Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetic mellitus,but its pathogenesis is still unclear.Adiponectin may restrain inflammatory reaction and reduce adhesion of vascular endothelial cell to influence diabetic microangiopathy.Relation between adiponectin and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)is less reported.Objective This study was to observe the effect of adiponectin on the expression of NOS in the retinas of diabetic rats.Methods Forty 8-10 weeks Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were collected.The rats were randomized into the normal control group (10 rats),adiponectin group (15 rats) and diabetic model control group (15 rats) using the random number table method.Tetraoxypyrimidine was intraperitoneally injected to establish the diabetic model in the rats of the adiponectin group and diabetic model control group,and 10 μg/kg of adiponectin was then injected into the rats of the adiponectin group.Western blot was used to detect the expression of the adiponectin protein in the rat retinas,and the expression of NOS in rat retina was located by immunochemistry.The use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The relative amount of adiponectin (adiponectin/β-actin)in the retinas was 0.85 ± 0.21,0.79 ± 0.17 and 0.42 ± 0.08,respectively,in the normal control group,adiponectin group and diabetic model control group,with significant differences among the 3 groups (F =4.236,P =0.000).The adiponectin/β-actin ratio in the retinas of the diabetic model control group was significantly declined in comparison with the normal control group and adiponectin group (q =6.615,P =0.000 ; q =6.026,P =0.000).The NOS levels (A value) in the retinas were 0.244 ± 0.035,0.262 ± 0.032 and 0.367 ± 0.066,respectively,in the normal control group,adiponectin group and diabetic model control group,showing a significant difference among them (F =3.752,P =0.001).The A value of NOS in the diabetic model control group was significantly increased in comparison with the normal control group and adiponectin group (q =3.488,P =0.002 ; q =3.079,P =0.005).NOS expression was localized to the inner nuclear layer and retinal ganglion cell layer.Conclusions Adiponectin reduces NO content in diabetic rat retinas by regulating NOS expression.

BACKGROUND: As indicated by previous researches, aluminium (Al) could affect learning and memory of animals through many approaches in cluding affecting the stable status of intracellular calcium, decreasing protein kinase C(PKC) activity, and affecting the release of glutamic acid(Glu) . The formation of long-term potentiation(LTP) weakens in hip pocampal CA3 region of rats fed by forage containing Al. It could be found that Al would weaken evoked potential(EP) in hippocampal CA3 region and inhibit LTP formation, which might be related with the damaging effect of Al on L-Arg-NO approach through further application of acute Al administration, i.e., AlCl3 is directly injected into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the damaging effect of Al on learning and memory, and its correlation with cholinergic system and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system.DESIGN: A completelyrandomized controlled verifying study based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Department of psychology in a university and the medical college of an occupational technology college.MATERIALS: The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Neuro-Electrophysiology, the Faculty of Physiology, Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology between September 2000 and April 2001. Totally 68 SD rats of ordinary grade in either gender with a body mass between 150 g and 250 g were obtained from the Department of Experimental Animals of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and echnology.INTERVENTIONS: SD rats were randomly divided into 9 groups including normal NS ( NS ) control group ( n = 6): 1 μL of NS was injected twice ( 1 minute interval) into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection; NS + AlCl3 group( n = 6): 1 μL of NS and 0.5 mol/L of AlCl3 were injected(1 minute interval) into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection;NS + Tac group( n = 6): 1 μLof NS and 1 × 10-9 mol/L of Tacrine were injected in turn into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection; NS + Bic group(n=6): 1 μL of NS and 1 × 10-3 mol/L of Bicuculline were injected in turn into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection; Tac +AlCl3 group: 1 μL of 1 × 10-9 mol/L( n =8),1 × 10-10 mol/L ( n = 6) and 1 × 10-8 mol/L of Tacrine were firsdy injected into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection, and 1 μL of 0. 5 mol/L AlCl3was injected 1 minute later; Bic + AlCl3 group: 1 μL of 1 × 10-3 mol/L( n = 9) and 1 × 10 -4 mol/L( n = 7) of Bicuculline were firstly injected into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection, and 1 μL of 0.5 mol/L AlCl3 was injected 1 minute later. Population spike(PS) in hippocampal CA3 region was recorded after using single pulse to stimulate perforating fiber(PF). When PS became stable, medication was injected into hippocampal CA3 region to observe the impacts of Al on EP in hippocampal CA3 region and the impacts of some central transmitters on the effect of Al in in hibiting PS.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PS evoked in hippocampal CA3 region;the impacts of Al on EP in CA3 region and the impacts of some central transmitters on the effect of Al in inhibiting PS. RESULTS: ① After the application of 0.5 mol/L of AlCl3 in hippocampalCA3 region by microinjection, the recorded amplitude of PS reduced to peakat 1 minute, which accounted for(33.8 ± 11. 0) % of the level beforemedication( n = 6). The inhibitive effect of AlCl3 lasted for 120 minutes. ② After the pre-application of 1 × 10-9 mol/L of Tacrine(cholinesterase in hibitor) into CA3 region by microinjection and the application of AlCl3 at oneminute later, it was found that Tacrine antagonized the inhibitive effects ofAlCl3 on PS within 1 to 30 minutes( n = 8) . Its antagonism would extend to60 minutes if 1 × 10-8 mol/L of Tacrine was administrated( n = 6) . How ever, the antagonism of 1 × 10-10 mol/L of Tacrine was weaker than that of 1×10-9 mol/L group within 3-5 minutes(n=6) ③ After thepre-application of 1 × 10-3 mol/L of Bicuculline into CA3 region by mi croinjection and the application of AlCl3 at one minute later, Bicucullinecould partially weaken the effects of AlCl3 within 1 to 20 minutes( n = 9). CONCLUSION: Al of certain concentration can inhibit the evoked PS am plitude in hippocampal CA3 region; Tacrine can antagonize Al' s effects andits antagonism might be related with dose. Hence, the inhibitive effects of Almight be related with the damage in Ach transmitter system. The applicationof Bicuculline, a GABAA inhibitor, also can weaken the PS inhibitive effectsof Al, which indicates that the inhibitive effect of Al also might be effective through GABA approach.

Objective To evaluate the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using ethanol and iodized-oil emulsion(TACE-EIOE) on prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods Eighteen patients with histologically-proven HCC were underwent TACE-EIOE. The extent of apoptosis was analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidy transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, Ki-67 and PCNA proteins were detected by immunohistochemical method. Changes of these markers, tumor necrosis, encapsulation, volume, cumulative survival were analyzed. Results Complete tumor necrosis was 33.33%(6/18), severe tumor necrosis was 44.44%(8/18), moderate tumor necrosis was 5.56%(1/18), lesser tumor necrosis was 16.67%(3/18). Apoptosis rate was (22.79?3.34)%. Complete encapsulation was 88.89%(16/18). Evident volume-lessening was 66.67% (12/18), partial volume-lessening was 22.22%(4/18),and stable volume was 11.11%(2/18). Ki-67,PCNA, p53, Bcl-2, and Bax were (30.93?18.10)%, (41.16?11.83)%, (53.41?18.13)%, (6.32?2.10)%, and(58.73?17.32)%, respectively. The cumulative 1-, 2-,and 3-year survival rates were 83.33%,72.22%,and 66.67% for patients, respectively. Conclusions The preoperative TACE-EIOE is safe, it might benefit patients with HCC.

Diclofenac potassium delayed-sustained release pellets were prepared by double-layer coating method with ethylcellulose aqueous dispersion.The effects of release condition and pellet compositions on the in vitro drug release were evaluated.The formulation was optimized by the central composite design-response surface methodology.It was shown that the pH of the media greatly affected the in vitro drug release of the pellets while the viscosity of the media had little influence.Drug release from the pellets was related to the proportion of the inner coat to the outer coat and the amount of pore forming agent in the outer coat.The optimization of the formulation could be achieved by the central composite design-response surface methodology.

Humans ; Macrophage Activation Syndrome ; etiology ; Rheumatic Diseases ; complications

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of stoke volume variation (SVV) determined using FloTrac/Vigileo and Picco-plus technologies in prone position for assessment of the blood volume in the patients undergoing spine surgery,Methods Forty-three ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ patients of both sexes,aged ＞ 18 yr,weighing 40-100 kg,scheduled for elective posterior approach to lumbar spinal fusion or scoliosis surgery were studied.After induction of anesthesia,a volume expansion was performed in supine and prone positions.Hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection 5 ml/kg was rapidly infused intravenously over 10 min to carry out the test for fluid responsiveness.Picco-plus and FloTrac/Vigileo systems were simultaneously applied in every subject to measure SVV (SVVP and SVVF).Positive fluid responsiveness was defined as the changing rate of stroke volume index ≥ 10％ as measured by using Piccoplus system.The patients were divided into response group (Rs group) and non-response group (NRs group) according to the changing rate of stroke volume index ≥ 10％ and ＜ 10％.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for SVV was plotted,and the diagnostic threshold,area under the ROC curve and 95％ confidence interval (CI) were calculated.Results Forty-one patients were included for analysis in this study.In supine position,the area under the ROC curve for SVV in predicting the fluid responsiveness was 0.740 (95％ CI:0.568-0.913),the diagnostic threshold was 12％,and the sensitivity and specificity in determining fluid responsiveness were 86％ and 54％,respectively,for SVVF,and the area under the ROC curve was 0.637 for SVVP.In prone position,the area under the ROC curve was 0.451 for SVVF,and 0.634 for SVVP.Compared with Rs group,the baseline value of SVVFwas significantly lower,and no significant change was found in the other hemodynamic parameters before volume expansion in supine position in NRs group.There was no significant difference in the hemodynamic parameters before volume expansion in prone position between the two groups.Conclusion SVV determined by using FloTrac/Vigileo and Picco-plus systems in prone position can not accurately assess the blood volume in the patients undergoing spine surgery.

Animals ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; methods ; Chickens ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; analysis ; Microsomes, Liver ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Sucrose

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroa Vacciniforme ; Hypersensitivity ; Insect Bites and Stings

Cryptococcosis ; complications ; Eosinophilia ; etiology ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; complications