Objective To investigate the electrophysiological properties of neurons in visual cortex of binocular form-deprivated rats during the developmental stages and to explore the synaptic and cellular mechanisms of plasticity in the visual cortex. Methods Whole cell patch clamp technique was applied to the visual cortex slices prepared from 61 Wistar rats of both genders, which were divided into two groups; control group and binocular form-deprivation (BFD) group. Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and long term potentiation (LTP) of the neurons were recorded. Results (1) The percentage of silent response in BFD group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P

Objective To study the physiological indicators and arterial blood gas values,and create a reliable data for researchers using beagle dogs.Methods Beagle were sampled before and after Zoletil anesthesia (10 mg/kg) via intramuscular injection.Then aterial blood gas was detected by blood gas analyzer.Then the physiological indicators,including heart rate,blood pressure and body temperature were measured via large animal ECG.Results For blood gas values,the pH value decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.01).pCO2 increased significantly and pO2 decreased significantly,the differences were significantly (P ＜ 0.05).In contrast,levels of Lac and HCO3-remained unaltered,indicating a typical respiratory acidosis.For physiological indicators,blood pressure increased slightly,but not significant.The heart rate increased significantly (P ＜ 0.01) and body temperature decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.01).There was no difference between sexes.Conclusion Zoletil anesthesia causes respiratory arrest and respiratory congestion,which further induced respiratory acidosis.Meanwhile,anesthesia also results in elevated heart rhythm and lower body temperature.These data indicate that warming and airway clear are necessary during anesthesia in Beagles.Moreover,it should be considered about the effects of anaesthetics when comparing differents in animals before and after treatment.

Objective To explore the electrophysiological properties and the disparity of visual cortical neurons in developing rats. Methods Whole cell patch clamp recording and intracellular labeling of brain slices were performed on rats at postnatal 14 and 28 days. The electrophysiological data were analyzed according to the cellular input resistance and resting membrane potential. Results When the input impedance of visual cortical neurons(IR) was lower, increased peak value of postsynaptic currents(PSCs), prolonged rise and decay time were found. At postnatal 14th day(before eyes opened), the intermediate cells and mature cells were 59.2% and 14.9% respectively, but at postnatal 28th day(14 days after eyes opened), the mature cells and immature cells were 62.5% and 12.5% respectively. Conclusion During the period of postnatal development, the visual cortical neurons become mature gradually, but maturation is not completely correlated with age.

Objective To establish a rapid method for the isolation of murine peritoneal macrophages. Methods Abdominal lavage was performed with NS and the peritoneal macrophages was purified from the lavage,which was later transferred into high glucose DMEM cul-ture medium. Cell viability was measured via the typan blue staining. Purity was observed via Wright's stain. Results High purity macropha-ges with typical morphology were obtained. Conclusion A simple and realistic method was set up for the isolation of murine peritoneal mac-rophages.

Objective To investigate the regulatory effects and possible mechanisms of autophagy induction and bactericidal activity in muring bone marrow derived macrophages ( BMDMs) . Methods Murine BMDMs were isolated and cultured in vitro. Then standard strain of E. coli was used to infect BMDMs and cellular autophagy levels and AMPK activation were detected. We next modulated functions of AMPK by pretreating cells with the specific agonist or antagonist of AMPK. Then cellular AMPK activation, autophagy levels and bactericidal activity were observed after E. coli infection. Results In E. coli infected BMDMs,autophagy related molecules like LC3B and Beclin1 were upregu-lated,accompanied with elevated LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰratio. Phosphorylation of AMPK was also upregulated by E. coli treatment. Enhanced AMPK activi-ty by its agonist leads to increased cellular autophagy and bactericidal activity,whereas inhibition of AMPK by its suppressor downregulated autophagy and dampened bactericidal activity. Conclusion AMPK and its related signaling pathway is required for anti-bacterial response in macrophage,which is dependent on its function in upregulating autophagy related molecules and inducing autophagy.

Objective To assess the variations in different thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) detection kits for evaluating thyroid function during pregnancy and to establish the corresponding normal reference ranges.Methods This study was based at the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.A total of 200 pregnant women who visited the hospital between June,2011 and September,2012 were recruited in this study according to the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) criteria.Blood samples were sequentially collected from the women at the first (T1,9-12 weeks),second (T2,16-24 weeks) and third (T3,32-36 weeks) trimesters to determine the serum TSH and FT4 levels using four different detection kits (Siemens-C,Siemens-Ⅰ,Abott and Roche).A linear trend test was used to analyze serum TSH and FT4 levels with four different kits.A percentile range of P2.5 to P97.5 was used to establish the normal trimester-dependent reference ranges of TSH and FT4 levels for different detection kits.The Bootstrap method was used to compare the differences in the four reference ranges.Results Similar dynamic changes in TSH and FT4 levels during pregnancy were detected among the different kits (F=0.950,P=0.595; F=11.640,P=0.081,respectively).Among the four reference ranges of TSH,the Roche kit showed the most remarkable fluctuation during pregnancy,while Roche kit in the first trimester and Siemens C kit in the second and third trimesters showed larger fluctuations in reference ranges of FT4.More importantly,the reference ranges of TSH and FT4 showed significant variations among the four different kits in each trimester (TSH:T1:F=2 945.390,P ＜ 0.01; T2:F=2 826.260,P ＜ 0.01; T3:F=1 698.360,P ＜ 0.01.FT4:Tl:F=1 145.440,P ＜ 0.01; T2:F=2 260.240,P ＜ 0.01; T3:F=1 439.920,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions TSH and FT4 measurement using four different commercial kits showed similar trimester-dependent dynamic changes.However,it is necessary to establish trimester-dependent and detection kit dependent normal reference ranges of TSH and FT4 for thyroid function evaluation for pregnant women.

Objective To investigate the chemokine 12 (CXCL12) and chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) expressions in hypopharyngeal carcinoma and its place in the disease development,invasion and metastasis of significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in 35 cases of hypopharyngeal cancer tissues and in 28 cases of tumor-adjacent non-tumor tissues.Results The expressions of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in the hypopharynx carcinomas were significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05).Both expressed in hypopharyngeal carcinomas was significantly positively correlated (P ＜ 0.01).Both hypopharynx cancer in lymph node metastasis group were significantly higher than the expression of cervical lymph node metastasis group,the difference was significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions CXCL12 and CXCR4 are involved in hypopharynx cancer development,invasion and metastasis,and there is a positive feedback regulation mechanism between two factors.Moreover,CXCL12 and CXCR4 have synergistic effect in development,invasion and metastasis of hypopharynx cancers.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Phyllodium pulchellum (L.) Desv..METHODS The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of P.pulchellum 95％ ethanol extract were isolated and purified by Sephadex LH-20,silica,ODS and pre-HPLC column,then the structures of isolated compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as phydroxybenzoic acid (1),protocatechuic acid (2),protocaechuic acid methyl ester (3),protocatechuic acid ethyl ester (4),ethyl gallate (5),p-coumaric acid (6),caffeic acid ester (7),loliolide (8),uridine (9),arbutin (10),daucosterol (11).CONCLUSION Compounds 4-11 are isolated from genus Phyllodium for the first time,compounds 2 and 3 are first obtained from this plant.

Objective To explore the impact of nucleos(t)ide analogue antiviral therapy on anxiety and depression of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB),and analyze the related factors.Methods Before nucleos(t)ide analogue antiviral therapy,1 year and 2 years after antiviral therapy,120 CHB patients were investigated with self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS).The demography data of patients were collected.Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and other biochemical indicators were measured regularly.Results Before nucleos(t)ide analogue antiviral therapy,1 year and 2 years after antiviral therapy,both the mean scores of SAS and SDS became lower gradually (F=12.661 and 22.395,respectively;both P＜0.01).The percentage of patients with SAS and SDS scores more than 50 were 5.8％,4.2％,1.7％ and 13.3％,7.5％,5.0％,respectively.After 2 years of therapy,the anxiety improvement rate of the patients obtained HBV DNA＜1000 copy/mL was 69.0％,while those with HBV DNA≥1000 copy/mL was 22.2％ (x2 =22.325,P＜0.01).Meanwhile,after 2 years of therapy,the depression improvement rate of the patients obtained HBV DNA＜1000 copy/mL was 77.4％,while those with HBV DNA≥1000 copy/mL was 22.2％ (x2 =32.179,P＜0.01).Multiple factors Logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds ratios (OR) of improvement of anxiety and depression in patients with HBV DNA＜1000 copy/mL were 7.751 (95％ CI:3.026-19.853) and 15.069(95％ CI:5.309-42.770),respectively,compared with those with HBV DNA≥1000 copy/mL; and OR of improvement of depression in patients with ALT≤40 U/L waa 4.103 (95％ CI: 1.376 - 12.238).Conclusions Nucleos(t) ide analogue antiviral therapy could improve the anxiety and depression of CHB patients.The HBV DNA negativity is the independent impact factor of improvement of anxiety and depression in CHB the patients.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of urinary light chain detection in essential hypertension renal injury. Methods According to "National Prevention and Treatment Guide of Hypertension" (2005 Edition) and the diagnostic criteria of essential hypertension renal injury, patients'medical history and damage of target organs, we selected 60 patients with essential hypertension and divided them into two groups: 28 patients without renal injury and 32 patients with renal injury. Meanwhile, Thirty healthy individuals were included in a control group. Urinary proteins and light chains were detected by immuonephelometry and the activity of NAG was determined by liquid kinetic rate assay with MNP as substrate. The urinary light chains concentration of each group were compared and analyzed with those of Alb and α1-MG. Results The results of lamU in renal injury group [8. 89(3.84-33. 30) mg] were higher than those of non renal injury group [3. 84(3. 84-10. 4) mg] and control group [3.84(0. 00-3.84) mg]. There was statistically significant difference ( H = 37.97, P ＜ 0. 01 ). The levels of kapU in renal injury group [26. 65 (6. 97-62. 5 ) mg] were higher than those of non renal injury group [6. 97 (6. 97-23.7 )mg] and control group [6. 97(6. 97-7. 20) mg], which also had statistical significance (H =40. 09,P ＜0. 01 ). All the other results in renal injury group ( Alb, α1-MG, IgG, TRF and NAG) were higher than those of non renal injury group and control group ( H =21.02, 32. 65, 25.50, 30. 45 and 30. 57, P ＜0. 01 ). Correlation analysis showed that Alb levels were highly correlated with urinary IgG and TRF levels [Correlation coefficient (r) =0. 911, 0. 965, P ＜ 0. 01]. The levels of urinary light chain lamU and kapU were also highly correlated with α1-MG ( r = 0. 804, 0. 827, P ＜ 0. 01 ). However, There was no correlationship between NAG and α1MG levels (r=0. 398,P＞0. 05). Conclusion The urinary light chain lamU and kapU can be used as indicators for evaluation of renal injury in essential hypertension, especially renal tubular injury.