Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetic mellitus,but its pathogenesis is still unclear.Adiponectin may restrain inflammatory reaction and reduce adhesion of vascular endothelial cell to influence diabetic microangiopathy.Relation between adiponectin and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)is less reported.Objective This study was to observe the effect of adiponectin on the expression of NOS in the retinas of diabetic rats.Methods Forty 8-10 weeks Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were collected.The rats were randomized into the normal control group (10 rats),adiponectin group (15 rats) and diabetic model control group (15 rats) using the random number table method.Tetraoxypyrimidine was intraperitoneally injected to establish the diabetic model in the rats of the adiponectin group and diabetic model control group,and 10 μg/kg of adiponectin was then injected into the rats of the adiponectin group.Western blot was used to detect the expression of the adiponectin protein in the rat retinas,and the expression of NOS in rat retina was located by immunochemistry.The use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The relative amount of adiponectin (adiponectin/β-actin)in the retinas was 0.85 ± 0.21,0.79 ± 0.17 and 0.42 ± 0.08,respectively,in the normal control group,adiponectin group and diabetic model control group,with significant differences among the 3 groups (F =4.236,P =0.000).The adiponectin/β-actin ratio in the retinas of the diabetic model control group was significantly declined in comparison with the normal control group and adiponectin group (q =6.615,P =0.000 ; q =6.026,P =0.000).The NOS levels (A value) in the retinas were 0.244 ± 0.035,0.262 ± 0.032 and 0.367 ± 0.066,respectively,in the normal control group,adiponectin group and diabetic model control group,showing a significant difference among them (F =3.752,P =0.001).The A value of NOS in the diabetic model control group was significantly increased in comparison with the normal control group and adiponectin group (q =3.488,P =0.002 ; q =3.079,P =0.005).NOS expression was localized to the inner nuclear layer and retinal ganglion cell layer.Conclusions Adiponectin reduces NO content in diabetic rat retinas by regulating NOS expression.

Objective To observe the preventive effect of immune tolerance induced by immature myeloid dendritic cell(iMDC) loading P2 58-73 peptide(P2 58-73aa-iMDC) in experimental autoimmune neuritis(EAN),and the effect on the expression of IFN-? and IL-33 mRNA.Methods(1)The iMDC were cultured in vitro for loading P2 58-73aa.(2) 21 adult female Lewis rats were randomly divided into the EAN(A)group,iMDC(B)group and P2 58-73aa-iMDC(C)group,and subcutaneously injected PBS,iMDC and P2 58-73aa-iMDC respectively.After 7 d,all the rats were immunized with P2 53-78aa and complete freunds adjuvant(CFA) to inducing EAN.Then,the situation of onset were observed and clinical score were evaluated till 16 d(the crest-time of onset) after immunization.(3) The lymphocyte proliferative response were assayed by 3H-TdR incorporation.The expression of IL-33,IFN-? mRNA in sciatic nerves,spleen and lymph node were detected by RT-PCR.Results(1)In the crest-time of onset,the clinical scores in groups A,B and C were(7.4?1.9),(5.2?1.6) and(3.4?0.9) respectively.There were significant differences between each two groups(allP

Objective To illuminate relationships between epilepsy and functional and morphologic plasticity of synapse through investigating temporal-spatial expression of syanpsinⅠand the alteration of synaptic ultrastructure in hippocampus after seizure. Methods The models of epilepsy were established by injection of pilocarpine and lithium. Electromicroscope and the software of image manipulation were applied to observe the alteration of synaptic ultrastructure in hippocampus during acute phase, resting phase and chronic phase. The expressions of synapsinⅠ were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results The expression of synapsinⅠin every subfield of hippocampus decreased at 3 h after induction of seizure, reached the peak at 6 h and 12 h, which was significantly different from the control ( P

Objective To investigate the levels of seminal zinc and prostate specific antigen in abnormal liquefaction sperm and their relationship with spermatozoa motility. Methods Thirty cases of abnormal liquefaction sperm (abnormal group)and 30 cases of normal semen ]iquefaction(normal group)were selected. The semens were analyzed by the CASA,and the seminal plasma was separated and preserved at - 20℃. The levels of seminal zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The levels of PSA in seminal plasma were detected by ELISA. Results Zn~(2+) and PSA levels in abnormal group were significantly lower than in normal group(P<0. 05). The levels of seminal Zn~(2+) in abnormal group and normal group were (82. 50±0. 72)and (120. 43±0. 52) fig/ml respectively,with the difference being significant between two group(P<0. 05). The levels of seminal PSA in abnormal group and normal group were (0. 68±0. 14) and (1. 21±0. 21) mg/ml respectively, with the difference being significant between two groups(P<0. 05). Sperm motility in abnormal group was lower than in normal group (P<0. 05). Conclusion The levels of seminal Zn~(2+) and PSA in the semens with abnormal liquefaction is low, which resulting in abnormal liquefaction sperm and inhibiting the sperm motility.

Background Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) was mostly performed with fluoroscopy and/or ultrasonography.The safety and feasibility of PCNL performed totally under ultrasound are not clearly defined.Therefore,we introduce the 9-year experience of 8 025 ultrasound guided PCNL procedures from multiple centers in China performed by the same surgeon,to evaluate the feasibility and security of this technique.Methods From September 2004 to August 2013,8 025 cases,4 398 males (54.8％) and 3 627 females (45.2％),whose age ranged from 6 months to 85 years old,with upper urinary tract stones,underwent PCNL in our center and the supported hospitals.Puncture site selection and channel dilation were all guided using only Doppler ultrasound.Single stones were treated in 1 356 cases,there were 2 817 cases of multi stones,and 3 852 cases of staghorn calculi.The pre-and post-operative imaging data,the intraoperative findings,operation time,perioperative complications,and related parameters were recorded.Results All procedures were successful.No patients died during the operation.Average operation time was 42 minutes (range 10 to 168 minutes),4 cases converted to open surgery,and 2 patients lost the diseased kidney due to refractory bleeding in the early stage of the PCNL.Ninety-four (1.2％) patients received blood transfusions and 20 (0.25％) patients needed highly selective renal artery embolization.Fifteen (0.19％) patients had a pleural injury.5 457 (68％) cases were completed by a single tract and 2 568 (32％) cases added more tracts.The mean stone size (longest diameter) was 2.8 cm (range 1.2 to 26.5 cm).The final stone-free rate was 85.5％.Residual stones occurred mainly in patients with renal dysfunction,medullary sponge kidney,and complete staghom calculi with a slim calyceal neck.Conclusions X-ray free Doppler ultrasound guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy is feasible and safe in a variety of cases of renal and/or upper ureteral stones.The probability of radiation hazard and adjacent organ injury is low.The morbidity from major complications was reduced remarkably after special training.It is worthy of wider use compared with fluoroscopy in patients with special kidneys (e.g.solitary kidney,spinal deformity,ectopic kidney) and in infants.

With the advanced development of information technology, there is a huge impact on various industries for the arrival of big data. In the biomedical field, innovative genome sequencing technology enables low-cost, high-throughput, and high-speed to become a reality, which leads to an explosive growth in data and also appeared in an urgent need to process those massive biological information. High performance computing (HPC) along with effective methods is one of the best ways to deal with the problem of big data in biomedical field which could serve the biomedical development best. We discussed the issues faced in biomedical big data processing and concluded that the bioinformatics is an indispensable component of biomedical technologies.
Biomedical Research ; trends ; Computational Biology ; Computing Methodologies ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo compare two kinds of method for treating lumbar tuberculosis with psoas abscess, to provide reference for clinical reasonable select of therapy treatment.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to January 2013,42 patients with lumbar tuberculosis combined with psoas abscess with obvious surgical indications were enrolled, including 24 males and 18 females with an average age of (38.5 ± 10.2) years old ranging from 21 to 63 years old. All patients were followed up for 18 to 24 months with an average of 20.9 months. Twenty-two patients underwent posterior vertebral body lesions cleared, bone graft fusion and internal fixation and percutaneous puncture catheter drainage for treatment of psoas major abscess as group A, and twenty patients underwent one-stage extraperitoneal approach to remove abscess, posterior vertebral body lesions cleared, bone graft fusion and internal fixation as group B. The operative time, loss of blood, length of hospital stay, clinical cure rate and other clinical results for the two groups were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe loss of blood was (452.3 ± 137.6) ml in group A and (603.5 ± 99.6) ml in group B, there was significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). The time of operation was (193.6 ± 91.2) min in group A and (230.5 ± 56.6) min in group B, there was significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). The time of operation and the loss of blood in group A were obviously less than which in group B. In group A 20 cases were cured and 2 cases relapsed, 19 cases were cured and 1 case relapsed in group B, there was no significant statistical differences between two groups regarding cure rate with chi-square test (χ² = 0.000, P = 1.000). All patients in two groups obtained good clinical curative effect. There were no significant statistical difference between two groups regarding for length of hospital stay with t-test (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLumbar spinal tuberculosis with psoas abscess is not absolute indications for anterior open operation. Compared with the combined anterior and posterior surgical procedure, the percutaneous puncture catheter drainage combined with posterior debridement, interbody fusion and internal fixation can achieve the same clinical effect but less trauma for the patients.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Debridement ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoas Abscess ; etiology ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; complications ; surgery ; Young Adult

BackgroundThe research of corneal thickness after pars plana vitrectomy in DM patient plays an important role not only theoretically but clinically.Objective Present study was to evaluate the change in corneal thickness after pars plana vitrectomy.Methods A prospective coherent study was designed.Seventy-five eyes of 70 consecutive diabetic retinopathy(DR) patients were collected in Tianjin Medical University Eye Center.Pentacam was used to assess the central and periphery corneal thickness by the same investigator preoperatively and 7 days,1 and 3 months postoperatively,respectively.The thickness values from five corneal zone were obtained,including cornea vertex,the thinnest point of the cornea,periphery cornea near the scleral incision of 4 mm away to vertex of cornea on vertical and 240°,120°,60° meridian ( right eye) or 300°,120°,60° meidian ( left eye ).These results were compared and analyzed with ANOVA of repeated measurement data.Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of different corneal positions,the use of conventional 20g or 23g transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy(TSV) groups,surgery duration,gas or fluid endotamponde on corneal thickness.This study was approved by Ethic Committee of this hospital.Written informed consent was obtained from the subjects before any relative medical procedure.Results The mean corneal thickness was ( 639.9 ± 103.1 ),( 689.5 ± 119.3 ),( 666.5 ±113.7),( 650.8 ± 108.6 ) μm before operation,postperative 7 days,1 and 3 months respectively.As covariates appearing in the model,the corneal thickness change rates were revised as the parameters as following: diabeitc duration =13.0 and age =57.2.The revised corneal thickness was significant different among various time points( F=210.928,P=0.000) and different corneal zones(F=24.843,P=0.000) with the size order in turn P4＞P3＞P1＞P2＞P5.The corneal thickness change rates were less in 23g TSV group compared with conventional 20-g group (F =53.843,P =0.000) and BSS tamponade group compared with gas tamponade group ( F =5.288,P =0.022).But no significant difference was found in the revised corneal thickness among surgery duration ＜ 1 hour group,1-2 hour group and ＞2 hour group( F=1.233,P =0.293).ConclusionsVitrectomy is a safe procedure on the ground of cornea,but TSV and fluid endotamponade appear to be more beneficial to the protection of cornea.Pentacam could offer the reliable data in not only central cornea but also periphery cornea.

This paper reported a new method of Armillaria mellea isolation-Gastrodia elata tissue isolating. Compared with normal isolating method-rhizomorph isolating method, it showed that the success rate of new method (78% ) was higher than the rhizomorph isolating method (16% ) , besides this, the new method was easier, and growth characteristic of obtained strain was superior to that obtained from rhizomorph isolating method.

Objective To investigate the changes of expression of Fas-associated proteins named Fas-associated death domain protein(FADD)and death-associated protein(Daxx)in the ischemic penumbra following transient focal cerebra ischemia in rats.Methods ①Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group and the cerebral ischemia model group.Rats underwent right middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)for 2 h and reperfusion for 1,3,6,12 and 24 h using an intraluminal suture technique.The expression of FADD and Daxx mRNA and protein were measured with methods of immunohistochemistry.Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT- PCR)respectively were used in the ischemic penumbra of rats.②Double-label fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM)was performed to monitor FADD and Daxx intracellular location before and after ischemia.Results RT-PCR,Immunohistochemistry,Western blot experiments indicated that a very low level of FADD mRNA and protein were detected in the cerebral cortex of sham rats.The expression level both of FADD mRNA and protein increased significantly at 3 h after reperfusion,peaked at 12 h,then declined markedly at 24 h in the ischemic penumbra of model rats.RT-PCR,Immunohistochemistry indicated that a relatively high level of Daxx mRNA was detected in the cerebral cotex of sham rats.The expression level of Daxx mRNA increased significantly at 3 h after reperfusion and persisted to 24 h at a high level,whose protein had a same change of expression level in the ischemic penumbra of model rats. Immunofluorescence double-staining laser scanning by CLSM showed that the immunoreactivity of FADD was located in cytoplasm,and the intracellular translocation of the immunoreactivity of Daxx from nucleus to cytoplasm was monitored by measuring the green fluorescence after ischemia.Conclusion The transient upregulation of FADD and the persistant high level of expression of Daxx may contribute to neuronal apoptosis following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.