Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Humans ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology

Background Central corneal thickness (CCT)is an important parameter to evaluate corneal healthy status and is crucial for surgical planning.However,clinical study found that the center of cornea does not correspond to the thinnest point of cornea.Thus,it is essential to characterize the minimum corneal thickness(MCT) and its location.Objective Present study was to determine the thickness and location of MCT and its relationship to the fellow eye using Pentacam High Resolution technique.Methods The 564 eyes from 282 Chinese myopic patients were reviewed in this study.The CCT,MCT,pupillary central corneal thickness(PCT) and x-y coordinate of thinnest point were bilaterally measured.Written informed consent was obtained prior to the ocular biomedical measurement.Results CCT was (540.07±31.78) μm in the right eyes and (539.24±31.06) μm in the lefi eyes; PCT was (540.25±30.75)μm in the right eyes and (539.48±31.00)μm in the left eyes.MCT was (537.87± 31.91)μm in the right eyes and (536.35±31.24)μm in the left eyes,showing significant differences in all the parameters between the right eyes and left eyes expect for PCT(CCT:P=0.046;PCT:P=0.065 ;MCT:P=0.000).The C CT,PCT and M CT were significantly correlated between the right eyes and left eyes (r =0.97,0.97,0.98,P＜ 0.01).Bland-Altman plot showed a good consistence between the both eyes.The mean distance from the center was (0.50±0.21) mm in the right eyes and (0.56±0.22)mm in the left eyes,showing a significant difference (P =0.000).The difference between CCT and MCT was approximately (2.20±1.74)μm in the right eyes and (2.88±1.75) μm in the left eyes.The location of MCT in both the right eyes and left eyes tended to symmetry along the vertical midline.The distance between the R (x,y) to transformed L (x,y) was (0.29 ± 0.17)mm and the angular distance was (28.28±28.21)degree.Conclusions This study offers a range of MCT and its location in Chinese myopic patients.The difference exists between the CCT and MCT in bilateral eyes.The location of the thinnest point tends to be symmetrical along the vertical midline between the both eyes.The changes of these parameters may be helpful for the diagnosis of some corneal diseases.

Objective To evaluate the myocardial blood supply in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) using 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT MPI. Methods A total of 342 patients were divided into four groups according to the number of abnormal metabolic indices: no abnormal metabolic index (Group 1), one abnormal index (Group 2), two abnormal indices (Group 3), three or more abnormal indices (Group 4). Each patient underwent two-day protocol of gated stress and rest 99Tcm-MIBI MPI. One hundred and three of the 342 patients were clinically diagnosed as MS and underwent CAG within 1 month after MPI. χ2test was used to evaluate the difference among the four groups and Kappa test to analyze the correlation between MPI and CAG. Results Compared with CAG, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values by 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT MPI for coronary artery diseases (CAD) in 103 MS patients were 80.5% (33/41), 85.5% (53/62), 78.6% (33/42) and 86.9% (53/61), respectively. The correlation coefficient between MPI and CAG was 0.657 (P<0.001). The abnormal MPI rates in group 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 23.3% (10/43), 32.9% (26/79), 54.4% (56/103), and 57.3% (67/117), respectively (χ2=23.22, P<0.001). Conclusions In MS patients,99Tcm-MIBI SPECT MPI can be useful for evaluating myocardial blood supply and the myocardial ischemia rates may correlate positively with the number of abnormal metabolic indices.

Objective To establish the orthotopic human pancreatic cancer model in mice and study the method to detect the tumor growth. Methods Human pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990 in logarithmic phase was made into cell suspension and in situ injected into the envelope of pancreatic tail of BALB/c nude mice. High-frequency endoscopy ultrasound was used to observe the growth of tumor mass and its imaging characteristics were studied. Results 20 nude mice were successfully implanted, and 1 died 25 h after implantation. 14 days after implantation, the tumor of pancreatic cancer on EUS was (8.09 ± 2.61) mm3, the tumor appeared as homogeneous hypoechoic mass with clear boundary, and envelope as well as sound halo was present, and the shape was regular; there was low speed circular vasculature signal in around 30% of tumor.The tumor size increased to (12.40 ± 3.51)mm3, and the shape of 70% tumor was irregular, and some appeared as lobulated, and the tumor appeared as heterogeneous hypoechoic mass, no necrosis or liquefaction was found 28 days after implantation. There was low speed circular vasculature signal in around 70% tumors.Conclusions The orthotopic pancreatic cancer model in nude mouse can be established by in situ injection and this method is relatively ideal because it is simple and effective. The high frequency probe of endoscopic ultrasonograph is a reliable method for monitoring implanted pancreatic cancer.

Aerospace medicine has paid more and more attention to abnormal changes of physiological functions induced by weightlessness and studies on their prevention during space flight. In this paper, the effect of space weightlessness on cognitive functions was introduced. We tried to analyze the correlation between the cognitive function changes and relevant Chinese medical syndromes, thus providing a potential available way to prevent and treat weightlessness induced cognitive deficit during space flight.
Aerospace Medicine ; Cognition ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Weightlessness

AIM: To determine whether the high mobility group protein I (HMGI) is able to bind to the upstream sequence of platelet-derived growth factor B-chain gene and to characterize the HMGI-binding AT-rich regions. METHODS: Recombinant human HMGI (rhHMGI) protein was prepared and electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used. RESULTS: The binding of rhHMGI to PDGF-B (-1 758 / +43 bp) was observed in vitro. Two major HMGI-binding fragments -1 392 / -1 180 bp and -188 / +43 bp were identified, which contained the same AT-rich sequence TTTATAAA (-1 333 / -1 326 bp, -1 314 / -1 307 bp and -30 / -23 bp). An oligonucleotide bound to the TTTATAAA and the GAGACC, the core sequence of the shear stress response element of the PDGF-B, could also bind to the HMGI. Furthermore, HMGI facilitated the binding of NF-?B to the GAGACC in the oligonucleotide. CONCLUSION: The HMGI could bind to the upstream sequence of the PDGF-B gene via the AT-rich sequence TTTATAAA, which may play a role in the transcriptional regulation of the PDGF-B gene.

Objective To study the potential efficacy of transplanted bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating and repairing the acute lung injury in animal models. Methods MSCs were isolated from mouse bone marrow, cultrued and amplified in vitro. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was inhaled through postnasal tract to cause acute lung injury in mice and the MSCs labeled by Brdu were administrated via vein into the mice. The migration and differention of the cells were identified by immunostaining and double immunostaining. The pathological changes, pulmonary edema index and the content of IL-1β in lung homogenate were used to accese the therapeutical effect of MSCs. Results The cultured MSCs dispalyed a positive CD44 and a negative CD34. The Brdu-labeled cells were detected in the lungs of the recipient 4 days after transplantation, indicating its origin of MSCs. Theses cells also exhibited characteristics of aveolar epithelials, expressing the cytokeratin-the marker of epithelium. Compared with the injuried ones, the mice treated with MSCs showed a decreased pulmonary edema in-dex and IL-1β content in the lung homogenate. Conclusion These data suggest a therapeutical effects of MSCs in treating and repairing the mouse acute lung injury.

To reveal the variation of polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extract contents of Dendrobium officinale, the polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extracts contents of three D. officinale strains were determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method and hot-dip method, respectively. The results showed that the contents of polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extracts and their total content were significantly different among D. officinale samples collected in different periods, and the variations were closely related to the phenology of D. officinale. Additionally, the quality variation of polysaccharides was closely related to the flowering of D. officinale, while the alcohol-soluble extracts was closely associated to the formation and germination of buds. According to the dynamic variation of these two compounds, it is more reasonable to harvest D. officinale at biennials pre-bloom than at specific harvesting month considering polysaccharides content. It is better to harvest before the germination of buds considering alcohol-soluble extracts. While with regards to both polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extract, it is better to harvest this plant at the period from the sprouting to pre-bloom next year.
Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification

To reveals the effects of tree species on polysaccharides content of epiphytic Dendrobium officinale. The polysaccharides content of D. officinale attached to living tress in wild or stumps in bionic-facility was determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method. There were extremely significant differences of polysaccharides content of D. officinale attached to different tree species, but the differences had no relationship with the form and nutrition of barks. The polysaccharides content of D. officinale mainly affected by the light intensity of environment, so reasonable illumination favored the accumulation of polysaccharides. Various polysaccharides content of D. officinal from different attached trees is due to the difference of light regulation, but not the form and nutrition of barks.
Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Light ; Plant Bark ; physiology ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Trees

Objective To investigate the effect of underwater treadmill training (UWTT) on patients with hemiplegia after stroke. Methods Based on routine rehabilitation, 15 hemiplegic patients after stroke were treated with UWTT system 20 min/d, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Walking distance and speed in water were tested before and after UWTT. Dynamic balance function and static balance function were also assessed by Active Balancer assessment. Results All the items improved significantly after treatment (P<0.01), except deflection center displacement of X and Y axis (P>0.05). Conclusion UWTT can improve the walking ability and balance function of hemiplegic patients after stroke.