Vitreous liquefaction is an age-related degenerative change,which will further alter the physicochemical properties of the vitreous and its surrounding tissues,resulting in various related eye diseases.The principal pathologic changes of that are the gradual depletion of hyaluronic acid and the collapse of collagen fibrillar network,with a series of biomechanical changes in vitreous body.This article reviews biomechanical properties of normal vitreous,the current measurements of these properties,formation mechanism and changes of biomechanics properties of vitreous liquefaction and correlation between synchesis and related ocular diseases,which provide insight into the ideas for the effective reduction and treatment of vitreous liquefaction.

Objective To observe the change of the number of endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)in peripheral circulation after acute middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)and to evaluate the therapeutic effect of VEGF through mobilizing bone marrow-derived EPCs in treatment of mouse brain infarction after acute MCAO/R.MethodsTotally 36 mice were randomized into MCAO/R+VEGF group,MCAO/R group and sham operation group.MCAO/R mice model was established according Longa's method.VEGF [3.3 ng/(g?d),for 7 d] was injected intraperitoneally to the mice of MCAO/R+VEGF group to mobilize bone marrow-derived EPCs.The other 2 group received an injection of normal saline.At days 1,4,7 during mobilization,neurological functions were evaluated and blood samples were taken from angular vein.Then the number of EPCs in peripheral circulation in MCAO/R group and MCAO/R+VEGF group was detected by flow cytometry.Mice were decapitated and brains sliced and stained with triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)to calculate infarct volume using specific image analyzing system.Infarct volumes were calculated and compared among groups.ResultsThe number of EPCs in MCAO/R+VEGF group began to increase at day 1 after treatment,and peaked at day 4 and sustained to day 7,which was significantly larger than those in MCAO/R group and sham operation group at every time point(P

Objective To investigat the symptom burden of patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and explore the influencing factors of them,in order to provide the basis for improving the quality of life of these patients.Methods A total of 230 patients with MHD were enrolled in Xiangtan Central Hospital from January 2016 to December 2016,the general condition and disease-related data of them were collected,and the symptom burden of them over the past week was assessed by improved symptom burden scale.Results ① The average age of these patients were (56.8 ± 14.1)years,the sex ratio for men and women was 1.37∶ 1,the median time of dialysis was 24 months,and the frequency of dialysis was (9.16 ± 2.36)times;② The symptom score in MHD patients was (65.72 ± 28.46)points,the top 5 symptoms which had higher incidence were fatigue (72.2％),dry mouth (63.5％),itching (61.3％),falling asleep difficultly (54.3％),drying (49.2％),the top 5 symptoms which were more troubling were restless legs syndrome (2.54 ± 0.73),falling asleep difficultly (2.48 ± 0.83),bone/joint pain (2.45 ± 0.69),fatigue (2.31 ±0.77),easy to wake up (2.16 ±0.78);③ Age,sex,occupation,dialysis age,inorganicphosphorus and serum calcium had an effect on the symptom burden of MHD patients (P ＜ 0.05).Condusions We should focus on patients who are older,female,retired or no occupation,longer dialysis age,calcium or phosphorus metabolism disorders,provide targeted care and treatment,in order to reduce the symptom burden and improve the life quality of them.

UDP glucosyltransferase (UDPGT) catalyzes the synthesis of secondary metabolites and plant hormones to regulate plant growth and development, pathogen defense and environmental adaptability. In this study 18 members of the RcUDPGT gene family were cloned from Tibetan Rhodiola crenulata and analyzed using bioinformatics. The tissue-specific expression, abiotic stresses and plant hormones (abscisic acid, auxin, methyl jasmonate) induced expression patterns were identified by real-time quantitative PCR. The bait vector of RcUDPGT (JX228125.1) was constructed to select interacting proteins from an Arabidopsis yeast library. The results of the bioinformatics analysis revealed that RcUDPGT nucleotide sequences were about 1 400 bp and encoded 452-498 amino acids. In the primary protein sequences, C-terminal sequences were more conserved compared with N-terminal regions, which held a PSPG (plant secondary product glycosyltransferase) domain. In the tertiary structures, RcUDPGTs contained a UDP sugar donor recognition binding site. In addition, all genes had multiple phosphorylation sites. The results of qRT-PCR showed that RcUDPGTs genes were expressed in root, stem and leaf. The expression levels were regulated by low temperature/ultraviolet light and various plant hormones (ABA, IAA, MeJA), but the expression patterns were quite different among them. For example, RcUDPGT6, RcUDPGT11, and RcUDPGT17 had the highest expression in leaves and were induced by all three hormones, suggesting that the functions of these genes might be to respond to environmental changes. RcUDPGT9, RcUDPGT10, RcUDPGT14 were most abundantly expressed in roots and were significantly induced by ABA and MeJA hormones, indicating that these genes may be involved in the synthesis and accumulation of salidroside. Yeast two-hybrid results showed that RcUDPGT did not exhibit autoactivation and cell toxicity, and two significant interactional genes were identified, AtKCR1 (AT1G67730.1) and AtSNL4 (AT1G70060). The AtKCR1 gene encodes a β-ketoacyl reductase (KCR) involved in synthesis of very long chain fatty acids. The AtSNL4 gene encodes a homolog of the transcriptional repressor SIN3, which could participate in the ABA hormone signaling pathway and enhance the transcriptional repression of AP2/EREBP class factors in Arabidopsis. These results suggest that the accumulation of the secondary metabolite salidroside in Rhodiola crenulata might be affected by several regulatory mechanisms. The above results may lay the foundation for understanding the adaptive mechanism of Rhodiola crenulata in a high altitude environment and stimulate an in-depth study of the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in this species.

To investigate the effects of human anti-BAFF scFv-Fc against the hsBAFF, ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + Ab (1 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + Ab (2 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + human IgG (1 mg x kg(-1)) and hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + human IgG (2 mg x kg(-1)) groups. The effects of scFv-Fc administration on the proliferation of B lymphocytes were evaluated using an MTT assay. The titres of antibody in the serum and B lymphocytes differentiation were assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that administration of scFv-Fc to mice injected with hsBAFF significantly prevented human BAFF-induced increases in splenic B cell numbers and serum immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore, this fully human antibody would avoid inducing the human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response when used in humans. These findings suggest that the compact antibody may be useful in therapeutic or diagnostic application of the BAFF-associated autoimmune diseases in human.

Objective To evaluate the orthodontic effect of surgery on mixed dentition period class Ⅲ malocclusion and to investigate the effective therapeutic method of the skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion.Methods A total of 20 patients aged 8.5 to 9.1 years with early mixed dentition class Ⅲ skeletal malocclusion.The treatment was divided into two phases.During the first phase,the entire stuffy group was treated with a bonded maxillary expansion and protraction.During the second phase,the entire study group received multiple loop edgewise arch wire (MEAW) treatment until an ideal occlusion relationship achieved.Comparison of the pre-and post-orthodontic treatment cephalometric radiographs had been done after maxillary protraction and MEAW were applied for patients.Results In the 20 patients after orthodontic treatment,Class Ⅲ skeletal facial profile was improved,the retraction of anterior teeth was obvious,and there were significant changes in dentition; the profile of soft tissue and satisfactory occlusion relationship were significantly improved,as compared with the changes between pre-treatment and post-treatment.Conclusions Skeletal Ⅲ malocclusion in early mixed dentition can be successfully treated.The results can be satisfied with improved class Ⅲ skeletal and molar relationship,high-angle and profile of soft tissue.

Objectiye To study the mechanism by which transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) affects cognitive dysfunction in vascular dementia (VD). Methods Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a VD group, a low frequency rTMS group and a high frequency rTMS group. Two-vessel occlusion was employed to induce VD models. Low frequency rTMS group rats were given 0.5 Hz rTMS for six weeks. High frequency rTMS group rats were given 5 Hz rTMS for six weeks. Morris' water maze test was used to measure their spatial learning ability and memory. The ultrastructures of the synapses in the four groups were detected with transmission electron microscopy. The expression of synaptophysin (SYN), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Nmethyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 ( NMDAR1 ) mRNA and protein in the hippocampus were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results The behavior and morphology of the rats treated with rTMS improved. The average expression of SYN, BDNF and NMDAR1 mRNA and protein in the low frequency rTMS group and the high frequency rTMS group were significantly higher than in the VD group. Conclusion rTMS can provide a rehabilitative effect for VD. The mechanism might be associated with enhancing the expression of SYN, BDNF and NMDAR1 in the hippocampus.

Objective To study the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS) of the supplementary motor area(SMA)on the cortical excitability in patients with Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods Sixteen patients with PD were included in this study.The motor evoked potentials(MEP)and the N30 component of somatosensory evoked potentials(SEP) were assessed for each patient before and after 1200 pulses of rTMS of the SMA at 5 Hz and an intensity of 100% of relaxed motor threshold (RMT) for the abductor pollicis brevis.Results Ten minutes after the rTMS intervention,the peak-to-peak amplitude of the SEP component P20-N30 increased significantly(P<0.05),with the P/F index decreased simultaneously(P<0.05).The MEP amplitude increased significantly,and reached the highest value at 10min after the rTMS intervention. Conclusion 5 Hz rTMS of the SMA can improve the excitability of the SMA itself temporarily.Meanwhile,it can induce a short-lasting facilitation of the excitability of M1 connected with SMA.

Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on tumor growth and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression of human gastric carcinoma xenografts in nude mice with different expressions of growth hormone receptor (GHR). Methods Immunocytochemical method was used to pick out one GHR-positive and one GHR-negative cell line. Then the cells were subcutaneously injected into 24 nude mice separately. The nude mice bearing two different kinds of human gastric caicinoma were equalges of body weight and tumor volume of nude mice were recorded. Serum concentrations of VEGF in peripheral blood were analyzed by ELISA. VEGF protein and mRNA expression in tumor tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. Results We chose SGC-7901 as GHR positive group, and MKN-45 as the negative one. For nude mice bearing GHR + SGC-7901 xenografts, the tumor volumes were significantly larger in rhGH groups than in control group (P ＜ 0.05), and the high-dose rhGH group revealed greater effect (P ＜ 0. 05).Body weights were not significantly different among three groups (P ＞ 0. 05). Serum VEGF concentration was (252.94 ± 15.32) ng/L in the high-dose rhGH group, which was significantly higher than that in control group [(49.94 ± 5.73) ng/L] and low-dose rhGH group [(167.60 ± 9.54) ng/L] (P ＜ 0.05). Moderate positive staining with VEGF was observed in the control group, while VEGF staining was strong in rhGH administration groups. The relative expression of VEGF mRNA for the high-dose rhGH group was 0. 6470 ± 0. 0447, which was significantly higher than that in control group (0. 3230 ± 0. 0258)and low-dose rhGH group (0. 412 ± 0. 0351)(P ＜ 0.05). While for nude mice bearing GHR-MKN-45 xenografts, the body weights of the rhGH-administrated groups were significantly higher than that of control group (P ＜ 0.05), while tumor growth, serum VEGF concentration, and the expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein in tumor tissue were not significantly different (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions rhGH can promote tumor growth and increase the expression of VEGF in the GHR-highly-expressed SGC-7901 xenograft tumor model. However, such effects do not exist in GHR-negatively-expressed MKN-45 xenograft tumor model. The existence of GHR may be a key target where rhGH influences the secretion of VEGF.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of intraoperative wake-up test during surgery for ossification of the ligamentum flavum(OLF). Methods Between June 2004 and June 2010,35 patients(23 males and 12 females,at age range of 32-71 years,mean 50.5 years) with OLF underwent posterior decompressive laminectomy and excision of OLF.The operation wag performed on the cervical vertebrae in four patients,on the thoracic vertebrae in 24 and on the lumbar spine in seven,with monosegmental OLF in 14 patients and multisegmental OLF in 21.The outcomes were evaluated using Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale. Results The operation lasted for mean 190 minutes (120-260 minutes),with the blood loss for mean 350 ml (220-520 ml)and the mean 2.4(1-5) lamin receiving decompression.The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 72 months (mean 29.5 months).The JOA score was improved from 4.302±1.023 preoperatively to 8.327±1.032 at the final follow-up (P<0.01).The neurological symptoms was aggravated during operation in three patients,for whom the muscles force recovered gradually in two patients but one showed no change after special measures.No serious complication was found in the other patients postoperatively. Conclusions The wake-up test can serve as an effective monitoring during the procedure ofthe decompressive laninectomy in the patients with severe OLF and decrease the occurrence of neurologic deficit complications.