AIM: To analyze the effect of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) on nitrogen monoxide (NO) and expression of cysteine-containing, aspartate-specific proteases-3 (caspase-3) in retinal tissues of model rats with optic nerve crush injury.METHODS: A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, model group and PEDF group, with 20 rats in each group.Except the blank control group, the optic nerve crush injury rat models were established in the other groups, and left eyeballs were taken as samples.After successfully modeling, the model group were treated with intravitreal injection of 5μL of balanced salt solution while PEDF group were treated with intravitreal injection of 5μL of PEDF (0.2μg/μL).Two weeks later, the retinal tissues were collected, and changes of shape were observed under microscope after HE staining.The changes of NO level were measured by colorimetry assay, the expression of caspase-3 mRNA and caspase-3 protein was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot.RESULTS: HE staining showed that retinal tissues of the blank control group arranged neatly and clearly.Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) arranged in a monolayer, and cells were oval, uniform in size and distribution, the cell nuclei were clear, closely arranged, with clear boundaries.The retinal tissues of the model group were sparse in shape, RGCs showed vacuolar changes, the overall number of cells was reduced, and cell nuclei of residual RGCs showed pyknosis and uneven staining.RGCs in PEDF group were with slightly edema and arranged closely, and the degree of injury was significantly milder than that in the model group.Levels of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein and NO levels in the three groups showed the model group > PEDF group > blank control group (all P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The application of PEDF can down regulate the expression of Caspase-3 and NO in rates with optic nerve injury and reduce RGCs injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore a new method to correct secondary lip whistle deformities and nasal base depression after bilateral complete cleft lip (BCCL) repair with lip subdermal soft tissue flap.

METHODSBilateral subdermal soft tissue "C" flaps and "lambda" flap were designed to repair secondary deformities of nasal base and reconstruct vermilion tubercle in patients after BCCL repair.

RESULTSGood results were achieved in all the patients with primary healing. No flap necrosis happened. The result was satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSWith bilateral subdermal soft tissue "C" flaps and " lambda" flap, nasal base depression deformities and lip whistle deformities can be corrected. It is an ideal method for correction of deformities after BCCL repair.

Cleft Lip ; surgery ; Humans ; Lip ; surgery ; Nose ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

In order to study the accumulation of Fritillaria thunbergii cultivar, peimine content in Xiaye, Kuanye, Duozi and Xiaosanzi bulbs of different sizes and parts was determined by HPLC-ELSE. The results indicated that the peimine content varied significantly with the cultivar type, the size and part of bulb. The distribution laws of peimine were as follow: Xiaosanzi > Duozi > Xiaye > Kuanye, small-size bulb > big-size bulb, core bud > scale. The peimine yield per plant in Duozi was the highest.
Cevanes ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fritillaria ; chemistry ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the effects of limited resuscitation on hepatic ischernia-reperfusion in-jury in rots with hemorrhagic shock. Method Uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock was induced in 54 rats by transect-ing the middle branch of the splenic artery to produce standardized massive splenic injury. Resuscitation started when the mean arterial pressure (MAP) reached 40 mmHg. The rats were randomly divided (n = 9per group) in-to sham-operated group (SS), or one of five treatment groups in which infusion of Ringer' s solution was continually administrated to maintain MAP at 40 (RS40), 50 (RS50), 60 (RS60), 80 (RS80) or 100 mmHg (RS100) for 45 minutes (T45 point). After the bleeding was controlled, resuscitation was continued with Ringer's solution and whole blood (2:1) to increase the MAP to 100 mmHg for 120 minutes (T165 point), which was followed by obser-vation for 240 minutes (T405 point). All animals were observed for 240 minutes or until death. Blood specimens were collected at TO, T45, T165 and T405 for determination of blood lactate levels. At the end of the experiment,a small amount of hepatic tissue was collected to measure tissue blood perfusion, total antioxidative capacity (TAOC), Na+K+ ATPase activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Results At T405, the blood lactate lev-els in the RS80 and RS100 groups [(3.60±0.68) and (3.84 ± 1.09) mmol/L, respectively] were significantly higher than those in the SS, RS40, RS50 and RS60 groups [(2.00±0.66),(2.74±1.45),(2.43 +0.94) and (2.07±0.95) mmol/L, respectively;all:P < 0.05]. The MDA levels were significantly higher in the RS80 and RS100[(7.32±0.31) and (7.71±0.23) nmol/mg,respectively] than those in the SS, RS40, RS50 and RS60 groups[(4.95±0.80),(6.14±0.94),(6.42±0.48) and (6.84±0.36) nmol/mg, respeetively;all: P <0.05]. The Na+ K+ ATPase and TAOC levels were significantly lower in all of the RS groups than those in the SS group (all: P < 0.05), and those in the RS80 and RS100 groups was significantly lower than those in the RS40,RS50 and RS60 groups (all: P <0.05). Blood perfusion in the RS80 and RS100 groups was significantly lower than that in the other groups (all: P < 0.05). Conclusions If hemorrhage is uncontrolled, limited resuscitation appears to balance the needs for organ perfusion, improve the microcircttlation and decrease lactate levels. Fur-thermore, limited resuscitation could decrease ischemia-reperfusion injury in liver tissue.

The cloning of promoter is important for studying the genetic engineering and the regulation of gene expression in plants. Two promoters Os772 and Os359, which are predicted to be highly expressed in the endosperm of rice from the EST database were cloned. After construction of the Os772∶∶GUS and Os359∶∶GUS expression vectors, they were transformed into rice. X-Gluc staining of transgenic plants showed that Os772 and Os359 can promote GUS gene expression in matured endosperm but not in root, stem, leaf and flower. This result indicates Os772 and Os359 are two rice endosperm-specific promoters.

Child ; Child Welfare ; Education, Medical, Continuing ; Humans ; Pediatrics ; education

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is an important proinflammatory cytokine and plays key roles in physiological and pathophysiological processes of central nervous system (CNS). The voltage-gated Na(+) channels are essential for electrical properties of excitable cells and control the excitability and action potential (AP) of neurons. Recent studies have showed the relationship between IL-1β and voltage-gated channels. In this work, cultured cortical neurons of rat were treated by 10 ng/mL of IL-1β for 24 h, and then voltage-gated Na(+) currents were recorded using voltage-clamp technique. The results indicated that IL-1β reduced the amplitude of Na(+) currents without any changes in activation or inactivation properties. The current-clamp recording showed that IL-1β reduced the amplitude of AP but not the threshold. These data indicate that IL-1β inhibits the voltage-gated Na(+) currents and the amplitude of AP, and suggest that essential roles of voltage-gated Na(+) channels may be changed by IL-1β. New information about effects of IL-1β on injuries and diseases of CNS was provided.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; physiology ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels ; physiology

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Granzymes ; blood ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perforin ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; metabolism

AIMTo determine whether low dose of estrogen in combination with ginsenosides can completely prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats.

METHODSFour-month-old ovariectomized rats were treated either with 100 and 300 mg.kg-1 of ginsenosides or 30 and 100 micrograms.kg-1 of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol alone, or ginsenosides 100 mg.kg-1 in combination with 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol 30 micrograms.kg-1 for 10 weeks. Double in vivo fluorochrome labeling was made. The undecalcified longitudinal proximal tibial metaphyseal sections were processed and stained with Goldner's trichrome for histomorphometric analysis of the bone.

RESULTSBody weights and serum cholesterol were increased in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats lost 74% of bone volume and high bone turnover was induced after OVX compared with the sham group. Bone volume increased by 205% in the high dose estrogen treated group while it was increased by 105% in the low dose group. The two doses of estrogen were shown to inhibit osteoclasts surface (by -65% and -55%, P < 0.01) and decrease bone turnover rate (by -85% and -83%, P < 0.01). High dose of estrogen was found to inhibit growth and stimulate uterine weight gain in rats while low dose did not. High dose of ginsenosides increased bone volume by 84% (P < 0.01) and decreased bone turnover rate by -64% (P < 0.05) while lower dose of ginsenosides did not. However, low dose ginsenosides combined with low dose estrogen achieved well preventive effects: increase of 202% in bone volume, decrease of 66% in bone turnover rate and 72% in osteoclasts surface. The combined effect in preventing bone loss equals to that the high dose of estrogen alone did.

CONCLUSIONUse of low dose of estrogen plus ginsenosides showed synergistic effect on prevention of osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Synergism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Osteoporosis ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Ovariectomy ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Tibia ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical features of respiratory diseases of late preterm neonates.

METHODSSix hundred and thirty late preterm infant(gestational age: 34~36+6weeks),4401 cases of term infants and 328 early preterm infants who were born at the obstetrical department of Peking University 3rd Hospital from January 2009 to December 2010 were enrolled. Among them 84 late preterm infants, 135 term infants and 182 early preterm infants developed respiratory diseases. The incidence of respiratory diseases,clinical features and the severity of the diseases were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe incidence and mortality rates of respiratory diseases and the percentage of severe cases were significantly higher in the late preterm group than in the term group, but lower than in the early preterm group (P<0.01). The symptoms of respiratory disease occurred earlier in the late preterm group than in the term group, but later than in the early preterm group (P<0.01). The late preterm group had a significantly higher incidence of tachypnea and lower incidence of retraction sign when compared with the term and early preterm groups (P<0.05). The percentages requiring oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation in the late preterm group were both significantly higher than in the term group, but lower than in the early preterm group (P<0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis showed 11 factors associated with the severity of respiratory diseases: decreased arterial partial pressure of oxygen, hematokrit, pH value and respiratory rate, arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation, systolic arterial pressure, 5 minute Apgar score and gestational age, and increased blood urea nitrogen, heart rate and respiratory rate.

CONCLUSIONSLate preterm infants are more likely to develop respiratory diseases than term infants, and to develop a more severe condition and need a more intensive respiratory support treatment. Tachypnea is a common presentation of dyspnea in late preterm infants and occurs earlier than in term infants but later than in early preterm infants. It may usually indicate a serious condition when dyspnea, abnormal heart rate and blood pressure, and multisystem damages occur in late preterm infants.

Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Retrospective Studies