In order to investigate the interactions between first- and second-order motion perception systems, 14 adult subjects with normal or correct to normal visual acuity were recruited and divided into two groups. Then these two groups were trained, in their parafovea, to discriminate the direction of first- and second-order motion gratings respectively. The spatial frequency of the gratings used in study was fixed at 2 cycles/degree and the temporal frequency was fixed at 8 Hz during training. Contrast sensitivity of subjects in these two training groups for first- and second- order motion was measured before and after 7 days' training to estimate the effects of training. In addition, the differences between the two training groups(14 subjects) and another control group (11 subjects) were studied. The results showed that: 1) the training with first-order motion gratings can improve subjects' performance in first-order motion direction discrimination but the improvement can't be transferred to the performance in second-order motion task; 2) the training with second-order motion gratings can improve subjects' performance in both first- and second-order motion direction discrimination tasks. In conclusion, an " asymmetric transfer" occurred between the training effect of first- and second-order motion gratings. These results indicate that there are two mechanisms for perceiving first- and second-order motion respectively. However, they are not completely different from each other but only partly separated.

Objective To study the bone turnover and its related molecular mechanism in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Methods Of 30 male SD rats studied, 15 were induced diabetics by intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg)and fed for 8 weeks. After the sacrifice of both the diabetic and control groups, serum Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin were determined, and 24 h urinary Ca and urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen (NTx)and creatinine (Cr)ratio were also determined. The left tibia was dissected for bone histomorphometry analysis. Right femur and lumbar vertebrae (L1-L4) were reserved for bone mineral density (BMD) determination. The right tibia was separated for the study of bone tissue RANKL/osteoprotegerin, Core binding factor 1 (Cbfa1) ,osterix and osteocalcin mRNA level which was performed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. Results No significant difference was found in serum Ca, P, and ALP levels between 2 groups of rats. ST-Z-induced diabetic rats were characterized by extreme hyperglycemia, marked weight loss, polyuria, and hypercalciuria. A low-turnover osteopenia was evidenced in diabetic rats by decreased BMD in both femur [(0. 099±0.013) vs (0. 139 ± 0.013 g/cm~3) , P < 0.01] and lumbar vertebrae [(0. 107±0.011)vs (0. 149±0.009) g/cm~3, P<0.01] , reduced serum osteoealcin level [a marker of formation, (3.03±0.52) vs (6. 18±0.71) ng/ml ,P<0. 01]) ,decreased urine NTx/Cr ratio [(5. 67±0.86) vs (5.23±0.98) nmol/g Cr, P<0. 05], decreased trabeeular volume and thickness, and reduced bone label surface and bone formation rate [(0. 44±0. 11) vs (0. 78±0. 14) μm/d,P<0. 01] by bone dynamic study. The RANKL/ osteoprotegerin [(0.57±0.11)vs (0.89±0.13) ,P<0.01] ,osterix [(1.93×10~(-4)±0.65×10(~-4))vs (4.19×10~(-4)± 0.71×10~(-4)) ,P<0.01] ,Cbfa1 [(26.68×10~(-4)±6.53×10~(-4))vs (37.21×10~(-4)±7.14×10~(-4)) ,P<0.01] ,and osteocalcin [(2.25×10~(-4)±1.19×10~(-4))vs (3.43×10~(-4)±1.63×10~(-4)) ,P<0.01] mRNA expressions were declined in the bone tissue of the tibia in the ST-Z-induced diabetic rats, as compared with the control. Conclusion A low-turnover osteopenia is evidenced in STZ-induced diabetic rats by significant decrease of both osteoclastic marker(RANKL/ osteoprotegerin)and osteoblastic marker (osterix ,Cbfa1 ,osteocalcin)mRNA levels in tibia.

Objective To explore the influence of Azithromycin on helper T lymphocyte cell(Th)1/Th2 in peripheral blood of children with bronchitic asthma.Methods Twenty-four asthmatic children and 20 healthy children were selected.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from venous blood and made into cells suspension in aseptic condition.0.2 mg/L,0.1 mg/L,0.05 mg/L and 0 mg/L Azithromycin were added into the cultures in asthmatic group.The control group was not interfered with Azithromycin.The supernatant was collected after 48 h.The levels of IFN-?,IL-4 and IL-10 in the supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosobent assay(ELISA).SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze data.Results 1.The level of IL-4 produced from PBMC of asthmatic group was significantly higher than that of control group(P0.05).2.Azithromycin 0.1 mg/L more promoted the secretion of IL-4 than the other 3 concentrations(Pa0.05).3.Azithromycin 0.2 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L more increased the level of IL-10 than the control group(P0.05).Conclusions The routine drug level of Azithromycin(0.1 mg/L) had no effects on the imbalance of Th1/Th2 of asthmatic children,but could modulate the immunological function by up-regulating the level of IL-10.

Adenoma, Sweat Gland ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To study the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1α(MIP-1α),inter-feron gamma inducible protein 10(IP -10)and angiopoietin -1 (Ang -1)in primary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML),and clarify their clinical significance.Methods ELISA was used to detect the expressions of MIP -1α,IP-10 and Ang -1 in serum samples from 54 AML patients(observation group),and twenty volunteers(normal control group).Results The expression levels of MIP -1α,IP -10 and Ang -1 in the observation group[(198.813 ± 53.923)pg/mL,(2.332 ±0.745)ng/mL,(1.593 ±0.447)ng/mL]were significantly higher than the normal control group[(153.309 ±44.475)pg/mL,(1.569 ±0.485)ng/mL,(0.838 ±0.333)ng/mL](t =3.369,5.133,6.856, all P <0.05).Subgroup analysis,during the groups of better -risk,intermediate -risk and poor -risk,the contents of MIP -1αwere (141.524 ±27.510)pg/mL,(196.370 ±31.966)pg/mL,(269.892 ±54.795)pg/mL;the contents of IP -10 were (2.085 ±0.332)ng/mL,(2.307 ±0.696)ng/mL,(2.685 ±0.348)ng/mL;the contents of Ang -1 were (1.248 ±0.454)ng/mL,(1.599 ±0.386)ng/mL,(1.951 ±0.359)ng/mL.The levels of MIP -1αand Ang -1 in the better -risk group were significantly lower than those in the intermediate -risk group and poor -risk group (q =6.100,11.438,3.603,5.742,all P <0.05).While the levels of IP -10 had no closely correlation with NCCN risk status(q =1.225,2.643,2.016,all P >0.05).There were remarkable correlation between the serum expression levels of MIP -1αand Ang -1 (r =0.324,P <0.05).Conclusion There are differences of serum MIP -1α, IP -10 and Ang -1 in the different NCCN prognosis groups,which reflect they may have certain guiding significance in the choice of clinical treatment and the prognosis for newly diagnosed AML.

Pathological pain, normally referring to tissue injury-induced inflammatory pain and nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain, is an expression of neural plasticity. Injuries and intense noxious stimuli result in pain hypersensitivity,which is contributed by peripheral sensitization (increased sensitivity of primary sensory nociceptors) and central sensitization (increased sensitivity of spinal dorsal horn and other CNS neurons). Activation of several protein kinases causes both forms of sensitization via posttranslational regulation, such as phosphorylation of key membrane receptors and channels. In particular, activation of multiple signal cascades converge on the activation of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase).Activation of MAPK family members of ERK and p38 by nociceptive activity, growth factors, and inflammatory mediators in primary sensory and secondary order neurons, not only results in posttranslational modification, but also increases the expression of numerous genes via transcriptional and non-transcriptional regulation. Eventually this activation contributes to the development and maintenance of heightened pain sensitivity following injury.

The pain experience includes a sensory-discriminative and an emotional-affective component. The sensory dimension describes the quality, intensity, and spatio-temporal characteristics of the sensation. The affective dimension refers to the unpleasantness or aversion of sensation. The great progress at the genic, molecular, cellular, and systemic level on the study of the sensory dimension of pain has been made over past four decades. However, to consider only the sensory features of pain, and ignore its motivational and affective properties, is to look at only part of the problem. A line of clinic observations indicate that the patients with chronic pain suffer from much more affective disturbance than pain itself. Obviously, physiological arousal and hypervigilance to pain cause negative affect, such as fear, anxiety, angry, worry, aversion, even tendency of suicide, these negative affective states in turn enhance pain sensation. Therefore, the mechanisms underlying the affective dimension of pain have recently received more attention. In order to deepen and expand our understanding of the nature of pain, this review summarizes the main findings regarding affective component of pain in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and cell biochemistry

Objective To investigate the feasibility of the simultaneous measurement of right ventricular pressure-volume loops by cardiac catheterization and 2D electrocardiogram. Methods Patients referred for pulmonary hypertension underwent right heart catheterization in our hospital between June 1st, 2015 and June 1st, 2017 are to be enrolled in this study. The right ventricular volume was measured simultaneously by catheter and electrocardiogram. The pressure-volume loops were constructed by the parameters of the pressure and volume in the same cardiac cycle. Results The study completed in four cases and their pressure-volume loops were drawn. The obtained images were irregular and there was no relationship among them. As a result, the construction was a failure. Conclusions The construction of the right ventricular pressure-volume loops of pulmonary hypertension patients by simultaneous catheterization and 2D electrocardiogram is difficult to overcome the technology defects.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and compare standard sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation in seminal ejaculates from men whose partners had a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and a control group of men who had recently established their fertility.

METHODSSemen samples from 85 patients with a history of RPL and 20 men with proven fertility were analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Sperm DNA fragmentation was detected by sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD).

RESULTSA significant difference (P< 0.05) was observed in sperm motility but not other parameters between the two groups. The mean number of sperm cells with fragmented DNA, represented as DNA fragmentation index, was significantly increased in the RPL group [(34.99± 14.62)%] compared with controls [(10.82± 4.80)%].

CONCLUSIONThis study has indicated that sperm from men with a history of RPL have a higher incidence of DNA damage and poor motility compared with fertile males.

Abortion, Habitual ; etiology ; genetics ; Adult ; DNA Damage ; DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Sperm Motility

Objective To explore the influence of the comprehensive and continuous management on the quality improvement of medical equipment in the operation room.Methods The"Five in One"mode,which consisted of organization scheme, regulations implementation, operation training, utilization supervision and maintenance, was applied in an observation group,and a control group was established with conventional management mode.The two groups were compared in the times per week of medical equipment utilization, maintenance and hidden risks elimination, the incidence rates of failures and adverse events as well as the medical staffs'satisfaction.Results The observation group had the times per week of medical equipment utilization and hidden risks elimination significantly more than those of the control group, while the times in a week of medical equipment maintenance,failures and adverse events less statistically(P<0.05).The medical staffs' satisfaction in the observation group was enhanced obviously when compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The new"Five in One"mode is effective in solving the problems that occur when the old decentralized mode is adopted for medical equipment management in the operation room. [Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2018,39(5):84-86]