AIM: (1) To investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) on rabbit conjunctival surface reconstruction with severe alkali burns. (2) To evaluate the possibility of AMT treatment for ocular alkali burns during recovering stage.METHODS: Animal models were established on 30 eyes of rabbits by creating severe alkali burns on the conjunctiva from the upper corneal limbus to the upper conjunctival fornix.Preserved human amniotic membrane transplantations and reconstruction of conjunctival fornix were performed at one week after injury (recovering stage). Epithelium growth of burned area after transplantation was observed using light microscope at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 weeks. Conjunctival tissue in transplantation area was collected at 1, 4 and 8 weeks. The ultrastructure of the collected tissue was studied by electron microscope. The results were compared with control group,which received only vitamin C subconjunctival injection and antibiotic eye drops as treatment for alkali burn. Exterior eye pictures were also taken at the end of the observation, the width from upper corneal limbus to the edge of upper fornix was measured. Data was analyzed statistically.RESULTS: 1) Tn the transplant group, conjunctival epithelium growth was observed in the area of AMT under both light and electron microscope 1 week after surgery. At 4weeks, conjunctival epithelium with goblet cells that resembled normal conjunctival tissues was observed in the whole amniotic membrane area. At 12 weeks, the conjunctival epithelium on the amniotic membrane was well formed, and the connective tissue under the epithelium was loose at the fornix. No fibrosis was identified. In contrast, conjunctival epithelium necrosis was observed in the control group at 2weeks after alkali burns. Re-epithelization did not occur through the 12-week observation. Severe fibrosis with inflammatory cells infiltration was observed between 4 to 8weeks. At 12 weeks, fibrosis of the connective tissue at the fornix developed and there were no conjunctival epithelium covering the burned area. 2) In the transplant group, the conjunctiva in transplanted area had no scarring and appeared smooth at 12 weeks. Upper fornix was reconstructed. The depth of fornix was 7.9±0.3mm (7.6-8.2mm), which was approximate to the normal depth 8.2±0.2mm (8.0-8.4 mm,P＞.05). While in the control group, the burned area appeared rough with granuloma formation and severe scarring. Upper fornix became shallow. The depth of fornix was 3.1±1.7mm(1.0 to 4.5mm.), and significant difference was found between control and transplant group (P＜0.01).CONCLUSION: Human amniotic membrane preserved in glycerin can promote cell adhering, migrating and differentiating of normal conjunctival epithelium.Reconstruction of conjunctival surface in early stage of alkali burn can be achieved by AMT. AMT can effectively prevent symblepharon formation.

AlM: To study the clinical effect of the application of microscopic pterygium resection combined with different concentration of mitomycin C ( MMC) .
METHODS:A total of 110 cases of pterygium patients (120 eyes) were randomly divided into control group (58 eyes) and observation group (62 eyes) according to the odd and even number method. The control group adopted the pterygium resection combined 0. 3mg/mL MMC, and the observation group was given pterygium resection combined 0. 2mg/mL MMC. The cure rate and the recurrence rate, eyesight before and after the treatment, two groups of cornea and sclera wound healing situation, the incidence of postoperative complications were compared.
RESULTS: The cure rate and recurrence rate of the control group was 84. 5% and 15. 5% respectively, and the observation group was 93. 6% and 6. 5% respectively, the differences were statistically significant (P<0. 05). There were statistical differences of vision of the two groups before and after treatment (P<0. 05), and there were no statistical differences of the two groups between the two groups after treatment (P>0. 05). The cornea, sclera, wound healing time of the observation group were less than the control group, and there were statistical differences between the two groups ( P < 0. 05 ). The incidence of complications was 13. 8% in the control group and 3. 2% in observation group, with statistically significant difference (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: The application effect of microscopic pterygium resection combined with MMC is remarkable, and the joint of 0. 2mg/mL concentration of MMC is more safe and effective, and is worth popularizing in clinical application.

Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Estradiol ; toxicity ; Female ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uterus ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo build a type 2 diabetes mellitus rat model with cardiac ischemia.

METHODSMale Wistar rats were fed high sucrose and high fat diet for four weeks and then injected with streptozoticin (STZ) (40 mg/kg .i.p.). The levels of fasting blood glucose and serum insulin were monitored every week. The body weights of rats were also measured every week. The blood levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured following the electrocardiograph used BL-410 biological experiment system.

RESULTSThe serum insulin levels of diabetic rats were 4.05 ng/ml after four weeks high sucrose and high fat diet. The fasting blood glucose levels of diabetic rats were 17.9 mmol/L after injection. Compared with normal group, there was obvious change of S-T segment in the electrocardiograph of diabetic group at the fourteenth week. The levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in diabetic group significantly increased in comparison with those in normal group.

CONCLUSIONThe cardiac ischemia of diabetic rats model is suitable for investigating cardiac disease of diabetes mellitus.

Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Dietary Sucrose ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Streptozocin

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) in treatment of symptomatic uterine leiomyoma among Chinese reproductive age women.Methods From April 2010 to April 2012,80 premenopausal women with symptomatic leiomyoma volunteered to participate in this prospective study in Department of Outpatient of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Among 23 reproductive aged patients with size of uterus less than 16th gestational weeks,2.5 to 10 cm of diameter of myoma,less than 10 myomas and expressing symptoms clearly were treated by MRgFUS.Treatment data,non-perfused volume ratio (NPVR) and adverse events were recorded.After treatment,patients were followed up at 1 week,1,3,6,12 and 24 months,respectively.Patients at initial screening and each time of the follow-up filled out uterine fibroid symptoms quality of life (UFS-QOL),which include symptoms severity score (SSS) and health-related quality of life (HRQL).The volumes of leiomyoma and uterine were evaluated on MRI before and after the treatment (at 6 and 12 months,respectively).Before operation,routine blood test were performed on all patients,anemia patients at 3 months and 1 year after treatment were checked with blood test.Results (1) Treatment data and adverse events:the mean therapeutic temperature was (69 ± 7) ℃,the mean treatment time was (144 ±62) min,the mean NPVR was (62 ±23)％.Adverse events included mild erythema(1/23),abdominal cramp(8/23),vaginal discharge (5/23),and leg numbness (4/23).(2) The rate of secondary surgery:one patient was treated by myoectomy and hysterectomy within one year following up and 4 patients chose surgical treatment during the second-year follow-up.(3) Volume change:the volumes of leiomyoma before the treatment and 6,12 months after the treatment are 75.6 (P25 =43.8,P75 =128.9),52.3 (P25 =23.8,P75 =111.2),45.9 (P25 =26.3,P75 =71.7) cm3,respectively; and the volumes of uterine before the treatment and 6,12 months after the treatment are 270.0 (P25 =208.4,P75 =390.3),216.4 (P25 =151.1,P75 =290.0),200.0 (P25 =149.1,P75 =267.6) cm3,respectively.Both leiomyoma and uterine volumes decreased significantly after treatments (P ＜ 0.01).(4) UFS-QOL change:the symptoms severity score (SSS) before the treatment and 3,12 months after the treatment are (34 13),(22 ± 11),(19 ± 12),which decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.01).The health-related quality of life (HRQL) before the treatment and 3,12 months after the treatment are (74 ± 15),(82 ± 13),(89 ± 10),which increased dramatically (P ＜0.01).(5) Hemoglobin(HGB) change:eleven patients suffered from anemia before treatments,the mean HGB before treatment was (87 ±6) g/L and were (106 ± 14) g/L 3 months after treatment,(112 ± 10) g/L 12 months after treatment.The HGB was increased significantly after treatments (P＜0.01).Conclusions MRgFUS is a safe and effective non-invasive management for symptomatic uterine leiomyoma in short-term follow up.But there is additional treatment ratio after MRgFUS.

Objective To evaluate the the effect of microalbuminuria of combined treatment with fosinopril and losartan,or fosinopril,losartan monotherapy in patients with hypertension.Methods In this double-blind, intention to treat study,136 patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to receive fosinopril 10 mg/d(n= 50),losartan 50 mg/d(n=41),or a combination of fosinopril 5 mg and losartan 25 mg (n=45) qd for 4 weeks, followed by titrating to the maximum recommended doses for another 4 weeks.The primary endpoint was the difference of mean sitting blood pressure and microalbuminuria excretion at baseline and week 8.Results At week 8,the combination of fosinopril and losartan therapy lowered mean mieroalbuminuria from baseline by 26.1?10~(-8) mol/L,significantly more than either monotherapy approaches (fosinopril 20 mg,18.3?10~(-8)mol/L,P

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease and its involvement area in colon is influenced by a complex network of gene interactions.We analyzed the weighted gene co-expression networks in microarray dataset from colonic mucosa of patients with UC and identified one gene co-expression module that was highly associated with the progression of involved area in UC colon (Pearson coefficient=0.81,P＜0.0001).In total,523 hub genes in this module were found to be involved in immune system process after enrichment analysis in Gene Ontology.By the STRING and Cytoscape analysis,we observed that interleukin-8 (IL-8) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were centered in the network of hub genes.We then detected the expression of IL-8 and MMP-9 in mucosa from left-sided colon of patients using quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence assay respectively.Both quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence assay revealed the expression levels of IL-8 and MMP-9 were significantly different among the healthy controls,left-sided colitis group and pancolitis group (P＜0.05).IL-8 and MMP-9 were detected with an enhanced expression in pancolitis as compared with left-sided colitis and healthy controls,respectively (P＜0.05).This study demonstrates that immune system process is indispensable in the progression of disease in colon,and identifies that IL-8 and MMP-9 play potential critical roles for the progression.

OBJECTIVEThe development of neonatology and the availability of pulmonary surfactant have been helpful in effective reduction of the mortality of very low birth weight infants at the expense of an increasing number of survivors with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) caused by lung immaturity. BPD is a common syndrome in newborns, especially in preterm infants, when treated with hyperoxia and mechanical ventilation. Unfortunately, there have been no effective measure for the prevention and treatment of BPD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rh-IGF-1) on cell apoptosis and Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP) expression during the lung injury induced by hyperoxia, so as to assess its effect on the inflammatory lung injury and its developmental repair.

METHODSEighty full term neonatal Wistar rats under the same condition were divided randomly into four groups on the second day after birth. Group I was air control, group II was exposed to hyperoxia, group III air + rh-IGF-1, and group IV was treated with hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1. The pups in the control group were kept in room air, while pups in hyperoxia group were kept in a Plexiglas chamber and exposed to over 85% oxygen. Pups in group III were under the same raising condition except for exposure to room air and treated with intraperitoneal injection of rh-IGF-1 (1 microg/Kg) everyday from the third day. Pups in group IV were treated with intraperitoneal injection of rh-IGF-1 (1 microg/Kg) everyday from the third day of exposure to hyperoxia. Lung tissue sections of the neonatal rats were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) after 7 d of hyperoxia exposure, expression of CCSP was examined by immunohistochemical method, and apoptotic cell index of lung tissue was calculated by using TUNEL method.

RESULTSIt was observed from immunohistochemical examination that positive staining of CCSP was distributed mainly in distal and respiratory bronchioles. The percentage of Clara cells in distal and respiratory bronchioles epithelium decreased in hyperoxia group (32.17 +/- 3.19)% compared to that in air control group (68.32 +/- 2.04)%, P < 0.01. Statistically significant differences were found in intensity of positiveness of Clara cells between hyperoxia (29.45 +/- 5.56) and air control group (42.37 +/- 3.24), P < 0.01. TUNEL assay showed that most apoptotic cells were alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells. The apoptotic index increased significantly in the hyperoxia group (55.77 +/- 6.09)% compared to the air control group (16.41 +/- 4.01)%, (P < 0.01). The positive rate (52.98 +/- 2.68)% of Clara cells and the expression (41.22 +/- 6.36) of CCSP in hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1 group increased significantly when compared with hyperoxia group, and the differences between these two group were also statistically significant (P < 0.01). The apoptotic index increased significantly in the hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1 group (27.98 +/- 3.09)% compared to the hyperoxia group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia exposure can promote the pneumocyte apoptosis and inhibit the expression of CCSP. Rh-IGF-1 can remove the block of the formation of lung alveoli, increase the secretion of CCSP, mitigate inflammatory responses in airway and alleviate lung injury via pneumocyte apoptosis. Therefore, the results of this study provide a theoretic and experimental evidence for clinical application of rh-IGF-1 in prevention and treatment of BPD.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Hyperoxia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Uteroglobin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Liuweidihuang Pills in relieving cellphone electromagnetic radiation-induced histomorphological abnormality, oxidative injury, and cell apoptosis in the rat testis.

METHODSThirty adult male SD rats were equally randomized into a normal, a radiated, and a Liuweidihuang group, the animals in the latter two groups exposed to electromagnetic radiation of 900 MHz cellphone frequency 4 hours a day for 18 days. Meanwhile, the rats in the Liuweidihuang group were treated with the suspension of Liuweidihuang Pills at 1 ml/100 g body weight and the other rats intragastrically with the equal volume of purified water. Then all the rats were killed for observation of testicular histomorphology by routine HE staining, measurement of testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels by colorimetry, and determination of the expressions of bax and bcl-2 proteins in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the normal controls, the radiated rats showed obviously loose structure, reduced layers of spermatocytes, and cavitation in the seminiferous tubules. Significant increases were observed in the MDA level (P < 0.01) and bax expression (P < 0.01) but decreases in the GSH level (P < 0.01) and bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01) in the testis issue of the radiated rats. In comparison with the radiated rats, those of the Liuweidihuang group exhibited nearly normal testicular structure, significantly lower MDA level (P < 0.05), bax expression (P < 0.01), and bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLiuweidihuang Pills can improve cellphone electromagnetic radiation-induced histomorphological abnormality of the testis tissue and reduce its oxidative damage and cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cell Phone ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Spermatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Staining and Labeling ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects

Melittin exhibits high antibacterial potency against drug-resistant bacteria. However, the clinical utility of melittin is limited by its serious hemolytic activity. Thus, the need for developing novel melittin analogues with high antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity has grown. We designed, synthesized, and evaluated 20 novel melittin analogues with varying hydrophobic, polar or positively charged amino acids. The results showed that 8 compounds had antimicrobial activity (MIC: 1-4 μg·mL^-1) against gram-positive pathogens equal to or better than that of melittin, and 16 compounds had low hemolytic activity (HC₅₀ ≥ 11.9 μg·mL^-1). Compounds 13 (MIC: 2-4 μg·mL^-1) and 15 (MIC: 1-2 μg·mL^-1) showed equal or better antimicrobial activity against both susceptible and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium compared to melittin (MIC: 4 μg·mL^-1). Compound 13 (HC₅₀: 24.0 ± 4.3 μg·mL^-1) displayed noticeably decreased hemolytic activity compared to melittin (HC₅₀: 5.3 ± 0.4 μg·mL^-1). This work established a base for further study on the structure-activity relationships and structure-toxicity relationships of melittin.