AlM: To investigate the influences of 577nm panretinal photocoagulation ( PRP ) on the retinal thickness of macular fovea on diabetic retinopathy ( DR) .METHODS:A total of 45 eyes of 37 cases suffering from preproliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PPDR ) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR ) undergoing 577nm PRP were enrolled in this study. The alterations of the retinal thickness of macular fovea measured by optovue optical coherence tomography( OCT) before and 1, 3, 6mo following PRP were comparatively analyzed.RESULTS: The macularfoveal retinal thickness after 1, 3mo of PRP had significantly increased that before operation (P<0. 05). After 6mo postoperative follow-up, it gradually recovered to the level before PRP, with no significant difference (P>0. 05).CONCLUSlON: After the treatment of PRP, it appeared a transient increase on the retinal thickness of macular fovea, but after 6mo following-up, the macular foveal retinal thickness decreased nearly to the levels before PRP.

BACKGROUND: Compared with the traditional organic fluorescent dyes, quantum dots present good biomarker characteristics. Especially, quantum dots for cell labeling and targeted bioimaging present unique optical properties.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biocompatibility of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with mononuclear macrophages.METHODS: The macrophages RAW264.7 were inoculated into 96-well plates containing 0, 50, 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots for 1 or 2 hours. Then, the fluorescent signal was detected by flow cytometry. After 0-24 hours of culture,the fluorescence signal intensity of the macrophages cultured with 50 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots was detected by flow cytometry. After 18 hours of culture, quantitative PCR was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in macrophages, and macrophage proliferation cell apoptosis were detected by MTT and flow cytometry,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The fluorescence signal intensity was positively correlated with the mass concentration of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, and the intensity of the fluorescent signal was increased with the labeling time. After labeling using 50 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, the fluorescence signal of macrophages increased continuously with time, and reached the peak at 18 hours. Compared with 0 mg/L quantum dot group, 50, 100mg/L quantum dot groups could significantly promote the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in macrophages (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).The level of tumor necrosis factor α in the 100 mg/L quantum dot group was higher than that in the 50 mg/L quantum dot group (P < 0.01). The expression of interleukin-1β showed no difference between 50 and 100 mg/L quantum dot groups.The cell proliferation in the 50 and 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dot groups was significantly higher than that in the 0 mg/L quantum dot group (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the former two groups. In addition, 50 and 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots had no significant effect on apoptosis of macrophages. To conclude, CdSe/ZnS quantum dots could activate macrophages and promote their proliferation and secretion of inflammatory factors, but did not affect their apoptosis.

Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of PCNA and p27 in human benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate carcinoma (PCa) and their effect on the genesis and progression of the tumor.

METHODSThe paraffin-embedded sections of 30 cases with BPH and 37 cases with PCa were collected. The expression of p27 and PCNA protein were examined by S-P immunohistochemical method. Comparative analysis for BPH and pathological grade and clinical stage of PCa was performed.

RESULTSThe expression of PCNA in BPH (3.3%) was significantly lower than that in Pca (83.8%, P < 0.01). The expression of p27 in BPH (70.0%) was significantly higher than that in Pca (27.0%, P < 0.05). The expression of p27 was not correlated with histological grade and clinical stage in Pca (P > 0.05). An inverse correlation was found between p27 and PCNA expression in BPH (P < 0.01), while no correlation was found in Pca (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe loss or decreased expression of p27 protein may be related to the genesis of benign prostate hypertrophy, but not to the development of prostate carcinoma; the overexpression of PCNA may play an important role in the malignant behavior and progression of prostate carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

Sixteen compounds have been isolated from the EtOAc fraction of 95% ethanolic extract of Sophora dunnii through silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-prerarative HPLC column chromatographies. Their structures were identified on the basis of NMR and MS spectra data as phaseollidin (1), L-maackiain (2), 2-(2',4'-dihidroxyphenyl)-5,6-methylenedioxy benzofuran (3), 8-demethyl-farrerol (4), liquiritigenin (5), genistein (6), 6-methylgenistein (7), 5-O-methyl genistein (8), 7,2',4'-trihydroxys-5-methoxy-isoflavanone (9), 7, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-isoflavanone (10), erythribyssin D (11), calycosin (12), trans-resveratrol (13), cis-resveratrol (14), stigmasterol (15), β-sitosterol (16). Among these, compounds 1-14 and 16 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chemical Fractionation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective:To investigate the effect of butyrate produced by bacterial metabolism on immune features of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells(BMDCs) and its potential mechanisms.Methods: BMDCs were prepared from bone marrow cells of C57BL/6 mice by being cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4.The expression of CD80,CD86,B7-DC and MHCⅡ on BMDCs and its pri-ming ability on the proliferation of OVA257-264 antigen specific CD8+T cell were analyzed by using Flow cytometry.The mRNA levels of IL-6 and IL-12 in BMDCs were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(q-PCR).Simultaneously,Griess reaction and Western blot was used for analyzing the levels of NO2-in BMDCs culture supernatant and the ERK phosphortylation in BMDCs respectivly.Results:Butyrate could decrease the levels of CD80,CD86,MHCⅡand B7-DC,and downregulate the capability of BMDCs in priming the proliferation of CD8+T cells.Furthermore,the secretions of IL-6,IL-12,NO2-and the phosphorylation of ERK were sup-pressed.Conclusion:Butyrate down-regulats the immune functions of BMDCs via inhibition of ERK phosphorylation in TLR 4 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Shengdi injection on rat model of lung inflammation.

METHODThe rat model was established by intratrachea instillation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The total and different white blood cell counts in bronchoalvoelar lavage fluid (BALF) were performed and the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), superoxide anion radical (O2-) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured, as well as pathologic change of pulmonary tissue was tested.

RESULTShengdi injection could depress the increasing of the amount of total white blood cells and neutrophils and inhibit the increasing of TNF-alpha, O2-, MPO caused by LPS, as well as relieve the pathologic change including Neutrophils infiltrating and mucous edema in tracheae after intravenous administration. While it did not show the effect on monocyte, and histological lesion of the lung tissue.

CONCLUSIONShengdi injection shows some anti-inflammatory effect in rat lung induced by LPS and it can be concluded tentatively that anti-inflammatory, inhibiting the release of cytokine and inflammatory medium, and antioxidation are some of the mechanism of its effect on COPD.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Cytokines ; secretion ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Injections, Intravenous ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; pathology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pneumonia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; Superoxides ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy often results in potentially life-threatening side effects including hypotension. However, the mechanism has not been completely elucidated. In order to determine whether IL-2 modifies vascular tone, we investigated the effect of IL-2 on rat thoracic aorta rings and the underlying mechanisms. Effects of IL-2 on the contraction of high KCl and phenylephrine (PE) preconstricted rat thoracic aorta with or without endothelium were determined by organ bath technique. To explore the mechanism, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue, and cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin were used. IL-2 (10-1000 U/ml) caused concentration-dependent relaxation of aorta rings preconstricted with PE (10 micromol/L) in endothelium-intact rings, but had no effect on KCl (120 mmol/L) preconstricted rings. Removal of the endothelium, or pretreatment with L-NAME (0.1 mmol/L) or methylene blue (10 micromol/L) or indomethacin (10 micromol/L), inhibited the relaxation of IL-2. The results indicate that the relaxation by IL-2 in rat aorta ring is endothelium-dependent and is possibly mediated by the NO-guanylyl cyclase pathway and cyclooxygenase-dependent pathway.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; pharmacology ; Guanylate Cyclase ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Male ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo review the results for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR) through a 5 cm right anterolateral thoracotomy.

METHODSFrom July 2009 to September 2011, 101 consecutive patients with isolated aortic valve disease (degenerative in 37 patients, rheumatic in 21 patients, congenital in 37 patients, endocarditic in 3 patients and aorta-arteritis in 1 patients) underwent AVR through the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach in the third intercostal space with a groin incision for femoral connection of cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean age was 45.7 years (ranging from 17 to 71 years). Sixty patients were male.

RESULTSOperations were successfully performed in all but 1 patient (1.0%) who required intraoperative conversion to full sternotomy. Mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time was (88 ± 24) minutes and (55 ± 18) minutes, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was 1.0% (1/101), this patient was found difficult in weaning off cardiopulmonary bypass and exhibited severe coronary artery plaque, although bypass graft was carried out immediately, the patient died of severe low cardiac output syndrome finally. No blood products were needed in 83.2% patients. Follow-up was performed in all patients at an average of (16 ± 7) months postoperatively. A good recovery was obtained in all patients except one who died of multiple organ failure caused by massive cerebral infarction 38 days after surgery.

CONCLUSIONSMinimally invasive aortic valve replacement though the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach is safe and feasible, with good cosmetic results and rapid postoperative recovery. It is worthy of clinical elective application.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aortic Valve ; surgery ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Heart Valve Diseases ; surgery ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

This study was designed to investigate the different involvements of prostatic stromal cells from the normal transitional zone (TZ) or peripheral zone (PZ) in the carcinogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa) epithelial cells (PC-3) in vitro and in vivo co-culture models. Ultra-structures and gene expression profiles of primary cultures of human prostatic stromal cells from the normal TZ or PZ were analyzed by electron microscopy and microarray analysis. In vitro and in vivo co-culture models composed of normal TZ or PZ stromal cells and human PCa PC-3 cells were established. We assessed tumor growth and weight in the in vivo nude mice model. There are morphological and ultra-structural differences in stromal cells from TZ and PZ of the normal prostate. In all, 514 differentially expressed genes were selected by microarray analysis; 483 genes were more highly expressed in stromal cells from TZ and 31 were more highly expressed in those from PZ. Co-culture with PZ stromal cells and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) increased the tumor growth of PC-3 cells in vitro and in vivo, as well as Bcl-2 expression. On the other hand, stromal cells of TZ suppressed PC-3 cell tumor growth in the mouse model. We conclude that ultra-structures and gene expression differ between the stromal cells from TZ or PZ of the normal prostate, and stroma-epithelium interactions from TZ or PZ might be responsible for the distinct zonal localization of prostate tumor formation.
Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Adult ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coculture Techniques ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Prostate ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology ; Young Adult