Objective To evaluate the preventive effect of orifices-dredging and stasis-removing therapy on retinal vascular endothelium and optic nerve damage induced by radiation in rats. Methods Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely blank control group, model group and therapy group. Rats in the model group and therapy group were exposed to X-ray radiation once a week for three weeks. Two weeks before the radiation, therapy group was pretreated with intraperitoneal injection of Astragalus injection ( 4.0 g/kg) , Ligustrazine Hydrochloride injection ( 15 mg/kg) and Xingnaojing injection ( 2.5 mL/kg) once a day, blank control group and model group were given intraperitoneal injection of same volume of saline once a day. Before radiation, one day, and 2, 4 and 6 weeks after radiation, we detected the blood concentrations of endothelin-1 ( ET-1) and Von willebrand factor (vWF) in all of the rats by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) , and analyzed the dynamic changes and intergroup difference. Demyelination of optic nerve was observed under transmission electron microscope, and demyelination percentage was counted 2, 4, and 6 weeks after irradiation. Results Compared with the blank control group, the blood concentrations of ET-1 and vWF in model group were increased after irradiation (P<0.05) , and the peak value appeared on the fourth week after irradiation. Compared with the model group, the blood concentrations of ET-1 and vWF in the therapy group were decreased weeks 2 after irradiation ( P<0.05) . The demyelination percentage of optic nerve was significantly higher in the model group than that in the blank control group (P<0.05) 2, 4, and 6 weeks after irradiation. Compared with the model group, the demyelination percentage of optic nerve in therapy group showed insignificant changes 2 and 4 weeks after irradiation (P>0.05) , but was decreased obviously 6 weeks after irradiation (P<0.05) . Conclusion Pretreatment with orifices-dredging and stasis-removing therapy can decrease the blood concentrations of ET-1 and vWF in the radiation-induced retinal damage rats, and can reduce the demyelination of optic nerve in irradiated rats.

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Muramidase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Peptides, Cyclic ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification

We aimed to provide scientific evidence for the effective control of the epidemic and to investigate the sources of infection and possible ways of transmission.Epidemiological investigation was carried out to explore the source of infection by using the case-control study.Results showed that the outbreak of the epidemic was hemorrhagic fever,the onset of 40 cases was from August 21 to September 4,accounting for 73.68 ％ of the case number.Cases were cluster in Weizhuang Town,Feinan Town and Longkang Town,accounting for 60.00％ of the case number.The cases who aged from 40 to 79 years accounted for 85.00％.The cases with medium and high fever,tiredness,chills,muscle pain,gastrocnemius and headache accounted for 85.00％,95.00％,90.00％,75.00％,62.50％ and 40.00％,respectively.The 97.50％ cases had exposure history of suspected contaminated water.Case-control study result showed that hands and feet had the wound in 15 days before the onset (x2=15.74,P ＜0.01),and farming work in 15 days before the onset (x2 =11.08,P ＜0.01) were the risk factors of leptospirosis infection.There are the bacteria change and the trend from south to north along the Huaihe River Basin.Strengthen the monitoring work in high-risk areas was the effective measurement to reduce the incidence of leptospirosis.

Objective To explore the establishment of a rat model of acute radiation-induced liver injury and sig-nificance of the dynamic changes of TGF-β1 expression.Methods Forty healthy 6-week old male SD rats were randomly divided into model group (n=30) and control group (n=10).The right liver of rats in the model group was given a single dose of 25 Gy 6 MV X-ray irradiation.Histopathological examination using HE staining and transmission electron microsco-py were conducted to observe the liver pathological changes in rats at 3, 5, and 10 days after irradiation, serum TGF-β1 was detected, and relevant indicators of liver function ( ALT, AST, ALP) were determined.Statistical analysis was per-formed using SPSS 17.0 software.Results At 3, 5 and 10 days after irradiation, early pathological changes in the liver cells were observed by electron microscopy, the expression of TGF-β1 was gradually increased with the time prolongation, and significant differences were found between the model group and the control group at different time points (P<0.05). The light microscopic observation of liver tissues did not show significant differences between the control group and model group.The liver ALT, AST, ALP at different time points did not show significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05).Conclusion Electron microscopy can be used to evaluate the early changes of radiation-induced liver injury, pri-or to the alterations visible by routine light microscopy.TGF-β1 can be used to predict the degree of radiation-induced liver injury, and may be used as a sensitive serum cytokine in predicting the degree of radiation-induced acute liver injury.

Objective Comparison of the levator ani muscles in three-dimensional (3D) MRI-based models in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse at rest to analyze the morphological characteristics of levator ani muscles in women with POP. Methods Twenty-five women with POP and 22 women with normal pelvic support were selected from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University. Axial, sagittal, and coronal T2-weighted pelvic magnetic resonance scans were obtained with the women in the supine position.The 3D models were reconstructed from the source images. Morphological changes was compared within the two groups of levator ani muscles, and the 3D models were measured to determine the levator ani muscle volume (LVOL), levator plate angle (LPA), levator hiatus width (LH-W) and length (LH-L), distance between symphysis and levator sling muscle (LSG). Results There were no puborectalis avulsions in control, in POP, 3 cases of avulsions just in left, 3 cases of avulsions just in right, 7 cases in bilateral. The shape of iliococcygeus were all dome-shaped in control, 11 cases were U-shaped and 14 cases were dome-shaped in POP. The shape of levator hiatus were 7 cases of U-shape, 12 cases of V-shape, 3 cases of irregular in control; 5 cases of U-shape, 4 cases of V-shape, 16 cases of irregular in POP. POP versus control: LH-L: (68.0 ± 8.9) versus (61.6 ± 7.2) mm (P<0.05); LH-W: (41.4 ± 3.9) versus (38.0 ± 3.2) mm (P<0.05); LSG-L: (29.6 ± 7.4) versus (24.6 ± 3.7) mm (P<0.05); LSG-R: (28.4 ± 6.8) versus (23.9 ± 3.2) mm (P<0.05); LPA: (51.0 ± 11.3)° versus (40.6 ± 6.3)° (P<0.05); LVOL: (23.7 ± 5.8) versus (24.6 ± 5.0) cm3 (P>0.05). Conclusions It is possible to assess the morphologic changes of levator ani by using 3D MRI models objectively, our 3D data demonstrate larger in LVOL, LPA, LH-W, LH-L, LSG, and the changes in shape. It is helpful to diagnose and assess the specific situation of patients POP in clinic.

Background Biomaterials for corneal tissue engineering must demonstrate several critical features for potentialutility invivo, includingtransparency, mechanicalintegrity, biocompatibilityand slow biodegradation. Silk film biomaterial had been characterized to meet these functional requirements. ObjectiveThis study was to investigate the feasibility of physico-crosslink regenerated silk fibroin film as tissue engineered corneal scaffold. MethodsHuman corneal epithelial cells(CECs) links were cultured by regular method and CECs in logarithmic phase were than incubated on physico-crosslink regenerated silk fibroin film membrane. The shape of cultured human CECs was observed after 24,48 and 72 hours under the inverted microscope and scanning electron microscope( SEM ) ,and the CECs were cultured on culture plates as controls. The growth state of CECs on regenerated silk fibroin film was observed daily for 7 days by MTT, and cell cycle analysis and the presence of apoptosis of human CECs were examined by flow cytometry after incubation on regenerated silk fibroin film. Regenerated silk fibroin filmCECs (4 mm×3 mm) were implanted into the corneal stroma of the right eyes of New Zealand white rabbits. At the end of 4 and 8 weeks after implantation, the appearance of the ocular surface was examined using slit lamp and corneal neovascular area was measured. Corneal histopathological examination was carried out to assess the degradation of graft materials and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of CD34 in the corneal tissue after operation. ResultsThe morphology and structure of CECs were identical using the two cultured Methods when observed under the inverted microscope and SEM after 24,48 and 72 hours. No significant difference was found in the A490 value 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7 days after incubation on regenerated silk membrane and in culture plates ( Fmethod =0. 641 ,P＞0.05 ). The apoptosis rates of CECs on regenerated silk membrane or culture plates were 1.8％ and 2.0％ and the amount of cells in G2/G1 phase was 1. 956 and 1. 945, respectively. Histopathological examination showed that the regenerated silk membrane material degraded and was replaced by regular collagen tissue 2 months after implantation,and the presence of neovascular area and inflammatory cells were less prominent in 2 months than 1 month post-implantation. The expression level of CD34 in corneal tissue was evidently lower 1 and 2 months after operation than the Ad-VEGF165-induced positive control group (P＜0. 05), and no significant differences were seen when compared with normal CECs(P＞0.05). ConclusionsPhysico- crosslink regenerated silk fibroin film is an excellent biomaterial for tissue engineered corneal scaffold with good biocompatibility.

Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Calcium ; blood ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; blood ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; blood ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo identify potential markers for predicting invasion, metastasis, and prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC).

METHODSThe expressions of Slug, ZEB1 and KISS-1 were detected immunohistochemically in 261 GAC tissues and 80 normal gastric tissues.

RESULTSThe positivity rates of Slug, ZEB1, and KISS-1 in gastric tissues were 2.5%, 1.3%, and 87.5%, respectively, significantly different from the rates of 62.1%, 28.4%, and 41.1% in GAC tissues (P<0.05). The expression level of Slug was significantly correlated with the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and pTNM stages; the positivity rates of both ZEB1 and KISS-1 were significantly correlated with the tumor grade, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and pTNM stages. Slug expression was positively correlated with ZEB1 expression, and KISS-1 expression was inversely correlated with Slug and ZEB1 expressions. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overall survival time of patients with positive expressions of Slug and ZEB1 was significantly shorter than that of the negative patients, and the survival time of patients positive for KISS-1 was significantly longer than the negative patients. COX multivariate analysis showed that positive Slug, ZEB1 and KISS-1 protein expressions and pTNM stages were independent prognostic factors of GAC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal expressions of Slug, ZEB1 and KISS-1 may contribute to the tumorigenesis of GAC and are related with lymph node metastasis, pTNM stages, and prognosis of GAC. The combined detection of Slug, ZEB1, and KISS-1 expression has an important value in predicting the progression and prognosis of GAC.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kisspeptins ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of sexual development and sex hormone levels in obese male adolescents.

METHODSWe included 156 obese male adolescents with micropenis and microorchidia in an observation group and 50 healthy ones in a control group. We measured the body mass index (BMI), penile natural length and testicular volume, investigated the incidence of spermatorrhea and the age of the first spermatorrhea, detected the levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), progesterone (P) and estradiol (E2) using radioimmunoassay, and calculated TT/E2 and testosterone secretion index (TSI).

RESULTSCompared with the healthy controls, the obese adolescents showed significantly higher BMI ([20.4 +/- 1.6] vs [27.1 +/- 2.2] kg/m2, P < 0.05), but shorter penile natural length ([6.7 +/- 2.1] vs [5.6 +/- 1.7] cm, P < 0.05) and lower testis volume ([9.9 +/- 3.1] vs [7.6 +/- 2.3] cm3, P < 0.05). The incidence of spermatorrhea was significantly decreased in the observation group in comparison with that of the control (chi2 = 17.335, P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the age of the first spermatorrhea between the two groups (P > 0.05). The levels of LH, E2 and P were remarkably higher in the observation group than in the control ([7.82 +/- 2.14] vs [5.39 +/- 1.76] mIU/ml, P < 0.05; [48.57 +/- 8.34] vs [8.61 +/- 4.08] pg/ml, P < 0.01; and [1.25 +/- 0.58] vs [0.64 +/- 0.19] ng/ml, P < 0.05), while TT and FT were markedly lower in the former than in the latter ([0.73 +/- 0.20] vs [1.47 +/- 0.41] ng/ml, P < 0.01 and [5.09 +/- 2.60] vs [11.28 +/- 4.72] pg/ml, P < 0.01), and so were the TT/E2 ratio and TSI (0.015 +/- 0.004 vs 0.173 +/- 0.037 and 0.098 +/- 0.026 vs 0.272 +/- 0.084, P < 0.01). BMI was correlated positively to PRL and E2, but negatively to TT, FT, TT/E2 and TSI (P < 0.05); the penile natural length positively to TT, FT, TT/E2 and TSI, but negatively to E2 (P < 0.05); and the mean testis volume positively to TT, FT, TT/E2 and TSI, but negatively to LH, PRL and E2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTestis dysplasia and alteration of sex hormone levels exist in obese male adolescents. Obesity and fat accumulation lead to increased E2 and decreased TT and FT, particularly the reduction of TT/E2 and TSI, which suggest that the body fat content has an important influence on the development of the male reproductive system.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; Penis ; Sexual Development ; Testis

Objective To observe the normal anatomy and variation of cystic duct by MRCP, and to explore the correlation between anatomic variation and gallbladder stones. Methods To have a retrospective analysis of 371 MRCP patients which meet the requirement of imaging, and to compare the differences between anatomic variation and gallbladder stones with normal cystic duct. Results Among 371 patients, 63 had anatomic variations, A among which,22 had compound variations with 85 variation points in total.The percentage of mutation rate was 16.98%. 53 patients with variation of cystic duct had gallbladder stones, and 182 patients without variation of cystic duct had gallbladder stones. Conclusions MRCP can clearly display different variations of cystic duct, and the patients with variation of cystic duct have higher risks in gallbladder stones than the patients without variations.