· AIM :To investigate the role of pericytes in growth of retinal microvascular endothelial cells with a co-culture system in order to understand some mechanism of angiogenesis in hypoxia induced retinal neovascular disorders.(RMECs) were isolated by a modified protocol using CD31 coated Dynabeads, and identified by immunocytochemical staining with anti-Factor Ⅷ and CD31 antibodies. Rat retinal pericytes were isolated and characterized by immunofluorescent staining with PDGFR-β; and desmin antibodies. Pericytes and RMECs were cultured in a contact co-culture system both under normoxia and hypoxia by Millicell chamber. RMECs proliferation was evaluated by MTT and cell cycle assay with flow cytometry. RT-PCR was used to detect the alteration of KDR/Flk-1 mRNA level in RMECs under normoxia or hypoxia in the co-culture system.harvested with the modified isolating method. The two cell types were identified by positive Factor Ⅷ, CD31 and PDGFR-β, desmin cytochemical staining respectively.RMECs proliferated significantly under hypoxia from 3 to 9d with a maximal rate on day 6 (24.9%, P ＜ 0.01) by MTT. In the co-culture system, the proliferation of RMECs was inhibited by pericytes. After 6d exposure to hypoxia,the fraction of S-phase RMECs number was greatly increased by 43.9% (P ＜ 0.01). In the co-culture system,RMECs proliferation was inhibited by pericytes through decreasing the fraction of S-phase cell number both under normoxia (3.6%, P＜0.05) and under hypoxia (15.1%,P＜0.01). KDR/Flk-1 mRNA level in single cultured RMECs was shown to increase approximately 1.3-fold when exposed to hypoxia. Compared with single cultured RMECs, co-culture with pericytes could decrease KDR/Flk-1 mRNA by 45.1% (P＜0.05) and 27.7% (P ＜ 0.05) under normoxia and hypoxia condition respectively.pericytes could inhibit proliferation of RMECs under both normoxia and hypoxia. The inhibition effects of pericytes maybe, at least in part, due to downregulation of KDR/Flk-1 of RMECs. These findings confirm that pericytes could be a potential inhibitor in the pathogenesis of retinal neovascularization.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yangjing Zhongyu Decoction (YZD) on mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR in ovarian granulose cells (GCs) cultured by excess androgen.

METHODSOvarian GCs from porcine follicles were isolated and cultured in vitro. Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) or YZD was added in the GCs treated by excess testosterone propionate. Totally 48 h later mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSExcess androgen inhibited mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR of GCs. FSH and YZD could antagonize inhibition of excess androgens, and promote mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR in GCs.

CONCLUSIONYZD could antagonize the inhibition of excess androgen on mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR and FSHR in GCs. Thus, we inferred that YZD could improve the follicle dysplasia by promoting mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR and FSHR in GCs.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; pharmacology ; Granulosa Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ovarian Follicle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, FSH ; genetics ; metabolism ; Swine

Objective To evaluate the effect of the Parasep? feces centrifuge tube method on detecting schistosome eggs. Methods A total of 803 residents aged from 6-65 years were selected in 2 schistosomiasis endemic villages Jiangling Coun-ty Hubei Province and their stool samples were collected and detected parallelly by the Kato-Katz technique nylon silk egg hatching method and Parasep? feces centrifuge tube method at the same time. Results Among the 803 people 15 cases were found of schistosome egg positive and the positive rate was 1.87%. The positive rates of the Kato-Katz technique nylon silk egg hatching method and Parasep? feces centrifuge tube method were 0.75% 1.49% and 1.12% respectively. The schistosome eggs got with the Parasep? feces centrifuge tube method were clear and easy to identify. Conclusion In low endemic areas of schistosomiasis the Parasep? feces centrifuge tube method can be used as schistosomiasis japonica etiology diagnosis method.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects on lumbar disc snake herniation between acupuncture in combination of snake moxibustion with simple acupuncture or snake moxibustion.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of lumbar disc herniation patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture and snake moxibustion group (group A, 60 cases), a acupuncture control group (group B, 30 cases) and a snake moxibustion control group (group C, 30 cases). In group A, acupuncture was applied to Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and tender points bilateral to the spine, once a day. Additionally, at the end of acupuncture on the 1st day of a week, snake moxibustion was applied for one time. In group B and group C, acupuncture or snake moxibustion was applied respectively.

RESULTSThe excellent rate was 95.0% (57/60) in group A, which was superior to that of 70.0% (21/30) in group B and 66.7% (20/30) in group C (both P < 0.05). JOA scores in each group after treatment increased apparently (all P < 0.01), of which, the scores in group A increased much more apparently as compared with those of the other two groups after treatment (both P < 0.01). The efficacy in group A was relevant obviously with the duration of sickness, the shorter the duration of sickness was, the higher the excellent rate would be. The age of patients in group A was relevant obviously with the efficacy, the younger patient was, the higher excellent rate would be.

CONCLUSIONThe efficiency on lumbar disc hernation treated with acupuncture and snake moxibustion is superior to that with either acupuncture or snake moxibustion.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo further discuss the method of evaluating curative effect on erectile dysfunction(ED).

METHODSClinical trials(Phase II) of sildenafil and phentolamine were both 8-week-long, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled. Not only the curative effect between each treatment group and placebo group but also between the treatment groups were compared. The dosage of sildenafil and phentolamine was respectively 50-100 mg and 40 mg.

RESULTSEfficiency, success rate of sexual intercourse and general curative effect in sildenafil and phentolamine groups were respectively 79.17%, 75.00%, 83.33% and 52.38%, 85.71%, 52.38%. The result revealed a statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvement over placebo. But no obvious differences were shown between the two treatment groups(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMost assessments of curative effect of ED drugs come from questionnaires answered subjectively by patients. The Lack of objective assessment criteria way lead to the non-conformity between trial results and clinical practices. So the curative effect of drugs shall be assessed more accurately and from more perspectives.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Phentolamine ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Purines ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfones ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use

AIMTo study the effect of experimental left varicocele (ELV) on epididymal structure and function in adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODSELV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein. Sham-operated animals served as the controls. Four and 8 weeks after the operation, the histological, ultrastructural and biochemical (alpha-glucosidase activity and carnitine content) changes in different segments of the epididymis were observed.

RESULTSIn the treated animals, there were degeneration of the epididymal epithelium and edema of the interstitial tissue; numerous shedding cells, residual bodies, deformed sperm and macrophages appeared in the epididymal lumen. Morphometric measurement indicated a significant reduction in the epididymal tubular diameter (P<0.05) and a significant increase in the epididymal interstitial area (P<0.05) compared with the controls. Ultrastructural study showed sparse microvilli of the columnar epithelium, increased and enlarged lysosomes in the principal cells with defected organelles and the presence of large cytoplasmic vacuoles. The protein and carnitine contents and the alpha-glucosidase activity in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymis of the ELV rats were lower than those of the controls (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were structural and functional changes in the epididymis of adolescent ELV rats, which may contribute to the infertility caused by varicocele.

Animals ; Carnitine ; metabolism ; Epididymis ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Varicocele ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the long-term effects of imidapril (IMI) on action potential and calcium and potassium currents in rabbit left ventricular hypertrophic myocytes.

METHODSRabbits were randomly divided into three groups: IMI-treated, hypertrophic and sham-operated control groups. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in hypertrophy group by partial ligation of the abdominal aorta. In the IMI-treated group, the rabbits were administered IMI (1.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 8 weeks after surgery. In the sham-operated control group, the animals underwent an abdominal laparotomy without further procedure. Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record ionic currents.

RESULTSMembrane capacitance was larger in hypertrophic cells than in sham-operated cells or IMI-treated cells. Action potential duration was lengthened in hypertrophic cells and was remarkably shortened by IMI. The density of ICa, L was reduced from 12.8 +/- 0.7 pA/pF in the sham-operated cells, to 7.7 +/- 0.8 pA/pF in hypertrophic cells, while it resembled the control cells after IMI treatment (11.9 +/- 1.0 pA/pF). After IMI treatment, the density of I(Ks,tail) was enhanced from 2.5 +/- 0.1 pA/pF in hypertrophic cells to 4.7 +/- 0.6 pA/pF (n = 7, P < 0.01), which was similar to the sham-operated cells. The densities of Ito and IK1 were significantly increased in IMI-treated cells, from 3.8 +/- 0.4 pA/pF and 3.7 +/- 0.5 pA/pF in the hypertrophic cells to 6.4 +/- 0.8 pA/pF and 6.5 +/- 0.3 pA/pF, respectively, but the IKr densities were not different in the three groups.

CONCLUSIONIMI could reverse the increase in membrane capacitance in hypertrophic cells, shorten action potential duration, and increase the densities of ICa, L, IKs, Ito and IK1 in hypertrophic cells.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; Female ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; pathology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Imidazolidines ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis and differential diagnoses of proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma (PES).

METHODSFive cases of PES were retrieved from pathology files. Clinical, pathologic and immunohistochemical features of the tumors were reviewed.

RESULTSOne patient was female and 4 were male. Ages of the patients ranged from 19 to 46 years. The sites of the tumor involvement were vulvar (2 cases), hypogastric zone (1 case), anterosuperior iliac spine (1 case) and buttock (1 case). Clinically, the tumor masses were painless and progressive solitary nodules. Microscopically, the tumor cell growth was infiltrative in nature, nodular in appearance with degenerative and necrotic cells at the central areas. The tumors consisted of relatively uniform epithelioid cells with round or oval nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin (5/5), CK (4/5), EMA (4/5), beta-catenin (3/5), CD34 (3/5), and S-100 protein (1/5), but were negative for SMA, MyoD1, Desmin, HMB-45, CK7 and CK20.

CONCLUSIONDefinitive diagnosis of PES relies on its histopathological characteristics in conjunction with appropriate immunohistochemical findings.

Adult ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Epithelioid Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pelvic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

The constituents in 95% ethanol extract of the root of Rosa cymosa Tratt were purified by column chromatography techniques, leading to isolation of eleven triterpenes. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data as pomolic acid (1), fupenzic acid (2), ursolic acid (3), euscaphic acid (4), arjunic acid (5), tomentic acid (6), 3β-E-feruloyl corosolic acid (7), 1β-hydroxyeuscaphic acid (8), myrianthic acid (9), cecropiacic acid (10), and ilexoside B (11). Among them, compounds 3, 6-8, 10 and 11 were obtained from this plant for the first time, and compounds 7 and 10 were obtained from this genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rosa ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry

· AIM:To investigate the efficacy of the combined treatment of Conbercept and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for neovascular glaucoma (NVG) with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).· METHODS:The clinical data of 100 NVG patients with CRVO treated in our hospital from May 2014 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.In those,50 patients treated with glaucoma filtering surgery combined with PRP were selected as control group,and based on this,50 patients treated with intravitreal injection of conbercept were included in the observation group.The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before treatment,and after 7d,1,3,and 6mo treatment were compared.The intraocular pressure IOP of each period with the non-contact tonometer were also compared,the effect of surgery was evaluated by slit-lamp examination of neovascularization combined with intraocular pressure,and then recurrence rate and complication was recorded during 6mo follow-up.· RESULTS:No statistically significant difference was found between preoperative and after surgery at each time point (P＞0.05).The intraocular pressure of the two groups was significantly lower than that of before the surgery,the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group 7d and 1mo after surgery,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference on lOP the 3 and 6mo after surgery between two groups (P＞0.05).The operation success rate was 100％ in the observation group and was 92％ in the control group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).The complete success rate of the observation group was 84％,which was significantly higher than 66％ of the control group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).The hyphema and recurrence rate of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of shallow anterior chamber and low intraocular pressure (P＞0.05).· CONCLUSION:Preoperative intravitreal injection of conbercept combined with panretinal photocoagulation for neovascular glaucoma after central retinal vein occlusion make the pressure recovery and neovascularization time shorter with better surgical results,and can control the anterior chamber hemorrhage and reduce the recurrence rate.