Background Retinal development continues during the early postnatal period in mammals.Correct arrangement of layers and precise location of various cells in the retina are vital for forming normal visual function during critical period plasticity.Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)provides highquality in vivo retinal imaging and the possibility to measure retinal thickness longitudinally. Objective The present study was to investigate the changes of retinal thickness during critical period plasticity in rats. Methods In vivo consecutive scanning of retinal image was performed in 10 SPF Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal day 14(P14),P18,P21,P24 and P42 with SD-OCT,and retinal histopathological examination was used to detect retinal morphologic changes at the same postnatal ages in 20 matched rats.The whole retinal thickness,the thickness from inner limiting membrane(ILM)to inner plexiform layer(IPL),the thickness of inner nuclear layer(INL)and the thickness from outer nuclear layer(ONL)to retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)were measured using Cirrus HD-OCT system and HMIAS-2000 Imaging System in retinal sections.The measurement parameters by Cirrus HD-OCT and those by hematoxylin-eosin staining were compared.The use of animals followed the Statement of National Institute of Health (USA). Results In vivo high-resolution images of rat retinas with SD-OCT compared well with histology,which enabled quantitative comparison of the SD-OCT and histological data during critical period plasticity in rats.From P14 to P42,the retinal thickness gradually decreased with the increase of rat ages(F=15.425,P=0.000),and so were the thickness from ILM to IPL,the thickness of INL and the thickness from ONL to RPE(F=3.973,P=0.007;F=17.529,P=0.000;F=7.038,P=0.000).The retinal thickness,thickness of INL.thickness from ONL to RPE measured by Cirrus HD-OCT were significantly correlated with those measured by retinal sections among P14,P18,P21,P24 and P42 rats(r=0.794,P=0.000;r=0.784,P=0.000;r=0.681,P=0.000). Conclusion SD-OCT is a demonstratably valuable technology to study the structure of retinas in rats.The retinal thickness is shown to reduce in thickness throughout the development of the retina during critical period plasticity due to the decrease in thickness of INL and the distance from the ONL to RPE,as illustrated by OCT scanning.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the histological changes of cervical cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and to establish histological criteria for interpretation of chemotherapeutical effects.

METHODSFifty-six patients with FIGO stage Ib2-IIa cervical cancers treated by NACT and subsequent radical surgery were retrospectively analyzed, in which the pre- and post-chemotherapeutic histopathological changes were assessed.

RESULTSThe post-chemotherapeutic histopathological changes of 56 cases included grade 3 effects in 11 cases (19.6%), grade 2 in 24 cases (42.9%), grade 1 in 13 cases (23.2%) and no response in only 8 cases (14.3%). The histologic response rate was 62.5% (35/56) and the overall clinical response rate was 67.9% (38/56). The overall coincidence by both criteria was 78.6% (44/56). Four cases (7.1%, 4/56) had only histological response and 8 cases (14.3%, 8/56) had response by imaging. In comparison with the pre-chemotherapy specimens, the chemotherapy-associated histological changes included shrinkage and scattering of tumor nests,decrease of tumor cellularity,tumor cell degeneration and necrosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe histological changes in locally advanced cervical cancers induced by NACT are significant, which may challenge the diagnosis in the final specimens. There are some discreqancies between the histological criteria and imaging/gynecological ones for the therapeutic evaluation of cervical cancers,and it is thus recommended to use the pathological criteria for clinic practice.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bleomycin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Preoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Vincristine ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of lead on the thyroid function of occupationally exposed workers.

METHOD157 workers occupationally exposed to lead in a smelting factory were investigated. The concentration of lead in air at workshop was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) and the levels of blood lead (PbB) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) by ZnPP meter, as well as the indexes of thyroid function, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T(3)), thyroxin (T(4)), free T(3) (FT(3)), and free T(4) (FT(4)) in serum by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSThe workers with higher level of blood lead (> 2.88 micro mol/L) showed lower levels of T(3) [(1.54 +/- 0.39) nmol/L] and FT(3) [(5.50 +/- 1.26) pmol/L] than those with lower blood lead level [PbB: (1.92 approximately 2.88) micro mol/L group, T(3): (1.71 +/- 0.45) nmol/L, FT(3): (6.12 +/- 1.64) pmol/L, P < 0.05]. There was no obvious effect of length of service on thyroid hormone of exposed workers.

CONCLUSIONHigher level of blood lead may cause certain damage to thyroid function by inhibiting deiodination of T(4). No obvious relation between length of service and thyroid function was found.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; toxicity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective:To explore whether peripheral blood CD8 +T lymphocyte dysfunction is correlated with the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) expression in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). Methods:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from patients with HBV-ACLF and healthy controls. CD8 +T lymphocytes number and PD-1 expression condition in CD8 +T lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry. CD8 +T lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood of HBV-ACLF patients were further cultured in vitro. One group was added with PD-L1-IgG fusion protein (ACLF+PD-1 group), and the other group was added with IgG fusion protein (ACLF group). Proliferation ability (ki67), cell viability (CD69), and secretion ability of effector cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α) were analyzed. Results:30 cases with HBV-ACLF and healthy controls were enrolled. CD8 +T lymphocytes absolute number was significantly lower in the peripheral blood of patients with ACLF group (333.88 ± 147.74)/μl than healthy controls (872.50 ± 206.64)/μl ( P < 0.001). PD-1 expression in peripheral blood CD8 +T lymphocytes were significantly increased in ACLF group (13.33% ± 2.52%), ( P = 0.027) than healthy controls (7.02% ± 2.12%). In in vitro culture, compared with healthy controls, the peripheral blood CD8 +T lymphocytes cell viability (CD69), proliferation ability (ki67) (all P ??< 0.001), and the level of cytokine production (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α) (all P < 0.05) were equally weakened in patients with ACLF group. Compared with ACLF group, CD8 +T cell viability (CD69), proliferation ability (KI67) (all P < 0.05), and the level of cytokine production were weakened in ACLF+PD-1 group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:HBV-ACLF patients have CD8 +T lymphocyte dysfunction. Therefore, PD-1 may have correlation in the regulation of CD8 +T lymphocyte dysfunction in ACLF patients.

OBJECTIVEThis study investigated the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on neural stem cells (NSCs) and myelin in neonatal rats following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and aimed to explore the possible mechanism of the protective effect of HBO on HIBD.

METHODSSeven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly assigned into 4 groups: Normal control, HIBD, hyperbaric air (HBA), and HBO groups (n=30 each). The HIBD model was produced by permanent occlusion of the left common carotid artery and 2 hrs hypoxemia exposure (8% O2 at 37 degrees C). HBA and HBO treatment was administered (2 ATA, once daily for 7 days) in the HBA and HBO groups respectively 1 hr after HIBD. BrdU immunohistochemistry was used to detect the NSCs in the sub-ventricle zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. The myelin damage was assessed by myelin basic protein (MBP) immunostaining.

RESULTSThe BrdU-positive cells in the SVZ and the DG of the ischemic hemisphere in the HIBD group were dramatically decreased compared with those of the Normal control group at 3 weeks post-HIBD (P < 0.01). The HBO treatment resulted in an increase of BrdU-positive cells in the DG from 153.7 +/- 37.0 to 193.7 +/- 38.8 (P < 0.05). The nestin expression in the HIBD and HBA groups was reduced compared with that in the Normal control group. There was no difference in the nestin expression between the HBO and the Normal control groups. Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) led to marked myelin damage at 1 week post-HIBD. HBO or HBA treatment alleviated the damage.

CONCLUSIONSThe HBO treatment can result in the proliferation of BrdU-positive cells and alleviate the myelin damage following HIBD in neonatal rats, thereby offering neuroprotectivity against HI insults.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Female ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; analysis ; Male ; Mice ; Myelin Basic Protein ; analysis ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; analysis ; Nestin ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo isolate and purify a new phospholipase A2 (PLA2) homologue from Agkistrodon blomhoffii siniticus and investigate its effects on the gene expression profile of Hep3B cells.

METHODSThe PLA2 homologue was isolated and purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and its purity was determined also by HPLC. The relative molecular mass of the homologue was measured by electrospray ionization mass spectrum. The gene expression profile of Hep3B cells was detected with gene chip after exposure of the cells to 139 microg/ml PLA2 homologue for 12 h.

RESULTSThe purity of the PLA2 homologue was 97.2%, whose relative molecular mass was 13,900. After exposure of Hep3B cells to 139 microg/ml PLA2 homologue for 12 h, 19 genes were down-regulated and 20 up-regulated in the cells. The genes showing altered expressions in response to the exposure were mainly involved in cell cycle control and DNA damage repair, cell apoptosis and senescence, production of signal transduction molecules and transcription factors, cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and tumor invasion and metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSThe PLA2 homologue induces alterations in the expression of a wide variety of genes involved in the growth and metastasis of tumor cells. The results of this study provide clues for further study of the possible mechanism for the action of PLA2 homologue on Hep3B cells.

Agkistrodon ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Isoenzymes ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Phospholipases A ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Phospholipases A2 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Snake Venoms ; enzymology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

BACKGROUNDThere is no research, either at home or abroad, focusing on assessing the cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise tolerance in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), but the benefits of early exercise are well recognized. The goals of this study were to assess cardiopulmonary functional reserve in treated PE patients using the inert gas rebreathing method of the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and to compare it with traditional methods.

METHODSCPET on the bicycle ergometer were performed in 40 patients with age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and pulmonary function matched. The first group was the PE group composed of 16 PE patients (5 male, 11 female) who were given the standard antithrombotic therapy for two weeks. The second group was composed of 24 normal individuals (10 male, 14 female). Both groups were evaluated by cardiac ultrasound examination, 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and CPET.

RESULTS(1) Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) in the PE group increased significantly compared to the control group, (34.81 ± 8.15) mmHg to (19.75 ± 3.47) mmHg (P < 0.01). But neither right atrial end-systolic diameter (RASD) nor right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RVDD) in the PE patients had changed when compared with the controls. The 6-minute walk distance was significantly reduced in the PE patients compared with normal subjects, (447.81 ± 79.20) m vs. (513.75 ± 31.45) m (P < 0.01). Both anaerobic threshold oxygen consumption (VO(2)AT) and peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)peak) were significantly lower in patients with PE, while CO(2) equivalent ventilation (VE/VCO(2) slope) was higher; VO(2)AT (9.44 ± 3.82) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) vs. (14.62 ± 2.93) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) (P < 0.01) and VO2peak (12.26 ± 4.06) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) vs. (23.46 ± 6.15) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) (P < 0.01) and VE/VCO(2) slope 35.47 ± 6.66 vs. 26.94 ± 3.16 (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in resting cardiac output (CO) between the PE and normal groups, whereas peak cardiac output (peak CO) and the difference between exercise and resting cardiac output (ΔCO) were both significantly reduced in the PE group; peak CO (5.97 ± 2.25) L/min to (8.50 ± 3.13) L/min (P < 0.01), ΔCO (1.29 ± 1.59) L/min to (3.97 ± 2.02) L/min (P < 0.01). (2) The 6-minute walk distance did not correlated with CPET except for the VO2 peak in patients with PE, r = 0.675 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe cardiopulmonary functional reserve was reduced in patients with PE. CPET is an accurate, quantitative evaluation of cardiopulmonary functional reserve for PE patients.

Aged ; Exercise Test ; methods ; Exercise Tolerance ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; physiopathology ; therapy

BACKGROUNDDisease recurrence is a main challenge in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is no generally accepted method for preventing recurrence of HCC after resection.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of a traditional herbal medicine (THM) regimen and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in preventing recurrence in post-resection patients with small HCC.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONSThis is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled study, which was undertaken in five centers of China. A total of 379 patients who met the eligibility criteria and underwent randomization were enrolled in this trial. One hundred and eighty-eight patients were assigned to the THM group and received Cinobufacini injection and Jiedu Granule, and the other 191 patients were assigned to the TACE group and received one single course of TACE.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESPrimary outcome measures were the annual recurrence rate and the time to recurrence. Incidence of adverse events was regarded as the secondary outcome measure.

RESULTSAmong the 364 patients who were included in the intention-to-treat analysis, 67 patients of the THM group and 87 of the TACE group had recurrence, with a hazard ratio of 0.695 (P = 0.048). Median recurrence-free survival of the patients in the THM and TACE groups was 46.89 and 34.49 months, respectively. Recurrence rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 17.7%, 33.0% and 43.5% for the THM group, and 28.8%, 42.5% and 54.0% for the TACE group, respectively (P = 0.026). Multivariate analysis indicated that the THM regimen had a big advantage for prolonging the recurrence-free survival. Adverse events were mild and abnormality of laboratory indices of the two groups were similar.

CONCLUSIONIn comparison with TACE therapy, the THM regimen was associated with diminished risk of recurrence of small-sized HCC after resection, with comparable adverse events. TRIAL REGISTRTION IDENTIFIER: This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the identifier ChiCTR-TRC-07000033.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the application value of normal sperm morphology on the outcomes of classic in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSThis study included 659 infertile couples admitted to our center for IVF-ET. Based on the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (MNS), we divided the patients into groups A (n = 112, MNS < 2%), B (n = 180, MNS > or = 2 - < 4%), C (n = 74, MNS > or = 4 - < 5%), and D (n = 293, MNS > or = 5%), and compared the rates of fertilization, normal fertilization, embryos obtained, biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, implantation, and live birth among different groups.

RESULTSThe mean fertilization rate was significantly higher in groups C (71.90%) and D (72.89%) than in A (57.97%) and B (63.29%) (P < 0.05), with no remarkable differences either between A and B (P > 0.05) or between C and D (P > 0.05). The normal fertilization rate was also significantly higher in group D (57.16%) than in A (46.52%) and B (50.89%) (both P < 0.05) as well as in C (54.67%) than in A (P < 0.05). The rate of embryos obtained, too, was markedly higher in group D (55.62%) than in B (45.75%) (P < 0.05), but none with remarkable difference from other groups (all P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences among the four groups in the rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, implantation, abortion, and live birth (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rate of MNS had some influence on IVF-ET, and 5% MNS exhibited a higher value than 4% MNS in predicting the outcomes of IVF.

Adult ; Embryo Implantation ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of adenovirus-mediated transfer of PDCD5 gene on apoptosis of K562 cells induced by etoposide. Recombinant adenovirus PDCD5 (Ad-PDCD5), control vectors Ad-null and Ad-eGFP were constructed by AdMax vector system respectively. After K562 cells were transfected by Ad-PDCD5, Ad-null or Ad-eGFP with different multiplicity of infection (MOI), the expression level of the PDCD5 gene was examined by RQ-RT-PCR assay. The effects of etoposide in combination with Ad-PDCD5 on the proliferation and apoptosis of K562 cells were measured by using MTT assay and flow cytometry with Annexin-V-FITC/PI dual labeling technique, respectively. The results showed that the transfection efficiencies of Ad-eGFP in K562, Jurkat and CEM cells ranged from 60% to 86%. Expression level of PDCD5 gene in K562 cells was evidently increased following transfection with Ad-PDCD5. The Ad-PDCD5 synergistically enhanced the apoptotic percentage of K562 cells induced by VP-16, as compared with that of Ad-null + VP16 and VP-16 alone respectively. It is concluded that Ad-PDCD5 may be a potential agent for enhancing the chemotherapy effect.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection