OBJECTIVETo study the difference of histologic examination and type II collagen expression in the rib cartilage of patients at different age.

METHODSThe patients were divided into three groups, as children group (5 to 10 years old), teenager group (11 to 17 years old), and adult group (18 to 29 years old). Histologic examination of rib cartilage and quantitative analysis of type II collagen with immunohistochemical stain were carried out in the three groups. Motic Med 6.0 A system was used to quantitate immunohistochemical image through measurement of mean photodensity. The results were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the three groups, the children's rib cartilage had the most blood vessels, the most chondrocytes, well-distributed stain of matrixes, and the type II collagen was expressed actively and highest in photodensity. The rib cartilage of teenager group had less blood vessels, unhomogeny distributed stain of matrixes, the enlarged and separated cartilage lacunae. The rib cartilage in adult group showed the least blood vessels, the least chondrocytes, the hyalinization of perichondrium, the most deposition of calcium salt, and the type II collagen was expressed at the lowest level in photodensity. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHistologic structure in human rib cartilage changes during the aging process and the type II collagen is decreased with the increase of age.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aging ; physiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chondrocytes ; metabolism ; Collagen Type II ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Ribs ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of undermining orbicularis oculi muscle from Orbital rim for the correction of tear trough deformity and palabromalar groove in lower blepharoplasty.

METHODS56 cases of lower eye baggy deformity with tear trough deformity and palabromalar groove were treated with the procedure of stripping eye orbicularis oculi muscle from orbital rim by a transcutaneous approach in lower blepharoplasty. The orbital septum was opened along the arcus marginalis for releasing the orbital fat. Some orbital fat was removed if necessary. Then the inferior edge of the orbital septum fat was reset over the orbital rim so as to smooth the infraorbital groove.

RESULTS56 patients were available for 6 to 18 month's follow-up. 54 patients were quite satisfied with the cosmetic result. One developed lower eyelid retraction and another one showed asymmetrical subcutaneous local uneven after 1 month's. They were all corrected by the second operation after 3 months.

CONCLUSIONSStripping orbicularis oculi muscle from orbital rim plays an important role for the correction of tear trough deformity and palabromalar groove in lower blepharoplasty.

Adult ; Aged ; Blepharoplasty ; methods ; Eyelids ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Background Erythropoietin (EPO) has a protective effect on retinal neurons in many retinal diseases,but regarding the effect of EPO on apoptosis of retinal photoreceptor cells in retinal detachment (RD) is uncompletely clear.Objective This study was to investigate the protective effect of endogenous EPO on photoreceptors in a rat model of RD and explore its possible mechanism.Methods Seventy-two Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to control group,RD group,RD+PBS group,RD+erythropoietin soluble receptor (EPOsR) 2, 20, 200ng groups with 12 rats for each group.1.4% hyaluronic acid was slowly injected into the subretinal space to induce RD in rats,and PBS or 2,20 or 200ng EPOsR was then injected into the vitreous space.On day 3 after RD,apoptotic photoreceptors were detected using transferase-mediated dUTP nickend labeling (TUNEL),and caspase-3 activity was assessed by Western-blot and immunofluorescence staining.On day 14 after RD,retinal histopathologic examination was carried out and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness was measured under the light microscope.The use of animals complied with the Statement of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Results Apoptotic photoreceptors were seen in ONL of rats of the RD group.Apoptotic photoreceptors were gradually increased with the elevation of EPOsR dose in the vitreous cavity.Western blot and immunofluorescence consistently showed that the gray scale of caspase-3 activity was 0.15±0.04,0.49±0.03,0.50±0.07,0.63±0.03,0.69±0.04 and 0.83±0.04 in the normal group,RD group,RD +PBS group,RD+EPOsR 2,20,200ng groups respectively with statistically significant differences (F=76.016;P=0.000),and caspase-3 activity was considerably stronger in the RD+EPOsR 200ng group than the other groups (P＜0.01).On day 14 after RD,the ONL thicknesses in the normal control group,RD group,RD+PBS group,RD+EPOsR 2,20,200ng groups were (47.39±3.39)μm,(33.96±3.54)μm,(31.83±5.21)μm,(31.40±2.63)μm,(24.99±2.06)μm and (19.30±3.71)μm,showing significant differences among these groups (F=44.733,P=0.000).ONL thicknesses the groups treated with different doses of EPOsR were markedly thinner than that of the RD group and RD +PBS group (P＜0.01).Conclusion EPOsR induces apoptosis of retinal cells and enhances the activity of caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner.Endogenous EPO can protect photoreceptors against anoxia-mediated damage in RD eyes through decreasing caspase-3 activity and inhibiting apoptosis.

Objective To investigate a new surgical method by using pectoralis minor muscle for its partial transplantation to reconstruct the function of the opposite thumb anastomosed vessels and nerves. Methods The proposed method was evaluated by taking 20 cases of adult cadaveric thoraxes and hands,then compared with the morphology and dimension of both pectoralis minor muscle and palmer muscle to study the feasibility of the new method.Based on the observed data.We selected five suitable cases,in which the opposi- tion function was lost,and then applied the new operation on them with partial transplantation of pectoralis mi- nor muscle anastomosed vessels and nerves according to the results of anatomic study.The follow-up study was conducted to observe the functional recovery of opposition of the thumb.Results The main results can be summarized as follows.First,the anatomical position of pectoralis minor muscle was stable,and every peetoralis minor muscle was provided with self-sustaining artery,vein and nerve.The oppostition process of cadaveric hand succeeded after similar transplantation to clinic operation.Second,follow-up studies conducted 6 - 12 months after the operation showed that all five patients recovered fully.The muscle strength in all five cases re- covered to level four or higher.The shape of palm eminence was satisfactory.Conclusion The surgical method of pectoralis minor muscle transplantation for reconstructing the opposition function of the thumb was based on the clinical and anatomical application.The function of opposition of the thumb reached the satisfacto- ry requirement after the operation.So,the new surgical method can achieve better results than other existing operation methods.

Objective To explore the relationship among cytokine levels and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2,4 in hepatitis B virus (HBV) related cirrhosis. Methods Heparin anticoagulated venous blood of 35 randomly selected HBV related cirrhosis and 35 healthy volunteers were collected aseptically. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentration was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated and stained with anti-TLR2,4 monoclonal antibodies, then analysed by flow cytometry. Total RNA was extracted from PBMC and TLR2,4 mRNA expression levels were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using SYBR Green detection. Means of normal distribution were compared by t test and one factor analysis of variance. The data of abnormal distribution were analyzed using Mann-Whithey U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test and Spearman correlation analysis. Results The plasma concentration of TNF-α in the cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (33.52 ng/L vs 6.07 ng/L, Z=-6.584, P<0. 01), which was parellel with Child-Pugh score. TLR2 positive rate in PBMC from the cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than that from the healthy controls (20.65% vs 12.04%, Z=-4.458, P<0.01), which was positively correlated with plasma TNF-α level (r= 0.448 3, P<0.05), and parellel with Child-Pugh score. Between the cirrhotic and healthy groups, there was no significant difference of TLR4 positive rate in PBMC. The mRNA expression level of TLR2/GAPDH in PBMC from the cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than the controls (0.234 2 vs 0.043 1, Z=-6.83, P<0.01), which was positively correlated with plasma TNF-α level (r=0.411 1, P<0.05), and parellel with Child-Pugh score. Between the two groups, there was no significant difference of TLR4 mRNA expression level in PBMC. Conclusions The expression of TLR2 in PBMC from cirrhotic patients is significantly elevated, which is positively correlated with plasma TNF-α level and the severity of liver disease. The expression of TLR4 in PBMC from cirrhotic patients is unchanged. It suggests that TLR2 but not TLR4, plays an important role in the progression of liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of SEN virus (SENV) infection in CHB patients in five cities of China.

METHODSA nest-polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for detection of SENV-D and SENV-H in sera of 595 CHB patients from 5 cities of China and 96 normal individuals from Beijing. A total of 7 SENV strains were analyzed by direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of SENV in CHB patients and normal individuals were 61.3% and 62.5%, respectively (chi(2) = 0.047, P = 0.829). The prevalence rates of CHB patients between 5 cities were different. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the homology between 4 SENV-D strains was 91% - 98% and 95% - 98% between 3 SENV-H strains isolated from 5 cities in China.

CONCLUSIONSENV-D/H were prevalent in CHB patients of China and their prevalence rates were similar to that in normal individuals.

China ; epidemiology ; Circoviridae ; isolation & purification ; Circoviridae Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; virology ; DNA Virus Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; virology ; DNA Viruses ; isolation & purification ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; virology ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Prevalence

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; DNA, Circular ; blood ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the multiple iron metabolism-related genes expression, its regulation by iron and the expression correlation among the genes in rat tissues.

METHODSTwo groups (n=30) of Sprague-Dawley female weanling rats were fed with a control diet and an iron deficient diet respectively for 4 weeks. All rats were then sacrificed, and blood and tissue samples were collected. The routine blood examination was performed with a veterinary automatic blood cell analyzer. Elemental iron levels in liver, spleen and serum were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mRNA expression of genes was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.

RESULTSAfter 4 weeks, the hemoglobin (Hb) level and red blood cell (RBC) count were significantly lower in the iron deficient group compared with those in the control group. The iron levels in liver, spleen and serum in the iron deficient group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In reference to small intestine, the relative expression of each iron-related gene varied in the different tissues. Under the iron deficiency, the expression of these genes changed in a tissue-specific manner. The expression of most of the genes significantly correlated in intestine, spleen and lung, but few correlated in liver, heart and kidney.

CONCLUSIONFindings from our study provides new understandings about the relative expression, regulation by iron and correlation among the mRNA expressions of transferrin receptors 1 and 2, divalent metal transporter 1, ferritin, iron regulation proteins 1 and 2, hereditary hemochromatosis protein, hepcidin, ferroportin 1 and hephaestin in intestine, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, and lung of rat.

Animals ; Ferritins ; blood ; Gene Expression ; Hepcidins ; Iron ; Liver ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the RT-PCR-ELISA method applied for testing live attenuated hepatitis A vaccine titer.

METHODSA solid phase hybridization-enzyme colorimetric detection method was used for detecting specific nucleic acid. Primer labeled with biotin was used to amplify viral gene fragment, then the product was quickly hybridized with the specific probe covalently coupled on DNA-binding microplate wells. Finally, peroxidase-labeled streptavidin was used in colorimetric detection. The results were judged by reading A value. Eleven batches of live attenuated hepatitis A vaccine titer were tested by this method. The results were compared with that of routine cell culture method (CCID50).

RESULTSThe sensitivity was similar to routine cell culture method (P>0.05). This method was convenient, fast and specific.

CONCLUSIONCCID50 method may be replaced by the RT-PCR-ELISA method in evaluating the titer of live attenuated hepatitis A vaccine.

Base Sequence ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genes, Viral ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; Hepatitis A virus ; genetics ; Quality Control ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vaccines, Attenuated

DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction