Genetic Techniques ; Genomics ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viruses ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETry to observe the plasticity of neuron in primary cortex of rat evoked by conditioned stimulus of different sound level.

METHODSApplying conventional electrophysiological technique of extracellular recording to investigate the plasticity of characteristic frequency (CF) and frequency turning curve (FIC) of neurons in rat auditory cortex (AC) by determining CF shifts of neurons caused by sound stimulus of different sound level.

RESULTSWhen the frequency difference between conditioned stimulus (CS) frequency and the CF of neuron was in 1.0 kHz, the plasticity of CF induced by CS was associated with sound level. The probability of the plasticity of CF evoked by CS of higher sound lever was more than the lower. And the probability was dependent on frequency turning curve (FTC) and almost independent on the sound level of conditioned signal.

CONCLUSIONSound level of conditioned stimulus differs the plasticity of characteristic frequency of neurons in rat auditory cortex.

Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Auditory Cortex ; cytology ; Auditory Perception ; physiology ; Conditioning, Classical ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Perceptual Masking ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sound

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Glycoproteins ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Testicular Hormones ; blood ; Testis ; growth & development

Objective:To study whether the orientation behavior of rats is affected by multi-sensory information.Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:the audio-visual integration group and pure audio group.The orientation behaviors of rats were observed after given single modal and multi-modal sensory cues with spatial disparities.Results:We found that when the temporal and spatial audio cues were coincident to a target visual cue,the rats had a markedly reduced reaction time and increased success rate in orientation behaviors;there was an obvious audio-visual integration effect.The integration effect was more obvious when the intensity of target visual cue was weak,with the enhancement efficiency being(87.3?8.5)%, significantly higher than that when the intensity of target visual cue was stronger(27.6%,P

China ; epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Humans ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology

We studied on the bio-safety problem of cultivating innovative talents in medical microbiology. The bio-safety of laboratory was controlled by educating bio-safety before the experiments, regulating basic operations during the experiments and constructing management system out of the experiments. Then we got some experience to ensure students’ bio-safety during the research.

OBJECTIVEThrombin and factor Xa are key players in the process of arterial thrombi formation and lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a cell surface endocytosis receptor for atherogenic oxidized LDL (ox-LDL). Here we investigate whether thrombin and factor Xa can induce LOX-1 protein expressions in cell-associated forms and soluble forms in cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells (BSMCs).

METHODSBSMCs were treated with thrombin or factor Xa in the presence or absence of AG1478, an epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor-associated tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Total cell lysates and concentrated culture medium were then analyzed by Western blot using a mouse anti-LOX-1 monoclonal antibody.

RESULTSLOX-1 protein levels in cell lysates and culture medium were significantly increased by thrombin and factor Xa in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Upregulation of LOX-1 protein expressions in cell lysates and concentrated culture medium was observed at concentrations above 2.0 and 3.0 U/ml of thrombin and 50 and 100 nmol/L of factor Xa, respectively. Increased LOX-1 protein expressions in cell lysates and cell culture medium were detectable as early as 4 h and peaked at 12 h after treatment with thrombin or factor Xa. LOX-1 expression induced by thrombin and factor Xa could be blocked by pretreatment with AG1478.

CONCLUSIONSThrombin and factor Xa can act as LOX-1 inducers via tyrosine kinase activation.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; Cattle ; Cells, Cultured ; Factor Xa ; pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; biosynthesis ; Thrombin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) female patients, and to identify factors associated with impairment in HRQOL.

METHODSWe enrolled 41 women cases with hepatitis C for 10 to 15 years and 51 health women in Guan area of Hebei province, China. HRQOL was assessed by the SF-36 by an interview.

RESULTSCHC female patients had significantly lower SF-36 scors in all subscales when compared to those of the non-HCV infected female population.

CONCLUSIONCHC female patients have a reduced HRQOL. CHC alone is associated with significant impairment in HRQOL.

Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; psychology ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; psychology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; RNA, Viral ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in systemic hemodynamics and their relations to the concentrations of nitric oxide, endothelin, prostacyclin, and thromboxane A2 after portal cavity clamping and opening in portal hypertensive canines.

METHODSTwelve canines were randomly divided into control group and model group, and partial ligation of the portal vein was performed in the model group. Portal cavity clamping and opening was performed 12 weeks later in the two groups. The hemodynamic parameters including cardiac output index (CI), heart rate (HR), mean artery blood pressure (MABP), central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary arteriole wedge pressure (PAWP), and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) were measured during the operation. Samples were obtained from the central vein at 3 time points during the operation for measuring NO, ET, PGI2, and TXA2.

RESULTSPortal vein ligation and portal cavity clamping produced obvious changes in the systemic circulation of the dogs, and the alteration was milder in the control group. After obstruction of the portal vein, the NO levels in systemic circulation in portal hypertensive dogs declined obviously, but gradually recovered the normal level after reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONSystemic circulation undergoes significant alterations after portal vein obstruction, but its changes in portal hypertensive dogs are milder than those in the control group, the mechanism of which needs further investigation.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Endothelins ; blood ; Epoprostenol ; blood ; Hemodynamics ; Hypertension, Portal ; blood ; physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Plasma ; metabolism ; Portal Vein ; physiopathology ; Thromboxane A2 ; blood ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo assess the state of glucose metabolism and beta-cell function in obese and overweight children.

METHODSLevels of glucose and insulin were detected during oral glucose tolerance test in 52 obese and overweight children aged 11.3 +/- 1.8 years with body mass index (BMI) 30.2 +/- 19.2 kg/m(2). Insulin resistance index (IR = FIN x FPG/22.5), insulin sensitivity index (IS = 1/FIN x FPG) and ratio of insulin increment to glucose increment at 30' (I(30)-I(0)/G(30)-G(0)) post oral glucose were measured. (FIN = fasting insulin. FPG = fasting plasma glucose). The IR, IS and the ratio post oral glucose were compared among groups with varying BMI and between groups of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and control. Serum triglyceride determination and B ultrasonography of liver were performed.

RESULTS(1) one patient with type 2 diabetes (1.9%) and 5 patients with IGT (9.6%) were found. (2) IR (> or = 2.8) was observed in 76.9% of the cases. (3) The IR, IS and their ratio showed no difference between the compared groups. (4) IR and IS did not show significant difference but there was significant difference in ratio between the IGT and control group. (5) Increased serum triglyceride and fatty liver were noted in 36.5% and 53.3% of the cases, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that insulin resistance and reduced insulin sensitivity in obese and overweight children are common, and these changes seemed not to correlated with the varying degree of BMI. Beta-cells function was obviously impaired in obese children with IGT and disorder of lipid metabolism exists in many obese and overweight children revealed.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Obesity ; metabolism ; Overweight ; metabolism