OBJECTIVETo investigate the genome structure variation (SV) related with keloid using the whole-gene resequencing technology.

METHODSWe studied a keloid pedigree containing 4 generation of 27 people. 5 people (4 cases of keloid patients, and 1 case of normal) were selected to extract the genomic DNA. Then the whole-gene resequencing technique was used to check the variations.

RESULTSThrough database comparison and variation annotation analysis, we obtained 2 SVs associated with keloid formation. We used DAVID software to do the gene ontology and pathway analysis. We found a 168 bp inversion in gene tetraspanin 8 (TSPAN8) in all keloid patients, which contained the forth exon of TSPAN8.

CONCLUSIONSThere was no report about SVs related to keloid. In this study, we found 2 SVs associated with keloid, especially TSPAN8. The tumor cells express the TSPAN8 can up-regulate the vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors, promote the adjacent fibroblasts secrete matrix metalloproteinases and uridylyl phosphate adenosine. So we hypothesis that the inversion of the forth exon in TSPAN8 may lead to the signal transduction disorder in the keloid patients. This study was a preliminary research. It needs a further study containing large sample to confirm.

Base Sequence ; Female ; Humans ; Keloid ; genetics ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pedigree ; Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Tetraspanins ; genetics

Objective To observe the mRNA expression levels of POT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of acquired aplastic anemia patients with different syndrome, and explore its relationship with acquired aplastic anemia and its TCM syndrome. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 52 cases with acquired aplastic anemia and 20 cases as control group were collected to detect mRNA expression of POT1 by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and its relation with TCM syndrome was analyzed. Results The expression levels of POT1 mRNA in patients with acquired aplastic anemia were lower significantly than control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of POT1 mRNA in patients with deficiency of kidney-yin were lower than patients with deficiency of kidney-yang, and it was lowest in patients with kidney deficiency of both yin and yang. There was significant correlation between the expression levels of POT1 mRNA and age (r=0.374, P=0.038). Conclusion The changes in expression levels of POT1 play a role in the pathogenesis of acquired aplastic anemia. There is correlation between mRNA expression level of POT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and TCM syndrome.

Background Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a main cause for visual acuity decline after modern extracapsular cataract surgery.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rapamycin on PCO formation following phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in rabbit eyes.Methods Thirty New Zealand albino rabbits were randomized into three groups according to the difference in the implanted IOLs:conventional IOL without modification,IOL coated by a polymer material and IOL with sustained released rapamycin.Phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation surgery was performed in the left eye.The anterior ocular segment and PCO formation in the rabbit eyes were examined by slit lamp biomicroscope 1-7 days after operation,and the flare and inflammatory response of the anterior chamber as well as the degree of PCO severity were graded based on the criteria of Yang.The differences in examination outcomes were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis H test.The animals were sacrificed 12 days after surgery and eye specimens were prepared for histopathological examination to evaluate the biological behavior of lens epithelial cells (LECs) on the posterior capsule.Results The coated area of the implanted lens was semi-transparent with a smooth surface.The number of eyes with aqueous flare at grades 3 and 4 insignificantly increased but those with an inflammatory response at grades 3 and 4 significantly increased in the conventional IOL group and the polymer modified IOL group,compared with the rapamycin modified IOL group on the first day after operation (H =4.038,P =0.133 ; H =8.604,P =0.014).On the seventh day,the number of eyes with aqueous flare at grades 3 and 4 and inflammatory response at grades 3 and 4 significantly increased in the conventional IOL group and the polymer modified IOL group,compared with the rapamycin modified IOL group (H =8.891,P =0.012 ; H =7.664,P =0.0220).The histopathological examination showed that marked proliferation of LECs appeared between the anterior and posterior capsule in the conventional IOL group and the polymer modified IOL group;however,less LECs and regenerative cortex were seen in the rapamycin modified IOL group.Conclusions IOL loaded with rapamycin can inhibit the inflammatory response and alleviate the severity of PCO after phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation.The implantation of IOL loaded with rapamycin may be a new approach to the prevention and treatment of PCO.

0.05).Compared with control group,CO and SI were significantly higher in creatine phosphate group during operation(t=4.019,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) on the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin(alpha-SMA) and myosin-II of fibroblasts in scars. Methods Fibroblasts were isolated from tissue specimens of scars contracture. Cells from passages 3-5 were randomly divided into 3 groups (control group, low BTXA group (1 U/10(6) Cells), and high BTXA group (2.5 U/ 10(6)Cells)). Growth condition of fibroblasts was observed at 1 , 4, 7 day after BTXA treated. Changes of alpha-SMA and myosin-II in fibroblasts were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSFibroblasts grew well in control group. The proliferation was decreased 4 days later in BTXA groups. Lots of apoptotic cells were seen in high BTXA group at 7th day. Proteins of alpha-SMA and myosin-II in fibroblasts were statistically different between BTXA group and control groups at 4th day (P < 0.05). The expression of alpha-SMA and myosin-II in low BTXA group was higher than that in high BTXA group at 7th day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBTXA could induce the apoptosis of fibroblasts and decrease the expression of alpha-SMA and myosin-II in fibroblasts. The inhibitory effect was strengthened with BTXA concentration increase within a certain range.

Actins ; metabolism ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; pharmacology ; Cicatrix ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth ; metabolism ; Myosin Type II ; metabolism ; Random Allocation

Cerebral Infarction ; etiology ; Dextrocardia ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Spleen ; abnormalities ; Syndrome

Objective To observe whether rabbit blood leptin can leak into the brain after craniocerebral trauma (CCT),and to dynamically detect serum levels of leptin,growth hormone (GH),and insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1),and leptin level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after CCT.Methods The FITC labeled leptin was injected into blood vessels of 15 adult male rabbits after anesthesia.Then 9 rabbits underwent unilateral fluid percussive impact,while 6 rabbits underwent sham operation.Thirty minutes postoperatively,brain tissue was taken to make frozen sections which were used to observe fluorescence labeled leptin range.Thirty three adult male rabbits were randomly divided into serum group,serum-control group,CSF group and CSF-control group.Rabbits in serum group and CSF group received fluid percussive impact,while rabbits in serum-control group and CSF-control group were drilled a 7 mm window in skull.Rabbits in serum group and serum-control group were phlebotomized 2 ml at 1 d,3 d,7 d and 14 d after operation,and rabbits in CSF group and CSF-control group were extracted CSF 0.5 ml at the same time points.Then serum levels of leptin,GH,and IGF-1,and leptin level in CSF were tested by ELISA.Results The fluorescence imaging could be seen in the injured brain tissue of rabbits with CCT,which was more than those in brain tissue of rabbits receiving sham operation.Serum leptin levels of rabbits in serum group at each time point were higher than those in serum-control group.Serum levels of GH and IGF-1 and leptin level in CSF were higher in rabbits with CCT than those in rabbits without CCT at 1 d,3 d and 7 d after operation.Conclusion The blood leptin can leak into the brain after CCT,which can cause increase of blood GH and IGF-1.And the latter may be the endocrine factors promoting fracture healing after CCT.

ObjectiveTo investigate the curative effect of neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation combined with monosialotetrahexosyl ganglioside (GMi) in treatment of acute spinal cord injury in rats.MethodsCompressive spinal cord injury model at T8 segment was established in the adult SD rats that were then randomly divided into three groups, ie, control group, NSCs transplantation group and NSCs + GM1 group.Continuous observation was performed at 1,2, 4 and 8 weeks.Functional neurological recovery of the injured spinal cord was evaluated with motor function scale, pathology, transmission electron microscopy and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP).ResultsThe motor function of the lower extremities was recovered at different degrees in three groups.While the motor function recovery level of the animals and the positive staining cells of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the NSCs + GM1 group were higher than those in the other two groups at 4 and 8 weeks (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with control group and NSCs group, focal necrosis and small vessel regeneration were observed only in the center of the injured segment in the NSCs + GM1 group at 8 weeks.Electron microscope scan showed edema under the membrane of the large myelin sheath in the control group, much intact myelin sheath, well-differentiated neurons and many kinds of synapse vesicles in the NSCs + GM1 group.The latent period of SEP was shortened markedly in the NSCs + GM1 group two weeks after transplantation (P ＜0.05).The latent period shortening was apparent in the NSCs group at 4 and 8 weeks after transplantation but was still longer than that in the control group.ConclusionsTransplantation of neural stem cells combined with use of GM1 can protect the nervous tissues after spinal cord injury, when GM1 reconstructs the spinal cord through promoting differentiation of the transplanted stem cells and linking with the host cells.

Objective To evaluate the validity of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injections for the treatment of scar contracture.Methods 26 patients with scar contracture were randomly assigned into BTXA group and triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) group.Pinpoint tattooing was performed on each side of each scar in the plane of its longest axis.A template was used to ensure consistent length.These two tattoo points were measured to assess scar contraction at baseline,at every month for a total of 6 months.Histological analysis was conducted to study the physiological environment and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of α-SMA and myosin-Ⅱ at different groups.Results Scar contraction was more relaxed in BTXA group than that in TAC group after 1 month (P＜0.05),especially in the 6th month (the D value in BTXA group and TAC group was (1.23±0.42) cm,and (0.56±0.33) cm respectively).For immunohistochemistry,the expression of α-SMA and myosin-Ⅱ also decreased in BTXA group (P＜0.05).Conclusions The treatment of scar contracture by suitable BTXA injections is safe and effective.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of high altitude on cognitive flexibility.

METHODSSimulated hypoxia at an altitude of 3 600 m was performed in a hypobaric chamber. Twenty-three volunteers without hypoxic experience were selected and the mean age was about 25.1 years. The physiological parameters (heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation) were measured. Task switch paradigm was used to explore the cognitive flexibility in each phase, and the changing anxiety state was evaluated simultaneously.

RESULTSReaction time (RT) switch cost in hypoxia phase showed a significant increase compared with the baseline; anxiety level in hypoxia phase was higher than the adaptation phase; a remarkable negative correlation between anxiety level and RT switch cost was found in adaptation phase, whereas a positive correlation was found in landing phase.

CONCLUSIONHigh altitude (3 600 m) affects cognitive flexibility and anxiety state. Anxiety before the hypoxia exposure improves the cognitive flexibility performance, while anxiety after the hypoxia exposure hampers the performance because of the post-hypoxia effect.

Adult ; Altitude ; Anxiety ; Cognition ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; psychology ; Male ; Reaction Time