Objective To investigate the role of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signal transduction pathway in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) under hypoxia in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells.Methods ARPE-19 were cultured and divided into normal ARPE-19 (Cont) and hypoxia group (100 μmol/L CoCl2 Cobalt Chloride +-ARPE-19);hypoxia group was further divided into CoCl2 group,cyclopamine group (CYA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group.20 μmol/L cyclopamine was added to the CYA group 1 hour before hypoxia,1‰ DMSO was added into DMSO group at the same time.The hRPE cells were cultured under hypoxia for 4,8,12,24 hours.The expression of Shh and VEGF were determined by Real-time fluorescent quantitate PCR (RT-PCR).The amount of VEGF in the hRPE-conditioned supernatant was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 4,8,12,24 hours,respectively.Results RT-PCR tests showed that the level of Shh and VEGF of hRPE was time dependently increased (Shh:F=45.260,P=0.001;VEGF:F=264.938,P=0.001).The level of Shh and VEGF of hRPE in the group treated with cyclopamine was decreased (P＜0.01).ELISA tests showed that the amount of VEGF in hRPE supernatant was significantly increased in time-dependent manner (F =3 156.676,P =0.001),and it was down-regulated by cyclopamine under hypoxia (P＜0.01).Conclusion Shh signal transduction pathway could play a role in the VEGF expression induced by hypoxia in hRPE cells.

Objective To observe and analyze the clinical and laboratory features of the use of porcelain fused to metal(PFM) prosthesis in aged patients with loss of teeth.Methods The clinical characteristics of 63 aged patients with 138 units of PFM prosthesis were reviewed and analyzed on the fabrication and reparation processes,and all the patients were followed up for 3 months to 1 year.Results All the PFM prosthesis fit well with the abutments without loosening or drop off except 3 patients,in whom the porcelain cracked.The periodontal tissue remained healthy,and patients were satisfactory with the treatment.The requirements and key points of PFM prosthesis:(1) there must be 6-7 teeth or dental roots left in different sections of the jaw.Bone absorption around the tooth should be less than half of the root.(2) The restoration of the vertical range must be accurate.(3) Adjust the overall relations of the jaw.(4) Eliminate the early contact points to avoid crack of porcelain.(5) Choose the correct temperature and observe strictly operation protocol according to the characters of the porcelain.Conclusion Porcelain fused to metal prosthesis is a good choice in repairing the defect of dental bodies and dentition in aged patients.

Objective To explore the pattern of spontaneous neural activity in different frequency bands in Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods The blood oxygen level-dependent signals in 39 PD patients and 37 normal controls were acquired and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation ( ALFF) in five differ-ent frequecy bands ( slow-2:0.198-0.25 Hz;slow-3:0.073-0.198 Hz;slow-4:0.027-0.073 Hz;slow-5:0.01-0.027 Hz;slow-6:0-0.01Hz) was cacaulated.A repeated-measures analysis of variance and Post hoc t-test were performed to detect differences of spontaneous activity between two groups in different frequency bands. A correlation analysis was examined between Unified Parkinson’ s Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS) motor score and ALFF in patients with PD in each frequency band to discover the relationship between disease se-verity and spontaneous neural activity.Results Compared with the normal controls,patients with PD had decreased ALFF in the putamen(-24,-3,-9) (-30,3,0) ( -21,9,6) in the slow-3,slow-4 and slow-5, and had decreased ALFF in the left precentral gyrus (-21,-24,75) (-21,-24,72) (-27,-21,72) (-15,-15,72) and right supplementary motor area (21,-24,75) (6,-3,72) (12,-6,60) (15,-24,72) in all frequency bands except for the slow-5.Increased ALFF in the cerebellum was found in all frequency bands.The ALFF in the putamen was negatively correlated with the UPDRS motor score in the slow-3,slow-5 and slow-6.Conclusion This study shows that the abnormal activities in the striatum are significant in the slow-3,slow-4and slow-5.Most frequency bands except slow-5 are helpful in detecting neural changes in mo-tor cortex.The increased activity in the cerebellum is the common findings in all frequency bands.Multiple frequency analysis may provide insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms of PD.

Objective To investigate the changes of amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) of the resting state fMRI in cognitively impaired Parkinson' s disease patients and discuss its underling neurophysiological mechanism.Methods Blood oxygen level-dependent low-frequency amplitude (ALFF) in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were calculated in 16 healthy controls(HC) and 29 idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients (16 of which were patients with cognitive normal,PDCN and 13 with cognitive impairment,PDCI).The brain regions showing increased and decreased ALFF in patients were demonstrated by comparing normal subjects with 2-sample t-test with threshold of P＜ 0.05 and the analysis of the relationship between the different regions of the brain activity and cognitive function tests scores were also analyzed.Results Compared with PDCN,the PDCI patients showed decreased activity in the caudate nucleus (-3,9,12),occipital lobe (0,-78,-15) and medial temporal lobe (42,9,-27) and increased activity in the superior frontal gyrus (9,63,24).PDCI patients showed increased activity mainly in the precuneus and inferior parietal lobules compared with controls.Additionally,the regions with ALFF changes had significant correlations with the cognitive performance of patients as measured by Montreal cognitive test(Beijing Version) and neuropsychological tests (including memory,attention,visuospatial functions and executive function).Conclusion The results demonstrate that there is a specific pattern of intrinsic activity in PDCI providing insights into neurophysiological mechanisms of the Parkinson's disease dementia.

To explore the effects of microRNA-150 deletion on the development and homeostasis of regulatory T cells (Treg),γδT cells,NK and NKT cells.Methods:microRNA-150 knockout mice were used and microRNA-150 expression was detected by Real-time PCR.The numbers of Treg ,γδT,NK and NKT cells in the thymus and spleen of normal control and microRNA-150 knockout mice were detected by Flow cytometry.Cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V staining , and cell proliferation was detected by 5-Bromo-2-deoxyUridine ( Brdu ) incorporation.Results: microRNA-150 deletion did not affect the development and homeostasis of regulatory T cells (Treg) andγδT cells.However,microRNA-150 deletion resulted in a significant reduction of the NK and thymic NKT cell number.In addition, microRNA-150 deleted NK and NKT cells showed an arrested developmental and maturational phenotype with a reduced expression of NK 1.1 and CD122.Moreover , cell apoptosis was significantly increased in microRNA-150 deleted NK and thymic NKT cells ,while a lower cell proliferation rate was shown in the microRNA-150 deleted NK but not NKT cells.Conclusion: CD122 may play an important role in the development and homeostasis of mouse NK and NKT cells regulated by microRNA-150.

Objective To explore the effect of auricular plaster therapy on associated symptoms and quality of life in patients with constipation induced by strong opioid drugs for pain.Methods A total of 60 patients selected were randomly divided into the intervention group and the control group with 30 cases in each group.The intervention group was treated with auriculotherapy based on the pattern/syndrome differentiation after detecting the auricular sensitive acupoints' distribution in patients with opioid-induced constipation after receiving opioid therapy.BFI,self-made scale on symptoms accompanied by constipation and PAC-QOL were used to collect data about constipation symptoms and the level of quality of life before or after the intervention,and still with a subset of the intervention group followed for more than two weeks.Results The BFI and PAC-QOL scores of the intervention and control group were lower after intervention,and the decline score of the two groups showed significant difference.But for the self-made scale,the score of each item was slightly lower compared with that before treatment,which showed no statistically significant difference between groups.A follow-up of 2 weeks showed that the long-term efficacy of auricular plaster therapy was significantly lower than before,but was less desirable than short-term.Conclusions Scientific and reasonable choice of acupoint prescription according to syndrome differentiation can effectively improve symptoms accompanied by constipation and patients' quality of life.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of sevoflurane on necroptosis in isolated hippocampal neurons and the relationship with ryanodine receptor.Methods:Primarily cultured hippocampal neurons of fetal rats of Sprague-Dawley rats were inoculated in culture wells (100 μl/well) or culture flasks (3 ml/bottle) at a density of 5×10 5 cells/ml at 7 days of culture and divided into 3 groups ( n=24 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), sevoflurane group (group S) and ryanodine receptor antagonist group (group R). Group C received routine culture.Ryanodine receptor antagonist Dantrolene at a final concentration of 3 μmol/L was added in group R. Thirty minutes later, the cells were placed in the incubator containing 2% sevoflurane and cultured for 5 h at 37 ℃ in S and R groups.Then cells were collected, the morphology of neurons was observed with an inverted microscope, the concentrations of free calcium ion ([Ca 2+ ] i) in cytoplasm were determined by flow cytometry, the expression of ryanodine receptor and phosphorylated MLKL protein (p-MLKL) was detected by Western blot, the expression of RIP3 was measured by immunofluorescence, and necroptosis rate was calculated. Results:Compared with group C, the [Ca 2+ ] i were significantly increased, the expression of ryanodine receptor and p-MLKL was up-regulated, and the necroptosis rate was increased in S and R groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group S, the expression of ryanodine receptor and p-MLKL was significantly down-regulated, and the [Ca 2+ ] i and necroptosis rate were decreased in group R ( P<0.05). There was no obvious abnormality in the morphology of neurons in group C. The cell body of neurons were shrunk, the processes were broken, and the network between processes was sparse in group S. The cell body was round, and the morphology was close to normal in group R. Conclusion:Sevoflurane can cause necroptosis in isolated hippocampal neurons of rats, and the mechanism is related to up-regulating the expression of ryanodine receptors and leading to calcium overload.

To investigate theological properties of common hydrophilic gel excipients such as Carbopol based on viscosity, the viscosity was determined by rotation method and falling-ball method. Linear regression was made between ln(eta) and concentration, the slope of which was used to explore the relation between viscosity and concentration of different excipients. The viscosity flow active energy (E(eta)) was calculated according to Arrhenius equation and was used to investigate the relation between viscosity and temperature of different excipients. The results showed that viscosities measured by two methods were consistent. Concentration of guargum (GG) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) solution had a great influence on the viscosity, k > 5; while concentration of polyvinylpyrrolidone-K30 (PVP-K30) and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000) exerted a less effect on viscosity, k < 0.2; viscosity flow active energy of different excipients were close, which ranged from 30 to 40 kJ x mol(-1). Therefore, theological properties study could provide the basis for application of excipients and establish a foundation for the research of relation between excipients structure, property and function.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dimensional accuracy of digital dental models obtained from the dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan of alginate impressions according to the time elapse when the impressions are stored under ambient conditions. METHODS: Alginate impressions were obtained from 20 adults using 3 different alginate materials, 2 traditional alginate materials (Alginoplast and Cavex Impressional) and 1 extended-pour alginate material (Cavex ColorChange). The impressions were stored under ambient conditions, and scanned by CBCT immediately after the impressions were taken, and then at 1 hour intervals for 6 hours. After reconstructing three-dimensional digital dental models, the models were measured and the data were analyzed to determine dimensional changes according to the elapsed time. The changes within the measurement error were regarded as clinically acceptable in this study. RESULTS: All measurements showed a decreasing tendency with an increase in the elapsed time after the impressions. Although the extended-pour alginate exhibited a less decreasing tendency than the other 2 materials, there were no statistically significant differences between the materials. Changes above the measurement error occurred between the time points of 3 and 4 hours after the impressions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that digital dental models can be obtained simply from a CBCT scan of alginate impressions without sending them to a remote laboratory. However, when the impressions are not stored under special conditions, they should be scanned immediately, or at least within 2 to 3 hours after the impressions are taken.
Adult ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Dental Models* ; Humans

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is the purpose of treatment-related diseases by embolizing the vascular network of uterine lesions. Because of the small damage, the recovery time of patients is short, and it is recognized by the majority of patients. However, it is still important to pay attention to the poor effect and complications of 10% of the patients. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the lesion before surgery, could calculate the optimal angle of inclination of the tube to guide uterine artery embolization, reduce the X-ray. Radiation dose, exposure time and rational distribution of embolic agents to achieve personalized guidance for UAE. Now, we elaborate the research progress of three-dimensional reconstruction in the application of uterine artery embolization in gynecological diseases.