Objective To observe the effects of human retinal pigment epithelium conditioned medium(HRPE-CM) on the biological characteristics of human retinal stem cells(HRSCs). Methods HRSCs were exposed to HRPE-CM and cultivated in three different cultures,including the control,epidermal growth factor(EGF) + basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) and HRPE-CM.Cell counting was performed to explore the effects of different culture media on the proliferation of HRSCs,and their properties as neural stem cells were further identified. Results Compared with control group,HRPE-CM significantly promoted the proliferation of HRSCs(P

Aim To determine potential biomarkers contributed to occurrence, development and recovery of ethanol-induced liver injury in rat and elucidate hepatoprotective effect of Yin Chen Hao Tang based on metabonomic investigation. Methods A UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabonomic method was developed for investigating trajectory change and inter-relationship of urinary metabolome of rats with different treatments. Results Four potential biomarkers were determined which contributed to occurrence, development and recovery of ethanol-induced liver injury in rat, and Yin Chen Hao Tang could significantly recover trajectory change in disorder. Conclusion The developed method was successfully applied to investigate ethanol-induced liver injury in rat, and also hepatoprotective effect of Yin Chen Hao Tang was elucidated.

BACKGROUND: Hyperbaric oxygen can reduce brain ischemic-reperfusion injury, and this effect is closely related to the modulation of hyperbaric oxygen on microglias.OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of hyperbaric oxygen on the activity of in vitro cultured brain microglias and secretion of interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor α and nitric oxide (NO).DESIGN: Completely randomized grouping design, control experiment.SETTING: Teaching and Research Section of Diving Medicine, Teaching and Research Section of Immunity, Teaching and Research Section of Pathology, and the Experimental Animal Center, the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the laboratory of Diving Medicine as well as Teaching and Research Section of Immunity, the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, between May 1999 and January 2000. Thirty neonatal SD rats of 1-day birth age were selected for the experiment.METHODS: [1] Brain microglias from newborn SD rats were cultured with digestion method, and microglias were identified with non-specific phosphodiesterase staining and cellular immunochemical staining. [2] Primary microglias were inoculated on 48-well culture board by 2×105/well and randomized into 5 groups: control group without hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment, and hyperbaric oxygen (0.2 MPa 1 hour) pretreatment 3, 7, 10,14 days groups. Cells in groups with hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment at the above various time points were then further divided into 2 subgroups, with one added with culture medium containing bacterium lipopolysaccharide of 1 mg/L (for microglia activation), but not in the other group. [3] Interleukin-1 activity was determined using thymocyte proliferation method. The activity of tumor necrosis factor-α was assessed with L929 cell toxicity test.Nitrous acid content detected by Griess method represented NO content.[4] t-test was used to compare the differences in non-paired quantitative data between the two groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The activity of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor a and NO content in resting and evoked brain microglias in rats at various time points of hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment.RESULTS: Thirty SD rats entered the result analysis. [1] The activity of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor α and NO content in resting brain microglias: The two groups did not differ obviously. [2] Interleukin-1activity and NO content in lipopolysaccharide-evoked brain microglias: They were significantly lower in 10-day and 14-day hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment groups than those in control group [10-day group: 0.409±0.014,(5.21±0.77) μnol/L; 14day group: 0.381±0.004, (4.93±1.02) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.05].[3] The activity of tumor necrosis factor α in evoked brain microglias: It was obviously lower in 14day hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment group than in control group [(51.20±1.13) %, (70.10±2.26) %, P ＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with 0.2 MPa hyperbaric oxygen can suppress the secretion of interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor α and NO by evoked microglias, but has not obvious effects on resting microglias.

OBJECTIVETo develop a three-dimensional (3-D) comparison and measuring techniques to analyze changes in palatal forms of the serial maxillary alveolar cast and to evaluate the significance of the different reference change indexes.

METHODSFollowing digitizing the casts with a 3-D laser scanner and using reverse engineering software Geomagic Studio 7.0 for a pair of 3-D digital maxillary alveolar cast of an infant of UCLP before and after cheiloplasty, a pair of cast surfaces were reconstructed. The reference points and the character lines were extracted.

RESULTSThe model coordinate system and the datum planes were established on the basis of reference points extracted. The newly developed analysis technique completed 3-D comparison of palatal forms of UCLP infants before and after cheiloplasty. Distances and volumes changes between the surfaces were determined and expressed graphically.

CONCLUSIONSWith establishing the model coordinate system and the datum plane, it is possible to visualize the comparison outcome of the reference change indexes longitudinally. The various reference change indexes may reflect the trend of the infant maxillary growth.

Alveolar Process ; growth & development ; pathology ; Cleft Lip ; pathology ; surgery ; Cleft Palate ; pathology ; surgery ; Dental Models ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo reconstruct a digital maxillary cast of infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP) by laser scanning and to provide an analysis method for the edentulous cast of CLP.

METHODSUnder general anesthesia, an edentulous cast of one infant with right CLP was made and scanned by laser scanner. Using reverse engineering software, this cast surface was reconstructed.

RESULTSBy this method, the digital cast could be observed from each degree and direction, and on this digital cast, the reference landmarks formeasarenment were determined, and the cast was then segmented, measured, and calculated.

CONCLUSIONSThe 3-D analysis developed is an ideal tool for the examination of 3-D morphological changes in the edentulous maxilla of patients with CLP. This newly developed analysis enables a quantification of the extent and direction of morphological changes in the maxilla of infants with CLP.

Alveolar Process ; growth & development ; pathology ; Cleft Lip ; pathology ; surgery ; Cleft Palate ; pathology ; surgery ; Dental Models ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Infant ; Male ; Maxilla ; growth & development ; pathology

Objective To explore the relationship between metabolic syndrome(MS) and corrected QT(QTc) interval prolongation.Methods A total of 1 260 participants having electrocardiogram examinations,aged over 18 years old from June 2015 to June 2016 were included and divided into the MS group and non-MS group.QTc was calculated according to the Bazett formula.The Logistic regression model was established for exploring the association between MS and QTc.Results There were 63 cases of QTc interval prolongation in the MS group,however,40 cases in the non-MS group(P＜0.01).In the unadjusted model,MS was a risk factor of QTc interval prolongation[OR =6.36,95 ％ CI(2.34,8.67),P＜ 0.01].After further adjusting confounders,MS was still correlated with QTc interval prolongation[OR =4.11,95 ％ CI(2.09,7.13,P＜ 0.01].In the study of the relationship between the MS groups with QTc interval prolongation,after adjusting confoundingfactors,only abdominal obesity[OR=2.76,95％ CI(1.43,7.56),P＜0.01] and hypertriglyceridemia[OR=1.75,95％CI(1.22,4.31),P=0.013)] were closely correlated with QTc interval prolongation.Conclusion MS is an independent risk factor of QTc interval prolongation.It is especially important to strengthen the management of blood lipid and abdominal circumference.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the dried roots of Zanthoxylum dimorphophyllumr. spinifolium and to find out the active constituents of the plant.

METHODModern chromatography was used to purify chemical constituents, and their structures were identified by various spectral methods.

RESULTFour compounds were isolated and identified as isopimpinellin (I), xanthoxyletin (II), 6-(2', 3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (III), 6-(2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy, 3'-dihydroxy-3'-methybutyl)-7-hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (IV).

CONCLUSIONAll of the above compounds were isolated from the above mentioned plant for the first time.

Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Furocoumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

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

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical components from dried roots of Zanthoxylum dimorphophyllum var. spinifoliun.

METHODThe chemical components were isolated by low pressure column chromatography and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated and identified as 6-(2', 3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (I), 6-(2',3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-methoxy-8-(3'-methyl-but-2'-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (II),6-(2',3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (III), 6-(2', 3'-oxiranyl-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-methoxy-8- (3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (IV), 7-methoxy-8-(3'-methyl-but-2'-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (V).

CONCLUSIONThese compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the angiogenesis in unstable and stable plaques and to investigate the potential role of neovessels in creating vulnerable sites for atherosclerotic plaques.

METHODSSpecimens of coronary arteries were obtained from 52 autopsy cases with acute coronary syndromes. Plaque morphology was studied by use of stained slides. 922 tissue blocks of late-stage lesions were classified into two groups: (1) unstable plaque (n = 153), the plaque was characterized by a large extracellular lipid core (more than 40% of the plaque area); (2) stable plaque (n = 769), lipid core less than 40% of the plaque area. Forty blocks were selected randomly from each group and serial sections were stained immunohistochemically with a polyclonal antibody against F VIII RAg. Computer-aided planimeter was used for quantitative analysis.

RESULTSIn unstable plaques, the occurrence of neovessels was more frequent and the neovessel density (number/mm(2)) was significantly increased as compared to that of stable plaques (frequency: 80.4% vs 66.6%, P < 0.01; shoulder: 22.16 +/- 19.96 vs 10.04 +/- 11.52, base: 21.68 +/- 20.44 vs 9.68 +/- 11.52, fibrous cap: 3.80 +/- 5.32 vs 1.48 +/- 2.28, P < 0.05). Most neovessels were located in the shoulder region and at the base of plaques.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that neovessels in coronary atherosclerotic plaques are closely associated with the decreased stabilization of the plaques.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology