Objective To explore the maternal toxicity in Wistar rats induced by exposure to methylmercury in rats during pregnancy Methods The parameters of physiological development,reproductive process and brain histomorphology were observed and monoamine neurotransmitters(noradrenaline,dopamine and 5 HT) were determined during pregnancy and lactation periods,continuous oral perfusion with methylmercury with different concentrations of 0 00,0 01,0 05 and 2 00 mg/(kg?d) was performed during the 6th~9th day after conception to terminal pregnancy Results The levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in brain tissue of maternal rats in exposure groups increased significantly compared with those in control group(P

Background Endophthalmitis is a serious infectious eye disease.Efficient drug therapy plays a key role in the early stage.There have been few researches on teicoplanin treating endophthalmitis and pharmacokinetics in ocular tissue.Objective The present study was to investigate the intraocular pharmacokinetic course and feature of intravitreal administration of teicoplanin.Methods Thirty-three Japanese white rabbits were included in this study and randomized into 6 groups.The right eyes of the rabbits were used in experiment.5 g/L of teicoplanin was injected into the vitreous cavity,and vitreous and aqueous humor samples were extracted after 15 minutes,30 minutes,1,2,4,6,12,24,48,96 and 192 hours,and the concentration of teicoplanin was determined by bioassay.Results The logarithmic value of the concentration of teicoplanin was raised with the increase in the bacterial inhibition zone diameters,of which the equation of the regression curve was Y =0.174X-0.813(R2=0.999).A good linear relationship was presented within 1.0-80.0 mg/L.Single intravitreal injection of teicoplanin was compliant with the two-compartment model.Moreover,the distribution phase Tα1/2 and elimination phase Tβ1/2 of vitreous were 1.68 and 152.15 hours,separately.And Tα1/2 and Tβ1/2 of the aqueous humor were 2.83 hours and 70.56 hours,individually.The peak teicoplanin concentrations in the vitreous and aqueous humor were(358.47±21.53)mg/L and(102.17±9.54)mg/L at 1 hour,respectively and remained at(4.38±0.68)mg/L and(2.38±0.38)mg/L,respectively 192 hours later.Conclusions Intravitreal injection of 0.5 mg of teicoplanin can remain therapeutic concentration for a long time in the vitreous and aqueous humor.

OBJECTIVETo study the renal protective effect of Xinganbao Capsule on rats with adriamycin induced nephropathy (AIN).

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the normal control group (N), the AIN model group (M), the Benazepril group (B),and the Xinganbao Capsule group (X). AIN rat model was established by left unilateral nephrectomy and repeated caudal vein injection of adriamycin. Gastric perfusion of xinganbao Capsule (at the dose of 500 mg/kg per day) and Benazepril (at the dose of 4 mg/kg per day) was given to rats in the X group and the B group respectively one week after nephrectomy. Rats were sacrificed at the 8th week after medication. The 24-h urinary protein excretion (24 h-UP) and blood biochemical indices were determined. Renal tissues were collected for pathological changes under light and electron microscopes. Expressions of fibronection (FN), collagen IV (COL-IV), and osteopontin (OPN) in renal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. mRNA levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured by fluorescent Real-time PCR.

RESULTSWhen compared with the model group, 24 h-UP, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr), and blood lipids levels were significantly lowered in the X group. The mesangial matrix percentage was less in the X group than in the M group. Renal FN, COL-IV, and OPN expressions more significantly decreased in the X group than in the M group. Similarly mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1,, TIMP-1, PAl-1 in renal tissues obviously decreased.

CONCLUSIONXinganbao Capsule could exert its renal protective action possibly through reducing the urinary protein excretion, correcting lipid metabolic disturbance, inhibiting excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, decreasing the expression of fibrosis factors, and improving the pathological damage of kidneys in the AIN rat model.

Animals ; Benzazepines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND:Differences exist between the action execution of the dominant hand and the nondominant hand during daily lives. With the increasing of the age, the dominant hand and the nondominant hand play an equaly important role in the action execution and implementation during daily lives. Previous studies mainly focus on the muscle strength of upper limbs. However, studies on the influence of joint dynamic characteristics and trajectory deviation on the occupational activities have been increased gradualy. The three-dimension motion capture and analysis have become the reliable and valid standard of the assessment of the upper limb movement. OBJECTIVE:By using the three-dimensional kinematic analyze method, to colect the data of the healthy elderly people using the upper limbs to drink water respectively with the cups of different weights and to investigate whether there is a difference between dominant and nondominant hands under different weight-bearing conditions based on upper limb kinematics METHODS: Sixteen right-handed elder people were chosen to be the experimental subjects. The upper limb motion of drinking water with different weight was captured by Vicon Nexus. By Data modeling and trajectory filtering with pipeline and data normalizing with the Matlab, the three-dimensional angle and peak value of the velocity of the should, elbow and wrist joint in the bilateral upper limbs were analyzed and compared when lifting the cups of 100, 200 and 500 g. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The most significant difference could be found in the three-dimensional movement angle of the elbow joint when holding the weights: there were significant differences in 100 g horizontal plane (X axis) and sagittal plane (Z axis), 200 g frontal plane (Y axis) and sagittal plane (Z axis), and 500 g three-dimensional plane (P < 0.05). Difference could be found in the peak value of three-dimension angular velocity in the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints: 100 g (shoulder jointPx=0.01; elbow jointPy=0.048,Pz=0.007), 200 g (elbow jointPy=0.033,Pz=0.005; wrist joint Py=0.035), 500 g (elbow jointPy=0.027,Pz=0.006) had significant differences (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the movement angle and angular velocity when holding different weights with the ipsilateral upper limb (P > 0.05). These results show that there is a difference in the movement angle and angular velocity between the dominant hand and the nondominant hand when drinking water. A great change of movement angle could be found in the X axis of the elbow joint in the dominant hand, and a great change of the movement angle could be found in the Z axis of the elbow joint in the nondominant hand. The angluar velocity in the Y axis has better changes than in the Z axis. The size of the weights has no effect on the movement of bilateral upper limbs.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of BrainHQ visual training in rehabilitating memory function among stroke survivors.Methods Sixty stroke patients with memory disorders were recruited from the rehabilitation center of Tangshan Workers' Hospital.They were randomly assigned to a control group or an intervention group,each of 30.Both groups accepted conventional rehabilitation,while the intervention group was additionally given BrainHQ visual training five times a week for 30 minutes,lasting four weeks.Before and after the treatment,both groups completed the Rivermead behavioral memory test.Results After the 4 weeks of treatment,the average scores in recalling full names,recalling hidden items,recalling appointments,recognizing pictures,recognizing faces,recalling a story immediately,delayed story recall,recalling a route promptly,delayed route recall and the average total score in both groups were all significantly higher than before the treatment.The treatment group scored significantly better than the control group except in recalling hidden items,and recognizing faces and pictures.Conclusion BrainHQ visual training can improve the memory of stroke survivors.

Objective To analyze the changes of clinical and pathological features in the patients of IgA nephropathy with anemia.Methods Four hundred and nine patients of IgA nephropathy diagnosed by renal biopsy were classified into two groups:IgA nephropathy with nonanemia (group 1) and IgA nephropathy with anemia (group 2).Changes were studied retrospectively between the groups.Results Serum hemoglobin level was correlated with the clinical parameters of IgA nephropathy.Companed to group 1,changes in group 2 were as followed:serum creatinine increased,eGFR decreased,proteinuria increased; the global sclerosis,segmental sclerosis,crescents and tubulointerstitial lesions worsened.The glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions were negatively correlated with serum hemoglobin and eGFR,but positively correlated with serum uric acid and proteinuria (P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that anemia was an independent risk factor for the tubulointerstitial lesion.Conclusion Clinical feature and pathological damages in the patients of IgA nephropathy with anemia are more serious than those with non-anemia.

Objective To investigate the factors predicting endoscopic stone extraction complications during operation and 1 week within operation. Methods The clinical data of 136 patients with common duet stones during endoscopic procedures and 1 week within procedures were collected, and the impacts of the number, size of stones, and the first-attack versus recurrent-attack stone, with or without cholangeitis on the complications during operation and 1 week within operation were analyzed, and the effect of nasobiliary drainage was investigated. Results The success rate in single-stone group was high, the incidences of complications during endoscopy including sphincter hemorrhage, cardiac laceration, hyperamylasemia, acute pancreatitis were significantly lower than those in the multi-stones group ( P < 0. 05 ). The group of < 2 cm stone also had high success rate of stone extraction, the incidences of complications including sphincter hemorrhage, stone impaction, cardiac laceration, hyperamylasemia, acute pancreatitis were significantly lower than those in the ≥2 cm group. The first-attack group had low success rate of stone extraction, the incidences of complications including sphincter hemorrhage, stone impaction, hyperamylasemia, acute pancreatitis and biliary infection were significantly higher than those in the recurrent-attack group. The patients with cholangeitis had low success rate of stone extraction, the incidences of complications including sphincter hemorrhage, hypoxemia, hyperamylasemia, acute pancreatitis and biliary infection were significantly higher than those without cholangeitis. After nasobiliary drainage, the incidences of hyperamylasemia, acute pancreatitis and biliary infection significantly decreased while the incidence of sphincter hemorrhage significantly increased. Conclusions The number, size of stones, and the first-attack versus recurrent-attack stone, symptoms with orwithout cholangeitis could predict the complications of stone extraction;post-ERCP nssobiliary drainage could decrease the complications, but increase the possibility of sphincter hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND:YY1 is mainly expressed in the undifferentiated epidermic cells in mouse basal lamina, and the expression level is gradual y down-regulated as the differentiation towards suprabasal lamina. The differential expression indicates that, YY1 is one of the regulators in the process of epidermic cells differentiation.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of YY1 over-expression on the differentiation of HaCaT cells infected with lentivirus.
METHODS:Lentivirus-YY1 was transferred into the HaCaT cells by using Lipofectamine 2000. After selection of the puromycin, monoclonal celllines were established, and the control group were lentivirus-infected HaCaT cells and uninfected HaCaT cells. The expression of YY1 was detected by using western blot analysis. cells in Lentivirus-YY1-HaCaT group and HaCaT-YY1 group were further divided into two subgroups according to the calcium concentration in culture medium, cells were either cultured in low-calcium medium (0.12 mmol/L) for 48 hours, or cultured in low-calcium medium (0.12 mmol/L) for 24 hours and in high-calcium medium (0.35 mmol/L) for additional 24 hours. Keratin K1, K10, K14, and involucrin, filaggrin and loricrin after over-expression of YY1 were detected with western blot analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The HaCaT cells were successful y infected with lentivirus-YY1, and we obtained over-expression of YY1 protein in monoclonal celllines under high-calcium concentrations, the over-expressed YY1 could decrease the expression of K1, involucrin and loricrin, thereby preventing the process of epidermal keratinocytes and maintaining the cells in an undifferentiated state. Lentivirus can efficiently infect human immortalized epidermal cellHaCaT, and YY1 may the important factor of inhibiting the differentiation of basal epidermal cells and maintaining the undifferentiated proliferation status.

BACKGROUND:The development of keloid is a progress of fibrosis in wound healing, and involves various fibrosis-related cytokines. Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), Gremlin and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) play an important role in fibrosis of many organs, but their role in keloid tissue has rarely been reported.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of BMP7, Gremlin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and HMGB1 in the development of keloid.
METHODS:The protein levels and distribution of BMP7, Gremlin, VEGF and HMGB1 in 20 cases of keloid and 20 cases of normal skin were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, respectively. And the correlations among expression levels of BMP7, Gremlin, VEGF and HMGB1 in keloid were analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In keloid tissue, the expression levels of Gremlin, VEGF and HMGB1 were significantly higher than that in normal skin (P<0.01), while the expression levels of BMP7 were significantly lower (P<0.01). The levels of Gremlin were negatively correlated with the levels of BMP7 (r=-0.539, P<0.05). And the levels of VEGF were positively correlated with the levels of HMGB1 (r=0.56, P<0.05). The overexpression of Gremlin and decreased expression of BMP7, as wel as the increased expression of HMGB1 and VEGF, may contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrosis in the development of keloid.

Objective To investigate the performance of MSCT in the diagnosis of metanephric adenoma.Methods The imaging data of 5 cases of metanephric adenoma confirmed by operation and pathology in our hospital were collected and analyzed retrospectively.The location, size, shape, density and enhancement of the lesion were further retrospectively analyzed.Results In the incorporated 5 cases of metanephric adenoma, the male to female ratio of cases was 1:4, all were unilateral, including 2 cases of the right kidney,3 cases of the left kidney,2 cases were located in the upper pole, 2 cases in the polar region, 1 case in the lower pole of the kidney.Maximum diameter of the metanephric adenoma ranged from 2.9 cm to 8.4 cm, with an average value of 4.8 cm.The shape of metanephric adenoma was classified into: round (3 cases) and oval (2 cases).On plain scanning slightly lower density was found in 2 cases, equidensity in 2 cases and slightly higher density in 1 case.Furthermore,1 case had small punctatel calcification in the edge of the lesion,1 case with renal papillary carcinoma.4 cases underwent plain and enhanced scanning,and 1 case plain scanning,in which slight density increase after intravenous enhancement was showed in 3 cases,moderate enhancement in 1 case,more uniform enhancement in 3 cases,uneven enhancement in 1 case,delayed enhancement in 4 cases.Conclusion The characteristic MSCT features of metanephric adenoma have a certain specificity.Preoperative correct understanding is helpful to guide the operation scheme.