Objective The experiment aims at probing the best condition of the isolation and purification of rat islets.Methods The islets were isolated from rat pancreas by hepatopancreatic duct perfusing with collagenase and purified with Ficoll 400 discontinuous density gradient centrifugation.Then the purified islets were subjected to histological staining,electron microscopy and radioimmunoassay for identification of specificity and viability.Results The histological staining revealed that the viability and the purity of the purified islets were above 95％and 85％respectively.Electron microscopy showed that the purified islets were morphologically intact with clear membrane and plenty of secreting granules.Radioimmunoassay demonstrated the secreted insulin concerntration between low-glucose groups and high-glucose groups varied significantly,which verified the good function of the islets.Conclusion Hepatopancreatic duct perfusing with collagenase is a good method for digestion.There aye many factors that influence the quantity and quality of the acquired islets,such as the completed expansion of pancreas,the concentration and viability of collagenase and the digested time,etc.

Objective The experiment aims at probing the best condition of the isolation and purification of rat islets. Methods The islets were isolated from rat pancreas by hepatopancreatic duct perfusing with collagenase and purified with Ficoll 400 discontinuous density gradient centrifugation.Then the purified islets were subjected to histological staining,electron microscopy and radioimmunoassay for identification of specificity and viability. Results The histological staining revealed that the viability and the purity of the purified islets were above 95% and 85% respectively.Electron microscopy showed that the purified islets were morphologically intact with clear membrane and plenty of secreting granules.Radioimmunoassay demonstrated the secreted insulin concerntration between low-glucose groups and high-glucose groups varied significantly,which verified the good function of the islets.Conclusion Hepatopancreatic duct perfusing with collagenase is a good method for digestion.There are many factors that influence the quantity and quality of the acquired islets,such as the completed expansion of pancreas,the concentration and viability of collagenase and the digested time,etc.

Objective To assess the effects of health management on high-risk diabetic populations.Methods A total of 307 diabetic high-risk adults from 6 communities of Tianjin were recruited by using diabetes risk screening technology.Three-month intensive health management and nine-month follow-up were conducted in this participants.Paired t test for continuous variables and paired contingency table x2 test were used for data analysis.Results Energy intake (1989.8 vs.1766.4 kcal,t =6.84,P ＜0.05),effective exercises (120.4 vs.157.5 kcal,t =-5.00,P ＜ 0.05),body weight (73.0 vs.71.5 kg,t =6.92,P ＜0.05),systolic blood pressure (130.4 vs.124.6 mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa),t =8.36,P ＜0.05),diastolic blood pressure (81.8 vs.78.4 mm Hg,t =7.40,P ＜ 0.05),serum total cholesterol (5.21 vs.5.08 mmol/L,t =2.73,P ＜ 0.05),fasting plasma glucose (6.4 vs.5.8 mmol/L,t =16.37,P ＜ 0.05)and 2 h postprandial blood glucose (7.7 vs.6.9 mmol/L,t =9.67,P ＜ 0.05) were significantly improved after the intervention.Conclusions Community-based health management may provide an effective way to prevent and control the risk factors of diabetes.

Objective To assess the role of health education in outcomes of diabetes mellitus among high-risk populations.Methods The community physicians who participated this investigation received standardized training,and 307 community residents at high risk of developing diabetes obtained three-month intense health education and nine-month follow-up study.Paired t-test,and Analysis of Variance were used for data analysis.Results After systematic health education,professional level of community physicians was improved.Cognitive level of health knowledge was also significantly improved (5.5 vs 12.6,t=-28.511,P＜0.05).In addition,health knowledge of variant age (F=4.036,P＜0.05),education level (F=15.27,P＜0.05) and occupation (F=9.80,P＜0.05) subgroups was significantly increased.In comparison with baselines,the scores of each age subgroups (F=0.204,P＞0.05) showed no significant differences,although scores of different education level (F=4.71,P＜0.05) and occupation (F=4.87,P＜0.05) subgroups were significantly different.The risk factors of diabetes were effectively controlled.Conclusions Health education should be the key to health management of diabetes,which plays important roles in improving cognitive level of health knowledge among populations at high risk of developing diabetes and reducing the incidence of this condition.

Glaucoma is rarely complicated by retinitis pigmentosa (RP). To provide clinical evidences for this rare situation, we report the concurrence of these two diseases in two children of a Chinese family. In the present two-child Chinese family without positive history, the older sister presented with bilateral sector RP and coexisting chronic angle-closure glaucoma, and the brother with bilateral whole RP but without coexisting glaucoma. Clinical evidences in concurrence of variants of RP and glaucoma because of possible different gene mutations from the same genetic background represent a rare situation, which may provide clues for future researches in molecular pathogenesis of these rare diseases.
Female ; Glaucoma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDWith aging, the human fracture risks gradually increase. This is mainly due to the corresponding changes of the biomechanical parameters of human bone presents with aging. We measured the microstructural parameters of lumbar bone from women in several age groups by micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. We observed changes in lumbar cancellous bone mineral density and in biomechanical parameters with aging to elucidate the relationship between age and risk of fracture. We provide theoretical support for human pathology, fracture risk increased with age and the individualized of each age group.

METHODSThirty-two fresh L3 vertebral bodies were donated from 32 women, aged 20-59 years and were divided into four age groups: 20 to 29 years (group A); 30 to 39 years (group B); 40 to 49 years (group C); and 50 to 59 years (group D). Conventional lumbar separation was performed by removing soft tissue and subsidiary structures, leaving only the vertebral body. The vertebral body was cut into halves along the median sagittal plane, maintaining the upper and lower end-plates of each half, and used for biomechanical, morphological, and density measurements.

RESULTSComparing group A to B, the rod-like trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) decreased; the trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) increased; the plate-like Tb.Th decreased; bone mineral density, tissue mineral density, bone volume fraction, and bone surface fraction decreased, and the elastic modulus and the ultimate stress decreased (all changes P < 0.05). Similar significant (P < 0.05) trends were obtained when comparing group C to D. With aging, the collagen cross-linking capacity declined, the thickness of the collagen fibrils was variable (ranging from almost the same to loose, sparse, or disordered), and the finer collagen fibrils between the thick filaments were disorganized.

CONCLUSIONSIn women aged 20 to 59 years, the rod-like and plate-like Tb.Th of the vertebral body decreased, while Tb.Sp increased. Additionally, the density, elastic modulus, and ultimate stress of the cancellous bone decreased with age. These associated changes in bone microstructure, density, and biomechanics with age may lead to an increasing risk of osteoporosis and fracture.

Adult ; Bone Density ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Middle Aged ; X-Ray Microtomography ; Young Adult

To approach the effect of CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) on un-terminal differentiation of HL-60 cells after treatment with Arsenic Trioxide ( As_2O_3) . Methods The changes of cell morphology were observed by Wright staining, the alteration in the cell proliferation was determined by WST1 experiment and the NBT reduction assay was used to detect the differentiation condition of cells, determination and analysis cell cycle. The expressions of C/EBP? and C/EBP? mRNA in HL-60 cells exposed to ATRA and As_2O_3 were assayed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results It was found that ATRA could up- regulate the mRNA expression of C/EBP? obviously, but down-regulate the mRNA expression of C/EBP?. As_2O_3 could up-regulate the mRNA expression of C/EBP? lightly, down-regulate the expression of C/EBP?. Conclusion Both of ATRA and As_2O_3 can down-regulate the mRNA expression of C/EBP?,but there is no significant difference between these two groups,ATRA and As2O3 can up- regulate the mRNA expression of C/EBP?, with significant differences (P

To explore the clinical features, risk factors an d treatment of retinoic acid syndrome (RAS) in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with retinoic acid, the clinical and laboratory data of 11 APL patients with RAS were retrospectively analysed. The results showed that earlier and more common symptoms of RAS were successively dyspnea (11/11), fever (10/11) and hydrothorax (6/11). Higher WBC count (> or = 15.0 x 10(9)/L) in the course of treatment of all-trans retinoic acid susceptible to develop RAS (9/11). The RAS patients were treated with dexamethasone without discontinuing the treatment of retinoic acid, complete remission was achieved in 10 cases and one patient died from disseminated intravascular coagulation. It is concluded that the identification and dexamethasone treatment of RAS in earlier period are extremely important for obtaining better clinical curative effect, and it does not influence therapeutic effect of continuing application of retinoic acid.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Dyspnea ; etiology ; Female ; Fever ; etiology ; Humans ; Hydrothorax ; etiology ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome ; Tretinoin ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDThe human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein gp120 has been implicated in the development of AIDS-associated retinopathy. The present study tested the hypothesis that gp120 may induce oxidative stress including up regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) to mediate retinopathy in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.

METHODSHuman RPE cell line D407 was cultured and treated with gp120. HIV-1 gp120 protein induced lipid peroxidation product MDA. NO production and iNOS expression were examined in vitro by spectrophomtometry, real-time PCR, Western blotting, and confocal microscope.

RESULTSAddition of gp120 was able to induce RPE cells to produce NO and MDA in time- and dose-dependent manners (P < 0.05). Similarly, gp120 was also capable of up-regulating iNOS mRNA and protein in D407 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners.

CONCLUSIONSGp120 induces oxidative stress in D407 cell by stimulating MDA and NO production, which is mediated by up-regulating iNOS expression. Gp120 may mediate oxidation stress in AIDS-associated retinopathy.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retina ; cytology

BACKGROUND: The clinical experience of the treatment of the sternoclavicular joint dislocation and peripheral fracture is relatively lacking, but its incidence is increasing yearly. At present, there are few studies on the anatomy and biomechanics of the sternoclavicular joint in and outside China, and no systematic anatomical measurements of the sternoclavicular joint are reported. OBJECTIVE: To provide a biological reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of sternoclavicular joint dislocation or peripheral fractures by studying the anatomy and biomechanics of the sternoclavicular joint. METHODS: (1) A total of 16 specimens (32 sides) of adult antiseptic and moist cadaveric specimens were selected. The complete manubrium, bilateral clavicle and surrounding tissues of sternoclavicular joint were anatomically separated, and repair to bone-ligament-bone specimen models. (2) The areas of manubrium articular surface and the medial clavicular articular surface of all specimens were measured by the ink pattern combined with grid counting method. (3) The morphological features of the anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligaments of the specimens in this group were observed, and the length, width and thickness were measured and analyzed statistically. (4) The left and right sternoclavicular joints of each specimen were randomly paired into A and B groups. Group A received simply cutting of anterior sternoclavicular ligament. Group B received simply cutting of posterior sternoclavicular ligament. Before and after cuting off the ligament, the anterior and posterior load experiments were performed on the anatomical sites with the same force arm length and perpendicular to the distal clavicle. The angles of joints and load-angle regression line slopes were compared between the two groups in the anterior and posterior directions load. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The area of articular surface of manubrium (239.00±28.78 mm2) was smaller than the area of medial articular surface of the clavicle (482.56±44.89 mm2), and the difference was statistically significant (t=-40.105, P < 0.001). (2) The length, width and thickness of the anterior sternoclavicular ligament were (17.56±1.94 mm), (15.54±1.42 mm) and (1.93±0.32 mm), and the length, width and thickness of the posterior sternoclavicular ligament were (17.21±1.86 mm), (15.97±1.17 mm), and (2.07±0.29 mm) respectively;there was no significantly statistical difference in the length, width and thickness between them (P > 0.05). (3) Before cutting the ligaments, when the loads were 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 N, the angle backwards of joint caused by loads in the forward direction was less than the angle of forwards of joints caused by loads in the backward direction, but only when the loads were 6, 8, and 10 N, the difference between them was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The slope of the regression line of load-angle for the loads in the forward direction was less than the slope of the regression line of load-angle for the loads in the backward direction, with statistical difference (F=31.413, P < 0.001). After the ligaments were cut, when the loads were 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 N in the forward direction in group A and group B, the backward angulation of joint in group A was less than that in group B (P < 0.05). The slope of the load-angled regression line in group A was less than that in group B (F=52.224, P <0.001). When the loads in the backward direction in group A and group B were 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 N, the forward angulation of joint in group A was greater than that in group B (P < 0.05), and the slope of the load-angled regression line in group A was greater than that in group B (F=12.503, P=0.008). (4) These results suggest that contact area between the articular surface of the medial clavicle and the articular surface of the manubrium is narrow, which determines the instability of the joint itself. The sternoclavicular ligament is extremely important for maintaining the joint stability. The forward angulation of joint restriction effect of sternoclavicular ligament was weaker than that of the backward angulation, also because of the joint in the anatomical position of the natural forward angulation, so the sternoclavicular joint was prone to anterior dislocation. It is necessary to pay attention to the repair and reconstruction of sternoclavicular ligament when sternoclavicular joint dislocation or peripheral fractures are treated by operations.