Laboratory animals and animal experiments are foundations and important support conditions for life sciences, especially for medical research. The animal experiments have drawn extensive attention from the society because of the ethical issue. This paper takes Wenzhou Medical University as an example to give a brief introduction to the ethical review about laboratory animals in the university so as to further draw attention and concerns from the public about the ethical issue of laboratory animals. We successively introduce its scientific projects, nurturing environment and ethical review of laboratory animals.
Animal Experimentation ; ethics ; Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Universities

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effects of bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) and peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantations on the avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH).

METHODSTotally 122 ANFH patients (211 coxae) treated by BMSC or PBSC transplantations were enrolled from July 2004 to December 2006. All of them were classed to different stages according to the ARCO. Control group were desired as themselves before and after treatment. The puncture of femoral artery was conducted with digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and the tubes were inserted into medial femoral circumflex artery, lateral femoral circumflex artery and obturator artery with the cell suspensions were gradually poured into the arteries.

RESULTSThe joint pain, joint functions and walking distance of 122 patients were detected for the follow-up. Compared with before treatment, the calibers thickened; vessels increased and blood velocity quickened of femoral head blood-supply artery were observed in 15 patients after 6 months checked by DSA. The reduced areas of femoral head necrosis in 8 patients indicated the new bone formation between 12 and 24 months.

CONCLUSIONSAutologous BMSC and PBSC transplantation results in the new bone formation and improvement of ischemia in areas of femoral head necrosis at 6 months. The change of angiography was observed about 12 to 24 months after cell transplantation. The stem cell transplantation is convenient, safe and effective in the treatment of the ANFH with no adverse reaction, and can be considered as a new therapy of ANFH.

Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Femur Head ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Femur Head Necrosis ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ischemia ; surgery ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the situation of 1-5 years old children's antibody against Coxsackieviras A group 16 strain( CVA16 )in Guangdong, Heilongjiang, Yunnan Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regions, China,2005, it can offer scientific evidences for preventing and controlling CVA16 causative hand-food and mouth disease. Methods Using microneutrilisation test, to study 503 serum samples randomly selected from sera collected in 2005.Resulte. Positive rate of anti-CVA16 antibody were 41.90%, 9.40%, 40.00% and 34.40% in Gnangdong, Heilongjiang, Yunnan and Xinjiang, respectively. Antibody titer was relative low( average, 1:6.1 ) and there was no statistical difference of geometry mean of antibody titer (GMT) among Guangdong, Heilongjiang, Yunnan ( F = 0.97,0.40, 1.06, respectively; P > 0.05 ), while there had statistical difference of GMT between Heilongjiang and other three regions ( F = 10.61, P < 0.00). Conclusions There had probably existed local epidemic in some regions of Gnangdong, Heilongjiang, Yunnan Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regions, China, 2005 or even before, but the area and degree of transmission and epidemic had difference. Children aged from 1-5 years old were relatively susceptible population of CVA16 infection.

Gap junction(GJ),also known as gap junction,is widely found between neurons and glial cells,and can connect neighboring cells and mediate the transmission of electrical sig-nals between neighboring cells.The GJ channel,which exists between neurons and mediates intercellular electrical signaling,is also known as an electrical synapse.Connexins(Cxs)are the molecular basis of GJ,and are expressed to different degrees in different neurons and glial cells.The presence of GJ mediates different functions among neurons and glial cells,which further influences the establishment of various mature neural circuits,re-flecting the importance of GJ in the maintenance of neural cir-cuits.This review summarizes the relationship between GJ and neural circuits in relation to the effects of GJ and different Cxs on neurons and glial cells,providing new research ideas for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified (PTL-U) with follicular pattern.

METHODSThe clinical data, hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of lymph node biopsies and follow-up data of 18 cases of PTL-U associated with follicular growth pattern were reviewed and studied. Eight cases of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia were used as controls. Semi-quantitative observation by retiform micrometer rule was carried out. Immunohistochemical study was also performed in all cases. T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement studies were conducted by polymerase chain reaction-based method.

RESULTSThe median age of the patients was 53 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.57:1 in lymphoma group. All of the lymphoma patients presented with superficial lymphadenopathy, with (8/18) or without B symptoms. Histologically, the lymphoma was characterized by follicles of various sizes and shapes. The T zones were expanded by medium-sized lymphoma cells which contained clear cytoplasm and irregular nuclei. Mitotic figures were commonly identified. Immunohistochemical study confirmed that the lymphoma cells were of T-lineage. The proliferative index, as highlighted by Ki-67, was higher [average = (38.24 +/- 13.42)%/mm2] than that in the control group. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was demonstrated in 71.4% (10/14) of the lymphoma cases.

CONCLUSIONSA definitive diagnosis of PTL-U with follicular pattern can be made on the basis of morphologic examination, immunohistochemical assessment and clinical features. Cases with atypical features can further be delineated by molecular analysis. Long-term follow up of these patients is prudent.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; CD3 Complex ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Diseases ; pathology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Remission Induction ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among type 2 diabetic patients aged over 30 in Shanghai central area.

METHODS1039 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) aged over 30 were investigated by randomized cluster sampling in Shanghai central area and data from 767 of those patients were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Among all of the 1534 digital ocular fundus images from 767 patients, 87.6% of the images from 672 patients were gradable. (2) Among all of the 672 patients with gradable ocular fundus images, the prevalence of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) was 21.6%, while proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was 1.3%. The rates of mild, moderate and severe NPDR were 8.8%, 11.2% and 1.6% respectively. (3) DR patients were characterized with elder age, higher HbA1c, urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. DM duration and the level of fasting plasma glucose were risk factors for DR.

CONCLUSIONThe overall prevalence of DR in type 2 diabetic patients aged over 30 in Shanghai central area was 22.9% and the DR risk factors were found to include duration of diabetes and fasting plasma glucose level.

Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Nephronectin (NPNT) is a novel extracellular matrix protein and a new ligand of integrin α8β1. Recent studies showed that NPNT is highly expressed in kidney, lung, thyroid, etc, and it may play an important role in many pathological conditions. NPNT is involved in the process of kidney development and acute kidney injury, regulates proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast, and induces the vasculogenesis in vitro. NPNT may play a key role in pathological osteoporosis and therefore be a new therapeutic target of bone diseases. NPNT gene variants are not only associated with lung function, but also potentially implicated in chronic airway diseases development. Moreover, NPNT is also an important factor that mediates pathology of cardiac, epidermis, breast, liver and teeth diseases. In this paper, we reviewed some research progresses on the structure, distribution, physiological and pathophysiological functions of NPNT.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Osteoporosis

Neurovascular coupling is the function of regulating blood flow of the central nervous system at the level of neurovascular units. The central nervous system diseases related to neurovascular coupling mainly include cerebrovascular diseases such as chronic cerebral ischemia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. The main mechanism of neurovascular coupling dysfunction leading to the above diseases is cerebrovascular dysfunction or loss,which leads to serious damage to neuronal ischemia and affects its function. Therefore,this paper reviews the research status of neurovascular coupling and its related central nervous system diseases,in order to guide the follow-up research. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for the prevention,relief and treatment of central nervous system diseases related to neurovascular coupling through the mechanism of neurovascular coupling.

This study aims to investigate the effect of modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder on the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3)/Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) signaling pathway in gastric tissue of rats with chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG).Sixty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly assigned into the normal group, model group, Moluo Pills group, and high-, medium-, and low-dose groups of modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder.The rats in other groups except the normal group were treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) to establish the CAG model.After 12 weeks of modeling, the rats in each group were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 8 weeks.After the last administration, the histopathological changes of rat gastric mucosa were observed via hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining.The serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The mRNA levels of SOCS3 and TLR4 were determined by real-time PCR.The protein levels of SOCS3, TLR4, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in rat gastric tissue were measured by Western blot.Immunohistochemical method was employed to determine the protein levels of NF-κB, MyD88, NLRP3, Bcl-2, Bax, and Bad in rat gastric tissue.The results showed that modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder alleviated gastric mucosal atrophy of rats, significantly lowered the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP in rat serum, up-regulated the mRNA level of SOCS3, and down-regulated the mRNA level of TLR4 in rat gastric tissue.Furthermore, modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder up-regulated the protein level of SOCS3, down-regulated the protein levels of TLR4, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, NF-κB, MyD88, NLRP3, Bax, and Bad, and promoted the expression of Bcl-2 protein.Therefore, modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder may mitigate the gastric mucosal atrophy of rats by regulating the SOCS3/TLR4 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Gastritis, Atrophic/genetics* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Powders ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism*