Objective To measure the normal macular thickness of the healthy people with the optical coherence tomography (OCT), and analyse the difference among the left eye and right eye, male and female, and the different age. Methods The macular thickness of 80 healthy people were measured with OCT and analyzed statistically. Results and Conclusion The thickness of fovea was (173±13) μm, 95% reference value 148～198 μm. The thickness of region 1 mm arround fovea was (193±13) μm, 95% reference value 168～218 μm. There was no significant difference among left and right eye, male and female, and different age. The thickness of inner ring is thicker than that of outer ring. The thickness of nasal is thicker than that of the temporal side.

Objective To investigate the effect of clemastine fumarate on lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits.Methods Fifty New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes,weighing 2.0-3.0 kg,were divided into 3 groups using a random number table:sham operation group (Sham group,n =10),I/R group (n =20) and clemastine fumarate group (Cle group,n =20).The model of lung I/R was established by clamping the left hilum of lung and decreasing the tidal volume followed by restoration of perfusion and ventilation 1 h later in I/R and Cle groups.At 3 h of ventilation in group Sham and 2 and 4 h of reperfusion in I/R and Cle groups,blood samples were collected for determination of serum tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The left lung was lavaged,and the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was colleted for determination of white blood cell count.Lung specimens were obtained for microscopic examination of the ultrastructure of lung tissues and for determination of wet/dry weight ratio (W/D ratio),expression of IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction) and cell apoptosis (by TUNEL).The apoptosis rate was calculated.Results Compared with Sham group,the W/D ratio,white blood cell count in BALF,serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-8 and apoptosis rate were significantly increased,and the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA was up-regulated in I/R and Cle groups (P＜0.05 or 0.01).Compared with I/R group,the W/D ratio,white blood cell count in BALF,serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-8 and apoptosis rate were significantly decreased,and the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA was down-regulated in Cle group (P＜0.05 or 0.01).The pathological changes of lung tissues were significantly attenuated in Cle group than in I/R group.Conclusion Clemastine fumarate can attenuate lung I/R injury in rabbits.

Objective To explore the reparative effect of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein(BPI) on the damaged mucosa of rats with otitis media with effusion (OME),and state the pathogenesis of OME.Methods Wistar rats(40 ears) were randomly divided into six groups:normal control group (n=4),BPI control group(n=4),eustachian tube obstruction (ETO) group (n=8),lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection group (n=8),ETO+LPS group (n=8),ETO+LPS+BPI group (n=8).The experimental OME model was made through eustachian tube obstruction and LPS injection.The rats were killed after 1,2 and 4 weeks and the changes of mucosa of middle ear were observed under light and scanning electron microscope.Results The rats in normal control group and BPI control group had the normal mucosa in the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube.It consisted of pseudostratified ciliated cubical or columnar epithelium which contained an abundant number of ciliated cells and a few goblet cells,these were the mucociliary clearance system of the middle ear.The hypotympanum consisted of thin,squamous epithelium with few microvillus.Middle ear mucosa was obviouly thickened in LPS injection,ETO and ETO+LPS groups.An increase in goblet cells and a decrease in ciliated cells were observed in the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube.The epithelial layer in the hypotympanum had become more pseudostratified ciliated cubical epithelium.In ETO+LPS+BPI group,there was thin squamous epithelium in the hypotympanum near normal,which was not thickened and contained few microvillus. Conclusion LPS and ETO can result in the occurrence and protracted courses of OME by mimosa's inflammatory reaction which can reduce the activity of ciliary cells and weaken the function of mucociliary clearance system.BPI could bind avidly to LPS,reduce inflammatory reaction,and break the inflammatory cycle and reestablish an effective mucocillary clearance system.The results suggest that BPI treatment is a potential effective drug for prevention and therapy of chronic OME.

Objective To study the pathological and ultramicrostructural characteristics of organ tissues in relation to the clinical course of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Methods Post-mortem tissue samples of organs (lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, stomach ) were obtained by needle biopsy from four SARS patients who died in middle and late stages 3-5 weeks after the onset of the disease. The pathological samples were studied by light and electron microscope, immunohistochemistry, histochemistry and indirect immuno-fluorescent antibody test. Results The main pathological features were early interstitial pulmonary fibrosis or organizing pneumonia. Fibroblasts were increased in the interalveoli septa and young connective tissue was found to fill the alveoli. Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) with alveolar pneumocytes proliferation and an increase in macrophages were found. Desquamative alveolitis also existed at the same time. Squamous metaplasia and syncytial giant cells with multinuclei could be seen. CD3 + and CD20 + lymphocytes were markedly decreased and CD68 + macrophages and S-100 + dendritic cells increased in spleen. Proliferation of bone marrow cells became restrained . Hepatocytes were vacuolated with fatty degeneration. Electron microscopy showed the presence of coronavirus-like particles 80-60nm in diameter enveloped in the cytoplasm of the type Ⅱ pneumocytes, endothelial cells and lymphocytes. Conclusions A novel coronavirus is the cause of the newly recognized severe acute respiratory syndrom (SARS). The main target organs are lung and immune system. Different pulmonary pathological features were found in patients dying from the disease in different stages. All of specimens showed positive reaction of SARS-fluorescence antibody.

Animals ; Calcium ; physiology ; Chloride Channels ; physiology ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Forty-eight patients with subclinical Cushing's syndrome(SCS)were evaluated.Eleven of them underwent adrenalectomy(Group 1)and the other 37 cases did not(Group 2).Serum and urine corticosol, plasma ACTH and parameters related to metabolic syndrome(such as waist circumference,blood pressure,blood lipids and fasting plasma glucose)were measured.The data at diagnosis were compared with those during the survey.The results indicated that patients with SCS had a significantly high prevalence of metabolic syndrome.The symptoms and signs of metabolic syndrome could be improved after removing the tumor.Otherwise there is no improvement,some patients will even develop into overt Cushing's syndrome.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia, Large Granular Lymphocytic ; classification ; immunology

Objective To observe the effect of astragaloside IV (A) and SB203580 antagonize cadmium (Cd) toxicity on expression of associated protein and blood-testis barrier(BTB) in rats and to study the protective mechanism of A on it.Methods Totally 21 SD male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, 3 rats per group:Cd [ intraperitoneally injected with 0.1%CdCl2,1mg/(kg?d)],Cd+A [at the above dose of CdCl2,at the same time with A,10mg/(kg?d)], and Cd +SB203580 [at the above dose of CdCl2,at the same time with SB203580,100μg/(kg?d)], each of the above groups was further divided into continuous five and ten days treatment groups .The control group was intraperitoneally injected with equal dosage of normal saline .The testes were studied by light , electron microscopy , immunohistochemistry and Western blotting .Results In the control group ,irregular and lightly stained nuclei of Sertoli cell ( Sc) in seminiferous tubules were observed by HE staining .A continuous electron density line of tight junction ( TJ) and normal ultrastructure of BTB were observed .After Cd treatment ,the vesicular formation in the Sc was observed .The ultrastructural damage of Sc and TJ was observed .Compared with the corresponding time point of Cd group ,these were weakened in morphology of testis and ultrastructure of TJ after Cd +A or Cd +SB203580 treatment .The positive products of zonula occludens-1 ( ZO-1 ) and claudin-11 were localized mainly in the base of the seminiferous tubule .After Cd treatment , the average absorbance (AA) of ZO-1 and Claudin-11 was decreased significantly compared with that of the control group (P<0.05).After Cd +A or Cd +SB203580 treatment,AA of ZO-1 and Claudin-11 were increased significantly compared with that of the Cd group(P<0.05),though lower than that of the control group .The result of Western blotting showed that phosphorylation-p38MAPK in Cd group was increased significantly compared with that of the control group (P<0.05).After Cd +A or Cd+SB203580 treatment, it was decreased significantly compared with that of the Cd group (P<0.05).Conclusion Cd decreases ZO-1 and Claudin-11 expression and damages ultrastructure of TJ in BTB , asⅣhas protective effect on it , and is related to inhibiting activation of p 38 MAPK pathway .

Objective To investigate the expressions of glial fibrilary acidic protein (GFAP) in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala in post-stroke depression (PSD) in rats. Methods Healthy adult SD rats w ere randomly divided into a normal group, a depression group, a stroke group, and a PSD group ( n=5 in each group). A model of focal cerebral ischemia w as induced by the intraluminal suture method in the stroke group;a rat chronic stress depression model was induced by using chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS) combined w ith single housing in the depression group;a model of focal cerebral ischemia w as induced by the intraluminal suture method in the PSD group. A rat PSD model w as induced by CUMS and single housing at 1 week after operation. The sucrose preference test (SPT) was performed in each group at day 1, 8, 15, and 29 after the first CUMS, and the open-field test ( OFT ) w as used to evaluate the depressive behaviors. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of GFAP in the prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus and amygdala at day 29. Results At day 29 after CUMS, the sucrose solution consumption in SPT and the scores of horizontaland vertical movement in OFT in the depression group and PSD group w ere decreased significantly compared w ith the normal group and the stroke group (al P<0.05);the numbers of GFAP immunopositive cel s in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala in the PSD group w ere significantly less than those in the normal group, depression group and stroke group (al P<0.05), and there w ere no significant differences among the normal group, depression group and stroke group (al P>0.05). Conclusion The decreased expression of GFAP in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdale may play a certain role in the process of PSD.

Objective To explore the expression change of Toll Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits and the influence of clemastine fumarate on it. Methods Fifty rabbits were divided into five groups randomly (n=10): Sham (N+S), reperfusion for 2 hours (N+I1/R2), reperfusion for 4 hours (N+I1/R4), clemastine fumarate + reperfusion for 2 hours (F+I1/R2) and clemastine fumarate+reperfusion for 4 hours (F+I1/R4). The ischemia time in each group was 1 hour and normal saline was given respectively in groups of N+S , N+I1/R2 and N+I1/R4. Western blotting , RT-PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of TLR4 in lung tissue , and the changes of ultrastructure in ischemia-reperfusion lung tissue were observed by electron microscope. Result The expression of TLR4 was elevated obviously in ischemia-reperfusion lung tissue (P<0.05), and there was positive correlation between the increased TLR4 level and reperfusion time (P<0.05), the swelled and thick-ridge mitochondria were observed in type II alveolar epithelial cells after LIRI (P<0.05); but clemastine fumarate inhibited the expression of TLR4 in lung tissue significantly caused by LIRI (P<0.05). And the mitochondria injury was reduced in the groups of clemastine fumarate. Conclusion TLR4 expression is elevated in lung tissue after LIRI; clemastine fumarate inhibits the expression of TLR4 caused by LIRI and protects the lung tissue from LIRI in rabbits.