AIM:To investigate the role of heme oxygenase (HO) in AngⅡ induced proliferation and hypertrophy of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. METHODS:(1) Western blotting analysis was carried out to detect protein level of HO-1 in the tissues. (2) [3H]-TdR,[3H]-leucine incorporation was measured in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. (3) 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) as an index was used to determine the cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. RESULTS:(1) No significant difference in HO-1 protein expression level between AngⅡ-stimulated and control groups was observed,but HO-1 protein level in Hemin-induced group was higher than that in other two groups (P

AIM: To investigate the effect of heme oxygenase /carbon monoxide(HO/CO) system on the pathogenesis of hypertension and effect of Heme-L- Lysinate(HLL), Zine protoporphyrin-IX(ZnPPIX) on vascular tension in a two kidney one-clip model. METHODS: The changes in mean arterial pressure and heart rate as well as phenylephrine(PHE)-induced contraction in isolated aortic rings of HLL, ZnPPIX- treated rats were examined after intraperitoneal administration of HLL and carbon monoxide( CO). RESULTS: (1) Injection of exogenous CO resulted in a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure in Sham and 2K1C groups(P

AIM: To investigate the effect of heme oxygenase on vascular remodeling in renal hypertension. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, 2K1C (two-kidney one-clip) and hemin-induced groups. Four weeks after the treatments, the thickness of aortic media and HO enzymatic activity of the aorta were determined. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out to detect protein of HO-1 in the aorta. RESULTS: The blood pressure in 2K1C renal hypertension rats started to increase two weeks after the surgery and stabled at a high level at the 4th week. Hemin, an inducer of HO-1, markedly inhibited the increase in blood pressure. Aortic medium thickness of the 2K1C rats at 4th week was 27 5% thicker than that in the sham-operated rats. The thickness of aortic medium of the hemin-induced rats was 16 1% less than that in 2K1C group. At the 4th week after operation, protein level and enzymatic activity of HO-1 in aorta were higher than that in 2K1C group compared to those in the sham-operated group. CONCLUSION: Renal hypertension caused vascular remodeling and the activation of HO-1. HO-1 induction decreased the blood pressure of renal hypertension and reduced vascular remodeling.

Objective To study influences of magnetic field on behavior of depressive rats under chronic unpredictable mild stress,and possible mechanisms under such phenomena.Methods Thirty-six Wistar rats were divided into model group,magnetic field group and control group (n =12 in each group) according to random number table.The model group and the magnetic field group received CUMS stimulation daily for 5 weeks,while the control group received no any treatment.At the end of the fifth week,rats in the magnetic field group were placed in the center of a magnetic machine (400 mT),and the model group was raised freely for4 weeks.The severity of depressive behaviors,cortisol levels and contents of C-reactive protein in blood and urine sample were tested pre-treatment,at the end of 5 weeks and 9 weeks.Results After 5 weeks,consumption of glucose solution of the control group was higher than the other two groups (P ＜ 0.05).After 5 and 9 weeks,body weights of the magnetic group and the model group were lower than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).At the end of 9 weeks,performance of the magnetic group as indicated by frequency of grid crossing,grooming time and suspending tail test were improved to a significantly greater extent than the other two groups (P ＜ 0.05).In addition,the urine content of cortisol in 24 hours in magnetic field and model groups was higher than the control group at the end of 5 weeks,and the serum level of cortisol in the magnetic field group were significantly higher than the model group at the end of 9 weeks (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The 400mT magnetic field can reduce the severity of behavior changes of rats with CUMS-induced depression,which might be attributable to its influence on the cortisol levels in blood and urine.

Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides ( LPS) , major component of out wall in Gram-negative bacteria. Often they are considered as "prime criminals" of triggering systemic inflaming reaction such as sepsis, bacteremia and so on. It was found in recent years that bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, a 55kDa member of lipid-related protein family, was a kind of natural molecule of anti-infection and it has special endotoxin-neutralising activity and antibacterial activity. Comprehensive phase II/III clinical trials demonstrated the feasibility and safety of recombinant BPI. So pharmaceutical corporations are attracted to try to apply it to therapy.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic transnasal lacrimal duct reconstruction by grafting of autogenous tissue is a novel method for treatment of severe lacrimal duct obstruction and it needs detailed anatomical data for surgery.OBJECTIVE: To study the applied microsurgical anatomy of lacrimal duct and to provide anatomical evidence for endoscopic transnasal lacrimal duct reconstruction by grafting of autoganous tissue.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: This study was performed at the laboratory of the Department of Ophthalmology, Armed Police General Hospital from July 2006 to June 2007.MATERIALS: Twenty 10% formaldehyde-treated adult cadaveric heads, 14 males and 6 females, comprising 40 lacrimal ducts were included in this study.METHODS: The cadaveric heads were split on the level of the line between the superior border of the superciliary arch and the site 10 mm higher than occipital tuberosity. After removal of brain tissue,the heads were decalcified for approximate 1 week with 10%nitric acid. This promised non-alteration of morphological structure and facilitation for surgical cutting. Following dissection of facial cranium in the median sagittal plane, the nasal septum was excised to expose the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The anteroposterior diameter and depth of lacrimal fossa; at middle third level, the thickness of lacrimal fossa at the anterior lacrimal crest, vertical middle line, and posterior lacrimal crest; the cross section area of nasolacrimal canal upper opening, middle part, and lower opening; horizontal distance, 30° oblique distance, and 45°oblique distance from lacrimal caruncie to nasal cavity; distance from lacrimal caruncle to nasolacrimal canal upper opening; and the included angle between lacrimal caruncle-nasolacrimal canal upper opening line and Aeby's plane.RESULTS: The length, anteroposterior diameter, and depth of lacrimal fossa were (17.85±1.72) mm, (6.74+1.28) mm, and (3.09+0.78) mm, respectively. At middle third level, the thickness of lacrimal fossa at the anterior lacrimal crest,perpendicular bisector, and posterior lacrimal crest was (4.03±0.89) mm, (0.61±0.36) mm, and (0.63±0.24) mm, respectively.Anterior lacrimal crest was significantly thicker than vertical middle line and posterior lacrimal crest (P ＞ 0.05). Horizontal distance, 30°oblique distance, and 45° oblique distance from lacrimal caruncle to nasal cavity was (17.23±0.70) mm,(14.51±1.72) mm, and (17.34±2.38) mm, accordingly, with a difference which was not significant (P ＞ 0.05). The distance from lacrimal caruncle to lateral wall middle point of nasolacrimal duct superior opening was (11.86±1.84) mm, and the included angle between lacrimal caruncle-lateral wall middle point of nasolacrimal duct superior opening line and Aeby's plane averaged (49.9±1.8)°.CONCLUSION: The distances from lacrimal caruncle to nasal cavity and lacrimal sac and the included angles between lacrimal caruncle-nasolacrimal canal upper opening line and Aeby's plane provide guidance significance for selection of bony opening position on the lateral wall of nasal cavity and determinations of tunnel oblique angle and autogenous tissue length. Creation of bony tunnel should start from the middle or posterior middle part of lacrimal fossa and then extend towards anterior inferior region with an optimal downward oblique angle of 45°. The length of autogenous tissue used for lacrimal duct reconstruction should exceed 21.22 mm.

Background:Fibroscan is the noninvasive method widely used to evaluate quantitatively the liver fibrosis and monitor the long-term efficacy of anti-fibrosis therapy. Aims:To study the use of Fibroscan for evaluating the efficacy of combined therapy with FuFang BieJia RuanGan tablet and antiviral drugs in patients with hepatitis B virus( HBV)-related cirrhosis. Methods:A total of 90 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis from March 2013 to September 2014 at Shanghai Ren Ji Hospital were recruited,and divided into treatment group and control group. Patients in treatment group received FuFang BieJia RuanGan tablet,and patients in control group received conventional liver-protective drugs,all the patients took nucleoside antiviral drugs at the same time. The treatment courses in both groups were 6 months. Liver stiffness measurement( LSM)was detected by Fibroscan before and after treatment. Biochemical parameters,width of portal vein and clinical symptoms were recorded. Results:After treatment,LSM was significantly decreased in both groups( P <0.05). Liver function,width of portal vein and Child-Pugh score were improved in both groups(P <0. 05),and no significant differences were found between the two groups(P>0. 05). LSM was closely associated with Child-Pugh score both before and after treatment(r=0. 484,P<0. 01;r=0. 523,P<0. 01). Patients with Child-Pugh A had lower LSM than those with Child-Pugh B or Child-Pugh C(P<0. 01). Conclusions:FuFang BieJia RuanGan tablet combined with oral antiviral drugs can remarkably improve the liver function of cirrhotic patients and prevent progression of cirrhosis. Dynamic detection of LSM can be used for monitoring drug efficacy and disease progression in patients with cirrhosis.

Objective To explore the value of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in combination with susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in prognosis prediction of traumatic axonal injury (TAI).Methods A retrospective study of 75 patients with TAI was performed to analyze the clinical data and the follow-up prognosis in the 6 months after injury.The detection rate of TAI lesion by DWI,SWI and conventional MRI was compared.Multiple factors analysis applied logistic regression analysis to analyze the relationship between associated factors and prognosis.Results The average detected TAI lesions were (19.92 ± 8.62) by DWI and (22.17 ± 11.72) by SWI,which had no significant differences (t=1.24,P＞0.05),but there was a significant difference bettween by conventional MRI and by DWI or SWI (all P＜0.05).DWI was more sensitive to non-hemorrhagic lesions and SWI was more sensitive to hemorrhagic lesions.However,the lesions revealed by them existed the overlap of location and pathology of lesions.Patients with poor outcomes had more number of central lesions than those patient with good outcomes (t=2.455,P＜ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis revealed that the predictive accuracy provided by the combination with imaging and clinical factors was 95.7 ％.Conclusions DWI and SWI both are sensitive to TAI lesions,and have ability to detect the lesions with different pathological characteristics,separately.Accurate prognosis prediction for patients with TAI may be provided by the combination of clinical and imaging factors.

Objective To examine the relationships between the level of serum visfatin and obesity,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)in children and adolescents. Methods Serum visfatin levels of 106 obese children/adolescents (including 49 non-NAFLD children and adolescents and 57 NAFLD children/adolescents in which consisting of 42 mild ones,15 moderate-to-severe ones)with another 69 lean children/adolescents as their controls,were examined by indirect sandwich ELISA.Results When comparing the serum visfatin levels,there was no significant difference noticed between the obese group ( 1.71 ± 0.37) ng/ml and the lean group ( 1.75 ± 0.37) ng/ml (P=0.455).With the severity of NAFLD,the serum visfatin level showed an elevation in obese children and adolescents [ obese without NAFLD ( 1.59 ± 0.36) ng/ml,obese with mild NAFLD ( 1.74 ± 0.36) ng/ml,obese with moderate-to-severe NAFLD (1.97 ± 0.36) ng/ml,P＜0.05].In the obese group,serum visfatin levels seemed to be related to age (^β=-0.326,P=0.000),alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (^β =0.286,P=0.004) and the degree of NAFLD (^β =0.246,P＝0.014).Conclusion The level of serum visfatin was related to non-alcoholic fatty liver in obese children and adolescent.

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure in intervening primary insomnia.Methods:A total of 72 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial,with 36 cases allocated to a treatment group and 36 cases allocated to a control group.Both groups were given dexzopiclone as the routine treatment.Patients in the treatment group were given auricular acupressure with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds at the auricular acupoints related to sleep and emotion based on meridian theory,whereas for patients in the control group,the medical plasters with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds were only gently stuck to acupoints unrelated to sleep without stimulation.Patients in both groups were required to visit the hospital once a week for replacing the seeds and plasters.The course of intervention lasted for 8 weeks and the patients were followed up for another 4 weeks.Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Karolinska sleep diary (KSD) were used to evaluate the outcomes.Meanwhile,adverse effects were monitored and recorded.Results:In the enrolled 72 cases,4 patients (one in the treatment group and three in the control group) reported thirst and a bitter taste,and one case in the control group reported nausea and vomiting.At last,3 cases in the control group dropped out for adverse reactions,and 69 cases completed the clinical trial.After 8 weeks of treatment,the global scores of PSQI in both treatment and control groups decreased significantly compared with the baseline (both P＜0.001).Furthermore,the global score of PSQI in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.01).The global scores of PSQI in both groups at the follow-up were significantly different from the baseline (both P＜0.001),but insignificantly different compared with the post-treatment results (both P＞0.05).According to KSD,both treatment protocols could prolong the total sleep time,shorten sleep-onset latency,improve sleep efficacy and sleep quality significantly,and the changes in the treatment group were more significant.The total effective rate was 88.9％ in the treatment group,higher than 81.8％ in the control group,though the difference was statistically insignificant (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure is effective and safe for patients with primary insomnia both in short and long terms,and it is more effective than monotherapy of dexzopiclone.