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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of akatinol memantine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods Two hundred and forty-one patients with AD were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg of donepezil daily or 20 mg of memantine daily for 24 weeks.The primary efficacy variables were the Clinician' s Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus (CIBIC-Plus),the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognition (ADAS-cog) and the Activities of Daily Living (ADL).The secondary efficacy variables were the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE).Results Two hundred and seven patients completed the study and were evaluated at week 24.Both memantine and donepezil had significant efficacies at the end point, according to the ADAS-cog, the ADL, the NPI and the MMSE.Patients receiving memantine had a similar outcome as those receiving donepezil, according to the results of all the variables changes (CIBIC-Plus: memantine 3.4±0.8vs donepezil 3.5±0.8; ADAS-cog: memantine-4.7±5.8 vs donepezil-4.6±6.5; ADL: memantine -2.4±6.7 vs donepezil-2.2±5.3 ; NP1: memantine-5.8±9.0 vs donepezil-3.1±8.5 ; MMSE:memantine 1.7±3.1 vs donepezil 1.8±2.8, all P >0.05).The adverse events were as following: donepezil group 41.88% and memanintine group 30.58%.Conclusion The memantine as a new drug for AD, has the similar efficacy as donepezil, and it is safe.

BACKGROUNDWe investigated possible biomarkers for endometriosis (EM) using the ClinProt technique and proteomics methods.

METHODSWe enrolled 50 patients with EM, 34 with benign ovarian neoplasms and 40 healthy volunteers in this study. Serum proteomic spectra were generated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) combined with weak cationic exchange (WCX) magnetic beads. Possible biomarkers were analyzed by a random and repeat pattern model-validation method that we designed, and ClinProtools software, results were refined using online liquid chromatography-tandem MS.

RESULTSWe found a cluster of 5 peptides (4210, 5264, 2660, 5635, and 5904 Da), using 3 peptides (4210, 5904, 2660 Da) to discriminate EM patients from healthy volunteers, with 96.67% sensitivity and 100% specificity. We selected 4210 and 5904 m/z, which differed most between patients with EM and controls, and identified them as fragments of ATP1B4, and the fibrinogen alpha (FGA) isoform 1/2 of the FGA chain precursor, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSClinProt can identify EM biomarkers, which - most notably - distinguish even early-stage or minimal disease. We found 5 stable peaks at 4210, 5264, 2660, 5635, and 5904 Da as potential EM biomarkers, the strongest of which were associated with ATP1B4 (4210 Da) and FGA (5904 Da); this indicates that ATP1B4 and FGA are associated with EM pathogenesis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Endometriosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Peptides ; blood ; Proteomics ; methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Young Adult