AlM:To investigate the changes of retinal histology and oxidative stress in diabetic retinopathy and its reversal by pyruvate in diabetic rats.
METHODS: Eighty Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups:control group ( 20 rats ) , model group ( 30 rats ) and treatment group ( 30 rats ) . After streptozotocin ( STZ) induced diabetes mellitus in the model group and the treatment group, the treatment group received 2%pyruvate in diet and drinking. The changes of body weight and blood glucose were observed and the changes of glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-PX ) , malonie dialdehyde ( MDA) , and Na+-K+-ATPase levels of retinal tissue and retinal ultrastructure were investigated in three groups at 12wk after occurrence of diabetes.
RESULTS: Compared with control group, the body weight of the model group were significantly decreased, the activities of GSH-PX and ATP in the retina of diabetic rats were significantly lower, the MDA was signigicantly higher and significant changes occurred in retinal ultrastructure. Compared with model group, the blood glucose of the treatment group had no significant changes. However, the activities of GSH and ATP in the retina of diabetic rats were higher, the MDA was lower and the retinal ultrastructure was comparatively mild.
CONCLUSlON:Pyruvate can alleviate oxidatie stress reaction, improve the energy metabolism of retina, and delay the development of retinopathy.

AIM: To study the effects of Sodium Hyaluronate (HA) and Bion Tears on corneal thickness in adult myopic patients.METHODS: A total of 38 cases (76 eyes) were involved in this study. Three consecutive corneal measurements (the thinnest point of the cornea,THN) were evaluated before and half an hour after the instillation of one drop of HA in one eye and Bion Tears in the other at random with the Orbscan Corneal Topography System II (Orbscan,Inc,Salt Lake City,UT,USA,Version 3.00E).RESULTS: There were no significant between-group differences in baseline variable (t=0.264). Thirty minutes after the instillation of HA and Bion tears,THN were significantly increased by 5.57±7.00μm (t=4.906,P<0.01) and 7.89±7.64μm (t=6.369,P<0.01) respectively. However,there were no between-group differences in THN changes(t=1.381,P>0.05).Increase in the corneal thickness were found in 32 eyes (84%) and 33 eyes (87%) for the HA and Bion tears group,respectively.CONCLUSION: Artificial tears including HA and Bion Tears can significantly increase the corneal thickness in a short period of time. Corneal thickness can be used as one of the objective indices for evaluating the quality and therapeutic role of artificial tears.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antithrombin (AT) activity (AT: A) and AT antigen (AT: Ag) level in a Chinese family with type I antithrombin (AT) deficiency, and to explore the molecular mechanism of AT deficiency.

METHODSImmuno-nephelometry and chromogenic assay were used to detect the plasma level of AT: A and AT: Ag, respectively. Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood, and all the seven exons and exon-intron boundaries of AT gene were amplified by PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe plasma levels of AT: A and AT: Ag of the proband were 45% and 97 mg/L, respectively, which led to a type I AT deficiency. A heterozygous T to A mutation was found at nucleotide 9833 in exon 5 resulting in a Tyr363Stop nonsense mutation. The sequencing results from the pedigree indicated that four other members also had this mutation.

CONCLUSIONThis heterozygous nonsense mutation of T9833A in exon 5 resulting in venous thrombosis is a novel genetic defect of hereditary AT deficiency, which has not been described before.

Antithrombin III Deficiency ; genetics ; Antithrombins ; genetics ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo study the applied anatomy of the vascular and muscular innervations related to vascularized fibular grafts.

METHODSThirty-four cadaveric lower extremities were dissected for this study. The observations included fibular length, fibular nutrient artery, arcuate arteries, and innervation of fibular muscles. The fibulas were averagely divided into four segments and the locations of relevant vessels and nerves were ascertained.

RESULTSAll specimens had 1 fibular nutrient artery and 4-9 arcuate arteries except 1 specimen which had only 1 arcuate artery. The fibular nutrient artery and the first three arcuate arteries were constantly located between the distal half of the 1/4 segment and 2/4 segment of the fibula. The muscular branch of the superficial peroneal nerve passed through the surface of the periosteum in the 2/4 segment of the fibula.

CONCLUSIONSThe most proximal osteotomy point locates at the midpoint of the 1/4 segment by which it ensure the maximal potential for preserving the nutrient vessels. The muscular branch of the superficial peroneal nerve is fragile to injury at the 2/4 segment of the fibula.

Cadaver ; Female ; Fibula ; blood supply ; innervation ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the protective effect of garlic oil against carbon tetrachloride (CCL)-induced acute liver injury.

METHODSThe experiments include 4 preventive groups and 2 therapeutic groups. In every preventive and therapeutic group, the mice were randomized into 6 groups with 15 each, including one negative control group, one solvent control group, one CCl4 model group and 3 garlic oil groups (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight). Before given a single gavage of CCl4 (80 mg/kg), the mice were pretreated with garlic oil by gavage in preventive group 1 (30 days, once daily), preventive group 2 (5 days, once daily), preventive group 3 (ahead of 2 h, once), preventive group 4 (immediately, once) or the vehicle (corn oil, 10 ml/kg) in solvent control group. In therapeutic groups, the mice were gavaged garlic oil 2 h (once, in therapeutic 1) or for 5 days (once daily, in therapeutic 2) after administration CCl. After 24 h of the last administration, blood was collected and centrifuged at 2500 r/min at 4 degrees C for 10 min, and serum was removed to measure ALT and AST activities. The liver was dissected, weighed to calculate the liver coefficient (relative liver weight). At the same time, the liver samples were studied by histological examinations.

RESULTSCompared with negative group, the liver coefficient and the activities of ALT and AST in serum of model group were increased remarkably (P < 0.01). Compared with CCl model group, the liver coefficient and the activities of ALT and AST in serum were decreased significantly (P < 0.01) by garlic oil dose-dependently in each preventive group. Simultaneously, histological assessment showed that garlic oil effectively alleviated hepatocyte injuries induced by CCl4. Comparing the preventive effects of garlic oil in every group, it was better in preventive group 3 than others. However, all indexes and histological examinations in therapeutic group 1 did not show the difference with those of CCl4 model group. In therapeutic group 2, all indexes recovered after 5 d of CCl4 administration.

CONCLUSIONSGarlic oil can prevent acute liver injury induced by CCl4 and the effect is better in ahead of 2 h group than others.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Garlic ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Plant Oils ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDAscorbic acid (AA) represents one of the most important enzyme co-factors, antioxidants and neuromodulators and plays an important role in the cerebral system. Increasing evidence has suggested that AA could treat certain kinds of vertigo diseases such as Meniere's disease. To elucidate the neurochemical functions associated with AA in vertigo, the change of extracellular AA in the brain cortex following caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) was evaluated.

METHODSAn on-line electrochemical detection was coupled with in vivo microdialysis to continuously monitor the change of extracellular AA in the primary somatosensory (SI) area of guinea pigs following a caloric vestibular stimulation. Sixteen guinea pigs were divided into three groups, i.e., experimental group with irrigation of the ear canal with ice water (0 degrees C) (n = 8), and two control groups, one with irrigation of the ear canal with warm water (38 degrees C) (n = 4) and the other with irrigation of the auricle with ice water (n = 4).

RESULTSIn the experimental group, the ice water irrigation of the left external ear canal induced a horizontal nystagmus towards the right side lasting about 45 seconds. No nystagmus was induced by warm water irrigation of the external ear canal or by ice water irrigation of the auricle. The extracellular AA concentration significantly increased following the ice water vestibular stimulation, reaching a maximum of (130 +/- 20)% (n = 8) of the basal dialysate level (2.61 +/- 0.92) micromol/L (n = 8), lasting at least for an hour. AA level did not change distinctly after the irrigation of the left external ear canal with warm water or the irrigation of the auricle with ice water.

CONCLUSIONSThe concentration of extracellular AA in the brain cortex of the SI area increased following the ice water vestibular stimulation. This demonstration may be useful for the investigation of the neurochemical processes associated with AA in the process of vertigo.

Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; analysis ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Extracellular Space ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Ice ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Physical Stimulation ; methods ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the HLA-DRB1 genetic polymorphism in the Ewenki of Inner mongolia.

METHODSHLA-DRB1 allele polymorphisms in 84 normal Ewenki were determined by PCR with sequencing based typing (SBT).

RESULTSTwenty-five HLA-DRB1 alleles were observed. The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*03011(14.88%) is the highest; the allele frequencies of HLA -DRB1*09012 (13.69%), DRB1*07011(8.92%), DRB1*04011(9.52%) and DRB1*12011(8.33%) are lower.

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles frequencies in normal Ewenki from Inner Mongolia exhibits a unique profile, which is of important reference value for studies on anthropology and related illnesses in Ewenki population.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Ethnic Groups ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the alterations of microtubule and microfilament expression are responsible for the neurotoxicity of carbon disulfide.

METHODSWistar rats were administered with carbon disulfide by gavage at a dosage of 300 or 500 mg/kg for continuous 12 weeks (five times per week). Spinal cords of carbon disulfide-intoxicated rats and their age-matched controls were Triton-extracted and ultracentrifuged to yield a pellet and a corresponding supernatant fraction. Then, the contents of alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, and beta-actin in both fractions were determined by immunoblotting. In the meantime, their mRNA levels in spinal cords were quantified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSIn the supernatant fraction, the contents of beta-tubulin and beta-actin in both treated groups increased significantly (P < 0.01) the content of beta-tubulin increased by 141% and 158% respectively, and the content of beta-actin increased by 19% and 32% respectively. In the pellet fraction, the content of beta-tubulin in both groups increased by 107%(P < 0.01) and 118%(P < 0.01) respectively, and the others keep unaffected. In the meantime, the levels of of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin and beta-actin gene were elevated consistently in CS(2)-treated groups (P < 0.01) the levels of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin increased by 207% and 212% respectively, and the levels of mRNA expression of beta-actin increased by 94% and 91% respectively.

CONCLUSIONCarbon disulfide intoxication results in alternations of microtubule and microfilament expression, and the alternations might be related to its neurotoxicity.

Actins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Disulfide ; poisoning ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tubulin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo clarify the distribution of genetic polymorphism of D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818, D6S1043, D2S1772, D7S3048 loci of the Mongolian population in Ximeng pastoral area and construct the relevant genetic database.

METHODSMultiplex PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to investigate the polymorphism of 6 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in 286 individuals of the Mongolian population.

RESULTSIn this study, 6, 9, 8, 11, 14, 11 alleles were observed at the 6 STR loci respectively. The genotypes distributions in Mongolian population were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05), the cumulative expected heterozygosities (H), discriminating probability (DP) and the polymorphism information contents (PIC) for the 6 loci were 0.9998, 09999, 0.9998 respectively. These data were compared with those of the Han population. The results showed there were significant difference in D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818, D2S1772, D7S3048 loci between the Mongolian population and Han population (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in D6S1043 locus was seen between the two populations (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrate that these 6 STR loci can serve as genetic marks and provide valuable data which are beneficial to studying the population genetics and ethnology.

China ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Mongolia ; ethnology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic

BACKGROUNDSix provinces in China accounted for 70% - 80% of all reported HIV/AIDS cases in the country in 2009 and five provinces accounted for 78% of all reported mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV cases. Because Guangxi belonged to both groups, the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Plus program was established there to understand better low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery (PD) birth outcomes and their associated risk factors better.

METHODSPregnancy outcomes were examined among HIV-infected pregnant women who enrolled in the PMTCT Plus program from June 2006 to February 2009 in Guangxi, China. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors associated with LBW (< 2500 g) and PD (gestational age < 37 weeks).

RESULTSThe prevalence of LBW and PD among 194 HIV-positive mothers was 19.6% (38/194) and 9.8% (19/194), respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CD4 cell count < 100 cell/µl (multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.52; 95%CI 1.11 - 25.55) and CD4 cell count 100 - 199 cells/µl (AOR 3.40; 95%CI 1.03 - 11.25, compared to CD4 cell count ≥ 350 cells/µl), gestational age < 37 weeks (AOR 4.38; 95%CI 1.29 - 14.82, compared to ≥ 37 weeks), maternal weight < 45 kg (AOR 5.64; 95%CI 1.09 - 29.07) and maternal weight 45 - 54 kg (AOR 3.55; 95%CI 1.31 - 9.60, compared to ≥ 55 kg) at enrollment, and HIV RNA ≥ 100 000 copies/ml at enrollment (AOR 4.22; 95%CI 1.24 - 14.32) and 20 000 - 99 999 (AOR 2.77; 95%CI 1.01 - 7.77, compared to < 20 000 copies/ml) were associated with a higher risk of LBW. For PD, only maternal injection drug use as the route of HIV transmission (AOR 5.30; 95%CI 1.33 - 21.14, compared to those infected with HIV through sexual transmission) was significantly associated with a higher risk of PD.

CONCLUSIONSLower CD4 cell count and higher HIV RNA viral load at enrollment were associated with LBW. Optimal antenatal care, including earlier antenatal screening and HIV diagnosis, is critical to earlier PMTCT prophylaxis and/or HIV treatment to prevent transmission of HIV to the infant and also to prevent LBW pregnancy outcomes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gestational Age ; HIV Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; physiology ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; epidemiology ; Premature Birth ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Viral Load ; Young Adult