Objective To establish the solid phase extraction (SPE) with GC/MS technology for fish poi-soning cases to determine five pesticides in fishpond. Methods By three solid phase extraction column including Oasis HLB cartridge, Bond Elut C18 and SampliQ C18, the recovery rate was compared to ex-tract and purify five pesticides in fishpond. The effects of different kinds and dosages of eluents on ex-tract rate were also reviewed. Results Using Bond Elut C18 as solid phase extraction column and 3 mL benzene as eluent, the linear range of mass concentration of five pesticides in fishpond was 1-50 μg/mL, and the correlation coefficient was 0.996 2-0.999 6. The limit of detection was 3.4-26 μg/L and the re-covery was 61.49%-102.48%. The relative standard deviations was less than or equal to 3.01%. Conclu-sion With high sensitivity, good accuracy and precision, SPE -GC/MS has simple and quick operation and less solvent. It can be applied to determination of five pesticides in fishpond.

BackgroundOur previous study determined that tetrandrine (Tet) has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human Tenon capsule fibroblasts ( TCFs ) in vitro,but its mechanism is poorly understood.ObjectiveThis study was to investigate the effect mechanism of Tet on human TCFs.MethodsHuman TCFs were isolated and cultured from scleral tissue of donor using explant technique.The cells were identified by vimentin antibody staining and morphology.The third generation of cells were seeded in the culture plate at the density of 1 × 105 cells/ml.Twenty-four hours after inoculation,the Tet of 1 × 10-5 mol/L was added in the well of culture plate,and the cells cultured only in 1640 medium served as the control group.The apoptosis of the cells was assessed by TUNEL,and the expressions of bax,bel-2,transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2 ) in TCFs were detected using immunochemistry.Results The cultured cells showed the features of the fibroblasts in shape with the positive response for vimentin.A number of TUNEL positive cells were seen in Tet group and no TUNEL positive response was found in control group.The expression levels (A value) of bax,bcl-2 and TGF-~ protein in TCFs were 0.577 ± 0.009,0.430±0.012 and 0.341 ±0.017 in Tet group,and those in control group were 0.320±0.015,0.819±0.021 and 0.624±0.014 respectively,showing statistically significant differences between two groups( t =33.277,-35.356,-28.093,P＜0.01 ).Conclusions Tet suppresses the proliferation of human TCFs through up-regulating the expression of bax and down-regulating the expressions of bcl-2 and TGF-β2 in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the solid phase extraction (SPE) with GC/MS technology for fish poisoning cases to determine five pesticides in fishpond. METHODS: By three solid phase extraction column including Oasis HLB cartridge, Bond Elut C18 and SampliQ C18, the recovery rate was compared to extract and purify five pesticides in fishpond. The effects of different kinds and dosages of eluents on extract rate were also reviewed. RESULTS Using Bond Elut C18 as solid phase extraction column and 3 mL benzene as eluent, the linear range of mass concentration of five pesticides in fishpond was 1-50 μg/mL, and the correlation coefficient was 0.996 2-0.999 6. The limit of detection was 3.4-26 μg/L and the recovery was 61.49%-102.48%. The relative standard deviations was less than or equal to 3.01%. CONCLU-SION: With high sensitivity, good accuracy and precision, SPE-GC/MS has simple and quick operation and less solvent. It can be applied to determination of five pesticides in fishpond.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Pesticides/isolation & purification* ; Solid Phase Extraction ; Solvents ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification*

Paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor arising from the undifferentiated cells of the primitive neural crest. We report a case of malignant paraganglioma originating from the left kidney. The 55-year-old female patient was admitted for intractable cough for a month and the presence of a solid mass in the left lung detected by computer tomography (CT). Sonography revealed a mass in the left kidney after admission. Complete surgical resection of the tumor was performed and the diagnosis of malignant paraganglioma originating from the left kidney was established pathologically. During the follow-up for 12 months, the patient showed a good general condition and sonography revealed no evidence of recurrence. Based on these findings, we discussed the diagnosis of this disease using medical imaging modalities.
Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Middle Aged ; Paraganglioma ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the neointima formation and the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in cuff-induced vascular injury in mouse model, and to examine the effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) blocker, olmesartan, on MCP-1 and TNF-alpha expression and consequently vascular remodeling.

METHODSVascular injury was induced by polyethylene cuff-placement around the mouse femoral artery. Some mice were treated with AT1 receptor blocker, olmesartan, at the dose of 3 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) with an osmotic minipump. Neointima formation and the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were measured by morphometric analysis and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. MCP-1 and TNF-alpha expression was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSWe observed neointima formation 14 days after cuff placement as well as VSMCs proliferation in the media and neointima. Cuff placement also induced MCP-1 and TNF-alpha expression in the media and neointima that the VSMCs specifically existed. Treatment of mice with olmesartan at a dose of 3 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), which did not influence systolic blood pressure, significantly decreased neointima formation and the proliferation of VSMCs. Olmesartan also inhibited MCP-1 and TNF-alpha expression in the injured arteries.

CONCLUSIONSOur results demonstrate that blockade of AT1 receptor inhibits MCP-1 and TNF-alpha expression and thereby improves vascular remodeling.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Olmesartan Medoxomil ; Probability ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis ; drug effects ; Tunica Intima ; drug effects ; pathology ; Vascular Diseases ; physiopathology

Background The incidence of retinal vascular diseases increase annually,such as diabetic retinopathy,retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration.The key of treatment for these diseases is how to evaluate retinal vascular change effectively and objectively.Retro-orbital injection of fluorescein isothiocyanatedextran (FITC-dextran) is a simple and effective method for observing C57BL/6J mouse retinal vessels.But,whether it is suitable for other mice and rats is seldom reported.Objective This experiment was to assess the feasibility of the observation of retinal vessels by retro-orbital injection of FITC-dextran in different genus of mouse and offer the reference for relevant study.Methods Twelve animals of C57BL/6J mice,Kunming mice,SD rats and Wistar rats were selected,respectively and divided into the experimental group and control group at average.The right eyes of the animals of the experimental group received the retro-orbital injection of 9 ml/kg FITC-dextran,and the right eyes of animals of the control group received PBS solution at the same volume and way.All the animals were sacrificed 10 seconds after injection and both eyes of each animal were obtained for retinal stretched preparation.The retrobulbar tissue and whole-mount retina were viewed under a fluorescence microscope.The use of the animals complied with Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results Retinal blood vessels labeled by FITC-dextran could be observed in both eyes of C57BL/6J mice and Kunming mice to present with a green fluorescence in experimental group under a fluorescence microscope,but no any fluorescence-labeled retinal blood vessel was exhibited in the control mice.The retinal blood vessel could not be observed in all eyes of SD rats and Wistar rats after the injection of FITC-dextran both in the experimental group and the control group under a fluorescence microscope.The surrounding tissues of the right eyes of mice and rats dyed with green fluorescence of FITC-dextran in the experimental group,however,green fluorescence could not be seen in the surrounding tissues of the left eyes of mice and rats.Conclusions Retro-orbital injection of FITC-dextran is a suitable method of observing the retinal vessels of mouse but not rat.

Epidemiologic Methods ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Systems Analysis

BACKGROUNDAccumulating evidence indicates that both innate and adaptive mechanisms are responsible for the postnatal development of the mammalian visual cortex. Most of the studies, including gene expression analysis, were performed on the visual cortex during the critical period; few efforts were made to elucidate the molecular changes in the visual cortex during much earlier postnatal stages. The current study aimed to gain a general insight into the molecular mechanisms in the developmental process of the rat visual cortex using microarray to display the gene expression profiles of the visual cortex on postnatal days.

METHODSAll age-matched Sprague-Dawley rats in various groups including postnatal day 0 (P0, n = 20), day 10 (P10, n = 15), day 20 (P20, n = 15) and day 45 (P45, n = 10) were sacrificed respectively. Fresh visual cortex from the binocular area (Area 17) was dissected for extraction of total RNA for microarray analyses. Taking advantage of annotation information from the gene ontology and pathway database, the gene expression profiles were systematically and globally analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 31 042 gene sequences represented on the rat expression microarray, more than 4000 of the transcripts significantly altered at days 45, 20 or 10 compared to day 0. The most obvious alteration of gene expression occurred in the first ten days of the postnatal period and the genomic activities of the visual cortex maintained a high level from birth to day 45. Compared to the gene expression at birth, there were 2630 changed transcripts that shared in three postnatal periods. The up-regulated genes in most signaling pathways were more than those of the down-regulated genes.

CONCLUSIONSAnalyzing gene expression patterns, we provide a detailed insight into the molecular organization of the developing visual cortex in the earlier postnatal rat. The most obvious alteration of gene expression in visual cortex occurred in the first ten days. Our data were a basis to identify new relevant candidate genes that control visual cortex development.

Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; genetics ; physiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Visual Cortex ; metabolism

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety profile of febuxostat and allopurinol in patients with hyperuricemia and gout.Methods A total of 90 patients with hyperuricemia and gout were randomly divided into three groups:treatment group A,treatment group B and control group.There were 30 patients in each group.The control group was given oral allopurinol tablets 300 mg tid.The treatment group A was given oral administration of febuxostat tablets 35 mg qd,while the treatment group B was given oral administration of febuxostat tablets 70 mg qd.All groups were treated for 24 weeks.The clinical efficacy and the incidence of adverse drug reactions were compared among the three groups,and serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and uric acid were compared at baseline,12 weeks and 24 weeks of treatment.Results After treatment,the total effective rates were 56.67％ (17 cases/30 cases),66.67％ (20 cases/30 cases) and 46.67％ (14 cases/30 cases) in the treatment group A,the treatment group B and the control group,the difference was statistically significant (P ＜0.05);After 12 weeks of treatment,serum sICAM-1 in the treatment group A and treatment group B were (445.76 ± 135.85),(421.28 ± 122.25) and (493.39 ± 121.27) ng · mL-1;After 24 weeks,serum sICAM-1 of the treatment group A,the treatment group B and the control group were (387.71 ±126.75),(360.85 ± 125.50) and (441.45 ± 122.48) ng · mL-1;After 12 weeks of treatment,uric acid levels in the treatment group A and treatment group B were (445.57 ± 135.50),(460.60 ± 140.45) and (515.20 ± 142.15) ng · mL-1;After 24 weeks,uric acid levels of the treatment group A,the treatment group B and the control group were (425.10 ± 126.28),(410.10 ± 130.38) and (478.80 ± 164.72) ng · mL-1,the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05);Statistically significant differences were found among the three groups before and after treatment (all P ＜ 0.05).There were no obvious adverse drug reactions in the two treatment groups and the control group.Conclusion Febuxostat can reduce the levels of serum slCAM-1 and uric acid in patients with hyperuricemia and gout,achieving better clinical efficacy than allopurinol

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of androgen receptor (AR) on IgG protein expression and the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells.

METHODSWestern blotting was used to detect the expression of AR protein and IgG in androgen-dependent prostate cancer LNCap cells and castration-resistant prostate cancer PC-3 cells. In AR-overexpressing cells (PC-3-AR cells) established by transfecting PC-3 with AR gene (pCDNA3.1) and LNCap cells with small interfering RNA-mediated AR silencing (LNCap-siAR cells) were analyzed for expressions of AR protein and IgG with Western blotting; the expression of IgG mRNA was detected by Q-PCR, and the cell proliferation and migration were assessed with MTT assay and wound healing assay, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with PC-3 cells, LNCap cells expressed a higher level of AR protein and a lower level of IgG (P<0.05). PC-3-AR cells showed attenuated proliferation and migration with a lowered expression of IgG (P<0.01), while LNCap-siAR cells showed enhanced proliferation and migration with increased expression of IgG (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of AR is inversely correlated with IgG and is associated with the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells in vitro.