Thrombospondin-1 (THBS-1),a kind of extracellular matrix proteins,whose biological action played an important role in corneal wound healing has became a research highlight.The currently research findings showed that THBS-1 could promote the healing of epithelium,stroma and endothelium through activating the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) which can accelerate cell proliferation,promote stroma forming and inducing cell migration.It is worthful in clinical treatment of all kinds of corneal wound healing.Now we summarized the research developments which have been acquired in the field recently in this article.

Background:Pancreatic cancer is obscure in onset and progresses rapidly with very poor prognosis. Photodynamic therapy( PDT)has been developed as a novel anti-tumor treatment modality since 1980s. At present,there are only limited researches on pancreatic cancer treated with PDT in vivo. Aims:To investigate the efficacy of quantum dots-RGD ( QDs-RGD)based PDT combined with gemcitabine for treatment of pancreatic cancer xenograft in nude mice. Methods:QDs-RGD probe was synthesized and nude mice bearing pancreatic cancer xenograft was established. Nude mice were imaged at 1,5,10 and 24 hours after injection of QDs-RGD and QDs by in vivo imaging system. Forty model nude mice were randomly divided into five groups:control group( without any treatment),simple illumination group( laser 630 nm, 120 J/cm2,20 min),PDT group(QDs-RGD 0. 5 nmol+laser irradiation),gemcitabine group(gemcitabine 50 mg/kg)and combination group(QDs-RGD 0. 5 nmol+laser irradiation+gemcitabine 50 mg/kg). All the nude mice were sacrificed 18 days later. Tumor weight and volume were measured and tumor inhibition rate was calculated. Results:Fluorescence of tumor was shown 1 hour after injection and became clearest at the 5th hour,then showing a decrescendo trend. Density of QDs surrounding tumor was significantly less than that of QDs-RGD and faded away at the 10th hour. Tumor weight and volume in PDT group,gemcitabine group and combination group were all significantly lower than those in control group and simple illumination group(P<0. 01),and those in combination group were significantly lower than those in PDT group and gemcitabine group(P <0. 05). No significant differences in tumor weight and volume were found between control group and simple illumination group(P >0. 05),as well as between PDT group and gemcitabine group(P >0. 05). Tumor inhibition rate in combination group,gemcitabine group and PDT group was 70. 5%,43. 5% and 37. 1%, respectively. Conclusions:QDs-RGD based PDT combined with gemcitabine can inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer xenograft in nude mice,which introduces a new idea to the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; therapy ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; immunology ; metabolism ; Antibodies ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunotherapy

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between arachidonic acid (AA) and acute red blood cells damage in rats, and to build a model with hidden blood loss in vivo, and to explore the pathological mechenism of hidden blood loss.

METHODSA total of 50 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing (200 ± 20) g were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): control group and four experimental groups. The rats in the experimental groups were given 0.5 ml different concentrations of AA dilu- ents, 5, 10, 20, 40 mmol/L respectively. The blood samples were collected from orbital venous at the beginning and 24, 48, 72 hours after administration. Then the changes of hemoglobin (Hb) ,red blood cell count (RBC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH- PX) activity, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and hydrogen peroxide (H202) in the blood samples were tested.

RESULTSSignificant hidden blood loss occurred when the concentration was 10 mmol/L in the experimental group, with the RBC and Hb sharply reduced in blood samples. The Hb and RBC were reduced in all the experimental groups and control group at 24 hours after administration, while in the experimental groups they changed more obviously. The GSH-PX activity, T-SOD activity and H₂O₂were also significantly reduced in all groups, and the changes showed significant differences. The Hb and RBC were relatively stable in the control group and the experimental groups at 48 hours after administration; while GSH-PX activity, T-SOD activity and H₂O₂were all significantly decreased, and the changes in the experimental groups were more notable.

CONCLUSIONElevated levels of AA in the blood causes oxidative stress in the red blood cells, leading to the damage of red blood cells and hemoglobin, which is responsible for hidden blood loss.

Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; toxicity ; Erythrocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

As perimenopausal syndrome is a particularly disturbing condition to the patient, it is practical and necessary to establish a program of comprehensive traditional Chinese medicine therapy for women with perimenopausal syndrome.

Objective: To explore the cognitive level and the mental status of the patients suffering from perimenopausal syndrome in Shanghai, and to identify the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome distribution feature of perimenopausal syndrome. Methods: The cognitive level of the perimenopausal women was evaluated by using general living problem questionnaire. The mental status of the perimenopausal women was evaluated by using self-rating depressive scale. The traditional Chinese medicine syndrome distribution feature of perimenopausal syndrome was identified by using traditional Chinese medical symptoms questionnaire. Results: A total of 634 perimenopausal women finished the investigation. There were 74.76% (474/634) patients who knew little about the perimenopausal syndrome; 77.29% (490/634) patients had a depressive tendency; 8.36% (53/634) patients had depressive disorder. There were 72.40% (459/634) patients who had the symptoms such as susceptibility to anger and restlessness, restless sleep at night, thirst with dry throat and bitter taste, and all these symptoms could be classified into hyperactivity of heart and liver fire syndrome. Conclusion: Patients suffering from perimenopausal syndrome know little about this disease and mostly have depressive tendency, and the major traditional Chinese medicine syndrome pattern is hyperactivity of heart and liver fire based on the chief clinical manifestations of the patients.

Objective To observe the expression of mitochondrial fission protein locus Fis1 and ultrastructural changes in the renal cells of rats with chronic fluorosis,and to reveal the mechanism in mitochondrial damage of the renal cells.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups according to sex and body mass(20 in each group):control group,lower fluoride group and higher fluoride group.All the rats were fed with different doses of sodium fluoride in drinking water(0,10 and 50 mg/L,respectively).Six-month later,the expression of Fisl in renal cells was determined by real-time fluorenscence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry technology,the mitochondrial morphology of renal cells was observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Results As compared with the control group(28.70 ± 12.41),Fis1 mRNA levels(91.48 + 34.83 and 582.09 ± 184.69) in renal cells of the lower fluoride and the higher fluoride groups were increased(all P ＜ 0.05).As compared with the control group(10.49 ± 7.66),Fisl protein levels(16.33 ± 10.26 and 21.50 ± 5.24) in renal cells of the lower fluoride and the higher fluoride groups showed a trend of increasing,the higher fluoride group was higher than that of the control group(P ＜ 0.05).By TEM,mitochondrial crest in renal cells of the lower fluoride and the higher fluoride groups was vague or disappeared,mitochondrial division section appeared.Conclusions Fluoride is a kind of toxicant that can cause damage to mitochondrion of renal cells,induce the expression of Fis1 in transcriptional and protein level,and lead to the obstacles of mitochondrial fusion-fission and ultrastructural abnormality of mitochondrion,which may play an important role in mechanism of mitochondrial damage in the renal cells of rats with chronic fluorosis.

Non-coding RNAs ( ncRNA ), including ribosomal RNA( rRNA), transfer RNA( tRNA), MicroRNA ( miRNA), long noncoding RNA(lncRNA) and small nucleolar RNA(snoR-NA), are a class of RNA that have multiple functions and are not translated to proteins. MicroRNA and lncRNA are involved in the injury, remodeling and aging of blood vessels, and it is necessary to understand the regulatory roles of MicroRNA and lncRNA in these processes. It is reported that MicroRNA and lncRNA are not only participated in the regulation of oxidative response, inflammation, cell proliferation and migration, and phenotype transition, they are also involved in the regulation of gene expression by conducting different mechanisms, including transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modification and chromatin remodeling. These aspects of regulation by MicroRNA and lncRNA are related to cardiovascular diseases, such as ath-erosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, pul-monary hypertension and diabetes, and thus provide a new way for genetic diagnosis and therapy of cardiovascular diseases.

Focused Ultrasound Surgery (FUS) is a promising minimally invasive technique in tissue ablation. Because of the high intensity at the ultrasound focus, a precise 3D-localization system is required to determine the site of the treating target in order to increase the efficiency and security of FUS. This paper represents a three dimensional ultrasound (3D US) localization system developed and its workflow. The system is mainly composed of imaging and image processing system, movement device and its controlling circuits, and position feedback device. The system has a maximum scan range of +/- 30 degrees with a resolution of 8 levels from 0.54' to 0.36 degrees. For a spherical shape like target, in theory, the maximum diameter is 160 mm the system can treat. The system can be used to localize precisely the treatment targets with general sizes in the suitable parts of the body in FUS.
Algorithms ; Automatic Data Processing ; Computer Simulation ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; Microcomputers ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) is a chronic inflammatory disease with unknown etiology and is lack of effective therapy. The aim of this study is to explore the function of Ca2+ and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in the pathogenesis of IPF, and the impact of 1,25?( OH) 2 D3 on Ca2+ and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in type Ⅱalveolar epithelial cells of rat with IPF. Methods 150 male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: prevention group ( control groupⅠ, model groupⅠ, medication groupⅠ) and treatment group ( control groupⅡ, model groupⅡ, medication groupⅡ) . The tracheal exposure surgery was operated in control groupⅠ/Ⅱ, and then 200μL sterile physiological saline was administered by intraperitoneal injection of each rats 2 days and 14 days after surgery, separately. Bleomycin(BLM)(5 mg/kg) was in?jected into the trachea of model groupⅠ/Ⅱ, and then vitamin D3 solvent(0.1%ethanol and 99.9%glycol propylene, 1μL/g) was ad?ministered by intraperitoneal injection 2 days and 14 days after surger?y, separately. Bleomycin( BLM) ( 5 mg/kg) was injected into the tra?chea of medication groupⅠ/Ⅱ, and then 1,25?( OH) 2 D3( 2μg/kg) was administered by intraperitoneal injection 2 days and 14 days after surgery, separately. IPF model was built by injecting Bleomycin into the trachea of rats, 1,25?(OH)2D3(2μg/kg) was used to prevent and treat IPF by intraperitoneal injection in medication group. The hydroxyproline content of lung tissue in each group was measured, type Ⅱalveolar epithelial cells were separated from lung tissue and labeled with Fluo?3AM, then concentration of Ca2+ was detected by Laser scanning confocal microscope. The mRNA levels of PI3K, AKT and mTOR in the typeⅡalveolar epithelial cells were tested by RT?PCR. Results Compared with control groupⅠ/Ⅱ at each time point, hydroxyproline content of lung tissue, Ca2+ concentration and expression of PI3K, AKT and mTOR in typeⅡalveolar epithelial cells in model groupⅠ/Ⅱand medication groupⅠ/Ⅱwere sig?nificantly raised( P<0.05 or P<0.01) , but these were significantly reduced in medication groupⅠ/Ⅱcompared with model groupⅠ/Ⅱ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) . Correlation analysis showed that there is significant positive correlation between Ca2+ concentration and mRNA expression levels of PI3K, AKT and mTOR in model groupⅠ/Ⅱ(r=0.5988, r=0.6230, r=0.6603,P<0.01)and medication groupⅠ/Ⅱ( r=0.701 2, r=0.632 3,r=0.740 3,P<0.01) . Conclusion The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway plays an important role in devel?opment of IPF. 1,25?( OH) 2 D3 is able to reduce Ca2+concentration in typeⅡalveolar epithelial cells and inhibit the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and then inhibit the development of IPF.