To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on the expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) in cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells, bovine trabecular meshwork cells were cultured in vitro and reproduced to the third and the fourth generation, then treated with dexamethasone at the concentrations of 5, 25, 50, 250 microg/L respectively for 7 days. Immunohistochemical technique-supervision method was employed to measure, and image analysis system to analyze the expression of AQP-1 in normal cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells and those treated with dexamethasone. In normal bovine trabecular meshwork cells, the grayscale of AQP-1 positive staining was 167.94 +/- 1.18, while it was 168.92 +/- 0.91, 176.72 +/- 1.80, 180.64 +/- 1.31, 185.64 +/- 1.58 in cells treated with 5, 25, 50, 250 microg/L concentrations of dexamethasone. When the concentration of dexamethasone was higher than 25 microg/L, the expression of AQP-1 was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05). The regulation of AQP-1 expression by dexamethasone in cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells in vitro may be one of causes that retard the aqueous outflow in glucocorticoid- induced glaucoma.
Aquaporin 1/*biosynthesis ; Aquaporin 1/genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Depression, Chemical ; Dexamethasone/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Immunohistochemistry ; Trabecular Meshwork/cytology ; Trabecular Meshwork/*metabolism

In order to elucidate the effect of dexamethasone on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in ciliary pigment epithelial (CPE) cells cultured in vitro, rabbit CPE cells were cultured in vitro, treated with DMEM medium containing 0, 1 x 10(-8), 5 x 10(-8), 10 x 10(-8) and 50 x 10(-8) mol/L dexamethasone respectively for 5 days. The TGF-beta1 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry Supervision methods and analyzed semi-quantitatively by HMIAS-2000 image system. As opposed to in vivo, rabbit CPE cells expressed TGF-beta1 under cultured circumstance in vitro. The gray scales of the positive yellow staining in the groups of 1 x 10(-8), 5 x 10(-8), 10 x 10(-8) and 50 x 10(-8) mol/L dexamethasone were 136.57 +/- 4.43, 140.20 +/- 6.10, 142.98 +/- 2.99, 146.80 +/- 1.68 and 150.05 +/- 1.94 respectively. When the concentrations of dexamethasone were equal to or higher than 5 x 10(-8) mol/L and, the expression of TGF-beta1 was inhibited. 10(-7) mol/L dexamethasone showed a significant inhibition. It was suggested that CPE cells possess the potential ability of synthesizing and expressing TGF-beta1. The inhibition of TGF-beta1 expression by dexamethasone may be beneficial to the treatment of proliferative vitroretinopathy, also exert some influence on the secretion of aqueous humor and ciliary inflammation.

Research on the association between maternal periodontal disease and the risk of preeclampsia has generated inconsistent results. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between maternal periodontal disease and the risk of preeclampsia. A literature search of PubMed and Embase was performed to identify relevant papers published before March 2013. Only observational studies that assessed maternal periodontal disease and the risk of preeclampsia were selected. Patients' periodontal status was examined at different time points during pregnancy or after delivery (at 14-32 weeks of gestation, within 48 h prior to or within 5 days after delivery). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for cases and controls. Cases were defined as women with concurrent hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. Eleven studies involving 1118 women with preeclampsia and 2798 women without preeclampsia were identified and analyzed. Women with periodontal disease before 32 weeks of gestation had a 3.69-fold higher risk of developing preeclampsia than their counterparts without periodontal disease (OR=3.69; 95% CI=2.58-5.27). Periodontal disease within 48 h prior to delivery was associated with a 2.68-fold higher risk of preeclampsia (OR=2.68; 95% CI=1.39-5.18). Pregnant women with periodontal disease within 5 days after delivery had a 2.22-fold higher risk of preeclampsia than women without periodontal disease (OR=2.22; 95% CI=1.16-4.27). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that maternal periodontal disease is an independent predictor of preeclampsia.

Objective To discuss the importance of balloon occlusion test before interventional treatment of the intracranial giant intemal carotid artery aneurysms and to sum up the nursing experience in assisting the procedure. Methods Proper perioperative nursing measures were carried out for 12 patients, who suffered from intracranial giant internal carotid artery aneurysm and underwent spring coil occlusion treatment. Nursing measures included mental care, observation of the vital signs, prevention of the complications, etc. Results Neither death nor exacerbation of the condition occurred in all the 12 patients. The patients were discharged from the hospital with a mean hospitalization of nine days. During a follow-up period ranged from 4 months to one year, seven patients had no disagreeable feeling, one patient complained of discomfort but no abnormality was found on follow-up DSA, and disappearance of the aneurysm was observed in 4 patients. Conclusion The monitoring of the vital signs, the prevention of the complications and the standard nursing care are the key points for ensuring a successful operation in treating intracranial giant intemal carotid artery aneurysms with spring coil occlusion.

AIM: To explore the probable mechanisms of diabetes-induced arrhythmias. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male SD rats,using a single injection of alloxan into tail vein. Untreated age-matched animals were used as controls. All animals were observed by 2,4,6 and 8 weeks,respectively. Transmembrane potentials were recorded with conventional glass microelectrodes. RESULTS: Action potential duration(APD) at all level (APD10,APD20,APD30,APD50,APD70,APD90) was significantly lengthened in right ventricular papillary muscle from week 2 of diabetes. At week 8,APD was more lengthened at any level of repolarization than that at week 2. No differences were observed in the maximum rate of depolarization(V_ max ),overshoot(OS) and action potential amplitude(APA) as well as the resting membrane potential(RP) from the 2th to 8th week of diabetes. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that prolongation of APD may be prominently responsible for the increased incidence of cardiac re-entry-arrhythmias and sudden death,especially at late stages of diabetes.

BACKGROUND:Atopic individuals predispose to alergic rhinitis after contacting with an alergen, which is mainly released by IgE-mediated histamine. Alergic rhinitis is a kind of non-infectious inflammatory disease that involves a variety of immune cels and cytokines and is related to Th1 and Th2 immune imbalance. Interferon γ is a cytokine secreted by Th1 cels, while interleukin-4 is a cytokine secreted by Th2 cels. OBJECTIVE:To establish a stable 129Sv mouse model of alergic rhinitis, so as to lay the foundation of establishing gene knockout 129Sv mouse models of alergic rhinitis, and to observe the concentration variation of IgE, interleukin-4 and interferon γ. METHODS: Twenty-four mice were randomly divided into 2 groups: model and control groups. Mice in the model group were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin to establish mouse models of alergic rhinitis. Mice in the control group were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of PBS. After successful modeling, pathological changes of nasal eosinophils and plasmocyte infiltration were evaluated by nasal mucosa staining. Interleukin 4 and interferon γ levels and ovalbumin-specific IgE antibody concentration were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that compared with the control group, serum ovalbumin-IgE and interleukin-4 concentrations were significantly increased, and Interferon γ concentration was significantly lower in the model group (P < 0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that cilia lodging and submucosal serous gland hyperplasia, eosinophils and plasmocyte infiltration were obvious. These results confirm that a mouse model of allergic rhinitis was successfully constructed in this study and the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis was related to Th1/Th2 imbalance.

Objective To study the NR5A1 gene mutation in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism(IHH), and to find the new mutation point.Methods Sixty-one IHH patients and 100 normal control subjects were collected and genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples.These patients were with normal karyotype and no abnormality was discovered in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the pituitary.Other endocrine diseases were also excluded.The 2-7 exons and splice-sites of NR5A1 gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction.DNA of the coding sequence and splice-sites of NR5A 1 were sequenced by double deoxidizing terminal end sequencing method in 61 IHH and 100 normal control subjects.The results of sequencing were compared with their corresponding sequence data.61 IHH kindreds were investigated and the clinical data of these patients were collected.Finally, the phenotype and genotype positive cases were analyzed.Results Six patients carried NR5A1 gene mutational sites in 61 cases of IHH.Analysis of sequencing results from 100 age and ethnicity matched control subjects did not show any of these novel changes.Conclusions One mutation in NR5A1 gene may affect protein structure and function, which should be considered in male IHH patients with normal karyotype and without insufficiency of adrenal function.

Objective To analyze factors influencing short-term effect of presurgical pharmacological thera-py and transsphenoidal microsurgery for somatotropinomas. Methods The clinical data of 53 patients underwent presurgical pharmacological therapy and transsphenoidal surgery for somatotropinomas were retrospectively analyzed in order to search for factors influencing effect of presurgical pharmacological therapy and transsphenoidal surgery for somatotropinomas. Results Serum GH inhibition rates decreased<50.00%from baseline in 62.26%of patients receiving presurgical pharmacological therapy. Statistical analysis concerning the influence of sex , neuropathological evaluation, tumor size and presence of invasion on presurgical pharmacological therapy effect were performed using a chi-squared test, no significant correlation was found among these factors and presurgical pharmacological therapy effect. Total remission rates were 43.40%, Statistical analysis concerning the influence of sex , neuropathological e valuation, tumor size, presence of invasion and presurgical pharmacological therapy effect on remission rate were performed using a chi-squared test, a significant correlation was found among tumor size, presence of invasion, presurgical pharmacological therapy effect and remission rate , while no significant correlation was found among the rest of the factors. Further Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation among tumor size , presence of invasion and remission rate , while no significant correlation was found between presurgical pharmacolog-ical therapy effect and remission rate. Conclusions Presurgical pharmacological therapy effect revealed no signifi-cant correlation with sex, neuropathological evaluation, tumor size or presence of invasion. Total remission rate cor-related with tumor size and presence of invasion. A better presurgical pharmacological therapy effect may indicated a better outcome, while postoperative remission rate revealed no significant correlation with presurgical pharmacologi-cal therapy in our series.

Weightlessness environment can lead to the muscle atrophy and body fluid distribution upward,which can cause the bone calcium metabolism disorder and always accompanied by the loss of bone microstructure and increased rate of bone fracture. Under microgravity,the astronauts are much easier to decrease the Ca2+ ion in bone, which can cause serious osteoporosis. However the bone lost is not equilibrium, it is especially serious in the mechanism loading bone and the recovery process is more difficult. These are very different from the osteoporosis in older people and postmenopausal osteoporosis. It is necessary to find an optimal method to due with it. In traditional Chinese medicine theory,the kidney stores "Jing" and dominates the bone, thus a lot of bone related diseases can be treated through the kidney. A lot of clinical practices have also proved that the Chinese herbs used under the guidance of basic Chinese medicine theory are always good at the treatment of common osteoporosis. In simulated weightlessness experiment, people found that the kidney nourishment drugs do can prevent the decrease of BMD. So in this article we want to review the causes of weightlessness and the potentials applications of tradition Chinese medicine in the treatment of weightlessness osteoporosis.
Humans ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Osteoporosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Weightlessness ; adverse effects

This study aimed to simultaneously determine the contents of astilbin and engeletin in dong medicine "sunl gaems" of Guizhou origin by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS), with astilbin as the internal standard substance. On UPLC and HPLC chromatograms, different models of instruments were used to investigate relative correction factors (RCF), in order to discuss the interoperability of RCFs established in different chromatographic systems. The engeletin content was calculated based on the established RCFs and compared by the one point external standard method and the external standard working curve method, in order to verify the accuracy of QAMS. According to the result, in different chromatograms, the ratios between RCF and retention time of engeletin and astilbin had a good reproducibility, with RSD between 2.0% and 1.8%, both were less than 3%. The relative differences among results of QAMS, the external standard working curve method of dong medicine "sunl gaems" ranged between 1.6% and 3.9%, with RSD between 2.02%-0.80% in line with relevant requirements and Pearson correlation coefficient at 0.9998 (P <0.01). The findings showed that QAMS was an accurate, reliable and highly reproducible method to determine the contents of astilbin and engeletin in dong medicine "sunl gaems" of Guizhou origin and so could be used to control the inherent quality of the herb.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flavonols ; analysis ; Glycosides ; analysis