κB.

OBJECTIVETo test the hypothesis that delayed X-irradiation can enhance the functional and structural recovery of the injured spinal cord in rats.

METHODSSeventy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, 35 rats in each. The control group sustained a one-minute clip compression (force of clip was 30 g) injury of the spinal cord at the T2 level, without X-irradiation. The experimental group received X-irradiation 14 days after injury. Neurological function was assessed by the modified Tarlov method, including hind limbs movement, inclined plane, and pain withdrawal. These tests were performed in a blinded fashion at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after injury. At 43 days after injury, histological examination of the injured spinal cord was performed following decapitation of the rats.

RESULTSSixty-two rats met the experimental requirements (spinal cord injury was similar), 32 rats in experimental group and 30 rats in control group. Statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in hind limbs movement and inclined plane (P < 0.01), but not in the pain withdrawal test. The edema and necrosis areas of injured spinal cords in experimental group were less than those in control group, and axons in experimental group were significantly more than those in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDelayed X-irradiation following spinal cord injury may enhance functional recovery by improving and restoring structural integrity of the injured spinal cord in rats.

Animals ; Axons ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Hindlimb ; Joints ; physiology ; Motor Activity ; Movement ; Radiotherapy ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; physiopathology ; radiation effects ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; radiotherapy ; rehabilitation ; Weight-Bearing ; X-Rays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hypothermia on the antioxidant capacity of rat testes after testicular torsion.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy pubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of equal number: Group A (torsion) , Group B (torsion + hypothermia) and Group C (control). The animals were submitted to unilateral 720 degrees testicular torsion, and underwent detorsion two hours later. Fourteen days later, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the level of malonic diethylaldehyde(MDA) were detected with spectrophotometer and histological changes were observed by light microscope.

RESULTSThe T-AOC of Group B was significantly greater than that of Group A (P < 0.01), but less than that of Group C (P < 0.01). The MDA level of Group B was lower than that of Group A (P < 0.01), but higher than that of Group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHypothermia can restrain the production of oxygen free radicals following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats, which in turn can inhibit lipid peroxidation and increase the survivability of the torsional testis.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Lipid Peroxidation ; physiology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Testis ; pathology

BACKGROUNDLong-term use of steroid with large dosage might cause many adverse effects in kidney transplant patients; reducing steroid dosage to a low level for maintenance is helpful in avoiding the side-effects, but meanwhile, acute rejection may rise to be a main concern. The present research monitored the immune function changes and the incidence of acute rejection and infection after rapid steroid reduction to investigate the safety of this strategy.

METHODSA prospective trial was conducted, using tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil as the basic immunosuppressive regimen, in addition to antibody induction with basiliximab. Corticosteroid dosage was rapidly reduced to 10 mg/d seven days post-transplantation in the experimental group, and the standard corticosteroid therapy was employed in the control group. Patient immunity was monitored by the Immune Cell Function Assay pre- and two weeks post-transplantation. The incidence of acute rejection and infection were compared between the experimental and control group.

RESULTSComparison of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (iATP) values detected two weeks post-transplantation for the control group ((324 ± 45) ng/ml) and the experimental group ((345 ± 91) ng/ml) did not reveal a significant difference (P > 0.05). The incidence of acute rejection was analogous between groups (P > 0.05), while an increased incidence of infection was observed in the control group (53% (n = 16)) versus the experimental group (22% (n = 6), P < 0.05). Overall, recipients in the control group had longer and more recurrent infections than those in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Patients in the control group had a lower immune response ((235 ± 35) ng/ml) than those in the experimental group ((286 ± 16) ng/ml) when infection occurred (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRapid reduction of steroid early after kidney transplantation does not lead to a significant rise in patient immunity. It is a safe and effective therapy for kidney transplant patients.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; metabolism ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Transplantation ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the durability of quantum dots with that of green fluorescein for labeling survivin antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) and investigate the difference in growth and apoptosis of cells transfected with the labeled survivin ASODN.

METHODSSurvivin ASODN labeled with quantum dots or green fluorescein was transfected into MCF-7 cells via Lipolifectmain(TM2000). The proliferation of MCF-7 cells was assessed with MTT assay, survivin mRNA expression determined by RT-PCR and its protein expression measured by Western blot analysis. The apoptosis rate of the transfected cells was estimated by flow cytometry, and the fluorescence distribution in the cells observed under fluorescent inverted microscope.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein expressions of survivin were significantly decreased in the MCF-7 cells after cell transfection with survivin ASODN labeled with quantum dots or green fluorescein, and no significant difference was noted between the two labeling methods (P>0.05). Nor did survivin ASODN transfection with different labeling methods produced significant difference in cell proliferation and apoptotic rate (P>0.05). For green fiuorescein labeling, the fluorescence disappeared 4 days after transfection, whereas the fluorescence sustained for 1 week for quantum dots labeling.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin ASODNs labeled with quantum dots and green fiuorescein do not significantly differ in survivin expression or the transfected cell proliferation and apoptosis rate, but quantum dot labeling can be more stable with longer maintcnance of the labeling.

Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescein ; chemistry ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; chemistry ; genetics ; Quantum Dots ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staining and Labeling ; methods ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 3p in thyroid tumors.

METHODSLOH at 11 microsatellite loci was analyzed in 74 cases of thyroid tumors (including 20 follicular adenomas, 24 follicular thyroid carcinomas and 30 papillary thyroid carcinomas) by polymerase chain reaction and silver stain.

RESULTSLOH on chromosome 3p was detected in 71% of follicular thyroid carcinoma (17/24), 30% of the papillary thyroid carcinoma (9/30) and 10% of the follicular adenoma (2/20) case. Two minimal common deleted regions (CDR) (3p26-pter and 3p14.2-3p22) involving significant sites of LOH has identified in follicular thyroid carcinoma. There was also one CDR (3p25. 2-26.1) in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSLOH is more frequently identified in follicular thyroid carcinoma than in papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular adenoma. The 3 CDR on chromosome 3p may harbor tumor suppressor genes involved in the pathogenesis of follicular thyroid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; genetics ; Adenoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; genetics ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; physiology ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the specific killing effects of combination of recombinant adenovirus mediated double suicide gene driven by KDR promoter and survivin antisense oligonucleotide(ASODN) on colorectal cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells.

METHODSThe 293 packaging cells were transfected with the plasmids of pAdEasy-CDglyTK and the recombinant adenovirus were generated. The KDR expressive cells of SW620, ECV304 were infected with adenovirus, meanwhile survivinASODN was transferred into the same cells. The infection rate of adenovirus and transfection efficiency of survivinASODN were observed and the expression of CDglyTK was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of survivin was measured by Western blot. The killing effects and bystander effects on SW620, ECV304 were examined through MTT method.

RESULTSThe cells which were infected with the adenovirus mediated double suicide gene could be transfected with the survivin ASODN and the infection rate was not affected as well as the transfection efficiency. The high expression of CDglyTK gene was found in SW620, ECV304 cells infected with recombinant adenovirus and survivin ASODN decreased the survivin protein level. The survival rate of gene therapy group was significantly lower than that of negative group. The combination of survivin ASODN and AdKDR-CDglyTK gene therapy showed significantly lower survival rate of SW620 and ECV304 cells as compared with the AdKDR-CDglyTK or survivin ASODN used alone (P<0.05). The survival rate was slightly lower in GCV 100 microg/ml, 5-FC 2000 microg/ml than that AdKDR-CDglyTK used alone (P>0.05). The combined therapy of AdKDR-CDglyTK and survivin ASODN showed synergistic killing efficacy and more significant bystander effects.

CONCLUSIONThe combined gene therapy of AdKDR-CDglyTK system and survivin ASODN has stronger specific killing effects on colorectal cancer cells and vein endothelial cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; genetics ; Transcription Initiation Site