Objective: To investigate the electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics, cerebral blood fl ow, glucose metabolism, and pathological characteristics in cats kindled by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Methods: Ten adult male cats received intramuscular injections of PTZ at a sub-convulsive dose of 25 mg/kg once daily. Cats were considered to be kindled when a class V or above seizure was observed. Subsequently, scalp EEG, 99mTc-ECD-single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), 18FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), and Cresyl violet staining were employed to evaluate brain activity, cerebral blood fl ow, glucose metabolism, and pathological characteristics representing epileptic foci during interictal stages. Results: The EEG data revealed bilateral dissymmetry paroxysmal activity in the form of δ and θ waves, as well as paroxysmal spikes and sharp waves instead of symmetric highamplitude rhythm of 8-12 Hz in cats kindled by PTZ compared to controls. In addition, low blood perfusion and low glucose metabolism unilaterally in the temporal lobe were observed in PTZ-kindled cats, in contrast to the bilateral symmetrical blood perfusion and high glucose metabolism observed in control cats. Pathological examinations showed a thickening of white matter in the ipsilateral temporal region and a thinning of gray matter in PTZ-kindled cats. Microscopically, we observed a structure disturbance of hippocampal CA3 area in PTZ-kindled cats. Conclusion: Epileptic foci of PTZ-kindled cats were localized to the unilateral temporal lobe, in a manner highly similar to the pathophysiology of human temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution, changes and a possible role for retinal dopamine transporter (DAT) in experimental myopia in chickens.

METHODSTwo-day-old chickens were divided into four groups. Chicken eyes were fitted with lenses of -10D,-20D and translucent goggles unilaterally. Normal eyes were used as controls. After 3 wk, all chickens were given an intramuscular injection of (125)I-beta-CIT 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane and sacrificed two hours post injection. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the neural retina were obtained together or RPE was dissected out from the neural retina. Radioactive DAT from each specimen was assayed by gamma-counter.

RESULTSRetinal DAT was detected in RPE specimens rather than in the neural retina in all eyes. Radioactive DAT in myopic eyes was higher, compared with control eyes.

CONCLUSIONSRetinal DAT is mainly located in the RPE and may be involved in the formation of lens induced myopia (LIM) and form deprivation myopia (FDM). These methods may provide a new approach for further studying the role of the dopamine system in experimental myopia.

Animals ; Chickens ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Eye ; growth & development ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Myopia ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Retina ; chemistry

Objective:To analyze the results of external quality assessment (EQA) of Shanghai Nuclear Medicine Quality Control Center, in order to further strengthen the quality control and management of in vitro testing laboratories. Methods:The EQA results of 41 units evaluated by Shanghai Nuclear Medicine Quality Control Center from 2004 to 2018 were summarized and retrospectively analyzed. The overall qualified rate of all items (total triiodothyronine, TT 3; total thyroxine, TT 4; free triiodothyronine, FT 3; free thyroxine, FT 4; thyroid stimulating hormone, TSH; alpha fetoprotein, AFP; carcinoembryonic antigen, CEA; total prostate specific antigen, TPSA) and the qualified rate of singe item over the years were calculated respectively. Results:From 2004 to 2018, the overall qualified rates of all items of the laboratories were 84.0%(356/424), 90.1%(381/423), 94.8%(399/421), 94.8%(291/307), 96.6%(308/319), 97.2%(280/288), 96.6%(224/232), 97.8%(225/230), 98.7%(224/227), 100.0%(221/221), 99.5%(218/219), 98.6%(215/218), 99.5%(217/218), 99.5%(189/190), 100.0%(90/90), respectively; and the qualified rate of singe item showed an upward trend, but there were still some laboratories′ EAQ results did not reach " qualified" , and there may be potential risk factors affecting the test results during the test process.Conclusions:The qualified rates of in vitro testing laboratories evaluated by Shanghai Nuclear Medicine Quality Control Center show an upward trend from 2004 to 2018. Analyzing the EQA results can help to find the potential risks in the laboratory and improve the detection ability.