OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Wenyang Chubi Decoction (WYCBD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and collagen-I (COL-I) in a mouse model of scleroderma. METHODS: Scleroderma was induced in BALB/c mice by daily local injection of bleomycin for three weeks and the mice were randomly divided into untreated, WYCBD-treated and normal saline (NS) treated groups, with another group of BALB/c mice as normal control. WYCBD and NS were given orally for one month respectively. Histopathology in the skin and lungs of the mice were examined. The CTGF and COL-I expressions in the skin or skin lesions were detected by immunohistochemical Elivision assay. RESULTS: The expression levels of CTGF and COL-I in the untreated group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P<0.05). Compared with the NS-treated group, the WYCBD-treated group had significant improvement in the skin and lung histopathology and remarkably decreased expression levels of CTGF and COL-I (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Scleroderma mice showed high expressions of CTGF and COL-I in the skin. WYCBD had the effects of decreasing the CTGF and COL-I expressions and improving the skin fibrosis.

Objective:To explore the effect of feeding via the transpyloric route on the gastrointestinal function in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and find the best early enteral nutrition protocol.Methods:Sixty VLBW infants were randomly devided into transpyloric feeding group(TP group) (n =30) and intragastric feeding group(IG group) (n =30).The frequency of apnoea,weight gain,the time of birth weight regain,feed intolerance,time of reaching full enteral feeding,the incidence of extrauterus-growth retardation (EUGR),motilin,gastrin,the length of hospital stay,necrotizing enterocolitis and duodenal perforation were observed in two groups.Results:The intolerance and time of reaching full enteral feeding were reduced significantly during transpyloric feeding compared with intragastric feeding (P ＜ 0.05).The number of episodes of apnoea was decreased significantly during transpyloric feeding compared with intragastric feeding (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion:Transpyloric feeding can be used in VLBW infants.

Objective To explore the expression of HCK gene during the cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and analyze the role of HCK gene in maintenance of pluripotency of embryonic stem cells.Methods Mouse embryonic stem cells were cultured,then induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes.Total RNAs were isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells in the differentiation days:0 day(D0),the second day(D2),the fourth day(D4),the sixth day(D6),the eighth day(D8),respectively.The levels of HCK mRNAs were assessed by the method of semi-quantitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).In the meanwhile,Total proteins were also isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells in the differentiation D0,D2,D4,D6,D8,and the levels of HCK proteins were evaluated by Western-blot.Results HCK mRNAs could be detected in the mouse embryonic stem cells in D0 and D2,however,they were undetectable from D4 to D8.The expression of HCK mRNAs was rapidly down-regulated during cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.Expression of HCK proteins,which coincided with HCK mRNAs,down-regulated during differentiation and couldn't be detected in D4.Conclusions With the cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells,the expression of HCK in the levels of mRNA and proteins are sharply down-regulated;HCK may play an important role in maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem cell.

?AIM:To observe the values and changing rules of angle Kappa in corneal refractive surgery under light and dark conditions.?METHODS:Two hundred and thirty-four eyes of 118 patients for corneal refractive surgery were enrolled for this study.Pupil diameters and angle Kappa values under light and dark conditions were measured by Keratron Scout corneal topography.?RESULTS: There were significant differences in pupil diameters between light and dark conditions (P<0.01). More angle Kappa of both eyes distributed in the superior nasal quadrant under light conditions, and more angle Kappa distributed in the superior temporal quadrant under dark conditions.The differences of horizontal and vertical offsets of angle Kappa under two conditions were statistically significant (P<0.01).?CONCLUSION: The changes of pupil diameters in light and dark conditions could affect angle Kappa and then affect the accuracy of corneal refractive surgery centered on angle Kappa.

Objective To study the effectiveness and safety of lipo-PGE1 on proteinuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy. MethodsForty-eight cases suffering from diabetic nephropathy with proteinuria exceeding 0.5 g/d and stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ of chronic kidney disease were divided into two groups.The basic treatment scheme for all the patients includes insulin and/or oral antidiabetic drugs and anti-hypertension drugs.The patients in the control group were given dipyridamole,and those in the lipo-PGE1-treatment group were managed with lipo-PGE1(alprostadil injection),10 ?g,qd?14 d.Results After the treatment,a decrease in proteinuria and increase in serum albumin were observed in the lipo-PGE1-treatment group,which was superior to the control group(P

Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes that result in adult irreversible blindness in many countries.Recent researches suggest that neurodegeneration is an important component of DR.To realize the disease process of retinal neutron is very important for prevention and treatment on DR.Objective This study was to investigate the change of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Ninety-six eyes of 48 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.The patients were assigned into non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR) group,background diabetic retinopathy(BDR) group,proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) group based on the fundus finding and fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA),and 24 normal subjects with matched age were included as control group.RNFL thickness was measured by GDxVCC system,including temporal,superior,nasal,inferior,total,(TSNIT) average,superior average,inferior average,TSNIT standard deviation and nerve fiber indication.The datas of the RNFL thickness were analyzed and comparison among different groups by one-way analysis of variance and Student Newman Keuls test.Results The TSNIT averages of the NDR group,BDR group,PDR group and PRP group were(56.54±5.28),(56.92±6.49),(53.04±6.14) and(53.17±9.30) μm,respectively,while that of the control group was (59.04±4.37) μm.The TSNIT average,superior average,inferior average,TSNIT standard deviation of the PDR group and PRP group compared with control group were significantly decreased,and the nerve fiber indication of the PDR group and PRP group was significantly increased (P =0.002,0.000,0.002,0.000,0.001 ;P =0.002,0.000,0.001,0.000,0.000).Compared with the control group,the TSNIT average,superior average,inferior average,TSNIT standard deviation were insignificantly decreased,and the nerve fiber indication was insignificantly increased in the NDR group and BDR group (P =0.187,0.235,0.333,0.106,0.202 ;P=0.262,0.063,0.072,0.098,0.062).Conclusions The decline of the RNFL thickness appears prior to DR findings.The RNFL thinning of PDR and PRP patients suggests the degeneration of neurons and atrophy of axonal.The neurodegeneration is an important component of DR.

Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction/complications* ; Ileus/etiology* ; Abdominal Injuries/complications*

Objective To determine the role of interleukin-8 (IL-8) produced by tumor induced fibroblasts in the development of cutaneous melanoma. Methods B16 melanoma cells induced L929 fibroblasts phenotype was transdifferentiated to myofibroblasts (MF) by co-culture in vitro. MF was monitored by morphology and immunophenotype for a-SMA. The level of IL-8 was detected by ELISA. The effect on B16 cell proliferation rate was estimated using MIT method in vitro. Melanoma implanting model was constructed in C57 mice. Results L929 MF phenotype could be modulated by B16 melanoma cells-derived transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and elevated the levels of IL-8. L929 MF did not influence the B16 melanoma cells viability in vitro, but shortened the time of tumor formation and increased the incidence rates of tumors in C57 implanting model mice. Conclusion Fibroblasts can be activated by tumor cells and produce IL-8, which acts as an inflammatory cytokine promoting the development of cutaneous melanoma.

Objective To evaluate the protecting effects of matrine on chemotherapy related hepatic lesion and its possible mechanism.Methods The positive rate and severity of hepatic lesion were compared between pa- tients being treated with or without matrine during chemotherapy processes.Furthermore,the difference of liver pro- tecting effect of this Chinese medicine between hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection chemotherapy patients and disinfec- tion patients were also analyzed.Results Both the rate of hepatic lesion and level of ALT in matrine treated group were much lower than those in untreated group in chemotherapy patients.The rate of hepatic lesion and level of ALT in HBV infection patients were higher than those in HBV disinfection patients in untreated group,while the signifi- cant difference of these two parameters between HBV infection patients and disinfection patients were disappeared in matrine treated group.Conclusion Matrine has hepatic protecting effect in chemotherapy related liver lesion.