Kennedy disease,a motor neuron disease,is an adult onset form of spinal and bulbar amyotrophy characterized by the damage of low motor neuron and uncompleted androgen insensitivity syndrome.So far,there is no effective treatment.This article is intended to provide neurologist with information about Kennedy disease in epidemiology,etiology,pathogenesis,clinical feature,treatment and so on.

Background Studies showed that macophenolic acid (MPA)down-regulates and inhibits the expression and secretion of tissue growth factor and inflammatory factor,and further impacts the proliferation and inflammation process.Pterygium is an inflammatory and proliferative lesion.Whether MPA has an inhibitory effect on pterygium is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the antifibrotic effects of macophenolic acid on pterygium fibroblasts(PFBs) in vitro and discuss its mechanism.Methods Pterygium tissue was obtained from pterygium patient during the surgery.PFBs were cultured using explants and identified with vimentin immunohistochemisty.0,0.125,0.250,0.500,1.000 μmol/L MPA were added into the culture medium,respectively,and the cells were cultured in the medium without MPA as the control group.MTT colorimetry was used to find the optimization effective concentration of MPA and evaluate their inhibitory effect on PFBs,and BrdU fluorescence staining was used to assess the growth statue of PFBs.Expressions of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),p65 and inhibitor of NF-κB-α(IκB-α) in the cells were detected by Western blot.Results The cells was spindle in shape 3 days after cultured and showed the vortex and radial arrangement with the positive response to vimentin.With the increase of MPA,the proliferative value of PFBs (A560)showed gradually decline,with a significant difference among the five groups (F =42.874,P＜0.01).In addition,the proliferative value of PFBs (A560) significantly lowed as the prolong of MPA active time(F=26.038,P＜0.01).BrdU fluorescence staining showed a significant decrease of DNA synthesis of PFBs with the elevation of MPA dose among the five groups(F=175.279,P＜0.05),and the A560of PFBs DNA synthesis in different concentrations of MPA groups was lower than that of the control group (all at P＜0.05).No apoptotic and necrotic cell was found after MPA action by DAPI staining.The expression level of p65 in the PFBs was 0.886±0.072 and 1.542±0.124 in the MPA group and the control group,indicating a declined value in the MPA group(P＜0.05).However,the expression value of IκB-α in the cytoplasm PFBs was significantly higher in the MPA group compared with the control group(2.141 ±0.305 vs.1.559±0.267) (P＜0.05).Conclusions MPA has an inhibitory effect on the growth of PFBs,which probably is related to the arresting of NF-κB pathway.

The authors helpfully discuss the design idea,experimental module design,examination methods,and experiment textbook construction in experimental teaching of microbiology,and conduct further researches on the basic skill training,verifying experiment,integrative experiment,and investigative experiment in the course. This study aims to enhance effects of the experimental teaching,to cultivate high potential talents who can master essential knowledge and skills,and creatively carry out scientific research.

The key technology of the device for the viviperception of the animal mesenteric microcirculation is to simulate the celiac environment in the device. The technical requirements of the device for microcirculation viviperception are that the observation box should be able to "keep warm, preserve moisture, continually perfuse, and fix the sample"; and the lighting should be "intense", "convergence", and "cool". After actual application, it was found that the newly designed and developed the device by research personnel of Wannan Medical College for the viviperception of the animal mesenteric microcirculation can meet the technical requirements, which is able to "keep warm, preserve moisture, continually perfuse, and fix the sample", and using LED lamp as the microscope light source is "intense", "convergence", and "cool". This device is ingenious and reasonable in design, stable in technology, convenient in operation, and competent in microcirculation viviperception. It solves the technical problem to simulate the celiac environment for mesenteric microcirculation viviperception. The device provides convenience to observe and study the microcirculation, which is worth to be applicated widely.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the resistant effect of houttuyfonate sodium (SH) combined with imipenem (IMP) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) biofilms.

METHODThe two-fold dilution method was used to examine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the tested drug. The crystal violet staining was applied to detect the effect of the combination of 1/2MIC, 1MIC, 2MIC of SH, single IMP, 1/2MIC of SH and IMP of various concentrations on the clearance rate of adherent bacteria, growth of biofilms and alginate production. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA)-propidium iodide (PI) doubling staining assay was employed to observe the bacterial viability and morphological changes after membrane dispersion of each drug group.

RESULTSodium houttuyfonate could enhance the effect of IMP against pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Particularly, the combination group with the concentration of 2MIC showed the highest effect, with P < 0.001 compared with the negative control group. The above results were proved by the bacterial viability and biofilm morphology under fluorescence microscope.

CONCLUSIONAfter being combined with imipenem, sodium houttuyfonate shows a higher effect against biofilms. It is expected that the combination of the two drugs could improve the clinical efficacy of associated infections.

Alkanes ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Drug Synergism ; Imipenem ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbial Viability ; drug effects ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sulfites ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hypoxia on lipid metabolism in the normal human hepatic cell line L02 and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODSL02 cells were exposed to hypoxic conditions (experimental groups: at 1% O2, 5% CO2, 94% N2 for 3, 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours) or normoxic conditions (control group: at 21% O2). Lipid droplet accumulation and triglyceride content were measured in each group by oil red O staining and biochemical assay, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2a and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression levels of HIF-2a, adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP), and Fas were tested by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSLipid droplet accumulation and the triglyceride content were significantly higher in the hypoxia group than the normoxia group. In addition, the hypoxia groups had significantly down-regulated mRNA expression of SREBP-1c (12h: 0.236+/-0.043, 24 h: 0.287+/-0.044, 48 h: 0.342+/-0.049 vs. normoxia: 0.503+/-0.037; F = 28.37, P less than 0.01) and FAS protein (12 h: 0.562+/-0.054, 24 h: 0.674+/-0.062, 48 h: 0.682+/-0.057 vs normoxia: 0.857+/-0.069; F = 16.08, P less than 0.01). In normoxic cells, little or no expression of HIF-2a protein was detected by Western blot. In hypoxic cells, HIF-2a protein expression peaked at 6h (0.973+/-0.067). ADRP protein expression was significantly higher in hypoxia groups than in the normoxia group (12 h: 0.319+/-0.043, 24 h: 0.732+/-0.056 and 48 h: 0.873+/-0.066 vs. 0.211+/-0.019; all, P less than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONExposure to hypoxic conditions might induce lipidosis in normal human hepatic cells by stimulating HIF-2a and ADRP expression.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Perilipin-2 ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Hepatitis B Virus X Protein (HBx) on the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes and its role in pathogenesis of hepatocyte fatty degeneration.

METHODSHepatitis B Virus X gene eukaryon expression vector pIRES2-eGFP-HBx was transfected into HepG2 cells to establish HepG2/HBx cell model for HBx expression. HepG2 cells transfected with pIRES2-eGFP (HepG2/pIRES2 cell) and non-transfected were used as controls. At 24, 48 and 72 hours after transfection, the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was observed by fluorescence microscope and the triglyceride(TG) content was detected. RT-PCR and Western blot were applied to detect the levels of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), liver x receptor alpha (LXRalpha) mRNA and the levels of HBx, LXRalpha and fatty acid synthase (FAS) protein. At 24, 48 and 72 hours after transfection, the expression of GFP was found in HepG2/HBx and HepG2/pIRES2 cells, and increased gradually. The expression of HBx was detected only in HepG2/HBx cells, and was increased with time after transfection (F = 32.21, P less than 0.01). These suggested successful obtaining of HepG2-HBx cell model for HBx expression.

RESULTSAt 24h, 48h and 72h after transfection, the expression levels of LXRalpha mRNA (0.386+/-0.055, 0.505+/-0.071, 0.649+/-0.058 ) and SREBP-1 mRNA (0.395+/-0.055, 0.548+/-0.047, 0.795+/-0.058), as well as the levels of LXRalpha protein(0.178+/-0.036, 0.263+/-0.047, 0.347+/-0.058) and FAS protein(0.436+/-0.055, 0.608+/-0.053, 0.827+/-0.046) in HepG2-HBx group were dramatically higher than those in the controls at the same time points (all P less than 0.05/0.01), and were gradually increased with time (all P less than 0.05/0.01). A positive correlationship was observed between HBX protein level and the LXRalpha, SREbP-1 mRNA and LXRalpha, FAS protein levels. The difference of TG content between HepG2/HBx group and control groups was not statistically significant (P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHBx-LXRalpha-SREBP-1/FAS pathway suggested regulating transcription and expression of lipid metabolism-related genes, which might be one of the important molecular mechanism causing hepatocyte fatty degeneration.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Fatty Acid Synthase, Type I ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; genetics ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Liver X Receptors ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; metabolism ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To observe the value of ultrasonography, MR and MSCT in diagnosing intravitreous autologous eyelashes. Methods Thirty-two New Zealand rabbits were averagely divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D) randomly, and 1, 5, 10 eyelashes were implanted into vitreous body of rabbits respectively in group A, B, and C, whereas rabbits in group D (the control group) were only exposed to sham operation without implanting any eyelashes. After one week, all rabbits underwent ultrasound, MR and MSCT examination, then the specimens of vitreous bodies were obtained and observed pathologically. Results All the implanted intravitreous eyelashes were displayed with ultrasound. Intravitreous eyelashes in group A were not detected with MRI, whereas in 3 rabbits of group B and all of group C were displayed on T2WI, T2*WI and SWI sequences. MSCT detected intravitreous eyelashes in only 6 experimental animals. Conclusion Ultrasonography should be considered as the first choice for diagnosis of intravitreous autologous eyelashes. Different sequences of MRI have various advantages in diagnosing intravitreous autologous eyelashes, whereas the diagnostic value of MSCT is limited.

Objective To explore the clinical features of psoriasis vulgaris in patients with abnormal body mass index (BMI). Methods Three hundreds and ninety-seven patients with psoriasis vulgaris were investigated by questionnaire and physical examination, among them 245 patients at the progressive stage were selected for evaluating the degree of severity. The following items were compared between BMI≥25 group and BMI0.05). In the male patients, the average age in BMI≥25 group was higher than in BMI0.05). For the female patients, the subjects in BMI≥25 group had higher mean age and initial onset age, and longer diseace course than those in BMI0.05). Conclusion The psoriasis vulgaris patients with abnormal BMI always have higher average age and initial onset age, longer clinical history and severer symptoms, especially in the females.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome(MS) in patients with psoriasis,and explore the clinical features of the patients with metabolic syndrome-associated psoriasis.Methods Two hundred and two patients with psoriasis were investigated by face-to-face questionnaire,physical and laboratory examinations.Information included age,sex,the age of onset,duration of the disease,disease severity,family history,education level,waistline,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),triglyceride(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and blood pressure(BP).The diagnosis of MS was established according to the criteria of International Diabetes Federation(IDF).Results ① Of 202 patients with psoriasis,45 suffered from metabolic syndrome,accounting for 22.27%.② The patients with metabolic syndrome-associated psoriasis always had significantly higher average age and the age of onset,longer disease history and severer symptoms than those psoriasis patients without metabolic syndrome(P0.05).③ The patients with metabolic syndrome-associated psoriasis had significantly longer waistline,fasting plasma glucose,triglyceride,blood pressure and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the psoriasis patients without metabolic syndrome(P0.05).Conclusion Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among the patients with psoriasis,which might be associated with smoking and drinking.