Background Dacryocystitis is one of the most common infectious eye diseases.The gold standard for the identification of bacteria causing dacryocystitis is bacterial culture.The combination of regular culture method with molecular biology techeniques will generate more reliable results.However,very few research data are available in ophthalmological studies in this area.Objective This study was to identify the genera and species of the dacryocystitis-causing bacteria by PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA sequences.Methods Ten cases of qualified standardized bacteria samples were taken,and the nucleic acids were released in the heating process of the PCR procedure.The 16S rRNA genes were amplified and sequenced,and the genera and species were identified using BLAST from GenBank,and the results were used to compare with the results from biochemical identification to test the reliability of this method.The cultured bacterial species from the lacrimal sac secretions from 30 cases of dacryocystitis patients were identified with the above method.Results The outcome of the PCR identification for the 10 cases of quality control standard bacterial specimens was consistent with the results from the biochemical identification.The identification of the 30 cases of dacryocystitis through sequencing the 16S rRNA revealed there were 13 cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis infection,2 cases of Staphylococcus warneri infection,1 case of Staphylococcus hominis infection,5 cases of Corynebacterium macginleyi infection,3 cases of Streptococcus pneumonia infection,2 cases of Bacillus cereus infection,1 case of Micrococcus luteus infection,1 case of Moraxella catarrhalis infection,1 case of Moraxella osloensis infection and 1 case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.Conclusions Sequencing the 16S rRNA is an accurate and specific way for the identification of the genera and species of bacteria that cause dacryocystitis in patients.This sequencing method is feasible in monitoring a variety of dacryocystitis-causing pathogens.More information and epidemiological statistics about dacryocystitis can be obtained from 16S rRNA sequencing.

0.05).(2)Whereas there was a significant difference in cardiac func- tion in patients received atorvastatin(P

Hepatic fibrosis models were induced by CCl4 in rats. To explore vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFβ1) mRNA expression and bcl-2, Bax protein expression levels of intervention and explore the mechanism of the Aralia chinesis anti-hepatic fibrosis. Sixty male Sprague-Dawlley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: nomal group, model group, high-dose (10 mL x kg(-1)), medium-dose (7.5 mL x kg(-1)), low-dose (5.0 mL x kg(-1)) of A. chinesis treated group and colchicine treated group. The change of liver histopathology was observed by HE and Masson staining. The mRNA of VEGF, TGF-β1 were detected by RT-PCR. The protein of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blot. In the model group liver cell obvious degeneration, necrosis, a large number of collagen fibers of the cable hyperplasia, part visible pseudolobule formation. A. chinesis large, medium, low-dose group and colchicine group liver cell degeneration and necrosis reduced A. chinesis small, medium, and high-dose group was gradually reduced trend and A. chinesis large, middle dose group degree of reduction is particularly significant. Compared with model group, A. chinesis of large, medium and small dose group and colchicine group VEGF mRNA expression, A. chinesis of large, medium-dose group TGF-β1 mRNA expression reduce (P < 0.05); compared with colchicine group, A. chinesis of large, middle dose group of VEGF mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.05); A. chinesis of large, middle dose group of TGF-β1 mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.01), and compared with colchicine group, large dose group of of TGF-β1 mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, A. chinesis of large, medium and small dose group and colchicine group Bcl-2 protein expression reduce (all is P < 0.05). But A. chinesis of large, medium and small dose group and colchicine group of Bax protein expression were increased (P < 0.05). A. chinesis regulation of VEGF, TGF-β1 may prevent the activation of hepatic stellate cells, liver tissue by up regulating the anti-apoptotic protein Bax and down pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression, thereby to improve the degree of liver fibrosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Aralia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on DNA repair in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients. MethodsThe expression of hOGG1 portein in HCC and the surrounding liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry assay. ResultsThe expression of hOGG1 protein in HCC tissue was significantly higher in patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy than that in control cirrhotic tissues,that of paracancerous tissues,and in patients without preoperative chemotherapy( ?~2=4.8297,?~2=4.0292,all P

Objective To study the rationality and possibility of 64 slice spiral CT in the examination of the temporal bone at low dose.Methods The same CT technique and temporal bone mode as those for clinical CT were used,two cranium specimens(four ears)were scanned with Somatom Sensation 64-slice spiral CT at different mA(380,300,200,160,120,80),and muhi-planar reformation was performed.The CT dose index at different mA groups were measured by 10 cm pencil ionization chamber and head dose phantom.Four anatomic structures on axial images(subarcuate fossa,tendon of tensor tympani, facial recess,etc),four anatomic structures on coronal images(scute,crista transversa,fenestra cochleae, etc)and six anatomic structures on double oblique images(malleus,incus,stirrup bone,upper bony semicircular,etc)were chosen to evaluate and grade the reformation images among different mA groups,and to determine the minimum mA value.Ten ears of five patients were used to test the validity of the minimum mA value.Results CT radiation dose was significantly reduced from(47.8?2.7)to(20.1?2.0)raCy (P

OBJECTIV: e To find the correlation between real best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and testing results of microperimetry and visual evoked potential (VEP) and to explore a new method in recording BCVA in macular disease. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with macular disease (macular disease group, 62 eyes) and eighteen healthy volunteers (control group, 36 eyes) had BCVA, microperimetry and VEP recorded. RESULTS: (1) By microperimetry, the values of retinal mean sensitivity and fixation percentage in macular disease group were lower than that in control group. The bicurve ellipse area in macular disease group was higher than that in control group. By VEP, P100 amplitude under 0.5 cpd and 2 cpd in macular disease group were significantly higher than that in control group and the latency was prolonged (P < 0.05). (2) In macular disease group, BCVA had significant positive correlation with retinal mean sensitivity, bicurve ellipse area, macular central 2 degrees and 4 degrees fixation percentage, respectively (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between retinal mean sensitivity and P100 amplitude (P < 0.05). (3) Multiple linear regression equation was y = 0.053 x1+0.008 x3+3.897 (y was BCVA, while x1 was retinal mean sensitivity and x3 was P100 amplitude under 2 cpd). CONCLUSION Combined use of microperimetry and VEP is useful in the assessment of BCVA in macular disease.
Case-Control Studies ; Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology* ; Eye ; Humans ; Macula Lutea/physiopathology* ; Retina ; Retinal Diseases/pathology* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity/physiology* ; Visual Field Tests/methods*

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yixintai Granule (YG) on mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla of chronic heart failure (CHF) rabbits.

METHODSCHF rat model was established by ear marginal vein injection of adriamycin. Successfully modeled rabbits were divided into the model group, the high (8.4 g/kg), middle (4.2 g/kg), and low dose (2.1 g/kg) YG group, and the Furosemide group (2 mg/kg). Besides, a normal control group was set up. Equal volume of physiological saline was administered to rabbits of the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. YG at different doses was administered to rabbits of the 3 YG groups by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks, once per day. After treatment the urine volume and pathomorphological changes of renal medulla tissue were observed. mRNA and its protein expression levels of AQP2 were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the urine volume decreased significantly, mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 increased significantly in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the urine volume increased significantly, and mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 decreased significantly in all medicated groups (all P < 0.01). Compared with the low dose YG group, the urine volume significantly increased and the mRNA expression level of renal medulla AQP2 significantly decreased in the middle and high dose YG groups (all P < 0.01). The expression level of AQP2 protein significantly decreased in the high dose YG group (P < 0.01). Pathological changes of the renal medulla was the most obviously seen in the model group. But they were alleviated to various degrees in all medicated groups. They were more obviously attenuated in the middle and high dose YG groups.

CONCLUSIONYG could improve CHF possibly through down-regulating mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla, and elevating the urine volume.

Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the spatiotemporal expression patterns of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) receptors type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ and their relationships with development of outflow tract(OFT) in mouse embryonic heart. Methods Serial sections of mouse embryos from embryonic day 9 (E9d) to embryonic day 14 (E14d) were stained using PAP immunohistochemical methods. Results Expressions of TGF-β receptors type Ⅰ (TGF-βRⅠ) and type II(TGF-βRⅡ) in the myocardial wall of OFT started at E10d, reached the reflection with splanchnic epithelium on the dorsal wall of the pericardial cavity at E11d. At E12d, expression intensity of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ in myocardium increased to its highest level, and TGF-βRⅡ positive mesenchymal cells in OFT ridges could be detected. After E13d the staining intensity of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ decreased rapidly,and at E14d,their expressions had fallen at the lowest.Conclusion The expressions of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ in OFT are confined to the period of E10d to E14d, they may play important roles in regulating the myocardial cell proliferation, remodeling and septation of OFT, and promoting the differentiation from mesenchymal cells in the secondary heart field into smooth muscle cells in the distal end of OFT.

Objective To explore the mechanism underlying the rapid shortening of outflow tract and the formation of the right ventricle of the embryonic mouse heart .Methods Serial sections of embryonic mouse hearts from embryonic day 9 (E9) to E12(3 to 5 embryos for each stage)were stained with antibodies against α-sarcomeric actin (SCA), α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), GATA-4, myosin heavy chain (MHC), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) or active caspase-3 (CAS-3).Results At E11, the aortic sac and the distal border of cardiac outflow tract had regressed towards the ventricle into the pericardial cavity , while GATA-4、SCA and SMA staining showed that precursors from the second heart field were differentiating into cardiomyocytes adding to the arterial pole of the heart to lengthen the outflow tract .The length of outflow tract rapidly shortened at E12.Before and during its shortening , no CAS-3 positive cell was detected in the entire outflow tract.During E10-12, the cardiomyocytes in the right ventricle and proximal outflow tract wall proliferated inward to form trabeculae, with some trabeculae extending into the ridges .Proximal extremities of the outflow tract ridges were gradually myocardialized remodeling into the trabeullar right ventricle wall .At E12, scattered SCA and SMA staining cells and SCA and SMA weak positive mesenchymal cell clusters , which were continuous with the outflow tract myocardium were detected in the mesenchymal proximal outflow tract ridges .These results suggested that the proximal outflow tract was remodeled into the right ventricle by trabecularization , during which mesenchymal ridges were trabecularlly myocardialized . Conclusion Ventricularization of the proximal outflow tract contributes to the trabecular right ventricle and resultes in the vapid shortening of outflow tract in the mouse embryonic heart .Cardiomyocyte appoptosis and transdifferentiation are found to play a more limited contribution during this process .

Aim To screen a more suitable transfection recep-tor,and improve the efficiency of constructing cell lines highly expressing human peptide transporters 1 (hPepT1 ).Methods The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1 (+)-hPepT1 was transfect-ed into MDCK cells and HeLa cells by LipofectamineTM 2000 transfection reagent,respectively.The monoclonal cells were se-lected and cultured.Expression of hPepT1 mRNA and protein were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot,respectively. The uptake capacity of Glysar in transfected cells was examined. Results Compared with wild type cells,the expression of hPepT1 and the uptake of Glysar in transfected MDCK cells and HeLa cells significantly increased (P <0.05).Although the up-take of Glysar in HeLa cells was higher than that of MDCK cells,on the contrary,the expression of hPepT1 and the uptake of Glysar in MDCK-hPepT1 cells was higher than that of HeLa-hPepT1 cells.Conclusion MDCK cells may serve as a more suitable transfected receptor for the construction of a cellular model with high expression of hPepT1 ,which would make the construction of a cell model highly expressing hPepT1 more effi-cient.