Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Nerve ; surgery ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; surgery ; Young Adult

Dietary restriction (DR) can delay senescence,prolong lifespan of mammals and improve their learning-memory activity.The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of DR on hypolipidemic action and liver function of mice with hyperlipidemia.To investigate these effects,hyperlipidemia mouse models were established with high-fat diet (HFD) (34％ of energy),then randomly divided into HFD group,DR30％ group and DR50％ group.Mice in DR30％ and DR50％ group were respectively supplied with HFD as much as about 70％ and 50％ of the consumption of HFD in the mice of HFD group.Rats in control group were fed routinely.After DR for 5 weeks,the average body weight,liver weight,liver index,serum lipids and glucose levels in both DR groups decreased significantly as compared with the HFD group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),so did alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and the ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C in the DR50％ group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Histopathology examination of liver tissues further proved ameliorative effect of DR on liver function.Western blotting showed that DR significantly increased the expression of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) in liver and adipose,while notably decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-gamma (PPARγ) in adipose (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The increase of SIRT1 and decrease of PPARγ may be a mechanism by which DR reduces blood lipids and ameliorates liver function.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of circulating type II pre-dendritic cells (pDC2) and evaluate its role in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

METHODSThe quantitative alterations of pDC2 in 27 chronic HBV-infected patients as treated group and 15 healthy individuals as a control group were analyzed by using flow cytometry based on the comparison of CD4+/CD8+ ratios of T lymphocyte subsets between the two groups. The IFN-alpha-producing ability of pDC2 after incubation was determined by ELISA.

RESULTSThe percentage of pDC2 (0.096 +/- 0.086) from the peripheral blood in chronic HBV-infected patients were significantly lower than that (0.304 +/- 0.093) from the normal controls (P less than 0.001) while the CD4+/CD8+ ratios were higher than those in normal controls (P less than 0.01). The values of IFN-alpha-producing function and IL-12 of circulating pDC2 in chronic HBV-infected patients group were significantly lower than those in healthy subjects (P < 0.001). The percentage of pDC2 and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were higher in the patients positive for HBV DNA in sera than those in patients negative for HBV DNA in sera (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe decreased number of circulating pDC2 and IFN-alpha-producing function from peripheral blood in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection may result in the decline of host immune response, which may partially contribute to the disease progress of HBV infection and existence of viral genomic DNA in patient's sera.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cell Count ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDDuring scanning of the right hypochondrium and right intercostal regions with an ultrasonic transducer, several ultrasonic images of oblique sections are obtained. It is still a challenge for ultrasonography to divide these non-conventional sections into an accurate hepatic segmentation pattern. The aim of this research was to investigate the value of the virtual hepatic segment model (VHSM) in assisting the ultrasonic localization of space-occupying hepatic lesions.

METHODSVHSM was constructed via 3D reconstruction according to the first Chinese visible human dataset. Preoperative ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced CT scan and VHSM techniques were performed in 100 patients with space-occupying focal lesions in the liver parenchyma for segmental localization. The results of these three techniques were compared with the operative findings.

RESULTSVHSM was successfully detected on 2D sectional images by 3D reconstruction through surface rendering and volume rendering. The model could simulate ultrasonic directions to conduct a virtual dissection on any section plane, and fine liver segmentation could be displayed in any virtual plane. In 100 patients, there were 112 liver space-occupying focal lesions distributed in 148 liver segmentations. Regarding the positioning accuracies for lesions of different sizes and the lesion segmental distribution accuracies estimated using the three methods mentioned above, ultrasonography exhibited a significantly lower accuracy than VHSM for the segmental localization of lesions (P < 0.05), and contrast-enhanced CT was not significantly different from ultrasonography plus VHSM (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVHSM increased the accuracy of ultrasonic localization of space-occupying hepatic lesions, particularly in hepatic hypovascular regions.

Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography ; Ultrasonography

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of 17beta-estradiol (17beta-E(2)) on the structure and relaxation and contraction activity of thoracic aortas in ovariectomized rats with insulin resistance induced by fructose. Ovariectomized mature female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high fructose diet for 8 weeks to induce insulin resistance. Physiological dose of 17beta-E(2) (30 mug/kg) was injected subcutaneously every day for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by use of tail-cuff. Serum nitric oxide (NO), estradiol (E(2)), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and fasting serum insulin (FSI) were measured respectively in each group. The insulin sensitive index (ISI) was calculated. The thoracic aortas were fixed in formalin, sliced and HE dyed. The structure of thoracic aortas, lumen breadth, media thickness, media thickness/lumen breadth ratio and media cross-section area were measured. The contraction response of thoracic aorta rings induced by L-phenylephrine (PE) and the relaxation response of thoracic aorta rings induced by ACh and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were measured. To explore the mechanism, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was used. The results obtained are as follows: (1) 17beta-E(2) protected against the effect of high fructose diet, which caused an increase in SBP, hyperinsulinemia and a decrease in ISI in ovariectomized rats. (2) The structure of thoracic aortas had no significant difference among the groups. (3) Compared with the ovariectomized group (OVX) or fructose fed group (F), serum nitric oxide was significantly reduced, the contraction response of thoracic aorta rings to PE was enhanced and the relaxation response to ACh was depressed significantly in ovariectomized+fructose fed group (OVX+F). The effect of high fructose was reversed by 17beta-E(2). After pretreatment with L-NAME, the effect of 17beta-E(2), which enhanced the relaxation response of thoracic aorta rings to ACh in ovariectomized+fructose+17beta-E(2) group (OVX+F+E(2)), was partly blocked. (4) The relaxation response of thoracic aorta rings to SNP had no significant difference among the groups. (5) The contraction response of thoracic aorta rings without endothelium to PE had no significant difference among the groups. These findings suggest that 17beta-E(2) may provide protection against the effect of high fructose diet, which causes hypertension, dysfunction of endothelial cells and insulin resistance. The mechanism of this effect of 17beta-E(2) could be partly associated with the increase of NO by NOS pathway, or associated with the decrease in the level of systolic blood pressure and serum insulin, and the improvement of insulin resistance.
Animals ; Aorta ; physiology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fructose ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasomotor System ; drug effects

Adult ; Aged ; Bandages ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged

The behavioral responses of a tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) school to low (0.13 mg/L), moderate (0.79 mg/L) and high (2.65 mg/L) levels of unionized ammonia (UIA) concentration were monitored using a computer vision system. The swimming activity and geometrical parameters such as location of the gravity center and distribution of the fish school were calculated continuously. These behavioral parameters of tilapia school responded sensitively to moderate and high UIA concentration. Under high UIA concentration the fish activity showed a significant increase (P<0.05), exhibiting an avoidance reaction to high ammonia condition, and then decreased gradually. Under moderate and high UIA concentration the school's vertical location had significantly large fluctuation (P<0.05) with the school moving up to the water surface then down to the bottom of the aquarium alternately and tending to crowd together. After several hours' exposure to high UIA level, the school finally stayed at the aquarium bottom. These observations indicate that alterations in fish behavior under acute stress can provide important information useful in predicting the stress.
Ammonia ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Artificial Intelligence ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Exercise Test ; methods ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Social Behavior ; Swimming ; physiology ; Tilapia ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo build digitized visible model of the adult penis and adjacent structure of the Chinese visible human, providing morphological data for plastic plerosis of external genitals diagnosis and the adult penis surgery planning.

METHODSCross-sectional images of fresh tissues from the Chinese visible human dataset and the visible penis and adjacent structure dataset were reviewed, the structures of the penis and adjacent structure were confirmed on a section-by-section basis. Three-dimensional computer reconstructions of the penis and adjacent structure were generated from these data by surface rendering.

RESULTSThe quality of the computerized 3D-reconstructed images was distinct and perfect. The adult penis and adjacent structure were all reconstructed and displayed jointly. All reconstructed structures can be represented individually or jointly. Any diameter and angle of the structures reconstructed could be measured conveniently.

CONCLUSIONSThe digitized model of the penis and adjacent structure offer unique insights into the complex penis anatomy, providing morphological data for plastic plerosis of external genitals diagnosis and surgery planning.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Genitalia, Male ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Male ; Models, Anatomic ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; Software ; Visible Human Projects

Objective To establish a method for detection of the human papi 11 omavirus(HPV)6b E7-specific antibodies in serum and cervical secretion from patients with condyloma acuminatum(CA).Methods A full-length HPV 6b E7 gene was amplified by PCR from the CA tissue to construct the recombinant plasmid pET32a(+)/HPV 6b E7.The expression of prokaryotic protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot,then purified with Ni-NTA Agarose affinity column and used as an diagnostic antigen for establishing indirect ELISA method,to detect specific serum IgG and specific cervical secretion slgA from 56 CA patients,81 healthy control.Sera from 43 cervical cancer was served as control.HPV 6b DNA from 56 CA patients was identified by PCR.Results Data showed that the nucleotide homology of cloned sequence was 99.5%,compared to the standard sequences of HPV 6b E7 gene(GenBank accession number:NC001355).A high level expression of E7 fusion protein was obtained in prokaryotic expression system(40 μg/ml).Based on HPV 6b E7 fusion protein being used as coating antigen,results from ELISA showed that the absorbance rates(A)of serum IgG from CA,cervix cancer and healthy control groups were 1.82±0.48,1.36 ± 0.39 and 1.39 ± 0.27,respectively.The level of IgG antibody in the serum of CA group was significantly higher than that in cervix cancer group and healthy control(P＜0.05).The A values of cervical secretion sIgA in CA and healthy control groups were 0.63 ± 0.26 and 0.53 ± 0.06,respectively,while the level of sIgA antibody in the cervical secretion of CA group was also significantly higher than that in healthy controls(P＜0.05).The positive rate of HPV 6b E7 DNA in CA tissue was 78.6%(44/56)by PCR method.When compared the results measured by PCR,the HPV 6b E7-specific IgG and sIgA antibodies by ELISA used to detect the patients infected with HPV 6b infection,showed that the sensitivity rates were 68.2%(30/44)and 54.6%(24/44)respectively,and the specificity were all 100%(12/12).Conclusion Based on the serum and cervical secretion specific HPV 6b E7 antibodies from patients with CA to diagnose HPV 6b infection,results showed medium sensitivity and high specificity,and could further be used to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of HPV 6b infection.