Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Research on selective attention of mobile visual information is relatively scarce because of difficulties in technology, methodology and experimental condition control. As is well known, most visual information in the real world is mobile and changeable. To examine the mechanism of mobile visual information is helpful to designing natural and highly efficient human-computer interface as well as selecting specialized personnel in special fields OBJECTIVE: To explore the distractive effect of the number, color, and form changes of distractors on multiple-target tracking performance. DESIGN: The present study was a 3 × 2 × 2 within subject design. Participants were undergraduates from Beijing Normal University.SETTING: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was performed in the Experimental Psychology Lab of Beijing Normal University in April 2003. Twenty-four undergraduates from Beijing Normal University participated in the experiment. Among them there were 11 males and 13 females aged 17-25 years.They all reported normal or corrected-to-normal vision and normal color perception.METHODS: ① Stimuli were presented on a 17-inch Founder monitor with the resolution of 1028 × 800 pixels. A Founder computer controlled the stimulus presentation and randomization of trials. Response latencies were collected by keyboard response with accuracy of one millisecond. The stimuli were randomly moving "日" characters. The number of "日" characters is 4, 8 and 12. As the participants were tracking the objects, the targets would transform to "(│)" and "(│)", and the distractors would change to "(│)" , "(│)", or "H" by removing lines from "日 ". All distractors and targets were red at the beginning of moving. ② The correct responses were analyzed with 3-factor repeated measures analysis of variance, multiple comparison analysis, and pairwise T-test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Response time and accuracy of pressing the keys.RESULTS: The data of 24 participants were involved in the final statistical analysis. ① The three-factor repeated measures ANOVA results showed that the main effect of the number change of distractors was significant [F(1,22)=6.040, P ＜ 0.05]. The further ANOVA and pairwise comparison in different experiment conditions also showed no distractive effects when target and distractor had different shape but the same color [F(1,2,3)=9.965, P ＜ 0.01]. The further pairwise comparison indicated that when the number of distractors was 2 and 6, the participants' response latencies had no significant effects, and they had significant effect when the number of distractors was 2 and 10, or 6 and 10 (RT10-RT2=46 ms, P ＜ 0.05, two-tail test; RT10-RT6=28ms, P ＜ 0.05, one-tail test). These results showed that the increase in the number of distractors had distractive effects. ② There had no significant effect whether target and distractor had the same color or not, when the number of distractors was 2 and 10. And there had significant effects whether the color of target and distractor was the same or not when the number of distractors was 6; the same shape of target and distractor produced distractive effects (Tsame colons=1.926; Tdifferent colons=2.044,P ＜ 0.05, one-tail test). The main effect of the color was not significant. The further pairwise comparison showed the same result. That is,the color change of diatractors had no obvious distractive effect.CONCLUSION: ① There was distractive effect when the number of distractors increased while the shape and color of distractor and target were different. ② There was no distractive effect when the number of distractors increased while the shape of distractor and target was the same. ③ There was distractive effect when the number of distractors increased while the shape of distractor and target was different, and there was distractive effect when the color of distractor and target was the same.

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of central conreal thickness ( CCT ) using EX500 Excimer Laser workstation (EX500) in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) patients.METHODS:The CCT of 120 eyes (63 patients) who had LASIK between January 2013 and June 2013 were measured by A- scan and EX500. Three groups were classified: >550μm, 500 ~550μm, <500μm according the CCT value of A-scan. The CCT were measured again by corneal flap creating by moria SBK microkeratome. The thickness of the corneal bed stroma were measured by A-scan and EX500 after keratomileusis. All outcomes were analyzed with paired t test.
RESULTS: The average preoperative CCT value was 527. 9±34. 3μm measured by A-scan, 528. 5±34. 6μm measured by EX500. There was no significant difference between these two measurements (t=1. 736, P=0. 085). In group which CCT >550μm, the average preoperative CCT value was 571. 4±17. 3μm measured by A-scan, 572.7±15. 7μm measured by EX500. There was no significant difference between these two measurements (t=1. 857, P=0. 072). In group which CCT 500 ~ 550μm, the average preoperative CCT value was 523. 4±13. 1μm measured by A-scan, 524. 2±12. 4μm measured by EX500. There was no significant difference between these two measurements ( t=1. 934, P = 0. 058 ). In group which CCT <500μm, the average preoperative CCT value 484. 5±9.8μm measured by A-scan, 483. 7±8. 9μm measured by EX500. There was no significant difference between these two measurements (t=1. 395, P=0. 174). The average CCT value after corneal flap lifting was 401. 3 ± 34. 2μm measured by A-scan, 393. 4±38. 9μm measured by EX500. There was a significant difference between these two measurements ( t = 6. 669, P = 0. 000 ). The average thickness of the corneal bed stroma value after keratomileusis was 332. 6±38. 3μm measured by A-scan, 307. 3 ± 37. 1μm measured by EX500. There was a significant difference between these two measurements ( t=17. 165, P=0. 000).
CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference between preoperative CCT value measured by A-scan and EX500. After corneal flap lifting and keratomileusis, the CCT value measured by EX500 is smaller than measured by A-scan.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Fluorescence ; G1 Phase ; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle

The PET tracer 5-([11C]methyloxy)-L-tryptophan (5-(11)CMTP) was prepared by nucleophilic fluorination and alkylation reaction via a two-step procedure in order to develop specific tumor probe. The biodistribution and microPET imaging of 5-(11)CMTP were executed. The results unveiled that the overall radiochemical yield with no decay correction was (14.6 ±7.2) %, the radiochemical purity was more than 95% and high uptake and long retention time of 5-(11)CMTP in liver, kidney and blood were observed but low uptake in brain and muscle were found, furthermore, high uptake of 5-(11)CMTP in tumor tissue was observed. It seems that 5-(11)CMTP will be a potential amino acid tracer for tumors imaging with PET.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radioactive Tracers ; Tissue Distribution ; Tryptophan ; analogs & derivatives

To observe the effect of intracarotid administration of adrenomedullin (AM) on the spontaneous electrical activity of area postrema (AP) neurons, 78 spontaneous active units were recorded from 63 sino-aortic denervated Sprague-Dawley rats using extracellular recording technique. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Following intracarotid administration of AM (0.3 nmol/kg), the discharge rate of 47 out of 78 units increased markedly from 2.99+/-0.24 to 4.79+/-0.29 spikes/s (P<0.001), 20 units decreased from 3.24+/-0.46 to 1.97+/-0.37 spikes/s (P<0.001), and the remaining 11 showed no response. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) did not change throughout the experimentation. (2) Pretreatment with intracarotid administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist CGRP8-37 (3 nmol/kg) did not change the effects of AM. (3) Following intracarotid injection of NO precursor L-arginine (30 mg/kg), the excitatory effect of AM was attenuated. The above results indicate that AM can excite spontaneous electrical activity of AP neurons, this effect is not mediated by calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor but may be attenuated by NO precursor L-arginine.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Adrenomedullin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta ; innervation ; physiology ; surgery ; Area Postrema ; physiology ; Carotid Sinus ; innervation ; physiology ; surgery ; Denervation ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Male ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pituitary apoplexy and investigate the changes and features of endocrine hormones caused by pituitary apoplexy.Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical and laboratory data of pituitary tumor and pituitary apoplexy was carried out.Results (1) The incidence of pituitary apoplexy was 31.78％,patients were 15-75 (47.5 ± 11.7) year old,most patients were female.(2)Diabetes,coronary heart disease,menopausal hormone therapy,radiotherapy,surgery,and bromocriptine administration may be related to pituitary apoplexy.(3) There was high incidence of apoplexy in nonfunctioning adenoma.(4) According to the relationship between apoplexy and pituitary tumor,cases with pituitary apoplexy were divided into 5 types.(5) Pituitary apoplexy was associated with low serum creatinine,hypernatremia,hyperchloremia,hypoeosinophilia,and hypobasophilia.(6) 61.61％ of the patients had pituitary hormone deficiency,especially the GnH deficiency.(7)98.10％ of the patients were treated by surgery.Conclusion Pituitary apoplexy has its own clinical characteristics,and more attention should be paid in clinical practice.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Humans ; Infant ; Inpatients ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; etiology ; mortality ; therapy ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo lessen the occurrence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), the preventive measures of CIN were reviewed.

DATA SOURCESThe data used in this review were from PubMed with relevant English articles and from Chinese Knowledge Information (CNKI) published from 1989 to 2009. The search terms were "contrast medium", "contrast-induced nephropathy" and "prevention". Articles involved in prevention of CIN were selected.

STUDY SELECTIONCIN is the third most common cause of acute kidney injury and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The best treatment is prophylaxis because CIN can not be reversed or ameliorated.

RESULTSThirty articles were included. Among various preventive measures, pericatheterization hydration is almost universally accepted as an appropriate and safe measure to prevent CIN, although there is no agreement as to composition, amount, and timing of hydration. Based on the use of concomitant nephrotoxic agents or high doses of contrast medium (CM) is one of risk factors for CIN, discontinuation of potentially nephrotoxic drugs 2 - 3 days before and after the procedure until renal function recover, and using the lowest possible dose of CM can decrease the risk of CIN. It is promising that removing the majority of CM from the coronary sinus, before it enters the systemic circulation, during coronary angiography can reduce the risk for CIN in animal studies and in limited clinical trials. Inconsistent data exist with respect to application of some vasodilators (endothelin antagonists and adenosine antagonists) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine and statins) in preventing CIN in high-risk patients, and new vasodilators and antioxidants continue to be tested.

CONCLUSIONSPericatheterization hydration, discontinuation of nephrotoxic drugs, and using the lowest possible dose of CM are effective measures to lessen the risk for CIN. Other prophylactic strategies and some drugs are promising, but further confirmation is required.

Objective To prepare specific polyclonal antibodies to outer membrane protein (Opr) D_2 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA),and explore the relationship between loss of OprD_2 and imipenem resistance.Methods The genomic DNA of PA was ex- tracted with phenol:chloroform.OprD_2 coding gene was amplified by PCR and prokaryotic expression vector pRSET-OprD_2 was constructed.OprD_2 protein was expressed by IPTG induction in E.coli BL21(DE3),and purified with SDS-PAGE.The new protein band was recovered and used as antigens to subcutaneously immunize two New Zealand rabbits to prepare poly- clonal antibody.The specificity of the antibody was determined by Western blot.The expression of OprD_2 in 32 clinical isolates of PA was detected with the prepared polyclonal antibody by Western blot.Results The vector pRSET-OprD_2 has been success- fully expressed in E.coli BL21 (DE3).The polyclonal anti-OprD_2 antibody with high specificity has been successfully pre- pared.Present results show that of the 27 imipenem-resistant PA clinical isolates,OprD2 protein was low-expressed in 5 iso- lates (18.5%) and normally expressed in 2 isolates (7.4%) but not expressed in 20 isolates (74.1%).Conclusions The loss or low-expression of OprD_2 is one of the essential mechanisms accounting for imipenem resistance in clinical isolates of PA.