Background Previous study on critical period plasticity in local cortical circuits primarily was only to test the role of some proteins in visual cortex on visual development based on the existed neural signals expression system,but whole containing proteins analysis in cortical circuits is lack.To perform a whole containing proteins analysis has an important significance for critical period plasticity study.Objective This study was to investigate the influence of dark rearing on visual sense and proteomics in visual cortex for growing rat.Methods Two SD female rats were fed in two cages together with 12 newborn rats on the same day respectively,and half number of newborn rats were exchanged each other from first day after delivering and marked by eartipping.The newborn rats in a cage were bred in the dark environment for 40 days,and newborn rats in other cage were bred in the nature environment as controls.The blink response of rats to nearby object was examined and compared between the two groups of rats.Then three rats from two cages were sacrificed respectively and bilateral primary visual cortex tissue was isolated.Proteomics in rat primary visual cortex was detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry and the result was checked from database.Then the survival rats in the dark environment returned to the nature environment for 10 days,and the blink response of rats to nearby object were compared with that of agematched rats in the natural environment.The use and care of experimental rats followed the instruction of Ethic Committee of Nankai University.Results The blink response of rats was (0.33 ± 0.35) times in the dark environment for 40-day group,and that in the natural environment for 40-day group was (6.42±0.68) times,with a significant difference between them (t =24.38,P＜0.01).After returned to natural environment for 10 days,the blink response times of rats were less than those of the natural environment group ([5.00±1.22] times vs.[6.11±0.59]times),but this change was not statistically significant (t =2.09,P＞0.05).Two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry assay revealed that 36 different proteins in visual cortex were found in the dark-feed rats compared with the natural environment rats,including 26 loss proteins and 10 extra proteins.Among the different proteins,Eps 15 homology domain-containing protein-3 (EHD3),tubulin alpha-1A chain and 2 ',3 '-cyclic-nucleotide 3 ' phosphordiesterase were the known proteins.Conclusions Dark rearing cause reversible visual loss in critical period plasticity newborn rat,and the change of proteomics in visual cortex is probably an affecting factor.

Objective To study the relationship of serum visfatin level and coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods Eighty eight hospitalized patients were enrolled into the study and divided into CHD group(n = 62) and non-CHD control group(n = 26) according to the angiography results; the CHD group was further divided into single-, double-, multi-vessel affected groups. The serum level of visfatin was measured by ELISA,the lesion severity of coronary arteries was assessed by Gensini coronary scoring system, and the correlation between serum visfatin level and coronary lesion severity was evaluated statistically. Results The level of serum visfatin was significantly higher in CHD group than the control group([ 10. 77 ± 2. 63 ] μg/L vs. [ 7. 13 ± 2. 06 ]μg/L,P ＜ 0. 05). The visfatin level increased along with the the number of stenosis vessels(P ＜ 0. 05). The sermn visfatin levels of no stenosis, single-, double-, multi-vessel groups were(7. 13 ± 2. 06) μg/L,(9. 30±2. 19) μg/L,(10. 81 ± 2. 12) μg/L,(12. 79 ± 2. 20) μg/L respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between coronary lesion severity score and serum visfatin level(r = 0. 483, P ＜ 0. 01). Conclusion The visfatin may be directly related to the initiation and development of coronary diseases. The higher level of serum visfatin was, the more severe coronary artery disease would be.

Objective To identify risk factors associated with the severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) in-duced by crush syndrome and whether the patient required hemodialysis (HD). Method A retrospective study was designed. Within 19 days after the Chinese Wenchuan earthquake (May 12, 2008), 63 victims (33 men, 30women) of 2139 cases were hospitalized at Mianyang Central Hospital (Siehuau, China) because of crush syn-drome caused by crush injuries. The patients with renal dysfimcfion before the earthquake were excluded. Totally 63 patients with AKI associated with crush syndrome were included in this study and were divided into two groups: group 1, 25 patients, requiring HD (when urine volume <250 mL/d;serum potassium> 6 mmol/L) ; and group 2, 38 patients, without HD. The following data were collected retrospectively for all patients: (1) epidemiological parameters: age, gender, race, time under the rubble, liquid treatmem before being rescued; (2) clinical param-eters: blood pressure, body area crushed, amputation, fasciotomy, blood transfusion, quantity of fluid infusion, urine output in the first 24 hours; (3) initial laboratory data: complete blood count, urine analysis, serum chem-istry, arterial blood gas analysis. Comparisons between the two groups were made using SPSS 10.0. The quantita-tive data and categorical data were analyzed using t tests and χ2 tests, respectively. P -values < 0.05 were consid-ered to indicate significant differences. The significant variables were entered into logistic regression models to de-termine the risk factors for the severity of AK1 in patients with crush syndrome and whether the patient required HD. Results Four significant risk factors with P -values < 0.05 were identified: fasciotomy, cystatin C (Cys C)level, myoglobin (MB) level and lactic acidosis. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 8.641 (3.027～76.479), 6.956 (3.027～76.479), 5.379 (3.027～76.479) and 4.833 (2.569～32.764), respectively. Conclusions In addition to urine output and potassium levels, we found that four risk factors, namely faseiotomy, Cys C and MB levels, and lactic acidosis, were significanfly associated with the severity of AKI and whether the patient required hemodialysis.

Objective To study the anatomic data of the first metatarsal dorsal artery and to provide anatomical basis for clinical tissue transplantation based on the first metatarsal dorsal artery.Methods The 16 adult cadaver specimens with 32 feet were dissected and meas-ured by vernier caliper.Then the anatomic data of the first metatarsal dorsal artery were analyzed.Results Through the examinations of 32 feet sample,the first metatarsal dorsal artery were classified into 5 types.Type Ⅰ:the first metatarsal dorsal artery runs at the surface of the first dorsal interosseous muscle (13 sides,40.6%).Type Ⅱ:the first metatarsal dorsal artery runs in the interior of the first dorsal interosse-ous muscle (11sides,34.4%).Type Ⅲ:the first metatarsal dorsal artery runs underneath the first dorsal interosseous muscle (6 sides, 18.8%).Type Ⅳ:the first metatarsal dorsal artery is slender (1 side,3.1%).TypeⅤ:the first metatarsal dorsal artery is absent (1 side, 3.1%).Distance relationship was measured between the first metatarsal bone and the first metatarsal dorsal artery:the vertical distance be-tween the origin of the posterior branch of the first metatarsal dorsal artery and base of the first metatarsal bone was (2.4 ±0.3)mm,the ver-tical distance between the origin of the posterior branch of the first metatarsal dorsal artery and head of the first metatarsal bone was (10.1 ±1.0)mm;the vertical distance between the origin of the anterior branch of the first metatarsal dorsal artery and the first metatarso-phalangeal joint was (7.6 ±2.7)mm.Conclusion The first metatarsal dorsal artery has clinical reference significance for the hands and feet’s trauma and skin flap transplantation such as thumb reconstruction.

Adult ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo establish a stable rat experimental model of concealed penis for studying the effect of buried penis on the structure and function of the corpus cavernosum.

METHODSNinety male SD rats, aged 2 weeks, were randomly divided into 3 groups (A, B and C) of equal number. Groups A and B underwent surgery with intra-purse suture of the penile root and folding suture of the prepuce, respectively, to bury the penis, while Group C were included as sham operation controls.

RESULTSIn Group A, death resulted in 4 cases from acute post-operative urine retention, failure in burying the penis occurred in 5 cases because of soft tissue ulceration around the urethral orifice and in another 3 due to loose concealment. In Group B, 1 died from deep anesthesia and 2 from acute post-operative urine retention. With the penile development and erection, 7 in Group A and 10 in Group B protruded the penis in different stages. In Group C, 1 died from deep anesthesia. The operations succeeded in all the other rats in Groups A and B, with the success rates of 36.7% and 56.7%, respectively. And the concealment could be relieved any time during the experiment.

CONCLUSIONThe experimental rat model of concealed penis can be successfully established by both intra-purse suture of the penile root and folding suture of the prepuce, which is stable and similar to the natural course of this disorder in human.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urogenital Abnormalities

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of autism in febrile seizures plus (FS+) and the relationship between autism and SCN1A mutation. Methods Clinical data of 103 patients with FS+ treated in epilepsy centre of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were collected and analyzed. According to the international criteria, generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+), partial seizures with febrile seizures plus (PEFS+), Dravet syndrome (DS) and autism were diagnosed. Genomic DNA was obtained from blood samples. SCN1A were PCR amplified and mutations were detected by DHPLC and sequencing. Result Mental retardation was found in 53.8%of patients with GEFS+, 69.2%of patients with PEFS+, and all patients with DS, respectively. One in GEFS+, one in PEFS+and nine in DS patients were accompanied with autism (P<0.01). Among FS+patients with autism, one SCN1A mutation was found in PEFS+patients, while six SCN1A mutations were found in DS patients. Conclusions Majority of GEFS+and PEFS+patients showed mental retardation, while all the DS patients were accompanied with retardation. The occurrence of autism with DS is higher than GEFS+and PEFS+. No definite relationship between autism and SCN1A mutation was indicated.

AIMTo investigate the effect of resveratrol on EMMPRIN expression of macrophages.

METHODSHuman monocytic cell line THP-1 cells were co-cultured with EMMPRIN-highly-expressed MCF-7 cells; MMP-9 production was assayed by zymography. THP-1 cells were induced by PMA, expression of EMMPRIN was assayed by Western blotting. Cells were treated with resveratrol or PPARgamma agonist--pioglitazone during differentiation, EMMPRIN expression and MMP-9 activity were assayed. U937 cells were co-transfected with PPARy expression and luciferase-coding reporter vector, then cultured with pioglitazone or resveratrol, the activating capability of resveratrol on PPARgamma was evaluated by measuring the luciferase activity. THP-1 cells were pretreated with PPARgamma antagonist--GW9662 before pioglitazone or resveratrol treatment, then assayed for EMMPRIN expression and MMP-9 production.

RESULTSEMMPRIN expression was greatly increased during the differentiation from monocytes to macrophages; co-culturing with MCF-7 cells significantly increased MMP-9 production by monocytes. Both resveratrol and pioglitazone markedly inhibited EMMPRIN expression during monocytes differentiation. Resveratrol significantly activated PPARgamma and GW9662 greatly decreased the effect of resveratrol on EMMPRIN and MMP-9.

CONCLUSIONEMMPRIN expression is greatly up-regulated from monocytes to macrophages, which may play a role in inducing MMPs production by monocytes/macrophages. Resveratrol can significantly inhibit EMMPRIN expression via activating PPARgamma, which may be the underlying mechanism of its inhibitory effect on MMPs production by monocytes/macrophages.

Anilides ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Basigin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coculture Techniques ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Luciferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

OBJECTIVETo study processing method and mechanism of Calamine.

METHODThermogravimetry analysis method and nano-technology were adopted to analyze and synthesize the components in Calamine, Tetracycline was took as the comparison drug to determine the antibacterial activity of Calamine and its components.

RESULTA part of zinc carbonate in Calamine was decomposed into zinc oxide when processing, and the particle size was smaller than before. The antibacterial activity of Calamine is decided by the content and particle size of zinc oxide, and has nothing with zinc carbonate. The more content and the smaller particle size of zinc oxide, the more powerful antibacterial activity of Calamine.

CONCLUSIONThe content and the particle size of zinc oxide can be the important targets in the processing of Calamine.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Carbonates ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Nanostructures ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; Salmonella ; drug effects ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Tetracycline ; pharmacology ; Thermogravimetry ; Zinc Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Zinc Oxide ; analysis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Clinical reports on cardiac syndrome X (CSX) have been increasing in recent years. In general, CSX does not increase the cardiovascular mortality, but it can affect the patient's quality of life (QOL) and increase the incidence rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Although a variety of drugs and therapies have been utilized in the clinical treatment, the management of CSX still represents a major challenge due to its unclear pathogenesis. It is necessary to explore more effective treatment programs. Many attempts have been made on trials of the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment for CSX and proved that CM has a certain advantage in efficacy to improve clinical symptoms and QOL. CM may provide a new approach for the effective treatment of CSX.
Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolic Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Quality of Life