Background The integration of segregated pathways from the two eyes first appears in V1 neurons,where it not only plays a critical role in the generation of a three-dimensional visual representation.Abnormal visual experiences in critical period usually lead to amblyopia and binocular integration defects.Objective Present study was to investigate how neurons of kitten coordinate their activity patterns in response to synchronous dichoptic stimulus inputs in striate cortex.Methods Spike rate and local field potential(LFP) gamma band(20-90Hz) power of three kitten(1-1.2Kg,8-10 weeks old) to monocular and synchronous dichoptic presented gratings were assessed for 28 binocular neurons in V1 of kitten by in vivo extracellular record method under anaesthesia and paralysis.Ocular dominance index(ODI) and binocular integration index(BII) were assessed and the correlation between these two indexes were analyzed.Results In 28 cells with binocular characteristic,the absolute value of spike-ODI was significant larger than that of LFP-ODI(t=2.606,P=0.021).A positive linear correlation between the ocular preferences of spike and LFP was found(R2=0.513,F=27.423,P=0.003).In dichotic trails,binocular facilitation with BII for spike was 2.348±0.996,showing a significant reduce in comparison with BII for LFP(3.678±1.974)(t=2.671,P=0.019).Binocular integration index for two signals were greater when monocular responses of both eyes were similar(P=0.035 and P=0.124,respectively).Conclusion Both spike rate and gamma band power of LFP exhibited binocular facilitation to synchronous presented dichotic stimuli with significant facilitation induced by balanced monocular responses.Spiking activity and LFP reflect neural activities of different spatial scales and source components.

Objective To investigate the clinical features and management of pancreatic disease- associated portal hypertension.Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out in patients with portal hypertension complicating with pancreatic diseases in our hospital from January 1986 to April 2005. Medical records of these patients were reviewed,including data of demographics,etiologies,venous involvement,clinical presentation,laboratory tests,imaging studies,therapeutic modalities and out- comes.Results There were 59 cases of portal hypertension resulted from pancreatic diseases in our hos- pital,accounting for 4% of all portal hypertension in 19 years.The underlying pancreatic diseases were chronic pancreatitis(21 cases,35.6%),pancreatic carcinoma(20 cases,33.9%),acute pancreatitis (8 cases,13.6%),pancreatic pseudocyst(3 cases,5.1%).Of the 40 patients whose venous involve ment was identified,splenic vein obstruction occurred in 27 cases(67.5%),followed by portal vein obstruction(16 cases,40.0%).Mild or moderate splenomegaly was present in 48 cases(81.4%),with leukocytopenia as the most common manifestation of the 31 cases(52.5%)of concomitant hyper- splenism.Forty-five patients(76.3%)developed gastroesophageal varices(including 35 isolated gastric varices),among them,19 had bled(32.2%).Conservative treatment was effective in controlling acute bleeding,but could not prevent re-bleeding.Splenectomy was performed in 18 patients,mainly because of gastrointestinal hemorrhage.No postoperative bleeding occurred in the period of follow-up from 8 months to 9 years.Conclusions Pancreatic diseases may compromise portal vein and its tributaries, leading to generalized or regional portal hypertension.Pharmacological therapy can effectively control acute variceal bleeding,while surgical treatment is the appropriate procedure of choice in case of hemor- rhage recurrence.

Objective To determine the effects of gutter oil on liver function,renal function and serum lipid metabolism in mice.Methods A total of 72 mice were averagely divided into 6 groups.Mice were gavaged with different dosages (5 μL/g,1 0 μL/g and 20 μL/g)of gutter oil or cooking oil every other day for continuing 8 weeks.The indexes of liver, kidney and serum lipid parameters were assayed.Results The moisture,acid value and peroxide value of the gutter oil exceeded the national standard.After continuing 8 weeks'intake of oils,alanine aminotransferase (ALT)of gutter oil group with a dosage of 5 μL/g,as well as aspartate aminotransferase (AST)of gutter oil group with a dosage of 1 0 μL/g significantly increased (P <0.05),compared with the cooking oil group.Serum creatinine (Scr)of the gutter oil groups with 3 dosages significantly increased compared with the control groups (P <0.05 ).Meanwhile,blood urea nitrogen (BUN)of gutter oil groups with a dosage of 5 μL/g and 1 0 μL/g were also significantly increased respectively(P <0.05). However,no significant differences were observed in triglyceride (TG)and total cholesterol (TC)among the groups. Conclusion Eight weeks'intake of gutter oil could cause the damage to liver and renal functions.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupuncture plus spinal manipulations on the physical functioning and levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A total of 128 AS cases were allocated into a control group and an observation group using random number table method, with 64 cases in each group. Patients in both groups took sulfasalazine and meloxicam. Patients in the observation group received additional acupuncture plus spinal manipulations. The efficacy, Bath AS functional index (BASFI), Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), and the levels of ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG were compared between the two groups after eight weeks of treatment. Results: After treatment, the symptom scores of traditional Chinese medicine in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these scores in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05); the VAS, BASFI and BASDAI scores in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these scores in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05); and the ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG levels in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these levels in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 92.2％ in the observation group, versus 78.1％ in the control group, presenting a statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Conventional medication combined with acupuncture and spinal manipulations can improve clinical symptoms, accelerate the recovery of physical functioning, and reduce the ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG levels.

Aim To investigate the effect of miR-199a-5p on the proliferation and migration of human glioma cells. Methods U251 cells were selected as experimental subjects to construct a U251 cell line overexpressing miR-199a-5p. The experiment was divided into; control group (U251 cells without transfection, Control), negative control group (transfected with empty vector plasmid U251 cells, NC) and experimental group (transfected with miR-199a-5p mature mimics, mimics). Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-199a-5p in each group; CCK-8 was used to detect the proliferation of cells transfected with miR-199a-5p; the cell scratch test and Transwell migration test were used to detect the migration of U251 in each group; Western blot was applied to detect DDR1 expression; a U251 cell line overexpressing DDR1 was constructed to detect the effect of overexpression of DDR1 on the proliferation and migration of U251 cells transfected with miR-199a-5p. Results The level of miR-199a-5p in mimics group was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.01), the cell viability was reduced (P < 0.01), and the proliferation ability was weakened (P <0. 01). The expression of DDR1 in miR-199a-5p group cells was significantly reduced (P < 0. 01). Compared with mimincs group, the pcDNA3. 1-DDR1 transfected group could up-regulate DDR1 (P < 0. 01), increase cell viability, and promote cell proliferation (P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01). Conclusions miR-199a-5p can down-regulate the expression of DDR1 and inhibit the proliferation and migration of human glioma cells.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the pathoanatomize histological and biochemical characteristics of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by use of old dogs with spontaneous BPH as animal models.

METHODSOld dogs aged 6 to 13 years were recruited after anus check, B-ultrasonic examination by recta spy and measurement under surgical exploration. Ten dogs with notable prostatic hyperplasia were used as models, and 6 with non-hyperplasia prostate as control. Serum testosterone (T), estrogen (E2), ACP and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) were analyzed, and prostates were checked histologically.

RESULTSProstate volume of the BPH group was significantly bigger than those of the control group, (14.7 +/- 2.3) and (13.8 +/- 1.9) cm3 vs (8.4 +/- 1.0) and (8.4 +/- 1.9) cm3, P < 0.01. Serum T [(14.3 +/- 2.9) vs (16.4 +/- 4.0) nmol/L] and E2 [(137.6 +/- 70.8) vs (164.4 +/- 82.0) pmol/L] were not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). ACP of the BPH group was higher than that of the control group [(6.63 +/- 2.76) vs (4.92 +/- 2.19) U/L], but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was significant difference between the BPH group and the control group in PSA level [(5.6 +/- 0.78) vs (3.1 +/- 0.54) microgram/L, P < 0.01]. The tissue slides of the BPH prostates showed hyperplasia with raised height of epithelium, and many long and offsetting mammillae in the gland cavity due to epithelium hyperplasia.

CONCLUSIONOld dogs with spontaneous BPH are useful animal models for the etiological and pharmacological researches of human BPH.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dog Diseases ; pathology ; Dogs ; Male ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; veterinary

OBJECTIVETo utilize multiplane, subcutaneous and subperiosteal, dissection through small incisions in scalp to rejuvenate aging signs of forehead/temple.

METHODSForehead: We make four small incisions in scalp, widely separate tissues between subperiosteum skin and frontal muscle to form galea frontal muscle-periosteum flap, the flap is tightened and sutured with the galea at the posterior border of the incision. This method avoid to excise scalp. Temple: there are two small incisions in the scalp of temple at each side. Superficial temple fascia and orbicularis oculi muscle as well is dissected from deep temporal fascia and skin respectively, then tightened and sutured with the superficial part of deep temporal fascia, excising scalp is not necessary.

RESULTSTwenty patients have received this treatment, the effects are satisfying.

CONCLUSIONSMultiplane dissection through small incisions can remove wrinkles of skin, correct the prolapse of eyebrow and avoid the complications of coronary incision. This approach brings more rapid recovery of patients, it is safe and affective.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forehead ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rejuvenation ; Rhytidoplasty ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the psychologic status and their influencing factors in congenital microtia patients and their families.

METHODSTotally one hundred and two congenital microtia patients (79 men, 23 women, mean age 13.62 +/- 7.2 years) were enrolled. The patients and their families answered the questionnaire written by ourselves to identify the psychosocial problems.

RESULTS(1) 23.5% patients were found to have severe psychosocial problems, such as lack of self-confidence, close and fear and so on. (2) With the growth of age, psychosocial problems of the patients were rated high (P < 0.05). (3) For patients who found their deformations early, psychosocial problems also were rated low. (4) For patients who found their deformations by themselves, psychosocial problems also were rated low. (5) The education and psychosocial impact for parents all affected patients deeply.

CONCLUSIONSTo prevent psychosocial problems, we should operate for patients as early as possible. And correct guidance is very important for youngsters.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Congenital Abnormalities ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Ear ; abnormalities ; Family ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Inpatients ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

We identified a novel gene ST13 from a subtractive cDNA library of normal intestinal mucosa in 1993, more studies showed that ST13 was a co-chaperone of Hsp70s. Recently we detected the ST13 gene expression in tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue of the same colorectal cancer patient and investigated if the ST13 gene expression might have any prognostic value. Analysis was performed at molecular level by reverse transcription-PCR using real-time detection method. We measured two genes simultaneously, ST13 as the target gene and glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as a reference gene, in primary colorectal tumor specimens and tumor-adjacent normal mucosa specimens from 50 colorectal cancer patients. The expression levels of the ST13 gene were significantly decreased in primary tumors compared with adjacent mucosa (P<0.05). But there were no significant differences in the expression of ST13 as compared with different Dukes' stage, tumor differentiation grade, invasion depth, lymph node metastasis and disease-specific survival.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; China ; epidemiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; mortality ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo seek a kind of safe and effective method to treat scar contracture abnormality on the neck of the children.

METHODSWe take the trunk line of transverse cervical artery as the vessel pedicle, and shift huge trapezius muscle flap expanded to the neck in order to treat scar contracture abnormality on the neck of the children.

RESULTSClinically, we applied this method to treat ten children who suffered from contracture abnormality on the neck, and not only provide enough skin soft tissue (the length may be beyond the midline) to treat the abnormality, but also make the flap alive, obtain the satisfying postoperative effect.

CONCLUSIONSBased on the warranty of the flap blood supply, this flap is very suitable to treat scar contracture abnormality on the neck of the children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cicatrix ; surgery ; Contracture ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Neck Muscles ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps