Objective To examine the effects and mechanisms of siRNA targeting aquaporin 4 (AQP 4) in combination with hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBO) on cerebral edema and apoptosis in the brain tissue of rats after hemorrhage.Methods Rats were randomly divided into four groups,the control group,the hyperbaric oxygen group,the AQP-4 siRNA group and the combination therapy group (24 rats).Thrombin Ⅶ was injected into the caudate nucleus to establish the hemorrhage model.Construction of siRNA targeting aquaporin 4 was conducted.The mRNA expression of AQP-4 was detected by RT-PCR at day 3.Changes in brain moisture and blood-brain barrier perme ability were measured by a wet/dry weight method and Evans blue fluorometry.The nerve cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by Annexin V andTdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).The expression of proteins including AQP-4,MMP-2,MMP-9,Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was detected by Western Blotting.All the animals were given a score for their nerve function at day 3.Results AQP-4 siRNA treatment obtained better effects than HBO in decreasing the brain edema leveland silencing AQP-4 mRNA(P＜0.05)while,the combination therapy group achieved the best results(P＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased in all the three treatment groups,with the most marked decrease observed in the combination treatment group(4.24± 0.04)％(F=13.76,P=0.001).The expression of AQP-4,MMP-2,MMP-9 and caspase-3 was lower (P＜0.05) and the expression of Bcl-2 was higher(P＜0.01)in the combination treatment group than in the other three groups.Compared with the control group,all the other three groups received better scores on nerve function defect evaluation at day 3 after hemorrhage(P＜0.05),with the combination treatment group again achieving the most favorable score (4.7 ± 1.1) (F=7.21,P =0.013).Conclusions Targeted siRNA interference combined with hyperbaric oxygen can effectively reduce cerebral edema after cerebral hemorrhage,inhibit neuronal apoptosis and promote neuron function recovery.The underlying mechanisms may be related to down-regulation of AQP-4,MMP 2,MMP-9 and caspase-3 expression and up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical results of three bonding patterns for the reattachment of anterior fractured teeth.

METHODSThe reattachment of 59 anterior fractured teeth was performed using three bonding patterns, which were pattern A (pulp chamber concave + labial chamfer), pattern B (pulp chamber concave + lingual notch) and pattern C (pulp chamber concave + lingual notch + labial chamfer), and followed up for more than 24 months. Pattern A, B and C were 14 teeth, 14 teeth and 31 teeth, respectively. Twenty-one sectioned maxillary central incisors (obtained from patients with periodontal disease) whose edge fragments reattached using the three bonding patterns were used for the experimental study of shear bond strength, and each pattern was used in 7 teeth.

RESULTSThree reattached teeth fractured again due to another trauma, two of which was pattern B and one was pattern A. The reattachment of the remaining 56 anterior fractured teeth was successful after a follow up of mean 28.3 months. The experimental study showed that bonding pattern A and C could bear more shear stress than bonding pattern B (F = 5.161, P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONSThe present study suggests that bonding pattern A (pulp chamber concave + labial chamfer) and C (pulp chamber concave + lingual notch + labial chamfer) were the best methods for the reattachment of fractured anterior teeth.

Adolescent ; Child ; Dental Bonding ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Incisor ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shear Strength ; Tooth Crown ; injuries ; Tooth Fractures ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of GABA-activated currents in isolated dorsal root ganglion neurons in rats with neuropathic pain.

METHODSThe neuropathic pain model was established by chronic constriction injury (CCI) 7 days before electrophysiological-recording. The rat DRG neurons were enzymatically dissociated. Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record GABA-activated currents. The changes of currents of injured side and opposite side were expected to compare with control group.

RESULTS(1) The currents of injured side of CCI group were notablely decreased compared with control group (GABA concentration, 0.1-1000 micromol/L). (2) By the contrast, opposite side currents of CCI group increased significantly compared with those in injured side and control group (GABA concentration, 0.01-1000 micromol/L).

CONCLUSIONThe data indicates that the chronic constriction injury change both the function of GABAA receptors of injury side and opposite side. The decrease of pre-synaptic inhibition of GABA may be the possible reason of neuropathic pain.

Animals ; Cell Separation ; Constriction ; Ganglia, Spinal ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neuralgia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-A ; metabolism ; physiology ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries

The chitosan/PHEA-blended hydrogels were prepared from PHEA and chitosan in various blend ratios. The water contents of the hydrogels were in the range of 50%-80% (wt). The attachment and growth of fibroblast cells(L929) on the hydrogels were studied. The results indicated the PHEA content in hydrogels has great effect on cell attachment but has little effect on the growth of L929 cells.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cell Division ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; physiology ; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate ; chemistry ; Mice ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of the no-flip procedure with the Chinese Shang Ring when circumcising adult males with redundant prepuce or phimosis, and to discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

METHODSUsing the no-flip Shang Ring technique, we performed circumcision for 167 adult males aged 18 -72 (mean 27.8) years with redundant prepuce or phimosis, and analyzed the clinical data, including the operation time, postoperative complications, ring-removal time, and postoperative appearance of the penis.

RESULTSComplete follow-up data of 94 cases (56.29%) were obtained. The mean operation time was (5.03 +/- 0.71) minutes and the average ring-removal time was (18.83 +/- 6.70) days. The primary postoperative complications were edema (35 cases [37.23%] at 2 weeks and 9 cases [9.57%] at 4 weeks), including 2 severe cases (2.13%), and infection (3 cases [3.19%]). The pain scores were 2.01 +/- 2.46 during the procedure and 4.52 +/- 2.53 at 24 hours postoperatively. Slipping of the outer ring occurred in 1 case, and delayed removal of the ring in 30 cases (31.91%).

CONCLUSIONAdult male circumcision with the no-flip Shang Ring technique is recommended for its short operation time, simple procedure, fewer postoperative complications, less pain, and better incision appearance.

Adult ; Aged ; Circumcision, Male ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Edema ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Pain, Postoperative ; etiology ; Penile Diseases ; etiology ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Prostheses and Implants ; Young Adult

Aim To evaluate the effects of salvianolic acid B ( Sal B ) on bone metabolism and its potential mechanism in high fat diet ( HFD) mice.Methods Thirty C57BL/6J male mice were divided into three groups with 10 mice each, namely normal , HFD and HFD+Sal B.HFD and HFD+Sal B mice were treated with HFD, and HFD+Sal B group mice were also with Sal B (125 mg· kg -1· d-1).After 12 weeks' treat-ment, femurs were harvested .The effects of Sal B on biomechanical strength were evaluated by biomechani-cal tests, and the effects of Sal B on bone microstruc-ture were evaluated by Safranin O/fast green staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining .The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B ( NF-κB)-p65 and NADPH ox-idase 4 ( Nox4 ) and cathepsin K in femurs was deter-mined by immunohistochemical staining . Results Maximum load and elastic load significantly decreased ,and the trabeculae became thinner and irregular in the femurs of HFD mice , while Sal B treatment could re-verse the descending biomechanical strength and the disorganized femurs bone micro-structures in HFD mice.In addition, the expressions of Nox4, NF-κB-p65 and cathepsin Kmarkedly increased in HFD mice , and Sal B possessed the ability to down-regulate the ex-pression of Nox4, NF-κB-p65, and cathepsin K in the femurs triggered by HFD .Conclusions Sal B treat-ment improves bone metabolism via regulating Nox 4/NF-κB/cathepsin K signaling pathway in HFD mice . The findings contribute to the understanding and exten-sion of the applications of Salvia miltiorrhiza and its constituents on osteoporosis .

To measure particle size distribution of phenols in mainstream cigarette smoke aerosol,the particles of cigarette smoke aerosol were divided into 12 stages using single channel smoking machine coupled electrical low-pressure impactor (ELPI) and collected by 12 polyester films.The collected particles were weighted and then analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (UPLC-FLD) to determine the 14 phenols in the different size particles.The results showed that the aerosols collecting method had good stability with relative standard deviation (RSD) of collected particles mass less than 10%.The analyzing results of 14 phenols by UPLC-FLD showed that the linear correlation coefficients(R2) were greater than 0.9959,with detection limits were less than 1.2 ng/cig and recoveries were 80.1%-115.0%.The distributions of 14 phenols with respect to smoke aerosol particle size were investigated.The results indicated that except 4-ethyl-2-methoxy-phenol not detected,the other 13 phenols were detected in mainstream cigarette smoke aerosol.The content of 13 phenols appeared increasing at first and then decreasing with increase of the particle size which distributed in a pattern similar to that of particle mass.All of 13 phenols were present in higher amounts in the medium size particles (0.261-0.722 μm) with peak content in particles 0.431 μm.The distribution of concentrations (ratio of content to particle mass) of 13 phenols in different size particles was different.The concentrations of phenol and mono-substituted phenol appeared to first increase and then decrease with increasing smoke aerosol particle size and were higher in medium size particles (0.261-0.772 μm).The concentrations of benzenediol and mono-substituted benzenediol were uniformly distributed in medium size particles (0.144-1.166 μm),and the concentration of disubstituted phenol was uniform throughout the particles of varying sizes.

Chloride channels have been identified in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). It has been shown that these channels are involved in myogenic tone regulation and neuromuscular transmission in various vascular beds. However, whether the chloride channels are responsible for the formation of excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) of SMCs in the spiral modiolar artery (SMA) remains unelucidated. In the present study, the effects of chloride channel blockers (niflumic acid, NFA; indanyloxyacetic acid 94, IAA-94; disodium 4, 4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonate, DIDS) on EJP were explored in guinea pigs, using intracellular recording techniques on acutely isolated SMA. It was found that EJP was evoked in the majority of the SMCs (75%, n=49) with an adequate electronic stimulation. The amplitude of the EJP was partially blocked (30% approximately 80%) by combined application of alpha(1) receptor antagonist (prazosin) and alpha(2) receptor antagonist (idazoxan) at concentration of up to 1 micromol/L, and P(2x) receptor antagonist (PPADS, 10 approximately 100 micromol/L). NFA (100 micromol/L) could further inhibit the residual EJP in the presence of alpha(1), alpha(2)-adrenergic and P(2x) receptor antagonists. IAA-94 or DIDS not only inhibited the amplitude but also shortened the duration of EJP. Decrease of extracellular chloride concentration from 135.6 mmol/L to 60 mmol/L would enhance EJP. Moreover, IAA-94 (100 micromol/L) and DIDS (200 mumol/L) could reverse the enhancement of EJP by low extracellular Cl(-). NFA (100 micromol/L) could also block the residual depolarizations evoked by norepinephrine (NE, 1 approximately 50 micromol/L). Based on these results, it is inferred that NE could activate a novel adrenoceptor to open the chloride channel on the membrane of the SMCs, leading to a transmembrane Cl(-) current. This current is involved, at least partially, in the formation of EJP.
Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Arteries ; physiology ; Chloride Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cochlea ; blood supply ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; drug effects ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; physiology ; Norepinephrine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEIn order to study the diagnosis and treatment of HBV and HCV infection.

METHODSWe retrospectively analysed clinical data of 680 patients with cholangiocarcinoma from 1995 to 2001 and stated by SPSS software.

RESULTS(1) The fastigium of cholangiocarcinoma was 60 - 65 years old. The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma was higher in aged males and the sex ratio (male:female) was 1.36:1. (2) The proximal cholangiocarcinoma was most (41.6%) and distant cholangiocarcinoma was secondly (28.7%). (3) Most patients of cholangiocarcinoma were late. The resection rate was low and the rate of radical operation was 21.6% (147/680). (4) The incidence of proximal cholangiocarcinoma was higher in the positive Serologic marks for HBV and HCV and course of diseases was short. Moreover, the pathology of. positive Serologic marks for HBV and HCV trended to low-differentiation and invasion, metastasis and the resection rate was lower.

CONCLUSIONSCholangiocarcinoma is common in the aged males. The infection of HB(C)V and hilar cholangiocarcinoma are correlated and incline to the proximal bile duct. The hilar cholangiocarcinoma infected HB(C)V may have higher malignant degree in biological characteristics and more badly prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Arterioles are major contributors to the control of systemic blood pressure and local blood flow. In this study, we compared electrophysiological properties of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), mesenteric artery (MA) and spiral modiolar artery (SMA) by intracellular microelectrode recording and whole-cell patch clamp recording techniques. Results were shown as below: (1) Intracellular microelectrode recordings were made from VSMCs in AICA, MA and SMA with resting potentials of (-68±1.8) (n=65), (-71±2.4) (n=80) and (-66±2.9) mV (n=58), respectively. There was no significant difference in resting potentials among arterioles. (2) The membrane capacitance and membrane conductance in situ cells were much larger than those in dispersed smooth muscle cells by whole-cell recording techniques, and there was significant difference among arterioles, which were in the order: MA>AICA>SMA. After application of gap junction blocker 2-APB (100 μmol/L), the membrane capacitance and membrane conductance in situ cells were very close with those in single smooth muscle cells. (3) The I/V relation of whole-cell current of dissociated smooth muscle cells (AICA, MA and SMA) showed a prominent outward rectification, and the currents were substantially inhibited by 1 mmol/L 4-AP or 10 mmol/L TEA. When the command voltage was +40 mV, the current densities of VSMCs in AICA, MA and SMA were (26±2.0), (24±1.7) and (18±1.3) pA/pF respectively. SMA showed significant difference in the current density from AICA and MA respectively. These results suggest that the electrophysiological properties of coupling strength of gap junction and current density of smooth muscle cells are different among arterioles in the guinea pig.
Animals ; Arterioles ; cytology ; physiology ; Cerebellum ; blood supply ; Cochlea ; blood supply ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; cytology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; physiology