Animals ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; toxicity ; Female ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; growth & development ; Male ; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIM: To evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of thickness profile measurement of intra-retinal layers determined by an automated algorithm applied to OCT images from Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT) instrument.METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study,retinal thickness images at 6mm×6mm around fovea were obtained from 86 eyes of 43 normal subjects with Cirrus HD-OCT instrument.The retinal images from patients were analysis by Cirrus automated algorithm GCA software,including ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer(GCIPL).During this study,operator A would make 2 times measurements to all patients,after that operator B would make another 2 times measurements by Repeat scan model.All the data,including GCL average thickness,min thickness,12 clock average thickness,2 clock average thickness,4 clock average thickness,6 clock average thickness,8 clock average thickness and 10 clock average thickness were measured by SPSS 15.0 software.Standard deviation (SD),coefficient of variation (CV) and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated from the results of three-times tests by different examiner to evaluate the repeatability and from the results of two different examiners to assess the reproducibility.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to any medical procedure.RESULTS: The average GCIPL thickness of OD was 85.12±3.95μm;the minimum average GCIPL thickness was 83.21±4.41μm;the standard deviation of OD in clock map was from 3.79μm to 4.84μm;CV(95%CI) was between 0.26 and 0.93;ICC was from 0.939 to 0.989.The average GCL+IPL thickness of OS was 84.65±8.73μm;the minimum average GCPL thickness was 81±13.08μm;the standard deviation of OS in clock map was from 8.24μm to 10.56μm;CV(95%CI) was between 0.92 and 4.94;ICC was from 0.264 to 0.968.CONCLUSION: Cirrus HD-OCT GCA software with automated algorithm can offer accurate and repeatable thickness profile of OCT retinal image.GCA is a useful and reliable approach to the measurement of intra-retinal layer thickness,which may improve the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal diseases.

Objective To assess the effects of air pollution on health of traffic policemen. Methods Sampling and the analysis of air pollution were conducted according to China national standards. 214 traffic policemen were investigated. Of them 149 were working on the streets and 65 were working in the office (taken as the control). Individual respiratory symptoms occupational histories and medical records were obtained using standardized questionnaire. Results The prevalence rates of cough and expectoration excessive phlegm eyes and throat unwell fatigue in policemen working on the streets were significantly higher than that in policemen working in the office and were correlated to the level of air pollution(P

Objective To investigate the effect of administration intravenously of rosiglitazone (ROSI) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats and its mechanisms. Method Fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (SO group), severe acute panereatitis model group (SAP group) and rosiglita-zone pretreatment group (ROSI group),18 rats in each group.SAP model was induced by retrograde inufsion of 5% sodium taurecholate into the biliopancreatic duct. The rats in SO group and SAP group were injected with 10% DMSO (0.2 ml/100 g) by femoral vein 30 minutes piror to the operation. In ROSI group,rosiglitazone partes ae-quales(6 mg/kg) was injected instead of 10% DMSO. Rats were killed at 3, 6 and 12 h after operation. Serum amylase level and myelopemxidase activity were detected. Pancreatic tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological evaluation. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used for detecting the levels ofTNF-α mRNA and ICAM-1 mRNA in pancreatic tissue. Results Amylase level, myeloperexidase ac-tivity, pathologic score and the expression of TNF-α and ICAM-1 mRNA were increased significantly in SAP group at each time point than those in SO group (P<0.05). Compared with SAP group, pretreatment with rosiglitazone reduced serum amylase level and pathologic score at time point of 6 h and 12 h (P<0.05), decreased myeloper-oxidase activity at 12 h (P<0.05), downregulatied the expression of TNF-α mRNA at all time pointy, (P<0.05),ICAM-1 mRNA at 6 h and 12h(P<0.05). Conclusions Rosightazone has the effect on pancreatitis in SAP through downregulating the expression of TNF-α mRNA and ICAM-1 mRNA.

Proteomics, which has been widely used in life science, is an emerging discipline following genomics. It can help to explore the pathogenic mechanism and early onset marker of Bacillus anthracis, playing an important part in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of B.anthracis. In this paper,the application of proteomics in the research of B.anthracis is reviewed.

Objective To observe the changes of learning and memory as well as neuronal nitric oxide synathase (nNOS) in cortex and hippocampus of rats after sleep deprivation (SD). Methods SD was induced in male Wistar rats by employing "flower pot" technique. The performance in Y maze and the number of nNOS positive neurons in cortex and hippocampus after different time of SD were measured. Results ( 1 ) The correct rates of Y maze test were 24.3%,17.6%, 41.9% less in 3 SD groups than CC group(P ＜0.01 ). (2) The number of nNOS positive neurons in cortex was 8.7% more in SD1d group than CC group(P ＜0.01 ); but 9.0% and 16.0% less in SD2d group and SD3d group than CC group(P ＜0.01). In hippocampal CA1 sector, nNOS positive neurons of the 3 SD groups were 9.4%, 16.0% and 22.0% less in number respectively than CC group. Conclusion SD induces the expression of changes nNOS protein in cortex and hippocampal CA1 and thereby impairs learning and memory in rats.

OBJECTIVETo study clinical outcomes of Chinese medidine fumigation and massage therapy for the treatment of knee stability and functional recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction operation,and to explore the effect on tendon-bone healing.

METHODSTotal 50 patients were divided into two groups: the control group (normal rehabilitation therapy group),the treatment group (Chinese medicine fumigation and manipulation group). There were 25 patients in the control group, including 16 males and 9 females, who were treated with isometric muscle training, with the gradually enlarging amplitude of flexion and progressive loading of bearing training for knee recovery. There were 25 patients in the treatment group, including 15 males and 10 females,who were treated with the conventional rehabilitation therapy combined with Chinese medicine fumigation and massage therapy. The Chinese herbs named as Haitongpi decoction was steamed by a special equipment to fumigate the knee after operation; Based on the biomechanical parameters of the ligament reconstruction, the massage therapy was designed to control the degree of the knee flexion and release the adhesion for early recovery of knee functions. The Lysholm knee function evaluation system was used, and MRI examination was performed to measure the change in width of ligament tunnel in femur and tibia to evaluate the safety and stability of the treatment.

RESULTSLysholm system showed that two groups both had improving results from the 1st month after operation to the 3rd month (treatment group, F=36.54, P<0.05; the control group, F=28.12, P<0.05), and the results of the treatment group was better than that of the control group at the observation point (the 1st month, t=0.105, P<0.05; the 3rd month, t=5.361, P<0.01). There was no difference between the two groups when evaluating the bone and tendon healing 3 and 12 months after operation (P>0.05), indicating that Chinese rehabilitation therapy was a safety treatment without the influence on the loosing of tendon.

CONCLUSIONChinese medicine fumigation and massage therapy can early improve the knee function after the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction operation without the disturbance of the knee stability.

Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; surgery ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Case-Control Studies ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Female ; Fumigation ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Knee Joint ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Massage ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Recovery of Function

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the influence of IgD on T/B cell activationand construct hIgD-Fc-Ig fusion protein to competitive inhibition IgD binding with IgDR. METHODS T/B cells were sorted by magnetic cell sorting. The differences of mIgD and IgD-R level between different T/B cell subtypes were detected by FCM. Serum IgD level was detected by ELISA. Human IgD-Fc-IgG1- Fc sequence was amplified by cross- PCR and then subcloned into PET28a(+ ) empty vector. After prokaryotic expression through escherichia coli, we obtained the hIgD-Fc-Ig fusion protein by affinity chromatograph. Western blot was used to identify the hIgD- Fc- Ig fusion protein. Human peripheral blood monouclear cells (PBMC) and fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS) proliferation were detected using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). RESULTS The percentage of CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/IgD+, CD3+/CD4+/IgD+, CD3+/IgD-R+ and CD3+/CD4+/IgD-R+ cells increased significantly in RA patients comparing to healthy people. IgD can stimulate PBMC proliferation. IgD (1, 3, 10, 30 μg·mL-1) stimulate PBMC proliferation significantly after 24 h. We obtained stable and active hIgD-Fc-Ig fusion protein. The hIgD-Fc-Ig fusion protein showed no effect on PBMC proliferation. But it could downregulate human IgD protein promoting proliferation effects in human PBMC. CONCLUSION This result suggests that IgD and IgDR play an important role on T/B cell activation in RA patients and the hIgD-Fc-Ig fusion protein may competitively inhibit IgD's function and may play an therapeutic role in autoimmune diseases.

OBJECTIVETo study the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the microenvironment of the neuron-astrocyte co-culture system by Mg2+-free-induced seizure-like discharge and analyze the source of BDNF.

METHODSHippocampal neurons (N) of fetal rats and astrocytes (AST) of neonatal rats were purified and divided into four groups, included control N (Con N) group, Mg2+-free treated N (Mg2+-free N) group, control N+AST co-culture (Con N+AST) group and Mg2+-free treated N+AST co-culture (Mg2+-free N+AST) group. The Mg2+-free treated groups were exposed to Mg2+-free media for 3 hrs to induce a repeated spontaneous seizure-like discharge. The level of BDNF in each group at different time points was measured using ELISA.

RESULTSThe cellular morphous of AST changed in the Mg2+-free N+AST group at 48 hrs. Neuronal epileptiform activity was observed in the Mg2+-free media at 3 hrs, and continued to exist until the microenvironment returned to normal for 72 hrs. The BDNF level increased at 24 hrs and 48 hrs in the Con N+AST group compared with the control N group (P<0.05). Compared with Con N+AST group, BDNF level increased at 12, 24 and 48 hrs in the Mg2+-free N+AST group, especially at 12 and 24 hrs (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the level of BDNF between the Con and Mg2+-free N groups. Compared with Mg2+-free N group, BDNF level increased at 24 hrs in the Mg2+-free N+AST group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe results of the experiment suggest that BDNF in the Con N+AST group might be excreted from both N and AST, but chiefly from N. Activated AST may be the main source for increasing BDNF in the Mg2+-free N+AST group.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; chemistry ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; Cellular Microenvironment ; Coculture Techniques ; Female ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; Magnesium Deficiency ; metabolism ; Male ; Neurons ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seizures ; metabolism

Two hundreds postmenopausal women with osteopenia, aged 45-80, were randomly divided into 4 groups, and received different drug interventions. After treatment for 12 months, the lumbar spine bone mineral density(BMD)and total hip BMD in alendronate group increased significantly(3.5% and 2.6%, both P＜0.05), the lumbar spine BMD raised 2.0% in selective estrogen receptor regulator group(P＜0.05). Bone turnover indices improved in both groups(all P＜0.05). No change in BMD or bone turnover indices was found in patients treated with active vitamin D3and calcium.