Objective To investigate the variations of multi-segments of the Willis' circle in cases with ACA-A1 variation.Methods Retrospective comparative analysis was applied to images of 2 246 healthy cases which were excluded from abnomalities of physical and biochemistry examination and angiostenosis caused by angiosclerosis.We divided variant group and contrast group according to variation of ACA-A1 segment.Several aspects were carried to comparison:the variation between bilateral ACA-A1 segment within the variant group was studied by x2 test; the proportion of FTP and developing of PCA-P1 were put into test.Finally we use trend x2 test to compare the variation degree of ACA-A1,ipsilateral FTP formation and PCA-P1 variation.Results Variants of ACA-A1 contains 634 cases whereas normal cases were 1 612.A prominence in variation revealed in right side of ACA-A1 (x2=26.19,P＜0.01) which revealed by 429 cases in right side versus 205 cases in lefi side respectively.Parallelled with contrast group,the variant group showed immensely advantages in high proportion of FTP (x2=14.165,P＜0.01) which indicated by variant group 22.56％ (143/634)and contrast group 18.30％ (295/1 612); but crippled in PCA-P1 formation (x2=4.32,P＜0.05)which illustrated by proportions of by dysplasia and deficiency compared by variant group and contrast group was 17.35 ％ (110/634),14.21％ (229/1 612).AC A-A 1 normal,slight variation,dysplasia and deficiency together with FTP dyformation was 9.15％ (58/634),15.62％ (52/333),16.50％ (34/206),23.16％ (22/95) respectively.Within the variation group,a pattern between ACA-A1 and FTP which fluctuated simultaneously with significant statistical discrepancies (x2=51.117,P＜0.01; linear by linear x2=13.340,P＜0.01)which demonstrated by ACA-A1 normal,slight variation,dysplasia,deficiency together with FTP formation was 4.57％ (29/634),12.91％ (43/333),16.02％ (33/206),20.00％ (19/95) respectively,as far as ACA-A1 variation was concerned,The variant group were more prone to develop PCA-P1 dysplasia or deficiency (x2=45.87,P＜0.01; linear-by-linear x2=43.474,P＜0.01).Conclusions There were more multi-variation of Willis' circle in the cases with ACA-A1 variation,MRA can value the anatomy and variation of the Willis' circle.MRA can also guide the clinic diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of the cerebrovascular diseases.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling ; methods ; Vimentin ; metabolism

AlM: To investigate the effect of endocapsular phacoemulsification cataract extraction and intraocular lens (lOL) implantation with a 1. 8mm or 3. 0mm clear corneal incision on total root mean square ( RMS ) value of the cornea, corneal astigmatism, spherical aberration, coma, trefoil and tear film.
METHODS:ln a prospective study, 156 age- related patients ( 196 eyes ) were randomly distributed into two groups. 1. 8mm-group comprised 94 eyes that had a silicone lOL inserted through a 1. 8mm sutureless clear corneal incision, while, 3. 0mm- group comprised 102 eyes through a 3. 0mm clear corneal incision. Postoperatively, the changes in the total RMS value of the cornea, corneal astigmatism, spherical aberration, coma, trefoil and tear film at 1wk, 1 and 3mo were determined respectively.
RESULTS:ln both groups, postoperatively at 1wk,there were statistically significant differences ( P<0. 05 ) in the total RMS value of the cornea, corneal astigmatism, spherical aberration, coma, trefoil and tear film, while, there were statistically minimal differences ( P< 0. 05 ) between 1. 8mm-group and 3. 0mm-group at 1mo, but were not statistically significantly different ( P > 0. 05 ) between two groups at 3mo postoperative.
CONCLUSlON:This study confirms that incision size has strong impact on the corneal higher-order aberrations, especially, 3. 0mm incision caused significant differences in the total RMS value of cornea, corneal astigmatism, spherical aberration, coma, trefoil and tear film compared with 1. 8mm micro-incision, therefore, micro-incision is very beneficial for clinical use in phacoemulsification.

BACKGROUNDRetroviral vectors have been widely used to introduce foreign into various target cells in vitro, thus showing relatively high systemic delivery efficiency of various transgene products. The authors investigated the stability and efficiency of skeletal muscle-specific hybrid retroviral vectors in expression of human factor IX (FIX) in vitro and iv vivo.

METHODSFIX cDNA in LIXSN vector was replaced with a FIX minigene containing splicing donor and splicing acceptor sequence of first intron of human FIX gene. Two copies of muscle creatine kinase enhancer (MCK, Me2) were inserted in forward or reverse orientation at NheI site of 3' long terminal repeat (LTR), resulting in two hybrid vectors, which were designated as LMe2IXm2SN(F) and LMe2IXm2SN(R), respectively. The vectors were tested in vitro and in vivo for stability and muscle-specificity of factor IX expression with SCID mice.

RESULTSMuscle cells carrying vector with Me2 expressed significantly higher levels of FIX (up to 1800 ng/106.24 h) than those without Me2, thus suggesting that Me2 could specifically increase expression level of FIX in muscle cells. Myoblasts transduced with LMe2IXm2SN(R) produced much less FIX in vivo in SCID mice than LMe2IXm2SN(F). One or two copies of Me2 sequence were deleted in myoblasts transduced with LMe2IXm2SN(R) without changing the orientation of Me2.

CONCLUSIONSLTR inserted with MCK enhancers can specifically increase human FIX expression in skeletal muscle cells in vitro and in vivo, and MCK enhancer should be positioned in the same orientation as that of LTR promoter.

Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; genetics ; Creatine Kinase, MM Form ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; Factor IX ; analysis ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; physiology ; Genetic Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Terminal Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of experimental left varicocele (ELV) on the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic (CRES) protein in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats.

METHODSThe ELV model of Sprague-Dawley (SD) male adolescent rats was established, and the expression of CRES protein in the testis and epididymis was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western-blot at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry and Western-blot detected CRES protein in both the testis and the epididymis of the ELV rats and the control rats. Immunohistochemistry showed that within the testis, CRES protein was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of round spermatids and elongating spermatids, sperm acrosomes and residual bodies. The expression was most intensive at Stages I-III and IX-XIV, and then decreased gradually at Stages VII-VII and IV-VI. Within the epididymis, CRES protein was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of the principal cells of epididymal epithelia. Western-blot detected CRES protein in Mr 19,000 and 14,000, stronger in the former than in the latter. Image and statistical analyses showed that the expression of CRES protein in the 2-week and 4-week ELV groups was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05, or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCRES protein expressed in both the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats and the expression is stage-specific and cell-specific in the testis and segment-specific and cell-specific in the epididymis. The expression of CRES protein in the ELV rats is much stronger than in their corresponding controls. It is suggested that CRES protein may be significantly involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, and possibly associated with varicocele-related male infertility or subfertility.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cystatins ; biosynthesis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess protein and mRNA expression levels of heparanase and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) genes in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their roles in tumor invasion, metastasis and prognosis.

METHODSA total of 115 paraffin-embedded and 45 fresh-frozen tissue specimens of NSCLC were studied by immunohistochemistry, Western Blot and in situ hybridization to evaluate the protein and mRNA expression status of heparanase and bFGF genes. The data was analyzed by SPSS statistical software.

RESULTSBoth human heparanase and bFGF were highly expressed in NSCLC cells, in contrast to none or a low expression in normal lung tissue. Expression of heparanase also showed a significantly higher than that in the normal tissue by Western blot (P = 0.041). Immunohistochemistry showed that heparanase expression was both cytoplasmic and membranous. The agreement between heparanase and bFGF was significant. A significant correlation was found between the expression of either protein and TNM stage, vascular invasion, lymphatic metastasis and microvascular density (MVD). Co-expression of the two proteins demonstrated an even higher correlation with the tumor stage and MVD. In addition, expression of bFGF correlated with tumor cell differentiation. Data of a multivariate analysis indicated that tumor cell differentiation, vascular invasion, lymphatic metastasis and expression of bFGF were identified as significant prognostic parameters.

CONCLUSIONSBoth heparanase and bFGF may play important roles in tumor angiogenesis, metastasis, and prognosis of NSCLC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Glucuronidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microcirculation ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo study the change of the activity of protective enzyme to avoid sprout tumble of Pinellia ternata.

METHODA high temperature stress was given to P. ternata. Then the activity of protective enzyme (SOD, POD and CAT) and the content of membrane lipid peroxidation (MDA) were detected after different treating days.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONBy stress time increasing, the content of MDA in lamina and petiole increased obviously, but it increased invisibly in tuber. After high temperature stress, the activity of both SOD and CAT decreased gradually. The activity of POD increased at first but then decreased rapidly.

Catalase ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Pinellia ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the effects of lead on the growth and development of cultured hippocampal neural cells and on the expression of Oct-2, the II subtype POU domain protein.

METHODSExperiment cell model was established using primary culture of hippocampal neural cells from SD rat embryos. Target cells were exposed to lead acetate in the different concentrations, i.e. 10(-1), 10(0), 10(1), 10(2), 10(3) micromol/L, while the control group was given the same quantity of the culture medium. The immunohistochemistry method was utilized to detect the expressions of Neurofilament (NF) and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), the markers for neuron and astrocyte, respectively, and the expression of Oct-2 as well.

RESULTSThe results showed that 10 micromol/L lead acetate treatment caused diminishing of neuronal cell body and the decreases of both axon lengths and inter-cellular connections. In addition, 1 micromol/L lead acetate significantly increased the number of GFAP-positive cells compared with the control group (P < 0.05). By image analysis system, 1 micromol/L lead acetate treatment was found to induce a statistically significant increase of the positive area rate concerning Oct-2 expression in hippocampal neurons and astrocytes, while both positive area rate and integral density of light of Oct-2 expression were found to increase markedly in the groups treated by 10 micromol/L lead acetate (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLead acetate treatment may contribute to the inhibitions of both growth and differentiation of hippocampus neurons, and to the stimulation of glial cell hyperplasia simultaneously. In addition, the CNS impairments caused by lead is partly correlated with the enhancement of Oct-2 expression.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; metabolism ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; Lead ; toxicity ; Neurofilament Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Octamer Transcription Factor-2 ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis ; genetics

AIMTo study the interaction between strychnine and bovine serum albumin.

METHODSFluorescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy were used.

RESULTSThe static quenching and the non-radiation energy transfer are the two main reasons to leading the fluorescence quenching of BSA. The apparent combining constants (K(A)) between strychnine and BSA are 3.72 x 10(3) at 27 degrees C, 4.27 x 10(3) at 37 degrees C, 4.47 x 10(3) at 47 degrees C and the combining sites are 1.01 +/- 0.03. The combining distance (r = 3.795 nm) and energy transfer efficiency (E = 0.0338) are obtained by Förster's non-radiation energy transfer mechanism.

CONCLUSIONThe interaction between strychnine and BSA was driven mainly by hydrophobic force.

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Cattle ; Energy Transfer ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protein Binding ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Strychnine ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Strychnos nux-vomica ; chemistry ; Thermodynamics

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on thioacetamide-induced chonic hepatic fibrosis in rats and the effect on the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Caspase-3 in livers.

METHODMale Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into totally seven groups: the normal control group, the model group, LF groups s (400, 200, 100, 50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) and the silymarin positive control group (30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)). The hepatic fibrosis model was induced in the rats through intraperitoneal injection with 3% thioacetamide (TAA) at a dose of 150 mg · kg(-1) body weight twice a week for 12 weeks. During the course, the control group and the model group were orally administered with saline (1 mL · kg(-1) · d(-1)). After the modeling and drug intervention, the pathologic changes and fibrosis in liver tissues were observed by HE staining and Masson's Trichrome staining. The serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver hydroxyproline (HYP) contents were assayed by biochemical process. The serum hyaluronic acid (HA) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. In addition, the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues was examined by quantitative Real-time PCR analysis.

RESULTCompared with the model group, flavonoids can protect the integrity of the structure of liver tissues, significantly reduce the hepatic cell degeneration and necrosis and the proliferation of fibrous tissues, notably reduce the serum AST, ALT, ALP and HA and HYP in hepatic tissues and down-regulate the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 and the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe licorice flavonoids can resist the thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3.

Animals ; Caspase 3 ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thioacetamide ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis ; genetics