Background Retinal retinoic acid (RA) plays an important role in the formation of the lensinduced myopia.However,it is not clear how RA transfer the myopic signal to choroid throughout the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) barrier.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) on the barrier of RPE in lens-induced myopic eye of guinea pig.Methods Thirty left eyes of 30 21-dayold clean guinea pigs were randomized into normal control group and the model group.The models of out of focus were induced by covering of-6.00 D concave lens on the left eyes for 15 days.Radius of corneal curvature was measured using corneal curvimeter,and diopeter of the guinea pig was examined by mydriatic optometry.The length of ocular axis was detected by A-sonography.The animals were sacrificed and the retinas of the left eyes were isolated for the culture and passage of RPE cells.The third generation of cells were incubated Millcell-PET microporous film,and atRA at the concentration of 1 × 10-6,1 × 10-7,1 × 10-8 and 1 × 10-9 mol/L was added to the micropore respectively for 12 hours,and the micropores with equal-solvent served as negative control group.Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT)colorimetric method was used to detect the survival rate of the cells.Subsequently,the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) of the monolayer cells was determined with CN10-EVOM2 resistance measuring meter.The vesicular transport change of RPE membrane in different groups was evaluated by FM1-43 fluorescence staining.Results The mean diopter was (-2.20±0.95) D in the models,and that in the controls was (+ 1.15 ±0.30) D,with a significant difference between them (t =14.57,P＜ 0.01).The axial length was (8.24 ± 0.09) mm in the models and it was significantly longer than (7.81±0.05) mm in the controls (t=17.20,P＜0.01).RPE cells grew well to form a monolayer in Millcell culture pool after one week.After 24 hours of the atRA treatment,the survival rate of RPE cells reduced gradually with the increase of atRA concentration with the highest rate in the 1 × 10-9 mol/L atRA group (93.3 ％) and followed by the 1 × 10-8 mol/L atRA group (88.2％).More than half of the cells dead in the 1 × 10-6mol/L and 1 × 10-7mol/L atRA groups (53.8％ and 47.1％).Significant differences in the TER value and fluorescence staining intensity of the cells were seen among the various groups (F =43.89,P =0.00 ; F =26.13,P =0.00),with the maximal values in the 1 × 10-8mol/L atRA group.The FM1-43 fluorescence located on the cellular membrane and cytoplasm.Conclusions AtRA can increase the functional state of tight junction and vesicular transport,which regulated the RPE cell barrier in the guinea pig.

Objective To evaluate the efficiency and safety of mifepristone and gestrinone in subsidiary treat- ment after endometriosis surgery.Methods Totally 151 patients diagnosed as endometriosis with conservative surgery treatment or laparoscopic operation were divided into three groups;49 cases in the group of mifepristone re- ceived mifepristone tablets 10mg every day for 6 months from the first week of postoperation,60 cases in the group of gestrinone received gestrinone capsules 2.5mg twice every week for 6 months.Cases in the group of control did not receive any postoperative medical treatment.The duration of follow-up after surgery was censored at 3～18 months.Patients'controlling rate of ache symptoms and signs,clinical efficiency,recurrence rate,sex hormone level, menstrual and weight changes,liver and renal functions were recorded and compared.Results The follow up rate is 97.4 %,the efficacious rate and symptoms controlling rate of mifepristone group and gestrinone group were 78.7 %, 93.1% respectively,which of the control group were 34.8 %,58.7 % respectively.There were significant differ- ences,x~2=44.31,P

To establish the water dynamics model for drying process of Angelicae Sinensis Radix, the Weibull distribution model was applied to study the moisture ratio variation curves, and compared the drying rate and drying activation energy with the drying methods of temperature controllable air drying, infrared drying under different temperatures (50, 60, 70 degrees C). The Weibull distribution model could well describe the drying curves, for the moisture ratio vs. drying time profiled of the model showed high correlation (R2 = 0. 994-0. 999). The result proved that the drying process of Angelicae Sinensis Radix belonged to falling-rate drying period. For the drying process, the scale parameter (a) was related to the drying temperature, and decreased as the temperature increases. The shape parameter (β) for the same drying method, drying temperature had little impact on the shape parameter. The moisture diffusion coefficient increase along with temperature increasing from 0.425 x 10(-9) m2 x s(-1) to 2.260 x 10(-9) m2 x s(-1). The activation energy for moisture diffusion was 68.82, 29.60 kJ x mol(-1) by temperature controllable air drying and infrared drying, respectively. Therefore, the Weibull distribution model can be used to predict the moisture removal of Angelicae Sinensis Radix in the drying process, which is great significance for the drying process of prediction, control and process optimization. The results provide the technical basis for the use of modern drying technology for industrial drying of Angelicae Sinensis Radix.
Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Desiccation ; methods ; Models, Theoretical ; Water

To provide a scientific basis for the selection of the appropriate drying method for Mentha Haplocalyx Herba (MHH), determine 2 monoterpenes, 4 phenolic acids and 5 flavonoids in MHH by GC-MS and UPLC-TQ-MS methods, and investigate the effects of the drying methods on the changes in contents of these analytes. The qualities of products obtained with different drying methods were evaluated by the multivariate statistical method of Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Results showed that the drying methods had the greatest impact on menthol, caffeic acid, and rosemary acid, which were followed by chlorogenic acid and diosmetin-7-O-glucoside. The contents in these analytes processed with hot-air-drying method were higher than those with microwave-drying and infrared-drying methods at the same temperatures. The contents in these analytes processed under low temperature (40-45 °C) were higher than those under higher temperature (60-70 °C). Above all, the contents in phenolic acids processed with microwave fixation (exposed under microwave at 100 °C for several minutes) were obviously higher than those of not being processed, showing an inhibition of some enzymes in samples after fixation. The TOPSIS evaluation showed that the variable temperature drying method of 'Hot-Air 45-60 °C' was the most suitable approach for the primary drying processing of MHH. The results could provide the scientific basis for the selection of appropriate drying method for MHH, and helpful reference for the primary drying proces of herbs containing volatile chemical components.
Desiccation ; methods ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Hydroxybenzoates ; analysis ; Mentha ; chemistry ; Monoterpenes ; analysis

Objective: To study the dynamic changes of aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza during different growth periods based on the contents of seven kinds of salvianolic acids, and determine the value of aerial parts of S. miltiorrhiza. Methods: UPLC-TQ/MS method was applied. The separation was performed on Acquity UPLC BEH C18 (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm). The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid by gradient elution. The flow rate of the mobile phase was 0.4 mL/min, and the column temperature was at 35℃. Results: The stems and leaves of S. miltiorrhiza were rich in salvianolic acids, but tanshinones were not detected in them. The content of salvianolic acids in stems and leaves were the highest in July or August besides salvianolic acid A and gradually dropped off till the lowest in December. The content of salvianolic acids in flowers reached maximum during the full-bloom stage. The dynamic change trend is not obvious before full-bloom stage, and its content sharply dropped when flowers began to fade. Conclusion: The aerial parts of S. miltiorrhiza were abundant in salvianolic acids, especially rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B, and the contents in luxuriant growth period were significantly higher than those in radix and rhizome of S. miltiorrhiza, which showed that the aerial parts were the important resources to obtain the salvianolic acids.

In order to develop a rapid detection kit for novel avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H7N9, two sets of specific primers and probes were designed based on the nucleotide sequences of hemagglutinin antigen (HA) and neuraminidase antigen (NA) of novel H7N9 virus (2013) available in GenBank to establish the method of TaqMan probe-based multiplex real-time RT-PCR for rapid detection of AIV subtype H7N9. The primer and probe of HA were for all H7 subtype AIVs, while the primer and probe of NA were only for novel N9 subtype AIVs. The results showed that this method had high sensitivity and specificity. This method was applicable to the testing of positive standard sample with a minimum concentration of 10 copies/microL; it not only distinguished H7 subtype from H1, H3, H5, H6, and H9 subtypes, but also distinguished novel N9 subtype from traditional N9 subtype. A total of 2700 samples from Zhuhai, China were tested by this method, and the results were as expected. For the advantages of sensitivity and specificity, the method holds promise for wide application.
Animals ; Birds ; virology ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza in Birds ; prevention & control ; virology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Species Specificity ; Taq Polymerase ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of endostatin and doxycycline on microcirculation patterns in melanoma and their molecular mechanisms.

METHODSTo establish mouse B16 melanoma model by subcutaneous injection of B16 melanoma cell suspension. The mice were divided into 3 experimental groups and 1 control group. To treat the mice in the 3 experimental groups with endostatin, doxycycline, endostatin and doxycycline, respectively, and the control group without any treatment. The tumor volume was measured and recorded to make comparison of their growth rate. To assess the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 by immunohistochemical staining. The three microcirculation patterns of endothelium-dependent vessels, mosaic vessels and vasculogenic mimicry were counted. The activity of MMP-2, MMP-9 between different groups was examined by gelatin zymography.

RESULTSTumor growth in the three experimental groups was statistically significantly slower than that in the control group. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in each treated group was significantly different with that in the control group. The amount of three microcirculation patterns in three experimental groups was less than that of the control group, and the amount of MV and VM in each experimental group was significantly less than that in the control group. By gelatin zymography, the enzyme activity of MMP-9, actived-MMP-2 and MMP-2/proMMP-2 in ES, DOX and ES + DOX group was lower than that in the control group, but the enzyme activity of pro-MMP-2 among the four groups was not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONThe combined use of doxycycline and endostatin in melanoma can inhibit the expression of MMPs, influencing the formation of different microcirculation patterns in melanoma.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doxycycline ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Synergism ; Endostatins ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Melanoma, Experimental ; blood supply ; enzymology ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

Objective To observe the difference between continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) at acupoint and CSII at non-acupoint in treating type 2 diabetes, for providing a novel option in selecting the insulin injection site. Method Sixty-six subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomized into a treatment group of 32 cases and a control group of 34 cases. The treatment group was intervened by CSII at acupoint, while the control group was intervened by CSII at non-acupoint. The body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h-postprandial plasma glucose (P2hPG), bedtime blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), consumption of insulin, and the score of diabetes symptom grading and quantification of the two groups were compared. Result The blood sugar level, insulin consumption, HbA1c level and symptom score declined significantly after treatment in both groups (P<0.05);the BMI and initial dosage of insulin in the treatment group dropped significantly after treatment in the treatment group (P<0.05); after treatment, the BMI, FPG level, initial dosage of insulin and symptom score in the treatment group were markedly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05); there were no significant differences between the treatment group and the control group in the P2 hBG level, bedtime glucose sugar level, HbA1c level, pre-prandial insulin dose and total effective rate (P>0.05). Conclusion CSII at acupoint and at non-acupoint both can effectively improve the disease condition of type 2 diabetes. The treatment group is superior to the control group in controlling BMI and FPG, reducing the initial level of insulin, and improving the symptoms, and the treatment group presents a higher total effective rate with the increase of treatment duration compared with the control group. It is indicated that insulin infusion at abdominal acupoint has a certain advantage in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Objective To explore the expression level and influencing factors of CD4 +CD25 + regulatory cells(Treg)among male drug -abusers with syphilis.Methods 144 male drug -abusers with syphilis,41 male drug -abusers without syphilis,35 male non -drug abuser with syphilis and 35 male healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study.Expression levels of CD4 +CD25 +Treg of them were detected.A questionnaire interview was conducted among these participants, including drug abuse duration,drug types and abuse ways.Results The levels of Treg expression of drug -abusers with syphilis were significantly higher than that of drug -abusers without syphilis and non -drug abuser with syphilis (P <0.01 ).Despite of the stage of syphilis,types of drugs and abuse way,Treg expression levels with drug abuse duration of"above 1 -year"were significantly higher than those of "1 -year or below"(P <0.01 ).Treg expression levels were positively correlated to drug abuse duration (R2 =0.672,P <0.01)among patients.Among the participants,people both with traditional and new drugs were significantly higher than that with only traditional or new drug (P <0.01).In addition, people both with injecting and non -injecting abuse were significantly higher than that with one way of drug -abuse (P <0.01).Among those with drug abuse duration of "above 1 -year",Treg levels of drug -abusers with traditional drugs and injecting abuse way were remarkably higher than that with new drug and non -injecting abuse respectively (P <0.01). Conclusion Among male drug -abusers with syphilis,suppression of cellular immune function resulting from increased CD4 +CD25 +regulatory T cells is related to drug abuse duration,and is also influenced by drug types and abuse ways.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Diabetes Mellitus ; therapy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley